A Self-Confessed Jurassic

I don’t use mobile phones.

Not because I don’t have one. I have an obsolete unit. It is still functional though. I can still use it to call and send sms if I needed to. Though most of the time it is just lying somewhere in my topsy-turvy room. I seldom bring it with me.

I do have valid reasons why I always leave it at home. First, it really is very irritating when someone calls me when I am so busy or during my classes. I really am aghast when I am focused in doing something and suddenly my phone rings because of a not-so-very-important concern of a friend. I believe that if someone needs to tell me a very important message, he should come and see me. Second, nothing beats the face-to-face conversation. If I need to talk to someone, I prefer seeing him face-to-face to get what I want. I feel that conversation is really not clearer when it is done through the phone.

 Mind you, I haven’t brought my cellphone with me for ages and I am happier now because I am not scared that I may l lose or misplace it. How much is a cellphone now? I witnessed how a number of my friends cry rivers because they lose their precious and treasured mobile phones. With my present state of financial difficulties I will definitely be in despair if I lose thousands of my hard earned money. Not to mention that I am a card-bearing cheapskate.  Moreover, why should I buy an expensive and an up-to-date model of a mobile phone when I only need to call someone whom I cannot see probably because of geographical considerations? I can also call someone with a cheaper, second-hand mobile phone. Function is more important for me than aesthetics.

I also don’t give a damn importance to trimmings. If it can do what is supposed to do, then it is okay with me. Years ago, I had this Alcatel mobile phone which my friends call “safeguard” because of its shape. My friends always made fun of my cellphone whenever we were together. Once we were in McDonald’s and we left our table to go to the counter to order foods. We left our stuffs on the table thinking that it is safe inside McDonald’s. To our dismay, a hooligan probably passed by and got my friend’s Nokie 3310 (the latest craze at that time). To my delight and to my friends chagrin, the thug left my Alcatel. At that instance, my “safeguard” became an instant hit. 

 My friend learn his lesson and he learned it too late.

The next day when I saw him he was carrying an Alcatel.

I was chatting with the "kasambahay" of my sister. Somehow, we talked about why I am so dirt poor. My sister commented that I am poor because I opted or I decided to be poor. I've decided to live in a third world underdeveloped country. She again said that she can help me stay in Singapore for three months. I guess she also wants to tell me that I can just find work in SIngapore. I replied that I am happy in Cambodia.

John Rawls, a political philosopher, once said that, "For there to have a social justice the greater blessing should be open to the least privilege member of the society."

That is the very reason why I am committed to working and living with the poor people.

I always bring clothes from my sister's abode everytime I come home (Cambodia) from SIngapore. The clothes that I brought home this week were all fairly new. Maybe just worn by my nephew once or twice. Those clothes are much better than those one can buy in Second Hand shops.

I gave some clothes to our school's cleaner/janitress. She was so happy with those clothes. I also gave clothes to two pastors who are serving God in spite of the fact that there is no money in the ministry. Those pastors are sharing God's word to the poorest of the poor in Cambodia.

Those things make me happy and I won't definitely experience the same in Singapore. :-)

Back off!

Are you pissed off with me? It seems you are.

I don't care.

You have the right be be pissed off. But don't impose on me your self-righteousnes.

Actually, I am also pissed off with your holier-than-thou attitude. You project that you know the Bible from the first letter to the last.

That I think is the very reason why you are aghast when I utter "out of this world ideas". But my ideas are mine and I don't care how people will react to it.

You know why so many people are against Christianity? One of the reasons probably is that there are Christians who are so righteous that they always see the wrongdoings of others. They will bombard others with their unsolicited pieces of advice. They will not run out of opinions. And they usually quote the Holy Scriptures.

I tell you, the world will be better without you.

You see God as vindictive and a God who loves punishing people?

I see God as a loving God who understands my shortcomings.

I see God as a God who looks at what Christ did on the cross for me every time He notices that I am doing things that are unholy.

I see God as a forgiving and understanding God.

So, I really don't mind you. In fact, I think you are an unnecessary termite.

But please!

BACK OFF!

Kaulayaw sa Karton at Kariton

Umaalingasaw
Ang masangsang na amoy
Ng natuyong ihi sa gilid ng kariton

Humihiyaw
Ang karton
Na piping saksi sa nangyayari sa loob

Lumalangitngit
Ang mga pinagtagni-tagning tabla ng kariton
Na animo'y sumasabay sa sayaw
Sa bawat indak ng magsing-irog

Bumubulwak
Ang pinaghalong pawis at katas
Ng pinag-isang katawan
Sa ibabaw ng karton
Sa loob ng kariton

Ngunit ang masangsang na amoy,
Ang lumang karton,
Ang maingay na kahoy,
Ay hindi alintana

Ang mahalaga
Ang dalawang pusong pinag-isa
Sa ibabaw ng karton
Sa loob ng kariton

What's In A Name?

Last week, tinawag akong pastor ng isang young people. I told him that I am not a pastor. There is only one pastor in the church at itinuro ko ang aming Pastor. :-)

Oo, noong estudyante ako sa seminary (Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary) eh nasanay akong tawaging pastor. Kasi lahat naman kami doon eh tinatawag na pastor. So, to be one with them and be like them eh okay lang sa akin na tawaging pastor. Noon yun. Noong estudyante pa ako sa seminary. Iba na ang kuwento ngayon. :-)

Ewan ko. Ayaw ko talagang patawag ng Pastor sa maraming kadahilanan. Una, parang hindi ako worthy patawag ng pastor. Parang ang bigat ng burden ng isang pastor. And I think I did not meet even a single criterion to be called a pastor. Pangalawa, parang (sa tingin ko lang ha) kapag pastor eh may distance sa ordinaryong tao. Probably because the pastor is chosen by God to do a special work for Him. Eh alam mo naman ako. Gusto ko kabilang ako sa masa. Sa mga ordinaryong tao. Kaya mas gusto kong matawag na kuya. :-)

Meron namang tumatawag sa akin ng Bro. Jun. :-) Well... actually... okay lang sana. Pero tuwing tinatawag akong Bro. Jun eh naalala ko ang mga katolikong seminarista. Di ba ang tawag sa kanila ay Brother? Tapos, kapag ganap na silang pari eh Father na? Kaya ayaw ko ring patawag ng Bro. Jun. Isa pa, parang banyaga yata iyon. Eh kahit na 104/120 ang TOEFL iBT ko at English teacher ako dito eh mas gusto ko pa ring gamitin ang sariling wika natin.

Madalas naman akong tawagin "Phu" dito sa Cambodia. Maski mga drivers ng pampublikong sasakyan eh ang tawag sa akin eh "Phu". Ano ang ibig sabihin ng "Phu"? Uncle. Yes, uncle ang ibig sabihin ng "Phu". Grrrr!!! Ganoon na ba ako katanda?

Perspektibo Lang 'Yan!

Couple of years ago, while I was on my way to Tampines Public Library in Singapore I chanced upon a panhandler near Tampines MRT Station. He was preparing his stuff. Mixing with his sound system, testing his microphone, positioning his money box (where passersby can drop coins)… And lo and behold! I saw among his things an Apple Computer? A pandhandler having his own apple computer? Sa atin nga, yung regular office worker walang apple computer eh. Oh, anyway, this is Singapore.

Then, I again saw an old lady selling tissues near the MRT Entrance. Those ladies who are selling tissues can be compared or equated sa mga beggars sa atin na nagtitinda ng basahan at sampaguita. Wala kasing beggars dito. Napansin ko ang kanyang suot. Malinis na t-shirt, nakatsinelas na goma, malinis ang kuko. Pero alam mong mahirap siya kumpara sa mga tao dito sa Singapore. Naisip ko sa atin, ang mga beggars marurumi ang damit, halos buwan na yatang hindi nalalabhan. Pudpod ang tsinelas. Marumi ang mga kuko. Pero mas may malaking kaibhan.

Ang babaeng nakita ko: malungkot na malungkot. Nakakunot ang nuo. Halata mong sobrang nabibigatan sa prublemang dala-dala.Yung mga tindera ng basahan at sampaguita sa atin: Parang hindi alintana ang prublema. Parang ordinaryo lang sa kanila ang hirap na nararanasan.

Naisip ko, ang buhay nga naman ay perspektibo lang. Dito, ang mga sobrang hirap eh nahihirapan sa buhay dahil nakita nila ang kaginhawahan ng Singapore. Siguro, bagot na bagot na siya kasi hindi niya maranasan ang ginhawa ng buhay na nakikita niya. Pero kung tutuusin, mas maalwan pa ang buhay niya kaysa sa mga nagtitinda sa Divisoria. Sa Pilipinas, ang mga pulubi o nagtitinda ng bahasan eh kontento na sa buhay nila. Hindi nila alintana ang walang pera kasi hindi naman nila nakikita masyado ang kaibhan ng buhay nila sa buhay ng nagtitinda sa palengke o sa buhay ng ordinaryong pilipino.

Naaala ko pa nga noon, kumakain ako ng lugaw sa may kariton sa may Baclaran. Katabi kong kumakain ay isang pulubi. Minsan naman ay kumain ako sa Jollibee. Merong pulubi na pumasok. Nagpapalit ng mga barya. Nagulat ako sa dami ng inilabas niyang barya. Pagkalabas ng ale eh kinausap ko ang manager (o supervisor?) ng Jollibee. Nalaman ko na araw-araw nagpapapalit ng barya ang pulubi. At araw-araw eh nagpapapalit siya ng mahigit taltong daang piso. Wow! Mas malaki pa ang kinikita niya sa akin! Eh noong nagtuturo ako noon ng Kindergarten eh kumikita lang ako ng P2,500 isang buwan. Sabagay 1990 pa iyon.

Suma total, naisip ko na ang buhay ay perspekibo lang. Kung tingin mo ay masaya ang buhay, masaya talaga ang buhay. Kung tingin mo ay mahirap ang buhay, talagang mahirap ang buhay. Kung tingin mo ang buhay ay malungkot, talagang malungkot ang buhay.

Therefore, again, I will say: Live and let live!

Barong Tagalog

Tinitingala ko talaga si Kidlat Tahimik. Si Kidlat Tahimik ay isang manunulat, pintor at makata. Nakilala siyang lalo dahil sa pagsusuot niya ng bahag kapag dumadalo siya ng pormal na pagtitipon. Biro mo, lahat ng tao ay naka-kurbata at amerikana. Pero siya ay nakabahag!

Ngayong magsasalita ako sa harap ng mga tao na galing sa iba't ibang bansa ay iniisip ko na sana ay mayroon akong dalang Barong Tagalog. Ipagmamalaki ko ang aking pagiging Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng pagsusuot ng Barong Tagalog.

Kagabi, habang ako ay naglalalakad papauwi, ay kinakanta ko ang Barong Tagalog na inawit ni Ruben Tagalog at sinulat ni Santiago Suarez. Naririto ang titik ng nasabing kanta:

Kung wariin ko sa ngayon ay muling nagbabalik
Ang barong tagalog na sadyang makisig.
Mahaba-habang panahon nawaglit sa ating isip
Na ito'y damit ng bansang mahirap malupig
Ang barong ito ay tatak Pilipinong talaga
Dapat nating mahalin sa tuwi-tuwina

Sa sariling bayan nati'y alinsangan
Makapal na kayoy hindi kailangan
Ang barong tagalog kahit sinamay lang
Ginhawang gamitin sa lahat ng pagdiriwang

Nang maghimagsik itong ating bansa
Dahil sa paglaya
Ang barong tagalog natin ay dakila
Pagka't siyang ginamit
Ng bayaning namayapa

Just Wondering

I just had my snack.
Jack and Jill's Cream-O cookies. The one I usually had when I was young. Wow! It's nice to remember the good old days. Those good old days that makes you feel something different. Aside, of course, from the fact that Cream-O is really delicious. Uhmmm... I noticed that I really crave for things that are made in the Philippines. Is this what we call homesickness?
The other week I saw Likas Papaya soap while in the grocery store intending to buy milk. I don't use Papaya soap. Any cheap soap is okay for me. But there is this undeniable and unxplainable feeling in me that dictates me to buy that soap. I still have three bars of Palmolive soap at home. In spite of that I still bought Likas Papaya and I gazed on the mark that says "made in the Philippines" several times.
Few weaks ago at around 10PM my two filipino friends drop by at my house. I just arrived from work and so I was dead tired. I thought of not opening the door and pretending to be asleep. Well, I had a second thought because I really miss those guys. They are my best buddies here in Cambodia.
Though what really made me happy when I saw them is the sardines that they brought. The sardines was made in the Philippines.
I don't know but I noticed that I do have a penchant now for things that are made in the Philippines.
Is it because I love my country more now? I guess so.
They say that distance makes the heart grow fonder.
And I am far from my beloved country now.
Khnom srolayng Philippines!

Racial Slurs

Yesterday I was discussing in my class the role of women in nation building. As an example, I gave the case of our president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
One of my students said, "Teacher, she is good! She was able to catch Abu Sayyaf."
I was shocked. I asked him why he knows Abu Sayyaf. He said it is because he learned that there are so many Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines. I corrected him by saying that there are millions of Filipinos and there are less than (I believe) a hundred of abu sayyaf. I told my class that it is not true that the philippines is infested of abu sayyaf. I told them that it is just what media portrays but it is not what's happening in the whole Philippines. In fact, I haven't seen one abu sayyaf in my whole life. I told them that we should be critical of the news that comes out in the media.
I said that media portrays some asian countries in bad light. For example, it was said in the media that Phnom Penh is not a safe place. Well, it dawned upon me that Phnom Penh is much safer than Bangkok nor Kuala Lumpur. I've experienced corruption in Malaysia, Thailand and other countries but not in Phnom Penh.
I added that I believe that Phnom Penh is even safer than New York.
One of my students commented, "Yes, teacher. Because of the blacks in New York."
I told them that the color of the skin has nothing to do with violence. I gave as an example the shooting that happened in a U.S. school two months ago. I asked her if it was an african-american who was involved in shooting. she said no. Then, i told them that the skin color doesn't have anything to do with violence.
Then, one of my students asked, "Teacher, why do they call housemaids Filipina?"
Whew! Even in Cambodia?
I told them about the incident where the word Filipina was included in Webster's dictionary. And the Philippine government protested and asked Webster's to remove that entry because it has a some sort of racial slur. Webster's obliged.
In defense, I narrated that there are a lot of professionals who are working abroad as technocrat and not just domestic helpers. I know people who work as nurses, I.T. professionals, and I am even working in Cambodia as a teacher.
Yes, there are many Filipinas that work as domestic helpers. But it is not appropriate to call all Filipinas domestic helpers because so many are working with white collar jobs.
As a parting word for them I told them that they should see themselves as equal with others. I asked them not to be moved by the way others look at them. They are what they are because of what they are and not because of how others look at them