I was driving home this afternoon, along Manila’s Skyway, when I happened to pass by a familiar-looking van. You see, I used to own a green model ’98 Hyundai Starex minivan (the first vehicle that I ever owned, hence the sentimentality) which we affectionately called “T-Rex”, a play on the word Starex. It was sold years ago. But throughout the years, every time I happen to come across one, my first reaction would be to look at the plates, hoping to see if it carried a certain familiar plate number.
The van was a few hundred meters in front of me, and from the rear, as I surveyed it, I noticed that the exterior was a bit different in comparison to what my last memories of T-Rex were. It sported an over-sized roof rack and had those stainless steel trimmings you’d see in some public FX shuttles in the metropolis.
But it had two stickers at the rear window, with one being awfully familiar. And so it was my curiosity that led me to speed up to catch it – it still had its “zing” and was cruising effortlessly at slightly over a hundred kph. As I neared it, I soon realized that the license plates were familiar after all. Ha! I was on the heels of T-Rex! My beloved T-Rex! Barring a few exterior alterations (its fuel tank cover had now been replaced with those somewhat cheesy (sorry) shiny, metallic trimmings; stainless steel sidestep panels and bumper trimmings and large roof caddy, even the front bumper had changed – the new owner probably changed it because I recall that it was once mangled by an over-zealous mechanic. The body color was unchanged, the “Toys For the Big Boys” sticker was still there, while a new sticker “Baby on Board” was placed beside it, which made me realize why the change in external accessories. This was now a family car – and from the looks of it, my T-Rex had probably finally had its share of “baby” and family-raising experience – from carrying a pregnant wife to the hospital to carrying the newborn back home. It was now probably heading off carrying its family to a vacation site up south. I couldn’t help but smile and be happy.
Throughout this experience, I didn’t realize that I was actually coasting along the entirety of Skyway’s stretch, up until Sucat Interchange where I had to exit, side-by-side with a long lost friend.
“Puti”, our car, had finally met its “kuya”. And I’m glad both turned out to be reliable, family-oriented vehicles.
So long T-Rex! See you when I see you!