You’re probably familiar with this tag by now. Toe & Pining tagged me & I really liked Toe’s spin on her post ha. Unique. Then I came across Badoodle’s version & suddenly I know what I will do to make this more interesting. Let’s go back in time before marriage & commitments & before the post-baby weight!
1. I grew up in the slums of Cabanatuan City.
Tatay built our house on a tiny space of Earth behind the NIA’s towering wall. I have been meaning to post about this before but I wanted to take a picture of the house, perhaps next year? I have fond memories of growing up in an ever extending house, sandwiched between the wall and a stagnant swamp. I remember the house sways during typhoons and we always had the feeling the roof will fly-away soon. Our silong (basement?) was my playground where my imagination ran wild. I cannot climb the tree but our aratiles was always within reach by our homemade sungkit. I love that place.
2. Early maths-training was like a military bootcamp
Because I didn’t like the Barangay day care (yucky lugaw & I can’t stand the afternoon sessions, so I refused to go), my sisters took it in turns to teach me English and Maths before I started Grade 1. The eldest did the Maths & I remember being so terrified I’d cling to my half-brother whenever he’s around. She taught me the basics really quickly, we progressed to 3-digit additions & subtractions, then division with decimal points! Remember I was barely 7 y/o!!! Que horror.
The scariest times would be when Kuya would tell my sister off for being too hard on me, they’d have a shouting match. There were funny moments though. Kuya would take it in turns with my older sister, walking past my Ate holding up placards with the answers or will be signalling with their fingers whenever I’m stuck in dipa position (i.e. arms stretched) for being unable to answer.
In Grade 3, I came home very pleased & told my sister that FINALLY I get to use what she taught me 4 years previous. It was the only time decimal points were taught in my school! Of course, I aced it. Sulit.
3. First kiss at 8 years old
Yup. I got my first kiss when I was in Grade 2. But it was “taken” by force huh! After Grade 1, I was shocked at my classmate’s behaviour the following year. They were putting mirrors on their shoes & peeping up our skirts (too bad for them I wear shorts ha!). They were forming “gangs” (from the Bagets film) to chase girls when the teachers aren’t around. That means recess & uwian (afterschool) are fraught with “dangers”. One of the gang leaders took a shine on me & kept shoving candies & flowers (santan & bougainvillea) at me. I would go to great lengths to avoid him, even going to the back roads to avoid running into his gang. Unfortunately, they caught me one time & scared the shit out of me! There were 2 boys hugging me (I remember one of them was John iknowyoursurname) & my “suitor” swooped down for the kill.
It was only a peck on the lips. But I felt so violated I kicked & screamed. They let me go & I ran to the suitor’s mother, who also happens to be our homeroom adviser. You know what she said? That I should stop crying because I was being a “maarteng bata” (flirty child?). I didn’t tell anyone at home.
4. I know sign language
My elementary school used to teach deaf-mute kids and teenagers. I’d hang out in their building because their library is well-stocked and airy. I learnt to sign the ABC and I remember able being to “talk” to them, even developing some friendships. Unfortunately, I can only do the ABC’s now. I don’t know the phrases anymore.
5. I used to be a clean freak
I think I was born with a hankie in hand because I don’t remember ever going out without one. I use it because I liked covering my nose when someone smells! When I was little, I’d ask the dentist to change the glass so I’m sure the previous patient didn’t use it. Up until high school, I’d pour water on the toilet seat (even at home) & wipe it before I use the loo. My worst memory was in grade school, during a “Bulaklakan“ dance practise I refused to hold hands with my partner because I saw him playing with his saliva. I made him hold a stick on one end while I hold the other. I only let him hold my hand at the real show but I watched him wash his hands first. Kung nasan ka man at mabasa mo ito, naku sorry po.
6. I was a CAT Corps Commander
Perhaps because my college ex- only attained the rank of Major, he’d insist I became a Colonel because the men in my class were weak. Whatever. Joining the CAT was one of the best decisions I made in my life. I got to know more of the student body (my class had 1100 students alone!) and developed lasting friendships.
I guess I was scary because one time I made a joke, none of the platoon I was speaking to laughed. When I demanded to know why, a cadet answered “Ma’am kasi kahit naka-smile kayo mukha pa din kayong Tiger Look“… Waah.
In the CAT, I also learnt I cannot go into politics. Power corrupts people! I admit I did “piso mula sa kanan” (literally: a peso from the right), or asking plebes to spy on people. Friends would even treat me to lunch or snack in exchange for bio-data of their crush. hehe Sarap.
7. I love war games, I’m an airsoft fanatic
My friends are mostly men, growing up and into adulthood. I don’t know why, it just happened okay?
I only ever played in Pinas with my former officemates. We started out using our old CAT uniforms & we were just borrowing Gas-powered BB-guns. Our first game was in Tarlac against a group of students(!) & we were nearly cowed. These college kids were armed with battery-powered guns and they were properly kitted. They even had face paints & camouflage & sniper blankets. They were damn organised, with lookouts & hand signals to boot! When we had lunch, they were eating out of canteens. Mind you these are rich kids, the “jungle” (which was beautifully set-up) we played in was owned by one of them in a neighbourhood where almost all the cars were Benz’es.
We were chuckling nervously about how the kids were going to cream us. Imagine I was wearing white trainers & my hair was long, an easy target. When the game started, we could hardly see the Tarlac boys. We were running for cover when someone shouted “foxhole!!”
My officemate, GM (Grand Manyak), jumped in thinking it’d be 2-3 feet, but it turned out to be 5-feet high! Thankfully I slid down (used to this in CAT). GM turned around to me at one point, asking why he can barely see. When I looked at his mask, he was wearing his Oakley sunglasses underneath! D’oh! It was too late to take them off, once in the field, you have to protect your eyes or risk being blinded. Unfortunately for him he was killed when I motioned for him to go in a direction I thought was “clear” while I try to cover him, he ran straight to the other team’s men hehe
My heart was thumping all the way through the game. I took down 3 men before I got hit on the forehead. It was super fun! Rolling, crawling & getting scared-shitless.
That’s us on our first game. We founded the OmegaZone Airsoft Community in the Philippines. Well I should say, I was part of the team who organised the orientation & recruitment process before the Community was formalised. I didn’t even get to pay the first membership fee (went to London). Nor get my uniform. Very sad indeed. It’s grown now that they even conduct Family Days & they also boast of several game sites both urban & jungle. They were even featured in the X-Games (?) show.
And yes, they have nasty battery-powered guns by now.
8. I was a party animal
Di pa ba obvious yun? (Isn’t it obvious, yet?)
I came out of Uni looking to enjoy myself and with a kindred spirit by the name of Balot, we partied at any time of the week. We’d go clubbing on Sundays, say, and we’d make it to work the next day — all fresh. That’s youth for you, eh? I do that now & I’d be useless the next day.
My nocturnal habits were so notorious, one project manager nearly turned me down for a post in Melbourne. But I got the push anyway as my work ethic’s been well-tested 3-months after joining the company (worked on my undergraduate theses while working full-time). It was one of the best times of my life.
Boozing was great. I’d pass out every now & then, do silly things like try to stub my ciggies in my drink or not know how I got dressed. My project manager, also a great boozer, and our company director, who’s also known to dance when drunk, would instigate drinking games every chance they get.
My first Melbourne teammates
I’m charged with picking out what to try out every Friday night. We’d stop by alcohol drive-thru’s (as in liquor shops that are like McDo’s drive-thru!) & I’d try every item I’ve been meaning to taste! Jack, Black Label, Red Label, Cognac, Baileys, Tequila with the worm, gins, vodkas,.. honestly the list is endless. I didn’t drink that much beer, because I was too conscious of the “beer belly”.
I frequented Malate, bar hopping til morning. One time we ended up in a gay bar where all the call boys were gorgeous college boys. My male friends were keen to stay in one corner of the room, always jumping when someone touched their shoulders. The girls were more carefree. And I was asked to dance by a sweet-smelling hot “boy” who insists on his shock that it was a gay bar. I didn’t even ask him… hmm?
Well. That’s it. My 8 random facts. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
And now what’s next? I’m supposed to tag 8 people so: Chats, Christianne, Tito Rolly, BatJay (mabasa mo kaya ito?), Geri, Febeth, Raquel, and BugsyBee!
UPDATE 14 Sept PM:
OMG! Sorry Pining for forgetting you also tagged me for this post!
As I said before, my hormones are taking over & I’ve been fancying McAvoy for some days now. So here’s my work-desktop. And like I said, I’ve got dual monitors so his face is plastered on both. Awfully nice.
that’s right, the day Obama won, the husband told me to get a paper. I said, “why?” ” because he made history, you...