cLaSs pRopHecY
It’s a warm night, like any other night you could experience in the Philippines. The headlights of speeding vehicles across the famous Araneta Avenue made the road more like a disco rather than a lonesome drive. And to a stranger’s surprise, a gush of cool wind blew swooping some printed flyers and dailies on the sidewalk until one sheet launched on the Porsche’s windshield covering the stranger’s front view.
The stranger pulled over to check what it was. She found out that it was actually a newspaper. The front page marked the date March 19, 2025. Scanning the paper, the banner says, “Ebina, Pagkatipunan erect banks all over the world." Leafing through the pages the stranger noticed a picture of a man holding a carving knife. She read the caption, “The New Michael Angelo; Denver Dayao, carves the figure of Nativity using different fruits and vegetables”.
Browsing the newspaper further, the stranger glanced at the photo of the sunken city of Atlantis taken by a young lady named Eismarie Paraso. Below the picture is an article about the end of hostilities in Mindanao. Newly elected congresswoman Shiela Arepentido, who excels in articulacy, manages to make a truce between the rebel Muslims and the administration.
In the entertainment section, she saw a one-on-one interview with the new Miss Saigon, Mary Jane Limit written by Froilan Francisco, a freelance writer with remarkable interviews with Hollywood personalities under his belt. Sharing the by-line is Raymond Estrada whom Froilan met in Los Angeles; both are working as US correspondents for their respective national dailies. Beside the story was about the European Tour of the Oinoz Band with some other singing sensations like Benjie Quebral and Erlyn David. The other page has the photo of Extreme Crew in their phenomenal performance in the International Dance Competition. Jacklyn Kiritani and Marianne Estacio were holding the trophy with their cool pose.
Flipping the pages and checking the newspaper deeper, the stranger read the title of an article, “Filipino Athletes in Olympics”. The sports story was a special feature by the Reader’s Digest Article Editor for Asia, Roland Quilente. The Philippine Track Team, which includes Jayson Payabyab, Ariel Rivera and Dan Clief Gonzales, bagged gold medals in different events. Also Philippine Volleyball Team whipped the opponents led by the golden trisects captain Manolo Refugia, Wengar Nicolie Fabian and Marvin Dogelio. Everyone brought home medals and trophies for the glory and honor of our country.
While she was reading the pages, a green Chevrolet Camarro halted. “Hi there!” the driver in a black dinner jacket greeted the stranger. “Hey Chef Orly!” the stranger replied. The Camarro’s driver happened to be the Iron Chef for Philippine Cuisine, Orland Quilente. “I thought the Chief Architect is too busy to wander around Araneta Avenue at this time,” the chef supposed. “Ahaha. And how are you and your wife Janine?” she asked.
“Oh we’re fine. By the way, have you heard about Ronaldo Medina? He won the Nobel Prize for Physics after inventing a way to generate energy out of trash without burning it. Unbelievable!” Orland said. “Really? That’s awesome! He’s really good in science. How about our mathematicians?” the stranger asked. “Oh yeah! Remember Lovely Mendoza? She is an accountant right now. I saw her a while ago. She told me that Rodel Gerona is one of the coaches for the Philippine Team of Math Wizards. And Jhay Syde Pelayre, his Diamond Shipping line is raking millions now.” he answered.
“Wow!” the stranger sighed. “Hey where are you going anyway? Got a date?” Orland asked. “Not quite. But I’m about to meet someone important.” she said. “Ok. Visit my resto tonight. Banda ni Pekto plays there during weekends. Let’s have a get-together party,” the chef invited the stranger. “I won’t forget that. See you there! I’ll just fetch someone” the stranger said goodbye.
“So… we have succeeded after all. Thanks to God, our parents and to where all these dreams started,” the stranger uttered with a usual grin in her face. She went back into the Porsche, driving her way through the street next to Araneta Avenue. She slowed down in front of the gigantic red gate. There, she saw the important person she was talking about, a woman with a great smile.
“Good evening ma’am Rogel. It’s been years isn’t it?” the stranger greeted. “It’s nice to see you again. How are you? You’re very different from before,” the teacher said. “Not really ma’am,” the stranger blushed. “By the way, hop in ma’am. Let’s meet the others in Orland’s place. I’m sure they’ll be glad to see you too.”
The streetlamp at the corner of the street revealed the stranger’s real identity. It was Carla Basco, former Editor-in-Chief of the CLAHS Fountain and Commencement Issue 2008-09, now the chief architect of a well-known architectural firm that designed the biggest coliseum in the southeast Asia situated at the North Triangle business district.
“Thanks to Carlos L. Albert High School… with its guidance, we all became triumphant,” she sighed.