Faces we seldom see in reunions

Cecilia J (in stripes) with, L to R, her son, Mosac, and Jesusa (subject of a previous post).

Cecilia J is currently - hold your breath - the Dean of the School of Midwifery of a university in Cavite. She exudes that erudite, dignified, and reserved look - just the right qualities of a respected college dean. In high school, she was always reserved and would only speak when asked to recite in class. She was one of the few serious and studious girls in class because she was reading and memorizing her notes even as others were reading and memorizing Song Hits. She memorized kilometers of lines of Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe (It was many and many a year ago / In a kingdom by the sea / That a maiden there lived whom you may know / By the name of ANNABEL LEE;) . She recited the lines with those slits of eyes looking upwards as if reading the poem as written on the ceiling. Her skirt was long, always covering her calves, just like Nang Ceril's. She never brought a bag to school. Instead, she carried her notebooks, books, pencil case, and the frequent surot or garab, close to her chest and supported with her arm. She was least likely to be invited to jam sessions.

Isabel C as chemist of Midtjydsk Fornikling & Forchromning in Denmark. Whoever can read the name of the company right, please email Astig for a prize. What prize? Secret!.

Isabel C is married to a Dane and now lives and works as a chemist in Denmark. You might ask, Denmark? A Filipino living in Denmark? The country with the highest income tax in the world? Filipinos are famous for evading taxes in the Philippines. So, how come others act like masochists by allowing themselves to be taxed of 60% of their income? Ask Isabel. According to her, social benefits in Denmark are the best in the world. Medical care is free, and she had been operated on in the hospital for several times with minimal expense. While in the hospital and recuperating, she continued to receive her salary. And when her operation went bad, the government supplied her with a free lawyer so she can sue. And she sued successfully and was compensated. The infrastucture in Denmark is high-end and expenditure is a small percentage of the take-home pay. No wonder. Isabel, even when absent in the reunions, was always ready to share with her blessings. In fact, had her mother not died a few months before the 2009 reunion, she would have shouldered the cost of the food and the t-shirts. And she is not running for any elective position this 2010.

Marilene L (L) with Racquel G and the daughter of Cecilia J.

Marilene L did not graduate from CNCHS. But she was a classmate in the elementary. She was pretty, with long legs which she hated when she was a kid because she was always placed at the back of the line during the flag ceremony. And it was in the back were all the naughty boys lurked. And naughty boys in the elementary thought girls standing beside them should play their games too - like paupas ka damang, bug-oy, pityew, tayhup, kag pitik (To those who are in the early stage of alzheimer's, tayhup and pitik were games using rubber bands. Gets nyo?). Those who would not join, gina-sipa. And Marilene could only cry. In high school she was always the muse, with Edgar as her escort. She hated Edgar. And Ernie. And Uwa. And all the boys who constituted the naughty boys squad from elementary to high school. But she loosened up and really bloomed as a young lady when she got featured in the school paper The Glow as CNCHS' prima donna. Because she sang so well. Even Ma'am Catiquista noticed her after she heard her sing. 'Ay kanami gid tana,' Maam Cati's jaw dropped as if tranced by the song of the sirene Lorelei. So Marilene represented CNCHS in all the singing competitions in the province. Marilene is now maried to Bobby, and she works in Manila. This early, while other clasmates are banging their heads on where to get the next pang-tuition, Marilene is spared from any child-related financial woes as her 2 children are already college graduates and are now working. Lucky girl. Her salary is only for her shopping sprees. But the long legs still walk the rutted sidewalk like it is a catwalk; and her voice has still that lilting charm of a girl. But don't be fooled. She is now a certified owaw courtesy of her daughter.

Bulky Nenita S (in red) and still shapely Gloria L (subject of a previous post).

Looking for a hotel in Iloilo City with reasonable rates? Look no farther. Just go to Riverqueen Hotel. Look for Nenita S. Possibly, you will not recognize her as she can pass as a mamma san. She was buxom in high school. She is now bulky but still single and works as a front desk officer of Riverqueen Hotel. Nenita is still lacquacious. No single second is boring in front of her. Her favorite topic is her singleblessedness. She narrated that she had lots of boyfriends before, mostly foreigners, but they never showed her the qualities she was looking for in a future husband. Asked what these qualities were, she just shrugged her shoulders. Perhaps, she signalled that the topic was obsolete as she was resigned to becoming an old maid forever. Di baleh, she added, mas nauna ako maglandi sa inyo tanan. Nenita mans the front desk starting 12:00 midnight. In order not to feel sleepy, she reads FHM. And I thought that the meaning of FHM is For Him Magazine. Funny?

And pahabol na hits. These ladies are adopted classmates. One now resides in Vancouver and the other one in San Nicolas. Recognize them? @