Why I Cannot Ever Forget Atom's Birthday

I got an email from PPP about the rejection of one of my recently submitted post because I violated one of their posting rules. That's strike one for me :) 

I sent an SMS to Atom earlier this morning to wish him a Happy Birthday. This dude has come a loooong way since his 5 and Up days as he is now one of the budding news reporters around. I think I cannot ever forget his birthday because one of my life's firsts happened six years ago today: My first MRT ride.

MRTs then is like bunjee jumping for a probinsyana like me. I'm a pro when it comes to riding jeepneys and buses since I was 8, but I cannot muster the guts to try to ride it. My Junior Inquirer editor, Ate Nats, even asked me to ride it on my way to one of the Press Conferences I was assigned to and write an article about my first MRT experience, but refused because I'm too darn scared.

My dreaded day came when I attended the facilitators' workshop with UNICEF in RCBC Plaza back in 2001. They had a summer camp project with Probe Productions and was invited to be one of the camp leaders. I went to Probe office in QC first and met Kuya Tops. He told me that Atom will be commuting with us on our way to Makati riding the MRT. Of course, I cannot say no since nakisabay lang naman ako. Atom was the one who taught me how to use the card and explained the whole shebang.

So everytime I see the MRT, I always remember Atom. Sa madaling salita, mukhang MRT si Atom para sa akin, hehehe :D