When she was five

My daughter turned six just this month. I am amazed by her development, this little being who seems to be me and not me and more herself every year. So, before she gets any older, I would like to keep these memories intact by writing them down.

When she was five…

• she’d move her chair from the head of the table to the side, where I sat, just so she could be close to me when we ate breakfast.


• she loved hiding the remote control from her Dad; it was a game between them.


• she discovered a pair of silver high-heeled shoes and though they were too large for her, wore them inside the house whenever she could, which was everyday for a while.


• she discovered Pixiehollow, an interactive online game on the Disney site.


• she’d choose to wear a dress over pants any time.


• she first sang in a ‘karaoke’ box at Market! Market!


• she was the only girl in a class of five and thrived.


• she was wonderful as an Indian girl during UN Day and as an angel during a Christmas play in school.


• she moved to a new school and took a while to adjust to it, telling me she missed me every time we dropped her off, and breaking my heart each time.


• she was thrilled by her first motorboat ride in a trip to Coron and the climb to Kayangan Lake and learned how to use her life vest despite her initial fear of the deep water.


• she got rid of the bottle and finally started drinking a cup of milk for breakfast.


• she loved ‘exercising’ by walking to the park with mommy and then playing there.


• she discovered the Kidz Republic at the Mall of Asia and got hooked.


• she’d reply ‘I love you more’ to ‘I love you’.


• she loved staying up late with Mommy.


• she learned to call Mommy at the office.


• she thought noodle houses were the best with North Park, Luk Yuen and Chowking at the top of her list; and instant noodles the greatest invention ever


• she’d eat only the heads of the bulinao (Cebuano) or dulong (Tagalog) and the white of scrambled eggs; she liked tilapia fried to a crisp and her oatmeal plain.


• she rode a horse by herself in Camp John Hay and loved it


• she saw her cousin Anset as a flower girl and wished she could be one herself.


• she made it through her first fun Olympics in school


• she had her first ride at the Rio Grande in the Enchanted Kingdom and absolutely loved it.


• she discovered gravy.


• she loved being with her cousins, no matter how rarely she saw them.

There’s so much more but enough for now. Next year, just before she turns seven, I will have a list again. It will be interesting to see just how much will change, and how much will remain the same.