What Ever Happened to Your High School's Crush ng Bayan?

Ah high school. A time of endless exams, annoying acne, and often uncontrollable anxieties. And crushes. Youthful infatuations with people of the other (or same) sex were a part of growing up and high school was when things of this nature really started kicking into high gear. 

Many of us had it bad for classmates in high school who won the genetic lottery—the girl with the long straight hair and commercial-ready face, or the tall guy who played basketball with hair that always seemed to fall in front of his eyes. We may have scrawled their names on our notebooks or asked our friends where they hung out after school. They brightened up dreary days in school or were the cause of constant heartaches.

But after we marched onstage, got our diplomas, and moved on with our lives, what ever happened to these so-called “crush ng bayan?” Users on the r/Philippines subreddit dished on the current status and whereabouts of the most popular kids back in their high schools, and well, let’s just say it’s a mixed bag. Some are still living the good life, while others seemed to prove the theory that some people peak in high school.

Here are some of the most interesting answers:

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u/baeruu: “Binlock ako after nya mangutang ng 100k sa parents ko para pampa-opera ng nanay nya sa puso. Hayup ka, Angela, magbayad ka ng utang!”

Come on Angela.

u/JesterBondurant: “If what I've heard is true, our male and female campus crushes during our senior year in high school got married and immigrated to the U.S.—where the guy is now spending time as the taxpayers' guest in San Quentin.”

ICYDK, San Quentin is the location of a major state prison in the US, so I guess we know what happened to him.

u/sBestProcrastinator_: “Idk if he’s considered as a crush ng bayan, but he was pretty famous in our batch; and girls go crazy for him in school and in social media. But I never figured out why he never entertained any of them back then. He was masculine, kind of lowkey, and mostly speaks english.

“Just last month, I learned that he has a boyfriend. Just as handsome as him—no, actually mas gwapo pa. His boyfriend, apparently, is also a crush ng bayan in his past school. They’re keeping it very low, siguro di pa sila ready lumabas.

“What makes me unsettle the most is that he was my bestfriend and homie since kindergarten and knew we had something in our early years in HS, but never had the guts to say it to him that I like him.

“But we’re both happy now in our own ways ??

“Edit: we’re both men pala hehe.”

Live your best life, we always say.

[deleted]: “ito, kagigising ko lang.”

We love the confidence.

u/Kushinanan: “Umutang sakin tapos di nagparamdam. Pero nagbayad naman after 7 months si gaga.”

What is it with pretty girls borrowing money?

u/AromaticAd4434: “Funny story, when I was in High School, I was in 1st year and this guy was in 3rd year. He is one of the crushes ng Bayan, Matangkad, Moreno, and one of the drummers ng Senior High School namin. Then, nagpatayo kami ng bahay sa subdivision kung saan sila nakatira din. One day nakalipat na kami, masaya Lola nyo kase nakikita na si crush. Turns out he is my bloody cousin hahaha. A bloody second-degree cousin. Because my dad and his dad are first cousins (magkapatid ang mom nila). Hahahaah. Wala Lang share ko Lang. After nun, d na ako nagka crush ng kahit sino na ordinary guys. Mostly celebrities na Lang. Kase sure ako, d ko relative un hahahaha. 

"I am happily married for like forever. And no, I never dreamt to date him. just admiring and also not in my wildest yung dream to have a relationship with him.”

Okay, we’re glad you dodged that bullet.

u/stembuds: “nagbabanda parin pero main focus nya yung NGO nya feeding the poor plus mary jane advocate dito lol crush ko pa rin hahahaha.”

Someone’s gotta fight for our right to party (with apologies to the Beastie Boys). 

[deleted]: “One girl became a flight attendant. She’s so pretty, mismong celebrity pa nag-ask to take a picture with her. She’s in a long-term relationship din.

“One guy is a doctor now and is in a relationship. Pogi pa rin siya. Pero I found out na nilandi niya yung kapatid ng friend ko while he’s in a relationship. They were gonna have sex, but he couldn’t get an erection. Got the ick ever since I found out about that.

“2 of my friends were also crushes ng bayan. Both doctors. Yung isa, nagtopnotcher sa psychometrician boards and nagtuturo sa review school. Both in long-term relationships.”

We’re happy for everyone (except maybe for the guy with ED).

u/space_monkey420r: “One married a politician. They're at least the same age. She's still pretty and classy as fuuuck. Got beautiful kids too. 

“Another one married a semi-good looking guy. He cheated on her. She found a rich guy who married her after her annulment. Now she's that trophy wife who parties all the time and travels everywhere.

“Last one was a friend in HS. She became a J&J model in college and would often model for Candy Mag. She was close friends with this one girl who didn't come from the best background, and she introduced my friend to her people and my friend's first bf. Sobrang jologs nung bf. Seryoso, mukhang snatcher. I met the guy and couldn't believe she was in love with him. I remember wanting to shake her and ask why??what?!HOW?!?

“He knocked her up and they separated.

“Then she married another guy leagues below her in looks, education, and money. Judgemental kung judgemental, but with her looks and brains, I always thought she would've done better in life.”

Hey, to each her own, amirite?

u/Lazy_Cream_4006: “Ayun Cabin Crew na sa Qatar Airways, Good for her.”

They always end up being flight attendants, don't they? 

u/fr3nzy821: “Huling pagkaka-alam ko naging high class walker na. Sumasali sa mga pageant after high school, then dun ata na-discover ng mga impakto.”

If you have to ask what a walker is…

u/imbarbie1818: “Omg hahaha. I remember nung hindi pa ako nagttransition into a transwoman noon (HS days 2011 ish, I was like a femme gay-dunno if that’s the right term) tapos na pang boy yung haircut na super skinny ang bungi yung front tooth ko, I managed to have a puppy love bf nun. Pogibg pogi ako sa kanya, haha kaklase ko siya tapos pinaghalong Bekimon at John Prats muka nya haha I can say crush siya ng campus kasi paiba iba siya ng jowa sa kada buwan. Tapos nag uusap lang kami pag may pasok. Wala kaming number ng isat isa pero hinahatid niya ako sa gate ng school hahahaha. Ewan ko ba alam ko naman pinaglalaruan lang ako nun pero kilig na kilig ako hahaha. Then ofc, we parted ways soon kasi hindi ko na siya naging classmate nung 3rd-4th yr HS and nakabuntis na ata siya after pagkagraduate, tapos ako nagcollege then nagkawork. 

“Nakita ko siya 2years ago ata sa 7-11. Ayun, transwoman na ako tapos hanggang balikat ko na lang siya like ako na yung matangkad haha. Tapos nagkangitian kami haha. Pag-uwi ko, nakita ko friend request niya, in-accept ko naman. Sabi ko pa sa sarili ko parang “Ako nga pala yung sinayang mo noon”. Kala ko icocompliment ako or magcchat kasi alam mo na baka nagsisisi na nagbreak kami kasi baka nagandahan na sa akin HAHAHA GGSS kasi ako tapos inadd lang pala ako para ichat ako na kamuka ko na si Vice Ganda. Blinock ko na siya agad, di na ako nagreply. Nawala confidence ko ng 2-3 business days tehh.”

That was…wild.

u/RashPatch: "asawa na ng pogi. mayaman na sila with kids and pets.

“the other, dentist, US citizen na, asawa ng isa pang poging puti. no kids because of ovarian cancer(survivor). Lots of dogs though.

“yung isa naman, one of my closest friends... rest in peace. car collision. not her fault kasi nasa pedestrian sya otw to school way back college. DUI naka hagip sa kanya. DOA. kulong si driver.

“the poging hunk became a politician... his wife (then gf for like since HS) is a model for fashion but now retired and doing side businesses. happy sila.

“the other pogi married his HS sweetheart as well. tagal nila super. while I admit hindi ganun kaganda si gf nya. cute naman at super bait at talino. sya yung mommy figure sa class namin. multiple kids.

“the other cutie, single mom. multiple businesses. punched me in the gut nung nalaman naming crush namin isa't isa. but since she's happy and content and I am married (happily I think) tropa na lang.”

Everyone seemed to have ended up where they were meant to be.

u/buurp-: “He's now dating Bea Alonzo. Wild seeing that on Filipino TV lmao.”

I guess we all know who this guy is. Good for him.

u/MsMO0112: “Parish priest na.”

Amen.

u/fishstarsandhorns: “Ayun pangit na chOs.”

Umm…

u/cdelavega30: “Eto katabi ko naglalaro ng Genshin Impact.”

Good luck…?

u/Any_Good_4929: “Nasa bilibid na ngayon dahil nakapatay sa hazing noong 2017. And it was very big case pa naman.

“Sinayang niya Buhay niya .. top law school pa naman at gwapo pa at mayaman :("

Tsk tsk. 

u/Significant-Win-4924: “Extremely overweight and bald. Sad.

“Bihira talaga yung nag glow up Nung high school and na sustain until adulthood.”

“Konti lang kami,” one guy commented.

u/x_sangre_fria_x Abroad: “Doing well. Has a good career in medicine and married to a surgeon.

“Sent her a birthday greeting last month and she was flattered.

“She was the ‘Crush ng Bayan’ because she truly had a wonderful personality to go with her looks.

“Sucks she was out of my league back in HS.”

Aww. Sorry man.

u/Lopsided-Coffee-6879: “I am from an all-boys school so the Crush ng Bayan was a teacher in my time hahaha...

“She is still with the school as a teacher, she never married based on what I am seeing on her social media.”

Nothing wrong with that.

u/unchartered19: “ayun taena babae na sya, nasa canada na wlang pagka-aninag na dati syang gwapo at matipunong lalaki.”

Hey, be happy for her that she’s out there being her true self.

u/darkminatozaki: “she became my girlfriend when I was in college. she became my TOTGA dahil noong napunta na siya sa US nabuntis siya ng bf nya dun and then noong nag hiwalay sila we tried na magbalikan pero naisip ko na I believe I deserve better. di naman sa pag aano pero may itsura rin ako, parehas kaming may narating sa buhay, pero naging selfish ako at ayokong ideprive yung sarili ko sa di ako 100% na masaya... and eto na nga ngayon sobrang saya ko sa gf ko as in magkasundo kami sa lahat ng bagay mapatrip man o outlook sa buhay kaya masasabi kong worth it yung decision ko.”

All’s well that ends well.

u/Japulaaa 106: “All of them peaked in high school, while I’m still out here getting cuter.”

That’s the spirit!