The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Nestor Cuartero
Towards the end of a 5-day series of wacky reunions, big and small, major and minor, the old boys asked, “Do you want to gather again, one more time?”
The past days and weeks have seen a hectic, intoxicating swirl of get-togethers marked by a grand homecoming celebrating the 55th anniversary (emerald year) of De La Salle-Lipa High School Class 1970. It all started unofficially during Vito Endaya’s golden wedding anniversary (50 long years together, yes) held January 26 at Valentino Resort in San Jose, Batangas.
Former classmates turned out at the hint of a social media invite, occupying three round tables of 10 persons each. Our presence so delighted US-based couple Vito and Bebot that they decided to embark on another honeymoon.
On February 6, it was Mario Zara’s turn to host an afternoon merienda of sushi and tempura at his daughter’s Dreyz Café at 2472 Leon Guinto Street in Malate, Manila. This was followed by the grand reunion on February 8 at De La Salle Lipa’s Chez Rafael events place, purposely named after Bro. Rafael Donato, FSC, who was our school principal during our last two years in the then-sprawling-with-coconut-trees Lipa campus.
The big day saw at least 40 alumni out of 170 graduates coming home. It started with a holy mass at 9 a.m. at the elevated open-air chapel, officiated by a former school chaplain.
The 40-minute mass was the only time the boys kept quiet, behaving like they were first communicants.
As soon as the priest said, “The mass has been offered,” to which the faithful replied, “Thanks be to God,” everyone broke into loud, wild talk, peppered with private jokes and laughter.
Beyond the laughter and the very public put-downs, we managed to take a lengthy walk to the Brothers’ Resting Place at the back of the school beyond the former railroad tracks to pay homage to our former teachers and school officials, who have gone ahead.
Our businessman-banker, Chito Recto, gave the opening remarks while lawyer-judge Efren Gonzales, student council president, remembered our departed classmates through a memorial video presentation prepared by Mario Mamon, president of Enchanted Kingdom. We thanked God for the gift of life, the ability to age gracefully, the opportunity to see each other again.
The rest of the day was spent on food binges, a catered lunch, games and community singing, crowned by the song, Try To Remember, our graduation song lifted from the musical, The Fantastiks. Raffle prizes included home appliances, topped by a 50-inch smart TV won by Augusto Palma.
We took time to thank classmates who added food on the table, potluck style: Mario Zara, coffee bar from Dreyz Café; Celso Bautista, Ijos croissants; Teddy Razon, Taal empanada, Gonzalo Datinggaling, kababayan breads; Augusto Palma, suman; Gen. Sonny Cachuela, lechon; Rene Palicpic, leche flan; Celso Sepina, Palmieres biscuits; Edilberto Castillo, macaroons; Nestor Cuartero, roasted peanuts.
Jovencio Hernandez went around, handing out tubes of toothpaste and bottles of mouthwash, products of his own pharmaceutical company. And so did Gerry Panopio, one of our many engineers, chronicling by video the day’s unfolding.
We cheered our balikbayan classmates: Inque Opulencia, Celso Sepina, Vito Endaya, Mario Zara, Menny Sagala, Dr. Gaston Gutierrez, Teddy Razon, Romeo Gonzales, Jr.
Our emerald celebration didn’t end that day. The next day, February 9, Mario Mamon opened the gates of Enchanted Kingdom to members of our families.
On the 11th, it was Chito Recto’s turn to host a golf day with lunch at Malarayat, followed by a tour of Taal on the 12th, arranged by Willie Racelis, Provincial Administrator of Batangas. Lunch at Taal Bistro was courtesy of Teddy Razon and his wife, Cissa.
Throughout all of these, Dante Lantin was our chief implementor who glued the class together.
You’d think class reunions among old boys in their very early yet still sprightly 70s would end just like that? Hardly had we disembarked from our 32-seater Taal coaster that we referred to as our school bus than when someone hollered from behind, “When are we meeting up next?”
Then, we remembered. Inque Opulencia of Arizona and Celso Sepina of Los Angeles had offered to host another get-together on February 27 at a popular buffet restaurant in Manila. Just goes to show old boys, who have spent four years together in school and many more years outside thereafter, never really outgrow each other, their remembrances of their adolescent years, their shared lives as members of the La Sallian community that have helped them form a lifetime bond of brotherhood.