Star of the Sea

"Oh star of the sea keep burning bright..."

I went to a Catholic school for girls that was managed by Franciscan missionary nuns. For eleven years, from kindergarten to high school, this was my world.

The school grounds were huge. Upon entering the school gate, one had to drive thru a pine tree-lined road and rows of asosenas and rose bushes as one approached the L-shaped building. The school was a narrow three-storey building consisting of very long hallways.

I remember how during my elementary years, I would “skate” down the hallway in my white socks— with nary a thought on the extra work I would give to the laundry lady. And oh the thrill I would get from taking a walk at the back of the building to investigate the insects and frogs that lived in a thick bamboo grove.

I knew almost every nook and cranny of the school minus the nuns’ cloistered area. There was a closet under the stairwell where it was rumored that the nuns “aged” their habits to get that particular shade of ivory. The threat to be placed inside for misbehaving was every little girl’s nightmare.

During my high school years, there were more threats and thrills. The sisters kept a close watch on the lengths of our skirts, our hair styles and our eyebrows. Those were days when chunky boy shoes, rolled down socks and tiny brass bells were the in-thing. And how vividly I remember our Principal (Sr L) standing in the middle of the road to block the entrance of a motorcade consisting of several busloads of high school boys. I joined in with the rest of the girls screaming at Sr L to let the buses through.

Fun and crazy. An emotional rollercoaster ride of growing pains and joys shared with girls of different backgrounds and personalities. Of overnight stays at retreat house where wet toilet paper fights broke out and buckets of tears were shed during “bull sessions”. A shared time that bonded classmates together.

My high school batch was the last to graduate. The school had to close down because it could not manage to pay the real estate taxes on its huge land. The convent has since relocated to another area on the other side of the city.  With no school to go back to, there have been sporadic reunions arranged in other venues.  And as we continued to age, the desire to meet up more frequently became stronger.

Thus two weeks ago, after much search for each other – some with ease, some with hesitation, some involving travel of great distance— a dozen classmates came together once more in what could only be described as a riot of a reunion. Although time has managed to change our physical appearances, a strong connection still lives inside our 16 year old hearts.

Our hearts swelled with happiness as we spent time catching up with each other’s lives. And even if there were sad stories told – of separation, of death in the family, of health issues—just being in each other’s company gave everyone a natural high. Reconnection was complete.

Before we bid each other good-bye, we promised to get together more frequently in the coming years. In the final analysis, a lot of change have occurred in our lives but one thing remains constant— true friendship.

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Very recently, I was told that the school property was sold to a real estate developer. In a matter of time, our school will fade away like so many landmarks that have been replaced by condos, malls and call center buildings. But no matter.  The memories I have always make going back to Cebu a happy occasion.  In addition to my happy memories, there still remains a delicious array of delicacies and dishes that give me a sense of connection.  Here are just a few of my favorites:

Steamed Fried Rice ( now served in many dimsum establishments but was exclusively served at Ding Haw Dimsum Revolving Restaurant)

Cebu Lechon (Sunday family lunch would not be complete without a kilo or two of lechon.... there's Luz, CnT, Rico's, ZuboChon, and many more outlets now)

Puso ( rice in a handy heart shape coconut leaf woven container). Where there is barbeque, there is puso.

Bibingka from Catmon, Rosquillos from Liloan, Tagaktak and Marreal from Mandaue, Ampao and Chicaron from Carcar (rice cake, a cookie with scalloped edges, triangular shaped fried sweeten rice noodle, peanut based delicacy, rice puff and pork crackling. Now available at most food carts in the mall)

hot bibingka

ampao, tagaktak, piniato, marreal, rosquillos etc.

Breakfast of corn grits, fried eggs, chorizo and tsokwate

Ngohiong- similar to a long spring roll but with a crunchy exterior and an ubod-singkamas based filling (used to be sold only at a rinky dinky canteen near San Jose Recolletos Universary but is sold almost everywhere—fastfood areas in malls and street food stalls)

Cebu breads and pastries: King Roll, Bohol, Elorde, Everlasting, Monay, Binankal, Darling, Sweetheart and much, much more.

The ultimate Cebuano treat: Sweet Mangoes paired with puto (steamed coconut and ginger flavored sticky rice) or budbud (same as puto but rolled up in banana leaves and steamed) AND tsokolate (thick chocolate drink whisked to perfection from hand-made chocolate tablets.

I yum Cebu-- the star of the Visayan sea!