September 11 - 20, 1961

September 11 - Monday


I woke up this morning looking like something out of MAD magazine. Gosh, did I look awful! It’s a wonder my classmates didn’t run when they saw me. Marina is walking on cloud nine these days because Nacho is being more than friendly and her Argentinian cadet takes her out.. Tomorrow is the formal party at the Argentinian Naval training ship, so we’ll see...you never know how these things turn out. Margotin broke with Jaime Yoldi and now her heart strings tune out for Caloy. At last. It’s been years since Caloy has been after her. I told Mercy this would happen. Lets see what Caloy says now. Margotin was acting a little smug because Carlos Garcia, Mari and Ramon Infante were at her house yesterday and Carlos was teasing her. It would hurt me if he liked me and started flirting with Margotin but since he doesn’t... Margotin didn’t want to tell me because I might get frustrated Hah! Face it Lea. You’re nuts over Carlos. Mary Ann Ojeda says that yesterday they weren’t sure whether to follow us to Marina’s house and Cosme tells Mari - “Es que este Mari se queda nervioso enseguida, vamos ya...”



September 12 - Tuesday

I skipped classes this pm so that I could sleep a while before going to the Argentinian ship. I went to Career Angel practice. My dress was simply beautiful. Pink organdy with lace and a bodice held with spaghetti straps. It was a wonderful evening. I saw Miguel Angel with Nancy Corbet but when he saw me, he smiled and later we shook hands. I drank champagne - Wow! Conchita and Luli were with me. Also Marina, Inger and Nena. I danced a lot with this other fellow I met but it was torture watching Miguel dance with Nancy Corbett who is after all very pretty. I came home at 12:30 AM. I wish I could’ve said goodby to Miguel but that’s the story of my life....PS. This noon I saw Freddy Infante and Freddy Hernandez on Herran. They waved and said hello.



September 13 - Wednesday

Big rambulan in school concerning Sister Mary Angela’s class. What a mess. I went to Career Angel practice again today. Then Dad left me off at Marina’s house. There were four of the most simpatico cadets with us. The cadet who was with Lolita Pellicer, was tall, dark and had green eyes, dimples and a cleft chin - wow! They all were very nice. We had a lot of fun teasing each other and when it was time to leave, I felt my eyes misting up. I know its silly and sentimental of me but I hate to say goodbye to people I like. The tall boy who was with Lolita shook my hand then kissed it. They kept teasing me about Miguel Angel. What really breaks my heart is that I won’t be able to say goodby to him - I hope the others tell him for me.



September 14 - Thursday - Honey’s Birthday

Marina has been walking on cloud nine again today because she saw the boys off at the pier and she says it was all very touching. Cacho (the cadet that was with her) kissed her goodby and Marina is very thrilled. Don’t blame her. If it had been Miguel and me I think I would’ve fainted or something. To think they’re gone practically for always makes me thing what’s the use of knowing nice people like that. When learn to get fond of them, they leave. I’d give anything to have seen Miguel again...oh well...Called Marina and Mercy this evening. I can’t go on here any longer, I’ll stop short because I’m so sleepy I can’t see straight.



September 15 - Friday

We had the Sodality program today. It was very nice. We had Career Angel practice for about an hour (Just how long did rehearsals for this play go on!) only because the sisters had a movie “The Nun’s Story” with Audrey Hepburn. Dad and I ate supper alone because Mommy went out with Tita Marianne. Arlette and Monica’s birthday card for me arrived today with a picture of each of them. Marina is so happy these days because Nacho seems very interested in her. This minute I feel so alone. Everybody has gone to see the Everly Brothers Show at the Araneta Coliseum and I can’t. I’m sitting here listening to the radio and the music is good. I wish I had said goodby to Miguel. Nobody treated me so much like someone special. I felt like something precious and nobody looked at me like he did and nobody invited me anyplace but he did. I felt like a girl again, if you know what I mean. He was such a gentleman. I was such a dope and Nancy was much smarter!



September 16 - Saturday

I went to the Escobar studios this morning to look at the pictures taken at the Casino Espanol on Friday the 8th. Miguel and I were not in most of the pictures but I found one where we were dancing and I ordered it. Then I went to the ANC. Mercy, Conchita, Lita and Luli were there. I was right, EVERYBODY was at the Everly Brothers show last night including Carlos, Mari, Freddy Infante, Tony Ortigas, and Honey in an electric blue Ban-lon. (How in hell did I know what Honey was wearing? I guess someone told me, or, I just asked.) I’d given anything to have gone but we can’t go back in time. If we could, I would change so many things. Mercy and Luli were all excited over Tony. Loretta, Mercy and I ate lunch together at the ANC then Loretta left and at 4 pm Mercy and I went to school for I had practice for Career Angel. Miss Martinez was in one of her black moods again. Tomorrow I expect to eat lunch at Marina’s house then go to the Rizal to see “Gidget Goes Hawaiian.”Everyone is going too and then we might go to Marina’s house. I’m dying to see Carlos and Mari, Nacho, etc., etc.



September 17 - Sunday

I was so happy this morning and I ended up in a black mood this evening. I went to Mass at 11 at Ermita then were dropped at Tita Pacita and Margie’s home. After we went to the ANC. Marina, Luli, Lita, Conchita and Cosme were there. I was so glad to see Cosme! He’s really in a crazy mood these days. I try not to remember he’s leaving because I know I’ll miss him very much. He said he had something to tell me this morning but that he would tell me this pm. I ate lunch at Marina’s house then we went to the Rizal. All the teenagers I know were there. I was with Inger and Merche. Suddenly I feel a warm hand tap me on the shoulder and it was Cosme. I know this is silly but his hand felt so warm and gentle...Anyway we sat on the steps since the place was so full and we had no seats then Carlos Garcia got up and gave me his seat. Merche was with us and he sat next to her though the movie and talked. “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” was superb. James Darren and Michael Callan are living dolls. And Debroah Walley (Gidget) is another cutie too. I saw Caloy but not Mari. After the movie we went to Marina’s house. Nancy Corbett was there with Jose Luis, Carlos R-A. Then Carlos Garcia arrived for a few minutes just to see Merche and Nancy. Only Butch and Honey came to Marina’s. Cosme and Mari did not go. Butch was sort of wild. Horrible end of a Monday.

September 18 - Monday



(For some reason, when transcribing this entry and correcting, I recopied Tuesday’s entry so I am just deleting the day. It’s just as well, you all may be bored to tears already, anyway.)





September 19 - Tuesday

I’d have given anything to have stayed in bed this morning. I was so sleepy. Everybody seemed to be sleepy today. The whole class kept yawning. I had a splitting headache this pm and my head still feels heavy now. I fell asleep watching TV again tonight. I’m a little worried about Mommy. She gets these awful headaches every day and she won’t go to the doctor because we still owe Dr. Fores money, but suppose something is seriously wrong? Oh, please God, I hope not. She also dropped a pair of scissors on her foot and now she can hardly take a step without wincing. I am so sleepy right now I can hardly keep my head up and my eyes open. Maybe its this horrible weather. Miss Martinez was in a good mood today during practice. It was very pleasant. Tomorrow the officers of the different High School organizations will go to Ateneo for a program but since Margot P and I are in the play, we can’t go. Darn! Freddy H, Freddy Infante, Ramon Infante etc. will all be there. If it were at La Salle I’d die. Imagine if Carlos were there???!!



September 20 - Wednesday

These days I simply detest going to school. Not because of the teachers or girls but I can’t seem to absorb any study work. I can’t stand Physics, English, and Tagalog classes. I get so restless in school. I’ve never felt this way about school before. I can hardly wait till March. I got the picture of Miguel and I dancing at the Casino. And when I looked at his picture, a happy little beat went through my heart. No boy was every so attentive with such a pleasant sense of humor, so charming and so wonderful to me. No boy ever looked at me the way he did and I like to think maybe he liked me a little. After all, when Nena walked into the Casino that Friday night looking like Venus herself, he just gave her a casual glance and turned right around to talk to me. During practice today we talked about Sortilege and Carlos Garcia.