Batch History

Over a thousand aspiring applicants try their chance in the most sought for High School Admission Test of the prestigious University of the Philippines High School in Cebu. But only seventy are worthy to be called Upians. It was in the month of June in the year 2002 when we entered the gates of UP. Everyone was a sea of strangers and we didn’t know what to expect.

Villamor and Bartlett were two different worlds. We hardly knew everyone in the batch. Most of us probably secluded ourselves with only those from our section. We lived our own lives. Good that we were headed right with dynamic class presidents. Bartlett was lead by the classy and cute Gabrielle Roxanne Cabunoc. Villamor had themselves their “Chairman”. From the on, Michael Angelo Joaquin was called Chairman. We were little angels; so naïve, sensitive and we followed every rule in the UP system including the passing of every circular that is circulated. It was a long year and we made it through. But not all had the opportunity to continue. Kit and John Saint didn’t make it with us.

Days went by so swiftly that we already became sophomores and we were now facing another year full of surprises. The feeling was the same. We didn’t know what to expect.
Benton and Palma were now our new homes. Villamor and Bartlett mixed up so we came to know new people and new lives. This year was different. If Villamor and Bartlett were different worlds, Benton and Palma were of different galaxies. Palma was more of the luckier galaxy because they got to win almost every contest over Benton. They were the more serious type of people who were very determined and diligent. Palma was headed by small but terrible Michelle Gudito. Benton, on the other hand, was childish, stubborn and carefree. It was the wackiest section of that year. They were headed by pretty but tough Yolike Alverio. But they didn’t give up. They also had dreams and goals. It just wasn’t that obvious. And so another unfathomable year passed but there were still some who had to say goodbye. Bea had to pursue her dreams outside the country. Brent finished his journey with us but he continued his studies outside UP High.

Then another year of anxiety awaited us. We were becoming ladies and gentlemen. Lo and behold the Banggiitang Juinors! We were back again and we’re bigger and better. Benton and Palma evolved to Bocobo and Sison. We were to adjust again to new attitudes because we were mixed for the third time. This has been a tradition for us. Bocobo was of the quiet people while Sison owned a barn full of noisy animals. But we also developed better minds and became more mature people so some of us were already into relationships. But this didn’t stop us from being young at heart. We still played the Pantintero. We were the only batch who patronized this game. Our batch also reached the competitive mode of life. We won quiz bowls and other contests against every year level in school. We discovered more of our hidden abilities and we can now afford to showcase our talents and skills. We can do singing, dancing, performing arts, writing, drawing and even painting an old bodega in just half-a-day. Through hardships and victories, we got to know each other more and established new and strong relationships with everyone. In the same year, we got to experience our first Junior and Senior Promenade. It was nerve-wracking because the pressure in preparing almost everything for the prom was on us. We were all together through our struggles; Trigonometry, Physics, Art Appreciation, and Research. And we safely sailed on but left Robert. He couldn’t make it with us.

And the next thing we knew was that we were facing our final but best year. We don’t want to take it but it leaves us no choice. We have to grow and move on. Gonzalez and Tan were not of different things or places anymore. We don’t care that much about our sections. All we knew was that we’re all in this together. We share the same chuckles and tears. We experience the same tension with our research papers. We share the same love.
We had the best victory we always wanted when we won as the overall champion during our Intramurals. It was a very big accomplishment for us because we sweated our butts out there and we did our very best to enjoy everything this last year could offer us. These would probably be the most unforgettable moments of our lives-our high school days.

God has been so good to all of us and thanks to him we met each other.

They may be hot but we’re extra hot.