Gloria L as seen these days

She vanished like a smoke after high school graduation. But we remember her as a giggly, always happy girl with a flawless complexion and to-die-for legs. She would gather and tie her hair up ala Mr. Clean to the protestation of Ma'am Andon in our Physics class. 'Ma'am mainit', she giggled as she continued reading the mailed letter (wala pa cellphone o email kang una) coming from friend Magda sealed with a band-aid, yes the one used for first aid. In Literature, she specially impressed Mr. Maroma with her well-thought-of answers to her book-home-reading report. When asked about the kind of story she had read, she exclaimed 'It's a satire.' Mr. Maroma had quoted her 'It's a satire' answer in front of his other clueless but impressed students. In our remote high school, nobody had heard what a satire was. Many thought satire was a kind of round rubber that makes vehicles run.

Mosac, Gloria, and Au-au - all sisters in their previous lives - are happy to be around at 50. Thirty-four years had passed since they last saw each other.

The last time I heard about her, she was already working with a Makati-based firm. That was after college graduation. She never attended any past class reunions.

After 34 years, we suddenly heard that Gloria Lanes (now Habacon) was in Jaro, Iloilo. She came unannounced, like the swine flu.

Last July 10, 2009, we met Gloria at her brother's residence in Cubay, Jaro, Iloilo City during the wake of her father, Nemesio Lanes, Sr. Burial was scheduled on the next day at Forest Lake Memorial Cemetery.

Gloria still had shades of her former giggly, happy self. But obviously, she is now restrained, her dialogue is peppered with scriptural passages, and she has mellowed to a fine lady.

Gloria now lives in Olongapo City with her husband, six children, and one grandchild named Aesop. She works with the Born Again Ministry where her eldest son is a Minister.@