21Lists #2: My first to twenty-first dance (If I had 21 Roses)
First dance: My best friend, forever roommate, and dad, Rolly Eclavea
Second dance: My childhood close friend Jethro Resurreccion
Third dance: Representing my dear org UPMUN is my big brother at UPLB, the very sweet Dan Paulo Flores
4th dance: My high school crush na boyfriend na ng friend kong si ate Ailyn Loyola, Corps. Commander 2011 Sir Joe Mar Alonzo
5th dance: My highschool kuya and senior officer, Kuya Rod Daniel Antonio
6th dance: My highschool kuya and former crush (HAHA shemay confession) Kuya Matt Aljon Jimenez
7th dance: My highschool baby brother pero former crush din LOL, Alfred Moses Abecilla
8th dance: My highschool baby brother as in baby brother, Jairus Rei Baquiran
9th dance: My close friend since OF, Leo Barcelo
10th dance: My first bro at UPLB tho naging crush ko rin nung NF haha, at bro ko pa rin ngayon, Kuya Ariel Ruegas Delacruz
11th dance: My close friend na oo na sige na crush ko po noon haha, Jayson Wayne Banzon
12th dance: My friend, the sweetest friend I met who’s not from HPAIR but studied at Harvard University, Francis Loh (the man who carried my pink suitcase, remember the article?)
13th dance: My friend and inspiration from La Salle, founder and executive director of DLS PAIR, Jonathan Beltran
14th dance: My PMC 2012 crush, Lean Leviste. Pag nasa Yale siya at tsaka di rin naman sya papayag di kami close :( My 14th dance will be Angelo Santiago hihi PMC 2015 crush and mabait naman sya nakakausap ko
15th dance: Representing Isko’t Iska batch Sinagtala, John Cynex Sollorano!!!
16th dance: Representing UPMUN again, my kinakapatid, kapatid, and only male batchmate, Jaru Jerico Olivares
17th dance: My one and only HPAIR co-ambassador from UPLB, Jan Michael Salgado
18th dance: My HPAIR codelegate and baby brother, Jayser Tan
19th dance: My HPAIR baby cherubim, John David Pilapil
20th dance: Tho I may have a lot of guy friends since one of the boys ako mula bata, how can I forget my guy best friend? Mark Daniel Betia Torres :)
21st and last dance: My HPAIR co-ambassador, my escort, Jimson Sulit
Disclaimer: In this hypothetical list, there’s a separate one for “Special Dances” which are for my family members, mentors, and family friends. My first here will be my eldest and closest biological brother, Kuya Nino Pheudor Itubay. Followed by Kuya Christian, Kuya Kester, Kuya Astrid, Kuya Riel. Also, my uncles Tito Riz, Tito Jhojho, Tito Val, Tito Boy, Tito Harry, Tito Henry, Tito Eddie. I have my Ninong at UPLB too tho I don’t think papayag sya. I have memorable profs like Dadi G or Star section’s adviser. I have Kuya Rajeev from India too who may not be sharing our blood but he really considers me as his little sister in the Philippines. We met through HPAIR. Also, Archival Veruen is a close friend to my family. Junn Mendoza is my close friend at UPLB who transferred to UP Diliman just like Renee. Pero si Renee sa 21 candles ko balak e. Jeff Ballentos is my close friend since our first year in UP, too. I’ll also include sa special Dances si Kuya Robi Ferias from DLSU, the brother of my highschool best friend and family friend Elay Ferias. And Kuya Dave Soltura from UPLB who’s my friend and the best friend of our family friend Max. Meanwhile, Kuya Roman Moreno from UPMUN calls me Nak. :) Part of the list is Paul Benedict Reyes or Benz who’s close with me and Jethro since 2002 until 2007 before he migrated to Canada. I also have my DVBS friends nung 2004-2006 I remember Ryan Candido to be the closest one along with Jeremy Moralidad
Sa debuts, usually special Dances are different from the 18 roses. :) Sa totoo lang ang saya din maglist ng 21 HPAIR roses para kasama sina lennart stoy from Germany, Durbha from Nepal, Wei from Netherlands, the speaker from New Zealand, Kenny from HongKong, Raghov, Keshav, Ashutosh, Shub from India, Xu Di from China, of course my Filipino friends Gabe, Darrel, Moses (LPUPAIR Exec Director), John Michael, Kuya Papu, Kuya Brian and Kuya Oshean who are UPLB alumni, JJ Azucena also from UPLB. And more. Haha.
Sa totoo lang, pangarap ko talaga since childhood na magkaron ng debut. As in. When I was seven, I had a cotillion de honor, 7 roses, 7 balloons, 7 candles, 7 gifts, etc. Sobrang memorable tas crush ko yung escort ko kasi di pa kami pinapanganak close na mga mommy namin. Haha. Ang bilis ng panahon okayyy. I dreamt for this when I was 13. Didn’t happen. 16. Didn’t happen. 18. Legit debut na. Didn’t happen.
I chose to attend the National Debate Championship at Iloilo. The gift my aunt gave me, I chose to spend it there instead of an intimate debut celeb with family and close friends. I regret it somehow since hindi ako close sa debaters ng UPLB. Never been belong pero there’s no reason to cry over spilled milk as they say.
So yes, 18 na at lahat pero, still didn’t happen. It’s okay.
I’m very grateful for my family, friends, loved ones. And after all debut celebrations are never the standards of happiness. But I’m posting this kasi kahit hypothetical, ang saya e. Bakit ba. Haha. And God has His ways.
Good night. Ang sayasaya ko. I’m turning 21 in a little more than 21 hours. Wala namang plano or anything ang alam ko exam at report pero ang saya ko lang talaga. Thank You Lord Jesus. With You leading every aspect of my life and of my heart, sobrang totoo po nung kantang I Could Not Ask For More
I love you Lord. I pray for these men you put in my life and thank you, because they love me like their sister.
Tho I get misinterpreted by some girls as I grew up kasi I’m that kid who plays yugioh cards and beyblades instead of dressup dolls, thank you because my guy friends accept me no matter how weird I am. And though some people might think I’m sweet with guys or what, thank you because the boys you put in my life, they know that I’m the girl they’d protect. Not flirt with. I’m the baby in the circle. I’m safe. I’m respected. The way my parents brought me up isn’t questioned. I’m not forced to have a boyfriend but they support me in my crushlife haha. Sobrang Lord thanks kasi wala man akong 21st debut ish feels sa Sofitel, may friends ako. Na kahit bihira ko makita yung iba alam kong mahal nila ako. As their little sister or as their ate.
21 is just a number. Rose is just a symbol. Dance is just a tradition. But these people and what we have? Lord I will have the best birthday ever. In Jesus’ Name Amen.