A Visit to Nueva Ecija High School On Becoming a Senior Citizen

by Carmelita Cochingco Ballesteros.
February 16, 2012
My grandchildren, aged 10 and 8, cannot wait to grow old. The boy says, “I’m going to be 11 soon.” The girl says, “I’m turning 9.”
On the contrary, I could not accept growing old. “Turning 60?” One day before, I still declared that I was 59. Ha-ha-ha!
I decided to have a non-celebration, but my lifelong friend Letty said she was coming anyway to mark the day with me and my immediate family. So my daughter-in-law prepared the usual party fare “pansit”, pork barbecue, and fried chicken legs. Letty and her family brought vegetable rolls (“lumpia”) and all sorts of pastries for dessert.
We marked the day I turned 60 on that little farm we love in Mendez, Cavite. After sharing our simple meal, we said the rosary at the Grotto of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal which we had built in gratitude to the Blessed Mother.
* * *
My friend, unlike me, has decided to mark her 60th birthday with a celebration and family reunion in Cabanatuan City, her hometown.
Last week, the two of us drove to Cabanatuan City. She was at the wheel, of course, because I don’t drive. One of her daughters was a little worried about two senior citizens driving on their own. We told her, “We’re not minors!”
I guess grown-up children worry about their old parents like 30-ish and 40-ish parents worry about their minor children.
Letty took the old Manila-Cabanatuan route and we stopped by in San Miguel, Bulacan. We bought pastillas de leche (candy made of carabao milk) from Sevilla’s, had some snacks, and took a few minutes’ rest.
We left Makati City at 8:00 a.m. and arrived in Cabanatuan City at 12 noon. High school classmates, Mary Hsia and Jose Paglinawan, Jr. treated us to lunch. We all belong to Nueva Ecija High School (NEHS) Batch 1968. Mary and Jose are both active in the NEHS Alumni Association.
After lunch, the four of us went to our old high school. It’s still there, folks, in its old site. I was impressed that the NEHS Alumni Association already has a two-story Alumni Center with a full-time secretary.
Dr. Monica B. Mallari, NEHS principal, met us graciously on short notice. Letty was a little embarrassed about donating old books and science equipment, but Dr. Mallari said all donations are welcome.
Dr. Mallari is very proud that the present crop of NEHS students are winning awards in different contests and competitions. By the way, Nueva Ecija High School has a website. (http://nehs.smartschools.ph/)
Another thing that impressed me is that the editorial staff of The Granary already has an editorial office and a separate editorial office is being built for Ang Bangan, the Filipino counterpart of The Granary.
I was the editor-in-chief of The Granary in 1967-1968. We had no office back then. I don’t know how we survived. I do remember our adviser, Mr. Telesforo Mendoza. We, the editorial staff must have met in empty classrooms after class and must have typed our stories on borrowed typewriters. Did we submit our stories in long-hand? I don’t quite remember.
Afterwards, Letty went looking for a suitable venue for her 60th birthday celebration this month. While driving around the city crowded with tricycles, she saw her Nana (Aunt) Tonia crossing the street.
Wow! Aunt Tonia is “tall and tan and young and lovely.” (Girl From Ipanema, Norman Gimbel)
Letty and I had dinner with and spent the night at her brother and sister-in-law’s place. Breakfast the morning after was with Letty’s Tata Nito, youngest brother of her late father. Letty said she wanted to personally invite her few remaining old uncles and aunts.
As we were pulling over in front of Tata Nito’s house, I smelled the delicious aroma of the popular Nueva Ecija pork sausage generously seasoned with garlic. I couldn’t wait to sink my fork and teeth into this breakfast delicacy, but I had to behave properly like a senior citizen, of course.
Surprise! Aunt Tonia was a breakfast guest, too. She was wearing a purple headband, dangling earrings, lipstick, baby powder, a plain blouse, and a purple floral skirt. She personified poise, confidence, and childlike joy with her blissful smile .
I asked, “How old are you?”
She said with quiet pride, “Ninety-eight.”
“When’s your birthday?” I probed.
“May 4, 1913,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes.
“So you’re turning 99!” I exclaimed.
By the way, Aunt Tonia does not wear any hearing aid or eyeglasses. Amazing!
Letty and I had lunch with another pair of brother and sister-in-law, then we headed back to Manila. Again, we stopped by Sevilla’s in San Miguel, Bulacan to rest, to chat, and to buy pastillas de leche to take home.
It was almost eight in the evening when I got home in Cavite. I was dead tired but happy and grateful that Letty had asked me to chaperone her. Meeting Aunt Tonia was the best treat of it all. Would I live till 98? Then I’m pretty young at 60. I’m looking forward to meeting Aunt Tonia again at Letty’s 60th birthday celebration.
I’m going to ask Aunt Tonia about the loves of her life!