Havin' A Blast!
Even picture taking was a blast.
It's that time of the year again, and I don't mean the Christmas holidays. It's the few days during All Soul's Day that sends everyone home to spend a few days with friends and family. It's the perfect time for the long overdue "class reunion", and that's just what Batch 81 of St. Scholastica's Academy, Bacolod (SSA-B) did last October 28, 2008. The reunion had to be special for two classmates who came home from the USA and Canada, namely Jinky Nuestra and Teresa Hom. Good food had to be the main ingredient for this reunion, and, of course, endless stories and laughter.
Along Libertad Extension, a green sign bears the name "Kubo sa Lawn". To best describe exactly where it is on this lengthy road, the 80s crowd would say "near 'Cube' disco", and then you would know where it is. This "kubo" isn't exactly "munti" as the song goes, because it's got two dining areas that have at least 10 tables each. Here, ice-cold beer never runs out, and it serves the best sisig in Bacolod City. It comes in mild or hot, but I like to call it "mild or wild". In between spoonfuls of sisig and garlic rice, the boisterous laughter, school memories, and updates of classmates never ceased. This was going to be a noisy group in the middle of the "kubo".
Still beautiful after all these years.
In fact, classmates based in the USA and Canada who went to great lengths to have a mini reunion in New York City, inspired this event. It was a reunion that discovered long lost "sisters" and rekindling of friendships, which they shared with the rest of the batch. Therefore, Susan Ramos gathered most of the classmates and headed off to Kubo sa Lawn, making sure this event would be enjoyed not only by those who were present, but with the rest of Batch 81 located around the world, as well. Teresa Borromeo took time off from her busy schedule at Ayala's North Point to hang out with some classmates like Liza Lizares, Mia Legaspi, and Emily Lacson. Tonight is not the time for my law books, said Reena Pena, and when they cranked up the 80s music, Lea Montelibano made sure the makeshift dance floor wasn't empty. Too many stories were going on at the same time, and even those in Manila were joining in through text messages. Everyone had a great time so that when it was time for goodbyes, they all wanted another reunion soon. The bonding in New York had spread its fever in Bacolod, and it was making its way to Manila for another reunion with Manila-based classmates the following week.
Teresa Hom, Liza Lizares, Mia Legaspi
(hidden), Teresa Borromeo.
It's been 27 years since graduation, plus 11 years of grade school and high school years. Is that how long they have known each other? They have shared their lives, goals, experiences, and heartaches with one another. Theirs is a sisterhood that spans three continents and 38 years. Surely, that deserves another ice-cold beer and a sizzle of sisig!