MY JANSPORT EXPERIENCE

I have no luck in raffles. I have been joining raffles since my elementary days and haven't yet won any. But life has many surprises. When I least expected it, I won a raffle (I just bought tickets to help my friends get rid of them). Without even thinking of it, I won a Jansport bag.

Ok. I had been sour-graping for Jansport bags during my elementary days. I wanted one because all my friends do have one. But I dont have the money to buy one (pambili ko nga ng bulaklak para sa nililigawan ko nun di ko pa alam san kukunin). Kaya sinasabi ko na lang na ayoko makiuso at di naman matibay ang Jansport eh. Almost everyone wore a Jansport then. And I, I was one of the jologs who wear bright-colored Hawk Gear bag. I considered it a stigma back then!

When I was already in highschool, my "purchasing power" leveled up (I could take my girl to Jollibee na.hehe.) I thought of buying Jansport bag. I was (hmm, still I am) a practical buyer. Buying a Jansport would cost me weeks of lunchless school days. But was it worth it? I found its price too much for its quality. It was too expensive for its cheap quality. I guessed it was its prestige that I was buying. I still considered buying one despite my realization. But I wasn't able to buy myself one because I nearly passed out one lunchless day.

All the Jansport saga was gone when I went to college. Many brands came to the market then. I already forgot about it because I need bigger bag when I make luwas and the brand of bag isn't an issue anymore in my college days. The trend now is that you must have that Brazilian flag on your feet.

It's a trend (or should I say tradition?) in UPDEPP that every organization hosts a raffle. It so happened that I have friends in AES who had problem selling their tickets. What is 2.50pesos? They are my friends naman. I never hoped of winning because I know that I have no luck in raffles. It was just purely the intention to help. But I was surprised when heads of AES told me I won the major price--a Jansport bag!

Then all the Jansport thing came back. After all those years of sour-graping, after all the stigmas, after all the desperations, frustrations to have one, I now wear a Jansport on my shoulder. At last! I was excited to feel the prestige of it. I couldn't wait to let other people know I have a Jansport. What came to my mind are scenes like: "Lexie, may bolpen ka?" "Oo dude, kunin mo na lang sa Jansport ko," "Huwaw Lexie susyal ka! Jansport!" "Weeell.." *with an Ariel-and-Maverick smug*

But it wasn't what I expected. "Huwaaw Jansport..san mo galing yan?" "Ah Lexie, yan ba yung napanalunan mo sa raffle? swerte mo naman!" "Ganda ng bag mo ah. Divisoria? Galing mo namang pumili. Mukhang original.."

AMP...