This is high school.
It is already two years after graduation, and I am flooded by memories, all the fun and sad times, that I’ve experienced during my 4 years of high school. I keep having regrets, but as I’ve written before, as long as there are choices, there will still be regrets. The only difference is how deep those regrets are.
Dec. 24, 2011
I was thinking of something to write on this blog when I suddenly remembered our ‘lost’ class prophecy, or should I say forgotten? I am not blaming anyone, heck, if there’s someone to blame, it should have been me, because somewhere in my memories was that we kind of started it, then nothing. I can’t remember how it didn’t work out. I couldn’t remember why it wasn’t read to us during our graduation ceremonies. It may be a silly thing, nuisance even, but for me, and maybe even for those whose names should’ve been written in there, it would have meant a lot.
So here it is, Makil Technical School Batch 2009-2010 Class Prophecy (which is mainly written due to nostalgia and melancholy, and was supported and pushed through by boredom)
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Success, according to MS Word 07 Thesaurus, is achievement, accomplishment, victory and triumph. But then, it made me ask, is it really? Is that what success’ very existence means? And then, here comes happiness. Do these two words co-exist, or is one a part of the other?
I started my blog with these thoughts, having no particular answer in my mind. My heart is giddy with excitement because after years of rarely being at home, I’ve already finished what I’ve tasked myself to do. And now, it’s time to go back to the place where I was born, the place where I’ve spent half of my life in. I wonder how my friends are right now. I have lost contact with most of my acquaintances during college, even most of my friends during high school. I wonder what kind of success they are experiencing. My phone rang; it was Angel Galuardo, the most treasured international model and my best friend of 10 years already. After graduating from a business course and climbing the corporate ladder for a few years, she found her life in modeling, and became very successful in that career. “What time will you be able to land? I’ll be available by 12 n,” she asked me. That would be after her last pictorial in advertising Angiellierre, a clothesline famous not only in the Philippines, but internationally. This atelier is owned by Makil Technical School’s very own, Angie Lyn Gomez, who is now happily married to [insert future husband’s name here]. Angie Lyn is actually a nurse/designer, hired by a lot of famous and influential people. Her works usually are sold-out, even put in auctions, not only here in the Philippines, but as I've said, internationally.
I boarded the plane at exactly 5:00 a.m. and am expected to enter the Philippine territory in 8 hours. I was exceedingly impressed by the airlines’ accommodations. Business partners Manuel Pacis and Julius Eblogen made it real big in their business of choice. I am so proud of those two, being recently labeled as the youngest entrepreneurs, and two of the most eligible bachelors in the country. I have had some business dealings with them in the past and they really grew up to be the intelligent, cunning moguls that they are now. I, as their long-time friend, could never be happier for them than I am now.
What surprised me inside the plane was the fact that the attendants who helped me with my things are none other than Rose Ann Bugarin, along with her best friend Aikolyn Galus. Imagine my delight after knowing that these two are already self-made. Add it to a yet another surprise; Kharteny Del Rosario is the one piloting the plane! Last thing I’ve heard of him was that, after winning the lotto, he pursued his life-long dream of being able to grace the racetracks with his daredevil antics with his sports car. Who would have thought that he settled down to being a commercial pilot? “It’s because,” Rose Ann supplied me with some news, “he is already engaged, and his fiancée doesn’t want him endangering himself, so he settled on being a pilot. And don’t you worry; he is exemplary in his job.” “I wonder who his fiancée is, do I know her?” I asked Rose Ann. She answered with a laugh, “Of course you do, remember Alfie? Alfie Lyn Tamingo? She is the fiancée.” Maybe I was a little surprised, but c’mon! They were like the best couple ever during high school (although they were so against the idea). Alfie Lyn Tamingo is the popular sculptor who made it well in Europe. After three years of just playing around and not being serious, her life made a huge turn when she found her calling and passion in an arts exhibit. Since then, she had devoted herself to sculpting the most amazing pieces all over the world, rivaling that of Michelangelo’s. For these people, following their passion is their success and their happiness.
I arrived in shortly thereafter, and I met up with Angel, and Angie’s husband, who was driving the car. After a short welcome and how-are-you’s, we drove to Rhodora Doña’s Cuisine, where a reservation has been made. Inside the 5-star restaurant is Rhods herself, smile plastered on her face. “Welcome back! How’s Atlanta? Where’s my gift?” she chattered enthusiastically, while leading us to our table. Still single and very stunning, Rhodora was the one arranging our batch’s get-together. She told us of how Makil Technical School bloomed and is now having new buildings on a broad portion of land which is donated by Mark Bryan Bolin and his wife, Jinky Dalimeg-Bolin. I’ve learned that Mark Bryan already owns half of the metro’s land and their hacienda is prominent for its premium livestock and crops. It was also then that Rhodora told us that the new principal is Dr. Elton Gomez MaEd, PhD, much to our surprise. With Kimbe Marinyll Galdonez as a teacher by his side, the student’s education is in safe hands. Yes, I know. First love never does die (Peace^^). We were all having fun eating and chatting when our interest was caught by sounds on the makeshift stage on front followed by a pleasing voice which sounded so exceedingly recognizable. It was then that we realized that the lead singer was none other than Rhea Grace Martin of the famous Prophecy band. “I managed to book them for this month, after a year waiting,” Rhodora laughed. It only showed how well-known they are in the music world. Someone from Rhea’s back was waving, and it was Leo Bacuaden who is behind the drums. “I thought you’re in Paris with some business conference?” I shouted at him. “That was a month ago, I’m here to unwind,” he answered, a smile set on his lips. “By the way, is Myla back in the country yet?” Angel asked him. Myla Dukey is now the distinguished contemporary pianist, and is at present on her world tour, serenading both classical and modern music aficionados. “Not yet, but she’ll be back soon to start her own school here,” Leo answered and he added,"oh and did you, by any chance, get an invitation to her engagement party with her fiance?". " Not yet?" I answered, curiosity lacing my voice. "Who is the lucky guy?" I asked, and Leo just smiled. "Julius Eblogen of course! They met in Giza a year ago, and bam! Old flames rekindled." I just love those kind of stories. By pure hard work and talent, I now witness these people luxuriating in triumph.
It was an exhausting ride back home, but with the comforts of Cabañero Transports, which is obviously owned by Jan Rhee Cabañero, we made it home in no time. Jan Rhee, aside from being a businessman, is also a writer/scriptwriter. It was through that career of his that I got informed of Florencio Gabaine’s whereabouts. “Florencio is Gabby Renz,” Jan Rhee, who joined us inside the bus, said. “He never expected his stories to become bestsellers but the moment that they did, he feared for his own privacy. He never showed himself to the public, and only us, Florencio’s co-writers who knew of his real identity.” I knew it! Gabby really is my highschool friend! I am actually a fan of him. The bus stopped, picking up passengers and we saw uniformed men enter. They are actually intimidating, if not for their smiling faces. It was then that I realized that those military men were Jakcson Aglit and John Eric Angagan. What a coincidence to be able to meet them here, on board a bus and halfway to home. So they did manage to achieve their long-time dream, and I didn’t even bother asking why they are in their uniforms. Jan Rhee stopped by St. Antoinette Hospital, saying he’ll have to fetch his long-time girlfriend Dr. Gemalyn Tumacdang who is a doctor and a major stockholder of that said hospital. Another definition of success is when you have achieved your own dreams.
Finally! We have arrived in Galimuyod Ilocos sur, with Mayor Karl Michael Calura’s smiling face poster welcoming us. I always knew that politics is his game, and with the town under his just and principled lead for 3 years already, we saw prosperity all over the place. I was amazed by how the municipal hall changed so much, and Angel told me that it was Engr. Nimrod Manzano and Architect Jailline Apilado who led the renovation. Their team-up became famous for their abstract yet eco-friendly and safe buildings, teaming up with Real Estate Geniuses Jessica Patti Guilambo and Jessica Valdez in building the first ever subdivision in Ilocos sur which is at par on those subdivisions in Greenhills. Posted in front of the Police Station is the name Janver Pangisban, and at first I thought he was a wanted criminal in our town but it was the other way around, he is the new Chief of Police after serving dedicatedly for 2 years. Another poster that caught my attention is the one with John Mark Novida’s billboard, featuring him, in his PBA team’s jersey, advertising an energy drink. They are the ones who helped our town prosper, the ones who didn’t venture out and instead improved on their very own ways, but not leaving their homes.
Though of varied definitions, success is written all over our names. The most important thing is that we found happiness, love and satisfaction on whatever goal we had achieved, and that is more precious than all the wealth, prestige, power or awards that we got on the way to the top. It may be somewhat irrational, unreachable, and impossible even, but with pure determination and a bit of luck, those dreams can become reality.
Thus I ended my blog entry for this day, surfing the net for new updates on books to be ordered for my bookstore, and only one thing in my mind. We really did make it.
~~~~ Owari~~~Fin~~~End~~~~
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As someone might notice, I didn’t write a sloppy it-was-just-a-dream ending, because it certainly isn’t, aside from the fact that I wasn’t sleeping when I wrote this, ergo not dreaming. Kidding. I opened the invite/list of graduates thingy and I lmao’d after seeing that the dreams written there was the exact opposite of what they had become in this prophecy. Oh well, this thing is just based on my own perspective so gomenasai!
Oh! And I remembered about the famous pairings during highschool, like KhartenyxAlfie, JinkyxMark Bryan, EltonxKimbe, and I even added another one, Jan RheexGemalyn! I can’t help it!!! I actually decided against AngelxKarl but just for a tiny bit of hope, Mayor Karl is still single and very much available, so is Angel. LeoxJessica pair isn’t much of a fuss for me, since I now know the real deal, etc etc… Comments? Violent reactions?
Hope you like it!
Note: Taking quotations has taken its toll on me. It’s like, I don’t know, somehow I can just take note on all of their lines and say that they all bore meanings. And that would be nonsense, because they did not, and only those who had read the whole story can keep up with me and my notes.
