Bolang

We call our college barkadahan, “Bolang.”  As to why and how come, I don’t remember anymore.  We were dominated by macho, blood dripping on paper, often inebriated male friends who decided on everyone’s behalf our group name and handshake.  We were often found by the Batibot tree near the “Three Os” in UP Baguio.  We maximized college life and one of the things we learned is that “pare, nakamamatay ang kombinasyon ng alak at mj lalo na kung may asthma ka.”  We had loads of fun, we had dreams, and we were excellent in our classes.

We were solid in our first year and we spent so much time watching for the nth time “Reality Bites.”  Second year brought transfers to Diliman and US petitions.  Third and fourth years were serious times both in regard to studies, thesis, student organizations, and the struggle for a national democratic society.  We were freshmen in 1994 and most of us graduated in 1998 albeit there were some exceptions.  When they finally marched (some finally graduated in 2005), we cried, “sa wakas!”

Fast forward to 2009 and we are all in our early 30s.  Some got married and with beautiful children, one is undergoing annulment, many are earning a decent salary, some are already owners of houses, condo units and cars, some are abroad, one is a UP teacher, and one is in social development work.  We had a reunion last week and as always, the one who is undergoing an annulment proceeding / the crush ng bayan / the raison d’etre of D’s undergrad theater thesis in 1999 was the center of much teasing. 

J:  Kung nakinig ka kasi sa akin noon, di sana kayo nagkatuluyan.  Wala sana tayong ana-annulment ngayon

A:  Eh di wala sanang magagandang Sophie at Bianca

M:  Bakit ka nga magpapa annul?

A:  Para may closure

R:   Siguro naman ayaw mo na magpakasal ulit ano 

A:  Ayaw ko na

D:  So, bakit ka nga magpapa annul?

A:  Para may closure

J:  Kung si D na lang nakatuluyan mo, masaya ka sana ngayon

Everyone except A:  Oo nga!

A:  Eh di wala sanang magagandang Sophie at Bianca

From the foregoing questions and answers, it seem as if we did not move on, as if the last 11 years did not make us sober, adults, and (ehem ehem) mature. 

To more dinners, happy conversations, and “reality bites.”