Volleyball

High school classes are remembered in many ways. Some get remembered because of the popular people in the group. Some because of their good deeds and also the opposite. Some for their prowess in certain things and some through their sports achievements.

Many times, I heard people say that some classes just don’t seem to have stood out on thing. At times we even thought our class – UP Cebu High School 1985 – was among those that had not done much to leave a lasting impression.

But wait, there was something that many members of our class loved to do so much and we even managed to surprise our school when we won in inter-school competitions.

I am referring to the sport of volleyball.

We had a team that did not have an official coach. We played almost everyday (we skipped only when it was raining) and not even periodical examinations would stop us.

Weekends were also spent in the school to play or compete in the tournaments, which we did without any official uniform as we wore our intramural shirts, but it was fun.

The years have passed and we took different paths in the careers that we chose. Our skipper, who is a math genius, and I had a chance to once again play for the school team during college while the others took up different courses and now have different professions.

The other night, several members of our team were in one place as our team captain, Carl Abad Bugarin, who is now based in San Jose, California, is in town for a brief visit.

Carl was our team’s heart and soul. It was his passion for volleyball that kept the team together and his brilliance in math that helped many players cope with the academic requirements through the tutorials that he always gladly did for friends.

Also present the other night was Robert Francis Hipolito, the team’s vice captain, who is now in the banking sector as well as Dr. Vicente ‘Inting’ Avanzado, Jr. and Apollo Emmanuel Oriel.

Other classmates, who at one time or another also played with us, like Kerrwin Sanchez and Dr. Raul ‘Rocker’ Trasmonte were also around. So were other high school classmates as we started discussing plans for our silver jubilee next year.

Also on hand were our lovely classmates like Michelle So, Carla Ybañez-Veloso, Dr. Geraldine Alcarez-Co, and Tina Pacis-Ouano. There were also those who remained dashing despite some bulges near the middle like lawyers Joel ‘Yeyin’ Seno and Ernest ‘Cogs’ Montecillo, Dennis Pastor and Julius Villarin, who is on vacation from Chicago.

Carl suggested that we try to play volleyball as part of our celebration next year and I hope we will find people still fit enough to play, hehehe.

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Despite the heat, I was told that people continued to pack the beach volleyball court outside Parkmall in Mandaue City to witness the Visayas eliminations of the Nestea Beach Volleyball Tournament.

 After this week, I’m sure there will be a lot of interest in beach volleyball and the court at Parkmall shall provide them a place to play the game.

Beach volleyball has long been played in Cebu with many players even transferring their residence to Inayagan, Naga. The sport is also popular in the town of Liloan as well as San Remigio, Moalboal and Santa Fe.

Soon well see beach volleyball being played in more towns and that’s something that I’m sure will be happening very soon.

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MILESTONES: Happy birthday to the following, who are all turning a year older today – RCTV’s Chad Songalia, BPI’s Angelo Mahinay, Cebu Pacific’s Richel Sale of PMA class 1998, and my Tao sis Marla Cañete-Ramon.

Belated happy birthday to my buddy Vince Nery, who turned a year older yesterday.

More power to all of you!   (THE FREEMAN)