I rememeber it vividly. It was May of last year when the youth of MHC parish were preparing for our parish priest Fr. Monchit's birthday.

Peter, Leah, and myself volunteered to prepare the video presentation. We tagged Anna to help us out. We asked George if he can do a part in the video. Alvin, who was busy giving Drums lessons in the workshop, took his time to help out too. Nica also joined the program committee.

Our 7-man team travelled across south Metro Manila. We did interviews with Fr. Monchit's family at Makati Bel-Air. We also went to the places very important to him. We even went to Price Smart in Alabang to feature the place where he buys his groceries but then the guard saw us shooting and tried to take our video cam. Of course, we have super powers so the guard wasn't able to get the cam from us. All these adventures and more because of our birthday surprise. The surprise that started a wonderful friendship.

We then started hanging out together. Malls, coffee shops, even at gas stations. Then George's expression "It's not!" evolved to "Ish noit!" then finally to "Shnoitz!"

Shnoitz came to have "secondary members." Raffy became barkada when he jammed with Anna and George in the band formed to perform in one of the youth's activitites. Patrick came in when he did a part in the youth's stage play last summer.

It's been more than year since Shnoitz started. We now have our own stuff to do. We only meet each other during Sundays when we hear mass. It's sad to know that we are too busy to meet and make tambay. Anna's busy with office stuff in HSBC. Peter is turning himself into a "matinik na lawyer" in one of the law firms in Makati. Leah is drinking lotsa beers in San Miguel (actually, she's in purchasing). George is in Quezon City answering calls for a call center. Nica does the same in Ortigas. Alvin is hitting drums for his band. Raffy is getting through college. Pat, likewise, is busy with school. And I am struggling with my masterals.

This afternoon, I was very much surprised when I found the Shnoitz almost in complete attendance during the mass. Almost complete, except that George was asleep from his graveyard shift and Alvin had something better to do. It was like a reunion. It's been weeks since I last saw Anna and Raffy, and months since I last saw Pat and Nica.

After the mass, we gathered for a shot.


Then it was back to our own lives. While some went home, Leah, Peter and I thought to eat dinner in SM. I was craving for sisig so I suggested that we eat at Gerry's. While waiting for our orders, posed for the several shots.

The thing is, we are fond of having scenes when the three of us take pictures. Like, how will we look when we see a ghost, or how do we look when we're about to be hit by a bus.

This scene: when we see a naked guy pass by.


I can't remember what this next scene is about. I think it's about seeing George with, ehem, "someone."


We took other pictures but I don't think Peter and Leah would be happy to see them online. The pics were too.. uhmm.. wacky.

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It's really nice to have friends who you can share your ups and down with. To the Shnoitz, here's to more years of togetherness! Thanks to our amazing friendship!