Ne, Wakaru Deshou?
By Neicy Nicdao
Kumo go kireta saki wo
Mitara kitto
Ne, wakaru deshou?
The point where the clouds break -
I’m sure you see it
And you understand, right?
-Michi to You All, aluto
**********
Jerome,
The truth is, I don’t know what to say. Heck, I don’t even know why I’m writing this in the first place. Maybe it’s nostalgia kicking in. I did my virtual folder maintenance a few weeks ago, and I dug up some long-forgotten pictures from times past.
The images’ details state that these were taken around August 2007, but I find that almost hard to believe.
Was it really just last year? I feel like it’s been decades since the last time I saw you. Save for a few members, I suppose the Agu-family would agree with me. Let’s just say that for a long time now, you have been the embodiment of the word ‘apparisyon’.
No, not that I’m blaming you or anything. At some point in our lives the rest of us also laid low, including me. We all had our excuses – acads, personal stuff, other friends – and while I know that it’s not becoming of a member, I believe that as long as it’s sincere, it’s worthy of being forgiven. It’s just that… you’ve been gone for so long. As part of Baskal, I miss you and I wish you could give even just a few minutes to drop by and see us, like how Don and Jann do. Nonetheless, as part of Baskal I also try my damnedest to understand you. We’re a batch and we must stand up for each other.
I’m not going to lie. I’ve heard some mems express their disappointment about you not being here, especially because of the fact that you’re a freakin’ batch head. A few of those comments were even said in front of me. (Please note what I said, however. They expressed their disappointment, they didn’t condemn you.)
For a long time, I tried to defend you whenever I heard comments of those likes. I told them that maybe you needed more time for acads, or that you had other more pressing matters to attend to. And mind you, I didn’t do that out of obligation, just because you’re my batch mate. I did that because I wanted to, because I couldn’t stand it whenever it appeared that you’re nothing but a failure. You may have failed as a member, but I will never forget how you kept us together during the most crucial and difficult time of our Agu-life – the application.
I remember how we would ask you who the newly arrived member is, and how you would tell us things about him or her. How you taught us the Sige Ikembot dance back at Jill’s house. I remember how you sent us a message days before talents’ night that your Ate was dying, that you may not be able to attend practices, but you were determined to go through the Talents’ Night with us. And how you gathered us minutes before that grueling event and told us that we could do it and we would.
I remember how we gave you a cake for your birthday and how I ruined it before you arrived so I had to pretend that I tripped when I gave it to you. How we gave you the shirt that said B*TCH HEAD. How we went to the movies and ate KFC after. I remember how happy we were.
Do you remember how you would try to defend us during gen meets or how after that you would assure us that the mems knew what they were doing and we were going to be fine? How you sat with us at Kalai’s front stairs after we ate together at LB? Or how we fought tooth and nail during the Mem’s Quiz? (that I won, you bitter loser. :p)
I know you do, Jerome. I hope you do. Because no matter what others say, that’s the batch head I know. That’s the guy who didn’t forget my birthday despite a year of being inactive in the org. That’s the guy who kept Baskal together during most of the application period. That’s the guy I know as Jerome Ocampo.
However, I’m not you and I can only do so much. I can’t fight this battle for you. After all, no matter how willing I am to defend you, I still can’t deny that the other mems have a right to feel disappointed about you. It was you who caused the rift, and ultimately it will be up to you whether you want to build the bridges again or leave them like this. I’ll be happy to be there for you whatever your decision is, but again, it will be all up to you to do something if you want to patch things up. Aguman is a family and I’m sure that they’ll understand if you give them enough time. But just like the prodigal son, you have to come back, right?
And just to you know, whenever I hear the name ‘Jerome Ocampo’, it’s not the ‘apparisyon’ who I think of. The image that comes to mind is a happy batch head popping his thick lips. :P
That’s about it, Batch Head. I hope to see you soon. ^_^
**********
Just a couple of pictures I found in my Mom’s laptop.
The first image is a picture of my mom taken when she was six, and the second a picture of me taken when I was the same age. Komusta naman, spot the difference.
**********
Time to feed someone’s ego.
I’d like to thank John Carl Tan Gozun, in all his champion-lip-synching-and-porn-loving glory, for giving me a copy of Gabe Bondoc’s It’s Gonna be Me cover. Yes, my dear Orochimaru-sama, that and his Girl on TV cover have been the only songs in my playlist for the last twenty nights or so. I don’t usually like acoustic guitar artists because I prefer violinist and pianists, but there was something about this guy’s voice that made him the exception that makes the rule. Many thanks, Carlito.
**********
Finally, is this really the first column I wrote that did not mention Kuya Rex?
Oh, well, now it isn’t. ^_^ Long live the King!
I’m sure you see it
And you understand, right?
-Michi to You All, aluto
**********
Jerome,
The truth is, I don’t know what to say. Heck, I don’t even know why I’m writing this in the first place. Maybe it’s nostalgia kicking in. I did my virtual folder maintenance a few weeks ago, and I dug up some long-forgotten pictures from times past.
The images’ details state that these were taken around August 2007, but I find that almost hard to believe.
Was it really just last year? I feel like it’s been decades since the last time I saw you. Save for a few members, I suppose the Agu-family would agree with me. Let’s just say that for a long time now, you have been the embodiment of the word ‘apparisyon’.No, not that I’m blaming you or anything. At some point in our lives the rest of us also laid low, including me. We all had our excuses – acads, personal stuff, other friends – and while I know that it’s not becoming of a member, I believe that as long as it’s sincere, it’s worthy of being forgiven. It’s just that… you’ve been gone for so long. As part of Baskal, I miss you and I wish you could give even just a few minutes to drop by and see us, like how Don and Jann do. Nonetheless, as part of Baskal I also try my damnedest to understand you. We’re a batch and we must stand up for each other.
I’m not going to lie. I’ve heard some mems express their disappointment about you not being here, especially because of the fact that you’re a freakin’ batch head. A few of those comments were even said in front of me. (Please note what I said, however. They expressed their disappointment, they didn’t condemn you.)
For a long time, I tried to defend you whenever I heard comments of those likes. I told them that maybe you needed more time for acads, or that you had other more pressing matters to attend to. And mind you, I didn’t do that out of obligation, just because you’re my batch mate. I did that because I wanted to, because I couldn’t stand it whenever it appeared that you’re nothing but a failure. You may have failed as a member, but I will never forget how you kept us together during the most crucial and difficult time of our Agu-life – the application.
I remember how we would ask you who the newly arrived member is, and how you would tell us things about him or her. How you taught us the Sige Ikembot dance back at Jill’s house. I remember how you sent us a message days before talents’ night that your Ate was dying, that you may not be able to attend practices, but you were determined to go through the Talents’ Night with us. And how you gathered us minutes before that grueling event and told us that we could do it and we would.
I remember how we gave you a cake for your birthday and how I ruined it before you arrived so I had to pretend that I tripped when I gave it to you. How we gave you the shirt that said B*TCH HEAD. How we went to the movies and ate KFC after. I remember how happy we were.
Do you remember how you would try to defend us during gen meets or how after that you would assure us that the mems knew what they were doing and we were going to be fine? How you sat with us at Kalai’s front stairs after we ate together at LB? Or how we fought tooth and nail during the Mem’s Quiz? (that I won, you bitter loser. :p)
I know you do, Jerome. I hope you do. Because no matter what others say, that’s the batch head I know. That’s the guy who didn’t forget my birthday despite a year of being inactive in the org. That’s the guy who kept Baskal together during most of the application period. That’s the guy I know as Jerome Ocampo.
However, I’m not you and I can only do so much. I can’t fight this battle for you. After all, no matter how willing I am to defend you, I still can’t deny that the other mems have a right to feel disappointed about you. It was you who caused the rift, and ultimately it will be up to you whether you want to build the bridges again or leave them like this. I’ll be happy to be there for you whatever your decision is, but again, it will be all up to you to do something if you want to patch things up. Aguman is a family and I’m sure that they’ll understand if you give them enough time. But just like the prodigal son, you have to come back, right?
And just to you know, whenever I hear the name ‘Jerome Ocampo’, it’s not the ‘apparisyon’ who I think of. The image that comes to mind is a happy batch head popping his thick lips. :P
That’s about it, Batch Head. I hope to see you soon. ^_^
**********
Just a couple of pictures I found in my Mom’s laptop.
The first image is a picture of my mom taken when she was six, and the second a picture of me taken when I was the same age. Komusta naman, spot the difference.
**********
Time to feed someone’s ego.
I’d like to thank John Carl Tan Gozun, in all his champion-lip-synching-and-porn-loving glory, for giving me a copy of Gabe Bondoc’s It’s Gonna be Me cover. Yes, my dear Orochimaru-sama, that and his Girl on TV cover have been the only songs in my playlist for the last twenty nights or so. I don’t usually like acoustic guitar artists because I prefer violinist and pianists, but there was something about this guy’s voice that made him the exception that makes the rule. Many thanks, Carlito.
**********
Finally, is this really the first column I wrote that did not mention Kuya Rex?
Oh, well, now it isn’t. ^_^ Long live the King!
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