A FRIENDSHIP STORY

It all started in third year high school.

There were ten of us. It was a project for our English class. We decided on putting up a comical skit where we were all actors, and in some ways, directors. We were depicting a segment in the classroom life of a bunch of high school kids and then a reunion many years later where we see what had become of those kids when they grew up. It was one of the highlights of our high school life for that little skit we performed in the classroom was brought on stage. Our English teacher was so impressed that she decided on including it in the program during the English Festival. Wow! We became overnight celebrities. And so much hidden talents have been discovered. And so it made a difference in our lives. And so out of that little project, a precious thing was born, something that we carry with us wherever we go and whatever happens.

So there were ten of us. Ten high school girls in white long sleeve blouses and blue skirts.

There was Rosy. The ever so lovely and shapely Rosy. She was the childish one in the group. She loved to draw, color, cut and paint. Very artistic. She always had some “giveaways” which she herself made for her friends on special occasions - on Valentine’s day, Christmas, Graduation day. I still have some of her gifts displayed in my room or kept in my treasure box.

Then there’s tall and big-boned Grace. Ever so generous and hardworking Grace. She sold food stuff – biscuits, chocolates, chips, etc.

Another tall and big-boned friend was Honey. She was the “millionaire” in the group. Her father was a seaman and her mother, a nurse in the U.S. She could always afford to treat all of us. Honey is my oldest friend. We knew each other since we were four or five.

Then there’s the aggressive and outspoken Kay. She wrote for the school paper and ultimately became the editor in chief. She was really intelligent but a bit lazy, too.

And then there’s Dee. Talkative, sweet Dee. She has a very friendly aura and she’s the kind of person you can tell your darkest secrets. In fact, she’s my secret-keeper. She’s tomboyish on the outside but a real lady on the inside.

And there’s Dee’s best friend, Dj. She’s really very pretty and she had Brooke Shields’ thick eyebrows. She was a Math and computer whiz and was a romantic too. She loved reading romance novels – from teeny ones to thick historical romance novels. She and Kay shared so much passion on those novels. Oh well, so does Dee and Honey. They got me into it, too. The book lover in me couldn’t resist the books they read.

Another very romantic and very feminine friend was May. She loved pink so much. Her clothes and things all had a touch of pink. And she had a handsome brother, too.

Then there was Rochelle. Chubby Rochelle. Always wore a smile on her face. I’ve never seen her get mad. And I still wonder what would make her angry…hmmm…

Then there’s shy, silent and honest Tin-ann. She was the goddess of honesty. Never ever really cheated on exams. If you sit next to her, you better study, she won’t let you take a peak on her paper.

And then there was me. There was Mhahe. I wore glasses then and still do...What about me? Hmm… I topped in that class.

We went on to our fourth year in high school and got into different sections yet we still managed to group together. We graduated, got into college, took up different courses, got into different schools, made new friends and formed other barkadas…

So what happened to us now?

Childish Rosy is now a high school teacher in Math. She‘s still the same thoughtful and artistic Rosy I knew back then. Lately, she gave me a bookmark she herself made.

Big-boned and tall Grace graduated magna cum laude in Political Science and she is now teaching at a university here in Cebu. My sister is her student. The last time we talked, she told me she really loved what she’s doing. I’m so happy that she has found her passion.

The millionaire Honey is still the millionaire. She’s a licensed occupational therapist. She’s in the U.S. now. We still do communicate through texts and emails.

The writer Kay is an activitist. Currently, she is with Gabriella. I heard from Dee that Kay is planning to take up law.

Dee is still in school, in her last year in Computer Eng’g, I hope. But she’s also working at the same time in a call center.

Brooke Shields’ eyebrowed Dj is very much busy with her career and love life. She is an internal auditor at a five-star hotel. Still single but unavailable.

The “pinkish” May is in the U.S. She migrated about 3 years ago. I haven’t heard much from her, though.

Rochelle, the chubby one, is now a registered nurse and works at one of the private hospitals here in Cebu. We saw each other sometime in December last year, and as always she’s still the same smiling Rochelle I know back in high school.

The goddess of honesty Tin-ann works at a pharmaceuticals company and at the same time is so much focused on her business. She has already shed off her shyness. And I’m glad she has improved so much as she claims and of course, I’m a witness to that improvement too. We still do get in touch from time to time since I am one of her customers.

And then Mhahe became a CPA, got a job and is a proud “kapamilya”, “kapuso” of Toastmasters.

That little skit made a difference in our life and became our life too. We’ve had our “classroom life” and we’ve had our reunion also, not grand though. It was a get-together organized by Honey the Millionaire in celebration of her passing and topping the OT board exams sometime in 2003. Unfortunately, not all ten girls were present. But the majority was there. We shared what became of our lives and yes, that little skit was squeezed in our discussion.

And I said a precious thing was born from that little skit. It was a precious thing named FRIENDSHIP. And it’s this friendship that we carry with us in our journey.

We’ve all taken different paths in our life, but no matter where go, we’ve taken a little of each other everywhere. (Tim McGraw)

And this is my friendship story.