June 6 - 13, 1962

June 6 - Wednesday


Mercy and Betsy passed the St. Paul’s entrance exams. Sr. Andrea is a doll! She’s strict but sweet and says that Mercy, Betsy and I have “naughty” faces. I spent some time with Margotin this morning. Miss Zacarias is going to teach Spanish again. I went to the ANC for a while this noon. Lita and the gang were there. Carlos brought me home. He’s nice but still acting “remote.” Later I picked up Mercy and we went back to the ANC. The ususal people were there again. Yan gave me a little Japanese doll. Luli and Pichuco talked to me about Lita this evening. Pichuco is so in love with Lita and when I asked Luli she said that Lita has no feelings at all for Pichuco. Poor guy. I saw Maritoni and asked her about Joe and Titos Ayesa. I wish Cosme were here but he’d be mooning over Mercy.


June 7 - Thursday

I’ve got a splitting headache so I can’t concentrate very well. This afternoon I went with Mercy and Betsy to St. Scholastica to get their deposits back. Sr. Benjamin gave us a quiz on the library facilities this morning. I LOST CARLOS’S PICTURE!!! I looked into my wallet this afternoon and it wasn’t there. If I dropped it, I’ll kill myself and if someone took it from me, I’ll never forgive him or her. I loved that picture. I’ll never get another one like it. I talked to Marina and Pichuco over the phone but I am so depressed. I hope I find Carlos’s picture!!

June 8 - Friday

Mercy admitted to me this morning that Betsy took Carlos’s picture and that she has it. She also showed it to Tita Marina Asparren who was at her house today and Tita Marina put it in her purse to show it to Carlos and then she’ll give it back. But I told Mercy that I would never see that picture again. (Did I ever forgive Betsy and Mercy for that? That was a pretty rotten thing to do, knowing how I felt about the guy.) Well, it was nice to have it while I did. (Was I really that forgiving?!) This afternoon I was at Mercy’s house and spent a lot of time talking to Tita Marina. (And why didn’t I ask her about the bloody picture?) She so simpatica and not just because she’s Carlos’s aunt. Anyway, its obvious she adores her nephew. I told Mercy this afternoon that I had the feeling that I would see Morris soon and Yan told me that he saw Morris at temple and that he might be at the party tomorrow at their house. If he does go....of well, lets wait and see. I spoke to Nena over the phone. She left for Spain today. Mercy, Yan and I talked about Morris, Lita and me again. Everyone seems to agree that everything was all my fault. Well, I don’t know what fault they’re talking about because my conscience is pretty clear since I did nothing secretive or wrong in Baguio. (And it would be at least 2 years before any guy actually got to first base with me. That “honor” fell to....well, I’ll leave that for later. I still am convinced these lo many years that my girlfriends were a little “freer” with their boyfriends than I thought so when Morris paid all that attention to me, they couldn’t conceive that it was platonic. Thinking about it now, I don’t know whether I should be insulted or flattered.)



June 9 - Saturday

I stayed home the whole morning. This evening, Yan picked me up at 7:15 for Mitch’s gathering. He says he saw Morris at the Country Bake Shoppe and that Morris asked him for my phone number but Yan didn’t give it to him. Mitch looked simply yummy tonight. We teased each other a lot. Of all the guys there, he and Honey are my favorite. Butch, Honey and George were in a rare mood and made me laugh a lot. We played “Truth or Consequence” and involved a lot of slapping and kissing. Mitch danced with Cristina Alegre and he dances pretty well. Lita doesn’t know who she likes better, Peps or Morris and I also found that while in Baguio, Lita read my diary every night!!! Ok. That’s the limit! Not even my mother looks at my diary. She (Lita) talks a lot about not trusting me but she obviously wasn’t a little angel herself but se me quitan las ganas de escribir aqui ya que se que alguien lo ha leido. And Mercy, who says she’s my friend didn’t tell me. They can all go fly a kite. Now I hope I do see Morris again just to spite them all. For all I know, he did it just to spite Lita too. I am such a fool!


June 10 - Sunday

I keep getting the feeling that Morris is very close. (Mom and Dad are now having a terrific argument about some stupid thing about food!!) I went to Mass at 11 and then as usual to the ANC. The gang was there. Arno arrived later this afternoon. Yan picked us up to go to the Rizal to see a horrible picture called “The Mask.” Cookie Olondriz gave us invitations to her party. We went back to the ANC. Carlos is so sweet. Came back home early. I’m so fed up with Manila!

June 11 - Monday

Did nothing special this afternoon. Marina took us to school. Our uniforms weren’t ready but Mercy got her registration card. We went to the ANC. We had merienda with Yan, Ditas, etc. This evening Tita Marianne and Tito Werney picked us up and we went to the Polo Club. The Argentine cadets were visiting again. The cadet who was with me was quite cute but he wasn’t interesting to me at all. Too serious about everything and no sense of humor. Lita and Luli came home with us. Mercy saw Carlos but I missed him. Just as well. Tita Marina played mah-jong at home. She says Carlos won’t give her back the picture. Lita and I are almost on the same footing again. I like her very much and I’m so glad.


June 12 - Tuesday

Those darned maids tell poor Mom that they want to leave. I went to the ANC with Mercy after lunch. The Luneta and Dewey Boulevard were filled with people since we celebrated our new Independence Day today. This evening, I played Bingo with Mercy, Yan, Pichuco and Mom. Pichuco was so sweet tonight. I like him so much better than I did before. He promised to send me white carnations for my birthday. (Another moment I remember clearly - this conversation with Pichuco about white carnations.) He’s so nice. Lita shouldn’t be so heartless. Tomorrow is the first day of class. Poor Mom and Dad are beat.


June 13 - Wednesday

Golly, I’m tired. Every bone aches and I’ve this awful crick in my back. The first day of school wasn’t bad. The usual getting to know the subjects, teachers, etc. I got my uniforms, borrowed books, etc. First lesson in typing was fun and social training is interesting. Miss Zacarias’s Spanish class was ugh. Sr. Benjamin is scary and strict. Went to Alemars and the ANC after school. Mom says Luli and a Mexican cadet were looking for me for cocktails tonight. Mercy says Carlos won’t give back the picture but funny how I don’t really care. In fact I couldn’t care less if he got married and went away forever. (Who was I fooling then?! The irony of it all is that it was I who got married before anyone else in my barkada and left Manila to never live there again, but that’s another story.) I think I’m finally beginning to be over him.

My Great Expectations -

1) Of seeing Joe Avelino although heaven knows why when he and Maritoni are so engrossed with each other;

2) Of seeing that....well, Morris again and heaven knows why, too;

3) Of going to Cookie’s party (she called this evening).

I hope Rita (our maid) comes back and this rash on my face goes away before Saturday. Saw Father Reuter today and I still say I’m going to be married by him. (Oh my God, the one thing in this entire diary that DID come true!!) I’m finally wearing my uniform but I’m tying my ties too short.