Back to Boy's High

Boy's High or more formally, Saint Louis University Laboratory High School was where I went to high school. That was of course about 25 years ago when I graduated. The building and the following pictures taken today isnow the College of Education where students learn to be teachers. It was at this building though that I spent a good 4 years where I grew from a young kid of 11 years to a budding, 15 year old teenager ready to attack the real world. It was a rite of passage to the teen years, with the experience enriched by the very good teachers and 0ver 300 other boy batch mates. Multiply that to about 4 times and you get a massive 1200 testosterone filled building, teeming with energy to learn about the world.

One glaring difference is the "Berlin Wall" pictured here. It was built many years back I am thinking for security reasons to separate Girl's high from Boy's High and still enabled people passage to the Cathedral without having to get inside the School grounds on both sides. The picture on the left was taken on the way down from the Cathedral.


A view of what used to be Saint Louis Center is also pictured here. That's where I went to Grade school from 1st to 4th.

The other next picture is of the new building in Bonifacio St. of SLU Elem Lab. School, where I finished off the rest of my elementary schooling. That's now called the Bishop William Brasseur Bldg.


Now to the High School. The main building is still the same, which encloses the gym.

I think the gym floor has been resurfaced, different from th slippery, floor that needed coca cola sprinkles to ensure a good grip during lunch hour basketball games. Rooms have stayed the same, the tables still have the graffiti of years of creatively inspired students who chose to leave their marks on the wooden desk tablets.

Crespillo Hall, the wing to the right of the main has been torn down and replaced with a concrete structure and was renamed the Fr Ghisleen De Vos Bldg. I remember him as the SLU President at the time.

This visit actually occured on the 18th of May 2006. A visit to the campus of my alma mater was an exciting trip for me. I, of course, was challenged at the Bonifacio Rd. Gate as I tried to get in, dropping a few names of instructors I knew gained me entry to the school grounds. I elicited stares from a few of the College of Education Sstudents as I appeared giddy, trying to take pictures of whatever I could. I did a round of the first and second floors, and amazingly, it took me back many years when I was a lot shorter and lot less wiser. It was a fun 4 years I spent here, and met a lot of lifelong friends. It was here where I learned a lot of life principles and knowledge that would help later in life deal with real world problems and get me to where I am now.

A glance at the Professor list on my way out of the building brought a smile to my face as I recognized a few names on the list. Previous teachers from way back then were now teaching at the same place. Names like Roque Bernardez who was my First year class adviser and Chemistry teacher, he is now the Dean. Thelma Leal and Evangeline Trinidad, who both were principals at one time, Mina Arciaga, my favorite Teacher in my sophomore year, Belen Mina my 3rd year adviser and Math instructor. Lina Bravo and Ed Ceniza were also familiar names, the latter was the son of Mrs. Ceniza who was my Religion Teacher for a couple of years.

Upon learning that the Dean's office was just around the corner, I hoped to see Mr Bernardez, who fortunately was there. It took him a couple of minutes to recognize me and then it was reminiscing time for both of us. He took me to Mrs. Mina who was teaching in the building at the time and there was more reminiscing. It was a very fulfilling time for me. Not only was I able to meet them but was also able to express gratitude to the amount of knowledge imparted during those high school years that is a now always a part of me.

Visit the Boy's High batch 81 site at http://slulbhsbatch81.org/