We started our friendship in 2010, two years going to three and I never thought na ganito kami magiging closey-closey and even more than magkaibigan and that's being solid magkapatid. Lyrize and herself started entering our lives and since then, they combined us together. Aminin ko na sila talaga ang nagpasimuno sa aming mga galing sa lusak (wow!) ang laging pagtambay sa Starbucks Coffee and anywhere in BF Homes. So the brainchild of the so-called buko session is sa kanilang dalawa, the name is from Lyrize and the whole idea of partying quietly inside the coffee shop is by her.
I am so proud of our friendship, my dear Ma. Rachel Tabamo Valencia *irrita much alert again! And since, I've been giving out who my friends are through this wonderful blog, I am going to give you, let's say 15 or less reasons why Ma. Rachel Tabamo Valencia *grrrr level na!!! is Ma. Rachel Tabamo Valencia *Taal Volcano alert na!!!
1. THE ALL-AROUND ACCIDENTAL (?) TEACHER - She was a product of University of Santo Tomas and she earned her degree in Economics. Then teacher siya. Hindi ko lang alam how did she become the one basta ang alam ko noong una ko siyang nakita sa school, nakaupo siya sa table ng dakila naming you know. And then, the rest is history. I remember the time we were being used to be her critic teacher noong time na nag-demo teaching siya. The topic: inflation and deflation (courtesy of Andrewkells). Then, pasok na siya. Well, parang ganoon naman talaga. I never thought that her classes are as follows: Social Studies I, Social Studies II, Social Studies III and Social Studies IV. In short, lahat ng Social Studies handle niya. Kawawa nga siya eh, she handles most of the high school classes kaya pagdating sa mga perks like Christmas gifts, Home Education and all things high school, hay naku, siya na talaga! Mayaman yan, not only with her students and money but also with the lesson plans she is making.
2. QUEEN OF FACEBOOK PHOTO ALBUMS - I'm checking her Facebook account today and as of this time (November 23, 2012, 4:40 PM), mayroon na siyang 701 albums. That's why every time she's telling me to look on some of her photos, ang lagi kong sinasabi, how! Ang dami-dami niyang Photo Albums. Wala naman siyang fanpage, and even fans club but gosh, the albums. In fairness, she joined Facebook on October 27, 2008. And I guess from that day, mayroon na siyang mga albums. And hindi ko talaga kayang balikan ang mga nauna (should I say antique) niyang mga photo albums because my laptop and the Facebook interface could not make it scroll faster. If Facebook has a kingdom, or if Facebook has a beauty contest, siya na talaga ang Queen of Facebook Photo Albums. Wala pa namang naka-record or nakaka-Guinness Book of World Records na may pinakamaraming photo albums. If that really is true, sure na pasok na pasok itong kapatid kong ito. Hail to the Queen!
3. LOLLIPOP ADDICT - I've seen so many pictures of her na laging may nakasuksok sa bibig niya na lollipop. She loves Chupa Chups (yata?) and the lollipop of Starbucks. Kahit siguro yung mga chippangang mga lollipop, basta candy on a stick, isusuksok niya yan sa bibig niya. I don't also know her favorite flavor basta she loves lollipops. Basta she loves lollipop, yun lang yun. I guess that's her if not weakness, her fixation.
4. CHERIE GIL-LOOK-ALIKE-DAW (?) - It wasn't me but somebody told me that she looks like the great thespian Cherie Gil. Oo nga naman, halos magkasinmukha sila lalo na sa physical feature ng kanilang mukha but not the height. Medyo waley ang height ng lola mo but when it comes to her fashion sense, ay day! Wala akong masabi, yun nga lang talaga wala siyang ganoon kataas ng height (am I sensing another cool treat?). Anyways, there was a picture of hers wearing trench coat and boots and doing a la New Yorker pero sa may Golden Gate Subdivision lang naman. And that's the picture of hers that we told her na kamukhang-kamukha niya si Cherie Gil. So siya na si Cherie Gil, ng aming institution. So why not di ba, Cherie Gil is drinking a cup of coffee from Starbucks on Phase 1 BF Homes. Hehehehe!!!
5. THE (REAL) STORY OF HER NAME ALEXIA - She told me this earlier this year. At ako naman, masyado lang talaga akong nahihiwagaan kung papaano naging Alexia ang kanyang pangalan, since legally and according to her birth certificate, and siguro sa kanyang mga parents, ang pangalan niya ay Ma. Rachel Tabamo y Valencia. The story goes like this: High school daw siya noon when they had a volleyball tournament between our institution, which was the main campus and the branch campus. So ang mga taga branch campus, pumunta sa main campus just to play. May someone daw na biglang lumapit sa kanya from the branch campus that wanting her to get her number and information about her. Siyempre ang lola mo, nag-panic not by means na natutuwa siya na may interesado sa kanya but interesado sa kanya ay isang katulad rin niya. So what she did, she made a new Friendster account (during our glory high school days, super sikat pa sa madlang people ang Friendster and ang Facebook at Twitter, ay kino-conceptualize pa lang!) bearing the name "Alexia," just to not let that someone knew her more. Since then, kapag nagpapakilala siya to whoever she meets, ang inuuna niya ay Alexia, sometimes Lexi. But for me, I still prefer her real complete name, Ma. Rachel Tabamo Valencia!
6. KUNG MAMISIKAL, WAGAS - As the title suggests, yes, grabe manakit itong si Rachela. Sa bagay, hobby ko naman kasi siyang kontrahin saka asarin because I like the way she becomes too irritated. Lalo na kung titingnan ka niya with her tantalizing (don't assume you have oozing eyes) eyes, ay it's a heaven for me! Ginagawa niya minsang punching bag ang mga excess fats ko sa arms at lumalambitin siya sa aking biceps, na wala naman. I'm not really a masochist but ewan ko, parang okay lang sa akin. Maybe maganda na rin yun because lalong lumalakas ang katawan ko! Ito pa ang isang nakakairita diyan, ang lakas mambatok, as in batukera! Kung mamatok parang nanay at tatay lang. May time na sobra akong nairita diyan kasi ang lakas ng batok niya sa akin, as in ginamit niya ang wallet niyang parang bato sa laki. Yet, I don't care because for me, mas masakit pa rin ang mga salita kaysa sa pisikal na gawa! Wahahahaha!
7. KULIT-BATA - That's what I liked about my two beautiful friends, Lyrize and of course the birthday girl. Lalo na itong si negra, sobrang kulit lalo na kapag nandiyan ang mga crushes niya. She will make it a point na she will do something kulit moments just to catch or even win the attention of the boy she likes (now you know!). And so, eto siya tatalon-talon, sisigaw-sigaw at higit sa lahat, mamimisikal ng sobra, I guess para lang mapansin ng mga crushes niya. But her pagka-kulit bata is soooo cute! As in ang sarap niyang tirisin, parang bata lang sa kalye, gusgusin at biktima ng mga sindikato. Joke lang po! But if the time comes our moments together will be lessened, yan ang totally na mamimiss ko sa kanya! Pero hopefully one more year pa, right?
8. NEGRA - She is the only girl in our group na hindi naiirita sa tindi ng sikat ng araw! Whenever the Haring Araw is outside, making ultraviolet waves literally, ay lalabas yan at magpapaitim! Hindi siya yung tipong maglalagay ng sunblock, she will never block the sun to her skin. I don't know pero siguro gusto niyang magkaroon ng perfect tan courtesy of the sun! Basta she loves the sun! And since she loves the sun, she loves the beach. Hopefully next year, sana matuloy na ang beach adventures nating magkakapatid? Still remember earlier this year, "whatever happens in Laiya, stays in Laiya!" Wow! Anne Curtis lang ang peg mo kapatid! And she even doesn't mind that I call her Negra, out and loud! Gustong-gusto pa niya talaga and I guess, she even embraces the idea. Well, for me, I don't like her too much maitim, what's better for her is a fair skin. Kung fair ang skin mo, maganda ka! Magandang-maganda ka! Bow!
9. THE GIRL WITH ALMOST 5,000 CRUSHES - She has more than one crush, as in napakarami niyang crush! Mapa-showbiz man or non-showbiz, politician man or from the social scene, basta kapag naguwapuhan siya, crush na niya, period!
Here are some of the boys that she likes a lot, I mean A LOOOOOOT:
This is Rachel's one-helluva-crush na parang ultimong "love at first sight" ang drama nito ni Negra. One time, after she went back from her Japan trip, talagang nagmadali siyang umuwi just to watch the final episode of his first teleserye. In fairness naabutan naman niya. Another one was when we're having phone chats and naghihintay siya sa Starbucks PCJ for Angelito, Ang Batang Ama. Good for you, JM! You are so privileged because you are one of the crushes of my dear friend.
If you'll see her iPod Touch before, most of the time her background picture is always Adam Levine. We even added his Twitter account and wooing him to mention her name in one of his tweets. But the best reason on why my dear friend is so freaking hailing Adam Levine is because of his near-Adonis-style body. Wala siyang abs, but the love handles is really gorgeous. The chest is amazing, the biceps and whatever are so voluptuous. Siya na talaga ang sexy! Ikaw na ang crush ni Rachela so you have to celebrate, Adam! Rachela will be loved!
She is fully insisting me that when we go back to Bonifacio Global City, one stop of our tour is to have so much fun at Seventh High. Eh hindi pa naman ako ganoong ka-fan ng mga bars and clubs dahil masyado nga akong antukin. Anyway, we went back already to BGC but not stopping at the Seventh High. It's expensive (kahit daw may guest list, ayoko pa rin!) and at the same time, not my type of place. Baka manliit lang ako lalo. On the other hand, DJ Callum is I guess one of the most handsome DJs we have here on our country! Guwapo nga, in fairness!
Maybe there was something in him which my good friend liked about him. Since my dear friend loves going to beach and pools, eh ang Enchong Dee ay Olympian as a swimmer, so there was a reason why she liked him. Pero yung kuwento sa akin ni Lyrize, yun ang tumatak sa akin so I guess, make him a man na lang! Hehehehe!
She told me that he is her fantasy, as in super fantasy niyang ma-meet. I already saw some of her photos with him when the latter was strolling down BF Homes many years ago. I can't say anything about him because I don't know him too much, basta crush siya ni Rachela!
I was so amazed that Rachel has a huge crush to John Lloyd. Maybe it was after she watched The Mistress and she imagines herself as the role of Bea Alonzo. Yes, no doubt, even Rachela became the victim of the magnetic charm of Mr. John Lloyd Cruz.
Siguro kaya rin siya naging crush ni Rachela because he has the greatest body. Siguro kaya rin siya naging crush ni Rachela because he has a beautiful voice. At siguro kaya siya naging crush ni Rachela because may hawig siya kay Ellen DeGeneres. He is an amazing guy and no wonder Rachela puts her eyes to him! Suwerte mo, tol!
Derek already visited our institution during our Intramurals 2010 and Rachela was there just to witness Derek. Yes, Rachela we had a picture together and it was so fun. His body and physique is a total manly and I could see he is overly delicious! Derek is Derek and it is amazing to be Rachela's crush!
Siyempre hindi ko ikukuwento sa iyo ang buong film and I want you to watch it. Hindi ko rin akalain na crush mo itong bagets na ito. Maybe you were so amazed because his face doesn't have any traces of pores and even pimples. Basta guwapo nga itong batang ito! Well, if you only knew that I know someone who has a huge crush in him. Want some clues? This person is part of our gang! More clues, ay teh! Ikaw na bahalang makaalam ng sagot! Hahahaha!
Hindi lang ikaw Rachela ang may crush kay Aga Muhlach. Well, excuse me hindi ako, but so many Filipinas are so into him. No wonder he is considered the Papa material, the boyfriend material and the husband material. Ikaw na malahian ng mga Muhlach, right? Anyways, his residence is only in Ayala Alabang, so puwede tayong bumisita sa kanila. Only if, the security guards of the village will allow us to visit him! Basta, kain na lang tayo sa Jollibee!
Ikaw na ang may maraming crush! Ikaw na maganda!
10. THE ONE WHO LOVES (500) DAYS OF SUMMER - She is the only girl who loves the story of Tom Hansen in (500) Days of Summer. Maybe there was a time in her life that she became not as the role of Zooey Deschanel but as the role of Joseph Gordon-Levitt. She loves everything about the movie, even the songs like Us by Regina Spektor and the song of Carla Bruni na French ang mga words. Her most favorite part of the film, the Expectation-Reality segment in which, according to her, been there done that, or done there been that?! When it comes on being in love, Rachela turns to be a gentleman not as a lady. Tried and tested na yan sa kanya, but of course, nakaka-turn off sa lalaki yung ganoon! Make sure next time, you would not be Tom Hansen but be like Summer! Or maybe Autumn. Or maybe makatagpo ka ng Autumn ng buhay mo!
11. THE TRAVELLER - She is a drastic traveller been to so many places not only here in the Philippines but around Asia (Asia pa lang!). She went already to Japan (a recent trip with her whole family), Australia (remember the kuwento you shared to me while we're inside the car!) and Korea (my dream destination!). Her mother used to work at the Philippine Airlines so the freebies and perks are all stake. How I wish we could join you in some of your galas anywhere Asia or even Europe and North America. Hopefully we could achieve what we want, either Singapore or Hong Kong. Well, what we can do in Hong Kong is to shop lang and go to Hong Kong Disneyland. Yun lang siguro ang pinakamagandang magagawa natin in those places.
12. STARBUCKS COFFEE DRINKER - Since the advent of our friendship circle, we never knew how to stay further at Starbucks Coffee. We all started accidentally when me, you, Lyrize, Sir Phil and Andrew made an invitation just to release our stress with our students and other people from our institution. Ayun, doon na nagsimula. Parang kayong dalawa ni Lyrize ang nagpakilala sa amin how to get through Starbucks. Well, not exactly but kapag may pag-uusapan tayong importante or just to stay and have fun, ang unang iisiping lugar to stay on is Starbucks Coffee. And at this moment, you were so busy completing the stickers to have your annual Starbucks Coffee planner. So you are asking me to buy the latest coffee frappes like Dark Cherry Mocha, Peppermint Mocha and Toffee Nut Mocha. Basta kapag si Rachel nagyayaya, malamang sa Starbucks tayo pupunta, lalong-lalo na sa BF Homes Phase 1.
13. THE KIDS LOVE HER SOOOO MUCH - She was telling us that she wanted to teach Casa kids because she believed she was destined to be there. One time, she was helping some teachers of Casa having practice at our mini gym and in fairness naman talaga sa iyo, bagay kang magturo sa kanila. But then again, you told me that you don't have a hype with little kids, like Grade School kids. Well, I can say that most of her former high school students love her because they look up at her as an older sister or even a mother (no offense, my friend!) dahil mala-Mother Teresa yata siya when it comes to advice to her students. May pagkakataon din na isinusumpa niya ang mga estudyante niya for being too naughty and, yes worst. Still, her kids love her sooooooooo much (maraming o yan meaning that's the number of love they are giving to you!).
14. WE WILL RUN SOON AT BGC, BELIEVE ME! - We both love Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. It's heaven, it's beautiful, it's wonderful, lahat na ng magandang description, it can be put to BGC! And for us, both runners (well ako not exactly), BGC is the place to go. I told her that we will go back to BGC just to run together with our friends! Kahit siguro magkandawala kami sa BGC for as long as it's still part of BGC, we will run! I dream of joining Run BGC event and I will ask you to join me, together with the rest of the runners like Piolo Pascual, Coach Rio dela Cruz and Karylle and of course, Sir Zen and Sir Greg (okay lang ba sa iyo, hehehe!). Basta before the year ends, we will go back to BGC and run very, very soon!
15. AN ARBORIAN AND A THOMASIAN - She has a blood of being a true Arborian. She started her education at our institution and since then, hindi na siya umalis dito. I've seen some of her yearbooks and nakita ko ang kanyang mukha. Can you imagine that before she became a teacher, she was one of the students who roamed around the corridors and hallways of our institution. And before she was standing in front of the students, she was actually sitting in one of the armchairs and listening to her teachers. Can you imagine that today, she's one of the facilitators of the club but then, she was one of the eager students who wanted to join almost any clubs in our institution. And can you imagine that before she become the trainer of the volleyball club of our institution, she was being trained to become one of the best volleyball players. Everything about her high school is always about our institution, thus making herself a true-blooded Arborian. College never looked that good when she became a Thomasian. She finished her bachelor's degree in Economics at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas. And yes, she is so proud to be called one of the Tigers, a Tomasino or a Thomasian. For four years, she has been part of an everyday cycle of life of a Thomasian, especially the times na naaabutan siya ng baha sa Espana at kailangan niyang mag-stay or even mag-overnight sa UST. I don't know her whereabouts and thingamajigs during her college days, basta UST siya! So gumo-Go USTE! siya most of the time! Whatever she is, an Arborian or Thomasian, she is definitely a true-blooded one!
16. FINISH YOUR THESIS, PLEASE! - Mayroon daw siyang target date na before ipalabas ang Despicable Me 2 on 2013 and I guess, it's nearing na and her thesis about something is not yet being started. She told me that she wanted to take Education units and have her master's degree in early childhood education but how will she start those things if she is not yet done with her current master's degree at Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Guess we need to push her more just to begin her thesis. Saka na muna ang love life at boys, mas unahin mo muna ang pag-aaral. Finish your thesis, please! Kami na bahala ni Andrew mag-check niyang thesis statement mo. Then sila Juanito and Christopher ang bahala sa defense mo. Then sila Julie Girl and Theresa na bahalang magpa-bookbind ng finished product ng thesis mo! All you have to do is to start! Since you already have your inspiration, you have to start! Go!
17. THE GUY WHO KEEPS HERSELF SMILING - Look at this picture. Tell me what's on her mouth.
I don't know what is it but I guess it's Whipped Cream. And the whipped cream that she knows and I know and everybody knows makes and keeps her smiling. I know that I am not allowed to show the face of the very lucky guy who have made my good friend smiling and too excited to wake up each morning and go home after her work. And every time she goes to Starbucks and ordering coffee or waffle, she always makes it a point that there's an added whipped cream in her frappucino or waffle snack. And sometimes, she even mixes the whipped cream with her ordered frappucino. And she even bought one dozen of whipped cream and then putting... It's only a joke! Okay lang yata sa kanyang tumaba for as long as may whipped cream in almost everything. Pero parang kadiri naman yata for instance, gusto niya ng sisig and instead of mayonnaise, ang ipapalagay niya whipped cream. For instance sa Jolly Hotdog instead of mustard and ketchup, ang ipapalagay niya whipped cream. Kapag sa pasta carbornara, instead of cream of mushroom soup, ang isasahog niya sa sauce, whipped cream. Even when going to the beach, instead of putting suntan lotion, she will use whipped cream. Instead of shampoo and conditioner, she will use whipped cream. Instead of Joy dishwashing liquid, she will use whipped cream. Worse comes to worst, for her breakfast, lunch, snacks, supper and midnight snack, she will eat and drink and gulp as her medicine, walang iba kung hindi WHIPPED CREAM!!!
You might wonder why the letters W and C are underlined. It's because a guy somewhere in Phase 1 makes her smile all throughout, ear to ear. He's a model and an assistant manager in a known coffee shop in the Philippines.
I know that this is totally late but you should not feel weary about my blog post to you. Anyways, the whole month of November should be celebrated as your birthday. Ayaw mo noon, lahat ng tao sa buong mundo maaalala nila that when November comes, it must be Rachel's birthday!
I want to end this blog post of mine to you with my most favorite picture of yours...
You are wearing your mom's upper dress and you only accessorized it with belt. The moment you came to me, I was so delighted because you are so much of a girl when I saw you with this. Well, I apologize that I poked you as a source of laughter when I told the other teachers that Girl Scouts Investiture is not yet done. I like it and hopefully this is not the last time you're going to be a girl that I like you to be!
Happy 24th Birthday Ma. Rachel "Alexia" Tabamo Valencia. Hope you had a full blast!!!
Hope you surely like this!!!
Toodles, Alexia!!!
special thanks to your Facebook account and google.com for the pictures...
