During our Juniors-Seniors Promenade 0n the 14th of February 2015, I was asked to make a class prophecy-- A story which served as a little window for us, graduating students, to see who would we be, God-willing, in about 15 years into the future. I'd really love to share this in my blog because this prophecy is special for me and also my batch mates in Indiana Aerospace University. Currently, we are all freshmen (me, an incoming this 10th of Aug) and each of us are going in our separate ways, chasing the dreams we once had since grade school.
P.S. I used the Visayan dialect in this entry.
CHAPTER 1
September 5. I needed a new inspiration for my editorial due
next week and I had what they were calling a writer’s block. All the pressure
in the publication was getting to me and all the comments on my “opinions
column” in the newspaper were getting to me. Being
editor in chief of Sunstar is really a very hard job. I was having dinner with
my best friend Leslie in a
new korean Restaurant near the heart of Cebu City. We heard the food was great
there, and we planned to try it out despite both of our busy schedules. We
hardly ever see each other anymore after she opened her big time marketing
company in the U.S. for social networks, and I can’t believe that she and Kimberly, a computer engineering
major would’ve been great business partners, and were earning twice more than
what Apple Incorparated was earning. Their partnership really clicked. After long chats, our food finally arrived. “Libre ra daw
ni, walay bayad ana ang Koreano”. The waiter told us. “What?” Leslie felt
confused as the waiter handed us our orders. “Kana siya ga ingun” the waiter
said, pointing through a glass that seemed like an office where we saw a Korean
guy. The charming gentleman got outside his office and was coming to our table.
“Hey girls! Haven’t seen you for a while!” said the man we couldn’t believe
owned this very world-famous restaurant. “Chan!
Its you! You still remember us?” Kapoya sig english ani nila oy, ma nosebleed
ko, I thought to myself. I tried my best not to feel too thrilled or
overwhelmed because of his presence. He got uber tall now. More like a 6
footer. As we continued chatting and catching up, a customer across
our table suddenly had a heart attack and all the other customers were
panicking. “Don’t panic guys” a guy from behind our table suddenly said and
went hurriedly to the customer having a heart attack. It was Daryl Silva, he was having
dinner with a woman, and I think she was his wife. “Relaks lang mo! Doctor ko! Tawag
mog abulansya!” Leslie laughed at the way he had said those words and we knew
immediately the Daryl Silva we know is still there. Sige mig tutok ni Daryl,
and kalimot mi manawag ug ambulansya mao to siya nalang nanawag. After the
incident, We ended up having a mini-reunion. Daryl, leslie, chan and me.
CHAPTER 2
Early in the morning next day I received a call from my
assistant that I was needed in a building constructed in I.T. park for there
had been an accident that had happened, and as a news reporter I had to get
fresh news. As I arrived in the crime scene it seemed like the scaffholdings had
fallen from the 3rd floor of the building and it was devastating
news. Ambulances were arriving with me, and I can see panicked engineers all
lining up in front of the building and in the crime scene. I hurriedly drove my
Mercedes benz but it was no use because there was a traffic. A big bus full of
tourists was infront of me. I suddenly recognized Chyra Prudenciado and Angel Alas standing inside the bus
calming the Koreans and Chinese people down. They seemed very good in doing so
because the tourists immediately went back to their seats and calmed down.
Woah, these beautiful girls who were once enjoying selfies were already tourist
guides and they sure look pretty good now. Last time I heard, silang duha naa
nay boyfriends, and were both part time models in the Philippine Models
Association. I beeped at their tourist bus and lowered my window to say hi. I didn’t
have enough time with them for I was in a hurry to the building where I was
going to go. Atlast the traffic has gone. I saw a police chief who was
busy commanding his officers to atleast manage the traffic because of the
accident. It was Noel Monin,
ka galang-galang jod kayo iyang gi suot, naikog najod ko niya. I got off my car
to interview some nurses in the ambulance. Some were busy attending to the
construction workers who had been injured during the fall of the scaffholdings
in the building. Two nurses caught my eye. It was Rachelle Alonzo and Stephanie Otic! They looked so elegant
with their white uniforms, and you can really say na nag struggle jd sila. “Dae!
Ang betadine!” said Rachelle. “Paghuwat dae kay ga lisud pang tuhod sa akong
pasyente.” Replied Stephanie. These were the girls I spent high school with,
and I didn’t regret spending every minute with them. “Hoy mga ebyang!” I
shouted at them. They were shocked as to who would call them such but as they
looked at me, I already knew that they knew it was me. They dropped all their
medical tools, left their patients who were struggling and rushed to me,
hugging me. Turns out my day was not going to be stressful anyway. Chika kaayo mi sa mga ebay, nakalimot ko nga naa pa deay koy
sturya himuonun! I grabbed my pen and notebook ready to interview the engineers
inside the building under construction. I was on my way up the ladders to the
second floor where all the engineers were figuring out why the scaffholdings
collapsed. I poked a woman talking to a man holding a paper wearing a hard hat.
“Miss, ako deay si Stacey, naa ko diri para mu interview sa mga nahitabo diri
ug kung ngano ni nahitabu.” Dugay kayo siya ni lingi nako na offend na nuon ko.
Hahaha. Pag lingi niya “SAI!!!!” ni siyagit siyag kalit. “Hala jas!!” ni tubag
pod ko niya. It was Jasmyne
Salvador! She got so tall na! hahaha! “Uy Ken,
si Stacey, Ken!” Jasmyne told the man who was facing back. Ni lingi ang kiki nya
na shock pod siya. “Uy tangkag!” Hala oy, mu sturya pako? Hahahaha! Aweeee,
Sila jud deay nagkadayun, and same pud sila engineer. How sweet is that!! I
continued interviewing them until I got my headline story for Sun Star that
day. “Asa napud sila kent, mike, rholly, patricia, ug farah?” I asked the
couple. “Si Pat kay naa sa US. Dako
na kayo iyang sweldo didto and daghan na siyag balay nabuhat.” Gi ingnan ko ni Jasmyne.
“Si Kent kay ni undang ug trabaho kay
nag manage na siya ug lima ka pungko2 dapit sa CDU. But he finished his
engineering course and graduated as Cum Laude.” “Rholly also graduated as Magna Cum Laude. Pero naa ra gyapon to
siyas Maribago, and he is already starting to build his very own resort because he planned to
build one for his parents.” Wow kaayo ko sa akong classmates ug sa mga nahitabo
sa ilang life. Grabe najod kayo and kanang wa lang jud ka mag expect kay sauna
mga bugoy pa kayo sila. “How about sila farah ug mike?” I asked the couple. “Si
Farah kay kuyog namo siya ani nga
project ani nga building but she’s on vacation karon sa Paris, and si Mike kay on a family vacation siya
karon. Siya ang nag plano ani nga building silang duha ni Rinsho. Mao ni siya nga building ang pinakataas sa Cebu. Mapildi
ang Crown Regency ani. Mao bitaw support kayo mi ni Ken ani nga project. and
wala lang jd ko ka expect nga maingani deay ang scaffholdings.” Jassy said, nga
murag naguol jd siya. I continued interviewing them about the building until I
decided to head back to the office. Good thing at the end of the day, wala ray
naunsa.
CHAPTER 3
The next week I was called to go to Hong Kong for three days
and two nights because I had to cover a story about teachers there. I was
running late for my flight. As I arrived at the airport, I rushed to the
counter, got my plane ticket and hurried for boarding because I was being paged
already. Good thing ang airplane kay gipang check pa ang parts and gipa gas pa.
I think something was quite wrong with the plane. I saw two Aircraft mechanics
trying their best to open up a particular bolt behind the aircraft. As they
both turned around, I ran to both of them. “Uy Otic, Onyok!” I shouted at them. It was Mark Jason. And neil
abing. Puno kayg itom2 iyang nawng sa sgeg trapo2 sa mga hugaw sa iyang gipang’ayo.
Wala na kayo mi nag chika kay late na lage si oka. As I entered the plane a
woman who was 5 foot and 8 inches tall helped me with my hand carry. I couldn’t
believe it was Rita! She fulfilled
her dreams of being able to travel the world. Hug kayo ming duha nya nikalit ra
siyag hilak, tears of joy kayo. I sat down my seat and she sat down next to me.
Turns out ang akong tapad unta sa plane kay wa na dayun, so padayun ramig
chika. “Cabin crew, please be ready for take off.” Sounded the speakers in the
plane. “Hala murag familiar lage ron ang voice!” ni ana ko ni Rita. “Paminawa
pa sai.” I continued listening to the speakers. “Okay good morning passengers.
This is Jason Morgado, your captain
speaking. Thank you for boarding in Cebu Pacific. We have clear skies today on
the 14th of July and we are looking forward to arrive in hongkong at
0400 hours. Please fasten your seatbelts now.” Nganga kayo ko! Wa jod ko
katingug for 5 minutes hangtud naka feel ko proud kaykos akong migo. Nibarog na
si Rita cause mag demonstrate na siya sa Safety Procedures during the flight. I took a video of her because I was so proud.
CHAPTER 4
At 0400 hours I arrived at Hongkong. I was feeling very
hungry so I decided to find a restaurant. Naay isa ka restaurant naka catch sa
akong eye, Naay poster sa isa ka chef nga karon kay nay cooking show sa
Hongkong. Gi tan’aw nako ang name sa ubos, “Lucky Faith Tampus, Celebrity Chef” WOAH WOAH WOAH! Nag dali2 kug
sulod sa restaurant kay tayg makit’an jd nako si lucky. And to my surprise she
was really there! She was having a live cooking show in her restaurant and she
was doing great. I watched in awe and I felt like I really needed to eat
already! So I found a table and I saw Jalaine Solibio, who was also in the
restaurant, alone. So I decided to sit with her. She was shocked nganung nay
nikalit ug atbang niya. “Stacey ni oy! Hi Ja!” Wa nay braces si Jalaine, limpyo na kayg ngipon. “Hi
sai!” she responded to me. “You’re here staying in Hong kong?” nangutana ko niya.
“Ouuu naa nakoy clinic diri, and ni pursue jod kog dentistry.” Ni ana si Jaja. “Kuyog
pod mi ni Angela Monelar nag
partnership mi sa isa ka dentistry institute” Jaja said to me proudly. Grabe
najod akong mga classmates sah? Me and Jalaine decided to go shopping in
Hongkong after we ate dinner together.
CHAPTER 5
The day of my interview for the Filipino teachers in Hong Kong has come. And I was very nervous for this story would end up in TV and
I wasn’t that used in broadcasting, only writing. I arrived at the school, and
I looked at the list of Filipino teachers I was going to interview. “Ritchie Igot, Deme Stephanie Ann Hinoguin” I excitedly read aloud. What a
coincidence! I started interviewing the both of them. Ngiga jod! International
teachers na sila, and they even know how to speak Chinese! I observed how they
taught the children, and for me, they were the best at their field. Truly,
pinoy pride. I made them the center of my story. I couldn’t help but still ask
how my other friends from section B in High School were doing. “Kumusta na sila
John Noel ug Earl, Dem?” I asked them. “IT man to ilang gikuha, naa sila sa US
karon, cause they’re now professional computer programmers. Mansion natu ang
balay ni John Noel. Lima na kabuok ang anak, nakit’an nakos Facebook.” Ni ingun
si Deme. “Nya si Earl, Ritchie?” I asked Ritchie about earl. “Sila man ang
nagkadayun.” Nitubag si Deme nako. Aweeee, Si earl jud ug si Ritchie nagdayun! “Pag
sure chie oy! Congratulations ninyo ni Earl! Lisura sa Long Distance relationship
uy.” I told Ritchie. “Okay raman Sai basta love jud nimo ang isa ka taw. Permi
raman sd mi mag skype ni earl. I could see how happy Ritchie was. “Enough na
anang love life oy”. “Sila Arnold, Vincent, Bavyjene ug Lemuel? how are they?” “Si Arnold has a very big business now. He
inherited his mother’s business in the Philippines. Vincent also took Business
Ad and he is starting up a new business venture as of now and he and his family
Migrated in the US.” We proceeded with
our interview.
CHAPTER 6
It was a long night for me so I hurriedly went to the city
to check in a hotel. 8th floor, room 899. I was in the 8th
floor’s hallway adoring their very beautiful photographs along the hallway.
There was one photo that caught my eye. It was a picture of Pandas in the zoo
where the mother panda was hugging the baby panda. Pandas were famous here in
hongkong. I looked at the name of the photographer. Again, I was in awe. “Rench
Nieco Tio, Nature Photographer” the header of the photo read. Sauna kay sige
ranig katawa ssa hallway sa school but now, he is really good with pictures. I
continued looking for my room. It was in the other side of the hallway. Atlast,
I found it. I changed and turned on the TV. Well, I guess it was already FIFA
season. And Real Madrid and Barcelona FC were playing. There was this guy who
just scored a goal. I looked at the back of his jersey. It read “DIRCKZE”. I
began cheering for his team! I cant believe Matthew is now a professional
football player! I continued watching the game and Real Madrid won, and Matthew
was the best scorer. I felt really proud. I was not yet feeling sleepy so I
switched the channel. There was a fashion show and it was close to the end.
Guess who I saw?I listened to the TV screen. “And now lets give a warm round of
applause to Ellaiza V Marilao, a Filipino Fashion Designer for a successful
fall and winter collection this year 2030!” Ni clap sad ko uy! Mau mani akong
igsuon pag high school nya karon laysho na kayg mga designs. I hurriedly called
up her number because I was too excited to congratulate her. She was very
famous now o it was no problem finding her contact number. “Igsu!” I shouted in
the phone. “HALA! Igsuon! Ikaw deay ni?” I congratulated ellaiza and we talked
for hours. “Kumusta na si Numer?” I suddenly asked her. There was a long pause in the phone then
someone said, “Hoy sai!” It was Numer. I didn’t know they worked together! “Bayut
kumusta naman kaaaaaa!!” I shouted across the phone. We talked and talked until
midnight, the three of us having a conference. It was happy knowing both of
them were very successful now, and they have successfully used their skills in
their fields. Numer works as the Head Hair and Make-up Artist of Ellaiza’s
models of her design collections, and they had their partnership since they
graduated college. It was 2am and I dozed off to sleep.
CHAPTER 7
I was late for my flight and missed my plane back to the
Philippines and my only way of getting back is through a ship. So I had to go
to the pier at 12 noon. Again, finding my seat at the ship, I got to sleep
because I was really tired. There was a buzz and the captain started to
announce. Just like de’ja vu, there was another proud moment for me. In the
speakers, I heard: “We are smooth sailing today because there are no signs of
typhoons and or minimal low pressures. This is your Captain speaking, Dylro Mar
Lompot, and this ship will be headed to the Philippines in a few minutes.
Everybody all set now.” I was twiced as shock this time than my plane ride. Na
successful jud si Mar-mar. Katung mag bilin2 lang sa iyang mga butang sa
classroom sauna mau nay ga drive sa ship nga akong sakyan padung uli sa
Philippines. There was suddenly a man looking 5”7 ft tall who sat next to me. He
had big eyes, and was so thin. He extended his right hand to me attempting to
shake my hand. “Sai!” Na shock k okay wa jud ko kaila niya. “Kinsa ka?” I asked
him. “Si Lemuel gud!” Hala, na shock jod ko. Formal kaysha tanawn nindut na
kayg hinapay pina Jose rizal dili na katung barug2 nga murag rooster. Hahaha! “Huy!
Nag unsa ka dres hongkong?” I asked him. “I just had a scuba diving session
here in Hong kong because I was observing their sharks. I am a marine biologist
now.” Nagdugo jod akong ilong sa iyang English!! “Hala oyyyy, bow down najod ko
nimo dong.” I told him while laughing. “Nya musta naman ka karon?” I asked him.
“Happily married nako with Bavyjene. Naa siya karon sa Philippines. Successful
na sha nga Physical Therapist karon nya 3 times a week siya mag travel. LDR mi
pero okay ra, kay love man jod nako si Bavyjene.” Nga-nga najod kayko! Na spog
ko nila kay naa silay love life! Hahaha! As the trip was going on, there was a mere
bump against the back part of the ship. I panicked because there was water
coming inside the ship. People were now panicking and I was panicking as well.
The rest of the happenings were a blur to me. And then I saw nothing.
CHAPTER 8
I woke up in a hospital room. I was not alone in the room.
There was a doctor checking my monitor to check my condition and how I was
developing. “Doc, how am I?” gipangutana nako ang laki. He turned around,
shocked. “Uy sai! Mata naka?” I was confused how he knew me by my nickname. “France
ni uy!” Nakuyawa dayun ko. Tayg mamatay ko kay si France akong doctor! Hahaha
joke ra bitaw. I responded to him with a smile. Wala pakoy kusug mo sturya. I
felt so weak. I began to ask france. “Naunsa deay ko?” Mura siyag wa kayo
malipay. Nya nakulbaan nako. “France, tubaga ko.” I asked him seriously. “You’ve
been in a COMA for 3 weeks.” I was confused. I was in hongkong man dba? I
started asking more questions. “Ha? Naa rakos Philippines karon?” “yes”
responded france. “Naunsa deay ko?” “I diagnosed you under severe stress and heart
problems. Naglisud naka ug cope up sa imung mga buhatunun. Nya pag September 5,
kalit lang ka ni collapse sa imung office.” I was confused! Diba nag dinner man
ko with Leslie pag September 5? Katu deayng scaffholdings nga ni collapse
katung nagkita mi nila jassy ug ken sa IT park? Katung interview nako nila Ritchie
ug Deme? Katung kasakay ko sa airplane ni Jason? Katung Kasakay ko sa ship ni
Mar-Mar? Wala rato tanan? My mind was filled with thoughts of these. I began
crying. All of those I saw didn’t really happen? Ngano man? It was the future
all of us were waiting for. And wala ra deay to? “Ayaw ug hilak uy.” Gi ingnan
ko ni France. “Binuang ra bitaw. You’re here because of your ride back to the
Philippines. You passed out the moment the ship arrived to shore. Nag panic ka cause
hadlok kas water. But you’re okay now.” Lami’a lage hapakon ni France karon
dayon! Grabe kayo mangilad! There was a
knock on the door. Seems like I was already in the Philippines cause murag
Chong Hua jud ni nga Hospital. “May we come in?” Rachelle’s head popped out. “Sud
lang mo.” Ana si France. I thought si Rachelle ra ug Steph, cause I heard dinhi
man sila nag work as nurses sa Chong Hua deay. But I was wrong. Mao deay “we”
cause sila tanan naa. Ang mga engineers, Kent, Patricia, Mike, Jassy, Ken,
Rensz, Kim, rholly, Farah. Ang mga tourist guides Chyra and Angel. Mga business
men and women, Leslie, Arnold, ug Vincent. Ang mga Information Techonologists,
John Noel ug Earl. Ang mga chefs nga si Chan and Faith. Ang Pilot na si Jason
ug ang Flight attendant na si Rita. Ang Captain na si Mar-mar. Ang dentists na
sila Angela Monelar ug Jalaine. Ang mga Teachers na sila Ritchie ug Deme. Ang
mga Aircraft Maintenance Technologists nga sila Mark Otic ug Neil Abing. Ang
police chief na si Noel Monin. Ang Fashion designer na si Ellaiza ug
Professional Make-up Artist nga si Numer.Ang professional soccer player na si
Matthew. Ang nature photographer na si Rench. Ang Marine Biologist na si
Lemuel. Ang physical therapist na si Bavyjene. Ug ang doctors na si France ug
Daryl. They were all here. They were all
here for me. Bisag nakuyapan rako they were all here. Kadako sa akong room
nasulod silang 38 kabuok. They were all watching my haggard face in the bed. I
was watching each of them. Each of them being professionals already. Each of
them achieved each of their dreams. Each of them were happy and contented of
what they have become. Each of them were once my high school classmates. The
ones I had spent a quarter of my lifetime with. And here we are all now.
Products of Indiana Learning Center. Wala gyuy nalikoy. I got teary eyed
watching all of them around my hospital bed. “Thank you guys.” I silently said. “And
thank you Lord.” “Karealize mo guys?” I told all of them. “We are here. This is
what we’ve worked hard all the 10 years of schooling.” They were looking at
each other. Kung ngano drama kayo ko. “Im just so proud of us right now.” And
everyone around my hospital bed moved closer, and all of us were engulfed in a
group hug, in the beautiful silence of success.
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