Vacation Time is the time for long posts. Get Ready! Haha

While talking through YM Evangeline (haha) last week, she and I decided to meet in Manila. There would be no classes then, and no exams to worry about. So we agreed on the plan immediately. Yet I found one thing hard to do: pa'ano ako magpapaalam? Classes and exams are over. Why'd go to Manila and spend PhP 100 on bus fare and about PhP 100+ for food when you can stay and eat at home? My answer to that: to experience being with the people I love the most again [yeah, after about 2 months (Vangie), and a semester (Chai)]. As a solution, Evan texted me something like this last Tuesday evening: "Dude, tuloy ba tayo tomorrow? Kung hindi pwede, wag na lang. Wag ka magsinungaling." Hehe. Sira talaga 'tong si Vangie. When was the time I lied to my mom about going out with you, my friend? hehe. No, I haven't committed such a sin (as far as I can remember). Yet after a while, I began to smile. Vangie has changed a lot. As in A LOT. I don't know the exact details of how she came to know Christ and Christian ways, but for sure I am very grateful to those people who helped her through. Being her friend for over four years, I know I should have been the one to have introduced her to the Bible and talked to her about salvation. Yet I guess, I was too shy then. I regret those times when I had the chance. Thank God for the people He used in UP Diliman who lead Vangie to Christ. She is such a special soul.

All the while I thought that I would become unChristian as I entered highschool. I was thirteen then, and was forced to stay in my grandma's house in Manila because my parents were worrying that I wouldn't be able to have enough time to study if I would travel to Manila from Laguna everyday. Ooops.. wrong word. I wasn't forced exactly, because I really enjoyed my stay at Nanay's. I grew up in her house until I was four, when in 1990, we moved to San Pedro because my parents bought a house there. I love Nanay so much, and now its a sad thing that she aint living with us now (May storya din ito, but I think it would be too degrading to tell you all about it here). And so back to my highschool story. I was (and am) thanking God because I was kept in track as I found a true Christian friend -- Christine Villafranca, who is now fondly called Chai. We had the same beliefs, and belonged to the same denomination (Baptist). I am so blessed to have an influence such as her's, which was not too strict nor liberated. She would always have the best advice for each problem, and it was as if she knew all of the Bible. To have such a friend is like -- having an instant pastor beside you everyday? Hehe, just joking. The feeling is really different -- contrary to what most people think of about being constrained in conservative traditions and strict 'holy' ways, the times I spent with Chai had those moments of being free with allowances for making mistakes. Overcoming them with a wonderwoman (hehee) was a fortifying experience. Too bad we had to part ways, as she didn't prefer to engage in a medical profession, and chose to become a Physicist (Woohoo! Go Chai! Pambato ka namin jan sa ADMU!).

Every now and then as some of you may have noticed, I have devoted my time making entries about my highschool life and friends. More than being thankful for the years of friendship, I am most thankful that they know Christ and I am sure to meet them in heaven. Friends forever, nga naman (forgive the cliche, hihi). I love you my friends!! :)