‘Sige, ikaw na ang may birthday.’ This is one of the many punch lines thrown by presently-taken previously-my sweettart, Ayza.

‘Sige, ikaw na…

… ang may magandang cellphone!’ while I’m inviting more batchmates to come.
… ang postpaid’ when I opted to call instead to send messages.
… ang may mahal na camera!’ while I’m taking pictures with her.
‘Sige, si nikki na namimiss mo’ when I mentioned Nikki’s sweet gestures during high school
… may Multiply, Friendster lang kami’ when I asked them to check my Multiply account for the pictures.

Ang dami-dami nyang reklamo! Wahaha! At least, she went to the party as she understood Sheena’s invitation.

I was overwhelmed that after seven years I finally met and greeted Melvin, Lorraine, Shey, Jelly, Anna, Roxan, my fellow kaloots gangsters Gerald, Duke, Jacob, and the loveteams, Sheena-Chard, Tophe-Riya. They all prove that friends are just one text message (One call away na pala. Mayaman na daw kasi ako which is not true, of course.) Although some didn’t make it, Pam, Nikki, Rupert, Ren, Ejay, Carlo Ercia, sent their birthday greetings too.

I somehow failed when Jelly and I bought a hard drink on top of cans of Lone Star Beer which Sheena, the host of the event, provided. Since I am not a tomador and had chosen to stay away from being drunken, I thought Gran Matador will suffice. Reklamador naman si Ayza kaya sana daw tequila man lang. Wushu. I know that once alcohol passed through their throat, no matter what it is, ‘ibuhos na ang beer sa lalamunan’ at ayos lang basta’t pulutan, na ang drama. But the night continued. Mahaba-habang inuman!

A decade-old high school memories are reminisced as we tease each other and the love pairs and triangles formed. Enumerating them: Riya-Melvin-Ayza, Ayza-Jacob, Roxan-Richard-Sheena and me-Riya-Tophe. I remembered an article I wrote for Jas 4 Fun enumerating at least a hundred pairs from the pool of 52 or so individuals. I suddenly stopped joking about Riya and Tophe when Shey cut me once and said, ‘Eh panakip butas mo lang naman si Ayza. Si Gina talaga ang gusto mo!’ It is not true! Si Tophe kaya yun. Wahaha!

They also remember my 27-minute speech that made their parents hungry. Of course, these parents won’t appreciate the moments I enumerated one by one. At least, Shey remembered these are the moments I shared with each one them. It’s sad to confess that sometimes I feel it was really unnecessary (as how principal scolded me after that). Sometimes, when you talked to some of them na ‘walang amor’ or don’t even waved a hello kapag nakasalubong or nakatabi. Worst, there still existing unresolved issues way back high school.

People change. It’s a fact. But some manage to keep the spirit of Singkolar Society alive still. I’ve never been that close to Joey, Chavz and Paul but short YM and Friendster messages have me feel their sincerity to meet the batch once they come back to the Philippines. So, I’m expecting more people to join us in the reunion this summer.

Masayang mahalin ang mga kaibigan ko and batchmates. Ang salubungin at ipagdiwang ang unang segundo ng ika-24 kong kaarawan ay espesyal talaga.

More pictures at this page.

Subuan!

The merged Campus Batikan Girls.

The merged Anay-Revo Boys.

Toast for the birthday boy!

Pang-friendster pic!

Roxan and Carlos, I mean Richard.

Sa’n ba haharap?

Sana… dalawa ang puso ko!

Humabol din sina Duke and Gerald.

Ang Mga Lalaki Sa Buhay ni Ayza

Waah! Ang sikip!

12 sardines inside the car

Just like John Estrada and Gretchen Baretto!