fritzified.comcamphone paparazzi/photographer extraordinaire

In connection with BratPack’s opening a new, huge-ass store in Greenbelt 5, they asked me and a few other blog sites to raffle off either a Timbuktu, Hedgren, or JanSport bag to one of our lucky readers who can submit their interesting “Bag Diary” experience by way of a contest. For fritzified.com, I was to give away a JanSport Bag. I would like to graciously thank jheuxneil, Rowena, Yolynne, Ozy, Andrew, and samjuan, foremost, for joining the contest in my side of the blogosphere.

Second, let be said that all of you deserve a bag if only I have several to give away at will. I am unfortunately alloted just one. I was only even expecting to get about two comments at the most and was wowed my more participants and the quality of your responses. Seriously guys, thanks for taking your time to join. Interesting experiences all.

Thanks BratPack for making this contest possible! Photos I got of their new store can be found at the bottom of this post.

Without further ado, I present to you the winning experience which actually made me cry like a helpless grade school being bullied after classes in the school gymnasium.

“Kung kwentong Jansport bag lang ang usapan, eh hinding hindi ko malilimutan yung itim na jansport bag na bigay sa akin ng tita kong OFW noong umuwi siya ng Pinas galing Hongkong.

Mula highschool hanggang college kasama-kasama ko yung backpack na yun sa hirap at ginhawa. Mantakin mong nakayanan niyang buhatin yung mga libro kong required dalhin araw-araw noong highschool. Tapos kasama ko siya sa mga outdoor hiking trips namin noong college, bitbit ang mga de lata damit, sapatos at kung ano-ano pa. Kasama ko din yung bag na yun noong sumali ako ng orgs sa college. Saksi siya habang dumadaan ako sa mga pagsubok na kasama sa pagpasok ng org at kapatiran. Madalas nagiging unan ko na din siya kapag nakikitulog ako kung saaan-saan sa tuwing inaabot kami ng madaling araw sa mga production meetings namin. Andun siya noong sinagot ako ng girlfriend ko. Andun din siya noong nag-break kami.

Mahal na mahal ko yung Jansport backpack ko na yun. Sa katunayan, kasama ko din siya noong nagkita kami for the first time ng kapatid ko sa tatay. Sinamahan niya kaming magkapatid na lumilibot sa campus at sa malls hanggang sa ihatid ko siya noon sa bahay ng tita ko sa Caloocan. Andami na naming pinagsamahan ng backpack ko. Kaya naman noong pilit siyang inaagaw sa’kin nung hinayupak na mga holdapers sa jeep sa may Batasan, noong gabing hinatid ko si kapatid, eh talagang nakipag-agawan ako. Bukod sa dala ni Jansport backpack ang unang digicam na binili ko kung saan andun yung kaisa-isang kuha naming magkapatid, eh nakakabit na sa kanya ang mga alaala ng aking buhay mula highschool hanggang college. naisipan ko pa ngang mag-offer ng pera sa mga holdapers bilang kapalit ni backpack pero pinatahimik nila ako ng baril at icepick. Nakakapanglumo lang. Yun ang huling gabi kong nakapiling si backpack.

Hanggang ngayon nami-miss ko pa din siya. Kaya kahit nakabili na ako noon ng bagong backpack, eh hindi ko pa din maikakailang mas mahal ko si black Jansport backpack na bigay ni titang OFW. =)”

-entry by samjuan

Congratulations, SamJuan! I’ll figure out how I can send you the loot. Thanks to Kring for helping me pick out a winner.

As I’ve mentioned, BratPack’s flagship store is hell huge! Not only do they have bags, this time. They have shoes, flip-flops, frisbees, skateboards, Skull Candys, watches, a wide variety of clothes, and so much more! Checkitout yo!

Now that the judging and announcement is done with, I think I badly need a new bag. BRB.