Friendship Series: The Mighty Charibel

WAYA would agree that Charibel or we prefer to call “Chau”, “Chaw” is the backbone of our friendship. When problems arise she is the moderator,  the banker, the treasurer, the hit man, the resource person, the cook, the event planner. She is one of the major asset of our circle, a treasure that we will not ever subject into an auction. 

Above all of these, I personally know her as “ang babaeng walang pahinga”, as one time I asked her to accompany me to buy something in Iloilo. She brought me to Iloilo downtown because merchandise are cheaper there.  From 1pm to 5pm we searched for the cheapest item. She asked me. “Kaya mo pa?” I answered. “No chaw, lets buy this one na lang.”

Now, every time that we go out together, I always bring with me two bottles of water, a chocolate and face towel because she will gonna tour you all around the area. 

Allow me to show you her super powers.

#1. She is a superwoman. Despite her asthma, she still managed to defy her disease. She even outsmarts it by taking prophylaxis bronchodilator before going to extreme activities. She believes that what the mind can conceive the body can achieve and this belief brought us to greater heights, literally HEIGHTS!

#2 She is also a wonder woman. She can make things possible. One time, we were not able to get the votes for a certain competition. I remember clearly on how Chaw went to every internet cafe with her sexy body facing every men and women who were playing. For almost 5 minutes she was able to garner 100 votes. “Paraparaan lang yan!“, she said.

#3. She is a woman of nature. She always wants to breathe fresh air, to witness the floating fog, to listen to insects and to take pictures with different trees. This image is taken from the highest peak in Iloilo despite the risk of having an allergic attack or worst hypoxic event due to high altitudes she still climbed the mountain, “When I’m old, I’ll join the Greenpeace.” 

#4. She is a woman of culture. Well, this is one of the trait that I’m amazed with her. She even went to Thailand with empty pockets just to experience its culture. When she went home from Thailand, we were amazed on how in 5 days she was able to learn the basics of the Thai language. Now, she is studying the language of Germany. “I want to know more about Hitler.” Those words were scary coming from her.

#5. She is a woman fascinated with monarchy and fairy tales. She believed in “Prince Charming”, the power of the true love’s kiss, the concept of forever and eternity. When given the chance she will build her own kingdom.

#6. She is a DONYA in her own unique ways. She steals the show by wearing attire that glitters, matches the theme, the curtains, the table cloths. Inside her hand bag are her life saving materials like the spray paint for those who will take advantage of her during the night.

#7. She knows every tourist spot within her area of responsibility. Her main advocacy is marine protection. She is always present in every mangrove planting events, coral reef preservation gatherings, conventions and donation drives. When asked why is doing these, she said ” Because I am once a mermaid.”

#8. She is a BORACAY ISLAND conservationist. Every year she devoted herself to visit the island. Meeting other people and telling them about the importance of tourist spot preservation is her priority. She firmly believe that Boracay if not safeguarded well will turn into a dead space in the coming years.

#9. She is the only one in the group who has the passion with corals and sub marine life. In our project “tahong for life” chaw poured out her abilities for the successful implementation. Meanwhile Alfred’s passion is on mollusk having them in a team is a great opportunity. “Whats your passion”, they asked me. “Uhm the Fishermen.”, I answered then we laughed out loud until sunset.

#10. She is a visionary. I never heard any negative statements from her.
“We can” “Yes” “Of course.”  She has a vision and that made her powerful.

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This is one of our oldest picture. Chaw has always been my backbone. From the start of our class in our freshmen year in college. I asked for a ball pen and a notebook, she provided me without hesitation, I asked for a jogging pants, the next day she gave me one, I asked for an answer in an exam, she whispered “A”, I asked for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, it was served, I asked for a shelter, I asked for a defender, I asked for money, I asked for a medicine, I asked everything from her like a parasite, but all her answer were CRISPY and GENUINE YES AND OK except one which I’m sure she cannot provide. whaha! 

Friendship Series: Hanna Crazy or Extraordinary?

Do you have friend whose train of thoughts always seemed to be bizarre? However, his or her ideas are valid and accurate when given the deepest attention. His or her thoughts provoke debates within the circle. Actually, if you have this kind of friend you are lucky because he or she will add spices to the team.

In my own circle, Hanna is the perfect match to this type. She is the Mother Superior, the morality rest in her, given the fact that she graduated from a Catholic school. In terms of spirituality and morality she is the adjudicator. It has been six long years, she never failed to amaze us with his wit and eloquence on top is her bizarre thinking that complimented our friendship. 

#1. Because of our bizarre thoughts I always asks her to join every declamation competition in the university. I am the scriptwriter and she is the performer. She fulfilled my dream to become a script writer. It was four straight years of performance, of laughter, of winnings. She made my writings come alive on different cultural centers. When she was about to say no, I told her: “Do not fail your number 1 fan.” Yes, I am her most avid fan since we were in Kindergarten. I never failed to attend in all her competition, I analyzed her performances. I even bet on some of her contests.

#2. What on Earth was she thinking arranging her hair in this manner inside the classroom. I presumed it was her own way of stress diversion from a rigid nursing education. She is crazy, but this expression garnered several awards. There  were no boring days when she is around only crazy ones! 

#3 Who can forget her own dress themes? This is her summer outfit worn during December. She was months advance. According to her, Summer is the best part of the year, because she can show her real colors to men. I love her hat made from buri of the Aeta community.

#4. She wears sunglasses paired with her “diamond” earrings when going to bodies of water. When asked why? Her crazy answer was “What if the ocean will carry me to different lands, the fisherman who catches me wins a diamond! Is it not a wonderful story?” She would usually sit solitary on a stone and murmur words, ask hypothetical questions or speculate about love and death.

#5. Her eye shadows stunned everyone during her graduation. She told us “I am here to claim the fruits of my labor then It is right and just to wear my most revolutionary make-up.” 

#6. She was the class bet for the Presidency position in the college. She did not gave any remarks about the issue, instead she wore what she coined the “Freedom and Liberty” gown in one of the event. She did not run for the position. The position is belittling my gown, I refuse., she said in an interview.

#7. Who can question her style. She always stands out with her raffles and curtains. This is her normal look during every event in college.

#8. Her attires eventually shifted to shades of brown. We were shocked and puzzled. Was something wrong? She told us.

“I want to be a nun.”

#9. I asked her, are gaining muscles and body building included in the requirements to become a nun?

“No, I want to become fit. I want to become a sexy star.”

#10. One day, she woke up with a feeling that she wanted to buy pussycats. When she showed her new favorite, we were silenced. The nun, the sexy star now becomes a child?

#11. Her fascinations for stones, volcanic debris and mountains never ceased.

“I can hear their voices.”, she said. 

#12. We are the queen and the King of the dance floor. While others are enjoying, her we are playing our own dance, I am the bull, chasing her red cloth like a MATADOR.

With all of these, It was with her craziness that supported my crazy thoughts as well. Hanna taught me to open my eyes to the things that are invisible to the naked eye, she opened my ears for me to hear the spirits of this world, she calibrated my awareness of events, she made me one hell of a human and the WAYA would agree with me on how did she influenced us to become better and crazier.

Our theme song:

Six fun facts about Alfred

It is a must to have a friend who loves nature. When it comes to this, no doubt Alfred is my perfect buddy. Aside from the fact that we were best of friends for over a decade now, it is also given that he is the repository of my darkest secrets.

We pledged to bring this to our graveyards. Knowing and spending time with him made me realized that human as we are, we need to always go back to nature where we first emerged. He once said and I quote.

“Nature is our history and we can only find ourselves if we constantly go back to its realms.”

“Yes, I will return you to your home.”, I said. Then he slapped me.

Here are the following fun facts about Alfred.

#1. He loves climbing trees. He believes that this is a primitive ability of humans. When I asked him why, he gave me two reasons. a) The aura trees give us can uplift our spirits. b) Once you are on the branches, you will realize the beauty of nature.

#2.  Red is like a Fish. Whenever he saw a river, he wants to lie down .  I remember one time, he told me, “What if we take a bath in  Pasig River?” River for him is the aquarium of the world. The first animals came from the bodies of water and we can only understand our real existence if we submerge ourselves to it. “Furthermore, it can cleanse your soul”, he added. 

  #3 Red is a Shaman! I caught him one time doing this in the middle of the river in Mambukal in Negros, Occidental. It was 5am in the morning, and up until now answers on how, why and what he was doing with the stones remained scarce. In an interview he told me, I was practicing with my new talent. 

#4. Red has a soft spot for the community. He cried a lot upon seeing the destruction after the havoc of Typhoon Yolanda in the northern part of Iloilo. He immediately left his work to volunteer in the community. He told me in a phone call,

“Inday!” Well, the term Inday for us is a distress signal.

#5 He is a singer. He has this kind of facial expression when surrounded with boys. In an interview, he told me that I was only singing with full feelings. Sometimes, you need to close your eyes to see the most beautiful things in life.

#6 He is a choreographer in almost of my plays. This is a picture from our poetry in motion presentation. I was included to be the lead member of the fly,(I was the only male member wearing bra) of course I asked him to allow me! Lol

We got a perfect score from that epic performance! 

It was indeed an epic journey together with one of my craziest friends. We battled for academic supremacy since in High School.

By the way, this is his favorite song! I always play this song every morning when he is still asleep. Whahaha!

Lip Gloss?- Ask Rex

Ever since I dreamed to have a brother or a sister and alas he had given me both.

It was our first day in class back 2009, June when I first meet him. Oily lip balm, evenly applied face powder, curly, mysterious hair, and my favorite his naturally curled eyelashes; these are the characteristics that rejoices my heart everyday despite the difficult nursing subjects.

Yes, his eyelashes were natural like his genuine personality. Many misinterpreted him, linked him to many personalities like Lady Gaga, Britney, Miley Cyrus, Kris Aquino whom he patronizes up until now with the inclusion of Nicki Minaj. But here are my own experiences.

#1. He taught me how to apply lip gloss.

“The lips is the mirror to our sexuality, if your lips is dry, you know.”

#2. Rexell is a good endorser of food. He always quote.

“You must try something else, something different.”

I did not permit him to introduce new concepts to my system, thus I dragged him to some of my passions.

#1. I introduced him to community service.

Now, it’s time to increase your SPF in your lotion and powder!

#2. I Encouraged him to join me in my fiction writing journey.

“Truth has two sides, and the better story always wins.”

To punish me, he coerced me to ride with him in this LOG!

“Sometimes, you need to experience how to fall like a log from a mountain.”

If you want an adventurous life he is the best buddy. He defies physics, chemistry and even destiny. Now, he is asking me to go to the Sierra Madre for a jogging. But I must admit, he helped me in many ways, a lot of ways. 🙂

PS He is now mastering the art of cosmetics!