Ma. Gisela D. Ordenes...the name is too beautiful for the bearer so just call her Lala (as flatly as you can).

But whatever she lacks in charm, she makes up for in sheer confidence. She thinks the world of herself--and that’s all she thinks about. She is also the Queen--hell, she’s the whole Royal Family--of Insult. Mind you, she’s also the Authority on Everything, the ultimate Pundit. Of course, that’s according to her, and you can’t argue with someone whose opinions have been published in the CPA’s “Ang Umalahokan”, the Mindoro Guardian, and even the Philippine Daily Inquirer. That also goes to show how down in the gutter the Philippine press is.

You see, all people do have their niche, corner or...dark hole in this world. For Lala it is being a writer and storyteller. Many of her stories are about her hometown. The way she tells it, you’d think all the people in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro are as strange as she is. A lot of what she writes also comes from her unique (warped?) perception of the world. Judging from the fan mail she gets, people can relate to her fearless, down-to-earth views. That also goes to show that there are some pretty pathetic people out there in the world.

However, she’d enjoy hate mail even more. She’d enjoy laughing in the face of disapproval, that is. Lala is as stubborn as a bull (and just as pretty) as well as firm in her convictions and principles (e.g. you’ll never catch her wearing shorts). No one can tell her what to do so don’t even try.

Lala doesn’t need to please anyone but herself. She’d never talk behind your back, she’d offend you to your face. If you’re feeling sorry for yourself, she’ll do you a favor and not take you seriously. With a friend like Lala, you’d prefer enemies. Or better yet, introduce her to your enemies.

In the whole wide world, there is no one quite like her. If you’re the sick sentimental type, you’d say that she’s special.