halfwhiteboy

As Instagram roared its way into the social media seen, we've seen a barrage of food porn and "selfies." But before all this, we were pretty much happy with our old phones's arcane versions of filters and frames, though we may not have played with them as often since, of course, they just stayed in our phones for want of a proper venue for sharing. Today My Bibe and I are celebrating our 8th year together, so this Throwback Thursday post is an ode to those days of us taking our own photos together--our selfies of old, if you may--when they just stayed in our mobile phones for our own private viewing pleasure. The time has come to upload them. Caramoan on April 11, 2006 It was already such fun then playing with all those silly graphics.

What a coincidence that Valentine's falls on a Thursday this year! And I've just got the perfect Throwback Thursdays post for this week. Exactly nine years ago today -- yes, Valentine's -- I first met the love of my life , My Bibe. It wasn't a date or anything fancy but rather it was inside a jeepney on a very bumpy ride to the Mt Pulag ranger station. It was a mountaineering expedition. We instantly hit it as friends, chatting and sharing stories during socials amid the near-freezing temperatures atop the mountain. The following day after our descent, we had our very first photo taken -- and the only one with just the two of us. We were filthy and our shoes were full of mud. We were simply ourselves. And to My Bibe, here's a little something I wrote for you:

Time flies. It only seems like not too long ago when My Bibe and I first met on Valentine's in 2004. And now we're celebrating our 7th year together. What about the seventh year itch? I say give it a good scratch. Trust me, it'll feel so good after. To the most wonderful woman in the world, my partner and the love of my life, here's to more love, to many, many more prosperous, healthy and happy years together! Our first year together. We celebrated with a simple dinner at Bizu.

Today marks a special day for someone most dear to me - My Bibe. This day is a celebration of her entry into this not-so-perfect world, without which, I wouldn't be with her right now to begin with. Without which I would be denied of the privilege of meeting her, of getting to know her, of witnessing how wonderful a person she is. Without which I wouldn't be this blessed to love and be loved by someone so selfless and with such a big heart. Without which I wouldn't have met my partner for life. One of my favorite photos of My Bibe, this was taken in Mt. Mabanban back in January 2005 when both of us were still active in mountaineering. I borrowed someone else's camera to take this snapshot. Even in the least ideal of all circumstances - sun, heat and sweat while trekking - she truly is the glamazon that she is. And this photo says it all. My Bibe is a gift. When I was pretty much coasting along life with no definite purpose, she afforded me a sense of direction...

This post is a day late but still. Seven years ago on Valentine's I met My Bibe Kwittiegirl for the first time. We were seated across each other at the rear end of one of several jeepneys en route to Mt. Pulag in Benguet. I was with an officemate (whom she thought was my girlfriend), she was with a photographer. It was chilly and still dark, and we all tried to snooze amid the bumpy and uncomfortable ride. As daylight became more prominent, we started talking. Nothing special. Stops. Orientation. Meals. Trek. Set camp. Fast-forward to socials after dinner: we were seated next to each other, talking, downing shots of gin in between. We learned from each other of our mutual interest in writing. She joined the climb expedition to write a piece for our company's employee magazine. She asked me to take over writing chores and I obliged (geez, I still cringe at the memory of that article smothered in adjectives!). At about 3 or 4 in the morning we went for the summit. She...