Aljin Who? (School is cool part 1)

<in a loud, monotonous, slow-syllabicating elementary student sound> "Goooood Daaaaaay! I aaam Aljin Espiritu Nepomuceno. <breathe in> 21 years old. <breathe in> I live in Silang. <breathe in> I am the eldest son of Alexander and Judy <breathe in> I love to play the pianoooo and I do love cats. Tenkyu!"

First day of school vibe.

I hate recalling how our past teachers would force us to introduce ourselves in front knowing that all in our class has been classmates since we were like just 3 feet tall. De javu as I may seem but every year, it has been the scenario during the first weeks of June. Of course with matching giant cardboard that turned to an instant name tag.

I had my Primary at Fr. Michael Donoher Memorial School, (now FMDMS Inc.), a parochial school in the town of Silang. I've spent almost a decade there reading books, copying lectures on our green dusty chalk board, pooping in my pants (yup, I gotta say that), eating crayon shavings (yup, that too), clean the rooms every afternoon, feeling lit as the class president, joining various varsity teams, writing articles for the school publication and a million more wonderfully crazy years of my life. The most innocent years of a happy-go-lucky Aljin.

Then came a moment of life where we add letters to numbers. Yes, Algebra came. And yes, high school dawned. The school were I attended secondary was the melting pot of many elementary schools in our town- Infant Jesus Academy of Silang Inc. I was shocked actually. Not only because we no longer use the giant name tags but because I now live with new faces with new environment. Ain't easy, man. But I thrived. I became more engaged to Science that lead me to my current profession; became a choir member <wink>, a company commander <another wink> and the best, the academy made me a saint. Kidding! Our school really valued simplicity to the point that when i turned college, my block mates share stories on how extravagant their Proms were and I was just at the nook nodding and sharing how often we do Eucharistic Celebrations a year, how often we attend recollections and all. But at least, we are nice people. And that's what matters the most 'di ba? <now singing IJA Song with great valor and integrity> But no joke, I'll forever be a proud IJAn.

P.S. My whole family (both sides) were alumni of IJA, so I guess that says it all

... to be continued ...