Friday, December 10, 2010

A Private Family Affair by Jayson E Parba



 *This story was first published in Sunstar Davao, August 15, 2010. The illustration has been lifted from their web (www.dagmay.kom.ph).



Ate Stella and her husband Marco eloped two days after their wedding had been annulled, causing all the feeling of anguish to both mother and father. 


It was the least expected event to happen in our family. Mother and Father had thought my eldest sister would start getting a better life after a long hurdle of going to the court, giving testimonies, and presenting pieces of evidence in front of Judge Gomez to convince him that Ate Estella’s marriage with Marco was null and void, and that, on her part, she had suffered physical abuse and emotional stress after her husband had become a drug addict and a total wreck.

Ate Stella was a nurse. She chose to become one after too much prodding from Mother who was also a nurse herself who held a position in the Philippine Nurses Association. In the family, Mother was the stronger figure compared to Papa who was always quiet, speaking only when it seemed Mother was unreasonable. Papa trusted Mother to make decisions. When Mother declared that we were not allowed to have a relationship while still we were still in school, nobody had the heart to refute it. It was an argument that had been decided long before we heard the other side of the story.

On my part, I tried hard not to violate Mother’s decree by not entertaining suitors and by always being in the company of my girl friends. Kuya Harvey, who I thought had the most difficult time, also did his best not to break that mandate. You see, Kuya Harvey was a natural heartthrob. Girls came to him even if he did not initiate anything to attract them. But with Mother prying on each of his affairs, the girls eventually learned to resist his charm. 

It was different with Ate Stella. Although Mother was very strict with her, monitoring her every now and then, she had learned to find a way to gain Mother’s trust by devoting most of her time to her studies. In short, she excelled, topping the Dean’s List in their college. This assured Mother that her eldest was not distracted by anybody or by any emotional rush that most young adults go through. What Mother missed out on was that someone or something was inspiring Ate Estella. While Mother prepared food in the kitchen, Ate Stella and I would stay in our shared bedroom, pretending to be studying. But in truth, she was reading to me the love letters of Marco while trying to resist her ecstasy from Marco’s lyricism by fighting back her chuckles.

A few months after Ate Stella’s graduation and on the day before she was supposed to take the Nursing Licensure Exam, Kuya Harvey and I were surprised by an uproar in the kitchen. We thought Mother was scolding Yaya for doing badly again in the cooking. But when we came out of our rooms, we saw Mama beating Ate Stella.

“How could you do this to us?” Mama screamed, pointing her finger to Ate when she noticed us watching the whole scene.
“He’s going to marry me,” Ate answered.
“Marry? How will he feed you?”
“We love each other. That’s more important.”
“Love cannot feed you and your child!” 

Mother began to sob. She rushed out of the kitchen and went to their room. It was the first time I saw her cry. Papa was very quiet the whole time. He had remained calm, maybe deep in thought.

The following day, Mother woke up as if nothing happened. Ate, on the other hand, had also awakened early because she needed to be in the examination room before seven. I found out later on that Ate took the exam in a separate room through Mother’s request. This was always possible because of Mother’s position as secretary of the PNA. The request was made in order to keep Ate Estella away from everybody else’s eyes. Mother was afraid the other examinees would see the welts on Ate Stella’s arms. Despite what Ate Estella went through, she ended up in the top ten, landing fourth place when the results came out.

Before Ate’s swelling belly became obvious, Marco and his parents came to the house. It was then decided that Ate and Marco would have a civil wedding. Mama and Papa made sure their eldest had a good life despite the shame she had caused the family. They withdrew money from their savings and helped Ate and Marco build a house. They then lived in their newly built house located at the poblacion where Ate was also taken in as a nurse in the municipal hospital. Again, Mother had to pull out some strings to make sure Ate had work. 

On weekends, Ate Stella would visit us, bringing Baby Nico with her. Mama would prepare special lunch for the family, maybe to show that she had learned to accept the reality. Papa, on the other hand, was more than glad to have another boy in the family. Kuya Harvey had remained a bachelor, maybe because until now he took to heart Mother’s decree. However, I heard a rumor that Kuya was not the marriageable type. Rumors around town said he went out with men. But I learned to keep this secret from our parents. I didn’t want to become the whistleblower. 

One Friday night, a year after their wedding, Ate Stella came home crying.
“That bastard!” It was the first time I heard Father said something against Marco.
“Don’t go back anymore. You stay here,” Mother commanded.
“I never lifted a finger to hurt any of my children. I will kill him if he dare show himself in my house,” Father said. 

It turned out that Ate Stella kept to herself her problems about Marco. While she appeared happy every time she came to the house on weekends, we learned later that she had been agonizing over the fact that Marco had become addicted to drugs. Ate Stella caught him when she found a small cellophane packet with sugary white powder in it. Then he eventually became violent, hurting her whenever she would confront him about his vice. 

It was all Mother’s idea. To put an end to everything, she suggested that my sister file an annulment case. It took two years, exhausting almost all the savings of Mother and Father. During the whole duration of the case, Ate Stella and Baby Nico stayed with us. When the verdict came, our family was very happy, Mother most especially. 

Meanwhile, without our knowledge, Marco had been imploring Ate Stella to come back to him, sending her letters that showed how miserable he was without Ate and Baby Nico in his life. Sometimes, he would wait for Ate Stella at the gate of the municipal hospital where Ate worked, or sometimes he would send her flowers with a special card, bearing a letter that showed his lyrical prowess.

One Sunday, two days after Ate Estella’s wedding was annulled, we all awoke to the silence of Ate Estella’s and Baby Nico’s room. Excited to play with Baby Nico, who by then was almost three years old already, Kuya Harvey and I opened their room and found no one inside. The aparador was empty. Ate Stella left a note, saying thank you to all of us, especially to Mother and Father. At the bottom of the letter, we read: P.S. Don’t worry about us. Baby Nico is excited to see his father again. We will be safe.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

“Reunion: On Seeing Them Again 10 Years After”

Reunion. A time to celebrate success and happiness. This is exactly what happened to our high school reunion which happened Saturday, December 4, 2010 at the Sagatech Resort in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City. God must have heard my prayers for it never rained the whole day, so that those who brought their kids with them enjoyed spending their time with us without having to worry for the kids and without having to leave early (They did but it was already late! hehe).

Reunions always make me feel nostalgic. When two of our high school classmates and friends, Aking and Jennifer, came home from Taiwan and Singapore, the idea of getting together suddenly flickered. And to have it materialized, we had to do a massive campaign to get the presence of those whose commitment to reunions is not as strong as ours. Before Aking arrived from Taiwan, we chatted and agreed that once he got home, we would work on gathering our batch to a reunion. As always Bingbong, Bingkat, and Dongbads were always there to back up the idea. I was completely surprised because Jennifer was also suddenly home! In short, the ReUNION-Eager-Group became bigger! Things became a lot easy.

Riding on motorcycles, we toured around Gango, Indahag, Pualas, Lomboy, and Kamakawan in search of our batch two weeks before the big day. The heavens suddenly opened up and it rained as if God was gracing our efforts, pouring in his love down to us. The schedule and venue were set. The foods were ready (Aking and Jen sponsored the lechon, I did for salad and spag, Dongbads for softdrinks and sinugba, Diana and Lenie for the rice, Jerry for the electricity, Rosalie helped me with the cottage). In short, everything was ready. I couldn’t help but be excited for the big day!

I arrived at the venue two hours ahead of them (I was expected to make some arrangements). When they finally came, I was overjoyed to see them: Rosalie with her two kids, Genisa with her one-month-old babay and her hubby Zaldy, Jerry brought with him his gf, Mylene, Chickboy with his wife and son, Rodel Tantay was there too who latter brought his wife and daughter and son, Melanie, Diana-the-preggy with her husband and daughter, Jennifer, Aking, Jerome Salisi, Crisanto with his wife and daughter, Pablo, Badong, then Bingbong and Bingkat with their eldest and my godson Gyle, then Jued and his partner, and Ma’am Jovelyn Delosa, also ma’am Jing, our fave teacher!


After dinner, we had games. It was the highlight of the evening for everyone really had fun. I first facilitated the “Who’s Who?” game which let my batch remember high school personalities like “the jumping-jack king Felizardo,” “best in Carpentry Elmirante,” “the shortest Joy, ” “Mr Come back to me Mevin Santander,” “the General Dennis Abellanosa,” and a host of other funny memories that until now make me laugh. Then came the “Touch, Slide, and Catch” game, “I think, You guess” game. Ma’am Jing also joined and facilitated a game on numbers (you’re supposed say “boom” not the number when it is divisible by 3 or ends with 3). Crisanto kept on complaining, “Ok ra ang number ma’am ayaw lang nang mag divide!” (hahaha!) After a while the big circle was reduced to two and I emerged as the winner! (of course, dapat lang! hahaha) Then another game was sponsored by Rodel Tantay, the “Animal-sound” game. We were laughing our heart out when the horses’ group bumped with the cats’ (Crisanto’s group) for we were blindfolded!

Then came swimming, singing, and drinking. We were literally swimming in happiness, singing our joy as we drunk in our wonderful memories together. Ma’am Jing was right when she said that what matters most is not our degrees, status, or money. What matters is if we are happy wherever and whoever we are now ten years from high school. And yes, I must agree. That night, I did not only see joy. I witnessed genuine happiness, one that comes from the heart, not forced nor faked.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

"Suwat kang Pilemon" ni Jayson E Parba



“Suwat Kang Pilemon” (Alang sa akong mga Nautical nga mga estudyante)
ni Jayson E. Parba



Dong Pilemon,
Niambak sa bintana ang akong kalipay
sa imong gibalitang dagko imong grado.
Ang imong tatay gibayaw sa langit
Samtang ang iyang huyang nang lawas
Nikisi-kisi sa kadasig. Tank gad! 

Dong Pilemon, padayog tuon.
Pagkugi sama sa atong silingang si Bukad
nga karon siman na.  Hastang kuyawa!
Iyang mama, donya na. 
Masanghiran pod unta tas swerte, no?
Purya buyag!

Sa imong pagpaningkamot, Do Pilemon,  
hinumdumi inyong pawnder. 
Katong ginganlan nilag madam, ba?
Nga sa mga panlupig sa panahog kapalaran,
nalig-on samas dyamante.
Matod pas mga balita, siya manggihatagon,
matinabangon.  Dakog kasingkasing.

Ayaw palupig sa mga pagsuway, Do.
Palayos barkada.  Likayi ang disco. 
Himoa imong mga pradyek. Sama  adtong una,
dota ba toy ngan, do, o mafia?
Pastilan, medyo mahal gyod tong pradyeka!
Igo rang halins hiniktang natong si Kikay!

Ug do Pilemon, bepor we said godbay,
Dal-i nya kog litratong madam, ha?
Sa tinuod lang, iya man god kong pans.
Lakip si Tatay mong dili makalimot
sa bronseng istatuwang nipatik sa iyang
maayong binuhatan.

P.S. Do Pilemon, paningkamuti nga kining imong 3.0 mahimong 5.0.  Sayang pod.  Dos na lang ang kulang.  

---------------
(Enters Constancio.  Sits beside Pilemon as the latter gets up, moves left and is in deep thought.)

Pilemon:  Matay, ma guilty man sad tang Nanay.
Constancio:  Aw, dapat lang gyod.  Ikaw ba, stop telling lies.  Be honest to your parents.
Pilemon:  Lagi, bay.  Morag magbag-o na gyod ko, bay.  Lahi ra man god ning wa tay tagoan.  Matod pa nila, “Honesty is the best!”
Constancio: Haha! Amew! Unsay honesty is the best? 
Pilemon:  Aw, rong diay to, bay?
Constancio:  Honesty is the best policy.  Mao nay sakto. 
Pilemon: Aw diay?
Constancio:  Mao bia nang gitudlo sa ‘tong eskwelahan.  Matod pas maestro nakos pilosopi nga si Prof Macabinlar, you cannot be a total person if you’re not honest.
Pilemon:  Aw, husto pod.  I am agree with you.
Constancio:  Unsa? Na! mao na ni ron.  Pagtarong lagig eskwela, bay, para daghan kag makat-onan.  Dapat, I agree with you.
Pilemon:  Aw!  Lagi, bay.  Magbag-o na gyod ko. 
Constancio:  Kana!
Pilemon:  Sakto gyos Nanay. Maningkamot aron makat-on.
Constancio:  Good.  Mao pod nang gibuhat ni Madam adtog estudyante pa siya.  If wala pa siya naningkamot ug nagtarong, wala unta ning atong eskwelahan ron.  Can you imagine that?
Pilemon:  No, bay.  I can imagine, not.  I mean, dili gyod.
Constancio:  Pag sure, bay uy! (laughs)
Pilemon:  Taymsa, nakahinumdum ko nga foundation day man diay ron sa CU, no?
Constancio:  That’s right.
Pilemon:  Bantog rang daghan tawo (looks at the audience).  Bibo pod.
Constancio:  Unsa man? Join ta? 
Pilemon:  Aw, syempre! Taga CU bia ta.  And am proud to be a Stallion!
Constancio:  Capitolian, bay.

(The two characters are heard still debating as they exit.)

Pilemon:  Taka.  Stallion uy.
Constancio:  Capitolian lagi.  Gahig ulo.
Pilemon:  Kinsay ingon?   

 (The two characters exit.  Blackout.)

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

“Suwat kang Manny” ni: Jayson E. Parba




Do Manny,
Usa ko sa imong mga pans.
Idol ta gyod kaayo ka, Do. 
Sa tinuod lang, way bokser nga makatupong
sa imong kahanas sa boksing.
Kusog pa kas daluglog.  Paspas pas kilat.
More pa!

Nagsuwat ko nimo, Do kay di na gyod nako kaya
ang mga panglibak ug pangpandaot
diha sa radyog telebisyon.
Matod pas mga balita,  babaero daw ka!
Ang uban pod, nag-ingon nga pataka lang daw kag inenglis.
Naa poy mga tabi nga modagan kag pagka presidenti!
Yawa ra!

Ang sa ako lang ba, Do Manny,
mas daghan ming gamahal nimo. 
Mamatay pa ko ron!
Ug bisag tinuod man gani na sila, pans lang gihapon ko nimo.
Para kanako, daghan man gyod mag apas nimo kay hitsuraan pod baya ka, Do. 
Sa akong tantu-tanto, kanang imong bigote ang imong asset
Lami man god daw nang giluk-gilok!

Ug in fernis, Do.  Maayo na man ka kaayo mag inenglis!
Spiking ob wits, mas maayo pa man gani ka nako.
Dihang gi interbyu ka sa TV, gidat-ul ko kining akong dunggan
sa spiker aron maklaro ka.  And I therefore concluded, you sound beri good!
Lahi ra gyod ning maka coach og Amerkano, noh? 
So Do Manny, banati nag inenglis kanang gapandaot nimo.
Wat do you care?  Ingna na sila, carefree! Ana ra na!

Pero Do Manny, igo na nga sikat kas boksing.   
Limpyo sama sa imong nawong adtong imong giirok si Cotto.
Ang pulitika man god, Do Manny, hugaw.
Sama sa baba ni Mayweather nga giingnan kag midget ug bayot.
Siya ra siguro!  Kon madayon gani inyong pight,
Patilawa ra god nas imong lept ug right hook combination
Aron makakita nang anuosag uk-ok sa iyang kalimutaw.
Going back to politiks, Do Manny, igo na nga congressman ka.
Ayaw og palabi.  Imong gwapang asawa karon modelo na ni Belo.
Imong mamag papa wa na galisod,
lakip imong tibuok banay nga tig-ihap sa imong kwarta.
Ang imong mga anak, pastilan!
Artistahon kaayo!  Liwat gyong mommy Dionisia.
In short, Do, you hab ebrithing in dis world. Money. Fame.  Power.  Pamily.

P.S.  naa kay extra diha, Do?  Bisan god ug imong patantohan.  Dyis mil lang.



Imong pans,


Inday Sebya Daplin
Sityo Ki-anus, Barangay Kili-og, Pilippins


First Draft: 11/25/10 (11:00am)

“Si Burandat” Jayson E Parba



Burandat,
Pangit! Pangag!

Dili lagi ko si Burandat.
Sheila Marie akong ngan.

Ah, basta, Burandat ka!
Wa kay labot sa amo.

Shiela Marie lagi ko!
Bugok! Paapila ko ninyo ba?

Dili.  Pangit ka.
Imong nawong murag si Rosalka!

Ngee, kagwapa ra nako!
Nindot pa jud ako nem.

Waah! Unsay nindot?
Nindot diay nang Burandat?

Dili lagi ko si Burandat!
Ako si…Shieela Marieee!

Galapyat lang nang nawong mo!
Pangag! Lapad! Pislat! Unano!

Kagwapa ra nako.
Ingong Mama, mura kog si Barbie.

I’m a Barbie girl, in an ugly world!
Pahawa  diha kay magdula na mi.

Hatagan ta mog tin ka julin, O.
Intera lagi ko ninyo.

Samok. Pahawa!
Dili mi nimo.

Sige, twinti na lang.
Paapila ko ninyo, ba?

Twinti? Beh, ambi na.
Sige, apil na ka, Burandat.

Dili lagi ko si Burandat,
Shiela Marie lagi ako nem.





First draft: 11/24/10 (10:30am)


“Suwat kang Joy” Jayson E. Parba


 
Joy, pastilan! Wa gyoy gadahom
sa atong barkada nga
makatungtong kas laing nasod.
Kabawo ko nga putot lang gihapon ka,
apan musta na man ka diha?
Dili ba hadlok diha sa imong gianhaan?
Matod pas mga balita,
kuyaw man daw manarbaho
kon ang amo mga Arabo. 

Pastilan , Joy.
Gamay ra ba kaayo kang bayhana ka.
Pagbantay-bantay gyod dinha. 
Matod pos mga balita,
ang mga Arabo, manyakis. 
Bisan gani laki basta dili gaputos, repon!
Mao na ikaw, pagbantay. 
Dagko pod ra ba daw na silag bunal!
Na, unsaon na lang?

Kon ako imong pangumustahon,
Nia, minero lang gihapon. 
Apan sosyal na dinhis atoa.  Naa nay internet.
Ang mga tao ,adik na kaayos facebook ug youtube.
Ti-a muna, bisan mga minerog tambay,
kabawo na mo chat ug post og shout out!
Ang mga babaye, sigeg pangitag Negro
or Amerkanong guwang ba kaha nga maka-chatmate.
Namasin.  Basin diay makabingwit.

Tuod, nagkitaay mi  sa atong mga klasmeyt
sa high school adtong pasko.
Kabawo ba ka nga si Nimfa ,
kadto bitawng klasmeyt nato nga arte ayos una?
O, katong kusog kaayo mag make-up,
karon, lima na kabuok iyang anak.  Pwerting lusyanga!
Matod pang Badong nga pastor na karos Iglesia,
mura na kuno siyag si Minga nga iyang mama. 
Gipaspasan og ayos iyang bana!

Ug si Bubbles nga halos puro ngipon ang nawong, minyo na. 
Dili na Silaw iyang apelyido.  Wakwak na.  Pastilan!
Wa gyod nangitag laki nga mas maayog apilyedo. 
So karon, dili na lang Buta, Epis, ug Bayot
ang ngil-ad nga apilyedong naa sa atong grupo,
naa na poy Wakwak!
Mao nga ikaw Joy, pangita dihag laking maayog apilyedo. 
Bahalag dakog bunal basta ang apilyedog ngan
dili law-ay sa babag dunggan. 

P.S.  ga-i nya kog ka-chat, ha? Basin diay naay mamords nga babeng Arabo dinha.


Imong fren,


Apyot (Efren Pulpog)     




First Draft: 11/24/10 (10:45am)

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Fresh Start

It's the second semester.  New faces, new lessons, new preparations.  I'm very glad though that my schedule this semester will allow me to write more often because most of my classes are scheduled in the morning.  I have only one class set in the afternoon of the whole week.

However, this semester is quite new for I will be handling a JEEP Accelerate class for Nautical students.  I attended the teachers' training last summer but unfortunately did not handle any JA class last sem.  In short, this is going to be the first time I'll be teaching the subject. This also means I should be studying and spending more time in preparing lessons for the said subject.

But, you see, I'm always up to the challenge and every time I'm given something new, I just love it!  It's not gonna get boring.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

My First Major Writing Award

Last Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010, I went to Davao to receive my prize from the 2nd Davao Writers Guild and NCCA sponsored Writing Contest in Bisaya.  Here are the photos:

The Judges: Dr Mac Tiu, Don Pagusara, and Satur Apuyon

The Winners with the guest speaker Atty.  Councilor Rachel Zozobrado-Nagayo.

The Winners with the three judges

Together with the members of the Davao Writers Guild

Poet Ricardo de Ungria, President, DWG


3rd Placer, Mr Raul Moldez from CdeO with the awarding body

Sir Satur talks about the entries and why the 3 entries won

Me, reading an excerpt from my winning piece


Tita Lacambra-Ayala (middle) with members of the DWG