So Different, Yet Very Similar In Some Ways

As a continuation to my article about the differences with my music partner. This time let’s talk about some more facts that make us very similar to each other.

He studied Computer Science, I studied Information Technology

His father wanted him to sign up for the army, while his mother wanted him to be a pastor just like his father (which would be a disaster, in my opinion, hehe). But as the 3 of them argued about the path our boy wanted to take, Gifter eventually became a computer science freshman.

4 and a half years later (the extended half was due to his being a delinquent student), he finished his course, with not-so-flying colors.

I, on the other hand, took up a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. I went to a university near my grandparents' house to save my expenses for room rent. My first choice supposedly was BS Pharmacy but we're financially incapable to sustain the tuition so I had to choose a different course instead.

Our computer-centered college degrees brought us to the same profession, which paved the way for another similarity of ours.

We’re both ex-teachers

After working for a few months at a computer shop, Gifter was hired to be a part-time instructor at a TESDA-accredited school. For years, he would spend most of his time teaching computer programming and PC troubleshooting. It’s how he got his vocational teaching license.

Meanwhile, my teaching job was not planned at all. I never imagined being one because I saw how tedious a teacher's life is because of mom. I looked for a corporate job during a job hiring at NCCC Mall. It turned out to be that the school that sponsored the job hiring event has a vacant position of an IT instructor. I got in and taught there for 2 school years.

3 years ago, if you’ve read one of my previous articles, you should have known that I went through an episode of self-harm, check it here. As fate would have it, Gifter was stricken with a bone and muscle disease in that same year that made him bedridden for nearly 2 years.

We’re both ex-teachers and we both went through some emotional and physical turmoil in the same year. Coincidence? Or could it be that we just got unlucky during those moments? What do you think?

We’re both movie freaks

When he’s not writing for other platforms or working on his website (Yes he has a website, “net-earner.com”, it’s about online jobs and side-hustles), he spends his leisure time watching movies, or those award-winning TV shows like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, and 24.

During those times when we were still building up our musical tandem, what further reinforced our team-up is our love for movies. We would talk a lot about some of his favorite movies, like Star Wars, The Dark Knight Trilogy, and those superhero movies that he’s so crazy about. Furthermore, he would babble annoyingly about how he’s very similar to Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne character.

We both admire Christian Bale, as an actor and as a person. I believe he's the most humble actor ever known in the showbiz industry. He's known for his generosity and humility. He's a famous person we look up to. One film I will never forget of Christian's is "The Flowers of War". Check it guys, its genre is War/Drama.

We both like dark-colored apparel

During our “pagala-gala” moments, Gifter would often wear black jackets and plain-colored shirts underneath them. He has this childish notion that dressing up like Jason Bourne makes him feel tough and “unkillable.”

He even posted on his Facebook account that since action stars wear only plain-colored t-shirts under their jackets, he hates wearing printed shirts too. He openly declares that those who wear printed t-shirts usually die first in the movies, so he avoids wearing those. What a weirdo, right?

Before when I was younger, my favorite color was red but as I aged, my eyes made me appreciate to dark colors more. From then on, my preferred colors were always the dark ones. They're pleasing to my eyes and it gives me the impression of simplicity and serenity.

We both hate going back to the corporate world

Months ago, I posted an article about how I dislike working in an office these days. Now that Gifter has steered the direction in which we will be full-fledged musicians in the next months, we both have another thing in common – avoiding the corporate world, for good.

To be honest, this is a very dangerous path to trek into. Are we even sure that our future gigs will be enough to feed us? Or pay for our monthly dues? Or make our future lives comfy enough? Of course, we’re not. Nobody knows for sure.

But every day, Gifter reassured me repeatedly, that we can achieve the musical status we hope for, if we persevere long enough and hard enough. We decided to spend a few years on this. If this fails, well we can always go back to freelance writing – the very thing that brought us together.

We have the same birth month

This is by far, the coolest similarity that we have because it’s happening real soon. Yes, we’re both “July babies” and this month, we will be celebrating our birthdays, which are only 18 days apart. I can’t reveal the exact date or year though, because he doesn’t want his age to be revealed… which is “lagpas na sa kalendaryo.”

Now that we’re in the final stages of recording the vocals for our upcoming album, what a great birthday gift it would be for both of us!

Thanks for reading.

Keep safe everyone!