TWENTY-TWO MATERIALISTIC MONEY-DRIVEN GIFTS

Twenty-two materialistic money-driven gifts I would have wanted to have for myself during my birthday.

Don’t get me wrong here. My parents are good providers and they have raised me well enough for me to realize that money does not (and will never) make the world go round.

But hey, with the monthly salary that feeds my ATM card just enough, dreaming of twenty-two gifts I want for myself is and the only next best thing.


ISA: An all-expenses paid adventure to every Survivor season location -from the first destination in Palau Tiga to upcoming islands of Samoa.

DALAWA: Well-structured brown and black office jackets. I’m very specific with what I want - the very reason why I haven’t bought any until now.

TATLO: A solid blue, white-striped Volkswagen or Mini-Cooper. Interestingly enough, the former is my father’s dream car before.

APAT: Next to a Volkswagen, a STAREX van will be the next drive. Astig.

LIMA: Another trip, this time to my hermosa, Ciudad De Zamboanga – to reconnect with long lost childhood friends back in RCDAO Subdivision.

ANIM: Next destination. My birth place – Cebu City! I haven’t been to the place since May of 2008.

PITO: How about a family vacation to the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’? Disneyland, Hong Kong, and the childhood fantasies in between.

WALO: A collection of Tony Perez and other Filipino-authored works. Branded Pinoy, Original.

SIYAM: Let’s talk Pinoy and let’s talk Sessionistas. I missed their concert though. An exclusive hang-out session with the artists (with selected friends and relatives as their audiences) will be rock-out cool!

SAMPU: And the clock strikes ten. A Fossil watch has always been a want. My overused rubber watch feels the same.

LABING-ISA: The commercial speaks of a TV Cable provider allowing the audience to view ‘the channels of their choice.’ A brand-new 21-inch television set with ‘the channels of my choice’ will satisfy my couch potato cravings.

LABING DALAWA: A personal laptop with all-around internet access. This will spare me with no excuses in writing and updating new posts regularly.

LABING TATLO: A brand new pair of Nike or Chuck Taylor sneakers.

LABING-APAT: A house and lot – for a Habitat for Humanities beneficiary. I have not done any Habitat outreach program since I left college. Being an active member now as a professional would be a fulfilling thing to continue.

LABING LIMA: A multi-functional baking oven for mama. She loves cooking and cooking loves her the same.

LABING-ANIM: A stress-free spa and massage treatment for papa. Just a day, pa. Just a day.

LABING PITO: For my brother, a portable PSP – a timely gift for his upcoming graduation.

LABING WALO: A sudden thought rushes in. A library of our favorite 90’s music will become a memory lane of nostalgia and great childhood lessons.

LABING SIYAM: I always had this guilty thought of buying a Power Ranger toy figure every time a new season comes out. A museum of rangers and megazords will be as great as exclaiming, ‘it’s morphin’ time.’

TWENTY: Writing-wise, a scriptwriting workshop with Ricky Lee and other scribe masters. Self-written words of clichés and ordinary lines may just fit a two-hour well-received film.

TWENTY-ONE: A romantic date with that stranger, Bea Alonzo, or both. Naks.

TWENTY-TWO: My most-priced gift: a new baccalaureate degree. Soon, by God’s grace.

And the next better thing to the next best thing?

Them receivables becoming actual gifts.

Yes, pun intended.