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Sunday, May 25, 2003
Flavier: The parable of the failed farmer
By Juan Flavier
THE farmer was acknowledged as the supreme workaholic of the whole barrio. Not only did he truly love keeping himself busy, he also worked extremely hard.
Where other farmers averaged nine hours of work, he utilized all of fourteen hours without a noontime siesta. He normally woke up at 4 o'clock in the morning to brew some strong native coffee, prepare a simple breakfast and wrap himself a packed lunch. By 5:30 a.m., he was already busy in the rice fields when others were just waking up and the darkness was still pervasive.
At noon, his only semblance of a break was no more than thirty minutes. He ate almost in a rush and did not bother to take a nap like the other farmers. Most slept up to three o'clock to avoid the harshest heat of the midday sun. The workaholic farmer just continued to labor in the rice field or saw to the other needs of his vegetable patches (tumana).
In the evenings, he either immunized the young poultry or whittled bamboo strips for handicrafts to sell.
From the very beginning of their marriage, he told his wife about his commitment to work - how he would push himself to be able to provide for the family. It was the wife who was to attend to the household needs and to their children.
Even Sundays the farmer did not spare. He did go at times to the town though not for church of sabung (cockfight). Not even an occasional movie. The whole trip was to market his farm produce.
His efforts bore material fruits. His income increased year by year. There was adequate money for the schooling of his children.
But in his deathbed thirty years later, the farmer was the unhappiest man. He had always believed that by working hard, happiness would be his. That, in the light of material success, he would bask in satisfaction and peace of mind.
It was not to be. For in concentrating on work and income alone, he had neglected his wife and family. She developed an affair with a softdrink delivery salesman. Meanwhile, his children had no guidance nor adult interaction. The growing teenagers were left on their own. None finished a degree in college. All dropped out. Two became drug dependents. Another son was in death row for rape and robbery. All married before any were ready.
The farmer's friend consoled him by saying, "You led a conscientious life. You worked so hard and provided for your family. Go in peace."
As the workaholic farmer gasped his last, he whispered to his friend by his bedside, "My friend, take it from me. There is no success in this world that can make up for failure in the home."
(May 25, 2003 issue)
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