A Tribute to My Neverland Days

My thoughts were wandering when all of a sudden "Peter Pan" popped into my mind. Perhaps, you were able to watch it during your younger years. If I remember it right, "Peter Pan" is an animated TV series which was aired in ABS-CBN every morning, and later on was moved in the afternoon slot. I have come to realize that I really had good memories of my childhood days. I was just a 'lil kid then and an avid fan of "Peter Pan". And now, I'm already a "young" mom who wanted to share to my child the joy of watching animated TV series.

As I flew myself to Neverland, I came to know Peter who is a mischievous little boy who won't grow up. He is a fierce swordfighter who spends his never-ending childhood, adventuring on the island of Neverland as leader of the Lost Boys. What fascinated me were the fantastical elements involved. One of these elements is the ability of Peter Pan to fly.

His friends were also symbols of fantastical elements, namely fairy and Tinker Bell.

The funny thing about the story was a crocodile that has swallowed a ticking clock and stalks

Captain Hook, the pirate leader and Peter's nemesis.

It's been so long and I can only recall a few scenes which touched me the most. But for your convenience, if you were not able to watch it (since you are much older than me...wink!) here's the gist of the story...

Peter often visits the "real world" of London to listen in on bedtime stories told by Mrs. Mary Darling to her children. One night, Peter is spotted and, while trying to escape, he loses his shadow. On returning to claim his shadow, Peter wakes Mary's daughter, Wendy Darling. When Wendy succeeds in re-attaching his shadow to him, Peter takes a fancy to her and invites her to Neverland to be a mother to his gang of Lost Boys, the children who are lost in Kensington Gardens. Wendy agrees, and her brothers John and Michael go along. The great dangerous and magical flight to Neverland is followed by many adventures. The children are blown out of the air by a cannon and Wendy is nearly killed by the Lost Boy Tootles.

Peter and the Lost Boys build a little house for Wendy to live in while she recuperates (a structure that, to this day, is called a Wendy House.) Soon John and Michael adopt the ways of the Lost Boys, while Wendy plays the role of mothering them, all the while provoking the jealousy of Tinker Bell, Tiger Lily, and the mermaids. Peter is often oblivious, concentrating on real and make-believe adventures and on taunting the pirate Captain Hook. Later follow adventures at the Mermaids' Lagoon, the near deaths of Tinker Bell and Peter, a violent pirate/Indian massacre, and a climactic confrontation with Peter's nemesis, the pirate Captain Hook of the pirate ship the Jolly Roger. In the end, Wendy decides that her place is at home, much to the joy of her heartsick mother. Wendy then brings all the boys back to London. Peter remains in Neverland, promising to return and take Wendy back with him once a year to help him with his spring cleaning.

In the novel, Barrie includes an additional scene which was not in the play, but which he created for the stage under the title An Afterthought. In this scene, Peter returns to Wendy's house, not realizing that more than twenty years have passed since he took Wendy, John and Michael to Neverland, and that Wendy is now a married woman with a daughter, Jane. Confronted with the news, he breaks down and cries. Wendy leaves the room to try to think, and Peter's sobs awaken Jane, who asks him to take her with him to Neverland and to let her be his new mother. Peter joyfully accepts, and the two fly off together with Wendy sorrowfully looking off after them. Peter will now return for Jane once a year as he once promised to return for Wendy.

Peter's relationship with Jane is what the Disney movie Return to Neverland is based upon, but its plot is almost totally invented for the film; it has only the slightest resemblance to Barrie.

The memories of "Peter Pan" will always be a part of my childhood days. I've learned a lot from it. It taught me the value of "love" (kinikilig na me nyan sa murang isipan, lolz!), how to be a responsible sister even at young age (which I didn't put into practice, sigh), how to fight for justice, and a lot more. But what amazed me was the animation used in the series. It inspires me to dream a lot even beyond my reach ( it's free anyway).