Sometimes people just blow you away.
It started out just like any other Friday night. Dinner and kulitan with the TSN ladies, birthday salubong drinks with some former work colleagues, then clubbing to entertain some prospective clients from abroad.
At about 2am my little group had dissipated and called it a night, while I of course, just would not let up. So I hung out with the usual suspects and met some other crazy people who invited us to an after party.
The next venue was someone’s condo a couple of blocks away. I almost didn’t go since I had been out for almost 24 hours by that time, counting work hours. It may have been I was too buzzed to resist… and I am glad I didn’t.
I don’t even remember now where the condo is exactly. All I do remember is that the moment I entered, my eyes just zoomed in at all the contemporary artwork… on the walls, the tables, shelves, floor. I honed in on one sculpture at the corner and MC, the guy who owned the place noticed me. I felt like I knew the work, but I couldn’t be sure so I asked: “Is this a Michael Cacnio?”
I guess he was pleased. “Yes it is! It’s a very early work..before he became this big time artist. I commissioned this and I only paid Pxxx for it!” Super cool.
So we ended up talking until dawn, seeminglu oblivious to everyone else, until I finally called it. I was happy enough to have met this gentleman, and was able to wind-down properly after an all-nighter.
When I was saying goodbye, he goes “Wait…” and proceeds to take something from one of the many shelves. He comes back holding this unframed oil-painting on canvass, “Here.” and he hands me the painting.
I know I blanched, “What?!”
“Here, take this.”
I know I was standing there with my mouth open, “You’re giving this to me?!” My voice was probably an octave higher.
“Yes, please take it. My driver will help you to your car.”
“I am completely thrown… are you sure?!!” (Sabay abot sa painting naman…)
“Yes, go ahead. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
And I kept saying, “I am so thrown…thank you!” until I leave.
Like I said, sometimes people just blow you away.
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