The One Who Taught Me How To Make Tuna Sandwich

Yes, that is Tita Beth. The first time that I met her was when she went back here to see mommy and take care of her for a few weeks. She only eats tuna sandwich. And Yes! She made us eat tuna sandwich every meal as well. Even though it has been more than twenty years since mommy and Tita Beth last saw each other, their bonding as sisters was still there.

A few years after, I got the chance to see her family. The first time I called her on the phone, I cried after hearing her voice, it was like hearing my mommy’s voice(only with an accent). A month before mommy passed away, she had tubes in her throat and she couldn’t talk since then. I remember her scribbling notes with her doctor-like handwriting. Yes, she couldn’t talk but she would write everything. From “It’s hot” and “I’m hungry” to her mushy “I love you”s and “Take care of your sisters” notes.

Back to Tita Beth, after the phone conversation, I went to their place and I met my two pretty cousins that I’ve never seen in my life. During the overnight stay, I got the chance to know them. Had a peek of their lives a thousand miles away from here. They took me to places I never thought I would go. Told them stories of my life as well.

The experience was fun and indeed, a happy one. I felt I have my two little sisters with me and a mommy. A feeling that I last had a few years ago, since then.

Thank you, Tita Beth. For the memories and for your blessings.

The Magic is Here

To take our minds off the sad part, I woke up and said, “Enchanted Kingdom tayo?” And kitty and bubbles agreed. I really like surprise adventures, trips that don’t need to be planned or set earlier. And with these two girls, anything that sounds fun is a “let’s go.”

Many firsts here, first time for one of us to go here, first time that I decided to combine the company of my friends with him, first time that bubbles and kitty got to know him and be with him. This was also the first time that we will go here, together.

My last memory of the place, which wasn’t so good, was magically replaced with this new one. And we had a great time.

Goodnews or badnews?

After Suzy told me the news that their application finally got approved, I felt happy and sad at the same time, sad. Happy because I know it’s their dream and they’ve been waiting for this for so long.. but sad because I will have another friend who will leave and be thousands of miles away.

I never thought she’d be my friend. She seemed quiet and serious at first. But spending time with her, I realized that she’s one of us: jolly, naughty and funny and a whole lot more. She makes up weird dances and acts, even in front of other people. She’s very workaholic, even shouts work in her dreams. She tells stories complete with actions and facial expressions.

On the other side, she was always there in bad times as well. Unexpectedly, she’ll find time out of her busy schedule to talk to us when there is a conflict. She was the only one who stood up for me at a time where everyone else was scared to talk. Then, after that, once in a while, in simple ways, she will make me feel that she’s just there, still caring.

I admire her, for being who she is. For taking up life’s challenges with a smiling face. And with the next news of having a baby, I felt happy and sad again. Happy because God has given them the angel that they’ve been trying to have for some time now… but sad because… because…

Naaahhhh… I don’t want to mention it here. This is really goodnews, not bad. I’m really happy for my friend and I will surely, surely miss her.

Our Baby Angel Turns 1.

Yes! Iko turned 1 and we celebrated his birthday with a potluck lunch and a swimming party. He got a little scared when we all shouted because he gave a tiny-hand mark on his cake but he forgot all about it once he got into the pool with complete swimming attire, and he doesn't want to get out even though the water was very cold.

This little baby boy is the love of our lives. We have witnessed the nine months that her mommy carried him into her womb with mixed emotions of fear and excitement. Then, he was born and the twelve months that he was with us, he changed our lives. Papa did not care much for Sam anymore, because he has Iko to baby sit and teach different sounds and tricks. He taught mommy Cherub and mommy Mine to be responsible, to look ahead and worry a little, for tomorrow. He taught Lij how to bathe a baby and make a baby fall asleep. He gave me and Dennis a reason to go home every weekend to be with him.

Iko has this “to-die-for” serious look with a matching big-front-teeth-and-tiny-little-face. You won’t stand hearing him cry, and as Papa says, he always tricks one of us to carry him or to get him out of the stroller so that he could crawl around the house. I’ve thought about it, even though he tricks us always, it’s okay because the heartwarming “more-to-die-for” smile with a little dimple on his cheek, is a good payment. Seeing him with that happy face makes us happier.

Is Iko very lucky? That even though his real daddy is with not with him, he has a papa and grandpa in one? He has his real mommy with him, with a bonus mommy Cherub, (and Lij and me and a very long list of mommys) who cares for him? NO… he isn’t lucky. But we are. We are very lucky that God gave us this little angel.

Happy birthday our dear koykoy. Know that we love you very much and we will always be here to protect you from any harm. (I hope you learn how to walk by September.)

The Long Overdue Question

The first time he asked me was a few years back, and I knew we were both, not ready yet.

The second time he asked me, I wasn’t ready.

The third time was when Mommy and Daddy made up the plan and I knew it wasn’t his idea.

Last Friday, inside the car, in the parking lot of a mall, I woke up from the nap I had and he said a few introductions, then he popped the magic question. Due to some “day-before” reasons which I need not elaborate here, I couldn’t not say anything. My hopes and expectations had been too high already and I wasn’t too happy about it. I just started to cry, and told him, I wanted to go home. He went to a battle and his only armor was a few sentences and the ring and unfortunately, he has been defeated.

But defeat, he couldn’t accept. He started the car, I thought he was bringing me home. Then, we passed by the road to the house and he went further, I told him where is he taking me. His only word was “Basta.” Familiar roads, familiar traffic, my stomach was grumbling because my only meal was breakfast and it was already twelve hours ago. I was getting impatient, so I forced myself on a nap again. I woke up, the second time and knew he was lost already. He asked me, “Asan yung ikot?” No, it wasn’t a jeep route but he referred to the Sunken Garden as “ikot”. I told him to make a few turns and park. Why here? What’s in here? He just said, “Tara, lakad tayo.” While walking, he started talking. “I brought you here because this is the place where I first felt something for you.” He reminisced a bit, brought back a few years. As we continued walking, he said that this place was his memory of the first time that we talked about each other’s lives, where I asked him out-of-this-world-questions, and this where he touched my hand, the first time.

Then, with "Oble," the naked statue, as our witness, we stopped and he said he doesn’t know if it’s still right to ask me. Then, I stopped him and said the magic answer. Yes, he put the ring on my finger. And yes, we had dinner afterwards. No “The End” because this is just the beginning. But there will be a happily ever after.

I’ve proven, patience is a virtue. And when what you’re waiting for comes, it will be worth the wait. I've had lots of memories of the Sunken Garden, but this one outweighs it all.

Couldn’t get enough

The five-day stay with them was the best. First night was rainy, but I had the best cream-tomato-sauce-combined shrimp pasta in whole world. Second day, I brought him to places I’ve been during the first time I went there. Still rainy, but we managed to find our way (with Daddy’s ever reliable map), to the IT Mall and to Merlion. We took the boat to Clark Quay, then to Orchard, then to Chinatown. Third day, rain made way for us, so I was able to ride a tandem bike for the first time, along the beach. One hour passed very quickly and I enjoyed the ride. Then we went to my favorite furniture shop in the whole world!

Sunday, I was able to attend a Catholic Mass where a lot of Pinoys were there. Then we headed off to the zoo. This time, we didn’t let the rain get in the way. The butterfly garden was scary because they put birds inside. And with our plastic raincoats, I was able to see the Polar Bears, finally!

Who would have thought I’d survived commuting, riding the bus and train, with the all-purpose Ezlink card. Sleeping as long as I want, waking up to cook breakfast, sitting on the dining table and having dinner, having mommy make me hot tea. Best part was seeing mommy and daddy and spending time with them. The airfare was worth it.

Now that I’m back, I wish I could stay longer, or forever maybe. I just couldn’t get enough of it.

Paglisan

Halos tatlong taon ako sa bahay na ito. Naaalala ko pa nang pilitin ako ng bestfriend ko na sumama sa kanya mag-apartment. Matagal ko nang gustong magkaroon ng sariling kwarto, at para masubukan kong mabuhay na mag-isa, sumama ako sa kanya. Pero hindi naman talaga ako naging mag-isa. Dahil sa paglipat ko sa BR, nakita ko na pwede ka palang magkaroon ng kapatid kahit na hindi mo kadugo. At napatunayan kong ang mga totoong magkakaibigan ay hindi talaga nag-aaway sa kahit anong aspeto, dahil lahat ay nadadaan sa lambing at maayos na usapan.

Bawat sulok ng BR ay mayroong alaala. Ang unang sala na hindi lamang lalagyan ng mga sapatos kundi naging isang ”Welcome Home” pambungad sa akin. Ang maliit na kwarto at banyo na naging lalagyan ko ng gamit kahit hindi ko naman masyado natutulugan. Sa mga unang buwan, naging saksi ito sa madaming lungkot at sakit ng buhay ko.

Ang kusina at dining table, na nakaranas ng hindi lamang iba’t ibang kainan kundi madaming masasayang bagay. Ang shelf na parang sari-sari store dahil laging puno ng mga de lata at pagkain. Ang blender na gumawa ng mga magic concoctions, at ang "one-cup" coffeemaker. Ang isang shelf na puno ng mga litrato at mga bote na may ibang ibang disenyo ng buhangin mula sa Boracay, litrato ng mga magagandang alaala at mga bote na gawa ng mahahalagang tao.

Ang tunay na sala na may refrigerator. Ref na puro litrato pa din ang pinto, ang pinanggalingan ng mga eksperimentong mga luto, ang ugat ng samahang hindi ka magugutom kahit minsan. Noong una’y may kama ang sala pero naging tirahan ng mga bugoy. May malaking bintana na tanging paraan para makita mo ang magulong mundo sa labas at maisip na ligtas ka na sa loob.

Nang umalis ang bestfriend ko, naging bahagi ng buhay ko ang malaking kwarto at napakagandang banyo na gusto kong palaging malinis. Ang paboritong kutchon ni iko na gustung-gusto nyang gulungan at gapangan. Itong kwartong ito ang nagpatulog sa akin sa mga malalamig na gabi at madalas, kasama ko ito sa mga tuwa at saya ng puso ko.

Masakit sa kalooban kong umalis ngunit kailangan. Sa aking paglisan sa BR, kasama ko ang lahat ng alaala sa loob nito, bawat sulok, bawat kwarto. At kahit na magkakaroon na ako ng bagong apartment, hindi ko makakalimutan ang BR, dahil naging malaking parte ito ng buhay ko.