July 30 - August 11, 1962

July 30 - Monday


Margotin scared me out of my wits this morning when she told me that Sr. Andrea was out for my scalp for having so many absences. It just so happened that I missed my Theology class and Mercy just happened to skip it too. Tomorrow I’ll get my excuse slip and my knees are already weak at the thought of facing Sister Andrea. There’s been some magulu at school about girls cheating, stealing and making fun of other girls. We went to Sister Benjamin this afternoon and told her about it. Miss Zacarias asked me if I was going to see Miss Martinez off on Wednesday. She’s leaving for the States. I’ve given her a lot of headaches but she has been a grand Dramatics teacher and director. Arlette called me this afternoon the minute I got home. She wanted me to go to the ANC. She says Rafa had been there. I tried to sound like I didn’t care but as usual I’m not very good at hiding my feelings. I’m going to test my will power and not go to the ANC the whole week even if I know Rafa is going to be there. This evening I was listening to Rafa’s records and they are real dreamsville. One is the theme from “Parrish” and the other are 7 Italian songs which make one think of dancing by the moonlight. I haven’t touched my Accounting books so tomorrow will be a blue Tuesday.



July 31 - Tuesday

I feel very quiet and peaceful right now. I’ve just seen the movie “Lovers Must Learn” with Susanne Pleshette and Troy Donahue. Rome is the most enchanting, lovely, magnificent city in the world and someday, if at all possible, I am going to see it someday and if possible, before I’m 25. (And, I did, before my 21st birthday and four more times before I turned 25.) I will see Italy some day, I will!! This noon Mercy and I ate lunch at the Teucher’s. Arlette wanted to tell me who Rafa likes but I didn’t let her. I refuse to listen to any more gossip. Monica tried to bribe to go to the ANC but I didn’t go. I came home, did my Steno, and washed my hair. I listened to records and later went to the movies with Mom. And I did find out who Rafa likes - Monica. She’s walking in a daze these days. Fate it seems to have other plans for me, yet again.



August 1 - Wednesday

This week seems to be dragging by so slowly. It seems like 3 years till Sunday, not 3 days. Sister Benjamin gave the class a stern lecture this morning and everything she said was absolutely true. I cut my hair and the hairdresser cut it shorter than I wanted. I look like a 12 year old tomboy instead of 18 years old. I met Arlette and Monica at the Beauty Parlor and Monica cut her hair too. I don’t like the patronizing way Arlette and Monica look at me. I think its all about this Rafa thing. Mercy says that Arlette and Monica said I was jealous of them. Oh, for Pete’s sake! What hurt me was that Mercy agreed with Arlette and Monica. Mercy wasn’t feeling well and spend the whole afternoon asleep in the school clinic. I saw Entang del Prado, Ramon Arnaiz, Quito Moras and Litos Reynoso this afternoon at school. They were looking for Magu. Saw Maritoni this afternoon.



August 2 - Thursday

I spoke to Luli last night and she revived my spirits when she said that Rafa asked for me. This afternoon I did to go to the ANC (So much for my resolution!!). Rafa was there! I met 2 cousins of his who just arrived and found out that Rafa and Jay Jay Po are first cousins. I got my ID bracelet today. Mr. Cruz seems to dislike our class but when we finished classes I was practically the only one who said thank you and goodby to him (almost under my breath) and he said “You’re welcome” with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. (I was such a sucker for guys with “a twinkle in their eyes.” So corny!) Rafa does seem to be interested in Monica. Pichuco is still hopelessly smitten with Lita so we share our mutual woes.



August 3 - Friday

Mommy hasn’t been feeling well today. We (Mom and I) ate lunch at home together. This afternoon, after school, Mercy and I went to the ANC. Arlette, Monica, Nacho and Kate were there. Lita came later. I don’t know what was wrong with me but I got a sudden attack of the giggles. Arno arrived but was in an awfully bad mood and it became worse when Rafa, Javier and Carlos arrived. We listened to records in the Teen Den. I caught Arno looking at me several times. Rafa sat beside me and talked the whole afternoon. I think he got a letter from his girlfriend or something. He keeps telling me that I’m acting strange these days and that I have to have a talk with him. I could feel myself getting warm under the collar. Pichuco and Luli talked to me tonight over the phone.



August 4 - Saturday

I didn’t do so bad in my Steno and Accounting tests. I went to the ANC this morning at 11 with Mercy. The Gang was there. I went with Mom to the beauty parlor at 3 later we went to the ANC. Mom went to Tita Lol’s house and I stayed there. I didn’t really want to go to Marilen’s party but ended up going anyway. I went with Lita, Luli, Rafa, Pichuco, and Javier. The party was not very much fun. Even if my first and last dances were with Rafa and other times too but I just didn’t have a good time. I don’t like Carlos Ortoll too much. He’s to insistent and really a drag. Maricar Beliso gave me a dazzling smile and Luis Pertierra thinks I’m nuts about him. (Why not??!! I seemed to be nuts about every attractive guy around, then.)



August 5 - Sunday

Mommy wasn’t feeling too well so I went to Mass with Mercy at 9 at San Marcelino. I went to Communion and later we went to help Las Damas at their rummage sale. I went home for lunch and baked a cake this afternoon. At 5:30 I went to Arlette and Monica’s house for the gathering. It was sensational! I mean everyone was in such a happy mood. I danced a lot and Mercy and I simply glowed. Ditoy Atayde is so much nicer than I imagined. George gets handsomer every day and Tony was and is, as always, one of the nicest guys there. Rafa has me very confused and I wished Cosme had been there. It was a sensational day. Everyone’s a dear!



August 6 - Monday

Mercy and I talked of nothing else this morning but the party last night - mainly about Tony Ortigas. Mercy can’t stand Rafa and I don’t see why but I guess everyone has his own tastes. I had lunch in Mercy’s house. Honey is the sweetest I think. We saw Rafa on the way back to school this noon, at his house, buying ice cream for his kid sister from the vendor on the street. We went to the ANC after school and Arlette and Monica were just leaving. Rafa, Marina and the Ortoll brothers were there this evening. I went to see “A Pocket Full of Miracles” with Mom, Tita Marianne and Tito Werney. I got to thinking about Carlos Garcia a lot this evening.



August 7 - Tuesday

This afternoon, Mercy and I went to the ANC. Rafa, Arlette and Monica, Lita, Luli were there. Pichuco arrived a little later. Later, Rafa, Pichuco, Luli and I went to the swimming pool. We had a lovely time talking, laughing and teasing each other. Magu was also there with some other people. Carlos and Javier Ortoll joined us. After Rafa and Pichuco had their fill of swimming, we went back to the Sunset Lounge.



August 8 - Wednesday

Regular day in school. I ate lunch in Mercy’s house and our favorite topic of conversation - Tony Ortigas. I miss Cosme a lot and heaven knows why (Yeah, why??? I’m still wondering 40 eons later!)



August 9 - Thursday

Today was really “sweet Thursday.” Mercy ate lunch with me and later we went to the ANC. Everyone was there. Later, Mitch, Mercy, Lita and Monica went to eat bibinka somewhere and Luli, Rafa and I were left behind. We had a nice, pleasant conversation. Later we moved out to sit by the swimming pool. At about 6:30 pm, I was frantically looking for a ticket to go to see “El Cid.” Everyone was going - the whole Spanish community and specially since Rafa was going and I had a terrific hunch that Carlos would be there too. Well I finally went to A&M’s house. At 7:30 Gerardo called me up telling me he had a ticket. After a couple of breathless phone calls, Gerardo tells me, he’s got a free ticket for me - to hurry home and get dressed and the Lanuza car would pick me up to take me to the Rizal. I never got dressed so fast. I wore my white chiffon dress and just made it on time. I went with Juan, Dita and the other Lanuza sister and my hunch proved to be true. During intermission I met Pichuco and we went to the lobby and I see Nacho talking to the Ortoll brothers, Rafa and Carlos. Luis Pertierra etc. were also there. (Now here’s another event I remember distinctly. The premier of “El Cid” at the Rizal! I remember the dress, and I remember clearly stepping out into the lobby and seeing all the guys I adored all together in one big bundle. An embarrassment of riches for little old me!) Rafa and the Ortoll brothers came to say hello and later we sort of drifted over to Nacho, Leo and Carlos. I was pretty nervous and my pulses were racing, but not as fast as when Rafa talked to me and said, when Nacho said something a little nasty - “No te metas con Lea que esta muy mona esta noche.” (And silly me, still didn’t get the fact that they all still treated me like the cute little sister and we were all the same age!) I also saw Titos Ayesa and thought of Mercy. Rafa asked me if I was going to the ANC tomorrow and I told him I wasn’t sure. Mercy can’t stand him and many of the guys dislike him (Now I realize he had that haughty Spanish macho thing going and that’s why the guys didn’t like him, but who knew of these things then!) But I like him - I guess I like the guys that have a bit of “sinverguenza” in them.



August 10 - Friday

I was beaming all day today. I went to the ANC this afternoon and all the usual people were there except Rafa. He had a dinner party or something tonight, so Luli says. Mommy gave me a bag this evening. So pretty! What a sticky, humid, hot day!



August 11 - Saturday

Mr. Cruz was in a very black mood this morning but thank goodness he didn’t give us a test or I would’ve gotten absolutely zero. Mercy and I went to the ANC at 11. Everyone was there. Rafa at first ignored me but when I changed into my jeans, he came to talk and tried to convince me to go to the party at Jan’s house tonight. He, Ramon Arnaiz, etc. sure gave Mercy and I the big pitch including Freddy Franco over the phone. Believe me, I never wanted to go to a party so much since Rafa is going and Tony. Father John Pelliser is our retreat master and he’s very good. Tita Carmen Marti talked to me this morning about Nena and such. I really love that lady. I miss Nena too. She says Nena doesn’t want to come back here. Wait till I hightail myself over to Spain. So help me - before I’m 20, I’ll get there. (Ah, the Fickle Finger of Fate was waving in my face. I “got” to Spain before my 21st birthday and then just after my 24th, I “hightailed it” to Spain from New York and spent the next 8 plus years of my life there. But, that August, all I could do was dream...)