UST on my mind

Every other alumnus of the University of Santo Tomas now in print media had already written a tribute in commemoration of this Catholic school’s 400th anniversary.

It’s the turn of this former UST student who majored in journalism there to walk down memory lane and recall fond memories that are still treasured in my head. This is so timely because later at 5 p.m. today is the alumni homecoming of the university’s College of Arts and Letters that began in 1964.

Before that it was known as the College (or was it Faculty?) of Philosophy and Letters. Anyway, they’re referred to as the Philets, while we are the Artlets.

The Philets, so I was told, will have their own homecoming separate from us. In 2004, I hosted the combined Philets and Artlets reunion at the Manila Hotel and the graduates before 1964 still brimmed with energy. In one production number, an alumna in her mid-’60s (oops, I hope I did not make her older) did a Tahitian number. Today’s generation may not know what a Tahitian dance is or how you work the movements. But trust me kids, that was a staple on variety shows on TV all the way till the early ’70s. And then there was another lady who played the piano during an intermission number. Is it true she brought her own grand piano? That was quite a load.

For tonight’s Artlets homecoming, I doubt if anyone will do a Tahitian. Oh, but there will be somebody present whose name is undeniably Hawaiian — Maria Aloha Leilani Sancianco Carag Bsaeas — otherwise known as Ali Sotto. She and I had been tapped to host the program that is being put together by the president of the alumni association, the tireless Teddy Pereña.

Other media personalities from the College of Arts and Letters who confirmed their attendance are top-notch GMA news reporters Sandra Aguinaldo and Cesar Apolinario (now also an award-winning filmmaker). Arnold Clavio will also have a special participation in one of the segments.

And then there will be Isko Salvador, who had become Brod Pete. His real name is German Salvador and he was the original Kuya Germs among his classmates.

I only have a vague idea where in the campus the reunion will be held (supposedly at the back of the main building). But as of the other day, tickets had been sold out. Pereña and wife, Prof. Nette Galang, are panicking how to accommodate everyone.

In my naughty head, I can tick off several superficial reasons why former students want to attend reunions. Here’s what I suspect:

It’s a chance to show off your Hummer. If you are driving one tonight, can I be your best friend for life? No, that’s not that part of the Dominican values that were imparted to us students. That’s just me.

To display the cosmetic and aesthetic works of Dr. Vicki Belo. The good doktora must have made a killing among those alumnae who want to look young, fresh and beautiful for tonight’s affair. Those who had a lipo for this event, raise your hands.

To show off the five lbs. they lost in preparation for this reunion.

To file a protest why Piolo Pascual was the one chosen to pose for a statue by Ramon Orlina that is now displayed in the campus and not one of them. Piolo can always bark back: “Because I am Piolo Pascual and you are not.”

To swap stories about the legendary España floods during the rainy season. I missed out on that one. Never did I experience flooding there — and I have no idea why.

Among the ladies, to display their Louis Vuitton acquisitions.

To parade around successful hair transplants among the male graduates.

To flash their veneer smiles for which they were charged a hefty sum by their orthodontists.

To check out if the girl who turned you down in college is now fat, old and ugly and you can now have a good laugh.

To affirm how far you’ve gone in life.

But seriously, it is to thank the school for all the values its mentors instilled in you and, well, for the good education. Alongside with that, everyone is also looking forward to the camaraderie. Some are also curious to find out what happened to former classmates.

There was a naughty girl from my batch who once brought a portable typewriter to class and typed her way through the lecture since the teacher asked everyone to take down notes. And so there she went — tik-tak-tik-tak — pounding away on her typewriter (no laptops yet that time) to the annoyance of the professor. When the teacher had enough of it, he asked the student: “Miss Pineda, why do you have a typewriter on your desk?” Her answer was simple: “Because I don’t have a ball pen.”

I’m sure everyone will have his/her own favorite stories to tell at tonight’s reunion. I have a whole trunk.

But, sorry, I won’t have flood tales to share.