Unbounded

I. Introduction

Good afternoon, my dirty little city, it’s been a while.

If every by chance you get to pass by my workstation in the office, you might be able to notice that I fancy keeping a small collection of books by the corner. It’s a small eclectic compilation mainly by me and a number of contributions as well from my other officemates. Pocketbooks, textbooks, reference books, even recreational guides and personality books. I sometimes take one off the shelf and frill through the pages whenever I get a little free time, but you might think that keeping a mini library’s all flair and fuss. Well, I’m keeping it for a reason. For one, this is a constant reminder for me of my highschool days.

Highschool days, you ask. How so? Read on.

This particular Saturday morning is being spent by looking back into my old writings (apart from doing some photo retouching favor. Hee ;D ). I’ve found out that a number of them can be chunked into common themes. The following entries, including several one-shots thrown along the way, dabbles on our highschool shenanigans.

Basically, it’s a chronological gonzo documentation of the time when I visited my highschool after four years and saw an opportunity to give back something to my alma mater. I, along with my friends, tried to initiate this batch-wide project (now deceased due to neglect) of making a book drive, to gather books from all our batchmates and donate them to our library. It was a very heartwarming and noble undertaking that never really kicked off and met its full potential.

Mind you, they will contain numerous inside batch references, but I wrote all in such a way that a casual reader would understand and relate to.

And as a final note, they will be re-posted in all of its unedited glory. No censorship. So, to those who might be offended, because they will be mentioned, these are my thoughts, and not anybody else’s. So, do not find reason to be offended over lighthearted musings

Why all the hassle? Why reminisce a time that’s long gone?

Because it’s one of the things that will make us remember what it was like when we were young and carefree. The time when we thought we could conquer the world. The time when we thought we could do anything. The time when we thought that we were the best senior batch in our school.

Say hello again to our puppy loves, crushes, chapel presentations, intramurals, and the occasional scandals (ie. P!@#$ , anong mali sa job plan ko?!, by Wilson Tang). Good times.

Well, most of us are graduates now. And most forgot. All I’m asking is to look back and remember. Remember and make meaning out of it all.

After all, life’s all about meaning making.

Here’s to nostalgia.

II. They walked these hallowed halls

Journal Entry: Mon Jun 5, 2006, 9:46 PM

Wil and I decided to revisit Jubilee today after my unproductive morning of waiting incessantly for nothing in Fully Booked, Gateway. So much for manipulative serendipity.

As we arrived, we noticed that security got tighter. We had to have a purpose of visiting just to enter the campus, so we told the officer in charge (whatever happened to Georgette?) that we came to see Mrs. Yan. The OIC however directed us to Mrs. De Guzman. WTF.

Anyway, we took the opportunity to chat with the teachers and the staff. Some, we looked forward talking to, and some, ummm.. let’s just say that we enjoyed the company nonetheless.

Mrs. Raymundo, our grade one Filipino teacher, now holds an executive position. I reminded her of the time when she used to punish me every day at lunch by letting me squat. This wasn’t an exaggeration.

Ms. Ordinario, whom Jim, Dodong and I met again in February, is still the same. Again I teased her about wanting to teach Statistics (she taught us Geometry and Stat in our sophomore and junior year), and Wilson reminded her that “didn’t _______ used to have a massive crush on you?”. Nice retort.

I miss Mrs. Solinap. You remember her. She’s our petite and perky AP teacher who used to carry her maiden name Pajarito before she got married. I can fondly remember the time when I used an itty bitty notepad as the notebook for her subject just to spite her. I later went home that day with a sore right ear (by the way, did you know that Pajarita in Spanish means little bird?).

Heh. Moving on, we also got to chat with Mrs. Sofia Chua (Lin Lao Shi). She’s thinking about stopping teaching in two years because her daughter’s nearing highschool.

Mrs. Nancy Clemena also passed by, and we got to chat with her too.

Oh, you may think that it’s a picturesque moment, no? Yes, but not quite. When everyone in the room realized that I was a Psychology graduate, I suddenly became the darling of the discussion as they were desperately looking for a school guidance counselor pala. Damnit.

As if the moment was not awkward enough, Mrs. Sally Coyukiat (our Executive Directress, the head honcho for you non-Jubileans reading this) peeped in the office and joined the discussion. Everyone then told her that I was a Psychology major and she candidly persuaded me to apply too.

…!#$ Save me Mrs. Yan!

Mrs. De Guzman and pretty much everyone else didn’t allow us to explore the campus at first (apparently because of security issues), but have they forgotten that we were the golden batch? That we were the LAW? So when Mrs. Coyukiat came into the administrative office and personally suggested that we should take a look around the campus, I wasn’t able to hide my smirk. We then explored the campus like little boys in a toy store.

I felt like I was back in time. Back in the time where we had healthy class section rivalries, where Pollux would dominate the freshmen year, Hibiscus in the sophomore year (however they cheated to win so the prestige really belongs to Mimosa), Nickel for the junior year, and Galileo for our senior year, with Pascal trailing not far behind.

Who could forget those inspiring teachers? I’m sure everyone could still remember the science mantras that the late Mrs. Ramos taught to us.

Not a lot of people know this, but Wilson and I have a deep respect for the late Donia Gonzales. Not many of you know her. She was a secretary. We used to chat with her whenever we needed documents to Xerox, and connived with her everytime I was late to arrive in school.

Jubilee also had its share of uninspiring teachers.

Enter Mr. Ramos. Our third year math teacher who only cared about Friday madness and the first row of students.

Wil, Stip, Lea, Bev and I were seated at the very back at that time and we got so pissed by his selective attention. We then tried this one experiment where we’d raise our hands for the remainder of the class and point our bad fingers at him just to see if he would notice us. He didn’t. He was too busy letting ____ kiss his scrawny ass.

Finally, who could ever forget the puppy loves? The crushes, the heartaches, the sexual tensions in a love triangle, and your eye sparkling moments? C’mon, we all had at least one.

We then found Mrs.Yan and got to chat with her. She’s still the same Mrs. Yan that I know, still witty, still articulate, still my idol.

Wil and I also snuck around the closed chapel and its cloisters. The renovations that they made to the chapel are breathtaking.

But what got our attention was the deteriorating state of our library. The Charlie Brown kiddie encyclopedias that we used as references, circa early nineties were still there! Not to mention the complete 1992 edition of Collier’s Encyclopedia. Numerous other TEXTBOOKS were on the shelves.

We never appreciated the library because we never had good books to begin with. Wouldn't it be nice if we'd initiate a batch-wide bookdrive to address the problem?

So much has changed since we graduated highschool four years ago. Some teachers moved on, some passed on. Some structures were raised, some razed. But even after all the changes, one thing still remains and still remains true, that our roots belong to jubilee.

Always remember that every red colored grade, every SDR record, every peck on the cheek, and every moment of joy that we experienced in highschool is a mark. It will whisper and we will then hear the laughs that we had in our memories. We will remember that, at the end of our every endeavor is a celebration of our making. Our roots.

I personally consider my little visit today as a little gift for myself, to remind me of living.

xxx

III. Bookdrive

Journal Entry: Wed Jun 7, 2006, 1:40 AM

My my, this is turning out to be colorful discussion, no?

Everything started when Jim wrote this to the [Jubilee Batch 2002 graduates] groups:

“hey! what this? a non-forwarded message??? what is the world coming to???

Remember the days when posting a yahoo groups message was the norm? I might have had beeper 150 too, but I don't remember as much

Anyway anyway anyway, what brings me here is to announce our plans to have a bookdrive.

I know.
I know what you're thinking.

You're thinking "who are you?"

well, i'm jim, your high school batchmate!

Now you're thinking "what the hell do you want, mr someone who hasnt kept in touch with me"

Well, because it has been brought to my attention that jubilee's library has no books (well they have, just not enough to be actually called a library), we decided to have a bookdrive in order to raise books so that our younger brothers can have something to read aside from the old crappy encyclopedias we used to read before.

But before we suggest this fantabulous idea to the jubilee admin office, we felt that its important to get support from you guys first because we want to make it a batch thing.

That's right, we're all batchmates... ahhhh i can see you're all starting to remember now, a minute from now we'll all be singing "thank you, friend"

well, reply one and all and let me knw if this cause is important enough for you guys so i can decide if i want to go home or not (yes, im actually not in the philippines right now).

Or talk to Glenn and Wilson or go to the 13 blog, where laughter and happiness abound.

if you want to get in touch with me... my email and ym is true_love5484@yahoo.com .... say hello, flirt with me a little if you want..

anyway, thats it for me...

y'all take care... i miss you all

except for you stevenson, i dont miss you at all hee”

Chika responded positively, so did Jirbie, although we suspect that her affirmation was about the flirting thing.

Erwin then retorted with this profound statement:

“No offense to anyone... but i came to realize the evils of Jubilee...”

And posted another one which went:

“I realized that what I said a while ago is not Ok... so here is an alternate and in my point of view better and a more helpful and beneficial suggestion to your idea, Jim. .

I think that Jubilee [Jubilee Christian Academy, our highschool] has more than enough and they can support themselves IF they WANT to. I think the more worthy to give help to are the public schools. Try going to any public school, look at the poor kids. I think it would be more helpful if we help these people. They are the ones who really need our help. I'm sure they will
appreciate whatever we can give, even old text books and encyclopedia will definitely and surely help them.

What do you think? ”

Mariane also voiced her opinion:

“Hey peeps. Bigla ako napareply....

Anyways, as much as I think the earlier suggestion was really cool,
I would have to agree with Erwin that if Jubilee really wanted to upgrade
the library, it could, and that if we would really want to help,
that public schools might have a greater need. Hehehe, just a thought.
Anyways, it's a fabulous idea to do this to help other people ”

And as expected, Jim responded with:

“Oh no! my evil plan to corrupt young minds with the gift of better literature has been foiled!”

Everyone got surprised when Eug posted his sound arguments (kudos!):

“might as well reply hehe...

As much as i like erwin's alternative suggestion..i would want to stick with the
idea of further enhacing JCA's library..for the following reasons:

1.) If we are to start this bookdrive..let's not be too ambitious in trying to start it off on a school that we totally have no influence on..at least sa Jubilee..kahit konti naman cguro meron tayo d b?

2.) It's true that JCA may have the capability to support itself..but having been there we should know that they lack the initiative to do something about the problems of the library..maybe our actions would be something that would appeal to the senses of the admin to do something about its problems

3.) Lastly, a lot of us will be very busy after some time..some because of work..others because of something else..(by the way congrats to those who just graduated last march) so why don't we just spare ourselves a little less time in looking for other school's problems when we have one right in front of us.

That's all for now, take care everyone and God bless”

Now comes Necisto's reply. Classy. It went:

“better give to unfortunate people. Most of the jubilee people are well of anyways. Come to think of it, how many Jubilee students go there to do research? I'll
just support the poor kids cramping into a small classroom.”

Sab followed with an obscure reply:

“The Center for Peace Education in Miriam College just posted a message that Students from Patikur, Sulu are in need of reference materials. Well, from my view point, it would really be "better" if we could help public schools instead. I believe that raising funds for the library of Jubilee is the responsibility of the School and the JCAPA [Jubilee Christian Academy Parents’ Association].”

Sabb

From Stip:

“is stibog a member of this yahoo group? hehe di ata... baka walang
nakaalala mag invite... buti nga si jim naalala nya eh... hehehehe
naalala lang nya... pero d nya naalala iiinvite... hehe or baka
nainvite den... d ko alam.. hehehe”

Jim finally got fed up with all the irrational alternatives:

“okay, this is just silly now. If you think that public schools need books, no one's disagreeing. if you prefer giving to public schools, then thats fine too.
however y'all are missing this

we're talking about our alma mater. this isnt just a case of choosing whether to give to a middle class kid or to a really poor kid, because in that line of thought, then jubilee would never get anything.. ever. someone will always need more than jubileans will, but that doesnt mean we cant give back to our school. i hear that's what people who graduated there do.

so if you want to do something charitable, then cool, lets do that too.. but what i was saying was to do something for our school... but then again, im not even in the freakin country, so what the hell do i know”

I then started to explain our initiatives. I chose not to be too vocal about it first:

“Hello.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted something, seeing as being candidly vocal about telling the truth equates to public persecution. Nevertheless…

My friend, my friend, please explain to us the idea behind the necessity of doing this proposed bookdrive project instead for the poor, because a paragraph of word salad wouldn’t be enough of an argument to justify a batch-wide project. Be reminded that we are talking about making a batch project that will be specific, practical, and sustainable.

Providing those deprived kids the learning resources is such a novel idea, I really do think so. I really do. But it’s too broad of a project for the batch to manage. Why not address a need that we could easily reach? So I agree with Eug and Jim. We never really appreciated our library because we never had good books to begin with.

Now what about the thing on responsibility? It’s as much of a responsibility for the school and to the parents association as for concerned alumni. I’m afraid that sounds utilitarian, devoid of human empathy. I wouldn’t just leave jubilee behind after she cared for me for oh so long.

We are consulting the different sectors of the school community, like the students, the teachers, the head honchos, the parents, and of course, us.”

-Glenn

And the mother of all replies, and from a business managment savant no less:

"planning is key babe, planning is key..."

Jeco replied, in three parts, taking the matter to the preparation phase:

“kunin na muna natin yung mga required books nila, i'm sure people will back this project up if we give them something more specific i.e. quantities, and categories of books that they need. Can somebody over in Manila do this? si Ms. Singan naman madali lang kausapin e. Then we can offer this up to our batchmates and our contacts and just post the list of requirements para may pang-check tayo.

Anson Tan, the alumni association president (for the past X number of years) is here in Canada, kasama ko sa simbahan (WHAT THE FUCK???!!! SI JECO NAGSISIMBA???!!!!) anyway i'll talk to him on Sunday about this para mas legitimate and mas marami tayong maitutulong.”

-----

“The thing with jubilee now isn't indigenous to our school alone, it's the lack of money and the lack of teachers because of the low salary, they really have bad teachers ngayon hehehe. The whole CE department left including pastor Sia hehehe. Si Paul lang naiwan, that's a sign of something bad na e no? Christian Education teachers leaving a Christian school and society to look for work in Muslim country hehehehe. Religion doesn't pay unless it's coupled with violence hahahaha.

Anyway I do encourage fresh grads to try teaching there kasi kailangan nila ng decent na teachers (ang dali sabihin e no?) When i get back yun yung una kong balak gawin, although governemnt policy disallows part-time teachers, i heard na the case can be altered when it comes to jubilee with a little negotiation (godfather style sana para mas masaya).”

-----

“sorry ang daming messages na, as for helping the poor, honestly guys, those acts of benevolence might be better if we really could commit to the project, otherwise masasayang lang. If we really "REALLY" want to help then let's warm-up with something we can plan, execute, monitor, and evaluate with ease before we undertake some other altruistic act. So i think the Jubilee thing works well as a good first step. let's get the list muna ng kailangan na books then let's see how we perform, after such then tingnan natin kung kaya ba natin tong gawing sustainable.

So game? we really need somebody to go to jubilee and get an initial needs analysis muna. “

Cha followed with her affirmation:

“All of us know that the number of times we entered the Jubilee library can be counted with our fingers and for the diligent ones, their toes included... and we CANNOT deny the fact that there IS a scarcity of books in the library due to well, probably the non-need of the high school students to look into books since well, there was the internet to turn to every time we cram our research papers...

But 4 years in college has taught me (all of us, i must assume) that the need to look into books as references for papers and projects just so the professor can take it as legitimate... A book drive for jubilee could actually be beneficial as even if the new building boasts of new facilities like speech labs and science labs (that they actually use) the library oh, the educational resource center pala... remains small and bare. I agree that the people in our school don't read much but this book drive might give the students a push towards the right direction. Going to college before discovering that libraries really exist isn't something that we can be proud of.. so why don't we start helping them now? by providing the students with more books and more options for their readings, we might actually grow a number of readers...

The project within jubilee may seems small and irrelevant after all, as some may say and point out, the JCAPA has the money and the means to expand it. The problem here is that it's not their priority. And we might as well make it ours...

For the alternative suggestion that we should just do the book drive for a public school, its not a bad idea. But I agree with the people who say that this is something quite large and for the meantime unmanageable for us. Let's take a look at it this way, if we donate our books to them, we cannot even make sure if the people actually have the capacity to read and make use of the things that we are going to donate. Not to go against the public school system, but there are a lot of students there who do not know how to read even if they are in high school, the books then we are going to donate will simply go to waste...

Maybe someday, if we have more means we can create a learn-to-read program for them instead of just giving them books in the hope that they might learn to read and get a job at the nearby call center... “

-Cha-

Also Karaine:

“hey..!! nabuhay si karaine! heheeh

anywys. it has come to my senses..i have been out of our batch's circle for a million years now.. haha

nice to hear from all of you.. and replying to jim's suggestion..! its a brilliant idea! it really is.. well, i have noticed that problem when i visited jubilee for the past few years na umuuwi ako sa christmas time.. the library is just bare(haha! yes, i went into the library when i visited!).. well, it needed some books.. really.. so i think what you guys are planning is excellent.. as much as i want to help, im overseas.. but maybe i can.. and id be happy to!

kayalang, food for thought, medyo broad nga ung project na to! and i think its not so much the idea of having more books in the library..its actually getting the students used to the fact that research is needed in doing assignments and referencing and stuff.. (unlike how i did it before.. literally print stuff from online encyclopedias..!!) so we hav to not only donate books but kind of hav to work with teachers in the school.. i mean, this may also improve skills of students specially in english and all.. coz i got news.. legit source.. that jubilee had a high
percentage of first year ateneo students not passing the college english level..

thats my thought..hehe update me on whats happening.. miss you all!!! looking forward to reunion!heheh”

karaine

As of post time, the last thread ended with Wil's summary:

“Well said Charissa. When Glenn and I first thought of doing something for the library after visiting Jubilee (the Dona Hemady branch), we never saw it as a charity case. As much as I would like to help the needy, its also about time that put our acts together and do something for our school (This coming from somebody who has a massive messianic complex). Thats when we talked to the other members of the 13 about it namely Jimson, Jeco and Eugene. We saw it as an opportunity to correct a deficiency in our alma mater's system, not as something to just plainly do while bored and get as many books as we can and dump it to jubilee. Ginawa naman natin basurahan ang jubilee kapag ganon. Also, its so pathetic for us to do nothing to correct a deficiency, especially now that we have the power and resources to actually do it.

While many of you showed doubts on to why jubilee can't produce a better educational resource center (doubts aren't necessarily a bad thing though), how many of us know the real score about Jubilee's finances? Or better yet, how many of us know how much Jubilee's tuition is this coming school year without asking your shobe/shoti/mommy that are still connected to Jubilee? I'm sure Dr. Coyukiat and Ms. Singian aren't blind to the situation of the library. There must be a reason.

Now many of you also ask, why the library? As said earlier by Glenn, Jeco and Cha, its a feasible idea. Plain and simple. Better than suggestions from other people that we interact with jubilee kids. Also, as all of you may know now, learning doesn't stop in the four corners of our classroom. There's a wealth of knowledge hidden beyond classrooom discussions and textbook reading. This is what a good library can afford to its visitors. It is also our dream that this be the start of a culture of reading and critical scholarship amongst our young brothers and sisters in jubilee. Only a fool would deny children the opportunity to read a good book. We are inviting you to be part of this dream.

Isn't it also a great idea that the first thing the batch did after getting their degrees from reputable universities is to create a bookdrive? How many batches can claim they did that for their alma mater? Btw, it would make a perfect gift for Jubilee since it is her 40th birthday. Now that is a good plan, "babe" heeeeheee.”

xxx

IV. Top ten batch rivalries

Journal Entry: Fri Nov 24, 2006, 3:47 AM

[This one’s totally unrelated to the bookdrive story]

What on earth is an event when it is not celebrated, mourned, commemorated, nor remembered? The following commentary attempts to ordinate the most significant rivalries of our batch if ranked from ten to one.

Human impulsiveness will lead the common reader to immediately judge the content of the following list. Let them be, for it is only humane for one’s emotion to take hold of his reasoning. But lest they realize its folly, that the aim of this narrative is to shed a humorous but critical perspective at taboo events, the sooner will they appreciate and celebrate the existence of our batch. Read on.

10.) III Nickel vs. Aimee Grutas
(Directed Warfare)

Origin

It all began when this despot made a botched joke about a mental patient. It enraged the class to a point where every student banded together, and decided to make their classroom adviser their common enemy. Mr. Wilson Tang stepped up to be the figurehead of this said class in the later quarters, and lead the series of antagonizing events to oust their adviser.

Length

Organized resistance went on to one full schoolyear. Each student suffered going to class to be made fun of by this tyrant. They crept through each day, each week, and each quarter.

One noble student, Mr. Glenn Kho, once wittily retorted against his adviser when she was routinely exercising her evil influence to the class. This poor martyr was systematically publicly persecuted. He was, is and will be honored for his unselfish attempts to reveal the evil adviser’s folly.

Something had to be done. A new figurehead must step up to bravely face this oppressor.

Climax

In what was to be remembered as the third quarter storm, a blitz of insurgency from the class lead to the downfall of the adviser. One man rose from the ranks and raised the class consciousness, inspired by the satire of Mr. Glenn Kho.

The people’s president, Mr. Wilson Tang bravely exposed her puppet government, literally. No one ever thought that a paper receptacle and a felt tip pen were all it took to oust an autocrat.

It was the longest 50 minutes of their lives. Everyone’s eyes, ears, and hearts were on Mr. Tang. He surprised everyone, including the adviser herself by symbolically chatting with a puppet version of her.

Enraged, and very embarrassed, the adviser’s futile attempt to take control of a collectively conscious class was now inevitable.

Result

Anarchy! Freedom! Everyone rejoiced!

Yellow ribbons were tied along the bars of the classroom windows, to symbolize that 3 Nickel was now free from her vile cruelty. The class hailed Mr. Tang and remembered Mr. Kho for their passion for truth.

Impact

It was then known, not only to the other 2 classrooms, but also to the whole academe that 3 Nickel made a crimson-less revolt against their adviser (no one failed her class).

9.) Rowena Corpuz vs. Patrick Siy
(Asshole vs. Dickhole)

Number nine on the list reminds us that sometimes, we have to favor the unfavorable in a contention, albeit the lesser one. Whether you sided with the teacher or the student, one thing’s for certain, nobody really gave a sniff of fecal matter of attention for this rivalry. This one’s a novelty entry at best. Can you catch my whiff?

8.) Stephanie Dionisio vs. Jonathan Pua
(For the SC Presidency)

Ah, the holy grail for recognition in college admissions – being the student council president of your highschool. Only a handful may be able to claim that they ran for it, only a few chosen individuals may boast that they won it, and only one will be able to declare with pride that that person won the presidential vacancy with absolutely no established party system, platform, general, and specific plans of action.

The voice of the educated populace were put on the hands of these two presidentiables, where one campaigned for responsible toilet flushing through “sprinkle allergy stickers”, vis-à-vis the other, simply considered his candidacy as a fallback for his other application (and vice versa) to an immaculate, non-partisan highschool organ that heralded integrity and excellence.

That yellow sprinkle campaign was apparently effective. Despite a blatant tally fraud, the latter candidate lost by an expected landslide to a ditz. He then naturally assumed an executive editorial position.

In what can only be described as a campaign battle that went to the dogs, what was once a pure regard to that highschool organ became tainted with yellow sprinkles.

7.) Jimson Gow vs. Louis Chingcuangco
(Self-directed Warfare)

6.) Wilson Tang vs. Jefferlito Menguin
(Teacher vs. Apprentice)

Yours truly could not possibly have the heart, courage, nay, grace to post the professional sports entertainment allusions for this number six rivalry, on the account that it’s too lame and too corny to compose. Maybe Wil can elaborate on this (oh yeah, do feel free to elaborate on the other ranks since to comprehensively talk about each and everyone of them would consume too much time).

The gist of this rivalry between Wil and Menguin is that they absolutely hated each other in everything they did together, be it in pool, basketball, early morning line formations, classroom discussions, and even in the newsroom. This only gives more weight to the saying that no jerk likes to have another jerk around.

This rivalry went on for two school years and peaked when Menguin denied Wil of an executive editorial position in the school organ to a ditz and subsequently, denied him as well of a journalism merit award to that very same ditz whose name I would prefer not to mention.

Indeed, it was an epic teacher-apprentice / father-son relationship worthy of Star Wars comparison.

5.) Jericson Co vs. Glenn Kho
(For The Trophy partner)

4.) Stephanie Dionisio vs. Sheryl Uy
(Queen Bees and Wannabes)

3.) Wilson Tang vs. Sabrina Poon
(Chauvinist pig vs. Feminist bitch)

2.) Jelyne Garperio vs. Sherri Yang
(Family matters)

1.) Jokeh vs. Pikachu
(Everything that’s wrong in this world thrown into a barrel of lard and retardation.)

It would be a tremendous task, o God, for me to write this one up without malice if it is without Your watchful eye. The burden of my choice of words will be unbearable if You would not guide my pen. I ask forgiveness in advance, o God, that I may treat one of my batchmate whom we remembered with the most colorful of memories with disrespect.

Your most humble servant will remain steadfast to pray to You five times each morn, until the faithful day that he shall meet You again.

Amen.

-----

Sarcasm and satire are not enough to describe the eternal struggle between the good and the badly educated. Even Mother Nature’s evolutionary process could not rival the severe social ineptness of this fictional hamster’s combatant. Powers clash as bolts of lightning battles against his magic technicolor Gameboy, powered by his imagination.

Yet, with all our condescending perception of his apparently absurd world comes bliss. An appreciation that we could never see without an open mind.

Yes, he did not graduate along with us, but he will be remembered as our special batchmate. Let’s all hope that God or the devil has higher plans for him in this world.

…That poor soul.

xxx

V. Postscript

The book drive story ended unresolved.

This, small collection of books, in the corner of my workstation, by the window, is a constant inspiration that I’m drawing from – that collaboration is possible, that giving is selfless, that learning is boundless. I promised to myself that very day before when I, together with Wil, Jim, Eug, Jeco, and Stip that I will give something back to my alma mater.

I am keeping that promise still. This small collection that I have in the office starts.

xxx