Chapter 13
The Couple
The heat of the sun takes its toll severely from Mang Tonio de la Rosa, Taklin’s father. Sweating profusely glistening like silvery dewdrops gliding through his face and drenching his white shirt spotted with dirt all over, he decided to call it a day. From his appearance, he looks dog-tired furrowing his farm in preparation for planting season next week. His hair turning into gray are still strong and intact covering his small head. Wrinkles are evident when he speaks. His strong devotion to farming allowed his mustache to grow long covering his thin lips. His beard covering his neck untrimmed more than a year dangling from his swell-chiseled face makes him Moses’ double of the Old Testament. He would have them probably cut or trimmed when he would enter back into politics. His broad shoulder sinewy and strong legs make him a good candidate for any movie. Deep inside however, Mang Tonio is also very tender and gentle and above all, a well disciplined man himself.
There are only three things in life one
must observe and practice if you would like to succeed. Discipline, discipline
and another discipline, his advice to his children. No wonder they are making
the best of their lives whether in school or in social, civic and church
activities. Such qualities did not escape Manang Elsa three years his junior
who because of Mang Tonio’s implacable courtship ended in a whirlwind romance.
It was said that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and true to Mang Tonio
he never allow the chance slipped by or other suitors might have owned the love
of his life.
Thus far, thirty years and still counting of
happy married life, Manang Elsa still glows and with complete set of teeth
still intact could smile ala Mona Lisa making the tender Mang Tonio as
close ever to her. The couple is blessed
with five children: Angela, Rona, Ramon, Taklin and Bernabe. Angela and Rona
are still working their College degrees. The eldest would be graduating from
University of the Philippines
and once she hurdles Nursing exam intends to seek greener pasture in Middle
East, Europe, USA and just anywhere else where salaries offered are one of the
juiciest, she learned from friends. Working she said in the country is fine.
But not when you consider the very low salary pay offered by the government
which is not even enough to sustain family of four. Rona is taking up Biology
at Santo Tomas University
The police uniform before Mang Tonio’s
retirement simply catches Taklin’s interest
in awe and amazement. “I’ll continue wearing that when my time comes,”
he seems to tell as if there’s no other career for him than to follow his
footsteps. More than that however is the respect he had with his father. The
moral ascendancy shown by his father is such that he’s always respected by
people emboldened him to enter PMA but not until when God has smitten his
interest becoming another alter Christos.
Manang Elsa was actually a secondary school
teacher, a thankless profession in the country. She decided to stay put in
teaching profession amidst promising offer to work abroad doing any menial job
like any overseas job seekers. Many of her co-teachers went to Hongkong ,
Brunei and Middle
East as domestic helpers. She has been receiving letter from them
luring her to try her luck just like theirs in foreign countries. But she
promptly replied each letter explaining her irrevocable ‘No!’ She will never
will, she promised. It’s not only a disgrace to teaching profession but also a
smear campaign against the government’s inability of upgrading the noble
teaching profession. She would rather die joining hunger strike than leaving
teaching profession dear to her. For Manang Elsa, teaching profession is not
that hopeless.
“We are not heroes. But we could make
heroes from our students!” she would bragged about the possibility.
“Some other time maybe after teaching is
elevated to greater heights higher pay included,” she would tell her co-teachers.
She’s been anticipating that the government
through the House of the Senate and Congress would upgrade their salary pay
from P1,800.00 to P15,000.00.
“It’s just a question of political will you
know from the government to do its job,” she used to say Cecil, her co-teacher
close to her.
“And why not from P40,000.00 to P50,000.00
the way Chief of Offices are receiving,” she would jokingly speak her mind
considering the sky-rocketing prices of different commodities.
“If the government was able to upgrade
non-teaching positions to higher salary pay which are relatively white-collar
type of job and risky professions like the military and the police each year
providing handsome benefits like automatic promotion to one higher notch in
rank, why could they not do it with the teaching profession when it is
considered almost the dirtiest and thankless job of all.”
It’s indeed unfortunate that the government
has remained callous to the teaching profession’s inherent right for better and
higher salary pay. And no wonder that DECS has remained the milking cow of
graft and corrupt public officials in fact making the Department perennial
member of that most corrupt government agency in the country. Manang Elsa has
been teaching high school students for the past thirty long years. She’s
looking forward that teachers would stage mass action if need be, hunger
strike, to bring their cause closer to the Secretary. But she feels that this
is better said than done as the teachers loyalty to Ministry of Education Culture
and Sports like an innocent sacrificial lamb is surprisingly legendary. For
instance, you could see them serving during elections, entertaining guests from
Manila and similar activities on the other hand, same faces could be seen
moonlighting selling different items from simple foodstuffs to Tupperware,
insurance to appliances and similar extra underground economy. It’s funny but
Manang Elsa has seen their drawers filled with candies, peanut butters and
other foodstuffs of their teachers. Social scientist would call such strategy
as coping mechanism practiced by survivors or they would starve and die their
natural death too. Those who don’t have the initiative too lazy doing these
extra-curricular activities fall prey to usurers and money market shops charging
six percent interest rates a month but surprisingly approved by government
financial institution like Central Bank.
Worst, teachers who destroyed their credit
line becoming victims of five-six
syndrome perpetuated by Bangladesh nationals and other opportunist abounding
everywhere. This evil scheme implies that you have to pay six pesos for every
five pesos borrowed daily or to the tune of 120% usurious interest daily
depending on the deal forged between the usurer and innocent businessman. Some
collect the amount, weekly or monthly depending on the deal mutually agreed
upon but always at the expense of teachers. Result from this abominable
situation, concerned teachers would not care anymore receiving their salaries.
What would they get anyway after all deductions are made. Just simple pay slip and maybe with few remaining
coins inside. But despite this hardship, you could still hear familiar joke
prospective groom to always prioritize teacher as possible wife to enjoy an
assurance of instant loan right after wedding.
President Marcos in one of his general
orders promised to increase salaries of armed troops. There was no mention
incidentally or inadvertently of teachers. If she could only swallow her
contempt and summon enough guts, nerve or courage whatever, she might have probably wrote the President
about her predicament. But who is she to give unsolicited advice to the
President. What’s the assurance that her letter would not be shelved in a cabinet allowing there to gather dust?
These sentiments prompted her just to remain silent.
“It’s not the proper time yet to do it,”
she would say.
Who
knows she might be included in the hit list depriving her family of the writ of
habeas corpus. Should that happen she’s only good as additional fertilizer for the
country.
Too bad indeed for her and all teachers
throughout the country. But what could they do, these teachers are also human
beings who eat rice daily in this rice-eating banana republic, she said in
defense to the sorry plight of her comrades in the teaching profession.
. . . . . . . . . . .
It’s lunchtime. Manang Elsa finished
preparing the table for the family. The meal includes linaing na gabi, fried catfish Mang Tonio brought home from the
farm and sinigang na mudfish. They’re
perfect and healthy organic combination menu she being an experienced chef of
native foods.
His fishpond abound with fresh water fishes
and how could he buys salt water fishes in the market when he has all these
fresh fishes and delicious yet. Add organic vegetables all there
in farm and you have practically all the gift of nature right at your
doorstep free for daily kitchen use. Eyes were closed as Mang Tonio led in
saying the grace save for Taklin whose consciousness was dulled by the latest
event making him uneasy as if he is among those to be apprehended.
“Guess why
kids we have all this sumptuous
preparation today? - it’s Father’s Day today!”
Great applause ensued as kids kissed and
reached out their father’s hands for their blessing.
“But more than that I’m happy that one of
you will be entering Seminary,” Mang Tonio revealed.
“Cheers for the future Bishop,” Bernabe
echoed as they all raise their glass and bottoms up, collectively drink the
wine in one stroke.
“But let’s have the floor yet to the
Celebrant,” Taklin instructed.
“Where’s
Ramon and Victoria? Are they not eating with us?” Mang Tonio worried knowing
that there were empty chairs around.
“They would be right back.” I was still
cooking earlier when they called informing me that they could not be on time but
nonetheless would be catching up eating their lunch with us. They have very
special commitments I suppose this hour.”
“In this ungodly hour!”
“I regret Ramon and Vicky did not inform
their whereabouts. Oh never mind. Anyway, I already set aside their share. They
would be around in due time I suppose Tony,” the wife assured the family.
For the first time, Nong Tonio almost
has goosebump and nosebleed popping out when
he was surprisingly given spiritual bouquet to the tune of “I’ll Be
There” sang by Taklin, Angela and Bernabe capping the Father’s Day simple rite of the day.
Ramon and Rona just arrived on time with
flowers and cakes with the icing “Happy Father’s Day to a Great Dad on earth!”
and jammed singing Michael Jackson’s “I’ll Be There.”
“No thanks for the song. While I like the music and its lyrics, it’s
not a good way promoting any movie of
broken family because of philandering husband and martyred wife,” he broke the
ice catching the rest of the family off guard
relating to the reality of marriage among Filipino families in the
country.
“Well I’m sorry as I might have hit the
nerve of a simple Filipino family. But thanks and God forbid, we didn’t. We’re
stronger than ever,” he roared holding captive his own family as listeners.
Maybe he was just too romantic
can’t help himself but relate his
message of a typical Filipino family,
still intact despite enormous economic difficulty and adversity.
“No marriage is made in heaven by the way.
So guys when your time comes, make sure you do it here and live like no other never
mind how they are doing it there in Hollywood
“Look the guys up there promoting family in
movies, they are all diametrically opposing
the cause they portray being direct
contrast role models having been certified philanderers in real life.
The producer of the religious song “All
in the Family” did too great favor having that great crooner with resonant
voice interpreting giving justice to the song unfortunately singing wrong
message because of familiar identity crisis.”
“The list is long down the line from the cute heart throbs to complicated
family man sending home all sorts of
entertainment mixing up with the message if at all there is any. But
none save the handsome benefits derived from such antics capitalizing on the gullibility of their listeners for nothing except purely
entertaining pleasure.”
The credulous
public just enjoyed them anyway. As convicted actor implored the viewing public
from the mess screwing up his sexy kitten: hate the sin but please not the
sinner.
“Yes sir no problem as it takes two to
tango. We are also descendant of
Hercules strong libido safely tucked
under our belt. But do note as well
that temptation is never considered
a sin unless you give way to it. How could you avoid and abhor sinning
if there are no takers. Ok no further moralizing here as man’s sin no
matter how great is practically peanuts compare to the love of God. That’s why
we have seven sacraments to bail us out from our infirmities.”
“That’s
the problem we have in the world of make-believe. They are dragging the issue
to far higher proportion until they practically explained it away. But no way
unless you are naive yourself just playing around your marital vow. Their
credibility simply smacks off right on their faces the substance of the
point swiftly slipping away the general viewing public.”
“Certainly so because fatherhood is not an
entertainment reason why many marriage ended battered on the rocks. Neither it
is temporary state of being. It is a vocation
instituted by God Himself as one of the sacraments you and your wife permanently tied as one nobody could put asunder As vocation it is meant to be lived and
pursued at all cost. Hence, the importance of strengthening the marital
bond or fall into the trap of third option – divorce - concocted in Congress
and Senate by lawmakers to no avail who don’t mind at all the underlying real
issue. Understandably so because majority
are all mostly party to it. Many marriage are broken sending
children roaming around the city as street children and vagabonds precisely
because of very loose marital bond.
Result of broken vow, a priest would qualify the alarming increasing
numbers of street children in one homily for the kids at Mother Teresa Street
“ Those who can afford avoiding
onerous court proceedings simply did it away through legal separation.
That’s what happened to many celebrities,
marrying one after the other Hollywood style
just like changing clothes as many as one pleases. The rest turned to back to
Islam to legalize their second marriage. Head going nuts, this is it a short
cut convenience to cover up loose marital bond,” columnist
Ramon Tulfo of National Daily would
account.
“The less mortal ones on the other hand who
can’t afford the prohibitive separation cost just settle the issue through amicable arrangement tacitly agreeing on
terms and conditions stipulated in a contract. No sweat specially if both party
have been living their new respective family. The bottom line is the children
either left out or suffering collateral damage.”
“Fatherhood is definitely no mean feat. You
either go for it or not at all contract marriage. But you would become a philosopher if
you don’t marry. Why not then be a real father when you could than none at all. You
can for as long as you’re holding on the identity as father wherever you maybe
no matter what the cost. Stand by it in
other words.”
All faces of the family were as usual glued
to the celebrant of the day.
“That
I believed the reason why hell broke loose last Sunday when fathers
themselves uncontrollably shed their tears as their wives and ordinary church
goers holding on their bated breath in the pew witnessing real drama unfolding
right in front of them But I suppose
they were more tears of joy having survived this far to their calling.,” Manang
Eliza gathered the thoughts on her mind.
“To those who fall short, just go on.
Actually, I have not seen the face of my
own father ever since I saw light in this world. He was mercilessly murdered by his bosom friend
when I was barely innocent two years old because of an altercation. Nine bullets only felled his
body. What could I do? I will meet him anyway comes the final encounter up
there when my sunset is due,” a bombshell
he let go catching engrossed family off guard.
“I’m sorry for the unsolicited revelation.
But sometimes life is so harsh that you don’t know it coming that way. Enjoy
life of course while it last but never lost sight of the real enjoyment
awaiting us there when all finally is done we would be all one with Him up
there forever.”
“Amen,
amen and amen,” Manang Elsa proudly intoned.
It was the best ending, Nong Tonio thought
gauging from the silence of his family.
“It’s good to be candid to clear doubts that way lending credence on the importance of the credibility
of every communicator in handling and delivering the topic.”
As reality check, he was delighted reading
the message of Rona returning the compliment where he stands as a model father?
The answer was in acronym. It reads: A model father is: F-aithful husband,
A-ffectionate man,T-ruthful person, H-umble leader, E-xcellent worker and
R-esponsible provider. Blessed Father’s Day! Psalm 155:15, the apt parting
shot.
“Well, where do I stand? Barely earning
passing grade getting three scores out
of five. Not that bad specially with humility counted never mind excelling in work and good provider,” he quipped.
Working in as many passion he has maybe was not enough.
“Sorry and no way messing up government’s
money. That’s corruption.,” he cleared the issue giving benefits of doubt to
those who are thinking otherwise. But he
is happy however that he is still making it through thick and thin despite
harsh realities of life.
“God is definitely good. He’s always there
opening windows after closing each door indicating that sometimes somewhere out
there grass is far greener than in any
other pasture. That for as long as you
holding on to your sanity and identity
as real father.”
“Cheers to all fathers –real or
make-believe, branded or pirated but most specially the real ones, the toughies
with gung-ho personality protecting the vow they covenanted with the Lord when
they said “I do!” to their wives in not
so distant past,“ the appropriate clincher
drawing laughter from the rest of the group.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
“So you’re dead serious to enter St. John’s
“The Pastoral Council Officers briefed me
earlier about this development in the convent. So be it son.”
Taklin nodded approvingly.
Manang
Elsa continues eating too and quiet elated over the development of Taklin. For
sure, it’s a big blessing on the part of the family offering one son for the
service of the nation. But it is still premature to conclude. Man chooses but
God disposes, she remembers. That Taklin decided to enter the seminary by his
own volition in itself is a positive factor and there is great possibility he
becoming an ordained priest, a son of God inebriated her.
“Unless of course, if God has other things
in store for his son. That she would not bar, let alone condemn. Many are
called but few are chosen,“ she again remembers.
“Yes, I already prepared myself save of
course for my allowance…”
“We’re taking charge of that as I already
told Fr. Lefuve on this. Besides your Auntie Helen in California St. John
“Twenty to thirty dollars a month I think
from her pocket is just peanuts,” Mang Tonio answered.
Mang Tonio himself felt elated too over
this development being a religious person himself. At least a son would take
over where he left off from his past involvement in the parish as Pastoral
Council President on to as Charter Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus. Not one
so far among his roots have similar inkling as far as he could remember. And
here his son treading that difficult path towards Calvary
where few men survived. Somehow, this delighted him.
“It’s better to have one entering seminary,
never mind falling on the way,” he remembered Fr. Lefuve telling him about
Taklin.
“God after all still does miracle. Taklin’s
persistence to become one is part of that miracle,” Mang Tonio believed.
“Good luck Taklin de la Rosa, we’re with
you always for as long as you want us for help. But this I could only ask for
one thing. It’s your own decision to become one. And if you do, please be good
one. Never allow yourself to be an additional questionable man in a cloth sowing confusion among the people,” the happy father
told his son after tapping Taklin’s shoulder driving home his message.
“Thanks. Should you make it. Kindly have
your first mass celebrated for the family. Promise? Is that a deal,” Mang Tonio challenged Taklin.
“With God’s help I will. Okay, your deal is
accepted,” Taklin said acknowledging the good cheer of his parents happiness
written al over their faces as seen grinning widely their spirit soaring to the sky filled
with pride and bliss.
That has been few years passed before shifting
to other course taking military science at PMA, a course maybe borne out
from frustrations of solving various crimes him coming of age to provide
necessary lift solving ruthless crimes in his municipality.
“Way to go given all those atrocities
happening in once very peaceful province,” he told.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
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