August 14 - 20, 1961

August 14 - Monday


That terrible feeling I had last night is gone since I read the inspiring “Imitation of Christ” by Thomas Kempis. I went to Mass at Sto. Domingo Church with my classmates. We were in gala uniform. It was a Pontifical Mass and lasted 2 hours. I received Communion. This pm Loretta Lichauco and I went to see “Parrish” starring that extremely attractive Troy Donahue with Connie Stevens, and Diane McBain. A very nice picture. Yesterday afternoon I went to see “The Naked Edge” at the Rizal with Nena, Marina, etc. I sat with Conchita, Lita and Luli for most of the time though. Nena was smooching around with the eeky Carols R-Araya. I saw Ramon Infante, Tony Ortigas, Caloy Valles etc. at the movie. What a weekend. The one and only Butch Catala arrives tomorrow evening.



August 15 - Tuesday

I ate lunch at Loretta Lichauco’s house today. What a lovely time we had. That home is so friendly, warm and hospitable. Mrs. Lichauco is a dear to say nothing of Nellie, Loretta, Sylvia, etc. Nellie is so charming, friendly and unaffected. Lori is warm and hospitable and Sylvia gracious and nice. We ate a delicious lunch and then sat and just chatted for a while. Josie Padilla was there. She is so sweet. Also my former classmates from Maryknoll - Elinor, Sheila, Evelyn, Alice etc. I came home at 4:40 PM. Mercy tells me that Butch arrived at 4 AM today. Well, the conquering hero returneth and there goes some hearts tomorrow. There are 3 lovely parties going on, on Saturday but I haven’t been invited to any. I’m dying to see Freddy H again? Also the Whirlpools are playing at Betina Kahn’s party.



August 16 - Wednesday

I am very sleepy....haven’t finished my homework and I’m tired. Good night.

PS. I called Inger this evening who was in Nena’s house. Butch called her last night and she talked with him today at the ANC. He’s given her back his ring and its all over. Inger says he hasn’t changed. Mercy’s dying to see him and I’m a little afraid to. How Nena can go steady with that repulsive Carlos R-A - don’t know. Nacho was being pesado tonight over the phone. He bugs me so much some times. If he thinks I’m going to bow to his every whim he’d better think again. Times have changed. Jose Luis asked Marina to go steady again and she’s refused. Atta girl Marina.



August 17 - Thursday

Its been a hectic day at school yet my mind is quite disturbed. All I can think of is Butch Catala. I haven’t even seen him yet .....(And here I go on and on and on about Butch Catala. Weird, because it never registered in my conscious memory that I was nuts about him - probably in the same way I had crushes on practically every guy around the place - though admittedly, Butch Catala was one of the nicest guys around.)



August 18 - Friday

We got our second cholera injections today. Boy, my arm feels like a dead weight and hurts a lot. I don’t feel too well and don’t feel much like eating, have a small rise in temperature. This pm we saw Poch Borromeo drive around the school again - on the prowl for Margotin. This time though Mari Valles was with him sitting in the front seat. They circled around three times and Mari and I just looked at each other. The third time I turned my back to him. I talked to Mercy a long time over the phone. She told me some pretty interesting thins which are too complicated to mention here. That Margie - wow! And that silly Cosme, boy what a hypocrite. Anyway, I’ll explain better tomorrow. I’ve got this terrific headache.



August 17 - Saturday

I spent a very lonely pensive Saturday. I just read, listened to the radio, mostly classical music and baked a cake which turned out not too well. I tried to get in touch with Mercy but she had gone out. Marina called once all excited because she saw Nacho at the ANC. Went with Mom to a movie. We had a choice of “Tammy Tell Me True” or “A Girl from Granada.” Finally chose the latter. It starred Sara Montiel and it was, sorry to say, an “objectionable” picture. Very sexy. I can’t describe it any other way. I only liked her singing, otherwise...ugh (I remember going to this picture vividly. My mother was thoroughly embarrassed, but she didn’t hustle me out of the movie either. I think the scene that bothered her most (I was secretly fascinated) - was a scene where you couldn’t see the man but Sara Montiel was writhing away and all you could see was from her waist up and her arms grabbing the pillow. My mother was mortified and I couldn’t figure out why. Many years later, I did.) Everyone is at the party right now having a nice time. There’s Betina Kahn’s party where the whole teen gang is, including Freddy Hernandez and those handsome Whirlpools. At Angel’s house there’s Butch Catala while I’m here writing in this diary. Daddy got mad at me again tonight. All I do seems to turn out wrong and my life seems more hopeless every day.



August 20 - Sunday

Pretty interesting day. Went to Mass at 10 at Ermita then to the ANC. Lita, Conchita, Inger, Nena, Carlos R-A, were there. Nacho came up to me a little mad because I guess he couldn’t talk to me last night or something. Mercy, Conchita, Lita went to the movie ahead of me and first I went with Inger to her house and then we went to the Rizal to see “The Alamo” again. When I entered I looked in the canteen and met Carlos Garcia’s eyes but quickly looked away and kept on walking. Inger and I stood at the entrance to wait for the movie to finish and a minute later Jigger comes in with Carlos. Then I got the surprise of my life when Jigger came up to me and gave me a very cordial hello and asked me how I was, why I didn’t go to Betina Kahn’s party, that I should’ve gone etc. I nearly fainted - Jigger Arastia asking me all these things??!! All during this time, his royal highness, Mr.Carlos Garcia said hello and said a few words to me about the movie or something but I was surprised and excited to remember what. He didn’t look at me straight in the face though, and he seemed a little shy to talk to me but I think he’s probably heard by now that I think he’s very attractive so ..... anyway, I said goodby, found seats near Lita, Conchita and Mercy and we sat down. The other royal highnesses like Mari Valles and Cosme were in the row in front of us. I was just waiting for them to make a crack about Jim Bowie or something and they would have got it right then and there, but they didn’t except that once or twice Mari started to cough, quite artificially and Mercy and I started to giggle. He gave us one of those looks but its only Mari so who pays attention. When we left they left too and Mari, Linggoy, Cosme, Ricky Catala and Pocholo piled into Pocholo’s car and drove away. We didn’t even glance at them but as Mercy, Inger and I crossed Buendia Ave., they turned around the theater once and stopped their car in front of us. They stared and since we just snubbed them, they drove away. At Inger’s house we ate lemon pie which was delicious and looked at some of Inger’s pictures of that very attractive, dimpled gentleman - Butch Catala. Inger’s mom brought us home. I got P9.00 from Fr. Gomez for the lottery tickets and the rest, bahala na. Yippee, I’m invited to Cookie Perez-Rubio’s party!!