December 24 - 31, 1961

December 24 - Sunday - Christmas Eve


Went to Mass at 11 am at Ermita then we went to the ANC. Lita, Conchita, Luli, Arno and Carlos Rodriguez Araya were there. We sat in the Sunset Lounge and talked. Then the girls left and Arno and I sat talking alone. I find that I like Arno a lot. Later he left and Nacho came over to say hello. He also bent over and kissed me on the cheek - right in the Sunset Lounge. He’s crazy but a great guy. Then I joined Mom at the swimming pool. This guy Sam was sitting at the next table and he turned around and winked at me!!! I ate lunch in the dinning room with Mom and Dad and John (Bill de Witt’s handsome Australian friend) was there and he smiled and said hello too. Lita, Luli and Conchita came to the ANC this afternoon. Arno was there too. He was acting very mysterious - something about breaking with Beli. He even took off her ring and borrowed mine. If he breaks with Beli he won’t have a date for New Year’s Eve. I don’t know who to go with. I know who I’d LIKE to go with, but....this evening I went to the house of Rene Nieto with Mom and Pop. We got back home at 12 am. Tomorrow is Christmas Day. PS. Margotin called me this evening and she told me that she thinks Carlos knows I like him because he was at her house with Freddy Franco and they were talking about me - and Spik. When Freddy asks Magu who I liked. Magu didn’t answer but looked at Carlos who looked away with a half-smile on his face.



December 25 - Monday - Christmas Day

I went to Mass at 10 am at Ermita. I wore my new white “nipa hut” dress. (This truly intrigues me. I can remember my dresses pretty well, but this one eludes me - what did I mean by “nipa hut dress.” Did I have nipa huts printed all over it? All I know is that I dressed pretty well, guided by my mother’s inherent good taste so I’m sure it was ok but its still intriguing. But upon reading this again, the dress suddenly came into focus and I remember it - it was white pique with little tiny nipa huts embroidered on it - quite pretty, really.) Desire Butler was at Mass too and she looked so cute, like a doll. We went to the ANC after Mass and the usual people were there - Arno, Conchita, Luli, Marina, Nacho, Jose Luis. Jose Luis kissed me as did Arno - Christmas greeting you know....There were many, many people there - everyone liked my dress (Phew, I guess the dress passed muster. That’s a relief!) And I was quite happy. I talked to Magu over the phone and she said that last night at Ginny’s home (I was invited to go) Freddy Franco and Carlos were with her and Freddy suddenly asked “Va venir Lea?” and looked at Carlos queerly. This is getting on my nerves. I don’t know what to think any more. Spik was also there. Magu also had the nerve to go to Midnight Mass at St. Paul’s with Fritz, Mon, Maricar and Susan. I drank a cup of eggnog and ate a lot of fruitcake at the ANC this morning. This noon I went to D’Marks for lunch. I ate a lot again. I drank punch too which had cider in it and I felt quite dizzy so I drank a cup of coffee. I met some very nice girls from Clark Field. We played ball and dressed Barbie dolls. (Oh my gosh, I don’t remember ever seeing a Barbie doll much less dressing one till my granddaughter introduced me to them. Now, I still like dressing them and own 9 Barbies, and I can’t believe I just confessed this!) This afternoon I went back to the ANC (I spend 3/4 of my life here!)and sat at the swimming pool with Nena, Marina, Bica, Elisa, Conchita, Luli and the Sam. We told jokes and riddles. Sam thinks I’m 19! (I actually fell for this!) Well, well, well. He’s nice but nothing great. I also guessed his age right. He’s 27! We later sat in the Sunset Lounge for a while with Pichuco and Conchita brought me home at 6 pm. I washed my hair and have my period.



December 26 - Tuesday

I’d suggest to build a camp on the lawn of the ANC and just sleep there overnight. We spend more time at the ANC than anywhere else. This morning Conchita, Luli, Arno and I were together. We sat and chatted in the Sunset Lounge. I don’t know why but every time Arno and I look at each other something passes between that look. Maybe I’m imagining things but I think I like him more than I know . This pm, back at the ANC after talking with Mil on the phone. She wanted me to go over to her house. Mercy was with us this pm. At first I was disappointed because Arno wasn’t there but he arrived and I felt happy again. (I’m nuts!) We went to the Country Bake Shop to buy some pastries and then we went back to eat them at the ANC. Pamen, Merche and Nena were there so we joined them. They are all such wonderful girls. This evening Margie, Tita Pacita and Fernandito came home to get their gifts. We dropped Mercy home and Margie, Mom and I went to Bingo. Luli was there, Bica, Pilina too. Boring.



December 27 - Wednesday

I wore my deevine new pullover this morning with my white pleated skirt and the effect was very good. Dad dropped me off at MBC but I couldn’t find the librarian at the records library because it was his day off. I’ll have to return tomorrow. I went to the ANC. Inger was playing tennis. Later, Luli and Conchita came and we sat at the umbrella tables at the swimming pool. Arno joined us. He looked divine in his red shirt. Margie ate lunch at home. Mercy and Chiqui came home this pm. Mercy gave me a lovely box of thank you notes. I went to Margie’s home this evening. Fernando’s birthday. Tomorrow I have the feeling I’ll see Carlos, Conchita and I took a walk outside the Polo grounds. We were walking by the parking lot when I see a white Impala with green upholstery. Spik’s car! I was almost positive it was his car. Anyway when Beli said she was going to leave, we walked her home and as we were coming back we see that white Impala and Freddy H.’s car driving into the Polo Club. I tell you my knees turned to jelly and my heart leaped to my throat. I was right, Spik was here. We saw him park the car but we walked quickly up to the Polo Club. A few minutes later, Luis called us and we had to leave and as we were driving out we stop beside Fred and Spik’s cars. Spik, Fred, Ricky and Gordo Catala, etc. were all standing there. Fred said hello but Spik just smiled. Everyone else went to oblivion for me. All I could see was Spik’s face and maybe Freddy’s......Vicky Pertierra is one of the most simpatica girls I know and Luis is a lot of fun!



December 28 - Thursday

I went back to MBC today. I got some business done but they told me to return at 2 pm but I couldn’t. I went to the ANC. Nacho, Carlos R-A., Gonzalo, Arno, Ramon, Luli and Conchita sat with me at a table by the sea wall. Chiqui, Louie, Tony Olbes and Mari O were also there as well as Pamen and Merche. We had a very nice time cracking jokes and just talking. I ate lunch at the ANC with Leslie and Arno. I begged Arno to go to the Polo Club this afternoon. I went to Conchita’s house after lunch and we went to Vicky Pertierra’s house (who was at the ANC too). Luis drove us over to the Polo Club. There was absolutely no one at the Polo when we got there. We watched Vicky ride then we went to eat something. Later Beli came and joined us. We saw the lovely bracelet Arno gave her for Christmas. It has a little charm with “Beli” written on one side and “A.D.” on the other. (I guess I was quite wrong about everything.) Later Vicky played badminton so ...



December 29 - Friday

Dad is very respected and appreciated at MBC. This morning when I went over there to get the sound effects records many people whom I didn’t even know started talking to me about my Dad, etc. Art Galindez is very nice and real hip. I finally got my records. I talked with Sr. Angela over the phone and she was grateful that I got the records. Ronnie Davies was there and he was cracking some corny jokes to me on the way down in the elevator. I went to the ANC. Arno and Nacho were there. Later Luli came and we sat in the Teen Den. Paul Tenny was there today and nearly drove us crazy. Nacho had a fight with Connie on account of Leslie. Every time I turned to Nacho to speak I called him Arno instead. Arno got a new bracelet from Beli. It’s beautiful! I ate lunch there and spent an hour talking to this American boy - Joe something. Then Conchita and Luli came. We went to “Alegrias” for a minute. We went back to the ANC. We were sitting in the Sunset Lounge with Pamen and Merche and who should I see walking down the corridor but Mitch Schlachterman!! We exchanged those looks...Anyway, later Luli and I played ball in the Teen Den (I have no idea what I mean here. How can we play ball inside? I think I meant, we played pool, since there was a billiard table in the Teen Den.) Afterwards we joined Bica, Pilina, Pamen, Merche, etc. in the Sunset Lounge. Sam joined us. That man is perpetually winking at me. Frankly, I like the way he looks at me. He also fascinates me - his eyes are something to obsess about! We were discussing New Year’s Eve and he told me that if I came over to the ANC that night, he’d kiss me!! Bica is all starry eyed over him not to mention some other people. Conchita and I might go to the Polo tomorrow. I haven’t seen Carlos in ages.



December 30 - Saturday - Inauguration of Pres. Macapagal

I went to the ANC but I had to walk from the PhilAm Life building since the streets were closed for the Inaugural Parade. I sat at the swimming pool with Pichuco and Gonzalo. Later I went to the Sunset Lounge with Mercy, Conchita, Luli, Mari O, Chiqui, Louie, etc. We all ate lunch together. Louie spilled half a bottle of coke on my lap. Sigh. (Could this guy be more of a klutz!) This pm we sat and talked again. Mom came in the afternoon. I was talking with Pichuco and Conchita at the swimming pool. Later Conchita left and I stayed talking to Pichuco. We watched the fireworks. I ate dinner with Dad and Mom at Tita Betty Bosch’s restaurant. Mom went to the movies and Dad took me home. I got a letter from Cosme today. He praises Mercy just beautifully in his letter and I read the letter to her.



December 31 - Sunday - New Year’s Eve

Dad has been picking on me the whole day. (My dad picked on me?!! I honestly don’t remember him ever “picking” on me. Maybe I used the wrong word and really meant got on my case about something but I really never remember my dad nagging me about anything which is how I interpret “picking.” That was my mother’s role. But, daddy? Can’t even think what he would pick on me about.) Honestly sometimes...Anyway, I went to Mass at 11 am at Ermita. Then to the ANC. Jack Aguirre was there with Arno, also Luli, Conchita and Marina. I ate lunch in the Dining Room. I slept a siesta this afternoon. This evening I wore my new yellow formal dress - it has spaghetti straps and a crimped bodice and full skirt. It looks divine. My hair also behaved quite decently. We went to D’Marks first and ate supper with Tita Lita. Then we picked up Tita Pacita and Tito Cuchi at the Sans home. Mercy couldn’t come with us. We got to the ANC at about 1:30 AM. Pichuco was disturbingly drunk. Poor guy. I was with Marina a while - Jose Luis kissed me happy new year then Conchita came and I sat with her. We were in the Pavilion. While I was sitting with Conchita at a table waiting for Mom I see Sam coming towards us. I instantly remembered the New Year kiss he promised me. I thought now he probably won’t even remember but he came straight to me, took my face in his hands and kissed me gently on both cheeks then he looked at me and squeezed my hand. He reached over and patted Conchita’s cheek and said happy new year and then he looked at me again, pressed my shoulder gently and said “Feliz Ano Nuevo.” I’m glad the lights were dim because I could feel myself blushing. I couldn’t even talk to Conch for the next few minutes. We joined the Lanuzas, and Carlos R-A was there as well as Javi Ruiz. I saw Sam with Cecilot Guidote. When he came back from dancing he looked straight at me with that half smile on his lips and I felt those green eyes bore through my soul. (I wonder where he is now - It was a special moment . I still remember the way he took my face in his hands....never forgot that evening and Sam.) The next time he passed by, he waved at me to come and join him at his table (with his date!?). Anyway, every time he looked at me from then on I felt my face get warm again and my heart was beating so fast and loud Conchita must have heard it. I danced with Gonzalo and the older Lanuza brother. I got home at 4:45 am. I can’t get Sam out of my mind. Later when I went to get my shawl he was passing by with Cecilot and I was going to ignore him but he passes by and rumples my hair (I swear, the puppy routine again!) Later I saw him and Cecilot sitting alone at the swimming pool. Such is life. Happy New Year - 1962!!!