High school is forever

Raul Ilogon

I AM XUHS Batch 1979. Like a true Atenean, I am proud of my batch. Thirty-eight years since graduation, we have produced an XU-AAA awardee for most oustanding alumnus for government service: Maj. Gen. Ronnie Villanueva. We also have one NBI regional director, Atty. Pipo Bernales, and an upcoming Air Force general, Col. Odilon Paderanga.

Nov. 25, 2017 was the XUHS Homecoming. Once, I heard my eldest daugther say to her classmate and barkada: “This is the time of the year we wish we went to Xavier.”

For us, XUHS Alumni, it was one of the most awaited celebrations of the year. High school classmates from other cities and abroad went home to be with the boys again. Yes, for us on that day, all roads led to the Xavier University High School homecoming at Atrium, Limketkai Mall. Yes, it was  the time of the year when the lolos and titos became boys again.

XUHS Alumni are risk takers and so, it was a night when we risked everything, including the risk of being “outside the kulambo.” Some called it, “ting away na sad sa asawa.”

During the homecoming, my wife (ay pyansa!) and children were having dinner in a restaurant at Limketkai mall. My youngest daughter observed the happy and smiling faces of the alumni that passed their way. There was so much happy energy that spilled out of the venue, and so she asked her older brother: What’s in it, Bro? What are they doing inside?

Before I spill the beans, here’s a little history.

This year’s homecoming was the 5th to be held at Atrium. The first was held 12 years ago at the “backcourt” of the Xavier University campus.That was in 2006, and it was hosted by Batch 1982. They earned the title as the pioneering Atchoy batch of the XUHS homecoming. They were the trailblazers.

The following year, it was hosted by Batch ’83. The senior batch 1982 became the silver jubilarians. Batch ’83 then passed on the hosting to junior Batch ’84 for next year homecoming with Batch ’83 as silver jubilarian. The cycle is repeated every homecoming. The saber or sword, the symbol of authority, is passed on to the next Atchoy in a simple ceremony. The junior batch, the next Atchoy, happily accepts the challenge inspite of the huge responsibility. Like true Crusaders, they charge on to victory!

The hosting batch is called Atchoy. I think the name was taken after BIL or Basta Ikaw Lord, a school-based college renewal group organized by the now late Fr. Cuna.

Every year, the homecoming was held inside campus during the week-long celebration of Xavier Days until 2013 when the tradition was broken. For the first time, it was held outside the campus. The XU Father-President strictly implemented a no-smoking and -drinking policy. We were not driven out. We were given a choice: stay but definitely, no drinking and smoking. And so, the Atchoy Batch 1989 decided to hold it outside the campus. So like “Crusaders with ready swords and shinning lances, we advanced” … to Atrium, Limketkai Mall.

But it was not an easy decision. Members of Atchoy Batch of 1989 were cracking their heads during their brainstorming sessions. In the end, they decided that XUHS Homecoming without beer is like eating egg without salt. So in year 2013, we moved out to Atrium where it was always held every year.

It was hard to imagine an all-boys high school alumni homecoming without beer and smoking. Even those who didnt touch alcohol or cigarette in their whole life agreed: XUHS homecoming is not possible without it.

Let us put it in proper context. Back then, we were an all-boys high school, aged 13 to 16. We were adolecent and teenagers with raging hormones. It was a great time for learning, be it in academics or plain foolishness. It was a time of great bonding among the boys. Some of us did not have girlfriends (although girls pursued us) because the high school barkada was seen as better and more fun than having girlfriends. It was a time when great memories were made. At that time, for the boys, the girls can wait.

So wives, I can vouch that girls were not in our agenda during the homecomings. Like the good old times, we still prefer to spend time with the boys than girls. (Pero inig human kay ang uban mag-change venue pa man. Na kamo nay tubag ana. Wala na koy labot diha.)