Palabra de honor
- Our editorial last Sunday had the subject matter, palabra de honor based on what is hot in congress about the term sharing agreement between congressman Allan Peter Cayetano and the other Allan, Lord Allan Velasco.
Come October 14, we will know the outcome of the battle royale. We cannot also discount the clout of Lord Allan; he, being the son of justice Velasco and the son-in-law of Ramon Ang. You must know Ramon Ang, the chair of the huge conglomerate, San Miguel Corporation. Abangan ang susunod na kabanata. This is the battle of giants. Who is backing who?
Anyway, I just remembered the poem, The Highwaymanby Alfred Noyes. This verse from the poem struck me: I’ll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way.”
The verse exemplifies palabra de honor at its best. We can just imagine those gadgetless days with the non-lighted highways of his time. People during those times just had to rely on the light of the moon to be able to see the object of their longing, regardless of the obstacles along the way.
Due to hi-tech gadgets nowadays, it’s easy for people to just change their minds. Schedules are easily changed. Commitments are not respected. And most of all, promises are always broken. Everything has become variable. When you are late, you are just on time.
Years back, I used to attend commencement exercises at Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran (formerly St Joseph College), my alma mater. I was very happy during those events because the school had consistently practiced punctuality in its program. Before Covid attacked the world, everything in that school was still done in clockwork precision. No cameramen were allowed to intervene in the proceedings. Walay huwaton nga personality kay wala pa moabot. Musugod gyud ang tulumanon sa tukmang oras. Dli gyud allowed ang ginikanan nianang gitawag ug “Now Showing”. Everyone had to remain in his/her seat. I am sure that if things will go back to the old normal and graduation ceremonies will be held again, Holy Spirit School will be doing the same. Pero karon? Palihug lang, pls. pls. pls, mga dagkong tawo ug mga tawo nga dagko, ayaw intawn pagutmi ang mga Pilipino sa paghinulat ninyo. Let’s make this part of our new normal.
- Up to now, I still could not imagine DepEd insisting on blended learning and the likes. Most public schools don’t even have electric connection in their classrooms much more so, the internet connection. Maklaro bitaw ni ug panahon sa pag-ihap sa balota sa pinili-ay. Naa pa man gyud gani magdala ug petromax lamp. While it is true that families now have time for bonding and parents attending to the needs of the children, it is a fact that children have to wake up early to have access to the internet. Traffic kaayo ang internet lanes. Ma stressed out man gani ko ug makita naho nga nagatuyok ang signal sa akong internet nga nagpasabut nga nag loading pa ug hinay ang signal niini. Unsa na kaha nang pila ka libo ka mga tinun-an nga maningkamot nga makakuha ug signal nga nagkamang sa “kapaspas”. And to think that one local DepEd executive said over the radio during an interview: “Ah kung naa moy problema adto lang patabang sa sililngan.” Diyos mio. What an advice!
Kanang zoom-zoom, susama pud na sa among duwa kaniadto nga tawag-tawag sa banga filled with water. That was our way of calling the sender of a message to remind all about our scheduled “meeting”. Kunohay aduna mi meeting. Ang banga among pun-on sa tubig aron maoy gamiton nga agianan (medium) sa among mga mensahe. There were times when we used an empty can of milk, put one end of the string inside it, and attach the other end of the string to another empty can. Mura ba ug telepono nga adunay kable. Lipay na mi kaayo adto.
How I wish we could bring back all those practices today and instill in the consciousness of the Filipino, the value of what is basic and simple. How I wish all these will be deeply rooted in the new normal.
Indeed, cultural heritage is rich.