I learned how to drive when I was about 14 years old. I was already on my second year in high school.

Among my siblings, my dad gave me driving lessons first. I practiced inside our compound, in the yard. It was just a plain "atras-abante" thing, meaning the lesson was just driving first gear, moving forward, then back-up. I don't want to give you the impressin that our compound was really big. It was just enough to move forward and backward, while I get accustomed with gear-shifting. If my memory serves me right, my first high way drive was from our school to our house.

It was an adventure, really, because I was forced by my brother to drive it, otherwise, we will not eat lunch. I remember that was the story. Since I mastered first gear, I wasn't sure when or how will I get to second gear. I used to recal my dad saying hear the engine. Once the engine grows a little noisy, I have to gear up. So I did... until we reached home. Thank God!

Almost 2 decades later, I thought of myself as over-driven. I now have fears driving, I am no longer confident driving. I now enjoy being the passenger. Anyway, if I really have to drive, I would but given the other option, I'd chose another.

This is my translation
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OVERDRIVE - Eraserheads
(Narration)

alam mo mayron akong pangarap sa buhay (You know I have a wish in life)
sana matupad na (I hope it would be granted now)

magda-drive ako hanggang Baguio (I will drive up to Baguio)
magda-drive ako hanggang Bicol (I will drive up to Bicol)
magda-drive ako hanggang Batangas (I will drive up to Batangas)
tapos magswi-swimming d'on sa beach (Then I'd swim in the beach)

isasama ko ang girlfriend ko (I'll invite my girlfriend)
isasama ko kahit sinong may gusto (I'll invite anyone who wants)
kahit may kasama siyang aso (Even if she brings her dog)
basta't meron siyang dalang sariling buto (As long as it brings its own bone)

magdadala ako ng pagkain (I will bring food)
burger fries tapsilog at siopao (Burger, fries, tapsilog* and siopas)

magda-drive ako hanggang Visayas (I will drive til Visayas)
magda-drive ako hanggang sa Mindanao (I will drive til Mindanao)

magda-drive ako buong taon (I will drive the whole year)
magda-drive ako habang buhay (I will drive my whole life through)
magda-drive ako hanggang buwan (I will drive up to the moon)
please please lang turuan nyo akong magdrive(Please, please, teach me how to drive)

gusto kong matutong magdrive (I want to learn how to drive, even if I don't have a car)
(kahit na wala akong kotse)

gusto kong matutong magdrive (I want to learn how to drive, even if I don't have the license)
(kahit na walang lisensya)

magdrive....drive
drive
magdrive...magdrive
drive...drive...drive...drive
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TAPSILOG is a breakfast favorite, a contracted word of the following:
TAPa - beef
SInangag - fried rice
itLOG - egg

==========================

Overdrive -

Hoy! Hoy! Hoy!!! Hoy! Hoy! Hoy!!!
That was the only phrase that made me smile.

It was 2004, I was on the wheel, my passengers were my aunt, my sister and five cousins. It was SUV I was driving and it was an estimate of 8 hour drive.

At the start of the journey, were we singing this song together. Except my other 2 cousins who came from New Zealand, everyone sang along with me. And then the noise waned and another song played on the radio. I was listening closely to that music then the rain starting to drop. Another SUV was approaching, park lights are on. I was running 80kph but trying to slow down. As I did, I passed by a bridge and then boom! The wheel locked, we were heading towards the railings of the bridge we just passed by. Then it stopped, evryone on their attention.

The right side panels of the van hit the metal railing of the bridge and we were so blessed we didn't fell on the fields. We were really thankful to that railings. We checked everyone, checked the van then decided to push through with the plan. It was our first time out of town, in some tourist spots just north of La Union. We were almost there.

There was another cousin who could drive the car but because of the accident, no one was ready to grab the wheel. I continued the drive until we reached our transient house. I was silent the entire journey and as soon as we unpacked our things, everyone was over with their nerves, it was time to cheer me up. I remember they just said Hoy! Hoy! Hoy! and i tried to give them what they wanted: a smile. I smiled but the worry was still there.

That was my major accident on the road and truly blessed for the safety of everyone despite the event.

This is our story behind this song. Our vacation. Our accident. Our song. I'm sure to you Rodel, Rey, Anna, Maria, Rose, Anthony and Faye, this was unforgetable!

Here is the song:

Mr. Suave - Parokya Ni Edgar

I was driving my car. I left her somewhere and as I was going back to get her, this song played on the radio. I immediately got my phone, with no intention of talking to her, I rang her. It was a spurt of the moment, as soon as I heard this song played, my mind was immersed at the image of her face. I can't take it off. I know I was at fault, I was too proud to admit it. Then I ended up dialling her cellphone.

She answered, I did not say a word. I placed the mouthpiece in front of the speaker. I was running out of words to tell her how much I love her. I just stayed quiet and made her listen to the song althroughout.

I don't know if it meant anything to her but it meant so much to me. The moment I heard the song, I saw her face, my heart was beating so fast. I didn't know what it meant but my heart was so sincere when it said "if I had only one friend left, I want it to be you".

Just her. I don't know if any of you guys felt the same way. I don't know if it is so normal to let your girlfriends feel that you love them so much, you can't live without them, everything in you is about her. This was mine until forever.

Lyrics of One Friend - Dan Seals
I always thought you were the best
I guess I always will.
I always felt that we were blessed
And I feel that way still.

Sometimes we took the hard road
But we always saw it through.
If I had only one friend left I'd want it to be you.

Sometimes the world was on our side
Sometimes it wasn't fair.
Sometimes it gave a helping hand
Sometimes we didn't care.
'Cause when we were together
It made the dream come true.
If I had only one friend left
I'd want it to be you.

Someone who understands me
And knows me inside out.
Helps keep me together
And believes without a doubt,
That I could move a mountain
Someone to tell it to.
If I had only one friend left
I'd want it to be you.
Someone And knows me inside out.

Helps keep me together
And believes without a doubt,
That I could move a mountain
Someone to tell it to.
If I had only one friend left I'd want it to be you.

Music of One Friend - Dan Seals

one friend - dan seals