Rewinding the Dazzling Yesterday

Joana Maiko Acosta and Niel Anthony Calixterio

Life is a long railroad. It may have series of crossroads,

highroads; it may be rough or smooth, stormy or bright. Saint
Jerome Academy allowed us to take a ride with her and be with
her even in the darkest road. She led us into the realization where
dreams are worth believing. She admitted our imperfection and
immaturity; let us transform into better individuals. Four long
years filled with lots of laughter, struggles, trials, fears and tears,
were so remarkable and really made us of what we are now.
Indeed, Saint Jerome Academy rendered us the best ride of our
lives.

Freshmen Year: 2011-2011

The time when we entered the portal of this institution as
freshmen students was really remarkable. Our hearts were filled
with mixed emotions of excitement as well as hesitation and fear
of being one of the Jeromian Family. By the scent of new books
and notebooks, newly-bought bags and full-inked ball pens, we
can really feel the essence of first day. Ms. Gina Rentoy, who
became our guiding light that gave us shine in our first stage of
our high school life, imparted us knowledge about the true
essence of being a student. Joana Maiko Acosta, Klaery Dell

Lallen, Francis John Panerio, Ian Lapastora, Irvin Jay Pasadilla and
Niel Anthony Calixterio, who were classmates since our
Elementary years in this institution, humbly welcomed our
seventeen newbies namely: Christine Amor Pacheo, Lester
Acullador, Joenica Louise Ortizo, Millicent Mae Dangan, Christine
Joy Padillo, Kristine Joy Locayon, Angelou Laplana, Liela Grace
Quiro, Angel Grace Marieden Palmes, Jerwin Lago, Johfil Bernard
Lagdamen, Gretl Rae Pescuela, Ella Mariel Lamanero, Angelica
Grace Luna, Ma. Joriza Pamposa, Colleen May La-as, and Joelen
Porras. Somehow as we live day by day inside the four-cornered
classroom, we treated each other as true brothers and sisters.
The formation of groups inside the classroom started about
middle of the year. They are the group of Millicent, Lester, Amor,
Joriza, Ian, and Angel, called Patz, and the group of Joelen,
Klaery Dell, Ella, Liela, Colleen, Gretl and Joenica, also known as
Cutie Angels. In spite of this, all our classmates united as one as
we answered the questions about bible in the Bible Quiz during
the celebration of Bible Month. We were able to prove to other
year levels that we have our capacity to win in such contest for
we were awarded 1st Place.
November 25-29, SJA girl scouts namely Christine Amor,
Klaery Dell, Joriza, Millicent Mae, Fherlene Joy, Rhonalyn, Jayralie,
Aliza, Jedith and April joined in Girl Scout Encampment for the first
time. This camp really taught us the life of being independent. We
got wounded, mudded, and tired yet we learned how to be
responsible and quick to do the tasks that are obliged on us. We

made a big laughter when Joriza got lost in herself for she was
scolded by Ms. Hyacinth Lacerdo when Joriza accidentally stepped
on her head while she was sleep-walking early in the morning. We
also proudly brought home the awards such as Most Cooperative,
Most Disciplined, Best in Tent Lay-out, and Best in Fish-deboning.
The administration, faculty and staff headed by Sr. Ma. Modesta
Cachuela, OP, were really supportive and they really made us
hatch from our shells.

Sophomore Year: 2011-2-12

We now opened the door of Sophomore Year. We had our
new classmates namely Paul John Albino, Bien Raphael Estocada,
and Timothy Allen Langreo. Yes, we are not already the youngest
in high school and we can already be called manangs and
manongs by the younger year. It means, we have to be good
models and be inspiration to them. It was Mr. Samuel Fadriga, who
was our adviser. He discovered our hidden talents and improved
them more to the better. During our Literary-Musical Contest, folkdancers namely: Colleen May, Klaery Dell, Ella, Gretl Rae, Joana
Maiko, Irvin, Timothy, Niel Anthony, Bien Raphael and Ian topped
the folk-dance competition; modern dancers namely Niel Anthony,
Irvin Jay, Joana Maiko, Colleen May, Angelica, Joenica, Klaery Dell,
and Angelou awarded 2nd. We havent given such trophies without
Mr. Fadriga who is our adviser as well as trainer.

September 24, SJA had SAYAWITAN after 10 years. We were

able to show our talents in dancing and singing by the help of
Alumnus, Mr. JC Silva. Our sophomore year is not that full of
enjoyment because our batch was considered as flock of
Pasaway in our school. Paul John, who tends to fight back and
do unusual things, killed the patience of our adviser until Mr.
Fadriga got mad and threw the book that he was holding unto
Paul John, but unfortunately, it was Angelou who was hit by the
book instead of him.
Sophomore year really imparted us the thought of keeping
the humility despite the achievements we encountered. We often
didnt show our decorum and chose to do the things that would
disappoint our mentors and family, but those were just scratch
papers in the history of our lives that could be replaced a new
one. Not just new, but better one.

Junior Year: 2012-2013

We entered the life of Juniors. Yes, we are already called
Thomasians of this school. More excitement, more differences,
and more enjoyment were all we expected. And those were made
possible as we welcomed our new members of our family. They
are Ma. Karen Ina Agreda, Pauline Louise Duran, Kenken Salazar,
April San Sebastian, Ronel Tejada, Neil Benedict Manzano. We had
strange feeling at first but as the time flies, we were able to build
great camaraderie that made our Junior year a memorable one.

Our conduct, manners, and every move or action that we make,

were strictly observed by the shivering tiger-look of Mrs. Doris
Surmion, our adviser. We became aware of the things that might
disappoint her and other teachers in order to prevent hearing her
ground-breaking Disaster! that she said usually when she scold
us.
Juniors talents and abilities were really showed-off. Not only
the people inside our school witnessed the amazing things we
have, but also the people outside the campus. Millicent grabbed
1st place in Vocal-Solo Classical and Ella won 1 st in Vocal-Solo Pop
during the Literary-Musical Contest Municipal Level, and they
participated in congressional level. Joana Maiko Acosta bagged 1 st
Runner-up in Binibining Palaro 2012 Municipal Level, Niel Anthony
got gold medal as he awarded Champion in Photojournalism
during the Congressional Journalism Contest. We were very glad
seeing our school so proud of us and appreciated our every effort
that we made. We might had misunderstanding between the
groups of our classmates but still we made it to rebuild our
friendship through the help of Mrs. Mae Escriba, our guidance
counselor.
One of the prestigious events in our Junior life is JS prom. We
were all looked stunning and handsome as we move and dance
wearing our gorgeous gowns and nice tuxedos like Cinderella and
her prince charming. Liela was awarded Cinderella of the Night,
Ella was Dancer of the Night, Irvin and Karen were the Cutest
Couple and Timothy and Maiko, Prince and Princess of the Night.

All seem so magnificent that indeed gave delight to the dark

night, but the true essence was to receive and accept what
Seniors bestowed upon us.
Senior Year: 2013-2014
Now the Senior Year rolled in, the final stage of our high
school life, where we can already feel the intense pressure, higher
responsibilities, and greater challenges lay through our skin.
Being senior student isnt that easy. We have to meet the
expectations of teachers, sisters, as well as our family. Ms. Gina
Rentoy, who became our adviser often scold us because of our
laziness in doing the tasks and unawareness of the cleanliness of
our classroom and our area outside. We must act maturely, but
we found it difficult because we tend to act like kids, laugh out
loud, and play all the way just to have fun. The two unfamiliar
faces added more color as we begin our Senior year. They are Ma.
Teresa Lagalagot and Bernie Lancero.
Our friendship and strength were tested when we have
witnessed the Gimme-Gimme moves of Ella and Liela. It was our
first time when we saw tears travelled down our cheeks as we
encountered two of our classmates suffering from psychological
effect due to their depression. And in the other time, because of
the GMs (group messages) that contained words that caused
misunderstanding and war, some of our girls were almost given
violation forms by the prefect of discipline. Due to that incident,
the sending of GMs is prohibited. We asked apology to each

other and we promised never to do such things again. We also felt

the first steering of our hearts when we encountered infatuation.
It really created kilig among our classmates when Karen and
Irvin revealed that theyre already on since our Junior year and
when Teresa and Lesters status from single turned into in a
relationship.
September came, the busiest month of the year due to the
activities weve engaged in. Pauline was able to achieve 2 nd place
in Quiz Bee during the celebration of Dueas Tourism, and
Millicent Mae grabbed 2nd place in On-the-Spot Poem Reading
during the English Quest municipal level. SJA bands that
composed of four singers namely Millicent Mae, Klaery Dell, Liela,
and Shellee GZel; five instrumentalists namely Christine Amor,
Karen, Maiko, Lester and Timothy bagged 2nd place in first ever
Dueas Hymn Contest. During the Hablon Fashion Show, Christine
awarded Best Female Model. Without the supporting hands and
motivation of faculty and staff headed by Sr. Ma. Rodna Y.
Bardenas, OP, we wouldnt be able to reach all the triumph. We
might not make it to the top, at least we were able to show what
we have. For us, our talents and abilities to be witnessed and gain
confidence are all matter. November 30, we celebrated first ever
Book Day Celebration that was proposed by the Aquinas Best
Sellers Hive Program.
As we go on through the ride of our journey, we have already
started to choose what course we would take and what university
we would enroll in. We became busy compiling all the

requirements in taking entrance exams in universities and doing

assignments and projects of our school at the same time. Time
flies so fast that we, the Senior students batch 2014, will already
disperse and make our way on our own chosen paths. Despite the
series of responsibilities, challenges, and pressure that seem to
be paralyzing in our veins, it is over-whelming fulfillment each
time we complete something that all matter. All the remarkable
memories and unforgettable episodes that we made, sweet or
bitter, will all be cherished, and in our hearts, they will always
stay. It would sadden us to think that in the fact that we will truly
miss the mentors, schoolmates, and every corner of SJA where we
left remnants of happiness, for they filled the big part of our lives.
As we continue our lives out of our Alma Mater, we may be
involved in the greater society. But in our hearts, thoughts, and
deeds, the Jeromian spirit will always remain. We will continue to
inspire and create difference in Jeromian way.