Saturday, November 15, 2008
REMEMBERING YOU
A few years back, a nephew couldn't wait to finish high school so he could go on to college; not to pursue a particular degree to set him up for a worthwhile career, but to be in the environment full of kolehiyalas. But alas! When he finally entered college life this year, he proved more of a torpe than a swain. As for the cause of his changed demeanor, he bragged about a goal to focus on his studies, of course; earning for himself in the process multiple pogi points from his approving parents.
Based on discussions with fellow Pinoys both here and abroad, I can safely assume that a great majority has a kolehiyala playing a prominent role in their fond memories of college life -- either as a girlfriend or someone idolized from afar. Same goes for the coed: I bet they had a particular college guy (kolehiyelo?) in mind as a suitor; that is, if they weren't already entangled with one.
Be that as it may, I came across an old tune by Michael Franks which may be a perfect soundtrack during such moments of reminiscing:
That the names of those we love
Are written on our hearts
And we'll search 'til we find
In this jungle of confusion
Something that reminds us
How we love each other
Then I think I've found the clue
Because I'm certain I remember you
Through my window I see
How the seasons change like notes
Within some harmony
But the love in our eyes
Is an endless summer
Is a joy that magnifies
Each time we touch each other
And it feels like deja vu
As my heart reveals
How I remember you
Day after day I'm amazed
How our love intensifies
In every way it resembles forever
Abandons us never
Like the sunlight that shines
Like the fragrance of the rose
No single word defines
We are tuned to the sound
That displays creation
That our lives revolve around
And searching for each other
From a million hearts we choose
You remember me and I remember you
A chorus of sparrows in summer
Is how I remember you
The fire of maple in autumn
Is how I remember you
The silence of snowfall in winter
Is how I remember you
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Thank you!
Labels: Growing up memoirs, music
posted by Señor Enrique at 6:53 AM
21 Comments:
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Photo Cache said... Very true, college memories are fondly remembered because of a particular "eye candy". However, my soundtrack for him now is an old song I believe by Joey Albert with the memorable lyrics: I REMEMBER THE BOY, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER THE FEELINGS ANYMORE.
Happy weekend.-
said... back in college in (adamson) i had this huge crush on this girl she is a b.s.psychology student. i dont know why i'm really torpe when it comes to her. now i sometimes see her walking the mall with someone and i can still feel that old feeling.how i regret i didn't have the courage of approaching to know her and let her know i like her. SAYANG....
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Sidney said...
"kolehiyala playing a prominent role in their fond memories of college life"
Eric...tell us everything ;-)-
NOYPETES said...
Bullseye! with Michael Franks song "How I Remember You"...with a naughty grin on my face right now, I can relate many a love..lost and many love affairs, photostream memories of heartbeats and heartbreakers. I was always broke during my college days in Manila. It was always a bittersweet experience for me hanging out and dating beauties from the exclusive girls school of MetroManila. Not having my own car and limited budget was a disadvantage when going to the beauty's residence in the gated communities of Makati.
Ah! but I the pauper hopeless romantic can share but one victory most memorable in my kolehiyala quest. I won the heart of this pinay beauty(daughter of a diplomat)against all odds. She had suitors galore, mostly the sons of the rich and famous of Manila with their flashy American cars.
Well, to cut the LOVE STORY short, It was a Saturday and I was "scheduled" to see her at home for what we used to call as "dalaw", part of the whole courtship process back then. Could not afford a box of chocolates but had enough money to gas up my brother's 67 Honda CB450 and enough to spare for a long stem Rose from the sidewalk flower vendors of Quiapo. Wrapped the Rose in newspaper and carefully tucked it inside my denim jacket on my ride to her home in Makati. Got into a bit of a problem going in the exclusive gated "village" residence of my heart's desire, I was getting all freaked out going in a rich enclave of high priced properties but finally got permission to proceed to her house. With a bit of "torpe" hesitation, I slowly rode up to her street and saw a parade of fancy cars parked infront of her house. She met me at the gate, I slowly pulled out the long stemmed Rose, still in it's newspaper wrap but broken in half now, and handed it to her, she looked at me in amazement, unwrap the almost wilting Rose and I saw the twinkle in her eyes, then I knew she was smitten by my gesture, I held her left hand(left hand is closer to her heart)and kissed it. She held me close to her and gave me a sweet kiss on the cheek, held my hand and walked me to the living room of their house where all the other guys were, still holding my hand, introduced me to everyone and stuck with me the whole time. The rest of the guys who were there sadly disappointed, slowly and politely left, I was standing next to her hand in hand while she bid her goodbyes to the guys one at a time!
Alone with her now, we shared feeding each other with the expensive chocolates left for her by her disappointed suitors.
Oh BTW, That "Broken Long Stem Rose" trick worked 4 more times before my true love came along and I stuck with her for a while until she was also taken away from me by another guy. Oh well, heartbrakes and heartaches, such is the life of a hopeless romantic cum sucker for love like me!
I passed that Love Story of my life to my 15 year old boy who is dating now.-
Señor Enrique said...
Awesome story, Pete!
That must've been a wonderful feeling -- a natural high, in fact -- to have won the heart of that kolehiyala despite the many other suitors with their cool cars. And I'm sure there were other admirable qualities she found in you besides the "broken long stem rose" trick ... hehehe.
Wouldn't be surprised if your teenager takes after his dad :)
Thanks for sharing, Pete! Wish I have similar tales of victory to tell.-
Señor Enrique said...
Sorry to disappoint you, Sidney, but mine wasn't exciting as Pete's ... hehehe. Nonetheless, there was a couple worth remembering, though I'm too shy to elaborate :)
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Señor Enrique said...
You weren't the only one, Anonymous. Actually, we used to resort to cigarettes as "pang patapang," but we'd still get tongue-tied and often end up missing the chance to really get to know someone.
Can't help but wonder how things might have worked out between you and that girl had you truly pursued her.-
Señor Enrique said...
Hi Photo Cache,
Indeed, that Joey Albert song may have been a more appropriate soundtrack for many folks ... hehehe. But then nostalgia seems sweeter if laced with romantic longing :)-
nutart said...
this post is a bit funny and also nostalgic...is that the meaning of poignant? Love NoyPete's story :-D---the broken rose bit. No one gave me one though...although a guy classmate gave me a whole bunch wrapped in a newspaper for my birthday. I was astounded because the colors were not the usual reds but a bit purplish. It turned out that my classmate was a horticulturist. I didn't feel kilig but moved by the gesture!
My own father would wax poetics telling me about his past loves...of course with my mother out of hearing range :-). But then after that I would also listen to my husband's past loves. Not present though...iba na iyan hehe :-)
I found the video interesting with the vintage footages!-
Señor Enrique said...
Very wise of your hubby to stick to stories of old loves, Bernadette ... hehehe. But those purplish roses must've been something else. Love yellow roses, though :)
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Panaderos said...
Love this post. My elementary and high school years were spent in an all-boys Catholic school. Thus, one of the things that excited me about going to college was to gain "romantic access" to lovely Collegialas. Hehehe
But like your nephew, I was a "torpe" for quite a while and I must say I ended up wasting a couple of years in college due to "inaction". Hahaha-
Señor Enrique said...
Lol ... I had my torpe moments, too, Panaderos.
I was smitten by this kolehiyala from Santa Isabel College. She was so beautiful that I'd immediately get tongue-tied whenever she was around. Just to get a glimpse of her gorgeous smile was enough to make my day :)-
mgaputonimimi said...
hmmm... mejo fresh pa sakin ang college life... just 4 years ago...
like photo cache quoted:
I remember the boy, but i cant remember the feelings anymore... ^_^-
said...
I love the sight of kolehiyalas huddling together. The ultimate test of manhood is to barge in into a group, introduce oneself and strike a conversation. In terms of degree of difficulty, it is akin to doing stand up comedy hehe :)
I love the Michael Franks song bro :)-
Señor Enrique said...
Ano ba 'yan, Mimi. I thought women a are more emotional; hence, remember even more the feelings they once had for someone ... hehehe!
But truth is, the guys are even more intensely emotional; thus, tend to get all twisted, unable to cope with the loss of a loved one.-
Señor Enrique said...
Well, let's put it this way, BW: I could probably muster the courage to barge into a group of kolehiyalas and strike a conversation even if making a fool of myself in the process.
HOWEVER, if one of them happens to be someone I have a crush on, forget it! I'd be the most timid guy you'd ever meet ... hahaha.
Many friends I'd introduced that Michael Franks tune to ended up liking it a lot. It's really a 'sweet' song. Glad you like it :)-
reyd said...
Marami akong istorya during my transition to college from high school. Basta marami --- hahaha!
Sabi nga nila, pabling daw ako, kasalanan ko ba yun? :D
Nang nakawala kami sa "all boys" school into Coed sa USTe, para kaming mga manyak, lahat ng chicks gusto naming papelan, kahit na sa mga rallies before martial law and after that.
But seriously, we were just a bunch of wild animals and the good thing was, I never got into drugs, but alak, babae and sugal nakakapit parati yan. And I can relate more on this nice video by Steely Dan that surely bring back memories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpgE8CpxZFI-
Señor Enrique said...
Whoa! Wish you can share with us even some of those adventures, Reyd ... lol!
I love Steely Dan!-
reyd said...
LOL: here it goes - After so many years, I can still remember my first puppy love.
I'll by-pass muna my childhood friend that when we were in college, medyo we went separate ways. In college, marami akong niligawan and was dating a daughter of a General of the PA na patago dahil sa higpit ang magulang. We were on, but I met this girl in USTe, different section lang, hindi ko naman liligawan sana, but I was challenged since and daming nangliigaw including a DJ of DZRJ na pogi. Bakit ang malas naman, anak na naman ng isang heneral sa Pinas. Pag nag-de-date kami, parating patago at kelangan nakauwi na siya ng 6pm sa bahay. :lol:, anyways, gulo ang nangyari nang yung isang anak ng heneral ay pumunta sa USTe at nahuli kami nitong ka klase ko na mag holding hands sa tapat ng administration bldg. Sinigawan ako na wag nang pupunta sa bahay nila, sabay sigaw sa driver niya to get away. Buwahaha! e takot naman akong pumunta sa bahay nila talaga. And now, this girl that I'm with was so embarassed at maiyak-iyak na. I had to comfort her and tell her that the other girl was my past GF. But as the years past, we were just serious in our studies at bigla na lang nawala yung sparks but we remained friends until now. Kumare ko pa nga siya ngayon. Hehehe!
Now, the one that I married is the one that really gave me the hard time. (no pun intended about the "hard" word). :lol:
She's Chinese at alam mo naman ang mga Chinese, kelangan purong Chinese ka rin nuon to get along with them. Since, hilaw ako, ang hirap talaga. After college ko pa siya nililigawan, pero on and off. And after 7 years, she fought for her true love.. at ako raw yun... ayaw niya sa ka "Kai-Shao" niya..yung bang "reto" ng pamilya niya. Eh kung pogi yun at mayaman, baka bumigay siya. Yun ang madalas ko sabihin..but she would reply to me, "nah, mas mabait ka" - I ask her again, "kung guapo at mayaman yun baka siya na" - she would reply again, "hindi, mas mabait ka" -- hahaha.. I stop from asking her again.
Ayan ang destiny ng buhay naming lahat ~ and back to my chilhood friend, We had some sort of get together here in the US and her close relative was included and when I arrived on that place, anak ng baka, SHE greeted me right away with a hug, I did not know that na petition na pala sila and...........
my gulay.. she was stil good looking and very sexy!
And what are my thoughts after that? Just guess.... hahaha!-
Señor Enrique said...
Lol ... wow, Reyd!
All I can say is that you must have been quite a good looking Chinito yourself to have been able to win over those kolehiyalas. Kasi kung wala k namang itsura, di ka naman papansinin ng mga 'yan lao na yung mga magaganda :)
I wonder how your luck would've turned out if you were a PMA graduate ... hehehe. Siguro mas maangas pa!
Many thanks for sharing Reyd, and congratulations to you and your wife for having a wonderful marriage :)-
reyd said...
Thank you also, I'm indeed blessed with a wonderful and understanding wife and a very bright daughter.
Kaya understanding din ako .. :lol:
About being pogi, nah.., I think it was more of abilidad and my honest personality that I can get along with anyone. My barkadas in college are groups of Chinese and the famous UST eng'g fratofco( a group of fraternities) but I joined a different Fraternity.
If ever I joined the PMA, malamang nasama pa ako duon sa mga Euro-Generals. Hahahaha...
I'm happy with changing tires of those C-17s during my weekend tour of duty. Wag lang sa Iraq... :lol:
