By: Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
On life’s realities today
Last night was the 9th day prayer for the eternal repose of the soul of my cousin Gundelina. The novena prayers were also said. Pero dili na pareha sa traditional nga mananabtan nga ang pangadje-on mas taas pa sa misa sa pare ug pina korbakorba pa ang tingug sa nangunahan.
Gundelina belonged to the Manding family. There was an only boy as a sibling and he was Benito. All the others are girls. Benito served as a priest, and he died a year ago. Three (3) other siblings are nuns and one, Sister Consolata, died last July (this year) in Manila. A week after the burial of Sister Consolata, Gundelina, the eldest among the siblings, died. Two (2) other sisters Remie and Nikki came home to Bohol to visit their ailing sister, Gundelina, after the burial of their sister, Sr. Consolata. However, as I said, Gundelina also went back to her Creator.
Most of us are in our senior years and here comes Fr. Fermin Bugtong who was still a little boy when we were teenagers. We have not seen each other since the death of Nina Mandin, 7 years ago. So, upon our meeting gakomustahay galore gyud mi. Nangutana si Fr. Fermin kung unsa man kuno ang akong lingaw? And my answer was this: “Ang akong amigo karon mao ang radio nga dyTR. Kinsa pa my imong ika istorya naho nga pulos na man mi mga almost 80 and above, with mobility problems. Nag anam na pud mi ug kagamay kay gikuha na ni Lord ang uban.”
But I must admit that listening to the radio is no longer entertaining kay pulos man gubot: buy bust, suicide, rape, mahal panaliton, politics and corruption. Pero ug maminaw ko sa OPEN FORUM radio program, makauban gyud ka ug katawa sa mga anchorpersons nga sila si Bff Ardy Ines Aranta-Batoy ug iyang sister nga si Gloria Leodivica Ines Araneta. The tandem is indeed a tandem. Ug dili ko kapugong sa akong gibati, mosalmot ko sa program pinaagi sa pagpadala sa kong comment sa messenger. Mao nay akong lingaw.
What disturbs me most are the many aids that come in several forms distributed by senators, congressman ug uban pa. Ang nilugdangan aning tanan is the culture of mendicancy. Wala na man goy mabuhat ang mga asawa. Pirme na lang magpaabot kun kanus-a ang release sa ayuda. The irony of it all is this: Most wives now are working as domestic helpers. It is easier for them to find work. Ang nakaparat kay talagsa na gyud karon ang wala magbitbit ug celfon. Kana ra ba gayud nga celfon nga aduny facebook ug uban pang mga apps. Aguy kamao pa nako. Come to think of it: Many crimes are committed due to the celfon now.
What I’m waiting for now is the resolution of the AICS alleged anomaly in Bohol from the funds distributed during PBBM’s visit. Termination of two executive assistants (is that their position?) is not the answer to the problem. The money has to be given to where it is due. And people must know who deserve to receive such aid.
My prayer is: Let the right agency do the distribution, and not LGU executives; not the legislators.
These are life’s realities today.
Bonding to remember our loved ones. Standing clockwise are: Fr Fermin Bugtong, Remie Balatero, Sr. Marie Claire, Merlin and Tina De Aro. Seated clockwise are: Corazon Batoy, Telly Ocampo, Daria Realista, Monica Montemayor.