Scenes from the 4-peat bonfire

When Ateneo first won its UAAP titles back in the late 1980s, all we did was troop to the parking lot of the Loyola Center (now Blue Eagle Gym) and after that win over La Salle, at Bellarmine Field for the celebration. There were no sound stages, no programs, no tents. People certainly brought table and it was literally bring your own beer. The players sat beside everyone else and well, we partied 'til dawn. Now, it's a real production number. Holy cow!

Kirk Long during the autograph signing session in the afternoon. It was a good thing they did this earlier as opposed to signing long into the night with girlfriends getting testy about it. Now how do we replace Kirk Long?

Greg Slaughter being interviewed by jock Sam YG (he used to be an Ateneo cheerleader). The Big Fella was oft asked about his playing out his final year for the blue and white. He refuses to make any announcement now. But my two centavos' worth -- he'll be back. Just like Arnold in The Terminator. Imagine several years ago, we played University of Visayas in the finals of the Champions League. That was where Rabeh Al-Hussaini played huge and that served as sort of a coming out party for the Ateneo center. Years later, Greg was in Loyola where he led the Blue Eagles to its seventh UAAP title.

Last year was my high school batch's homecoming but I missed it because I was in Vietnam with the Azkals. One of my batchmates called me long distance and demanded to know why I was not in Ateneo. When I told him where I was, he answered, "Sige, national team naman yan." The guy wearing black in the middle is Reggie Ocampo, an old teammate on the grade school football team and kabarkada who now lives in Germany. We bumped into each other at SM Megamall the other day and I didn't recognize him until he called me out. I asked him to attend the bonfire and it sure was great catching up with him and my class/batchmates. As usual, we were reminiscing and it was great. I stayed at our batch tent until about 1130pm before I went home.

On my way to the parking lot, I bumped into these dudes. Had a brief chat with Raymond Austria and offered some advice to Gwynne Capacio -- it's his turn now. What a night! All heart. All out. All weather. I own the patent on that one, dudes.

Dropping by our tent last night was -- the Man -- Ryan Buenafe. He will be back next year so you all watch out.


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Bonfire stories:
The punk and new wave era (our time) * the Snap Election of 1986 and the EDSA Revolution * Going to UAAP games in full Air Police gear (including our truncheons in case of a rumble) * Car pooling to the games and there was no traffic going to Rizal Memorial (save for España when some matches were played at UST) * Who were the pretty girls in school and where they are today * Ateneo's four-peat * Can we achieve a five-peat * Our classmates and where they are now * the Azkals *