Homecoming.

When I was new in the U.S, I never quite understood the frenzy about homecomings. In a small town in Ohio where I lived in 1985, there were just a few hotels and so during these homecoming days, a lot of returning alumni and alumnae couldn't find accommodation. Later on, inns and hotels would rise around the University area.

"Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back former residents and alumni of an institution. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America. It usually includes activities for students and alumni, such as sports and culture events and a parade through the streets of the city or town."

Here in the Philippines, it is commonly referred to as "class or school reunion."

I'd never attended a class or school reunion; elementary, high school nor a college reunion. Once, after a year of graduation from high school, I went to an afternoon gathering where boys and girls of our graduating class talked about the new life in the university. The next time my high school class had a reunion, I was on a weekend discussion group for my MBA marketing presentation.

In the U.S and Canada, homecomings are big events. There'd be homecoming queens and kings, there'd be memorable dances and parades. These are usually held in September or October, after the long summer break.

I remember watching over HBO this movie about a high school class homecoming, which starred Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow. Titled "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion," it was about the looming tenth high school reunion of two dim witted high school pals, Romy and Michelle. Romy works in a car rental while Michelle is unemployed. With the reunion fast approaching, the two friends realized that their lives are not impressive enough to cow the popular crowd that tormented them in their teen years. So Romy borrows a Jaguar, and the duo concocts a story about how they became top corporate executives by creating Post-It Notes. Once they are at the reunion, however, Romy and Michelle's scheme unravels.

This movie parodies the sometimes cruel and demanding task of attending a homecoming; one is expected to either show off or shut up. In any sort of reunion , class or clan, each member is somehow unwittingly told to have a story to tell: a life story, or an episode of it.

What happened after grade twelve, grade ten or after that four-year baccalaureate course? Position in the office, salary level, family status? Kids? Kids' status?

Now, we understand why social networking sites such as facebook and tweeter have become so much addicting. There is always a need to find out what has happened to our former friends, colleagues, relationships.

Our high school holds a yearly homecoming every December. In it, all graduating classes are invited to attend, but this is not in the epic proportion of a U.S or a Canadian homecomings. Mostly, it is a dance event. Then, individual classes hold their own reunions, locally or sometimes abroad.

It's graduation month this April, and years from now, the Class of 2011 will be attending homecomings and reunions.

There'd be success stories and sob stories.