HYPOTHALAMUS on the go!

Finally…

…we were reunited- me, Ate Rina and Ate Michelle! With the help of the messenger!  After a long wait that the three of us will be able to chat together, today- 04 December 2008 it happened!

Talking to them brought me back to the good old days that we shared…and recollect the very first time we met…

I’ll start with Ate Rina…It was in February 1995 when my Kuya’s in ATEP (now Kanlaon) dorm had their practice at the arena in preparation for a rodeo competition to be held in Dumaguete.  I was there in the arena to watch my Kuya’s play and I also started to throw some lassos that time hoping to learn the sport.  Ate Rina arrived riding a red scooter! One of my Kuyas told me that she is one of the players. Gosh, she must be so good in playing rodeo.  I was quiet intimidated so, I climbed up the corral and sat there so she could not see me playing..

With Ate Michelle… it was August 1994. I joined the tryout for a volleyball team for the intramural games.  She was not our coach then.  When the coach had the final list of players and fortunately I was one of them, Ate Mich (this is how I fondly call her) approached me.  I can still imagine how she stood so tall (she’s really tall) in front of me…and me feeling so small…She asked me a few questions which I timidly answered.

I never met these two guys again until July 1995, when we are preparing for the rodeo competition as one of the school’s anniversary activities.  At that time, I was enlisted in the Bison Cubs which is sort of a beginners’ team next to the elite Wild Bisons in which Ate Rina and Ate Mich belonged to.  So we sort of get to know each other better during times of practice and even after-practice sessions- night picnics at the beach with music and food a-plenty! (hahha..Menu out of the meat from their slaughter class! So, yummy!)

Ate Mich became my coach (volleyball women) in 1995 intramural games while Ate Rina is with the  softball team.  We won the championship game and so with Ate Rina’s team.  Fortunately, I was drafted to join the school’s team for the regional SCUAA meet! I never won Tatay and Nanay’s approval to join the team until they had a talk with Ate Mich- the captainball, over the phone! Ate Mich did a great task in answering all my parents’ queries.  And I owe her a lot for doing such a good work! I really had my first athletic meet so unforgettable with these two fantastic big sisters of mine.  It was in Naval, Biliran! (Photo above was taken during the 1995 Regional SCUAA Athletic Meet at Biliran)

I never expected that our friendship extends beyond rodeos and athletic meet thingy.  We became such best of friends that we were always there for each other (which I believe, we’ll always be).  We shared our joys and troubles.  We had a lot of slumber parties! Got inspired with our crushes (the kilig times), celebrated when one is in in-love mode and got heartaches when one is broken-hearted! Enjoyed the kantahan sessions- for we almost have the same taste for songs and bands! (Eraserheads- that time! And Remember me this way of Ate Rina..)

Oh, I should not forget to mention also that once, they do check if I am really attending my classes.  For one day they found out that I am just sleeping in my room and meet them at the fastfood for lunch as if I just came from my class! Whew! With these Ate’s, I cannot skip classes!
Time came when they graduated and things were not the same anymore.  Ate Rina became so engaged with her business while Ate Michelle settled down.  We seldom see each other and there were also times when our communication waned.  In addition, I also found new friends and been to places. But these never changed the sincere friendship that we shared and the things that I learned from them.

Since the day they left school, there was never a chance that the three of us had a get-together.  From then on, I yearned for the day that we will be reunited and today it happened! It’s really heart-warming to hear updates from each other and once again see their smiles!

I am so thankful to God for this chance, for Ate Rina and Ate Mich will always be a part of who am I now and who will I be…