April

Women, they say, are most physically attractive when they’re in their late 20s and early 30s. Natalie Portman easily comes to mind as an example. This is the time of maturity for many in terms of physique, career, romance, and well-being. (If you’re 28 and you still baby talk in social media, perhaps you’re a sad case of under-development.)

One person I know of, though, has been beautiful ever since I’ve known her. She just announced her having a baby, and I’m blogging about her because I almost missed the big news.

I’m talking about a fellow Comm Arts graduate and staff of UPLB Perspective, April.

April’s smile sets a room aglow. 

She’s one of those girls back in college enviable for sex appeal and graciousness. The university newspaper office would swell in envy whenever a bunch of expensive-looking flowers would come from her then suitor, now husband. 

April wasn’t born in April, but her personality brings about the promises and warmth of summer (I was about to say spring, but using that metaphor in this country is just not fit).

Whenever we would enter the office, and hear the Hanson roaring “rooool the wiiindows down” we know April is on the desk happily typing her draft by the window. If she’s high, I mean, hormones high, she would sing with the brothers while snapping and clapping her hands and swaying in her chair. She loves being in love.

Cause Penny and me like to roll the windows down 
Turn the radio up, push the pedal to the ground 
And Penny and me like to gaze at starry skies 
Close our eyes, pretend to fly 
It’s always Penny and me tonight

Our boys in the [P] newspaper office (and Comm Arts bloc – where she’s called ‘Delamar’) are so fond of her, they don’t like her being hurt or sad because it’s so easy to detect if there’s something wrong with bubbly April.

I think April is beautiful to everyone in our batch not because of her handsomely ‘architectured’ nose or Middle Eastern eyes deep with a gypsy gaze but because she’s a well of kindness from within.

She used to have this habit of calling people in full names, as if saying, I know you well, you. Even after graduation: one time, I was walking, almost running in a mall, she called me by my full name in full blast, I looked around and saw the familiar pearly white smile, and thought, why does the beautiful April have to see me in my haggard-est look – but she’d rather exchange chika than judge people’s looks.

Her love life was no secret because people like to talk about ridiculously beautiful life forms. Later in our busy college life, her acting was talked about when she played a role in Rashomon -was it? – and she’s being asked, where have you been (hiding your talent)?

Dumb blonde, she’s not. In our Communication classes, she’s part of the alpha girls who are pro-active and diligent, very vocal, reciting sensible thoughts and asking the right questions. Her arch of an eyebrow would shoot up for two reasons: she’s deep in her thoughts about the theories or concepts being discussed, or, she doesn’t understand what the fuck the professor is saying.

Last December she was married to her long-time boyfriend BJ, another ridiculously handsome guy (at least our gay friends think). When April announced that they’re having a baby, I felt happy for humanity who will be blessed I’m sure with beautiful genes. How do you congratulate friends with bumps? Happy gestation?