ZMC BATCH '99 ROCKS

Isang pagpupugay sa ZMC Batch ’99! Sadyang napakabilis ng panahon. Akalain mo’t naka sampung taon na din pala tayo mula ng lisanin natin ang berdeng gate ng Zamora na opisina noon ng mala-gwardiya sibil na si Biyong. Akalain mo?! Eto nga’t sa mga ginagawang paghahanda para sa nalalapit na pagtitipon sa darating na Disyembre (tentative, baka kasi walang dumating maging Enero yan o Pebrero o pwede ding sunod na Disyember, haha!) iba ibang mukha ng pagko-convene para makalikom ng sapat na pondo para sa malaking okasyon, akalain mo?! Si Ryan gumawa ng blog, www.zmcbatch99.blogspot.com para lang mareach out tayong lahat na mga feeling elite dahil kunyari marurunong mag internet! Akalain mo?! Pero saludo ako sa mga klasmeyts na andudun yung pagpupursige para magkita kita’t magkasama sama tayong lahat bago man lang matapos ang taon at ng minsan maalala natin ang malalakas na tawanan tuwing intrams, ang saya sa tuwing natatapos ang exams and ang lungkot sa bawat pagpapaalam. Sampung taon ang nakalipas. Sampung taon ng pagpapanday ng ating mga kanya kanyang buhay…may mga nagtagumpay pero meron ding di masyadong pinaboran ng sarap ng kapalaran. May mga nangibang bayan, nakipagsapalaran sa Manila at sa ibang lugar sa kapuluan pero meron din namang piniling manatili sa ating bayan…anu man ang rason ng lahat ng yun, nawa’y masaya tayo sa kung asan tayo ngayon makalipas ang sampung taon, kasama an gating mga mahal sa buhay. At ang pagtitipong ito ay para sa ating lahat na mga naging bahagi n gating ika nga e high school life, para sa atin ito at sa ating mga asawa’t anak doon sa mga sinwerte na! At heto po, nagligpit si mama kagabi at akalain mong nahanap niya? Akalain mo?! Eto na po, ibinabalik ko ang ating CLASS PROPHECY na sa tingin ko’y tinalo ko si Madam Auring sa pagka sinungaling! Walang binago, at paumanhin, gawa ng isang 4th year HS! Walang pakialamanan sa writing style at sa grammar, kwela lang!!!! there you go guys, enjoy the ride and laugh as you can…

CLASS PROPHECY (ZMC Batch ’99)

After two days of memorizing my notes, I decided to go to Mr. BESMONTE’s room to help him do the letter cutting for our graduation at the thought that the final exams were already over. I entered his room, but unfortunately when I leaned on the working table, my back accidentally pressed the button of a machine unfamiliar to me. Damn! It was too late before I knew that it was a time machine that would take back to the past or to the future whoever accidentally or intentionally pressed it, and I was pushed into the time unknown.

I opened my eyes. All I saw was darkness. I decided to stand. Whew, thank God, for after a couple of seconds my thoughts begun to focus on a conference room – on the table laid visibly a name, PARLE V. BARON, neatly carved in a rectangular piece of marble - a vision of a young SECRETARY GENERAL of the UNITED NATIONS after the term of Koffi Annan had expired. I am the first Filipino to sit in the United Nations as SG after Carlos P. Romulo signed in behalf of the Philippine Government for permanent membership of our country. Indeed my name is in the Guinness World’s Book of Records as the youngest leader of the UN at the age of 27. Full of energy and fresh and brilliant ideas, I am scheduled to leave the country for The Hague, Netherlands to preside the general assembly. I entered the Cathay Pacific Airways knowing from SHERRELYN BARRAMEDA, a flight stewardess that Capt. CELWYN BAS is one of the pilots manning the aircraft. As the plane made a neat touch down the Netherlands Airport, I saw MARITES DAS, SALINA BENITEZ and MARISSA BATALLER, who were our country’s ambassadress and negotiators to the Netherlands. They were there waiting for my arrival as they usually did. As we were walking, my attention was caught by a lady who seemed to be in a hurry. I was amazed to recognized MYLA BIBON, now a business woman who owns the highly technical seven-storey shopping mall in the country.

The scene somehow jolted me and I found myself alone. I checked-in at the Shotoko International Hotel. I was really surprised to know that MICHAEL BERMAS and his Japanese wife owned and managed this luxurious building. I entered my room and turned on the television. It was LORENA FELIMER who was news casting in the ‘News Around the Globe’. There I learned that Philippine actors JEFFREY BALMEDINA and GEORGE BELEN, won an Oscar Award for their film ‘Kipling in Love’ directed by MARYANNE BARRAMEDA, a Filipina Hollywood director. On the Sports News, MARVIN BEQUIO, the undefeated chess grandmaster in men and SHARON CABUJAT in women were featured. The Centennial Basketball Team was also featured with ARIS ESPLANA as coach, FRANCIS BERNARTE, captain ball and ALI BELLEN as the Most Valuable Player with their Manager RONNIE BRINGINO. She also conducted an interview with MARY ROSE BELEN, recently crowned Ms. Universe 2009 and MICHELLE BARCELO, greatest discovery of ABS-CBN as ramp model. The beauty queen’s favorite designer JEAN BASMAYOR, is now a top name in the field of fashion in Paris.

The following day, I left for London. I was in one of the bookstores looking at the best seller novels written by MYLA BERMAS, when all of a sudden I felt a hand on my shoulder. When I turned around, I saw that it was ELENA BONCAY, now the first lady of the United States of America. She invited me to have a luncheon at London International Delicacy. To my surprise, this first class restaurant was owned by JONELYN BALUZO’s multi-millionaire husband. Incidentally, we saw MERCY BASILAN and AILENE BARRIOS, Filipino Ambassadress to London, AILEEN BARCENAS and EDUARDO BIERSO, Philippine business tycoons and full pledged architect, THERESA CARDINO. They were having a luncheon meeting. They told us that FRANCIS BONGANAY will soon put up the London Marine and Aquatic Institute, a school which will basically teach marine courses.

I continued my trip. I was really overjoyed at meeting familiar faces again. At the Scandinavian Airways, I had the chance to meet Capt. ELVIN BURCE, now the owner of Sulficio Lines, the biggest shipping lines in the world. He was there expanding his business. From him I learned that IRENE QUIAMBAO has become an international professor, now teaching at the University of Pennsylvania and JASMIN BANOG has become the wife of Taylor Hanson and at the same time was a successful business woman. When I arrived in Europe, I saw a lady whose face seemed familiar to me. She is MA. JANETTE CANESO, now a full-pledged lawyer, working in an international law firm. I invited her for a cup of coffee in a nearby restaurant. On our way, she told me that a week ago she met NINO DEL PUERTO, now an FBI Agent. I also learned from her that FRANCIA BANEZ, one of the world’s top models is now residing in Belgium but has remained single inspite of her many suitors. Before we knew it, the day was over.

Before deciding to go back to the Philippines, I traveled to Puerto Rico to visit RONALDO BARCENAS, now the husband of former Ms. Universe Dianarra Torres. There in Puerto Rico, I met my friend EDISON BELGA, the Archbishop of the Philippines after Cardinal Sin who was doing a state visit. From him I learned that Rev. Fr. JERIC BAS is now the newly proclaimed pope of the Roman Catholic. After meeting some old friends there, I decided to fly back home.

During the long flight, I was seated comfortably reading an international magazine produced by IDA BERTUMEN’s International Publishing and Bookstore, when I came across the names of MECEL BERDIN and DIVINA MORADA. Divina got hold the title, ‘The Singing Nightingale of Seven Continents’ after winning in the Awit ng Tanghalan, while Mecel is now a Hollywood recording artist. I also got to know that Philippine local band composed of AL REY ATANANTE, vocalist, VIRGO NELSON IBARRA, guitarist, and ROMEL FABELLORE, drummer have become the hottest band in the world. Their compositions continue to grab the top spots in the billboards. My eyes were already tired so I dozed off into a nap, when suddenly I heard a voice over advising the passengers to fasten their seatbelts for we are about to land. The voice sounded familiar to me and sure enough, it was JOAN BUENOs’, an international flight stewardess of the Philippine Airlines, which is now owned by ERIC BRIOSO. A short distance behind her was MARIFE BELLEN, also a flight attendant.

At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which is now owned by Engr. EDWIN BETIZ, Maj. ERWIN BELGICA and Lt. Col. DEO BARRAMEDA were waiting for my arrival. They were ordered by Maj. Gen. JONATHAN BIBON of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to escort me. They informed me that JANICE BOLAGAO has successfully graduated at the Philippine Military Academy, as the second topnocher cadette. Reporters crowded me, asking questions about the assembly. I answered them briefly. In that crowd, I saw MAY MARIGONDON, a renowned journalist and at the same time the owner of Philippine Daily Inquirer and Manila Bulletin. From her, I learned that ABS CBN was corporately owned by MARY ANN DE GUZMAN and AMELIA BERDIN.

A limousine awaited me and I was whisked to the Malacanan Palace for a courtesy visit to his excellency, LEONREY LUTERA, the 14th President of the Republic of the Philippines. There, I met my friends Sec. SARAHLYN BENDANA, now the secretary of state and Gov. JOCELYN BANAS, the governor of the Central Bank for a talk on economy.

After some formalities, I left Malacanan because I was not feeling well. I landed at the Makati Medical Center, now owned by Dr. EUGENE AMPONGAN. I was attended by Dr. LILIBETH BELANO. IVY BARJA was also working with him as nurse and FRANCIA BANADERA as physical therapist. From them I learned that MARIDEL BAYABAN was recently proclaimed as the country’s accountant. JESSICA BERTIZ was a full pledged engineer and RYAN BALIZA as a multi-awarded international dance instructor.

After recovery, I felt homesick so I decided to go back to Bicol where my family lives. Arriving in Bacacay was a big surprise. The town had improved greatly under the leadership of mayor DONN TORRE and vice mayor FRANKLIN PABON. I met the chief of police, S/Inspt. JOSEPH BARQUILLA. His matured face had given him a look of authority. I visited my alma mater, ZAMORA MEMORIAL COLLEGE. It was now a worldwide institution for having such a highly technical facilities. I received a hearty welcome from ERIC BES, AMY BEATO, MARIAN DAPULANG and CATHERINE BALDERAS, now members of the teaching force of my former alma mater.

After some sort of ‘kurumustahan’, my brother took me lift to my mansion in Igang. As I opened my mercedez, my friends CELWYN BAS, JERIC BAS and ELVIN BURCE brought me back to reality. I have been asleep at our school library for a couple of minutes due to the pressure caused by the final exams.

Friends, reality indeed is a cruel but I am so happy about the future that awaits us graduating students where everbody become successful. And speaking of the time machine, don’t mind it for it was just a part of my weird dream.

My dear seniors, today we will live and make every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. I have just seen a picture of Class ’99 at its best I could dream of, a portrait which depicts hope and mirrors success in the future.

Thank you very much. Good afternoon and God Bless Us All. (Parle Vista Baron)

Note: MAGKITA KITA TAYO SA DISYEMBRE!!!