High school lane
Posted on 04. Mar, 2007 by dimaks in Life
Sometime in December of last year, I thought of creating a group blog in hope of creating some kind of an online portal for my old high school class and batch mates. In fact I did sign up another blog at wordpress.com but no progress went on due to being clueless or perhaps I got lazy scouring for contacts of any of them any further. Not even the power of google and other search engines were able to show them up. Well, I thought of maybe leave the blog site in the open and concentrate on promoting it via the www search engines and all other possible ways around it but I just simply got hopeless. Anyway, I just hope one of them will stumble upon here and give me a buzz that they are still alive out there, living their lives out – whatever lane they may have gone to. I just wish you all good in everything, good old high school buddies. Truly, if anyone of them would reach this post, I would be so happy for this small effort of fostering a reunion, getting a dime of reward.
To you blog friends, let me give you a brief backgrounder. I spent my high school in Cotabato City, one of the cities of the Maguindanao province, the regional center of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and with an estimated population of about 150,450 in 2000 census. Between the years 1987 and 1991, I spent my high school life in a public school, which basically at that time, is what we can call very public in the sense that it lives with the general impression that its facilities are scarce if not absent. Class sections were at that time running around 20, with a night class shift. In that school, you would be seen as the not-so-mentally gifted if you do not belong to the higher sections like 1,2 or maybe towards 4. And guess what, I was in section 8 during my first year.
I was always talking to some close friends about taking the placement test in the next year in hope to augment our section and get to section 2 or 3 at least. Which some agreed and some said, we better forget it, after all we can be happy go lucky by being in the last sections. You know, that room of ours was located near a perforated concrete wall which leads to a local neighborhood where we can sneak out during break times and eat “ginataan” or fried banana (banana fritters) and turon (fried banana roll). God I miss those meryenda (snack) times! goes perfectly with a bottle of Coca-Cola or those ice cold water in plastics.
Anyway, first year passed and came the placement test day. Most of us in the class took the plunge and luckily, some of us, including yours truly landed at section 2. Great! Now we planned to going on to section 1 (can’t get enough eh!). It was a relief actually. Because, being in the last section, the teachers have the tendency to just tolerate or perhaps ignore the hell out of us – we are the bullies anyway as we belong to the “less endowed ones” students of the last section. Irony I realized. Aren’t we the ones to be taught hardly because we are the “less endowed ones”? Anyway, I just hope its different nowadays and gone much better than our times. So there our 2nd year in high school, enjoying a more teacher-attended class and just a wall away from the section 1s. Actually I was eyeing for section 1 when I took the test but well, my score could only take me to section 2 at the most.
During one of those classes, I can still remember the silly acts we did to our classmates. We were having our english class and the teacher called one of our classmates to give an example of a gerund sentence. My friends’ group of 4 (including me) were seated behind that classmate of ours and we whispered to her from behind to say “jumping horse”, which she did and the whole class gave out a very loud laugh. 
The next person from our right aisle was asked to give an example of a perfect sentence the next day. We whispered to him to say “the carabao is dancing on the table”. I cannot remember what our teacher said but the next time we knew, we were asked to go out of the room and asked to pick up the trashes and also pull out the grasses nearby our classroom because nobody wants to admit who did that hilarious coaching.
3rd year came and we also took the placement test. There we got to section 1. And that section remained until our fourth year because there was no placement test anymore. This was tough in its own time I say (though many would say, nothing beats high school life). It’s essentially the gateway to college and we got to be serious. So things got serious as they are supposed to. Physics, Chemistry, Trigonometry, Literatures and Citizens Army Training (CAT, if one of you still remember this) claimed most of our precious high school times. This was also the time that I joined a theater arts guild. Too bad we only managed to have one stage show, dubbed as KANGABU (Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow). I also joined many arts contests, provincial, regional and national alike. Talk of the time was who’s going to be the valedictorian, salutatorian and the top tens. Oh well, I only ended up as an artist of the year due to those arts contests. Funny thing, when my medal was about to be put on me, the electric power shut off and you know, most names were announced with a mic and mine was not 
By then I realized though, had we not taken the chance and challenge to take the placement test, I would not have landed where I am today. I would not have gone to section 1 and strive hard towards college, graduate and find a job. I could not have gotten that scholarship in my masters course and also today’s for my phd. To all these, I am endlessly grateful to GOD almighty.
A segment of high school memoirs 
Have a nice day!!!
More Articles to Read:
If you are a Facebook user, why don't you JOIN the great fans of www.skamid.com? Don't forget to check my other blogs too: Voracious Pixels Photo Blog / Scooter & Scootering News and Reviews.
26 Comments to “High school lane”
Side Articles
UFC Fight Night 22 / Suzuki Skydrive 125 Fuel Injected / Raven Villanueva / Anne Curtis / Fat People / Fake Rolex
Dimaks is a part-time blogger born in Cotabato City, Southern Philippines. He loves a wide array of things: Martial arts, Scootering, Painting, Photography, Cooking and of course eating. Indulge with his blogging rounds!
Joey Alarilla
Mar 4th, 2007
hey dimaks, thanks for visiting blog addicts
and yup, i loved atomicgirl’s last paragraph too.
cheers!
dimaks
Mar 4th, 2007
Joey,
cheers to blog addicts!!
Thanks too for dropping by here
Elaine
Mar 4th, 2007
Wow. I wish I could also say the same thing in the future. I wish I’d also end up doing what I want and succeeding in it. Success is only for those who truly want it, I guess. And I want it and pray He’ll give me the strength to push through. I think you’re very inspirational, dimaks. Puede ba kitang tawagin ‘kuya’? Or dimaks nlang para prang daberkads. Heheh.
Have a nice day! 
Bam
Mar 5th, 2007
Whew! A fellow Cotabateño! And you’re now in Japan! Weeee! *jubilant*
What school are you from? I’m just curious. ^^ I’m from CCSPC-LHS. Err.. is it already existing back then?
Btw, I love this post. Reminds me of my ever-postponed website idea for my high school years.
dimaks
Mar 5th, 2007
Elaine,
Glad I could be of inspiration to you sis (does this permit the kuya request? hehe, pwede rin ang pangberks) ..but really its true, success is only for those who truly desires it and walk towards it. If you want it, work for it, reach for it. Greetings too!
dimaks
Mar 5th, 2007
Hi Bam!
Thanks for dropping by here and welcome. I graduated from the CCHS, which eventually became CCNHS. Yes, I’m completely aware of the CCSPC-Lab. I even witnessed the very start of it. Cheers!
verns
Mar 5th, 2007
wow! that is indeed something to be very proud of Dimaks!
True…in the province, the lower sections usually are kawawa because most of the time the teachers they get are the ones who are “lax”. Some students like this idea because they have more time to make lakwatsa but for those (like you) who aims for a better education, will always find a way to get one. That’s why sometimes even though education is a privilege, not a right, nowadays…nasa tao pa rin yan.
aCey
Mar 5th, 2007
aww… you simply miss your high school buddies! ^_^
tina
Mar 5th, 2007
ive had my share of aiming for the “right section”. When i was in City High my mom agreed to place me there if I get to the Node section or the Honor Section. For 3 consecutive years… I was at the honor section… and it was fun. By 4th year.. hehe i switched to home study anyway…
nice to hear about your memoirs
rhodora
Mar 5th, 2007
Oh, Dimaks, you are so blessed! But you know what, hurdling academics in a school with a population as that of your high school then, is really hard. So getting to section 1 really meant something – that you belonged to the cream of the crop.
You have funny memories in high school. I remember that time too when I was a teacher in English in high school… I would get mad at students who somewhat poked fun at our lessons. So if you were in my class – hah! you were just lucky your teacher then just punished you with cleaning task.. Umm… di pupuwede yan sa akin… LOL!
Richmond
Mar 5th, 2007
You are that old?!!!
dimaks
Mar 5th, 2007
verns,
I agree.. it’s like, it’s a right of everyone who deserves it.. for those who really wants and works for it. Not only the students who likes that of being assigned in the last section, some of our teachers too. Sadly, they would love missing their classes for some shallow reasons ..besides their students are the bullies anyway.
—–
because in one way or another, they have been essential segment of my life ..of where I am right now.
aCey,
you’re right, a way of remembering them
—–
tina,
I won’t wonder if you keep plenty of medals at home by then hehe.. So why did you choose the home study if I may ask?
—–
rhodora,
Thanks! you are right. I was thinking that, given that unbecoming treatment of students in the last sections, I told myself, I should get out of this cage and go up there where regard for students is different and better. Though, I still have the irony with me – aren’t those students in the last sections supposed to get better attention, or equal at least?
Mabuti na lang hindi ko kayo naging teacher hehe.. baka sa kangkungan ako pupulutin.
—–
Richmond,
Hala yari ka sa mga blogging moms nyan.. LOL
sexy mom
Mar 5th, 2007
you must have been what they call one of those with “raw intelligence”. and look where you are now…congrats, dear.
dimaks
Mar 5th, 2007
sexy mom,
Salamat po
ths59ers
Mar 5th, 2007
Hi. Thanks for sharing the memories of your youth — isn’t highschool the BEST!
Just wondering what started you down memory lane. Did you get a message from …..
dimaks
Mar 5th, 2007
ths59ers,
You’re welcome. Yes, high school the best, i agree.
Being on the memory lane strikes me from time to time
so, I guess I can write about a segment or two of them anytime. It’s just that I recalled that blog site i created for my high school mates that did not get any progress, so I wrote about a bit of high school life instead. Thanks for dropping by!
annamanila
Mar 6th, 2007
Dimaks, thanks for letting us peek through the young highschool student that was you. Achiever ka na nuon pa. Best in arts, pero …. haha (Tanong: may balat ka ba?) But I guess you must have really excelled in college? Aba malapit ng maging Dimaks, Ph.D. Thanks for other things. LOL
dimaks
Mar 6th, 2007
annamanila,
Welcome. College? it was just right.. in the first place, hindi ko rin kasi first choice ang engineering. I was eyeing for fine arts or archi. Kaya lang hindi offered sa uni na pinasukan ko. Ewan ko rin kung bakit engineering ang bagsak ko. Siguro kasi, under the impression na maraming pera sa profession na ito kaya gawa ng kahirapan, sige mag e-engineering na lang ako. Tanong din, manghuhula kaba? lol.. may balat kasi ako sa likod
tina
Mar 6th, 2007
ive had a few actually only 2 or 3 forgot. oh.. got fed up. nyahaha. im like that. i have graduation jitters… not wanting to stay… i dont know. hehe.. and i wanted to be with parents in the business… they travel a lot and ilove travelling. only way to travel was to be on a home study.. thats why. hehe
dimaks
Mar 6th, 2007
tina,
O that explains it why
sasha
Mar 6th, 2007
Same here, Dimaks… Nothing beats highschool life talaga! And you know what, you’re right. Had you not strived to get in section 1, where will you be kaya right now? Probably at the same place you’re in right now, but will a lot more struggles along the way. Iba kasi when the foundation to college is strong.
Anyway, my two cents lang naman
Have a great week, Dimaks!
dimaks
Mar 6th, 2007
sasha,
well struggles are always there.. some have passed and some are yet to come.
Likewise
annamanila
Mar 7th, 2007
Well, may pagka. But one doesnt have to be a manghuhula . Nawalan ng power at the precise second your medal is being pinned. Eh di may balat nga.
Ok, usapang balat. — Yung anak ko … grade 2 sya nuon. Field trip nila sa kung saan saan. Nung lunch time, they went to the park to eat. Eh umulan. So balik sila lahat sa sasakyan. Inside the bus, sabi ng titser: “malas naman, umulan. sino ba ang may balat?”
Nagtaas ng kamay yung anak ko. (Naku I may blog about this next time.)
Oh my. Taught them so well to tell the truth.
dimaks
Mar 7th, 2007
annamanila,
Oh well, thought “balat” as they are, ang narinig ko naman sa medical side e abnormality daw ang mga ito. I don’t know how to explain it scientifically though. Anyway, kung may situational influence man ang balat, I think it did bring good things in abundance too, but of course everything rests from the All-Knowing and All-Encompassing Supreme being
I would love to see your blog on this “balat” thing
Jaypee
Mar 9th, 2007
I’m also doing the same thing for my HS batch. I’ve created a WordPress blog but hosted it with a freehost rather than in WordPress.com so features won’t be limited. I haven’t launched it yet coz I’m trying to get feedback from my batchmates. Also, I don’t have that much spare time to work on it. Hehe
Btw, why not try tracking your HS classmates using Friendster? I’m sure you’ll some of them there.
dimaks
Mar 10th, 2007
Jaypee,
I’ve tried fs and found 3 of them hehe.. other than that, no more as of yet.