Sunday, November 18, 2007 Luab: Some of us gave up our toys eventually By Evelyn R. Luab Light Sunday
I REMEMBER that my glass marbles went out first. My Mom couldn’t stand tripping over them. Then out went my rubber bands, too. Of course, I had fun playing bunkagay (tying them in knots, then flicking them free with the middle finger and the thumb). There really are many games associated with rubber bands. However, we started growing up. Then I stopped playing with my top and my kites.
I also remember playing with paper dolls and having a set of cooking utensils, which we really used to play house. Eventually, we tired of them, too.
Then the telephone became a toy. I was on the phone during my waking hours after class till my mom threatened to cut off my allowance. That joy faded, too.
Suddenly, I found myself all grown up. I guess this is what happened to most of us. A few of us, however, didn’t grow up.
Some men believe that the world of women is theirs for the taking. Women become their toys. (It is easy to say, “Why do women allow themselves to be toys?”) However, when money is the lure quite a number of needy or ambitious women take the bait.
Slot machines, a deck of cards, dice, etc. really are still toys. Believe me, quite a good number of our people, including the very rich, still play. This time, the thrills are high and the consequences high, too.
I never thought that one day, the Filipino people would become the pawns in a game of chess played by our politicians. I honestly never thought that intelligent, sly and dishonest men would use us to titillate their penchant for clever strategies and manipulative prowess.
We met this during the Marcos regime, and in the succeeding regimes.
(Maybe not by the topmost honcho, but definitely by some key players in the government.) How sad for us to lack great men in top positions whose honesty, dedication and integrity are worth emulating.
I recently read Bill Clinton’s book titled Giving. I marveled at not only his research work, but also his involvement in helping so many people around the world. While he mentioned financial giving, he also spoke of our being able to give time and skills, too.
Al Gore, Bill Gates, Leonardo de Caprio, George Glooney, and even the glamorous Elizabeth Taylor have been doing their bit to help others.
In the Philippines, I wish we could mention with clarity what our senators and congressmen are doing with their personal money (not the pork barrel), their time, and their skills to help our brother Filipinos. Can you imagine what blatant excuse one politician gave when he heard that Father Ed Panlilio, the governor of Pampanga, exposed the P500,000 cash gift? He said, “Instead of exposing it he should have used the money to help the poor and not make a fuss about it.” Heavens! How easy it is to use rationalization to excuse a wrong!
How sad it is to note that even in the barangay level, at the last Oct. 29 elections, money was used to play with. Whether it was in withholding it, or in using it, money was still a great manipulative weapon to contend with.
However, I believe the greatest wrong one can do is when religion is used to manipulate people. Oh! It is no secret that heads of big religions groups are wooed by leaders who want to win. What makes these heads believe that they can just toy around with people’s beliefs and use their power to order their members to do what they want them to do? Heavens, asking them to vote straight!
Gentlemen and ladies, blessed with the gifts of intelligence, leadership and charisma, don’t you think it’s time to grow up and leave behind your desire to play with toys?
