Junk From The Past
By: Roxanne Estrellado – Limjoco

I never realized how much stuff my closet can hold. This realization came two days ago when I was putting the final touches to my Anamnesis. I know what you must be thinking… ANAMeffingwhatsis?!?! No it is not a disease. It’s a case history of one’s life. It’s recalling your past. This is a requirement in my SPED class. Making one was actually fun and humbling. You literally go back to your past, from prenatal to the present. You are given guide questions to answer and should these questions arise anything else out of you, feel free to write about it. In other words, it’s a bula-bulanesis too! To make your Anamnesis more interesting, you can also put pictures, certificates, report cards, letters, etc. I even put my entire collection of student ID’s from Grade 1 to College! A lot of reflection and realization occur at this time. In my case, not only was there reflection and realization, there was also embarrassment and humiliation! Haha!

The reason behind this is that while I was browsing through my junk, I chanced upon all my diaries from my teenage years, with matching pictures and love letters! AS IN!!! I scanned one standing up. Got the next one kneeling down. Picked up the next while squatting. Finally, I sat squarely on the floor, in my closet, surrounded by my age-old journals. I couldn’t stop! Some parts were funny, some I’ve forgotten about, some were embarrassing and some I didn’t even want to remember! I kept reading and blushing at the same time. Talk about a blast from the past! So much memories, so little time!

As I was rummaging through my closet, contemplating on whether to clean or not to clean before the New Year, I re-discovered that this contraption wasn't just sanctuary to my clothes, accessories, lingerie, etc. but also to my footwear! What do they say about one’s shoes? That they’re the windows to your soul? Or is that the eyes? Whatever! Anyway, by looking at one's shoes or tsinelas for that matter tells a lot about a person. I remember my Mama always bringing tissue in her bag not to wipe my nose, mind you, but to wipe her sapatos. I’ve never seen my mother with dirty shoes. Come to think of it, even my Papa had shining, shimmering shoes all the time. My brothers and I should take credit for that because as military children, we were taught the proper and only way of applying ‘biton’ and buffing ‘til there’s no tomorrow! Well maybe until you can at least see your smile on my father’s shoes. That being said, you may have the most expensive shoes or the most exotic-looking shoes but if they’re dirty and dingy… shame on you! The tsinelas being a semi-shoe is not excused from such a tasteless form and shape. No matter where you go, what you put on your foot should always be clean. Of course, clean shoes-eses and tsinelas-eses will look much better with clean feet and toes-eses!!! Need I expound on that? EEW!!!

The Estrellados used to be a very large family. Since my Papa is the eldest among his siblings, most of the get-togethers were done in our house. It was so much fun, especially having mostly girl cousins who were my age. But as the years went by, they started migrating to different parts of the world. The Estrellados scattered all over America and Australia. It was so depressing. We try to make the most out of our Christmases, which we spend with my side of the family. But with my wacky parents, brothers & kids, we still have a great time in Alabang!

Marrying into a huge clan is a welcome surprise for me. I missed having tons of relatives. Tet's side of the family, the Hizons, is a riot to be with! I love all our get-togethers, from the summer outings, holy week procession, all saint's day, new year's, parties, reunions, holidays to trips abroad. My sisters-in-law and I always joke about that should we decide to leave our husbands, we would never leave our in-laws! Haha!

Tet and I were married on January 14, 1990 at the Nuestra Senora De Guia Church in Ermita, Manila. The reception was held at the Westin Philippine Plaza.

Talk about whirlwind romance! Met Tet on my 18th birthday in Kudos, the then "in" disco along mile long. His 1st words were "may i have this dance?". Of course, it was a showdown between us to the tune of rick astley and mike francis. Haha! We went out for a couple of months and then he dropped me like hot tamales! What a bozo, i figured!

Things started heating up again the following year. At 19, I got married, became pregnant and gave birth. (not necessarily in that order! haha!) Whew! Now, it has been 17 years since we walked down the aisle, 3 kids in between us and a lot of weight on top of us. We often kid ourselves that we've had enough but the truth is, we can never get enough!

I consider myself very lucky to have the friends that I have now. I've been to different schools, lived in different places and until now I've kept in touch with most of them.

BEGLES

We have been together since 1985. We all belonged to the Special Math Class during our High School sophomore year at St. Scholastica's College, Manila. So who says beauty & brains don't go together? (ugh!)

• Meet Tina, she has been my friend since 3rd grade and may I say, played matchmaker for me and my husband. She is Tet's 1st cousin. Tina is a child psychologist & partner at Pschconsult.
• Benelette, happily married to Quincy, is with Home Health Care in Texas.
• Tabs, wife to Victor and mommy to Jaden, is working for Uni-lever in New Jersey.
• Arlene, married to Yuri and has three girls, has a business in Tarlac and works as a statistician in Manila.
• Cynthia, married to Eric and has 3 kids, is with Madecor Group. They reside in Los Banos.
• Jenny, married to Jessie, is a bigtime in adverising and is now expecting their 1st bundle of joy.
• Rica, married to Toti and a proud mama to Pepi is with GMA 7 and is expecting another baby.

K GANG

These are my college friends and after more than 10 years we still keep in touch.

• Pia, the jeweller, is married with two kids and owns a photo & video studio.
• Yats is now a working girl in Ortigas and travels all over Asia.
• Aimee has 3 kids and is with Westin Philippine Plaza.
• Pian, with two babies, is with Globe Telecomm.
• Pilar has a son and is now busy with her business.

MY CLASSMATES

They are Pia, Vic-Vic, Tek & Ating Jo. I call them my
'classmates' becuase they were my classmates in ...

• Vic, who used to be the Canteen Magnate in Pampanga, is now developing her distributor expertise.
• Tek, who is the Supermarket Princess in Sta. Rita is now taking up Nursing in HAU.
• Ating Jo is the Hardware Queen in Sta. Rita and is truly the greatest ATE to everyone!
• Pia or "supergirl", a great badminton player, also manages her husband's photo studio in Angeles City.

HOT PAPA

His name is Tet, born on October 10 in San Fernando, Pampanga. Married for 16 years to me. Tet is an understanding husband, a loving father, a good provider, a wonderful friend, a great golfer, a caring brother, a sweet uncle, a great son and as my mother would say, her " favorite son-in-law " ( I'm the only girl in the family, by the way), who could ask for more?

ELDEST SON

If you are reading this then you have no choice but to learn more about me. I am Roxanne, born on July 28 in Pasay City. I am the only daughter of Rodolfo S. Estrellado and Erlinda Talaid. I have three brothers: Randy, Ricky and RJ. Of course I have to mention my one and only Yaya Pilang who took care of me since I was a baby and who until now is taking care of our whole family.

I could say that I was brought up very well. At a very young age I already knew the meaning of the words: honesty, integrity and loyalty. Growing up in a military base, being disciplined by a military father and being with three brothers make people wonder how I turned out the way I did. I guess having a very sweet mother complements a masculine environment. My brothers and I were neither spoiled nor neglected. We all knew the importance of education and hard work. Yet we also knew the importance of recreation and leisure which our parents never forgot to give us.

I've had the privilege of studying in 7 different schools:
Nursery - Nichols Air Base Preschool
Kindergarten - Karilagan
Elementary to 2nd year High School - St. Scholastica's College, Manila
3rd & 4th year High School - Seisen International School, Tokyo, Japan
1st & 2nd year College - University of the Philippines, Diliman
3rd & 4th year - University of the Philippines, San Fernando, Pampanga

Masters in Educational Management, UP Clark

Methods of Teaching, Holy Angel University, Angeles City
I'd like to think that this experience made me into a well-rounded person.

Now, I have been married for 17 wonderful years. I have three beautiful children: Ram, Sam & Red, whom I hope I could raise as lovingly as my parents have raised me. I have just finished my Masters in Educational Management in UP, Clark. I currently am a preschool teacher in Angeles City. Now, my family and I have been living in our own little country house for eight years. What can I say? God has blessed us in many ways. I have a loving family, a great set of friends and basically a good life and for all these I have the Lord to thank!

I was having second thoughts about making this page, I didn't think I had enough achievements to put myself in one. I do not have the accolades of my father, the writing ability of my mother, the wisdom of my eldest brother, the cooking talent of my elder brother nor the medical expertise of my younger brother. So what could I possibly have that I could be proud of? So now I present to you what I consider as my life's achievements...

Apparel... for me is a source of security, this is where I talk about my family.

Lingerie... is something very personal, so here I will be talking about myself.

Jewelry... is precious and so are my friends, come and meet them.

Evening Wear... is for special occasions, you are all invited!

Accessories... add color to a person, just like how my relatives are... very colorful!

Skeletons... no I don't have skeletons in my closet but I do have funny bones. Here are funny stories & pictures of family and friends.