My niece posted her grad pic on her Facebook and was bombarded with comments.
“Pretty,” says one comment.
“Ganda,” says another.
My sister, Izumi’s mom, constantly comments, “Thanks,” “Thanks for liking guys,” and personally thanking those who liked.
“Ma? Ikaw si Izumi?” asked by Paula.
“Produkto n’ya,” I told my niece.
While at Lourdes waiting for Ate Mimi and her kids, Ate Pam asked, “Nasaan ba si Mimi?” while waiting inside the Revo.
“Nagsindi ng kandila,” I told her.
“Kanina pa ‘yun ah,” she answered, “Kapag nagsindi ba ng kandila dapat bang hintaying matunaw ang kandila?” she followed up with a question.
“Oo.”
“Di nga!?” She was seriously asking it.
“Hindi!” I answered laughing.
Tatay then cut in, hearing all the discussion, “Paano kaya kung ‘yung pinakamahaba pa ang sinindihan nilang kandila?”
Ate Pam borrowed my laptop and checked her facebook account.
Pam: Mi, eto ‘yung kaibigan ko dati oh.
Mimi: Parang kilala ko ‘yan.
Pam: S’ya yung pangit.
Mimi: Ay ‘yung maliit.
Pam: ‘Yung maitim.
Mimi: ‘Yung Dugyutin.
Me: Hahahaha! Katatakot takot na panlalalit ang inabot para maalala n’yo lang kung sino ‘yan.
“Miggy, where’s Mama?” We asked Miggy.
“Sakay na Airplane,” the kid answered.
“Eh paano ‘yan? Sasakay din ang Mama ni Ate Ponette ng Airplane?” we asked.
“Bebengbengin ko airplane.”
“Akala ko ba nanonood ka ng ASAP?” I asked ate Pam walking around the house while ASAP is still on.
“Ayoko mamintas ng mag-isa,” she has a habit of telling singers and dancers that they are fat, too thin, ugly or some other negative physical stuff.
“Ate Pam, kaya pala hinihila mo ako tuwing mapapadaan ako sa salas… para lang sabihan ako ng mga panlalait,” Tem answered.
Being a Filipino that finds humor on a tragedy, my eldest sister, Ate Pam, told the first-time visitor Ate Richie, “Special ka talaga, Chie! Buong Japan niyanig sa pagdating mo.”
I was due for a short vacation in Japan two years back. I’ve booked the ticket through an agency so when I received the ticket I didn’t check the details.
In NAIA, though I know where to check-in and though it was my first time to fly alone, I decided to ask the airport guard, “Boss, dito ba ‘tong flight na ‘to?” showing him my e-ticket.
“Ay, sir,” scratching his head, “Tignan n’yong maigi oh. Bukas pa ho ‘yang flight na ‘yan.”
I immediately called nanay who saw me off, “Nay! Bumalik kayo! Bukas pa ang flight!”
All the efforts of preparing for that flight. Gone! I already told my friends that I’ll be gone that day. Shame! Shame! Shame!
I immediately called ate Pam, my pick up in Japan, “Ate, bukas pa ang flight ko. Mali ang agency!” and did not leave the house that day. Ang alam nila nasa Japan na ako.
The next morning, I was excited again! Japan! Here I come!
“Sir, we’re really sorry, delayed po ang flight today. All passengers will be checked in a hotel or you may opt to choose to go back home and we’ll provide you Php 500.00 for the inconvenience,” said the ground steward on my 2nd attempt to go to Japan.
“Haaaaahhhhhh!?!?!?!?!?!? Babalik nanaman kami????” screamed Nanay, “Oh James (driver), ‘di nanaman tuloy ‘yung flight,” they will pick me up again from NAIA.
I called up Japan again, “Ate, hindi nanaman tuloy. Bukas pa.”
“Ano ba ‘yan!?” Ate Pam, shocked, again, “Excited na kami sa’yo.”
“Eh paano pa ako?”
On my third attempt, nanay told me, “Hindi na kita ihahatid, si James na lang, napapagod na akong maghatid araw-araw. Baka matuloy ka na kapag ‘di kita ihatid,” and I arrived in Japan that day. At last, nakarating din sa Japan. Ang alam ng friends ko three days na ako sa Japan.
Classic Japanese “Peace Sign” in Mt Fuji
Ate Mimi, my 3rd eldest sister, bought a cheap (pirated) Barbie Doll for Akemi as her parting gift. She was due to return to Japan in a week’s time. Ponette, 4 years old back then, noticed that the hair of the doll were easily pulled off from the doll’s head.
She asked her mom, “Mama, bakit ‘yung buhok ng Barbie ni Aki nalalagas?”
Ate Pam answered, “May sakit yung Barbie n’ya.”
Aki and Ate Mimi now together in Japan
