Evolve Magazine for Julia

EVOLVE MAGAZINE FOR MILLENNIALS

May 16 / 2016

20

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT JULIA OCAMPO Things only her closest friends know

Turning Twenty What will a new decade bring to the life of this millennial?

PLUS To Paris With Julia: A Young Mom's Tale

Editor's Note 21

36

More than 26 years ago, I made a magazine as a gift for my girlfriend on her 20th birthday. I went to my girlfriend's house without her knowing it, interviewed her mother, borrowed some old pictures, asked several of our common friends to

48

write, and commissioned a colleague to do the literally cut-and-paste layout.

That was in a time when the only computer software I could use was Wordstar.

Now fast forward to 2016. I have done it again, this time for the eldest daughter of my former girlfriend. Yes, she is our daughter Julia. And it is her who is turning 20 this time.

Thanks to the Internet and I was able to do this easily. Thanks to my second daughter Clio for writing the cover story and coordinating with her the friends of her Ate Julia. Thanks to my son Dominic and third daughter Annika for their art works. Thanks to Lei Villena for writing some quick tips for Julia.

And a big thank you to my former girlfriend, Cel Cadahing Ocampo, now my wife and the mother of our four children, for writing some very important pieces for this magazine.

The magazine I made 26 years ago still exists, although reading it today makes my former girlfriend cringe at the shallow writing and "pa-cute style" of its 19year-old editor. Yet I feel happy that she still considers it the best gift she ever got.

I hope Julia would also consider this labor of love, and I hope her offspring would find value in it. God willing, I intend to do a magazine like this for all my children on their 20th birthday.

JUNEP OCAMPO

EVOLVE This is not a publicly circulated magazine but a special issue meant to celebrate the birthday of Julia Colette Carmela C. Ocampo.

EDITOR

Junep Ocampo WRITERS

Cel Cadahing Ocampo Clio Marie B.C. Ocampo Lei Villena Arzwendy dela Cruz Erica Altoveros Kathreen Paygane Camille Nicdao

ARTISTS

Dominic C. Ocampo Annika C. Ocampo

THE DAY JULIA CAME

By Junep Ocampo

A baby in a hurry.

That is how I would describe Julia. She wasn't supposed to come out till July, yet she came out on May 16. In fact, she wanted to go out of her mother's tummy even earlier.

It was May 15, 1996. I was in the office of Monica Publishing Corporation, publisher of Abante and Abante Tonite. I was working as an editor of an English tabloid called Philippine Pulse. It was around 2 pm when the editorial assistant informed me of a telephone call. It was from Cel. "Puntahan mo na ako. Manganganak na ako," Cel said.

Julia's first portrait after being released from the hospital.

"Ha? Bakit? Anong nangyari?" I asked.

said, pointing to a computer chair by the

"Punta ka na muna dito. Para makita

corner where she worked, "Tapos

mo."

biglang naramdaman ko basa na yung

I put the phone down, went to my desk, and told my fellow editors that I

upuan ko."

Cel's water bag -- or amniotic sac --

needed to leave because Cel was about

had burst, a sign that the baby was

to give birth. I did not use the elevator

ready to go out.

anymore. Instead, I rushed down three

I went out to get a taxi cab to bring us

flights of stairs of the BF Condominium

to the hospital. When the cab arrived, I

Building in Intramuros and briskly

loaded all of Cel's stuff in the

walked almost a kilometer to Cel's

compartment and immediately boarded

office at the Catholic Bishops

the taxi. When I got inside, I suddenly

Conference of the Philippines.

realized that Cel was not yet in the car.

There was a wave of emotions rushing

"Uy baka maiwan mo si Cel!" hollered

inside me, a mix of excitement and fear.

Josie Camposano, Cel's close friend, as

I have been waiting for this day for

she escorted my wife out of the office.

years. Now it has finally come.

Everybody laughed. They knew I was

At the CBCP, I found Cel sitting in the lobby being comforted by her office mates. She wasn't worried at all.

"Nakaupo lang ako kanina dun," she Julia's first birthday card and a card her Dad gave to her Mom the day Julia was born. Far left is the card attached to her crib at St. Luke's Medical Center.

already in panic mode.

We got to St. Luke's Medical Center in no time. Nurses at the

There was a wave of emotions rushing inside me, a mix of excitement and fear. I have been waiting for this day for years. Now it has finally come.

Emergency Room assisted Cel and

Your baby is

"

premature. We will have to keep her inside Cel's tummy until she is ready," Dr. Pascua said.

Since she was premature, Julia had to be left at the hospital for four days.

entertained."

contacted her OB-Gyne, Dr. Elsie Badillo

There was small television hanging

Pascua. Since Cel's water bag had already

from the ceiling and Cel said that if she

ruptured, she was brought to the Labor

would still be staying in the same room

Room and prepared for delivery.

that entire day, she could watch the

However, Dr. Pascua said it might be too risky to allow the baby to go out this early. "Your baby is premature. We will

Ginebra-Purefoods championship game scheduled that evening.

Cel and I shared a passion for sports.

have to keep her inside Cel's tummy until

We both started our careers as

she is ready," Dr. Pascua said. "The level

sportswriters. And Cel truly loved

of amniotic fluid is not yet critical. I will

sports -- especially basketball. And her

give Cel medication to delay the labor."

favorite team was Ginebra.

Cel stayed at the Labor Room for the

That same morning, I was able to talk

night. I, on the other hand, stayed in the

to Dr. Pascua and I was told that the

hospital room. It was one of the longest

level of Cel's amniotic fluid had gone

nights of my life.

down considerably.

The following morning, I went to the

"Your baby might be in danger of

Labor Room to check on Cel. She was in

infection if we continue to keep her

high spirits and not worried at all. "I had a

there," she said. "We now have to

great sleep. The nurses took good care of

induce labor. I hope we can have a

me," she said. "And I had TV to keep me

normal delivery."

Dr. Pascua cautioned me to prepare for

I went to George's clinic. After

the worst scenario -- a C-section delivery.

exchanging pleasantries, he asked about

Without saying it, she meant that such a

Cel's condition. "Is there any way I can

delivery would be more expensive,

be of help?" he said.

something I needed to prepare for.

I went back to our room. When I got there, one nurse told me that a doctor had come to visit. It was Dr. Jose Raul Canlas,

"Well, yes, Doc," I said sheepishly.

"Baka raw kasi ma-Caesarian si Cel. We're not financially ready for it."

George was quick to an1swer, "I have

whom I call George. He dropped by to see

a feeling magno-normal delivery yan.

me. George was a sports medicine

But in case ma-C-section, don't worry.

specialist who became close to me during

I'll help you."

the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan. He worked at St. Luke's.

How did George know that I was in the

That assurance was enough to calm me. I went out of the hospital to buy a newspaper. I bought a Philippine Daily

hospital? A common friend of ours, Elmira

Inquirer. On the front page was this

Gorgonio, told him. Elmira is wife of Luis

photo of scaffolding that fell at the Coca

Gorgonio, an office mate of Cel's, and she

Cola plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, leaving

was the one who introduced us to Cel's

three people dead.

OB-Gyne.

George was quick to answer, "I have a feeling magnonormal delivery yan. But in case ma-C-section, don't worry. I'll help you."

Julia finally goes home from the hospital after four days.

At left, her Mom takes her on her first taxi cab ride.

I went back to our room and read the

I moved closer to hear her. "Dad," she

paper. I fell asleep while reading and was

said in a soft voice. "Ano yun?" I asked.

awakened by a nurse. "Nanganak na po si

"Kaya ba ni Marlou si Patrimonio?" I

Ma'am," she said. I checked my clock. It was

chuckled. Apparently, Cel was still in a

almost 1 in the afternoon.

dream state and was dreaming of the

I rushed to the delivery room. There, I asked the nursed if Dr. Pascua had called

Ginebra-Purefoods game. "Kayangkaya," I assured her.

for me. And they said yes, she was looking

Julia was premature, so she was not

for me to show me my baby so I could take

brought into our room. Instead, it was

a picture. It was a baby girl, they said.

Cel who had to go to the nursery to feed

Then I popped the question that's been bugging me all along: "Caesarian ba?"

"Normal po," was their answer. I heaved a sigh of relief.

Several hours passed and Cel was finally

our baby.

Cel was soon allowed to go home, but Julia had to stay for several days in the hospital. We visited her everyday. Cel had to put on a white gown to enter the

wheeled in into our room. She was half

nursery and feed her newborn girl. That

awake, her eyes barely open. When she

was how Julia's first days went by, until

saw me, she reached out for my hand and

she got the green light to go home with

wanted to whisper something.

us. She went home in a taxi cab.

Cel was soon allowed to go home, but Julia had to stay for several days in the hospital. We visited her everyday.

BY CEL CADAHING OCAMPO

M

y adventure with my dear Julia did not start when she was born. As my panganay, I shared with her a lot of things that were new to her Dad Junep and me -- our first try to use a pregnancy test, our first trip to the ObGyne, and all things first about pregnancy and motherhood. But with my Julia, there was even more.

At five months in my tummy, Julia was my first travel buddy.

And travel we did in far away France where I was sent to represent our office, CBCPNASSA or Caritas Philippines in Secours Catholique’s annual gathering of volunteers.

To Paris With Julia

When the nights were too cold and homesickness kicked in, or when I got too tired from traveling around France, I filled my head with the thoughts that I was not alone. Never alone. I had my Julia with me. What a joy, what a privilege to venture into new challenges with my firstborn not beside me, but IN me.

The author (center) while about to make a presentation in a school in France.

I had to stay in France for more than

When the nights were too cold and

with food coming from the kitchen

a month, from January to February,

homesickness kicked in, or when I

almost an hour apart. I told her how

just when winter was biting.

got too tired from traveling around

funny it was to watch those two

France to speak about the Basic

Indians get frustrated constantly

naturally, I was filled with a lot of

Ecclesial Communities of the

telling me how hungry they were

apprehensions. It got worse when I

Philippine Catholic Church, I filled

already.

felt a certain degree of

my head with the thoughts that I was

The first time we want out to shop,

discrimination when I arrived in

not alone. Never alone. I had my Julia

I bought a musical toy for my Julia. It

France. The discrimination came

with me. What a joy, what a privilege

was a rabbit whose music lulled

from all sides and for various

to venture into new challenges with

reasons -- I was Asian, I was a

my firstborn not beside me, but IN

Filipino, I was a woman, I was young

me.

It was my first trip to Europe and,

and, yes, I was even pregnant.

I was the only woman and the

I survived the nights by caressing my growing bump, singing her

youngest in the group of 20 foreign

lullabies, talking to her about the

delegates from all corners of the

presentations I was about to make,

world. When I told them I was

the interviews I had with the local

married and pregnant at 25 years

media, the food, the wine, the cheese

old, not a few French gave me the

and the two wacky Indians who

look that said, “What happened to

became my constant companions. I

you? You are too young to get

shared with her my musings on why

pregnant!”

the French were so slow in eating,

When I told them I was married and pregnant at 25 years old, not a few French gave me the look that said, “What happened to you? You are too young to get pregnant!”

me to sleep. In the morning, I would

Then in a place called Lons-le-

a river the first time we had to leave

be ready again and would whisper to

Saunier, a group of Carmelite nuns

her in school. It happened when she

my Julia, “On to our mission, anak.”

also took care of me. Two of them

entered nursery, then again when

My pregnancy made my hosts

were Filipinos who were just too

she entered Grade 1, and

extra cautious. Two of them, Ingrid

excited to see me as I was to see

surprisingly again the first time she

and Claire, became very close to me.

them. They fed me with adobo and

had to stay in Manila for college. Was

They were like my foster mothers

rice. It was a wonderful time for Julia

it because of the longing we

who dotted on me whenever I had to

and me. And before I left the

experienced when we were in

make my presentations. They made

convent, the Carmelite sisters, just

France?

sure I rested in between talks or I

like the Poligny nuns, made me

was given the right food, or my jacket

promise to name my child Carmelo, if

through that experience, but I thank

was thick and fashionable enough.

he turns to be a boy, or Therese, if a

God He allowed me to have you with

We created a bond so meaningful

girl. As you know by now, we named

me all those time. It was you who

that they even visited me in Manila

her Carmela instead.

kept me company. It was you who

when I gave birth to Julia. Yes, Julia, you have French Lolas.

In one of my assignments in France,

My one month stay in France

I’m sorry, Julia, if you had to go

gave me confidence. It was you who

definitely made an indelible mark on

provided me the right perspective

my life. Yet it makes me

about the future.

I went to a place called Poligny in the

wonder now if it also created an

region of Jura where I met a group of

impact on the life of the baby within

all, I hope it made you strong,

nuns whose job was to take care of

me whose life was ushered into

grateful, and positive, as it had made

the relics of St. Colette, the patron

something challenging even before

me. Thank you, Julia, for being my

saint of pregnant women. Those nuns

she was born. Is this the reason why

first travel buddy.

were so elated to learn that I was

Julia is fond of anything Indian? Is

pregnant and made me promise to

this the reason behind her love affair

name my child Colette if she turns

with food? As a young girl, she cried

out to be a girl.

If that trip had impacted your life at

The author's French hosts visit her in Manila after Julia's birth.

HOW THEY SEE JULIA

LOVE NA LOVE KO SI PIE!

By Arzwendy dela Cruz Maliit pa lang kami ay magkaibigan na kami ni Pie. Halos

bagong bag.

sabay na nga kaming lumaki niyan. Hindi ko na matandaan

Yung bag niyang de-gulong ibinigay niya sa akin kaya sobra

kung ilan taon kami nung nagsimula yung friendship

akong natuwa.

namin.

Basta ang alam ko, simula nang magkaisip na ako ay siya na yung lagi kong kasa-kasama. Kasama tumakbo sa kalsada nang nakapaa. Kahit napapagalitan, go pa rin sya.

Ganyan siya kabait at mapagbigay.

Siya din yung taong relihiyosa. Akala ko nga magmamadre siya eh.

One call away din yang si Pie. Isang chat ko lang sa kanya,

Kasama maglaro ng tagu-taguan mula alas nuwebe ng

reply agad. Kaya nga sobrang thankful ako na kaibigan ko

umaga hanggang alas nuwebe ng gabi. Kasama mag bike

siya.

hanggang sa dulo ng Palao, at marami pang iba. Si Pie kasi

Hindi lang pala thankful, blessed pa! Isa syang blessing

yung tipo ng tao na go lang nang go maging masaya ka lang.

para sa akin. Kasi kahit sobrang busy namin sa kanya-kanya

Naalala ko nga dati, gustung-gusto ko magkaron ng bag

naming buhay, di pa rin yan nakakalimot. Mapa-birthday ko,

na de-gulong pero hindi ako mabilhan kasi wala kaming pera. Sakto namang binilhan sya ng mommy niya ng

Christmas, New Year, etc.

Kaya love na love ko yang si Pie!

DID YOU KNOW It was Julia herself who chose the nickname Pie. Her Mom lovingly called her ChikaPie and it was Julia who shortened it to Pie.

HOW THEY SEE JULIA

BEAUTIFUL

By Kathreen Paygane Julia, as my dorm mate, sleeps with her eyes slightly opened. Matalino raw pag ganito matulog. Hehehe. And what I didn’t know before we became dorm mates is that she snores. Hahaha!

Drake from the Nickelodeon series “Drake and Josh” was her first celebrity crush.

Wait, this suddenly popped out: Mr. Right was her crush from TomWeb. :)) Inenglish ko ‘yung surname para hindi halata. Hahaha!

I would describe Julia in one word -- beautiful. This word

when we could

totally describes what kind of individual she is because she

hardly breathe because of

is indeed one of the Almighty’s wonderfully made

Erica trying to get Spongebob from

masterpieces. She has a pure heart. She does everything

me while saying, “Pusa, Pusa” with a

with love and passion. She is a blessing to the people

high-pitched voice. This is one of the times when

around her especially to her family and friends. These

Julia, together with Erica and Aileen as her sidekicks,

things make her beautiful.

tried to get my phone to message someone with it. How

I have a lot of memorable experiences with Julia but the most unforgettable is the laughter-filled night in Avida

can I forget those genuine laughs and kalokohans with Pie? :D

BRILLIANT When in Makati... I realized I forgot my wallet. I was with

By Camille Nicdao

running on zero sleep! We all have our "sabaw" moments and

my thesis mates Clarence and Julia and we’re in España

I think it’s also why we get along. She can be serious one

already about to pay the FX when the realization that I

moment and super hyper the next. Brilliant! Julia told me this

have no money hit me hard. That was the day Julia became

was her favorite word and now, whenever I hear it, I

my mom, had all my expenses paid by her for a day. Of

remember her telling me how Sirius called Hermione the

course I will pay her back, but just not yet. Hahaha! Can

most brilliant witch of her time. Now that I think about it,

this be my payment, Julia? Kidding (but you know, hihi!) I

Julia is too! A brilliant young lady who might have her

will pay you with love and with kindness. *wink wink* I will

moments at times but still handles pressure with grace.

never forget that day! I was able to go to Makati with

Remember DM..... Hahaha! You are the best! That was your

nothing but loads of Cream-O’s and questionnaires in my

moment gurl! For being your seatmate and friend for the last

bag.

three years, I am so thankful to have you in my life. Stay as

If there’s something about Julia that only her friends know,

you are, change if you must but change for the better! Love

I think it will be how "sabaw" she is, especially when

you! HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULIA!

HOW THEY SEE JULIA

A PUZZLE

By Erica Altoveros I don’t know if she already told her parents this but she already knows how to cut classes by first year college, first semester. She pretended she was a first year student just to get a UST passport.

She broke a chair, she did not tell Kathreen and Aileen, and watched them sit on that broken chair.

She’s a kidnapper -- she always kidnaps my Spongebob stuffed toy back then.

She is mysterious. She is one of the deepest people I know, figuratively.

She is more than what the eyes could see and visualize.

Every time we meet or talk, I always learn new things about her and that amazes me all the time.

Throughout all the conversations, despite talking about anything and almost everything, she leaves something for me to ponder on.

I know I’m still not done assembling my puzzle pieces of Pie, and I think I don’t want to.

One of the most memorable experiences I had with her was during our first UAAP championship together. October 2013, it was a rainy morning, and the streets were flooded. We left the dorm by four o’clock in the morning to line up for tickets in SM MOA Arena. The LRT stations were still closed so we opted to ride a jeepney to Buendia. It was one of the rides of our lives that we thought we were in a Fast and Furious movie. We secured ourselves on our seats, splashes of raindrops and flood everywhere, and in a sudden, we saw how the driver got splashed with water too. lt looked like he was in need of another bath. The three of us, Kathreen, Julia, and I, looked at one another and we all have big smiles all over our faces! The driver still continued driving as if nothing happened and as if he was about to overtake everybody on the racetrack in his last lap.

ADVICE TO JULIA

It's all about balance Advertising line producer Lei Villena reflects on her career and shares her secrets to Julia

Luckily, I got a call from a TVC production house (Provill). After the interview, they already wanted me to start the next day. My present job has taught me a lot: patience, resilience, quick thinking, problem-solving. How did I prepare to get in this job? I don’t think I was even prepared. But the kind of attitude I have which I develop mainly because of how my parents raised me, is the key on how I was able to succeed in this kind of intimidating job.

LEI'S ADVICE TO JULIA Most millennials I know are enthusiastic and confident. An advantage for any aspects in life.

Combined with hard work, these can get them on top.

Majority of today's generation, however, are impatient. They have to learn to understand that even in this already digital world, not everything is instant. As an Ate to Julia, my advice to her is this: Be idealistic and realistic.

Be fun and be functional. Life is all about balance.

Lei Villena and her siblings with the baby Julia.

WHO IS LEI I am working as line producer for one of the most in-demand TV commercial directors. I am like his secretary substantiating his creative ideas to logistics and administrative aspects.

I have been in the industry for 14 years now. Each day at work is a learning process, but fun. Stress is part of any job. But every time I remind myself how a lot are eager to be in my position, I shrug off all the negativities and go back to work with

so much passion.

When I graduated in March 2001, I gave myself 2-month break before I started job hunting. Three months later, I already got bored waiting for the appropriate job I want.

And when I say appropriate, it should be related to the course I took in college, which is AB Communication Arts. So I tried call center. I stayed for 6 months.

But I never stopped applying for the job that I really like.

POETRY

ATE PIE

By Cel Cadahing Ocamo Photography by Junep Ocampo You made my life as a mother easier Because you are such a good Ate. There’s only a year and a half that Separates you and Jing, yet you were Her caring Ate. You stayed close to her When I needed to do something else.

You held her bottle so I could change her diaper.

You shared her your toys and books And our affection.

You had the patience to teach her Numbers and letters, when I almost gave up, Until we discovered that she’s dyslexic just like me.

You created a path that your siblings treaded on.

They took their studies seriously, because you did. They loved to read because you showed them how to. They are at times crazy, because, well, you are, too.

They often danced in the grocery store, in the car, In the streets, in the airport, in the garage, In school, in the mall, in the cinema, in the pool, Because you also did.

But none of them dared to sing in public With a pail over their head (For a surround effect, you say).

That was classic Ate Pie And only you could get away with such an act.

You will always be Jing's, Noy's and Nika’s Ate. More than our Panganay, you are our partner In taking care of our family.

You are third in command And your siblings know that.

I hope you will see Not the burden of responsibility But the joy of being a leader in this family.

TURNING TWENTY

PULSE

A reflection on adulthood By Junep Ocampo

What is the true age of adulthood? Traditionally, it is 18. This is why girls have their debut at that age. Eighteen is also the age when one can already vote, or watch for-adults films, or even buy liquor or cigarettes. But in my opinion, the true age of adulthood is 20. My simple reason is this: Twenty is the age when you cease to be a teenager. It is when you, like most people, graduate from college. And, yes, it is the age when you are expected to finally have a job.

In short, the age 20 is the period in

At that age, I also made other

shooting sports and portraits in TriX

your existence when you begin to

major decisions in my life -- I went

black-and-white film and developing

take charge of your life. And isn't

back to the Catholic Church, I

the pictures in the dark room by

that what adulthood is all about?

courted the love of my life, I quit

myself.

My case was a bit odd. I became a

college, and I pursued a career in

semi-adult way before I became a

journalism like there was no

teenager. OK, don't be confused. Let

tomorrow.

me explain. I got lost in Luneta during a family outing when I was 4, and I managed to go home by myself.

It was a life-changing period in my life, a period of many firsts.

It was the year 1990 when I turned

From then on, I thought I could do

20. And during those days, I already

anything.

did the following:

At 10 I was already washing cars and earning some good money.

• I stopped asking my parents for baon. At that time, it meant P30 a

At 13, I even changed my religion.

day. I was already earning more than

But maybe I am one you would

P2,000 a month from writing.

consider "weird," the odd man out,

• I stopped going to school.

the non-conformist.

• I already knew why the word deadline has the word "dead" in it.

• I have already experienced spending the entire night drinking with friends already aware of how inconvenient it was to wake up with a hangover the next morning.

• I was already responsible enough to make my own mistakes and learn from them.

For you, Julia, and everyone who would be turning 20 this year or has turned 20 recently, I have seven

Instead, I started paying for my older

things to share with you. Think of

And I plead guilty.

sister's college education. She took

these seven things not as seven

I began formally working at 17, had

up and finished BS Nursing.

deadly sins but as seven things to

my first out-of-the-country work

• I dabbled in photography. I

hate or to like, as Miley Cyrus said in

assignment at 19, and a managerial

bought my first SLR camera and

her song. They are the seven things

position at 20. Yes, at 20.

lenses at 19 and at 20, I was already

that come with turning 20.

A Dad at 25: The author with the young Julia.

1. Freedom When you turn 20, you're going to be free. I'm not saying that you are not free right now. But as you finish college, you will discover that you actually have more time in your hands. And that is freedom.

2. Power Once you begin to earn your own money, then you acquire power. I am very confident that you will put that power to good use.

3. Possibilities Turning 20 means a lot of possibilities. It is like opening not just a new chapter but an entirely new book in your life. Dream of these possibilities. Visualize them. Believe in them. And finally, act on them. As Robin Williams once said, carpe diem!

Seize the day!

and failure are two sides of the same coin and you cannot experience one

7. Journey to Self-Discovery And finally, turning 20 is the start

without experiencing the other in

of your journey towards self-

some form or another. Just

discovery. You will know yourself

of choices. Imagine yourself entering

remember: Only those who are not

better as you begin to work, as you

a buffet restaurant, with a hundred,

afraid to fail would succeed. So if you

start to broaden your horizon, as you

even a thousand choices before you.

want to succeed, you must fail often.

go and explore the world on your

4. Choices Yet turning 20 also means a myriad

That is what turning 20 means. It can be fun and intimidating at the same time. My advice for you: Don't

own.

6. Responsibility Turning 20 means more responsi-

Let me close this short essay with a quote from Taylor Swift. In her song

always choose the familiar. Choose

bilities. I know this is no longer an

"22" she said, "We're happy, free,

also the ones that you don't know.

issue with you as you are already

confused, and lonely at the same

One wise man said that we often

laden with so many responsibilities in

time. It's miserable and magical. Oh,

meet our destiny on the road we

school and in your extra-curricular

yeah." Indeed, when you enter this

chose to avoid it.

involvements. Just remember that

new decade in your life, you will be

your foremost responsibility is to

happy, free, confused and lonely -- all

God, then to your country, then to

at the same time. But Taylor Swift is

your family, and finally to yourself.

right, it will be miserable yet it will be

yourself up for success and for

Never forget yourself. Take care of

magical. Happy 20th birthday, Julia!

failure. I say "and" because success

your health.

5. Success/Failure As you turn 20, you are setting

20

Things You Don't Know About Julia

By Clio C. Ocampo If you’re planning on living with my Ate Pie, here are some things you must know: 1. SHE CAN BE MESSY. No matter how many times I fix her things, she ends up pilling everything her way. But, she almost always knows where her things are. She would usually find a way to navigate though her mess.

2. SHE BUYS A LOT OF THINGS. She likes to buy things that eventually end up finding their home with the pile.

Her whiteboard in our dorm has a pile of papers. I guess she just so many things going on her mind all at the same time.

3. SHE BUYS ME STUFF. My Ate Pie loves surprises. One morning, I woke up with a magazine with my favorite athlete on my table.

4. SHE LENDS ME HER CLOTHES. She is generous with her clothes and that's great for me.

5. SHE LEAVES THE DORM WITHOUT FIXING HER BED. But she usually fixes it when she

15. SHE PLAYS BASKETBALL. We all got to learn swimming during summer. But one summer, Ate Pie

comes back.

enrolled herself to a basketball class. I

6. SHE LOSES KEYS.

think she was the only girl in that class.

My Ate Pie has lost about five keys this

16. SHE LOVE GAME OF THRONES.

school year. She is now using our dorm’s

She has watched all the episodes of

spare key which she has borrowed as a

Game of Thrones. And she adores Jon

temporary replacement for the last one

Snow.

she lost.

17. SHE SLEEPS LATE.

7. SHE IS SUPER FRIENDLY. Despite her lost keys, other tenants in

She prefers to work at night. But, Ate is always considerate of my need

the dorm have become her friends

for sleep. She lets me turn the light off

already.

even when she still has to work.

8. SHE LIKES TO SELL STUFF.

18. SHE TALKS A LOT.

In our dorm, she puts food products in

She is a great company. She keeps

the ref with a sign "For Sale". Anyone

me awake during our late-night

who wants to buy can just get one and

academic adventures in Mcdo.

leave the money there.

19. SHE IS DEVOTED.

9. SHE GIVES ME DISCOUNTS. As her sister, she gives me a one-peso discount on her merchandise.

10. SHE EATS BREAD FOR BREAKFAST And not just any bread. Pan de regla is

My Ate Pie is the most devoted and caring person I've known.

20. SHE IS UNDER-APPRECIATED. Ate Pie has always been there to watch over me, guide me, and take

her daily breakfast.

care of me. I would like to send my

11. SHE ALWAYS THINKS OF ME.

apologies to her for the times I cannot,

Knowing that I usually do not eat breakfast before classes, she leaves a piece or two of bread for me.

at the very least, appreciate everything she has done for me.

But this time, on her 20th birthday, I

12. SHE DREAMS OF OWNING A

would like to send my sincerest

DUCATI.

gratitude for all the love she has given

She just learned how to drive a car. But her dream ride is not a car but one of

me. I love you, Ate! One year from now, you’ll have to

those red Ducatis.

leave me by myself in the dorm. I hope

13. SHE IS AFRAID OF HEIGHTS.

I don’t forget to eat. But, I also hope

She hates cliff diving. And yes, she is

that you would go to where your heart

afraid of frogs and cockroaches, too.

truly is. In that place, I pray that you

14. HER ORIGINAL DREAM WAS TO

would give the same intensity of love

BE AN ARTISTA.

that you gave us your siblings.

She loves to sing and she sings well. And once upon a time, she dreamed of becoming a movie star.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Calligraphy by Dominic C. Ocampo