Hi there everyone!  Have been lazing around... truly enjoying Edsa II's afterglow.  Erap may be out, but the fact remains that we still need yr prayers as everything is still quite volatile here.  Anyway, summarized some recent happenings for you... Read on and enjoy! 

Life since the impeachment hearings has been most difficult: nothing to look forward to in the afternoons (hearings were set at 2:00 pm at the Senate), no late tv replays, no more earthshaking revelations about the greed of Erap & cohorts. Of course, there were the other things to watch out for --- the possible coup d'etats by the armed forces (Prez GloriaMacA isn't still a favorite of our Men in Uniform); the angry pro-Erap-pers who could go on a shooting (poor Popoy Lagman) or bombing spree (the five Dec. 20 bombings r still unsolved) at the subway stations and oh, no! at the crowded groceries, my second home; Erap's unsuccessful (so far) attempts to go to the U.S. with the un-original excuse to have optic operation (ala Tita Meldy Marcos, huh) leave for the U.S. … So what to do then on a lazy rainy Sunday afternoon? How about having a rendezvous with mentors, chums and the younger generation ? So with trim & slim Ging-Ging Rayos Lopez we hit the school grounds of! yore, the love of our lives, dear ole St. Scholastica's College. (Am I pushing it?)

While awaiting the traditional Holy Mass held at our very formal & newly-painted Black Forest-inspired Chapel to end, met fashionable golden gal Lourdes Chuidian, mother of bubbly Corito C. who was not there!, Cecile Castro Pecso, and Demi Vidal HS58/Coll62. Then in a snap, the newly-renovated Andres 'Luling' de San Pedro-designed St. Cecilia's Hall was filled with super-charged, excited jubilarians: Luchi Roman Reyes w/ sis-in-law Herminia Batista Roman, Madames Sevilla, Tan & Mitos Donato AB61, classmates all of the older gorgeous one in our family, my dear Auntie Gertie, the late Gertrudes Lugod Abad, a beauty & brains Sstican…

It really is a pleasure seeing, being and watching presentations at our art deco-influenced premiere hall. The new air-conditioning is a big, big PLUS factor; the enlargement of the kamagong-floored stage, insulated walls, balcony section elevation, etc. etc, all long-overdue, really enhanced what started as a one-room music department in 1907 that turned out to be the Conservatory of Music later on and now St. Cecilia's Hall --- Sr. Baptista Battig would be so proud!… Standing 'tall' was Sr. Mary Placid Abejo, beaming ear-to-ear, together with Sr, Angelica Leviste, now the Prioress, Sr. Catherine Sanchez and others... As one steps onto the gleaming carrara marble of the front foyer, (formerly the "port cochere" (?) where our forefathers passed in their gracious carruajes), one is immediately enveloped in rich tradition and transported to a first-world concert hall: the replicated "bas relief" of St. Cecilia surrounded by angels over the main door, the massive brass statues! of Sts. Scholastica and Benedict, the grand re-done staircases, the thousand-points-of-light chandeliers, even the lavish powder rooms are but a few of wonderful details carefully restored at St. Cecilia's.

Now fast forward to the stars of the show --- the ebullient class of Sony Jalandoni, Bessy Badilla, Roxanne Villavicencio (the youngest sis of Becky HS 62 & classmate Raquel V. Balagtas, who was busy watching her PBA Alaska basketball import) & company, dubbed as the Spirit of '76. Let me tell you guys, you WOW-ed us all! Yes, our alma mater is indeed filled with TRADITION, appropriately your theme and opening salvo. As I said earlier, all you have to do is step into St. Cecilia's and you can have your fill of savoir vivre, class & history!… Congrats to your class for having a full stage of lively participants. I can just imagine the fun you all had practicing & rehearsing! God bless too those who enjoyed tirelessly writing (ahem) & e-mailing missing classmembers. I hope you get the chance to show off the evening's video to the other SSsticans abroad. Maybe when I visit Noo Yock in the spring???… The whole production was well woven by the recognized stag! e personality, Audie Gemora, overall director. But that evening, I think the 'talents' outdid the director ! As I told him later, I pity next year's jubilarians --- the terrific dance numbers & singing were all so PRO (fessional) ! So, as early as NOW, those being honored next year should plan well, practice diligently and perchance … reduce fast too !… Paging College 68 classmates: Patty Gabaya Candido, Myra de la Cruz Salonga, Mitos Laico, Charito Antonio & Marlyn Bengzon, who I missed last year, & others living abroad who I may have missed mentioning: Puh-leese plan to be here early in 2002 so that we can have an equally "perfect revue"! Hahahaha….

The other numbers were thoroughly enjoyable as well and so apropos to the "Silver Screens" theme. Latin was "in" and "macarena" totally out. Fact: the older the SStican, the faster the number ! Gosh! But sadly… the fewer too… Another fact: nuns love to dance --- they gave 2 sprightly numbers that received cat calls!… The new comfortable seats saw many not minding the rather lengthy show. Thanks again to the prime movers of & contributors to the renovation project here and abroad !

Seen enjoying the evening were teachers Ditas Rivera da Silva, now a music teacher & director at the International School Manila. Ditas, six years ago brought a couple of 5th graders to Beijing, China, my son Joseph included, to compete in the International Schools Festival (they won). Had a lively chat with Impeachment Trial hearings classmate, Sr. Lioba and 'glam teach' Sanirose Singson Orbeta. Yes, our very own clinical & sports nutritionist is first 'cuzin' to the infamous Governor Chavit Singson, ex Prez Erap's former drinking buddy & best friend !…

Ever-present, close pals Josephine del Gallego Knox, visiting from Kuwait, Goya Feria Reinoso, Munte del Rosario, Bibot Laico, Lorna Bautista H., Mayette Pacis (sis Toni & Melinda Monasterio Zenarosa as jubilarians did a 'Rockettes'-type number), Becky & Didi Villegas, Nancy Tongson P. Missed you, recent BOITHDAY gal, Mz. JoAnn Lara! Can still see yr class in my mind during last year's dance ---daring YOU were right infront, dead center in your jazzy, cool number that even included a cameo appearance of Standard Charter CEO Eirvin Knox, ardent supporter of Josephine G-K. and SSC… Josephine & I did remember you on yr day and sent warm thoughts your way via cyberspace as we chatted about our depressing local real estate ! I know of many good buys here folks…

At the lobby was Sherry David, visiting from Noo Yock & now retiring in fancy London town ---oooh. Posing for pictures at the marble steps were Rose Pena Blancaflor & Daisy Barawidan, balikbayans from NY(?) with pals Neni Santa Romana Cruz & Elsa Lava Mapua --- Kudos to O.B. Mapua, Elsa's hubby, architect of the renovation project. Also to Joe Abad Panlilio, son of moi eldest sis SSC alumna Lourdes Abad P., the interior design consultant for doing a fine job of researching St. Cecilia's utmost details! At last year's blessing, Joe filled St. Cecilia's with beautifully executed pink rose & orchid arrangements crafted by horticulture talents, Beth Simon Lopez and sis Marilou Simon Lim. Incidentally, the Simon gals, including Tita HS 65/College69, just lost their father, Conrado, to Our Lord's calling at the fulfilled age of 90. E-mail them your loving thoughts & messages, okay?… Do pray for Linda Alfonso Javier too. Her hubby Vic, Aquila Legis member &! former Navotas mayor, recently met his Maker…

Until next year then, when the GSR Company-supplied red curtain rises, all Scholasticans should stand proud! That lil' missionary school set up by the Missionary Benedictine Sisters from Tutzing, Germany is well-preserved and still produces good & great students. Sr. Angelica, in her opening remarks, recalled our schools pains & perseverance through the years but gave a loving proclamation of how proud the school was of all of us… and in the light of the tumultuous recent events (Erap to Gloria in 3 days!), Sr. Angelica got everyone wild at the mere mention of SStican Clarissa "Kissa" Grey Ocampo's name ! I wonder if Sister A. knew that an obnoxious, evil trickster member of Erap's Defense lawyer (named __blank __for now, unless I am issued a subpoena duces tecum! ) was in the auditorium? Well dahlings… I did and…. I did what a true blue Scholastican would have done…

Till my next missive to you all, adieu for now... As I left the hallowed halls of SSC, I remembered the words of Prez Clinton to John Podesta as they were departing from the White House the last time: "We did good." Yes, dear Scholasticans, I know we ALL 'did' good…

your e-pen (as in tooth!) --- mcb