MY gratitude to my “Yellow Home” continues with my beloved teachers. It starts with people who accepted me in. Last year, I was very saddened to hear of Señora Villanueva’s passing. She was my first handshake to Poveda because of my Saturday Spanish remedials. As a testament to her meaningful tutelage, one of my life’s bucket list is to study at Instituto Cervantes in Madrid.
During the wake, Ms. Cometa, our principal then, was there. It was the first time I heard about the deliberations behind my acceptance to the school; and how funny my dad was in trying to convince them. It was also the first time I heard her say, “You know, we [Señora Villanueva, Sally Villavicencio, Cometa] keep on fighting for you.” She said from the day I entered up to receiving my graduation awards, they fought for me since I had been only in Poveda for two years. I was literally in tears of gratitude, even now, as I write this piece.
Mr. Cedre saw my love for the Filipino language. He forced me to audition for a role, then politely relegated me as stage manager. The following year, he allowed me to write and direct my own play, Salamin (Mirror). Mr. Crisostomo, my religion teacher, encouraged me and other students to go out of our comfort zones and head the first Acolyte ministry in school. Above all these, through inspirational administrators and teachers like Ms. Pacia, Mrs. Ang, Ms. Ricafrente and so much more, I discovered that religious values bear true meaning when put into concrete action. I experienced this when the school appointed me to head the Poveda delegation for The World Youth Day. We joined other schools for the activities, as well when all prepared for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Manila.
Even after my high-school years, the Povedan spirit lived on in many forms. Toward end of high school to college, Liza Famador helped me find more meaning in my faith by introducing me to a Catholic youth group. During the university years, when I decided to shy away from school clubs, Eirene Aguila appointed me to be her finance and marketing head for the ORSEM (Orientation Seminar) for thousands of incoming freshmen. This eventually led me to head the Ateneo Junior Marketing Association. A few years ago, I met up with Lea Disini to reminisce over lunch. She recalled how I sold her a puzzle and even brought her to our warehouse in high school. Today, we share a project, called Casa Tykes.
Twenty-twenty marks our 25th year as high-school graduates. Anyone who has been part of planning a homecoming knows the time and resources involved. It is always hard to pull everyone together. Our batch is lucky to have so many committed people with the ultimate goal for all of us to be “together again,” and also to find the best way to show gratitude to a school that has meant so much to all of us. Regardless of how each one could have helped, every gesture—whether it was a donation, time or simply committing to attend—was regarded with high appreciation. Even up to the last day of rehearsal, all those who had been working hard for the past few months still encouraged newcomers to join. With Anna Martirez’s push, I was one of the
last to join. Many helped to teach me, even those who were not my classmates. The steps were not easy. Len Len Bouffard and Ana May de Leon sent me home on my first and last rehearsal day with video tutorials by Katrina Odi.
On January 11, true to batch 1995’s vision of bringing everyone together, we all heard mass, we saw photos of our high-school memories, honored our teachers and remembered our special classmates who had gone too soon. We did all this together.
Our most-loved security personnel, Mang Baguio, was even given a special role in the program. Ninety out of 140 of our batchmates attended our reunion. Out of the 90, 55 people performed a full show onstage. Thank you for the brilliant choreography and patience, Josh Junio.
As if all these were not enough, our cochairmen, Iza Cabilao and Tin Gonzalez, wanted all of us to have even more fun by surprising us with Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Jose Marie Chan and True Faith.
We were also equally happy that we were able to help worthy charities, including Pedro Poveda Foundation’s scholarship for seminarians; Asocacion de Alumnas de Poveda’s (AAP) Helping Hermanas and Student scholarship program; and our own alma mater, Saint Pedro Poveda College.
In conclusion, Poveda was, and will always be, my Yellow Home. It lightened the path for a “Maye Yao” I never thought existed. Whether it was the genuine care of my teachers, or the heartfelt laughter and tears I shared with my classmates, Poveda has allowed me to breathe with freedom, faith and purpose.
So, as we “raised our glasses” on January 11, I truly wished each, and every, one of my batchmates to capture and carry through our “Still Got It” spirit into lifelong friendships and meaningful success in life.
Hermanas Para Siempre!