I am a music lover but I’m not an expert. I rarely care about the people behind the music. I don’t always remember the lyrics. And my taste can be described as eccentric to even jolog.

I started listening to music tapes when my Saudi-man Tatay brought him a 2-deck cassette stereo, including at least 25 records of Connie Francis to selections like Pink Floyd’s. He even has a collection of this ballads that goes from Vol 1 to Vol 13, I think. I didn’t know what DJ’s are but it’s part of my playtime to keep changing the cassettes we’re playing. I’d always select the more upbeat tunes, of course that’s expected I was probably younger than 7 y/o & the oldest tune I can remember dancing to is “It’s like an earthquake”. But there was no doubt my fave in Tatay’s selection was Pink Floyd’s “We don’t need no education”.

When Tatay came home again and brought our first coloured television, my music background extended to “Max Headroom presents”. I was caught. I’d include that show in my cartoon repertoire. I even saw Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” video at midnight (I think) when the following day it was banned in Pinas.

I loved the Queen’s music. Nothing could beat my attraction to heavy metal and all the noise that comes with it. Again hindi ko kilala ang members ng Skid Row, but apparently I listened to their music when one time I was humming a tune and a friend recognised it. When my imagination runs free and my sisters don’t mind me play-acting I’d imagine myself like Rod Stewart cavorting onstage, or like Axl Rose being all hyper. But the coolest part of my act would be to turn into Slash and just make love to my air guitar with a ciggie hanging off the side of my mouth… Oh how I wished and dreamt of being able to do that. Instead of drums or guitar lessons I was hoping for, Nanay enrolled me in an organ lesson in Yamaha (saan pa). I flunked. Not interested, hated the teacher, hated piece.

So I’m a grown woman with a child to boot. I did my share of listening to Chopin, Amadeus and the rest when I was preggers. But normality set in and yes my MP3 is blasting Metallica again and again. And Yano. And Greenday. And some GNR. But what I really want to get hold off is mp3’s of “The Jerks”, or “razorback” or yes, even yung banda-nung-90’s-na-lintek-di-ko-maalala-ang-pangalan na sabi ng housemate ko “kadiri ka!”

Do you daydream? I do - a lot. I always let myself go whenever I’m idle and the fancy catches me. In my world I am the star, the boss, the entertainer, the muse. I am often moneyed, intellectual and oh ever so youthful. One thing I don’t do is exaggerate my looks, I just prefer to look the way I used to 10 years ago. I bring that image back to life as much as possible.

Escapism at its best. Is it wrong to live in my world? I am the matchstick girl who see wondrous things and events at will. But unlike her, I will not die hungry and cold. Afterall, my dreams only last 2-3 minutes at best & then it’s back to my warm, cosy reality of working life and motherhood.