Jasmine of All Trades

Jasmine of All Trades by Margaux Ortiz

When I was in grade seven, I received a call from The Philippine Daily Inquirer saying that I was nominated for kids’r'rrific, a section that features talented kids. At first, I thought it was a prank. I was going to slam the receiver when the person said I was nominated by Precious Basilonia and Anna Arcellana, who were coincidentally hanging out at my house along with the rest of my PJAM barkada. Forgetting that I had someone on the phone, I screamed at my friends, “Ninominate ninyo ako?“

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Childhood Game: Daganan Mo Si Errol

Cruz family. Errol is the kid on the left. He is holding his hat and is eating something.

If you’ve read Taguan Mo Si Errol,  you’d probably be wondering why my cousin was the target of evil childhood games. Well, here’s another. It’s called daganan mo si Errol. 

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Childhood Crush

He hit me accidentally when he was playing in the classroom; I cried. The teacher made him say sorry because he was too young to instinctively know that what he did hurt me.

During the Christmas play, I played Mary and he played Joseph. We were too young to truly fall in love, but I had enough craziness to be obsessed.

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Childhood Randomness: Reading Signs

As the Toyota Crown wobbled through Manila, Little Ja proudly read the street signs, restaurant names, and slogans on billboards. Andok’s Manok, Aling Neneng’s Eatery, Escolta Street, No left turn–Little Ja would read anything and everything, even turning around to follow the sign as the car sped by.

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The Adult World Laughter Span

I love taking ugly pictures of my mom. I think her ugly pictures are so cute. Hahaha.

Little Ja was in a green van with a bunch of adults–my mom and my classmates’ parents. I don’t remember why we were in that van or where we were going, but I remember looking at these adults, listening to them talk, and hearing the burst of dignified low-pitched laughter that lasted like a bolt of lightning. I was confused.

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