USC-BHS Class '66 celebrates its 45th class reunion

CEBU, Philippines - Time indeed flies so fast. Not so long ago, we were just kids in high school and here we are 45 years later having a reunion with our classmates from the University of San Carlos (USC) Boy’s High School class ‘66. Just like the good old days, we had to cram and scramble to prepare for the celebration, our 45th class reunion. The last big reunion we had was during our 42nd class reunion in 2008 at the fabulous rest house of our classmate Enrique “Quito” Fararrons in Apalan, Tuburan. A total of 34 classmates were in attendance.

We usually hold our reunions right after the Sinulog Festival so that those classmates of ours who now live and work abroad and end up coming home to Cebu for the Fiesta of the Sto. Niño and the Sinulog Festival can stay a week more for the class reunion. For our 45th year celebration, the ad hoc steering committee led by Quito Fararrons and Alex Chiongbian, Jr. gave us three options, back to Apalan in Tuburan for a weekend stay, get a function room in a hotel or accept the invitation of our classmate Richard “Dick” Cabucos who has a newly-constructed mountain resort at the back of the Guadalupe Church, some 8-kilometers deep into the foothills of Busay.

We ended up having our 45th reunion at the Lapinao Rain Forest Resort last January 29. It was the first time for most of our classmates to see the place, which was actually where the Guadalupe River begins. What was totally surprising to us was that we all felt that we were in a hidden forest somewhere far from civilization. Best of all, it was an easy drive going up to the resort, with only habal-habals causing a little traffic, although you had to cross part of the river as there was no bridge towards the resort. But then Benjie Velasco brought his little Korean car and it had no problem crossing the stream for a little free car wash.

Due to the haste in preparing for the reunion, we only had 28 classmates attending our 45th class reunion. To name them, we have Enrique “Quito” Fararrons, Alex “Junior” Chiongbian, Tony “Ton Ton” Rizarri of Houston, Texas, Richard “Dick” Cabucos, Orlando Siy, Pintoy Shunwee, Alfonso Santos, Dr. Alex “Toco” Tantoco, Romeo Flores, Manuel Abarquez, Terry Yankee, Rey Aya-ay, Teddy Ybañez, Jess Cuenco, Nicanor Labrado, Ed Morales, Benjie Velasco, Charles Young, Benigno Santiago Jr.

Then there’s Moises “Mosing” Selma, Loloy Unchuan, Jose Mari Osmeña, Carlos “Caloy” Colemenares, Felipe Cabrera, Loloy Doblados, Delyn Ouano, Camilo Alegado and of course myself. Another classmate who married my cousin, Mr. Eduardo “Ago” Santiago came to Cebu for a family reunion, which was in conflict with our schedules. Other classmates who contributed to the reunion, but failed to attend were my brother Archt. Bing Avila, Edmund Go and Florentino “Boboy” Atillo III.

The reunion activities were simple - a short trek into the mountainside where we discovered a mini-waterfall where fresh water cascaded down to the side of the resort, that feeds water into its three swimming pools. It was a great opportunity to show to our classmates who needed a heart bypass at this stage in our lives. Later we were treated to a “Belly Dancing” performance, where a few classmates participated and made it into a “bilbil” dancing. But there was laughter all the time.

Yes, 45 years ago, we were ordinary kids, equals with each other, well almost equal because some are smarter than others, while some classmates only had brawns. But seeing our classmates 45 years later, aging, balding and belly bulging tells you that time often does more havoc to a person. But hey, we all count our blessings and hope that we could still be around 45 years later. So, here’s waiting for that big 50th Class reunion coming soon. (FREEMAN)