I was hoping that with the coming of the Chinese Lunar Year of the Earth Pig on February 5, I would be kicking off this column with that figurative celebratory blast, through a pompous display of imaginary firecrackers.
What else to start this column on a cheerful note? It’s the Day of Hearts and Love on February 14! Expecting nocturnal fireworks too?
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Never did it cross my mind that I would even pass on the literally tragic twin blasts at the vicinity of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral in the city of Jolo, Sulu in southern Philippines where police said at least 27 people were killed and about 117 others were injured, a lot of them churchgoers attending Sunday Mass on January 27.
But it happened!
Speculations – as that relative to resounding decision of the people of Jolo and Sulu to opt out of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), during a plebiscite on January 21 – no longer matter. The facts and reality speak for itself.
Innocent lives were lost. Limbs were broken. The aftermath saw people standing shoulder to shoulder with their heads held high. Life goes on in the city.
Cliché it would be if I and many other concerned bystanders around the world would join the choir of voices condemning the heinous act of violence, expressing indignation over the incident, and seeking for the firmest reproach against those who did the disrespectful crime.
At the least, we have shown that we abhor and do not tolerate barbarity and senseless loss of lives in civil, diverse and freedom-loving societies.
Yes, we do believe that respect and love are innate in every person’s heart and mind.
We commiserate with our friends and neighbors in Jolo, as we pray with them for comfort and peace in these trying and difficult times.
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Last January 26 was a good day – sunny but chilly — to re-interact with great friends Larry and Josie, who also formerly lived for a long time in Cotabato before moving to Canada.
Cotabato, another island city in Mindanao, since the late ‘70s, has consistently remained the capital and center of the ARMM and its structured-government predecessors.
Our candid conversation recalled the days when people in Cotabato, like Jolo, had their senses full of gory, tragic and despicable violence, much of which was an offshoot of the four-decade long Mindanao Conflict.
However, we agreed that despite perceived fears, Cotabato then was a fine place to be in.
The long and quite slow buffet line gave me and Larry ample time to reflect on the situation in Mindanao, a place we both professed love for, and the daily grind our friends and the people of Cotabato are into these days.
We had one thing clear: We hope and pray that everything will turn out for the better and that good will always triumph over evil.
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This moment, let us join Toronto residents Chuchi Opulencia-Punsalan and Julie Opulencia-Gatbonton and their Canadian and American siblings and family in prayer for the repose of the soul of their brother Jose Opulencia (November 30, 1941 – January 21, 2019) who passed in New York.
Let us also be with Uncle Bobong Ortuoste in celebrating the life and memory of beloved wife Florinda in a Mass at the St. Dunstan Church on February 2, Saturday to mark the first year anniversary of passage of Tita Linda.
May I also ask for your prayers for my dear friend and colleague Edwin Balabbo who passed on January 25. May his soul rest in peace.
Lastly, Happy 37th Year in Heaven last January 26, Daddy Chitong.
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Now, let’s proceed to the lighter side of things and stuff.
Come to think of it. When reality hits life harder than a hammer onto a nail … it’s ouch!
It would really hurt if the nail comes with a finger.
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Generally, so it was said, many of those who got automatic membership (in Canada at age 65; in the Philippines at age 60) to the A-Team whimper in aghast: “How old can I get?”
Ooops! That is A, as in Ageing; referring to believers of maturing wisely and gracefully, like wine, with age.
For them, the catchphrase should rather be: “How young can I get?”
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Overheard at a dinner-dance, where several “young once” were gathered for tall tales, some kicks and laughs:
Mang Baste (feeling groovy and in): “Seriously, I can dance to rap and hip-hop music.”
Lolo Tasyo (without batting an eyelash): “Dance to wrapped knees and hip replacement?”
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At the same dinner-dance with the same “momentous” guys who agree that they live in the moment.
Impong Asyong: “Strength and you? A nice work out and exercise is good for the body. Ever noticed my six-pack?”
Ka Betong: “I envy you. For many of us, a barrel is good enough.”
Confused Tata Charlie: “Were you talking about abs or beer?”
From Lolo Dencio’s wisdom: “Any of the two will do. Better yet, all of the above.”
Kahit itanong mo pa kay Mang Kepweng.
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Hugot ni Tata Panyong: “Bakit ang mga bata, kapag nakatingin sa langit, pinapangarap ang kanilang future? Why naman ang mga senior, kapag nag-heads up at look up, pilit inaalala ang past?”
Salya ni Kuya Tembong: “Okay lang yan, Tata Panyong. Hanggat may naaalala, go lang nang go. Huwag na nating hintayin ang sandaling pinangangambahan — when we forget stuff and no longer remember great memories.”
Ayayay! Mag-out of town trip kaya tayo para panoorin ang Aurora Borealis?
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Food for thought from US President John F. Kennedy: “Change is the law of life. Those who look only in the past or present are certain to miss the future.”
Sorry, Mr. President, not with the barakada.
We always look forward to good food, good music, a lot of dancing and great company. We’ll always enjoy our kind of future.
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It was kind and respectful of the dinner-dance’s disc jockeys Janusz “DJ Lakai” and Rolly “DJ Rolly” Sagurit to play at least three classic songs from the distant past, highlighted by Frank’s ‘Strangers in the Night’.
A-Team members had a figurative blast as they headed to the dance floor and slowly but surely danced the night away, sweeping their beloveds and partners off their feet.
That was an exhilarating respite from the line dances that ruled the floor.
Fifteen minutes of togetherness in an atmosphere of memorable music and moments were good enough to bring warmth in the house, as frigid weather and heaping snow did its toll outside.
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A friend always reminds us: Ang masuwerte sa pag-ibig, mukhang mamalasin sa pera; and vice versa.
Well, how about having both worlds and eating a piece of your own cake?
Happy Chinese Lunar Year of the Pig that predicts financial luck and Happy Valentine’s Day that exudes the aura of love to you and all our faithful readers. #####