Men say it’s hard to buy gifts for women. Women say it’s hard to find gifts for men.
One would think that the more you get to know each other, the easier it would be to buy the appropriate or perfect gift, the gift that your partner would surely like. Dahil kala mo kilalang-kilala mo na sya. But that’s not the case. It’s the opposite. The longer you’ve been together, the harder it gets to find a gift.
Nung magboyfriend pa lang kami I gave him handkerchiefs (that’s usually the first level gifts). Yung ibang mag-boyfriend they give briefs. Not me.
I did not find it romantic nor exciting to give Edmund briefs. Parang low class or corny or baduy or sobrang suggestive. Hey boyfriend, I want to see your pututoy, I want to pek you, try this briefs on.
Gift giving between love birds has a different algorithm. You can give each other a garbage can and both of you would say “ohhh you’re so thoughtful and romantic. I like it!” Giving your spouse a gift is a million times different. Tila kahit ano ibigay mo, hindi nya type.
Thru the years, I had given him panyo, t-shirts, polo shirts, suits, jackets, wallets, sando, towels, kumot, luggage, watches, shoes, belts, neckties, sculpture, painting, what else…. kung anu-ano.
It’s always hit or miss. Having been married for 137 years, I can’t say I know him too well. The more it has become difficult to find a gift he would surely like. He is now very different from the guy I met in college. His tastes, likes and dislikes have evolved and his standards have become higher. His needs have also changed syempre.
Believe it or not, nagdasal pa ako ha to help me find a birthday gift he would like. Kasi he never liked my gifts.
I went to Rustan’s in Shangri-la hoping to find something. Ikot-ikot, lakad-lakad. I went to the men’s section. I told the sales guy that I was looking for a gift for my husband. His recommendation? Battery pack! I could not believe that he would suggest to buy my husband a battery pack. With poker face, I looked at him straight and told him “bakit ko naman sya bibigyan ng battery pack. Di ba ipinamimigay lang yan ng libre?” Humirit pa sya. “Mam, cellphone case”. Dyos ko, ano kami high school students?
After another 15 minutes, aha I found something novel. He can bring this to his office.
The guy in Rustan’s spent half hour customizing a box and another 15 minutes wrapping it.
I hope to hit it this time.
Husband was already home when I arrived so I instructed the driver to hide the giant gift inside one of the storage rooms. When we went out that evening, I told the maids to move the box to the toilet in the second floor guest room. I was going to Tagaytay so I instructed the maids to place the box on our bed when Edmund leaves to attend a wedding on Saturday evening.
Happy Birthday