People (other than family) who in one way inspired and taught me valuable lessons in life that I still carry till now.
1. The fab 5 – the finest and undeniably the best friends I had. We’ve known eachother since fetuses days. These lifelong friends taught me the real meaning of through thick and thin.
2. Fr. Medardo “Ardie” Ong – the best priest I knew. He’s got a great sense of humor with an undiminished character. I became religious because of you.
3. Mama Tess and Papa Badong – my 2nd mother and father. I will always be thankful for giving me a second home and family.
4. Pong – the highschool bud. The immeasurable, unconditional and mostly fun-filled friendship we had will always be treasured. See you in heaven!
5. The Greenies – the rest of the elementary and highschool buds. School and after school life will never be the same without you guys. Animo!
6. Gab & Jong – childhood playmates at Lola’s house. Childhood vacations became adventure-filled because of you. I can never forget the afternoon trips at the nearby rice fields catching shrimps, fishes, spiders.
7. William, Richard and Ton-ton – childhood playmates at Tita Zeny’s house. Weekend vacations meant playing tex, laste, goma, etc., climbing trees and roofs and going to “neverland” minus tinkerbell.
8. Smashing Pumpings – the college kada. Despite academic hardships learning math, science and other god-knows-how-hellish-it-can-be-when-math-and-science-joined-forces subjects, became a little less scary and worth taking. The Nasugbu and Balayan Batangas trip, the Angat, Bulacan and Guagua, Pampanga trip, weekend parties, overnights, et. al = priceless.
9. Ate Yeye – the Sunday school teacher. It was in her school that I first showcased my acting prowess. Bible reading became uber cool.
10. The Dentro peeps – our neighborhood. We survived numerous brownouts back in the late 80s, the 1990 earthquake, the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption ashes and recently Ondoy. We’re still here.
