WHEN I FELL IN LOVE

My high school batch is having a reunion this December and while I was exchanging e-mails with former classmates, I couldn't help remember those years when I first fell in love. It goes back to elementary of course -- but hey some of my classmates and best friends go way back to my elementary days.

The first boy I ever laid my eyes on was Matthew Laborteaux of the TV series Little House on the Prairie. Matthew was the lead star's boyfriend. I forget her name now and do not wish to google her as I've spent two hours googling the pics you see on this post. Matthew was well mannered, cute, and so lovable. I thought we'd someday live on a prairie and build our own little house as a pair. Matthew, you were the reason I grew my hair long in elementary.

Then there was Robby Benson of Ice Castles and the basketball film whose soundtrack my sister bought an LP of; with the hit song by Paul Williams the title escapes me now -- boy, am I having a senior moment here. Happens often nowadays... (loved those basketball shorts, if they bring them back, I'll start watching the NBA again) anyway, Robby Benson appeared again in the film Ode To Billy Joe based on a true story. I saw the film on Betamax, the story was too sensitive for mainstream movie houses I guess. In this film, Robby's character, Billy Joe was molested by a priest, set in rural America in the 1950's. I stopped going to church and saying confession to commiserate with Robby after I saw the film.

Then there was Scott Baio. Oh dear Scott with the winsome smile, shaggy hair, adolescent body, but looked resplendent in period attire in the film Bugsy Malone with Jodie Foster. I stopped having a crush on Scott Baio when a cousin's cousin had said that Scott looked like her brother. NOT! And the brother was a meanie, if I may say so.

After that brief affair with Scott Baio I moved on to Christopher Atkins. Blue Lagoon was showing at First Cinema in Baguio City, and I had to bribe an older cousin to take me to watch the film. Loin cloths never looked so good and I was dreaming that one day I would get shipwrecked on an island with Christopher. I hated Brooke Shields then because she was all over my sisters' magazines. I also felt slighted that they had to dig tunnels in the sand while filming some scenes where Brooke would walk so that she wouldn't look so tall next to Christopher. I learned that trivia from poring over all the magazine articles on Christopher Atkins that I could get my hands on. In the middle of the film, I was hoping his character would just drown Brooke Shields, or feed her poisonous puffer fish, or get her trapped in a net -- all leading to her doom. Dear Christopher, it was because I saw Blue Lagoon that I wanted to become a screenwriter someday.

I stopped liking the good guys. They always got the cheesy girls in the end. So who comes along next but the quintessential beefcake of Tiger Beat... MATT DILLON! I loved him in Little Darlings opposite Tatum O'Neal and Kristy McNichol. In this film Tatum and Kristy make a bet on who gets to lose their virginity first -- this was during summer camp. And they both had their eyes set on resident-bad-boy Matt Dillon. I loathed Kristy McNichol even if she kept winning those gold medals in Battle of the Network Stars because she won the bet. Here's an unforgettable scene from the movie (as I remember it):

MATT

What's your name?

KRISTY

(acting cool and chewing gum) Angel... and don't let the name fool you... what's YOUR name?

MATT

(not acting, but being really cool) Randy... DON'T let the name fool ya... (then he winks at her)

And then I see Matt next in The Outsiders. Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of S.E. Hinton's acclaimed book on adolescence set in the 1950s. In this film, of young beefcakes, Matt plays the older brother of doomed Ralph Macchio. The hospital scene is remarkable in its poignancy. Stevie Wonder's song Stay Gold was and will be among my favorites. Don't watch this film if you're a die-hard Tom Cruise fan. Tom sucked in this film. He also had ugly teeth back then.

In third year High School we were required to watch Clash Of The Titans and submit a movie review for English class. Our teachers had arranged a special screening at the Pines Theatre and so both sections of third year went. "Harry Hamlin... now that is a man!"... I remember thinking. While the boys in our class were busy identifying the names of the characters that we were all too familiar with in Greek Mythology ... I was trying my vainest attempts at peeking up Harry's toga and/or skirt. He was later to wed his co-star Ursula Andress, one of the original Bond girls. Ursula and Harry were my generation's Demi and Ashton. I was to see Harry on Betamax again in the film Making Love co-starring Michael Ontkean and my least favorite amongst Charlie's angels -- Kate Jackson. This was the very first film I saw with a homosexual theme being tackled. Harry plays Kate Jackson's husband's lover. How tame compared nowadays to all the gay films out there. This film tackled the gay lifestyle from a heterosexual's point of view. Yup, otherwise we'd see more of Harry's butt and pecs and abs instead of Kate Jackson's futile attempt to show her mettle in drama had the movie been written and directed by a gay man.

I stopped yearning for men twice my age so I bounced back with Kevin Bacon via Footloose.

This was the movie that got all of us dancing and wearing high-waisted denims that were too skinny even for the '60s. Kevin Bacon's character was raring to break the stifling rules of the community his family had just moved to. Sarah Jessica Parker in this film had shown her predilection to set fashion trends. I later followed Kevin's career and feel bad that he has never been nominated for an Oscar yet. Kevin, you will always have a special place in my heart and I forgive you for marrying Kyra Sedgwick even if I cried countless nights over it. I think you look happy together now. And please do something about your crow's feet.

Sixteen Candles was my all-time fave teen romance flick. Although I only watched it once. Every three months. For two years. Until my brother saw our video rental card and told my mom and sisters that I had rented the film more than a dozen times -- and I was officially baduy to their eyes. Well, my first look at Michael Schoefling and I fell in love. I didn't care which girl got him in the end. I was sure he was going to be mine someday. I memorized lines from the film, even tried to dress up like Michael Schoefling -- although I must admit the only good acting on that film belonged to the nerd Anthony Michael Hall. But we had enough nerds in campus and no hunks like Michael Schoefling at all.

Although the boys in school would try their darnedest to look good in khaki pants, checkered shirts with rolled-up sleeves, and top-siders. Michael I briefly saw again in the film Mermaids with Winona Ryder, a young Christina Ricci, and Cher. Too bad the magic had worn off...

In the late '80s I had found my real, true love in John Cusack. Say Anything was anything but the shallow teen romances of the past that, uhm, said nothing. In this film, John's character had real integrity, passion, truthfulness. Ditto John's acting. I cry every time I remember that scene with John holding his tape player out in the pouring rain, putting up the volume so that Ione Skye could hear it and come out to meet him. I love you John and will always love you not in spite of but even for your reeboks and trench coat.

Ah, to bring back those days of being in love and still in the closet... NOT! I will dedicate the last picture to my batch mates to encourage them to come in '80s attire when he have our reunion. We were in fourth year high school when Bagets was shown and I remember cutting classes with a girlfriend to catch an afternoon screening at the Pines Theatre.

"Here's to the old times and the best of new ones, here's to a song of glee... I'm growing up... la la la la..." forgot the words but the tune lingers. I remember having a secret crush on JC Bonnin and secretly tucked a photo of him in tight, yellow, short-shorts... I mean, I tucked a photo of JC Bonnin in tight, yellow shorts, into my secret compartment in my closet... yes, I was baduy just like everybody else of UP Baguio High School Batch '84.

Now this post was really a test on how I could manage multiple pictures in one blog entry. I think I've mastered it... what with all these former lovers to inspire me!

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

A friend had lent me her copy of The Secret and have browsed through it, again, this rainy weekend. I got bored so I go online and check their website and am flooded with testimonials from people who have benefited from the book. I am however a skeptic at heart, and naturally veer away from the mushy stuff especially if it's too hard-sell. And why does their website have a paying-members-only page? Hmmm...

I decide to go to youtube. I chance upon a video of Sharon Stone giving a tribute to Tom Hanks as The American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Awardee in 2002. I don't know how I got to that video when I was originally searching for 'men in speedos'. Anyway, Sharon Stone was in white pants and a sleeveless knit silver blouse. And the whole time I was listening to her speech about Tom Hanks's contribution to AIDS Awareness I was staring at the 'favorite' link below the video screen.

I thought: Silver knitwear, favorite, silver knitwear, favorite... AHA! With 'expressing gratitude' in my consciousness from reading The Secret to Sharon Stone's silver knitwear: Here now is a list of a few of my favorite things and why I am grateful to have them.

1. I have a classic silver turtleneck sweater I bought from the ukay-ukay in 1997 and still keep to this day. I only wear the sweater for special occasions because all that sheen reeks of formality. Unlike Ms. Stone's sleeveless number, mine is a body-hugging top. It is perfect for semi-formal events paired with black pants or grey flannel slacks. Wearing the sweater I feel like a million bucks, knitted bling makes you feel rich, but also because I am forced to pull up my back so the sweater doesn't scrunch in the middle, giving me perfect posture. I lengthen my neck so the turtleneck doesn't scrunch up also, but basically because the silver yarn is a tad itchy. All in all it is a comfortable and warm top for chilly nights. I've worn it on Christmas and other Holidays -- yes, even in Manila. And I have been complimented many times for it. The sweater makes me feel good and reminds me that you can never go wrong with a classic.

2. Two books I will never throw away in my collection are A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond and Out Of Africa by Isak Dinesen. Both books were given to me by my teacher Vicky Rico-Costina. The first book was handed to me at the end of First Year High School in 1981. Vicky had scribbled on the inside page: For Martin, who was a good and happy bear when I was around -- fondly, Miss Rico. Vicky was my English teacher and the first person to encourage me to spend time reading books and to write essays. She was an unorthodox teacher taking our class out in the sunshine to observe nature, flying kites, playing games, and through these activities imparting our lessons in English.

I was fortunate to have Vicky as a teacher again in college. This time we had tackled the dreaded Shakespeare, unpronounceable Maupassant, suicidal Hemingway, and other great writers. On one of our first days in English 3, Vicky had brought a tape recorder and played us some Beatles songs as we dissected Lennon and McCartney's poetry. Eleanor Rigby could've been the girl in 'She Dwelt Among The Untrodden Ways'.

We had to do a movie review of Out of Africa, so the whole class caught an evening showing in the old Pines Theater in Session Road. I submitted a darn good review if I may say so, as Vicky upon giving back our graded assignments, asked me if she could keep mine for posterity. She gave me a copy of the book at the end of the semester, again, writing on the front page; To Martin, who best appreciates Isak Dinesen's world -- Miss Rico. I remember her reading passages from the book to our class -- Vicky with her impeccable diction -- it was like listening to a professional recording of the book.

I am grateful for having Vicky and other great teachers while in school. They taught me valuable lessons I still hold dear today.

3. My grandfather's brandy snifters because they bring me back to my childhood when I would be asked by my Lolo Ikong to pour him two fingers of brandy in his glass. Those glasses are now collectibles according to Martha Stewart. I am grateful that they just might be worth gazillions on ebay someday.

4. My brown, leather bag given to me by my sister. No, not the one mistaken for an Hermes by a dingbat. The brown, actually tan, back-pack with the heady leather smell that reminds me of horses and the time this same sister bought a horse and how we all learned to ride bareback that summer in '78. Horseback riding was a wonderful diversion for me while being riddled with adolescent anxiety. I am grateful for my sister and how to this day she is generous to me.

5. My father's gas range and oven that I inherited when he passed away in 2005. Slightly used as he had just bought it when he remodeled his house, the truth is I was the first one to use it when my Dad decided to test the oven by roasting a turkey. He bought the big bird from the supermarket and ordered: "Cook it!" I miss the old man and am grateful we patched things up before it was too late.

It's 6am and I have got to get some shuteye as I will be meeting up with my other sister after lunch. I am grateful to this sister for giving me her slightly used skin products that she buys on a whim but develops allergies or skin reactions to after a few days of use. Now I shall lather the Retinol-A cream before I doze off to ensure a youthful skin tone later when I wake up. Who knows who else I might meet at Shangri-La?

WHY FACEBOOK IS LIKE BEING BACK IN SCHOOL

Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook while at Harvard and the whole world caught on. A recent Time article explained that FB's followers are mostly composed of those 30 years old and above and still growing especially with the older set. And all because FB is like being back in school, if you ask me.

Whether you actually enjoyed school or not, FB is like Grade School. We get to do Show-And-Tell via our photos/videos. We snicker a lot with our best friends. The upside, we don't have to wait for recess to eat and we can block 'mean' people on our FB Friends List.

FB like High School is fraught with insecurity. Do I look good in this outfit? No? Untag photo. I don't feel very pretty now, I'll use my childhood pic. Oh and how some of us stalk their crushes, or kiss ass to the 'right crowd' or try to be with the 'in' crowd and join the conversation. And that's why so many of us love taking those tests and quizzes. Coz you can't flunk FB!

It's also a lot like University, we get to choose which apps we'll upload like choosing course subjects. We also go on FB whenever we like, although some log on as if they've got to complete 15 units of FB. 8 hours of FB a day. Just like in College, we're developing our own style, making up our minds on issues, and getting silly drunk with best buddies. Show-and-Tell is now Post-A-Topic-And-Discuss! And we've actually included our former teachers in the fold. It's also a lot like University coz you'd rather hang out with friends than with family. Oh, and FB Mafia is the new Fraternity/Sorority. By the way, have you been invited to any party lately?

FB is like school. And Mark Zuckerberg is the guy who got along with everyone. FB is like school minus the rain drenched uniforms, the commute to school, the dreaded finals.

Mom, can I have my FB weekly allowance now?