Fifteen years! That's how old my blue Marithé + François Girbaud wallet is. It's now a mini time capsule as I checked on the knick knacks that I found inside when I cleaned up a few boxes of treasures last week. Before I show you what I found, let me say how awesome the wallet was. I think this was my first Girbaud wallet that I purchased for myself. It had served me well for most of my college days. I got a leather one too but this one was y favorite only because it was more casual. Aside from some wrinkles from wear, there's no damage to the wallet and still very usable.
I decided to just keep this in my treasure box because it's already a mini time capsule that captured that time, half a lifetime ago.
I'm glad I was able to keep this ID. Sometime, I encounter people that won't believe I attended college at the University of The Philippines. Maybe because I am not 'successful'. Not that it matters. I got great memories from my 6 years residency and it'll be fun if I got props to show Mila when I tell them those stories.
Hey there student# 2000-15194! (glad that pic is too worn out now)A photo posted by chronicles of life with mila (@milastolemyheart) on Jun 15, 2015 at 1:08am PDT
A Student Prayer. I'm not religious and I don't constantly recite this prayer. I think this was a gift (or maybe I picked it from a library book that someone else used as a bookmark). I find this now to be a little piece of guidance, not only for students but for anyone trying to learn. "
Give me a diligent and obedient spirit, a quick mind to grasp ideas and a retentive memory."
Notice how I did not mention that ID pic? Oh my!
I though I'd stay an extra year to finish my degree. Notice how I got lots of general education courses left towards the end of my stay? I've never been a fan of writing anything. I tried as much as I can to avoid Humanities, English, Psych, Comm, PolSci and Socio. Now I wish I paid attention to them.
I attended public schools from Grade School (F. G. Calderon Integrated Scholl), to High School (Manila Science High School), until College.Oh, tuition fees! UP used to be so affordable.I tried applying for STFAP but because my dad was working overseas, they though I did not need any financial assistance. But still, compare my full sem's tuition to what the student's are paying now. I wonder how much we have to save up for Mila. Told her dad to start training her to be an athlete so we can have discounts. :)
I love anime and I used to draw a lot. Mostly I copy them from posters and even from teks (90's kids will know that. I still collect those even on my early 20's. Most of the time, I doodle random things on any paper. They don't look very nice though. I just want to keep my hand busy when I'm sleepy in class.
One of the best things I did then was to join different school organizations. Aside from the academic orgs, my 2 favorites were the UP Helping Hand that focused on charitable works and Grip UP which is a sports climbing org. I got hooked on wall climbing (pun intended) and frequented Power UP. I'd tell you now that it was for a boy that I started to frequent this Tandang Sora warehouse. I still remember his name but not the face. Adrian. Trivia: I don't talk to my crushes. It's either I'm too shy or I'm afraid I'd get disappointed once I get to know them so I just
stalk secretly look from a distance. As I try hard to pretend to focus on my climb, I realized I really am focused and enjoying it. Forgot about the boy and got better and stronger with each climb. Two things I remember most as a part of Grip: (1) It was fun to see the 100-pound me belaying an almost 300-pound man as he climb the wall and (2) I got to watch UP Fair on top of a 40-foot wall with the crush.
My closest friends had been my friend since I was a in Kinder. Even then, they know I prefer not to be photographed, as I am not fond of selfies now. On rare occasions, my childhood friends, Aida Joy, Karen Joy, and Dorothy Joy would ride the LRT to go to Libertad just to have our studio shots. Yes, we're all Joys. Well, Aida is just Aida but we love her so she can share our Joys. I think I threw away my solo shot of this just. I hated it. Now that I learned to laugh at myself, I wish I kept I copy for #TBTs.
(from bottom left, clockwise) Gemini, Bevz, Jendi, DJ, KJ, AJ
Now I have no idea how old this card is. It has my name on it at the back so that would date this at least 18 years ago. I have to get one for Mila soon. I thought she would be a McDonald's girl but turns out she loves Jollibee more. Her Sunday Spaghetti before church is becoming a habit already.
Theres a few more family pictures in the wallet - my sisters, cousins, and aunt. They were just print outs from our home printer. I'm surprised the color stayed vivid. At the lower right corner is a very old picture from Baguio with my Grade School friends. I lost in touch with most of them but it's still fun to think about how innocent we were. I know there's more business cards in there from school mates, teachers, and other contacts throughout my college stay. It's worth looking at them to rebuild my network.
Oh, I have money kept in there too. These had been there from when I got the wallet and never spent them. They say it's for luck. I thinks I believe it. This wallet had been with me though thick or thin. From when I receive my full allowance at the start of the month, until when I have to stretch out my 100 pesos for the full week. Yet it stayed with me and kept the memories intact. Isn't that lucky?