Celebs recall embarrassing moments in school

IT’S THE first of June tomorrow, signaling back-to-school days. Everyone has a funny story to tell about school jitters. In the course of our campus adventures, we learned more about ourselves.

When I was studying in Alliance Francaise Paris to supplement my AB Linguistics course in UP Diliman, I got so nervous to go to class alone when my cousin Kara was sick. So I skipped class and roamed the streets of Paris instead.

Famous as they are now, celebs had their own moments in school when they felt inadequate. It only goes to show that every expert was once a beginner. Looking back at our school days always makes us want to travel back in time. May your campus memories inspire you to do your “homework” so you can graduate from one stage of life to another with flying colors.

Sam Pinto: “When I was in first year high school, I wasn’t aware that I was a pretty girl. Whenever I walked around the campus, people tended to look at me. It made me so conscious. I kept asking myself why they were all staring at me. It felt like I had dirt on my face or something.”

Jim Paredes: “In early grade school, I was always anxious the night before. I made sure I had the right pencils, ball pen, different sized sheets of paper, eraser, ruler, notebooks, textbooks, etc. I would often dream that I forgot something. But the moment I saw my old classmates still in the same section I was in, I felt better.

I always had a hard time shaking off vacation mode on the first week of class. The teacher would often catch me daydreaming or not listening. I probably had that blank stare when my name would be called. I compensated by smiling.”

Aiko Melendez: “On my first day of school I brought all my stuff, even my PE uniform so you can just imagine how heavy my bag was. Only to find out that the day would be spent on orientation.”

Maricel Laxa-pangilinan: “My first day in 10th grade at Pacific Palisades High School in California was nerve-wracking. I tried to be as Kana as I could, but felt so uneasy not being myself. Since it was the 1980s and Pinoys were revered because of Edsa People Power, I realized the best thing to do was to be myself as a proud Pinay. During roll call, my classmates laughed when they heard my last name, Laxa. I remained calm and snapped at them, “What’s the problem? Laxa as in Laxative because my Dad invented it.” They stared at me and gasped, “Man she’s rich.” I said, “That’s right.” From then on I gained their respect.”

Suzi Entrata-Abrera: “In college I felt like I wouldn’t be able to memorize all the names of the buildings in the Ateneo campus. But then I got so comfortable that I fell asleep sitting on the steps while resting my head on a post.”

Jed Madela: “My first day in high school was the worst. Being in a new environment with no friends at all was difficult. It even came to a point that I asked my mom to talk to the principal to withdraw my enrollment. I was constantly bullied by my classmates, but eventually they got tired and we became a barkada.”

Sam YG: “I had a lot of adjustments to do because I was an Indian studying in a Filipino school. I looked like a little lost boy during my first days in college because I didn’t know where the classrooms where.”

‘Frozen fashion show’

Candie’s, the pop culture brand from the USA, joined Philippine Fashion Week 2011 in a first-ever conceptual frozen fashion show at the SM Mall of Asia. The brand’s fun and playful energy was translated into an exciting display of feminine confections glazed by frosted air—literally.

Style bloggers Camille Co (itscamilleco.com), Kryz Uy (thirstythought.wordpress.com), Laureen Uy (breakmystyle.com) and Lissa Kahayon (chictopia.com/lissakahayon) made runway fashion their own as they reinterpreted the brand.

Maxene Magalona, Elmo Magalona and PBB Teen Clash of 2010 alums Ann Li, Fretzie Bercede, Tricia Santos, Bret Jackson, Ivan Dorschner and James Reid also joined the fun.

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