My good friend Armando is the genuine article. I met him on my first day of law school. I didn't know nobody else and I'm not the character who'd start talking to strangers in a strange place the minute I got there. When I started law school, I didn't intend to have new friends or in the coloquial, barkada--I already have a whole bunch of them stashed away. I was hell bent on going to school, studying my ass off, and then going home so that in a few years, I'd be a kick-ass lawyer. Along with this tall, dark guy, whose exact facial features or surname I can't recall at this moment (though I remember his first name and alma mater; Mike and UPLB, respectively), Mandy started talking to me and even though I can't fucking remember the contents of that conversation, or determine if the same was significant or not, that was the beginning of our friendship. Frankly, I have never met someone like Mandy before. He made his bones when I was six (6) years old. He sent himself to high school while working as a greasy gasoline boy at the same time sharing in the support of his family. While baking donuts for donut giant DD, he clawed his way to college. While working for a lawyer as a para-legal cum legal researcher cum Doctor (ng affidavits, etc.) he propulsed himself into law school. Now he's finally on his fourth (4th) year and I know for sure that soon he'll be more of a lawyer than many of those I know who have already taken their own oaths. He could've been my batch-mate if he hadn't taken a LOA (leave of absense) during our first year because he had this health issue back then. What more can you ask, he's already geezer. Hell, he's a college batch-mate of Atty. Espina, out professor of Constitutional Law I. A few years more and he'll be eligible for a discount card in buses, movie houses and drug stores. Nevertheless, the Armando I know won't stoop down to such travesty. He won't ever apply for a senior citizen card, and neither will I--if I live that long. Mandy's bible is The Godfather by Mario Puzo and his National Hero is Nardong Putik. I think he's one of the few who'd actually agree with me if I say "those who eat shit eat shit because they like to eat shit." He's one of the best friends I've made in law school if not the best, and I'll treasure his friendship until San Miguel stops selling beer, or even longer than that. I'm proud of this guy because he's living proof that free will exists. He continously wills himself to become a made man. He's on the way there, I think (and pray--though unlike me, Mandy doesn't believe in prayers, thinking it's foolish). He's alright, he's one of us, he's a good fella.
My good friend Renato is a saint. I've never met a man who's genuinely morally upright who'd want something to do with the likes of me. He's a straight shooter, much like how Chief Justice Puno or Ghandi is a straight shooter. He doesn't shoot the bull too much and he's really an intelligent man, after me, of course. Since he's my batch-mate and co-conspirator with our operation caochings during the exercise of law professors of what is called the Socratic Method, we've grown to be the closest of friends during law school. So close, that some people (those who don't know us too well, and those who are stupid as jars of clay) mistake one for the other. Ato has always been the one who stopped me (or at least tried to) whenever I decided to translate a stupid plan or idea of mine into actuality. And I'm the one who reminded him constantly to be careful with all the girls he flirts with in law school as he and his ex-girlfriend (who's now his wife) Joji were already soon to be married back then. We were partners both in crime and in acquittal. In fact, we already formed our law firm (JALO = Jorge and Ato Law Office "Mura na, Sure win pa") while we were in law school, me and him as partners, and the class valedictorian, Atty. Mary Ann Reyes, as our secretary. LOL. He and I had lots of fun in law school, as much as one could have there, anyway. Seriously, if I'd really have a partner in a law firm someday, he's still number one on my list. Though I seriously doubt if he has the cojones to do the things that have to be done whatever the cost, it's all gonna be fine because he's a person who lived his life so he wouldn't have to sully his hands with blood and dirt. I see him as someone who'd be right there with me when the family finally disappears into the legal fabric of society on the forthcoming retreat to civility. He's alright, he's one of us, he's a good fella.
Ato and Mandy are two very different animals, but they too are friends and I am just a person who's glad to have known them as a friend. After all, friendship is more valuable than most of the things in this world.
Then there's my cousin Carlo Noel, who's more like a brother to us (Me, David, and Marco) than a cousin. He's the second son of the Godfather, Don Marcelino. He's growing up to be a true Qualificato (qualified man). That tells it all though. For the family is the only thing more important than friendship. He's alright, he's one of us, he's a good fella.
