“Rhoda, why aren’t you allowing Gem to come with us to watch Insiang at CCP?”
There’s no mistaking. The voice on the other end belongs to Carmen ‘Baby’ Prieto.
When she called, I had just finished talking to Gem, and told her - no, she couldn’t go with Tita Carmen, Paul and Tetris to CCP. My reason was simple: I didn’t want her to take the MRT alone in going to Tita Carmen’s house in Makati. And though Gem assured me that Tetris and Paul would wait for her at the Buendia station where she would be getting off, still, the idea of having her ride the train alone amid the many unpleasant train stories I have heard frightened me.
I told Tita Carmen my reason.
“But I already bought four tickets. Now, why doesn’t Paul just go back to their condo to fetch her?” Tita Carmen suggested.
So Gem had a blast last weekend. After watching Insiang at CCP, they had dinner at an Italian restaurant at the Fort, which was, again - Tita Carmen’s treat.
Tita Carmen is about to dig in for dessert while Paul waits for his turn.
Tita Carmen is not our relative. She was the official escort of the Dagupan-Milpitas Sisterhood Student Exchange Program delegation that went on a study tour to California last May of 2006. Paul, Gem and Tetris were part of said group. Prior to this student exchange trip, my daughter and I were not really acquainted with Tita Carmen, although she was then acting as the Chairman of the National Heritage Commission in Dagupan City. However, Paul’s mom, Rose Teng Mejia and Tita Carmen are old friends.
Are you getting confused? hehe. Okay, to illustrate more clearly, read on:
Gem - my daughter
Paul - Gem’s classmate in elementary, high school and now in college at Enderun Colleges.
Tita Carmen - former chairman of National Heritage Commission in Dagupan City and official escort of the student delegation that went to the US last May 2006. Paul, Gem and Tetris were in this delegation.
Tetris - Tita Carmen’s teenage daughter. During their stay in the US, she and Gem became close friends.
Rose Teng Mejia - Paul’s mom and friend of Tita Carmen. Rose was also my classmate and dorm mate at UP Baguio.
Now, why did I need to do the above illustration? I just want to point out here that the social network we are all in is a web of relationships where we get tangled and untangled. We weave in; then weave out; then weave in again… and so on.
But what the heck. My main point in this entry is just to say THANK YOU, MADAM CARMEN ‘BABY’ PRIETO for taking along my daughter last weekend to CCP, dinner and overnight stay in your home. You are such an amazing woman. I had admired you all this time, especially when you drove all the way from San Francisco to Los Angeles and then to Las Vegas and back again to San Francisco just so the 12 student delegates could experience a real US trip. That, I should say - is in essence - what ‘going the extra mile’ truly means.
Cheers and God bless! 
Now that is kind! There should be more people around like Tita Carmen! Looks like a wonderful person.
How nice of Tita Carmen. Is she the same person who arranged for Andrea Boccelli to come and perform at Araneta Coliseum?
Hi, Sidney! Yes she is, no doubt.
I’m afraid not, Eric. You must be thinking of socialite Rosemarie ‘Baby’ Arenas whose daughter Rachel was recently elected as representative in one of Pangasinan’s districts. hehehe.
Thanks, Eric!
Natawa ako bigla dun sa list of characters mo.
Hehehe. Para akong sumusulat ng play, ano, Richmond?
Wow. Hope I’ll meet someone like her din
Tita, dapat sanayin mo na rin si Gem to take the MRT train by herself para maging independent din siya kahit sa pagsakay lang ng mrt train. I know there are stories na nakakatakot about the train pero kailangan din niyang ma-”train” para matuto hehe
pareho pala kayo ni mama though i can’t blame you mommies 
that is so nice of Tita Carmen! am sure Gem was extremely happy when you allowed her to go.
yong anak kong medyo pasaway drove 5 hours just to visit her friends at a different university, without my knowledge. of course, i found out and discouraged her from going again because not only it was expensive on gas, it was dangerous for her driving alone.
Oh, ok. But is Tita Carmen somehow related to the Prieto who is very much into high fashion, including avant-garde couture (and lives in Forbes Park)? There was also a Prieto pelota player, if I remember correctly, at Manila’s Jai-Alai Fronton.
Nonetheless, I think it’s rather astounding that Rachel holds a public office in Pangasinan. Talk about 7 degrees of separation.
Hi Rhodora!! Your Tita Carmen is such a wonderful soul. Parang sarap maging pamangkin niya…hehehe
BTW, the MRT isn’t as scary as it seems. I take it whenever I need to go Makati ng madalian. It helps, though, that I live 5 minutes from the North Edsa station so I can catch it from there. Lalo na ngayon, andyan na ang Trinoma mall.The MRT suddenly seems friendlier tuloy
Mica, you don’t have to look far. I’m here! hahaha.
Okay, don’t worry. Hinay hinay lang. Ayoko munang biglain si Gem. But I’m sure she will soon learn to be on her own in Manila. I don’t want her to be too sheltered either.
Ay, Belle, really - she was so happy as in - she said thank you to me a million times. hehehe.
Your daughter must be a very adventurous person.
Eric, I think you are referring to Tessa Prieto-Valdes, a known socialite, and yes, much into high fashion. Okay, I will ask Tita Carmen about her.
With Rachel Arenas - well, they own a farm in Malasiqui town in Pangasinan, and though not a real resident there - that property became her passport in seeking for a Congressional seat in Pangasinan’s 3rd district. In fairness though - she is one brilliant, eloquent lady, a Harvard graduate to boot.
Kongkong, kaya nga nakiki-Tita rin ako sa kanya, e. hehehe.
I think I just got overwhelmed by the ugly MRT stories I heard before. Maybe in time, my daughter will learn to commute on her own around Metro Manila through the train or jeepney or bus. Thanks for the tip!
Tita Carmen is a terrific woman, for sure! It’s hard to find someone as dedicated as her.
(:
Yes, Kyels. How true.
Hmm, what happened to my comment? Anyways, what I said was that you will have to learn to let go sooner or later. You can’t just keep her cooped up in her condo unit. Kailangan masanay din siya sa labas…
I know, Sngl, I know! Kaya lang, ang hirap!
your tita carmen reminds me of my choir teacher whom we fondly call Ma’am Viloria, she is also into preservation of cultures and she runs a heritage museum here in Cabanatuan. she ain’t my relative but i am very fond of her kindness such that i call her my adoptive lola. it is really great to encounter such kind and wonderful person in our lifetime.
Yes, indeed, Lawstude. There are times we meet people who play significant roles in our lives. Kahit di kamag-anak, parang pamilya na rin ang turing, di ba?
Haha! I was also going to ask if she’s related to that Tessa Prieto.
Thanks fo Tita Carmen for helping your daughter. I guess that friend of a friend thing is like a six-degrees of seperation thingy?
Hi Rhoda,
A late welcome back here. Galeng naman you have a tita Carmen to watch over Gem. Oh let me drop another Prieto clan from Baguio who had a nice place along Burnham Park …any relation with them si tita Carmen? Good news i saw a multiply page about VW club of Baguio. hehehe sale ako doon when i get back there.
Right you are. The six/seven degrees of separation it is. Di ba mahilig tayong mga Pinoy sa - “ang apo ng apo ng kapatid ng ng lola ng kapitbahay” thingy? hehe.
Thanks for visitin, Ferdz.
Hi, Joe! Musta?
What I know is that Tita Carmen does have a house in Baguio. I will ask her about the Prieto clan along Burnham Park next time I see her.
Oh, cool! Bilisan mo nang umuwi para maging bug buddy na kayo ni hubby. hehe. They have an upcoming bug show/run/contest again next month.
Yup, networks and affiliations can be so complicated you get lost in the maze. My eyes tend to glaze when i listen to how A is related to B who’s connected to C who’s linked to D ad infinitum.
But I love to get connected too to the Tita Carmens of the world and Ate Rhodas of the world.
Wy can’t I comment on your Oct. 14 post?
Yes, networks and affiliations can be so complicated. My eyes tend to glaze when I listen to talk about the maze of relationships.
But I lvoe to be connected with the Tita Carmens and Ate Rhodas of this world.
Why can’t I comment on your oct 14 post?
Ay, syanga pala, its terrific you’re back to our b-network!
Waaah. This is the third comment i am trying to send. And I am being blocked as a spam.
Wanted to say I am also confused with the maze of networks but I love to be connected with the Ate Carmens of this world.
Anna, my dear friend! Sorry, napag -tripan ka ng Spam eater ko. hehehe.
Talaga - hirap kung minsan i-trace mga connections ng mga tao, but these connections can be of great help sometimes, di ba?
It’s nice to build network of friends. A friend as sweet and kind as Carmen is a blessing.
Yes, Rachel, I agree with you.