January 1, 2007 I slept around 2 a.m. because we celebrated New Year’s Day. Even though I slept late, I woke up early. I was left in the house with Lolo because Mama, Daddy, and Ate went to church.
After lunch, Daddy packed his things because he was going to Bicol with Tito Jun. Before he left, he gave me instructions on managing our small business, the bilyaran and amusement center. Though I used to manage it before, I still felt unusual because many things had changed since typhoon Milenyo struck our place. However, there was Kuya Hapon (whom I call Kuya Japs because it sounds better than Hapon), our helper, to assist me.
I went in the bilyaran and stayed in Daddy’s office there until 1 p.m. than I went home to take a nap. I woke 4 p.m. and then I returned there again and stayed until evening.
We closed around 10 p.m. because there were many people singing in the videoke, and we have to wait for them.
January 2, 2007 I was not feeling well. I couldn’t eat. I vomited and went back-and-forth to the comfort room. I also had a fever. I couldn’t take it anymore so Ate texted Mama to call. Because of the urgent need, Mama left the office early. As soon as she reached home, I fixed my self so we could go to the doctor.
At Casa Medica, Mama and I waited for so long for the doctor. The doctor was not yet around, and the patients were getting impatient in waiting for him. While waiting, Mama bought me porridge, Skyflakes, and a can of Sprite. I was hungry but, I didn’t want to eat. Anyway, I was forced to eat because I hadn’t eaten anything except for an apple the whole day. The waiting lasted for more than two hours. I got my turn to be checked-up, and I was diagnosed to have AGE (Acute Gastro Enteritis). The doctor advised me to stay home for three consecutive days.
When Mama and I returned home, Kuya Don passed by to lend us his DVDs and to say goodbye because he was going to leave tomorrow morning. We had a little chat. He saw my book, The Mass by F. Sionil Jose, and he said that he had had read it in the seminary. He also joked that after reading it, I could be an activist. Then he went home with Kuya Ichi.
Around 12 midnight, Ate and I received a text from him saying that he could not bring his cellular phone. He also included in the text that he was thankful for the time we spent with him this vacation.
I have cried because he will be far from us for a long time. And I am sure that I will miss him so much. I treat him as my own brother that I never had.
December 22, 2006 I didn’t get enough sleep, and I was tired because last night I went to SM Southmall to develop the pictures for the documentation of the activities of the YES-O (Youth for Environment and School Organization).
Today was our Christmas party, and I came late because I had to finish the year-end report. Anyway, I received a blue t-shirt as an exchanged gift. After the Christmas party, I went to SM Sucat with Paola, Mae, Avon, and Argel. As we stroll, we saw Paolo C. and encouraged him to join us. Then, we went to play in the kiddie rides in front of Tronix Imaging. Next, we went to Quantum to sing in the videoke. We already bought tokens, but we decided not to sing because there were many people who were hiring the videoke, and we hadn’t had the chance to touch the song book. We just used the tokens for different games there. It was my first time there, and I had fun.
December 23, 2006 I saw my black cat, Jonas, with a wound on the back of his ear so I immediately bathe him and I made sure that his wound was cleaned well. After that, I tied an orange necklace around his neck.
I rested the whole day. In the late afternoon, I played Ate Vikka’s green “Playdog” that she bought in SM Southmall yesterday. Ate kept on reminding me to take care of it because she did not want it to get dirty. I played with it carefully for I did not want Ate to be mad. I wanted to have my own “Playdog”.
Later, Mama came and, I stopped playing because I had to help in preparing dinner. When everything was prepared, I brought Kuya Hapon’s dinner.
December 24, 2006 We all woke up early dawn to attend the Misa de Gallo, and I was so happy because it is seldom that our whole family would go to church all together.
I was in my GBG (Gift Bearers’ Group) uniform because I was a server in that mass. In the church, I was hoping to see Kuya Don, my friend who is a seminarian and have stayed in Bicol for a long time. But there were many people so I didn’t see him. As I and my family were on the way home, Mama stopped over the fruit stand to buy Mangoes. While waiting, I saw a group of boys carrying a bandera krus (cross banner) which the GBG used as spot marks for the communion. I went after the boys and asked them why they took it. They couldn’t answer my question and returned the banner to me. I quickly returned it to the church with Ate because Mama and Daddy were already waiting.
In the afternoon, I was left in the house with Lolo, and since the house was cleaned in the morning, I just watch the movie Kingdom of Heaven, starring Orlando Bloom. It was a good movie. It was also educational. It was about the Christian crusade for the Holy Land. I really loved the movie.
Around 9 p.m., Ate and I went to the church to attend the Christmas Eve Mass. Mama and Daddy said that they would just go to church the next day because they were busy. As usual, I was in my GBG uniform and served in the mass. After the mass, Ate went home with the Pacurib family because I had had to stay in the church because I helped in arranging the baskets and boxes. I just went home with Tita Me-an, the servant leader of GBG.
When I returned home, someone rang the doorbell, and I was surprised because it was Kuya Don and Kuya Ichi. They gave me two teddy bears sleeping in the couch. Kuya Ichi also gave Ate a pink teddy bear. They stayed in the house for Noche Buena, and we talked about many things. As expected, Kuya Don told many funny things, and we all laughed.
I was very happy that day because I learned many things from the movie, Kingdom of Heaven, and from different people like Kuya Don.
December 25, 2006 We spent our Christmas here in our house. For years, we celebrated Christmas in Bulacan with our relatives. But Mama decided not to go there this year.
Early morning, Mama and Papa went to church. When they came back, many people came to our house to ask for Pamasko. Even those we did not know who they are came.
Tito Jun dropped by to get the refrigerated cake we made for her wife, Tita Elen. And then he talked to Daddy about their trip to Bicol.
I took a short nap after washing the dishes. I put my mocha “Playdog”, which Mama bought for me yesterday, beside my bed pillow.
At night, we watched Garfield 2. Lolo also watched the movie while munching on his favorite fish crackers.
It was a wonderful Christmas because we spent it together. Unlike when we celebrated Christmas in Bulacan, Daddy was not with us because he had to stay at home and take care of Lolo.
December 26, 2006 When I woke up, I helped Mama to clean the house. After cleaning the house, I had a rest and afterwards, I took a bath.
Ate and I went to SM Southmall because I wanted to open a new bank account, but I was disappointed because the bank was closed. I forgot that it was Holiday. So I just accompanied Ate in buying a dress which tired me up because we went up and down the mall for she can’t decide what she would buy. At last, she made up her mind to buy the white shirt in Pale Bleue and the belt in ME.
After buying, we went to the department store to buy Oishi Cuckoo Bag for Kuya Don and Kuya Ichi. Ate would give it to them because she knew that the two would like it.
December 27, 2006I got an upper respiratory tract infection. And I hated it. My nose was clogged. I could neither smell nor taste anything.
As usual, Mama asked our help to clean the house. Ate cleaned, and I bathe the three dogs. After bathing the dogs, I took a bath. Then I brought Kuya Jun’s and Kuya Hapon’s lunch. I went home with Daddy.
After lunch, I washed the dishes. Then I slept the whole afternoon because I was not really feeling well.
In the evening, I ate a little because I could not taste any food. Then, I brushed my teeth and slept after watching T.V. with Mama and Ate.
December 28, 2007
I was still sick.
Daddy was supposed to go to Bicol today but it was moved on January 1 because Daddy wanted to spend New Year here.
Ate, with some neighbors, went to Comelec to register for the coming election. Because I was sick, I just slept the whole day. I woke up when Ate had returned home. Then I watched the movie, Click. But I did not finish it because I felt sleepy.
I convinced Ate not to go to their class reunion tomorrow because I thought it was not safe. Mama said to that it was not safe because I couldn’t go with her and she was alone and also because she had to go back to Comelec again to finish her registration. Finally she was convinced not to come.
December 29, 2006 Tita Me-an asked helped for the stuffing of Spaghetti Packages to be given to the selected families. The call time was 1 p.m. at the church’s water station, but I came 10-15 minutes early. The team was already complete but we could not start because the delivery of the Spaghetti noodles and canned goods were delayed.
We waited for the delivery for more then three hours. While waiting, I and Ate Julien accompanied Ate Myrle to their house. On the way back to the church, we passed by a fishball vendor. We stopped and, Ate Merly treated us fishballs and softdrinks. After eating, we walked again. Then a scramble vendor passed by and we bought scramble. It is alright to eat streetfoods sometimes, right?
When we arrived at the church, the delivery was not yet there. We sat by the water station, and then Tita Me-an bought food for all of us. (So much of the foodtrip) Then Fr. Theody got there by his red car. When he came out, he threw oranges and apples to each one of us. I caught an orange and said, “Thank you”.
At last the delivery came. We carried the boxes of spaghetti noodles, sauces, and cheeses in a room upstairs where we would pack it. We finished packing around 7 p.m. Then they decided to transfer the packages in the Multipurpose Hall because it was safe there. We finished relocating the packages around 10 p.m., and it was very late. We did not go yet because Fr. Theody invited us to eat dinner. At dinner, Fr. Theody told many stories. He was really a funny and jolly person.
After dinner, Ate Julien’s Parents offered us a ride, and they dropped us in our houses. I was really thankful then.
December 30, 2006I woke up at 5 a.m. because Ate Julien, Ate Myrle and I planned to jog. But they didn’t wake up so jogging was cancelled.
I just took a bath and woke Mama as I would go with her to Alabang, Muntinlupa market. There were many people in the market buying fruits, vegetables, and meat for New Year. Mama bought ingredients for ube, 2 kilos of beef, a whole chicken, and fruits. I carried the heavy ones because I didn’t want Mama to carry heavy hand baggage. We passed by the Mani store and bought ¼ kilo of nuts, then on the store selling salt and bought a kilo of it. Mama said that it is lucky to have nuts, a jarful of salt, and something malagkit (sticky food) in New Year. Speaking of malagkit (sticky food), Mama forgot to buy ingredients for Biko. But I said that we could buy those in the talipapa (mini market) in our subdivision.
In the afternoon, we went to SM Southmall Supermarket to buy the other stuffs we need. The line in the cashier was very long so I lined up as Mama get what was needed. Then she returned with a lady guard saying that Mama broke a dozen of eggs, and we had to pay for it. The lady guard escorted us to a cashier outside the department store where there was no line of costumers. Well, because of what happened, we saved time. Even though we had to pay for the broken eggs, we did not have to wait in the long line. For me, it was God’s way to help us save time.
Lastly, we ate at KFC. I was in the Wash Area, and there was a little girl there. The girl could not reach the faucet so I helped her. That little random act of kindness made me feel better.
December 31, 2006 It was Sunday. The whole family attended the 9 a.m. mass. Like what I usually wear, I was in my GBG uniform. I was assigned at 9 a.m. mass and New Year’s Eve Mass.
After the mass Ate Dimples, my close friend in GBG, and I delivered the basket of collection at the Parish office. There was Kuya Don. Kuya Don and Ate Dimples shouted “Best friend!” and hugged each other. They were already best friends before I met Ate Dimples. Since then, I started to feel a bit jealous. The three of us went to the Our Lady’s Memorial Abode. They kept on talking. I also tried to talk in the conversation, but they were busy talking with each other. I was being out-of-place. Then Ate Dimples announced that she was using Globe, no longer Smart. Then Kuya Don also proclaimed that he was also using Globe and no longer Smart. They did not inform me earlier. Especially Kuya Don because he used to text me three days before. Then they continued on chatting. I just said goodbye and went home with my family. I started to think that they had been unfair, but I remembered what my classmate told me when I was in 3rd year, that there was nothing unfair in friendship. My feelings subsided, and I just let it go.
In the New Year’s Eve Mass, I was alone because Daddy couldn’t go because he had visitors, Mama couldn’t go because she was cooking, and Ate didn’t want to go because she was afraid of fireworks. It was alright for me as long as they would attend the mass on January 1, 2007.
After the New Year’s Eve Mass, there was a fireworks display sponsored by Bong Revilla and Lani Mercado. It was beautiful, but I did not like what they did. They spent thousands of money just for the fireworks. They should have used the money for helping other people.
Before going home, Kuya Don greeted me. I just gave him a big smile, and so with Kuya Ichi and Ate Dimples. Then Kuya Don and Kuya Ichi dropped by our house to get their Oishi Cuckoo Bag from Ate.
We waited for the New Year’s countdown, and our family celebrated it by watching the fireworks and celebrating Medya Noche.
