Nostalgia

3202 Girls

from the left - France Mae Sanchez, Reigine Reyes, me, and Ana Marie Robles.

I really miss them so much, my roommates in UPLB Men's Residence Hall for two semesters 2009-2010. I had been with them everyday. I woke up with them, ate with them, slept with them. We could even take a bath together if we want. But no, we're not interested. Ha!

They have seen me from my best attitude to the worst one and I am grateful that they still love me. Even if I was forever messy with my things. Even if I ignored them sometimes when I was in the bad mood. Even if I was so noisy whenever I entered the room and whether they were studying or not, I still would keep on talking or singing while stomping my feet loudly. Even if Iobliged them to wake me up every morning and even if sometimes I was selfish, they're still there and forever will be there. I love you girls so much. :)


UPLB ROTC Corps

I also miss them. I joined them because I thought they could help me instill the discipline within me but no, I realized that I am really a stubborn, hard-headed girl who hates rules and will do everything it takes to get what I want. I'm a selfish little girl with vague dreams and I knew it. Ha!

I still remember those cold mornings when my buddy woke me up to jog outside when I was just wearing a thin, white T-shirt and a short shorts. Actually, that was one of the reasons why I joined them - to push myself to jog so I won't feel bad every time I ate more than I should. So, what were the other reasons?

First, I was just really curious about what they’re doing, their activities, their life, their world. And then I saw that their world is so much different from mine. My world is a kind of “que sera sera - whatever will be, will be” but in their world, everything seems to be planned, scheduled, and organized. Every action is to be permitted first. Everyone is being observed. Everyone is united. One’s mistake will serve as everyone’s punishment. Their life is extraordinary - so much different from what I’ve known and lived by.

Second, I was just so amazed when they wear their camouflage uniform. It makes them look dignified. They gain every cadets’ obedience and respect. In the Filipino term, they are really “Astig!”. I once dreamt of wearing that uniform but then I realized that it pays off to attain such bearing and alas, I didn't even finish the course!

Third, I was challenged by one of my officers. Who could imagine that someone like her would lead a corps? Most likely, an ordinary lady shouldn’t be seen in such attire, bearing, and role, but I saw something different from her which pulled me closer to the unit and made me admire her so much. I want to be like her someday - a pretty yet strong woman. If you’re going to gather all the women in UPLB, I certainly believe that she’ll stand out ‘coz she’s unique. Unique in a sense that her personality alters our stereotypical intuition of what a real woman is. Because normally, a real woman of today is naturally expected to be beautiful and sexy, to wear fashionable clothes, to speak modestly, to be the subordinate of man, to be emotionally weak, to be dependent on others, etc.. However, she doesn’t absolutely conform to all of those requirements based on what I have observed from her. Why? ‘coz she’s not real but the ideal one. She presumably doesn’t look so girly but she portrays the true essence and purpose of being an ideal woman - the woman that will deviate from the common direction and will leave a new trail which is fearlessly delved by her. I could say that her beauty is not measured on her flawless skin, gorgeous body, fashionable clothes, fragrant perfume, and pretty face, but rather it is seen on how she reaches her goals, improves her potentials, accomplishes her tasks and responsibilities, values her essence, and protects her chastity.


KD a.k.a Kheideelicious

She's just one of my prettiest, sexiest and smartest friends in UPLB but if ever you got to know her better, she's a nice girl with a bad ass like me. Ha! I still laugh when I thought of the night when we studied together at Boston cafe. We lost sense of time and forgot that it was already 11 pm. Mang Pit, the despicable, bald-headed security guard, was surely waiting for late students at the dorm's gate. Actually, it didn't bother us at all 'coz we planned it deliberately that we were going to have to climb the iron fence that blocks the way through our unit. And so we did. But unfortunately and unexpectedly, a small, fat and obtrusive student assistant had ruined the almost successful tactic. Thanks to you SA. You did a great help. If she thought that would stop us from breaking the rules, then she probably have concluded the wrong impression. I miss you so much KD.

My forever buddy, Dorothea Giron

She is my closest girl friend in UPLB and I treat her as my bestfriend. She knows everything about me. She even saw my whole body already from top to bottom. Ha! 'coz we didn't have time to have a cozy and separate bath when someone was counting from 1-10. We had slept together in a bunk that resembled a griller 'coz we weren't blessed with a cottony, soft mattress. We had endured all the pain, the sadness, the trials, and the ubiquitous problems we had faced during our stay in UPLB whether they were financial, military, or academic troubles by just staying with each other's side, laughing and making fun of those remarkable experiences that we had together and of those people who vext us. Now that we are so much far from each other, it seems that I have lost one part of my body because she has been one of my limbs way back during those distressing times when I wasn't strong enough to stand on my own. She has been my tissue paper that wiped my tears when I felt degraded and useless. She has been one of the reasons why I've become stronger than before. There was this power sharing that we had which pulled us higher together from hell so when she fell, I also did. We did quit in the battle. We had lost in the fight. We stood together and stumbled together. But now, I know that we're both happy to be where we are. We did all we can. Our body was more than willing but our spirit was weak. Nonetheless, the most important thing was that we learned from everything we had. Thanks buddy! :)

Keisha Girl

Again, she's one of my prettiest, sexiest and smartest friends in UPLB. Haha. We don't have a picture together because she forgot to take one when we last saw each other so I just snatched one of her loveliest shot. She wasn't my friend during school days in UPLB but I already knew her that time 'coz she's our CC's sister. Actually, my buddy and I were just curious about why she hadn't joined the ROTC when her sister was the appointed Corps Commander. Only during vacation months did I get the chance to know her better when we talked on the phone one night. She was in Iligan that time and I've enjoyed listening to her stories. Such a talkative girl. Frankly, I wasn't able to grasp everything she said 'coz she talked too fast! Haha! But I was flattered because even though she hadn't known me personally that time, she didn't show any hint of hesitation to share her personal life especially when one night she called and cried to me. I was sort of taken aback on how she has given me her trust. So until now, we update each other with our latest news particularly about love. Haha! She's my good friend by this time and I wish I had approached her earlier so we could have had more time together.

Hey girl, I am so hoping to see you soon to hear your love stories. :D AMPING!

Jelly Jace

Actually, I had a crush on her before she became my friend. She's pretty, isn't it? Haha! We stayed in the same unit but different wing in Men's Dorm. I had her company during the first months of my stay in UPLB. Most of the mornings, she had to walk to our room to wake me up then we would have our breakfast together and would walk to class together. During our breaks, McDonald's was our tambayan. At night, I would go to her room to tell her to eat our dinner. That was our routine. However, there was the time when I became so busy that I forgot to visit her in her room unlike what I always did before and when one morning I acted so mean when she tried to wake me up. Since then, we stopped talking and seeing each other. But wait, our friendship didn't end there when one time I invited her to come to the Corps of Sponsor's Orientation. I told her she wasn't obliged to join. I just really needed someone to bring. But I was wrong. She joined the Corps so we had our friendship back. Clap, clap. :D And then again, there was the time when I had to leave the Corps for certain reasons but she didn't get mad at me. She was still there supporting every decisions I made and will be forever there. I miss you Jelly Jace. :)

~darkangel~