This is not to chronicle the lives of these 16 (17 including the wildcard) scholars who dwell in safeguarded eagle's nest at the heart of the busy Makati City. Nor to narrate their (wild) experiences having to brave dirty flood water and to wake up at wee hours in the morning so everybody has finished taking a bath before 7a.m. Moreso, to share the feeling that we're like having a house party everyday. Imagine the scenario of cooking he right amount of food and 16 people having breakfast and dinner together daily.
This is purposely to ink what and how I remember my co-scholars. There are certain special things that shouldn't be put to oblivion. There are few things that are also good materials for laughter.
Now, prepare to guffaw and meet the scholars:
Sir Benz - The Ultimate Lola (Grandma)
I've never come to know him (her) better since he was expelled two days after we arrived at the house. The ground for his expulsion: Violation of House Rule #1 which expressly provides " Sa panahon ngayon BAWAL ang magkasakit... kung wala ka naman talagang sakit!"
He doesn't own the world, the world owns him. Hope you get what that carabao english phrase means. He is often lured by the tranquility of the deep blue water and the ocean alway beckons him to come (wow, serena!).
He offered to share his bed with Jun on our first night at the house. Jun and I stayed at the girl's room for one week.
SIR VIC - The Original Tatay (Father)
A father of two from Bacolod City and the first ever sholar to voluntarily exit the house. He is "Mr Paperjam". My fellow scholars usually sought his assistance everytime the printer gets jammed. Nobody would ever forget his famous "chopsuey" dish. I even learned some cooking tips from him.
KRISTINE - Romeo's Juliet
She was the second expelled scholar. Believe it, she's the only person who kept a textmate for more than a year without hearing his voice and seeing him in person. Carry n'yo? That's what (pure) textmate is all about, anyway.
She's a lady full of love quotations e.g. love can move mountains.
KAT - The "Can-I-Answer-You-In-English" Lady
Text votes failed to save her from being expelled. You can speak to her in Bisaya, Waray, Tagalog and English, however, let her answer you in English if you can't comprehend the bisaya thing.
She had once doubted if she's a man with a woman's body. (Grabe na revelation... hehehe...) ... hehehe...)
JUNRY - The Cebuanong Bol-anon He speaks Cebuano with Bol-anon accent. An aspiring comic who lacks timing in throwing his punchlines. He loves to sing modern alternative Visayan songs. A person who easily gets healed by one phone call from his wife (read: GF).
The ultimate "stewart" assassin of the house. Loves milk na galing sa dodo ng cow.
SYD - The Adventurer/Sporty Lass
A petite lady, my surrogate sis, who loves high altitude adventure or sports. She's into wall or rock climbing. I doubt if she's 5ft. tall (peace, sis!). She isn't muscular though she has this kind of sports.
A very friendly and accommodating lady. We couldn't forget what she did the first day we're in the house. She didn't know this but she made us feel, at least, comfortable and at home.
VINCE - Mr. Vanity
The bunso, most organized and vain among the guys. He can't have breakfast without his MILO drink. He has the guy's version of kikay's kit which we can always depend on.
VICKY - The "early-morning-laundry" LadyYou can always find her cozy in the comfort of her room. She seldom talks but she's gregarious.
She does the laundry almost everyday and if she misses one, she does it early (4a.m.) in the morning.
I couldn't forget the late night "talk-to-your-BF-before-you-go-to-sleep reminder.
TED - The AuditorThe auditor as they often say works to find hole in any transaction. He did and reports it in detail to management, even the affairs of the house (joke!).
Anyway, all I know about him is he's one of the oldest (permanent) tenants of the house. He is excited to visit Boracay (who'll not be excited).
We were always awaken by his "encatandia" theme alarm clock alert tone every morning (lupad na si Danaya).
LUCHE - Ms. Clean-Perfect
You chip-chop the veggies but you shouldn't slice the meat unless you wash first the knife. That shows how meticulous this lady from Davao when it comes to cleanliness. That's an excellent practice, anyhow.
She is Vicky's secret crime partner doing the dirty clothes before dawn.
ROD - The Sexy Chef She can turn any ingredients into a perfect dish. She cooks sumptuous calderita and tamang asim na sinigang (bangus). She, however, doesn't eat fish except bangus belly.
She is one of the promoters of the "bangongot" craze in the house and she woke up late at night (mid-night) to feed her hungry tummy even she had a heavy supper.
CHARITY - House (not Senate) Miriam Defensor-Santiago She got the height and body of a ramp model. She is candid and vocal regarding issues and her feelings. She even had a prepared speech but her SONA was cancelled (laugh!). She is a good cook too.
If I am to write her a dialogue,it goes like this - "I'm not a BALL. I said, I'm not a ball...! So, don't make pasa-pasa me..!" (peace, sis!)
CARL - Mr. Clean-All He is the man of the kitchen. He will make an excellent cook. He also dreams of being a teacher.
One thing you should be cautious about this guy is you shouldn't leave your place(things) messed up. When his system gets him cleaning, he is not gonna falter until everything is crisp and into their proper places. So, you better be ferreting in the trash bin for your lost toothbrush, comb or even undies the very next day.
ANNE - The "Bangongot" Queen
She seldom speaks yet shes the originator of the bangongot craze. She gave medical practitioners another reason to research and explain the cause of "bangongot" and "sleep walk" aside from the known one.
She is a good secret-keeper according to Bing.
JAD - The Surrogate Tatay (after Sir Vic) Don't know the reason why the "tatay" thing. Maybe because Sir Vic wasn't at the house anymore. The age, perhaps, for he is the youngest (read: oldest) in the house.
He was busy, somehow, at the kitchen. He spent Sundays sleeping at the house while his co-scholars were out milling the shopping malls and occupied playing on-line games at net cafe.
KC - The Wildcard
She is a CPA. She was once a tenant, transferred to Davao and was shuttled back to the house. She talks squarely and doesn't want working at Sales Department.
She is a lady with a Broken H _ _ _ _!
BING - The Sosy Mommy
She has two babies left at Cebu. She is the mommy of the house, of course, but she has not married nor been married.
You'll remember her banging thrice the bedroom door with strong force and complaining in a loud voice why the door won't close when she already knew from the very first day that it has a damaged door-lock.
She hated floods yet she had walked on a kilometer-long almost knee-deep flooded street last Sept 8. She learned to launder and iron clothes and cook at the house. She is a good kitchen assistant.
WHO do you think would be the declared the ultimate survivor(s)?
They are not those who can survive the restroom which resist to drain and instead form two seeming bathtubs. They are not those who could stay at the house for 2 or more years.
They are those who could fashion their lives better whether inside or outside the house. They are those who could live a complete and happy lives.
Hope our paths would cross again. God bless us all.. Misyah!
