I met all my good friends from way back in college. A trip was organized by the Haribon Youth to Masinloc, Zambales and this is where it all started of, should I say, 'start of something big'. and lasting. My friends from Haribon-Miriam College extended the invitation to its members and I tagged along.
Gigie, forever boyish looking during our younger days with her barbers cut. And wouldn't you know it, Steven was her boyfriend, silent and brooding but quick to smile, who would let fly a barb albeit funny, as unerring as an arrow that would hit the bulls eye of any topic at hand. As opposite as night and day, where the other is quick to voice her opinion the other is content to sit back and watch the verbal banter fly back and forth before putting in his two cents worth
Paeng his veritable twin, as lanky and laconic, two laid back men as similar as two peas in a pod.
Danny, the founding father of Haribon Youth. Hanep, ba? Founding father sounds more like one of those signatories to the Katipunan, hehe.
But seriously, he is a veritable presence and unabashed critic of the succeeding Haribon Youth leaders. Who wouldn't quake at what he and Gigie would have to say about how things should be?
Jonjon, the walking Easter Island statue from TEP. A bird afficionado and GIS mapping whiz.
Ella, Haribon-Miriam's president when we were still in college, Crush-ng-bayan and resident delicate flower. Don't be put off by her Miriam accent, she is as spunky and cowboy like the rest of us.
Riezl, the Olsen twins look-alike, prepetually smiling and unfazed by anything.
Rei and Anne (Angelina Jolie look-alike), perpetually joined at the hips, the hobbit couple
Abi, Haribon-Miriam baby when we all first started and became one of my fast friends.
Dhitz, dhitseng kuracha, med student then DR. Dhits now.
Jukka, being the type who has a preponderance (and a life-long obsession) with blondes and blue eyes, I was smitten by his puti looks. Until he opened his mouth. Shet. Bisdak pala. Bisayang dako in other words. Leche, napeke ako!
Marnie, from the NO office, a whizz at editing and producing write-ups in a flash. A box of
And then later, I met other wonderful people and not just from Haribon too: Teeny, Bitay, Estee, Faye, Ver, Chel, Allen, Joseph, and a host of other friends who have already disappeared into the woodwork or otherwise had a family or got swallowed up by their careers.
That management issue brouhaha prompted a mass exodus to Greenpeace, and all the Haribon volunteers, jumped ship en masse, like rats from a sinking ship. More people and more friends years and years later.
O wag magselos pag hindi na mention! Ang dami nyo kasi eh!
That year was 1997. Fast forward to 2008. So many things have happened since then, people who I never thought of being married or having kids have kids already. Seeing them with the tots make me salivate:
Gigie, photography goddess and Photoshop master and Steven, Lord and Greenpeace IT, are now married after 10 years, and have produced Julianna, the darling and the twinkle of everyone's eye.
Allen has two kids and is thriving with her domestic life w/ a bakeshop to boot,
Ella married with Jasper and a successful pre-school teacher, another soon to pop,
Danny, at the top of his game as a professional underwater photographer and GE campaigner,
Rei, an erstwhile editor of the environmental news spread Balikas, is now coordinator of Ecowaste coalition,
Anne, now works with Gigie in GAIA as admin assistant,
Faye and Chel, now both work in HCWH.
Abi, now works out of Amsterdam
Paeng, soon-to-be lawyer, happily married with one girl. Now, THATS one guy I NEVER though would get hitched, Well, actually, EVERYONE. Hehe.
Everyone has spread their wings, letting the wind blow them to the proverbial four corners of the earth.
I can never ask for a better set of friends, who has been with me through thick and thin for 10 years. They taught me everything I needed to know about valuing the environment and valuing people. They taught me to dive, swim and snorkel, climb mountains, literal and figurative, gave me the proverbial spank on the hand when I was out of line, provided me with the emotional support through my darkest days. They have been my pillars and my staunchest allies.
Most of all, sailing through the strange, turbulent and stormy sea of my adolescent years, I have had the best ride because I had the best crew to steer me through these tempestours waters.
You were all the role models who equipped me for life.
And so it is, with the passing of my father, you have all extended your hands to help me unhesitatingly. I write this out of the gratitude of my heart.
I am crying as I write this for despite all the misunderstandings and petty quarrels, you have all been there for me.
After 10 years we are all still together, more solid than ever, meshing, weaving in and out of each other's life.
You are all the warp and woof of the colorful cloth that is my life.
Hindi ko kayo ipagpapalit. Saludo ako sa inyo!
Mahal ko kayong lahat.
Drama ba?
