10 Things You Should Know about Pao

My sister, Marthina wrote this for me. :)

Yes, we easily demonstrate our closeness to the people surrounding us, but honestly there are times when we’re not. But as we’re growing up, our understanding to each other gets better. Maybe, that’s what makes our sisterhood a blessing because we grow to serve our Lord together. 

She made my birthday special and I won’t forget it and to make hers special too, here are the 10 things you should know about my sister, Paolina Guevara Salome:

1.      Pao never let her hair grow longer, not until now.

Since, we were kids we never let our hair grew longer until college. When our hair touched our shoulder, we instantly go to salon and asked the hairdresser to cut it short. Things have changed, however, especially when Pao decided that she wanted to have a long hair, and she found out that it looks good on her. So, she maintains it now. Almost every day this is her religious line, “Ate/Mama, hanggang saan na kahaba ang buhok ko?” “Wow, Pao lagpas bewang na,” we answered. On the next day if she’s going to ask again the same question, we’d jested humorously, “Naks, lagpas tuhod na,” Then, she’ll make face.

2.     Whenever she hears the Little Mermaid’s theme song, Part of the world, she still sings it whole heartedly.

Pao has a beautiful singing voice. When she was 6 years old, Part of the world is the first Disney song that she memorized. We have had a collection of cassette tapes of nursery rhymes, Disney OST, Bossa Nova, Jazz, Boy bands and Girl bands. We also had this blank tape wherein we can record our voice. There were times when our blank tape is full of our song, that’s the time she recorded to other tapes---so once we played a song of Celine Dion; we can’t finish listening to Celine’s own voice because Pao would inserted hers… She also joined different singing contests and won  in some of those. Whenever there’s a new alternative artist that I like, I infect her easily, so she ends up liking the artist and the song.

3.     Her talent in creating hundreds of different facial expression is what makes her unique.

“O nagme-make faces ka na naman,” this is one of the comments that other people tell her whether she’s annoyed, happy, and sad or whatever feelings she has at the moment. Her strong facial expression is readable that you may know if she’s okay or not and also if she’s okay with you or not. When she can jive well with the person, she’d showed her most candid, mega crazy, wackiest and wittingly funny facial expression. Sometimes, she’d even teach that person her newest facial expression. Some are gullible and they’d follow her. And some wouldn’t and would rather choose to laugh at her. She can create 10 different facial expressions in a minute. Dare her!

4.     She’s a Master Chef. Reyna ng Kusina. Kitchen’s Commander and Chief.

I believe she inherited it from our late grandfather, who prepared sumptuous meal for us way back. She started cooking when she was in elementary. Whatever type of meal she cooked, you’ll keep coming back for more food from her. Our Aunt was a subscriber of Del Monte Kitchenomics, instead of Tita would open first the envelope, Pao will do it. She’ll study the new recipe and will ask the consent of lolo and tita she can cook it, sometimes they allow her. Her best recipe ever---KARE-KARE!!!

5.     At home, she loves to save money, to do the budgeting and to plan ahead.

I bought her a notebook so that she can write there anything she wants. Instead of writing a Dearnotebook thing, filled with words, it’s actually bursting with numbers. She’s not an accountant and she didn’t even dream of becoming one. But, as she grows up and as she learns from the struggles that we went through, she turns out to be one-of- a-kind thrifty woman. She won’t buy unless it’s a need. But she’s so blessed to have a bunch of people loving her, that’s why there’ll be times when she comes up to me and I’d be surprise that she’s holding something.

“Ate, bigay ni _____...hohoho,” she happily stated. Or sometimes, she’s so charming that when she requests a gift to someone, that person won’t resist her plea and “tadah,” the gift will be on her hands or she’s already wearing it and parading the present. Hahaha

6.     The sound or resonant of a ‘meow” and an” arf” is pleasing to her ears.

When we were kids, each time somebody asked her what she wants to be when she grows up, she’ll answer rest assured, “A Veterinarian.” She loves different kinds of pets such as cat, dog, rabbit, and fish. She’s our pet’s mother. She never outgrows her love for them and would get affected when she sees an askal (asong kalye) or puskal (pusang kalye) dying or hurting. She was once a member of PAWS—an advocate for animal welfare, anyway she has her personal way of becoming an advocate still. She’s a fan on Born to be Wild and terribly admires Dr. Nelsen, a man of the hour. She doesn’t mind sleeping late just to watch it and know the newest info about animal extinction as well the policies on how’d they’d be protected. I also remember how she grieves and experience depression whenever her favorite pet dies.

Most importantly, she loves our golden dog, Jewel.

7.      Dora the explorer and Drew Arellano of Weekend Getaway combine them together sums up to Paolina, the weekend explorer.

She can’t stay home every weekend. She’s an outdoor chick. Who would know that this mestisa lady has a thick skin both literally and metaphorically? She loves to hike, kayak, and rock climb and do any extreme sports. We even both dream to join QTV 11’s weekend getaway… 

She’s a personified click the city.com (www.clickthecity.com) because once you ask her an uncharted territory; she has an answer right away.

She loves reading anything about travelling from an almanac down to a brochure.

“Ate, sa Sabado ha punta tayo sa _____,” she’ll surprisingly tell me.

But if we’re only here in the city, she loves to go to different places, whether a mall, a friend’s house, monumental park and historical places.

(Isn’t obvious???) 

8.     She’s a very thoughtful and creative lady.

She always remembers a friend celebrating a birthday. She’ll make sure that she a present to him or her, but if not, she’ll create her own greeting card filled with love and colors. She may not be as artistic as others are, but she creates the gift anyway. Sometimes, she’ll prepare a food or a mini surprise party to that blessed friend/s. 

Resourcefulness is what makes her imagination run widely and freely. 

 9.     One time, we went to Intramuros and a group of students practicing for theater stuff went to her and asked if she’s a celebrity.

Everyone, not just me is always amazed whenever a group of stranger will approach her and ask for a picture taking with her. But one time a group of students approached her and said, “Hi, ate ang ganda mo naman. Pwede ba kaming mag-papicture sa’yo?”  She was surprised but she still answered yes.

Madalas syang mapagkamalang artista at maraming beses na may mga nag-papapicture na kasama sya. Taga ko sa bato dadagsa ang magpapa-picture sa kanya on December, because she's Kerygma Mag's Cover girl...:)) She appreciates it deeply. :)

10. She‘s a fan of documentary films.

Some of our friends love English programs series, some are anime freak—but her, she loves watching documentary films. She can enumerate or even narrate easily a docu that she watched. Sometimes, it’d simply move her to act upon a certain topic. It widens her view about the world that she lives in to what the persona is experiencing in the docu.

She’s grateful because she has fortunate life. 

                                                                                         --30--

Photo by Luis Mariel Sendon