The Collectors’ Support Group

Last weekend, I hosted a belated Christmas lunch for a group of friends from work – we all operate in the HIV and AIDS circuit in the Philippines. Through years of bumping into each other in endless meetings, trainings and consultations and occasionally traveling and working together on some projects and activities, we’ve developed some sort of a bond. It is a bond woven with unflinching (almost) commitment to HIV and AIDS activism, spirited storytelling, and love for good food, quotable quotes and laughter. So, a lunch date was set and I had only one condition for my guests.

The invitation read: “I’m hosting a New Year lunch (should have been for last Christmas) at my house. You don’t have to bring anything but an owl – could be something you made, recycled, bought (doesn’t have to be expensive), but not borrowed or stole.”

As the first gathering I hosted this year, it will be unforgettab-owl! Imagine getting owls from eight friends all at once: a handmade hat, a pair of luggage tags, stickers, wooden figurines, a stuffed toy, a framed photo and a toy. After needless banter that P’s stuffed toy owl looked more like a bear or a tiger or a cat than an owl, we also realized that there is still an abundance of creativity in each of us, especially when required by the occasion.

After feasting on the meal (beef spareribs adobo, native chicken binakol, pako salad, kinilaw na tuna, tofu in pineapple and chili, green mango with bagoong and desserts: moist eggless and butterless chocolate cake for our resident vegetarian; banana chocolate chip cake, fruit salad, and puto brought by C), a plan was hatched. We realized that stress was inherent in our work and that we needed to unwind as frequently as possible. We also found out that at one point in our lives, all of us had collections of some kind. Mine was obvious – I have two cabinets crammed with owl collectibles (with more waiting in line to be shelved). So we made a list of what each one collects:

M1- clowns
M2 – owls (that’s me)
C1- fish and fowl (which also included owls)
C2 - unicorn
R- elephants and owls (as well!)
N- dolls and colored pens
P- masks
J1 – fashion and interior design magazines, GQ with female on the cover; montagut shirts (guess who is the ultimate hoarder)
J2 – initially had no recollection of a collection so we decided for him to start collecting AIDS pins.

So, on January 11, 2009, the Collectors' Support Group (CSG) was formally constituted. After hearing about my Springmaid Owl Saga (see previous blog), my friends also unanimously agreed to launch the Ultimate Quest for the Springmaid Owl. The deal is, anyone who finds it first will receive P500.00 from each of the group members (excluding myself). An added price would be a congratulatory dinner or lunch, which I would be most willing to host for the group.

Wait a minute, what if I find the Springmaid owl myself? Am I entitled to P500 from each of them as well? That, my friends, is the question… Which is life. Abangan!