Here's what I remember of Saturday, July
23rd:
My night started at 5:35PM, 5
minutes late. I promised the other
organizers that I was going to be there
at 5:30PM. As I frantically tried to
alphabetize the badges by last names,
several of our batch mates came to my
rescue. I was nervous and flustered,
although all outside appearances
suggested coolness and calmness. In all
honesty, I couldn't remember the letters
of the alphabet! I was 'possessed' by
powers unknown that evening.
Next came, Mark, one of the Hotel's
banquet managers (a 'white' guy). I
guess he couldn't suppress his curiosity
any longer. He asked what "batch"
meant. There were 2 signs by the door
--- one electronic and one prepared by
the group stating "USTHS Batch 80 Silver
Reunion". I had to explain to him why
that word was there. According to him,
he couldn't believe that we (whoever was
there) were in our 40's already. Dali-dali
kong in-explain sa kanya that people
graduate from high school in the
Philippines anywhere from age 15 to 17.
Here in the US, they graduate high
school at 18.
Since I was at the registration
table, another hotel employee came and
asked if I was Sally Maniego-Sioson.
Sally, like me, was a little late too.
I believe this guy came to me twice or
thrice that evening, until finally Sally
arrived with husband Alan and daughter
Sarah in tow. Good! That guy was
finally off my back. :o)
There was a meeting/dinner going on
at the function room next to ours.
Eventually, they HAD TO close their door
(their fault then!) as each time a batch
mate arrived, there were screams to be
had and heard! Screams ala-cheering
squad sa gym.
I missed some of the early activities
inside the banquet room as I had to be
outside to man the registration table,
but boy could I hear them!
Tapos, the music started and then
more screaming. There was a group of
tourists/hotel guests in the lobby area
near our room. Believe it or not, one
of them couldn't contain his curiosity
any longer he had to take a peak and see
what was going on. Kasi, all they could
hear was laughter, screams, yells, old
school music. Usually, hindi chismoso
ang mga puti, but that night, the Pinoys
turned them into one. (ha-ha) I can
only imagine what he told his group.
Eto pa, during the dancing, we
noticed our 2 bartenders dancing as
well. Comments heard from them were it
was a great party and the music was
great. Mantakin mo, OPM music yung iba.
Obet, Bende, Helen, TJ and I observed
them dancing and smiling. Iba talagang
mag-party ang Pinoy.
Banat ng TJ when Danny S. sang "Kumusta
ka?": "Gee, I haven't heard that song
in years!!!! Oh my God. I've forgotten
that song!".
Sagot ko naman sa kanya: "How can
you hear that song eh one of 2 Pinoys ka
lang yata sa Connecticut?!?". That of
course earned me a scowl and "Anak ng
Pating!" from TJ.
A source of mild 'commotion' at our
table was when the DJ played "Simply
Jesse" (sp?). It took forever for
anyone to figure it out.
I've said time and again that I will
do anything I can to help...huwag lang
akong pasasayawin or pakakantahin! Kaso
mo, no one was allowed to sit and stare
so eventually...somehow I ended up on
the dance floor...which earned a comment
from Obet: "Nai-stress akong panoorin
ka?!". I couldn't agree with him more
dahil I was so stressed trying NOT to
step on anyone's toes. BTW, I have
unexplained bruises on my right foot and
right arm. Does anyone have an
explanation for that coz I sure don't!
[Obet, did you somehow managed to kick
me out of the dance floor?!?] Pero back
to dancing, buti na lang, my sister
Helen was there and she can dance and
dance she did. Half noon for me, huh?
TJ said she thought 9:30PM tops,
we'll be done with the party. Boy, was
she seriously wrong. We had to be
driven away from the room...literally.
Sulit hanggang sa kahuli-hulihang minuto.
Since it was pretty obvious that no one
was ready yet to go home, the hotel
staff suggested we can hang out in the
AVA Lounge of the hotel. Tanong ng isa:
"Saan yun?". Sagot ng Gerald: "Aba!
Ewan ko!"...get it? Ava and Aba???
Sorry the momentum of the joke's gone
here. You should have been there dahil
at that moment, we all laughed our heads
out!
If we had to be literally driven away
from our banquet room, we ended up
driving away some of the 'loungers' at
the AVA Lounge. Napagitnaan ba naman
namin eh. Di nag-alisan sila
eventually! We had one side of the
lounge all to ourselves. Tuloy ang
kwentuhan and kodak moments...hanggang
sa naunahan na kaming naglayasan ng mga
band members. :o)
This was the first time my sister
Helen, TJ and Luz Recio attend a
reunion. I had to bully them into
attending. They all had fun...it was so
worth the effort 'nagging' them into
submission and attending.
Let's do this again, shall we? But
let's NOT wait for another 25 years.
It's fun. This batch is so capable of
anything and has so much to offer. I've
heard of fundraising plans and I'm all
for it. I would love to help our
fellowmen achieve what we managed to
accomplished. UST gave us so much; it's
really time for us to give back.
I'm sure there are other things I've
forgotten to mention. I'll write again
as I remember them. It was so good as
always seeing everyone there once
again. It was indeed a fun night to
remember....until the next time.
Take care, my friends and family.
God bless us all. Until next time.....