Picture this scene. The graduation march
practice has just ended. Everybody is preparing to head home. Almost everyone is gone and
the Class Adviser is watching the slow walk being made by the person who will deliver the
salutatory address with her ‘boyfriend’. At least as far as IV-Narra is
concerned, he is her boyfriend! They were walking to the jeepney stop in the heart of the
public market. The adviser mentioned to the teacher beside her the fears she can not seem
to get off – that there will be nobody to deliver the salutatory address. The couple
seems to be together too much for comfort.
The scene just mentioned really happened
almost 23 years ago. The person who will deliver the salutatory address is Grace Antonio
and her boyfriend is Edgardo ‘Budoy’ Badiola. The fear though that the adviser
was voicing out did not happen. They were able to finish college, practiced their
profession for a few years before finally tying the knot in 1986. That knot has produced
three kids – Carlo, almost 13 who is now on 7th grade, Katrina, almost 11
who is now on 6th grade and Patricia, 7, who is on 2nd grade. But
let’s begin the story 23 years ago.
Grace has always been the studious-serious
type, consistently being able to be there in the top honors, nerdier than anything else.
In contrast, Edgar has always been a leader, heading various school organizations. He
prefers to do organizational work more than studying – carefree in a lot of ways. You
can say that their story is a study in contrast. If there is one thing that is common
between them, it is that they agreed to make the marriage work, no matter what and to try
to be always together in the face of adversity.
Grace was born on June 26, 1961 in Manila to
Salvador Antonio and Aurora Banaag. She lived in Lumban, Laguna for eighteen years because
her Dad was an engineer assigned in the Caliraya Plant of the National Power Corporation.
Her family came from Manila but in her heart she is a true blue-blooded
‘PROMDI’, having grown-up in values cared for in that part of the world.
Through-out her formative years the public school system had been a constant - from grade
school, the Lumban Central School to college days. Because Powerhouse, the housing
provided for engineers in NAPOCOR is situated in the outskirts of the town, a fixture in
her life from grade school was the one and half kilometer walk home from school.
Edgar was born on July 18, 1960 in Lumban to
Remigio Badiola and Ceferina Samonte. The eight in a family of ten, his roots have always
been in Lumban. One cannot say that he is a ‘PROMDI’ at heart since his father
was given the chance to see what the other world looked like. Remigio was a chief marine
engineer assigned in the international waters before he retired and with that, he was able
to bring home with him the latest in technology from the ‘other world’. In
reminiscing, one classmate even mentioned that Edgar had always been known to wear
whatever was in vogue when all the rest were wearing ‘BATA’ shoes. He also was a
product of the public school system, having started his school-life from the Wawa
Elementary School. Both graduated with honors from their respective schools though.
Both their grade schools have always been
known as competitors in town and provincial sponsored events, that their paths have
crossed even before. However, only when they both attended the Pedro Guevara Memorial High
School did the paths came alongside each other. As a practice in high school, students are
arranged alphabetically. Thus, from their first year to their fourth year, they have
always been groupmates in schoolwork. They have shared assignments, stories, crushes and
‘high school’ lovelife, and arguments on how to do something from cleaning the
room to organizing a group work. Both have been in the top ten honors from 1st
year to 4th year, although in Edgar’s case, he got sidetracked in his
pursuit of academic excellence on his 3rd year by a forlorn love life, lack of
drive or inspiration, and the numerous extra curricular activities that he had been
involved in. Grace on the other hand had remained focused that she was able to maintain
her good academic standing. Their senior year brought a different aura to their
groupmate-relationship. Talking and arguing about having a relationship started in the
beginning of the year. This was followed by a daily commitment to walking from Guevara to
the jeepney stop in the public market to riding back home to Lumban together.
College days were something else. They
studied from both ends of Metro Manila. Grace headed to Diliman, Quezon City and graduated
from the University of the Philippines in 1981 with a degree of Bachelor of Science in
Business Economics. Edgar went to Intramuros and graduated from the Mapua Institute of
Technology in 1982 with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He
passed the licensure that same year. After graduation from UP, Grace worked with the
National Economic and Development Authority for almost three years before shifting careers
to computers. From 1983 she has been in the field of computers, going up the corporate
ladder, from a programmer to a Project Manager, the last position she had held from the
Far East Bank & Trust Company. She managed systems related to banking. Edgar after
passing the licensure, worked with Central Cement Corporation based in San Ildefonso,
Bulacan ending his career in the Philippines as an Assistant Production Manager from
Singer Industries, Philippines in Taytay, Rizal. He was slated to get a top position in
the Corporation but the call of the USA beckoned.
Grace’s work brought the whole family to
the USA in the fall of 1994. Initially, there were a lot of adjustments the whole family
had to go through – the changing weather, being able to take care of everything and
everybody in the house without the bevy of assistants, the need to convey your thoughts in
a different language. But after the first year, it was smooth sailing from thereon. Grace
is working as a consultant of Pinkerton Computer Consultants, Inc and assigned in Brown
Brothers Harriman and Company. She is holding office in Jersey City. At this point in
time, she is at the crossroads of deciding whether to stay put or move on. Edgar on the
other hand started his job with Continental Airlines. The three kids prospered to life in
the USA and enjoyed it to the fullest. The thing that is missing though in their lives is
the constant pampering provided for by the other members of their extended family which
admittedly is not true in the USA. However, if one is to weigh the scale in terms of
plusses and minuses, the move to the USA is definitely tipping towards plusses. God has
been good to them as they now have a small place they can call their own in Union, New
Jersey.
A brief visit to the Philippines last spring
by the whole family gave them the opportunity to visit friends, most notably, their high
school friends. Dinner and karaoke dates and an outing brought back memories of
yesteryears. Added to that, the couple hosted a celebratory mini-reunion in their house
for a very dear friend, Filmore Blasco, a resident of California who is also an alumnus of
Guevara. Something that is worth noting is the effort being exerted by the members of the
Class of 77 to keep in touch, that even though they do not see each other personally,
swapping e-mails have been a constant activity. Nowadays, stories revolve around their
kids and where they are now.
So, what was high school years to them? Oh, a
lot. Both are voting unanimously to the fact that high school days were the best. Grade
school days were spent with ‘milk and honey’ in you mouth and a view of being in
awe of your surroundings. College days on the other hand required a certain drive and
concentration to be able ‘to make it’. But high school? Oh, what FUN!
Edgar enjoyed sneaking away for Boy Scout
camping in Baguio or Corregidor against the wishes of his Mom and with a few pesos in his
pocket. Partying with friends with just the small light coming from the stereo equipment
with his favorite girl (not Grace though, in this case) was something no one can forget
Spending after school hours with friends playing basketball with an opposing group had
been a constant. Pitching camping tents and working as aides during CAT bivouacs and
parades was something you look forward to. For Grace, initially there was campings to go
to. Later on, especially in her senior year, the daily grind to give the command to pay
respects to the flag as the Corps Commander was a responsibility. Added to that was the
task to represent the school to provincial and nationally sponsored contests. Parties were
there too.
What are the things that can be learned from
their experience?
Having a relationship will either make you
or break you. Of the known ‘couples’ from high school days from the same class,
theirs withstood the test of time. They are near celebrating their 14th year of
married life and 28th year of knowing each other.
It has always been said that opposites
attract. There is no other description that you can think about these two other than they
are the exact opposite. Their diverse personalities can be seen from their three kids
– the patience and perseverance to be poring over books to study, the outgoing type
of personality that friends are easy to come by, the carefree ways in carrying oneself or
the silent demeanor in facing the problem at hand.
Treasure whatever memories you have of
those ‘high school’ years. This is the time when one can afford to take life
lightly. Most importantly, part of those ‘treasures’ are the friends that you
have during those times. The banter that will be exchanged when you see them after so many
years are so good that will surely make your dreary day look so bright.
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Edgar
Grace
Our Family
Our Kids
Wedding
Antonio Clan
Grace's Parents
Badiola Clan
Edgar's Parents
Having Fun
Sushi Dinner
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