Guest post from Bong del Mundo

Ok, just before this 2008 year ends…Let me share some funny moments i had…hehehe

1) I can still vividly recall when we were in kindergarten under our class adviser Ms. Aurea Rigonan, and Lleander Enciso and I were near the teacher’s table (Ms. Rigonan at that time stepped out of the classroom). So, we approached the teacher’s table and we saw a stapler (a big one that needs to be pounded and punched by a clenched fist). Anyways, maybe out of curiosity, Lleander placed his middle left-hand finger in between the stapler and WHOA! a staple wire got stuck into his middle finger!

Just imagine: a single staple wire, not bent and it looked like a straight letter “C”, going through the skin of his middle finger. Boy, was I surprised when I saw it! I thought Lleander would scream or something…we looked at each other and he reacted as if nothing happened or maybe somewhat still curious. The funny thing was, when we got to class next day, he came over to me and showed his middle finger all wrapped with a thin net bandage with that red liquid medicine that we used to treat wounds with before. Lo and behold! The staple wire was still stuck there..Hahaha, everytime I think of that incident it still makes me snicker and laugh…

2) There was this moment when, during our Trigonometry class under Mrs. Fadul, she would ask the class to get one sheet of paper for a quiz every after lecture. Well, classmate Luis Santos- Ocampo was a fellow who came to class with a whole sheet of pad paper all the time. This was because the guy used to draw a lot of rockets and aircrafts of the future. In one of these quiz-time moments, I approached Luis for a sheet of paper but he refused. He would only give you one if he was in the right mood.

I did not give up that easily. There were several crumpled papers below his seat and I picked up one crumpled paper and began tearing it into little pieces, moulding them up it into pea-sized balls. I threw each paper balls aiming them into Luis’ large ears, and he yelled at me, saying ,“Hey, cut that out!” The other shredded papers I showered above his head and they fell on him, while I said “You like snow? Here comes the snow!!!” hahaha… And he was shouting back at me, “Ok, ok! Stop it!” And success it was. I got a sheet of paper from the guy…Thanks Luis, i love you man!

HAHAHA! more to come…

On November 2008, Girard ‘Gerry’ Crudo ‘98 led a group of SJA Alumni in organizing an SJA Alumni Basketball League for December. It’s mission:

…to promote friendship and sportsmanship between former schoolmates [through]…basketball as a bridge that builds the connection between St. Johnites

The mix of batches represented came from the following, in an email sent November 12:

late 80’s- early 90’s team – Chino Trinidad, Dario Santiago & co.
Batch 95- Mack Bustonera, Richard Palanca, etc.
Batch 96- Ian Valmonte, Marvin Daradal, etc.
Batch 97- Gerry Tabares, Jonathan Mariano, etc.
Batch 98- Reynand Mojica, Paolo Manalo, etc.
Batch 99- King Estolano, Billy Castillo, Ronjay Enrile & co.
Batch 2002- Kevin Sy & co.
Batch 2003- Eugene Crudo & co.
Batch 2006- Miko Robles & co.

A set of rules and regulations, joining fees, schedule of playoffs and final list of players were then drawn successively throughout November.

The Oldies

The organizers agreed on team colors as follows:

Uniform colors
2002 white and blue
‘96 light blue
‘97 dark blue
‘98 black and red
80-90s- green and white

Ceremonial toss presided by Coun. Dante Santiago '82

On December 6, 2008, the first of a series of games between Team 80s/late 90’s against Batch 1995 commenced with a ceremonial toss up at the San Juan Gym in San Juan City, presided by our very own Dante Santiago (‘82), San Juan City councilor.

"Fight!"

Dante wrote:

Our team was leading ’til the early fourth quarter…until…

Batch 1995 won the first game.

The Young Guns: First game winners

Congratulations to Batch 1995 on the first game, and to Girard ‘Gerry’ Crudo for spearheading the project. Gerry, unfortunately, was hospitalized for dengue days before the commencement and we wish him strength and speedy recovery.

Dec. 5, 08 | SJA gym

#1
Batch 80’s/90’s- 76(L)
Scoring:
del Mundo 22, Magcamit 13, Inocentes 11, Montenegro 11, Dizon 4, Arias 4, Cruz 4, Gannaban 3
Dario S. 2, Dante S. 2, Casambros, Dindo S., Mercado, delos Santos, Arellano

Batch 95- 79(W)
Scoring:
Recato 23, C.Palanca 21, Mendoza 14, A.Palanca 7, Abeleda 7, Saldana 4, Villalobos 3, Antonio, Bustonera, Corpuz
Halftime: 34-43

Dec 7 08 | Bgy. Onse gym
Final results | 1st game #2
Batch 2002- 92(L)
Sy 26, Porras 14, Alibadbad 13, Cortez 12, Pe 9, Garcia 6, Angco 5, Zorilla 5, Sy 2, Saddi, Reyes, Velicario, Bengala

Batch 97 & co.- 96(W)
de Guzman 49, de Guzman 16, Azarraga 11, Gorayeb 7, Velasquez 4, Rivera 3, Duka 2, Mariano 2, Roldan 2, Duka
Halftime- 41-41

#3 | 2nd game
Batch 2003- 63(L)
Dumangan 17, Manego 14, Reyes 10, Durandar 6, Jingco 6, Raagas 6, Manego 4, Crudo, Pimentel, Casis, Serrano

Batch 1996- 72(W)
Cacao 16, Alonzo 14, Dinsay 10, Turla 8, LLamado 7, Venal 6, Doroin 4, Oprenario 4,Daradal 2, Valmonte 1, Daradal
Halftime- 22-35

Related links

The SJA League Site
The SJA League YahooGroup