August15, 2009, about three months ago, we gathered a small but successful Reunion of our batch. Almost seventy of our fellow alumnus came, gladly celebrated and unionize once again. Who would have thought after fifteen years the three hours of non-stop talking turned out to be the longest night of everyone lives. Who would have thought that it would suddenly stir up something more than just casual gatherings? Since it was almost two decades, we stayed and shared stories together. And though the night deepens, and the stories were foretold by one person to another, the laughter was boisterous than the previous ones. The inner child among us unleashed absently. And yes, we treated each other like sixteen again. Oh touché… 
Then suddenly, something came out. This is not just a simple ‘get-together’ at all. A month ago, the remaining active members of batch 94 assembled once again. Not a coincidence, amusing as may say so, but destiny is what we can call it. Maybe on that particular word, and looking back, you can laugh out loud. What? We? My fellow Highschool buddies will do this? Help people—I was one of the many who stole the siopao from the canteen! Are you out of your freaking mind? Yes, we’re out of our mind simply because that time we’re just kids, having fun, nothing makes us happy than tormenting our teachers, calling them crazy names, calling ourselves crazy names. But that was fifteen years ago. Time has changed. And time changed us. I changed. All of us change. We put ourselves to the test and survived the hardships of life. It was the catalyst of being grown up. And now we can put that to a good use. I know this may sound weird, and yes I find it weirder myself, but how we can go on if there something more than just being a Cecillian.The Officers (Guess Who)
We spread—as much as we can—the news about the election to our fellow alumnus overseas. Sadly, no one answered. Maybe because they are busy. Or no time to read the emails. Or simply ignored, thought of it as joke, a chain letter perhaps or wandering curse. No one can blame you, we understood. We’ll ignored it too if we’re in your shoe. Imagine after fifteen years, somebody from your hometown imploring to have an election, let alone with a cause. Personally, you must have guts to pull this kind of stunt, possibly idiocy or worse, lunacy. But guess what—we did. Not because we have to, it’s because we need to. Unionize. Members did choose and the chosen ones uttered accepted their position, well crying of course (hahaha). I was chosen to be—don’t ask!—while eating the palabok. I choked, my eyes widened, I want to strangle the ones who elected me, or better yet, I want to smother all of them. Is there something on my forehead that says ‘All fingers on me’? My plan was only to start something, not to lead the whole thing (gotcha!—no bad words there). To tell you the truth, I don’t know what came to me and roll-call the members to stipulate an election that time. One asked me, “Niq, why are we doing this?” and I said, “Abay malay ko.” Then it hit us. “Nahh…We’re old. Mabait tayo eh. It’s just that hehehe.”
The elected Vice-President said it was a huge obligation (yeah right, to coin that old phrase, tell me about it bro. Let’s just say, we can sing that on a same tune). You’re smart, you’re genius—I don’t know on what particular forte but you are—I guess all… except the singing solo (wahaha). You can put your mind to every single detail and reckon all of them at the same time in a… crucial…humorous… blaring kind of way of course. Well, I can’t proceed with my 365 days of duty without my right brain side screaming at me anyway, and that is you. The only bad thing to pay the consequence is to be second beside me to put to a stand when something goes wrong (Uh-oh). But good news is, all of the censure words would be filtered—kasi po sasapuhin ko muna lahat before they can throw it to you. Feel better? Good. Don’t leave us hanging ‘cause we need the ‘pushing’. If not, well, we'll have to hang you to the gallows (wink wink wink).
Next: The Secretary. She will be the hammer—hammer to my head. Her reputation precedes her, who wouldn’t agree. Her charm, her execution of words is excellent enough to surpass any rhetoric-written poets—oh I bet you are! But that’s not the only reason. The reason truly is because of her cunning regarding the role. She’s the one who will snap me if dazed… and confused… and tense empowered me—my god, I’m confessing my weakness now, shake me up a bit! I will call you everyday to exchange notes and you can throw anything you wish at me—not literally okay— so you can express yourself freely, deal?
The Treasurer. Ah yes… the big mama of all food herself. And I mean BIG HOT MAMA (nahh… you know what I mean). She can feed us all of her cooking and then scroll down the bills in seconds after your last munch hahaha (ex: “Oh, five hundred yan kinain mo ha). That’s Fast Food to you, deary. Here’s your food—pay the bills. And that’s why she landed the role of Treasurer (tekah, layo no’n ah). Yeah, it was a joke—well, partly. But she is the Treasurer; ang may hahawak ng ating kaban. So don’t you dare make hide and seek with her, she’s uncanny when it comes to hunting. In one snap, you’ll end up begging—for her food, that is. She’s well known and one of the most trusted member of the batch. And may I remind you again that she’s one of the inspiring individuals who make things possible for our last Reunion. Yup, that’s her, the ‘Queen’ of our tummies.
The Henyo, the walking calculator with flamboyant smile. If she’s angry she smiles, if she’s happy she also smiles. However, if she twitched or pouts her lips a little, you better run—it means you’re busted. Oh you thought that’s a gesture now, huh? No-no! (Buking). But truly, the way I knew her fifteen years ago—except the glasses—until now is the same thing. She hadn’t changed a bit, especially the smile and that twinkling eyes, her wisdom and eagerness to make things different. She’s our Auditor and one of the advice-giver. Whew! Imagine that! And imagine the Math!—and I hate Math! Let me read five volumes of Encyclopedia for you than deal with Math. But that’s me. I am not her. And I assure you she has the guts. The Cause
Last month, someone wrote… or rather scream metaphorically about the victims from the wrath of typhoon Ondoy—or Peping—or whatever name that was. It floods our emails with long list of eye witnesses, shocking images from mobile messages, radio stations chorused the same news, and newsflash on every television screens right after commercial. I know, nauseating wasn’t it? And contrast to that, we have our moments. Moments like; we flagged the sender and his or her list because we thought that was the referrals from the union, deleted the images from our cellphone because we thought one of our friends gone insane to go to Boracay on wet season, we turned off the radio because you remember you voted already your fav song or you just don’t want to hear another sad song while soaking in the rain or you can’t bear another last song syndrome, and lastly mute the TV because Paula Abdul went drunk and favored the wrong contestant again. However, sickening as it was—or maybe, we have false information hehehe—the news and the needs of our fellow citizens are there. Be humane. Be helpful. Be helpful not because you want a reward or praise after it’s done. Be helpful because that’s what your mind and heart tells you to do. It’s neither a popularity contest nor damn beauty pageant or political gaga. It’s just a simple compassion towards people. Isn’t that the gift itself?Unity. Why? Good three-letter question but, I don’t think I have to answer this on my own. You have it already and the only thing you have to do is spill it out. Oh for goodness sake! Look around you. We have to do something than just gesturing a good handshake or show your limited expression. Drop the ego and lend a hand. If anyone can do it, so can we. That is, we can’t do it alone. That’s why we build this team. In the near future, typhoon victims aren’t the only ones who'll need our help.
