Celebs on their best high school years

MARCH is a time when school graduates come marching in. Since it’s graduation season, I asked celebs about their fondest high school memories and what kind of students they were.

My fondest high school recollection was my JS prom where my escort was Albert Martinez. His brother William was my boyfriend back then, but since he had a shoot in Brazil, he told me that I cannot attend the prom if my escort won’t be Albert.

To this day, Albert, William and I smile when we remember that happy time. My HS yearbook description goes: “A girl who parties even on weekdays and yet usually receives the highest marks in class.” How kind of my classmates to say that.

We may no longer relive our HS days, but at least we can recapture the memories. Wish we never had to say, “Bye, High School!”

MARTIN NIEVERA: “I was a ‘trying hard’ jock that out of 13 players needed for the basketball team, I was the 14th member chosen—to be the announcer. I was very shy with the girls and only had my first GF in my junior year. My fondest memory was being discovered as a singer in the shower after a game. The choirmaster was also the wrestling coach who happened to be in the locker room while I was belting out “Feelings” in the shower. I was asked to join the choir the next day and became their soloist.”

MIRIAM QUIAMBAO: “I was a diligent and quiet student. I loved performing as a dramatics club member to help boost my confidence. Being tall and morena, I usually play guy roles. I remember a girl used to slip love cards into my locker. I had to tell her that we can stay as friends because I’m into guys myself.”

ALBERT MARTINEZ:  “Times when we prepare for school programs. The excitement and fun are etched in my mind. I was a combination of a geek and a campus crush.”

LANI MERCADO: “How I combined work with studies. Looking back, this was good training for me. Nothing beats our JS prom and the time I rode the jeep home with my barkada.”

JENNYLYN MERCADO: “I was a quiet student but active in the glee club. I was also a member of the table tennis varsity team. Medyo boyish ako nun kaya wala makalapit sa akin. I wasn’t very friendly.”

PRECIOUS LARA QUIGAMAN: “I was a pretty active student: Class president for two years, school council VP for social affairs, member of the theater club and the only female squad commander in ACP. The most memorable time was the initiation of the officers in my third year where we had to undergo many challenges like crawling all around campus blindfolded to get square meals.”

DINGDONG AVANZADO: “Unforgettable time was when I joined Kundirana in third year. I was into different sports, became a member of the basketball team, but ended up as a singer in the most celebrated group of La Salle Green Hills.”

BO CERRUDO: “I treasure my days as an artist in UST HS. I would draw robots, planes and my teachers when I got bored with the lectures. I was a big Metro Pop fan. TV Times and song hits were my reading staples.”

ROBERT SEÑA: “Our Boy Scout activities stand out in my memory. High school was our shining moment. I remember how I enjoyed band jams at my classmate’s house. The girls liked me more than the boys did.”

RACHEL ALEJANDRO: “I was a bit of a nerd so I got good grades. I was one of the boys, not the one they would court. I would always have a crush on some guy who would ignore me. The torment of unrequited love haunted me all my high school life.”

MR. FU: “I was one of the boys in an exclusive boys school. Even if they could already sense my gayness, they didn’t bully me. I got so much respect as student council president. Takot lang nila sa akin! ’Di ko sila pakokopyahin ng assignment. May ganun?”

ARNELL IGNACIO: “I pretended to have fainted in class as a favor to my classmates who wanted to piss off the teacher. Funny thing is I shouted, ‘Hinimatay ako!’ At bagsak ako sa Conduct parati!”

JED MADELA: “I was an ‘invisible’ student because my presence was insignificant. I miss eating isaw when whenever we hung out at the football field.”

CHRISTIAN BAUTISTA: “I was a mixture of a geek who plays basketball and football yet sings to the girls in campus during Valentine’s Day. My fondest moment was when the student council commissioned me and my friends to be singing telegrams. We had a free day and we sang to the most beautiful girls in high school.”

VERNI VARGA: “I joined a declamation contest, the volleyball team and the dance troupe. We would join competitions and represent our school. Singing was never my top priority till my classmates told me, ‘Verni, stop dancing!’”

AGOT ISIDRO: “I remember hanging out with my high school barkada in the neighborhood sari-sari store. We would have soft drinks and chips while spotting cute guys from the neighboring boys’ school. I was just a regular student but I was president of the glee club during my senior year.”

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