In High School - I was one of Three Kings.

July 22, 2025

I have many great memories of high school, it is a favorite chapter of my student years. It was a more nonchalant, like a whirlwind of emotions and experiences. My first crush, - a girl and a boy, the first experience of anxiety, the butterflies in my stomach, the beautiful emotion when you see the person you are infatuated with.

High school to me was indeed a mix of excitement, and self-discovery, not to mention a lot of awkwardness.

I felt that I thrive well in high school, in fact I only completed high school in three years. I bypass the 3rd year due to my age as a result of a challenging childhood experience in general and being late for high school in particular due to the many fighting happening to my parents which resulted to my erratic life as a student in elementary level. This story is for another time.

High school have so many memories, like winning in an art competition. Little did I know that upon writing this very piece - this blog - that it became a eureka moment. I now can say that perhaps my trajectory of becoming a painter around 2001 - 2002 in London, United Kingdom have its connection to this 2nd price winning in an art competition.

High school was like an adult play without the responsibility, coz I remember feeling scared entering college as I transition to adulthood. It was a very scary moment in time of cutting that cord between high school carefree existence to college responsibilities.

High school is definitely a very memorable time in my life and Chirsmases will remain as my ever favorite time of the year.

In the photo above, I am 2nd from the right, kneeling - basically behind my classmate who played Joseph. I remember that many of us cannot afford a proper Kingly attire so we end up using our parents pajamas and bathrobes, an oversized pajamas or bathrobes - ha ha - but such is the beauty of not having the money to spend, you become creative.

I was chosen as one of Three Kings for a Nativity Scene during a Christmas program with the whole school as our audience. Our stage was just an elevated flatform made of concrete, probably about 4 feet tall and is outside the School Principal's office. It was an open air stage, no roof with a flagpole in the front. I still remember the chill in the air during that Nativity presentation which reminds you that Christmas is indeed just around the corner.

This was at my high school alma matter Muntinlupa Municipal High School which was initially located in Soldier's Hills Village. It is now a different school with the Soldier's Hills Village Church. However the Church was not even there yet at the time. It was an open field. The school classroom were just simple hollow blocks with metallic roof and a wooden windows called jalousie.

The school building looks like a barracks, I guess it probably was a barracks before as it is located in a village built for soldiers.

I was somehow fascinated by that window system - the jalousie. I thought it sounded like a music. I guess the jalousie system is like that of a music, I guess the tilting open and shutting in unison makes up a musical notes, and the sound of a dusty frame when you crank it open or close was indeed a music to my ear.

Eventually, the school was moved to another location and is renamed Pedro Diaz High School.

How can I forget the ginataan and other kakanin sold by the Lamasan? They were the best.

Here below is a lyric for a song or rather a poem which I wrote to commemorate this moment in time and the feelings and thoughts of being in high school.

Hope you like it. I guess am gonna title this "Three Kings of Christmas".

Verse 1 - Hope

My first day in high school, I remember it well.

A little and a lotta nervous, is how I fell.

Then I found out, I was not alone after all in my fears.

Friendship began, in those high school halls, the bells and the balls.

Verse 2 - Virtue

One of many memories, being chosen one of Three Kings.

Finding courage in my nervous banishing tears of fears.

In every twists and turns and as I faced the storms.

Spirits rising with strength and grace as I've chased my goals.

Chorus - Faith