Back then..

I love the smell of old stuff. Old books, furniture, albums...Vintage baby! The scent reminds me of the past. It brings me back to the days when I was still young. When life was simple and less complicated. When computers and cellphones were not yet invented and we would spend most of the afternoon playing street games or watching John and Marcia/Batibot/He-Man and Sheera..


We used to live somewhere in Cubao Quezon city. The house was owned by grandparents. It was a big house. 4 rooms, 2 bathrooms, Kitchen, a big sala and an office for my lolo. On the second floor, there is a small veranda. Outside the house stood a big tree (I am not sure what kind of tree it is). The garage was big enough for a car to fit and there was a mini garden. My lolo also owns the house beside us which was occupied by my aunt and her family. At the back, there were rooms for rent.


I was very much contented with my life back then. Though mom was not around most of the time, my lolo and my tita was always there to look after me. When I started studying, my Lolo gives me 5 pesos (baon) but he tells me to save 2 pesos everyday so that on Christmas, I can buy myself a new toy or shirt. 3 pesos was actually enough to satisfy my stomach. Sometimes, I don't even spend my baon. I wait till Friday and then go to the grocery store near our school to buy a pad of stationary.Yes, I was crazy about stationery's before.


I have lots of friends in the neighborhood too. I remembered one sunny morning when my friends and I decided to look for stray cats at the nearby tambakan. I caught one but the cat scratched me in the eye. I went home running and crying. The following day, my friends kept teasing me I looked like a pirate. My mom covered my eye with a bandage. To avoid infection that's what the doctor told her, cant argue with that.


I also remembered when I was still 5 years old, my cousin died. We were jam packed inside the pick up truck of my uncle when a bus hit us. Everything was fast phased. All I can remember is, me and my two cousins were rushed to the hospital. I was still half awake when I saw my cousin beside me, unconscious. The following morning, I saw my lolo's face smiling and telling me that everything is okay. I wasn't aware that my cousin was in a critical condition already. She died at the age of 12 or 13 I think.


Moving forward.. I'm now 27 years old. I've been independent for 5 years. I work in a call center as a quality analyst. I generate reports on a daily basis and listen to voice files and grade the calls of the reps. Life has been a roller coaster but with god's guidance I am still surviving.


I still talk to my kababata through facebook or send text messages.I still love cats but I don't own one. I still like stationery's and I still play street games. The house in Cubao is no longer ours though, it was sold years ago. I still remember my cousin's face when we were inside the cab. My childhood memories (good and bad) still lingers in my head every now and then.



The smell of old stuff..Makes me happy and sad at the same time. Happy because it brings back memories.. Sad because I sometimes wish I never grew up. I miss being young and free.