By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
So we finally had a preliminary reunion last Thursday night It was therapeutic as far as I was concerned. Just like any other group, we were composed of all sorts. We joked, we laughed, and once in a while shook our heads on news about those who already crossed the Pearly Gates.
We forgot all our worldly concerns. Nobody related any sad story about himself or herself or one’s family. Everybody was happy. When some of the guys started feeling the “nice” effect of the Fundador which was in ample supply, the crowd even became more lively. Naturally. For there were many who came who had never shown their faces for about four decades.
If there was anybody with heavy problems to deal with, it was not shown there. We were all OK. How I wish the main event or reunion we planned for this coming December 2 in Bontoc will be as good as that one.
Though we were missing some of our prominent members like Roger Colting, the former BSU president, who reportedly had to go to an important event in San Fernando, La Union, but his beloved, Madame Lita, was there. Some other former BSU officials who already retired were also being missed. Perhaps we can get them next time.
Of course, the Don Corleone of Mountain Province, Boni Bagawi, was there. It would not have been complete without him. Jaime Javier of Tadian was also there, though Clement Kittong of Bontoc was unable to make it. Well, if Muhamad cannot come to the mountain then the mountain will go to Muhamad. So we will bring the party to Clement in Bontoc.
The most senior who came were Leon Apse and Atty. Matt Bawayan. They were still quite lively as if they were still young at heart. At last, we finally get to meet again Prof. Manny Villano who retired from UP Los Banos and came back to Benguet for good after about half a century of being in the academe.
Rey Yawan and Godfrey Cawis who were former bigwigs at the DENR-CAR were able to take a leave from their concerns to grace the occasion. Max Macli-ing was missing in action. Loreto Tubaang, the joker, who was the BCI scholar during our college days was definitely around.
Me and Graal Lamen-Militar rounded up the perfect attendance of us lawyers.
Of course, the event was generously hosted by Letty Pilando at their building, the Pilando Center.
As I said in jest when the first Fundador bottle was bought out, it will be time to leave when stories are getting repeated again and again by those who were drinking or when their pronunciation were getting slurred. When these were becoming apparent I stood up to leave as I was also struggling to articulate words due to my Bell’s Palsy or facial paralysis.
As I drove home that night, upon leaving the business district, there was a brownout on the way home. For 15 kilometers it was very dark. When I got home, however, there was light already—practically the light at the end of a dark tunnel.
Sure, whatever problems we had (everybody has some) which were covered by our laughter in the affair were just like the darkness I just had to drive through to get home that night. But as always, there will always be a resolution of these—the light at the end of the tunnel.
All is well that ends well.
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