CHAPTER 2: OPENING CEREMONY

Time: 11:00 AM

Date: April 18, 2008

Location: School Gymnasium, Cebu City, Philippines

The gymnasium was at full house. Above, support staff could be seen hanging buckets of confetti whilst at the back, the technical staff were busy ensuring the wires and sound systems were functioning. Each student had to line in their section for the opening ceremonies. Our guests, i.e. the transferee students, were with us to join in the formalities. It first started with an opening speech by the school director encouraging everyone to stand up for the prayer number led by the school choir. Next, the Philippine national anthem was played. Filipinos were to place their right hand over the left chest whilst foreigners, as a sign of respect, stood still. The opening speech then followed.

"Good morning student. Wow, I can see all your energy! You must all be very happy am I right?" The school director said.

"YEEESSSSSS!" The entire audience in the gymnasium shouted.

"Oh I can see to that. And I know what the reason is."

There was a flurry of cheers and applauses. And their were clapping of hands.

"May I ask you what time it is?" The director added. We all knew what this line was taken from a movie that came out last August 2007.

And on cue, "What Time Is it?" from High School Musical 2 played on the speakers.

Summertime!
It's our vacation.
What time is it?
Party time!
That's right, say it loud.
What time is it?
Time of our lives. Anticipation.
What time is it?
Summertime!
School's out. Scream and shout.

[Troy]
Finally summer's here.
Good to be chillin' out.
I'm off the clock. The pressure's off.
Now my girl's what it's all about.

[Gabriella]

Ready for some sunshine.
For my heart to take a chance.
I'm here to stay, not moving away.
Ready for a summer romance.

[Troy & Gabriella]
Everybody's ready, going crazy, yeah we're out.
Come on and let me hear you say it now. Right now.

[Chorus]
What time is it?
Summertime!
It's our vacation.
What time is it?
Party time!
That's right, say it loud.
What time is it?
Time of our lives. Anticipation.
What time is it?
Summertime!
School's out. Scream and shout.

[Sharpay]
Goodbye to rules.
No summer school.
I'm free to shop till I drop.

[Ryan]
It's an education vacation.

[Ryan & Sharpay]
And the party never has to stop.

[Sharpay]
We've got things to do.
We'll see you soon.

[Ryan]
And we're really gonna miss ya all.

[Sharpay]
Goodbye to you and you.

[Ryan]
And you and you.

Everyone sang along where "It's Summer Time" was emphasized. The music was then toned down to allow the school director to continue.

"I know you all are excited today. I could see most of you could barely even stand still, knowing that it is finally summer and you get to see your classmates that transferred a long time ago. But today, we brought in some special guests. Do you know who they are?"

The gym became silent. Nobody had a clue, including myself.

"Looks like I'm going to have to reveal it. They are 12 year-old twins coming from Danville, Tri-State area and are known to be very good inventors and have already came up with numerous innovations. Today, I am going to introduce to you these marvelous boys accompanied by their friends and their older sister. Please give me a round of applause for Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher!"

Everyone stood amazed. We all have heard of these two and their inventions. Pretty amazing for just twelve-year olds! I mean they did not even go to engineering or architecture school to do this! There was very loud applause, a standing ovation that last 2 minutes. Once the audience were settled down, Phineas took the microphone from the director and began his speech. Ferb stood by his side, being the silent one.

"Good morning everyone!" Phineas shouted.

"Good morning Phineas and Ferb! Welcome to Cebu!" The crowd shouted back.

"I could feel all your energy right now. I know one of the best feelings in the world is the last-day-of-school. I was informed by your director that today is also a special day since you all get to see some of your old classmates that transferred. Indeed a very memorable way to spend your last-day-of-school and the beginning of summer! And we, including my brother Ferb, my friend Isabella, Baljeet, and Buford, and my sister Candace are here to introduce to you ways to make your summer better through the use of crude inventions and ideas."

A thunderous clap resonated throughout the gym. In a quick and thorough presentation, we all got to see some of their ideas. And I'll be honest, most of them are crazy and impossible to build for our age. I am only 11, along with the rest of my batch, though some are already 12. Part of their ideas include building a roller-coaster, a beach, a treehouse, among many others! The treehouse seems possible, but the rest, where in nine kilometers will I get the funding. Luckily, they had simple ideas too such as placing glow-sticks into a swimming pool, using glow-in-the-dark bubble blowers, neon bicycles, and tips for stargazing in the night sky. And then we all gave them an applause. Phineas had one more announcement though.

"And I have also heard that a huge water fight* after this. You wouldn't mind if we joined you guys right?" Phineas asked.

"Of course not!" Someone else replied. "Come join us."

"Well, thank you. We have brought with us some of our cool inventions that will make this water fight very memorable."

Phineas reached out for two large objects covered by a sheet. He removed the sheet to reveal two of the most-very effect water fighting devices. One was a crudely-made water turret that resembles a heavy machine gun. It is similar to what firefighters use on watercannon trucks. Phineas explained to be operated, one only needs to pull the level down and aim at target, as a jet of water will follow. The next one was a crude catapult, capable of launching direct buckets of water or water balloons, with a widespread range - thus hitting multiple targets.

The audience became excited at the sight. Everyone wanted to use one of their inventions. And everyone was gearing up. Water guns were taken out, as was with water bottles and balloons. Others were already loaded with water. It looked like a scene of a war movie, in which everyone was prepared for a fight.

"Alright, thank you for inviting me here today. My group will be visiting every classroom during lunch. I can't wait myself for the water fight too. Let's get on with it!" Phineas said as the crowd clapped for them. Ferb gave the thumbs up to us.

A photographer then took an official photo of Phineas, Ferb, and the gang posing with the school director.

The support staff then unloaded the confetti at the audience, as everyone stood up and geared up for the fight. "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang played in the speaker, symbolizing that everyone was now celebrating a proper summer welcome.

Yahoo!
Celebration
Yahoo!
This is your celebration

Celebrate good times, come on!
(Let's celebrate)
Celebrate good times, come on!
(Let's celebrate)

There's a party goin' on right here
A celebration to last throughout the years
So bring your good times and your laughter too
We gonna celebrate your party with you

Come on now, celebration
Let's all celebrate and have a good time
Celebration
We gonna celebrate and have a good time

It reminded me of that scene in Mr. Bean's Holiday where the song also played in one particular scene. The crowd happily exits the gym, armed with water guns, bottles, and balloons. Phineas, Ferb, and the gang followed suit while bringing their invention to the field. I could see that their sister was somehow not interested with the upcoming water fight. Whether she likes it or not, she will get wet either way. The rest of the people then took up battle positions. In this large water fight, it is basically a large free-for-all. There are no allies; everyone is your opponent. And we all waited for the announcement and the whistle to go off.

"Alright, everybody positions." Someone announced. Everybody started aiming their guns and balloons on the nearest target, with sinister glares in their eyes.

"The water fight will begin in 3, 2, 1..."

And there was the sound of a whistle, followed by a battle scream of countless students that just got released from their confines.

Notes:
* Water fights was an annual tradition in my school during the last day.

Author's notes:

Hey guys, there was chapter 2 introducing our titular characters from the TV show. And yes, Phineas, Ferb, Candace, Baljeet, and Buford are the special guests. The rest? Like the Fireside Girls and Jeremy, let's say they could not come to the Philippines because realistically speaking, not all would go. So I stuck to the original gang. And you're wondering where Perry and their parents are? I will take care of that in the next chapter.

Thank you.