I’m just SO EXCITED to see that she’s here. It’s always a thrill when you see a friend outside the country. There’s nothing like discovering a different culture with someone who has the same interests, same likes, and same sense of awe. Princess Shash, who I also call “Shashie Friend” definitely fits that bill.
The story of our friendship is quite an interesting one. The time I met Shash and the time I became friends with Shash are two different instances. There was a considerable time gap between these two points. If I were to draw a “Friendship Timeline,” I met her at point A and became friends at point J.
We first met in college, way back in 1989. We were part of CMC’s block I-1, a group of wide-eyed freshmen bravely entering the world of independence that was UP. It was a considerably big block, and it was but natural that clusters began to form within the group.
Among the clusters were “the guys”: Me, Jack, Chuck, Gani, Daryl & Rommel – 6 guys in a block of more than 30. Because we were outnumbered, we instinctively clustered. There were “the Assumptionistas”: Ovvian, Rosalyn, Tintin and Janet. If this were an American school, they’d be the Cheerleaders.
Then there were “the Geeks,” or the A-list of our block – the venerable ”high-society” if you must. I remember them occupying two benches in CASAA where they’d all meet up. They’d be writing on some sort of a logbook, sharing “Super Lemon,” and basically just chilling out. Shash was part of “the Geeks” along with Debbie, Chona, Kathleen, Mona, Eds, Grace, and eventually Gani and Daryl joined them as well.
Needless to say, I wasn’t a member of “the Geeks” because I was A GEEK! Unlike their A-list counterparts in teen flicks, the nice thing was that they were never mean to the uncool kids. I remember getting to drop by and hang out with them once or twice (Oh, ok. Just once…) This was quite an honor for a nerd such as myself.
By the time our sophomore year kicked in, a lot of our block mates left CMC and found their own niches. Ovvian went to HE to pursue Interior Design. Chona went to BA. And Shash, I heard she went on to the College of Economics.
Contact between Shash and me during those 3 remaining years were few and far between. There were the occasional run-ins along the academic oval. Bumping into each other during the lantern parade. The chance meeting along Palma Hall. Each one would consist of the customary “hi” and “hello,” and nothing more.
A few years after, 1994 if i'm not mistaken, I came across her name again. That time, I was already working as a copywriter at Adformatix, and she was up for an AE post in the same agency. When Jojo told me that she was probably going to join our team, there was this initial sense of uncertainty.
For one, we were never really that close in college, so I couldn’t really vouch for her. Another reason was the fact that we haven’t seen each other in 5 years, and often, those years add up to an awkward feeling when you see each other again. My mind was trying to figure out how to bridge those lost years.
Her first day at work came, and all the uncertainty just vanished. I remember the first time we greeted each other, it was like meeting an old friend and picking up where you left off. It was strange, given our history – or lack thereof. But everything flowed smoothly from then on.
From teammates in Optima, we became part of an inseparable group: Shash, Xtine, Fiesta, Kuya Ers and me. We worked very well at doing the advertising bit, handling the ad work for AsianBank and Nivea. It was during her Adformatix stint that Shash was christened “Princess Shash.” This was due to her very refined and very classy demeanor. Well, she did graduate from Colegio de San Agustin, so you couldn’t expect anything less.
Our friendship and teamwork extended way, WAY after work. We eventually became lunch mates; buying pork chop from the Jeepers then concocting our special “Maggi Savor/Ketchup” sauce. We were meander mates who’d go to Makati Cinema Square at lunch to buy goodies at Plaza Fair. We’d also go out after office, attacking Glorietta to shop, or simply to check out Donut Magic because Xtine said they have “to die for” donuts. (They really did!)
Going a step further, we chose to spend holidays and long weekends together. On record, one of my favorite out-of-town trips was our first foray into Subic as a group. It was at the beach house of Abe’s relative, and we commuted all the way up there. We ate dinner at the “Coffee Shop” which served humungous tacos and Iced Tea that you had to concoct yourself. Then in the morning, we’d go to the market to buy fish and meat for lunch, then cook by the beach.
Then there was the “daing” experience: after lunch, we all slept under the sun like daing left out under the sun to dry. After the afternoon nap, we’d run back to the beach for an afternoon swim. Those were simple pleasures, but made extraordinary because of the people we were with.
This was followed by other memorable get-togethers: the Ad Congress in Baguio where we found out that Shash is as princess-like when she’s drunk, Joji’s wedding, followed by Jojo’s wedding (where we all got dressed up in our Filipiniana finery!) And of course, who can forget our AX Christmas Parties where Optima won the “Best in Décor” for 3 years straight. We did Sesame Street during our last year together: I was Ernie. Shash was Mumford the Magician.
Eventually, I left Adformatix to join the corporate world. While I told all my AX friends that we’d still stay in touch after that, I likewise accepted the possibility that we’d drift apart after. At SMC, I’d be moving around a totally new circle and there’s the prospect of being immersed in a different kind of system.
The cliché goes: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” and realists counter it by saying: “Absence makes the heart go wander.” And I’ve seen myself do both in many instances. In the case of my Adformatix group, particularly Shash, Xtine, Fiesta and Kuya Ers, my heart grew fonder – big time!
Even if I was working in Ortigas, I’d find myself in Makati sharing a meal or a drink with the group. We’d still go to Angela’s in MCS to buy cheap clothes. We’d still eat at McDonald’s in the evening and sing “A whole new world” while waiting for our orders to arrive. Shash did a killer impression of Lea Salonga as Princess Jasmine:
“Soooaring, Tahmbling, Free wheeling. On an endlessdiamondsky…” (for those who haven’t seen the animated version, this is how Princess Jasmine sounded.)
Like most stories go, we eventually went our separate ways: Shash moved to another agency, Fiesta moved to Pinoy Central, Xtine moved to California, Kuya Ers stayed at Adformatix, and me – I left, came back, and left again.
When we went our separate ways, that’s when our “Princess Shash” became “Shashie Friend.” This was not meant to strip Her Royal Highness of her equally Royal Title, but it was to mark the transcendence to another level. If you may, it’s another additional title. (Just like HRH Princess Sophie, the Duchess of Cornwall. It’s something like that.)
It’s a title in honor of a friendship that would span agencies, geographic boundaries, even countries. A friendship marked by so many glorious occasions, among them:
1. Her wedding, (Xtine, Fiesta and I had to play hooky from work to attend this,)
2. The birth of her two little princesses (Xtine already left by this time, but Fiesta and I were there both times. Even having a little post noche Buena party during Justine’s birth)
3. The baptism of both Bella and Justine (I’m Bella’s ninong. Fiesta is Justine’s ninang.)
4. Xtine’s homecoming (where Shash, Melvin and Fiesta finally met Mario)
One of our group’s most cherished possessions in Adformatix is our photo wall. Near Xtine’s desk was this wall where all our pictures together were plastered. It started as a small group of pictures, then it grew, then grew some more, until it covered the entire wall.
When they moved the wall (It was actually Noncy’s cubicle and we were squatting on it), Xtine and I divided the pictures for safekeeping. I still have all those pictures of the group, along with the lovely family pics that Shashie Friend sends of her and the kids. They’re pictures worth cherishing, just like the friendship we have all these years.
While walking around Hong Kong with Shash and Melvin, I’m both amused and amazed that we’ve grown this close as friends despite the fact that we were just acquaintances – practically strangers – way back in college. That we could have been friends since 1989, but we weren’t. That the friendship could have had a longer history, but it doesn’t.
I believe that it’s one of those instances where it’s not quantity, but it’s the quality that matters.
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