A Gie-full Afternoon to Treasure
by Chelit Bataclan
by Chelit Bataclan
November 28th, 2010 was a red-letter day for Batch’70 of RMCHS, because the group organized a get- together for a batchmate from the US of A. This person wanted to see as many batchmates as possible. For most of us, it would be the very first time to see her again after 40 (!) years. A couple of batchmates have met each other before this fateful day, but still this event can give one apprehension, excitement, curiosity and gladness.
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| Gie = Fun and Laughter |
The mere fact that we will all be meeting this balikbayan friend gave us a sense of joyful anticipation. And speaking for myself, I was filled with all kinds of mixed emotions. Should I attend this get -together or not? I was contemplating on not going because I had a previous commitment to fulfill. It was a good thing my elders allowed me to go because they said I shouldn’t miss this once -in -a -lifetime opportunity to see a friend from my happy past. And so I went, armed with some old anecdotes about this person that I can share with everyone else.
Virginia Acelar, nee Guevara, Virgie or Gie to many, and I met in 1966 when we were still in 1st year High . We were then just two tiny insignificant specks in the big campus of the school. She was cute, bubbly, a livewire and the most friendly person. After the 1st year, she was transferred to a higher section but we remained buddy-buddies, chatting to each other as we came and went Later, I would say, just a smile or two was sufficient , knowing that we still had a connection. And then we graduated and went our own separate ways.
So now after 40 years, there she was, standing in front of our venue, Trattoria Gourmet, an upscale restaurant in the Shangrila Mall Plaza, the place she chose herself. In my mind, I wondered how she would look like… is she still pretty, has she gained some middle age fat, wrinkles here and there ?
She was wearing a blue halter-neck blouse and white pants, and I knew right away that, that person was our friend Virgie. Warm hugs and kisses welcomed me and I felt comfortable and at home right away. She hasn’t changed a bit except for a shorter haircut (she used to have long tresses), she is still that pretty girl I knew in HS, the same life of the party, a chatterbox, and just like the commercial, that goes… “the bunny that keeps going and going” Everready battery! She amused everyone with her stories, and we all listened with rapt attention and laughed with her.
First to arrive were the three of us, Virgie, Malou and me(I didn’t want to be late); and then Mike Talusan came in, followed by Abe Espiritu, Goody Esguerra, and Cecille Cabuhat. We already had photo shoot and ordered our drinks when the group of Remy Gabriel, Dorrie Alonzo, Linda Ruiz, Baby Berona and Cora Galang arrived in grooves .
We had 5 tables outside the restaurant; and that was a good thing because it seemed nobody could stop us from making all those happy noises, talk, talk, talk and laughter. Then it was time to eat. Virgie generously said we could order whatever we wanted; but first, two big sized pizza for our appetizer and 3 plates of different tortilla bread with hummus and avocado dip.
Since it was an Italian restaurant, pasta in different sauce, (tomato, pesto) was what most of us ordered. “No rice here” was what Virgie said when someone asked “Is there rice?” That was a joke and everybody laughed. We all shared a hearty and gastronomical meal, and Virgie just kept chatting away and we all listened.
Amid squeals of laughter and ribbing and exchange of jokes, we reminisced on our high school days; our secret crushes, the strict (terror! in current parlance) teachers, our favorite subjects, the places where we used to hang out. The hours flew by and it was time to leave the place. The servers were so nice (with a tip from Mike) to assist us with our photo shoot, 4 cameras just kept clicking away.
Nobody was ready to part from each other, so Virgie decided to have coffee or ice cream somewhere else, a place that could accommodate the din of our seemingly endless chatter. We ended up, however, with glasses of delicious halo-halo, courtesy of Mike Talusan.
Finally the inevitable end has come. As Shakespeare’s Romeo said, “Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.”
For us, our ‘morrow’ will be this coming December 4th. After the most fun time we had, many million thanks to Virgie for spending time with us and for her “pasaIubongs” of Victoria Secrets Cologne, I won’t miss this occasion for anything! So, dear, cherished friends from times of yore, see you all then. Hasta la vista!
Please see the fun pics of that get-together here.
