Sputing!:
Balik Tanaw Kasama ang
UP Prep ‘72 Golden Jubilarians
by Imee Sioco and Dianne Dela Cruz Tagle
photos from Felino Ung Shang and fellow UP Prep '72 batchmates, and The Prepian '72 yearbook
Oh, the good old ‘70s in the Philippines. Bell bottoms were hip, blue and heart-decked Love Buses plied the metropolis, and “jeproks,” “astig” and “japorms” were the slang of the youth.
This period was also a tumultuous time in Philippine history and to come of age as an iskolar ng bayan is surely an experience rich in anecdotes.
Let’s take a glimpse of how it was through the eyes of the Golden Jubilarians, the UP Prep ‘72. Representing them are Salome “Mimi” Tupaz-Caganap, Ronald “Ned” Goseco, Maria Flor Luz “Loree” Katalbas Garcia-Ung and Jose “Pong” Ejercito.
Ned Goseco
Mimi Tupaz-Caganap
Pong Ejercito
Loree Katalbas Garcia-Ung
Describe the times during your UP Prep days. What were some of the key historical events, or popular things in pop culture?
Mimi: The "quarter storm." Student activism on the rise. Bombing of Plaza Miranda. Rallies at Plaza Miranda, Mendiola, Diliman. Con-Con. Star Trek on TV. Dionne Warwick on the radio at 3 PM during Mrs. Hipol's class (or was it Mrs. Tintero's?). Robert Redford was the heartthrob.
Ned: Diliman Commune and subsequent boycotts , rallies in Lawton Manila.
Loree: Student activism where we even joined student rallies at Mendiola Bridge or Plaza Miranda in Quiapo on our own, Ali-Frazier fights, becoming street smart exploring Padre Faura environs, forging life-long friendships.
Pong: Apollo landing, Presidential election 1969, Ali-Frazier fight 1, Constitutional Convention, Plaza Miranda bombing Suspension of writ of habeas corpus, First Quarter Storm
How much were the Ikot jeepney fare and fishballs?
While most of their time was spent in Padre Faura, Loree shared that the UP Ikot fare was five centavos and was free for kids under six years old.
Who is the teacher that stands out to you and why?
Prof. Flora G. Cruz was a favorite of our Prepian respondents because of her unlimited patience in teaching algebra and her ability to teach life lessons more than math. Mimi shared that their teacher, Ms. Cruz, started the 2nd year Rosal diary and that she got the rowdy boys to behave.
Other teachers that made a mark on their lives, as shared by Loree, were: “Mrs. Evangelista who taught American history with humor and a glint in her eye; Mrs. Tintero who taught poetry by the beat tum ta ta, ta ta tum; Mrs. Esguerra who loved my literary work; Mrs. Rabago who taught with such passion and compassion; Mrs. Lukban who taught us social graces; and Ms. Belleza who loved science and music in equal measure.”
Pong added that Mrs. Lilia Rabago, who taught Biology, delivered the key points to learn in such a memorable way.
Ms. Roma was also mentioned as someone whom you would not hear anything negative about from anybody.
UP Prep ‘72 with Prof. Flora Cruz
Share a fun memory from your UP Prep days.
Our Prepian respondents could definitely not forget their out-of-town and bus-breaking experiences back in high school. Mimi recalled their field trip to a drug rehab center in Tagaytay. She remembered sleeping overnight on a bench at a resort as their bus would not start and needed to be repaired. And since they could not get home, the class organized a party instead.
Such trips were most eventful, according to Loree, especially when some of her classmates didn't want the fun to end. They eventually “extended the trips in creative ways for good measure.”
What was your favorite spot in the UP Prep grounds and why?
Mimi: Favorite spot - the Pillars - we all hung out there, shared our life's stories, our triumphs and struggles of the day; talked about people and events; solved world problems; mostly just gazing or making eyes at our past and current crushes.
Ned: The Little Theater. Different talents were discovered
Loree: The Ladies Room that had a small anteroom where secrets like a misplaced diary were shared. Also, the Library where the Librarian Ms. Rosa Ronquillo would call us "katikatera" and then shoo us out.
Pong: Convocation hall. That was where important performances and assemblies were made. And the basketball court.
What were the popular songs back then?
5th Dimension songs such as One Less Bell to Answer and Aquarius, were our respondents’ top popular songs.
Other hits during their time were Light my Fire (The Doors), Samba Pa ti (Santana), Distant Shores (Chad & Jeremy), Bridge over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel), Imagine (Beatles), and Close to You (The Carpenters).
Who was the most popular batch couple?
Arnold & Sonia and Cris & Leesa were among the common responses from our Prepians. Others that made the popular couple list are Loy & Ned, Hec & Len, Lito & Liza, and Rene & Eloisa.
What was the most popular sport in your time?
Basketball was definitely the most popular back then.
What was the most active or most popular student organization?
Both the Student Council and Student Theater were considered by our Prepian respondents as the most active and popular organizations.
What advice (or warning) would your future self tell your high school self?
Focus and having fun seemed to be the common theme of the responses of our Jubilarians.
Mimi: FOCUS! Studies first before lakwatsa. Set your own priorities - don't just go with the flow.
Ned: Aim High!
Loree: Go ahead and have fun.
Pong: You can be better in subjects you are weak in through greater focus.
Did you have any school fairs?
There wasn’t much recollection of a high school fair. But Mimi mentioned one at the grounds of the Nurses’ Home and recalled that it was fun and that she even played tricks on some people.
Loree said she attended one of the UP High School fairs where her older siblings were studying.
What do you remember about your Junior-Senior Prom?
Pong doesn’t remember who the prom king & queen were, or if they were chosen at all, but he recalls participating in the cotillon. He said they were taught the proper way of eating and he even had a suit made. He didn't have a date that he invited but was matched with someone from the senior year.
Meanwhile, Mimi recalled it well, saying, Leesa Agulto-Reyes was their Lakambini. Nanette was Filipinas. Beth Pastrana was Alma Mater. The boys were props - escorts and admirers.
Loree also shared that the girls in their class shared one whole bale of chiffon cloth for their prom gowns but hers came out awful so she re-fashioned it into her graduation dress the next year. She added that it was fun looking at the gowns of others.
