’16 Strong Pearls with a Heart of Plaid”

It’s been weeks since the 2024 velada, and our chat group is still buzzing with banter and separation anxiety. We haven’t shaken off our velada fever and yet looking forward to a holiday reunion very soon.

Our High School 1994 batch is quite a unique lot. It has always been challenging to rally our batch to either participate in various activities or events for different reasons. Celebrating as Pearl gems in this year’s velada is no exception. Sixteen brave Pearls, led by our beloved “Mother” Maribeth Bichara and Reigh Sy, stepped up with just two months’ preparation.

Despite being the smallest batch in this velada, our commitment shone bright. Some traveled from afar, including a US-based balikbayan and a batchmate who rushed from a Boracay getaway. Carla Fragante’s crafting talents added a wow factor to our costumes.

For us, being Pearls feels similar to being Silvers – we still feel young and enthusiastic. This Velada was our second, and we didn’t want to miss this beautiful tradition. We wanted to reconnect, have fun, and perform with our high school friends.

Our bi-weekly practices were filled with laughter, camaraderie, and support. Even if dancing isn’t the strongest suit for most of us, we encouraged each other to improve. Potluck sessions during rehearsals provided comic relief, despite Mother Maribeth’s warnings about carb-loaded menus that weighed us down with our pacey high impact dance, by our standards!

During the three-day Velada, we summoned courage and focus, delivering a powerful performance. We’re grateful for our mentors, batch execom (Margarita Kwok, Cielo del Rosario, Carla Fragante, Tracey Penson, and Jayjay Serra), and each other.

The Assumption velada, more than just a celebration of colorful performances of all the gems, was an opportunity to show our love for our Alma Mater, to give back to the community, to reflect and aspire to grow with grace and wisdom, to flex our talents and capabilities in a rare occasion to our loved ones, and ultimately reconnect with our fellow batchmates once again.

We’re driven by our hearts, not numbers. We’ll come home again in five years with a Heart of Plaid.

Best regards,
Margarita C. Kwok