March 4 - 13, 1962

March 4 - Sunday

I went to Mass at 10 am then to the ANC. The first person I meet as I walk in is Arno. He says he didn’t enjoy the party last night (Could’ve fooled me). Poor Ginny Brooks, her father was arrested yesterday for smuggling or something and this right after the Soriano plane tragedy a day ago where Cookie Olbes’s parents died. After lunch, Conchita, Luli, and I went to the Gaiety to see “Blue Hawaii” again. Arno told me to save a seat for him. Ramon Faustman came and took the seat but later Arno came and Ramon moved and Arno came and sat down. Now and then our arms would accidentally brush against each other and I felt butterflies in my stomach. After the movie we went to Dairy Queen and later we dropped Conch and Luli off at Conchita’s home and we went to visit Lita. Then Lita had to get dressed for the a wedding so we, Ramon, Arno and I walked Arno over to his apartments. Then we went to the ANC. Ramon and I sat in the Sunset Lounge and Sam came and joined us. I also spent some time with Sam this noon. He gave me a talk on how I should find myself a boyfriend - someone to hold my hand and kiss me. I told him I wasn’t interested in boys - hah. I like talking to him since he’s older (10 years) and he is a delight to converse with. He also has a way of looking at a girl and making her feel like he’s really interested in just her. We sat talking until 7 pm. But, my heart really rests in No. 15 Zulueta Circle, SLV.



March 5 - Monday

Well 3 exams are over with and only 3 to go. Physics, Tagalog and Composition. This afternoon right after the exams I went home. Mom and I went to see “Around the World In 80 Days.” What an enjoyable movie! Cantinflas was hilarious. My mind seems to be entirely with only one person these days. He will be 18 on Thursday.



March 6 - Tuesday

Well, we’re finally through with our Physics exams and all government exams for that matter. I went home right after I finished I completed my late themes and my table of contents for Tagalog. This evening I went to Bingo with Mom and Tita Pacita. My premonition (how about just plain wish) came true. George and Mitch were NOT there but who should walk through the door but Sam. He came over and said hello and he played for a few minutes. Luli and I sat near the back of the room by ourselves and we had an enjoyable time chatting about everything from politics to Carlos. Speaking of Carlos, I might as well face it. I’m just so nuts about him!!!!!!!!



March 7 - Wednesday

We had no teachers today since all of them were correcting the Board of Ed exams. Tere Carballo, Ellen etc, and most of my classmates are great people - I will sure miss them after graduation. The Roux brothers appeared on TV Dancetime last night. I was so annoyed that I missed them. The Graduation Ball gets nearer and nearer and this weekend I have to find out for sure who I am going with. (God, was I a masochist! What a wuss - but at least hope sprang eternal with me, then. I gotta admire persistence or at least stubbornness) If I had three wishes right now I’d wish for health for my family; success of Daddy in business; and, that Bobbi didn’t exist so that Carlos could come to the prom with me. Maritoni was telling me about their Junior-Senior Prom (college). It seems that Joe Avelino likes her and vice-versa. They’d make a darling couple. Maritoni is one of the nicest and warmhearted girls I have ever known. She’s a real doll!



March 8 - Thursday - Carlos Garcia’s Birthday

At school, all we do is chat and talk about parties, sing and once in a while we stop for an exam. Honestly, nobody seems to study for anything since we’ve studied enough and the only ones who ever really study are the honor students and they are exempted from the Bureau exams. So, everyone started singing Happy Birthday to me this morning which didn’t exactly send me into hilarious fits but anything to break the monotony. We’ve already started to memorize all those pledges and hymns for our graduation ceremony and preparing medals and diplomas. Its all very exciting and sad at the same time. I sure will miss those crazy wonderful classmates of mine. “Dr. Kildare” tonight was so beautiful I cried. It was the story of a girl (Susan Pleshette) who gets leukemia and is dying. Just a beautiful story! Tonight I called Nena up to wish her a happy birthday and I heard her tell the maid to tell me to call up tomorrow. This was not a nice thing for her to do. I know I haven’t returned her skirt and all but she could have at least answered the phone a second. I am not going to call her up tomorrow. This evening I got the scare of my life when the big Soriano building on Taft Avenue burned down. I never so anything so horrible in my life as to see a 9 story building go up in flames less than 2 blocks away from us. I was terribly frightened and I learned a lesson. Never again will I ever complain about the firemen making all that noise when they go out to put out a fire. (We lived right next door to the firehouse, at least when we lived on the house on San Marcelino Street. We may have been living on Indiana Street already when I wrote this in 1962 but can’t remember. Maybe this will be clarified as I keep transcribing...) The Graduation Ball gets more remote every day. My dress still hasn’t been made, I still have no shoes for it, no bra, no half slip, no 10.00 to pay Susan and no partner!!



March 9 - Friday

Sr. Angela is going to do everything in her power to keep us from having our Graduation Ball. This morning, she tells us that the general practice for our commencement exercise is going to be on Saturday, March 18th from 8 - 10 pm. Can you beat that?! Honestly, it makes my blood boil. Susan said she will try to cancel it for Friday but more and more I see that we’re going to have our ball in our dreams. Sister also made me do my research theme over and I have to give it in by next week or she won’t give me a grade in Composition. Anyway, it was my fault. I went to Mercy’s house for a while this evening. We chatted and she practiced the twist. Honey arrived while I was leaving. That guy gets handsomer each time I see him. I borrowed the book “Cimarron” from him.



March 10 - Saturday

If I had one wish this minute, I’d wish that all the pimples on my back and face would disappear and that I could take a long vacation abroad. I’d give anything right now to leave this place and see Europe and the United States. Oh to see the lights of Hollywood and New York; the mountains of Switzerland; Italy’s romantic cities, the French Riviera.....I am absolutely sick of Manila. What I need is a change and I don’t care if I go to a lonely hut in Baguio but at least I won’t have to see the same people every day. Well, the people are ok, its just the same daily routine. I’ve had it with Sr. Mary Angela and school. Thank goodness there’s only a week of misery left and then fini! I ‘m tired of the same faces talking about the same things and doing the same things. I hate to stay home because Mom is always nagging me about the things I don’t do and how I’m going to be a complete failure in life if I don’t do them. When I’m with Marina, all she talks about are her dates with Sam; Conchita about her trip to Spain with Lita, Arno about Beli; Lita about Morris, no date for the ball, and Mercy about Cosme and her valentines, which leaves me way out in the dreary cold. I have positively nothing to look forward to - no trip, no boyfriend, no Baguio - all castles in the air which never have and never will come true. I know I’m talking like an embittered old maid but unfortunately, at this moment, I feel like one. We finished our finals and practiced for our commencement exercises. Went to the ANC a 11 am and ate lunch there with Lita and Luli. Mitch, Arno, Charlie and Sam were there. Arno spent all the time horsing with us and talking about Beli. Sister bawled me out again this afternoon and I felt like making her swallow my bag. Mom says the Garcia wedding (Pilika) was a dream. Mom and I fought again this evening. There’s one thing wrong with Mom, she simply doesn’t understand Dad and me. She interprets everything in a different way and I come out the J.D. (I have no idea what I meant by “J.D.”) I am so sleepy, I’ll drop.



March 11 - Sunday

I went to Mass at 11 at Ermita then to the ANC. Marilen Rosado was here with her fiancé. Marina and I went to the Teen Den and Marina tells me that last night when she was with Sam at Papagayos, who should walk in but Carlos with Bobbi, Juaco and Barbara. I had been teasing Marina that I was going to go with her and Sam on her date and if I had.....Arno was there also (at the ANC) as well as Conchita, Lita and Luli. Much later, they all left and I stayed with Arno and Pichuco joined us. I ate lunch in the dining room with Mom and Dad and then went to see “Tender is the Night” at the Gaiety with Conchita and Luli. It was a lovely but sad picture. After the movie they dropped me off at the ANC. I talked to Marina a while and then she went to the movie with Quinny so I talked with Pichuco until 6:40 pm. I am still obsessing about Carlos with Arno coming in right behind. I know I don’t have a prayer of seeing either of them at my prom, but I can’t get them out of my mind especially Carlos - the way he moves, talks, sings, smiles....well you get the picture. (I go on for another page here about the virtues of Carlos and my pathetic surrender to the fact that I am no where in his line of vision, but I’ve been doing this a long time so I will omit my entry as it is redundant at best and boring in the least!)





March 12 - Monday

Margot Pimentel helped me type out my research theme and thanks to her it will be ready by tomorrow and I’ll be through. This afternoon Mom and I went to the dressmakers to have my graduation ball dress fitted and 2 other suits. I still haven’t a date......



March 13 - Tuesday

Marina has invited Pichuco to the ball and everyone (all the Hi-Gayles) except me has a date - Magu - Fritz, Margot P. - Bert Silas, Susan - Benjie, Cora - Billy Castelvi, Marina - Pichuco, and me - my dreams! I went to Bingo tonight and positively no one interesting was there. I did win 50.00 and I was so delighted, for a moment. Because, then Mom tells me I have to pay for the dresses I’m having made plus the 10.00 for the ball which leaves me with 10.00 measly bucks. (To think that 50.00 pesos now barely makes a dollar!!!!!!!) I thought my graduation dress was a present but now it seems I have to pay for it. All mom and dad are really giving me are the shoes and the material for the dress. (Again, I realize how self-centered teenagers are, or at least I was - my parents gave me all that access to the ANC and a lifestyle that many would envy now (including 61 year old me), and I was complaining. Not very attractive side of me.) The only persons coming to my graduation are Mom and Dad and maybe Luli. Consolation - it could be worse.