Class History- Memory for a lifetime By: Sophia Vien C. Andongo (Special Program in the Arts Batch 2014-2015)

When two or more different worlds collide a great impinge will certainly rise. When you lock a sanguine with a choleric person in a room, war would be the outcome. He had dreams and I had mine, she had fears and I was fine. We came from unlike worlds; we are prince and princesses in different palaces but these dissimilarities are never a boundary for cosmoses to be one.

It’s magical! Unbelievable, but it’s true! River is never wrong to flow us with each other and winds measured it right for us to be together. All things happened purposely. I traveled through the dark and rocky forest, I climbed, and I run until I found fairies in the beautiful garden city of Calasiao Comprehensive National High School.

I still remember the exact date when we all met each other.  It was June 6, 2011 where flowers bloom, morning came and friendship arises. That precious moment we realized that we’re like adenine and thymine … destined to bond. From that particular minute we decided to cherish every single moment together, remember every memory and value the word “sisterhood” and “brotherhood.”

On our first year in high school being in Special Program in the Arts Curriculum was extremely and ultra-mega exciting, full of first time. First time to go home past 6 o’clock p.m., first time to rehearse on your own without a teacher’s guidance, first time to create a song, first time to travel alone, and many more. #FortheFirstTimeinFOREVER.

 The entire school was populated by innocent and curious freshmens, it took two weeks before we familiarize the environment. A bubbly and a good-hearted Mrs. Alma B. Hortaleza was our adviser that time. Her memorable room filled with mirrors, curtains, speakers, and a loud upbeat music were the things we will never forget because that was the moment everything started, that room witnessed our first hangout together, first laughs, first tear drops and our first Christmas party. I still remember that moment when Ma’am Alma introduced a game entitled “bring me with a twist” instead of a thing, you are going to bring a person being described. Luckily, Daniel Veloso won the whitest teeth award and Shaira Calaguio having the longest hair of all.

Those treasured moments became stronger when we join different kinds of competitions. Even though we’re only a novice competitor we proved to everyone that we can. In fact, we are given a chance to compete outside the school as being part of CCNHS Glee Club, of course made possible by our club adviser Mr. Ruel Nepuscua, and SPA Coordinator, Mrs. Virgibal Vallo. Unexpectedly we won as Grand Champion held in Robinsons Mall Calasiao. It was our first offering contributed in our school. We also got a chance to participate in a Holiday musical Show Choir in CSI Lucao and Guanzon “Sing-a-long” Competition in Metro Plaza, Ground floor. 

           

Second year of our high school venture was so awesome, lots of film viewings in different places, “lakbay-aral” and outdoor activities. It was also the moment when Robinsons Movie World became our playground. (Haha!) Almost every week SPA met there to watch a movie together. Maybe unpleasant to hear but I tell you without it, we will never be as close as brothers and sisters.

           

One of the toughest testing we’ve faced this second year is the Tone Poem Competition, there was a blood shedding, overflowing of sacrifices and trading off. Our beautiful, talented and ever bright English teacher, Mrs. Chrizelle Maicle trained us line by line, detailed by detailed and we never stopped our practices until we justify the word perfection. Everyone is full of compassion and dedication. Honestly, it was the first time we saw Excel Vien Flores so serious in his work. Well, we were a bit astonished. #WhataMiracle! Due to everyone’s eager to win. Yes we did it! We won! It’s a multi reward… not only the trophy and certificates but also the memories together with our second family, in times of pain and in times of gain! #TogetherForever!

             Lately we are being called as sophomores and now we are juniors! What a blast. Well, I can say that this third year in high school was a bit knotty and hard. It was the time we encountered lots of not-so-funny moments, we faced different kinds of errors, failures and learned so much from our mistakes.  

            But despite all that, we enjoyed our company with our Science Teacher, Mrs. Gilda Matabang who was known for her wacky-serious personality. Her presence brings peace to the hallway of CCNHS for she can clear the way in just 2 minutes and brings vibes to the astig-look students. I remember, it was our first week with Mrs. Matabang when I was dubbed as first lady to cry in our class. (Haha! Felt awkward but it’s real). “A person with a surname that starts with letter A is always in front.” And yes, Margie Ann Amansec and I were so nervous that time, seems like OMG! Let the favor of God be with us every day. Haha!

            “Sayawit” played a very big role in our high school life. As in to death, we will do our best; Nutri-Jingles, Science month, K to 12, or even the celebration of “End Violence against Woman Now”. We never missed any opportunity when we are talking about jingles and sayawit. #ThereMustBeAnEntry! That was the mindset. As the fruit of these efforts, we gain tons of championship in this matter such as 3^rd Place in the Division Yes-O Camp 2014 Sayawit Competition where in over 52 contestants were there, 1^st place in Nutri-Jingle, Science month and K to 12 Celebration and February 7, 2015, representatives from IV-Cosmos and III-Jayhawk take a big battle in Binmaley School of Fisheries, It was another Sayawit Competition, and yes! We got the victory! “CCNHS as the first place in 2015 Division Yes-O Sayawit Competition.” #ThankYouLord!

In addition, Warren Garcia, Aaron Tigno, and Zachary Llobrera together with Sable Cabatbat, Janine Sarmiento and Najiba Maiquez got the first place in National Statistics Month Celebration- Sayawit Competition.

            Pageants also have a big impact in our lives. 2011, when Mhel Lomibao won the 3^rd Runners up in “Kasuotang Pilipino”, Sophia Andongo as Champion in Science month: Cosplay Competition and Ms. United Nations 3^rd Runners up, Jarichelle Roanne Idos as 2012 Kasuotang Pilipino 2^nd Runners up and year 2014 when Zachary Llobrera got the title of Mr. United Nations 2014, Mr. Lakan ng Kalikasan  and Mr. SSG 2^nd  Runners up and Rosalie Rodrigo surprisingly got the Ms. United Nations 1^st  Runners Up . #HakotAwardee

            More opportunities came and the interest of some of my classmates was reversed to joining different Quiz Bees. Despite all the odds, Sophia Andongo, Mhel Lomibao and Darwin Mangga were blessed to win as 1^st place in United Nations Quiz Bee sponsored by JCI Bagoong. Aeron Macalanda, Mycah Meneses and Sophia Andongo also won as 2^nd place in Local Quiz Bee. I was also astounded by the support given by my classmates and of course, our handsome and smart 4^th year adviser, Sir Jophel C. Caragay when I joined the Tourism Month Quiz Bee, I made it to win. #BoomingofGrace

            A journalist! It is. For over thousands of students in CCNHS, Zachary, Mhel and I were blessed to be part in Radio Broadcasting. It was totally a “tugidig-my-heart feeling.” Although English Radio Broadcasting team didn’t make it to regionals, everyone was happy for Filipino Radio Broadcasting team was a qualifier! They represent Division of Pangasinan 1 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Those memories were unforgettable. #CCNHS’sGlory

           

Many individuals also showed their skills in different aspects. Warren Garcia who was a shy type person won as 1^st place in Essay writing (2^nd Yr.) and Acronym making contest (4^th yr). Mycah Meneses who won as 1^st place in Dagliang Talumpati (2^nd Yr.), Mhel Patrick Lomibao also show his skill being the 1^st placer in Impromptu speaking (4^th Yr.)

SPA Students Jayvee Ballesteros and Sophia Andongo were chosen to represent the school in Division Festival of Talents-Sineliksik Filmmaking Contest with the guidance of Sir Ruel Nepuscua, Mrs. Virgibal Vallo and Mrs. Alma Hortaleza. The result was so amazing, everyone didn’t expect it! CCNHS got the 1^st place in Division Level that took them to compete in the regionals. Our heart beats so fast, I can feel the tension of everybody, as the host announced the winner. “The Division that will represent Region I . . .  is the Division of Pangasinan I.” #InsertFireworks

 To cut the long story short CCNHS represented Region I in the National Level held in Olongapo City National High School with the theme, “Optimizing Creativity and Innovation for School Change and Development.”

After all the businesses, we never forgot to connect and bond with each other. We will never forget the taste of Louie Solis’ own baked cupcakes. “Ayan na si Louie may dalang cupcake!” and also the mini resort of Daniel Sotelo in Cabilocaan (what a peaceful place!), the delicious puto of Jesus Padilla (never fading) and the houses of Aeron Macalanda and Kathlene Baldueza that served as our rehearsal venue. #FavoriteplaceforPractices

All the selfie moments and the boom panes moments like impersonating “…so you think Amalayer! Amalayer”, lines like “Ansabee”,”Truthfully”,”Cosmos Power”, “Wangkels”, ”Skilled”,  “makanay Mother Earth (Mrs. Perlita Flores)”, “Ay antakot ko! Ag ko labanan” and “Eat your meryendas” are so splendid, shimmering and shining in our hearts like diamonds treasured in a jewelry box.

We’ll never ever forget the moment we learned to lean on the giver of our talents. Every before contests, “Guys, dito na, pray na tayo” and they’ll all form a circle, put the props and other sets in the middle, close their eyes and sincerely talked to God, pleading for the victory! #Priceless #Unity  

“Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying”. Those words served as a motivation in our class to continue and stand up again, it’s our secret that keeps us moving forward. We’ve been through almost all kinds of struggles, a high school student can experience. Thru defeats, downfalls, struggles, shame, victory, laughs, but that never ends our major-major moment. Trophies may broke, certificates can be tore apart, and fame would fade but the shooting star that strikes the inner part of our hearts will always connect us together where ever we are destined to go…  it’s always here, at the bottom of our hearts… Treasured, cared and remembered!