j a n s e n. i. s. m.

I am usually anti-Valentine’s day but this year I opted to hangout with a set of single friends who are not exactly looking for someone forever but looking for something for the meantime… FUN. My gregarious friend Rodel invited me to go out on Valentine’s night along with his close friends and usual ‘gimik’ buddies Mimi and Cheche and a surprise addition high school friend/classmate Jhoana. We had dinner in Spicy Fingers in Greenbelt 2, my second time in that laid back resto/bar where we feasted on chicken and pork satays, chicken fingers, calamari and deep fried prawns and zucchinis.

I thought we would have some cocktails in Spicy Fingers but Rodel didn’t feel like it and instead had a better suggestion—go to Gilligan’s Island located near Glorietta where his band friends are waiting for us. Apparently, this included Amer, another classmate from high school as well. His band just finished a night’s gig in another venue and was just hanging out in Gilligan’s when we came. Nonetheless, we were able to witness his undeniably great talent in singing when he jammed with the in-house band. I’ve heard him sing before in highschool and also in a gig they had in Enchanted Kingdom last year, but this was the first I was convinced that he was born to do this. He sang a number of songs with the band: “Knocks Me Off My Feet” (knock us out in a good way), “Always” (duet with the unimpressive female vocalist of the in-house band who keep calling him Amber instead of Amer) , “So Sick” (so damn good actually)and “Bring Me to Life” (where he did the rap part). I am now a fan.

As if the night has just began, we left Gilligan’s and said goodbyes to Amer and his band and welcome ourselves in Malate. The district is just crowded, it felt like Christmas day on February or is it the fact that I haven’t gone to this place in such long time that this is the scenario I am missing almost every weekend.

We weren’t lucky to find a bar that still has dance floor space left for another clubber or a spare table for a new set of patrons so instead we just hang out in a coffee shop—Starbucks in Adriatico where it offers tasteful and expensive coffees, cozy seats for good conversations and even promo coupons.

We left Malate around 3:30 am, earlier than I expected but thankfully the commute going back home was rather easy. Valentine’s day may be over but I vow to spend more fun times like this.

Every now and then, I get an invitation from my college organization (FORCES and/or CGATES) to come to an event they sponsor. I have already turned down a few invitations they had in the past so when I got another text invite a few days ago from the current CGATES president Rren, I knew my attendance was already half-assured. I just had to ask Rodel (a former FORCES president himself) if he’ coming so that I have company going there and positively, the deal was sealed.

The event by the way, is called “Kamustahan Party”, there wasn’t much information on what the event really is going to be but invited alumni can pretty much know what to expect based on title itself or so I thought. We arrived at Villa Teresa Resort late at past 4pm, although there was no official arrival time required. Dressed in a crisp white rolled up sleeve polo over gray pants and sneakers, I knew the moment I stepped in the resort that I was overdressed for the occasion for it was a literal pool side party with a little fiesta feel to it. Inside Rodel, Mimi and I were greeted by Irah, Rodel’s cousin and current FORCES officer, then we surprisingly saw our former classmate Reynalin Cuevas sitting in one corner. Apparently she was there because her beau since our college days, Anson was there performing for the eager crowd. Soon, we were getting attention from the student attendees, some familiar, most are not. Then there’s the dean, finally welcoming us with her usual enthusiastic glow. She was happy that we came and instantly she mentioned about a meeting she’s planning next week asking Engineering alumni to help the would-be graduates in finding a job.

Next we saw was the cheerful Mam Agnes, our former Chemistry teacher who’s now spearheading the FORCES organization as its adviser. She was thoughtful to offer us to eat and even gave us a little souvenir for the event. Looking so summer-y and blooming is Mam Jen, our CGATES adviser during our time, one of the closest professors I had in college who welcomed us with warm hug. Other faculty members present were Mam Teogangco, Sir Doza and Mam Sheilly. Alumni also present were Heidi Lunggcay and her ECE/CE batchmates, Robby and Leslie who were the CoE graduates after us also previous FORCES presidents. The occasion was supposed to bridge some gaps but it was a little disappointing that there was more picture-taking involved than actual human-talking. After eating, I almost had the feeling that we were there to merely observe as visitors.

I knew I would have greater fun there if the people I really missed in college were present in this event like my college friends, CoE classmates and yes, my crush. We left the party early, just almost 6pm with me thinking that those who failed to come and didn’t get the invite didn’t really miss that much and knowing that the actual homecoming I envisioned is yet to come.