Philouise’s Weblog

“Down memory lane: Science High circa 1970-74
(By Philian Weygan, Jan 30,2009)

“Those school girl days of telling tales
And biting nails are gone
But in mind they still live on and on”
(To sir with love)

As my Abra trips continue, indulge me to share something different triggered by our recent high school reunion. This year’s Baguio centennial celebration, schools are encouraged to organize reunions of all sorts, Boys High is having theirs this weekend.

What does an a Finance Executive, MTC judge, a sought-after pathologist, a University professor, a bank manager, a bank labor union president, head of a Japanese organization, a college dean and a group of overseas migrants have in common? All of them are UB Science High class 1974. On a very short notice, last Wednesday night was a despidida of Freddie Krueger, who is going back to Dubai by the end of the month. Some batch mates out of town, thus their loss. An early dinner stretched deep into the night with jokes, laughter, and stories of all sort over Mongolian buffet, calamansi pie, blueberry cheesecake, more cakes and ice cream.

We spent our high school days in the “G –rooms” but we were not confined in those rooms. We were in the laboratories, in the gym, the little theatre and very often exploring the natural habitat of Sto. Tomas, Marlboro Country, Dominican Hills, Botanical garden, Loakan, the hillsides and mountainsides around the city.

Scientific Experiments of Sunflower which included an invisible ink which reached a regional and a national competition. The instant ikebana competitions where sunflower was a motif that won the second place. The effect of music on plants, a study of mold formation on various kinds of bread, the level of urine for watering geraniums and more experiments as the years progressed.

We remember vividly the musicales most specially “the Music Barn” concert. Emmett Brown Asuncion, our school director and conductor and Dave Tabligan, our pianist, brought something in us, some never knew we had – the ability to sing. In 2008, Sammy Ancheta came home and the despidida was in Manor house. I saw Dave Tabligan playing the piano, Judge Claire Casuga Tabin went to talk to him and he started playing Music Barn songs and the group burst into an impromptu concert.

We always win the Triple 8 cheering competitions. In our fourth year where we were told that we will no longer be included in the competition but rather participate as an exhibition number. We were broken hearted and performed that exhibition number blindfolded, white gloved in red and gray uniforms, tears streaming our eyes. We couldn’t wait long enough, hearts bursting with emotion ran to our rooms and bawled. No less than our Director Emmett Asuncion as well as the University president came down to our rooms to console us.

The basketball games where we cheered our best including Buddy Resurrection and Howard Tovera, both in very prestigious positions now. It was our term when the school took part in the first – women gymnastics and women basketball. I was into gymnastics on our first year, ball games on our second year and 4rth years, cheering squad through all the years. I remember dad sitting with me at night watching the TV of the Toyota and San Miguel games, for in the morning that would be the converging discussion before flag ceremony.

We were a group of young ones, full of energy, studying with purpose and aiming for the best. We desired much as we were expected to compete in biology, physics, chemistry, Latin, Spanish humanities and more. We were made to believe we were the “cream of the crop” we were the best and we will excel. And of course many did. I remember Mom coming to close the lights in my room at the curfew time of ten p.m, not knowing that I have a penlight to read a book or notes under my blanket.

Through the years we build a bond strong enough to keep us connected even beyond high school. When we were in college, summer breaks find us coming together for various reasons. When I started working, some of my classmates come to my office in Harrison for a chat, a walk, a meal. Sometimes a group got together for a whole day and night affair. Two left us into the next stage of life Alex Galace and Edward Gali. We remember them in prayer whenever a reunion comes up.

Certain loyalty spans into the next generations where graduates have their sons and daughters became students of Science high. Despite all high and lows, the school continues to attract families down the line. I exactly don’t know how many Weygans got into Science high, Manong Fermin was first, me second and many others followed us.

Recently, our class gather at least twice a year. Birthdays, a visiting classmate, wakes and marriages were reasons to get together. The bonding continues in a mature atmosphere. High school experiences and the present undertakings remain to be highlights of these gatherings. But if it were in the house of Dr Ino Wi or Rey Dacones the karaoke is free for all. And in one Christmas reunion the class decided we start a yahoo group account and that keeps us connected in cyberspace.

Many of us are now heads and leaders of the organizations we choose to be in. And we continue to be pretty much like any body; being caught with a traffic violation, sick with pneumonia, taking care of apos, flagging the taxi, cue in the super mart, denied visa and pretty much anything and everything that the average person experience. Now that I started writing about this, a sequel to share the quirks may follow if Linda Carino does not write one. (01/30/2009)