Swinging Back to the 70's
The USTHS80 2006 Christmas Party
By: Yna V. Torres
You know it is of God
if it exceeds your sweetest
imagination. Did it break
attendance records? No it didn’t.
Would I have wanted that? Of course
I would, that would have been good
for pride (It was within easy
grasp!). Were we a master at
organization? I believe we were
pretty much that. Did it go as
planned? Not in our confident
estimate.
Ambitious one can’t
help be. Thankfully I got a little
check when early on while watching
those enlisted names pile up, Rene
Sario was nicely challenging me,
helping me contact guys (as in
hombres) difficult to reach to come
and beef up attendance. I stopped,
texted him and said- cease and
desist! I will be president but for
a year and I will not cheapen our
friendship which I have neglected by
the way by making him my hakot
brigade (boy, he delivered!).
Mahiya ka naman , baby!
When the bakla curled
my hair that morning, I dreaded
something could be going wrong.
True enough there were
cancellations, former yes becoming
–I will try or the sound of silence
(70’s talaga!). But I will not
grouse on this, love ko tong mga
sumubok at gustong makadalo but
circumstances prevented them. Let
me instead enumerate all the right
things that happened that night.
Fides, Chie, Leah,
Nina, Joel, Teng, Gina, Wendel, Leo,
Rey, Noel and I became a team and
moved as one.
Fides, the perfect
person for the job (Socials and
Events)! No need to say more.
Chie, for finding us
the best venue ever, providing the
best food! For making us dance and
sourcing the cheapest D.I. in town.
Leah and Nina, for
all the leg work na hindi nakikita
ng tao and for manning the reception
(hindi ko masabing receptionists).
Gina, for that
beautiful prayer, for coming to our
rescue, for that grand cake complete
with Swing Back to the 70’s logo,
and for encouraging the team with
your heart-felt compliments. Teng,
for your leadership, for that solo
song number and for driving you know
who. Joke lang eto ha.
Joel, the silent Veep,
for the prizes, for keeping us
ladies company and hearing all our
UTI stories, for being such a
fantastic dancer.
Noel, for being game,
for being my swing partner and for
appearing like you are enjoying it.
Rey, for making it in
spite of your schedule, for being a
perfect host – ang lalim makisama ng
taong eto.
Leo, for that
year-ender video – it just keeps
getting better! For helping out
Wendell too in the technical
department.
Wendel, you were
great! Thanks for single-handedly
being the band; sounds guy &
guitarist.
Ever wondered why
recipient of awards spend their few
minutes of fame as they stand there
on the rostrum holding proudly their
trophies, rattling off all the names
in their directories, thanking
everyone? I would. Gee, can they
not write better speeches? Now I
understand. The most magnificent
language is Thank you! And I will
continue giving thanks to:
Clarence Aytona,
manager of the UAAP champion UST
Tigers, and Senen Duenas, asst coach
– pleasure to know you. The
association gave them recognition
that night. If San Beda (the NCAA
champ) claims real men wear red, we
say – real men have hearts of gold
like these two dedicated Thomasians.
Rey Rey-Matias was
recognized too for his outstanding
contribution in the fields of
Physical Therapy and Occupational
Therapy in the country.
For my St. Catherine
classmates (and St. Carina too)-
nabuhay kayo at mabuhay kayo! Rita,
Tess, Yel, Mel are first time
visitors. Uulit daw lahat sila.
With your permission, I will make
sure you do – I will text-hound you
and update you on batch affairs.
For those who have
long been absent (like Happy,
Reggie,) or those who can seldom
come (like Lynne, Jojo M) but came
nonetheless. Marami kayo but I
might miss out on some, you know who
you are –thank you, thank you!
Nelson (The Rapist of
Nora Aunor) Obach and the ONAC boys
who came complete.
WOG- wag na wag
kayong magsawa sumuporta sa
association. Hindi ko na kayo
iisa-isahin, basta alam ninyo pogi
kayo. At tsaka yung classmate kong
ayaw magpabanggit at magpakuha ng
litrato for a legit reason, thanks.
No re-cap, no attempt
at fair speech, I trust
Leo’s photographs will be more
expressive.
Early during the day,
Fides and I got a text from Gina
asking how else she may be of help.
I answered, confident as I was all
were taken care of, to pray that
everyone who will come will leave
the place feeling it was time
rightly spent. Assured of quantity
and content, I knew it is quality
that will leave a good impression
more than numbers. I did not muster
the number but being a good Father,
God does not give you a snake when
you ask for one, He gives good
gifts. And He gave us one that
night.