Padrino

“Baka naman pwede mong ipasok si Bobot sa pinagtatrabahuhan mo ngayon…”

“Wala ka pare, nakakapagtampo ka naman, ni hindi mo ako sinabihang d’yan ka pala nagtatrabaho sa kumpanyang yan…”

Ilan lamang ito sa mga narinig ko ng malaman ng mga kaibigan at kamag-anak ko na nagtatrabaho na ako, kulang-kulang 2 buwan pagkatapos ng graduation ko sa kolehiyo.

“Swerte naman ng anak mo. Samantalang etong si Junior ko, walang ginawa kundi magpalaki ng bayag maghapon.”

“Anu bang gatas ang pinapainom mo sa mga anak mo? Aba’y tlagang kesuswerte ano?”

Ito naman yung madalas kong marinig sa mga kapitbahay namen na madalas magpaluto ng Pancit Canton at uminom ng Pop Cola sa harap ng munti naming tindahan.

Madalas kaming hangaan ni ate ng mga kapitbahay namen. Hindi naman kame katalinuhan gaya nina Kuya Obey at Kuya Eric, na bukod sa mga honor graduates ng school nila, e inilalaban pa sa mga pakontes. Average na estudyante lang kame ni ate. Si ate, simula grade 1 hanggang 4th year high school nasa section one. Pero di naman sya kasali sa listahan ng pinakamahuhusay. Keri lang.

Ako naman, hanggan grade 6 lang sa section one. Pagtungtong ng 1st year high school, nanlumo ako kase nawala ako sa section one. Kapiling ko na ang mga kumag at basagulero sa eskwelahan namen. Pinangako kong babangon ako’t babalik sa section one. E kaso yun din ata ang motto ng mga brainy section one. Ayun, grumaduate ako ng high school na nasa section 6 (pangalawa sa huli, 7 sections kame noon e)

Balik tayo sa unang dalawang dialogue na nai-chika ko sa itaas. Dito samen sa Kabite, palasak na script na yan. Marami sa mga empleyado sa munisipyo nakaupo don dahil sa mga kakilala. ‘Yung ilang mga factory workers naman e naipasok ng mga kung sinong padrino nila. Si Erpat nga kala mo kung sinong political figure, aba’y ilang kapitbahay at kamag-anak din naman ang naipasok ng kumag sa isang factory sa Gateway (sa Manggahan). Dangan kasi’y kakilala nya ung “VP” daw doon. Kung ano man ang ibig sabihin ng “VP” e di ko na tinanong.

So ano ngayon? Ang siste e simple. Ang kultura ay malalim. Dito sa Kabite at sa iba pang sulok ng Pilipinas, usong-uso ang pagpapadrino.

Yung professor sa English I, di naman marunong mag-Ingles, pero nagtuturo.

Yung secretary ni Mayor, ni hindi marunong sumulat ng cover letter, pero tumatanggap ng buwanang sahod mula sa buwis ng bayan.

Yung isa kong estudyante, di makasagot ng tama at nuknukan ng tanga, pero buhay pa naman. Ewan ko kung bakit.

Kaya hindi na ko nagtataka kung baket me nars, doktor, abogado at kung sinu-sino pang pulpol dito at maging sa ilang panig ng mundo. E baket kamo? Nagsimula ang lahat sa pagpapadrino.

Kung baket ba naman kase di gamitin ang sariling talento? Ang sariling talino?

“E sorry ha? Di kase ako kasing talino mo noh. Tulog ako nung nagpaulan ang diyos ng talento.”

E kung ganto din lang naman ang takbo ng isip mo, e ba’t ka pa kaya nabuhay sa mundo?

Nakwento ko minsan ke Kay, “Dapat yung mga wala namang ginagawa dito sa Maynila e ipatapon sa probinsya nila at magbungkal ng lupa don. Kesa tumunganga sila dito. Puro pagkakalat lang naman alam nila; tatae kung saan saan; magkakang-kangan sa kariton; tapos dadami ng dadami. Pucha, parang mga ipis!”

Sa hinaba-haba ng sinabi ko at sa dinami-dami ng mga segway na sinalpak ko sa sulating ito, e simple lang naman ang mensahe ko:

Dumiskarte ka ng sarili mo; kung di mo kaya, benta mo nalang baga mo, o kaya yung pige mo.

NAWAWALA!

I was on my way home from SM (Silang Market) when I saw a couple—probably in their mid-40’s. We were at the same jeepney and they were carrying barely recognizable photocopies of a “poster.” I usually have this “hobby” of mocking poorly made posters and signages—wrong spelling, wrong use of punctuation marks, and wrong grammar. However, upon seeing their hand written poster, I suddenly felt something prick my heart.

When I see posters that waywardly use the exclamation point, I often raise, then knit my eyebrows.

WANTED!
DANGER!
WARNING!

If we’re going to analyze these from the exclamation point’s main function, it appears that the person/s who prepared them was in a state of shock; for them to “exclaim” their thoughts. It’s as if saying: “Oh my good lord!!!! Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhnnnnnnteeeed!!!” or “Don’t you dare go there!!! It’s superbly DANGEROUUSSSS!!!”

But when I saw the heading of their letter-sized poster,

NAWAWALA!

I didn’t get the usual feeling. Instead, I felt sorry. It didn’t matter to me whether they used the exclamation point wrongly or what. All I understood is that this couple is on the desperate stage of finding their loved one.

On my way home, while looking at them comforting each other with their exchange of pats on the shoulder and nods, I can’t help but remember that old parable from the new testament; the parable of the lost sheep. Yeah, everyone knows it; even its symbolisms and underlying message. Just like the shepherd who searched all over for one lost sheep, God also searches us whenever we tend to go out of His flock.

I wonder when Baltazar Reyes got lost. Judging from the barely-recognizable photo, he seems old. I don’t know if he’s the couple’s father, son, brother, or what. But one thing’s for sure, he’s a family; someone who’s important for them.

I wonder where Baltazar Reyes is now. Is he eating? Is he aware that there are people caring and looking for him?

I wonder why Baltazar Reyes got lost. Was he mentally ill? Did he ran away from home because of some dispute? Was he abducted by some drug syndicates? God knows.


Since December 27 last year, (2007) I was racking my brains because I tend to get out of my usual self. I indulged over my vacation and I forgot to write—although I’m happy ‘cause I had the chance to read books and articles again. I was thinking of the best new year blog. I thought of many ideas, but whenever I’m about to write it, I tend to get lost.

Last year many people got lost, yet many were found.

This year, the same thing might recur. We might lose things, friends (girlfriends/boyfriends), jobs, businesses, or even a family member. We might struggle to look for them and bring them back.

When every attempt turns futile, when every strength becomes withered, let us remember that God will make his way.

We might not recover what we lost, but God will.

Have a blessed New Year folks. ;-)