Ligawang ligaw

I was 12. He was 13. We lived in the same village somewhere in the border of Caloocan and Quezon City of which I

fondly call Fairview (I say so just to make conversations from friends asking on where I really live, short and sweet).

He saw me pass through a basketball court. Then I got a letter. Love letter. It was a very pathetic and typical

ligawan sa village. I felt like I ate too much hopia. I gave the letter back with red marks and the feeling that I want

to write for my high school newspaper someday. I became a features writer in junior high.

That was my first and most beneficial love letter I ever had.

I am now 22. He’s 24.  He dabbled in photography and videography. He likes to wash dishes and clean the house while

listening to Beatles. No, he wasn’t in my village.  He used to live part time with my ex and two other male friends.

The ex went to Europe. All the other boys, including him, had to be kicked out of the house since the lady love was to

arrive sooner. The eviction was meant to rid of maleness and pave way for femininity in the house.

Ha! I never knew he had both.

(Friendster Message: Math  16 July)

geng,

Ligawan mo naman ako pls.

At this point, I nearly woke up the baby for hollering all over my friends’ house.

What shall I say? I froze.

I noticed the abbreviated please on the message and decided to act on pure Maria Clara mode.

Friendster Message: Re: Math  16 July)

Ikaw kaya manligaw sa akin.

“Bisexual siya ” said point blankly by my friend who kicked him out of the house. No, this can’t be. 

 As another blurted, “Kaya pala siya lang ang masipag maghugas ng pinggan sa inyo”.

(Friendster Message: ligaw 16 July)

Mudra,

haler... bago ako maging ganap na lalake at
manligaw ng babae, mahigpit ang pangangailangan
na ligawan mo muna ako para maligawan kita! aba!

magandang araw sa'yo sister!

ayuz

I succumbed to my seat. It was confirmed.  Mudra is a gay term for mother for which paulie (a gay) is known for.

Haler is slang for hello popularized by gay men when there is a need to make an obvious point or simply just

to answer the phone. It is constantly dropped in ABS-CBN shows by the likes of Roderick Paulate.

Sister is obviously feminine. Ayuz can be aligned to bisexuality due to its altered letters.

Although it is written in direct manly Filipino, the missive felt like it was scented and pink.

(Friendster Message: hoy! 16 July)

Haler!

binibulabog ang male mode ko! sa pagkakataong
ito binigo mo ako! hindi mo dapat sinabi na may
gusto ka sa akin. ang tagal kong nagsikap na
panindigan ang lalang ko! wafung!!!

anyway, musta? mader, ganda sana ng emote mo sa
dakilang larawan mo. kaya lang nasira ang
production design, sana tinabi mo man lang ang
medyas...

magandang araw sayo!

ngatz

This is the most challenging series of love letter I ever had. I think Wafung is a new gay term.

I like it. It sounds like a sneeze in fighting mode.

Magsisikap din ako. Wafung!!