Memories of a Judenite by Cheryl Chan

So, as promised to fellow SJCS alumni, Francis, below are some of the things that I remember about being in SJCS, in no particular order.

• Father Chu's eccentric enforcement of the boy's haircut: it was either get a haircut after the first warning at your own barber or have it a la Father Chu's style "hardly there bangs". Crew cuts were the standard or the "Chinese bowl cut" else no sideburns, no long bangs like the ones from F4 (it was the "in" thing to have it done at that time).
• Teacher nail length inspections before entering the classrooms: the nice thing about this is that it's for good hygene. We would have our handkerchiefs over the four fingers and be checked/commented on by our respective advisors about its acceptable/unacceptable length and having a handkerchief. Here's the clincher - sometimes the teather forgot to check both hands' thumbs where a lot would let those nails grow long...it was the cool thing to do at that time. But then again, the teachers got wiser later on since they require us to flip over and show her both thumbs aside from our fingers. If you have been caught more times for not maintaining your nail length, handkerchief, etc - you could be required to stand outside of the classroom...basically our version of the "walk of shame".
• Ms. Salta's doubt that I did my homework on my own: in kindergarden, I was in the morning session. Ms. Salta was my classroom advisor. Penmanship is a very important lesson at that time, and you have to agree, SJCS does take handwriting to another level at times. I submitted a script writing assignment, which she doubt that I did the homework exercise on my exercise book in class. She made me stay after class and miss the school bus because of it. When the maid who was to meet me at the bus stop saw that I wasn't on it and learned that I was retained after class, my mom had to go to school to see what's wrong. (Not sure if my brother told my mom about it or something...) Get this, she was so fuming mad with whatever. When she found me and confronted Ms. Salta, they had a bit if slugging of words, as what I could remember. They made me go a test writing. I remember it was fairly close to the example in the book...I think Ms. Salta claims that I traced the assignment down to the curves and that I didn't not do it. (Fair enough that she would think that because I think there were some assignments in the past that I wasn't able to do but I distinctly remember that I did that particular assignment.) My actual handwriting had a bit of slant that was not on the exercise book but good enough to get me off the hook of tracing and not doing the work on my own. That was one weird experience.
• High school Chinese History combined with two or three classrooms...it was hilarious and cool but I definitely love that Li Shi class for what it's worth. "Daga" and "Kabayo" (sorry - can't remember their Chinese names anymore) were really good at what they do in all fairness. I enjoy their story telling a lot. Their exams are fair...just never liked the pop quizzes we had.
• Grade 6, Wu Lao Shi - making sure we contribute a lot for the SVD Missionary Charity Cause. The class that contributes the most, gets to win a free trip to Puerto Azul (at that time, it was the best)...all expenses paid, of course. She wanted her vacation, we were eager to go on one. :P Those brown evelopes were really deadly with you having to write your amount every day upon submission.
• Saturday Mass: when you are part of the program or even our weekly Saturday mass. It was really a good excuse to be part of the religious organization since you get to leave a bit earlier than everyone else. Everyone wanted to be part of JCE (Judenites Choral Ensemble), CLC, etc. These orgs had the smartest, most popular, etc members...kind of like the "elite crowd". It was cool enough to know the guy/gal who directs the people during communion...or even having their hand on your shoulder during when in the communion line.Another one is when the priest would raise the wine/bread chalice (during Consecration) for all to see and normally we would look at it as a sign of respect and bow our heads when it is brought back down...but there would be the weirdo ones (including me at times...just for sheer mischievousness), who would do the other way around - look down when the wine/bread chalice is up and look up when the priest has set down those items on the table. I guess I'm still snickering as I remember this. :P
• Mr. Gelido's classes were great...I think I got it well since I was excused from coming-in on Thursdays. Mr. Gelido's very strict but very supportive at the same time. I was always known in school through my brother, who paved the way for Thursday exemptions - to be replaced by golf training instead. My brother was one of my biggest fan...building me up in front of Mr. Gelido.
• One cool thing I can remember about SJSC was you were treated a celebrity for the day if you came in with make-up or dolled-up for a particular program. You didn't have to say anything, people will just know and find you so "in" and important. :P You were part of the program in school...enough said.
• The dreaded "Conduct C" and standing at the steel bridge for all the school to see...those are the extreme punishments.
• Father Yang's jolly face...he was always the smiling one. It's wonderful to see it on a really bad day in school...during programs.
• Line-up to use the phone at the Administration's Office...because one has forgotten something from home or they need to be picked up from school due to school cancellations or illness.
• Hot beef/chicken noodles or spaghetti at the school canteen. I was one of the lucky ones that runs by tabs since my mom deposited some money with them and I can basically get anything from them and they just deducted the amount from the deposit. I love their fried chicken with banana ketchup.
• Teacher's Day Flowers and Gifts...it's one big flower fest. One would feel really guilty for not having anything for one's teacher. Teachers are the pure celebrities during these times. Another crazy gift giving day was Christmas but that includes other good pals.
  Writing long notes and passing them to classmates/friends in the same or even another class became the style too. I realized how much writing I did and how creative we would fold our papers from rumaging old letters that I've kept all this time.
• Waiting outside of the teacher's office to wait for your teacher to come back from lunch...it's was the only airconditioned place in the whole school at that time, aside from the principal's and administration's office. No, our classrooms were cooled from the two stratigically placed electric fans.