by Telly G. Ocampo
Roman and Berdugo
Facebook (FB) paved my way, last week, to the directions of the
lives of three persons: Helen Keller, Forrest Gump and Oskar
Schindler.
As FB presented to me the life of Helen Keller, I realized that as a
child, she was placed in a room at the basement because her
parents noticed that she was unruly and could not be controlled
from her ways. Her parents could not understand her behavior
and thought she was mentally challenged. Helen was fortunate,
though, that a maid was assigned to feed her and this maid was
patient enough to cook something different so the little girl that
was Helen Keller would be attracted to eat the food that she
prepared. One day, she gave Helen chocolate cookies. The maid
noticed that the cookies that were not eaten by Helen were left in
their original setting and not disarranged. A doctor was called.
And it was only then, when Helen Keller was diagnosed blind.
Helen Adams Keller, despite her condition, became an American
author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer.
Books will tell us that she was most famous for her personal
triumph over the limitations of both blindness and deafness. In
one of her statements, Helen Keller said: “So many things are
wrought in prayer than this world ever dreams of.”
Then, there’s Forrest Gump from the movie of the same title. In
1994, “Forrest Gump” topped the box office and had six Oscar
nominations with its messages of traditional values such as
patriotism, capitalism and family ties. Forrest Gump (played by
Tom Hanks) was slow-witted but never thought of himself as
disadvantaged. Instead he, up to this day, inspires me with his
childlike optimism especially when he dominated on the gridiron
as a college football star, fought in Vietnam and captained a
shrimp boat.
The 3 rd person of my choice is Oskar Schindler of the movie,
Schindler’s List. Written by Steven Zaillian and directed and
produced by Steven Spielberg, Schindler’s List, an epic historical
drama film, stars Oskar Schindler (played by Liam Neeson) who
was ready to make his fortune from World War II. He joined the
Nazi party primarily for political expediency. So, he filled his
factory with Jewish workers for the same reasons and when the
extermination of the Jews started, Schindler arranged to have his
workers protected to keep his factory in operation. He realized
that in so doing, he was also saving innocent lives.
And who is Roman? Who is Berdugo? These two are sincerely
and seriously doing their jobs in the munisipyo of our hometown
under the status of “job order” workers. Roman is huge,
maskolado ug kusgan like Hercules. He goes to work on time.
Most of the time, on his way to work, he wears coat and tie; but
changes to working clothes as he reaches the munisipyo. There
are even occasions when he dresses up like Mrs. Wildfire with a
matching wig to complete his outfit.
Berdugo on the other hand is smaller than Roman. Kausa rang
sipit ni Roman, mapiga gyud dayon si Berdugo. The latter is
no match to Roman’s strength and height. Mahimo ra gyud si
Berdugo nga makuso-kuso ni Roman.
But the two work like Forrest Gump, Helen Keller and Oskar
Schindler. Tiwason gyud ang trabaho hangtud mahuman.
Bisan pa ug nagsirado na ang mga opisinahan ug ngitngit na
ang kalangitan. Daghan moingon ug wa ba pud malurong si
Mayor Alvin sa Baclayon sa paghukom nga kining duha
patrabahoon?
Was Hellen Keller wrong in her decision to carry on despite her
physical difficulties? Was the slow-witted Forrest Gump’s
optimism a negative factor in his success in life? Was Oskar
Schindler not a hero in saving the lives of the Jews in his factory?
Mayor Alvin Uy is definitely right in his decision to lift the spirits of
Roman and Berdugo. I am convinced that it’s about time to
change our mindset and to give justice to the law that respects
the rights and privileges of those who have other challenges in
our society. Roman and Berdugo make up a wonderful pair and
may have a world of their own – a world that revolves around
efficiency, industry and dedication to work.
Don’t we need workers like Roman and Berdugo? Wanna bet?
Mayor Alvin Uy of Baclayon (middle) with Roman (left) and Berdugo (right).