Blast from the PAST

after 20 years..... SJA Elementary Batch '90
1-10-10 @ Talamban Leisure Center

We get to have our firsts of most things that matter in life during our elementary years. And the simplicity of our lives back then as well as the carefree moments in school and the uncomplicated life after dismissal would make you want to go back to those times these days. I spent and finished my elementary years in St. Joseph's Academy in Mandaue City. Previously it was run by the ICM Sisters which makes us the sister school of St. Theresa's College in Cebu City. Though run by nuns, the elementary school of SJA is coed and highschool is exclusive for girls only. And so we had boys who had to wear shorts up until our graduation while the girls wear dark blue skirt with long neckties which we use alternately as wipes and hankies. After graduation, boys are compelled to go to other schools for high school while most girls would carry on with SJA. In my case, I, along with four (4) other classmates went to Science High. Because high school is another chapter of ones life where new adventures unfold, one tends to be occupied with it leaving behind the friendship and memories that were made back in elementary.

making up for lost time...

I belong to Batch'90 in elementary where I had my share of 1st... 1st suitor - in Grade 2! haha, yeah, I had a boy from 2-B who would do Menudo song and dance antics and shower me with Serg's chocolates and iced candy, he ended up with a broken arm after a performance; 1st rival -- apparently the suitor had a so-called admirer or was also the object of that boy's interest, can't really recall; 1st loveteam -- yeah, we were after all coed so teasing boys with girls was fairly normal; 1st crush -- uuhmm, i'd rather not talk about it, hehe :); 1st star performances-- i was after all leading them in our field demonstrations; 1st speeches, trainings, leadership and organization skills -- we had those trainings back then; 1st set of bestfriends and barkadas -- after spending 6-8 years together you will definitely become friends; 1st taste of independence (the kiddy version) -- back then, it was a biggie to be riding a jeep with out a nanny or the freedom to stay in school or the church after class before heading home or walking home with friends from school..it made us feel like adults which we were so eager to be at that time :) Well there were so many other firsts then but because of our age, we never get to realize just how fond and fun it were until years after..like 20 years after!

still the same kiddos...

After 20 years, we decided to meet up (finally!) We tried to round up our batch and gather for the much awaited and long over due reunion! At first, I'm sure people were a bit apprehensive as to how far people have changed for the last 20 years and if it would be an awkward gathering of sorts but one thing was sure, everyone who knew about it were so eager to go and it was a goo sign.. And so on January 10, 2010, we met and all the doubts were gone. The 20 long years of not being able to see each other and catch up on each others lives didn't seem to matter that day.. In an instant, we became children all over again .. we were all in agreement that this was one of the happiest times ever and that it was just a beginning..

this photo is just an understatement of how happy we were and how fun that day was..

At the end of the day, we decided that after twenty long years, that gathering was just a start.. We need to catch up on those many years.. and we need to strengthen our bond of friendship.

just like the old times..

In our elementary days in SJA we experienced our firsts... our gathering that day will definitely not be our last... :)

A Celebration of FRIENDSHIP

The holiday season has always been a time for reunions and gatherings not just among families but also with friends. This year, I had the chance to rekindle old friendship and celebrate the recent ones..

MY COLLEGE FRIENDS

It's not hard for us to get along the moment we entered college. After all, most of us have been friends in the past. We were either high school classmates, elementary classmates or pre-elementary classmates. One of the kikay groups in college known to party on weekdays and weekends, never a visitor of the library except when we're sleepy, most often seen in the canteen doing the assignment, eating and yes, powder sessions. It's not hard to find where we're seated becoz it's always at the back so we can paint our nails, eat, sleep and hmm cheat?hehe.. But we all made it in college and in life as well.. A lawyer, a CPA, businesswomen (Wade shoes, fashion finds, Chemical corp), a biggie in a BPO, an owner of a grade school, a banker, a savior in PhilHealth and happy Singapore dollar earners..

MY USC JUNIOR JAYCEE BUDDIES

As I was setting off to Ayala to meet my Sci-Hi Buddies last December 31, I got a message from Vee telling me that the JJC buds were in Postrio at the Terraces. I had to hurry and drop by because I could not pass up the chance to meet old friends from Junior Jaycees. USC Junior Jaycees was my first and ultimate school organization in college. Ryan Villaflores (guy to my left) was one phenomenal president who was the incumbent when I joined the org way back in 1st year college..he was succeeded by Tonite Adle (lady at the right). Junior Jaycees made up my best years in college, it also taught me a lot of things, in love and life :)

MY LAW BUDDIES

Yes, indeed we are lawyers though we never act like one when we are together, that is. Whether it's by a stroke of faith, luck or we really did work hard for it but yeah, we all passed the bar and made it. I see them more often these days and nothing has changed since law school..we're still noisy, the men still drink a lot, us ladies like to talk a lot and we all love to eat a lot!

MY HIGH SCHOOL BUDDIES
CEBU CITY NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL BATCH 94

15 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP AND STILL THE BEST A.K.A ULTIMATE BATCH :)

Despite the realization that we are not so young anymore, still it didn't actually matter. Being together made us all young again.. After 15 years, we've become our own persons but yet, we still remained to be the kids that we were way back in high school where the fondest memories have been built and kept by us all these years..

So here's to all my friends who have been part of my life.. I would not know how I'd be without you... to celebrate the good times, to keep the happy memories of the fun times, to be there in bad times and for all times.. here's to a long and lasting friendship, Cheers!