(Maria Huxley, wife of Aldous Huxley)
If there’s one person who truly lived up to this statement, she’s my BFF Maan.
Maan and I are friends since we were little. We were classmates from elementary grade through high school.
I remember when she had her first heartbreak, she went to my house. She lost an enormous amount of weight. She was crying while narrating what happened and I was consoling her. Although at that time, I couldn’t truly relate with what she was going through as I never had a boyfriend then. But I tried to find the words to somehow comfort her.
I never had the chance to know her deeply until this year.
I decided to enroll in a school in Makati City late last year where she is currently based. She went home for Christmas and I told her about my plan. I asked her if she could help me find a place to stay and she obligingly agreed to help me.
We had a barkada reunion at home. She stayed for a night and we had a long chat while curling in bed. We practically talked about topics from A to Z til we dosed off.
Early January, she fetched me at the airport for my enrollment. She accompanied me to school and toured me around the city so I can familiarize with my new environment. She even offered her place for me to stay for the duration of my study.
While I was there, she would cook for me and sees to it that I am living comfortably. I tell you, she’s the best cook I have ever known. How I miss her cooking - from pancake, adobong manok, fried shrimp in butter, sinigang, java rice, pesto, itlog na maalat, and the sauce complete with all the condiments.
From work she will arrive with pasalubong for me - a box of donuts, a can of chocolate cookies, pastillas or a microwaveable food.
We would go shopping together in high end shops if we have money and in some tiangge at Guadalupe, Divisoria or Ukay-ukay when we're broke.
We go to different churches on Sundays with friends Donna and Jorel.
We spend some free time talking about our successes and failures, hopes and dreams, secrets, and life in general.
Through her I have discovered that I can buy real good, useful and inexpensive stuff at Japan Homes.
She was the one who introduced me to the world of Internet. She helped me buy my first ever lap top and the new one as well. Spending half a day at Greenhills to find a good bargain. She is an I.T. herself and can tinker the computer with all good dexterity.
When the lease contract in the apartment expired, she helped me find a place to transfer. She even assisted me when I moved to my new place carrying some of my stuff herself.
When I was heartbroken and was totally disheveled, she patiently listened to me like a broken record. She is indeed a good counsel. Telling you things as they are, no matter how painful they may be. In effect, delivering you from further disaster.
During the first Sunday of my exam, she volunteered to prepare for my packed lunch. She arrived at my doorstep at four in the morning drenched as it was heavily raining. She gave me a bunch of orchid flowers complete with a good luck card, tissue paper, energy oat bar, sandwich and two canned juice. She even consorted me to the examination venue complete with a kiss and a hug.
I have learned a lot of things from her and I will forever be indebted to her.
Maan is a woman with a truly genuine, generous, thoughtful and a big, loving heart. I admire her in every way. She is beautiful inside and out. She is smart and tough. I can only wish all the best things in life for her for she truly deserves no less.
I thank God for giving me a friend like her. The opportunity of knowing her is truly a privilege.
Da, daghan kaayong salamat ha? I wish I could repay your goodness in my own little way.
God bless you. I love you always Da and missing you sorely. Mwahhhhhhhh!
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Based on a work at ferlene.blogspot.com.
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