MANILA, Philippines?What makes this most popular high school event truly unforgettable? Well, not just the cinematic catfights, puppy love hookups and winning that much-coveted prom queen crown, as the following answers will show.

Whether you?re rushing your prom outfit shopping or already uploading your hi-res photos from your own memorable prom night, read on and enjoy how some people can?t shake off prom night from their minds long after high school.

My most memorable prom experience? Unlike 95 percent of my batchmates who had their dresses made and prepared months ahead, I bought my dress the very same day of my prom. But I was the one who won the best in gown award! ?Cristina Atayde

Prom was a night of firsts for me. It was the first time I wore a tux. It was the first time I experienced a fine dining setup. And it was the first time I got heartbroken. That night, a friend kept on avoiding me because we were always being teased. I realized that I really liked the person and that I didn?t like how that person was avoiding me. ?Paolo Pilapil

I was an outcast during high school and I had only two friends, both fellow outcasts. Since all three of us liked to sing, we got to perform a couple of our favorite songs that our schoolmates never heard of. Nobody clapped after our number except a coupe of teachers. We then had a sleepover where we sang more of our obscure songs. ?Mark Peter Zamora, plans to audition for ?Pinoy Idol?

I had a crush on this girl back then, and it was so cinematic and romantic how we got to dance with each other. We actually became a couple after the prom, and we were together for almost a year. ?Steve G., has never seen or heard of the girl ever since

I was a huge tomboy during high school and wasn?t into dresses, but I was forced to wear one and get all made up for prom. I ended up looking like the Sto. Niño. ?Bunny, relieved that there seems to be no proof of how she looked that night

We had this dance number and I swear that my partner had the worst body odor ever. Imagine, we had all these dance steps that required him to raise his hands. It was really terrible. ?Anna Liza

Everyone glammed it up during our prom night and most of my schoolmates looked really interesting. Now that I look back, they looked pretty stupid with all their heavily-sequined dresses, aluminum foil-inspired wardrobe and trashy makeup. One even had a feather boa, I kid you not. ?Maritess, who admits that her prom dress also had sequins, but only ?minimal?

What can be worse than a prom held at one?s school, specifically at the covered court? One that was held at school and had a 12-midnight curfew, which was strictly followed. As in the sounds stopped and the people from the catering service started stacking the Monobloc chairs. ?Joanne P.

I was the program emcee during my prom as a junior student and one time backstage, there was this senior girl who was trashing my best friend, who had her hair done by someone named Bong Bactad. The senior girl, on the other hand, was styled by the James Cooper and she was expectedly megaphoning it. ?Lilibeth V., who says her best friend has moved on to other hair stylists

My most memorable prom experience ever? When I decided to buy and wear this super shiny yellow long-sleeved top. ?Lai, who has burned all pictures of him wearing the now despicable-looking top

My strapless bra kept on falling to my waist that I had to make frequent trips to the comfort room just to pull it up. ?Rain, who eventually took off the bra and just enjoyed the night

I was the prom king! ?D.D., who actually wanted to be prom queen but wasn?t out of the closet back then

E-mail the author at ninomarksablan@yahoo.com