Sunday, September 28, 2008 Talento: Of a movie, happiness and Scott By Majal Talento My Turn
AFTER doing the house chores and attending the Sunday service, what better things could I possibly imagine but to enjoy the afternoon watching a classic musical film titled 'Camelot' by artists Richard Harris as King Arthur, Vanessa Redgrave as Guinevere and Franco Nero as Lancelot.
Taking a nappy is part of the plan since the movie has a running time of two and a half hours. I don't have a degree that would make me a credible film critique (I only got a film theory subject last semester under Professor Genelin Ruth James of the University of Mindanao, AB Mass Communication department) but I must say that the movie has excellent cinematography. Not to mention that I texted my classmate because it also has terrific lines and perfectly fitted music that made me teary-eyed. Oh, that would be an understatement; it made me WEEP. Beautiful, beautiful! It was so beautiful.
What about Scott? Yeah, Actually, HE is not a person but a thing that was lent to me by my good boss (Yes, Carlos Munda is his name. You are right again!). I left him for months in my hometown in Panabo because I am presently a student in DC thus busy with a lot of school stuff. It was just last Sunday that I brought him here because I intend to lose weight again???
After an early dinner, I planned to go to the office and prepare the list of things to do and check if Scott is still whole in the place where I chained him. As I entered the office, I saw the local paper where I scan for a while and saw the face of a good columnist, Mr. Eduardo "EdFer" Fernandez. "Pursuit of Happiness" is the title he wrote. I thought it is about the movie of Will Smith thus I excitedly read it.
I was wrong with my assumption but delighted to be reminded that being happy does not mean that a person has to be rich though I know that there are rich people who are truly happy. Being happy to some, is doing little things that matter. They say that being rich is not having many but needing less. Whatever it would be to others as long as you are happy; that's it! But again, where is Scott in the picture?
Here it is! After reading the article and convinced that simple things can make us happy, I decided to a simple thing with Scott. I will take him where my feet would lead me. Now, there you find him in the picture.
As I make myself familiar with the routes in going to the People's Park I see a lot of young people mostly by twos or a group walking towards the direction that I was heading. I also hear singing and clapping from the evangelical churches along Anda and Bonifacio Streets. Families are going in and out in the new food establishments nearby, slow driving cars and bicycle riders in the corner listening to rock music. What a lovely thing to look at.
I pedaled my way to Legaspi Street because I intend to know what's in San Pedro area. Passing through Magallanes in going to Osmeña Park, I can no longer ride on Scott because of the crowd coming in different directions.
Ukay-ukay carts, Kwek-kwek, fish balls, coco juice, corn and other street food stalls fill both sides of San Pedro Street. Business continues even on the seventh day or should I say business is as at its peak on a Sunday. Pulling Scott while walking, I saw a tarpaulin sign with a yummy picture of Halo-halo on it. My brain signaled that eating it would just be an ordinary treat to thank my legs for pedaling Scott and a lot more reasons that I know the answer would only be YES for simple, guilt-free pleasure in life.
They say that situations in our lives (positive or negative) would get better or worsen depending on how we react on every situation. As life is spelled as LIFE- it can never be life without the letters I and F as a preacher once said. Yes, IF - that could also stand for UNCERTAINTY. What would our lives be IF we did it this or that way? Two letter word that could have more weight in making important decisions in life.
Anyway, I just heard it and I'm grateful that I came across Sir EdFer's article because nobody wants a life of misery but many are in it thus would want to be happy. Am I happy? Are you? Is there a standard gauge so that it would be easy for us to know? A Christian would say that only those who surrendered their lives unto their Maker can truly be happy. Decide to be happy! AMEN.
