This morning, Paradise National High School Batch 1984 celebrated its fourth decade of homecoming. I easily tracked down the gathering place, Tierra Nina. I just paid 100.00 to the tricycle driver earlier.

Kaninang umaga, ang Paradise National High School Batch 1984 ay nagdiwang ng ika-apat na dekada ng pagbabalik. Madali ko lang natunton ang lugar na pagtitipunan, ang Tierra Nina. Nagbayad lang ako 100.00 sa tricycle driver kanina.

When I arrived at the place, I was very happy to see familiar faces: Hernan Canaña, Allan Condeño, and Elmer Samson. Almost, I only have about ten of my batchmates in the area. I arrived around 9 AM.

Pagdating ko sa lugar, labis ang tuwa na aking naramdaman ng makita ko ang mga pamilyar na mukha: sina Hernan Canaña, Allan Condeño, at Elmer Samson. Halos, mga sampu pa lamang ang mga kabatch ko sa lugar. Around 9 AM ako dumating.

After a few hours, our number gradually increased. I got dressed in our uniform. Two men came, but I was too shy to ask their names. They sat at our table and talked. When he realized that I didn't recognize him, he whispered his last name, "Armillos." I suddenly remembered him, he was Eduardo Armillos, the best basketball player of our batch. When we were in High School, if he wanted a player out of the game, he could hang him and put him in foul trouble until he graduated. I am in awe of his basketball skills.

Paglipas ng ilang oras, unti-unti ng dumadami ang aming bilang. Nagbihis na ako ng aming uniform. May dalawang lalaki na dumating subalit nahiya naman akong tanungin ang kanilang mga pangalan. Umupo sila sa aming lamesa at nakipagkuwentuhan. Yong isa ng nahalata niya na hindi ko siya namukhaan, ibinulong niya ang kaniyang apelyido, "Armillos." Bigla ko siyang naalala, siya si Eduardo Armillos, ang pinakamahusay na basketball player ng aming batch. Noong High School kami, pag gusto niyang mawala sa game ang isang player, kaya niya itong pasabitin at ilagay sa foul trouble hanggang gumradweyt. Hangang-hanga ako sa husay niya sa paglalaro ng basketball.

When they got up and registered, I asked Helen who the other one came and she said "Joel Lumba." I laughed to myself because I couldn't believe that I wouldn't recognize one of my closest friends from high school.

Nang tumayo na sila at nagparehistro, tinanong ko si Helen kung sino yong isang dumating at sinabi niya "si Joel Lumba." Natawa ako sa aking sarili sapagkat hindi ako makapaniwala na hindi ko marerecognize ang isa sa pinakamalapit kong kaibigan noong high school pa kami.

After a while, our other batchmate who is a few years older than us started chopping lechon, he is Rosito Lapida:

Maya-maya lang, ang isa pa naming ka-batch na mas matanda sa amin ng ilang taon ay nagsimula ng magtadtad ng lechon, siya ay si Rosito Lapida:

If I'm not mistaken, he is a Councilor in our Barangay. He was also a good basketball player when we were in high school.

Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, siya ay isang kagawad sa aming Barangay. Mahusay din siyang manlalaro ng basketball noong high school pa kami.

Yesterday, I was talking to Nelia and since I was not updated on our group chat on Facebook, I asked how much the contribution was. He mentioned that I'd rather just answer a cake for birthday celebrants in November:

Kahapon, kausap ko si Nelia at dahil hindi ako updated sa group chat namin sa Facebook, nagtanong ako kung magkano ang contribution. Nabanggit niya na mas mainam na sagutin ko na lamang ang isang cake para sa mga birthday celebrants sa buwan ng Nobyembre:

After a few minutes, Erning announced to have a picture taken first. These are the men in our batch:

Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto, nagbigay ng announcement si Erning na magkaroon muna ng picture taking. Ito ang mga kalalakihan sa aming batch:

And these are the women:

At ito naman ang mga kababaihan:

I'm sorry and I'm forgetful. Out of 22 ladies, there are 5 that I can't remember. Anyway, the important thing is that they arrived.

Pasensiya na at medyo makakalimutin na talaga ako. Out of 22 ladies, meron 5 na hindi ko maalala. Anyhow, ang mahalaga ay nakarating sila.

Here is the total of our batch that morning:

At eto naman ang kabuuan ng batch namin noong umaga:

And Daisy and Ningning catch up:

At nakahabol si Daisy at si Ningning ng hapon:

Some of the very entertaining games are men dressing up as women and spooning money while blindfolded:

At ilan sa mga palaro na labis na nakakaaliw ay ang pagbibihis babae ng mga kalalakihan at pagsandok ng pera habang may piring ang mga mata:

Daisy spoons well. Neneng also seems to be good at whispering to give instructions. 😂

Mahusay ang pagkakasandok ni Daisy. Mukhang mahusay rin si Neneng bumulong para magbigay ng instruction. 😂

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After I wrote our story today, I thought of writing a poem in two languages: Filipino and English. The content of these poems is different. Filipino poetry mentions the past that gives good memories, including cutting grass, tending goats, dancing skills, judo karate, and fancy drills. Sorry that it has not been translated into English due to lack of accuracy.

Pagkatapos kong maisulat ang aming kuwento sa araw na ito, naisipan kong gumawa ng tula sa dalawang wika: Filipino at English. Magkaiba ang nilalaman ng mga tulang ito. Binabanggit ng tula sa Filipino ang nakalipas na nagbibigay ng magandang alaala kasama na ang pagtatabas ng mga damo, pag-aalaga ng mga kambing, husay sa pagsayaw, judo karate at fancy drill. Pasensiya na at hindi o na ito isinalin sa English dahil sa kakulangan ng accuracy.

Apat na Dekada ng Pagbabalik

Sa liwanag ng umaga, Paradise Batch '84 ay bumalik,
Upang alaala’y sariwain, sa puso'y nananabik.
Mula sa iba’t ibang dako, tayo’y nagtipon,
Pagdiriwang ng apat na dekada, kay tamis ng kahapon.

Mga mukha’y nagbago, may uban na at noo ay may guhit,
Sa tawa at bawat hagikgik, pag-ibig ay saglit
Mga kwento sa nakalipas, muling sinariwa,
Tulad ng hanging amihan, hatid ay ngiti tunay na kay laya.

Tinabas ang talahib, paligid dagling luminis,
Si Nognog na kambing, sa tangkad at talino ay labis.
Fancy drill at judo, galaw ay kaakit-akit,
Indak na masigla, tanawing kay rikit.

Bawat pasilyo na ating nilakaran,
Puno ng halakhak, ligaya’t kasiyahan.
Mga barkadang parang kahapon lang,
Ngayo’y yakapan, paggunita’y walang hanggan.

Apat na dekada, siksik sa pagsubok,
Tagumpay at luha, sa puso’y tumitibok.
Mula noon hanggang ngayon, tayo’y magkaakbay,
Sa apat na dekada, ligaya’y walang kapantay.

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The second poem is a summary of the above story generated with the help of AI. I didn't even dare to translate it into Filipino because the translation doesn't fit and it will take a long time if I revise it. This is the poem in English:

Ang ikalawang tula naman ay buod ng kuwento sa itaas na nabuo sa tulong ng AI. Hindi ko na rin pinangahasan na ito ay isalin sa Filipino sa dahilan na hindi akma ang pagkakasalin at uubos pa ng mahabang oras kung ito ay aking rerebisahin. Ito ang tula sa English:

Paradise Batch '84: A Reunion Poem

In the morning light, Batch '84 gathered near,
At Tierra Nina, united, strong, and clear,
One hundred pesos paid to the tricycle man,
Arriving, joy filled the air, familiar faces began.

Hernan, Allan, Elmer, long-lost friends,
Together we met, memories never end,
Slowly we grew in numbers, joy spread wide,
Wearing our uniforms, stories came alive.

Two men arrived, I wondered who they were,
A whisper, “Armillos,” it was Eduardo, quite the player,
A basketball king, skilled in every game,
In high school, his talent earned him great fame.

When names were registered, I saw Joel Lumba’s face,
A dear old friend, but I couldn’t place,
Yet with a smile, the bond came back to me,
A friendship renewed, as strong as can be.

Rosito Lapida began the lechon feast,
A player in our youth, a man of the least,
A leader in the barangay, skilled in the game,
But now, a friend, still loyal, still the same.

A cake for the birthday celebrants was prepared,
For those I hadn’t forgotten, their presence was shared,
The games and laughter, simple joys we found,
Moments of youth, where love and fun abound.

Hand in hand, Batch '84 stands so tall,
Four decades strong, love conquers all,
The memories relived, countless moments bright,
Long live Paradise, our batch full of light!

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Long live Paradise Batch '84! A warm welcome to our fourth decade! Over the years, our friendship grew stronger. Thank you very much for coming.

Mabuhay ang Paradise Batch '84! Isang mainit na pagbati sa ating ika-apat na dekada! Sa paglipas ng mga taon, ang ating pagkakaibigan ay lalong tumibay. Maraming salamat sa pagdating.

Grace and peace!

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