SUMMER OF 2001...

Dear Lino,

Thanks for your most-awaited e-mail of June 11 and your kind wishes for my complete recovery. I’m still on sick leave, but I’m getting better and better. Ako’y masaya noong matanggap ko ang iyong mahabang liham na punung-puno ng balita tungkol sa mga nagawa mo at sa pagkaloobang tinanggap mo sa ala-ala kay Rizal. What a great honor for you to have received all those awards! On the other hand, I believe our country needs a boost on tourism, because it’s now more and more lagging behind on the number of visitors with other emerging countries that could offer cheaper accommodations like Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Unfortunately, the kidnapping of tourists by the Muslim separatists in the south is undermining the good image of the country. Compared to Thailand Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia where millions of tourists stay overnight or longer on their way to their final destinations, Manila is unlikely a favorite place for a stopover. Almost all of the travelers would rather prefer to go to the most-traveled cities that are famous for shopping and pleasure such as Hong Kong, Macao or Taipei. What group of local trade syndicate or chamber of commerce will you accompany?

Hindi ko akalain na patay-na-patay ka kay Rizal. Although he was officially declared and generally recognized as the national hero, he never became my idol or inspiration. Otherwise, I would have been executed like him at the age of 33 for inciting the masses to overthrow against the government for corruption and nepotism, n’est-ce pas? For me personally, there are others who were greater than him, such as Lapu-Lapu, Bonifacio and those who really fought for the cause of the people against oppression and injustice. Worse yet, I found that his Noli was rather an adaptation of Hugo’s Les Miserables and Balzac’s La Condition Humaine while his Fili, Le Comte de Monte Cristo by A. Dumas, because he based his plots from them. I strongly suggest you to read those above-mentioned French novels so that you can find out for yourself what I’m talking about.

At this moment, I’m looking forward to my forthcoming summer holidays on the Italian Riviera because I’m too anxious and excited to see all the young and nubile beauties in order that I could have the opportunity to propose them to read their hands and eventually massage their tender and milky white bodies. Ay Abe, anong kalambut-lambot at kaganda-ganda ang kanilang mga katawan habang hinihimas at nilalamog ko sila nang paunti-unti! Hindi ako man lamang makapaniwala sa pambihirang kapalarang umabot sa akin dito. Para bang ako’y lumulutang sa ikapitong langit at nangangarap na kung hanggang kalian tatagal ang kasarapang dinaramdam ko sa mga sandaling iyon. Ay naku, atat na atat at gigil na gigil ako na hindi ko man malaman kung saan-saan ko ba maaaring ipatong ang aking mga daliri! Talagang magugulat ka kapag nakita mo ako habang ako’y gumagawa. Baka tigasan at labasan ka nang hindi mo akala. Sa kalibugan ko ang mga mata ko’y lumuluwa at ang katawan ko’y pinagpapawisan sa kainitan. Kahit ako’y tuyo at kulubot na, mayroon pa ding maibubuga. Anong say mo! Kailanman, hindi ko maipagpapalit ang kabuhayan ko ngayon sapagka’t ditto ko natagpuan ang kaligayahan na matagal ko nang hinahangad sa buhay na hindi ko man lamang nakamtan sa ating bayan. Abe, kailangan mong masubukan ang humimas ng mga puti. Habang malalakas pa ang iyong tuhod magpakasasa ka nang husto sapagka’t mahirap na ang magsisi sa banding huli kung wala nang papatol sa iyo kahit na bayaran mo sila.

For your reading pleasure and reflection, I’m sending you a copy of my letter to my nephew in Toronto which I trust you’d find the content self-explanatory. What about you? If you’re planning to spend the rest of your life in your hometown, then it’s a high time that you make a move before it becomes too late to be able to enjoy and take advantage of the fruit of your hardships and sacrifices.

“How many heartaches and disappointments I experienced when I was fresh from the university. On top of that, I didn’t have a very happy childhood that I’ve already thought of leaving my country since I was a junior in high school. I remember so well I was then more of a dreamer than an idealist because I wanted too desperately to get away and forget completely the loneliness and miseries I’ve known since I was small. Considering my tender age and the huge investment involved in such a costly trip, I prayed too hard to find a rich foreign couple who would take an interest in me. Obviously, such a scheme only happened in Hollywood. So, I had to struggle for many years and go through a number of sacrifices and privations in order to make my dream come true! Fortunately, I wasn’t destined to be dependent and grateful all my life on other’s charity in exchange for my personal freedom. I strongly believe that it wasn’t luck that made me successful but my fate that pushed me harder to strive in order to attain and realize my goal. Taking into account how precarious my situation at that time, it never crossed my mind that I would someday go and live abroad! I must confess, however, that until now I still could hardly believe I did make it! How often do I pinch myself to prove that I wasn’t dreaming at all!

I’m personally convinced that in the Third World countries like ours, there’s no place for an idealist to change radically the mentality of the people overnight and still live to see it materialized. Otherwise, Rizal, Bonifacio and all those who came before us could have had already accomplished it during their lifetime. Since time immemorial, corruption and nepotism have been so rampant in our country that personal merits and qualifications are taken into consideration much less than favors and/or connections. I saw how the weak and the poor were exploited while I was growing up. I wanted to fight for their rights when I was in the university politics, but I was too afraid to do it alone and only to die for a losing cause as everybody’s fall guy. Somehow Aquino’s death had largely contributed to the success of the People’s Revolution. Yet, it hardly changed anything. Worse yet, the poor are getting poorer and the rift between them and the rich is getting wider and wider. Alas, any changes in the people’s mentality and the political structure be it radical or minor would unlikely materialize, not in the short or in the long-term. Little by little, power and greed become the ultimate raison d’etre of the political candidates as soon as they’re elected. Consequently, the omnipresent social evils would still prevail no matter how honest and sincere the officials would appear to be. Being deceived by false promises or vote-buying of unscrupulous candidates, the electors pay a high price for their cupidity and/or plain stupidity in the end. Naturally, the crooks come and go but the vicious circle would still go on and on as long as the electors realize that they’re the ones to blame. How bloody pathetic, isn’t it?”

On behalf of my family, I’m sending you our deep condolence and sympathy for the loss of your beloved wife. In the meantime, I’d like to hear more about your sons, if you don’t mind. Do they still live in the same house with you? Who among our old friends are in your confidence up to now? I’m certainly too curious to discover what has become of them after all these years. I’m looking forward to hearing from you before you leave the country. If not, I’d therefore wish you a happy and successful trip. Please extend my best regards to your family, your sisters-in-laws and friends. May God bless you all.

Hello Lino!

I’m just sending you a follow-up because I was wondering how you are feeling lately. You see after I’ve undergone two major operations within a space of six weeks. I think I’m becoming paranoid on the welfare of others. Good news! The specialist told me yesterday that I don’t have any trace of tumor during my last examination. However, I’ll continue consulting him once every two months to make sure that I’m completely out of danger. At our age, nobody could foresee what affliction would befall on us considering the increasing pollution and contamination in the environment we’re living in, n’est-ce pas?

By the way, I saw a long documentary film the other night on the life of Ronaldo, the famous Brazilian football player. What a humble beginning he has had in the slums of Rio de Janeiro where he struggled from his early age of 6 to get into the national team. At 16, he was bought for a few millions of dollars by a top Dutch team where he won 30 matches out of 32, earning him the name of “Fenomeno.” Then he was bought later for millions more first by Barcelona and later by Milan. Who could ever believe to see his mother who once lived in a shack in the shantytown and now lives in style in a big house in the post and rich district of Rio. Imagine, if you were as shrewd as his trainer-manager, you could have had also gotten yourself as famous and rich as him by now for being the permanent president of your sports association for more than a quarter of a century, ‘di ba Abe? You see, if you could have then started training seriously the younger generation, you could have already produced athletes by world or Olympic standards considering all the privileges and environment that you could have easily availed of in Europe. Of course, you’d always come out with the excuse of heights and weights which you could certainly certify in the case of basketball.

But have you ever seen the prowess of Maradona and Pele during their heydays in the past World Cups? As a matter of fact, they have the same height as any of your average players or even smaller than some in your basketball team. What more, they were never trained abroad, but right in their backyards! Needless to say, champions aren’t born but created and nurtured. Moreover, it is never a question of race, color or social status. Abe, it’s rather a question of who trained them. If only your sons were strongly motivated and determined to become top players in international tournaments and given the appropriate professional training since they’re young, they could undoubtedly have preceded the footsteps of the Williams sisters to fame and fortune. Have you ever heard or seen them on the TV sports news? The only difference is that they are black and came from a poor family. What about Tiger Woods? As a small boy, he started picking up stray balls to become the greatest player of his time by observing the techniques of the great masters. Yet he’s black and also come from a poor family in the Southern state where his parents were still looked upon as slaves! This shows that they were able to capitalize on their handicap and inferiority to prove that they’re as good as their white counterparts, or even much better.

It isn’t yet too late for you to build up the cream of the crop among your young amateurs in order to participate in any future world or Olympic events. It’s easier said than done, but in reality any success in life is a long and difficult process. Once you’d finally obtain it, the rewards are unlimited and overwhelming! What you need now is to act fast, but intelligently. Set yourself a timetable where you could train your best and promising athletes to be able to qualify to any world-class events. In case you or your assistants aren’t highly capable and competent to this job, then send your athletes to specialized sports training camps. If being a champion wasn’t impossible to the above players, then what have you done for the younger generation after all these years? Didn’t Rizal ever quote that “youth is the hope of the motherland?” On the other hand, imagine the celebrity and monetary rewards it could likely bring you and above all the honor and prestige to the name of the Philippines! Why don’t you give our country a break in this 3^rd millennium? I can guarantee you that this will not only make you an overnight celebrity in your hometown but will also open doors in the government and private institutions for official endorsements and sponsorships that could finance you in all your personal undertakings without spending a cent! As a bonus, you could even short-circuit to be appointed as Minister of Youth and Sport or the permanent representative to the International Olympic Committee! What can you say about that? It seems to be an impossible dream, but it could likely materialize if you give it try…

Between you and me, Ambassador Montesa was a varsity basketball player during his heyday. Why don’t you invite him to play in your team? During the last Christmas dinner party at his residence, he mentioned to one of his Belgian guests in my presence that he enjoys golf but didn’t have the time yet because of his official engagements. I think this is an excellent opportunity for you to have a tete-a-tete with him on a golf course and to know him better personally. You know, I was expecting to see you during that dinner, but I only met and talked briefly with some members of the Pag-ibig sa Diyos choral group that the Ambassador invited among his Filipino guests.

I know you’ll be busy with the suggestions I just presented you above. However, I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon(est). With all the people who surround you, couldn’t you get a secretary or somebody to write on your behalf?

Dear Lino,

Alam mo Abe, ako’y galak na galak na ang aking bunso ay matatapos ng kaniyang pag-aaral. Bilang mga magulang, napakalaking kaligayahan na makita nating magtagumpay an gating mga anak, hindi ba? Kailan pa ma ay hindi natin makakalimutan ang dusa’t kahirapang dinanas natin upang mabigyan sila ng magandang kinabukasan. What a wonderful feeling that my daughter is finally graduating from College Saint Michel! It seems like yesterday when I saw her coming home joyfully after her first day at the kindergarten. Suddenly, I can hardly believe how such a little girl could have turned into a young lady so fast! She turned 18^th on May 31 and invited 15 of her school friends for a party at our place yesterday evening. My wife did the cake and the main course while I prepared the fried rice and noodles. During this weekend, she’s reviewing for the finals with his boyfriend.

Frankly Abe, I found life in Europe much better than in our homeland, particularly in my case as the sole breadwinner in the family. With a salary of an ordinary employee, how could I be able to send my children to the best private schools and universities if I were back home? For your information, I only paid a yearly enrollment fee of BEF2,990 for five years on my eldest son’s studies in engineering at ULB because he was a full scholar. Otherwise, I’d be paying as much as BEF20,000 annually. Indeed, it wasn’t only a substantial help financially considering that there were two of them pursuing higher studies at the same time but also a great privilege and honor for my family and our motherland! Like father like son, isn’t it?

I wonder if I could ever manage such a luxury in our own country and still fool around and live happily in style. I was surprised though how many interesting offers for employment that they already received before they graduated. At present, my first son is a new products manager with an important IT company in England while the second is a support systems manager for another IT company in the south of France. How I envy them because they didn’t have to go through the hardships and privations that I endured in order that I could pay studies at the university. Fortunately, I have a wife who sacrificed her professional career so that she could devote her time in bringing up and looking after our children.

I’m so pleased that my second son is married to a French girl. I remember when he invited us to his future in-laws home in Paris for a big family dinner on the occasion of his engagement. There were his fiancée’s paternal grandparents and maternal uncles and aunts. Somehow, I seemed to be out of place being in the company of the French bourgeoisie! Although the food was sumptuous and inviting, I tried my best not to show that I was dying of hunger. Traditionally, The French are wine connoisseurs and they drink it like water. Unfortunately, a glass of Belgian beer could already make me tipsy after a few sips. Once I’m sober, I could sing the whole repertoire of Frank Sinatra in one sitting! What more with ordinary table wine and champagne! Imagine the fiasco I could have had created right there and then. At the rate they’re drinking, I could have easily passed out during the whole evening! Most of the time, however, I drowned myself with glasses of mineral water, fruit juice and/or soft drinks to keep me awake. How fortunate that he found nice in-laws who have a high esteem and respect on him that they immediately accepted him.

I’m still on sick leave, but will know after my scanner results on June 13 when I’d be able to resume work. On the other hand, my relationship with others seemed to have improved substantially after I was hospitalized. I believe my second operation had scared the hell out of me so much that it motivated me to enjoy and take advantage as much as possible of what every precious moment could offer me. Although it’s still too early to say whether I’m out of danger or not, it doesn’t mean that I should let go on life and stop taking care of myself. On the contrary, I should go out and celebrate to my heart’s content. Nobody could ever predict the future, but we could paint a better picture of our fate by capitalizing on the positive, reaching out or loving one’s enemies. It’s easier said than done, but it’s likely feasible if we try harder and put greater efforts into it.

As a long-time resident in Europe, I never stopped being a casual tourist whenever I go out of the house. Today, the weather is warm and sunny and I went to the Grand Place for a walk. To look more convincing, I took with me a shoulder bag and the newly-acquired second-hand camera with a 35-105 zoom lens for test shots. As there was a four-day weekend during the Ascension Day, most Northern Europeans on the Continent came in droves more than on any ordinary day. For me, it’s always an exciting and wonderful feeling to be surrounded by so many people of different nationalities and cultures. While admiring the sights and the local color, I even managed to meet and talk to some tourists in their own languages. As a matter of fact, Brussels has become for me not only so stunning a city of many splendor sights but also so enchanting that it hasn’t ceased to amaze me whenever I pass through the Grand Place be it on a gray or a bright day. What about you? Any definite plan where to retire?

Concerning your unusual long silence, I have the feeling that you won’t write to me anymore because you seem to have apprehensions that your command of any languages you pretend to know could handicap you. Who would care if you mix one language with another as long as you could express yourself quite clearly? What a pity that you don’t talk anymore about your children. I remember how proud you were when they were small. You doted on them and practically spoiled them so much that they could have almost everything you have lacked when you were at their age, didn’t you? From what I overheard through the grapevine about them, I can easily understand your feeling for keeping a low profile. Alam mo bang may narinig akong nagsabi na “kumabit ba naman sa isang may asawa na wala pa naming papel! Huwag kang maninibago kay Pare at lumang tugtugin na iyan sa kaniya.”

As parents, we have to accept our children as they are no matter what has become of them because they are our flesh and blood, aren’t they? On top of that, we don’t even know what fate has in store for them. Although it’s too bitter and difficult to swallow one’s pride on shattered dreams, I think it’s rather courageous to be honest and accept one’s deceptions and failures. On the other hand, we could only make a fool of ourselves by pretending otherwise while the truth is already known in the open! What are friends for? Of course, you’re most welcome to contact me any time you want. Kind regards.