All About Death

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back again

I am back once again in the concrete jungle called Manila. Almost all the people surrounding me are speaking Tagalog. Not Bisaya. Samok.

I got my grades today and I was somehow contented with it.

En 12 - B
Lit 13 - C+
Fil 11 - C+
Ch 1 - A
Ch 2 - A
Ma 18a - B+
Ma 18b - B+

My semestral QPI is 3.21. I needed a one-letter grade increase in two 3-unit subjects to be a dean's lister. Still, B+ in Garces is okay enough for me. I consider it a feat. Haha. Seems like the languages are my problem. Damn merit english. I'm not good enough for it and I wonder why I was put in that class. Oh well. I'll do better this semester. Note to self: stop having inferiority complex and be more confident. I'll recite more in class. Maybe it might help. My writing skills are already hopeless. Filipino was my weakest point even when I was in elementary. I don't stand a chance in the languages. I used to do okay in English in high school. However, I came from a public school that does not have an extraordinary reputation in English (read: the school sucked in English). The world is cruel. And I'm pessimistic but happy.

Memoirs of High School (unfinished)

I
always sat by the window. The classroom only contained 2-3 electric fans. I was
outside the range of the circulating air and I could only get a few wisps of
it. A breeze would occasionally pass by and bring a wave of relief. One could feel the hot and humid weather the
most during math time in fourth year.
The period was right after lunch and it was perfect for siesta time. Ma’am Balberona, the calculus teacher, talked
softly. Her voice and the warm
atmosphere lulled some of my classmates to sleep. Ma’am Tenido, the organic chemistry teacher,
also caused the same effects on the class.

We
had a period of relaxation whenever a teacher was absent. There were also times when either afternoon
classes were suspended or all classes were shortened. That means a lot of time to waste. The boys in our class would sit on the
circular benches fronting the third year and fourth year rooms. Some would bring their guitars and the others
would take turns playing the latest tune.
A couple of boys from another classroom would join them and all of them
would jam together and alter the lyrics of some songs just for fun.

* * * * *

We
had many practices. It was for cheer
dance, pop dance, other kinds of dances, plays, and many more. The frequent victim of these activities was
Karyll’s house. It had a sizable garage
where everyone would assemble and do all the necessary tasks and routines. Even if we were not finished, the helper or
Karyll’s parents would arrive and bring snacks for everyone. The usual fare was banana cue, bread, or
pancit from Lai-Lai, to be accompanied by Coca-Cola. Some people who were not satisfied by what they
have eaten asked for a nibble from the plates of those whose appetites were
easily satiated. There were times that
practices reached until 9 PM or 10 PM.
Many opted to eat dinner at Karyll’s house. I would eat at my house since I lived
nearby. Karyll’s parents were hospitable
enough to accommodate and cook food for everyone. My classmates still retained a sense of shame
and they would buy eggs, instant pancit canton, or canned goods to eat for
dinner.

One
memorable practice was for the Science Month inter-section cheer dance
competition (plus points awaited us).
The garage in Karyll’s house was not big enough to achieve the proper formation
necessary for the presentation. We
decided to practice at JD’s place because there was a huge lot near their
house. It took a lot of persuasion to
convince the guys in our class to practice.
Only when Jerese cried did they relent to our heeds. We hailed a jeepney and all of us managed to
squeeze inside it. All of us still have
not eaten dinner. Some decided to buy a
bunwich from Dunkin Donuts or a burger from the canteen. We immediately practiced the moment we
arrived. The dedicated leaders pushed us
because the contest was only a day away.
It was 6 PM or 7 PM when Karyll cried because she was very hungry and
her body could not take it anymore. The
others also started to protest and all of us went to JD’s house to eat. Karyll contentedly bit into her bunwich once
we were there. A huge tray of instant
pancit canton and slices of cake greeted us.
Voracious eaters that we were, we devoured the food in no time. Jade grabbed the tray with a few bits of
pancit canton left and asked us whether we would eat the remaining food. Having our permission, she finished it
off. With our contented stomachs, we
practiced once more, and we eventually garnered a prize in the contest.

(I
notice I have been putting a lot of things about food in this part of the
entry… I must be hungry)

* * * * *

Still
thinking of things to add… Mindanao State University
– Iligan Institute of Technology
Integrated Developmental School batch 2005-2006: help me think of more things
to write

* * * * *

Writing
all of these is the only way I could evoke the memories and reminisce it, lest
they become forgotten or buried among the weight of thoughts and worries that
constantly bombard us. Truly, high
school was the time of my life.