Reunions are like pashminas

It’s the warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you drape a soft pashmina that smells like fabric softener over your bare shoulders on a windy night. The pashmina just clings gently, snugly on your shoulders, and you tug at both ends, putting one over the other, as if embracing oneself. Ah, instant warmth!

Reunions, especially class reunions, which don’t happen as often as family reunions, are like pashminas. You don’t use them all the time, but you know they’re there, ready to be pulled out of the closet when the need arises. You can count on them for warmth when the chills and winds of fortune blow over us.

The first meaningful reunion is the run-up to the 25th high school reunion, which in my alma mater Assumption Convent, is called the velada (because of the musicale that accompanies it). This comes just when women are in their physical and professional peak – their mid to late thirties. Most (definitely not all) are done with childbearing and boast figures better than those they had in high school. Most faces glow with the joy of marriage, motherhood and/or a fulfilling career. It is not uncommon to see women who have it all, and yet know that the best is yet to come.

There is also pressure before these reunions to lose weight and look good, some actually fall into a depression if they don’t think they meet the mark. Because reunions are also occasions to take stock – of each other, and of oneself. And usually, the best compliment you get is from a classmate you haven’t seen since high school, especially if she says: "You haven’t changed! (And that’s if you feel you already looked good in high school) or "You look so good I wouldn’t have recognized you even if you put a gun to my head!" (That’s if you know you certainly look better now than you did in high school.)

There’s nothing like the warmth of a rekindled friendship. They just melt away the years like soft crushed ice (or Snow Cone) under a warm sun. Or a cold bare shoulder under a soft, reliable pashmina. Rain or shine, but especially when it rains.

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That’s why people, men and women, make a big deal of their reunions. Two weeks ago, I gave my space to Billy Esposo of Ateneo HS ’66, who wrote about their homecoming and how everyone crossed party lines under the banner of the Republic of the Blue Eagles! For men, I guess a reunion is like a chest of ice-cold beer – one bottle is not enough!

Last week, my youngest sister Valerie Mayor Sotto and her batchmates of Assumption HS ’86 had their 20th year reunion, at El Cirkulo, which is owned by their batchmate Malu Gamboa. The reunion must have been so important to my already beautiful sister, she had her "virgin" eyebrows shaped for the first time since she was born – just for the reunion!

This batch is special to me because I taught Literature to two sections of the batch after I graduated from college. They were juniors then, and the year was 1984, during the historic years between the assassination of Ninoy Aquino and the EDSA Revolution.

Malu, who was one of my brightest students, recalls of their recent 20th year reunion:

"We were all of 22 and it was FUN! Had dinner, lots of drinks and some funny games bringing back hilarious high school memories! Needless to say, we were the NOISIEST table at the restaurant!

Present were, from Section 1: Joan Bustamante, Candy Gonzalez, Terette Andaya and Rachel Geronimo; Section 2: Natalie Dalupan, Rissa Pineda, Janice Abellaneda, Becky Lopez, Pia Bermejo, Trina Boquiren, Gina Ocampo, Dinty Apacible and Debbie Miranda; Section 3: Rina Andrews, Mary Rose Teodoro and Mia Paterno; Section 4: Mailet Bonoan, Valerie Mayor and Malu Gamboa; and Section 5: Ria Sanchez, Gina Bengzon and Michelle Henson.

It was great to see two beautiful pregnant classmates (Janice and Becky)... balikbayans Rissa, Terette, Becky, Trina and Ria. Trina came all the way from Singapore just to attend the reunion with her daughter, Kim. We had Botox consultations courtesy of Dr. Mary Rose who is a Pediatric Ophthalmologist (check her out at Makati Med and Asian Hospital); Rina was showing off high school memorabilia such as party invitations from the ’80s and her library cards with I.D. photos!

We played trivia games recalling discos from the ’80s, bars we grew up in (Zach’s Bistro, Jalisco, Tia Maria), ’80s mobile groups (TS, STI, Master Mix) and popular guys in high school (names to be given upon request! he he). There was a lot of excited talk about our velada in 2011.

We decided that we should start meeting at least twice a year so we can OUTDO all the other batches (Including mine, Batch ’79, haha)! We’re just thrilled that Batch ’81, (of my sister Popsie and Tessa Valdes) which had a mega extravaganza velada last October, will be celebrating their Pearl year with us...and so will last year’s Golden batch of Tita Marixi Prieto who will be joining us for a special performance on their 55th year!

So happy we’re in touch with you, our dear teacher (That’s me!) ! Thanks for the memories! * * * >Thanks for the memories, too, Malu. Just like a pashmina.

(You may e-mail me at [email protected])