Alay
Sa Mga Di Kilalang Bayani
Kayong mga nalibing
Sa mga gubat at parang
Na walang pananda man lamang.
Kayo na hindi na mababalikan
At inilbing na walang kabaong himlayan,
Kayo na ang pananda ay punong kahoy,
Munting batis o ilog na madaling tandaan,
Kayo na ang mga bangkay
Ay sama-samang inilibing
Ng mga kaaway ---
Matapos ibilad sa araw
Para ipanakot sa mga nagdadaan
Sa harap ng munisipyo:
Kayo na hinubaran, ginahasa,
Ginulpi bago ipaanod sa karayan,
Kayo na ang mga bangkay
Ay hinukay para kunwa'y bigyang parangal
Ng mga balakyot na militar
Ngunit ang layon ay makuha ang pabuya
Sa iyong kamatayan;
Kayong mga magigiting na bayani
Na di nalibing sa huling hantungan,
Nalimutan na ang mga pangalan
At nagbuwis ng buhay
Sa gitna ng pakikibaka ng bayan.
Kayo na walang pangalang masa
Na dinukot sa gitna ng gabi;
Kayo na pinahirapan sa mga lihim na silid
Saka dinispatsa na parang yagit
At nawalang parang bula sa ere,
Mga bayaning di kilala,
Daang libong masa
Na namgmartsa sa gitna ng daan,
Sa harap ng mga gusaling bayan,
sa EDSA, sa Malacanang,
sa lahat ng dako ng kapuluan.
Kayo na hanggang ngayon ay pinaghahanap
Ng inyong mga kaanak
Mula pa sa panahon ni Marcos, ilampung libong
Nawala na lamang at sukat,
Kayo na tinatangisan ng mga ina at amang
Nawalan ng anak
Habang ngising aso ang mga heneral at aipures nilang
pumaslang at ayaw umamin sa kanilang
Katampalasanang ginawa.
Kayo na wala man lamang bantayog
Sa ngalan ninyo inialay,
Habang ang mga naghaharing uri
Ay nagtayo ng kani-kanilang monumento
Sa lahat ng dako ng kapuluan,
Kayo ay nabubuhay sa ala-ala ng sambayanan;
Ang mga bulaklak na ligaw sa gubat,
Ang mga orkidyas sa mga baging
Ng mga matatataas na puno ang sa iyo ay alay
Hinding hindi kayo malilimot
At laging nagbabagang apoy
sa bawat buga ng sandatang lumalaban,
Kayo ay nasa bawat sigaw ng sambayan,
Kayo ay nasa bawat sandatang
maagaw sa kaaway,
kayo ay nasa bawat sentimo
na alay ng bayan sa pakikibaka
sa ibayong dagat sa lupang sinilangan.
Para sa inyo mga di kilalang bayani
Ni hindi alam ang pangalan,
galing sa uring anak-pawis at inang bayan,
Ang dakilang pakikibaka at magiting na tagumpay
Sa inyo namin--iniaalay!
ApG
Agosto 31, 2011
23.9.11
September 16, 1991, the day the Filipinos Threw out the US Bases in the Philippines
Memories
September 16, 1991, the day the Filipinos Threw out the US Bases in the Philippines
Arturo P. Garcia
TWO things that stands out and I will remember twenty years ago on September 16, 1991--the day the Senate voted to close down US bases on Philippine soil: first, it rained heavily and the vote in the Philippine Senate six years after the dictatorship was overthrown changed the country's destiny and second ,there was a crowd of 100,000 was at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.
I vividly remember that night when I walked from the gate into our house in the subdivision, I was so amazed that all the homes at my area were glued on the television. It was not a Miss Universe Contest or what not or the elections but all Filipinos were glued to the Philippine Senate.
Unlike during the days of the dictator, the Filipinos who were fed up with the Couple Marcos or their spokespersons are savoring the fact that they can watch freely on television the decisive voting on the Philippine Senate about the fate of the US Bases.
More than a year ago, debates were passion high. Even the President Cory Aquino marched against the Senate to pressure the senators to vote for the retention of the US bases with Mayor Gordon of Olongapo. But she just alienated more senators in voting for the US.
As I arrived home, I was amazed when Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the only two senators in the opposition voted against extending a treaty allowing the US to maintain military bases in the Philippines, called the decision struck a blow for national sovereignty. "We collectively echoed the sentiment of the Filipino people to unshackle themselves," he said..
Fellow senator from the opposition Senator Joseph Ejercito Estrada called the vote "our finest hour,". Estrada quoted from the sublime paralytic Apolinario Mabini and he read the Tagalog text of the hero’s manifesto in Tagalog written during the Filipino-American War of 1899.
Bicol senator Victor Ziga , son of the feisty nationalist lady Senator Tecla San Andres Ziga said it was "one of my proudest moments" because the Senate had been able to resist "fancy rhetoric and cheap propaganda.
Senator Agapito Aquino, brother-in-law to then President Corazon Aquino, also spoke against the treaty. He still remembered how the Americans treated his brother shabbily while he was in exile in the United States.
Another activist Senator Wigberto Tanada said the treaty had to be junked because "national freedom cannot be postponed and the dignity and honor of the Filipino people cannot continue to be trampled."
Then he made “mano to the “Grand Old Man of the Opposition", a staunch nationalist and Senator Lorenzo Tanada who was in a wheel chair watched in the sidelines at the Senate Gallery . Quoting his father on what the Philippines was expected to do when the Americans left, said, "the plan is that we will stand on our own."
Nationalist Senator then Senate President Jovito Salonga cast the last vote that sealed the nail to the coffin. it was payback time for Salonga who was jailed by Marcos during martial law and has to spent time in exile in the United States. And all hell break loose in the chambers when he finally banged the gavel.
I can feel the tears of joy streaming from my cheeks. As an activist who were at anti-US bases protest since 1967, I felt a terrible joy in my gut. I remembered my lolo who were forced to evacuate to Manila during the Filipino-American War and my dad who were staunch nationalist. They who instilled in me the deep patriotic fervor that runs in me. I quietly said: “ this night is for you.”
I can hear the rejoicing all around the subdivision in the clapping and loud cheers all around. I was not alone in celebration. The whole nation was rejoicing!
The magnificent 12 comprised then senators Agapito Aquino, Sotero Laurel II ( son of another nationalist senator and president Jose P. Laurel Sr of Batangas), Ernesto Maceda Jr., Orlando Mercado, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., cvil rights lawyer Rene Saguisag, Jovito Salonga, Wigberto Tanada, and Victor Ziga, now Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, former President Joseph Estrada, and former Vice President Teofisto Guingona III were part of the Magnificent 12
Twenty years later, that despite the 1991 decision to close down the US bases,American soldiers are back and have stayed since the VFA was signed in 1998. Enrile and Estrada were just posturing for posterity and are real showmen opportunist at that time. They were just playing for the camera and again became pro-US later.
Today, in 2011 , US soldiers are back in Mindanao under the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines and through military training exercises involving "as many as 6,000" soldiers. And now, they are planning to change the charter and legalize their stay and have permanent bases in the Philippines.
Yes, I am here in the United States, I still remember that day when the Filipinos stood up and threw away the US bases and say –“the struggle for independence and sovereignty must go on!”
************
September 16, 1991, the day the Filipinos Threw out the US Bases in the Philippines
Arturo P. Garcia
TWO things that stands out and I will remember twenty years ago on September 16, 1991--the day the Senate voted to close down US bases on Philippine soil: first, it rained heavily and the vote in the Philippine Senate six years after the dictatorship was overthrown changed the country's destiny and second ,there was a crowd of 100,000 was at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.
I vividly remember that night when I walked from the gate into our house in the subdivision, I was so amazed that all the homes at my area were glued on the television. It was not a Miss Universe Contest or what not or the elections but all Filipinos were glued to the Philippine Senate.
Unlike during the days of the dictator, the Filipinos who were fed up with the Couple Marcos or their spokespersons are savoring the fact that they can watch freely on television the decisive voting on the Philippine Senate about the fate of the US Bases.
More than a year ago, debates were passion high. Even the President Cory Aquino marched against the Senate to pressure the senators to vote for the retention of the US bases with Mayor Gordon of Olongapo. But she just alienated more senators in voting for the US.
As I arrived home, I was amazed when Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the only two senators in the opposition voted against extending a treaty allowing the US to maintain military bases in the Philippines, called the decision struck a blow for national sovereignty. "We collectively echoed the sentiment of the Filipino people to unshackle themselves," he said..
Fellow senator from the opposition Senator Joseph Ejercito Estrada called the vote "our finest hour,". Estrada quoted from the sublime paralytic Apolinario Mabini and he read the Tagalog text of the hero’s manifesto in Tagalog written during the Filipino-American War of 1899.
Bicol senator Victor Ziga , son of the feisty nationalist lady Senator Tecla San Andres Ziga said it was "one of my proudest moments" because the Senate had been able to resist "fancy rhetoric and cheap propaganda.
Senator Agapito Aquino, brother-in-law to then President Corazon Aquino, also spoke against the treaty. He still remembered how the Americans treated his brother shabbily while he was in exile in the United States.
Another activist Senator Wigberto Tanada said the treaty had to be junked because "national freedom cannot be postponed and the dignity and honor of the Filipino people cannot continue to be trampled."
Then he made “mano to the “Grand Old Man of the Opposition", a staunch nationalist and Senator Lorenzo Tanada who was in a wheel chair watched in the sidelines at the Senate Gallery . Quoting his father on what the Philippines was expected to do when the Americans left, said, "the plan is that we will stand on our own."
Nationalist Senator then Senate President Jovito Salonga cast the last vote that sealed the nail to the coffin. it was payback time for Salonga who was jailed by Marcos during martial law and has to spent time in exile in the United States. And all hell break loose in the chambers when he finally banged the gavel.
I can feel the tears of joy streaming from my cheeks. As an activist who were at anti-US bases protest since 1967, I felt a terrible joy in my gut. I remembered my lolo who were forced to evacuate to Manila during the Filipino-American War and my dad who were staunch nationalist. They who instilled in me the deep patriotic fervor that runs in me. I quietly said: “ this night is for you.”
I can hear the rejoicing all around the subdivision in the clapping and loud cheers all around. I was not alone in celebration. The whole nation was rejoicing!
The magnificent 12 comprised then senators Agapito Aquino, Sotero Laurel II ( son of another nationalist senator and president Jose P. Laurel Sr of Batangas), Ernesto Maceda Jr., Orlando Mercado, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., cvil rights lawyer Rene Saguisag, Jovito Salonga, Wigberto Tanada, and Victor Ziga, now Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, former President Joseph Estrada, and former Vice President Teofisto Guingona III were part of the Magnificent 12
Twenty years later, that despite the 1991 decision to close down the US bases,American soldiers are back and have stayed since the VFA was signed in 1998. Enrile and Estrada were just posturing for posterity and are real showmen opportunist at that time. They were just playing for the camera and again became pro-US later.
Today, in 2011 , US soldiers are back in Mindanao under the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines and through military training exercises involving "as many as 6,000" soldiers. And now, they are planning to change the charter and legalize their stay and have permanent bases in the Philippines.
Yes, I am here in the United States, I still remember that day when the Filipinos stood up and threw away the US bases and say –“the struggle for independence and sovereignty must go on!”
************
“Huwag Kang Mag-Iwan ng Kalat”
Tula
“Huwag Kang Mag-Iwan ng Kalat”
“Huwag kang Mag-Iwan ng Kalat”;
mahigpit na bilin ng lahat ng tirano
At lider na nagdiyus-diyosan,
Daang taon na ang lumipas
Ngunit palagi
Kahit man pilit pagtakpan
Ang mga nakasulat na kasaysayang
Sinulat ng mga ulupong at bayaring
Manunulat upang pabannguhin
Ang mga sukab na nagpatayo
Ng mga sariling rebulto,
Nagpangalan sa mga kalsada,
Mga gusali at paaralan
Sa kani-kanilang bayan.
Palagi na ang kalat na ibinaon
Ay sumingaw at umamoy
Pagkaraan ng maraming taong
Nalibing sa balag na pagkalimot
Dahil may mga taong nakasaksi,
Nakaalam at nagsiyasat
Para mahanap ang katototohan.
Kahit ilang taong nanahimik
ang mga saksi at nakaalam
Dahil sa takot at pagkahiya
Sa pangamba na mas maraming
Mawala sa kanya at sa pamilya
Hindi ba nag ipapatay ni Aguinaldo
Si Bonifacio tinakpang pilit
Ito ng mga taksil at palamarang
Nagkanulo sa Supremo?
Pinalalabas pa nilang nagbalak
Ng masama ang Supremo
Kayat kailangang patayin?
At diumano hindi uamabot
Ang pagpapatawad
Nang mabunying Presidente?
Hindi ba’t nang paslangin si Heneral Luna
Mabilis na inilibing ang bayani
At walang nakasaksi kundi ang mga kawal
Na duwag lumabans a mga dayuhan
Ngunit mabilis pumatay ng kababayan?
At ang ginawang dahilan ay marami
Daw kagalit ang Heneral para
Pawalang sala ang Presidente?
Nang pasalangin ang Senador sa Maynila
Hindi ba’t pinaslang din kaagad
ang diumanong salarin?
Nagsagawa pa
nang mahabang imbestigasyon
Ang komisyong ikinakunsumi
Ng mga mamamayan
Dahil pinawalang sala ang mga may sala.
Kayat hanggang ngayon ang mga kaanak
Ng naging Presidentita
maging ang kanyang unico hijong Pangulo
Ay di pa makahanap ng hustisya
mahigit 25 taong na ang nakakaraan?
Ngunit laganap pa rin
ang mga kalat na naiwan
Ay talamak at alam ng madla
Dahil ang mga utak
ay opisyal pa rin ng gobyerno.
Nasa Kongreso at nagmamagaling,
ang mataray na byuda at mga anak nito,
Laman ng pahayagan at media,
Nakakapagsalita ng malaya
Tulad ng panahon nila noon
Na mahusay ang batas militar
Para sa Pilipinas;
At patuloy na nagpapasasa
Sa karangyaan at luho
Kasama ng mga naging biktima
Ng maluklok sa kapangyarihan
Ay nalimutan nang magawad
Ng hustisya dahil pareho silang
Naghaharing uri?
"Huwag magiwan ng kalat"
Ngunit ang kalat
Ay likas
dahil ang bawat pagpaslang
Ay tigib ng pagkalat ng dugo,
Nang timasik ng laman
Ng utak o ng katawang
Tinagos ng bala o taga ng tabak,
Laging mag-iiwan ng bakas,
Kahit ito ay tumagas sa lupa
O ibaon sa malalim na libingan,
Kahit sunugin ang bangkay
At walang iwang labi
Tulad ng ginawa ng mga Belgian
kay Patrice Lumumba ng Congo,
Andres Bonifacio ng Pilipinas.,
Kay Hannibal ng Roma,
Kay Che Guevarra sa Bolivia,
Kay Kapitan Tomas Sankara
ng Burkina Paso
Sa takot nilang
bumalik ang kaluluwa ng namatay,
Hindi ba’t winasak nilang Cartagena,
Sinabuyan ng asin ang Masada,
Sinunog ang syudad ng Vienna
At Changsu sa Tsina,
binomba ng tubigpara alisin
ang dugo sa Plaza ng masaker sa San Salvador,
Sa Mexico at Kwangju,
Upang maalis ang bakas
ng dumaloy na dugo at laman
mga lumaban sa kanila
Tulad ng mga Kastilang
Nagwasak sa mga libingan ng mga antio
Upang itayo ang mga simbahan
Na may edad ng kung ilang daan taon
Katulad ng pagsawak ng mga Amerikano
Sa libingan ng mga Indyan?
Dahil kahit magsinungaling
Itatala ito sa kasaysayan
At hahalukayin,
Kahit wisakan ng mamahaling pabango,
Isuob sa mausok na isensyo,
Magtayo man ng mga bagong monumento.
Magtayo ng mga bagong syudad
Mula sa guho ng pagwasak,
Isulat ng mga manunulat
Tulad nila Agoncillo, Quijano De Manila,
At sinumang hijo de putang nabayarang
Iskribyente lokal man o dayo,
Lalabas din at lalabas kung
Ano ang totoo.
Hindi mailigpit
Ang kalat dahil kahit ang basag
Na salamin -- mabubuo rin
At mula rito ang kislap
Ng katotohanan ay mananaig
Kahit anong sabi at ingat
Bilinin ang mga salaring
huwag magkalat
At gawing malinis
Ang krimen,
Walang bahong hindi sisingaw,
Walang apoy na hindi uusok
At walang lihim na di mabubunyag.
apg
Setyembre 22, 2011
“Huwag Kang Mag-Iwan ng Kalat”
“Huwag kang Mag-Iwan ng Kalat”;
mahigpit na bilin ng lahat ng tirano
At lider na nagdiyus-diyosan,
Daang taon na ang lumipas
Ngunit palagi
Kahit man pilit pagtakpan
Ang mga nakasulat na kasaysayang
Sinulat ng mga ulupong at bayaring
Manunulat upang pabannguhin
Ang mga sukab na nagpatayo
Ng mga sariling rebulto,
Nagpangalan sa mga kalsada,
Mga gusali at paaralan
Sa kani-kanilang bayan.
Palagi na ang kalat na ibinaon
Ay sumingaw at umamoy
Pagkaraan ng maraming taong
Nalibing sa balag na pagkalimot
Dahil may mga taong nakasaksi,
Nakaalam at nagsiyasat
Para mahanap ang katototohan.
Kahit ilang taong nanahimik
ang mga saksi at nakaalam
Dahil sa takot at pagkahiya
Sa pangamba na mas maraming
Mawala sa kanya at sa pamilya
Hindi ba nag ipapatay ni Aguinaldo
Si Bonifacio tinakpang pilit
Ito ng mga taksil at palamarang
Nagkanulo sa Supremo?
Pinalalabas pa nilang nagbalak
Ng masama ang Supremo
Kayat kailangang patayin?
At diumano hindi uamabot
Ang pagpapatawad
Nang mabunying Presidente?
Hindi ba’t nang paslangin si Heneral Luna
Mabilis na inilibing ang bayani
At walang nakasaksi kundi ang mga kawal
Na duwag lumabans a mga dayuhan
Ngunit mabilis pumatay ng kababayan?
At ang ginawang dahilan ay marami
Daw kagalit ang Heneral para
Pawalang sala ang Presidente?
Nang pasalangin ang Senador sa Maynila
Hindi ba’t pinaslang din kaagad
ang diumanong salarin?
Nagsagawa pa
nang mahabang imbestigasyon
Ang komisyong ikinakunsumi
Ng mga mamamayan
Dahil pinawalang sala ang mga may sala.
Kayat hanggang ngayon ang mga kaanak
Ng naging Presidentita
maging ang kanyang unico hijong Pangulo
Ay di pa makahanap ng hustisya
mahigit 25 taong na ang nakakaraan?
Ngunit laganap pa rin
ang mga kalat na naiwan
Ay talamak at alam ng madla
Dahil ang mga utak
ay opisyal pa rin ng gobyerno.
Nasa Kongreso at nagmamagaling,
ang mataray na byuda at mga anak nito,
Laman ng pahayagan at media,
Nakakapagsalita ng malaya
Tulad ng panahon nila noon
Na mahusay ang batas militar
Para sa Pilipinas;
At patuloy na nagpapasasa
Sa karangyaan at luho
Kasama ng mga naging biktima
Ng maluklok sa kapangyarihan
Ay nalimutan nang magawad
Ng hustisya dahil pareho silang
Naghaharing uri?
"Huwag magiwan ng kalat"
Ngunit ang kalat
Ay likas
dahil ang bawat pagpaslang
Ay tigib ng pagkalat ng dugo,
Nang timasik ng laman
Ng utak o ng katawang
Tinagos ng bala o taga ng tabak,
Laging mag-iiwan ng bakas,
Kahit ito ay tumagas sa lupa
O ibaon sa malalim na libingan,
Kahit sunugin ang bangkay
At walang iwang labi
Tulad ng ginawa ng mga Belgian
kay Patrice Lumumba ng Congo,
Andres Bonifacio ng Pilipinas.,
Kay Hannibal ng Roma,
Kay Che Guevarra sa Bolivia,
Kay Kapitan Tomas Sankara
ng Burkina Paso
Sa takot nilang
bumalik ang kaluluwa ng namatay,
Hindi ba’t winasak nilang Cartagena,
Sinabuyan ng asin ang Masada,
Sinunog ang syudad ng Vienna
At Changsu sa Tsina,
binomba ng tubigpara alisin
ang dugo sa Plaza ng masaker sa San Salvador,
Sa Mexico at Kwangju,
Upang maalis ang bakas
ng dumaloy na dugo at laman
mga lumaban sa kanila
Tulad ng mga Kastilang
Nagwasak sa mga libingan ng mga antio
Upang itayo ang mga simbahan
Na may edad ng kung ilang daan taon
Katulad ng pagsawak ng mga Amerikano
Sa libingan ng mga Indyan?
Dahil kahit magsinungaling
Itatala ito sa kasaysayan
At hahalukayin,
Kahit wisakan ng mamahaling pabango,
Isuob sa mausok na isensyo,
Magtayo man ng mga bagong monumento.
Magtayo ng mga bagong syudad
Mula sa guho ng pagwasak,
Isulat ng mga manunulat
Tulad nila Agoncillo, Quijano De Manila,
At sinumang hijo de putang nabayarang
Iskribyente lokal man o dayo,
Lalabas din at lalabas kung
Ano ang totoo.
Hindi mailigpit
Ang kalat dahil kahit ang basag
Na salamin -- mabubuo rin
At mula rito ang kislap
Ng katotohanan ay mananaig
Kahit anong sabi at ingat
Bilinin ang mga salaring
huwag magkalat
At gawing malinis
Ang krimen,
Walang bahong hindi sisingaw,
Walang apoy na hindi uusok
At walang lihim na di mabubunyag.
apg
Setyembre 22, 2011
Growing Up Pains
Discordant Notes
Growing Up Pains
This one episode of a Tagalog telenovela I can relate to.
When somebody throws you out of the house where you lived as a housemate, that’s classic drama.
To start the story, when my aunt left for the United States, she left her room to me. I was then in high school. My aunt knows to well that as a student vying for honor roll I must have a very good surroundings to be competitive.
She very well know that I cannot study very well in our ancestral home. It was because we just occupy one room and it was only for sleeping. I have no place to study in that big house. At least in the house of my grandfather, I occupy a room and it served also serves a study room and a sleeping quarters.
But my good days were short lived.
Right besides my room was the room occupied by my aunt. She lives with her husband and they have two small children by then. At first this was not a problem until they had their third child.
All of the sudden, I found my things outside and without telling me, my aunt and her husband occupied my room and their former room. As a good grandson, I just took it in stride.
It was not a problem to me. My grandfather who sensed my repulsion. Gave me his old table where he used to work and put up some light for me to work on my studies. He worked at the big dining table nearby.
But it was not the end. Later I found out that my things was transferred outside the balcony where the hanging garden was directly facing the stairs. My uncle used the table and instead gave me a small table. My grandfather just kept quiet and again put up the lighting for me to study outside.
I have no problem from it but what cannot take are the snide remarks from my uncle who does not work but lived from the graces of my grandfather and aunt who worked in the United States, in short he has no shame for we called him “PNB or “palamunin ng byenan.”
As usual because my school was nearby, I usually come home for lunch. For every second day, to change clothes for our physical education classes or the military training we are forced to undergo for our afternoon classes.
And everyday of my life, he will harangued me with his snide remarks and profanities especially when he is drunk. I surmised that is the reason why he was not admitted to the NBI. And he cannot find work. And one day when almost came into blows.
He made a remark that I was like a pig. “ You slurp your soup like a pig .” He said.
I answered back; “It is you who is like a pig, living off from my grandfathers earnings.” I retorted. And then he challenged me into a fight.
In my anger, even I don’t even know any self defense tactic way back then, I stood up and was ready for any blow. To think during the good times, he taught me how to fight because he was then was applying for the NBI. And then my aunt and my lola stood between us.
I left without a word and promised not to go back to the house. But my lola went to talk to me in the other house and begged me to go back. She made me promise her to eat lunch at the house everyday.
And because I loved my lola, I made that promise to her. I just told her, “I cannot sleep over there anymore because I hate to see that guy”
That arrangement changed and I stayed more in the other house every since. I was in college and I did not need a good study place anymore because I had the air conditioned library in school to use.
Besides I am not vying for any honor anymore. I don’t need to study hard.
Those are just one of my bitter memories that I just told in story just right now. After more than 40 years.
And as I looked back while I watched the telenovelas, those were just growing up pains.
*****
Growing Up Pains
This one episode of a Tagalog telenovela I can relate to.
When somebody throws you out of the house where you lived as a housemate, that’s classic drama.
To start the story, when my aunt left for the United States, she left her room to me. I was then in high school. My aunt knows to well that as a student vying for honor roll I must have a very good surroundings to be competitive.
She very well know that I cannot study very well in our ancestral home. It was because we just occupy one room and it was only for sleeping. I have no place to study in that big house. At least in the house of my grandfather, I occupy a room and it served also serves a study room and a sleeping quarters.
But my good days were short lived.
Right besides my room was the room occupied by my aunt. She lives with her husband and they have two small children by then. At first this was not a problem until they had their third child.
All of the sudden, I found my things outside and without telling me, my aunt and her husband occupied my room and their former room. As a good grandson, I just took it in stride.
It was not a problem to me. My grandfather who sensed my repulsion. Gave me his old table where he used to work and put up some light for me to work on my studies. He worked at the big dining table nearby.
But it was not the end. Later I found out that my things was transferred outside the balcony where the hanging garden was directly facing the stairs. My uncle used the table and instead gave me a small table. My grandfather just kept quiet and again put up the lighting for me to study outside.
I have no problem from it but what cannot take are the snide remarks from my uncle who does not work but lived from the graces of my grandfather and aunt who worked in the United States, in short he has no shame for we called him “PNB or “palamunin ng byenan.”
As usual because my school was nearby, I usually come home for lunch. For every second day, to change clothes for our physical education classes or the military training we are forced to undergo for our afternoon classes.
And everyday of my life, he will harangued me with his snide remarks and profanities especially when he is drunk. I surmised that is the reason why he was not admitted to the NBI. And he cannot find work. And one day when almost came into blows.
He made a remark that I was like a pig. “ You slurp your soup like a pig .” He said.
I answered back; “It is you who is like a pig, living off from my grandfathers earnings.” I retorted. And then he challenged me into a fight.
In my anger, even I don’t even know any self defense tactic way back then, I stood up and was ready for any blow. To think during the good times, he taught me how to fight because he was then was applying for the NBI. And then my aunt and my lola stood between us.
I left without a word and promised not to go back to the house. But my lola went to talk to me in the other house and begged me to go back. She made me promise her to eat lunch at the house everyday.
And because I loved my lola, I made that promise to her. I just told her, “I cannot sleep over there anymore because I hate to see that guy”
That arrangement changed and I stayed more in the other house every since. I was in college and I did not need a good study place anymore because I had the air conditioned library in school to use.
Besides I am not vying for any honor anymore. I don’t need to study hard.
Those are just one of my bitter memories that I just told in story just right now. After more than 40 years.
And as I looked back while I watched the telenovelas, those were just growing up pains.
*****
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