What are some of your fondest memories of school?

Many, but the most memorable among them are the JS proms, puppy love and my former classmates who would copy from me during exams. – Leonard Villa, Laoag City

My classmate and I often crashed out at the school field, just relaxing and chatting. You don’t realize then how little responsibility you have. – Johann Lucas, Quezon City

Puppy love

Series of puppy loves, barkadahan and one’s first kiss. – Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City

How could I forget my first dance during our JS prom? In high school, when face to face with my crush, I felt my knees jerking uncontrollably. – Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte

Reminiscing my high school days, I now find it amusing to have been the object of “crushes” of some girls on campus. But modesty aside, I’m harmless. – P. Alagano Sr., Vigan

 Having my first puppy love while still in grade school at Baguer Primary School, in Libungan, Cotabato. Maagang na-in love, tumandang nakapag-asawa.– C.B. Manalastas, Manila

When I secretly fell in love with my English teacher, leaving her love notes on her desk and on the board and even sending Valentine cards by mail. I was so happy. – Ric Vergara, Calamba City

 In college, I was always on the edge, not knowing what to do or where to go. I always felt like I was at a crossroads. But there was this one time I dated my childhood crush. It was by far the greatest feeling I felt then. That feeling stayed on and was only replaced when we got married. - June Wenceslao, New York City

Friendships

The summer escapades and easy friendships compose the fond memories of my grade school days. – Noel Diaz, Manila

I have fond memories of high school where I made life-long friends. It was in high school, too, when I began my exciting love affair with reading. – L.C. Fiel, Quezon City

In high school at UE, the feeling of camaraderie prevailed, giving me a sense of belonging. This prevailed even during my college days as a working student. – Nap Cinco, Rizal

I have many that make me wish I could go back in time to replay the best of them. In Grade 6, I liked best those afternoons after class when my barkada frolicked with some girls in the big campus field playing games at the age of puberty. In senior high school, being at the top of the class, I had female classmates invariably electing me to head school organizations. In college, I enjoyed the respect of classmates as the class corrector of quizzes and tests under some professors. In our off-campus class in graduate school at PLM, I was always reminded by one of our professors not to be absent as, according to him, my questions provoked lively discussions and my expository presentations brought valuable experiential dimensions to the lessons of each day. I then had to study before going to class. I’m not done yet. This month I take up a course on spirituality at the Don Bosco Center of Studies in Better Living Subdivision, Parañaque City. Though this comes late in life, I feel that this is the last milestone in my journey to meet my Creator. – I. Calata, Parañaque City

Kulitan and food trips with pals are priceless. - K.C. Ibañez, Ilocos Norte

The occasional outbursts of laughter in the classroom over anything that we found funny. That was in high school. – Jun Cajucom, Tacloban City

Teachers and mentors

I can vividly recall the voice of our rector as he gave us advice about life, the laughter of the younger years that truly reflects our carefree years, and the positive life attitude that still serve as a tool in these very challenging times. - Alfredo Carballo, Jr., Negros Occidental

After many years, I still fondly remember and admire those Jesuits who just about kicked our wise-guy behinds. – Jaime Lopez, Manila

My short studies in the seminary was a memorable experience. I’ve met many peculiar characters there. Cardinal Rosales was my English professor. The rector then is now the bishop of Malolos. When I transferred to another seminary, Cardinal Vidal was my Pilipino professor. Maybe if God did not change his plans for me, I’d have been a bishop or cardinal assigned at the Vatican. – William Gonzaga, Marikina City

I have so many fond memories of my school days, from primary to college. In my first grade at Cabanatuan East Central School, we used to bring our own chair daily as the school was destroyed during World War II. One time, I mistakenly brought home the teacher’s chair, which was better than mine. Instead of bawling me out, she told me to keep the chair and that she would keep mine because I recited the alphabet loudly and clear. I loved her chair very much for sentimental reasons. That was in 1945. Now, I don’t remember what happened to her chair anymore, but I fondly remember her every time I see an iron chair. - Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City

With fondness, I still remember Mrs. Datugan, a great person who hugged and soothed me after I skinned my knee in grade one. – Al Lopez, Manila

Excelling academically

The best memory I have of school is getting the highest score in trigonometry among the pack, even outdoing the honor students. – Sammy Macana, Davao City

From being a village boy from the mountain ranges of the Zamboanga Peninsula, I went to college in a great university and obtained a liberal arts degree from Silliman. – J. Pacatang, Dipolog City

My best friend happened to be my closest rival in scholastic standing, but, since we were both good sports, our bond was never affected. – Ching Gaspar, Laoag City

There are two things I treasure most about studying at Central Philippine University. Students are taught the Christian way of life and English was the lingua franca in school. Our school can be mistaken as one of the international schools today. - Robert Young Jr., San Juan

Extra-curricular activities

I graduated from a Chinese high school; we had full Chinese and English curricula unlike today when Chinese schools teach only one Chinese subject. I am amazed how we were able to cope. Besides the academics, we had basketball tournaments, track and field, drama classes, school band, scouting, debating teams. Students today are luckier, or then again, maybe not. - C.K. Yeo, Iloilo City

School activities

Grade one, which is the only period I spent at the Baguio Central School, is the most memorable. I was given parts to play in many school activities but the fondest was my Christmas program recital of a poem entitled “My Little Pony.” Up to now, I still recite it verbatim to my grandchildren. – Felix Ramento, Nueva Ecija

Some of my fondest memories are of being part of stage plays in elementary and high school where I always played the villain. – Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City

It makes me smile to recall the dissection of a frog in our Biology class. Since I was the only male and the barrio boy in a group of six, it was my task to pin the frog (natatakot yung co-members ko na mahipo man lang yung palaka) on the candle-wax operating table. My female group mates performed the operation, accompanied by shrieks. The frog was shredded into unidentifiable pieces. My group mates got 85 for their grade; I got 82. They are all doctors of education now. Nanghuhuli pa rin ako ng palaka. – Rey Onate, Palayan City

Graduation day

As someone who dreaded school days for fear of being picked on, I can say that my fondest memory of school was finally graduating and leaving it. – Francis-Santos Viola, Quezon City

Graduation day, of course! It never fails to make everyone emotional, especially that final batch song when everyone just sang their hearts out. I recall seeing most of my batchmates in tears as we bid farewell to our school. I think everybody would agree that high school is four of the most amazing years one may have in his lifetime. – Christian Winnerin Hilario, Bulacan

Naughty deeds

One of the fondest memories in school was when the president of the class initiated a boycott of the class of a terror teacher. The poor teacher cried in agony, then later on, we reconciled. – Cliff Taguiam, Manila

In elementary, we perfected the art of peeping on our sexy teachers and cheating during exams. One day, the karsonsillo of our Chinese teacher, who lived in the school dormitory, was up on the flagpole for everybody to see before the flag ceremony, making all the culprits laugh in glee, myself included. One afternoon in high school, we watched our teacher Miss Alconis got nervously mad to see her drawer full of new-born mice, as we, Vice Gov. Jerry and his kalokohan-mates, giggled silently. In college, I had misadventures with my brothers in the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, interspersed with daredevil extra-curricular activities with my townmates and barkada that landed us in the Caloocan City Jail and Sampaloc Police Precinct Jail in separate events. – Elpidio Que, Vigan

My fondest memory happened during high school. We skipped our boring history class by walking around Sampaloc Lake in San Pablo City. – Lydia Reyes, Bataan

Memories of cramming for exams, truancy and smoking while hiding from my mentor readily come to my mind. How I wish to relive them. – Jim Veneracion, Naga City

Some of my fondest memories in school, especially my high school days, was when I skipped classes with my favorite classmates. – Manny Gamo Sr., Las Piñas City

One fonest memory I have of school was drinking mompo while cleaning the St. Ferdinand Cathedral and replacing it with a mix of gin-Coke as sacristans of the parish. Oh boy! You should have seen the faces of Mons. Jamias and Fr. Tagal upon celebrating mass the next day! Hahahaha! – Col. Ben Paguirigan Jr. Ret., Zamboanga city

In elementary, I was an underdog. I was not a favorite until one teacher assigned me to be the secret police and list down the names of those I caught or heard speaking the dialect inside the campus. Dapat English. Since I belonged to the masa, my classmates never thought that I was the one who was assigned to report the violators. Nakaganti din ako sa mga salbahe. In high school, I was the fastest reader; my teacher told the class that I could pass as a basketball game announcer. I was even called a bookworm. Imagine, being called as such pagtapos ako lait-laitin in my elementary days. I also recall getting into trouble with the daughter of a big-time millionaire when I was in college. Nagkatisuran lang, and she thought it was intended, we got into a hair-pulling incident at the gate of Assumption. Good thing, cooler heads pacified. That incident, however, started our friendship until after graduation. Those fond memories will stay in my mind forever. – Rose Leobrera, Manila

Big Elvis fan

My fondest memory of school is my experience in Grade 1 at the Colegio de Jesus-Maria (now Dominican) in San Juan, Metro Manila and in third year high school at MQC. First: My classmate Rodolfo de Vera lost his tuition money. Our nun-teacher helped him by bringing him to the classrooms of all sections. He raised P120 just by singing Elvis tunes! Second: MQC Christmas Party ’66. German Belgica (Butch’s kid brother) wowed us all by impersonating Elvis! I’m an Elvis fan, too! Too many fond memories to text here! – Gerii Calupitan, Mandaluyong City

The campus

 I went to high school and college at the University of Santo Tomas. Along with the beautiful memories, I vividly remember, too, the physical beauty of my school: the huge campus with its landscaped and well-maintained garden(s), the big football field, the earthquake-proof Main Building, The Sto. Rosario Church and other edifices, particularly, of course, the Commerce and High School buildings. During our time, there were separate stairways for boys and girls. Although UST was co-ed, the strict Dominicans who ran the school saw to it that men and ladies did not “mix and meet” at the stairways. Now, that was funny! – Myrna Militante, Quezon City

Memorable roles

Being named “Prince Charming” during my second year in law at the Lyceum. This was held at the Aberdeen Court, in Quezon City. – Romeo Caubat, Masbate

I’m good at art. I like drawing landscapes. Some years back, I represented Leyte High School in a painting contest. – Vic Alim, Caloocan City

I was very active in extra-curricular activities since elementary until college. In fact, I was able to go to many different places by representing the school. – Marielle Quiboquibo, Manila

The good ol’ days

 In hindsight, the fondest memory I have of school at the primary level is that of July 4, 1946, when, with classmates at attention and in line formation facing two flagpoles, we sang the American and Filipino national anthems. – Josh Pacatang, Dipolog City

When I was in grade school, I hurried home to catch Superbook and The Flying House on TV. Those were the times when cartoons were in English, unlike now, when most are in Tagalog. Filipinos are losing the English proficiency edge. Blame it on Voltes 5. – Rico Fabello, Parañaque City

Surviving tough times

I had to listen to my teachers with an empty stomach because I didn’t have anything to eat. – Edwin Monares, Marikina City

It’s a bad memory. During my high school days, our rector saw me and my girlfriend kissing inside the church confessional. As I expected, a month after that kissing scene, we were out of school. – E. Linsangan, Isabela

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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