Dear Editor,

Thank you very much for publishing my “Muffles College Memoirs” in the leading newspaper of Belize. It drew the attention of many colleagues and I hope it helps to gain some readers and sell some papers.

Anyway, at “Chendo” Urbina’s funeral I was introduced to Sister Caritas Lawrence by Mrs. Johnson, Muffles High School’s current principal, and Sister Leona Panton was with her. I had not mentioned that Sister Panton was the principal at Muffles in 1971, the year we graduated. That was after Sister Lois was transferred — don’t know where, haven’t heard from or about her since then.

The only nun that I have ever met after she was transferred and returned to visit was Sister Mary. Many, many years ago I met her at the park in Orange Walk and she fondly remembered “Rojo” Chan from Chan Pine Ridge. Last time I spoke with him he was the principal at Chunox Village School.

Sister Caritas said she had read the article and it had been dinner table conversation for them, but that I must write Part Two. So here it is.

I also did not mention wonderful Sister Eva; she designed and painted our T-shirts, no jerseys at the time, for the school basketball team when we played our best game ever and beat “Death”, that season’s champion in the best junior’s competition ever at the basketball court on corner Main and Park St.

Our players were Noli Leiva, Efrain Gomez, Jr., Carlos Vargas, and yours truly; can’t remember the rest. Mr. Solomon “Mon” Constanza, a professor at the school, was our coach.

“Death” was Anthony “Brackett” Matute, Misael “Monstruo” Cal, R.I.P., Joe Matute, Pete “P Rum” Aragon. All junior basketball star players at the time.

There was also lovely Sister Rose, as beautiful as her name.

Keith Connors was a young Peace Corps science teacher who also practiced a little wrestling and played basketball.

The other students were Peola Patten, R.I.P., Hilaria “Nanny” Torres, and Mirna Castillo. Ms. Mirna was right, there were fifteen of us in that graduating class.

There were two courses at the school for the third and fourth forms: Academic, which consisted of English Language, English Literature, History, Modern Math, Science, and Religion; and Secretarial, where you studied Shorthand, Typing and Office Procedures instead of Math, History and Science.

My group of friends through the years were Ismael “Masto” Gonzalez, R.I.P., who ruled the carom table at Hi-Lite Club; Raul Martinez, R.I.P., Ambassador Alfredo Martinez’s younger sibling; and Roman “Drum” Melendez.

Mrs. Johnson said that we should start an alumni association and through this medium we are inviting all past students of Muffles College to get in contact with either of us so we can start up. We’ll keep you informed.

A word to the young: “Enjoy your school years, guys and gals; they are the best you will ever have.”

Regards,
Romel Cuello