Class Prophecy
By Justine Lloyd V. Bautista
Krriinggg….Krrriiinnng….Krrriinnngg…
Oh! I
really hate that sound. I hurriedly snoozed the alarm clock and went back to
bed again. I would like to commend all physicists that the place on earth where
gravitational pull is strongest is on bed. I wanted to nap a little more yet it
was a call of duty. Also, I’m excited to return back home in our country, after
earning a living here in London.
If you
are thinking what I am doing in this place, I just happen to co-find a company
and established its headquarters here with worldwide branches. Together with Miriam Nieva, we decided to officially
institute the iCon Telecommunications after graduating as Electronics and
Communications Engineers. After the fall of IBM and Apple, the Microsoft
Corporation, headed by Allen Arvin
Binuya and Ronald Anastacio,
reigned over the world of computers, distributing software around the globe.
Together, we passed the British Board of Engineering following our graduation
at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Consequently, we’re neighbor
with Edselneil Dela Cruz and Paulo Delos Reyes, currently owners of
a French theme restaurant, Lé Grandé Bouffe du Amour. Nearby, is a 5-star hotel
started by Cheyne Irish Mercado and Kledd Chesley Maquiling. The Lé
Vengeance du Poussoir’s cuisines are prepared by the finest chefs headed by Genesis Angeles whose cooking surely
will entice your hearts and drown you into a delightful taste.
I
dressed up for this day, packed my baggage and rode a cab en route to my
appointment. By the way, today, I was cordially invited by the cruise ship
owner, Mr. Yousef Dimaano. The S.S.
Pearl of the Orient surmounts the Titanic in size and in glamour. Staring at
the sidewalk, I noticed a poster right at the Crestfall Station. “Cold Beat
Live in London”, says the poster. If you’re going to ask what that Cold Beat is
about, Cold Beat is just the Most Requested Band of 2027 and bagging 7
international awards for Best Group Performance by a Band. By their lucky stars,
now, Evadne Veluz in vocals, Jose Marie Leynes on lead guitar, Emmanuel Yambot on bass, and Vincent Ernesto Guerrero IV on drums,
are on their world tour.
I
dropped by a store to purchase something for the kind invitation of Mr.
Dimaano. Entering a Louis Vuitton shop, I was surprised to see Melanie Datoon, currently the owner of
the said shop. She attended to my needs and giftwrap a Sellier Dragonne. While
waiting for the package to be wrapped, I turned on the television.
Consequently, Neil Francisco and Felinie Ramos, the news anchor of ETV
News, were beginning to bring the latest news. “Goodmorning England, now we
bring you the latest and hottest news around the globe. The Nobel Peace
Committee is awarding 4 outstanding teachers for their unmatched contribution
in the field of education. These individuals are Mr. Jaypee Gacias of the University of the Philippines, Mr. Marvin Lipana of St. Paul
University at San Miguel, and both from John J. Russell Memorial High School, Ms. Cyril Jean Bernabe and Ms. Marianne Dela Cruz. They will
receive the prestigious award to compensate for their persistence and
dedication in teaching. Truly, these remarkable individuals are the role models
of our society. We may also remember that last year, Ruth Yambot, the principal of JJRMHS won the Nobel Peace Prize for
Leadership. This exceptional institution bagged awards and was listed in the
Top 5 public instutions in Asia.”
“And
for the latest news in sports, Hardcourt superstar Cherald Maniquiz dominated the Miami Heat for the Semi-Finals of NBA
2028. Maniquiz rampaged the arena with 8 three points, 20 points inside the
arc, 20 rebounds and 23 assist, leaving the L.A. Lakers the winner, 121 – 93.
In racing, MotoGP World Champion Jayson
Andaya brings home the bacon as he claimed the First Place at the Las Vegas
Racing Arena. Andaya reached the finish line at 2 minutes and 14.75 seconds,
14.23 seconds earlier than former world champion Valentino Rossi. In due time,
Andaya will face the Intercontinental MotoCross Champion Dexter Angeles for a back-to-back race to show who really will
reign as the King of MotoGP.”
“For
showbiz news, Miss Universe 2027 Princess
Carla Adelante will team up with Miss Universe 2026 Arlyn Francisco for another Hollywood box office hit. Director Kristina Domingo, who produced world
class movie hits, said in an interview that the duo, together with their
leading man, Erick John Orteza,
would play in an action-filled romance plot. She added that this movie will
surely entice you with death-defying stunts and heartbreaking love triangle
between them. World renowned contemporary artist Joyce Anne Salvador will receive her 5th Turner’s
International Artist Award for her painting of “The Miserable Joys of Life”
which depicts the emotional depression of Japan after the massive earthquake on
2015. She will receive the honored award in celebration of the International
Artists’ Day this coming July. International Singing Sensation Princess Dela Cruz and the Dancing Diva
Kimberly Joy Dellula will team up to
bring the house down for their world tour. The Grammy Award Pop Stars will
showcase their talents first at Vancouver, Canada. Tickets were almost sold out
a month before the actual concert. This will be a one-night only shows so don’t
miss it.”
Ms.
Datoon came back with a box and I paid the bag. I hurriedly went back to the
cab for another 15 minute drive. I turned on the radio. Incidentally, I heard a
familiar voice. Oh, it’s DJ Maica Angela
Urlanda of PopBloc FM. She spends her leisure time employed as a disc jockey
here in England. Currently, she is the editor-in-chief of the London Inquiries
and co-founded theworldwithin.com, with her twin sister, Twinnie Urlanda. The website is an organization of essayist and
writers around the globe, sharing their thoughts and opinion on worldwide
issues, stretching out their views, and fearlessly criticizing the government.
The cab arrived at the Royal Lancaster Resort, owned by now a successful entrepreneur
Mariel Joy Viudez, where the cruise
ship is based. Upon entering the
magnificent vessel, two men approached me immediately. Captain Nelson De Guzman and Chief Officer Aldrich Morales greeted me kindly. They
are now the respective deck and the masters of the ship. I happen to meet Joana Marie Manuel, the owner of the
largest medical organization in the Philippines, the Medical Estate. We had a
lot of conversation about our former lives and our classmates. She had told me
about our classmates who are currently employed in her hospital. Anjenette Garcia is the hospital’s head
doctor, Twinnie Urlanda is the
institution’s medical facilitator and a psychologist, and Conie Victoria is the head of the facilities and a pediatrician. Aboard
the ship were Mary Rose Estarez, who
was on a business trip as the representative of her corporation as the
financial manager, and Colleen Cloie Ann
Batac who was a prominent figure in photojournalism, circling the globe for
another historic shot of a lifetime. Captain De Guzman escorted me to a
restaurant inside the ship. The
StarDucks Café held by businessman Albert
Campana, whom with his superb perseverance and dedication, now owns several
branches globally. But due to competition, a business rival arose. The McBee
Food Corporation, owned by Ching Melanie
Busalpa, rivals the StarDucks in fame. The delicious meal was served, and
after our breakfast, while the ship sails, I was guided by Gladys Dela Cruz, the chief deck stewardess of the ship, to my
cabin for a tiresome travel for a rest.
After
about 2 days, the shipping vessel arrived at the Manila Port. At last, after
finishing my studies abroad, I set foot again on my motherland. Out of the
blue, a parade of cars passed by; vehicle by vehicle. At first, I didn’t notice
anything suspicious, but when a lady in Filipiñiana stepped out of a limousine,
right away, I knew who she was.
The
lady who was approaching, Her Excellency President Roselyn Reyes, stood in front of me. As a personal friend, the president was
cordially inviting me for a dinner with her cabinet members and his Honorable Renz Hernandez. I gratefully accepted
the invitation of her majesty and went inside the presidential car. We had fun
talks about how our lives change after our graduation at our school and even
before we thought of it, we had already reached the Malacañan Palace. The
dinner table was already set upped. The cabinet members were lined up for the
arrival of her Excellency. First was Department of Education Sec. Crissologo Rosal, whom clearly boasts
of the education in the country when he successfully implemented the K-12
Program flawlessly. Department of Justice Sec. Leslie Sebastian demonstrated
her dedication by triumphantly carrying out peace talks and unifying the
government and the opposition and the rebels.
Arnel Orosco, Secretary of
Department of Tourism exhibits his unmatched commitment to his work after
placing the Philippines as the Top Tourists’ Spot Destination in the whole
world. Department of Public Works and Highways Sec. William Evangelista famed the construction of Luzon National Rail
Transit which allowed the Filipinos to travel easily back and forth across the
main land of Luzon. Mary Jane Centillas
promulgated the economy of the country by being the top exporters in the Asian
continent with her unparalled adherence to her augmented task as the Department
of Trade and Industry executive. Sec. Venice
Orteza of the Department of Labor and Employment, together with Department
of Foreign Affairs Sec. Melissa Cinco,
achieved greater heights when they endowed the million of OFWs with respective
jobs here in the country yet with an increase of salary paid and additional
benefits. With this, no Filipino citizen would experience leaving his/her
family for the sake of earning a living. All of these achievements will not be
put into perspective without the leadership of the President and the Vice
President.
We sat down as we eat the
heart-whelming meal. We had conversations and enjoyable conversations
commemorating our past memories as students in John J. Russell Memorial High
School when all of a sudden, an earth-shattering blow banged along the dining
hall. The whole crowd was in panic. I kept myself calm but deep inside, I knew
it was trouble. Shouts, wails, cry – these were the sound that filled the room.
Suddenly, someone screamed what seemed to cause this distortion. “Sunog! Sunog! Sunog!”. Those were the
words that struck my heart the most. Is it the end? Is this the final
destination, the final step of our lives? The fire took up and propagated
rapidly inside the building. On spur of a moment, a bell rang. Krriinggg….Krrriiinnng….Krrriinnngg… It
was the same sound again.
Krriinggg….Krrriiinnng….Krrriinnngg…
Krriinggg….Krrriiinnng….Krrriinnngg…
“Sunog! Sunog! Sunog!”. The
wails continued to barge our hearts with fear. The ceiling began to crumble.
People ran everywhere. I had nowhere to go. With a strange twist of fate, a
debris is fast approaching – nearer, nearer. About a second or two, my life
will end. Unexpectedly, a brilliant light blinded me. All I remember when I
have awoken that day, I heard sunog again.
And how stupid am I, my teacher and classmates stare and laugh at me. I
suddenly realized, all was just a dream and I just fell asleep again during
class.
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