NOW WE KNOW WHY...

LOSING ALMA

We've been in each other's arms for 6 great years. She was simple, beautiful then... unassuming. She exuded great energy even under the rain, and what a sight to behold in morning mist. She was then the star of the many momentous town activities. Some were historic...many were noble. She was always ready to extend her undying love and care for those who needed and more for those who didn't. She loved me then, and loved many others, too. She still do love us much now. And she loved us unselfishly. At times she was mistaken to be strict, yet forgiving. She was a great mentor, generous always of her time. She was sometimes abused by many of us, but she even loved and prayed for us more. She only and always wanted the best for us.

I left her, for a while. Many left her, and even more lost her in oblivion. She didn't complain. She never complained. She is only sad. It pains me.

Like others, as time passes, she is losing her beauty but not her heart for all of us and perhaps the generations to come. She is losing her aura but not her memory of all of us.

She is Alma,our beloved alma mater. The Bulusan Central School.

Do we really love her? Or still care, to say the least? I know many still. Many will always.

Remember the times when we had the loudest of laughters while having afternoon "uruyag" in her playground, after or during "harawan.". Who can forget when she readily accommodated the victims of fire that razed a number of houses in Madlawon in the 80s. Weren't you there with her when "basketball on wheels" was showcased for all of us. Were you not there when music of the popular "Remy Patanao Band" filled the airwaves during bisperas of the town fiestas? Wasn't it a sight to behold when agro-industrial products were being displayed all around her during agro-industrial fairs? The many civic actions she hosted are just countless. And many other great moments you and I shared with her. No doubt about it.

But nothing compares to the knowledge and values she imparted to us. We could lose many things in our life but not the knowledge and values that our dear alma mater unselfishly shared to us. Even when many have forgotten her.

She misses all of us. I know she needs us now. Some of her buildings silently cry for our assistance, even the littlest of it. And these are the old buildings that actively helped shaped our early years. For many of us, maybe it's the right payback time.


Yes, it's payback time. Now. Unless we lost her already...in our heart.

ABNER, Now A Name...

In my reckoning, we were the closest of batchmates and friends, literally and otherwise since high school but of course in different fields. Not surprising, our surnames are almost the same, and so our seats. We were among the top guns of the class. I mean, the top supporters and escorts most of the times of the top guns in our class. We just couldn't resist supporting these top guns as they always made us feel to be similar or just like them. Maybe similar, but not during exams. Perhaps the same, but not in caliber.

But that was a couple of decades back. I suspect he does not know this. My friend, Abner has made his way up to make a name for himself through patience, hardwork without losing his values, his patented smile... in our batch. He is the same Abner who seemed allergic to prolonged anger, though. He is still my friend who doesn't know taking center stage... always supportive and simple in his ways, in his words. A loving husband to his wife and a caring father to his kids. Feet always and still very much on the ground.

But I would like to emphasize why he is now a name. I'm sorry padi, but I just want them to know that you've been a silent but active leader of our batch now. Your endless and much-needed contributions, big and small in making our batch activities always a success could not be discounted. I salute you for that, padi. You are the face of many other batchmates who in one way or the other, contribute their selfless efforts for the good of batch and our beloved Bulusan as a whole. Madi Emily, Madi Gina G.,Madi Paula,Padi Itot, Padi Bong and Padi Bugoy,are just a few of them.

Salamat, padi! Here's a toss for you!

Happy Birthday, Padi!

Seems like yesterday when relatives and friends intently greeted us as we complete four long decades of our life. Few more days many will probably greet us once again, but not as intently as last year, I surmise. We will just be celebrating our forty-first birthday. Not much funfare needed, many think. Yes, I and my classmate, friend and padi Ralph will be capping again another year of great moments.

I would like to apologize to my friend for I failed to greet him as intently as others may have last year. He was not around. But I should have tried to reach him out. That was a great day to us, men. And so I will do it now. He is not just a friend after all. He influenced my life. He is a dear brother to me. More than a brother at times... many times. How could I not say that? We've been sharing experiences in life as early as our first grade. When our shortpants were really short then. When our haircut were really clean cut. Later our hair will be cut clean again, maybe by father time. I am experiencing it now. I hope to me only, not to my friend.

Yes, we shared a lot of happy and not so happy moments and experiences in life, during elementary, high school, college days. And more experiences even after that. But one thing I always notice and have accepted, he is always one shower ahead of me in many things aside from looks. Be it in studies, in sports endeavours, in winning the hearts of women when were still single, and many other things, he always went beyond. I believe I work hard, but my friend works harder and works hardest all the time. No wonder He is so generous also in giving my friend many good work opportunities here and abroad. And he is also the most if not among the most generous persons I know aside from my dearest mother. His heart is so big I could only wonder. I am so lucky to be able to live life having a good friend like him.

Accept my heartfelt thanks, padi for sharing and continue sharing great moments. Thank you for assisting me then to learn my curves, for bearing with me. "Kun nahulat kamo sa ako ni padi Ewin sadto kun awaton ako magluwas sin balay pag in hahapit niyo pag ma-eskwela na, nan kun may lakaw kirita."

May the Good Lord continue to shower you great blessings in life, especially good health.

Advance happy birthday, padi! I will always remain.

FIESTA... Why Not?

"Uli kamo padi, madi sa fiesta..!" I always prod them to. I almost beg at times. I actually uttered these words many times... and still uttering now.

Yes, I almost and always frustrate myself because most of the time my begging words fell on deaf ears... or maybe swept away by wind of disinterest. But don't get me wrong. Many are frustrated either.... many eager voices of our kababayans who always look forward to seeing you out there spend a couple of days here, be with them on the most important occasion of our town..."The Feast of St.James The Greater." Do we actually remember him? I hope.

Time flies so fast, much faster now. Couple of decades back, fiesta celebration had been if not on the top of the list of reasons of spending moments with or going back to our town by most of our kababayans. Many saw to it then that they could be with their families, relatives at least on bisperas to join and enjoy in the preparations for the big day next day. As a kid then, I truly enjoyed watching and sometimes helping in making ibos and suman, more so with our relatives from far flung areas. Hands down, ibos and suman are still if not the only food items most sought after and still being prepared for the fiesta. Fiesta is not complete without them, plus of course the ever famous dinuguan bicol style. These are best savored in our town... with our kababayans, during fiesta. Imagine eating them in a fast food or somewhere else. Would you appreciate them better the way you do during fiesta?

Many reasons to come home, but more reasons to come some other time...they effortless say, always. Imagined reasons always get in the way. I will always understand, we have always understood. But for how long our town must? When we are no longer around to understand you? When we no longer know how to enjoy the fiesta with you? Allow me to imagine, too.

But I am not losing hope. I still breathe. I will always hope. I know St.James will help me out here, will give the way for many of us to once again celebrate with him just like the glorious festivities in yesteryears.

Come home and remember our departed loved ones during "Todos Los Santos." Be with us on Christmas! Come around for the meaningful observance of The Holy Week. But please don't spare the Fiesta.

"Daanison baga padi, madi an hangin sa ato kun ma-fiesta na! Kaya uruli na kamo. Sagot ko an dinuguan na kuruton."

Yes, I will always prepare for you. We will always be ready when you come.

Why wouldn't you? Why not...

Mga Campus beat!! Circa 80

Mga batchmates, uli na kamo kay ini testing pa lang, pero daanison kay maogmahon na...!

Thank You, 'Ma!

She hears me now I am sure of it. But I would love her hears me say this when she was still around, when I could still do it with a hug. I did not have the courage. I tried many times but I failed even more in my mind. How could I say "thank you, mama for everything," when you gave more than everything. As a kid I just wanted to learn the way you do things in life, your own style, but you even invented ways for me on how to do things and make them special. I just asked guidance while growing up, but you gave me directions on how to succeed though at times I failed to live up to your simple yet worthy expectations of me. I am very sorry for that, 'Ma. I knew all along my weaknesses in life and the many shortcomings I made but you stood ground, never gave-up, patiently and eagerly watched me soar in life with what I know and what I have. I know you are still and will always be watching. I have not yet reached more heights in my chosen fields, but not in friends and experiences.

I would like to thank the Lord for giving you to us. You're such a great mentor, friend, our children's friend ....and amazing mother to us. You very well know what I mean. Much as I would love to see you live more, see more of our lives, see our children grow, I could not defy the Lord's invitation for you to be with Him now. Papa would be even happier probably to be with you.

You may have left us but you will definitely continue to live in our hearts forever.

We love you, 'Ma. Salamat uli!

Missing Even More

Significant part of my high school life were the moments outside the classrooms, free time along the building corridors, unguarded moments inside the cottages in front or at the back of the buildings, but what made it even more meaningful and unforgettable were the voices, faces, and individual unique laughters of my dear friends and batchmates which until now, I could vividly recall. Silent smiles of some completed the moments.

And I miss them. All of them. Just badly. High school days could not be complete without them.

Thanks to "technology." Thanks to blogger.com. Slowly my friends and classmates are surfacing one by one, telling their very own experiences after high school days. Slowly, I could almost hear their voices, see their laughters exactly the same during "parantukan days" when our age was not part of the topics.

I wish I could turn back the hands of time, from time to time, and meet them again when I wanted to. But I want also to fast-tract same hands so I could one day meet them with their kids, spouses and new friends but not in this site. Our town would still be the best place for that dream reunion. A reunion would only be a genuine one when we also re-unite with the place where we spent happy times...back then. Only in Bulusan.

As we move forward in this life, we tend to even recall more of the past, learn more from it... at times we could not help but bring it forward and make the current time or maybe the future even more meaningful. For you, my friends, batchmates, our days then together, are among my important past that I must always bring as I connect with with what we will further share again in the furture....together.

I do now miss you...even more. Pag-uruli man pan-o kamo..pirmi!

Yolanda Fortes Victor & family