Remembering the good times

Suddenly we ran into each other at the Legazpi Market.“Chiqui!” I exclaimed. “Tweetums!” she exclaimed. And the years began to fall away.

We are second cousins. Her grandfather, Augusto Gonzalez, was the brother of my grandfather, Javier, both of them from Sulipan, Pampanga. But we didn’t know that when we were small. We just knew that our mothers were good friends. We spent one summer together in Baguio. Our mothers were very young then but they were both widows. Their house had climbing roses. I remember getting my lip cut on a thorn but I still love climbing roses until now. Even if the roses don’t climb, I make them. That obsession must come from that memory.

We were really small then. Maybe Chiqui was five, I was four, her little brother Eddie was three. Years flew by, then finally the big day came. We all went to Lausanne, Switzerland, together to attend — are you ready for this? — a finishing school. Four Filipinas went to Institution Chateau Mont-Choisi, or in English the Castle of the Chosen Mountain. We were Chiqui Liongson, Menchu Katigbak, Helen Marcelo and I. We were also going to learn how to speak French, very fashionable in those days. The year was 1961.

Actually, we enjoyed Mont-Choisi though after adjusting to boarding school; we were quite bored. Chiqui and I were hoping that the two other girls — women now — who went to school with us would join us but I didn’t know how to get in touch with them, since two of my cell phones that had at least one of their numbers, were stolen. So in this column, please, I appeal, if any of you know Menchu Katigbak and Helen Marcelo, ask them to call me so we can plan a reunion the next time Chiqui comes.

Chiqui and I recalled how we stayed in different parts of the chateau/castle. Menchu and she stayed in the modern annex. Helen and I stayed at the chateau — all of us in separate rooms, of course, because they never let the same nationalities live together. Then after a short while I was moved up to the Villa, a separate house, which was a block away. Chiqui thought it was because I spoke better French but I think they thought I was older than the rest of them. 

We left Mont-Choisi to spend Christmas in Barcelona and Madrid with my uncle, Pedro Sy-quia, who was married to my mother’s sister. We met him in Barcelona for the holidays — the Switzerland group, Betsy Romualdez, who has passed away, and his children, Didit and Pedro, from London, Tony Hwang from Paris. We enjoyed Spain so much we decided to stay there. Well, Chiqui and I stayed. Menchu decided to go home. I don’t think Helen joined us in Spain. I think she might have gone home for Christmas. Anyway that was a long time ago, almost 50 years ago.

After that we hardly saw each other as we each lost our innocence in our own stupid ways. I think I can say that given our personal histories. And now, after 50 years, well, Chiqui and I want to get together with the two others again just to reminisce about the time we spent together and to recount all we have learned about life.

But Chiqui lives in New York and spends only part of her time here. Menchu and I, to the best of my knowledge, both live here but travel in different circles so we don’t see much of each other. Helen, I think, also lives abroad and is here only once in a while. But I trust my column will find them.

Chiqui is here to dance. She has come home because it is the Golden Jubilee of her high school class of 1960. The graduates of St. Theresa’s College Manila are celebrating that occasion tonight at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club. They will be wearing fringes of all colors and they will dance. “Our choreographer is Kang Acevedo and our director is Freddie Santos,” Chiqui sort of boasts with a smile. 

Here’s what I had to say when she showed me the pictures. “I know Lotta Chua. She was a good friend of yours. I met her in Madrid. She stayed at the Hotel Emperador, didn’t she? She came with her brother Ernie,” I said. “Who is more than 70 now,” Chiqui added. “I will tell her you remember her. You have a fantastic memory.”

 “Long term,” I said. “I cannot remember what I did yesterday.” We both laughed.

Well, what can I say? We are all growing old but it looks like we are growing old fabulously. Look at these three women celebrating the 50th anniversary of their high school graduation. Would you say any of them is over 60? They look like they’re in their 40s! Especially Chiqui in red. Now, Menchu and Helen, please try to call me. We have to work towards having a reunion and reminiscing about Institution Chateau Mont-Choisi. It still exists, Chiqui says, a grand museum of our youth. For a short, happy time, anyway.

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