Life!!!

They came

In the early morning of the first Monday of June 1963, some 200 young and intelligent boys from all over the Bicol Region and far away Manila converged under the covered Assembly Hall of the Ateneo de Naga High School. Divided into seven freshman sections, they sang the “Lupang Hinirang”, recited the “Panatang Makabayan”, and prayed the “Our Father”. For some, it was a reunion of sorts among former elementary schoolmates, so they joked, teased, and jostled each other. Many of them, having come from the Naga Parochial School, exuded confidence and acted as if they owned the place. For others, it was an occasion for making new friends. And still, for others, it was a time for feeling like odd men out among swaggering city slicks. It was a fun day, although a bit stressful, the beginning of a new life that would soon be filled with excitement and depression.

They saw

Each morning, they would see the unsmiling and stern face of the Prefect of Discipline, Mr. Manny Blancaflor, admonishing them in no uncertain terms to behave, or else face adverse consequences, only to sigh in relief when the affable Fr. Godofredo Alingal, SJ would pass and cheerfully greet them. Each week, they would have to submit a report on a book they read, such as Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Island, Frankenstein, or whatever. Failure to do so would merit the penalty of jug or post, a grade of 70, or both. Every month, everyone was given the opportunity to orate in front of the class such immortal elocution pieces as Raul Manglapus’ Land of Bondage, Land of the Free, or Marc Anthony’s speech castigating Brutus from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, or Jewels of the Pauper by Fr Horatio de la Costa, SJ, among others. They were required to memorize Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken, Robert Louis Stevenson’s Requiem, and many others by the world’s most renowned poets and writers. Then, after the day’s 3:45 p.m. final bell, many would converge in the gym or the outdoor courts to watch or play intramural games. Others would play basketball with Fr OB, or hone their skills in playing drums and bugles. The more intellectually inclined would troop to a classroom for a session with the Barlin Debating Society. All these extra-curricular activities are aimed to prepare them mentally, physically, and emotionally for the hard work ahead. They had to hurdle the never-ending daily quizzes and periodic and semestral tests, not to mention the dreaded final exams. For the well-prepared, they were a piece of cake. For the loafers and slackers, they were a steep mountain to climb.

They conquered

Either fully, or partially. After four years of grueling hard work, there were those who would have conquered the seemingly unconquerable nemesis, with flying colors. But, others would fall by the wayside, unable to meet the Ateneo’s high standards. Some would transfer to other high schools and others to the seminary to study for the priesthood. Unfortunately, there were those who had to leave, not because they were not academically capable, but for some personal or financial reasons. So, in the fourth year, the seven sections would be whittled down to just four.

To the conquerors went the glory for a job well done. The conquest, however, was not the end yet. An unending stream of challenges beckoned – college work and the grim realities of facing the workaday world and raising a family. It was war all over again and the enemies lurked in every corner. But having been prepared early on, they would persevere and conquer again.  As years passed, there would be subtle physical transformation. The hairline would recede and a wrinkle here and there would mar the faces which, once upon a time, caused the colegialas to swoon.

And they perished

Some, anyway. Now, at the twilight of their colorful lives, after decades of fun and hard work, it is time to wait or guess who will go next. For the last several years, Ateneo de Naga HS Class 1967 has lost a good number of its members. And this time, it is not fun. Reading social media messages of condolence is not fun at all. They are a reminder of our mortality, from dust we came and into dust we shall return. Everybody will go. But in God’s own time. Meanwhile, they are comforted in the company of their families, especially their apos.

Having circumnavigated the sun by traveling for about 50 billion kilometers, they are ready to face a new reality, just like on the first day they met each other in 1963.