If you asked me what years in school I had fun with, I have to say it would have to be my high school days. I think the reason for me enjoying the high school life would have to be that I was beginning to be mature in mind. I started to be deciding for myself (not really) a little. Here in the Philippines Mama & Papa decide everything for the kids.
It was really a challenge for me to be in the private school (Notre Dame of Lagao for Girls Dept.) during high school days. To be honest, I would rather study in the nearby town of our farm to start my freshman year. My parents wanted me to study in the private school since my older siblings studied in the private school already. It was hard at first because all my best friends from grade school studied at the nearby town in the farm. I am the only one in the group to be studying away from our town. I was so devastated and lonely. They envy me, and I envy them. I used to come home every weekend to the farm to see my parents and best friends.
At the school it was hard at first for me to adjust. I felt so alone. A lot of my new classmates already knew each other, some were classmates or school mates from the nearby grade school. Most were graduate students from NDLFG grade school department. There were just a few of us that were students from other towns or provinces. Gosh, introducing ourselves for the first time in class was really nerve wracking. I remember, me and my new found friends were really shaking. Got so scared, but after the first introduction for our first teacher and our adviser we were at ease then.
After that I made some friends slowly. I was in the second section when I first entered my freshman year. The first sections really were almost all the students from Notre Dame. Its okay though for us. Throughout the end of my freshmen I already made a lot of friends and had some best friends. During our Sophomore year I remained in the second section and most of my classmates from the previous year were still my classmates in the 2nd year. I meet some classmates that were transferred from other schools. One of them become my really close friend until now. I think that at that time we created our own group of friends. During recess time we hung out in the Grotto of the Virgin Mary in our school. In our group we belonged to were the kids that didn’t have money. So, during recess time instead of going to the cafeteria, me and our group would be at the grotto just talking until the bell rang for our next class. The rich kids would be at the cafeteria to hanging out. No hard feelings. That was just our life back then.
That was the cycle until the end of our Sophomore year. Comes Junior year. Our first day the group got the bad news. Some of us in the group were being transferred to the first section. We didn’t like what we heard. So what we did, we knew the adviser of the second section and we really liked her, she’s our favorite teacher. We really asked her for help to let us stay in the second section. We were practically crying for mercy to be with her. We don’t want to be in the first section. We just didn’t want to separate the group. Yeah we would always see those other schoolmates but not like we bonded them. So we asked the Principal. Luckily she let us stay in the second section. We were really happy to be there. I think the teachers just want the group to be separated. We never created any problems. I think they just wanted us to be with the other schoolmates too. At that time we really hate it.
During Senior year the group were really forced to stay in the first section. We tried talking to the teachers and Principal but no luck they didn’t let us transfer. So we stayed in the first section. The group was so unhappy at first and later we did accept it and just stayed until graduation time. Earlier in the article, I showed our last Christmas together in Senior year (1984). Some of us in the group went abroad, some stayed and some had successful business, some full time Moms, some still single and available, 2 that I know of were dead already. Our adviser, she’s our English teacher too. She’s happily married to an American. She’s my English teacher from freshmen until Senior year. Thank you so much Ma’am Mae.
I enjoyed my high school life even though we didn’t have much party going on. Me and my barkadas just hung out a lot, sometimes in our house, sometimes on one of my friends house. Our parents knew who each of us. 3 of my best friends went to our farm one time for the fiesta and they really had a blast.
My classmates will kill me for posting our Christmas Party picture. Don’t worry classmates still looking good anyway. 😉
To all graduates of Notre Dame of Lagao for Girls Dept. Grand Reunion next year. Still deciding the date. If you email me I will forward your email to Shiohara Reyes or Leila Cosio. Hope to see you guys there.
I have a 30th high school reunion next year. Life goes far too fast. 🙂
Dear Feyma
My 3 year old daughter lives in Maa with my wife and I consider her old enough to attend some sort of pre school to get her into the social side of mixing with new friends..she speaks bisaya well and english(I am british but only get home every few months at the moment)
can you suggest a local playgroup and do you have any idea what costs I should expect for a 3 yr old.
any advice would be a appreciated
Hi Tom – We must be the same age! I have a 30th next year myself. I have never been to a reunion, though, and won't be changing my attendance record next year! 😉
Interestingly, I have never been to one as well. A couple of years ago I had decided that maybe I would go to this one. However, it appears that I will be out of the country when it is scheduled.
Feyms,
Can’t find you e, which one is you? High school life was the best yrs for me, though I didn’t have baon everyday, I looked forward every morning. We never had a reunion, wish we had one. I also, wish I see my barkada again, after senior yr, never saw them again. I guess, because I had to move away and as well as my other barkada. Looked on google, FS, FB, hoping I’ll find them, but no luck…
Looking at your picture, I had to look at my old albums again, saw my high school photos, reminiscing the fun memories we shared…I can’t help but to be in tears … I don’t know why, but I miss them.
Because of you, I had to take my high school photos from the “old baul”, scan and post it on FB soon… hehehehe.
Thank for your wonderful post. Once again, you & bob always make me miss home… Pohon mubalik gyud ko og puyo diha..
Annalie*****
Hi Tom N – That's for sure. Have fun with your reunion next year.
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Hi Tom – I'll be out of the country too! What a coincidence! 😉
Hi ann – Ha ha ha. I'm on the very top right in between the girl(on my left) with the yellow shirt and the other girl(on my right) with the brown blouse with white.
Lucky for me I found lots of my classmates in high school on Friendster and FB. My best friend, she lives overseas I call her regularly. Thank God for vonage phone. I'm glad that your also remembering your high school days.
Hey, time to retire now. Enjoy your pinaghirapan my dear. Balik na diri oi. 😉
Good to see you my dear friend. Take care and God bless!
I'm ready my friend, it's been 19 long yrs. On the other hand, I'm just waiting for my husband to say "yes".. He's not ready to retire there yet. huhuhuhuhu…
Take care friend.
Hi Feyma..
checked out Tumbletots…its about 40k per year but their registration fee of 20k seems a bit steep…..especially as its non refundable if she doesnt settle in.
Not sure if this is par for the course in RP.
my wife tells me that Motessori is 8 k a month…..for a 3 year old seems a little OTT….
Thanks for the advice…looks like ill be giving tumbletots a go.
Kamusta ka Feyma,
Is very nice story, and I bet brings back great memories writing about it. I couldn't find you either in the picture, but now I know..thanks to Ann's comment 🙂 .
One thing I noticed, and maybe this isn't a coincidence, is that you all have short hair. That seems very different, was this just a fashion thing at the time, or was it a school requirement??
Thanks Feyma, and keep up the great writing.
Salamat kaayo, og ingats,
Danny 🙂
Hi david – The tumbletots almost as much as the pre-school in Ateneo. The 20k registration that's more than the registration of Ateneo too. I didn't realized they are that high of payment there. I have to compare them to Ateneo because it's known here that Ateneo had a high tuition than the other school.
Wow, 8k a month in Montessori that's a lot of money. It's even more than we paid for in Ateneo even the high school.
Anyway, good luck to you and your wife.
Hi Danny – Everybody has a hard time finding me in the picture. Ha ha ha… Good thing I let you think back of your high school days too.
That was the fashion in the mid 80's short hair. Good thing for us it's more comfortable and handy with our military training.
Good to see you again Danny. Take care!
i’m so happy when i was reading your high school life same with me..,,.
h’ have a good day fom your friends,,,.