January 13 - 22, 1964

January 13 - Monday


I enjoyed “The Nurses” tonight. I really have nothing important to say. I saw Dick on the way home. It’s been a pretty depressing day. I fixed up my closets and spoke to Mercy over the phone. Lousy day.



January 14 - Tuesday

I had a very nice day at the office. Mercy came home this evening and we chatted until she left at 7:30. As usual the pendulum of our conversation kept swinging from Honey to George to Honey and back to George. They’re playing “The Way You Look Tonight” over the radio. I wonder what Cliff thinks of Saturday. I’m frankly curious. (And, I frankly don’t know what I was wondering or curious about.) I long for Honey’s company again.



January 15 - Wednesday

Payday today and I bought film for my camera. Dad took a picture of me with his Polaroid camera. (And I still have that picture in my album. One of my favorite pictures taken of me - I’m standing relaxed and happy, smiling at my father, wearing a striped sleeveless shirt and white shorts. I remember the moment as if it were yesterday.) I was just imagining while taking a bath, that of all the guys I have liked stood before me and asked me to dance like - Cliff, Carlos, Cosme, Mitch, Nacho, Arno and Honey - the guy I would say yes to without hesitation is Honey.



January 16 - Thursday

My godmother (Esther Arana) was home this noon before I got home. She brought me a pretty gold bracelet from Spain. (Oh, that lovely bracelet - it just evoked a string of memories - more importantly that Cliff exchanged the 4 pink opal beads on it with pearls in Japan and I added the solid gold coin my father gave me when Frances was born to it. Only to take it off on Christmas morning of 1967 lay it on the table, then forgot about it, scooped up all the Christmas wrappings (bracelet among them) and dumped in the incinerator! One of the things I’ve lost that to this day, fills me with remorse.) Margotin left me her album of her debut to see and will eat lunch here at home tomorrow. Mercy came home this afternoon and we chatted as usual about Honey and George. We ate merienda at “Tasa de Oro.” Poor Chuck is quite in love with his girlfriend and doesn’t know whether to march to the altar or not. Mr. Cooper leaves tomorrow for Los Angeles. I’ll miss him. Hope to very much see Honey tomorrow.



January 17 - Friday

I spent the whole evening with Honey, Chiqui and Albert. Mercy had a date. We played Scrabble. The subject of Muneca came up and why I had cried. Honey asked why again but Mom came to the rescue by picking me up to go home so nothing else happened. (Now, here is something I have only a slim memory off. I remember Honey inquiring why I had cried, but I don’t remember the incident that prompted it, why it involved Honey and who in the heck Muneca was!) I’m very much in love with Honey. It’s not a heart-throbbing, pulse racing sort of thing, but quiet and sure. Mr. Cooper left today and we saw him off at the airport.



January 18 - Saturday

I was in Mercy’s house again this afternoon. Later Yan called up and invited us to a movie. Mom, Mercy, Maryanne, Yan and I went to the Rizal to see “Bye-Bye Birdie.” Mercy was being quite pesada this evening. Tomorrow we have to wake up early to go to Mass before leaving to catch the boat to Corregidor. I’m so happy Honey is coming with us.



January 19 - Sunday

I never was more tired in my entire life. I’m also as red as a lobster. The boat trip wasn’t the fun we expected. Too many people and lousy food. The trip back though was more pleasant. It was quite chilly as the sun went down and Mercy, Honey and I were huddled together. There was a moment Honey’s face was 2 inches away from mine and quite bad for my system. When we were close together, Honey put his head on my lap and sort of dozed and I was running my fingers through his hair and I thought why couldn’t this be forever....



January 20 - Monday

I was in Mercy’s house this evening. She’s really head over heels in love with George and very confused. Just before I left to come home, Honey came upstairs. It’s funny there’s no pulse-racing, heart hammering (like the rest of the guys I “liked” before) but it’s a quiet awareness of his presence. Rudy Ledesma is a darling. Deposited first 10 pesos in the OBM.



January 21 - Tuesday

Mercy and I went to Mass together this noon. She ate lunch at home and later we went to her house. We played Scrabble and I beat her. Later, Honey arrived and we had merienda and played Scrabble again. I was leading all the way but Honey beat me at the end. I’ll beat him yet. Next to my parents, I guess the people I’m closest to are Mercy and Honey. I hope the pictures from the boat trip develop alright. I never thought I was the jealous type but the moment I hear Honey’s name mentioned with another girl....



January 22 - Wednesday

The afternoon all the Production Associates staff went down to OBM for a meeting with E.B. Ramos, Jr. He made a very strong impression on me. He mentioned the fact that Cliff had been to his office and had mentioned me. Cliff made with the disappearing act though. I got the pictures of the Corregidor boat trip and they came out pretty sharp. Mr. Ramon mentioning Cliff to me set me to thinking about him. I sort of miss him now and then in a way. I want to go to Mercy’s house tomorrow to show them the pictures but people will think I live there! (Duh. I guess somewhere between September 1962 and January 1964 I exchanged the ANC for Mercy’s house. My mother certainly thought I should just move my bed over there.)