To those SMA alumni who graduated in 2008 and earlier and had never got the chance to visit the school lately, "OUR SCHOOL" is now OLD SCHOOL.
Probably only a few number of 'OLD SMA' students paid notice to this side of the school. Everybody is aware though, that this served as the "facade" of the building they used to consider the St. Mary's Academy until it transfered to a nearby site.
I used to fall in line here (
atubangan jud kay putot man) during Morning Prayers and flag retreat when I was First Year high school. This is located at the back of the Church sacristy. Probably that used to be a canteen.
This is the remains of the convent that was burned down by fire in March 26 last year (2008). This is the very location of
First Year-DAHLIA, my section.
First Year - DAHLIA, and farther was
First Year - SAMPAGUITA
This used to be
Second Year - ROSE on the second floor, my Section. Next room (
ground floor) was CDA (Cadena de Amor). Today, it serves as residence of the Parish Priest and the Parish office.
On the ground floor were the three (3) Sections of the Third Year. Leftmost used to be my
Section JASMINE. The second floor used to be the three (3) Sections of the Fourth Year.
That leftmost on the second floor was room
IV- YLANG-YLANG, my Section.
The same room viewed from Eternidad Street.
Farther view.
The second floor used to be the RVM Sisters' quarters. The room upon entrance was the receiving room where
ROLDAN RONDERO and I used to work on stuffs for decorations - supervised by the very active, ever-smiling and BEAUTIFUL
SR. LILIA MALIMIT, RVM.
The only wall that differs in color used to be the school's main entrance. It is now closed.
A closer look of the receiving room and...the wall where the school gate was.
This used to be the area where the 2nd year, 3rd year and 4th year lined up for the Flag ceremony and retreat. See the wall that closes the entrance gate?
A closer look seems to tell that it is closed just recently, judging by the color of the hollow blocks.
The space surrounded by bamboo sticks in the center used to be the fish pond, where frogs too,abound!
JESSE GLENN TUMUSOK and I played the bugle almost regularly every flag retreat in the afternoon. The brown door is the only living testament to the former school library.
The old SMA main building that housed three rooms for the 3rd year and three rooms for the 4th year students on the second floor. In front is the school ground for the Morning prayers and short programs that were held.
The stairs leading to the 4th year rooms on the second floor.
The stairs and the second floor viewed from Rizal street.
A closer view.
The UNFORGETTABLE OLD ST. MARY'S ACADEMY!
