4th Class Prophecy
Prepared and Edited by: Mr Juanito Angelo Deita and Sir Boyet Maniago
It was now the year 2020, and I was awakened by what seemed like an earthquake. My cellphone had activated its alarm function very loudly and vibrated in my bed insisting on waking me up. Although it was still very early in the morning I forced myself in getting myself ready.
The sun had begun to paint the sky outside of my hotel room in Brooklyn a brilliant azure. The laptop which I had left running last night rung, announcing that I had two new e-mails. The first one was from Microsoft, informing me of the new updates that had to be implemented on its new Operating System. I took the job as a technical consultant when they offered me the job after I graduated but I still pursued my course in medicine. The second one put a slight grin on my face; a party was being organized in the Philippines for its Alumni Homecoming at my old high school. A few hours later I was aboard a plane to Italy.
I looked outside only to see many different clouds in many forms and sizes. When I turned around a gorgeous stewardess had greeted me with a smile and a “What would you like, sir?” expression. “Hey, I know you! You’re Psalty, right?”, I exclaimed. She presented me with another smile that was her trademark smile way back in high school. I then informed her about the homecoming and said, “Yes, I got the email too. I’ll go tell the pilot later.” “What? The pilot?”, I said curiously. “Didn’t you read your ticket? Benedict is a pilot, and he is now on the cockpit.”
About 5 hours later, I felt the plane taxiing on the ashphalt runway. There was some chatter at the back, so I turned around and I saw Raymart Belvis busily talking with Psaltyna, aparrently they haven’t spoken much since graduation. He was wearing expensive clothers, making me think that he was a model. The voice of Benedict on the intercom bellowed, “To all passengers, welcome to the city of Roma. Please be careful on your journey” in perfect Italian fluency. I unboarded the plane silently, not wishing to interrupt their businesses.
The summer heat was unbearable and beads of sweat ran down my face as I waited for a cab outside the airport. While that was happening, Shane and Charmaine passed by while grinning from ear to ear. When I had caught up with them they invited me to join them. They got the email too, and were going from their honeymoon to Davao. I said no, because chances for globe-trotting don’t come very often, as I was always torn between the clinic and work, so instead of taking the easy route home I decided to take the LONG route. Exchanging goodbyes, a cab pulled over and took me to a hotel.
Arriving at the destination had surprised me yet again as a large volume of guests were streaming inside the hotel. I had asked the bellboy who came to fetch my only luggage on what was going on, and he said that a wedding reception had been arranged at the hall. I passed by the large hall, and I saw the controversial couple Princess Mendoza and Al Kimuel Candido with all smiles from the reception room! And a woman was standing out, and she was the famous wedding planner that organized their wedding, Joliene dela Rosa!
I checked in to my suite, and fell into a deep sleep from exhasution.
When I woke up, it was already 7 pm. I turned on the television and switched the channel to TFC. I jolted into wide alertness when I saw ER as the anchorman in his own talk show, and was chatting with now AFP Chief of staff General Edgar Juanitez and Senator Attorney April delos Reyes. I followed their conversation about the safety and the current state of politics in the Philippines and some of the controversial issues surrounding the Senator and the current house speaker Senator Jefferson Dorado. I turned off the television when the show finally drew to a close and I ordered room service to bring my dinner in the suite. After the dinner I watched TV some more and went back to sleep again.
The next day, I had arrived on Cairo, Egypt, where I had hoped that my friend Jaypee Palasan would be doing research on the pyramids. Then, an article on the newspaper had caught my eye; “Famous archeologist and his assistant solves the symmetrical relationships of the Three Great Pyramids”. It took me no less than a second to know who was responsible for that one! And what’s more, Cherry Grace Hontiveros had assisted him in his archaeological dig!
Buying the newspaper I began to wait for my flight as I read more achievements of Jaypee and Cherry.
A few minutes later I was on the plane again. I fancied on a nearby seat that many girls were crowding around a handsome male while giving away autographs and getting himself pictures with them. When the group cleared I saw Jobert Maglinte chatting away with a beautiful girl. I was content seeing him at a distance, for he had realized his zenith of his career as a superstar model as well as an brilliant actor. Eventually, sleep had overtaken me, and I fell into a deep slumber.
Arriving at a bustling Singapore airport, I was surprised that it had rained coldly; a welcoming greeting for me who had been to many hot places recently. And a person wearing luxurious clothes surrounded by media and tabloid reporters suddelny dashed in, almost treading me over! It was Jane Bunani that caused that, as her groundbreaking achievement in solving the nearly 10-year unsolved cases of the Mangudadatu massacre had finally put into court! I had wanted to talk, but I hailed a cab because of the influx of reporters.
I arrived at Raffles Hotel, built in around 1948 adter World War 2. What surprised me though, that a portait of Kechie was hanging on the front desk smiling! She had purchased the hotel and had become a successful real estate tycoon! I checked in the prestigious hotel and plooped to bed.
The morning is as same as usual, but instead of taking my breakfast in the room as i usually do, I went down to the dining hall and had my breakfast there. Now I saw Anthony Ragudo and Leah Dablo chatting idly about business matters. Apparently those two were the CEO’s of a large business conglomerate that operated in Japan and had recently bought the three auto giants: Toyota, Honda and Mitsubushi. They did not notice me, as I was probably unknown around my batch since I graduated from college.
Finishing up my breakfast I went back to my room and changed clothes while getting ready for my departure to the Philippines. I then called my travel agent to book me a flight and later I was notified that the next flight will be available in three hours.
I was bored, so I worked on the job Microsoft had asked me to. While working, tap on my shoulder caused me to look behind, and there was Xavier wearing a Hawaiian T-shirt. He had just arrived from Hawaii on a vacation with Sharlien. When I asked what kind of vacation he shut his mouth and said nothing about it, and told me he was going back to Davao and invited me to come along with them. It turned out that we had the same flight schedule, and I found myself agreeing to his invitation.
Five hours later the three of us had arrived in Ninoy Aquino International Airport. It was the middle of the night, and we decided to check in on one of the hotels owned jointly by Danica and Jan Lynuel.
When we disembarked the taxi and went inside the hotel, we were greeted by a little boy about 7 years of age. “You know,” Xavier said, “that kid looks like Paloy, don’t you think?” While I was nodding in agreement, a familiar voice called out the boy’s name, and out came Jan holding a towel and soap. He explained the situation briefly and chased again his brat that had fled away at the sight of him. Apparently the boy refused to take a bath, and so he was running around the hotel. Chuckling loudly that could have awakened a sleeping giant, we checked in and went to our respective rooms.
As we made plans during our breakfast the next morning Kevin Pinera, Dave Pimentel, RJ Javier and Joseph Austria joined us and said that they’re going to Davao too and asked if they could join us. We agreed, and they told us that many more of them would be coming in the next few minutes, as they were checked in the hotel a day before ours. Before long, Maureen, Princess Mae, Manilyn, Katherine and Radelaine also went over looking refreshed after a shower.
We ordered a large table and they began catching up. The four men who found us first banded together and bought Blizzard Entertainment, famous for its games such as Warcraft 3, World of Warcraft and Starcraft 2. As I was out of touch with the gaming world for at least 10 years now I was unaware of the new games which, I’m sure, they made themselves. Meanwhile, Maureen, Princess and Manilyn had started their own clothing line/fashion shows/talent searches and had become successful. Because of that many people are wearing their custom-made designer threads, like the one Raymart was wearing a few days ago. Then there was Kate who had been recently awarded a Grammy Award, as well as being the Best Actress on the 2018 remake of Mano Po 3 that has been made into Hollywood as an English film, directed by none other than the premier director Radelaine Farase. I only listed on and on to their various testimonies on how they’d gone and made use of their lives after high school and we came to the conclusion “There’s no lifetime in our lives that was memorable than our high school life.”
A few hours and many conversations we were onboard the plane enroute to Davao. It was the last leg of the journey, and while the others were seated in first-class seats I chose business class, for the former seats had been taken ahead of time. Then a shadow had fallen over the light on me. I looked up and lo, there was Mark Jhimm dela Torre and Ivy Kawakami smiling ear to ear. I was speechless for a moment, and I noticed a ring she wore on her right ring finger, a sure sign of a proposal. I asked them to seat with me, but they had seats reserved on first class and just went by to say hi. As I saw them walk away I held back a laugh because I thought back then that this scene would be unlikely. Oh well, back to the drawing board!
Our party had arrived at Davao in high spirits despite the threatening clouds giving in to rain. Still it did not dampen our high spirits in the homecoming!
The first few drops of rain had fallen then a heavy downpour followed by the time we went inside the hotel in a red carpet. While they went ahead inside the grand dining hall I retreated to my room, took a bath and changed my clothes. I went to the dining hall feeling very refreshed and ready, and I saw Kechie on the podium giving words of welcome to all of us, and not just our group, but the whole batch 2010 high school graduates of Lamb of God SPED Academy were invited. Many intermezzos and introductions later, we partake of the buffet that was laid especially for us, and after countless hours of nonstop chatter, food and wine, we went to sleep.
Merely 12 hours later, the homecoming preparations were done. The venue for the event was at the LGSA Campus, now known as The Lamb of God SPED University. Since I left for the States 12 years ago the Academy and its people have changed, and a better one at that! New facilities had been built, and the administration had been changed too, if not for the original founders of the once-famed school we grew to love.
One by one, the Batch 2010 arrived with excitement, all wearing the best threads and apparel they can get their hands on. By 8pm the gang had arrived all save one: Sir Boyet. As I was the only one left on the front reception area, I took the initiative on collecting him, informing of the homecoming. As I was calling him on the cellphone, a flash of light suddenly erupted, and I was sent flying about 10 meters from where I stood…
The next thing I knew, I was lying on the cold floor looking very exhausted. I looked at the calendar, and it was still the 9th of February 2010. I had been dreaming all this time, I thought.
Remembering that I have a class prophecy I had to write, I turned on the ancient laptop and began typing away on what would be the class prophecy of the batch 2010. As I was going about my work, I can’t help but smile at my dreams as I did my best in remembering all of it and putting it on paper!
