Dreaming Big

What do you do after graduating from college?

Nope, you don’t look for a job just yet. You have to dream big first. For without that dream, that purpose, that visualization of success — the first step you take will be devoid of the passion that will sustain you through the rat race.

So, here they are now; 40 years after spreading their wings from the Ateneo College; celebrating their Ruby year; and wondering if the past 39 years have been kind to their other classmates as well.

Let’s start with the obvious.

The long, sexy locks of the ‘70s have turned gray, if not disappeared altogether; the bellies are full, too full on some; the gaze takes a little longer to sparkle and the gait has lost its spring. The children during the Age of Aquarius have now entered the Age of Micardis.

But that boisterous laughter and spirit that filled the halls of Ateneo College still reverberated 40 years later, within the walls of the Rockwell Tent — Ateneo Class ‘75’s homecoming venue courtesy of Tong Padilla, a classmate, and president and CEO of Rockwell Land.

Monet Posadas had big dreams for this homecoming. As chairman of the organizing committee — composed of Bubut Caluya (vice chairman), Monching Santos, Boy Favis, Noel Canivel, Chito Modesto, Tenet Salomon, Gabby Claudio, Gigi Zenarosa, George Yap, Abe Olaguera, Louie General, Mike Roces, Monty Salgado and Raissa Posadas — Monet wanted the homecoming to be remembered for another 40 years or more. Highlighting the reunion were a live band performance headed by classmate Gabby Claudio, audio-visual presentations, special dance numbers by the wives Raissa Posadas, Abby Claudio, Marie Canivel, Joanna Misa, Portia Santos, Elvira Yulo, Bina Reyes and classmates Leo Dominguez and Javy Velasquez; songs of their youth rendered by Alan Ortiz, Pat Valenzuela, Fred Yap, Boopsie Erana, Francis Sebastian, Chito Modesto, Bert Santos, Boy Favis, Hec Guballa and Chito Manalo (though the singing didn’t bring the house down, it didn’t bring a downpour either); cocktails overflowing with wine, beer, tuna and salmon sashimi (flown in from Davao for the occasion and carved fresh before our eyes); an elegant candle-lit dinner, midnight merienda of arroz caldo and coffee; and of course, raffle prizes donated by Monet Posadas and Joebert Cocjin of Seawind resort in Boracay.

“We will spare no expense for this homecoming” was Monet’s battlecry. Of course, it was to be at the expense of his classmates and loyal sponsors such as San Miguel Corp. and Rockwell Land represented by Alan Ortiz and  Tong Padilla respectively. Many more chipped in with a little arm-twisting: Jun Bayot, Joji Gotianun-Yap, Francis Sebastian, Benjie Guevara, Victoriano Sy, Albert Go, Jeff Campos, Mike Roces and Emil Lo. Then, there was the fancied Group 22, which picked up the tab for the cocktails and dinner, composed of Ray Espinosa, Panding Nisce, Jun Alli, Enteng Co Chien, Frank Guerra, Eddie Sy, Mao Chua, Cecil Pedro, Romy Go, Tony Bernardo, Eric Ingles, Jojo Batiller, Mario King, John Cheu, Jack Huang, Nelson Go, Bong Vega, Leo Dominguez, Francis Sebastian, Tong Padilla, Bubut Caluya and Monty Salgado.

Had it been another social gathering like this where bankers were meeting borrowers, lawyers meeting human rights advocates, businessmen meeting socialists, leftists meeting rightists, company CEOs meeting retirees, pilots meeting irate passengers, doctors meeting herbalists and government officials meeting oppositionists, things could have turned awkward. But for this gathering of Blue Eagles, this once-in-a-ruby red-moon event, it was about unity. Director of the Ateneo Alumni Association, Jun Dalandan, summed it all up in a memorable quip, “I must admit, this is one of the most successful Jubilarian batch reunions I have been to.”      

Yoko Ono once said, “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” And the championship slogan of the newly-crowned NBA Champion Golden State Warriors seems to say it all, “Strength in Numbers.” The members of the Ateneo College ‘75 co-celebrated their milestone with the Ateneo M.E. ‘76, HS ‘71 (to which my husband Ed belongs), and GS ‘67. Together they are known as The King of the Blues with a still active roster of over 300 high-profile, as well as low-key members over the past 40 years. Perhaps it is the only school batch that can still draw strength from its numbers: for a homecoming party; for a charitable cause; for a fallen classmate; or out-of-school youths; for the sick and terminal; for aspiring athletes. For the Gold. For the Silver. For the Bronze. And for those who still believe that dreams can come true.

(You may e-mail me at [email protected].)