Back in the days when I had my grade school in San Beda College, I was part of the community that celebrated its centennial (1901-2001). Yes, those were the days of serious fighting, Half-life and Conterstrike, math and science clubs, rallies in Mendiola that cause class suspensions, uncaught porn that went as early as grade five, basketball on school uniforms, looking at young women from the Law School without ever thinking that they wouldn't start relationships,and the list goes on and on an on. Also, these were the days when I grew up under the guidance of the moderately conservative Benedictines, most especially with Fr. Anscar Chupungco, OSB, who was my rector. But more importantly, as part of the Grade School community, I was able to take part in the centennial celebrations. As far as I can remember, The Little Bedan staff, under the headship of Gabe Baleos (who is also one of my friends here in Ateneo) with myself as the Assistant EIC, covered in our most "grade school" way possible, the different events of the celebration. In the end, our batch were deemed as the 100th who graduated in San Beda. Somehow, I felt quite sad that SBCGS had to be transferred somewhere. I wish it had just retained the Manila campus.
Anyway, moving on, in hopes of trying to find a new life which could fit, I transferred to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary, under the care of the diocesan priests of the Archdiocese of Manila. During my senior year in high school, we celebrated its Golden Anniversary, and again, I played a big part in its celebration. As co-head of the Academic Committee (with Paul Bansil), and the chief of the Publications Committee who spearheaded the 50th Anniversary Souvenir Program, a collection of messages, testimonies, and other memorabilia which witnessed to the growth and development of this institution dedicated to the formation of young men in the service of the Church. And of course, I proudly say that I led this class who celebrated this historical event, the class who could truly say "Laking Guadalupe, Maipagmamalaki!"
[By the way, as I write this, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe]
And now, as part of the formation of San Jose Major Seminary, I have to be part of the Ateneo de Manila University Loyola Schools community, and I have been part of yet another historic event. Just a few hours ago, I attended the celebration of the Eucharist to thank the Lord and Our Mother for the Ateneo's 150 years of existence. Though I did not have a big role this time, I was there to celebrate with the community (but then, I thought, it was during the 150th year of the Ateneo that I It was then that I realized that I was really lucky in my school life to have celebrated three grand celebrations in different schools, and I could say that I was part of it.
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