By: Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
The park for the “gors”
“Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”
I came across this quotation two (2) weeks ago. It’s about aging; and listening to the March 17 episode of the highly-rated program “Open Forum” I couldn’t help but remember the quote and giggle with joy on my rocking chair. Ga-agik-ik gyud ko ug katawa nga naminaw sa maong tulumanon inubanan sa pagmahay ug pangutana kung ngano man nga ang mga batan-on karon gusto na man nga papason kaming mga “GORS” sa ilang alimpatakan?
The main anchorperson of the program is my BFF, Ardy Ines Araneta-Batoy who, without any effort exerted, is naturally and really defying age by the way she looks, speaks, moves, thinks, behaves, meets and “fights” people from all walks of life.
On the other hand, I feel sad in the way the young abhors the “GORS” in the community. “GORS” is a language on the street. It is slang and supposedly, the word should not be used by the educated. And to think that one of the persons who expressed her banter against the “GORS” is a woman and elected official for that matter. Isn’t this elected lady official supposed to be an example of good manners and right conduct? Nevermind the other girl called by my friend as G… who joined the elected public official in calling the aged as “GORS”. Why would I not mind her? It is because from the way she was behaving, even if her age is very much younger than that of my BFF’s, yet G…’s looks are far, far, far older than the anchorperson’s. Ha ha ha ha.
Sayop gyud inyong pag label ni BFF ug “GORS” Madam elected public official and G… The law of diminishing return could not be applied to my bff. Her voice in the airwaves has not changed a bit from the time she handled that dedication program on Valentine’s Day reciting Rolando Carbonel’s “Beyond forgetting” until today.
She has shifted career from teaching, to hosting and heading a newspaper. And at her age now, she is still doing all of these with gusto. Walay paghubas, kalooy sa Ginoo. Ug mosulti na, labi ug English, galing ug kamong duha mas “GORS” pa niya. Wala gyud na siyay retoke para mataas ang ilong ug motoybo ang simod ug uban pa. Itapad kuno inyong mga LEGS, di ba mauwaw ka sa imoha. Ha ha ha ha.
And her wit and sense of humor would bring you very much older than she is. The quickness of her response during interviews on radio will make you feel nothing compared to her.
I do not know if when the moment would come when you would reach her age now, you would not look dilapidated like an impoverished creature crawling on the streets.
And yesterday, I was happy that Ted Ayeng mentioned a program for the seniors. One of those mentioned is a park for the elderly and the PWD. That is a welcome treat.
While we have so much covered courts for the youth, and entertainment, this has become a flavoured and favoured project among the barangays.
Welcome to the Park of the “Gors”.
Remember, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said: “Age is opportunity no less than youth itself.” I hope you will have that opportunity.