This piece won in the palanca awards, dulaang isang yugto
category
(daw). Read on
and smile.=)



> Twenty Questions
> Ni Juan Ekis
>
>
> MGA TAUHAN
>
> Jigs ¡© Fresh grad. Kabarkada ni Yumi. Magtatrabaho bilang
researcher
> sa isang financial firm
>
> Yumi ¡© Commercial Model. Kabarkada ni Jigs. 2 years ahead kay
Jigs.
>
>
> TAGPO
>
> Gabi. Sa isang kwarto ng isang beach resort. Naglalatag ng
kumot
si
> Jigs sa sahig habang inaayos ni Yumi ang kanyang higaan.
>
>
> YUMI Sige na, Jigs. Huwag ka nang magpaka-gentle
man. Naaawa ako
sa©öyo
> e. Tabi na tayo sa kama.
>
> JIGS Hindi, okay lang ako dito.
>
> YUMI Huwag ka nang maarte. As if naman
re-rapin
kita no. Malaki naman
> itong kama e. Hatiin na lang natin sa gitna.
>
> JIGS Sure ka?
>
> YUMI Hindi mo naman siguro ako mamanyakin no?
>
> JIGS (Matatawa) Okay ka lang?
>
> YUMI Kung gusto mo, gamitin na lang natin
iyang
kumot na divider.
>
> JIGS Good idea.
>
> Isasampay nila ang kumot mula sa kisame para mahati ang kama
sa
gitna.

> Magsesettle down ang dalawa. Ilalabas ni Jigs ang libro niya:
©øPuppy
> Love and other Stories©÷ ni F. Sionil Jose. Si Yumi naman ay
> magpapatugtog ng Japanese Zen Music habang nagsa-zazen.
>
> YUMI Do you mind?
>
> JIGS No, go ahead. I©öm just reading.
>
> Magsa-zazen si Yumi. Magbabasa si Jigs. Pareho silang di
> maka-concentrate. Papatayin ni Yumi ang CD player niya.
>
> YUMI I can©öt believe our friends.
>
> JIGS Oo nga e.
>
> YUMI Dapat ginagawa nila OEto sa mga bagong
pasok
sa barkada o kaya sa
> bagong...ay oo nga pala. Bagong graduate ka. Congrats.
>
> JIGS Thanks.
>
> YUMI So what©öre your plans?
>
> JIGS Kinukuha akong researcher sa ADB.
Kinukuha
rin ako ng BPI sa OTP
> nila.
>
> YUMI Wow naman. In demand.
>
> JIGS Di naman masyado. Who the hell invented
this
tradition anyway?
>
> YUMI (Matatawa) You won©öt believe it.
>
> JIGS Ikaw?
>
> YUMI Malay ko ba na mabibiktima rin ako nito
balang-araw.
>
> JIGS So why did you start it?
>
> YUMI Wala ka pa sa tropa nun e. Freshman ka pa
lang siguro noon. Wala
> lang. Napagtripan lang namin si Ronald. E may crush siya kay
Meg.
> Noong unang beses magpunta rito ng barkada, sabi ko, magsimula
kami ng

> tradition. Ilo-lottery namin ang pangalan ng mga lalaki at ng
mga
> babae. Kung sino ang mabubunot, silang dalawa ang pagsasamahin
sa
> isang kwarto sa loob ng tatlong araw. And then, we©öll all see
what

> happens. Pero dinaya namin noon yung kay Ronald at Meg. Puro
Ronald at

> Meg ang mga pangalan na nakalagay sa lottery.
>
> JIGS (Tatawa) Ang sama ninyo!
>
> YUMI Kaya nga nakarma na ako e.
>
> JIGS So is our case, dinaya? O talagang
lottery?
>
> YUMI (Teasing) Ano sa dalawa ang gusto mo?
>
> JIGS Feeling ko may nagtrip sa©ökin sa barkada
e.
>
> YUMI Excuse me po, dalawa tayong biktima dito.
I
don©öt see any reason
> kung bakit tayong dalawa ang sasadyaing biktima this year,
unless
may
> crush ka sa©ökin na di ko alam at alam nila (tatawa).
>
> JIGS Baka ikaw (tatawa).
>
> YUMI The success rate of this tradition is
100% so
far.
>
> JIGS I was here na the 2nd time. Si Chris at
si
Cia ang biktima.
>
> YUMI And last year were Rod and Kay. They©öre
getting married kailan?
Sa
> June yata.
>
> JIGS What do you expect? Ikukulong mo ang
isang
lalaki at isang babae
> sa isang kwarto for three days, imposibleng walang mangyari
doon!
>
> YUMI That was exactly my point. (Ngingiti)
>
> JIGS E kung may madisgrasya?
>
> YUMI Ano©öng disgrasya?
>
> JIGS Alam mo na OEyun!
>
> Hahawiin ni Yumi ang divider nilang kumot.
>
> YUMI Ano? Sex? Pa©öno kung magsex sila?
Nakakatawa
ka naman. Di mo
> masabi.
>
> JIGS Ang alin?
>
> YUMI Ang sex!
>
> JIGS Hah!
>
> YUMI Sige nga sabihin mo nga?
>
> JIGS Para kang tanga. Tumigil ka nga.
>
> YUMI Shet, Jigs. Graduate ka na totoy ka pa
rin!
>
> JIGS Excuse me?
>
> YUMI Sabihin mo nga: ©øSex! Sex! Sex! Sex!©÷
>
> JIGS Para kang bata, Yumi ha.
>
> YUMI You used to call me ate Yumi when you
were in
third year.
>
> JIGS Well, graduate na po ako, ate Yumi.
>
> Tahimik.
>
> JIGS Hmmm. I wonder if we©öre gonna last three
days.
>
> YUMI (Teasing) Bakit? Ayaw mo sa©ökin?
>
> Di sasagot si Jigs.
>
> YUMI We©öre gonna survive this one.
>
> JIGS What makes you so sure?
>
> YUMI No offense, Jigs. I honestly find you
very
attractive pero I©öve
no
> time for this. Alam mo naman siguro na kaka'
>
> JIGS Same here.
>
> YUMI Same here what? Na you find me attractive
o
you don©öt have time
> for this? (Matatawa)
>
> Di sasagot si Jigs. Tahimik. Io-on ulit ni Yumi ang CD player
at
> ipagpapatuloy ang zazen. Itatabi ni Jigs ang libro. Nawalan na
siya ng

> ganang magbasa. Pupunta siya sa ref. Bubuksan niya ito.
>
> JIGS Hah! (Sarcastic) Perfect! Red Wine! How
very
conducive.
>
> YUMI May chips ba diyan?
>
> JIGS Sa awa ng Diyos, may tsibog naman.
>
> Papatayin ni Yumi ang CD player. Tatayo siya at kukuha ng
chips sa

> ibabaw ng ref.
>
> YUMI Since we©öre gonna be stuck naman with
each
other for three days,
> might as well make the best out of it di ba? I-enjoy na lang
natin.
>
> JIGS What do you mean?
>
> YUMI Get the wine, let©ös have a drink! 50
hours to
go na lang and
we©öre
> gonna be the first failure of this tradition.
>
> JIGS Oo nga. (Kukunin ang wine. Maglalagay sa
dalawang baso.) When
they
> chose Cia and Chris, naiintindihan ko pa e. Lalo na sina Rod
and
Kay.
> Kung baga, tinulungan lang natin silang umamin sa isa©öt isa.
Pero
> us...
>
> YUMI Weird ng barkada natin no?
>
> JIGS To our barkada and our weird traditions!
>
> YUMI To us, the first failure of this
tradition!
>
> Magto-toast sila at iinom.
>
> JIGS Sige, ate Yumi. Let©ös make our stay here
more
interesting...
>
> YUMI What©ös with the ate?
>
> JIGS Fine...
>
> Bubuksan ni Yumi ang chips. Uupo sila pareho sa sahig para
> magkwentuhan.
>
> JIGS Let©ös play twenty questions.
>
> YUMI Sige! Ano yon?
>
> JIGS Each of us will have ten questions each.
Tatanungin kita,
> tatanungin mo ako, mga gusto nating malaman sa isa©öt isa.
Alternate
> tayo. Pero the thing here is, you can©öt ask the question that
I
> already asked.
>
> YUMI That©ös pretty interesting.
>
> JIGS At bawal magsinungaling.
>
> YUMI Fair enough. Pero whatever is said inside
this room remains in
the
> room. Ok?
>
> JIGS Of course. You wanna start?
>
> YUMI No. I want to ask the last question.
(Ngingiti at kikindatan si
> Jigs)
>
> JIGS Smart move. Game. First question: Ano ang
greatest frustration
mo
> sa buhay?
>
> YUMI Nge. Ang korni naman ng tanong mo. Walang
ka-challenge-challenge.
> Ask me something na mag-iisip naman ako.
>
> JIGS Simula pa lang e.
>
> YUMI Sige. Ano nga ba...?
>
> JIGS Akala ko ba walang
ka-challenge-challenge?
>
> YUMI Wag kang maingay, nag-iisip ako...I©öm a
frustrated ballet
dancer.
>
> JIGS Talaga?
>
> YUMI I took lessons when I was six pero umayaw
ako. Wala kasi akong
> disiplina e. Mas gusto kong makipaglaro sa mga kalaro ko. Pero
I
> really enjoy watching ballet dancers. When I see them dance
parati

> kong naiisip na sana, ako rin. There! Ang dali naman ng tanong
mo.

> Walang thrill.
>
> JIGS Appetizer lang. Yari ka sa©ökin mamaya.
>
> YUMI We©öll see. Ako naman: Did you ever have
doubts about your
> sexuality? I mean, kahit minsan ba, naisip mo na bakla ka?
>
> JIGS Never.
>
> YUMI Bilis ng sagot a.
>
> JIGS Coz I never entertained the idea.
>
> YUMI Homophobe ka ba?
>
> JIGS Alternate tayo sa tanungan, di ba?
>
> YUMI So, not once? Kahit konti? Kahit what if
lang?
>
> JIGS I©öm straight, okay?
>
> YUMI I©öm not asking if you©öre gay or not.
I©öm
asking kung...
>
> JIGS Never nga.
>
> YUMI We all thought na you were gay. Well at
least
nung first few
> months mo sa tropa before you introduced your girlfriend to
us.
>
> JIGS What?! You thought I was gay?!
>
> YUMI E pa©öno kasi, masyado kang mabait. Ang
pogi-pogi mo, pero parang
> allergic ka sa mga babae. Over ang pagiging gentleman mo. Too
good
to
> be true. You have a good body, it seems that you work out pero
iniisip

> namin front mo lang yun. Kadalasan kasi front ng mga bakla ang
> pagiging maganda ng katawan nila at pagiging sporty...
>
> Tatawa lang si Jigs.
>
> YUMI So we thought it©ös either that or you
were
planning to become a
> priest.
>
> JIGS What?!
>
> YUMI Well, you were always this goody-goody
person. Pumupunta ka sa
> chapel. Nangungumpisal, nagsisimba...
>
> JIGS The way you said it, parang equivalent
ang
dalawa a.
>
> YUMI Of course not. I didn©öt mean that!
>
> JIGS I take my faith seriously. That doesn©öt
make
me gay!
>
> YUMI So you did want to become a priest...
>
> JIGS Hindi rin. Actually, I always wanted to
raise
a family...and be
a
> father.
>
> Tahimik.
>
> YUMI So you©öre not gay.
>
> JIGS No.
>
> YUMI You never...
>
> JIGS Ilang beses ka ba ipinanganak? Kulit mo
e.
It©ös my turn.
>
> YUMI Homophobe ka no?
>
> JIGS Hindi kaya!
>
> YUMI Whatever...
>
> JIGS Ako na, daya mo naman e.
>
> YUMI Okay, okay. Shoot me.
>
> JIGS How do you see yourself five years from
now?
>
> YUMI You expect to win this game? Ang kokorni
ng
mga tanong mo e.
>
> JIGS The object of this game is not to win.
>
> YUMI E ano pa ba?
>
> JIGS To get to know the other person.
>
> YUMI Sure. Basta ako, I will win this game.
Walang
thrill ang isang
> game kung walang nananalo.
>
> JIGS Sagot.
>
> YUMI May time limit ba OEto? (Tatawa) Wine pa
nga.

>
> JIGS Sabi nga nila: in vino veritas.
>
> Magsasalin si Jigs ng wine.
>
> YUMI Masarap ang wine, ha? Saan kaya nabili
ito?
(Iinom) To answer
your
> question, either maging entrepreneur ako, magsisimula ako ng
sarili
> kong botique or bar, o kaya, magiging artista ako sa pelikula.
>
> JIGS Not bad.
>
> YUMI Pero mukhang malabo yung stint ko sa
movies.
Tough ang
competition
> e. Saka mahina ang manager ko. Panay hosting at pictorials ang
> nakukuhang raket para sa akin. Papalitan ko na nga e. Pag
nakaipon

> ako, baka magtayo na lang ako ng botique.
>
> JIGS (Magbibiro) Ayaw mo mag-bold?
>
> YUMI Yuck!
>
> JIGS Lahat ng gustong mag-artista doon
dumadaan.
>
> YUMI May talent naman ako kahit papano a!
>
> JIGS Lahat naman ng bold star may talent a! Sa
dibdib! (Tatawa)
>
> YUMI (Hahampasin ng unan si Jigs) Bastos ka
talaga! Akala ko
> goody-goody ka...Hindi ko papatulan ang pagbobold kahit
ano©öng
> mangyari no! Kahit ganito ako, may respeto pa rin naman ako sa
sarili
> ko.
>
> JIGS Ganito? Ano©öng ganito?
>
> Di sasagutin ni Yumi ang tanong.
>
> YUMI These producers think all the people want
is
sex, sex, sex! Kaya
> puro basura ang mga pelikula e. Wine pa nga!
>
> JIGS (Magsasalin ng wine) Bakit naman botique?
>
> YUMI Hoy madaya ka na ha? Hindi pa ako lasing.
Ako
na©öng magtatanong.
> Ang korni mo namang magtanong. Bigatan naman natin nang
konti...Inom
> ka muna.
>
> Iinom si Jigs. Magsasalin siya ng bago.
>
> YUMI Who was your first crush in the barkada?
>
> Tahimik.
>
> YUMI Haha! Bingo ka no? Bagal mo naman
sumagot.
>
> Iinumin ang wine. Magsasalin ng bago.
>
> JIGS Lalaki o babae?
>
> Tatawa sila pareho.
>
> YUMI Dapat may time limit ito e.
>
> Tahimik.
>
> JIGS Hirap naman ng tanong mo.
>
> YUMI Iyon nga ang maganda e. Para may thrill.
As
if naman
ibo-broadcast
> ko sa barkada kung sino.
>
> JIGS Wine pa?
>
> YUMI Di mo pa sinasagot yung tanong ko,
nagtatanong ka na!
>
> Magsasalin ng wine si Jigs kay Yumi.
>
> JIGS Yung crush ko kasi...siyempre, sino pa
ba? E
di yung
pinakamaganda
> sa barkada.
>
> YUMI Nge. Subjective yon no! Para sa©ökin ang
pinakagwapo si Joel. Sa
> babae, si Kay. Para kay Ronald, si Meg...
>
> JIGS Yung literally na may dating'walang
tanung-tanong. Yung kahit
> sino©öng tanungin mo sa tropa, objectively, siya ang isasagot.
>
> YUMI Jigs, twenty questions ang game natin.
Hindi
guessing game.
C©ömon
> man. Play your own game. Pa©öno na kung truth or dare to e di
pahirapan

> na. Dadalawa na nga lang tayo e.
>
> JIGS Yung commercial model.
>
> Matitigilan si Yumi.
>
> YUMI Wine pa nga.
>
> Magsasalin si Jigs. Mag-iisip si Yumi. Iinom. Biglang
matatawa.
>
> YUMI (Tumatawa pa rin) Talaga?
>
> JIGS Sige, pagtawanan ba?
>
> YUMI You can say it to my face, I won©öt bite.
Bakit hirap na hirap
kang
> sabihin kung sino? Takot kang ma-reject? Parang tanong lang
e...Wine
> pa nga!
>
> JIGS Okay, 1 point ka na...
>
> YUMI (Ngiti) Gee...thanks. Flattered naman
ako. At
kailan naman
> nangyari ito?
>
> JIGS Sorry, my turn to ask. (Ngingiti) Who is
your
crush in the
> barkada...NOW?
>
> YUMI E ginaya mo lang yung tanong ko e.
>
> JIGS Hinde no. May qualifier ako. Ang sabi ko,
NOW. Ang tanong mo,
> first crush ko.
>
> YUMI Korni pa rin. Alam mo, kung basketball
OEto,
tambak ka na.
>
> JIGS Just answer the question.
>
> YUMI Siyempre wala. I told you, I don©öt have
time
for these stuff.
> Kakabreak ko lang di ba?
>
> JIGS Korni mo namang sumagot.
>
> YUMI E korni yung tanong e. Pero kung
talagang-talagang kailangan
kong
> sumagot...hmmm...teka...sino nga ba? Sino ba©öng crush
material sa
> barkada? Wala akong maisip e. Ikaw na lang.
>
> JIGS Yung seryoso naman.
>
> YUMI Seryoso ako. Ayaw mo yata e. Sige, iba na
lang...
>
> JIGS E napipilitan ka lang e.
>
> YUMI Uy! Pa©öno ba©öyan? MU na tayo? Crush mo
ko,
crush kita...yiheee
> (Tatawa).
>
> JIGS Dati pa OEyon no!
>
> YUMI Ay? Di mo na ko crush? Bakit, na turn-off
ka?
Ano namang ginawa
> ko? Tsk. Tsk.
>
> JIGS Is that your question na?
>
> YUMI Oy, hinde! Ito naman...di ba pwedeng
mag-follow-up?
>
> Iinom ng wine si Jigs.
>
> YUMI Fine. Here©ös a little juicy question:
Describe your first kiss.
>
> JIGS That©ös not even a question.
>
> YUMI Arte mo. O: How was your first kiss like?
>
> Matatawa si Jigs.
>
> JIGS Wet.
>
> YUMI Yuck!
>
> Magtatawanan sila.
>
> JIGS Alam mo, aksidente yung first kiss ko.
Close
kasi kami nung isa
> kong kaibigan. Pag naggu-goodbye ako sa kanya, parati ko
siyang
> kini-kiss sa noo. E one time, sa gym habang nagpapahinga,
nakaupo
siya

> sa sahig. Tinatamad siyang tumayo. So bumaba ako nang konti
para
> halikan siya sa noo kasi pauwi na ako. E siya naman, para
maabot
ko,
> medyo tumingala. E sakto, sa lips ko siya nahalikan. Pareho
kaming

> nagulat. Pero di pa kami naghiwalay agad. Weird nga ang
feeling e.

> Parang may glue. Ayaw na namin maghiwalay pareho...
>
> Tawa pa rin si Yumi
>
> YUMI Awww. Ang sweet naman. Parang sa
pelikula. Si
Krissy ba OEto?
>
> JIGS Hindi. Hindi mo siya kilala.
>
> YUMI So what happened? Nagkatuluyan kayo?
>
> JIGS Nope.
>
> YUMI Ha?
>
> JIGS Ewan ko ba. Complicated kasi yung
situation
namin e. May
boyfriend
> siya noon. Ako naman, takot pa sa isang relationship. Pero at
least,
> na-discover namin na pareho pala kaming may gusto sa isa©öt
isa.
Pero
> hanggang doon na lang.
>
> YUMI What happened after?
>
> JIGS We talked about it. We both decided na it
wont work. Tapos,
bigla
> na lang, hindi na kami nagkikita. And then, I met you guys,
iba na
ang

> barkada ko.
>
> YUMI Nakakatuwa naman.
>
> JIGS Ikaw, pa©öno yung first kiss mo?
>
> YUMI Ikaw ang nagturo sa akin ng game na ito
di
ba? Bakit ba lagi
mong
> bini-break ang rules? Di mo na pwedeng tanungin OEyan!
>
> JIGS Tine-testing ko lang kung lasing ka na.
(Iinom ng wine) Okay,
> naka-warm-up na ako: What was the naughtiest thing you ever
did?
>
> YUMI OEYan ang mga tanong! Ano ba©öng ibig
mong
sabihin ng naughty?
>
> JIGS Bahala kang mag-define.
>
> YUMI Hmmm...marami e...(matatawa) baka
maeskandalo
ka.
>
> JIGS Kanina ayaw mo ng korni. Ngayong medyo
exciting naman...
>
> YUMI Eto na...I had two boyfriends at the same
time.
>
> JIGS (Nagulat) Hala.
>
> YUMI I was with Joel and Zach at the same
time.
>
> JIGS Yikes. Alam ba ni Joel?
>
> YUMI Kaya nga kami naghiwalay nun e. Nahuli
ako
(matatawa).
>
> JIGS Ano namang pumasok sa kukote mo©öt ginawa
mo
OEyon, aber?
>
> YUMI Nag-eexperiment lang ako. E sa type ko
sila
pareho e. Ano©öng
> magagawa ko? Saka para may thrill. Alam mo OEyon? Yung patago
kang

> nakikipag-date sa isa para di mahuli. Everyday pa akong
nakakalibre,
> kasi, alternate sila! (Tatawa) Akala n©öyo kayo lang mga
lalaki ang

> pwedeng gumawa no©ön?
>
> JIGS How can you love two guys at the same
time?
>
> YUMI Who said something about love? Walang
kinalaman ang love dun. I
> was...having fun!
>
> JIGS Nainlove ka na ba, ever?
>
> YUMI Nakakailang tanong ka na? It©ös my turn.
>
> JIGS Don©öt you want to answer the question
anyway?

>
> YUMI My turn!
>
> JIGS Kulang ka pa sa wine. (Tatawa)
>
> Ubos na ang unang wine bottle. Kukuha si Jigs ng isa pa sa
ref.
>
> JIGS Ang bilis nating uminom a.
>
> YUMI Are you still a virgin?
>
> JIGS Whoa! Where did that come from?
>
> YUMI That©ös my fourth question.
>
> JIGS (Magsasalin ng wine sa mga baso). Ano sa
tingin mo?
>
> Ngingiti si Jigs. Tititigan lang siya ni Yumi.
>
> YUMI Don©öt tell me, wala pang nangyayari sa
inyo
ni Krissy hanggang
> ngayon? Ilang taon na ba kayo?
>
> JIGS Mag-tu-two years na sana next week.
>
> YUMI So virgin ka pa? I don©öt believe it!
>
> JIGS Mukha ba akong tarantado?
>
> YUMI Mukha kang nagpapaiyak ng babae e.
>
> JIGS Insulto ba OEyon?
>
> YUMI Compliment OEyon, tanga.
>
> JIGS Ah, okay. Thanks.
>
> YUMI Pero, you mean, you never felt the urge
to do
it?
>
> JIGS Alin? Sex?
>
> YUMI Wow! Nasabi rin niya!
>
> JIGS Of course I always feel it. Natural lang
OEyon sa tao no? Nasa
iyo
> na lang OEyan kung ano©öng gagawin mo sa urge na OEyon.
>
> YUMI E natural naman pala e. Bakit mo
pinipigilan?
I mean, pag naiihi
> ka, iihi ka. Pag nagugutom ka, kakain ka. Pareho lang OEyon,
di
ba?
>
> JIGS Pag naiihi ka, iihi ka dahil kailangan
mong
umihi. At hindi ka
> iihi kahit saan. Pupunta ka sa banyo. Pag nagugutom ka, kakain
ka
> dahil kailangan. At hindi mo kinakain ang lahat ng pagkain na
ihain sa

> iyo. Pag di ka gutom, di ka kakain. Pag di mo gusto yung
pagkain,
di
> mo gagalawin. Ang aso, pag may nakitang pagkain diyan, walang
> tanung-tanong. Lalamon OEyan.
>
> YUMI And sex is the same?
>
> JIGS Lahat ng bagay, nilalagay sa lugar. May
context. At least, yun
ang
> nagpaiba sa atin sa aso.
>
> YUMI Grabe ka namang magsalita. Para mo na
ring
sinabing lahat ng
> nakikipagsex, aso ah!
>
> JIGS Sinasabi ko lang, pag wala sa tamang
konteksto, mali.
>
> YUMI And what is that context?
>
> JIGS Matanda na tayo. Ayokong maging preachy.
Alam
na natin OEyan.
>
> Tahimik.
>
> JIGS Kaso, kahit alam na natin, minsan di pa
rin
natin ginagawa.
>
> Tahimik.
>
> JIGS Masarap e. Sino ba©öng ayaw nun?
>
> Tahimik.
>
> YUMI (Medyo nairita) So feeling mo santo ka at
dapat kang
> i-congratulate for being a virgin!
>
> JIGS Sinasabi ko lang ang pinaniniwalaan ko.
Ineexplain ko lang kung
> bakit di ko ginagawa. May kanya-kanya tayong dahilan. Di ko
pinipilit
> kahit kanino ang mga paniniwala ko...No need to get so cross
about
it,

> Yumi.
>
> Tahimik.
>
> JIGS It©ös not about being a virgin or not.
It©ös
about putting things
> into their proper places.
>
> YUMI I©öm not arguing with you.
>
> JIGS Me neither. I©öm just answering your
questions.
>
> Matagal na katahimikan.
>
> Ngingiti si Jigs. Titignan niya si Yumi na medyo nairita sa
nakaraang
> train of conversation nila. Magsasalin siya ng wine para kay
Yumi.

>
> JIGS Nasobrahan ka na yata sa wine e. (Tatawa)
You
still wanna go on
> with the game? Nine pa lang tayo, eleven more to go.
(Ngingiti)
>
> YUMI Shoot me.
>
> JIGS Who was your first lay?
>
> YUMI (Hahampasin ng unan si Jigs) Ang bastos
mo
talaga! So inaassume
mo
> na hindi na ako virgin?
>
> JIGS E sabi mo kasi, walang thrill ang game
pag
walang nananalo e. So
I
> guess I©öm winning. Saka wala naman akong inimply na ganun a!
I©öm
just
> hitting two birds with one stone. Kasi kung virgin ka, e di
simple

> lang ang sagot: wala. Kung hindi naman, e di sino?
>
> YUMI Ang daya mo.
>
> JIGS Akala ko ba ayaw mo ng korning tanong.
>
> YUMI You think I©öll answer that after giving
your
sermon, Father
Jigs?
>

$)C > JIGS Ano ka ba? Inexplain ko lang yung
personal
reasons ko. Kung ano
> man ang sa iyo, I©öll respect them as well as I know you
respect
mine.
> I©öm no saint. I©öm just trying to get to know you better.
(Ngingiti)
>
> YUMI How do you do that?
>
> JIGS Alin?
>
> YUMI I should have walked out on you kanina pa
pero the way you say
> things...parang bumabaliktad sa©öyo...makes you
more...charming.
Kung
> ibang tao ka siguro, di na kita kakausapin.
>
> JIGS You can©öt walk out. We©öre locked here
for
three days except for
> meals.
>
> YUMI So I©öm forced to like you para di masira
ang
vacation ko.
> (Ngingiti)
>
> JIGS You don©öt have to answer my question if
you
don©öt want.
>
> YUMI I guess I©öll be honest with you as you
were
honest with me...
>
> Tahimik. Iinom ng wine si Yumi.
>
> YUMI Di mo siya kilala. His name was Robert.
He
was my first
boyfriend.
> It was Senior Prom Night. Alam mo na...typical senior prom
story.
> Everyone wants to lose it on prom night. Everyone thinks na
pag
prom
> night, it was something special. We went out sa hall nang
maaga.
We
> made out sa kotse niya. One thing led to the other. Tapos,
yun...yun
> na. We went back just in time for the awarding of the prom
queen.
> Guess what, I won pa. (Mahinang tawa)
>
> JIGS What was it like?
>
> YUMI Now that I look back, it isn©öt as
special as
I thought it was.
> Pero it was different then. Back then, we were just led by our
> passions. Alam mo yon? Andun ka na. Hormones raging wild.
Passions
and

> Ideals are confused. Akala mo love, yun pala, curious ka lang
pala.
> Akala mo yun na yon. Akala mo you are in-love at lahat ng
gawin mo

> tama. Lahat ng gawin mo perfect. Everything was
magical...well,
> almost.
>
> JIGS Almost...?
>
> YUMI Sa next question mo na OEyan. Ako na.
>
> JIGS (Pabiro) Wine pa? Kulang ka pa yata e.
>
> YUMI Nilalasing mo ko no? May balak ka sa©ökin
no?
(Tatawa)
>
> JIGS Is that your question? Sasagutin ko na.
(Tatawa)
>
> YUMI Engot. Hindi OEyon. Here©ös something na
curious lang ako. Kasi
I©öve
> been hearing things...saka you©öve hinted on it na rin
kanina...Are
you

> still with Krissy?
>
> JIGS Hindi na.
>
> YUMI Since when?
>
> JIGS Two, maybe three weeks ago?
>
> YUMI Sino©öng nakipag-break?
>
> JIGS Pareho kami.
>
> YUMI Why?
>
> JIGS Maraming dahilan, actually. Naisip na
lang
namin na it won©öt
work.
> Isa na do©ön, magkaiba kami ng gustong mangyari sa buhay.
Magkaiba
kami

> ng mga pinaniniwalaan.
>
> YUMI Like what?
>
> JIGS Marami.
>
> YUMI At ngayon mo lang nalaman iyon after two
years with her?
>
> JIGS People change, Yumi.
>
> Tahimik.
>
> JIGS Right before graduation, she asked me to
move
in with her.
>
> YUMI Talaga?
>
> JIGS Sabi niya, doon na naman din daw papunta
ang
relasyon namin.
Might
> as well practice na raw for the real thing. Tutal, she©ös
working
na
> naman, ako naman bagong graduate, we should try out na raw
living
> together if it©öll work for us.
>
> YUMI Natakot ka sa arrangement?
>
> JIGS Hindi naman sa natakot. If you love
someone,
ano pa©öng
ikakatakot
> mo, di ba?
>
> YUMI E bakit umayaw ka?
>
> JIGS It©ös just that, it©ös not my thing.
>
> YUMI Sabi na nga ba e, bakla ka no? Sinasayang
mo
ang opportunities!
> (Matatawa)
>
> JIGS Hindi ako oportunista. At lalong hindi
ako
bakla.
>
> YUMI Fine.
>
> JIGS Naisip ko lang na hindi pa pala ako handa
sa
mga ganitong bagay.
> Wala pa sa isip ko ang gano©ön. Na-shock siguro ako sa reality
na
iyon
> na nga ang next step sa relationship namin. I mean, two years
of
being

> together and knowing each other, we©öre practically ready to
get
> married, if you know what I mean. Pero I realized, I©öm not
ready
for
> any of these. Narealize ko how immature I am. Na iba yung
ideals
ko
> two years ago sa ideals ko ngayon. I need to mature some more
to
get
> into this thing'I mean, getting married. Diyos ko, ilang taon
lang
ba
> ako...
>
> YUMI Maturity has nothing to do with age.
>
> JIGS But it has a lot to do with time.
>
> Tahimik.
>
> JIGS So I thought, bakit kailangan ng practice
mode? Ibig sabihin,
pag
> sumablay kami, split na kami? Live like a couple minus the
commitment?

> Pa©öno pag nawala na yung magic? Goodbye na?
>
> Iinom ng wine si Jigs.
>
> JIGS Kung kasal na, kasal na. Wala nang
practice.
I think that©ös the
> real cowardice. Yung i-try muna natin kung it will work kasi
takot

> kayo na baka hindi maging successful ang outcome. Saan na
napunta
ang
> excitement ng buhay? Kaya nga kayo in-love, para sabay kayong
humarap
> sa totoong buhay, sa hirap at ginahawa, di ba? (Matatawa)
Hindi
yung
> pagpapraktisan muna ninyo para siguradong ginhawa lang.
>
> Magkikibit-balikat lang si Jigs.
>
> YUMI Are you always like that?
>
> JIGS Like what?
>
> YUMI So cerebral in everything. Kahit
pagdating sa
relationships.
>
> JIGS Life is too precious para lang daanin sa
trial and error.
>
> Ngingiti si Jigs. Tahimik.
>
> YUMI So, No hard feelings?
>
> JIGS Friends pa rin kami. She still calls me
up
nga sa bahay e.
>
> YUMI That©ös nice.
>
> JIGS Kayo, bakit kayo nagbreak ni Carlo?
>
> YUMI That©ös your sixth na ha?
>
> JIGS Sure.
>
> YUMI Alam mo, ironic para sa akin yung
break-up
namin ni Carlo. And
the
> funny thing was, it was about...sex. Uy, sa atin lang ito ha?
>
> JIGS Of course.
>
> YUMI Kasi nga, I was looking for that magic
nga di
ba? I wanted to be
> in a relationship na special naman. So of all the boyfriends I
had, sa

> kanya lang ako walang sexual relationship. As in nag-aabstain
talaga
> ako. Kasi parang naisip ko, para magkaroon naman ng meaning
yung
> ©ømaking love©÷ di ba? Parang, dapat di mo parating ginagawa,
at
> ginagawa mo lang when you are sincere with yourself and with
your
> partner. So I was investing muna emotionally. And I was
actually
> starting to care about him. Yung, hindi ko na iniisip yung
sarili
ko.
> Yung siya lang ang inaalala ko. Akala ko perfect na...
>
> JIGS Ano©öng nangyari?
>
> YUMI Patunayan ko raw na mahal ko siya.
Magbigay
daw ako ng proof.
> Pagbigyan ko raw siya. Sabi ko sa kanya, hindi pa ba sapat na
proof
> OEyon? Na I©öm saving myself for that right moment, that
special
moment
> between us? Alam mo©öng ginawa? Nilayasan ako!
>
> JIGS You deserve someone better.
>
> YUMI Talaga!
>
> YUMI Isipin mo, kung kelan naman I grew tired
of
meaningless sex,
when
> I©öm looking for the real thing, saka naman mawawala. Ang
ironic ng

> buhay no?
>
> JIGS That©ös the way we must learn.
>
> YUMI Alam mo, kung tutuusin, never ko pang
na-experience yung tunay
na
> mag make-love. And I had to go all through those relationships
para
> lang ma-realize yun. At least, ngayon, alam ko na ang
hinahanap
ko.
>
> Iinom ng wine.
>
> YUMI Ikaw ba, importante sa©öyo na virgin ang
mapapangasawa mo? How do
> you see virginity ba?
>
> JIGS Alam mo, di ko pa napag-isipan OEyan.
Pero
now that you©öve
> mentioned it...It doesn©öt matter kung virgin ang mapangasawa
ko o
> hindi. Of course I value virginity a lot. I treat it as the
only
real
> gift I could give to my wife to be. Imaginin mo na lang di ba,
kung
> wife ko ang una ko. It©ös like the perfect wedding gift I
could
give to

> her. Pero kung siya hindi na virgin, I wouldn©öt care. As long
as
mahal

> ko siya. Kasi I don©öt expect her to give me the same gift. I
don©öt
do
> something because I expect people to do the same to me. Ibigay
niya sa

> akin ang sarili niya nang buong-buo, sapat na sa akin OEyon.
Masaya na
> ako sa ganoon.
>
> YUMI (Mapapangiti si Yumi.) You know, that©ös
the
nicest thing I ever
> heard from a guy. That©ös why I always enjoy talking to you.
You
always

> say the nicest things.
>
> JIGS Wow. Salamat. E ikaw, is making love to
you
equal to love?
>
> YUMI I always took sex and love as opposite
ideas.
I mean, after the
> first time na...you know...sa Senior prom. Kasi afterwards, we
broke
> up na ni Robert. Tapos naisip ko, yun na ba yung love? Baka
hindi
love

> yung naramdaman ko. Baka napagkamalan ko lang siyang love. I
was
just
> after the pleasure of intimacy. And then I felt empty. So
empty.
> That©ös why I wanted to change. I wanted to believe in
©ømaking
love.©÷
> And I©öm still looking for it. Yung magic. Yung feeling mo,
tao ka
> pala. I never felt that kahit isang beses. Men have penetrated
my
body

> but never my soul. And I wanted that. I wanted someone to
touch my

> soul. To ©ømake love©÷ to my soul through my body. Pero
siguro,
naging
> numb na©öko sa dami ng relasyong pinagdaanan ko. Hindi ko alam
kung

> mararanasan ko pa iyon. That©ös why I envy you.
>
> Tahimik.
>
> YUMI Sa tingin mo may pag-asa pa ako?
>
> JIGS You still have your soul...(Ngingiti)
>
> Tahimik.
>
> YUMI With whom would you want to experience
it?
>
> JIGS Of course, sa asawa ko.
>
> YUMI I mean, someone in particular. Take it as
my
seventh question.
So
> give a name.
>
> JIGS A name? Hindi ko alam. Basta kung sino
ang
magiging asawa ko.
>
> Tahimik. Magkikibit-balikat si Yumi. Iinom ng wine.
>
> JIGS Well, I always thought na it was Krissy.
And
then, it was just
> gone. Of course I loved her. And I still do. Pero the magic
was
just
> gone after we both found out na magkaiba kami ng mga prinsipyo
sa
> buhay.
>
> Tahimik.
>
> JIGS My turn?
>
> YUMI Shoot me.
>
> JIGS Tell me something...a secret. Yung wala
kahit
isang nakakaalam.
>
> Matagal na katahimikan.
>
> JIGS You trust me naman di ba?
>
> YUMI Well, you©öve earned it, alright.
>
> JIGS Saka wala akong tinatago sa©öyo. Sinagot
ko
lahat ng tanong mo as
> honestly as I could. (Ngingiti)
>
> YUMI I uhm...
>
> JIGS Yes...?
>
> YUMI I need more wine.
>
> Magsasalin si Jigs ng wine.
>
> JIGS Take your time. We have less than fifty
hours
to go.
>
> Iinom ng wine si Yumi.
>
> YUMI I©öll tell you something no one in the
world
knows except one
other
> person. And that person probably forgot all about me already.
>
> JIGS (Pabiro) What? You had sex with a
stranger?
>
> YUMI Ano ka ba?
>
> JIGS Biro lang. Seryoso na.
>
> YUMI Promise ha? Hindi ito lalabas.
>
> JIGS Promise.
>
> YUMI If this goes out, I will hunt you kahit
sa
libingan mo.
Huhukayin
> kita at papatayin kita ulit.
>
> JIGS Mamatay man ako ngayon.
>
> YUMI Okay...(Pause) I...I was with Joel
then...
(Magiging mas seryoso
> ang tono niya) ...and Zach. I wasn©öt really with Zach, I was
just
> going out with him pag wala si Joel, alam mo na...making out
and
> stuff...Well, anyway, I was kinda serious din naman with Joel
that

> time. Joel and I were...you know...doing it. And...
>
> JIGS And...?
>
> YUMI Uhm...I...uhm...I got pregnant.
>
> JIGS What?
>
> Tahimik. Iinom ng wine si Yumi.
>
> YUMI I uhm...shit. Hindi ko naman talaga
ginusto
e. Uhm...Two months
> akong delayed...then I took that test. I found out na buntis
nga
> ako...and Joel found out about Zach (maluha-luha na) and I
didn©öt
know

> what to say, you know? Maniniwala ba naman sa akin si Joel na
naaliw
> lang ako kay Zach? Na I didn©öt really love him? Na wala lang
iyon?
And

> so he broke up with me and...I..uhm...I was afraid and uhm...
> (Magsisimula siyang magbreak-down)
>
> JIGS It©ös okay...
>
> YUMI I uhm...hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko,
Joel
left me. I wanted
to
> tell him about the baby to make him come back but I don©öt
think
he©öd
> believe me after the thing with Zach...and...my parents are
gonna
kill

> me if...shit. (iiyak)
>
> JIGS (lalapit kay Yumi para i-console ito)
Ssshhh...you don©öt have to
> tell me this if it upsets you...
>
> YUMI And so I went to a clinic...(hahagulgol)
I
didn©öt mean to, Jigs.
I
> wasn©öt myself then. And I felt so afraid. So alone...
>
> JIGS Tahan na. Ssshhh...
>
> Iiyak lang si Yumi kay Jigs. Yayakapin ni Jigs si Yumi.
>
> JIGS Alam ba OEto ni Joel?
>
> YUMI How can I tell him? The only other person
na
nakakaalam ay yung
> duktor sa clinic. God...(iiyak) Oh God...
>
> JIGS It©ös alright...
>
> Hihimasin ni Jigs ang likod ni Yumi. Patatahanin niya ito.
Matagal

> silang nakaganito lang.
>
> Matagal na katahimikan.
>
> YUMI Can you get me my yosi?
>
> Tatayo si Jigs. Pupunta sa may side table sa tabi ng kama.
Kukunin
ang

> Yosi ni Yumi. Magsisindi siya ng isa at iaabot kay Yumi.
>
> YUMI Thanks...
>
> Matagal na katahimikan.
>
> YUMI If we were...if we were the last two
people
on earth, would you
> consider doing it with me?
>
> JIGS Doing what?
>
> YUMI Alam mo na...
>
> JIGS Alin? (Teasing ngingiti)
>
> YUMI Gago mo. (Ngingiti)
>
> JIGS Ngumiti rin.
>
> YUMI So? Would you?
>
> JIGS Alin nga? Di mo masabi no? Bakit di mo
masabi? (Pagtatawanan si
> Yumi) Sabihin mo nga: Sex! Sex! Sex! Sex!
>
> YUMI Shut up nga!
>
> JIGS That©ös your eight na, ha?
>
> YUMI I lost count. Answer it.
>
> JIGS Why not?
>
> Hihithit ng yosi si Yumi. Tahimik. Sasandal si Yumi sa balikat
ni
> Jigs.
>
> JIGS If you could be something else, what
would
you be?
>
> YUMI I dunno...maybe a violin...yeah. Violin
siguro.
>
> JIGS Bakit?
>
> YUMI I always saw the relationship of a violin
and
its player as very
> intimate. Pag tumutugtog ang violinist, ang nakikita ko at
naririnig
> ko, he strokes the soul of the instrument and the instrument
> penetrates the soul of the player. Para silang nagmi-make
love. Di
ba?

> Very sexy, very intimate, very sublime. Di ba? Pareho silang
sincere
> sa isa©öt isa. Dahil kung hindi sila sincere, walang music na
mabubuo.
> The violin surrenders her body to her player, her whole body
and
her
> whole soul, in full trust and sincerity. Di ba, compared to
the
sound
> of the other instruments, ang tunog ng violin parang isang
naked
> woman? A naked woman in surrender? I want to be a violin. I
want
to be

> stroked in the soul. I want to make sincere music. I want to
> experience the sound of love.
>
> Tahimik.
>
> JIGS Lalim nun ah. (Ngingiti)
>
> YUMI Pa©öno mo malalamang in-love ka na?
>
> JIGS Paano? I don©öt think there©ös a formula
to
that. Basta malalaman
mo
> na lang. I mean, ilang beses lang ba nangyari sa akin OEyon?
I©öd
like
> to believe na yun na nga OEyon...yung kay Krissy...
>
> YUMI Kwento mo nga...paano mo narealize dati
na
mahal mo nga si
Krissy?
>
> JIGS Alam mo nakakatawa...korni actually.
Babalik
na naman ako sa
> pagiging korni nito e. Di ba ayaw mo sa korni.
>
> YUMI Sige na. Hindi na kita aasarin.
>
> JIGS I heard bells.
>
> YUMI Ano?
>
> JIGS Seryoso. Bigla na lang, habang nag-uusap
kami, may narinig na
lang
> akong bells, tapos music. Ewan ko kung iniimagine ko lang
OEyon
pero
> yun ang nangyari. Nakakatawa nga e. Parang kanta ng Beatles.
>
> YUMI Seryoso ka ba?
>
> JIGS O baka naman nagkataon noong oras na yon,
may
nagkakantahan sa
> kung saan sa school. Basta may narinig akong bells. Tapos
napangiti
> ako. Pagtingin ko sa mata niya, iba na ang nakikita ko. Hindi
ko
na
> siya nakita as kabarkada lang. Biglang parang may magic. Hindi
ko
> ma-explain. Baduy pero ganun. Tapos I just seized the moment.
Umamin
> ako. A week later, kami na.
>
> YUMI Korni nga. (Matatawa)
>
> JIGS Korni talagang pakinggan. Pero pag nandun
ka
na. Pag naranasan
mo
> na, feeling mo, hindi na korni.
>
> Ngingiti si Yumi. Tahimik.
>
> YUMI Alam mo, may times na parang tunog violin
ang
boses mo. O lasing
> lang ako?
>
> Tahimik.
>
> JIGS I©öm into my last question.
>
> Iaangat ni Yumi ang ulo niya.
>
> YUMI Shoot me. Better make it good.
>
> JIGS If you were again to be the next victim
of
this tradition, if
you
> were to be locked up in this room again...who would you want
the
next
> guy to be?
>
> YUMI (Mag-iisip) I want someone whom I could
talk
to... Yung
> makukwentuhan ko ng mga sikreto ko. Yung may sense
makipag-usap.
Yung
> may laman. The violin player who©öd stroke my strings...not
even.
Yung
> mapapatunog niya ang strings ko without even touching them.
(Tahimik)
> Lumuluwag na ang dila ko...kung anu-ano na ang nasasabi ko.
(Ngingiti)
>
> Tititigan lang ni Jigs si Yumi. Tahimik.
>
> YUMI Siyempre yung masarap kausap.
>
> Tahimik. Hindi makatingin si Yumi.
>
> YUMI Yung kahit habambuhay wala kaming gawin
kundi
mag-usap... I
think
> it©ös better than making love.
>
> Mapapatingin si Yumi kay Jigs.
>
> YUMI Gosh I want to kiss you so badly.
>
> Matitigilan siya.
>
> YUMI I can©öt believe I just said that.
>
> Tahimik. Titignan niya ulit si Jigs.
>
> YUMI Don©öt you want to kiss me?
>
> Pause. Titignan siya ni Jigs sa mata.
>
> JIGS Is that your last question? (Ngingiti si
Jigs)
>
> YUMI Yes.
>
> DILIM.

Ally Mcbeal quotes...Ponder on this....


1.) "The world is no longer a romantic place.
> > Some of its people still are, however, and
> > therein lies the promise. Don't let the world win."
> >
> > 2.) "The truth is, I probably don't want to be too
> > happy or too content. 'Cause then what?
> > I actually like the quest, the search. That's the
> > fun. The more lost you are, the more you have to look
> > forward too.What do you know? I'm having fun and I don't even know it."
> >
> > 3.) "Today is gonna be an uh, a less bad day, I can feel it. Sometimes I wake up and I just know that everything is going to be..less bad."
> >
> > 4.) "It doesn't matter that I'm not in a relationship with anybody. Sometimes I feel like I'm being unfaithful to love itself."
> >
> > 5.) "Sometimes there's no point in the truth if the only thing it will do is cause pain." - reality bites....
> >
> > 6.) "Whoever said that plenty of fish in the sea
> > thing was lying. Sometimes there's only one fish.
> > Trust me."
> >
> > 7.) "I think I just need to believe that it
> > works...love, couplehood, partnerships. The idea that when people come
together they stay together, I have to take that with me to bed, even if I have to go to bed alone."
> >
> > 8.) "The last thing you want is to be in love with
> > someone you can't have. Believe me, that's something I know."
> >
> > 9.) "There are some people who meet that somebody
> > that they can never stop loving, no matter how
> > hard they try. I wouldn't expect you to understand
> > that, or even believe it, but trust me, there are some loves
> > that don't go away. And maybe that makes them
> > crazy, but we should all be lucky enough to end up
> > with somebody who has a little of that insanity.Someone who
> > never lets go. Someone who cherishes you forever."
> >
> > 10.) "If you want to condemn the institution of
> > marriage, fine. But please, for your own
> > sake, don't reject the idea that somehow,someplace, two people can make it work and be happy in the process." - John
> >
> > 11.) "I did love you. Problem was you couldn't
> > recognize it. Love is wasted on you
> > because you'll always be unhappy, that's why I left. You may go through your good times, but we both know the place you'll always go back to. I couldn't have pulled you out of your world, you would have pulled me into yours." - Billy
> >
> > 12.) "You know I just got this piano, sometimes I
> > sing this song it's called goodnight my
> > someone...and it's about...well, basically it's a love song about
> > someone you never met but you know is out there.
> > And I dunno we make so few promises to ourselves as we grow up and one of them is that on our wedding day we walk down the aisle with someone we love.Somebody who does make your heart bounce, I guess. And there are some promises that I think we have to keep.
> >
> > 13.) "Love and law are the same. Romantic in
> > concept but the actual practice can give you a
> > yeast infection."
> >
> > 14.) "There's no sin in loving men. Only pain." :(

medyo matagal na tong nangyari, baka me hindi pa nakakabasa....

this story was taken from www.inq7.net

URL: http://www.inq7.net/lif/2003/mar/23/text/lif_5-1-p.htm

Why do fools fall in love?
Posted:11:41 PM (Manila Time) | Mar. 22, 2003
By Anne A. Jambora
Inquirer News Service

AH, THE things you do for love.

A co-worker recalls writing a poem for her ex, having it published in the
school paper, informing him about it, then brazenly reading the poem aloud
to him with his current girl present.

Another says his friend painted on the national highway the words "I love
you, [girl's name]," guarding the large scribble with his dear life till
the wee hours of the morning by rerouting vehicles that might run over his
still wet proclamation.

How utterly shameless some people can get! But win or lose it's worth the
risk, they say, rather than spend the rest of their lives wondering what
would have been.

And so on a sunny Friday, the last day of the love month, a guy named Chad
called Magic 89.9 to join the radio station's "He Loves Me, She Loves Me
Not" contest. Bennii, the DJ on board, was screening callers for the swag
portion.

"This guy was just too good to pass up. He came to the Philippines to
surprise his girlfriend with a proposal," Bennii recalls.

Before going on the air, Bennii took Chad's girlfriend's number, called her
(Binky), introduced himself and pretended he got her number from a
fishbowl, told her she won passes to a spa, and would she hold the line for
a few minutes before going on air? The punchline for the show was to whom
Binky would give the other pass.

Chad went on air first and told his love story. Born and raised in the
United States, he hooked up with Binky two years ago when his family
visited the country for a vacation.

They were together for only a short time, but Chad felt a connection with
her which led to chatting online, exchanging e-mail and burning phone
lines.

Call it love at first sight, but Chad unabashedly confessed Binky was the
one for him-after all, one would know when one met the right person.

Sweet guy, that Chad, and for a moment listeners believed true love could
still thrive in this crazy world.

Before going off the air, Chad informed Bennii that Binky might give the
extra pass to her mother or sister since she didn't know he was in the
Philippines.

Then came Binky's turn. After making her believe in the fishbowl story,
Bennii popped the question: To whom would she give the other pass?


Binky: Umm... Secret! I have somebody in mind, but I don't think I should
say it on air. (Giggles)

Bennii: Why not?

Binky: Umm... It's so out there... Should I even...?

Bennii: Sure!... What have you got to lose?

Binky: I have two people in mind, but one is not here anyway. So I guess
I'll give it na lang to my husband.

Bennii: To... To... To your husband? (Surprised)

Binky: Yeah. Why?

Bennii: Your husband.

Binky: I won't say his name na lang.

Bennii: You won't say his name... Your husband... I don't know how to put
this, but if you listened... I sort of alluded that there's somebody with
me that's-

Binky: Somebody gave you my number, or did you find my name in a fishbowl?

Bennii: Actually, Chad submitted it to us. I've had Chad-

Binky: Chad? (Shocked)

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. What followed was an exchange
between an obviously hurt, angry and humiliated Chad and the surprised,
stammering and nervous laughter of Binky.

Chad: Your husband?

Binky: Hello, Chad?

Chad: Binky? Binky? What are you talking about? Your husband?

Binky: Umm... Umm... Chad from the Internet, right?

Chad: Are you listening to me?... What do you mean your husband? I'm your
boyfriend! I'm right here in the Philippines to ask you to marry me!

Binky: Oh my... Oh my God!

Chad: You just made a fool... I just made a fool of myself! I'm like...
Your husband?... What do you mean your husband?... What...?... Binky?

Binky: Umm... Umm... I think I have to go now... Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye!



Soon after, the booth's phones rang every three seconds.

"People were asking for Chad's and Binky's numbers. I haven't had that many
callers since [I started]," the DJ says.

In fact, Bennii received text messages on his cell phone until 3 a.m. the
following day.

Text messages poured into Magic's website, e-mails from around the globe
filled its inbox, and people couldn't stop talking about it for weeks. (As
of this interview, two weeks after the incident, Bennii says Magic still
gets inquiries.)

Yes, siree, most of the feedback was from women. Lest you think it's
another sign of women on the verge of desperation to snatch a man, Bennii
says most of them just wanted to extend their sympathies to Chad and beat
the hell out of Binky.

Feedback samples: "I pity the guy. Shame on Binky!" "I feel sorry for the
guy. He sounded like he was so in love with the girl." "Just wanna
sympathize with Chad because the same thing happened to me last week."

"[If anything], it shows that women are getting smarter," Bennii says.
"Fifteen, 20 years ago, they were the ones this was happening to."

"One girl called: 'I wanna know Chad 'cuz he sounds like he's really cute.'
That wasn't desperation. That was genuine," Bennii says.

One caller even said: "I'm thinking about moving to the States. I wanna
marry this guy."

As for Binky, she may or may not know it, but she has been receiving
expletives from listeners, enough to rival the 2003 Comprehensive
Invectives Dictionary.

"What a f----ing b--ch!" says one caller. "Slut!" "Two-timing b--ch!"
"Whore!"

Guys who called in for Binky's number "merely wanted to f--k her brains
out, nothing more," says Bennii.

Some reactions were funny: "We heard what happened to Chad and Binky. Can
we just have their spa tickets? I'm getting married next month"; "Galing ng
bistohan, pare! Muntikan na akong mabangga sa shock at sa katatawa!"

Off with her head!

Some men did feel sorry for Chad, too. A caller said the same thing
happened to him, except that Chad was foolish enough to let it happen to
him on air.

An e-mail from a male listener in Dubai said if something like that
happened in Dubai, the woman could have her head cut off.

Then there were those who were angry at Chad. A text read: "That guy Chad
is stupid naman pala. Tanga pala 'yun, nag-propose eh may asawa na. On air
pa kahihiyan n'ya!" "The guy's a sore loser!" "The guy is stupid. He
doesn't know his girl!"

And, yes, one or two criticized Bennii for not cutting the episode. "What
time are you getting off work?" a lady listener asked Bennii. "I'm coming
over to give you a piece of my mind." But other than that, the listening
population gave their all-out support to Bennii.

During Chad and Binky's exchange, Bennii had cut himself from the
conversation, turned off his mike and put his hands over his face: "God,
what have I done?" He listened to the tape for one week straight to get it
out of his system.

"Poor, poor, Chad. He was so convinced Binky was his girl. I hope someday
he'll realize that it's not his fault," Bennii says.

All is fair in love and war, or so they say. Say that to a broken man
licking his wounds and you'll get a thrashing to put a professional
dominatrix to shame.

The Chinese philosopher Confucius once said what doesn't kill you makes you
stronger. But author Beverly D'Onofrio says it better: "What doesn't kill
you... makes you wanna die!"
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