April 1 - 8, 1962

April 1 - Sunday


Mass as usual at 11 at Ermita. Mercy was there and she came with me to the ANC. The usual gang were there. We talked until 12:30 or so when Mom called us to eat lunch in the dining room. We had a little goblet of vermouth with our lunch. Mercy and I went to the Rizal in a taxi to see (me, again) “The Young Doctors.” Most of the people who were at the party were there. Suddenly Mercy nudges me and I look around the aisle to the right side and of course there’s Carlos. He looked devastating in white pants and a red checkered shirt with that unruly lock of hair across his forehead and a grin on that devilish face and no matter what my resolutions are, for a moment I can’t even think straight. I saw him go outside so I told Mercy I’d go with her to a drink of water. He was in the canteen so we stalled, hoping he’d come out but he stayed too long so we went back inside. It seems I always miss him by a split second. We went back to the ANC and there we danced to Ramon Faustman’s phonograph for a while in the Party Room. If I could pack my things and leave for Baguio this minute I would. Up there I feel alive and most of all loved by nature and at peace with God. All the gossip, and materialism of Manila seems to disappear into nothing in Baguio. I love my parents but they get more cranky every day. Tonight Dad picks on me for no reason at all. Mom scolds me for every insignificant little thing. Tonight it was because I wanted to say the rosary by myself!! Lita told me that if she goes back to Baguio, she’ll have to take Luli not me but I knew that would happen - I told her so while we were in Baguio. Anyway, I can’t be selfish, Luli has to be able to go too.



April 2 - Monday

This morning when I went to the ANC I found Marina talking to Emma Legarza at the swimming pool. I joined them and later, Arno, Luli, Ramon and Gonzalo were with us. Emma was very talkative and charming. (This is an unusual episode as my memory of Emma (who lived right by us on San Marcelino for years) fades after I was 11. I have no recollection of the latter meeting nor of having ever seen her again.) She can be very nice and she hasn’t changed a bit. Arno had a sly, wicked, reckless gleam in is eye this morning. I told him what Mercy said about some boy telling her in the party that Beli was jealous because I was flirting with him but he just laughed at this. I don’t see what’s so funny. (I do!) When he was about to leave, he started to tease me about being a flirt and if he keeps this up, he’s going to find himself punched in the nose. This afternoon Lita picked me up and we went to the airport to see Conchita off. I met Uncle Johnny Oppenheimer and I kissed and thanked him for my graduation gift. (At least my manners didn’t desert me, even if my sanity had with all this Carlos and boy obsession!) Conchita had tears in her eyes as she left. All the gang (all us girls) were there. Luis Pertierra was there and I acted sort of brash with him and I’m sorry now. (What did I do, call him a cutie?!) We went back to the ANC and we had some discussion about going back to Baguio but no go-ahead. We miss Conchita already. Luli says Carlos might score for the bowling tournament at the Casino tomorrow. She will call and tell me if he’s there.



April 3 - Tuesday

This morning I stayed home and made white beans for lunch - (my Mom’s great recipe). I stayed downstairs and read for the fifth time “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” This afternoon, Marimil and I went to the ANC. The usual gang was there minus Conchita of course. At first we ate and listened to records and later we played Charades. Honey was his old, sweet, jolly self. The 3 “L’s” Lita, Luli and I stayed at the ANC for Bingo and Ramon and Pichuco joined us. We had an enjoyable evening, laughing and chatting besides getting a free drink and getting vermouth again. Lita, Luli are my 2 best friends and I don’t even want to think they’re leaving next March. I wouldn’t hurt them for anything in the world so I can’t tell Lita I have a crush on Morris. Chiqui Sarthou says we might head for Baguio in May.



April 4 - Wednesday

Mom and I went shopping this morning at Aguinaldo’s where there was a sale and I bought 2 blouses, a pair of flannel pajamas and the cutest pair of toreador pants ever. This afternoon I stayed home and talked to Luli and Lita over the phone. All of us want to go to Baguio but we’re both staying till May. I also hemmed two dresses and watched TV. Agnes and Mercy called up too.



April 5 - Thursday

I made albondigas this morning and this afternoon, Lita picked me up to go to the ANC. I got the surprise of my life when I saw Luli. She rinsed her hair BLONDE! She looks very attractive now and her eyes seem to stand out more. Now, we’re the three blonde “L’s”. Mitch was at the ANC this pm with his Nadia. Later when Lita, Mercy, and Luli left I sat with Pichuco and Javi in the Sunset Lounge. Javi is a real nice fellow.



April 6 - Friday

I went to school to get my report card at 8:30. Linda, Ruby, the Hi-Gayles, etc also were at school. Sister Angela was her old sarcastic but cheerful self especially when I told her I was coming back to St. Paul for college in June. Miss Juco liked my dress and I ordered graduation pictures. I left SPC as soon as I could and went to the Casino where Luli and Vicky Pertierra were playing in the bowling tournament. Tita Marina Asparren is in the tournament too. Vicky Pertierra is such a nice gal, not to mention her two brothers - Nacho and Luis. Vicky and her brother Nacho brought Luli and I back home. I went to the ANC this afternoon with Mercy, Honey, Chiqui and Albert. Honey is very nice to me these days, not at all like before, when he ignored me completely. He teases me a lot still but I don’t mind. One girl who I wish would crawl back to wherever she came from is that Leslie Oliver. Of all the snotty, little so and so’s.......grrr Flirting outrageously with Honey (Ah, now I know why I didn’t like her, but I still don’t remember her at all. Well, obviously, a flash in the pan in Honey’s long list of girls that adored him.) Tony de Jesus and the rest of the creepy Birdogs should thank their unlucky stars that Mr. Duchstein wasn’t around for if he found out that they’re not members....they’re such creeps. Poor Lita got her molar pulled out today so she did not go to the ANC. Luli was with me the whole time. I wish Lita, Luli and I could go to Baguio now, together, alone. What fun we would have and I’m dying to see Morris.

April 7 - Saturday


I went to the ANC this morning and met Nena Marti. She looked so pretty as usual. The gang was there - bathing in the sun. I ate lunch with Mom at the swimming pool. Mitch sat 2 tables away from us and every few moments we’d exchange glances. This afternoon was a real gasser though. First I was with Honey, Mercy, etc. then Mitch played tennis and I watched him from the stairway. Then when he was through playing I went to talk to Mercy who was sitting at the lawn tables with Margie, Chiqui R., and Belen and I started to tell them about the Truth & Consequence game we played last summer and how I was made to kiss Mitch. I kept talking about him when I notice Mercy’s expression change and I turned around to find Mitch 3 feet away from me. I wished the earth would open up and swallow me. He had this grin on his face and I don’t know if he heard me. Later, we all went swimming. Honey gets nicer every day. Ramon Faustman is sweet and thoughtful and gets better looking as he gets older. Pichuco is beginning to bother me a little.



April 8 - Sunday

I went to Mass and Communion this morning at 10 am at Ermita and then to the ANC. (My hair and make-up was pretty nice today, for once). (“Make-up” for me then consisted of mascara, and lipstick). Luli and Lita were there. Mrs. Rodriguez Araya complimented me and there were a whole lot of attractive servicemen milling around. The noon the Parents and I went to Di Marks for the baptism celebration of their youngest baby daughter, Katherine. The food was real delicious and Louie Senn was there. I went back to the ANC later at 3. The gang were all there and we all sat in the swimming pool area. Ramon Arnaiz was with us. Ramon Faustman looked quite irresistible this afternoon. If only he were 2 years older. Mitch came and sat 2 tables from us with Nadia. Lita and Mercy wet Pichuco’s cigarettes and he probably won’t speak to us for centuries. We had a hilarious time with ?????