Footnotes

The main theme for the UP High School Grand Alumni Homecoming is “TUNOB,” as inspired by Batch 1975’s Nakatunobers, in which the “nakatunob” idea came about in order to include batchmates who did not graduate with the batch. Since it gears to celebrating as UP turns 100, and renewal of old ties and forging new ones; a souvenir program staff was created to document pictures and text. We thought it wouldn't hurt but, boy, were we wrong.

Three cups of frap later, the staff was on their twinkle toes tracking down alumni footsteps which have left—or are still leaving—a significant trail, whether in the local scene or in the global arena. Through concerted efforts and inequitable division of labor, the editorial team does a fancy footwork personifying the theme, “Ang Tunob sa Kagahapon, Giya sa Kaugmaon,” and gets away with it: Julius Marco Albeza (managing editor and sports buff), May Christina Bugash (editorial director and E-heads groupie), Jimvic Dy (creative editor and travel bug), yours truly (style editor and life-of-the-party), and Kareen Tariman (research editor and pastry aficionado). It was only the creative juice that sustained us through the ungodly hours.

The mind archives an anthology of reminiscences. Spiteful, memory gaps can happen and the magazine we made will be our map, or rather, our lifeline to the friends, staff, and teachers we’ve loved, lost, or built liaisons with. For the communally-challenged, the glossy pages will teach one how to be a social butterfly and outlast that gauche 5-minute conversation with a former teacher who flunked a student in his or her least favorite subject; or muster the audacity for a tete-a-tete and figuratively play footsies with an alumni whom one surreptitiously idolizes.

As we crammed pictures and text over a hundred pages (we’re celebrating the centennial after all!), we excruciatingly learned the knack of compromise and stepped up: how does one divide the cake to make everyone believe that they have the largest portion? Should we devote the entire page to a sponsor batch? Would bold art graphics and layout amuse the older batches or bore them stiff? We kept musing to the dismay of everyone!

Having pieced together a montage of UP traditions, activities, revels, factoids, and messages in glossy pages reminded us that it's not easy afterall to run a magazine in the first place. I have taken the word "deadline" for granted and I've learned my lesson well when it bit me in my hinny. I salute all the journalists, bloggers, columnists, editors, and layout artists who have kept the print media pulsing. No wonder the ed-in-chief from the movie, Devil Wear Prada was uptight.

Unbridled and undying, a UPian’s vigor and dynamism co-existing with time-honored values and innovative action plans to give back to society are beyond comparison and words. It is in this souvenir program that we hope have captured it all. And so the fight goes on…