May 4 - 17, 1962

May 4 - Friday


I went to the ANC after Aguinaldo’s. Mari and Tony Olbes were there with Arno. This afternoon, I was with Mary Ann Ojeda, Lesley, Monchu and Yan. I went to Mercy’s house and then we went together to the bus terminal for Baguio. The bus ride was very pleasant and we arrived in Baguio at 5 AM in the morning.



May 5 - Saturday - Baguio

This morning we went to Camp John Hay and ate something at the 19th Tee and later to the Country Club. We bowled and then went home for lunch. After lunch, we slept a siesta and I got dressed to go to the Country Club. I told Lita I had the feeling Morris would be there and he was!! I think he’s awfully nice and he was awfully nice to me and that’s all I’m saying.



May 6 - Sunday - Baguio

We went to Mass at 10 at the Cathedral and we walked to the Country Club afterwards. There were many people there. While we were eating Morris came and my heart skipped a little beat. We ate a lovely and delicious lunch. After lunch we played “Charades” with Patsy Davis, Irene D., and Cookie Olondriz. When we finished they left and we just sat and talked - Lita, Monchu, Bobby Delgado, and I. Bobby is very nice. He left for Manila and is returning next weekend. Lita, Monchu, Yan and I played bowling again and then Morris came with Sonny and two very nice guys named Steve and Bruce. After playing bowling, we went all went with them to Camp John Hay to have a snack. Afterwards we went to Morris’s house and later he brought us home. I hope I don’t fall for Morris. He’s so nice and so much fun.





May 7 - Monday - Baguio

I think I’m getting a terrific liking for Morris. This morning he came at 11 with Steve and stayed for an hour. This afternoon, he came with us to Burnham Park and he gave me a ride on a scooter. Then he took Lita.



May 8 - Tuesday - Baguio

This morning we went to the Country Club at 11 and we stayed there the whole day. I think Luis Pertierra is the sweetest, nicest person around. He was with Marybeth Lopez but they’re just friends - she’s getting married. ( And there’s a lady with a story that some years later I would feel connected to in a way and even more years later, would create a scandal that would rock Manila!) Morris arrived a bit later. Baguio is wonderful and so is Luis. (Luis was and will always be to me, a sweet, truly nice guy.)



May 9 - Wednesday - Baguio

We washed our clothes this morning and this afternoon we went to the Country Club. Luis Pertierra, Vicky, Patsy, Cookie etc. were there. Luis is so sweet. He came to talk to me and when he left he said goodbye. Morris came by the house after supper. We played Black Jack. It seems he doesn’t like Lita and Lita is beginning to hate him.



May 10 - Thursday - Baguio

This past days I’ve been very brief in my diary but tonight I think I will elaborate (Oh, no, no, not elaborate, Lea!) Maricar is so very nice and I’m sorry I didn’t like her that much before. We had such a riotous time washing our clothes and cleaning etc. Yan is so nice and everyone else is so nice except Chiqui and Albert who can truly get on my nerves. This morning Morris came by at around 9 to talk to Yan and stayed for an hour. He said he’d meet us at Burnham Park. Maricar and I shared a little car. Later Morris took me for a ride on his scooter and we rode outside of the park. It was so much fun. We came back to the house for lunch and then went to the market and the St. Louis School. This afternoon we went to see “Sargent Three” after getting caught in the rain. The movie starred Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Peter Lawford. It was a riot. Yan called Morris and later he talked to me. He says he’ll bring me my brush tomorrow. (Where did I leave it?!!!!) We also hope to go to the Country Club. (I guess we just changed the ANC for the Baguio Country Club and that’s why I never belonged to a club again after I left Manila!)



May 11 - Friday - Baguio

This morning Morris came to the house at about 10 and we talked about half an hour on the porch. Then we went and dropped Tita Lol and Mom at the Vallejo Hotel and we went back for Lita and Margie. Morris offered them a ride but they refused. (Duh!) Morris returned the car to his father and we went walking through Session Road. Morris invited me to have lunch at his home but Mom wouldn’t let me go. So we walked to his home and there, we listened to records and told stories and jokes. (And how is the latter different from having lunch? Or did I just disobey my mother???) He drove me home at 12:30. It was a very pleasant morning. This afternoon we all went to the Country Club and there we had the dreamy guys play and they played quite well. (I’m assuming, I was talking about playing bowling.) Ditos Reynoso danced with me and it was ok. Later Morris came and took Lita, Margie (aka Maricar) and I to Camp John Hay and there we tried calling Manila but didn’t succeed. We went back to the Country Club and Morris and sat apart and had some sodas. He is so very nice to me. I thought maybe he’s giving me the same pitch he gave Lita and Ditas. Finally, Mom called me to join the others and Morris said goodbye to Mom and he left. Later we square danced and sang. Patsy Davis and Chiqui won the twist contests and they get a free dinner tomorrow. We miss Yan. Morris told me he might come tomorrow at 9 but wasn’t sure. One thing I noticed is that Morris and I understand each other pretty well. We anticipate each others thoughts. He’s so very, very nice and its confusing me.



May 12 - Saturday - Baguio

This morning we did not have any water. This afternoon George Gallent came by and brought us to the Country Club. We square danced and I met Stevie Osmena. Luisito Campos asked me if I had seen Morris or Sonny because he was supposed to meet them at the club. Morris is so considerate and nice. I don’t know if he was at the foot of the stairs this morning like he said he would be but I couldn’t meet him like he wanted me to. He also asked me to call him up but I just can’t bring myself to do it. I missed him today but that’s life. I had a wonderful day yesterday because I spent three quarters of it with him. I know Lita is hurt and angry with me and I can just imagine what they are saying about me behind my back. Is it worth it all?! (Well, it was the first time that a guy was paying attention to ME, so, no wonder I thru caution and friendship to the wind. Not a great move but understandable in my teenage mind.)



May 13 - Sunday - Baguio

I had a horrible evening last night. It must have been something I ate and I have awful nausea. We spent the day at the Country Club (But, obviously, nothing keeps me from the clubs!) I went with Margie shopping this afternoon and later they went to see “The Innocent” and I stayed at the Country Club because I was not feeling well. (Yeah, right, Lea) We square danced (ya see?!) and Luis Pertierra I believe was keeping an eye on Mercy. I haven’t seen or heard from Morris since Friday. He did tell me he would not see me for 2 or 3 days and when the clouds clear to call him up, but??? I miss him terribly. We still haven’t any water and everything stinks in the house. The flies fly around in swarms and my stomach still feels awful and I feel dizzy. Last night I overheard Lita, Maricar and Mercy talking about Morris. Lita called Morris a coward for some reason or another and I think they said something about me. I had the terrific temptation to continue listening but forced myself to go back in my room. I hope I see Morris tomorrow but doubt it. Tomorrow, Mom and I move into Tita Trining’s house on Legarda Road.



May 14 - Monday - Baguio

Tita Trining picked us up at 11 and we drove to her lovely house. It’s so nice here and comfortable with soft beds and clear running water and NO FLIES! It feels just like home. I bathed and slept a siesta this afternoon. Then I went to see “A Majority of One” with Mom and Tita Trining starring Alec Guinness and Rosaline Russell. Very entertaining. I almost called Morris this evening but got cold feet again. Tomorrow I intend to return his flamenco records. I want to see him so badly.



May 15 - Tuesday - Baguio

Well I didn’t have the nerve to return the records. The more days that go by without my seeing him the more I want to see him. He’s been the only guy I’ve really enjoyed being with. I went shopping this morning and this afternoon I went to the Country Club. Patsy Davis, her mother, sister and I went to Brent looking for Roy McDonald. We didn’t find him. (I’m feeling much better this afternoon). We met Lita, Maricar and Mercy and the Sarthous at the Country Club. Lita was silent and didn’t say a word to me. If I spoke to her, she’d answer politely but said nothing more. I don’t know what she’s got against me? (I could say at this point that it was a great bit of acting on my part but since I remember all this episode of Baguio clearly, I REALLY DIDN’T GET IT!) If she thinks Morris like me - my eye! (And I really didn’t see that it wasn’t about him, but about ME getting the attention from Morris and me responding, and to top it all, I moved to the Legarda house, away from the chaos of the house they were staying in.) And I never said anything bad to Morris about Lita. All this mess for nothing really. (And it was nothing, really. I would question Morris about the nothing 4 dozen years later...) We went back to Brent with Mrs. Davis and said goodbye to Roy McDonald who is a doll. (Again, another guy who I am clueless as to who he was.) They brought me home.



May 16 - Wednesday - Baguio

This morning I wasn’t in a very good mood. Mom was in a nagging mood and I was under some dark cloud. We went to Session Road and there we met Tita Lol who gave me a letter from Yan and Luli. This lifted my spirits up considerably. Luli writes a delightful letter and Yan a very sweet one. Luli seems to be having a ball in Manila. She’s seen all her crushes plus mine too like Mitch, Carlos and Arno. This afternoon, Mercy and Maricar came to the house and we went to the Country Club. Lita is still very aloof with me and this gets sillier every day. You’d think Morris and I blackened her reputation or something and I haven’t even seen him since last Friday. Pinky Wintermitt is very silly. I prayed the rosary with Mom, Tita Trining and her sweet little granddaughters. It was lovely to watch them say the rosary, so little...My head was splitting and my stomach is still woozy. I wish Lita would melt a little and come of that pedestal she’s on. I wonder what she tells Luli about me in her letters.



May 17 - Thursday - Baguio

It’s funny how yesterday when I finished writing I saw that I met Morris on a Thursday and it would be nice that I could see him today. Well some little angel must’ve been paying attention because this morning at 10 he called up here. He had gone over to the Sarthous and asked for me (and I can just imagine they’re reaction) and they told him that I was here at the Legarda’s. We talked for about half an hour. This evening he called back at 6:30 and we talked again. Maricar’s brothers, it seems had an accident and I don’t know what happened. Anyway, I’m to meet Morris at his house tomorrow to return the records. I hope I’ll be able to see him and Mom doesn’t object!! I dreamt of Arno last night?!