One thing that makes me proud of my matrilineal heritage is that we have a very very strong tradition that reinforces our relationships with the entire family. We celebrate birthdays together, as well as Christmas and New Year under one roof. That bond allowed us to survive the most complicated conflicts between families and celebrate the greatest of all victories whenever it occurs.
And I think traditions is what would make the ODDERs survive the most difficult and changing times. As the years go by, we've realized that we are already forming our own traditions - traditions that would allow us to remain a brotherhood for a lifetime.
---
Yesterday, I was invited to attend Chrispee's birthday bash in Pampanga. The invitation was sent over a week ago. But since I am having a hard time coping far away from home due to my new nature, it took me a lot of personal convincing before I have completely committed myself in organizing the contingent leaving for San Fernando.
It took a hell lot of time before we have finally converged along Edsa last saturday night... and it took us longer to wait for the chance bus going to San Fernando at that unforgiving rush-hour. Fortunately, a bus from Pasay have decided to take more passengers in the station, and the six of us who made it to there were lucky enough to find seats still vacant.
---
Last year, Paldeng also invited us to his birthday. Only a very few of us had made it there but it was a complete blast. That event made us realize that it's not the numbers that matter - it is how deep our bond was and how we enjoyed the party despite a lot of us missing the party.
Of course this time, we understood it already. It didn't matter anymore how many of us had made it. What's important is that we will enjoy the party there and bond with the host and those who have joined us in that important moment..
---
"Pinakilala kami ni Chris sa mga barkada niyang tibo. Had some good chat with them. Pagkatapos niya kaming busugin sa mga Pampanga specialties nila. Omeng called. Masayang masaya ako dahil sa muling pagkakataon, nagkausap muli ang dalawa sa pinakamatalik kong kapatid sa ODDERs. Sulit sulit na rin ang pagpunta ko doon dahil sa magandang balitang pinaalam nila sa akin.
Matapos kumain, nagpahinga kami sandali sa Mariah-inspired na kwarto ni Chris. Di ko matandaan kung ano ang ginawa namin sa kwarto niya at kung bakit tumagal kami ng isang oras ng nakahilata lang - pero matapos noon, pumunta ulit kami sa Angeles upang balikan ang mga lugar na pinuntahan namin doon nung isang taon.
Papasok sa isang subdivision kung saan naglipana ang mga iba't ibang bars doon, bumalik kaming muli sa Club Sax sa labas - kung saan tinuturing itong BED ng Angeles City sa dami ng PLUs upang magboylet watching. Ang pagbabalik ko dito ay tanda ng pagisingin muli ng nahihimbing na clubber sa akin. Sa totoo lang, matapos lumipad si Omeng patungong America, nakalimutan ko na kung paano magclubbing sa teritory ng mga PLU. Kagabi na lang muli naulit ang gimik kong ganun - at lubos lubos kong nilasap ang isang gabing kalayaan sa piling ng mga bading sa Pampanga...
---
Last year, Paldeng rented out a hotel for the six of us. However this year, Omeng had convinced him that we would fit in, the seven of us in his room. So we made our way back - after Roy and Bench had "harrassed" all the good-looking guys in the club, as well as Bench being "harrassed" by the guy who was also in the jeep going back to Paldeng's place.
We woke up the following morning refreshed and happy. They were picking up Jio and his buddy, while watching them being intimate of each other reminded me of my own bud who was here in Manila.
Anyway, we spent the whole day locked up in Chris' room playing "konek-konek the stars" (Celebrity quiz game) and watching Imelda before going home. The objective of the konek-konek was to avoid ending the connection and links of stars with a gay celebrity. In short, ang magbanggit ng bading na artista ay matsutsugi sa laro.
As have been proven last year, I believe that despite our numbers. We have managed to make the most of our stay there. Personally, this is the best way of renewing my bonds to my fellow brODDERs. It is also a good way of demonstrating that despite the changes that is constantly happening in the group. We remain close to each other, as we have always did before.
I'm sure, Jio's buddy, Patrick and Stan's buddy Migs enjoyed their first sleepover/overnight bonding with us. As far as I know, Roy and Bench made us feel home and comfortable with their entertainment - especially Roy's classic rendition of Mahal's enchanting voice.
"Roy paano nga ulit pag nalibugan si Mahal kay Manong?"
"Magkano ang singil ni Mahal pag pingger?"
"Paano kapag nagduet si Mahal at si Regine?
With Roy joining last night's party, the nights were filled with laughter. I hope that these guys did enjoyed the party as well.
---
Before going home, I decided to visit James and tell everything that happened at Chris' party, as well as the events that happened during the last three weeks.
You see, I can't even remember the last time I saw kapatid. But our senti talk over a beer this evening had completely paid off.
We've talked about the party that took place, the group, the people in the ODDERs and those who we haven't seen for a very long time. It's sad that most of us are already busy with our own careers and buddies, unlike before when we still had the time to enjoy everything from morning till the next morning.
We reminisced our best days, as well as talked about the weaknesses of the group and how we would address those in the future.
Sayang, hindi siya nakasama because of work. It's the main reason why we rarely meet nowadays - because of work. I hope one day, we can have our own big house where we can stay there, live there, hang out there as long as we wanted.
That way, work would not disrupt our get-togethers anymore.
---
One key topic we have agreed upon this evening is that we would not invite newbies anymore. We have seen how they dilute our very own friendships. We've also realized that new guys are having a very difficult time adapting to us. Perhaps, the next member of the ODDERs would be the buddy of someone among us. We will leave the fishing permanently outside the group from now on.
Back to Paldeng's celebration, truth is the party allowed me to find my place again - within the PLU society, as well as revived my bonds again with the people who I've been with ever since I accepted my preference.
I had a well spent weekend in San Fernando. Thanks bud for the food and the warm accommodation. Thank you for allowing us to bond with you and with those who were there.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
See you again soon.
And I think traditions is what would make the ODDERs survive the most difficult and changing times. As the years go by, we've realized that we are already forming our own traditions - traditions that would allow us to remain a brotherhood for a lifetime.
---
Yesterday, I was invited to attend Chrispee's birthday bash in Pampanga. The invitation was sent over a week ago. But since I am having a hard time coping far away from home due to my new nature, it took me a lot of personal convincing before I have completely committed myself in organizing the contingent leaving for San Fernando.
It took a hell lot of time before we have finally converged along Edsa last saturday night... and it took us longer to wait for the chance bus going to San Fernando at that unforgiving rush-hour. Fortunately, a bus from Pasay have decided to take more passengers in the station, and the six of us who made it to there were lucky enough to find seats still vacant.
---
Last year, Paldeng also invited us to his birthday. Only a very few of us had made it there but it was a complete blast. That event made us realize that it's not the numbers that matter - it is how deep our bond was and how we enjoyed the party despite a lot of us missing the party.
Of course this time, we understood it already. It didn't matter anymore how many of us had made it. What's important is that we will enjoy the party there and bond with the host and those who have joined us in that important moment..
---
"Pinakilala kami ni Chris sa mga barkada niyang tibo. Had some good chat with them. Pagkatapos niya kaming busugin sa mga Pampanga specialties nila. Omeng called. Masayang masaya ako dahil sa muling pagkakataon, nagkausap muli ang dalawa sa pinakamatalik kong kapatid sa ODDERs. Sulit sulit na rin ang pagpunta ko doon dahil sa magandang balitang pinaalam nila sa akin.
Matapos kumain, nagpahinga kami sandali sa Mariah-inspired na kwarto ni Chris. Di ko matandaan kung ano ang ginawa namin sa kwarto niya at kung bakit tumagal kami ng isang oras ng nakahilata lang - pero matapos noon, pumunta ulit kami sa Angeles upang balikan ang mga lugar na pinuntahan namin doon nung isang taon.
Papasok sa isang subdivision kung saan naglipana ang mga iba't ibang bars doon, bumalik kaming muli sa Club Sax sa labas - kung saan tinuturing itong BED ng Angeles City sa dami ng PLUs upang magboylet watching. Ang pagbabalik ko dito ay tanda ng pagisingin muli ng nahihimbing na clubber sa akin. Sa totoo lang, matapos lumipad si Omeng patungong America, nakalimutan ko na kung paano magclubbing sa teritory ng mga PLU. Kagabi na lang muli naulit ang gimik kong ganun - at lubos lubos kong nilasap ang isang gabing kalayaan sa piling ng mga bading sa Pampanga...
---
Last year, Paldeng rented out a hotel for the six of us. However this year, Omeng had convinced him that we would fit in, the seven of us in his room. So we made our way back - after Roy and Bench had "harrassed" all the good-looking guys in the club, as well as Bench being "harrassed" by the guy who was also in the jeep going back to Paldeng's place.
We woke up the following morning refreshed and happy. They were picking up Jio and his buddy, while watching them being intimate of each other reminded me of my own bud who was here in Manila.
Anyway, we spent the whole day locked up in Chris' room playing "konek-konek the stars" (Celebrity quiz game) and watching Imelda before going home. The objective of the konek-konek was to avoid ending the connection and links of stars with a gay celebrity. In short, ang magbanggit ng bading na artista ay matsutsugi sa laro.
As have been proven last year, I believe that despite our numbers. We have managed to make the most of our stay there. Personally, this is the best way of renewing my bonds to my fellow brODDERs. It is also a good way of demonstrating that despite the changes that is constantly happening in the group. We remain close to each other, as we have always did before.
I'm sure, Jio's buddy, Patrick and Stan's buddy Migs enjoyed their first sleepover/overnight bonding with us. As far as I know, Roy and Bench made us feel home and comfortable with their entertainment - especially Roy's classic rendition of Mahal's enchanting voice.
"Roy paano nga ulit pag nalibugan si Mahal kay Manong?"
"Magkano ang singil ni Mahal pag pingger?"
"Paano kapag nagduet si Mahal at si Regine?
With Roy joining last night's party, the nights were filled with laughter. I hope that these guys did enjoyed the party as well.
---
Before going home, I decided to visit James and tell everything that happened at Chris' party, as well as the events that happened during the last three weeks.
You see, I can't even remember the last time I saw kapatid. But our senti talk over a beer this evening had completely paid off.
We've talked about the party that took place, the group, the people in the ODDERs and those who we haven't seen for a very long time. It's sad that most of us are already busy with our own careers and buddies, unlike before when we still had the time to enjoy everything from morning till the next morning.
We reminisced our best days, as well as talked about the weaknesses of the group and how we would address those in the future.
Sayang, hindi siya nakasama because of work. It's the main reason why we rarely meet nowadays - because of work. I hope one day, we can have our own big house where we can stay there, live there, hang out there as long as we wanted.
That way, work would not disrupt our get-togethers anymore.
---
One key topic we have agreed upon this evening is that we would not invite newbies anymore. We have seen how they dilute our very own friendships. We've also realized that new guys are having a very difficult time adapting to us. Perhaps, the next member of the ODDERs would be the buddy of someone among us. We will leave the fishing permanently outside the group from now on.
Back to Paldeng's celebration, truth is the party allowed me to find my place again - within the PLU society, as well as revived my bonds again with the people who I've been with ever since I accepted my preference.
I had a well spent weekend in San Fernando. Thanks bud for the food and the warm accommodation. Thank you for allowing us to bond with you and with those who were there.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
See you again soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment