by Telly G. Ocampo
JULY 2 , 2023
Palabra de Honor – a vanishing trait!
We had Spanish class in 4 th year high school at St. Joseph
College (now Holy Spirit School). The phrase, palabra de
honor, is part of what we learned from that class. This learning
about palabra de honor was reinforced when we went to
College especially with the 24 units of mandated and legislated
Spanish subjects. That was during our time. But was the
essence of palabra de honor popular only during our time? Do
we still have this today?
We studied and discussed palabra de honor, not only in our
Spanish classes but also in all other classes. Discussion of the
word of honor became significant especially immediately after
the war. This period was called “peace time” by my
grandmother. I was born immediately after the war in 1946 and
during this period of Philippine History palabra de honor was
practiced in and out of the house; in everything we did and
said; in all the feelings and thoughts that were nurtured by our
young hearts and minds.
Growing up my grandmother taught me the dictum on frugality.
This was an offshoot of the war. She believed that everything
had to be saved kay unya ug mag gyera. Ang mga tinuboan
nga sinina, sapatos ug uban pa, dili gyud ipanghatag kay
kinahanglan nga kini ipasul-ob sa mga mosunod nga mga
manghud. para sa mga manghod. And we kept our palabra
de honor as we gave our hand me down materials to our
younger siblings and relatives.Durability of what you bought
was another guiding principle. Shoes were purchased, not for
your total fit, but with a little allowance kay pa-abong inig
motubo pa ang tiil. Our pairs of footwear were never replaced
until these were worn out. Mosugot pa gani mi ug tahion sa
sapatero. Ug dili na gyud madala ug ayo, mao na to nga
palitan na mi ug bag-o nga sapatos o tsinelas. Again, we
held on to our palabra de honor that as we would go to the
store to buy our shoes, we would never choose the fancy-
looking pairs but the durable ones. Dili gyud mi magtuman sa
among gusto kay naa lagi mi palabra de honor.
Our schedules were never governed by the dictates of our
mobile phones. Huh! We never had any. Our time frame was
controlled by our sense of palabra de honor. Time was fixed
and was never variable. We were made to understand and
believe and practice that palabra de honor never understood
what reservation of the truth was all about. Truth was truth. A
lie was always a lie. So, if we had appointments we had to keep
our words that we would be at the appointment area on time.
If we attended gatherings (which you call today as gigs), we
had to keep our promise of coming home on the designated
time. We didn’t stay overnight. We didn’t sleep in anybody’s
house. Such was our concept of palabra de honor. If we broke
this palabra de honor, the violation had to be dealt with
accordingly. Ug gikabaniog ka nga gilatos sa among
panahon, kina-uwawan na kaayo.
And here comes the telephone. I was already in college when
the telephone was in our town. At that time it was handled by
the central operator. Phone ethics were in order. Palabra de
honor would tell us to stick to what good manners are on the
phone including the salutary greetings, etc. And calls had to be
concise and precise. Definitely, one’s word of honor carries
with it courtesy and honesty.
With the modern times, everyone has his phone with many
apps. Everyone can converse with anybody, anytime,
anywhere regardless of the length of time spent for the phone
conversation. And topics vary according to the whim and
caprice of the phone owners.
There are so many changes in our lifestyle; in our palabra de
honor. Do we still have this? Has this become elusive? Is
palabra de honor vanishing into thin air?
Your answer is as good as mine.
