Back in August 17, Mr. Isidro Ramos, one of our regular contributors in the online PUNCH Forum, wrote this:

Dear editor, my teenage granddaughter is very much interested in the  Philippine culture and other happenings among teens in Dagupan. Is it possible to have a teen columnist in place of the illustrious Eva Visperas? Hope this idea will open up some opportunity to a budding teen journalist and also a new market for your excellent paper. A million thanks!

 

I have been pondering since how we can encourage Pangasinan’s youth to share their views and feelings to the paper. I thought I could start by making it a requirement for my Pangasinense journalism students who are doing their internship with us.

 

And so this week, I give way to the first “Young Roots”, a space where our young can freely write about what they are thinking. Let’s hear them out. – Marifi Jara, Roots

Young ROOTS

Dating 101

By Don Gil Calugay

The year 2007 has been a good one for me. And wow, God saved the best for last for me.

First, I’ve been getting good grades, grades that somehow legitimize my “hold” in the family. This is not in any way being tyrannical though. It is about being prized and respected in the family. I also got more friends now (I have been good in exercising my charisma lately). And to cap it off, I am graduating from university next year — graduating with a serious sense of pride. At the onset, I feel I have done everything for a guy my age. But to honestly, I have one serious problem.

At 20, I never had a date- one with somebody special. I guess I have been sucked into my studies or well, I have to admit, I’m lame when it comes to matters of the heart.

But last December 1, I finally found the courage to ask my crush for a ‘date.’ Well, I have been going out with her , but always with other friends. My relatives have been teasing me and clamouring for me to have a girlfriend –  except for my lola in San Carlos who advised me: ‘dakel tay bibie’ – and so I thought it would be worth a try.

My grandmother, Ina, had an arranged marriage. My ever resilient mom’s story is about dad’s persistent ‘kasal agad wala nang boyfiend-girlfriend relationship’. I feel quite at a loss, daunted even, about how dating begins in as far as the present world is concerned.

We watched a movie. She suggested Disney’s pre-holiday offering Enchanted. Now, does that mean something? Interestingly, the movie was fitting as it defined what a date is. If I remember correctly, the protagonist said something like:  date is between two persons watching a movie, talking to share their likes and dislikes, well, sharing anything which can last depending on the two persons involved.’ At that point of the movie, I thought, this must be sailing smoothly. ‘This is a date I am undertaking,’I thought excitedly to myself.

Inside the dark surrounding, I could not help throwing glances at her. I’m sure she caught me. We talked while the movie was on, shared insights regarding building a family and I told her how I am most definitely not into following my dad’s footsteps! Well, I was struck when she told me married life isn’t her option. I disagreed. The movie did too. In her elaboration, I knew she was being cynical about marriage being a bad idea when separation is a possibility. I couldn’t find the words to refute her but the movie did. This is not verbatim but the movie said: Why choose to end years of  happiness out of a single mistake. I looked at her and said, ‘See?’  She smiled back –  one smile I will never forget.

We had dinner at Pedrito’s. And yes, the kare-kare is worth mentioning. We spent a couple of hours talking, laughing. I spent more hours staring. When 9 p.m. struck, I was looking at my phone and wanted to tell her, ‘I want to spend more time with you.’ Actually I did and she even told me she was surprised that her tita hasn’t texted her yet, and perhaps that is because ‘they know who I am with.’

The fateful text eventually came, and so we took a tricycle home. When I got home, I texted to ask if she had fun. She replied that she did have a good time. I slept thinking.

That was my December first. And it’s about the third week of the month now and I will be home for the long Christmas break. What’s the next step to dating? I don’t really know but I do know it is there waiting.

(Readers may reach columnist at marifijara@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/roots/
For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)