BELIEVING that you are good gives delight. However, knowing that you have become better bestows fulfillment.
This is what I have realized after chronicling the memorable episodes of my life this year—a cautious trek on the same path where I have struggled to make my dreams come true and achieve my ambitions.
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Though I keep my intimate channels to God open, I do not consider myself a devout Catholic. I even consider myself a heretic at times.
Why? I fail to regularly attend Sunday Masses. I do not confess often like others do or pray the rosary daily (except during Holy Week or my mom’s death anniversary). I even overlook making the sign of the cross whenever I pass by a church. Worse, I hardly read the Bible.
That is why I was surprised when I was appointed the editor of a religion-oriented section of the publication. I accepted the job as the wildest joke and the biggest challenge of my life. I did every assignment with caution. Aside from priests and the religious, I felt the need to encourage students to browse our page. And with the turn of events, I’m happy.
The title may not have made a more religious me. But the legwork that it requires brought out the “simpler” me.
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Have you heard of the news that US might stop supplying the Philippines with contraceptives? My friend and I were in an FX taxi when we heard about it. And as we expected from the prominent female “news reader,” she hysterically commented about the issue as if it were a big loss. My friend and I observed our fellow passenger-listeners after the radio announcer was through with her speech. And we were just amazed with how they discussed the topic.
The conversation of two forty-something manangs beside my friend caught our attention.
Manang 1: “Alam mo tama siya (referring to the lady announcer) ‘Yun na nga lang ang libre sa kahit na saang health center dito sa Pilipinas tapos mawawala pa. Lalo na naman tayong maghihirap niyan.”
Manang 2: Tama!
After we heard the conversation, my friend asked me, “Pasensiya na pero hindi ko naintindihan ‘yung punto ni Manang. Ikaw, naintindihan mo?”
I just answered my friend with laughter. Thank God he had yet considered of getting his condoms at barangay health center. At least he was not one of the many Filipinos who had become what the suppliers of these contraceptives perceived them to be—experimental rabbits.
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In one of our mushy “isaw nights” in Dapitan, an old lady captured my attention because of the way she how she used her cigarette: it was inverted with the filter outside her mouth. We got even more interested when the lady looked at our direction and said that she had a cataract. Because of the peculiarity, most of us started giggling and mumbled side comments. But my silly laughter suddenly stopped when my friend Michael commented: “Alam mo bang mas malakas ang pandinig ng mga bulag? Maging ang pinakamahinang bulong naririnig nila.”
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Of all the blessings God has showered me with, my angel is the one I most treasure.
Since I was a kid, an “angel” has become a part of my dreams. He is a tall, bald man with a very moving smile. He introduced me to the concept of miracles. Whenever I’m sick, or in any form of pain, I always know that after a nap, a moment with him will heal all the aches I have.
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So before I kiss goodbye all the memories of the year about to end, let me celebrate in my column the most exploited holiday through some greeting.
I pray for a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year to the following people: my family, all V staffers, 3JRN, Isaw Co., “Sublime Elites,” staffers of Journalese, Sir Kiko, Sir Lito, my bestfriends Sheila, Michael, Ken, Stephan, Madel, and to all the people who believe that the holiday season is an occasion to improve their lives.
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I would like to thank all the contributors to this issue’s Heaven’s Kitchen. The Witness Section is still accepting contributions, whether essays or stories. Submit them to our office, or email them to varsitar@yahoo.com or to arjey_jabeguero@hotmail.com.
Merry Christmas, Thomasians!
