This line in the Lord's Prayer has taken a personal meaning for me...
this is not based on exegesis
nor is based on theological reflection
but personal...
based on my current experience.
While riding the jeep from a meeting, I whispered a prayer... and I was even surprised that the prayer went, Lord, lead me not to temptation..."
The temptation is not even sinful...
A possible writing project...
A possible teaching post...
A possible further study opportunity.
The temptation really is in accepting opportunities out of financial need instead of really doing the Will of God in my personal life and ministry calling. It's the temptation to address the need of the family over the struggle to do God's Will...
It's being tempted to prioritize family over call at which one or the other is sacrificed.
Lead me not to temptation...
This line is preceded by "and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors..."
I loaned some moneys to some friends...
To one, I lent to him what should be payment for the children's books because that time he needed money for his mother's hospitalization. I trusted his goodness and that he understands our own financial limitations. But at that time he needed the money while the textbooks can be paid much later.
But now, it is enrollment and we need to pay our dues before we can enroll our children.
I asked my husband to collect what we lent our friend...
I also lent money to a friend to help her in her medical and family needs.
Whatever we can loan has been used because of the tragedies that struck our family: Yolanda, the hospitalization and subsequent death of the husband of Ruel's sister, the hospitalization and subsequent death of Ruel's father.
Now I am in my last thousand...
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors...
If I am unable to do this... I will indeed be tempted to forgo God's Will.
When I lent our moneys, I trust that that was God's Will trusting too that God will supply our needs according to His riches... in the right time.
Now, I am tempted to work things out to meet our needs instead of waiting for God to supply our needs.
And so I pray
Lead me not into temptation... which means,
Lord let me trust you more to supply the needs according to your riches and right timing. Let me wait for you. Don't let me act impulsively simply because I have gotten desperate. Increase my faith in you. Amen.
Monday, May 19, 2014
expectations
Expectations
"nanay, anong
alam mo gawin?" tanong ng anak ko hanggang iniintay namin ang pagkain na
niluluto ni tatay.
"Well, marunong
akong magpiano
Magsulat
Magturo
Magsalita
(speaker/preach).
"Hindi!" dugtong ng anak ko. "Anong alam mong
lutuin? Di ba dapat marunong ang mga nanay magluto?"
Expectations…
Our children have
expectations of who and what we are as parents. As my daughters expressed, she
expects that mothers are good in the kitchen.
As parents we have
our own expectations for our children.
We expect them to be
Good in school… even
make it to the honor roll and get awards
Hindi muna mag bf/gf
What happens if
We were called to
report to school because our child got him/herself involved in an act that
merited suspension
Our child was not able to graduate because he/she failed
big time!
And Worse…
What if one day our
daughters comes home confessing she is pregnant! (buti nga sana kung magtapat
sya… e pano kung madiskubre mo at nung kumprontahin mo di pa nga aamin!)
Usually, in the
family, it is always the parents who set expectations for which the children
should obey and meet.
Ang hindi natin
napapansin, children have their own expectations of us, their parents:
Sana nanjan ang
parents lagi, nanunuod ng presentation sa school…
Sana my parents are
home we I get home…
Sana I can tell my
parents about my crush…
If we live by
expectation, we fail to appreciate what each member can offer into the family
relationship… we then end up frustrated
Disappointed
Unhappy.
"Mga anak, di
ba dapat kayo ang maghugas ng plato! Ako pa din ba ang maghuhugas nan!"
Hay.
Tuesday, May 06, 2014
FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES
Friendly
Communities
carmel villar
It’s a woman’s
world at Woman’s Crib®, a company that provides services and products for women
of all ages in all stages of her life.
And because it is a company for women, about women, it is expected that
the work force would be women. Well,
yes, in a way. Most of the staff is
women. But the administration is made up
of all men! A male owns the company, the Chief Operating Officer is a male as
well as the Chief Executive Officer.
In one of the
conversations among women staff, Glaiza asked, “do the bosses really understand
what women need?”
“Perhaps,”
answered Vienne. “Look at the company! It seems to be doing well.”
The company is doing
well, indeed. It is a young company of
two years so far, the company is earning far beyond their expectation.
At Christmas
time, Glaiza and Vienne were assigned to organize a Christmas party for the
company.
“Is the
Christmas party for regular employees only? asked Glaiza.
“We should
include everyone, including the casual and the contractual employees.”
“As well as our
contractors?”
“Let’s take
this time to thank everyone involved in the company.” Having agreed on the concept for the company’s
Christmas celebration, they presented the plan to the bosses who approved the
plan.
Christmas
season is the busiest time for the company.
It is the season where demand for women things is at its peak. Although Glaiza and Vienne were busy with the
preparation for the Christmas celebration, they never skipped a beat in their office
workload and responsibilities.
By the time the
Christmas celebration took place everyone in the company heaved a sigh of
relief that they were able to meet the quota sale for the year.
“Does that mean
we have a bigger bonus?” asked one of the staff jokingly but half meaning it.
“Maybe the
bosses will be more generous and give us a 14th month!” another
staff mused.
After the usual
festivities, the exchanging of gifts and after everyone was full, the Executive
Officer stood up and announced, “We have reached our quota!” Everyone cheered.
“We even surpassed our quota by 250%!” Above deafening cheers, he said,
“Because of all you efforts and our unexpected performance, you will get not
only your bonus, but half of your 14th month pay!”
But no one
heard the announcement. Ely, the company’s secretary-receptionist cried in
pain, “I think the baby’s coming out!”
“What? But
you’re not due until first week of January!”
“Oh. no! I
think the water bag has burst!” This set all the girls in hysteria. Even the
three male bosses just stood transfixed in their position. Then Ely gave a piercing scream, “the baby’s
coming out. Ohhhh!” The COO jumped and ran out of the office. He fetched his
car. The Executive Officer carried Ely
out of the office into the COO’s car. Vienne
and Glaiza accompanied Ely in the car.
The COO drove them to the hospital.
The Christmas celebration was put to a halt when everybody followed to
the hospital on board the cars of the other two bosses.
They all paced
at the hospital waiting room as they waited for news. Glaiza realized that Ely’s husband had to be
notified. Soon Ely’s husband joined
them.
“It’s a baby
girl!” the doctor announced as soon as Ely’s husband approached the delivery
room. Everybody cheered, even the
hospital staff on duty. Ely’s husband couldn’t believe what he heard. He came to the hospital fearing the worst for
his wife. He didn’t expect that the news
of the birth of his first born child would greet him as he entered the
hospital.
“What are you
waiting for? Go to Ely?” prodded the
owner of Women’s Crib.
They all waited
until Ely and the child were brought to the room. Glaiza and Vienne arranged for her room and
her admission. Another staff arranged for the Ely”s and the baby’s clothes and
things be brought to the hospital.
When Ely could
see them, they all trooped to Ely’s room.
They greeted her, mushed over the baby and congratulated the
father. Meanwhile, Ely was apologetic,
“Sorry for ruining our Christmas celebration!”
“Oh, there’s no
need to apologize,” said the owner of the company. “In fact, it’s been said that the birth of a
baby almost always bring good luck.”
“Oh, like when
a baby is born in an airplane!”
“Exactly. And because of that, your bill is on the
company,” declared the owner.
“Wow!” There
were more cheers and congratulations.
“You will all
stand as sponsors,” declared Ely’s husband.
“I think Ely
and the baby need to rest,” the executive officer announced. They all bade their farewell. At the door, the CEO said, “see you after 45
days?” He gave Ely a salute before closing the door.
Monday, May 05, 2014
Dare To Dance With Me
Would you dare come with me
Even if you know
I come from the South
And you are from the East.
Would you dare play with me
Even if you live
in a beautiful house
and I in lowly shanty.
Would you dare dance with me
You with fair, smooth skin
Would you dare dance with me
with skin darkened with sun’s scorched.
I dare you come with me
you who come from the south.
Walk with me in this road we call life
And learn from each other.
Play with me
you who live in lofty house.
Learn the games that make us happy
Who live in lowly shanty.
I may dance to my music
And you dance to your music
But I can dance to your music
And You can dance to my music
Despite our diff’rence
We can be together
We can dance to each other’s music
Come let us dance and be one.
MISSY MUSES
Missy Muses
carmel villar
Missy is sulking. She does not want to spend summer in Zambales. She wants to spend summer with her friends in
the village. They plan to go on swimming in a resort hotel. But there is
nothing to see but trees in this village.
She can get lost in this maze of trees.
And what makes matters worse is that they are living now
with the Aetas, the Negritos of Zambales.
All of a sudden she remembers the song about Negritos:
“Negritos
of the mountain what kind of food do you eat?
What
kind of food do you eat, Negritos of the mountain?”
Then she smiles as she remembers this song. She knows what food the Aetas eat. She has
been eating with them for days now.
“Hi Missy,” an Aeta girl calls out. “Would you like to come with us to the
woods? We will pick guavas.” Missy looks at the girl. “My name is Layos.”
“Layos?
What kind of name is that?” Missy asks.
“I
was born during a heavy rain. So I was named Layos, meaning flood.”
“Oh,”
was all Missy was able to say.
“So
are you coming with us?” Layos asks again.
Missy looks around her and she sees 10 Aeta children. They are looking at her with expectation.
With nothing to do for the rest of the day, she decided to go with them.
Along
the trail, they come across a grove of guava trees full with ripe fruits. All the children rush to the trees and each
one picks guava fruits. They eat guava
with joy. Missy just looks at the
children.
A
child approaches Missy with 2 guavas.
“Have some,” the child offers.
After their fill of guava, the children move on along the trail. Layos walks besides Missy. “Layos,” Missy calls, “why don’t you bring
more guavas with you?”
“There
is no need,” Layos answers. “If we get more guavas, there will be nothing left
for others. Anyway, there are more guavas along the road.”
Missy
looks at Layos. She does not seem to
mind about what she does not have.
Instead, Layos could still look after the welfare of others. Then Missy remembers the child who gave her
guavas. They who lack so much by her
standard are able to give more.
Missy
joins the children in their trek to the woods.
She smiles as she listens to the children singing and exchanging
jokes.
This could turn out to be
a very interesting summer, Missy muses.
JUST CALL HER "PANGGA"
Just Call Her “Pangga”
by Carmel Villar
“Pangga, go get the
door,” a voice said from inside the house, as I knocked on the door. I was about to knock again, but the door
opened. Behind the door was a lovely
young lady.
Could she be Pangga? I
stared at her. Her smile bids me inside.
She motioned me in as she opens the door.
“Where’s Ma’am?” I asked. She pointed to the direction of
the house where I presumed to be the kitchen.
She pointed me to a wooden chair. I thought she wanted me to sit, so I
sat. Then she showed me photo album. She
opened the pages and pointed a picture.
“Is that you?” I asked her. She
just answered me with a smile. By the
look of the picture, Pangga is the youngest, and may I say the most beautiful
among the three sisters.
As I looked at the rest of the pictures, I did not notice
that her mother has joined us.
“O Pangga, so you’ve shown Ate Nery our picture!” Ma’am Inday offered her hand, “Nery, meet
Pangga.”
Then Pangga spoke in a language I did not understand. She motioned with her hands and spoke with
excitement. But sad to say, I did not
understand a word she was saying. I
looked at her mother for an explanation.
“Pangga is special.
Her mental age did not grow with her body,” Ma’am Inday explained. I was
pleasantly surprised. If just by looking
at her I wouldn’t have any clue that she is special. Yes, she is special. She welcomed me, a stranger, a new “kid” in
the block. Others have looked at me with
hesitation, sizing me up from head to toe.
But with Pangga, there was nothing like that. She just welcomed me without sizing me up.
“Just call her Pangga,” Ma’am Inday said. “She is our beloved. Our Pangga.”
Yes, she is “Pangga.” She is beloved. She is special.
Monday, July 29, 2013
9:25:17 PM
Bethesda Cottages
Tagaytay City
PUHON
“Puhon”
(“Puhon” is a Visayan term for “God willing”)
“Wake up,” Dodoy shakes Merto’s
frail body. “It’s time to get up! We can’t have the sun catch us under the
blanket. Come on!” This time Dodoy pulls Merto’s legs.
Merto complains, “it’s still dark!”
“But if we linger some more, it
will be hot by the time we reach the field,” Dodoy insists. This time he pulls the blanket off Merto’s
body. Merto gets up as he forces his
eyes to open. He slowly makes his way to the kitchen. There Dodoy has prepared coffee made from
roasted rice grain.
They make their way to the
field. They sing a lively tune as they climb
a hill. Soon they cross a brook. They
climb another hill. Before long they see
their field. The sky was already bright. In their language, they say “it is
bright enough to see a louse in one’s palm.”
Before setting foot on the rice
field, Dodoy looks up to the sky. After a moment of silence, he says, “God is
good to us. Today will be a hot day.”
“How did you know today will be a
hot day?” Merto asks.
“Just look at the sky. You can’t see any cloud,” Dodoy
explains. “So we have to hurry. We have
to work fast and hard. Or else we will
get burned up by the heat of the sun.”
And so Dodoy and Merto started to
work on the rice field.
“Merto, you go check the water
source. Make sure the water is able to irrigate the field. I will begin to pull
out the weeds. When you are done, come
help me pull the weeds out.”
Dodoy and Merto worked side by
side. Before long, they finished weeding the field.
“Look! The rice is pregnant!” Merto
joked. “You mean, the palay is full!” Dodoy corrects.
As they stretch their bodies upward,
they wished, “Puhon! If God wills it, we
shall have a good harvest!”
“May God have mercy.” Dodoy and
Merto whisper.
After a long silence, Dodoy says,
“Come, let’s get home. Maybe mother has prepared our breakfast. We have to get
home before the sun gets so hot.”
WHY THE SKY IS BLUE
WHY THE SKY IS BLUE
carmelvillar
Gigi Perez,
Evelyn Santos, Dina de la Cruz and Mae Corpuz have been classmates and
neighbors since they were born. They are
not related but they call each other’s parents Tito and Tita. They grew up sharing tables, beds, secrets
and clothes. They went to the same
school from preschool to high school.
Their high school graduation was the saddest part of their lives. After their graduation, each one left their
hometown, Visares, in pursuit of their college degree and their dreams.
Gigi left
for Cebu to take up medicine; Evelyn to Dumaguete to take up Pre-Law, Dina to
Davao to take up Architecture and Mae to Manila for her first step to
fulfilling her dream of converting their beach front property into a resort and
tourist destination in their town.
That they
are rich and famous in their hometown is an understatement. The Perez family owns vast tract of land that
span three municipalities. Most of their
land is sugar plantation and is the typical hacienda complete with tenants and
sugar plantation workers. The Santos family owns the only private school in
their town, the school where the four girls got their diplomas. Dina’s family,
on the other hand, is into construction business. Their company has developed
the first exclusive village in their area. Their company expanded to hardware,
grocery, drugstore and appliance stores.
Mae’s family has been into politics for the longest time. Her great grandfather was the first mayor
when their town moved from being a barangay to municipality. This position has
been passed on from one generation to the next.
And now her father is the mayor of their town. It was her father’s utmost disappointment
when Mae decided to take up Hotel and Restaurant Management instead of
Law. What made her father more
uncomfortable was the fact that Evelyn was taking up Pre-Law. “You should be taking up Pre-law instead of
Evelyn,” her father appealed. But Mae
was set on her plan. She already brought
up the idea that Dina will design and build the resort, Evelyn will take care
of all the legalities. “And I will be your loyal guest,” contributed by
Gigi. “I will hold all medical seminars
in your resort, Mae. Don’t worry.”
So it was
set. They will go each their different
ways but agreed to reunite every semestral break, Christmas break and
definitely summer break. “We have to come home for the town fiesta!” the four
chorused.
But while
they were geographically separated in pursuit of their dreams, their families
were slowly being separated by politics.
On the second term of Mayor Corpuz, Mae’s father’s mayoralty post, his
bid for reelection was being challenged by Dina’s father. He is being supported by Gigi’s family in
exchange for assurance that their land will not be claimed by Department of
Agrarian Reform. Evelyn’s family stayed
loyal in support of Mae’s family. Rumor
has it that Evelyn’s family is financing Mae’s father’s reelection bid in
exchange of getting all construction work and project in the municipality. Their friendship for so long has not been
spared by
The
campaign period has become vicious. The
friendship shared by the four families which they had kept for the longest time
has not been spared from gossips, innuendos and accusations. Even the girls who were away from home were
not spared from political related attacks.
All of the sudden the text messages they sent to each other lessened
until one day, as the campaign was nearing its end, simply stopped. They stopped communicating with each other.
The four
friends were polarized depending on the political poles in which their parents
subscribed. Gigi and Dina exchange messages but mostly on campaign matters, so
did Evelyn and Mae. Gone were the
intimate messages, comforting words, inspiring quotes they loved to give each. But their silence over the political
landscape in their hometown felt like an ominous cloud that loomed over their
homecoming to celebrate Mae’s graduation from college. And of
course, their summer vacation will be marred by intense campaign onto the final
election exercise. Not one of them was
excited to go home, to have the reunion they all looked forward to, to do the
groundbreaking for Mae’s resort. The
election scenario oppressed them all.
They all thought that this election has changed them, sadly, not for the
better. Not one of them knows how to save their friendship.
“We can
always forge another friendship. What
was the saying, “Meet new friends?” Mrs. Santos comforted Evelyn.
“But keep
the old. That’s the end of the saying,
Ma.” Evelyn answered sadly. “I don’t
know how to keep our friendship anymore. So much damage has been done all for a
position that won’t even last.” There
was so much pain in her voice, so much reproach.
Mae came
home with her diploma. Evelyn’s family
joined them in the celebration and of course, the entire political party
came. Her graduation celebration turned
out to be a grand political bash. Mae
and Evelyn were all smiles, greeting the greeters, partying with the people who
wished her well. But deep inside something
was missing. Mae would glance at the
pavilion’s door wishing that Gigi and Dina and their family would walk in. Evelyn stopped her wishful thinking, “They
are not coming Mae. Stop glancing at the door. Try to enjoy your party as much
as you can.”
“How can
you be so level-headed?” Mae asked in frustration.
“There’s
nothing to do but to be level-headed about this. We can’t be emotional and dramatic. It
wouldn’t help us get over this…” she was trying to find word to fit what
happened to them. “… mess! Oh, what a mess this is, isn’t it?”
“Now you’re
getting dramatic. Let’s get back to the
party.” Mae said.
Summer
ended so swiftly. They moved from one campaign sortie to another. At the end of
the campaign period, Mae’s family and Evelyn’s went scuba diving. When they surfaced from their vacation, they
were ready for the election.
Mae and
Evelyn served as watchers for Mae’s father’s political party. Gigi and Dina also served as watchers for
Dina’s father’s political party. On
electionday, Gigi, Dina, Evelyn and Mae met for the first time since the
election separated them. They greeted
each other civilly while the town folks watched them surreptitiously. Mae and
Evelyn saw the under the hood looks of the town folks. “Are they expecting cat fight among the four
of us?” Evelyn commented slyly.
Mae looked
back as they walked towards their precinct assignments. As Mae looked back she caught Gigi and Dina
looking back at her. Was there pain in their eyes? Are they hurting as I am? Mae could
hardly hold back the urge to run to them and hug them. But the eyes of the town folks stopped her
from giving in.
At the end
of the day the town folks were living in the edge waiting for the result of the
election exercise. Evelyn and Mae’s
family stayed in Mae’s house as they await the result. Mae and Evelyn decided to retire for the
night, at Mae’s room. For the first time
since they left for college, Mae and Evelyn shared a bed.
“I could
only pray that no one will get hurt from this election,” Evelyn wished.
“My prayer
is that whoever wins, whether Dad or Dina’s, I just hope we can all get back
from what used to be,” Mae uttered.
“That’s
wishful thinking,” Evelyn said matter-of-fact.
Before
midnight, a messenger came to announce the result of the election. Neither Mae
nor Dina’s father won. A black-horse
candidate, a farmer leader, won the mayoralty position. In the most bizarre
response, Mae laughed until tears fell down her cheeks then she cried.
Even before
the sun could hit the horizon, Mae and Evelyn were already in the site of Mae’s
dream resort. They sat facing the
horizon, Mae engulfed in her dream while Evelyn was busy texting.
“C’mon,
let’s enjoy the beach,” Evelyn offered her hands to Mae which she took. They strode playfully, like high school
girls, playing with the waves until they were stopped at the sight of two
figures from a distance. Without so much
as a word, just a gasp of pleasure and pain, Mae and Evelyn ran to meet the two
figures. Just like in the movie they met
and hugged, cried and laughed.
Gigi, Dina,
Evelyn and Mae met again in the place where they wove their dreams. And Mae’s
dream is about to come true.
“I wonder
why the sky is blue?” Mae wondered.
“Oh, I love
it when the sky is blue,” the three echoed.
Winning Hearts and Minds
“Must we sacrifice
what we hold precious in the name of development and progress?” Lily argued
passionately. The debate remains a stalemate. No one on either side of the issue
wants to give in. Each holds on to their position strongly.
“But this
development and progress, my dear,” and there’s sarcasm in Leon’s voice, “will
bring employment to many of our people!
This moment, that is uppermost in their mind. Not your “Save the
Environment” advocacy! That advocacy will not bring food to their mouth. This
will!” He then pointed vigorously to the development plan laid out before the
Town Council.
Leon Guerrero
(yes, his parents named him after that movie character because he is going to
be the defender of the oppressed) and Lily Bombay are members of the Municipal
Council. Now Lily became a member of the
Municipal Council by virtue of being elected President of the League of
Barangay Captains. She is the Barangay
Captain of Hill Spring, the barangay that hosts the contested spring.
The council has
been debating all day long for the approval of the proposal to convert their
natural spring into a tourist destination. The two represented the two opposing
positions. Leon is for the approval of converting the natural spring into
tourist destination while Lily opposes it quite vehemently.
“Is that all you
think of? The money that this project will bring into our town? What about the
destruction of our natural habitat? What about the pollution? Noise pollution!
Garbage! The traffic. Not to mention the possibility of subjecting our women
and children to trafficking!” Lily argued.
“Oh, stop that
melodrama!” Leon pounded on the table.
Vice Mayor Santi
Santisima pounds on the gavel. “I think
let’s take a break. An hour or so, until we gain cooler heads?” Even before he
could pound on the gavel to adjourn the session, Leon and Lily rush to the door
out of the Assembly Hall and into their own offices. Both of them fuming.
While in their own
offices, both send their staff on an errand.
“I need the
PENRO’s opinion on this matter, Shirley.” Lily sends her secretary to the
provincial capitol. “The PENRO has to
certify that opening the spring to the general public may endanger our natural
habitat.”
“Get the
provincial’s Budget and Management people.
We have to prove to these people what huge income will this development
project bring not only to our town but to the entire province,” Leon directed
his staff. Then he gulped a glass of
cold water which was handed to him by his staff.
Leon could not
understand why his proposal is being met with solid opposition. How could Lily
oppose the development of her barrio! It would be to her credit if this project
pushes through during her term as Barangay Captain. And it would be good for
her political career.
On the other hand,
Lily was fuming mad that all Leon could see is profit on this development
proposal. Oh, she knows the business
associates Leon have. Did it just happen
that these business associates are behind the development proposal?
Thinking aloud, her
staff heard her say, “For all I know that Leon wanted to push for the approval
of that development proposal because he is going to get a kick back!”
After an hour of
recess, the councillors are back in the session hall. The Vice Mayor expected cooler heads with the
resumption of the session. To his
surprise, the contenders came back fully loaded with ammunition. Each one threw facts, figures and personal
attacks at each other. Until they were halted
by a small voice.
“Mr. Vice, may I
speak?” Everyone in the session hall
stood still. Literally, it felt like a
bucket of freezing cold water was poured on them. In a tentative manner, an
aging woman, bent from a lifetime of hard labor in the field says, “I am a
resident of Hill Spring. I think you
should hear what an old woman has to say over this issue.”
In deference to
her age, perhaps, or because the Vice Mayor just wants to dissipate the
tension, he gives the woman the floor.
“Ladies and gentlemen,
I heard about the development plan for our beloved hill spring. As you can see, I am old. That hill spring has been part of my life
even before I was born. I was told that
my umbilical cord was buried by the river bank.
I was first bathed in that spring.
I have bathed my children and their children in that spring. The old narra tree that provided shade stand
witness to countless love that bloomed in that spring.
“So when I heard
that plans are on their way in developing the spring, I cried. I cried for a desecration of the place where
many placentas were buried. I cry of the commercialization of the sacred spot
where the seed of love has been planted and bloomed.
“But if this
honourable body can assure me that the old narra tree remains untouched so it
can continue to witness the development of many relationships...
“...if this body
can assure me that those whose placentas were buried in the river banks are
given honourable employment so that they can provide for their family ...
“... if this body
can assure me that families are valued so that husbands and wives do not have
to be separated in order to provide for their family; children do not grow up
without the loving personal care of their parents...
My dear
councillors, I am an old woman! Before I die, I’d like to experience to bathe
in a swimming pool. I’d like to hear the laughter of the children as they slide
down into the deep pool. I’d like to see
young people tease each other in a well lighted park. Thank you.”
The session
ends. One by one, debaters, audience,
and preside leave the session hall. But
before Leo could enter his office, Lily pulls him, “That was a cheap trick you
pulled there, Bro. Bringing an old woman!”
“All for the best,
Sis. All for the best!” Leo smiled impishly.
“Oh, by the way, may I remind you, dinner at 7pm. The Gov will wait for
our report.”
“Oh, yeah, I
forgot,” Lily said. “The traditional
family meeting!”
“See you there!
Make sure Jun and the kids are present.” Leo waves.
What Profit Selflessness
What
Profit Selflessness
carmel villar
It’s just another summer vacation for Ilaw V. Dia. But it was a vacation
like no other she ever had.
“Why were you named Ilaw?” She would often be asked whenever she
introduces herself or when she is introduced.
“Because I was born in daylight,” she would reply hoping that they will
catch the humor in her name. She has
gotten used to being teased because of her name. Like when lights suddenly go off because of
brownout, her classmates or friends would call her, “Ilaw! Ilaw! Where are you
hiding! Show yourself!” Now this is
really a joke, because you see, Ilaw does not possess a fair complexion.
“And you still want to spend your vacation in the province?” Her friends
teased her. “You’ll get even darker.”
“Can I get any darker than I am now?” she shrugged off their concern.
The vacation was actually a mission trip to a remote barrio in Leyte. In
Sambulawan, Villaba, Leyte Ilaw went to spend a two-week vacation as part of a
reading-literacy outreach program. Their
team of ten young professionals were distributed to ten different villages.
This means, Ilaw was left by herself to integrate and adjust to the village's
way of life.
She came to Sambulawan equipped with books and lots of teaching aids for
the class. The Barangay Captain has
already toured her around the barangay and assigned to her a place where she
will hold class.
She woke up early and went to the classroom as she waited for her
students. She has scheduled her classes
as such: in the morning, she holds reading augmentation program. In the afternoon, the class will for
out-of-school youth and adult literacy class.
So there she was waiting for her students, but minutes passed to hours
until it was already noon. But no
children came to her class. She felt the
frustration rising up. Where are these
children, she wondered.
She went to her host family. On
her way, she saw the field was bustling with activity. It was only then that it sunk-in: she came to
Sambulawan on harvest season. And on her
first day, her host family was having their field harvested. Did they
just miss to inform or warn her? Or was she
so dense she missed all the signs that people were busy for harvest? She
tried to keep her cool as she put reign on her thoughts. She saw the children
in the field helping in the harvest. What
are they doing in the field? Shouldn't they be in class instead of under the
heat of the sun? Whew! She could feel her blood boiling with the heat of
the sun.
"Here's Ilaw," Ya Vencia called from the window as if giving a
signal to somebody inside the house. As
Ilaw entered the house, the long table was already set for lunch. She counted the plates and there were more
than a dozen plates set.
"Is there a feast here?" she asked Jocelyn, Ya Venciang's
daughter, who was setting the table.
"We have to feed those working in the thresher and the winnowing
machine." Jocelyn replied. "You may eat first, Ma'am."
"No, I'll wait. We can all eat together." Ilaw scanned the field around the cogon
thatch that is the house of Ya Vencia and Jocelyn. There is no "man" in the house. But Jocelyn's older brother, Roberto, manages the 1.5 hectare of ricefield
for the family. She saw Roberto walking
between the thresher and the winnowing machine. She saw men and women, young
and old bringing piles and piles of palay to the thresher. The thresher operator feed stalks after
stalks of palay into the thresher. The thresher threshes the grain from the
stalk. The machine spits out the stalks
while the grains go straight to the pail.
Then the operator carries the pail full of palay grain to the winnowing
machine where the fine palay stalks are blown-off.
Ilaw noticed that there are older women and children gathered around the
pile of stalks blown off by the thresher and another group around the pile from
the winnowing machine. “What are those
children and women doing around the pile of palay stalks?” she asked Jocelyn.
Jocelyn looked at the direction where Ilaw was pointing, “Oh, they are
the manghahagdaw. [1]”
“Manghahagdaw?”
Ilaw asked confused.
“They are farmers here who have no ricefield to work on. They are neither sa-op or tenants nor do they have prendes.[2] In order for them to have rice during
harvest, the men are taken as laborers and the women and children glean. They pick rice stalks that fall on the ground
during harvest. Then they sift through
from what is left of the thresher and winnowing machine.
“Is this customary here?” Ilaw asked.
“I guess so. I grew up with this
practice. Some prendes would intentionally leave behind stalks for the manghahagdaw. It’s our way of taking
care of those who are very poor, the widows and orphans. Other manghahadaw
come from places where there are no ricefields.
They come here during harvest time to glean.”
“And the farmers allow those from other village to enter their ricefield?”
“Well, I’ve never heard any one prevented to enter the field. Harvest is a happy occasion. At the end of the day, when shares are
divided, all the workers, prendes and
manghahagdaw get drunk.”
“Who’s sponsoring the feast and celebration?” Ilaw asked.
“Well, at first, the farm-owner buys food and drinks. But later, anybody can pitch in until almost,
even the women, get drunk.”
“What about the women, the children, the elderly? What do they get to eat?”
“Of course they eat whatever is there. As for the drink, the women can
drink tuba and the children,
softdrinks. The farm-owner makes sure
that everyone gets something to eat and drink. It’s our way of thanking those
who worked and helped so that they get bountiful harvest.”
Somehow, Ilaw now had an idea.
There will be no classes until perhaps the end of her stay here. Will she ever accomplish what she came here
for? She watched the farmers, women,
children and farm workers sweat their way through their work under the heat of
the sun. Nobody seemed to mind the
heat. They didn’t even take refuge under
the shade. While they were working, they
were laughing as jokes and anecdotes are passed around.
At the end of the day, while the men and women were laughing and
reveling, five children and 3 youths approached her. Tentatively the older one said, “Ate, is it ok
if you teach us now?”
Ilaw could not believe what she heard.
The sun has started to go down.
But she could smell that the children have freshened up. She looked for a place where they can have
their class. As if on cue, Jocelyn
cleared the table and the children took their place around the table.
Into the night, Ilaw taught the school children to read while the older
children copied words and sentences written in Manila paper.
All of a sudden, the children laughed.
Ilaw wondered why they were laughing.
They just pointed at each other’s faces.
Then they all pointed at Ilaw. Then she looked closer at her students. She burst into laughter. They doubled-up until tears fell down their
cheeks. Ilaw wiped her face and her hands turned black from the soot caused by
the gas lamp. After a while, they settled for serious reading and writing.
Ilaw knew this is some vacation like no other she ever had.
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