Alma Mater Weekend

I haven’t been posting entries because I didn’t expect my weekends to be that hectic! Now, I’m having this headache for lacking sleep…you see, my body’s used to sleep real late and wake up at around 10am the following day -- but the past few days, I had to wake up early. This was actually my first time to visit both my former schools in one weekend, so this made it quite extraordinarily special.


Saturday: Crocs Mega Sale and CEU

In 2009, we lined up at 8am even if the tent would open at 10am. We were able to get 10 pairs for only 5,000! That was a real steal because a pair could be around 2,000 or up.

This year, we went to the same event and queued up at 9:30am because we figured that that 30 mins before opening should be okay since a lot of people are accommodated inside. the tent Once the gates opened, we were able to get in quickly because there was a separate line for Citi cardholders. 

I was planning to get Mary Jane either in lavender or sea foam, but I couldn’t find sizes lower than 10! Such a shame.

But instead, I was able to get these since I needed a more outdoorsy type of footwear.

Wraith light grey/pink

To sum up, we only bought 5 pairs this year as the choices weren’t that good, unlike last year’s.

After that, we went to CEU as mom had a dental appointment with one of her colleagues. I haven’t been back to the campus grounds for such a long time, and being there brought back a lot of wonderful thoughts during my college days, even the time I met D. (Haha! I even find my cheesiness quite amusing! At least for me).

Here are some pics:

DCT Lanai

Canteen at DCT: Now an open space going to the former lanai

You can really tell that there are a lot of changes right now at CEU. After all, it has been 6 years. But then again, there are some things that didn’t change. I still liked the same siomai and buko pandan I’ve been grubbing through my college days.

Anyway, I had to sit in front of the computer as I had to take charge of the souvenirs for Kyla’s Mafia Party. To our luck, we weren’t able to print out the gift tags from mom’s laser printer because of connectivity issues. So it sucked to be sitting idly when you know that you have a ton of work to do. No choice but to wait for home.

Sunday: SPCP High’s 27th Commencement Exercises

Yes, I was back to our dear old school after that homecoming. This time, I attended Kyla’s graduation which was held at the SPCP Convention Center (formerly Chauvet Gym/St. Paul Square). The construction was not yet completed at the time so the school had to improvise the stage and seating arrangement.

St. Paul Square?

I got to see high school personalities like Sr. Agana, Sr. Baricaua (aka Sr. TA and Sr. TB, respectively), Sir Velarde, Ms. Dela Paz, Ms. Pike and others.

Sisters and Faculty with Mom and Dad in the background (taken during offertory)

Mrs. Fetalvero (formerly Ms. Bandelaria) still led and conducted the graduates’ singing of graduation songs. I like how they did the Lupang Hinirang (yes, they did voices for that too!), with the march-y tempo it should have (in your face, NHI). There were new songs added in the Eucharistic celebration, but the students were probably lazy singing, which was why the blending in some songs didn’t seem to work. Oh well, students.

Mrs Fetalvero (formerly Bandelaria) still leads the graduates. 

Also shown are GIFT violin and guitar graduates

After which, the commencement exercises started, and I was busy doing some party favors for Kyla’s party until it was her turn to receive her diploma and her 19 awards!

Mom hanging sister's 8 of 11 medals

After the “festivities” we dined in at Cyma and simply loved the salad and the other greek-inspired food we had.

With this I ask, when in a million years will I ever go back to my Alma mater on the same weekend?

What's up St. Paul?

What better way to recollect all those thoughts and childhood mem'ries is to go back to the roots where you have grown up most of your childhood and teenage life with a lot of people who mattered.

Ahhh, high school.

Admit it, you loved your high school years more than college. Well, at least for a lot of people I know. This could be because most were able to have childhood friends, that are still friends after all these years. This was where you knew everything was real -- aches and pains, fun and laughter, friendship and rivalry.

It wasn’t that long ago when we had that golden opportunity. Last December 5, 2009 was a chance for the Class of ‘99 to revive all those real, but feel-good feelings once felt during high school. I can say it wasn’t by accident that it happened. We made it happen, and was glad we did. Hell yeah!

“Let’s go Seniors99”



Since the school spirit was still fresh at that time, I also decided to attend the SPCP’s annual homecoming. I have been asked by different people for quite some time, but due to work conflicts, I unfortunate to partake in such events, and 2010 has proven to be a lucky year for me.

Other than picking up my sibs from that very same school each chance I had, it was my absolute first time to explore the grounds again. Well, it is an understatement for me to say that there were changes. Sure. It’s been 10 years, and A LOT has changed.

Spot the difference:

Circa 1995

Present

Can you guess which place is this?

Or this?














What about this?




















What used to be a single-floored structure, the Pre-school building (above) is now a massive 5-storey building, with a built in elevator, basement parking and a chapel bigger than Mere Maria Hall, or at least what I thought it was.

Speaking of its chapel, this was where the homecoming started -- with a mass officiated by Father Bart. You see, Fr. Bart has been long gone from SPCP and was assigned to a small parish at Batangas, and we were fortunate enough to have him again. Though most of us may not have very fond memories of him, he was a big part of the Paulinian community. He even lovingly asked us if he could be invited once again for every homecoming. That’s when I realized what a sweet heart he could be, and that he misses the dear Paulinans.

Fr. Bart and Ms. Iggy

At the registration area, we had to pay PHP250. I heard that in the previous homecomings, no one had to shell out anything, but now we were paying a fee. Why was that?

For one, it was the time where we had to update our alumni cards. I really don’t know anymore what happened to the old ATM-type one I had. For the new card, your photo will be taken already and quickly printed out.

Another reason would be is that some of the proceeds will go to Ondoy donations.




The homecoming’s main program was held at the Mere Marie Anne de Tilly Hall, also at the 3rd floor of the Pre-school Building. I used to remember Mere Marie Anne de Tilly Hall was the place where we performed during Christmas, where we would have our junior sports fests, family days and other pre-school events. Now, it’s located at a much better venue, much bigger space. It seemed like an events place now for various occasions.

Some familiar faces were seen like Sr. Baricaua, Sr. Teresita, Sir DV, Ms. Ignacio, Ms. Shao. They had an AVP about the achievements of the school, what it is now, and what it will be. After all, the nuns indeed have the bragging rights!


Ahh, high school!

When will I be back? I may not know when, but for sure I will see a lot of other wonderful changes by then.

High school never ends!