Wednesday 3 April 2013

flip & hebe


I am re-posting a birthday treat from my long-time buddy and my spirit animal, Benny, whose most evident trait I  recently discovered, is that of a liar:


FLIP and HEBE
by benny



Bebsy is this beautiful chick I met during my formative years living in Manila.  It’s not what you think.  She is an old buddy who remains constant in my life tho we live in different cities, different countries.  We have this unorthodox kinship, as she provides me every now and then bits of wisdom (she’s 3 years older therefore she thinks she’s some Jedi Master) and entertainment with hilarious anecdotes of her sit-com of a life. 

I quoted her many twisted and perverse views on social issues, and re-posted her own warped versions of world history which in my estimation has received the most number of comments on my blog. 

In the middle of our recent discussion about the ongoing case of Oscar Pistorius, Bebsy designated me as key eulogy speaker at her funeral service.  (She has this habit of jumping from one topic to another mid-conversation, saying something completely off topic sans warning nor smooth transition,  expecting you to keep up and respond.)

Mean, wicked people, for the most part, live long evil lives, unless of course you’re Hitler or Osama Bin Laden.  Although Bebsy believes 45 is when she kicks the bucket, considering the true nature of the way her bizarre evil mind works and the hedonistic life she led in her mid to late 20s (to which I have been a witness of) this woman will outlive us all. 

I am going off the cuff today and dedicate an entire blog post to Bebsy, my emblematic life travelling companion, and show you, my readers, how our pure platonic and almost dysfunctional relationship, that is of a heterosexual male and a heterosexual half-female (a part of her brain is all-dude) works.   I mean, I do adore her and all, but it’s not something I tell her cos she gets all emotional and shit.

See, it’s her birthday today. I will try to be non-revealing and eulogize my buddy, one who I believe is the lovechild produced from of an orgy amongst Naomi Campbell (her mouth!), Larry David  and Sylvia Plath with Lena Dunham watching on the sideline.

1.     In our younger years, Bebsy and I had a dream of getting our own travel show aptly called Flip & Hebe (Filipino and Hebrew).  Genius, right? Picture Lonely Planet’s Ian Wright as a duo.   Somewhere in my apartment is a notebook detailing episodes of lost cities & cultures we’d visit and document.  We would have killed.  It was a bloody brilliant concept.  It is important that this is the first thing I mention in my eulogy.  Her death notwithstanding, I have not given up on that dream.

2.    Bebsy and I met at a bar owned by her first boyfriend.  My buddies and I frequented that bar, located near the International School where I had worked.  She would come in to occasionally hang out or help wait tables.
She never gives this historical fact to anyone.  She’s long obliterated the memory of that Ex and she thinks that giving the story that we met at a bar makes her cheap and desperate.  (her views always are off base)

My buddy Alejandro pined for her longingly.  Like most regulars at the bar, he was a foreigner. A native Honduran living in Manila.  After 3 shots of whisky he would romanticize Bebsy’s exotic beauty and hounded her to no end to run away with him to Lisbon and raise a family.  She shone in the tender light of his gruff adoration, but she always responded with a funny comeback.  She never took him seriously, never thought of herself as the beautiful and sensuous woman Alejandro saw her for.  Unbeknownst to her, she was his first love.  She broke the poor guy's heart.  It’s my all-time favorite memory of Ironmike's.

3.     On top of our travel show, a mutual love for the same music and mutual hatred for the same politicos, Bebsy and I bonded over books.  We shared a collection of Maugham, Camus and Salinger.  We both identified with Holden Caulfield and upped one another with Catcher in the Rye quotes.  Man, we sounded like pretentious assholes.

When she broke up with the Ex, she wrote me a beautifully written account of the bitter break-up.  I couldn't care less what happened, but through that email I discovered her flair for writing.  In my otherwise drab life that year I got excited.  Like a parent who suddenly discovers that his child has an innate ability to fly.  Not quite, but close.  

I continue to encourage her to write.  I made her set up a blog.  What is penned on extra rice, please does not even scratch the surface of her gift.  She is just too lazy to write and hone her craft. (Genius of a blog title, I may add, because it was MY idea; it's her perennial request over a Filipino meal.)

Our friendship flourished because of many hours talking about existential and absurdist bullshit over mojitos, exotic meals and many email exchanges over the years;  some were filled with great life secrets and regrets, most of the time with profanity-induced nonsense.  She is honest and raw with the written word.  You see her true self when she speaks through her pen.  

4.     Bebsy’s potentially intimidating confidence, (one part Zen-stillness, another part her large, bored-looking, judgemental eyes) is undercut by her warm sweet sincere smile, a discrepancy that can be disconcerting.

She looks like an evil bitch at first glance.  It’s her height not very common for Filipinos, that protruding mouth, her face that looks like she’s criticizing you and letting you know she’d rather be some place else, when all she’s doing really is recalling what she ate for breakfast that’s making her stomach upset. 

The secret to her social success is that she’s genuinely interested – not in all subjects, but certainly in all people.  She enjoys listening to people’s stories, always asking questions without false enthusiasm and nosiness.  She finds valuable lessons in people's experiences.  She does not fake it.  That’s how charming she can be and why people generally get smitten with her. 

My girlfriend Holly was initially not impressed with Bebsy when I’d talk about my life in Manila.  “I don’t trust that one.  She’s up to no good.” 
Ten minutes into their first meeting, the 2 were deconstructing ‘Talented Mr. Ripley’ and cackling in laughter while sharing travel experiences to Sorrento, Italy.  Holly understands my connection with Bebsy, and until most recently actually appreciates it.

5.     In a social setting, I always have a looming dark cloud over my head and Bebsy is little miss sunshine personified.  I am the freak at a party, finding solace in the corner and people watching with my warm beer.  She was my social crutch and my secret weapon to a lot of party obligations in the 90’s.  I can never articulate her brand of humour.  It's dark, self-deprecating most of the time, affiliative yet aggressive especially around close friends.   She finds comedy in any situation, and I have to honestly say, that is one of her greatest traits. 

I am astounded with the infinite supply of trivial information she keeps in her head.  It's annoying.  She has vast knowledge of films, books, music, theatre, history and different cultures that it makes me thrilled when she has the occasional mental blackout.   She speaks in movie quotes and bursts into song even at the most inappropriate times.

6.     Ironically, when she's affectionate towards someone, she could be mean-spirited, overly critical and potty-mouthed.   This is her tender self to her treasured lot: people whom she holds dear in her life, those she lovingly calls Ass, Nerd, Douche, Idiot and Bastard; the very few people who understand her bordering-on-psycho yet comical way of showing how she cares and loves.

With our little group of 2, she monopolizes conversations.  I give her a story of my terrible bout with stomach flu, she would cut me off and text a photo of a spot on her neck.  
“Im glad you’re better.  But check out that mole.  You think it’s cancerous?”
I give slightly more of a free pass to her, since she is constantly surrounded with loud, demanding people in her life, seeking her attention and service 24/7.  

On the phone I listen to her complain or talk about whatever mundane issue she needs to get off her chest, compelling me to robotically say “Uh-huh” or “no kidding” while focusing intently on a game on tv.  
On video chat,  as I seek her advise about a fight with Holly, she gazes at me with the most sympathetic look of concern, meanwhile off camera, she’s texting a friend about a recent episode of Dexter or Breaking Bad.
  
That’s how we roll. We are aware how we bullshit each other with our listening skills, but the fact is, a simple nod or "uh-huh" is enough for us both.

7.     At the risk of sounding like a wuss, Bebsy scares me when she’s angry.  She is quiet. She is never confrontational.  She gets intensely mad when she feels abused and disrespected and when this happens, she walks away.  Disappears.  A massive character flaw, I'd always say.  She has her own way of dealing with anger which involves her being isolated and alone.  

We've had our share of dare-I-say 'girly fights' and with me, she has always managed to verbalize what upsets her.  What I did wrong.  What I should've done.  What big dick I was.  She is relentless.  Guilty or not, I still feel at fault and find myself having a great need to apologize.  Seeing her hurt is the last thing anybody would want.  That’s her genius.  And I hate her for it. 

8.     We are not a mushy duo. I’ve seen Bebsy cry many times. But she makes it look so comical  that it's hard to take her seriously. In most cases, I would shake her, turn her inside out and make her realize she’s wasting both our times. Then I’d feel a need to give her a good smack in the head.  Seriously.  

One time tho she let out a soft, silent sob.  One that she didn’t want me to see.  That was very painful and heartbreaking to watch.  I was bewildered and saddened by the bad hand life has dealt her during that difficult time, and when I saw her that vulnerable right before my eyes, my inherent reaction was to say nothing, just be present and hold her hand.

That’s the thing about Bebsy.  One moment you want to wring her neck or smack her in the head, the next moment you want to take care of her and reassure her that you’ll never leave her side.

9.     She sends text messages about almost everything:  photos of her injured body parts, questions she can easily Google but too lazy to do on her own.  She sends messages so confusing they are actually meant for someone else. 

I complained about this manic texting once, and when she stopped, I found myself strangely missing it, missing her. Because her family and her very close circle of friends are all geographically out of her reach, it's her way of protecting the linkage.  In her mind these random texts are her way of saying ‘I’m thinking of you. I'm making an effort to keep this relationship going. I value your response. So respond, Godammit.”  

She complains about sending expensive international texts but has no problem calling me in Madrid from her cellular phone in Toronto to read a whole David Sedaris essay she thought was so funny.  (FYI Nothing is funny at 3am when you’re doing your damnest to adjust to local time by sleeping soundly. So I don't think it was unreasonable for me to be un-amused. Sweet Jesus.) 

10.    She is never big-headed about her real remarkable talents (she's cunning & smart, puts the CakeBoss to shame &  has the voice of an angel), but very arrogant about the ones she clearly does not possess.

I’m very intuitive, she boasts.  No, she’s not.  

I know what people are thinking.  No, she doesn’t.  

I’m a wiz at Math.  Algebra, yes, she proved that one time, but Basic Arithmetic, hell no. Tell her your birth year, ask what your age is, her response,"Fuck.... Math."

I am a great basketball player.  No one can prove this.  No one has seen her play, not even Hans Smit, her own university phys ed teacher.  (She bribed him with hard-to-find imported smokes so she didn’t have to go through a whole trimester of gym!)

11.     She is the sweetest and kindest friend any man can ever have.  That, I can attest to.  She is thoughtful, selfless, loyal and trust worthy.  She's like a big kid, really.  She remembers birthdays and knows her friends’ mothers’ first names.  She has this unique calming personality that makes everybody feel comfortable around her, making  people she's just met feel like they're long lost friends.   
She genuinely cares.  Her kindness is beyond compare.   She would take a bullet for people she loves the way she would do for her own children.  The truth is, no one is like her.
  
Bebsy is the only person I can truthfully talk to and be myself without a shred of shame.  We share our failures and victories, I confide in her the secrets of my heart, and with each other, we are transparent. With her, I can stand in the honest truth of who I am, without any tinge of judgment from her, and that is the gift she continually gives me in life. The great gift anyone can get by simply being her friend.

It’s pretty cool that I have a buddy like that who just happens to be a chick, you know?


Happy birthday B.  
Love ya pal.
Ben


our last photo tog in an NYC cab





21 comments:

  1. SPOT. ON!!!! I love Benny!
    (you ARE intuitive, bebs. lol)
    Post photos of your bday dinner with the girls?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 'a chick that I met in Manila' !?!?!? Ive been reduced to a chick. Dafuq?!?!?!

      Delete
  2. Owww, girls and boys can be friends....<3

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  3. Belated Happy Birthday, Bebsy! Lovely eulogy. :-D

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dissertation? Hahaha! Nice one, Ben!
    Bebsyyyy! Kamusta?
    ~Robbie S

    PS. ironmikes was the BEST!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hoy Robbie!!!
      Pambihira... where have u been?
      Ikaw, kamusta ka na?

      ya, ironmikes was pretty cool. lots of memories. :-)

      Delete
    2. Eto, mataba. ikaw, sexy as ever? wasaaap! haha

      Uy si Alejandro daw bibisita jan sa yo. Naku yare. Si subas buhay na buhay pa, darleng!

      Robbie

      Delete
    3. HAHAHAHA! Skuh-reee! hahaha.
      Uy, anukaba. Mabait yun noh? Matalino pa.

      Delete
  5. Re-posted as is? I am very impressed.

    Robbie!! Dude! Wus-hapnin?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lies, lies, all lies!!!!!
      I deleted 'self-absorbed', you ass.
      But I love you for the time and effort you put in to this. Will send you back revised copy tho.
      Salamat Ben. Love u too.

      Delete
    2. After 20 years great to know things have not changed. :)

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. Ya like? We shot a pilot! On Sony betamax!!

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    2. oh god! betamax! hahaha

      Delete
  7. Awesome! The duo is still alive and rocking it! Thanks Ben for hooking me up to Bebsy's site!
    Ironmikes people need to get tog somewhere soon! Those were FUUUN times!

    Bebsygirl. I miss you most. remember when you lectured Abel on proper English subject and verb agreement. haha. That was wicked. Hope mommyhood is treatin ya well.

    David

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DAVID! Jos mio! Howve you been? Ya... poor Abel. Those drunk Agustinians kept making fun of him. Remember? I told Mike to take pictures of them drinking and send it to their parents. hahaha.

      Got 2 little ones. They keep me busy. Yes, we should do something about getting tog one of these days bef we all turn old n gray. Dude. I still think of you sometimes when I see KFC. hahahaha. Goodness. Good times!

      Delete
  8. My gosh! Robbie! David! Benny! Bebsygirl! Ironmikes gang! where are the others?

    Bebs, this is so nice. But also very Benny to do a sweet gesture packaged in his usual gloom and doom! HAHAHA. Thanks for the link, Ben!

    Bebsygirl, i just messaged you. Pls PM me your deets. Im based in Alberta now but I travel to Toronto for work. We MUST see each other soon. The gap is way too long. I miss your big laugh!
    Love,
    LISA T

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa Tsang!!! Kamusta? Yes, we need to get tog ASAP! I miss our banana-q runs! haha. awww.

      Delete
  9. Sweet friendship!

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  10. When was that photo taken? Youlook like Bebsy's second head, bro! ha!
    that's one long eulogy... i would already hit the buffet..
    Seb

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