I'm a Baby!

Mula pa nu’ng 1996 ay lumalabas na ang aking Powerbarkada tuwing December to celebrate Christmas. So nu’ng Dec 21, 2005, ikasampung na namin. How did we do it? I can only surmise.

1. WE ARE PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN EACH OTHER’S LIVES. Hindi kami loose group of individuals na nagkikita-kita lang tuwing Pasko, magka-catch-up on each other’s lives pagkatapos hindi na naman magkikita-kita for another twelve months. Simula nu’ng magba-blockmates kami as freshmen sa UP College of Mass Comm, halos lagi na kaming magkakasama sa klase, sa enrollment, lunchbreaks at after classes. Ngayong may kanya-kanya na kaming career at lovelives, we still make it a point to get together as often as we can. Tuwing may okasyon o wala lang. Minsan may isang mag-o-organize para magkatugma-tugma ang sched. Minsan naman, kung sino lang ang puwede. Basta the point is, kahit gaano kami ka-busy, we take time out to drive/commute to wherever para lang magkita-kita.

Does this mean hindi na kami Powerbarkada kapag, say, may mag-migrate na isa? Siyempre, Powerbarkada pa rin pero siyempre iba pa rin ang closeness nanu-nurture ng proximity.

2. WE STAY IN TOUCH. Lumilipas man ang maraming linggo o buwan bago kami magkasama-sama pero hindi kami nawawala sa sirkulasyon. Nag-gu-group texting. Magbabalita lang kung nasaang lupalop ng mundo kami naroon o kaya magkukuwento ng nakakatawa/unforgettable experience. May limang taon na rin ang aming egroups na isa pang source of entertainment sa trabaho kapag nagiging makulit na ang hiritan.

3. NAG-AAWAY KAMI. Importante ‘to. Kapag nag-aaway kasi kami, nako-communicate namin what we feel is going wrong in the relationship – however big or petty it may be. More importantly, sinasabi namin ‘to with the desire to fix it. Hindi siya basta “Ayoko na! Hindi na’to magbabago! Hindi na lang kita kakausapin from now on!” Hindi namin tinatago ang mga sama ng loob namin sa isa’t isa. That way, naa-address siya at nalulunasan naman. Preservation of the Powerbarkada bale ang most important.

4. WE ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER’S INDIVIDUALITY. We maintain individual schedules and have other groups of friends. Nagiging mas masaya at interesting tuloy ang kuwentuhan kapag nagkasama-sama. And with all our other cliques alam naming top (or at least, one of the top) priority ang Powerbarkada. That is how we survived being split into Broad Ass and Samaskon in college, and GMA and ABS-CBN after graduation. Ina-acknowledge naming, before all these other labels, we are are friends.

And we support each other’s endeavours. Nu’ng sumali ako sa UP Mountaineers, nag-leave sa trabaho ang buong Powerbarkada para lang i-cheer ako sa aking 15K Test Run – complete with banners and leis, ha!

Madalas naming asarin si Val sa kanyang ostentatious fashion sense pero that is not to make her conform to how we dress up. Happy nga na iba siya, eh. At least laging may aasarin hehe.

5. WE HAVE FUN. Yes, nandiyan ang closest friends para dumamay sa mga mabibigat na problema. Pero, essentially, we keep coming back to each other kasi masaya, eh. Kapag magkakasama kami, lagi kaming nagtatawanan, naghihiritan, nag-aasaran. Nakakaimbento pa kami ng mga genre ng jokes. Chemistry na’to. Sometimes magje-gel ka sa isang group, sometimes hindi. Suwerte nami’t nahanap namin ang mga individuals na ka-jive namin talaga. Hindi na namin pinakawalan.

6. MAKE TRADITIONS. Our annual Christmas get-together is one. Nagsimula siya 1996 pa. And every year, nag-e-effort talaga kami na maging present dito. Nakakakalbo ang pagtutugma-tugma ng mga schedule namin pero worth it naman. Tradition na rin namin ang ilibre ang buong Powerbarkada para i-introduce ang bagong boyfriend. At after ng dinner, grilling through text kung saan i-te-text namin ang mga questions sa bagong jowa sa isang moderator na siyang magbabato ng mga tanong. Traditions kasi ‘yung mga bagay na kayo lang ang nag-o-own kaya nase-strengthen ang bond.

7. WE NEVER LET LOVE GET IN THE WAY OF FRIENDSHIP. Sa sampung taon, nariyan na rin ang nagkagustu-gusto kami sa isa’t isa. Walang nagkatuluyan. Pero I’m proud of the fact na we’ve remained friends despite that kind of love that has destroyed so many friendships. We acknowledged our feelings. We talked it out. We allowed each other to grieve. And we waited out the storm until finally matatabunan ang romantic feelings at heartbreaks. Lilitaw ang mas matibay na friendship.

8. WE ARE EACH OTHER’S FANS. Malakas kami maghiritan at mag-okrayan pero alam ko na we have a deep, profound respect for each other. Kaya nga kami Powerbarkada kasi naniniwala kami na bawat isa sa’min powerful. Mayabang kami pero hindi kami nagyayabangan. Proud kami at masaya sa achievements ng bawat isa. Ang bawat promotion, award, papuri, milestone na makuha ng isa, pakiramdam namin nakaka-add din sa’min.

9. WE THINK LONG-TERM. Nu’ng college we’d fantasize about having powerlunches once we start earning. Hindi namin namalayan, nagkatotoo na nga. Hindi namin pinag-usapan na “Friends forever tayo, ha” pero on a certain level we wanted our friendship for each other to be for keeps. Naramdaman kasi naming rare ang samahan na namumuo among. At kung parang kisap-mata lang ang paglipas ng isang dekada na magkakabarkada kami, I really look forward to more milestones in our friendship ahead.

10. I WOULD LIKE EACH OF THE POWERBARKADA TO INSERT HIS/HER OWN TIP HERE. CCCRSTV, PLEASE…

Last December 21, 2005, my Powerbarkada celebrated our tenth Christmas get-together. May mga nagwo-work sa QC, merong manggagaling ng Makati. So sa Greenhills kami nag-dinner para gitna. (Spanish Buffet sa Una Mas, sa bagong Greenhills Carpark)

At ang gifts namin dapat may kinalaman sa ten. Ang tipid-tipirang ako ay nag-burn ng 10 songs na may significance sa aming friendship at may individualized bonus track pa na kahit anong special request nilang song. Limewire lang ang katapat niyan!

Galing kay Thea ang white t-shirt na may imprentang “Powerful.” Siya mismo ang nag-silkscreen, ha! Para naman sa’ming SO’s (aka Significant Other), namigay siya ng “Very Powerful” t-shirt na may nakaturo pang arrow sa gilid para kung magkasama raw kaming maglakad sa mall. (Hindi pa namin napag-uusapan ni Wally kung kelan namin ‘to susuutin nang sabay. Basta ako excited na’ng suutin ang shirt na’to kapag magkakaroon ng meeting na alam kong magiging madugo.)

Ang multi-tasking queen na si Cindy ay nag-prepare ng goodie bags with ten items inside. Each goodie bag is more or less unique. Mine includes a couple of Starbucks Christmas CD’s, a Parker pen, and a condom. The card even listed ten adjectives to describe me. Ang galeng talaga! To think humabol lang si Cindy sa dessert kasi she had so many things to finish at work. That day nga lang daw niya pinut together ang goodie bags na’yon.

Si Carlo, na nahirapan daw mag-isip ng “10-themed gifts” ay ‘di na nakarir ang idea niyang dinner consisting of the specialities from the Powerbarkada’s favorite eating places (from Italianni’s cheesecake to Mang Jimmy’s tapa mix). So nilibre na lang niya ang lahat ng kinain namin sa Bizu. Puwede na!

Si Celery naman nagpabukas ng red wine at nag-require na lahat kami mag-toast to our favorite Powerbarkada memory. Na-tense kaming lahat dito kasi sa dami ng pinagdaanan namin, ang hirap pumili lang ng isa. Val, ever the Quotable Queen, got the ball rolling with “To the ten years!” Sakupin ba ang lahat?!?

Napakaganda ng exercise na’to lalo na nu’ng nagsunud-sunod nang nagmoment ang bawat isa.

THEA: “To the brat days and all the brats!”
Lagi kasi naming pinag-aawayan kung sa’n kakain so ininstitute namin sometime in college ang “Brat Day” kung saan “The Brat For The Day” dictates where we eat.

The quintessential brat, CINDY said: “To Red Ribbon!”
Referring to a Christmas get-together wherein she refused to eat the Red Ribbon Chocolate Mousse I bought for the group dahil napikon siya sa mga hirit ko sa kanya. Siyempre ngayon hindi na namin maalala kung ano exactly pinag-awayan namin. Natatawa na lang kami (ako especially dahil naalala kong favorite ni Cindy ang chocolate mousse pero nagmatigas talaga siyang ‘wag kumain bwahahaha).

SHEILA: “To longer road trips!”
Which brought back out-of-town trips to Pangasinan, Calatagan, Zambales, Lucban, etc.

CARLO: “To Live AIDS at lahat ng palabas na pinanood natin!”
Live AIDS 13 pa nu’ng freshmen kami sa UP. Live AIDS 21 na, nanonood pa rin kami taun-taon. Bukod pa siyempre ang mga pelikula at plays na minahal at tsinugi namin.

Then I proposed a toast “Sa kahoy, marmol, scaffolding at anumang yari ng pedestal.”
This is an inside joke wherein one of Roy’s admirers complained to him that he takes her for granted while he puts us – his friends – on a pedestal. At sa isang gawa-gawa lang naming trivia questionnaire about our Powerbarkada, bonus question ang “Saan yari ang pedestal?”

Then CELERY ended the ceremony with: “To TT Jokes.”
During a long road trip, we were stuck in horrible traffic so para maaliw kami, nag-word game kami. Seeing that the car’s plate number infront of us begins with TTP, we made up what it stands for. Lumabas na ang mga sagot na “titing pink,” “titing pretty,” “titing pa-cute…” Basta kabastusan, makakalimutan mo’ng trapik.

From Bizu, we drove to UP because Sheila’s surprise demanded “a wide, open space.” So what better place to go to than where it all started?

Du’n kami sa lawn ng UP College of Music (kasi may harang ang Mass Comm Parking Lot). Pinag-form kami ni Sheila ng circle tapos pina-close ang eyes. May pinahawak siya sa’min then nag-speech na ang Aligora: “This is to celebrate a friendship that is as loud as it is soft, spectacular as it is silent, raging memories in the sky as it is a simple remembrance in one’s hand. Salamat sa sampung taon, Powerbarkada.”

Tapos nang pinadilat niya kami, may hawak kaming flowers tapos pagtingala namin, merong fireworks display! O, ‘di ba? Spectacular!

Kapag ala-una ng tanghali parang may bagong noontime show akong sinusubaybayan – ang Bulagaan. Promise! Para siyang show in itself, better than most gag shows I’ve seen. Live pa siya so you never know what’s gonna happen. Laugh trip talaga!

Nagsimula ang Bulagaan nu’ng late 80’s. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, 1988 yata. Basehan ko sa timeframe na’to ang VO announcement nu’n na “ITO NA ANG MASAYA AT MAGULONG BULAGAAN EIGHTY-EIGHT-EIGHT-EIGHT-EIGHT…” (Echo effect kasi) Naalala ko kasi inaabangan naming mag-1990 at sasabihin na ng VO na “…BULGAAN NINETY-TITI!” But no, ginawa nilang “BULAGAANG NINETEEN-NINETY” ang script!

Ang gags nu’ng, lahat live (ngayon kasi may mga taped gags na) at interspersed sa mga gags ang dance number ng sinaunang Sexbomb. Noon pa man meron na nu’ng “Wala ka sa lolo ko…” gag na madalas nagaganap sa mock-up ng sari-sari store. Tapos meron pang isang gag bago ang favorite nating Question-and-Answer Portion sa isang classroom setting. O, and before every gag, nagda-duck walk aka Aiza Walk si Aiza Seguerra into the scene tapos sisigaw ng “Action!” complete with duck-shaped clapper.

Dumaan din sa iba’t ibang stages ang Q&A Portion. Dati si Tito Sotto ang prof at ang laging bagsak ang mga babae na sina Coney Reyes.
Teacher’s Pet kunwari sina Joey at Vic. Tapos dumating ang panahon na sina Coney naman ang laging nakakakuha ng mataas na grades tapos lagi namang kulelat sina Joey. Sa lahat ng stage na’to, prerogative talaga ng prof kung anong grade ang ibibigay. Ngayon kasi may roleta at computer screen na nagdi-determine ng grades.

Mga mid-nineties, inalis ang Bulagaan. Hindi na rin isang buong Saturday episode ang Little Miss Philippines Grand Finals. At hindi na rin little girl si Aiza Seguerra.

And then a few years back, Bulagaan came back with a vengeance! And it’s wilder than ever. Riot ang mga knock-knock jokes at minsan may baon pang jokes bago mag-knock-knock. Here are some favorite moments ng kabaliwan ng Bulagaan ngayon:

- Ini-impersonate ni Gladys Guevarra si Mahal. Grabe! Gayang-gaya niya talaga pati pagsabi ng “chori-choree.” Napanood ko rin ‘yung phase na si Annabel Rama naman ang ginagaya niya.
Prof. Joey: Annabel, kumusta naman si Richard?
Gladys as Annabel: Ayon nagte-taping. Lage na lang nagte-teping. Araw-gabi nagte-teping, ‘de na komakaen. Hanggang sa bahay nagte-teping pa ren.
Prof: Eh, si Raymond kumusta?
Annabel: Oki naman siya. Hi, Raymond.

- Riot ang tandem nina Allan K at Toni Rose. Si Allan ang unang kakanta tapos ang mga high notes eh si Toni Rose ang kakanta. Tapos anuman ang kanta, magiging dance beat. Maghuhubad si Allan K to reveal his sequined bra tapos pupunta siya sa audience para makipagkamay at magpa-picture complete kung bibigyan siya ng dolar. Meron pa nga raw time na lumabas na ng studio si Allan K, lumabas ng Broadway Centrum at sumabit pa sa jeep! Nahirapan sigurong ulitin for security and technical reasons kaya hindi na naulit ‘yon.

- Minsan pa, pag-hit ng high note ni Allan K, natanggal ang pustiso niya. Naiyak talaga ako katatawa nito kasi kamakailan pa nga nu’n ay napabalitang milyon ang ginastos ni Allan K para sa kanyang pustiso. Kinabukasan, namimigay na si Vic ng litrato ni Allan sa precise moment na natanggal ang pustiso niya!

- May napanood pa’kong cunning monkey impersonation ni Wally. As in naglalakad siyang nakasayad ng mga braso sa lupa tapos may hawak pa siyang umbrella tapos pinapatawid sa bangko. Kuhang-kuha niya ang mannerisms ng tsonggo!

- Popular din sa mga Kurimaw (ang mga lalakeng tambay sa audience ng Eat Bulaga) ang tandem nina Jose at Vic – the Bu Bros! Sing Bu and Wang Bu! Dito sobra kong naa-appreciate si Vic kasi lagi siyang game. Nu’ng episode na nag-ungguy-ungguyan si Wally, nag-acrobatics din siya para lang makakuha ng mataas ng grade. At he ended his performance by throwing pie at his face. ‘Yan ang dedikasyon sa trabahong magpasaya ng tao.

- Classic din ang panggagaya ni Jose kay Bamboo. Nagkaroon pa nga raw ng isang prod si Jose kasama ang real Bamboo at ginagaya pa rin niya ang mala-epileptic na pagkanta nito ng Alleluya!

- Natatawa rin ako sa pinapausong style ng jokes ni Michael V. ‘Yung bang hindi joke pero nagiging nakakatawa:
KA-PARTNER NI MICHAEL V: Manong, du’n po ba ang papuntang Makati?
MICHAEL V: Hindi, doon. (points to the opposite direction)
Tapos mag-a-alog-bilog na sila to indicate na ‘yun na ang punchline. Meron pang isa:
KA-PARTNER NI MICHAEL V AS NANAY: Ikaw bata ka! Sa’n ka galing?
MICHAEL V AS ANAK: Sa bahay po ng kaklase ko.
NANAY: At ano’ng ginawa mo ru’n?
ANAK: Ano pa? Eh, ‘di nag-aral!
(ALOG-BILOG). O, ang “alog-bilog” pala ang tawag nila sa pages-shake ng kanilang legs after every punchline (much like a modern-day achepache!)

Maraming nasa office kapag Bulagaan kaya sorry na lang kayo.

Kinilabutan ako sa dedication sa Eraserheads Tribute Album na Ultraelectromagneticjam. “PARA KINA BUDDY, ELY, MARCUS AT RAIMUND – MARAMING SALAMAT SA WALANG HUMPAY NA LIGAYA!!!” Napakatotoo kasi.

90’s kid ako kaya ang aking formative teenage years ay sa saliw ng musika ng Eraserheads. Ang mga unang piyesa ng aking simpleng CD Collection ay ang kanilang mga albums. Pati ‘yung libro nilang Fruitcake meron ako (pero hindi ko na alam kung nasaan na). At hindi ako unique sa paghanga sa kanila. Ang kakaiba na lang siguro ng aking “fanship” sa kanila ay ang fact na hindi ako radio person. Hanggang ngayon I’d much rather watch mediocre television rather than turn on the TV or pop in a CD. Sa Eheads lang talaga ako unang nagkahilig.

Sabi ko nga, kapag matanda na’ko at maraming, marami na’kong pera, ipo-produce ko ang reunion concert ng Eraserheads. Ito ang magiging Philippine equivalent ng Rolling Stones US Tour nu’ng late 90’s kung saan pati mga teeners trooped to their concert kasi cool pa rin sila –

Matagal nang disbanded ang Eraserheads pero hanggang ngayon naririnig mo pa rin ang influence nila sa musikang Pinoy. Sa kantang “Hari ng Sablay” pa lang…

I intended this to be a short blog pero mukhang lumalabas na lahat ng nararamdaman ko sa Eraserheads at sa kanilang musika. Naalala ko pa nu’ng Linggo ng Wika sa Marist na may isang class na ang presentation nila ang Alapaap. Nakabarong pa silang kumakanta-kanta’t sumasayaw at may props pang pusong pinapatibuk-tibok pa with hand movement. Height din ‘yon ng isyung pino-promote daw ng kantang ‘yon ang drug addiction. That argument has since resolved itself dahil ang gagong senador na nag-accuse nu’n ay nasangkot sa drug trafficking at ngayo’y nagta-try na i-revive ang career sa noontime show na tanging dahilan kung bakit siya nanalo noon. At least ‘yung mga kasama niyang sina Vic at Joey matuturing pang legends sa kanilang chosen field, much like The Eraserheads.

Nariyan pa rin ang Rivermaya at Parokya ni Edgar na mga kasabayan ng Eraserheads and I’m glad they still continue to make good Filipino music. Pero iba talaga ang sound, ang kurot ng apat na musikerong taga-UP. When they first came out, they were original, very fresh at na-capture talaga nila ‘yung psyche ng mga Pinoy – ‘yung nagpapasaya sa’tin, ‘yung mga pinoproblema natin, ‘yung mga gusto nating mangyari. ‘Yung mga lyrics minsan matalinghaga pero hindi sila dumarating na pretentious o malalim. Basta, nage-gets mo. The music of the Eraserheads somehow gives you warm, fuzzy feeling inside. No exag, just writing about it now makes me feel that way.

Malungkot na hindi na sila together at mukhang matagal-tagal pang panahon ang hihintayin natin bago sila magkasama-samang muli pero siguro ganu’n nga talaga ang pinakamahuhusay na sining. Sometimes, hindi longevity ang sukatan kundi ‘yung lakas ng alingawngaw na dulot ng kanilang saglit na pagsigaw. Parang Beatles. Hanggang ngayon naririnig mo pa rin ang influence nila sa mga songs at artists na sumusulpot. Parang si Nora Aunor. Mas tumagal si Vilma pero napaka-impressive ng filmography at impact sa pop culture ng Superstar.

Nang mabalitaan ko ang Ultraelectormagneticjam The Concert, nanlumo ako kasi for a moment akala ko reunion nila. Nakaramdam pa’ko ng galit sa mga local artists who dare re-do my well-loved Eraserheads songs. Pero after reading my friend Jove Francisco’s positive blog review, I decided to get a copy of the album (saka kelangan ko na ring mabaryahan ang 1000 ko nu’n para bumili ng fonkard kasi nalabhan ko ‘yung cellphone ko pero sa susunod ko na lang ikukuwento ‘yun, ok?). At happy naman ako sa purchase ko. Dama ko naman ang respeto ng mga artists sa musika ng Eraserheads. May mga plakadong interpretations (like Paolo Santos’ Magasin) at meron namang naiba na talaga (MYMP’s “Huwag Mo Nang Itanong” na favorite ko) but I’m not complaining. Ang hindi ko na nga lang ma-resolve sa sarili ko, eh, kung nagugustuhan ko ba’yung album dahil gusto ko ang pagkaka-re-interpret nila o dahil biased na talaga ako sa mga kantang nagdadala ng maraming alaala sa’kin.

Sa circle na ginagalawan ko, alam kong may connection ako kina Buddy, Ely, Marcus at Raimond. There are a couple of times that I’ve met them pero hindi ko man lang nasabi sa kanila personally how much they’ve affected who I am now. ‘Di bale kapag magka-chance ako… Nasabi ko nga ‘yun nang ma-meet ko si Kuya Bodjie a few months ago, eh. Ayoko nang simulang magsulat tungkol sa Batibot at baka humaba na’to nang husto.

here's something i wrote way back 2000 when i first moved out of the house. i intended to have it published sa Youngblood sana kaso hindi ko na na-send-out (or maybe i did pero hindi lang nila nagustuhan, hindi ko na sure)...basta nahanap siya ng friend ko at sinend-back niya sa'kin a year ago. nakalimutan kong nasa inbox ko siya. buti na-save ko siya bago na-hack ang aking yahoo account.



From: "Guidote, Rina"
To: "rey agapay"
Subject: young blood
Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2004 10:37:57 +0800

Batch, here's the Youngblood article that I told you about. =)

*************************************************

It was so cinematic. I was in my parents' bedroom, groggy from lack of sleep. It was 7 am and I smell of Saturday night gimik. I remembered lying awake on my bed, mentally preparing myself for an argument. But dad's monologue went smoothly. It was non-confrontational and, well, very fatherly. I was standing by the bed looking at my mom's reflection on her dresser mirror. She keeps on re-applying her make-up that keeps getting washed off by her tears. Except for a few glances to signify my paying attention, I couldn't look where my dad was at. Besides, he was walking around and fidgeting everything he passes by. After a while, I noticed a pattern. He would walk from the end of the bed to the side table and check his reading lamp. Then he'd go back to the where he started, get his wallet which was near the TV and look inside. And walk back again to the lamp.

Instead, my dad gave his words of advice...I have never listened so intently to him, grasping every word he uttered and taking mental notes of everything...Once in a while mom would give her OK-this-is-what-you-should-do's with traces of why-don't-you-just-push-through-with-it. But as it turns out, right before I entered that room, it was settled: they couldn't do anything but give their support when I decided to move out. Move out to a pad no bigger than the bedroom I share with my older brother (but complete with kitchen area and toilet). It meant paying rent, worrying about bills, food, things I'll never think about if I stay...And since I had nothing but a closet-full of clothes and a plastic stackable drawer set filled with the rest of my stuff, I had worry about where I would sleep, how can I drink cold water, how will I wash my clothes, who will clean the toilet, how can I surf the net privately. This is real life! And I LOVE IT!

Most people would ask why. I just tell them I'm already 22 and they just give me a questioning look. I understand, though, why they ask. Our culture does not put any pressure on children to move out and be independent once they reach a certain age, or at any age at that. It's very common to see families grow bigger as the children marry and they all live happily crammed under one roof (except if they could afford to build more rooms and extensions). Well it all happened so fast. I have been working for half a year. Enough to save up for the rent deposit and advance, plus extra just in case. I've been talking about moving out to my friends but never to my parents because I might never be able to take it back. One night, a friend told me that there's a vacancy in their building. I checked it out and the next day I texted my dad that I was thinking about moving out. Before I talked to mom and dad that morning, mom invited me to hear Mass with them then we'd check out where I was moving in to. Well, they're not my parents if they don't know how I think. They knew that I wouldn't mention anything about it if I weren't determined to move out. I was the type who would dress up and pack then right before going out the door, I'd yell, "Dad, pupunta po'kong Baguio. I'll be back in three days." Though I felt some resistance, they eventually gave me their support. Now it was their trust and confidence that I can do it that gave me the strength to take my first step on a path where there's no turning back. When I was loading my things a week after, I told my sister to pray that I shall never have to go back. If I go back, it means I couldn't do it on my own. That I failed - not only myself, but ultimately mom and dad who thought I could do it.

I miss the goo-goo, ga-ga and ga-go from my nephew and niece battling it out for their one favorite Dalmatian among a complete set of 102 plus Cruella deVille.

I miss my mom's constant reminder, "You pray, ha!"

And my dad, well, what can I say...I'm a writer. I used to pity sons like Dudut Jaworski who made the mistake of following in the footprints of his dad when he can never amount to the greatness of his Old Man. Now, without me noticing it, I've become like my dad. "Please welcome, Asia's Songbird, Regine Velasquez!" don't amount to the books my dad wrote but it's a start, right?

Living alone has taught me a lot of things. Like buying an aircon (just to survive the summer heat) makes you want to buy a CD player to survive the monotonous hum of the aircon. Now, what use is a CD player that happens to play VCD if one doesn't have TV? BEFORE: I will survive living alone because I am prepared to eat instant noodles every meal has gone down the drain. TODAY: I am barely surviving because it's as cold as Alaska in here! Well, at least there'd be music...

My First Extri Off-Road Triathlon.750m/21k/4.5k.
10 Dec 2005.La Luz Resort.San Juan.Batangas.

As a race that prides itself as “the most prestigious off-road triathlon,” nakakapagtaka na karamihan nang naririnig ako about the so-called members of the Extribe ay ang pagiging napakasaya nito. Nalaman ko na lang kung bakit nu’ng nagka-side-stitch ako kasasayaw ng Karma Chameleon sa post-race party kinagabihan. I mean, first time kong mag-open water swim, at pagkatapos ay nagbababa-bike at nagtatatakbo off-road nang may dalawang oras pero hindi naman ako sinayd-stitch, noh!

Sa swim talaga ako pinaka-na-tense. Days before nag-text na’ko sa mga kasama kong kakarera na si Olive (3rd, Women’s Over-all) at TJ (2nd, Men’s 18-25) at kay Jojo (3rd, Men’s Over-all) na ninenerbiyos ako sa prospect of swimming sa dagat for the very first time. Pero non-refundable ang P1,200 reg fee so…

Tutal in-emphasize naman sa briefing na fun ang essence ng Extri, nag-focus na lang ako sa pag-enjoy. Start na! “Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy,” I was thinking as the last person to dive into the water (Ayokong makipagsiksikan at baka mapunit ako ng mga seasoned triathletes!). “Hey! I can actually do this.” Natapos sa first of three swim loops. Umahon, tumakbong konti (Umiikot na mundo ko. Bilog pala talaga ang mundo!) at balik sa tubig. Ten meters lang ang langoy to the first corner pero mukhang isang lap na agad. Napalitan ang Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy! Ng Dream! Believe! Survive! With emphasis on Survive!

By my third loop, parang tahimik na ang paligid. Feeling ko ako na lang ang lumalangoy. Nanlulumo na’ako nu’n. Tinapik pa’ko ng sagwan ng nagkakayak kasi masyado na yata akong lumalayo sa boya. Hindi ko naman sinasadya. Siguro subconsciously ayoko lang talagang mabangga ulit sa boya. When I emerged from the water, parang the announcer said “And we have four swimmers left.” Shet! Olats. By the steps, naka-recover na’ko. At least hindi pa naman ako mukhang naglalakad na zombie like the other guys I saw. Kasabay ko rin sa Transition Area sina TJ at Olive. Ayos. Puwede pa. At nagsimula na ang bike.

Naalog talaga ang brains ko ru’n. Kahit sa patag malubak. Para kang nasa commercial ng Motolitte kasi dumadaan ka sa rugged terrain, rocky road, shallow river, sandy banks, banana hemp-lined one-track trails, at ang paborito kong Mud Capital of the Philippines! Bale two loops around this off-road bike course which doesn’t seem like two loops kasi parang magkaibang-magkaibang experience ang bawat ikot. Sa unang loop, meron kang tikbalang moments na feeling mo nawawala ka na at kapag finally nakabalik ka na sa bayan malalaman mong dalawampung taon ka nang hinahanap. Sa pangalawa, may pagdududa pa rin na “Tama ba’tong dinadaanan ko?” tapos halos masesemplang ka atsaka mo mari-realize na kanina muntikan ka na rin du’n.

Plus my second loop was less lonely because I found myself tailing a stunning triathlete whom I recognized from Active & Lifestyle Magazine as Doray (1st, Women’s 25-30). “Malakas ‘to,” I thought, kaya hindi ko na siya nilubayan. Parang ginawa ko siyang pacer. Inunahan ko lang siya nang konti going into the Run Transition pero nauna siyang nakalabas kaya nang bumuntot ako, hindi na’ko nagtangkang makipag-unahan.

I was at home with the hiking part pero saglit lang pala ‘yon. Most of it was running on sand. Now running on sand looks fantastic in movies sa mga eksena ng lalakeng nagte-training tapos ang bilis-bilis niyang tumakbo sa beach habang nagsa-sunset. Pero mas madali pa yatang singhutin ang sand kesa takbuhan ‘to. Approaching the finish line, people were applauding. Siyempre naman, nakabuntot pa rin ako kay famous Doray. Sabi pa ni Riso (2nd, Women’s Over-all), “Doray, bilis na. ‘Wag mong pahabulin ‘yan.” (Friendly, ‘di ba?) at sa party na lang niya na-realize na “Ikaw ‘yung lalakeng naka-green na kasunod ni Doray?!” Siguro nahirapan talaga ako sa pagtakbo sa buhangin na nag-iba hitsura ko.

Sa awarding na-OP ako nang magkamedalya sina Olive at TJ. Eh, paano naman kasi mga legends na sa sports ang mga ka-age group ko! Special mention to Reinzi (1st, Men’s 26-30) sa kanyang support at advice. Isama ko na rin si cutie Japanese-looking Ige ng UPLB Trantados (1st, Men’s 18-25) whose group got me started in the sport. Sige na nga, mention ko na the Ige (Men’s Over-all Champ) sa kanyang galak na galak na performances that night. Na-challenge tuloy ako nu’ng tinawag ako ni Eric to make the racers laugh. Lalo na dahil may mga goodies at stake! My total haul from the party? A Fitness First Water Bottle, Arena Goggles, New Balance Bag. Medal na lang talaga kulang. Wala kasing bading category, eh. I think, title-holder ako ru’n, eh.

On Christmas Day I celebrate my 27th birthday pero napaaga ata’ng regalo ko with the wealth of race experience and friends (or as Eric calls it, family) I’ve gained from joining a race that emphasizes fun and camaraderie by pushing you over the edge. Meri Krimas and Hapi N’yo Rin!