September 28 - October 5, 1961

September 28 - Thursday


I made lakuacha this morning. I went to Carriedo with Mom to buy me a pair of tennis shoes and I ended up buying 2 pairs of shoes - a pair of tennis shoes and a pair of lovely blue canvas ones. We ate lunch at the house of Tita Nena Villa-Abrille and then I came home. I slept from 2 to 4 pm. I bathed, got dressed and went to school for dress rehearsal for Career Angel. Everything went smoothly with the exception of some mistakes. We had a lot of laughs and the Sisters are wonderful. Our costumes for the play are so cute. Gee I hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow or Miss Martinez will die. What bugs me about these plays and things is that darned make-up. My face will be an absolute wreck by Saturday. It will take a miracle to clear my face up. Gosh, its almost midnight and tomorrow the ugly old grind.



September 29 - Friday

I went back to school this morning. Sr. Chantal has our class rings already. All we have to do is pay for them and get them. They’re so beautiful. I’ll probably get mine on Monday. I didn’t go to class this afternoon. I washed my hair and put on rollers and it came out a jumbled mass of curls anyway....The auditorium was packed this evening for the opening night of Career Angel. My costume is just lovely. My electric blue tights and Ked sneakers with my white pleated skirt and electric blue pull over with Maripi’s white car coat looked great. Everybody did their parts well but the audience clapped loudest for Cecilot Guidote who was magnificent! All the Maryknoll sisters from my grade school days were there tonight. I’m so tired and I’ve got a splitting headache and these pimples are really bugging me. Tomorrow I’ll look like Dracula himself because of the horrid make-up and these darned pimples!!!!



September 30 - Saturday

The play was a success this evening. We didn’t make any mistakes in the orphan scene and the audience loved Cecilot Guidote. Right after the play Mary Ann and I rushed home with Marina, we got dressed and then rushed over to the Rebels party. The first person I saw when we walked in was Carlos. He was in a dark suit and my heart did those crazy somersaults again. Caloy Valles was so nice this evening. He made us laugh and he so simpatico, not like that conceited Mari. Louie Mac was also nice. Cosme danced boogie with me (Cosme danced boogie, too?!! Why don’t I remember neither he or Honey doing this?) as did Butch Catala. Mercy nearly had a heart attack when she saw him. I’ll admit though he is a very handsome guy but he doesn’t compare with Carlos. We looked at each other about a hundred times and every time those brown eyes met mine my knees turned to jelly. The Rebels combo played and Carlos played the drums! And can he play them! While he was playing he looked in our direction (No fool he. He had silly me as the most captive of audiences) and it took all my will power not to look at him so much. H was with Juaco, Barbara, Ginny, Arno, Beli, Patsy, Linggoy, etc. No slow drags. He danced boogie with Ginny and Barbara. I would have given anything to be in their places. Margie and I really got it tonight because we got home at 1:30 AM!



October 1 - Sunday

I went to Mass at San Pancracio at 1:00 pm. Margie and Mercy were there. I went to the ANC later. Conchita, Lita were there. I was going to go with Luli, Lita and Conchita to see a movie at the Rizal but I had a misunderstanding with Dad and Mom and I couldn’t go. At first I was sorry because I would miss out on seeing Carlos but I resigned myself and Mom and I went to see “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” again. Mary Ann and Arabella were at the movie. I also saw Dita Veloso. Our play this evening was again a success. All the loved ones were in the audience so the cast did extra well. After the play I met Angel Villareal backstage with Butch Catala’s brother Mike. JayJay Po etc. were there too. Mom and Dad met Miss Martinez and Sr. Mary Angela. PS. La Salle beat Jose Rizal at the NCAA opening today. Dad says Honey played very well. I can’t seem to think of anything but Carlos and its such a hopeless situation.



October 2 - Monday

We had a test in Literature today and I did just horrible with a 65% - gulp. It seems that Honey was the hero of the La Salle-Jose Rizal basketball game at the Araneta Coliseum yesterday. Everybody’s talking about him and he’s making quite a few girls dizzy. Mercy tells me he was simply beaming after the game. Everyone expected Jose Rizal to win but La Salle gave everyone quite a turn. I’m so happy for Honey. It seems that Butch will be able to play in the second semester. Mercy and I talked for nearly two hours over the phone. We were talking about how dashing and handsome Tony Ortigas is but such a flirt. Also about how much nicer Caloy is than Mari and Cosme’s latest antics. I saw the NCAA booklet and there’s a picture of Arno in there that is simply dreamy. Also a very nice picture of Mari Valles. Sunday or Saturday seems years away when I think I have to go through 4 more school days before I’ll be able to see Carlos again.



October 3 - Tuesday

I was 20 minutes late for class because my skirt’s zipper broke and I had to wait till it was fixed. I gave the 45 pesos to Sr. Chantal for my class ring but I won’t get it until Thursday or Friday. We practiced this afternoon (the Hi-Gayles) but not between countless giggles and a surprised scream from Ruby Pena. Daddy’s hobby these days are fish. We have a big aquarium in the living room and Daddy spends hours just watching and caring for them. I fixed supper for Daddy and I this evening since Mommy went to Bingo. It was pretty delicious. Mary Ann Ojeda is so nice. I was talking to Maritoni, Maribel, Carmen and Anamarie this afternoon. Mercy and I blabbed over the phone this evening again. Cosme leaves tomorrow and we might go to the ship to see him off. I spent 23 hours of the day thinking of Carlos. I keep seeing those brown eyes everywhere and that melting smile and hearty laugh....



October 4 - Wednesday - Cosme leaves for Australia

I got my class ring today. Now I really feel like a graduate! This afternoon Mercy, Margie, Chiqui picked me up to go to the pier to see Cosme off. The “Orcadia” is a beautiful ship. The Falcons were all there except Butch and Victor. Beli Ortigas, Annie Paradies, and her sister, Nena Barrata, etc. were there. We just chatted. Danny congratulated me for Career Angel and Mari was making his usual corny comments. Tony Ortigas was with us the whole time. He is so good looking and so nice. I wonder if he knows Mercy likes him. He’s very attractive but I don’t react to him. Of only Carlos had been there....I miss Cosme very much already. As we shook hands to say goodby he held me for a second by the shoulder. I had to turn around quickly before I cried. As we walked down the pier away from the ship, we kept waving, Cosme was so red and we saw him take out his handkerchief. We couldn’t stand it any longer, we quickly left. Everyone is going to feel Cosme’s absence a lot. Who else would listen to all your pains and heartaches with a sympathetic shoulder. (What planet was I on?!) A big brother to all and to me. One of the two boys I’ve really loved even though we fought like cats and dogs. There’ll always be a place in my heart for Cosme (I can’t believe I wrote this!). Mom, Tita Pacita and I went to see “Fanny” this evening at the Avenue. It was a beautiful love story starring Leslie Carron. I cried it was so beautiful. I wake up in the morning and I see Carlos’ face and when I go to sleep at night, I still see it. I keep telling myself it is hopeless but somehow I don’t want to believe it. I like him so very, very much!



October 5 - Thursday

Mrs. Buencamino asked me to hand in my late experiments, or else! I get so extremely bored during Spanish and Tagalog and English. Spanish is so easy. English is so hard and Tagalog I don’t understand. This afternoon we had an SCA Convocation on Honesty. Arabella, Maripi, Maritoni etc. were all waving to me from the orchestra. I was upstairs in the balcony with Magu, Margot, Susan, Nanette, etc. I went home at 6 pm today. Mercy tells me over the phone that Margie, Priscilla, Maribel etc. were bawling all over the school today because Cosme left. Maybe Margie is being a little melodramatic but the rest hardly even knew Cosme. I’d bet if he were here, he’d have a good laugh. I miss Cos a lot but gosh I don’t have to drown myself to prove it. Good grief. I tested myself to see dhow much I like Carlos today. I thought of Tony Ortigas and all his good looks and no emotion went through me but when the merest thought of Carlos crosses my mind, I get butterflies in my stomach and I can’t even think straight. This is awful I know but I can’t help it. Like Magu was telling me this morning, that she saw Carlos in his car all flushed and all smiles. And all I could picture was that wonderful grin of his........Mercy is failing in Physics and just passing in everything else. Poor thing is so worried. Its that horrid St. Scholastica College. I’d better not talk, my grades aren’t exactly super-duper either but at least I’m not failing – yet! Yay, tomorrow’s Friday and the weekend!!