Gutierrez: A clean start
“SORRY,” was all he could say before he left the emergency room. The nurse was asking you to fill up a form for your friend that you and your friend’s boyfriend had just brought to the hospital. “Hindi ko alam na gagawin nya ‘to,” was all you heard from him when you turned to the nurse and...
Gutierrez: A mother as a baker
“MATANDA na ako,” you immediately say after your daughter suggested that you start a business. “Hindi ko na puwedeng gawin ‘yan,” you continue after cracking two eggs and beating them to complete your batter. Your daughter finishes her coffee, her hair still wet after a morning bath, and stands...
Gutierrez: Cooling off
“KAILANGAN muna nating magpahinga,” he says as he repeatedly turns his glass of iced tea clockwise then counterclockwise, trying to avoid your eyes. You turn your attention away from the stubborn pedestrians who keep crossing the street even if the red light is on and look at him and say, “Ano...
Gutierrez: Cleaning out the closet
“OO, papunta na’ko… Nasa jeep na,” there is a sound of mild urgency in your voice as you press your cellphone in between your ear and your shoulder while running your hands through hangers of clothes in your closet. “Jeep? Anong jeep? Eh ang tahimik ng background mo… Jeep? Ang sabihin mo nasa...
Gutierrez: The Playhouse
“BAKA may nangyari sa kanya nung natutulog kayo,” your brother who has Down syndrome does not make sense at first. But then after a few minutes of folding your husband’s newly washed and ironed shirts, you finally arrive to the conclusion that he does make sense. You ask your brother who is...
Gutierrez: Changing routes
“PARA sa graduates ng 2012,” one of the students beside your table suddenly stands up to propose a toast to his friends. “Para sa lahat ng hirap at sa lahat ng pagod,” he continues. “Para sa mga gabing puyat at walang tulog,” another one stands up. “Para sa mga kalokohan at kapalpakan,” one more...
Gutierrez: The look of weh
“WEH...” you say in disbelief as your friend says, “Totoo! Tinanong pa nga niya kung sino ‘yung kasama mo.” “Weh,” your reply is again short, trying to hide the excitement that is slowly building up. “Sinundan ka pa niya ng tingin,” your friend nudges in jest. “Weh,” you say as the kilig wells...
Gutierrez: Outsmarting Summer Storms
“MAY padating daw na bagyo,” I said while looking out into the horizon beyond the sea where dark clouds were beginning to form. “Baka hindi na tayo makapunta sa Sibuyan,” she replied as her gaze went beyond the Spanish architecture of Romblon, Romblon and out into the horizon. “Paano na ‘yan,...
Gutierrez: The detourist
“PA-DAGUPAN lang ang nandito,” his voice sounds frustrated as he looks around the bus terminal while pressing his cellphone against his ear. “Sumakay ka na dyan kasi dadaan ‘yan sa La Union,” the voice on the other end of the line suggests. “Dagupan?” He sounds surprised. “Oo. Hihintayin kita sa...
Gutierrez: Your mobile home
“TATLONG taon, sir?” Your heart jumps in excitement. “Oo, tatlong taon,” your boss confirms your question as he sits back in his enormous chair. This is the big break you have been waiting for. “Congratulations,” he continues. You have been promoted. Four years of college have paid off. As...
Gutierrez: Mothersitting
“KINAKABAHAN ako, feeling ko exam,” you confess as you slide down the sofa. “Okay lang ‘yan, si Mama lang naman,” he tries to comfort you as he sits back on the chair opposite yours. “Yun na nga eh, si Mama mo… Kung iba, okay lang. Pero ito, nanay mo ito,” your face looks worried now. “Paano...
Gutierrez: What’s for dinner?
“AKO na naman ang magiisip,” you raise your voice out of nowhere. He stops walking while you continue a few steps more. He looks at you, puzzled. You stop and look back at him, annoyed. “Ako na naman ang magiisip kung saan tayo kakain. Ako na naman ang magiisip kung saan ang ganito, kung anong...
Gutierrez: The quitter’s dilemma
“SINABI ko na sa kanya noon,” you complain to your friends. In a small corner of the café, you are surrounded by your closest confidants as you continue, “Ganun pa rin. Wala pa ring nagbabago.” They sit quietly as they listen to your grumbling. “Akala ba niya siya lang ang lalake sa mundo? Akala...
Gutierrez: A happy one
YOU hear your heart pounding in your ears as you impatiently wait on the bed. After a few minutes of sitting in a lotus position on the bed, you stand up and rearrange the sheets. You ease out all the creases. You run your fingers through the soft linen. And then you sit on the bed again,...
Gutierrez: A house divided
IT IS THREE nights before Day Zero. She slips in quietly and unnoticed through the front door. As the lock clicks behind her, she sees him on the farthest end of room – under the light of his desk lamp, his back facing her. “Mahal, kumain ka na?” She whispers to herself. “Hindi pa,” her own...
Gutierrez: The perfect wedding
“AWAN ti extra... Maysa laeng!”
Gutierrez: The monthsary
“GUSTO natin ang pakiramdam ng nililigawan,” your friend holds her tray as she picks her lunch in the long lane at the cafeteria. “Aminin mo, we enjoy the feeling na they open the door for us kapag sasakay tayo ng taxi. O kaya when they carry ‘yung stuff natin kapag mabigat,” she continues. “...
Gutierrez: Are you a proactive partner?
“PANG-THREE Kings lang ba talaga ako?” She stops you at the door. With her hands on her waist, she continues, “Pumayag ako na mag-Pasko tayo in advance dahil uuwi ka sa probinsya para mag-Pasko kasama ang parents mo. Ang hindi katanggap-tanggap ay ‘yung bagong taon.” Your mouth hangs open as you...
Gutierrez: Where have you been?
“O, NANDITO na si Santa Claus!” Your younger brother runs to your side and helps you with your sando bags that are packed with gifts of different shapes and sizes, wrapped with colorful ribbons and wrappers. Your younger sister who is sitting in the dining room looks on with a warm smile that...
Gutierrez: “How often does the world turn?”
THE AD began with, “For sale: kitchen and restaurant equipment, TV sets, shawarma stand with machine, single burner stove, wooden furniture, batibot chairs, linens, mattresses and pillows.” You never thought it would come to this. It could, but you never really thought it would. The ad continued...
Single this Christmas?
“AS IN O-M-G! Mukha talaga siyang julalay…” your flamboyant friend struts down Session Road and waves his hands around theatrically to prove his point. Heart of the topic: a hunky varsity player and his unattractive girlfriend. “Biruin mo ‘yun?” he partially covers his mouth and continues,
Gutierrez: Are you ready for a cat?
“SWEETHEART...” he turns to you with eyebrows arched like a welcoming rotunda sign. His face looks like a child begging for another serving of ice cream. You look behind him to check the reason why he suddenly turned his head towards you. His face blurs for a moment as you focus on the scene...
Gutierrez: Are you in love with a seminarian?
“PAPASOK ka na ba?” You say as you near the gate. “Sandali,” you face him. The world seems to stop and wait for what you are about to say as you muster the courage to speak. “Kasi…” your mind constructs and edits what to say. He has been the one true love for as far as you can remember. And this...
Gutierrez: Dota o ako?
“AKO, ANG ginawa ko… naglaro din ako,” she declares with a proud grin. “Akala niya siya lang,” she countinues. “Kung kaya niya, kaya ko rin,” she straightens up in her seat and firmly lands her right fist on the café table just to prove her point. You ask uneasily as you see people in your...
Gutierrez: Upgrades in dating
“ANO…” you ask in prolonged prodding but girlish tone, trying to fight the blush but failing miserably. He sits opposite you in a reserved table for two inside a very impressive choice of a restaurant. He answers in a gentle baritone that sends ecstatically quivering shivers up your spine, “Ano...
