Sugar rush

Tired from work, the car passed by a Goldilock's store in traffic-choked Laon Laan.

With my eyes looking at the store's signage, I came to realize it was the very same Goldilock's were I got my only Goldilock's birthday cake for the only kiddie birthday party I ever had.

I was five then. It's not clear though whom I was with when I went to that store. Mama was working in Kuwait and wont be home for my birthday. So, together with a birthday card that had a cute baby pig illustration on it, she blew me a kiss across the sea and I had to follow that kiss to that airconditioned sweet smelling Goldilock's.

I remember how my name being called out over the microphone lit up my face and brought my happy feet to a shy hesitant walk. I could barely put my arms on the cake's box. But wanton joy had embraced me.

A sugar rush. That was really sweet. Not on my lips but on a sweet childhood memory to cherish.

ANHS Pugad99ers Alumni Homecoming 2nd General Assembly

Start:	Nov 30, '08 2:00p
Location:	Antipolo National High School main campus

Grumaduate ka ba from Antiplolo National High School noong March 29, 1999?

Sa Antipolo Plaza na ngayon ay Plaza Dimasalang na?

Na si Angelito G. Gatlabayan pa ang alkalde ng lungsod, na ngayon ay Kinatawan ng Unang Distrito ng lungsod?

Na dati'y nasa edad 16 pa tayo... ngayon ay edad 26 na?

Haha! Manumbalik sa dating pugad matapos ang isang dekada.

Paghandaan ang isang makabuluhang pagtitipon.

Contact persons:
Girlie 0927-6507117
Rachelle 0918-7875499
Erwin 0922-8393432

Going, going, vegan

One July morning, I woke up to drum beats as I lay like a leaf on my bunk. Having my bed positioned just beside the glass window, I saw this pupils in a long stream of white school uniform along Lt. J. Francisco in Krus Na Ligas.

I rushed to the dorm's roof deck and I was amazed to see something that I used to do in school. With hand drawn placards, some of the pupils were carrying vegetables. Eggplants. Tomatoes. Carrots. Green leafy vegetables. Some stuff that could had been Krus na Ligas' version of Italian veggie mayhem if these kids were provoked. But the pupils held the vegetables as if it's Palm Sunday.

That was Nutrition Month in an alley of food preservatives, burger stands, and carcinogen on sticks.

Lipad, Pugad 99ers! Lipad!

Kami ang Pugad 99ers.

The Antipolo National High School class of 1999 led by its class valedictorian Girlie Nombres formally launched its plans of holding its first grand alumni homecoming, last November 16 at the school's Math center on the main campus

Some 17 former students forged their commitment and resources to stage a fun yet meaningful reunion gig slated on March next year. An organizing committee was helmed that will spearhead in gathering and mobilizing all efforts in ensuring the reunion's success.

The batch will be collectively known as "Pugad 99ers." Erwin dela Cruz, speaking in behalf of the organizing committee said the batch wanted to deviate from the typical fares offered by other reunions, hence the "casual barkada-ish" name. "Pugad 99ers" drew inspiration from the revered education institution nestled in a sprawling campus straddling the hills of Cogeo in Antipolo.

Antipolo National High School was then the largest secondary school in the entire Region 4 in terms of student population.

In addition to that, action plans on promotions and marketing were laid out that will stir awareness and participation from "ka-Pugad" former students. The official logo was also formally presented to the batch.

The demographically diverse class of 1999 produced a total of 1,564 graduates from 24 sections. "The number itself speaks of a challenge," dela Cruz noted.

Pugad 99ers were unfazed though and will convene again for a series of "pugad building" activities on Nov. 30, Sunday on the same venue. Graduates of ANHS 1999 are strongly encouraged to attend and join its e-groups: and Pugad99ers on Friendster Groups.


-Mark Lester Cayabyab, Pugad99er