Sequoia

I'm just kidding about the title of this post. It's Si Kuya actually. Hehehehe.

I was watching on old Filipino movie via YouTube when the site suggested a burger commercial after the flick. I clicked it because it said Nadine Lustre and James Reid's new tv ad for Jollibee. If you don't know, they're one of the hottest young stars in Philippine show business. I loved their first Jollibee commercial, so I didn't have any second thoughts not to watch this new one.



Lo and behold! I saw a very familiar face. That guy on a skateboard is Demit also known as Demetrio Cuevas. He's Kuya Demit to my kids, and the unico hijo of our friend from Cebu, Randy.

He was a very nice kid. The first time we attended a party in Virginia back in 1998, fresh from the Philippines, I remember he was really friendly with the newest kid, Yna. The young lady was three and a non-English speaking toddler at that time. In fact, I thanked Randy about what Demit did, and he didn't even know about it. Demit guided and protected Yna from the older kids during the games. He was six, and no one told him to do that.

Yesterday, I let the boy watch the ad, and these were his comments:
"HEY! THAT'S KUYA DEMIT, 'MA!"
"Oh my gosh! Why is this so dramatic?"
"Who would smell and sniff their burgers?"
"This is so long!"
"Thank God it is over!"
"Kuya Demit is guapo."
"Kuya Demit has been guapo."

Honestly, the ad was just too long. It was like watching a dragging movie. Read: boring. But we were thrilled everytime Demit was on the screen.

This isn't his first commercial though. He was an endorser for Honda Beat Philippines too. Well, maybe he has more. I just don't know about it.



Randy, Demit's father, was one of my closest friends together with another friend, Lea. I fondly call her Miss Lei. We would talk on the phone until the wee hours of the morning. We were a threesome. One time, we all agreed to lose weight. We measured and weighed ourselves in inches and pounds. For the prize, we'd chip in $100 each. For a total of $300 papremyo, looking and feeling great, plus bragging rights, that's not bad at all.

There were also times when the three of us would talk on the phone early in the afternoon. I was in the kitchen cooking an early dinner, Lea was still in the office, and Randy was somewhere in Baltimore jogging. Lea and I would panic everytime he's exercising. When it was time for weigh in, obviously it was only Randy who lost the weight. The two of us weren't too serious with the pact. Lea and I backed out days before the final weigh in, and totally cancelled the premyo , or we tried to forget about it. I hope Randy is not reading this. hehehehe

There were also times that the three of us would hang out in our family room, and talk until morning. Then a few years ago, Randy had to go home, and decided to move back to the Philippines for good when his father got sick. Sadly, while on a plane ride to Cebu, his father died. Demit followed soon after, and built a name in the skateboarding community. If you are an enthusiast, I am pretty sure you know Demit.

I miss the threesome, but I am glad I still get to talk and spend time with Lea sometimes.

Anyway, this is a #TBT---throwback Tuesday post. I hope the kids won't kill me are okay when they find out about these old photos that I posted here. I can't find better photos from my Flickr account since most of my photos are in our ancient computer in the basement.

The boy's birthday gathering in 2007 (Demit, Yna, Dara, Jason--behind Demit)

(Kuya Janjan, Yna, Dara -- Lea's unica hija, Jason and Demit)

Christmas 2009 at our friend Lea's house in Linthicum, Maryland (Yna, Jason, Demit, Dara, and Lea)


(Demit, Dara, and Randy at the back)

We're so proud of Demit, and rooting for his success in the Philippines.

That's all for now. Bye!