David & Alexandra

QUATRO

Ang Buhay Siyudad

**David

Bata palang ako alam ko ng may pera kami… may kanya kanya kaming yaya ng mga kapatid ko. May katulong na nagsisilbi sa amin, drivers na nag dadala sa amin kung saan namin gusto. Lumaki akong masayahing bata kasi kahit naman may mga katulong at yaya kami hands on pa rin Mama sa aming magkakapatid. Si Papa lang talaga ang busy sa trabaho lagi. 

Mama is a very level headed woman. She's an excellent partner to Papa… she manages the house well kasi nga super busy si Papa. Hindi namin naramdaman na neglected kami kahit na may sarili din siyang business… an Advertising Company. She manage her time well, ng mga bata pa kami she stops working and took care of us all. When we’re all in school tsaka siya bumalik sa work niya. 

May Farm kami sa South of the Metro… may bahay din kami doon. Lagi kaming andun lalo na pag weekends lalo ng noong mga bata pa kami. Kaya marunong kami lahat magtanim at mag alaga ng mga hayop. The Farm is more like a Ranch sa laki at gustong gusto namin nag pupunta doon. Doon din kasi ang relaxation ni Papa. He loves gardening and riding horses. Pag andun kami nakakapag father and son bonding kaming dalawa. 

Makulit akong bata sabi ni Mama palibhasa only boy ako. I would bully both my sisters who don't usually fight back. Bata pa daw ako nakitaan na ako ng pagiging henyo at mahilig daw talaga ako sa music. I have sets of kiddie drums, small guitars and I would always sit with Mama sa piano pag tumutugtog siya. 

- At an early age may guitar, violin, piano lessons na ako, kaya nahasa din talaga ako ng husto.

I started schooling early, alam mo naman mayayaman… 2 years old ako I was enrolled in an early education program chuchu. Started my pre-school at age 4 then my Primary at 6… in an all boys school in San Juan run by some Jesuits. I started well in school, I’m an excellent student… always on top of my class. I excel both academics and sports and may sideline pang extra curricular activities for music, I was in the school band. My primary years pass without so much hiccups, varsity ako sa football… nasa banda ako na nagrerepresenta sa school. 

I graduated with the highest honors… to my parents delight. 

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High School though is a different story… It started well but ended up in chaos. 

I was a very competitive student... that's how I excel my class. I know if others can do it, I can do it too in a much better way. Hindi ako magpapatalo sa mga kaklase ko. Makulit pa rin naman ako kaya nga love ako ng mga Teachers kasi kahit matalino ako hindi akong masyadong seryosong tao. I would always joke around but in competition you’ll see the other side of me fierce. Mr. Congeniality din ako, others like it yung mga kagaya kong makukulit… boys will be boys ika nga nila. But others hated it masyado daw akong pa epal. 

Lagi din akong kasama sa mga representative ng school sa mga Inter-School na mga contests at tuwang tuwa ang school na palagi kaming pasok sa Regional and National. I’m a young journalist, nakasali ako sa NSPC, Photojournalism ang category ko. 

- Lagi naman ako pinapalad na manalo… awa ng Diyos

I continued to be in the varsity team for football and then in Grade 10, I started my own band outside the school. Trouble started there… ng magsimula kaming makilala bilang banda dumami ang fans, dumami ang gigs. Sa weekends lang ang mga gigs namin nung una, pero nung sumikat pati weekdays pinapatos ng mga kabanda ko. Hindi naman ako makatanggi. Nagsimula na rin ang mga babaeng fans na halos sumusunod sa amin sa lahat ng gigs namin. Girls who would literally offer themselves to us, for casual s*x, one night stands. 

Sa simula maayos naman kaya lang things got out of hand when booze and drugs came in. Booze I do but not drugs… matalino akong tao para isubo ko ang sarili ko sa droga. I don’t touch the girls also… takot ko lang maging batang ama. 

“David, ano ba yan… manood ka lang ba sa amin?” magkakasama kami sa isang VIP Room after the gig… Girls are all over us. Yung ibang ka banda ko are all making out with some of the girls drooling over them. 

“Ok, na ako sa alak… uuwi rin agad ako. May practice pa ako bukas” sagot ko sa kanila… 

“Ang kill joy  mo, kawawa naman yang katabi mo dyan… patay na patay pa naman sayo yan” kilala ko na sa mukha itong katabi ko she’s a fan at kanina pa ako nilalandi… 

“Sayo na lang pare… not interested” sabay tulak sa babae papunta sa kasama ko… na pa ngiwi lang yung babae. Oh well good boy pa din naman ako kahit papano… 

“Come here Baby, hayaan mo yang pa Good Boy na yan, ayaw niya huwag niya.” asik sa akin ng kasama ko

Tiningnan pa ako nung babae parang nagtatanong as if naman may relasyon kami. Nahalikan ko lang minsan feeling girlfriend na Haayy! Tinanguan ko lang para lumipat na sa kasama ko. Uminom nalang ako, inikot ko paningin ko sa kwarto… lahat ng kasama ko may nakapulupot na babae sa mga bewang. 

- Horny boys not that I’m not horny sometimes but I won’t compromise my schooling with girls.  

Isa lang ito sa mga gabing halos magpaka lunod na sa alak ang mga ka banda ko. Isama pa ang libreng mga babae. At nangyayari na ito madalas… 

Buong Grade 10 ko halos ginugol ko na sa pag babanda muntik pa akong mawala sa honor roll… last semester of the school year I left the band. Nang umayaw na ako sa banda, nagalit mga kasama ko… I was the frontman of the band. Bale ako ang nag dadala sa kanila. Pero dahil nga mas gusto kung mag concentrate sa school pinili kong tumigil na muna. Napa bayaan ko din ang pag vavarsity ko muntik na ako patalsikin ng coach namin sa dami ng absent ko sa practice.

Natauhan ako ng kinausap ako ni Papa… supportive namin kasi sila dati sa pag babanda ko kaya lang ng napabayaan ang school syempre nagalit.

“David, I have nothing against your music career… but you know how important school is. You assured us then that you can balance both school and the band… and yet what is happening. Your teachers are raising concern on your failing acad and your coach has been asking if you’re really interested to be part of the varsity team” sermon sa akin ni Papa (when all hell broke loose, one of my band mate was caught with drugs )

“Papa, I know I can manage my time well. But maybe it’s really time to give up for now… “the boys” ( that's what I call my bandmates ) are all caught up with being famous. They’ve forgotten our shared love of music.” paliwanag ko sa kanya

“Very well then if that’s the case” balik niya sa akin

“Would that be OK with your bandmates” tanong niya sa akin

“They may not like it but I can’t sacrifice my schooling, they can go on without me… I’m OK with that” little did I know that my bandmates will bully me after I got out of the band. 

- They would start fights in the school and would always implicate me with it. They would ask me to see them during gigs with drugs, booze and girls around it. Nung una pinalampas ko lang dahil alam kung nasaktan nga sila sa pag alis ko. Pero nung paulit ulit na I fought back that would only angered them more. So in the end iniwasan ko nalang sila totally… I cut all my ties with them kahit na mga kaibigan ko naman silang lahat. 

I survived my High School… a little bit disappointed with myself, not finishing it with the highest honors I’m aiming for. Nasa honor roll pa naman but not the highest one...

Masaya pa rin naman ang parents ko, buti nalang daw hindi ako tuluyan nalaglag sa honor roll, they are not even expecting anymore. May mga special awards din ako sa music… buti nalang nag bunga din naman ng maganda ang pag ba banda ko kahit papano. At buti nalang din may mga ipinanalo pa akong mga National contests kahit papano. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Sa college, nag enroll ako sa Best Engineering School sa Pilipinas… I took up BS Electronics Engineering. Diyan sa loob ng Intramuros, it was easy… just aced my entrance exam then boom I’m in. 

- May mga mangilan ngilan ding mga galing sa school namin pero karamihan nasa Agila or sa Tigre nag enroll. 

Papa wanted me to go abroad for college like what my Ate did, pero dahil nasa isip ko nga ang pag babanda ulit nag dahilan nalang akong dito sa Pilipinas mag aral. 

“Why don’t you go abroad for college like your Ate… that would look good on you resume”

Kausap sa akin ni Papa

“Schools here are not bad Papa, I can always take up Masters abroad after” alo ko sa kanya

“I’m just saying David… yung mga anak ng kaibigan ko at mga business colleagues ko lahat sa abroad nag aral. I don’t want you to be left behind by them, you're way better than them.”

“Pa, kahit saan naman po ako mag aral… I can manage that business of yours later and make it bigger than it is now.” balik ko sa kanya…

“Ok, ikaw bahala… what about your childhood friend / fiance, she’s there now waiting for you?”

- Oh here we go again with that “kasunduan”, I have nothing against  but she’s one little monster to be a wife material. I wanted someone like Mama homebody kahit na career woman.

“Can we stop with that agreement thing… I am not going with that. I’m telling you now.” asik ko sa kanya

“We’ll see about that pag nagkita na ulit kayo… you’re both smitten with each other when you were kids.” tudyo niya sa akin

“Oh! Hell no… She’s the one smitten with me… but the feeling is not mutual.” asar kung balik sa kanya

- That girl is cute.. But following her Soc Med now she’s not a wife material, Nothing like Mama. Parties, Shopping and Bars are her thing not good for me. I’d rather marry a simple girl… 

Bumalik nga ako sa pag babanda 2nd year college palang. I was able to manage my time well, wala naman naging conflict sa school. Gigs are on the weekends only. Mature na rin mga nakasama ko… meron pa ring alak at babae pero matatalino mga kasama ko, not to do drugs. Sumikat kami… kahit sa mga ibang school pag may mga battle of the bands sumasali kami at nananalo naman. At dahil nga may kagandahang lalaki kami hindi naman sa pag mamayabang eh, girls would follow us everywhere.

Hindi ko naman napabayaan ang pag aaral ko, I even became a student leader. Mr. Congeniality nga kasi ako… pa epal lagi. It was a very good marketing strategy for our band as a lot would see our gigs.

And syempre the Mr. Joker that I am attracts girls like moths to the flame. Nakilala akong babaero pero ang totoo I’m just being friendly sa lahat… I just don’t know how to reject girls going after me. And my hormones are getting into me, hindi na mapigilan… I’m always safe pa rin naman. Wala akong naging serious girlfriend… girls come and go, I was just playing around. 

 Until one girl got obsessed with me… that got me into trouble. 

“Girl, let’s end this… it’s not a healthy relationship anymore. You’re jealousy with everyone is really getting out of hand” asik ko sa kanya… may bigla na naman kasi itong hinablot bastang babae at sinabunutan… na nakatingin lang naman sa akin… 

“No! David… please I’m sorry she was looking at you like she wants to bed you… I got pissed” sigaw niya sa akin…

“She just looked at me… did I even look at her for you to be acting like that?” singhal ko na din sa kanya

“Ok, I’m sorry please… don’t break up with. Promise hindi ko na gagawin yun ulit… Please” makaawa niya sa akin… pero dahil may iba na naman nga sana akong prospect I have to let her go… kahit babaero ako hindi ako nag sasabay sabay ng babae… at siya na pinaka matagal kasi nga masyado siyang cry baby. 

“No, I’m sorry but this is really not working anymore and your excuses are just the same… paulit ulit nalang tayo” tanggi ko sa kanya…

“David… magpapakamatay ako!” sigaw niya ulit

“Girl… you’ve threatened me with that already for the nth time already… that would not work on me anymore” lagi na niya kasing panakot yun sa akin… pero kilala ko na nga siya na that’s her way to manipulate people around her…

“David… I’m dead serious now?” banta niya ulit sa akin

“I’m really sorry… I’m serious too, Let’s end this” 

“David Gernale… you’ll be sorry for this. I’ll make you pay… you son of a b***h!!@@&$” sigaw niyang malakas habang paalis ako.

Ang banta niyang hindi ko naman sineryoso…

Ngunit… Datapwat… Subalit...

Nagsumbong siya sa mga Kuya niya na frat member pala. Ayon na pina bugbog ako… sa hospital ang bagsak ko. Buti nalang batak naman ako sa gym kaya wala namang internal damage. 

Pagkatapos ng nangyari umiwas na muna ako sa mga babae. Pero… 

I fell in love with some girl on my 3rd year… nag seryoso ako, kagandang babae kasi and was just my type a smarty pants. I was whipped… I followed her everywhere, akong hindi marunong manligaw ay na tutong gawin yun. I pursued her. I fell in love really hard. Buti naman sa pag titiyaga ko nag bunga naman… naging kami. Naging boyfriend-girlfriend kami for more than a year… yun ang akala ko. 

Pagkatapos ng isang bakasyon… bigla nalang hindi na niya ako pinapansin, hindi kinakausap… she blocked me sa phone niya. She deleted all our photo sa Soc Med niya. I don’t know what happened. Ang masama doon may kasa kasama na siyang iba… that guy has the nerve to confront me at pina mukha sa akin na pinag laruan lang talaga nila ako. In revenge sa pag ka babaero ko dati… naka fling ko yata ang bestfriend nung girl at sobrang nasaktan ng makipaghiwalay ako. S**t!?%$ Karma for me… F**k!? I was serious with that girl. 

Doon ako nagka trust issue… hindi na ako nagtiwala kahit kaninong babae, hindi na ulit ako nag seryoso. Lahat fling, one night stand, casual s*x… but I’ve never trusted my heart again. Tingin ko sa mga babae lolokohin ako lagi, kahit gustong gusto ko yung babae hindi ako nag seryoso hanggang pakikipagkilala lang ako.

- If my horny side kicks in… andaming babaeng nagkakandarapa sa amin sa mga gigs.  

By my 5th year the huge trouble came… when two fraternities collide and as a student leader I have to mediate with them. Hindi nagustuhan ng hindi na paborang frat ang desisyon ko. I end up being bullied at school, followed around even outside school. Pati mga gigs namin may mga nanggugulong mga frat members, pati mga ka banda ko takot na. 

What really prompted my living school was the fraternity war that ended up having some students hurt… badly hurt including me. Na hospital ulit ako with broken ribs and nose this time. Sabi ni Papa lumipat nalang ako ng school pero ayoko… so huminto muna ako sa pag aaral. Sabi ko after naka graduate ng mga bully babalik din ako… 

But then na wili ako sa pag babanda… beerhouse, babae, masarapan ako sobra sa pag tambay ko ayon. 

One thing leads to another… 

Naibangga ko ang Porsche Cayenne ni Papa. 

I was kicked out of the house…

Goodbye Happy Life in the Metro...