I think I've
got a bad case of "writers' block." Probably due to being
"toxic" (super busy) the last few weeks.
The bitter cold has not helped me either. So, I took to asking my
friend Antonio Bulog a panacea to my "illness." Out comes
his reply: "Laughter, my friend..Reminisce high school."
I was eleven during my sophomore year. I was in another island for
a year because the Banton High School closed -after typhon Wanda wrought
havoc in the island's economy. I was warned by my parents to prepare
for the teasing and the put downs of my classmates since I came from
Banton.
I do remember the classic joke "Bantoanon rako it kaon, pati
liwag inayubag" (The Bantoanon has a big appetite; he even
squeezes the juice from the ladle") Yes. I'd heard it a lot from
my classmates - when my back was turned or on my face. Things had
to change, I thought.
So, it came to pass that my homeroom teacher requested me to do a
"comical " speech during the Monday flag raising ceremony
program. I did not finish my speech! My opening lines, "Ako
ay Bantoaon. Rako it kaon. Pati liwag inyubag" brought down
the house. Our principal, Miss Chanco almost fell from her chair!
The sound of boisterous laughter filled the student body.
The trip to the principal's office was brief. Miss Chanco was still
laughing when she said, "Son, you're a darn good diplomat."
She was also my Social Studies teacher.
My grade was 90. God bless her soul!
doc simp
1/21/2003
