(To tell you frankly, I had a hard time planning the introduction of this entry. Nevertheless, I’ll just proceed on writing whatever is generated in my mind – the very notions that are carried out by my bony fingers as it gracefully dances through the keyboard buttons.)
I will surely miss the company of Marinet Sanchez, Recelle Saraga, and Kevin Jethro Muga Abad, the wonderful, jolly, humorous, witty, challenging, encouraging, caring, and lovely people who made my month of May ludicrously and poignantly worthwhile.
As the title suggests, these are the things that, by far, I still remember (and will surely cherish), since you guys have really carved a notch so deep in my life that even the time hereafter cannot compensate (naks):
- I do smirk whenever I remember the first time we all met – the very first day I entered the office, after suffering from a month long traumatic chickenpox followed by an unforgiving abscess that [even] prolonged my absence. I vividly recall Recelle’s face burrowed in her laptop’s screen perhaps trying to register the Unli-Surf feature of her SmartBro; Kevin came up to me, shook my hand, and talked as if we already knew each other for a decade’s time (I find the feeling mutual, though :D) I even teased him about what our common mature-friend (Tito Milo), told me about him: how he liked “wit-wew” figures, of course with me exaggerating it by motioning my hands upon narration, only for Kevs to find out that I was simply referring to a guitar (I wonder what was running on his mind. Hahaha!) And how can I ever forget the timid entrance of Marinet, who barely uttered a word, only to find out later that she had much to share :’).
- Of course, our Buko Bar lunch dates were also exceptional! We just can’t get enough of their shakes! We even bargained to try all the flavors – with less success since we got busy with “the” project and had a hard time plotting our budgets (except for Kevin and his apparently unlimited resources). Likewise, how we battled others (mostly the tenants of GT Towers, parang tayo pa nga ang mas may authority eh no? Haha!) just to get to our favorite table which is situated by the window, overlooking a big portion of Makati City. There was a time when we resolved to be seated on the purple chairs because of the piling crowd. (Muntinkan na ngang iuwi ni Marinet ang purple chair diba?) But whether we are situated in our best-loved seat or not, we still enjoyed each others company, laughing our hearts out until tears well up in our eyelids, or until we all feel grossly nauseated, or until someone unfortunately spits out a butil/mumho of rice, or perhaps until a pasta/noodle strand hangs out from our flaring nostrils – the string hanging and shaking as it shivers along with the vibrations of the nose – trying to wave and say Hi! to us (eeeeww!).
- And if GT Towers have their famed Buko Bar, Rockwell will never be left behind as they also have the renowned Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, our second tambayan. I still find that mall overwhelmingly illustrious; imagine, we enabled ourselves to stay there for about 4 times a week – every week – without fail! We saw tons of actors and actresses (okay, that was an overstatement, we only saw about 5. Haha!), whom we found fancy, including His Excellency, Mr. President himself, P-Noy. Definitely, Recelle, Marinet, and I (nasan ka ba nung time na to Kevs?) will never forget the taste of the mouth-watering yogurt and the scrumptious blueberry muffin! Moreover, their sumptuous salad likewise tickled our salivary glands! Just the mere sight of it, the green lettuces, the warm and reddish shade of the tomatoes, the complementary hue of the Parmesan cheese, the bright shine of the mangoes, and the classic blackness of the olives, implies freshness that proved hard to be resisted. At dahil dito, napabili si Recelle! Going back to the sole purpose of why we came there, did you also feel that spine-tingling moment when the man by the name of Mark Santiago came and bought 23 tickets?! We had that eto na yun moment! As if pwede na nating ipalabas ang movie right then and there! Momentary pleasures as it is, I find them exhilarating – especially when these moments are shared with you guys (naks for the second time).
- Our sleepover-and-everything-that-went-with-it moments were also especial! Kevs, remember the time when we were accused as _ _ _ _ s _ s? Hahahahaha! I will never forget that instance! (First time na napagbintangan akong ganyan!) Well, not because I find it counter-intuitive, but because I saw how Nanay Net’s great love exuded protectively towards Marinet. You see, every mother is like that in many ways, because deep inside them, there’s this feeling of not wanting their child to be misguided (who would want their children to be led astray anyway?). So much about that, our sleepover was followed by Marinet’s imbibing of a raw egg, as documented by Kevin (post mo as a comment ang video! Haha!). After the courageous egg-drinking act, we went to play badminton! Palalabs 1, Palalabs 2, and I witnessed the sagupaan of the badminton elites namely Marinet “The Silent Smasher” Sanchez and Kevin “The 4-Eyed Challenger in Basketball Shoes” Abad. Sayang at hindi natuloy ang pustahan, Youtube Sensation pa naman sana kung sino ang na-videohan! Buti na lang at during that time, may energy pa tayo para pumasok sa office! May shoot pa naman si Kevs nang araw na ‘yon! All the same, we managed to end that day right. 🙂
- In addition, I cordially reminisce the significant times when we humbly dropped our guards and acknowledged God’s Sovereignty – moments when we begged Him for guidance, beseeching Him to walk with us in our undertakings, that is, the Pureza Project, specially that ’twas our first time to handle such task. This activity, in particular, opened my eyes to the truth that your coming (Yes, the three of you) was never an accident. It was a part of God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will for our lives. We all contributed to the benign learning that ultimately sharpened our characters. We are still in continual pruning though, and it is my prayer that we’ll meekly accept Thy discipline, as it is always geared towards our betterment. 🙂
- (Contents seen within this bullet hallmarks the culmination of our Pureza project.) How can I misplace May 31, 2012 from the synapses of my brain?! That date determined the outcome of all the planning we did! Recelle and I confidently browsed our list and blocked off the recent reservations made hours prior to the actual event. Fast forward to the minutes before the screening, I felt as if my confidence was being sapped away from my body; like a soul passively leaving a dead man’s body. Nothing was in order by then, the audio jack was nowhere to be found; the cinematographer who’s supposed to be assisting us vanished like a smoke – gone in the wind; the cinema managers were busy as claimed; the viewers are already starting to lose their tops, some were already irked with the situation; assigned seats were duplicated for baffling reasons – the tension of the scenario before us was plainly undeniable. To think that was just the 6PM screening, the 9PM is on its way! Oh, that feeling! The encompassing stress [be it emotional, physical, mental, social, and psychological], the seemingly irremovable lump from our throats, the tightening of our chests that constricted our breathing, and the feeling of trying to fight the wave of tears that are about to fall. We even promised to cry ourselves out (until we look like dehydrated vegetables) when we finally reach Kevin’s condo. But, the tables were turned when 9PM came, the stress was lesser, complaints were minimal, everything was just smooth! I was caught off-guard! I wonder what was the reason behind the peace that unavoidably engulfed us. I think Recelle and Marinet knows. That is, because we prayed. We tapped on the grace that emanated from above, we looked not on the circumstance before us but otherwise focused on the One who was, is, and will be in control. We put our faith not on what we felt or saw that day, but on the promise that was given to us. We claimed [beforehand] that when we “commit to the LORD whatever we do, our plans will succeed” as mentioned in Proverbs 16:3. And indeed, the success that took place was not mainly because of our own strength, but because a faithful God willingly helped his beloved kids (namely John, Marinet, Recelle, Kevin, and the others) to achieve it. And this is how we overcame the heavy task placed before us – not by our own might or power, but by the Spirit of the Holy God. 🙂
- This may be the last [yet definitely not the least] of the points that I pledged to elaborate on. Marinet’s debut party was a blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaast! The surprise was perfectly pulled off! Marinet unknowingly fell for it! (Bwahahahahaha!) I had a great deal of intelligent exchanges with Nanay Net before the happening at Bob’s Restaurant! That was the time when I was able to conclude where Marinet got her tenderness, discipline, humor, talents, perseverance, and kagandahan (naks for the third time :D)! You are very blessed to have such a Mom, Marinet. For her to be supportive in all your endeavors – as evidenced by her being our ka-kunchaba! Hahahaha! All our identities merged during that night, we candidly enjoyed the potluck of jokes! Muntikan na ngang mag-cramps ang baby-face ni Nanay Net sa kakatawa! Buti na lang at hindi sya naka-postiso. Kung hindi baka nag Dora the Explorer na yun kung nahulog, mahirapan pa tayong hanapin. 🙂 At the bottom of it all, we’re glad that the debutante, along with her mother, delighted in what we prepared. I hope whatever it is that took place at Bob’s will be forever etched in your humongous heart, Marinet, as a sign of our love for you; a proof of how special you are to us. We are all looking forward to the day when you will give your much anticipated speech – in front of all your batchmates, as someone who’ve achieved the highest academic distinction! We support you as you try to reach that goal, dear sister. 🙂
These are the things that I often find myself reminiscing whenever a glimpse of our fellowship comes to mind, as if my brain is on the habit of fishing the prime moments we shared and plays it back virtually – paining my heart upon recall (naks for the fourth time). You may all be back to your respective families, but please do remember that you have another family waiting for you here in Manila. A family that corporately resides in 2116 Cityland 10 Tower 1, 156 H.V. Dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City, Philippines. Till then, my dear siblings! May God’s abundance allow your life to glisten in the favor of His love! 🙂
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” [Jeremiah 29:11]
Freely Express 