remembering the 32 years of my life
I am reposting again my entry last October 15,2008 as the original posts got spammed by 900 comments so I had to delete it. I just copied the comments from friends with regard this entry.
1. I was born on October 18, 1977 and was given the name Renee Rose (pronunciation varies as I am called “Rene” like a boy’s name in the house, was called “Reni Rose” in grade school and and high school, was called “Re-ni” and “Reni” in college, and finally called with the right french pronunciation of Reneé at work). My dad said my name Renee came from an old song, “Don’t Walk Away, Renee” (which was reprised later on by one of my favorite singers, Rick Price). I am not sure where Rose came from, my guess was from my aunt-nun (Tita Rosie) or because I was born in the month of October, the month of the Rosary. The meaning of my name Renee is reborn in french, thus my username: rebornrose!
2. I was two when my brother Bernard (short for Bernardo… hehe short by just one letter) was born. His real name is Bernardo Bernardo. Thus, if people ask me if I am related with Bernardo Bernardo, I say, he’s my brother. Their next question would be: “Is he gay?” hehehe. I asked my brother one time how he responded to people who asked if he were gay, he told me no one dared ask him!
3. When I was three, our family lived in a compound in Sta. Mesa, on west vigan st. I still remember our neighbors like papa nori (bless his soul), lola pilang (bless her soul)
4. I was four when I started going to school. I remember that I went to a center, not really a formal school. I also remember that there was this boy who was being paired to me, his name is “Paulito.” It is still fresh in my mind when the teacher asked him what he would give me once his daddy arrives from Saudi, he said, “chocolates and roses”; the day his dad arrived I waited outside the class hoping that he would keep his promise, but unfortunately he forgot!
5. I was five when my sister Marizel was born. We were still staying in sta. mesa. I remember that I was a very naughty kid back in those days. And I usually got smacked on the ass with my dad’s belt if I were not home by 6pm.
6. I was a show-off when I was a kid. I entertained guests and danced before an audience. My favorite dance piece was Irene Cara’s “Flashdance.” I had a close friend named Odessa when I was six.
7. After two years in Nursery, I never experienced going to preparatory school. I went straight to grade 1. (Well I tried to go to a kinder school but I got bored tracing my hand on the paper, so my mom, re-enrolled me again to nursery school.) I went to Sta. Isabel College on Taft Ave. for the rest of my grade school. It is an exclusive school for girls. I was seven when my youngest brother, Michael, was born.
8. When I was in grade 2, I remember that my adviser was Ms. Villasor. I think, she still teaches there in Sta. Isabel College. Around this time, we already moved to my lula’s house in Singalong (on C. Aragon St.)
9. I was nine when the coup d’ etat broke. At that time, I also had my chicken pox. I had made friends with our neighbors. My best friend that time was a girl named Sahrina, but we fondly called her “Plapla”
10. I was in grade 4, when I was 10. I was under Ginang Coronel’s section. I envied my classmates who owned “Game and Watch” because I didn’t even own one. I was also into the loveteam of “Romnick and Sheryl” and I would cut their pictures and would make a poster of them. I usually spent my allowance buying those “moviestar” magazines.
11. When I was 11, I was under Grade 5 section Tulip. I was elected president then but I was later on “ousted” because I could not make my classmates, who were all my friends, quiet. I was close with Karen Simbajon, Joyce Magabo and Joyce Iris Aguiluz. I am friends also with Angelica Crisologo. I liked our class because it was in a music room with elevated platforms. I was also a member of the dance club and I remember, we danced before the school with Zsa Zsa’s song, “Mambobola”
12. When I was 12, I remember I joined a singing contest at school. My contest piece was Sharon Cuneta’s “Sana’y Maghintay ang Walang Hanggan”. Well, I didn’t win that contest but I was elected officer of the Student Council. My exact position was SBO (Sandigan Board Officer) Commissioner on Student Affairs. I loved being an officer because we sometimes substituted teachers when they were on break. I graduated with honors: I was 8th honorable mention. That year, I also experienced first time to ride a plane and a ship when my aunt-nun brought me and my cousin Julie Ann to Iloilo. There we stayed in a seminary just across the church.
13. When I was 13, I transferred to Manila Science High School. Well, it was not an easy transfer as I was initially part of the wait-list. I was proud though since among our batch in school, only three of us had passed the entrance exams. I made friends with Stephanie Salazar and Nectarina Maningas. I also made close friends with my neighbor, Jeng-Jeng.
14. We moved to Pacita Complex when I was 14. I was on my second year. It was also this time when I had my first “puppy love” (blush). I was also head-over heels in love with Robin Padilla. I had a collection of all his write-ups, photos and had watched all his movies. I liked him and Sharon Cuneta together. I made close friends with my busmates and we called our group, “Jam Girls”
15. My third year in Masci was a very memorable one as I made lasting friendships with Loenine, Cheryl, Sarah, Kaye. We called our group “Pekmu.” Come 4th year, we would have 2 additions in the group, Leila and Christina and we would call our group “D’Peekmmu”
16. Our group “D’Peekmmu” was a fun, notorious group in highschool. I did mischievous things back then. Our most memorable was the incident in SM Centerpoint when we were caught vandalizing (although it was Teresa who was caught in the act but since we were all friends, we had to help them wipe the graffiti on the toilet doors)
17. I was separated from my friends when we started college. I went to La Salle and most of them went to UP. I made friends then with Hani, Lou, Donna, Karen, Penny, Eula, Tetet and we called our group, “D’Chikababes”
18. When I turned 18, I still had no boyfriend 
but I had a lot of crushes in school (the one from engineering, the rocker Rob), even the “kundoktors” of the buses (there was JAM 2018 and BBL 3032). I also attended Prex (Parish Renewal Experience) and I belonged to Prex 19. I had a major crush then with one of the “kuyas” 
19. I was on my last year in college. My thesis mates, Donna and Tetet, and I were so busy finishing our project with USA Laboratories. My dad was very hands-on in helping us. It was also this year that we had a memorable class with Tony Perez. One unforgettable experience was when I joined the spirit quests in Ozone disco and the one in the Film Center. It was in the latter where I heard someone asked me, “anong pangalan mo?” I also had a big crush with our medium, “Aldo” I learned he was from Ateneo. I was also too attached with the La Salle Team and I was a true and avid fan of Tony Boy Espinosa. I was there in all the championship games with UST. I remember I used to shout at Bal David, who was from UST, “WALLLLLLAAAA! WAAGGGGG MONG I-SHHHOOOOTTT!!!!” I was known then for my high-pitched, very powerful, all-out yell and shriek!
20. I graduated finally when I was 20. It was a trying time as our family experienced financial crisis that we had to move to my Aunt’s house in Tandang Sora. Prior to this move, it had been two years since we moved from Pacita to Pasig Line to San Andres. I worked as a secretary for Evelyn Vargas. I only stayed there for 2 months as I could not take running errands knowing that I graduated from Lasalle.
21. I was 21 when my Lola Pancing died. She had a difficult life during her last years as she couldn’t move so much. I was at her bedside when she had her last breath. It was different to witness that last moment. Also, It was only this year when I started finally working with Bernardo Communications, an ad agency. Here I would meet my super friend, Claire.
22. I stayed more than one year in Bernardo hoping to get a salary increase. But on my anniversary, my friend Gilbert and I only got P500 increase! So much for waiting. Well, it was worth it, if only for the fact that I made lasting friendships with Ces, Joanne, Gilbert.
23. I was 22, when I had my first online bf. Though it was a short one, it was a new experience for me. Later on, I would meet my next two bf’s from the net. I also moved to Scala when I was 22. Here I met my mentor, Tarcs. He was a very influential person for me. Before the year 2000 ended, I transferred back to advertising. I moved to Adformatix, Inc. where I got to work again with Claire.
24. My lovelife was very unstable. It’s like “palitaw”: “lulubog, lilitaw.” I made friends with my Team Z mates: Arnie, Erwin, Shelyn, Madel. I was also grateful with my boss, Minnie.
25. It was in 2002 when I joined the charismatic community, “Servants of the Lord’s Vineyard” (SOLV). It was also this year when I was detected with PTB and had to take an almost two months vacation. It was also then when I transferred to my dream company, HK (actually it was McCann, its sister company, which was my dream company). There I handled VAS of Globe Telecoms with my former Team Z mate, Madel. I never stayed there long though. I guess I was not up for the overtimes and overnights, or anything of this kind of workstyle.
26. I was 26 when finally I transferred to client side when I worked for Uni-President. I became an asst. brand manager for Homi noodles. Here I met another marketing mentor, my most favorite boss, Mike Magpily.
27. I was 27 when I finally learned to drive and had my first (and only) car. I got a vios which was very memorable for me (as any first-time driver would experience: brushing against a 10-wheeler truck, or was it a 14-wheeler? and having been stuck in traffic from 8pm to 1am along Marcos highway; i never got any ticket though or was even flagged by an MMDA). I made friends also with my Uni-president colleagues: Kathy, Doreen, Ferlin. When I turned 27, I never thought that it would be the last birthday that I would spend with my dad and he made it memorable for he prepared all the food that I brought to the office.
28. It was in 2005 when I transferred job to Merisant and handled Equal. My family also moved and rented house in a compound on Boni Avenue. It was a very memorable year as this year would be the year when I would be operated on my gall bladder and in the same month, my dad died. He was not around anymore when I turned 28. But as the saying goes, when one bids goodbye, another says hello. It was in 2005 when I got serious with my relationship and found a man to love (blush) :)
29. I was promoted Brand Manager-East Asia this year and handled not only the market for Philippines but also for HongKong, Indonesia and China. I travelled to HK and Indonesia a lot and I could say that I was earning a lot of money. It was the first time that I experienced financial freedom. It was also this year that I went on a retreat in daily life (full version) after undergoing the shorter version the previous year. The fruit of this retreat was when I decided in mid-2007 to leave my job and to enroll in MA-Theological Studies
30. When I turned 30, I was already out of job, a full time student in Ateneo taking up theology. Here I met so many new friends. They were too many to mention. I also enrolled in a spiritual direction course. It was when I turned 30 that I experienced so many blessing and realized God’s unconditional and abounding love for me. I had no job for 9 months but I survived. I had just started working in June of this year, with Bayard, as a Development Manager. It would seem everything in my life is going on smoothly.
31. I am about to turn another year older this 2008 and I am already looking forward to a year full of surprises. I can’t wait to be surprised by God this coming year. This I wrote a year ago, one year has passed and God has indeed surprised me with so many things: a song, an experience of vocation of teaching, a new marketing job, a break from my financial worries, and a very beautiful promise. It was a year full of tears, some were happy tears, some were tears of pain and hurts. One thing was certain though, this was the year God had revealed who He is to me. I have never been loved by God this way.
32. I am beginning a new chapter in my life. I am back to my old world again. I have so much to be grateful for AND so much to hope for for the coming year. Again, I know, great things are coming my way.
Hi Renee, salamat at 2x mo ko minention. Pero kulang! Dapat tatlo hehe. Dahil 3x mo ko naging officemate, sa Uni-President pa. Rare lang yon in people’s lives na you get to have officemates 3x. Well, I guess that’s why we have been best/super friends din because of those 3x. Nyway, i had fun reading your blog. But alam ko dami pang kulang na juicy part. hehe. not for public consumption nga naman kasi. joke… More importantly in this message, I want to wish you a Happy 31st b-day tomorrow! I hope you have a great great day. I always wish you happiness in life. I’m really glad that you are happy and contented with your life right now. I hope you have lots of b-days to come, however cliche that may sound. But I do hope for so so so many more ones to come because that means so many more years of friendship with me! Love you friend!
From remembering the 31 years of my life, 2008/10/17 at 6:36 PM
Claire, super friend talaga kita kasi binasa mo ang sobrang haba kong entry. Thanks for being my super friend and one of my prayers is for God to keep our friendship ever growing (shhhhh ka sa ibang details ng buhay ko ha, especially from ages 21 up heheheh)
From remembering the 31 years of my life, 2008/10/17 at 9:42 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RENEE!!! May God bless you always.
From remembering the 31 years of my life, 2008/10/18 at 11:39 AM