Dedicated to Ping, Sony, Robert, Maan,Cielo, Charmz, Wilkoc, Daya and Ime
I celebrated my 21st birthday in Nagano, Japan. I was there, along with 60 other engineer trainees, supposedly the 1995 best of the best schools- Ateneo, La Salle, UP,UST, Mapua and Don Bosco.(On hindsight, it was my long shiny hair, navy blue suit with a matched miniskirt and a winning smile that clinched it- after all the panelists for my final interview were Japanese men).
When I was 21, I had my many firsts:
-my first short hair (cut it siete after I seduced the Japanese into hiring me)
-my first seven course meal
-my first digicam, a first look at electronics (and now I'm a junkie)
-my first (and only) view of a Picasso
-my first snow
-my first Disneyland trip
-my first rocking rollercoaster ride (beside the sea and with Mt.Fuji in view)
-my first apple and grape-picking moment
-my first Ikebana creation
-my first cherry blossom
-my first (real) karaoke
-my first daily love letters
-my first date with a japanese (he even sent me christmas cards, sony)
-my first Kirin, sake, wine and formal foray into social drinking
-my first time to wear a kimono
-my first kiss (yes, am a late bloomer)
-my first (and only) neon Benetton jumpers (yaiks)
-my first mountain hike (amazing in autumn)
-my first flashlight moment (ahem cielo and ime you know this)
-my first broken heart (not really, 'twas more of a chipped pride)
Gosh, when I was 21, I weighed only 98 lbs and I thought I ought to lose 10 then. When I was 21, I wore no makeup and cared little about appearance, and I hid from the boys who liked me but I didn't like. When I was 21 Daya said my dreams then were the following: to have a good career, send my brothers to finish schooling and help my family. I asked Daya last June, was marriage not part of my dreams then? She laughed and said,"... nung kwentuhan ng mga pangarap at lasingan, wala sa isip mo yun." I said ,"No wonder!"
When I was 21, Bosconian O, classmate R and others (all married now) were at my door with flowers and chocolates in hand, and I'd say, "Now is not a good time." When I was 21, I didn't know what life was about, and I'd find myself constantly surprised at where it led me to- like I'm supposed to be going somewhere but someone else was driving for me, and I liked all the destinations but didnt know why I ended up there. When I was 21, I found my best set of friends, and we've kept in touch up to today. When we were 21, we had no money and scrimped, saved, commuted, served our families, and yet each one of us had BIG dreams.
When we were 21 we never said we were bored or lonely or in pain. Now that we're older, and supposedly much wiser, we regale each other with senseless thoughts, lift each other up when the reality of life drains our energies; we celebrate highs (births, promotions, new love, new home,new car, a happy day) and find time to toast our friendship, life and destiny.
3 comments:
Circa 95: World Youth Day was phenomenal, the song Manila Girl by Put3ka was a hit on this era. This was also when I fell and crashed for my friend, the quake girl (aka Manila Girl). A lot of great memories with this woman (a “nene” pa at that time).
There were no compiled CD’s yet to give at this time so a tape full of silly love songs was the way to go. I remember buying a Sony HiFi Chrome blank tape to impress her, 90 minutes of a “themed” collection—if it were some classmate or friend it would be a 20-buck generic tape or those cheap BASF tapes, to add to that I’d use a high-speed dubbing feature of my component to copy songs. No feelings involved. To me, the ultimate date place in would be a Side A night in Music Hall then a drive up the Tagaytay ridge by the radars.
This was also my breakout year in terms of building my confidence which she got me going. I never touched a book since Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew came in hard bound. I learned to write and express myself. I wanted to hang out with her all the time and enjoy life without really trying.
Pocketbell or Easy Call, 1-liner or 4-liner? Wasn’t even a doctor, just a way to stay connected. You were in the loop when you had this gadget. I’d “locked” the “take care message” she sent and show it to a friend bragging, “Dude, pinage niya ko last night!” I’d kept to those messages hoping that the message capacity would hold up. The Laser Disc was on its way out by the end of that year but was fortunate to use it as a tool to lure her for somewhat a date. Nice move.
I was very successful on trying to be Manila Girl’s close friend, too damn successful that we didn’t even come close to being an item, too damn successful that the only time I held her closest was in a 3 minute dance that still plays in my head like an MTV each time that soundtrack is aired (Your Love by Alamid is now a revival by Erik Santos). It was so darn successful and I harped too much on the friend thing that up to this day she remains close to my heart. Thank you for all those years my friend wouldn’t exchange it for anything else.
Ha-ha. I know you!
I don't remember the red shoes, though.
i enjoyed reading this post.. keep it up..
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