Remembering My Good Old Male Friends

          “He is a friend.”

“He is my bestfriend.”

When I say these statements to introduce or refer a male companion, I often get the feeling that what I tell is not believable. People may be kind enough not to say “Really?” or “I don’t believe you” but their reactions say so. This is especially true when I speak fondly about a male friend.

I was orphaned by my father when I was nine. I was older of the two siblings, both girls. And I grew up without father and brother figure in the family because I didn’t even have an uncle nor male cousins around.

When I was old enough to explore the neighborhood, I made friends. Among them was Lito. He was a leader even during our young years but I can’t remember him telling “no” to my little caprices as a friend.  I remember his father bragging that I am his future daughter-in-law. Needless to say, however, but there was never any attempt in any way for us to go  overboard our childhood friendship.

During my teen years, I gained a “manong” (older brother) in the person of manong Boy. He used to be the president of the youth club in our barangay and I was secretary.  When he was elected and assumed office as Barangay Captain, I was, nonetheless, appointed Barangay Secretary. We were constant company during meetings, seminars and other functions both in the barangay and municipality. Even our mayor once thought that there was “something special” between us and didn’t believe us when we said, we’re just a brother-sister team. However, we never outgrow our friendship.

In the church, I had Benjie. He is a friend who believes in me. He  urged me to submit a poem to a magazine before that was later published. He played the organ for my solo practice so I can pass the audition for the church choir (though, I hardly carry a tune). He shared his allowances with me when I needed it. He was a good sounding board who treated me well as his kid sister. People had misconceptions about our friendship. He lost his girlfriend because of my picture  and nearly lost another love because of  diligently giving me company. Our friendship didn’t falter afterall.

I was fond of pen pals before. Well, I don’t belong to Generation X that’s why.  There were so many friends but only two male friends lasted for sometime. They were both sources of inspiration during my difficult times and that, notwithstanding the fact, that we were miles apart. I will always be grateful to manong Sam and will remember Jojo, my witty-pen-pusher friend.

Besides, Lito, manong Boy, Benjie, manong Sam and Jojo, there were other male friends  I had but maybe of lesser intensity of friendship (read as: occasional shock absorber and confidante during our respective seasons).

To these times, it is so refreshing when memory of  my wedding flashes back.  There was Lito, leading the committee on foods and refreshment. There was Manong Boy, standing with my groom as his bestman. There was Benjie, taking over the microphone as co-emcee. Other male friends were also there, of course.

Years come and go…so as friends.

Finally, I had another male friend whom I called Mac because he used to mock my being slow in picking up things thus, referring to me as Pentium I. Well, of course, this usually concerns some Gen X language. He may be very different from the rest for being almost a decade younger than me but we became good friends anyway. He was a helping hand and a sort of professional support as I learned many things from him regarding our profession. I never dreamed of having a kid brother. I always loved big brothers because I enjoyed being taken cared of most of the times. However, if chronological age is to be considered, Mac is indeed, the little brother I never had.

Things will never the same again. We hardly see or never see each other anymore. Yet, I still remember…still grateful for the brotherly love, care, concern and time they shared with me at some points in my life.

 Please don’t make the wrong impression that I don’t have female friends. I had and I still keep and treasure their friendship to date regardless of the distance and own lives we now live in our respective places under the sun. But their friendship is another story to tell.