Barkada Trip Part 1: Young at heart
Mid 1980’s: Manny and Bernadette were our sibling neighbors whom we (my brother) used to play with. Then there’s Allan and Apple who were the kids of my mother’s friend. They were my first playmates when I was still in Parañaque. TJ, my second cousin in Ilocos, is the only playmate I could remember when we were still kids spending vacation in Narvacan. I saw him again when Tatay (grandpa) died in 1998, and we weren’t close anymore. The last time I saw him was way back in 2001 when we were both ushers in my uncle’s wedding.
1989: Kindergarten. Section Pink. I remember Patrick was my first friend in school. Our mothers were officemates if I remember correctly, but I don’t remember anything we have talked about. So much for the friendship.
1991: Grade 2. Section Sampaguita. Josan was one of my first girl friends (and that’s just a girl who is my friend). She’s a mestiza, and kinda chubby. She’s also my crush back then. We were each other’s favorite seatmate. We’re still friends, although only in FRIENDSTER, and I doubt if she could remember me.
1992: Grade 3. Section Ruby. Phillip Norman and Kenneth were my berks back then. If all of us have one thing in common, that is we love to draw. I am an average sketcher; my drawings were lifeless although not bad for a 9-year old. Kenneth was the worst. He would always draw X-Men characters with muscular bodies that look like nimbus clouds. They were all amateur sketches, I’m sorry to say. But Phillip is the artistic one. At our age, his drawings were comparable to an expert’s (I remember in Grade 4, when I transferred to another school, I found out that Phillip spent his first grade there, and he drew himself and his crush Inah kissing each other, and my classmates said it looked real). I guess he’s one amazing boy. I thanked Kenneth for all the X-Men cards he gave to me; I have memorized their roster up until now. Ü I thanked Phillip because he’s one of the best buds I had when I was still in Regis Marie (I tell you, I was struggling in that school, I was good in academics, but my self-esteem is low – thanks to one of my teachers Mrs. Castillo who doesn’t seem to like me and to some bully students, I really didn’t get to enjoy primary education).
1993-1996: Grade 4-Beryl, Grade 5-Crystal, Grade 6-Coral. I was a transferee back then. My first couple of friends was Mario and Andy. We often spend recess and lunch together. I also remembered that the three of us had ‘paluwagan’. I didn’t understand how it worked during that time, but I remembered that during the sweldo days, I got the highest amount and I don’t know why. Mario was in the other section during grade 5, so we weren’t as close anymore. Andy and I stayed good friends, I guess I considered him as my best friend during that time, and we became a part of a bigger kada. As kids we formed a superhero kiddie group X-Men. I remember Andy was Cyclops, I am the Beast and the rest of the gang were Jeffrey, Jeremiah, Marco (these 3 were all 3 pastors’ sons), Nerwin, Edmar, Oigimer (Wolverine), Raphael, Gerly, Aleah, Amor, Faye, Basilico, Gerald, Marlene, Jules, Pamela among others. I remember we used to play baseball using badminton racket, competing each other in the rankings of academics and fighting over miserable childhood issues. In grade 6 we, the boy, were the Magnificent 10 with Arjay joining the crazy gang.
Andy: we were so close back then, and he used to be my best bud. But early part of grade 5 he had a fight with all the barkada and we haven’t talked since. Later part of grade 6 the rest of the berks reconcile except me. I guess saying sorry isn’t my forte. We graduated without even talking and we haven’t heard a word from each other since. Talk about a lost friendship.
Jeffrey: I think this guy is already a minister. I saw him during freshman years in college and said he’s planning to pursue evangelical ministry.
Jeremiah: took European Languages in UP Diliman but I think he’ll also pursue an evangelical ministry course afterwards. He used to be the blabbermouth of the kada.
Gerald: he was the former organist in our church. I thought this guy’s gay, but when I saw him in college he’s a grown up man already. The thing I learned from this guy is how to draw an Olympic stadium. Yes, an oval Olympic stadium.
Marco: he’s one of my favorite friends. He’s the silent one and likes to keep his cool. Ironically, when I first met him he tried to punch me. I learned from him that life isn’t always easy. I remember they were financially unstable, probably because when your father is a pastor salary ain’t that enough. I gave him a book called “Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates” as a graduation gift. I know that he’ll also pursue an evangelical ministry and is now in USA.
Oigimer: somebody who’s in the middle of being a good son to the black sheep of his family. He’s the rebellious type of person. The son of the owner of our school service, I guess we were good friends back then.
Basilico: I forgot if we were that close to each other, but I remember that I was in his political party when I ran for the Student Government. I guess I believed in his ideals, eh?
Arjay: already an architect, he used to be a skinny little boy with a very, very good handwriting. Last year he told me on friendster if I could find him a girlfriend. Hello! I wish I had one.
Nerwin: we don’t always talk to each other, but he was my teammate in our school’s version of Battle of the Brains. Guess what, thanks to his fast buzzing, we won!
Jules: This boy taught me how to play DragonBall Z computer games. Haha!
Raphael: Not one of the good guys. Actually I don’t consider this boy as a friend.
Faye: She used to treat us during her birthdays. Thanks to her I get to eat at Wendy’s during that time.
Gerly: took up Food Tech in UP. She used to be a sweet girl and if I remember correctly she’s kind to me.
Marlene: this girl’s a lady Flash. She runs so quickly and is our bet during Intramurals. Thanks to her, I learned how to expound my assignments in Civics and Culture.
Joy: She said I was her best friend. She’s kind but I think she’s the matapobre type back then. I still have the Dictionary she gave to me as a graduation gift. I heard she’s getting married anytime soon.
Frewin: childhood sweetheart haha! Self-proclaimed. I kinda like her a lot during elementary days.
Aleah and Amor: siblings. Nobody could ever beat their love for each other. Guess blood is really thicker than water.
Gene: I learned a few vulgar words from this boy and how to act rebelliously. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good boy.
1989: Kindergarten. Section Pink. I remember Patrick was my first friend in school. Our mothers were officemates if I remember correctly, but I don’t remember anything we have talked about. So much for the friendship.
1991: Grade 2. Section Sampaguita. Josan was one of my first girl friends (and that’s just a girl who is my friend). She’s a mestiza, and kinda chubby. She’s also my crush back then. We were each other’s favorite seatmate. We’re still friends, although only in FRIENDSTER, and I doubt if she could remember me.
1992: Grade 3. Section Ruby. Phillip Norman and Kenneth were my berks back then. If all of us have one thing in common, that is we love to draw. I am an average sketcher; my drawings were lifeless although not bad for a 9-year old. Kenneth was the worst. He would always draw X-Men characters with muscular bodies that look like nimbus clouds. They were all amateur sketches, I’m sorry to say. But Phillip is the artistic one. At our age, his drawings were comparable to an expert’s (I remember in Grade 4, when I transferred to another school, I found out that Phillip spent his first grade there, and he drew himself and his crush Inah kissing each other, and my classmates said it looked real). I guess he’s one amazing boy. I thanked Kenneth for all the X-Men cards he gave to me; I have memorized their roster up until now. Ü I thanked Phillip because he’s one of the best buds I had when I was still in Regis Marie (I tell you, I was struggling in that school, I was good in academics, but my self-esteem is low – thanks to one of my teachers Mrs. Castillo who doesn’t seem to like me and to some bully students, I really didn’t get to enjoy primary education).
1993-1996: Grade 4-Beryl, Grade 5-Crystal, Grade 6-Coral. I was a transferee back then. My first couple of friends was Mario and Andy. We often spend recess and lunch together. I also remembered that the three of us had ‘paluwagan’. I didn’t understand how it worked during that time, but I remembered that during the sweldo days, I got the highest amount and I don’t know why. Mario was in the other section during grade 5, so we weren’t as close anymore. Andy and I stayed good friends, I guess I considered him as my best friend during that time, and we became a part of a bigger kada. As kids we formed a superhero kiddie group X-Men. I remember Andy was Cyclops, I am the Beast and the rest of the gang were Jeffrey, Jeremiah, Marco (these 3 were all 3 pastors’ sons), Nerwin, Edmar, Oigimer (Wolverine), Raphael, Gerly, Aleah, Amor, Faye, Basilico, Gerald, Marlene, Jules, Pamela among others. I remember we used to play baseball using badminton racket, competing each other in the rankings of academics and fighting over miserable childhood issues. In grade 6 we, the boy, were the Magnificent 10 with Arjay joining the crazy gang.
Andy: we were so close back then, and he used to be my best bud. But early part of grade 5 he had a fight with all the barkada and we haven’t talked since. Later part of grade 6 the rest of the berks reconcile except me. I guess saying sorry isn’t my forte. We graduated without even talking and we haven’t heard a word from each other since. Talk about a lost friendship.
Jeffrey: I think this guy is already a minister. I saw him during freshman years in college and said he’s planning to pursue evangelical ministry.
Jeremiah: took European Languages in UP Diliman but I think he’ll also pursue an evangelical ministry course afterwards. He used to be the blabbermouth of the kada.
Gerald: he was the former organist in our church. I thought this guy’s gay, but when I saw him in college he’s a grown up man already. The thing I learned from this guy is how to draw an Olympic stadium. Yes, an oval Olympic stadium.
Marco: he’s one of my favorite friends. He’s the silent one and likes to keep his cool. Ironically, when I first met him he tried to punch me. I learned from him that life isn’t always easy. I remember they were financially unstable, probably because when your father is a pastor salary ain’t that enough. I gave him a book called “Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates” as a graduation gift. I know that he’ll also pursue an evangelical ministry and is now in USA.
Oigimer: somebody who’s in the middle of being a good son to the black sheep of his family. He’s the rebellious type of person. The son of the owner of our school service, I guess we were good friends back then.
Basilico: I forgot if we were that close to each other, but I remember that I was in his political party when I ran for the Student Government. I guess I believed in his ideals, eh?
Arjay: already an architect, he used to be a skinny little boy with a very, very good handwriting. Last year he told me on friendster if I could find him a girlfriend. Hello! I wish I had one.
Nerwin: we don’t always talk to each other, but he was my teammate in our school’s version of Battle of the Brains. Guess what, thanks to his fast buzzing, we won!
Jules: This boy taught me how to play DragonBall Z computer games. Haha!
Raphael: Not one of the good guys. Actually I don’t consider this boy as a friend.
Faye: She used to treat us during her birthdays. Thanks to her I get to eat at Wendy’s during that time.
Gerly: took up Food Tech in UP. She used to be a sweet girl and if I remember correctly she’s kind to me.
Marlene: this girl’s a lady Flash. She runs so quickly and is our bet during Intramurals. Thanks to her, I learned how to expound my assignments in Civics and Culture.
Joy: She said I was her best friend. She’s kind but I think she’s the matapobre type back then. I still have the Dictionary she gave to me as a graduation gift. I heard she’s getting married anytime soon.
Frewin: childhood sweetheart haha! Self-proclaimed. I kinda like her a lot during elementary days.
Aleah and Amor: siblings. Nobody could ever beat their love for each other. Guess blood is really thicker than water.
Gene: I learned a few vulgar words from this boy and how to act rebelliously. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good boy.
posted by jay-louie at 6:06 PM
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