D' Wave would be a memorable night club of my high school. The first club I've been to; since my brother-in-law knew the Manager and he is also related to one of the D' Electro band members. This is also so close to our residence in East Tapinac.
Background is the iconic Sierra Club building.
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With our 40th anniversary class reunion coming up in a couple of days… [and me still working and can’t go because of work commitments]; the least I could do was really to wish I could be there and attend. While there’s a couple more days to go, I don’t think a miracle would be coming soon.
Last year’s reunion was a great event. Reunions are, for the most part a happy
occasion to reconnect with friends and classmates [and a few surviving
teachers!]. To get to know the odd
classmate you didn’t know and by and large to know more the ones you already
know. Being adults, there is another side or sides that you can reconnect; a
common interest, hobby, or even parenting or grand parenting tips!
To to paraphrase Letty Jacinto-Lopez’ “Do you remember
when?” article more than a few years back: What did I get for attending the
last reunion?
For one, I was happy to see and speak to [personally, this
time; as most of us are in contact via emails & FB], my high school friends
and to get to know some that I didn’t ‘hang out’ with. For a big high school,
which has more than 400 students in each batch; [and that’s just in the day
classes and not counting those who attended the night classes], it is feat to
know and remember everyone, especially for me who is not well known for
remembering names.
Obviously, 39 years is a long time, people change not only
their physical appearance but also their demeanour, character, etc. Some lucky
ones aged great retaining their youthful looks. But for the rest of us, you get
lied to! “Oh you didn’t change a bit?” Liar! But that’s great about having long-time
friends, they make you feel good even to the point of lying about how great you
look after 39 years.
Yes, we have grown bigger [and fatter], with the addition of
a wrinkle here and there. The boys, losing some hair [and in my case, a
lot!]. I am sure that a lot hasn’t
recognised me, I don’t aged well. Plus I was shy and quiet in high school… the
low profile type, and that’s my excuse!
In our mentally challenged minds we reminiscence the “good
old days”, and the most ‘cool’ events of our young lives. Comparing crushes and
boyfriends and girlfriends.
So, do you remember when….
[again to copy Juris Telmo’s Manila/Makati centric reminiscing]:
How lucky and happy you were when and if your classroom is
near the Miclat corner sari-sari store? Because you can hear the great songs
from THAT jukebox [that contraption which houses vinyl records, the precursor
to CD’s and mp3s]; blasting away the school anthem of Joe Coker’s take of the
Beatle’s ‘A Little Help from My Friends’[1]. Boy, we know we could use some
help especially during exam days!
I am sure everyone remember the day or days you cut classes
and skip school… ‘escape’ is our term for it because we want to escape from that
dreaded class and just enjoy the rest of the afternoon out in the real world.
For most of the boys, it was either drinking cherry brandy, mojo’s, beer, gin
or anything with alcohol, or a game of basketball at Fil-Am, Triangle or
Matadero; with ice or Pepsi or Coke as bet and prize for the winning team.
For the girls, maybe a trip to the local PX store to buy
that Levis, Wrangler, Hang Ten or Munsingwear, after which a snack with the girlfriends at Tableland or
Admiral Mid Town or Kongs, depending which end of town, Pag-Asa or Bajac Bajac
Market you were visiting for the day. Obviously
you would have bought your stash of MMs, Kisses, potato chips, etc. on the way
home.
For those ‘lucky’ enough to have a girlfriend or boyfriend,
maybe a movie date at the Grand, Serg’s, Admiral, Kimara, Choice, Del Ros or Prime theatre.
During summer, most likely a trip to Kale /Half Moon Beach or as far as Baloy Beach.
A few would favour the swimming pool across Half Moon [the name of which
escapes me now] or the pools of
Marmont’s at Barrio Barretto, the Gordon’s White Rock [beach AND swimming pool,
with that iconic siren atop the white rock] or the Anne Raquel’s Resort Pool on
the other side of the zig-zag. Maybe a stroll at Marikit Park [and for the
really old ones: Jaycee Park with that rocket-styled slide; which someone
mentioned to me!]. If one is really lucky, ‘someone’ from The Base would escort
you inside and you can go to Dungaree Beach or go bowling.
While most cannot afford ‘stateside’ goodies, the ‘comfort
food’ and snacks of Skyflakes [“I’ll
treat you to snacks, skyflakes the limit!”] choc-nut, chippies with a
shared bottle of ‘softdrinks’ like RC
Cola, Cosmos, Sarsi if one couldn’t afford Coke or Pepsi Cola with the day’s
school allowance.
Most would walk to school, if they live close by and forego
the comfort of riding the trycicle or jeepney [no colour coding then!]; so as
to have extra money for snacks or the odd packet of Marlboro or Kool
cigarettes. Some would be ‘cool’ enough to waste money on ciggies or alcohol
but the norm is good clean fun and plenty of snacks.
Weekends and Fridays; and on rare occasions such as
birthdays and graduation, one would go dancing at Rocket Room[2], Paulines
[with the famous crocodile pond], D Wave, Sierra, Brown Fox, QuaterDeck and
other dozens of clubs. Otherwise would go out to eat at Kong’s, Dainty’s,
Silver Star Mami, Cindy’s or Midtown Admiral.
One could also bowl at Del Rosario’s Bowling alley or at the
newly built RC Building across the new Bajac-Bajac Market. There’s always
plenty to go to, for a small city like Olongapo; and that is just during the
day time and within city limits!But the most important part is really hanging out with friends, making the most of the shared time. Most would be looking forward to summer vacation; and that special trip to Manila or Baguio via Victory Liner, Philippine Rabbit or Saulog/St Raphael Transit or just the mini-bus. Some would go to their parents’ or grandparents home province in Cavite, Pampanga, Bataan or Zambales.
Always after summer, there is that longing for school – not to pursue studies but to reconnect with classmates and friends. In the end it is that bond of friendship that binds us… and these are the things we are trying to recapture with our reunions.
I am hoping that we will continue to be good to each other, respecting each other’s flaws and shortcomings, understand that we are not all lucky in life and would respect our less fortunate friends; and enjoy that couple of days a year to reconnect. I am sure all would have a grand time irrespective of what’s planned for these two great days. Enjoy! And be happy by making others happy too!
2. http://www.subicbaypi.com/subic_barlist_olongapo.htm
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