Tarts before Christmas

One of my first Christmas parties for the year was spent with the people, who  with the exception of my close relatives  have known me the longest. My classmates from the Assumption Convent. We call ourselves, the “Tarts,” after the most famous of all AC delicacies, the “Assumption Tart” (A crusty tart topped with gooey guava jelly).

Some of the Tarts (like Rina, Jojo, Rhona, Sandy, Lisa, Sarsi and Arlina) have known me since I was fat and bespectacled (I wear contact lenses now) at the Assumption Convent in Herran, when we would go boating at a man-made lagoon at recess time. We prayed to God we wouldn’t fall overboard for the legend was that we would be sucked by a drain that would take us all the way to Manila Bay.

In Grade 6, I think, we were united with our Assumption San Lorenzo batchmates and though there was an initial awkwardness in our “unification,” the lines blurred soon.

In Assumption Antipolo, where we all went for Grade 7, we were just one happy bunch  though I learned belatedly at last Friday’s Christmas party, that Gina and Maite had a hair-pulling incident in Grade 7 with poor Tolen caught in between.

At last Friday’s party at Marissa and Joey Concepcion’s resort-like home, we had fun making Maite and Gina recall their childish feud and reconciliation. It was only the second time since high school that I have seen Maite (another Maite lives in Spain), so ladylike and demure now. As for Gina, she’s become a big-time caterer. The “sigas” (toughies) of yesteryears have become happily domesticated.

I don’t know if the santas (as in saints) of my grade school and high school days have been canonized, but some of them have turned out to be today’s vamps (secret!). I just know three of the chubbiest have become today’s sexiest and slimmest  Rina, Jojo and Lisa.

Sandy is still athletic  at our pearl (go figure) velada last year, she did cartwheels onstage. At my sister’s silver velada this year, it was her batchmates’ children who did cartwheels. But our Sandy still does cartwheels herself!

Patty is our batch’s survivor. She was a terror in high school because she was the brilliant one who directed our stage plays. In the auditorium she was a god and she took no prisoners. Today, her Facebook posts could might as well have been written by Mother Teresa and Oprah. So inspirational.

Patty has not only survived a kidney transplant, she has overcome two bouts with early stage cancer. Now, she is preoccupied with surviving the loss of tobacco in her life. She has quit smoking and has this electronic cigarette (complete with smoke, but tar free) to take its place. Recently-widowed Pia is another symbol of strength amidst adversity.

Michelle has one of the most appreciative hearts in the world. When the children of Vides Foundation (which our host Marissa has been steadily supporting through the years) were doing a song and dance number, she focused on the presentation like Charice were the one singing. “These kids prepared long and hard for this. It is a precious gift to us,” she said.

Michelle is also one of the most creative. She brought lacy red and black T-Backs for all of us as her Christmas present. Somebody tossed me a red T-Back, which I later tucked into my clutch. The others tried them on like they were headbands (they were even slimmer than headbands!).

Michelle likes to recall that a friend saved herself from cancer because she loved to wear T-Backs. When her friend’s period wouldn’t stop and therefore she couldn’t resume wearing T-Backs, the friend had a check-up and found out she had Stage 1 cancer (hence the bleeding). The T-Back saved her.

Andie, my batchmate and classmate, is the glue that keeps many of us together. After being out of touch with most of us for 20 years, she has reached out to us and knitted the various threads of our batch into one cohesive group with her constant support and encouragement  and text messages. All you need is one Andie to get a party or a prayer meeting going.

Cecilia, Liza, Martha, Sarsi, Ginny, Belette are the livewires that every batch can’t do without. Nina, Arlina, Aissa, Karin, Moppet, Roslu, SJ Tina, Chary and Rhona are pillars as well, and the batch wobbles without them. Lisa takes the most soulful photographs that chronicle the batch’s activities. Her photographs mirror our journey through life.

I couldn’t touch base with all those who were present, but last but not the least, dear Marissa. Marissa must have been standing first in line when God was giving away his blessings. But instead of just counting her blessings she shares them generously and consistently. To add cheer to our celebration (not including the cheer brought about by the husbands who donned Santa Claus costumes), Marissa asked the children of the Vides Foundation to sing for us. She made them part of our party, infusing a social consciousness into what would have otherwise been just a good time. As the children were singing, Marissa’s pre-schooler Bella was clapping her hands in glee and she was also warming up to the kids. Her mother is definitely passing on her values to her.

We went home with a high that night  not just because of the good food, the martinis and the mojitos, but also because of the buzz that comes with knowing that the seatmates and the playmates of our youth will still be our seatmates as we continue to learn from the lessons of life (and mid-life!).

“Seeing our batchmates is like having comfort food,” gushed one of us. Like good old Assumption Tarts, you will always look for them during rainy days and Mondays.

And the best part is that we know that if we fall from our boats, we won’t end up in Manila Bay. Someone from the batch will give us a hand and pull us right back in.

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