--- "Asymptotes," our lecturer said with fervor, "are lines that can get closer and closer to a given curve but never really touches it." It was the first day of review in this year; we were talking about parabolas, hyperbolas and ellipses. Yes, geometry. You get the picture. I was listening eagerly to him until after he said the meaning of asymptotes. --- I see him almost every weekday. I walk in front of him most of times or vice versa. What caught me (besides bleeding pheromones) is the air of mystery around him. Sure, every stranger might seem mysterious or odd or whatever you put them. But this one, I'd rather call the one with sexy air of mystery. I'm not talking about the carnal meaning you might be thinking but there's just something in him that made me so curious. I could come to know all his habits and vices, his group of friends, the style of his writing, his favorite shirt and shoes, his scent, his voice, his name. And he will still remain a stranger. Or maybe not, whatever might happen. How could you know so many things about a person and not now a lot of things about him at the same time? Day by day, I am weaving this string of attachment with him without being aware of it. Like a spider making a web; even though I know it won't be sturdy enough to stay for so long. What makes a person stand out from all the others you meet by chance? He just happened to pass by and then he caught your fancy. Isn't it nice? Other people touching your lives without them meaning to or without them knowing. It's almost surreal. Surely, he's just one of the many strangers that will come to pass; whose face I might come to know too well. And that will be just it. --- That day he sat next to me. It was the first time I ever felt how a few inches can be so far. It felt like it. Then I heard the story of asymptotes and it hit me right between my eyes. Two people can get closer and closer but never really touch each other. Like ever.
I really believe my past life happened in the late 40s to 50s. Sometimes, I'd like to believe I lived in Paris and other times in California. Oh, I really do believe!
I watched the Gangster Squad and I'm blaming it for this withdrawals I'm feeling. I am so addicted in seeing vintage fashion. And having said that, I so love Audrey Hepburn which I consider as the greatest fashion icon of American vintage!
I just want Audrey Hepburn to be the first picture to see in this post.
Gosling is soooo hot in this movie. I love him now!
For the complete vintage vibe, here's Peggy Lee's Bless You! One of 50s greatest songs!
Naalala mo pa ba yung pilot episode ng Meteor Garden? O kaya yung teaser na lang? My gosh. Effect pa lang ng mga nagliliparang dahon (sa teaser), alam ko na na mababago yung buhay ko.
Isa lang akong hamak na uhuging Grade 6 student noon.
Pero noong magsimula ang Meteor Garden, natuto na kong kiligin nang kiligin nang kiligin.
Sinong makakalimot sa scooter ni Shan Cai at ang super ever unkabogable entrance ng F4 with the white convertible with matching flying leaves pa?! Ohmayghaaad talaga, diba?
Aminin mo! Iba ang Meteor Garden. Ibang-iba. Eto yung unang beses na naramdaman mo yung ganoong klase ng kilig, ng antisipasyon sa bawat eksena. First Asianobela to conquer the Philippines. A major, major hit. Kung hindi mo napanood yan noon o kaya naman eh hindi ka pa ipinapangak, oh my, wala nang kwenta ang buhay mo! Chos lang! :D But seriously, this TV show became part of my childhood and it still evoke the same feelings I felt when I watched it before.
Parang laging gusto ko na hilahin ang oras simula pagpasok ko sa umaga. At kapag uwian naman, nagkakandarapa ako sa pagtakbo pag-uwi para maumpisahan lang 'yon.
Kung uso siguro ang twitter noong mga panahong 'yon, trending everyday ang F4. Bakit ba naman hindi?! Sa mga kapwa ko elementary students pa lang naman, hindi na magkamayaw sa pagkukwentuhan at pag-aagawan sa apat. Tapos sasali pa yung Nanay mo sa pakikipag-agawan? Epic.
Kung ngayon may Team Jao at Team Gino, syempre noon may Team Dao Ming Si at Team Hua Ze Lei!! Isa akong dakilang member ng Team Hua Ze Lei, kahit na sa bandang huli ay tinaggap ko na rin si Dao Ming Si para kay Shan Cai (napakarami ko talagang pinagdaanan promise bago ko matanggap). Sa bawat basurahang sinisipa ni Dao Ming Si na itinatayo naman ni Hua Ze Lei, susme!Parang tinutusok-tusok yung puso ko sa kakiligan kasi ang gwapo gwapo ni Lei talaga! Shocks!
Pati yung phrase na "You'll be Dead" na sumikat din. Gumagawa pa nga kami ng red card noon at ginagaya sila. At minsang ginaya ko rin yung pagsigaw ni Shan Cai sa rooftop dahil sa galit niya F4 na tinatawag niyang Piggy 4. Wala lang, feel ko lang. :)
Nag-effort talaga ako na i-note yung lyrics ng Qing Fei De Yi kapag intro. Syempre, wala pa namang internet noon. Tyagaan talaga ang pagpa-fan girl.
Pero later on, nagkaroon ng tagalog version ang well-loved intro song! Ang "Byahe" by Josh Santana. Nagmistula akong sirang radyo na di matigil kakakanta nito noon. Grabe. As in. At hanggang ngayon, kabisado ko pa rin siya by heart. (Nakakahiya man pero mas kabisa ko pa siya kesa hymn ng huli kong Alma Mater :P)
Nag-iipon din ako ng teks nun ng Meteor Garden. Kinumpleto ko talaga silang lahat. Si Shan Cai at buong F4: Dao Ming Si, Hua Ze Lei, Mei Zuo at Xi Men. Teks talaga. Tapos idinikit ko sa notebook ko at nilagyan ko pa ng characteristics, scented at glittered pen pa ang ginamit ko. In fairness, nakatabi pa rin yung notebook ko na yun hanggang ngayon. Tibay!
At hindi ko rin makakalimutan ang first day ko sa highschool. Syempre dahil birthday yun ni Vic Zhou, June 9!!
And who would not know about THE EVENT sa Ultra! Parang gusto ko nang magwala na hindi ako makakapunta dun. Alam mo yung ganoong feeling, ang sakit. Napakasakit. Malayong malapit. Nandito na sila, humihinga ng hanging hinihinga mo din pero hindi mo pa rin makitaaaaa! Argh.
Kaya sa lahat ng mga taong na-hook sa Meteor Garden katulad ko, group hug tayo! Gusto nyo bang gumawa ang ABS SCBn ng remake? Ako, oo! At ako dapat si Shan Cai! LOL.
---
This trip down to memory lane is all because of Barbie Xu being on twitter! It has been 10 years since its airing in the Philippines. Ganoon katagal, pero nakatanim pa rin sa puso't isip ko, mo, ninyo.
I am so happy I got to spend time watching Meteor Garden. This show will always have a special place in my heart and will always be one of the bests. At kung sa Asianobela rin lang naman, wala pa ring nakakapantay sa impact Meteor Garden sa mga Pinoy hanggang ngayon.
P.S.
Hanggang ngayon, trip ko pa rin kantahin habang nakapikit itong "Ang Hanap Ko" (Tagalog Version ng Ni Yao De Ai). Feel ko lang siya, as in feel na feel I want to cry. Choks!
Manila Clasico. The most expected and the most dreaded match of every conference. I don't know how it evolved to the term "Manila Clasico". Maybe because of the classic rivalry between Añejo and Purefoods, which resonates with the different names both teams changed into. Ginebra is synonymous to Gilbeys, Añejo and Gordons Gin while Purefoods is to Coney Island, BMeg and San Mig Coffee. My indescribable fondness for Gilbeys, Añejo and Gordon Gins is, well, indescribable. I haven't had a single faint trace of footsteps in this world, of course, when these teams played so you could question the "fondness" I am talking about. I don't know. Maybe I am wired this way; maybe my mother gave birth to me while cheering for Añejo or shouting Jawo's name. I don't know honestly. And in line with this is "hatred" for Purefoods. (If you are a sports fan, you'll understand this kind of hate.) I know hate is all bad, but I feel it in my veins. Do you feel it too?
Fifth loss
Yes, this 5-game-losing-streak is painful. But you got to admit something; this one is five times more painful than any other eliminations loss. Who likes losing? Apparently nobody. What more if it is losing to your mortal enemy? Rival? Nemesis?
It was my first time to watch a Manila Clasico game live and boy, what an experience! It felt like a whole different world out there. It was like being inside a battlefield, like the Trojans versus the Greeks. You are all-out prepared to charge for a battle in which you think you know the ending. Call me unbelieving or anything, I am just being honest.
It started wild. With boos and claps outshining each other.
The collective boos every time James Yap handles the ball.
The collective boos every time Mark Caguioa handles the ball.
The collective chants of "U-wi-an na!" when people started to go out when there's still 7 minutes left in the ballgame. Heartbreaking.
The "Gi-ne-bra! Gi-ne-bra! Gi-ne-bra!" of Ginebra faithfuls in the dying minutes being overpowered by boos. Super heartbreaking.
Anything Goes
Kahit #EXPECTING mong matatalo, masakit pa rin. Mas masakit pa nga eh. Sobrang nakaka-badtrip. Nanuod ka na lang sana ng sine o binukas mo na lang sana yung TV para manuod ng GGV, nandun pa si Mario Maurer. Dito, nagbayad ka na nga tapos maba-badtrip ka lang.
Eh, wala. Yan ka. Mas masaya ka pa ring manuod ng laban ng paborito mong koponan, kahit madalas namang talunan. Mas masaya ka pa rin sa loob ng Araneta at nasasaksihang unti-unti kayong dinudurog ng kalaban. Mas masaya ka pa ring sumigaw ng Gi-ne-bra! Gi-ne-bra! Gi-ne-bra! kahit na tambak na kayo. Yan ka, Ginebra die hard ka. Isinumpa ka. Oh yeah, isinumpa tayo. Ito na yung pamana sa atin ni Jawo; ang curse kasama ng Never Say Die attitude.
Paanong hindi? Eh alam mo na yung feeling ng natatalo nang natatalo. Hindi naman sa panta-thrashtalk sa team natin ah, ganito lang talaga. Alam na natin 'yun.
Inisa-isa na nila lahat ng kamalian sa atin. Kesyo may mga hero ball daw. Everyone wants to shoot. Roles are undefined o baka hindi lang naman matanggap. Confused din daw. Hindi alam kung sino dito, sino doon. Banggaan madalas sa mga kakampi. Yung literal na banggaan. Kulang sa big man, mahina sa ilalim. 'Yung hinaing ng fans, ang coaching staff at sistema. Utang na loob. Ayoko nang magtanong ng "What is wrong?". Gusto kong itanong "So what will we do about it?"
Ano na? Hindi porke nalugmok tayo eh di na tayo makakabangon. Kaya pa yan. Huwag tayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Kung hindi na, eh may next confe at season pa. Sabi nga ni Ate Kaye Cabal, "Pakiusap, huwag kang bibitaw." Kapit lang sa lubid, parang pista ng Nazareno.
Kaya kapit lang Billy Mamaril, LA Tenorio, Rico Maierhofer, Mike Cortez, JJ Helterbrand, Allein Maliksi, Kerby Raymundo, Elmer Espiritu, Willy Wilson, Keith Jensen, Dylan Ababou, Chris Ellis, Mark Caguioa, Rudy Hatfield. At Coach Siot and the rest of the coaching staff. Taas noo pa din. Wag sanang mawawala yung puso sa paglalaro. Kasi kaming mga Ginebra fans, di kami mawawala sa tabi nyo. Wala mang kaming sweldo sa pag-cheer sa inyo, wala mang kapalit itong ginagawa namin para sa inyo. Hindi naman yun ang habol namin. Masaya na kaming sumigaw at pumalakpak kapag nakaka-shoot, nakakasupalpal o nananalo tayo. Masaya na kami kahit makapagpa-picture lang sa inyo. Kahit abot-langit pa ang thrashtalk na abutin namin sa mga fans ng Purefoods at ibang mga tao. Alam din naming maraming pagkatalo pa ang mararanasan natin. Syempre, alam din naming magcha-champion ulit tayo, sa tamang panahon. Nakakainip. Nakaka-badtrip. Masakit sa puso, oo.
Pero isinumpa kaming maging mga die hard fans ninyo, mananatili kaming ganito.
Don't talk to strangers. Resist the urge to even throw a glance at them, at him. I know he's cute and hot and promising, but believe me, don't ever talk to him. Remember what your mom always tells you when you were just a kid "Don't talk to strangers, my dear."
You might meet each other at the most enchanting and romantic instances, but don't let the moment fool you. Maybe you bumped into him at a train station; or he might be the one who accidentally spilled coffee on your favorite blouse in Starbucks; or the one who took the last stock of book you've been eyeing for weeks in that bookshop; or he's that guy that helped you with your spilled errands; or (insert any clichéd first meeting scenarios here). He might be your fantasy come true.
But let me pop that dreamy bubble out of your head.
Don't talk to strangers, for everything starts when you talk to them. When I said everything, I didn't just mean the love story that might eventually blossom between the two of you, or whatever connection you two might make out of it. I also mean the conclusion, the ending.
For when you talk to strangers, you open yourself to a lot of possibilities. You are initially giving them free entrance to your life. And what would happen if they manage to enter? They would make a mark, a space, a hole. You will find out his magnificent qualities by engaging in a conversation with him or you will be fooled by his show-off. You might instantly like him and make you say "Oh, this guy is something." You'll feel that something unimaginable ignited your every nerve endings and fueled your fantasy. It's as if the heavens conspired and the Earth stopped rotating on its axis and your heart skipped ten beats. Don't. Let. It. Fool. You.
Don't fucking talk to him for us, humans (girls), are insatiable. You'll crave for more. Girl, I know the ways of your mind. I know because that's how my mind works too. I know how just one simple sentence and eye-to-eye contact can make you think about the future; dates, the relationship, wedding, kids, grandchildren. Yes, daydreaming overload. We often get much ahead of ourselves and can be mislead by a thought in just a snap of a finger. Before you know it, you've completely immersed your body and soul into him. It's like you ushered yourself to be trapped in an impasse without an exit strategy.
Maybe you won't see him again; maybe you will at another unforgiving instance. Maybe you'll hit it off; maybe you'll not. Maybe you'll think of him in the next 365 nights and make you wish at every 11:11 AM/PM the clock could ever offer. Maybe.
But why do we need to make our lives more complicated? All because of talking to a God-forsaken stranger? Everything is peaceful in your life before; don't create reasons to make it miserable. Don't be so overwhelmed with enchantment. Lessen the time you watch chick flicks so you don't get affected by it.
Yes, it is all probably as good as it ever gonna get.
Yes, the moment starts as fast as it ends.
But you are stubborn. You'll talk to him. You'll talk to a stranger. You’ll give yourself the luxury to consider it as a prelude
to some sparkling chapter; expecting it will continue to blossom with fruitful promises.
But, dear, fall seems to come soon. The leaves wither and the wind
blows to tear it off the branch.
And as the leaf eagerly touches the ground you'll realize,
he was just another anecdote in your so called life.
