Butterflies Set Free

Ave Maria....

Last Saturday , a most delightful event happened and was so lucky that this time , I made it -twas Homecoming Day for many Theresians of the QC branch . For the past years I must confess to this war crime -- forgive the term but in the light of all happening here and abroad  -- failure to attend homecomings without valid excuse is just unexcusable - mea culpa, mea culpa... through my fault through my fault through my most grievous fault goes our Catholic prayer.... But then and this is not justifying past actions : it really is grace when we finally attend one...and when we happen to : how do we say it in Visayan or Tagalog ? : Ma tyempuhan yung masayang homecoming.... then what a happy day indeed.

Thank God to this age of internet, if the snail mail doesn't find you, Facebook will..hahaha...and dear Arlynne had been posting her reminders... a little bit later... Ning forwarded Ivy's appeal for Section One  to send representatives for our batch's  ballroom room number -- Ivy being dear sweet Ivy ended up attending those practices and having to graciously bow out -- finally here comes Lynn's texts -- really Lynn and Ivy have been my guardian angels when it comes to not losing the Theresian connection. And Lyn was asking attend kaba ng homecoming?

Why we know something is meant to be..and something is bound to happen...or why we need to do this or not to do it --will never quite fully explain --- is it a gut feel? or perhaps ..and I pray this be the cause ---is it the Holy Spirit who helps us determine the things we must do... the decisions to make... blessed be God forever... because if left to ourselves...we'd be clueless..I know I'd be... hehehe.

This was my year for STC...and I still need to attend my U.P. homecomings ..in God's perfect time it'll happen... but this one for STC was--- tho' short...very sweet.

I rode with Lynn, her son very kindly drove the two mamas to their old school.

And then there it was STC D. Tuazon side unfolding.... after taking pictures of the tarpaulin we entered the gate to our elementary gym.

Music figures so prominently in recollections of our past...so I heard our music for the Dutch dance where we wore clogs...and then my favourite Thai number where we made long finger extensions using foil --- not sure but i think the music was from The King and I --- and then our South Pacific dance : I'm Gonna Wash that man right outta my hair...flip our hair tada..and send him on his way.... yabadabadoo 

That tiny gate was so historic...once inside the school grounds you were cocooned.

That is my feeling of our alma mater. Gratitude to my beloved parents flooded me -- for making sure I could have a good education...gratitude that God knit all the elements together..who my classmates batchmates would be... the teachers and sisters He would send to help form our young minds, our tender hearts ...our once upon a time invincible athletic bodies ...hahaha you wish. 

What was that speed reading exercise they made us do..was it fifth to seventh grade --- talk about stress -- that mustav been not just a speed reading test -- i think it prepared us for coping with stress of all kinds in our adult life --- to learn the art of making split-second crucial decisions... and all thru those simple nerve wracking exams... hahaha...indeed God uses many ways to prepare us for life.

I could write volumes...so could you dear beloved Theresian.... will just share a few more things before I end this ----

- During registration..this gorgeous smiling lady in black gave me warmest hug ever...and started talking... in my mind: Dear Jesus , here we go again --I cannot remember -- this incidentally happens often especially in parish or work setting where we meet so many people  thru seminars and it's always embarassing when we can't remember names or faces... and yes am nearing sixty duh.

- after a good fifteen minutes...only then did I get to see her name tag ....good Lord...it was Marichu ...dear irrepressible bubbly Ichu...hahaha.... well...I'll be.... hahaha that was funny and weird too... what will our seventies be like?

- that spelled the homecoming encounter where we would nudge each other :
 Sino na nga iyong katabi ni ____... 
Is that _____??
 Oh my God it's ____      

-so happy beyond words that we gave thanks thru the holy mass....
and where Fr. Ver Miranda shared in his homily : 
We put such a high premium on education .. at an international ratings firm we are amazed that U.P. is highest....followed by the green and then the blue -- this drew laughs .... but even if we acquired the best , most expensive education ever -- it it does not lead to knowing Jesus intimately ..to loving , obeying, serving Him then the education fails .... paraphrased po pero iyon ang pinaka essence.

-- inside the chapel while waiting for the mass to start... ladies in blue orange.... black, red took their respective seats : gusto ko lang sabihin : TAYO ang pinaka maingay na batch...fewest in attendance maybe but hahaha energy talaga --- ahhh on that note, walang nagbago.

--it was exciting seeing familiar faces and then pegging the right names to those dear faces.

And then Wilhelmina Orejana arrives and harharhar my day is made: tho not blockmates in highschool, we were classmates in grade school --- so this is why we all share an affinity kahit di kayo magka section in high school. Because we encountered each other in grade school .

- Orejana in her bombastic winner takes it all voice sees me and shouts : Gaviola...... 
Mayee: Winkyyyyyy aww this was so amayzing ... hugs follow... that was a nite of many power hugs.

-- there was a program after the mass and each batch present had a dance number... cannot forget Batch's 55 number ..they wore beautiful long gowns... were they in their late sixties or seventies na..? their leader dancing in front gracefully leading the senior Theresians to dance with gusto....cute and touching their number.

--we were so blest that Ivy offered Romulos as a venue for a  late dinner.... so tuloy pa rin ang walang katapusang kwentuhan.. the food was delicious and the company purrfect...awww.

Blessings never stop do they? Because, before the nite ended they had the inspiration to meet again but for a recollection : Oh Jesus , You are outdoing Yourself Lord. May it happen...may it happen dear batchmates let's pray for it.

Gotta go.... hope to write more if time and God permits.... pero maraming salamat Panginoon sa grasya ng pagdalo sa aming homecoming.

 Donot make me describe it some more  because this blog wil never end.

 But from that cocoon where we  recieved God's nurturing we fly and soar the heights of life ....
 Theresian butterflies...beautiful and free.   


 

 God bless us all.... te mye