Tribute to Trish

Last year, when she turned 30, we came up with below video, 30 Facts About Chi, as a surprise for her.

This year, we came up with a new idea. Since blogging is her new favorite thing, we realized that this was the way to go! And so… tada! Surprise blogs!

I knew Trish, whom I now call Chi, since we were around 5 years old, because we both went to the same school, Ateneo de Zamboanga, from kindergarten to high school.

We only became friends in high school, however, because that was when we finally became classmates. I use the term “friends” loosely though. Despite being in the same class, we lived in different worlds – she was in P – pretty and popular, while I was in N – nerdy nobody. That is why when she wrote a letter to her 16-year-old self, she says: “You’ll also be surprised that you’ll be really close to your classmate Dee, you’ll even make her your flower girl.” We weren’t close then.

High school swimming outing. People are conservative in Zamboanga, so nobody wore swimsuits when they went swimming.

High school Chi was a model student. She and her friends sat in the front row of our classes by choice… can you believe it… by choice? I always tried to hide somewhere in the middle where my teachers wouldn’t notice me. Needless to say, she got really good grades. She also did well in extra-curriculars; she joined a lot of clubs and won the position of vice president of the student council in our senior year. She went on to graduate as our batch salutatorian.

High school graduation wacky shot. Chi and I are on the left side of the front row. There was some shoving, and I lost my balance. I didn’t even remember that Chi was beside me then.

After high school she moved to Manila (still Ateneo, but ADMU) while I stayed in Zamboanga (in the same school, gosh) for college. I don’t think I ever saw her during that time. Or maybe one time? Can’t really remember. 😮

She didn’t show up for reunions when I was working in Manila either, because she was busy studying in UP law school, except for that one time when her best friend Janice and I were both leaving the Philippines to move abroad, Janice to Japan, me to Singapore. That was the night I first met her then boyfriend and now husband Punch. This was in 2008.

High school reunion in Makati

The year after that, Chi also found a job and moved to Singapore. This was where we became real friends, two decades after we knew each other. We often went out for dinner or movies, went to the gym, and hung out at gatherings for special occasions.

Valentines 2009

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) 2009

Christmas 2010

We fell into an easy friendship and I didn’t even realize that we had become close. To borrow Mr Darcy’s words in Pride and Prejudice: “I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.” One day, as she and her sister Ngangi and I taught Gelle how to ride a bike in East Coast Park, someone vocalized this realization. That was the day we officially formed the “meanies” group.

The meanies’ first time to bake. Excuse the funny looking cake! But it’s super delicious, okay??

In 2011, she had to leave to go back to the Philippines after she got married. I was sad for myself but happy for her, of course. She’s a lot happier there now!

The newlyweds Chi and Punch with their grown up flower girls

Our last J Co moment with the Donya We’re all wearing our friendship Donya necklaces

But the great thing about true friendship is that distance does not dilute it, especially not nowadays thanks to technology. We still talk to each other almost daily in our Line app chat room and we get ridiculously excited when we’re scheduled to meet in person, whether in Manila or Singapore or Taiwan (where we went for travel last year).

Taiwan 2012

I am really glad that we were given a second chance and thrown into each other’s paths again, because otherwise, I wouldn’t have known the real her that I love – fiercely loyal to the people she loves, thoughtful and generous (I have so many surprise gifts from her), and always willing to help when needed, even when you don’t ask for it.

God didn’t give me a sister, but I know what it’s like to have one, thanks to her and the meanies. And I feel so lucky that they treat me like one, too.

Happy birthday Chi! Love you!

—;<@
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge, a blog hop that goes through the alphabet for all the days of April except Sundays. I have decided to go with the theme of Alliterations.