I Remember The Days: An Ode To My Best Friends

I Remember The Days: An Ode To My Best Friends

I remember the days, no, they were not simple days, 
of two peso bananaques and juice. 
They were all we could afford.

I remember the days, yes, they were complicated days,
days of much pain and trouble. 
But hey, we had each other.


I remember the days of talking for hours in an open hut 
on the beach under the night sky of our city, 
daydreaming, each narrating one’s future.


I remember the days of laughter and tears, 
and a whole lot of emotions in between, 
feeling both vulnerable and invincible together.

I remember the days of first loves and breakups, 
of alternative rock music and karaoke, 
of dancing and muscle pains.

I remember the days of sitting under the acacia tree: 
studying, fighting, confessing, reconciling. 
How that tree witnessed a camaraderie forged!

I remember the days of hitchhiking 
on a rainy day in an empty dump truck 
homeward bound from gallivanting in a remote place.

I remember the days of birthdays and deaths, 
of celebration and mourning, of joy and grief, 
of endless possibilities and abysmal loss.

I remember the days of habal-habal, 
the fun and the fear, the screams and the quiet, 
and the relief of arriving safely at our destination.

I remember the days of Jollibee meals, 
Matina Shrine Hills, and Jack Ridge dates 
on the rare days we could afford them.

I remember the days of more than 20 years ago, 
how different life was then, how uncertain yet certain. 
Oh, how I miss those days!

I remember the old days—the sweet and the bitter.
How beautiful and delightful they were!
I thank God for them; I thank God for each of you.