A Look Back To Our One Year of Friendship
I only prayed for one but God gave me four.
When I entered the writer’s on-line world I was so scared to befriend with people that has dreams and interests same like mine.
I really thanked God for giving me four true best friends. We have this one passion in common and that is being a novelist. Writing bound us together. That was last year when through the site of www.booklat.com.ph we all became friends and put our chikahans on a chatbox on Facebook.
In order to protect our privacy and personal identity, we will be using some codenames. We are DUGONG, BUTANDING, DILIS, IGAT AND PUSIT.
Dugong – the eldest among our group, she’s 28 as of this writing. A single mom, a marketer, a true loyal bestfriend to her Damian, and a “maglaway-ka-ngayon-kind-of-girl” to all her exes. I can say that she’s the most mature among us but then the Most Bully Award also goes to her. She’s totally blunt. I love her novels because it will make you laugh out loud most of the scenes.
Butanding – the second to the eldest and 27 years of age as of this writing. A NBSB (no boyfriend since birth) and LFZ (laging friendzone. Hehe.). The singer of the group, the pinakamalandi-di lang halata, the funniest. Her just one word, can make your stomach and jaws ache because of laughing. Because of that, sometimes, it was hard to tell, what is joke and what is serious to her.
Dilis – 26 years old, a chef, a gothic writer, a wife, a mother of two wonderful kids. The most talkative among us and yet she’s the smallest, I mean cutest. Hehe.
Igat – 25, the prettiest. (Mwahahaha. Walang kokontra, blog ko ‘to.) A typical office girl by day and a frustrated writer by night (kapag sinisipag. -_-), the most ranter award goes to her.
Pusit – 23, the youngest and for me, she’s the best novelist among us. (Don’t be pressured, bebe, POV ko lang po ito. Hehe. At huwag nang kumontra, blog post ko ‘to.). The mediator, the taga-tawa during confe call.
The Meet-ups.
The first meet-up was at Trinoma Mall last July 26, 2015. It was only the four of us since Dilis was not available at that time. Though it was our first time, it feels like we already know each other for a long time. We just laugh and laugh and talked about our first ever collaboration story to make. And that story is about the five goddesses who were thrown out at the Earth for a punishment because of their abusive usage of their powers by their Father King. We talked about the plotover a bunch of fries, coke floats and coffee float at Mcdo.
Please also take note that it was Dugong and Pusit’s first time to ride in MRT. Mabuhay!
Then this was followed at the MIBF 2014 and Booklat Party dated September 20, 2015. Sadly, Dilis wasn’t able to attend because her mom was rushed to the hospital. We then joined by other Booklat members and co-writers. It was a very fun day since we were able to mingle with our other friends.
Our third meet-up was last October 2015 at the PPC Office. This time we were complete. Cheers!
Dilis, Butanding, Pusit and I had a meet up first at Farmer’s Mall, Cubao. We’re just going to meet Dugong at PPC since she came from Batangas. Dugong reached PPC office at five p.m. just about time the office will about to close. She had a tour around the city date with the taxi driver. -_-
After Dugong and Pusit finally got their checks, we headed to Quezon City Memorial Circle to have dinner at Tropical Hut and the treat was courtesy of Dugong and Dilis. Thank you girls, we love you.
Since Dugong has a very hectic schedule, she was rushing to go home so by 8 p.m., we bid farewell to each other hoping to meet each other again soon on Dugong’s 28th birthday on November.
Unfortunately, that plan didn’t happen. Thanks to Dugong for she is a very busy career woman.
The next meet up happened during the Booklat Christmas Party held at PPC warehouse. Again, Dugong wasn’t able to attend for the same reason.
Then the following year, which is this year, we had an unplanned sleepover at Dilis’ house in Pasig. We enjoyed the night that we hadn’t had the chance to sleep. So therefore the title of the album of our pictures on my FB Account is “Sleepover Na Walang Sleep”. Thanks to my friends, the following day, I went to work feeling like a walking dead.
The next sleepover happened last May 9, 2015 held again at Louie’s house. This time we had a pictorial during the night. Please see picture below. Hehe.
This time, we have to sleep because the following day we will be going in Tondo, Manila for some humanitarian activity. The following day was also Mother’s Day.
Butanding had some other plan so she wasn’t able to be with us in Tondo. There’s an organization called Project Pearls that we will be joining on that Sunday morning. This org. has a goal of educating less fortunate kids living in Helping Land, Tondo, Manila. Pusit, Dugong and I went there.
Before heading back to Dilis’ place to have lunch, we bought flowers and cakes for the two moms on our group. They were for Dilis and Dugong. At five in the afternoon, we were ready to go home.
Being with them are rare to happen yet we had so much fun every time we were together.
I’ve been open to them with all the rants and outlook that I have in life. I can freely say to them whatever I feel and wanted to say. For the past year, they have been my human diary and shock absorber. I am so much thankful for having them around. We may not see each other often but then in our hearts, we are just like neighbors.
And also for the past year, many things already happened on our individual lives same with our friendship. We had these petty fights, conflicts, issues, rants, “chismisans” and other memorable things that happened. Here are some of the highlights:
Butanding’s Heartbreaking Stories. If she’s not being friendzoned, the one he likes is already committed to someone else. #Sadnu
But of course as her friends, we were just here to tease her and to endlessly laugh at her. Hehehe. Kidding aside, we were here to give her advices and share with her some words of wisdom that we know by heart. She’s listening for some time but most of the time, she don’t.
Dugong’s heartache with her childhood best friend. If there’s friendzoned which Butanding is currently living at, there’s also bestfriendzoned and Jaydee is leading that zone. Let’s call the guy, Ian Somerhalder. (huwaw). No matter how hard she denies, we can feel that she loves him more than that besfriend thingy. She was just so hesitant to tell it to the whole wide world even to herself because the guy is already engaged. #Sadnu
She had this greatest regret six years ago when she refused to marry Ian. #MedyoTangaLang But then even though that happened, at least she’s sure that their friendship would never be broken although sometimes they were having big and small fights. And even some kilig scenes. On her second approved novel, here she wrote their love story and her dreamed happy ending for them. #JuDa mehehe.
Pusit’s imaginary wall. We had a misunderstanding that happened sometime last October. She felt betrayed when I stalked her fb account and her forbidden crush’. She said to me that she felt betrayed because on her past, that already happened to her. Pusit is also discreet on telling us her stories and secrets because she feels that we might not be trusted that much. She built an imaginary wall between her and her friends and we are included on that list. She was so afraid to tell us the thoughts and stories she has. But then as time goes by, we can feel that she’s already there trusting us and slowly breaking the wall she built. #DatiSiyangMason
Dilis’ Insecurities, unreached dreams, and rants as a mom and a wife. Dilis got married at 20. Then had two kids already. Even though she’s happy with her family, sometimes, there’s a feeling of emptiness and self pity. She wants to do a lot of things but then she already had her top priority and of course that’s her family. She was thankful that she had us as her closest friends around who can listen to all her rants since she had none except us.
Igat’s life rants and “can’t decide” situation. Igat is beautiful. Hahaha. (Oo na, siya na GGSS at malaki ang paa. Happy you, four?) She was always ranting about her work and her long time boyfriend. She wanted to resign from her work as a typical office girl and just be a prisoner to her room just to write the whole day but then that cannot possibly happen. Because she’s the breadwinner of her family so she must have a stable job and income to support them. She also usually had petty misunderstandings with her boyfriend that the lamangdagats has always been her listeners and advice givers. Back then (late last year) she was making a decision of getting married soon or not yet. Her friends generously gave her their insights about that thing.
And when her heart was broken (early this year), the four was there to listen to her. They may not be together physically during that time but the pain was slightly lifted up because of them. Thanks to the power of unlimited call and conference call. During the process of her moving on, every time they were having a conference call or even one on one talk with these girls, she’s always laughing out all her heart out and as time goes by, she knows that she’s already healing. By saying all the things that she feels and thinks to them, the burden was already fading. And she moved on! Having the lamangdagats as her friends is one of the greatest blessings that she had and she will be forever thankful to God for giving them to her.
Butanding being busy. Since she had her latest work, she had lesser time to talk to us and even meet us. We even felt that maybe we did or said something wrong that’s why she’s making a distance from us. But that was already resolved. Thanks God.
Dugong’s Third Marriage Proposal. She got a wedding proposal from her ex-boyfriend and she’s confused of what to decide. The lamangdagats’ insights were divided. Some said yes but the bitter ones said no.
The seenzone war. Since Dugong has always been so busy of her work, some of her committed events, she wasn’t able to attend it. One time, Butanding felt disappointed because Dugong already said yes but when the event came, she can’t make it. Dugong is matured enough to handle that kind of situation so the next time that we met, she really did make time for that. And for the sake of friendship, pride would never be an issue to her.
Dilis being bitter. Something happened in her personal life that she became super bitter and we understand it. Even if I will be put in her place I would also feel the same way.
So that’s it!
It’s only been a year but many things already happened. I am looking forward to more years with you girls. Forever does exist and that lives on our friendship.
#FeelingHopeful
I love you four.
Thank you so much for having patience with me, for listening to my senseless rants and house cracking singing voice. Thank you for being there when I badly need people whom I can share my pain with, thank you for all the laughs, the stories that we shared, the advices, wisdom, knowledge, the concerns, the love, the treat, the time and effort you spent with us, and most of all thank you for the unconditional friendship.
Happy first anniversary!
Lab,
I only prayed for one but God gave me four.
When I entered the writer’s on-line world I was so scared to befriend with people that has dreams and interests same like mine.
I really thanked God for giving me four true best friends. We have this one passion in common and that is being a novelist. Writing bound us together. That was last year when through the site of www.booklat.com.ph we all became friends and put our chikahans on a chatbox on Facebook.
In order to protect our privacy and personal identity, we will be using some codenames. We are DUGONG, BUTANDING, DILIS, IGAT AND PUSIT.
Dugong – the eldest among our group, she’s 28 as of this writing. A single mom, a marketer, a true loyal bestfriend to her Damian, and a “maglaway-ka-ngayon-kind-of-girl” to all her exes. I can say that she’s the most mature among us but then the Most Bully Award also goes to her. She’s totally blunt. I love her novels because it will make you laugh out loud most of the scenes.
Butanding – the second to the eldest and 27 years of age as of this writing. A NBSB (no boyfriend since birth) and LFZ (laging friendzone. Hehe.). The singer of the group, the pinakamalandi-di lang halata, the funniest. Her just one word, can make your stomach and jaws ache because of laughing. Because of that, sometimes, it was hard to tell, what is joke and what is serious to her.
Dilis – 26 years old, a chef, a gothic writer, a wife, a mother of two wonderful kids. The most talkative among us and yet she’s the smallest, I mean cutest. Hehe.
Igat – 25, the prettiest. (Mwahahaha. Walang kokontra, blog ko ‘to.) A typical office girl by day and a frustrated writer by night (kapag sinisipag. -_-), the most ranter award goes to her.
Pusit – 23, the youngest and for me, she’s the best novelist among us. (Don’t be pressured, bebe, POV ko lang po ito. Hehe. At huwag nang kumontra, blog post ko ‘to.). The mediator, the taga-tawa during confe call.
The Meet-ups.
The first meet-up was at Trinoma Mall last July 26, 2015. It was only the four of us since Dilis was not available at that time. Though it was our first time, it feels like we already know each other for a long time. We just laugh and laugh and talked about our first ever collaboration story to make. And that story is about the five goddesses who were thrown out at the Earth for a punishment because of their abusive usage of their powers by their Father King. We talked about the plotover a bunch of fries, coke floats and coffee float at Mcdo.
Please also take note that it was Dugong and Pusit’s first time to ride in MRT. Mabuhay!
Then this was followed at the MIBF 2014 and Booklat Party dated September 20, 2015. Sadly, Dilis wasn’t able to attend because her mom was rushed to the hospital. We then joined by other Booklat members and co-writers. It was a very fun day since we were able to mingle with our other friends.
Our third meet-up was last October 2015 at the PPC Office. This time we were complete. Cheers!
Dilis, Butanding, Pusit and I had a meet up first at Farmer’s Mall, Cubao. We’re just going to meet Dugong at PPC since she came from Batangas. Dugong reached PPC office at five p.m. just about time the office will about to close. She had a tour around the city date with the taxi driver. -_-
After Dugong and Pusit finally got their checks, we headed to Quezon City Memorial Circle to have dinner at Tropical Hut and the treat was courtesy of Dugong and Dilis. Thank you girls, we love you.
Since Dugong has a very hectic schedule, she was rushing to go home so by 8 p.m., we bid farewell to each other hoping to meet each other again soon on Dugong’s 28th birthday on November.
Unfortunately, that plan didn’t happen. Thanks to Dugong for she is a very busy career woman.
The next meet up happened during the Booklat Christmas Party held at PPC warehouse. Again, Dugong wasn’t able to attend for the same reason.
Then the following year, which is this year, we had an unplanned sleepover at Dilis’ house in Pasig. We enjoyed the night that we hadn’t had the chance to sleep. So therefore the title of the album of our pictures on my FB Account is “Sleepover Na Walang Sleep”. Thanks to my friends, the following day, I went to work feeling like a walking dead.
The next sleepover happened last May 9, 2015 held again at Louie’s house. This time we had a pictorial during the night. Please see picture below. Hehe.
This time, we have to sleep because the following day we will be going in Tondo, Manila for some humanitarian activity. The following day was also Mother’s Day.
Butanding had some other plan so she wasn’t able to be with us in Tondo. There’s an organization called Project Pearls that we will be joining on that Sunday morning. This org. has a goal of educating less fortunate kids living in Helping Land, Tondo, Manila. Pusit, Dugong and I went there.
Before heading back to Dilis’ place to have lunch, we bought flowers and cakes for the two moms on our group. They were for Dilis and Dugong. At five in the afternoon, we were ready to go home.
Being with them are rare to happen yet we had so much fun every time we were together.
I’ve been open to them with all the rants and outlook that I have in life. I can freely say to them whatever I feel and wanted to say. For the past year, they have been my human diary and shock absorber. I am so much thankful for having them around. We may not see each other often but then in our hearts, we are just like neighbors.
And also for the past year, many things already happened on our individual lives same with our friendship. We had these petty fights, conflicts, issues, rants, “chismisans” and other memorable things that happened. Here are some of the highlights:
Butanding’s Heartbreaking Stories. If she’s not being friendzoned, the one he likes is already committed to someone else. #Sadnu
But of course as her friends, we were just here to tease her and to endlessly laugh at her. Hehehe. Kidding aside, we were here to give her advices and share with her some words of wisdom that we know by heart. She’s listening for some time but most of the time, she don’t.
Dugong’s heartache with her childhood best friend. If there’s friendzoned which Butanding is currently living at, there’s also bestfriendzoned and Jaydee is leading that zone. Let’s call the guy, Ian Somerhalder. (huwaw). No matter how hard she denies, we can feel that she loves him more than that besfriend thingy. She was just so hesitant to tell it to the whole wide world even to herself because the guy is already engaged. #Sadnu
She had this greatest regret six years ago when she refused to marry Ian. #MedyoTangaLang But then even though that happened, at least she’s sure that their friendship would never be broken although sometimes they were having big and small fights. And even some kilig scenes. On her second approved novel, here she wrote their love story and her dreamed happy ending for them. #JuDa mehehe.
Pusit’s imaginary wall. We had a misunderstanding that happened sometime last October. She felt betrayed when I stalked her fb account and her forbidden crush’. She said to me that she felt betrayed because on her past, that already happened to her. Pusit is also discreet on telling us her stories and secrets because she feels that we might not be trusted that much. She built an imaginary wall between her and her friends and we are included on that list. She was so afraid to tell us the thoughts and stories she has. But then as time goes by, we can feel that she’s already there trusting us and slowly breaking the wall she built. #DatiSiyangMason
Dilis’ Insecurities, unreached dreams, and rants as a mom and a wife. Dilis got married at 20. Then had two kids already. Even though she’s happy with her family, sometimes, there’s a feeling of emptiness and self pity. She wants to do a lot of things but then she already had her top priority and of course that’s her family. She was thankful that she had us as her closest friends around who can listen to all her rants since she had none except us.
Igat’s life rants and “can’t decide” situation. Igat is beautiful. Hahaha. (Oo na, siya na GGSS at malaki ang paa. Happy you, four?) She was always ranting about her work and her long time boyfriend. She wanted to resign from her work as a typical office girl and just be a prisoner to her room just to write the whole day but then that cannot possibly happen. Because she’s the breadwinner of her family so she must have a stable job and income to support them. She also usually had petty misunderstandings with her boyfriend that the lamangdagats has always been her listeners and advice givers. Back then (late last year) she was making a decision of getting married soon or not yet. Her friends generously gave her their insights about that thing.
And when her heart was broken (early this year), the four was there to listen to her. They may not be together physically during that time but the pain was slightly lifted up because of them. Thanks to the power of unlimited call and conference call. During the process of her moving on, every time they were having a conference call or even one on one talk with these girls, she’s always laughing out all her heart out and as time goes by, she knows that she’s already healing. By saying all the things that she feels and thinks to them, the burden was already fading. And she moved on! Having the lamangdagats as her friends is one of the greatest blessings that she had and she will be forever thankful to God for giving them to her.
Butanding being busy. Since she had her latest work, she had lesser time to talk to us and even meet us. We even felt that maybe we did or said something wrong that’s why she’s making a distance from us. But that was already resolved. Thanks God.
Dugong’s Third Marriage Proposal. She got a wedding proposal from her ex-boyfriend and she’s confused of what to decide. The lamangdagats’ insights were divided. Some said yes but the bitter ones said no.
The seenzone war. Since Dugong has always been so busy of her work, some of her committed events, she wasn’t able to attend it. One time, Butanding felt disappointed because Dugong already said yes but when the event came, she can’t make it. Dugong is matured enough to handle that kind of situation so the next time that we met, she really did make time for that. And for the sake of friendship, pride would never be an issue to her.
Dilis being bitter. Something happened in her personal life that she became super bitter and we understand it. Even if I will be put in her place I would also feel the same way.
So that’s it!
It’s only been a year but many things already happened. I am looking forward to more years with you girls. Forever does exist and that lives on our friendship.
#FeelingHopeful
I love you four.
Thank you so much for having patience with me, for listening to my senseless rants and house cracking singing voice. Thank you for being there when I badly need people whom I can share my pain with, thank you for all the laughs, the stories that we shared, the advices, wisdom, knowledge, the concerns, the love, the treat, the time and effort you spent with us, and most of all thank you for the unconditional friendship.
Happy first anniversary!
Lab,
Cielo Ganda :p
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| (Please read the captions backwardly. :) |
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