The one where FRIENDS was my constant

I CAME across FRIENDS two years after it launched in 1994. It was introduced to me by an officemate and his buddies, who have been following it since two years back. I got hooked since then. Each of us has his favorite character that we can relate to. The characters were all single and working, just like the rest of us.

I bought VCDs and then DVDs of it. I must have been watching it too much that my son also got the bug. Ivan’s been watching it since he was two years old. He could barely understand it at two and was only laughing with the slapsticks of Joey, his favorite character, or following the canned laughter.

Ivan grew up with FRIENDS. He learned about the birds and the bees through Joey, Chandler, and Ross. Thank you, guys, for not making it so hard for a single mom to teach my young boy.

I loved the series so much that I had my hair straightened because of Rachel. Rachel was my favorite character, and most of my fashion style at that time was Rachel-inspired. Ivan knew I loved this character so much that he used it to his advantage.

One time, I was about to scold him, but he suddenly exclaimed, “Mommy, you look like Rachel.” I stopped on my track and held back. I smiled and forgot that I was supposed to scold my son. When my cousin Ana heard about it from Nanny, she told me, “Ni tuo sad lugar ka? Pastilan!”

The series was like good friends who were always there when you needed a good laugh, comfort, or just killing your time. And just like good friends, they have been with me through different chapters of my life — being a single, single parent, young adulthood till middle age.

And I realized that every time I watched FRIENDS through those different life stages, it always had a different effect on me. Different age calls for a different perspective, different mood, and different humor effect.

When the series ended in 2004, it felt like your good friends separated from you. However, it never stopped me from rewatching it over and over again. I never got tired of it. It was a time when politically incorrect topics and jokes were still acceptable.

I love those years when you can talk about topics without fear of hurting a group and a time when everybody gets a good laugh at even the most trivial of things. Gone are those days.

So here’s to Chandler Bing-a-Ling, whose sarcasm and wit will always be a favorite. You will always be the one with the sharp-tongued friend.