As we celebrate Becky’s birthday today, Feb 4 (Manila time) and looking at her painting of Pook Pangarap, I can not help reminisce our student days about 47 years ago when we spent a lot of time day dreaming and thinking of what the future held for us. Never in our wildest imagination that we would be in a place like Canada and have a piece of heaven on earth in Pook Pangarap.
As her birthday approaches, I would scrimp on my baon and scholarship stipend allowance to have something for her birthday and having in mind as well that 10 days after, it will be Valentine’s day. Instead of eating at Vinzons’ cafeteria, we would normally have our lunch at the side steps of the UP Library. I will bring tocino and rice and our special dessert will be banana cue or turon being sold in the area.
However, on a special day like her birthday, I will treat her to “fine dining” at 3M Pizza in Cubao. And subsequently splurge on balcony seats at Coronet theatre along Aurora boulevard or at the New Frontier Cinema. Piso yata ang bayad noon. Bibilangin ko pa ang dala ko para siguradong may pang-soft drinks, pampatulak sa dala kong monay peanut butter sandwich.
Becky was a campus charmer, a real stunner, the most beautiful for me. In mini skirt and 4 inch high heeled shoes, she was an apparition – “a phantom of delight”. I would be wearing elevator shoes just to appear taller and certainly a punishing experience whenever I had to join protest rallies walking from UP to Mendiola. She must have seen a young promising man in me, being a scholar, UP Student Council Rep and Chess Champion but I was no match in resources versus her other rich suitors. Ang totoo noon promise lang ako ng promise and no real guarantee that I could provide her a comfortable life. But at that time, I could have written a popular song lyrics myself that went “I love her more today than yesterday but not as much as tomorrow”.
On a special occasion like this, with my long hair (hati sa gitna), I would wear my double knit, bell bottom pants and banlon t-shirt (mana kay Daddy). After the movie, I will have a huge white “limousine” when I bring her home – with driver and conductor and a logo of DM Transit at the side. And sometimes sa sobrang siksikan at balyahan sa estribo, sa bintana ako aakyat para makapasok sa loob just to make sure, she will have a seat. And when it rained, I got her to experience the “canals of venice” but instead on a gondola, sabit sa dyip at susulong pa kami sa baha sa Morayta near UST. And upon reaching Blumentritt, at the corner of Batangas and Avenida, I will treat her again at the Silver Star restaurant with our favorite pancit canton for long life. Then I will hire a vehicle exclusively for us – sasabihin ko sa tricycle driver, tatang, larga na at diretso na tayo babayaran ko na lang iyong pangatlong pasahero – tricycle nga lang pero exclusive naman. On my way home, hahabol sa dyip, tatalon at sasampa habang paandar ang dyip at sabit pa rin pauwi sa Novaliches. Basa man ang sapatos at pawisan, hindi maalis-alis and ngiti pa rin sa labi at para pa ring nasa alapaap.
After about two hours, Becky would go to a corner store to call me on a public phone just to make sure I was home safely. Our trance like state still continued with conversation on sweet nothings until our party line (ang tagal na palang nakikinig) at sisigaw ng “Hoyyy, tama na ang boladas, pakibaba at emergency eto”. Well that was a typical birthday celebration before then I will start worrying again on how to save for another “grand” celebration on Valentine’s day. We may have gone a long way since then. But come to think of it, we had fun, we were happy and never felt that it could have been better. For sure, we will not wish to change those precious moments and memories with anything different. And if I may quote again the line in the Little Prince – “ It is only in the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye” And what truly matters to me are not the material possessions and accolades as I have come to realize earlier on that the only thing that really matters is YOU. Happy Birthday to my perfect soul mate. Praise the Lord!
コメント