Have you ever seen Gold, Silver, Diamonds and Rubies turn Blue?
Well, on the feast day of the Immaculate Conception, they did, when all the Ateneo batches celebrating their respective jubilees came in full force to renew their ties with their Alma Mater and to their patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
They were the King Eagles for the night.
Hosted by the Silver Jubilarians of Class ’82, the traditional December grand alumni homecoming of Ateneo de Manila shimmered in blue and silver — and even in gold as the Ruby Jubilarians of College ’67 donated more than a million pesos to the Ateneo cause. Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ, president of the Ateneo, will never forget that night, I am sure. Enough for him to turn head cheerleader in a rousing one big fight for the Blue and White.
Setting the mood and spirit of the celebration were the famed Blue Babble Battalion and the Spirit of ’67 band who whooped it up with memorable Ateneo cheers that have echoed through more than a century. Even the Diamond Jubilarians would not be denied. Not high blood pressure, not a heart bypass could keep them from taking the center table, if not the center stage. No doubt, it was the night the Blue Eagles were flying the highest high.
Of course, my favorite batch was there to whoop it up for the Blue and White. A tight fraternity of Ateneans belonging to GS ’67, HS ’71 and College ’75, the batch was celebrating its Ruby anniversary since graduating from Ateneo Grade School. Balikbayan classmates Chuck Bough, Jun Camacho and Monty Salgado flew in just in time for the beer and the recycled jokes. Yes, even Fr. Pascuale Giordano, SJ had to listen to them all over again. Incidentally, the beer flowed through the night courtesy of Asia Brewery and Coors and not because Jay Cruz and Boopsie Erana were celebrating their birthdays. I wonder who would sponsor the Margaritas and martinis for my Assumption homecoming. But that’s for October yet...
Looking forward to their nth picture together, the other attendees were: Dinky Villanueva, Boy Favis, Monet Posadas, Joel Celestial, Sonny Mendoza, Louie General, Dave Rivera, Bubut Caluya, Mari Imperial, Gerry Aquino, Toby Dayrit, Alan Ortiz, Raul Peralejo, Art Cabrera, Jig Tan, Noli Ignacio, Tenet Salomon, Butch Halaguena, Toots Monfort, Joey Aranaz, Mari Gomez, Henry Fernandez, Jay Tuason, Bebot Guerrero, Randy Oliva, Ike Lopez, Bebot Congco, Mike Herlihy, Mon Gana, Tabby Mastrile, Chito Tanchoco, Chito Galvez, Bong Natividad, Bembol Roco, Danny de Guzman, Bing Montes, Jun Fojas, Tony Rodriguez, Ben Tangco with wife Malu (Coll ’81), Mon de Joya, Rico Supangco, Monching Santos, Hec Guballa, Bobby Tan, Chito Modesto, Herson de Luna, Ferdie Garrido, Joebert Cocjin, Vic Abeleda, Bill Yvanovich, Jojo Batiller, Mao Chua, Ray Espinosa, Johnny Filart, Rene Jasminez, Gigi Zenarosa and my husband, Ed.
Donning their King of the Blues tees (that glowed in the dark, I swear) and occupying five banquet tables, the Ruby Jubilarians found another opportunity to re-live their wild days in the angry seventies. For these guys, there will always be a reason to do so. And for the rest of the Ateneans like them, the grand alumni homecoming will always be the best reason of all.
(You may e-mail me at joanneraeramirez@yahoo.com)