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Sunday, January 19, 2003
Luab: Some events leave a mark with us
By Evelyn R. Luab
Light Sunday
Sept. 21, 1972 is a date that is etched in my mind. That was the day, Martial Law was declared. There was a long hush in our household after hearing the announcement on TV. We were stunned. We still did not know what to expect and even the children, were quiet. We were in Manila then.
That same night, my husband was caught, still on the streets, after curfew. He was driving, rushing home from a meeting at his office and was just five minutes from our home. The army man who apprehended him was kind enough to accompany him to the door of our house to let me know that he would be held at Camp Bonifacio. I didn’t know what would happen next but I was glad that he was released the following noontime after pulling talahib for about 12 hours.
Another event that is etched in the minds of some Cebuanos is the Ormoc flood. For those who really went there to help, the sight of dead bodies practically everywhere is something they will not forget.
We in Cebu will also remember the first big rally at Fuente Osmeña, when for the first time many Spanish families joined us. We asked the dictator to step down with one voice. Remember the time when Cory stayed at the Carmelite Convent?
Those events have left an indelible mark on many of us.
However, in our small world which is peopled by husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister, neighbor, there are many events too which leave marks, and sad to say, the events we remember are the unpleasant events.
We remember the time when some relative borrowed a sizeable amount of money from us with promises left and right assuring us that we would be paid. We haven’t seen the money since.
We also remember the time when we were alone watching a sick member of the family in a hospital room while other members of the family hardly dropped by to help.
We even remember the time when a neighbor refused to give us a tumbler of water when typhoon Ruping hit us.
Actually, there are beautiful big events which dropped into our lives, too, but are not as easily remembered. The first Sinulog was a grand happening which gave us pride in being a Cebuano.
The first reclamation project of Sergio Osmeña Jr. was a huge success.
In our small world, weddings, firstborns, christenings, job acceptances, job promotions, reunions, are really great occasions of joy.
Perhaps there are the events we should focus on. Our older folks used to say “Dili man mi lisud palipayon, mobo ra man mi ug kalipay. Tagaan lang mi ug pan ug kape okey na.” (We really are not hard to please. We can make do with coffee and bread and that is already happiness for us.)
A taxi driver once told me, “Makuha ko lang ang boundary ma’am unya naay init nga kan-on ug sud-an nga mo sugat nako, ug maayo ug lawas ang pamilya, exacto na para ako.” (If my boundary is reached and a hot supper is waiting for me, my family is in good health, then my day is complete.)
Simple joys, simple aspirations are really the trick to contentment and serenity.
What about ambition? It is good to be ambitious provided it does not become the “be all and the end all” of everything. It’s laudable to be ambitious provided it does not make a bitter, envious person out of any one. Better still, it is really generous and magnanimous for anyone to be able to applaud and to be happy over the good fortune of a neighbor.
We‘ve often heard of the “crab mentality” of the Filipino. Poor crab to be associated with the immaturity and the selfishness of anyone who cannot be happy for others.
The only reason we cannot be happy for others is when we are not happy and contented ourselves.
We are the only ones responsible for our happiness. Let us savor each event that comes into our lives.
We are looking forward (as we write this column) to the procession of our beloved Sto. Niño. When this column comes out, we shall be watching the floats, the dancers, the giants, as we celebrate our Sinulog.
Let us enjoy and be happy and together with everyone else greet our Bato balani sa gugma“ and shout with everyone else “Pit Senyor!” Let this Sinulog 2003 leave a mark in our lives, too.
(January 19, 2003 issue)
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