A high school reunion for ‘survivors’

By Herbert Vego

HAVE you attended your golden jubilee or 50^th year following your high school graduation?  If not, you were either in bad shape or far away abroad, as I was in the year 2016.

But I hope to make it on Sunday in a hotel for our unexpected reunion marking our 58^th year since graduation from the Antique National School (ANS) in 1966. I had thought I would have to wait for 2026, our diamond jubilee or 60^th anniversary. So far, more than 40 of us have confirmed our attendance.

Hmm, there must be a reason why our “core group” fears that another reunion two years later would gain fewer comers.  Is it because we are already 75 years old or over, at the departure terminal waiting for a flight to Kingdom Come?

In the time warp of 58 years since high school, most of us have acquired a profession, married, raised children and retired.

I guess all our parents are deceased. Otherwise, they could have become nonagenarians and centenarians.

I know many classmates who have faded away but would rather not name them for the sake of keeping them alive in my mind.

Indeed, why not think of staying alive? We are the “survivors” in accordance with this finding from the World Health Organization (WHO): “The average life expectancy of the Filipinos today is 70.4 years.”

Ow! That means, many of us have left the good earth for good, and some of us who are still alive might no longer be around for our diamond jubilee in 2026.

Therefore, on Sunday, we the graduates of ANS Class 1966 look forward to catching up with our lives, refreshing memorable events in high school.

We who have forgotten may simply charge it to “senior moments.”

Science teacher Tom Griffin (an American Peace Corps volunteer), now 84, has not forgotten. Much as he would like to join his students, he could not because of an injury from a fall that needs time to heal.

Moving out of high school at age 16 or 17 in 1966, we moved on to different colleges but with a common goal to achieve success here or abroad before reaching 65, which is the normal retirement age.  May those who have retired enjoy sufficient monthly pensions.

May those who remain active in private practice make more moola to bequeath to their children and grandchildren.

As for me, a graduate of Journalism, I still write for a living. To quit is to stop earning. I need to stash away provisions for older aging, dreading to slide into dependency on my kin.

We will not recognize some of our classmates anymore, but there’s no harm in reintroducing ourselves.

So far our classmates who have confirmed attendance are Edward Tordesillas, Hilmar Pecaoco, Angel Capadocia, Elizabeth Aban Sajo, Florentino Serrato, Daniel Vescatcho, Susan Deramas, Cora Lagrimosa, Polding Baraquia,  Beth Miller, Nick Olarte, Imelda Vego Jamero, Remedios Moscoso, Vilma Oliveros, Loreta Dy, Gertrudes Magbanua, Cirilo Baldestamon, Joselito del Rosario, Noe del Rosario, Boy Tingson, Joe Seballos, Carmelita Seballos, Silvestre Pecaoco, Annabella Elio, Lorna Patino, Caridad Fantilaga, Caridad Guanzon, Haydee Kimpo,  Donna Saldajeno, Honorio Nodque, Johnny Tan, Robert Delfin, Luda Millamena, Eva Terbio, Celerino Ambay, Sampaguita Bungabong, Manuel Revilla, Violeta Miedes, Genevive Cataldavan, Avelina Udo, and Myrna Cabanero.

To all of us, here’s a reading from 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

-oOo-

FIRE SAFETY TIP

MAY being Electrical Safety Month, here’s another safety tip from MORE Power:

With the scorching heat in Iloilo City right now, it’s even more important to be mindful of appliance safety to prevent overheating. Keep appliances away from curtains, towels, or paper, and always ensure they have proper ventilation to prevent overheating. A small lapse in attention can lead to devastating consequences. So, prioritize safety when using your appliances.

Keep appliances away from flammable materials.