Pabunot for 2 Pesos

          It's that time of the year again when SJA gives back to its students by way of the now-annual mini-fair. A reprieve from the daily stresses of grade school and high school life (oh my high school, feeling sorry kay saya!). A time when former teachers, veteran teachers-institutions, and neophyte teachers collide. A time when alumni of the distant past and not-so-distant past returns to reminisce and have that "oh-so-Jamer" feeling once again.

      This year however was different, at least for some. My youngest brother, a senior, thought of this as his final time to celebrate the Mini-Fair as a student of St. James Academy. In less than 3 months, he'll be walking down the aisle to get his high school diploma, finally ending his tenure in the school as he graduates.
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      For me, this was the second time I went to the Mini-Fair as an alumnus of the school. Whenever I go there, I would always see the same set of people I've so used to see when I was still a student. My old teachers (albeit the fact that one-by-one they're all leaving), my friends from the younger years (albeit the fact that year-by-year they graduate), and my old hangout places (albeit the fact that as time passes by, old structures are replaced by newer once, like the old big tree and the old playhouse of the kindergarten students near the Gate 3).

      Last Thursday, I already have a gut feeling that certain people that I know are coming to the fair so I decided that I should go there as well. Once there, I saw Jeco (sporting Vic Zhou-like hair), Mark (still tall), Ria (sporting diva-esque long straight hair), Dianne N. (budding architect-in-the-making), the "twins" Anna Ruth and Criezl a.k.a. Paloma, Ali who came all the way from CSB as proven by his required observance of the SHRIM dress code, and Eswhy/Ellysa (had her hair coloured). Also there was a seemingly slimmer Mr. Rivera, and a "glowing" Mr. Macam. Meanwhile Mr. Robino is still the "secluded aktibista-like self" that he is while overseeing the general populace from the faculty room, among others.

      Booths present were the "buttons" booth, the "pabunot" booth, the countless food-and-drinks booths, the fun-and-games booth, the notorious Hulidap booth, and the popular message/dedication booth a.k.a. 103.9 DSJA-FM/ 103.9 SJA Radio with Mr. Louie Odulio as its station manager. Rides incllude the box carousel, the "couples" carousel, and the dinosaur ride.

     That day, I was able to take a whopping 380+ pics (including the not-so good ones) using my Digital San Lorenzo Ruiz/Single Lens Reflex camera. As usual, I'm not present in any of the pcs taken by me but fortunately, Jeco took several pics of me candidly and recent had them posted on Multiply.

      The next day, the last day (a Friday which is today hehehe), I did not intend on coming back to the fair but Louie (Mary Louise not Elka) texted me if I'm going. I was to reply her back, saying about my intention not to come but unfortunately I ran out of cellphone load. That same day, I was to go to Quiapo to have my negatives made into contact prints for my Fotogra. While there, it was then I thought that I should come to the fair in case my cousin decided to come there as well (her class in EAC ends in the afternoon).

      It was only when I was in Bayan have I been successful on loading my phone to text Louie and tell her I'm going. Inside, a lot more alumni from not only my batch but also from batch 08 and those below Batch 07 were present.

      Among from my batch who came today were Mark (again), Paolo Catalo, Dharyl (Patama ng pangalan please), Elka, Bebe (her birthday is today), Sandhee, Ace, rock vixen Yssa, Kriel, Renz, Gabo, Cyrene, Martin (whom I almost didn't recoginze due to him not wearing glasses and sporting emo-like hair) and Piton.
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Off-campus, I chanced on seeing Tope near Araneta Square who was also on his to SJA, fresh from his last class in UST. Last Thursday A non-Jamer but former fellow ka-Taekwondo, Jaydee (HS grad of Notre Dame of Greater Manila and now attending FEU) saw me while waiting for a jeepney ride en route to Valenzuela/Caloocan in Concepcion. I didn't recognize his face at first but when I took a good look at him, I realized that it was him. Meanwhile, a week ago (a Saturday), I saw Batch 08 member Paolo Gozon who was on his way home I'm guessing. He's wearing a Letran uniform so I assume that he came from school. He was present at Friday's final hoorah for the Mini-Fair.

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I'm looking forward for next year's Mini-Fair. And hopefully, by that time, there's still going to be one.