When the school term ended, the 'saling pusa' garnered First Honors. When elementary years completed, the boy delivered the Valedictory Address.

To you members of Meycauayan Institute Class 1965, had that teacher stood ground and refused the boy, that boy would had marched also with you on your graduation day. Would had shared four solid years with you. Would had been with you, when you had those prophetic first steps on those hallowed grounds of our Alma Mater - the Meycauayan Institute. Would in oneness of fondness, relish with you the memories even now so dear to your hearts - the memories of our high school.
Yet, though we were together for only three years, though my batch had to bid adieu to you in 1964, what took place in our lives later on would not dare tread on that part in our hearts where our MI years chose to live forever. It is as if our high school years are the hemoglobins in our being .. ever alive and sustaining oxygen .. ever alive and sustaining inspiration .. as we continue
this walk of the path of life. High school was true to its name, true to its purpose. It raised us higher. Higher in undertanding the frailties of mankind. Higher in discovering what we can be capable of. Higher in beholding beauty of all that are around us. It happened in us .. at Meycauayan Institute. Plenty are what I can remember about high school at Meycauayan Institute. What you all have written, have paid tribute to, how you were in your in-classroom moments, where were you in your out-classroom recesses - they're all refreshing.

In fact, if I write my part, my part will become not meant to add. My part will become "just another MI soul also so absorbed in the thrill of remembering". For who can separate us ? We have the same hemoglobins running in our intellectual being - the MI hemoglobins. You had your Sunny Prodon. We had our Reynaldo Villena. Orators whose names, whose legacies are securely etched on pages of MI history. You had your Gerry Villareal. We had our Marcelo Arcega. Even what is mundanely prose, they can write as poetry in its noblest. Who in your Class is our Class 64 Andy Eugenio ? I know your Class has abundance of pretty girls, lovely girls. In fact, my "first hug" which has never died .. was that "hug" I stole on one of your lovelies. Ahh, but have you seen our bevy of beauties in our Class 64's Section A2 ? And many more among you, Class 65. As many are among us - Class 64. I need not write their names. This paper will not be enough. They are all written in your memories. All are alive in your hearts. Our hearts. There are two stories I however need to include in here. Story 1 began while I was a Freshman. The year I came to learn that white is not a color. Nor black is. Can I ever forget my Science I teacher - Mrs Pilongo. Wife of our PMT mentor Mr Benito Pilongo. It was Mrs Pilongo who taught us that white is the presence of all colors. That black is the absence of colors. That knowledge helped me in an "exchange" later on. When I came to this adopted country where I now live - United States. It was morning and I was a staff at Chemical Bank, NY. We were then "resting" after coming from a bank-wide blood drive.

My Italian supervisor said "Is human blood really red?". I replied, "In the presence of light, yes, blood is red. But while inside our human body, since there is no light inside our body, our blood is black". My supervisor asked "Huh ?". It was then that a fellow staffer - a South African Dutchman - seconded. "Yes, Eric is correct. Our blood when inside our body is black, because there is absence of light". The joy and pride I had within me was not because I was seconded by the Dutchman. My joy and pride was in remembering my teacher on Science I - Mrs. Pilongo. Oh how was she so alive on that day. Now, what is the Story 2 ? Also it began while I was a Freshman. That was the year we had an American classmate. An AFS (American Field Service) exchange student. He was from Pendleton, Oregon. His name was Robert Rew. We were seated side-by-side. I became Robert's "assistant teacher" in Filipino. Our teacher was the ever gentle-spirited, kind-hearted Mrs Esperanza Floro.

I became Robert's "confidante". One time he asked me "Enrico, I have been invited to fiestas and dinners and lunches in many Filipino homes. I noticed a certain consistency among your folks. Why is it that on the dinner table, your plates are turned upside down ? I don't think your folks are unhappy to share us the food. But pray how come they have to turn the plates upside down, if they want us to join in the eating ?". I was amused. And I was not able to control my laugh. "Oo nga ano !!", I quietly told myself. "Bakit nga pala kailangan nakataob ang mga plato. Hindi ba dapat, nakatihaya !". I replied to Robert, "Bob, those plates are on upside down in order to keep the up side clean and protected from dirt, from flies.". This Story 2 did not end when Robert completed his exchange program and had to return to the United States. On his last day, he gave me a photo of
himself, complete with a most endearing dedication message on the back. I kept that picture. Brought it here to the United States. Also my "The Bamboo 64" graduation yearbook. Months passed after I came to this country - the USA. I took hold again of Robert's picture. Made a phone call to Pendleton, Oregon. It was her mother who answered. Oh how I wish capable are written words to describe the excitement of Robert's mother upon hearing me. She asked me to come visit them at Pendleton. And to please contact Robert who no longer was with them because Robert had since been living in New Jersey. In Monmouth county. Together with his spouse Nora and only son Keenan. Robert's mother gave me his New Jersey phone number. I waited a day. I needed a "pause" from excitement. Masyado ako na-"high". So on the following day, I dialed Robert's phone number. It was Robert who answered. I began this way "Good morning. I am trying to reach Robert Rew, my classmate back then in the Philippines, at the Meycauayan Institute. This is Enrico Santiago, his seat-mate in Pilipino 1. I am calling from New York city.". There was silence from the other line. Suddenly, it was Robert ecstatically replying "My oh my, yes Enrico .. this is Robert.
I remember you. I am he - your classmate under Mrs Floro. Can you please come here? We have plenty to talk. I want to see you".

The next day - Sunday - I was in his palatial home in Monmouth. With my daughter Apple. The whole day we just talked. Our last moments of that reunion was held in their dining room. The plates were not upside down. How is Robert now ? Robert is now Dr Robert Rew. He is a researcher-scientist at world giant pharmaceutical firm Pfizer, Inc. Here is his picture he left to me and our reunion picture at his Mommouth home.

In Dr Robert Rew's being, also the MI hemoglobins flow.

Two of the poems we studied in Meycauayan Institute have left unique place in my life. One was Oliver Wendell Holmes's "The Chambered Nautilus"

"Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul,
As the swift seasons roll!
Leave thy low-vaulted past !
Let each new temple, nobler than the last,
Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast,
Till thou at length art free,
Leaving thine outgrown shell
by life's unresting sea!"
The other poem was Thomay Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard"
"Let not Ambition mock their useful toil,
Their homely joys, and destiny obscure;
Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile
The short and simple annals of the poor.

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow'r,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Awaits alike th' inevitable hour.
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
...
Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife,
Their sober wishes never learn'd to stray;
Along the cool sequester'd vale of life
They kept their noiseless tenor of their way."

Thank you, MI Class 65. Thank you, Edgar. Thank you Rollie. Thank you Echie. Thank you Jack, Gerry, Evie, Cora, Flora, Marlita, Del, Rev Gani, and you, Sunny. You have done a magnificent job to bring this website into a living reality. Especially you, Rolly. GOD bless ...

Enrico M. Santiago
President, MI Class 1964
email : ejollibee@wmconnect.com
home : Bergenfield, New Jersey
USA 07621

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