We Were Boy Scouts

I remember some of it… Clearly… That week, there was a typhoon ravaging the land. Of all times! It was all grey and gloomy when we got there. It was still grey and gloomy when we left… until the last person boarded our shuttle… and the Sun shone on our muddied beings.

On the first night, the tent (courtesy of Bujong Castillo's dad) we pitched on rain-soaked ground fell, almost hitting our faces in the middle of the night. There wasn't anything dry for about a fifty-mile radius from where we were. Hell, the highland city was nowhere near dry that time.

On the second night, Eric Castillo a.k.a. Rhapsody rifled through our packs and took out love letters, which he read over Mr. Douglas Manzalay's megaphone, while everyone was squirming in his cot.

Jeffrey Binarao accidentally cut his arm with a jungle bolo. Archie Ahorro got caught bathing with our water supply - for which we were made to stand in the rain, facing the wind, for a good thirty minutes. There was a kid from the neighboring shanties who could see nether creatures. That "football" game we played, digging up holes for goals, and using a Nescafe Frappe plastic canister for a "ball". Roderick Reynoso competing with a harp made of a leaf and a comb, a la Levi Celerio.

We were a great team then, having bested the other schools in group activities.

And, yes, you went so near to being done for, with that slide you took. Thank heavens for that fallen trunk!

You never ceased to amaze me then, even with your seemingly distant smile and somewhat lofty ideals. You always upheld what was… IS right. I  looked up to you then. I still look up to you now. And not only because of our height difference.

Yes, comrade, Life happened to us. But, that year serving with you in the Student Council and that week at the Jorge B. Vargas Centennial Jamboree… They remain in my memory as the greatest times I've ever known.

But, you see, I'd have won that one-grand prize money for the reunion… but I can't help myself from sharing that her name isn't Ms. Pulido…

It's Ms. Rosemarie Pulgo.

Now, let's start rounding up the boys!