Looking back, looking forward

All of us are happily and eagerly awaiting this special day of this new year: February 16, 2019! Our High School Batch ‘69 of Saint Mary’s College will come together for our Golden Anniversary, a joyous occasion to look back and to look forward together!

Oh, how time flies so fast!

Was it not only yesterday when daily, we went to our school in Diliman and together, experienced so many memorable and precious moments and memories?

Who can forget classmates, those we hang out with especially after our classes, those who became our BFFs (best friends forever).

Many of us met in elementary, others in high school. Many of us proceeded to high school, later, even to the same universities. Others left for other high schools, for other universities, others even went abroad.

Still, the bonds have been forged, then and forever, in and out of school. Beautiful recollections of weekend home visits, overnight stay-ins, travels to hometowns, among others.

 Oh, to us, our class was fiercely unique and distinctive!

We did the best we could together - for newspaper collection, for Mission Sunday, for other school contests and competitions. Being Number 1 was an honor and worthwhile goal, yes, but we valued cooperation and excellence more as a class! The key factor - enjoying every moment together as we tried to reach our goals!

There was no time wasted inside the classrooms as well. While waiting for our next teacher to come, spontaneously, a classmate would delight us with her dramatic hara-kiri performances. Another classmate would share about a book she was reading or another would pose a question, then we would proceed to discuss or make comments.

Outside the classroom, we were kept busy with field trips and practices and rehearsals for field demonstrations, for cheering contests, for sports events.

And then there was music!

We did songs for Masses and special feast days, had singing groups and did the Little Drummer Boy for a Christmas song competition. We also provided the background choral accompaniment for world-famous Filipino artists - violinist Gilopez Kabayao, soprano Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, and world-renowned conductress Sister Ma. Rosalina Abejo!

Proudly, we were among the first Rondalla players of the school - this allowed us to visit and perform in our sister St. Mary’s schools in Bulacan, elsewhere!

And how many of us quivered, even peed, when our elementary Music teacher, called us to sing in front! She so loved her music, she continued to share her voice with us even after her hair had turned grey!

Then, there was the stage! We had our Orator par excellence and actresses for drama and other plays.

The range of emotions were there as well - the laughter, the joy, the tears, the misunderstandings, the fights, the reconciliations, the embraces, the hugs and kisses! Oh, of course, so much scolding and discipline here and there too. But we all made it to Graduation Day, yehey!

And we brought with us the devotion and prayers to Mama Mary offered to her during her special celebrations as Our Lady of Fatima, our Lady of the Rosary, and the Immaculate Conception. Marians forever!

As doctors and nurses, lawyers, professors, media, business executives, as housewives, mothers, and grandmothers, among others, we are all over the world doing our share and mission to spread the love and joy of God and Mama Mary that St. Mary’s College taught us!

Oh, we were young then and younger even now. And we are so ready to gather together yet another time, 50 years since 1969, to collectively look back at our happy past and to look forward to another unforgettable reunion February of this new year!