Back-to-Back Edition

This entry's a two-for-one because you really can't talk about one person without talking about the other. This entry, I speak of my Brother-in-law and his girlfriend and my good friend, Rissa.

Noel and Rissa at MA Humanities Graduation

I've mentioned how Noel is an animator, but I haven't told you about his being a musician, or how I met him for that matter. Like his brother, we were in one class together (Theology with Fr. Bernal), and he hung out at Le Chuck's a lot as well. We were also both part of a small school organization called CODA (Cultural Organization for the Devlopment of the Arts), where he was a guitarist, and I was a singer. We ended up in the same band somehow, so I got to rehearse and perform with him a few times. Later on, he found out I had a crush on his brother, so he gave me a little chat about making sure I don't break his brother's heart and stuff. Awwww.

That's Noel for you- if he likes you, he will always look out for you, as he did his brother that day. He's also a great brother - I asked him and a few other friends to perform "Love of My Life" by Carlos Santana and Dave Matthews for our Engagement Party, and he rehearsed until the very last minute to get his guitar solo just right. (This performance was a surprise for Javi, so Javs was wondering why the heck Noel kept playing the guitar when he should have been getting ready for the party!)

The original version of Love of My Life

His girlfriend, Rissa, is another sweet and thoughtful person. They are indeed a perfect match. I had the priviledge of getting to know her better when I went back to school to get my Master's Degree. As it turned out, she and I were going to be in the same classes for the next two years! The first few classes I went to, I felt a little akward because I was older than most of them (Reese is 2 years younger than me), but she made me feel so welcome by introducing me to all her friends as her "sister-in-law," and always saving me a seat in class (I'd always come in late because I'd rush to get to class from work). As our friendship grew, we ended up just calling each other "sis" ;) It was only fitting because she and I had a lot of the same interests - mostly literature, and Corteses!

When Javi left for the US, and I stayed behind, Rissa and Noel were there to keep me company, to give me advice, and to offer me solace for the times that I missed Javi so much. I truly felt like we were already one family because of the love and care they showed me, and there is nothing Javi or I wouldn't do to reciprocate that love and thoughtfulness toward them. ;)

-Sis/Ate

PS. I'll try to post some of Noel's artwork if I can get them from him and he lets me post them here.