Soul Sisters

She's one of those girls you would find inside the library doing a real research. She laughs at almost anything. She has a very deep opinion about love and sex. She is my alter-ego: my own sister.

Dindi Sagario Yu was born on February 15, 1984 in our house in Pasig City. She was the Black Buddha because she was reddish, shiny black. She had this Jaya lips that we tease aside from her very popular GMA mole beside her nose. We never really expected that she'd become the woman she is right now.

We were both weaklings. We had weak lungs. Dextrose was our very bestfriend. Mama had no choice but to shave her hair — yes, G.I. Jane shave — because of the allergies in her scalp. She was a very clumsy little child. It is a mystery up to now as to why it's always her head that bumped on almost all of the objects she happened to hold or walk through. She was also a very silent child. She never complained about anything she felt. I will never forget when Mama told us that when she was still a toddler, she sat silently at one corner of our small house. Mama was looking for her and when she found Dindi, Dindi was delirious with high fever. She tried to keep everything to herself. That story never failed to make me cry. Just imagine a child, around 3 to 5 years old, trying to fight influenza by being alone.

Then she started studying. As a nursery student, and a year younger at that, she was very timid and inactive. She'd just wait for uwian because Mama or Papa or whoever would be available would pick her up. She wanted her alone time at home. She transferred to where I was studying, Prince n' Princess Grade School. Same routine for her, only more interesting because she got to know more things. She had more books to read and classmates to compete with. For her, as a kid, competition is like the usual games little children play in the damp streets of Pasig City.

One day, she went home quiet as usual. She talked to Mama about something her teacher wanted our mom to do: a valedictory speech. Dindi was the same as everyday, expressionless. She just told my mom to make a speech for her graduation which was less than a week hence. Mama was shocked and happy. Dindi had no idea what she just did at school, and what honor it just brought to our humble home. She was all and the same: no care to the world.

She is not autistic. It's just that she's so quiet she doesn't know that she has a lot of things to brag about. She started grade school with almost perfect to perfect scores bagged with everyday quizzes and examinations. She joined quiz bees and declamation contests. Only one instance made her cry, and that one instance she never forgets… until now.

She was in Grade Two. If I am not mistaken, it was a review for her Science Quiz Bee. Her own adviser called her tanga for something I think every normal Grade Two student would be confused about. A grade two student was challenged by her own adviser. This brought out her fury and strength. She proved to everyone — most especially to that bitch of a teacher — that she maybe quiet but she can kick ass, too. She began collecting gold medals and other awards and recognitions. Then we transferred to Calamba.

Different environment, different people, one goal: to get quality education. We were supposed to study in an exclusive Catholic school in Canlubang but we were late for enrolment. I studied in a public school just to finish Grade Five while Dindi and our sister, Joe-na enrolled at Kapayapaan Ville Academy, a then start-up private grade school in the village. She found it hard to adjust since most of her teachers were fresh graduates and Cebuano/ Waray. They had this certain accent that was new to her ears because we were used to the strict English Only Policy at PPGS. On the first week as a Grade Four student in a new school, she got a score of 4 out of 10 in Spelling. Why? The teacher asked them to spell hin (hen). Expect everyone to fail.

Dindi and the school grew together. The directress and owner of the school, who became a very understanding family friend, began hiring more qualified teachers. I transferred there for my final grade school year. Dindi was still the first honor student she was since Kindergarten — timid but intelligent. Competition between us ensued. Knowing that Dindi already gained her a very impressive reputation, I tried to shone as well. I finished elementary as the class valedictorian… and as a tradition, I passed on the key of responsibility to the first honor student from the Grade Five class. You guessed it right. It was Dindi.

I transferred to Saint John Academy in Calamba because KVA was not ready to offer secondary education. As expected, Dindi graduated Valedictorian in her class. KVA was starting to gain attention and respect among private schools in Canlubang. Here's this small school that had students with great potentials. We were even trained to make our own graduation speeches. With this, the school management announced the opening of first and second year high school. So I went back.

This may not be known to all who studied in KVA the same time we did but Dindi and I had a very tight competition. I maybe her senior but she became more open to other school activities unlike before. I joined the school politics, the school paper, sports — practically everything — and she did the same. I wanted to excel to everything I know I could do and I felt like she's doing the same in an effortless manner. There was even an instance wherein we joined an extemporaneous speech contest. We were enemies. I won maybe because her question was hard or I was just very much prepared for it, I really don't know. But, one thing is for sure: we were slaves of honor and fame.

She already had hundreds of awards and recognitions when I started collecting my own. This was very tough because I had the eldest pride. I pushed myself too hard without noticing that my ADHD was at its worst. I became unfocused. I finished high school as a Salutatorian.

Yes, I envied my sister when she accepted huge medals when she finished high school as a valedictorian, with a scholarship from the University of the Philippines Los Baños in tow. I was rebelling with the thought that my parents did not allow me to study at UP Baguio. I was planning to take up Journalism — very far from my father's dream of having a doctor or a lawyer in the family. Maybe, Dindi would like to become a doctor, I thought. I did not care anymore.

Instead of envy, and it was instantly, I suddenly transformed into the ever-proud and loving

ate Dindi had long expected me to be. I defended her in every way I can and helped her in things she can't do. Even gods like her need help from simpletons like me. She was still the quiet and intelligent Dindi that our whole clan was proud of. The only difference was, she already knew how to smile and laugh. She became more humble and God-fearing. She took up BS Chemistry. She became the music ministry director and song leader of our church (which would be up until she leaves).

I moved out of the house. She never lost hope. She knew one day we'd see each other again. And we did. When that day came, she hugged me like the usual sisterly hug she gives me. I felt the love she was never able to talk about in all those years. She still laughed at my silly jokes about her mole.

She was already teaching while taking up some masteral units at the university when we reunited. I really forgot the timeline, but I guess I am almost correct. I talk about her everywhere I go until now. I am very proud of her.

I have loads of stories about her — some nasty and naughty; mostly, inspiring like now. She will soon be leaving to study at the University of Houston. I asked her last night and she told me that it would take her 3 years to finish her Masteral Degree (since, she perceived, the units she took up here won't be credited) and, hopefully, two years for her Doctorate (which would depend upon the recommendation she'd get from her professor there). She will be far, far away from my mole teasing and boob jokes. I'm gonna miss my kambal.

Neng, remember what Papa and Mama always tell us: 'wag tatanga tanga, tumingin sa kanan at kaliwa. I am very sorry but I don't want to see you leave so I will not be there in the airport. Don't expect me to be there. This is your dream and God made everything possible for this dream to come true. We all know that 95% of the reaction we got from our relatives and friends is positive so you know that nothing can hinder to your pursuit. Don't forget to read my blog during your first few weeks in Texas to remind you of things you should and should not do:

1. Sa airport pa lang ne, 'wag ka ng pasaway. 'Wag mo nang balaking magdala ng tawas. Nakakahiya.

We are the yin and the yang; the bitch and the hopeless romantic. Kami ang Super Twins, ang kambal ng tadhana.

And oh yeah!

11. Size 5 ang paa ko.

God bless you! Rock on, sis!