Let’s Celebrate the 80’s.
MANRESA SCHOOL BATCH 84 REUNION

by Caria Tiango Cervantes

2009 marks a very memorable year for us, the 1984 Class of Manresa School.  It’s been 25 years since we stood in front of the Simbahan ng Pagkabuhay at BF to sing our high school song on our graduation day.

Our song started with the lines, “Silly, little kids then…” well, that was 25 years ago.  Though one may argue that most of us seem to be the “silly” same after all these years, that claim may yet be proven correct after we saw each other last December 5, 2009 when we celebrated our Silver Jubilee Reunion at the Ballroom of the Bellevue Hotel at Filinvest, Alabang, with the theme, Let’s Celebrate the 80’s.

We must admit that the storytelling was endless.  We had 25 years of catching up to do, right?  Each one was excited seeing a classmate after all these years that many may have forgotten that it was a dinner party.  “Dinner is ready,” must have probably been announced three to four times, yet people still kept chatting around. 

The good surprise came when our beloved teachers arrived at the scene.  Gracing the occasion were Ms. Pat Cruz, Ms. Precy Cruz, Ms. Antoinette Bayais, Mr. Banaag Marcos, Ms. Teresa Ponce, Ms. Belen Reymundo, Sr. Amelia Alejan, Ms. Leila Dizon, Ms. Josie Ramos – Reyes, and Ms. Criselda Vecino.  We were also honoured by the presence of the current school principal, Sr. Lyn Falsis, assistant prinicipal, Ms. Aida Gomez, and two sisters from the school, Sr. Cecille and another Sister.

Inside the ballroom, by the entrance door, is an 8ft x 7ft photo wall of some of our high school activities and group pictures.  Some 4 meters away is a memorabilia exhibit showcasing some of our much kept and treasured school IDs, report cards, school book stand, Intramural Awards, clearance forms, high school notebooks, greeting cards, prom souvenir, school gate passes, school books, and much more.  Indeed, the night was filled with such beautiful memoirs.  

The program was graced with a beautiful opening prayer by Sr. Amelia and an opening prayer song by guest singers.  Fun Awards were given out:  Classmate who Travelled the Farthest, Still Looks The Same After All These Years, Still Class Comedian, Classmate with Most Number of Children, Classmate who became the First Parent, First to Register in the Reunion Website, Male 80’s Icon, and Female 80’s Icon.

The highlight of the program may have been the three series Audio Visual Presentation:  Remembering our Friends (a tribute to our classmates and teachers who passed away), Visual Tour of Manresa “Noon at Ngayon” with messages from some of the teachers, and a Photo Slideshow of our School days.

The tearjerker was the Holland Opus Recognition Award given to our dear teachers in appreciation of their guidance, wisdom, and inspiration to all of us during our Manresa days.  Inscribed on the certificate was the famous saying of Jacques Barzun, “In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work.  It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.” 

The program ended with a tribute to our beloved Alma Mater in the form of a donation to the Blessed Candida Maria Foundation.

The night lingered with endless photo ops, line dancing by the teachers and some classmates, ah and yes…. chika, chika, chika, and more chika….

At last, we called it a night, and everybody went home with their Unilever gift packs, AVP (dvd) souvenir, class directory CD, and souvenir packets.  Thanks to all our sponsors, to all the members of the Class of 1984, to all our teachers, and to our much-loved alma mater, Manresa School.