Chat Peypoch

Photo modified from https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/s320x320/e15/11266572_795935813861469_1915004269_n.jpg

Remembers Chat Peypoch and the signature look that she (he?) uses for the graduation photos of students from exclusive all-girls Catholic schools like Maryknoll/Miriam, Assumption, Poveda, St. Scholastica, and St. Theresa’s College.

Who is Chat Peypoch? Is Chat Peypoch a she or a he? Is Chat Peypoch still alive? It appears that there are two photography studios in Makati but it looks like they don’t even have a website.

In any case, even without the Chat Peypoch signature on the lower right corner of the photograph, one would have a difficult time not recognizing that “black and white on white background” style that is synonymous with the name. Thousands of fortunate Filipino female students have been immortalized with that indelible look.

Names

Ricky remembers when people would call a kid whose name they didn’t know “Bata”. As in, “Bata, bata…” or “Huy bata!”

Ricky also remembers that in Ateneo, it was more upscale. They would call each other, “Pal”.

Annie

Ricky remembers his very first field trip when he was Prep in Ateneo. He and his classmates went to watch the movie “Annie”. Watching it again now on DVD, he discovers how utterly delightful Carol Burnett was in it as the perpetually inebriated and chronically out of balance Miss Hannigan.

Angelino’s

Ricky remembers Angelino’s in Katipunan, where many an Atenean has taken their date for dinner before going to a dance or some other event in school.

Filipino Fraternities

Ricky remembers Filipino fraternities like Tau Gamma, SRB, and Akhro.

School Supplies

Ricky remembers those fancy pencil cases with many compartments and attachments. He even remembers one classmate whose pencil case had an hourglass!

Pinoy Gender

Ricky remembers Lalaki, Babae, Di-Tiyak, and Walang Kasarian.

Pencil

Ricky remembers feeling so high tech in Prep when he had a Bensia Pencil and how he attempted in vain to use the plastic nub at the end as an eraser.

Filipino Lessons

Ricky remembers pangngalan, pandiwa, and pang-uri but for the life of him, cannot remember what pang-ukol and pang-abay are and what they’re for.

Handkerchief

Ricky remembers his classmates inflicting pain upon each other with the flick of a handkerchief. If the handkerchief is wet, the deadlier the hit.