Growing Wild

On a smoky afternoon, “Yosi ta,” Suzanne hastily pronounced upon seeing a male schoolmate lighting up his cigarette stick, not minding to interrupt our own conversation about random things. I looked at the guy and not even recognize who he is. He replied, “Yosi ta Madam President!” The two cackled. Well, I just joined them. A tongue in cheek, I know she doesn’t smoke. We were back to our conversation when in a while, another schoolmate comes near us calling her, “Madam!” then another, “President!” And she greets them too just like she knows everyone. I took the time to glance at her and realized, she is like something I always see around. And that is what I am yet to discover.

That was at the sidewalk store fronting the Annex campus of an institution we’ll soon leave and call as our ‘Alma Mater’ in four months time, the University of the Immaculate Conception. On wooden chair I and my friend, Suzanne, were seated. We were eating Banana-que and Milk Bar, which were within our means that moment. We are usually partners in sauntering around the city to look for restaurants with palatability. Most of the time she initiates the gluttony and I give in to temptation just as long as we have greens. There I join her in the undomesticated desire of filling our stomachs like there is no tomorrow.

At that instance, we were conversing about random things. Indeed, anything that comes to mind. We talk that way. She merely picks anything under the sun and put it into exchange of thoughts. An especially soft spoken lady translates to the name Suzanne Somido Misagal. No one could ever guess what we were exactly chewing the fat about since she typically speaks in a low tone voice and her facial expressions are most of the time droning. While we were talking, I just had a sudden notion that if I didn’t know her for roughly 4 years of falling in love with the same art, Communication, I would have never thought that this lady in front of me is a year younger than a 20 year old. Though her height at 4”10 doesn’t suggest it too, her wits and the words coming out of her mouth say she is someone in her late 20’s. No one can tell, even with a wild guess.

As we continue chitchatting, there were flashbacks running in my head. The scene was so clear to me, a fellow freshman who sits at the 1st chair of the 1st row in the right side of the room, where she remains to be seated until now, spoke gently yet with conviction. She stood up and introduced herself as a Valedictorian of a secondary school in Mangagoy, where her family resides as she temporarily stays on an apartment here in Davao with her elder sister.

But as days passed by and I got to be with her more often, I saw in her this sense of responsibility though she is pampered by her Ate Darin who also became an elder sister to me. She always involves herself on in and out of campus activities while giving time to some silly yet fun things. For the many roles she portrays, a lot of responsibilities are at her back. She finds such as laborious demands yet still puts her heart in it. I can attest to that after countless times I was by her side. We do a horde of school works together since we are both tasked with same responsibilities excluding that of reaching the Finals of a Regional News Casting competition of ABS-CBN and being into places as a member of Christ’s Youth in Action.





Surpassing all distressing and nerve-wracking moments together, with the whole group or as an individual, she has become more of a non-stop far from the stereo-typing of a ‘lady’. She is learning to laugh at random things, even at her predicaments. She is saying anything that pops out of her head not minding if it’s offensive or ridiculous. When she doesn’t understand a thing she instantly asks the people around without pretensions. She suddenly cuddles her closest pals, sweet yet playful of her. Out of the blue, she even raises eerie questions like, “Do I stink?” We, people around her find it odd because it’s awkward answering such question especially when she adds, “Simhota ko bi!” Then we roll on the floor laughing.

Nevertheless, she’s not just the 2011-2012 Student Supreme Government President of UIC who is dubbed to be the loveliest with her pretty face and sweet treatment to fellow students nor is she just a Yahoo Messenger icon look-a-like as she would tease herself.

She seems to recognize everyone and they appear like they know her enough. But behind is depth in her eyes, in her laughs, in her words of wisdom and in her whims. There is more than what meets the eye of a mere acquaintance and that is particularly that unanticipated wild side within.

Much has been said, she is like this and like that. Past everything I have seen her do, I just discovered what I was asking myself while looking at her at that moment. Gotcha! She resembles a flower which signifies femininity, that kind which nurtures on her own yet blooms wonderfully. An image of a Wildflower whose wildness is endearing and never vicious is what I see in her. And I hear in her the tune of a ballad with the similar name. She signifies that song with the most significant letters -- a free and gentle flower growing wild.

MEMENTO of Ghajini

“The world doesn’t just disappear when you close your eyes, isn’t it?” Leonard Shelby said. These words were spoken by the main character of the movie, MEMENTO, at the beginning of the movie. It smacked my senses. But as it progresses, it smacked me more and I just thought that what I thought was the beginning part of the movie was almost in the middle part of the story as a whole.



Memento is a Christopher Nolan film in 2000. It is a psychological thriller, both written and directed by Nolan. It is about a man with anterograde amnesia which impairs the ability of one’s mind to keep new explicit memories, in search for the guy who raped and killed his wife. It stars Guy Pearce, as Leonard Shelby, the one who suffers memory loss. Carrie –Anne Moss as Natalie, who gives him things he needs to know. And Joe Pantoliano as Teddy, the one he kills at the opening of the movie.

As aforementioned, the opening credits of the movie reminded me of one of my favorite movies, Ghajini. It is a Hindi romantic action drama film written and directed by A. R. Murugadoss and produced by Tagore Madhu and Madhu Mantena in 2008. It is somehow similar to this movie, since the main character, Sanjay, played by the famous Aamir Khan, revenges for his killed girlfriend, Kalpana played by the prettiest Hindi actress I have ever seen, Asin Thottumkal.

Elements in the movie such as a Polaroid Instant Camera which photos serve as remembrance of everything they need to commit to memory as well as permanent tattoos on his body were present in both movies. But there are still a lot of differences as to how the story was presented, the characters playing and the point of revenge, a wife in Memento and a girlfriend in Ghajini. Both were all for the name of love. There were rumors that the Bollywood movie was a mere remake of the one in Hollywood 8 years ago, but Aamir Khan says the movie is just inspired from the Hollywood flick and is not a copy or remake of it.


It took me a while to watch that movie several times backwards and forwards to end up eventually not understanding it. After finishing it, I can’t help but contrast it with Ghajini. I can’t honestly get what Memento is all about because I thought of it as a highly-intellectual movie in some way. After all, I can still say that Ghajini is better. The story and the plot appears more clear to me. And I was really swept away by the movie. After watching it, scenes in the movie are still playing on my mind. It has inflicted an impact to me, and I love it.

I always remember – A Walk to Remember

“But our love is like the wind. I can't see it, but I can feel it,” these was his last words. “I always remember it was late afternoon...” the song started singing. Then the ending credits were already rolling yet I am still in tears.




It was definitely A Walk to Remember. The movie was released in 2002. It made me think “Is anyone smarter than a 5th grader like me when it comes to love?” At that time, I was a 10 year-old kid who was never been in love but in love with the idea of love. This movie taught me how.

I have borrowed a book from a classmate and that was the very first romance novel book that I have read in my entire life, aside from those Filipino pocketbooks that are loitering around the house way back. After finishing it, I was really encouraged to see the movie for myself. So, I had a DVD borrowed but that’s when I was already on my 1st year in high school. Yet I still feel the same drama within me. I have watched it again when I was a freshman in college. And recently I have watched it all over again, now that I am on my last year in undergraduate school. Tears -- the manifestation of my inexplicable emotions were still present. Even if I stare at the cassette tape I have bought, more when I listen to the soundtrack sang by the top lead actors themselves, watch video clips online, read articles about it on the internet and look at still photos of the movie, the same rush of hopeless romantic blood creeps into my veins.

The ones to blame are Jamie Sullivan who was played by Mandy Moore and Landon Carter portrayed by Shane West. I charge the romantic story written by Nicholas Sparks on his novel, adapted on screen by Karen Janszen, the movie itself who was directed by Adam Shankman who was recognized after directing the movie “The Wedding Planner” and Warner Brothers for producing a heartwarming film as this, guilty beyond unreasonable doubt. It showcased the pastoral scenery of the small town of Beaufort in Carolina, providing a wonderful milieu for the blossoming of first true love. And aside all its beautiful elements—sincerity, trust and forgiveness, hope and sacrifice, it was more à propos to miracles. Miracles we tend not to believe, but exist for real. We just aren’t able to become aware of it happening already.

A campus heartthrob, Landon (West) and dedicated reverend’s daughter Jamie (Moore) were falling gin each other’s arms in this movie. Landon lived a life of prominence, pleasure, and excess, abusing and looking down on anyone outside and below his cool circle of friends, including Jamie. He’s forced to take on charity work after devising a dim-witted stunt that nearly paralyzes one of his pals. While mopping up hallways and tutoring youngsters, he came across Jamie. And there, everything else followed. Chance and fate brought them together and Jamie teaches Landon there is a different way to live and love.

The part where Landon grants Jamie’s wishes on her Top 50 to-do list with all his might was indeed a most wanted and my personal favorite. Especially the scene where he took Jamie on the border of Beaufort and he got her feet straddling the state line which makes her in two places at the same time, was a simple yet the coolest way of making her happy. Jamie, in her every move and speech, reflexively affected and inspired Landon, to have faith in himself and refurbish his life into something worth living. Landon, in turn, became her ever-dependable stronghold, especially in the face of tragedy.

The screenplay was a bit different to the book, and many would agree that the movie was better than the novel. Sentimental though not mushy, this is not only for the young, but for all viewers. After watching it, you sure would want to see more in life. You’ll see and learn more of God’s purposes in everything that is happening in our lives and miracles that we just close the eyes to. This is definitely a feel-good-must-see movie for everyone who inhales and exhales. Learn to inhale love, exhale hatred, and breathe with GOD in your life.

Off the Beaten Path

Happy holidays! This was on my mind after taking the last Prelim examination on 2011. I have a lot of laidback plans for the holiday vacation just to be different from my usual hectic days. But when I and my group mates received an approval message from a DSWD officer, the one we have been courting for almost a month or so, my plans fluctuated. We were reminded of the things we need to do for our thesis. Since our thesis is all about the attribution of Juvenile Delinquency to Sex and Violence in Media, it would be best to coordinate with the authority. So we headed to the DSWD Region XI Field Office and were oriented of the steps we have to take in order for us to continue with our study. Suzanne and Arcy, my thesis group mates and I set or schedules and planned for the days we’ll be spending together.
While most of our classmates were on their hometowns and others were busy on the malls dashing to prepare stuffs for Christmas, we were on our busy road heading to the most integral spot of the fulfillment of our thesis. On a cold morning of December 22, 2011, I together with my group mates were leaving for a place we have always heard of but we have never been – Mintal. The location is situated 761 kilometers south east (149°) of the approximate center of Philippines. Whiz kid of me? Nope! I just got the aforementioned information from the web. We took a swift jeepney ride, way off from what we have expected to be an hour or so travel. While on the ride, I was looking on the road and making sure that we’ll be able to stop at a market, which was the instruction of the DSWD officer. My eyes




were fed with different unusual sights, my hair was fluttering with the wind that the jeepney express was causing and my ears were eavesdropping to the local rap tunes playing on the stereo. The whiff of the trees was also starting to mingle with me.
We reached an area which seems like a little city, there were a lot of people, motor side cars, food stalls and commercial stores. We asked the jeepney barker if we were already at the market, he corroborated our inkling. We then stepped out of the jeepney and motor side car drivers approached us. We asked them if they can bring us to the DSWD center (that was the only information we knew). The other drivers refused because they were not familiar with it. The only driver who took us brought us to the locale’s health center. We asked the health workers and they directed us to go to the barangay hall next to them where the CSSDO staff were. We were entertained by a CSSDO member for us to learn that we still haven’t reached the peak of the trek, the DSWD center we’re looking for which is called as RRCY or Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth is located a few kilometers away from where our feet were currently planted. “Sa Bagoshero to! Kani sakay mo ug motor. Manong, sa Bagoshero sila,” the officer helped us talk to the motor side car driver. He replied, “Sige. Sa Bagoshero? Tag diyes ang ulo didto, ma’am.” Okay! We agreed. Just take us there, it’s fine.
I was riding at the back of the driver and I still had a chance to grab my phone and take some photos on our way to the mystical place (as we would laugh about it). On our way my eyes were wandering around, I saw a lot of green and brown creations. The trees, the leaves, grasses, farm animals and huts are opposite to the busy streets and colorful lights of the metro. We agreed to the feeling that tickled our senses, it feels like the province. The reek of nature was evident. It was like everything surrounding us was green and brown, leaves, trees and the soil.
After almost 5 minutes, we finally reached what we were looking for. Alas! The security guard welcomed us in and all the other officers were accommodating. I paused in holding my phone just to take photos, it’s prohibited inside. We were brought to their office and there we were able to sit down and talk to their Center Head. We arranged our schedule of activities. We feared of not spending our Christmas at home so we concurred of having our next visits after the 25th. The timetable is now fastened. To my mind, the plan was kind of wrecking my slipshodness but it was outweighed by the apprehension of not being able to finish our thesis on time. Then, we left the place and said “See You next week!” The other workers at the center thought that we were On-The-Job trainees and we’d really be regular at the center.
While outside the gateway, I took the moment to take pictures. Good that one worker accompanied us outside while waiting for a motor side car to bring us to the highway. I asked for a favor and he took my phone and captured this photo.
Since it was already taking us long to wait, we opted to take a few steps away and thought that perhaps along the walk we’ll have a ride. We haven’t noticed how far we’ve already been as surrounding us was a panorama of nature and a vista of simple living. There were also hilarious bits and pieces that we have noticed. This park which was named after a vernacular term for “poor” with a signboard posted at the gate which reads “No Caroling, Crisis!”
I took the pleasure in pacing our way to the corner of the long street where we can have a ride to the main road.
3 days after, subsequent to my father’s birthday, our Christmas Eve preparations and the anticipated Christmas celebration on the day itself, we headed back to the center. We arrived earlier as we did last time. We underwent another briefing but this time with our thesis interview respondents. They are male minors who are in conflict with the law, instead of having them imprisoned in public jails, they stay in the
center for rehabilitation. There were five of them. There is uneasiness deep within me but I waited for their voices to be heard before I considered my off-putting thoughts.
That was on the 26th of December when our whole day was all about talking to the five of them which later in the afternoon, another respondent was added to our interview. I easily got along with them as I was listening to their stories on how their lives evolved before the gates of the RRCY and why they were brought to the center. It was a day filled with realizations for me, for someone who is out in the city with my family and friends, going to school and claiming that I have never been into my own little crimes.
As the day starts to close, the raindrops haven’t ceased to pour. I was thinking that we’re still far from the city proper, it will be a lengthy road ahead. While waiting for a motor side car to fetch us, we were chatting with the center’s security guard. My eyes were meandering once more. Then it went on reading the address inscribed at the topmost of the RRCY’s structure – Bago Oshiro, Tugbok District, Davao City. I was a bit baffled with “Bago Oshiro”, it sounds like “Bagoshero”, the place we’ve been hearing from people around the vicinity. I was laughing so hard and told Arcy and Suzanne about it. They joined me in laughter. All along, we thought that the place we’re at is spelled as “Bagoshero” as how we would always hear the inhabitants speak of the place. But we were wrong, it’s “Bago Oshiro”. We went our
way home hurting our stomachs out of much hilarity. Though the streets were slippery because of the whole day drizzle, we were just on smiles.
That was one heck of a droll experience to me and to the three of us. The next day, we went back to conduct final group
discussion with the six of them in the center, we were kind of hesitant if we have to say “Bago Oshro” or just the accustomed way of saying the name of the place, “Bagoshero!” A simple misunderstanding on the pronunciation, but that made the whole travel splendid. Still, I was able to say “Happy Holidays!” 

`Tis The Season

My eyes were closed and I am in tight slumber around a bunch of cottony cushions. I was hearing soft tunes of twinkles and lullabies above my head when I smelled an aroma of appetite. I was then half-awakened. I tried to open my eyes as much as I could and saw stars and little cute and colorful animals hanging above me. My playmates! All of a sudden, I heard a familiar voice in enthusiasm saying, “Countdown na! 5, 4..” I closed my eyes again. While counting, the voice seems to come closer to where I am. “3, 2, 1!” The voice has already reached a few inches from where I am lying. Then I heard, “Tammmm! Gising na!” A hand touched my face. I recognized it immediately. It was Mother’s. I tried to open my eyes really wide. I saw my Mother with the smile on her face. It confirmed the warm feeling I got when her skin touched mine.

She let me stand. My head is on her right shoulder as we leave out of the cold room. The door opened for us and there was a figure of a man. I can only see a shadow and I can only hear a voice, again a familiar one. As it went fronting my face, I identified it at instant. My Father was making faces in front of me. He was so funny doing his best to make me laugh when all I see is a trying hard humor on his face. Then he was following us as we finally left the room.

Various voices were all I heard, welcoming us as we approach the living room. Then they were all at the back of my Mom. Trying to be in front of me but they just can’t fit all at once. They were saying


“Merry Christmas, Tamm!” in chorus. Their voices were overlapping one another. Then eventually I was able to recognize them. They wore familiar faces but I can’t remember their names or even my relation with them. But all I felt was delight because they were in uniform wearing a big grin on their faces.

Then we headed to the dining room. There I saw lots of colors painted on what’s above the plates. I can’t recognize those but I think those are what they call as ‘foods’. Before they start to lunge into the filled plates, they settled themselves among the chairs around the table. And my Papa got me a special seat. There I was comfortably seated. He led the prayer for the food and began to pass over the food to everyone except me. I wonder why I was of exemption. But at that time I was not that hungry so it was alright for me. I was just seated in between my Mama and Papa and enjoyed looking at each one going on a binge. They were talking and laughing while eating. Every once in a while, they take a glance on me to check me out and then they start to talk about me. They were noticing every little change in me, usually physically. Well, I also didn’t care. I was just listening to them as they were in high spirits in appreciating everything of me. Deep inside, I felt so good upon hearing all those. But I just can’t stop showing an indifferent façade.

After clearing the table, we moved to the couch and assembled ourselves on the living room where a lot of creatures are also living. There I perceived breathing colors everywhere. I saw red, green, yellow and blue display of series connected tube of lights. There is an old man with white mustache all the time standing above the table of fluffy bears, rabbits and dogs which I always try to reach and play with. As I panned my vision to the right side of the room, I spotted a small house made of scraps of wood. Inside were non-moving men, there were three of them with something striking above their heads. They were surrounding a man and a woman kneeling and looking at a cute baby laid on a lawn. And at the corner was a tall green tree with silvery balls hanged on it and a glimmering star at its peak. Below it are boxes wrapped in colorful papers and ribbons. WOW! I was in glee with everything that was fed to my eyes.

Then my Mama starts singing, “I love my Manita. Yes I do!” She was singing it over and over again until she handed her gift to an old lady. I just heard her calling her, Lola. After a number of rounds of singing and exchanging of presents, they all went near the green tree and got a box. They went closer to me and gave all those boxes to me. I was surprised because I can’t understand why they did that. I didn’t give anything but then I received too many. I was just fixing my eyes on the boxes and place my hands on them. My Mama and Papa were around me and opened the boxes for me. Then revealed from the inside were very nice things. I don’t know what those were but I just find them pleasurable since my parents were very glad upon opening. At that moment, everyone still had that smile on their faces which just drew one on mine. They cackled seeing me smile and laughed more when I chuckled. Everyone was merry.


After a while, I find myself back to the cold room where I was sleeping a while ago. I am gazing around the room and notice that almost everything had changed, even its size. It doesn’t feel cold inside anymore. It feels warm. There are many things around me and all are red, gold, silver and green decorations. I’m sitting on a chair while noticing my Mama elevated by a chair, trying to reach the tall green tree. She’s placing flowers around it while recounting to me our 12 midnight of December 25, 1991. I was just 4 months old back then but I haven’t felt that while Mama was telling me the story.

I am 20 years old now and I realized how Christmas had always been for our family since the day I was born. It was the same as before. Gift-giving, food sharing, decorating, everything was just as how it was for almost two decades ago. Probably excluding those 9 years when I was the only endearing small kid at home that I got to receive all gifts from each of them. Nevertheless, the feeling was just the same.

I may have not fully understood what the occasion was all about at that point in time, but the sensation was exactly similar. I have gone through differences with the members of my family through the years as I was growing older yet the same affection since my 1st Christmas Eve lingered not just for a certain time of the year but for the whole time I was with them. “Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling.” That is how a renowned American novelist, Edna Ferber, depicted Christmas on her book Roast Beef, Medium. Indeed she was truthful with how she put into words ‘Christmas’ -- a very joyous feeling in everyone’s life since a Savior was brought to life.

OMG!

“Oh my gosh...” Usher sings to me so loud. I’m looking where the sound comes from. I was exploring my hand under my pillows until it feels a vibration. The sound becomes louder that I can’t bear hearing it anymore. My eyes are still half-opened when I reached my phone and just by then I thought, it was not Usher singing to me, it was him waking me up.


It’s my phone’s alarm! I tried to open my eyes a little wider until to my surprise it read a note “Gising Kuya!” I immediately remembered that before I went to bed, I was exchanging messages with Kuya. Nope! He’s not my brother, let me say he’s someone special but I can’t yet completely draw the line between lovers and friends at that point in time. It’s something to share in another story.


So my memory was then refreshed that he asked me a favor last night. He wants me to wake him up by 5am because he needs to take a walk and have some fitness exercises before going to school. So, I hurriedly sent him a message saying, “Good Morning Kuya! Gising na po. Have a great day. God bless!” Wow! How sweet of me.
Good thing that he replied in just a jiffy telling me he was awakened by my SMS. Before ants could finally fill the short messaging lines connecting us, I let him do his activity first as I plan to go back to dreamland. But it seems like I already had my eyes opened and I felt the push for leaving my bed. So sooner than doing anything else, I put my hands together, closed my eyes once more and thanked God for giving me another day of enjoying the gift He has given me and said AMEN. I folded my blanket and placed it above my pillow, and smoothed down my bed linen.


I subsequently stood up and saw my brother on the upper bed of our double deck. He was still sleeping so I was budging his butt while calling his name trying to wake him up. But he’s like frozen grease that can’t be moved from the bottle, so I just went nearer to our ajar door and smelled aroma of fried eggs and hot coffee. I opened the door widely and saw my mother preparing my brother’s lunch box. I came close to the sink, washed my face and gargled.


I entered our room again, got my two phones, one for Sun Cellular and the other for my Smart line. I brought it with me to the dining table, pulled a stool and sat down. I know I am now ready for breakfast, my taste buds told me so. I opened a sachet of choco drink, scooped powdered milk and poured hot water to my mug. I went back to my seat and held my chow friends, Mr. Fork and Ms. Spoon. Mom was talking to me and I was babbling with the food on my mouth.


After finishing my revitalizing meal, I went to the sink and brushed my teeth. I checked my phones, replied to some messages and just read those usual ‘Good Morning’ SMS. Just before becoming overwhelmed with texting, I was startled when I recalled that my first class on a Tuesday-Thursday schedule is my 3 units on Education at 7:30 am. Time check! It’s already 6:15am. OMG! So I immediately reached my towel hanged on my brother’s bed and collected the shampoo, hair conditioner, face cleanser and bath soap in our water dipper. Off to the waters!


Water temperature check first! Brrr! The water is colder than my body warmth. But I have to do it. I need to take a bath now and as fast as I could. After 15 minutes of eventually enjoying the water, I headed to our room. My brother is already awake so I now have the freedom in our shared room. I put on my contact lenses, rolled on my deo, applied my facial cream and wore my Comm-Arts senior’s uniform for a Thursday, all in a fast pace. I fixed my bag, took out my make-up stuff and faced the mirror on the wall. Putting on my make-up though the ticking of the clock is in express is part of my daily routine already. But instead of talking to my imaginary friend in the mirror as I always do, I just put on my school-girl make-up. I got my things, bag, books, notes, and folder then left the room.


I approached the fridge and got my daily allowance which is always placed by my father above the cooling appliance the night before. I wore my black leather shoes and checked my phone once more, it displayed 3 messages received. OMG! I want to open the messages but since it’s already 7am on the clock, and it is a must to leave the house 30 minutes before the class begins, so I just went on my way. I greeted my family goodbyes and faced the bright sunny morning the world offered. While walking myself to the main road, I put on my ear phones and opened my phone’s music player. I chose to play lively songs to energize me for the day ahead.


Leading to the stop, I checked my phone’s unread messages while waiting for a jeepney. Upon finding a Bangkal-Magsaysay jeepney, I took a ride and underwent the accustomed traffic jam in an early morning rush on the streets. It was nothing new, so I just said my prayer, “Lord! ‘Di lang unta ko ma-late. Fufu!” Roughly 20 minutes after, I reached Mercury on Planet Earth – Mercury Drugstore, the corner of the street in walking distance to the university. I quickly reached the school gate, greeted my favorite security guard while looking at the school clock – 7:27am. OMG!
I hastily went upstairs and just in time upon arriving at the door of room 302, the bell rang. I took my seat on the 1st of the 2nd row at the right side of the room. OMG! Inhale! Exhale! I composed myself and arranged my things. Then held my phone and sent Kuya a message saying, “Here at school. See you later! :)”

A Merry Christmas in SM City Davao

The pioneer SM mall in the Mindanao region opened to the public their grand Christmas centerpiece.

The official opening of the Holiday season in the supermall was engrossed in a Light-Up ceremony, 5:00 PM on November 12, 2011 at the SM Event Centre. The program was flickered with a number of golden voices who serenaded the audience during the pre-event, the University of the Immaculate Conception Girls’ Choir, University of South Eastern Philippines Harmonica Chorale, Matina Aplaya Children’s Choir, University of Mindanao Chorale and the Sta. Cecilla Chorale. Following, the SM Davao Branch Manager welcomed the people and said, “Mindanao’s premiere shopping destination ushers you in the merriest celebration of the Christmas Season.” They proudly showed the Behind-the-Scenes of their Christmas Jingle which is sang by the Filipina YouTube sensation, Maria Lourdes Aragon. Her music video with the song “Christmas ChriSMs Bop 2011” was played in preparation of the unveiling of the Christmas Centerpiece located at the 2nd floor Exhibit Area between SM appliance Center and SM Department Store.


The crowd yelled upon seeing PBB teen Season 3 Big Winner, James Reid, sitting at the centerpiece. The rest of the SM Davao officials were there as well, alongside Mutya ng Davao 2010, Ms. Janelle Tee and the Master of Ceremony, Mutya ng Davao 2009, Resa Angeli Rizada. They opened the big Christmas gift where Santa Claus was inside. While he was giving gifts, Nica Tupas, entertained the people with her lovely singing of Christmas songs. The second part of the program was a mini show for the fans of James Reid. The Aussie teen star amused everyone with his moves, grooves, guitar playing and singing.

The entire extravaganza was well attended not just by avid SM shoppers but of innumerable Davaoneos. Even Hon. Mayor Inday Sara Duterte came to visit and take a photo with her family at the mall’s grand Christmas Centerpiece. Indeed, the colorful piece in SM City Davao isn’t a mere display but a new glamorous spot everyone would love to visit. The rest of the SM Supermalls in the country has also launched the Christmas season and promises a lot of exciting activities to come. For more joyous events, you can check www.smsupermalls.com and see updates.