Bestfriend Beverly + Bali Blessedness = Bliss!

Beverly and I knew each other from elementary school. We were both winners in a Manila-wide features writing contest, she in 6th and I in second, or so she reminded me. We went to the same high school but I don't remember saying a single word to her all those four years.

It was only in college that we hit it together. Hard. She made our two bedroom apartment in Tondo her second home. We ate the same food, bought and wore the same clothes, talked endlessly about the same interests and ideas. We belonged in a group of 8 girls, all other 6 of whom accepted the fact that the two of us, Bebang and I, will always be the two closest to each other. Even when she transferred from Sampaloc to Cavite, we continued nourishing that special bond we were forming. We shared family problems, boyfriend problems, health problems, makeup, thesis, shoes, bags, and yes, underwear. The only thing we did NOT share was religion. Obviously we found a way to keep its discussion at bay, and it was never a problem.

Bebang wanted to be a doctor too, but her family's finances then made it appear impossible. So when most of us went to med school, she was juggling jobs here and there. She got a lucky break not long after with a famous company, where she still works up to now. We were vaguely in touch during the four years I was in med school, and before I knew it a Catholic guy in her office was willing to convert to her religion so that they'd be together.

For good. They got married when my physician's license was only a few months old. A part of me was dying of envy for the prosperous life she was having, and that made me kind of turn away, especially since we found her husband Bombet a little aloof. I turned down several offers to visit their home in Sta Rosa, Laguna. I couldn't feel exact happiness when Bea was born.

That changed when Noy , my parents and family made me feel I had a lot to be thankful for. The next five years that I spent working in Laguna was then filled with twice-monthly visit to Bebang and her family.


Eventually after our wedding, where Bea was one of the flower girls, Bombet and Noy became good friends. Before long Bebang and I didn't have to worry about keeping our husbands entertained while we chatted and caught up with each other's lives.


(I had a hard time rummaging through my external hard drive looking for bevs & bombet wedding pictures - and I can't find any! how pathetic is that? i promise to update this blog entry with those beautiful wedding pictures by Chito Vecina. Yes, we got the same wedding photographer. I hired her make-up artist too =P)

Since 2006 however we didn't have the chance to really just be with each other. I had to admit, and I bet she would too, that it's quite different having husbands and kids around while we talked about our lives and other people. So I challenged her to meet halfway, aka Alabang, to catch up and be just like old times.

She brought me to this wonderful place called Kartini Spa, an events place/restaurant/spa/art gallery with a very relaxing Bali-inspired atmosphere that makes one forget it's really just within the Alabang Town Center complex.

We had callos and gambas in comfortable rattan chairs on a sweet-looking gazebo nestled in a nicely manicured lawn accented by a koi pond. The sound of water from the mini-falls combined perfectly with the soothing overhead music. We talked and talked and talked until we felt our bladders getting heavier. We found the quaint comfort room, which accommodated only one user at a time, but we both came in and peed in front of each other. Yes we were that close!

The spa place looked so inviting we gave in to the temptation despite the growing threat of a nasty thunderstorm. Since we were the only clients we had the luxury of chatting away mindlessly while the pleasant attendants pampered our feet superbly. I never felt so amazingly refreshed. If it weren't too late I'd have a full body massage.

Too bad I was so engrossed into conversation I forgot to take pictures. I came up with these lousy ones, but you can check out Kartini's website here.

I boarded the bus home with a smile on my face. Surprisingly invigorated, I wondered, was it the food? Maybe. Was it the place? Probably, what with the beautiful intricate details and such. Was it the company? Definitely. There's nothing like a familiar warm body to radiate enough goodness to make one feel great.