WE WERE one in singing "Farewell," a ballad by Bagets star Raymond Lauchengco and a favorite graduation song of our time. It was a fitting way to say goodbye to our beloved alma mater, our teachers, our best friends, and the rest of our schoolmates. For the Class of 1989 of Narvacan National Central High School, graduation marked the end of a youth filled with intense emotions and excitement. It closed the chapter on our seatmates, group projects, high school crushes, the JS Prom, extracurricular activities, and the music we played during school programs. The friendships that had officially begun four years earlier had reached a turning point, and the years ahead would test our commitment to staying in touch.
Right after high school, we went our separate ways. While most of our classmates from the Acacia section trooped to Manila or Baguio for college, I stayed in Ilocos with Romano Peralta, Gilda Damayo, Mayrene Pintado, Joan Cauton, Jerry Cabanit, and Carolina Filarca. We enrolled at and graduated from the University of Northern Philippines in Vigan.
Now, 25 years later, on July 12, about 21 of us from the Acacia section returned to the very stage where we had parted ways. We gathered at the prominent facade of the old Sanidad Building, fronting the wide concrete expanse where the flagpole stands. It was a symbolic moment to reconnect and have fun with the same friends we had bidden farewell to all those years ago. Though we have had plenty of opportunities to see each other in smaller groups over the years—including a visit with Alex Cabrera, a US Navy officer based in California, just two weeks prior—this was our first formal reunion and the one with the highest attendance.
Getting here wasn't easy; our preparations had a bumpy start a year ago. We had disagreements, particularly regarding the date. While most of us wanted to hold it during summer or school vacations, others—especially those living abroad—preferred September or December. Since almost a third of our class is based overseas, most agreed that a reunion wouldn't make sense if the majority couldn't attend.
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Loida Fernando, our class valedictorian, who was deeply involved in the preparations. Soon after arriving from Los Angeles, where she teaches high school Science, she took it upon herself to lead a small organizing committee of local classmates. This team included Gina Carbon, who acted as treasurer, Edmond Cabusora, Ronald Gasmen, Carolina, and Victor Albayalde, who provided help from Manila. Meanwhile, financial contributions and pledges for our class fund came pouring in, mostly from our classmates abroad, including Ethel Lucy Clarin, Edgar Allan Aquino, Angeles Cacas, Kit Calisang, and Raymond Canto, to name a few.
When we took our first group photo in front of the Sanidad Building, the collective feeling was, "Wow, this is it. Sa wakas, natuloy din!" I was absolutely thrilled to see classmates I hadn't laid eyes on since graduation, like Clarence Pagaling, Anabelle Mario, Joy Cisolo, Laurence Camero, and Giovanni Cabero. Romano and Maricar Fines, who had previously said they couldn't make it, were a surprise addition. They had arrived from Hawaii just a few days earlier to attend the wake of Romano's brother but made sure to join us.
Seeing everyone felt like stepping into a time machine. Remarkably little had changed. I was genuinely amazed by how fit and good-looking everyone still turned out to be. Sure, some of us now sport a bit of a belly bulge or a receding hairline—no surprise given we are in our 40s—and some of the ladies looked even prettier than before. But nobody looked beaten down by life, and there wasn't a long face in sight. Did the others stay home for those reasons? Just kidding! Everyone seemed happy, animated, and genuinely kind, regardless of the different paths we have walked. Better yet, everyone still retained—or could perfectly mimic—their silly high school antics and horseplay. It felt wonderful to step back into our old selves, if only for the fun of it.
In between conversations, we realized we were no longer talking about the heavy things ahead of us. Who needs to debate life ambitions at this stage? Instead, we indulged in lighthearted gossip: who looked great, who hit the big time, and who had been actively avoiding the class group chat. For those who didn't attend, you can bet you were lovingly roasted in your absence (just kidding, of course). You'd think 25 years would eliminate high school gossip? Ha!
Our "memory walk" across the campus was our first official activity. Standing anywhere on those grounds revived long-dormant memories. We walked past the Social Hall on the left side of the main building, which used to house the offices of our Citizens Army Training (CAT) under our strict commanders, Mr. Romulo Quitevis and the late Mr. Marcelino Soria. It also housed The Pioneer school paper, which Mr. Soria served as the adviser. I vividly remember the Armory where we retrieved our wooden rifles for CAT drills, and the benches beneath the fire trees lining the path to the Science Building where we used to spend our vacant periods. We visited our old homeroom classroom, once managed by our adviser, Gng. Nena P. Camero, and retraced our steps to the grandstand.
While the campus has improved with new structures and greener landscapes, some areas have succumbed to time. The old grandstand is now in a state of disrepair, and the oval resembles an abandoned lot overtaken by tall grass and uneven ground. Yet, there was a profound sense of achievement in standing there together. After decades of physical separation, we could still remember almost everything, laughing and nodding as old stories were retold. Before we left, Mr. Gilbert Cadacio, our YDT teacher, joined us for another round of photos.
From the school grounds, we headed straight to NOAH (an outdoor adventure hub) in Barangay Bulanos for our main program and fellowship. Mr. Cadacio joined 17 of our former teachers, including our librarian Mr. Efren Cachola, canteen manager Ms. Julita Maranion, and former Head Teacher Mr. Reynaldo Peralta. We deliberately scheduled the formal program for the morning as a tribute to our mentors. Instead of us doing the talking, we invited our teachers to share their memories of us and give their impressions of who we have become. They expressed how special they felt that day, and they collectively agreed that our parents had raised us well.
Out of the 54 original students in the Acacia section, our ranks now include teachers, a doctor, a lawyer, a college professor, an architect, engineers, nurses, US Navy officers, corporate executives, seafarers, police officers, and business owners. We have truly become productive members of society.
To celebrate, we enjoyed a sumptuous boodle fight lunch under the bridge near the seashore, right by the slopes of Bantay Abot, where the town’s famous via ferrata and zipline are located. Looking out, I could see the long stretch of the Sulvec shoreline, where I spent dozens of vacant periods and weekends hanging out with the boys—Alex, Victor, Marco Pasion, Richard Sunico, Paul Cabasal, and Gary Bueno. Diving from the dilapidated, abandoned pantalan (pier) and pulling crazy stunts underwater remain some of my fondest memories.
The latter half of the day shifted into pure fellowship. Loida and her committee knocked it out of the park with parlor games—including an intense round of Pinoy Henyo won by Nerissa Doles and Laurence—followed by videoke and dancing (I had no idea Gilda could groove and sing like a TV host!). We also held a brief meeting to discuss future class projects.
As night fell, we gathered for a bonfire dinner on the beach. A few of us—Paul, Arnel Bernal, Romano, Laurence, Clarence, Victor, and Edgar Gapusan—shared stories over beers and wine, accompanied by adobong banias (monitor lizard) for pulutan. Jerry and Jerico Cadilena missed the late-night fun as they had to leave before dinner. We also deeply felt the absence of the rest of the guys who were stuck abroad or deployed elsewhere in the Philippines, like Atty. Eric Gabatino, Ronald Espiritu, Dennis Esteban, Marcelino Aquino, Francisco Cabarloc, and Resty Crystal.
Some say that meeting old high school friends loses its thrill in the age of Facebook. Because we are connected online, we see the photos on their timelines, know what their jobs are, keep up with their kids, and can chat instantly. It can feel like we aren't truly missing them, and interacting in a Facebook group can start to feel like a permanent virtual reunion.
But this real-life reunion proved that there is absolutely no substitute for looking into someone's eyes and sharing a laugh. We gave each other warm handshakes and tight hugs—things Facebook will never be able to replicate. The gathering was a literal breath of fresh air away from the hectic schedules and daily hassles of our careers.
So, to those who missed out: do yourself a massive favor. Log off, step away from the screen, and make sure you show up to the next one, okay? We missed the rest of the girls, like Dr. Minerva Macabeo, Melody Munar, Ma. Dolores Aquino, Rowena Ramos, Amalia Borge, Marjorie Camero, Marivic Rebodos, Arlene Cabotage, Annaliza Cachola, Crisanta Cantano, Nemia Castillo, Mae Cachola, and Rowena de Guzman. And we are especially eager to find those who have completely dropped off our social media radar, like our class mayor Charito Galinato, Richard, Joan, Imelda Menor, Cherry Ann Panem, and Marites Domalanta.
It was a beautiful fragment of time—a brief but vital bridge connecting our past, present, and future. As our graduation song goes: "Yesterday's a treasure, today is here / Tomorrow's on its way, the sky is clear..." It is only now, after the event has wrapped up and we are back to peering into each other's lives through phone screens, that many of us realize just how deeply we already miss that magical moment.
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