PSYCHOANALYSIS: A Daydream Journey

(CHARLES G. LIM)

Kring…Kring…Kring…!!!—my alarm clock rings again. It’s 6:00 in the morning, time to prepare for school. The morning was so cold that it makes me feel frozen, longing for hot chocolate drink. Spending 45 minutes in preparing myself for school is enough time for me.

I went to Arayat National High School with a smile, straight to our room and greet my classmates “GOOD MORNING!”. I sit on my chair while waiting for our adviser to come. After few minutes, The bell resonated and our adviser came and as usual, welcoming him “Good Morning, Sir!” was the first thing we did. Afterwards, he began checking the attendance. While having the discussion, some strange things happened---the room was tripled in size and I suddenly noticed myself holding an INVITATION LETTER that says:

WHAT: Alumni Homecoming Reunion Batch 2011-2012

WHERE: Arayat International University (A.I.U)

WHEN: March 15, 2025

7:00 p.m.

I was amazed and fascinated with the printed memorandum. I began painting a smile with tears flowing on my eyes—but wait!” What day is today?” I looked at my calendar and was surprised. “Oh! It’s already March 14, 2025!”---it’s been 13 long years since I progressed high school. I missed my former Alma Mater Arayat National high School, now known worldwide as the ARAYAT INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY. Who could imagine that after 13 years of struggle, my former Alma Mater has now began reaching triumph?

Motivated in manner, I started looking at our class photographs—I miss my colleagues so much! Who could forget our years of friendship, years of hardship and years of craziness? Those moments that I consider inspiration in reaching my success.

I was overwhelmed with eagerness as my tears continue to flow. My mind was invigorated with some questions like what they have accomplished and how is their life after 13 long years.

…

The day came and I was in urgency! It’s approximately 7:oo in the evening! I drove my luxury car which is a black limousine when I decided to full-load my tank at a gasoline station, owned by Mech. Engr. DARWIN. He also owns one of the leading auto shops in Banawe which is an opposition of ALQUIN’s auto shop in Quezon.

Across the station, one can see profitable buildings and shops of high-end clothing line managed by KC and her corporate partner CHRISTELEIGH which is premeditated by the most well-known innovative designers in Philippines, CANDY and MARIZ.

At the end of the boulevard was a “Game and Software Shop” owned by NINO ANGELO. He is the most prominent game designer in different gadgets such as “MULTIPLY BOX” conceived by Engr. LESTER and the ”SOFTSNOW TOUCH” which is designed by Computer Engr. EULLYSIS.

When I opened the television in my car, I saw the accustomed face of the newscaster—oh! I remember! It’s ANNE COREEN! She is broadcasting about a philanthropist’s discovery. But wait…! That was MARCO!! He had discovered the “missing link” of the evolution of man and named it after his name—“Marcopithecus Pinedisus Absentis” which means “logical thinker”. I was shocked with that news! When I altered the channel, I also saw the familiar face of the visual reporter, it’s PRINCESS! She is reporting about a famous astronaut. I was also shocked with that news because it was JOSHUA who as the first astronaut to live 15 consecutive days planet Neptune. He had just landed back to Earth safe yesterday. With that, I salute him for having a successful mission. When I switched the television again to another channel, I saw a familiar face having an intermission number on the dance floor. With his dazzling moves, I knew that it was MARVIN who gained popularity after winning 1^st place in Pinoy Little Sister“ which is a show of ANGELA.

I am continuously driving along EDSA when I noticed the mega billboards. I was shocked when I saw SHEENA LYN, JUDY LOU and DONNA bannering “Bench’s 2025 Fiery Summer Collection Line”. With their dashing looks, well-projected positions and finely crafted body curvatures, they are now set to entice every man’s eyes. Another billboard caught my attention; it was the proposed Urban Development Project by Ayala Lands which is the 16^th branch of Marquee Mall established by renowned high-end architects ANGEL, RONNEL and JERRICK.

After 30 minutes of driving, I finally arrived at AIU---everything seems changed. As I stand in the front gate of the university, I saw a “Plaque of Recognition” for those who designed the university---I was shocked with the carved names of Engr. JESUS BELTRAN III, Engr. ADRIAN GALANG, and Engr. NOEL RYAM GALANG together with their architect, JOSEPH LUIS. Who could visualize that some of my former classmates designed a prestigious university?

As I walked inside the university, I heard a Praise Song and I guess it comes from the chapel of the university. As I walked through, I found a very nice chapel where the priest is having a homily---but wait! I know that priest! It’s …It’s…It’s ROLLY! Now I remember! He is now known as Msgr. Fr. ROLLY---one of the well-known healing priests in the Philippines. I went inside and I saw my favorite choral group singing “HALLELUIAH”. Their lead singer was also my former classmate, CAMILLE CABRERA. She is now gratified with her own life and her marriage to RICHARD JAMES, a psychometrician at DSWD.

After the mass, I went to the school canteen where I saw other of my former classmates. CHERRY, VERONICA, SHEILA and ANGELICA C. told me that they are now high-paid nurses and they are having their vacation from their respective overseas work while ANGELICA B. is working at St. Luke’s Medical Center as a radiologist. As I walked through the corridor, I saw EVANGELYN and told me that she is now a successful dentist and now has her own clinic at San Fernando, Pampanga with seven more branches located at Manila. I also saw GEMMADEL who is now working as a high-paid Certified Public Accountant Lawyer at San Miguel Corporation Headquarters in Pasig City. She also worked as a secondary Math teacher but stopped when she decided to switch as an accountant.

I went outside and all I saw in the university were buildings of six floors excluding the rooftop of each building. ROOFTOP?! Let’s see what’s in the rooftop. I used an elevator to reach the rooftop and there I saw 15 choppers. I was impressed when I saw a landing helicopter. Shocked in expression, I saw the familiar face of the pilot with one another familiar face sitting beside him. ---oh! That pilot! It’s NORMAN! And the one beside is…Oh! It’s CHRISTIAN! I knew that Norman is one of the outstanding pilots in Asia. He told me that he owns an airport named, “Asian Intercontinental Airport” wherein the main branch is located in Hong Kong. On the other side, Pilot Christian now owns two flying schools in the Philippines namely “Pilot’s College Academia” and “Christian International Flying School Inc.”.

After few minutes, we heard the beat of drums, sound of an organ, and chords of electric guitars played at the same time with a lively tune coming from the THEATER HALL. We went there and found at that the heard instruments were played by DAICHI, JESSA, and MARVIN ALLEN. I also heard the familiar voice of the lead singer---it’s CAMILLE PANGAN! They are now internationally popular because of their dynamic masterpieces that made them grab the award for the “SUPERLATIVE BAND COMPOSER” in 2021 and “ULTIMATE VENERATED BAND OF THE YEAR” for three sequential years.

While watching their intermission, I turn attracted with the smell of foods being cooked from the kitchen. I followed the smell and found out that the chefs were WENCESLAO, ANDREW and JOSEPH ---also known nationally as the CHEF TRIOS who gained popularity after winning 1^st place in TRIO MASTER CHEF hosted by LYNETTE GUIAO.

As I strolled through, I saw my former classmate JOHN CHRISTIAN  which is now known for making wines worldwide. Famous among his wines are “Vino de Juan Cristiano” and “El Vino Rosa” which he dedicated to his wife ROSE ANN , the Vice President of their establishment.

I returned to the Theater Hall when I heard giggles and cackles. As I entered the hall, I was happily shocked when I saw some of my former classmates grouped at one outsized table. We joint and exchange conversations. AEDRI ANNE is now a fulltime owner of a casino named “FORTUNE CASINO” in Hawaii. JERVIE is owns the enterprise of a signature bag named “CLIFFTONS”.JHAZEL AND CRISELDA were now Hollywood Models. Criselda got the title “MISS UNIVERSE” in 2022 and Jhazel got the title “MISS WORLD” in 2023. LHESTER GUIAO owns a seafood restaurant which had just successfully opened last month. Dr. BIANCE MAE I now a well-respected psychologist and a Counselor at Women’s Abuse Action Center of the DSWD. ALVIN and IVANHOE are now both specialized veterinarian. MARILOU and JUDY ANN are both working as interactive media technologists at a US-based cosmopolitan corporation. JORDAN is now appointed as the prime chemist of the Department of Science and Technology in the research scheme about alternative foundations of renewable energy. ADRIAN VITAL, a 5-Star General and RENE DAVID JR., who is a 3-star general are now employed at an aircraft force. JONEL is a robotics engineer at Kabigting’s System Inc. SHERRA is now a Hollywood actress and expanded prominence after captivating best actress at “OSCAR’S Award”. YouTube sensation RUTH is now known as the PERFORMER OF THE GENERATION. JAY ANNE is now a director and at the same time, a writer and an author. She became successful after her movie “A NIGHT OF MOURNING” became a box office. She also clutched the award for the best director because of her best-selling movie-“A CATASTROPHE BETWEEN INFERNO AND PARADISE” where in MIKEE played the main role in the story.

After few minutes of catching up on each other, we heard screams and yells of people---“I Love You, IDOL!! Autograph please!”---Then emerged this very tall, lean and handsome man waving confidently to the crowd---“It was ORLANDO!!!The MVP player for four consecutive years.” He went near us and exchanged conversations. Subsequently, I left them and wandered outside. What I can say now is that time passed by so quickly for us, it’s just very easy to reminisce our high school days, but impossible to return. My former classmates are now professionals in their own respective fields and I thank God for giving me such honor of spending my most wonderful times with them.

It was about 11:30 in the late evening when I decided to go home, but before I left, someone called me, “Charles! Don’t go yet… ”. When I looked at her, I smiled. It’s DIANA, one of my friends during my high school times. She told me that she is a dean of Harvard University’s College of Engineering and a Master Professor in Science. She also did a part in inventing gadgets and modern devices.

By that time, two familiar voices called us, we looked upon them and was shocked---it’s ROBILYN together with CLARISSA---it’s been 13 long years since we last met. I missed my friends so much. We catch up on each other and they told us that they are sea women. They also own the most popular shipping line in Asia and one of the best Resorts in Philippines. Tears flow on my eyes when I hear from them their achievements.

After a while, they asked me if what my achievements are. “Well, I am now an inventor and at the same time, a scientist. After six years of studying different deadly illnesses, I have found effective medicines for the cure to cancer, diabetes, and other forms of illnesses. And believe it or not---I am the one who cured RODEL’s illness and he is now a survivor. I also won the Nobel Prize in Physics for solving the Unification of forces and inventing a human-like robot that knows how to transfigure energy to other form of energy”. They were captivated with my accomplishments and we congratulated each other.

Haaayyy!!... This night has been full of enthusiasm! I withdrew into the background and watch the faces of my colleagues with whom I spent four years of my superb high school life. I spent numerous times with them; we laughed, cried, and celebrated joyous and triumphant moments. I can’t help but shed a tear for I feel tremendously contented about the success of my graduating class. I express gratitude to the Lord for bestowing us with blessings we are experiencing today and wished all the teachers saw what we have become.

By this time, I heard a finger snap and a count of 10…9…8…7…6…5… a strong wind is blowing me away!!! “Help me!! I’m being slurped into a dusky hole! Anyone?! Please!!” 4…3… “I don’t wanna go yet!” 2…1…Blaaagg!!!---I woke up to the genuineness and found out that we are just having a discussion about PSYCHOANALYSIS, a reverse hypnotism that transports you to the future. The excitement tricks me down my face. Reality boosts in and I’m still a senior student. All of what I saw is still in the future … a psychoanalytical daydream---waiting to be found, wanting to be realized.