I watched a clip of Jessica Gee and Garrett Gee from The Bucket List Family where Jessica told Garrett that he is his best self when he’s around his best friends, Morgan and Alex. Garrett got emotional, and then he said something that stayed with me:
“I wish everyone had that… their childhood best friends all their lives. It’s like medicine. When I’m around them, we go back to being kids. The worries of the world go away, and we’re just… playful, joyful kids. And it’s always been that way.”
And it hit me.
I realized… I’m blessed enough to have that kind of friendship with a few people in my life.
And Yna and Terence are two of them.
We actually call each other “beshie,” but we don’t really label it as “best friends” (I dunno, ang cringe ata haha). But if I’m being real, they’re more than best friends to me, they’re family. And the funny thing is, even if we were high school classmates, our friendship didn’t really start in high school, it started after. Almost three decades ago (oo na, wag ka na mag-compute 😆).
Exactly one year ago, 1/3 of the “Three Monkeys” left the country to pursue opportunities abroad.
There was no clear plan. No timeline. We didn’t know if we’d see each other again after a few months… or much longer.
We drove Yna to the airport holding onto that hope, that things would stay the same. That this was just temporary. That we’d go back to our usual routines like nothing changed.
But God had other plans.
Yna found a job there… and life slowly started to take a different direction.
When she told us that she got the job and wouldn’t be coming back anytime soon, I cried hard that night (haha hindi nila alam ’to). I went quiet in our GC. I didn’t know how to react. I think I didn’t even open it for three days.
I won’t lie, it was difficult to adjust at first. I built a quiet routine around our Sundays. Those simple afternoons that didn’t feel like anything big but somehow meant everything.
But hey, we’re adults.
We learn to let each other grow, even if it means growing apart geographically. We support. We stay. Even miles apart.
I’m blessed to have a few solid circles of friends, pero bilang lang talaga sa daliri yung nasa “elite circle” (naks 😌). And Yna and Terence are part of that.
They’re my ride or die.
They’re the kind of people who have seen every version of me… sick, tired, lost, hopeful, and everything in between. The good, the bad, the messy, and the in-progress. And through all of it, they stayed anyway. Walang filter, walang pressure (ay… minsan may pressure pala 😂). Just… presence.
For Terence,
You may not always be the calm in the chaos (ikaw pa nga minsan unang nagpapanic 😂), but in your own way, you’ve always been someone we can rely on. You naturally take on that “kuya” role, especially when it’s just the three of us. Ikaw yung paalala nang paalala na mag-ingat, yung taga-check kung okay ba kami, and somehow, also the extrovert we push forward whenever we need to ask strangers for directions (kahit ayaw mo minsan haha).
Yung tipong kahit walang grand gestures, you show up in ways that matter. There’s a quiet loyalty in you that makes people feel safe, like no matter what happens, you’ll be there. And I think that’s rare.
Of course, we’ve also seen your “tito era” in full force this past year. Moody, madaling magbago ang isip, maiksi ang pasensya, mainipin (complete package 😌). But I guess that’s part of getting old este growing up too. And through all of that, one thing never changed… you’re still that same loyal, dependable friend we’ve always known.
And I may not say this often, but I’m really proud of you! How you’re quietly building your future, making smart choices, and setting yourself up for what’s ahead.
Thank you for being that constant.
For Yna,
You’ve always been the quiet strength among us, the referee whenever Terence and I clash 😂. You have this calm way of holding space, of listening first before speaking, and somehow bringing us back to balance without making it a big deal.
You’re a silent warrior. You don’t always show what you’re going through, and you tend to carry things on your own. That’s why it means so much to me whenever you choose to be vulnerable with us. Because in those moments, I get to see a deeper, more human side of you (hindi ka pala mutant, charot 😆).
For the longest time, you’ve been someone who quietly takes care of others, who shows up for the people you love without asking for anything in return. So, seeing you choose yourself this past year, your “ako naman” era, means so much. And while I miss you here, I’m so proud of you for choosing and prioritizing yourself.
You may not have perfect pitch when you sing, and your dance moves don’t always follow the beat (sorry na beshie, hindi mo talaga hawak ang beat 😂), but I miss how you bring a certain kind of rhythm into our friendship. You have this gentle presence that makes everything feel lighter, calmer, more grounded.
Thank you for showing us that strength doesn’t always have to be loud. Sometimes, it’s quiet, steady, and deeply rooted. And through you, I’ve learned that growth sometimes means letting go and trusting that the people who matter will never really leave.
What pushed me to write this?
I don’t know.
Maybe it’s because it’s their birthday month. Maybe I miss them a little extra this month. April used to mean trips, laughter, shared meals, and celebrating life together. We can’t do that now, not the same way, at least.
But I’ve come to realize… maybe that’s the beauty of it.
Things change. Life moves. People move.
But some friendships?
They don’t fade.
They become something steadier. Something quieter. Something that feels like home, no matter how far you are.
I don’t know what the future holds. But one thing I’m sure of is this:
No matter where life takes us, I will always find my way back to that feeling, the kind that only Yna and Terence bring.
The kind that feels like home.
Haynakooo.
Happy birthday mga beshie!💖
#monkeysforlife 🙉🙈🙊
Follow your star! 