Saving my school

High school was a time for many firsts. In the humble institution that I came from, participation in sports was encouraged and it paved the way for my chosen career.

I still consider myself a sports journalist more than anything else. I played many sports in high school not just during our Physical Education classes, but also during the annual intramurals. I wasn’t a great athlete, there were just few of us in the school and those who can play more than one game are encouraged to do so.

The school that I went to did not really have much in terms of facilities and equipment. 

During my first two years of high school, the place my section called our homeroom didn’t even have walls as we had a gazebo for a classroom.

We went to a decrepit building, which was a remnant from World War II, for our classes in Work Education and Home Economics. We also had an administration building that was not only rich in history but also of ghost stories.

Our school wasn’t rich in terms of material things, but we were happy and we learned much. We had great teachers, who at times we thought were born to maltreat us, but in the end we realized that they were there to sharpen us.

Our PE classes had the benefit of playing on the field. I thought before that it was just great that there was so much sunshine, but looking back, I think it was because we didn’t have a gymnasium.

I went to a school called the University of the Philippine College Cebu High School, whose existence is now under a huge question mark.

I got word from officers of the alumni association that there is a move to downsize the school. That means from two sections per year level, the school will now only have one section per year level.

What happens next after that, closure?

What about the young men and women hoping to get the same education that we got? What about the parents who are hoping to give their children the best without the cost that comes with such quality?

Maybe there are bright plans for the school’s future (the college that is and not the high school), but many of us who walked the halls and paths of UP Cebu High School are asking that our alma mater be saved.

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MILESTONES: I’d like to extend my wishes to several people who celebrated their birthdays recently.

Belated happy birthday greetings go to The Freeman assistant news editor Bryan Roy Padilla, who turned a year older last Monday. The same goes to our former webmaster Reggie Guce and my former classmate Carmel Geverola.

Today, the man who introduced me to dancesport is turning a year older — Sol Eugenio and it is also the birthday of Banat News assistant sports editor Gabby Malagar.

More power to all of you! – THE FREEMAN