Memory

NARRATIVE STORIES
The Way We Were in 1961-1965

We had lived our high school life from 1961 to 1965. In those days, we had stories and anecdotes about our day to day life in school. They might be stories about our classmates, our teachers, our school, and yes even our personal lives. This section is dedicated to those memories. We are sharing them to all of you. To my dear classmates of MI'65, send in your stories and help us continue to pass on to the next generation how our high school lives were spent in hardship and fun too; for us, our children, and grandchildren to cherish. Email them to the webmaster at rmalinis@sbcglobal.net .

... I don't know if you would remember, Pareng Jack Bordador, when we were in high school, had that "unusual gift" (church lingo 'yan) of giving nicknames to our classmates. He was the one who first started calling Adriano Andres "Palakol." Remember that time when there was that hold-up/murder sa IGA/NGA (yata ... rice distribution agency ng government)? One of the security guards was killed by one of the hold-uppers named "Adriano" with palakol ... so from then on, Adriano was "palakol." Ask Delfin Zafra about that, even Rolando Malinis, they may also remember. Now, Eduardo Geronimo, from Marilao, was very dark, really dark skin, you see ... his nickname from Pareng Jack when we were in our sophomore year was "Booker" (after Booker T. Washington); junior year naman ay "umbra" (sa physics ba galing 'yon? Tanong mo kay Delfin Zafra, iyong pinakamarunong sa klase nila!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ako ay bobo noon sa MI!!!!!!!!!!!!!). At iyong ka-kalse natin noon, Juan, na lumipat mula sa Bicol yata, nahihirapan siya sa pagsasalita ng Tagalog, kind of... pinagpapalit niya ang "i" sa "e" or "o" sa "u". Minsan, sa Pilipino class natin ay bumabasa tayo ng poem na may version na "Twit, twit, twit" And basa niya ay "Twet, twet, twet." Hindi na siya tinigilan ni Pareng Jack ... from then on, "Twet, twet" na ang nickname niya. (contributed by Gani 4/16/04).

I remember the RCA axe massacre. A number of security guards were tied in a room and one of the holduppers proceeded to murder them one by one with ab axe. He orobably did not want to see what the gruesome results would be so he put out the lights before doing his grisly crime. One of the guards suceeded in hiding his head under one of the dead ones and the murderer whose name is adriano lost count of the heads he cracked and left one of the guards survive. The survivor testified in court and Adriano was sentenced to death. Now, Eduardo Geronimo, I can remember him.in one of our plays, I was Rajah Daraya and eduardo was one of my men who i suspected of being a traitor and i was supposed to grab him by the neck.in our rehersals,i must have been too eager to grab him by the neck that he remembered to protect himself when we were out there on the stage that I had to chase him for a while. I can also remember one of our stage acts, I was a Japanese soldier and I was holding a real knife ( in fact, it was a us army knife I inherited from my eldest brother who was with USAFFE and survived the death march but perished at the concentration camp at Capas, Tarlac).on a cue, Rolly Malinis was supposed to lift the head of the prisoner for me to show in his face the knife that would end his life. I was holding on my left hand a bottle of tincture of iodine that i will splatter on the white shirt of the prisoner, so when Rolly was not able to lift the prisoner's head, I used my free hand which is also holding the knife and by the timeIi raised it, Rolly woke up and moved his hand to do what he was supposed to do and I cut him between two fingers. I was able to splatter the iodine into white shirt of the prisoner and it was so realistic that some girls in front of the stage screamed and one even passed out. I was so concerned about Rolly but he kept on telling us he was ok.I AM SORRY AGAIN BRIG! Mrs Bernardo, who was our in charge of the presentation rushed to the backstage, putlang-putla and kept on asking if anybody was hurt. I think she never knew Rolly was cut. (contributed by Delfin Zafra 4/18/04).

I did not qualify in the play because as Miss Roberto put it para daw akong express train masyadong mabilis" It was Prescilla Ramirez who became Delfin's Dayang in the play . And I know now it is a disability, thinking faster than you can talk. (by Evelyn Gregorio 4/18/04)

During our fourth year, Conrado De Gula, Raquelita Bordador and me competed for the last 2 slots in MI scholarships. We were in the office and Mrs Valencia conducted the test right there. It was unfortunate for me that I was the one eliminated ..sigh. I remember what Mrs Valencia told me then ...meron pang ibang pagkakataon. Her prophesy was indeed correct. I got a full 4 year scholarship in college at PMA.

I remember also in class when Zenaida recited Annabelle Lee. Then she was the number one orator in the class. She was then bound for the US for the foreign exchange program. Ms. Alberto asked who want to challenge her? Aba ako lang ang malakas ang loob na nagchallenge sa kanya. (by Rolly Malinis 4/18/04).

Sa atin noon ang magbabarkada ay kami nila Edgar Gonzales, Delfin Zafra, Conrado De Gula, at Bayani Valerio (sumalangit nawa ang kanyang kaluluwa). Naalala ko sama sama kami sa bahay nila Delfin sa Bocaue, kina Conrad sa Valenzuela, Edgar sa Marilao, at sa amin yata sa Sta. Maria. Doon din kami kumakain sa bahay nila. Kaya kilala ko ang mga parents at kapatid ni Delfin at Conrad. (by Rolly Malinis 4/16/04).

What I remember is one day we didn't have English class because my auntie-in-law (Miss Roberto) miss pa po siya had a "sermon". It's because Mang Unio (sumalangit nawa siya) the janitor caught "somebody kissing somebody in the corridor after class". (by Elsa Pena Roberto 4/18/04)

Does anyone remember in our History or English class (4th year) Jack Bordador was asked to stand and read a passage from a book and while on the course of reading his false tooth fell (he was always playing with it - making it as his lolly pop candy)? The boys in the first row burst into laughter and really I saw him picked it up and stuffed it back into his mouth. (by Elsa Pena 4/18/04).

Parang magkakambal si Rolly Malinis at si Conrado de Gula noon, laging magkadikit-magkasunod sa paglo-loiter nila sa MI. Baka nga siya ang nahawa dahil natatandaan ko na siya ang madalas na kasama ni Juan pag nagre-review sila sa ilalim ng punong akasya noon sa MI .... masipag ding
mag-aral noon si Juan... kami nila Gerry at Pareng Jack at si Delfin yata at si Mando Llanado... tawanan lang nang tawanan at saka si Morte (remember him? siya ang nagbibigay ng tip sa test questions from A1 ... sama-sama kami sa crime na iyon!).

Ang isa pa na alam ko ay hindi idi-deny ni Gerry na crush niya ay si Amelita Gomez. Remember her, maganda na mahinhin at mahiyain? I can still see (hear) Pareng Jack laughing everytime Gerry would follow Amelita sa may riles ng train papauwi sa kanila sa may Luzon Bag Factory... takot na takot kay Gerry si Amelita!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dangkasi si Gerry noon ay hindi mahiyain sa girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (by Gani Lazaro 4/18/04).

Si Zeny Prodon was AFS exchange student after she graduated with us. She won the declamation contest for her "Oh Captain My Captain" on our junior year. Teresa Parian represented the seniors during our time but the third year's lorlita kho (rest in peace) won. (by Delfin Zafra 4/24/04).

As usual, we rehearsed on some lines from our high school plays.... ''An abyss has opened between you and Marina...." ... what upheavals the world may suffer... Like those cliffs which resist the blows of the lightning. Don't despise anything because it is old Andres (played charmingly by the great Reverend). Zeny Prodon and Teresa Parian also starred..

In Bagyo sa Nuevaluz, Delfin Zafra and I always recall the innocent action and looks of Lamberto Doma in his role portrayal... "Kahit na ang mga dukha Padre? Kahit na ang mga.. gaya ko?...". (by EdgarGonzales 5/3/04).

I still have pictures of our bamboo showing scenes from our play "shadows and solitude" by the late Senator Claro M. Recto. I never owned a suit until I was out of college and working. I think it was Venancio Garcia who lent me that suit and Pareng Peping (Epitacio Mendoza) lent me the tie. It was that kind where you just button your collar and slip the plastic holder in front of it. Now, in all of our rehearsals, we wore white tee shirts and Gani would grab the front of my shirt and deliver his line "i beg you sir...". Now, during our stage presentation, I was so surprised and horrified when Gani grabbed my tie and pulled on it hard. You can see the look on my face, I was not constipated then or anything ; I was trying to follow Gani's pull so my tie won't end up in his hand. Imagine the laughter that would have ensued if the future reverend succeeded in his evil intension; we could have forgotten our lines and laughed with the audience.

As for "Bagyo sa Nueva Luz", I was Padre San Pedro and Gani was an idealist young man who aspired to become a priest. I was trying to dissuade him from that dream and I will blurt out "ngunit paquito" but instead of saying paquito in our rehearsals, I would say "ngunit pukito" and we would break the rehearsal and be laughing hard. Now,when we were out there on the stage and I was about to say those lines, I was trying very hard not to smile because I could see that Gani was also trying to control himself but I could see the beginning of a suppressed smile. Luckily, we both took control of ourselves and the presentation was a success. (by Delfin Zafra 05/02/04).

In our high school days, there developed some kind of "friendly and, at times, fierce competition" between section A and section A1. Section A1's adviser was MISSED (Ooooops!) Miss Ovenson (it was Evie who reminded me that she was a "Miss," not "Mrs." in one of her previous e-mails). She encouraged her class to plant watermelons in the back of the new building (the one that was close to the railroad tracks, near the house/"kantina" of Danding, the photographer). They worked hard, cultivating, weeding and watering the plants (almost every afternoon, they would do that) making sure that the watermelons would grow and bear fruits. Their labours were rewarded. There appeared some very good, healthy and "enticing" watermelons. We watched how they grew bigger and bigger and bigger ..... Now, about the time they seemed to be ready for harvest, we were in the back of that building (I could not really remember what we were there for ... I knew, I remember, we were having fun.

... we were laughing, teasing each other ... "naghaharutan!"). Mando Llanado , Adriano Andres, Marcelino Morte, Pareng Jack Bordador , Pareng Pinong Antonio and I ( did not know where Gerry and Edgar were that time) were "attracted" by how good the watermelons looked so we went closer to "inspect" if they were really ripe ... before we knew it, there appeared a kind of "guidance/illumination" from somewhere ... Mando started it, Adriano followed ... one by one the watermelons were being harvested ... soon after they were harvested, we realized that they were not ripe yet ... kaya ang ginawa ni Mando ay ginamit na lang iyong mga watermelon sa pambabato sa amin, tapos, siempre, gantihan na... batuhan na ng watermelon (para ko pang nakikita ang mischievous grin and boisterous laughter ni Mando, the leader of the gang!). The following day, we were all anxious, nervous. We were waiting... wanted to know how section A1 would react to what happened. Blessing of blessings, they were very "civilized" about what happened. I remember how Miss Ovenson, in her typical kind way, was even very diplomatic in asking who "committed the crime" My recollection of what happened after that was not very clear ... I think we were reported to Miss Roberto and were asked (told, actually) to apologize
to the members of section A1. (Contributed by Gani Lazaro 5/2/04).

As long as you're remembering the "crushes" of my life--do you remember Melencio Raymundo, who after a while pursued me after I came back from the States in '66?

Also, do you remember my short mini -skirts which drove my father insane. He used to say: Anak, pagsakay mo sa jeepney, ay kita ng lahat yung ating itinatago. God bless the soul of my Tata. I used to give him heart attacks, especially when I decided to go to UP Diliman. He used to come early in the morning at the Sampaguita dorm to check up on me! Takot maging Komunista ako! (by Zenaida Prodon Graham 5/22/04).

"Everybody knew I would be a pastor?" How come? Don't you remember, the "prophecy" of Corazon Evangelista's? I would be a "playboy!" Was not that kind of funny? Did she not know that when we were in high school... takot ako sa "chicks?" (lalo na sa kanya!!!) Ask Gerry Villareal, Pareng Jack Bordador , and Pareng Pinong Antonio (I don't know if you knew about this) .... there were some girls, a year or two our junior at MI, who would watch me, follow me, gaze and almost feel giddy at me (suplado ako noon, si Gerry din ang nagpa-alala sa akin na suplado ako noon) ... I did not like that! (By Gani Lazaro 5/24/04).

Masungit nga iyong gustong-gusto ni Pareng Jack... Alice Natividad! Gustong-gusto siya ni Pare pero noong sinusungitan nga siya ... noong malaunan, niloloko-loko na lang ni Pare... magaling manloko si Pareng Jack noong nasa high school tayo. Ang isang kalokohan na natatandaan ko noon ay pag uwian na, susundan namin sila Alicia (pag hindi siya nakakasakay sa jeep); mapapansin niya na sinusundan namin siya, magmamabilis siya ng paglakad at kind of nagtatago sa mga kasamahan niya sa paglakad ... gagawin naman ni Pare ay bibilisan din ang pagsunod at ngingisihan.

Kay Alice may crush si Jack pero ang kapatid ni Alice - si Perla, patay na patay kay Reverend. Alam mo kung makatitig si Perla kay Gani ay para bang pasulyap lamang pero kung tumitingin sa aming magkakasama - Jack Bordador , Gerry Villareal, Pinong Antonio, Gani Lazaro and me - ay parang sinusuyod kami ng tingin hanggang sa magtama ang mata nila ni Reverend. Sa English ay parang penetrating look.

Si Pareng Peping naman ay patay sa iyo - hindi mo lang pinansin.... (by Edgar Gonzales 5/24/04).

One morning in physics class... Ms. Sarmiento was writing on the blackboard... "plak, plak, plak".. as she walked in the platform... you know she was a little healthy-- that's why she was called Boomah! Pinong antonio & Del Zafra were late.. trying to sneak in without being noticed. Del got in but when Pinong was entering..Booma said ... "Good morning Josefino.. as usual you are late again..."
Later she said - Rustico David, stand up please" .Rustico.. 'Yes, ma'm.."
"Rustico, congratulations, again you are the topnotcher in the test. Your score ? - minus 12. Mario Austria & Bayani - you both got second - minus 4"
If you remember - Boomah always gave this kind of exam :
25% - Identification
25% - Modified true or false - wright minus wrong
50% - Problems..
(by Edgar Gonzales 5/26/04).

What made me so sad was the recent passing of Mrs. Ocampo - our 1st year math teacher and who was like a mother to me. I still remember 2 weeks before our 3rd year started but I was not enrolled yet, she saw me in Calvario and confronted me : "Edgardo, why have you not enrolled yet, school is about to start in a couple of weeks?" I replied, " I didn't have money for registration & book rentals, ma'm. I am trying to do some goldsmith job in Saluysoy & sell sweepstakes tickets to raise the money".

Then she said , " What are you saying, you will only pay 12 pesos for registration as you are the first honor last year " She did not even wait for me to reply - "Edgardo, don't waste your time - go to MI Monday and I will take care of it"... and she did even the fourth year fees & books. That's how poor my family was. I even counted the times I walked from MI to Marilao on the railroad tracks - 27 times in our senior year. (by Edgar Gonzales 6/10/04).

I want to say I was really very sorry and I would like to pay tribute and thanks to our great Oriental and World History teacher Mrs. Agripina Bernardo.

During the last few days of our third year class in Oriental History, Mrs. Bernardo made us submit a short essay about the subject - what we learned, how was the instruction, any comment that we would like to say. The task at that time seemed very trivial and unimportant to me so I wrote that the subject was just like any other that I was required to study and somehow show interest in. Of course I learned a lot.

On our last day, she said something to the class that a "somebody was so brave and bold to say that Oriental History was just another ordinary subject and that he was just faking his interest". Nobody in class had any idea that she was referring to me. I could not meet her eyes as she intermittently glanced at where I was sitting. She was on the verge of tears and I could tell that she was upset and hurt - the teacher in her was so hurt. I felt very ungrateful to somebody who has taught me and highly regarded me for the whole year.

Before the day was over, I found a way to say my apology.But that was not enough, I knew. It was like an earned trust which was broken and could not just be easily regained.Feeling betrayed I think was more appropriate. She was crying now when she told me, "Edgardo, this is the first time that I heard that from my student, especially from somebody who could represent the whole school as an elected mayor".

In our senior year, she was also our teacher in World History which really got my full attention and interest. I gave it my all, but I really didn't know if Mrs. Bernardo believed that my interest and dedication was for real because of the things I said the year before.Graduation came and she (together with Miss Roberto) even gave me a gift that I really treasured and remember until now. I worked in MI Library for six years till I finished college. I heard she migrated to Canada.....

A few years ago, here in America, I attended a seminar where the guest speaker touched on success that normally doesn't happen overnight. You have to have a lot of industry and perseverance to attain it, step by step, day by day. Everybody was asked to say something about the subject. When my time came, I suddenly remembered Mrs. Bernardo, what she used to say in History class so I delivered this very brief speech.

When I was in high school, I was fascinated with Oriental and World History especially what my teacher used to refer to as "the glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome.." At the height of its prosperity and splendor, all roads led to Rome. It took centuries and great men like Julius Caesar and Marcus Aurelius to bring it to its glory. Rome was not built in a day.

I received a very loud applause and as I went down from the platform, I breathed a silent dedication, "Mrs. Bernardo, that speech was dedicated to you. Those were your exact words".

They say that after so many years, we tend to forget a lot of things. I personally don't believe it a bit. I think people don't forget things, they just don't want to remember. (by Edgar Gonzales 6/22/04).