Long ago, before Ah Kong outgrew his hole-pocked and smelly short pants that bared his smelly rump, scraped his “tumeng” (shins) from horsing around and nursed his “gaddil” (scabies) by chewing sunflower leaves to spat on them, he already heard whispers here and there that some of his playmates and others born in the month of February for that matter, were something of a mystifying oddity.
Growing knee-high to a kamatis plant, Ah was completely baffled by old folks saying soothingly to no one in particular about children who unreasonably threw fits of tantrum: “Haay, baybay-an yo isuda. Anya ngarud ket naiyanak da met iti Pebrero, isu nga kasta, inmapos, wenno kurang-kurang.”
They literally meant, “C’mon, leave them alone. Considering, they being born in February, that’s why they have mood problems or lacking-lacking.”
To paraphrase the old folks, “Kuna da, nu naiyanak ka iti bulan ti Pebrero, adda kanu kurang-kurang.” (They said if you were born in February, there is something lacking).
Lacking in what? Always lacking in something? But being a kid happily giving headaches to my parents by disobeying them and not helping in home chores, I never gave a hang or thought about old folks’ sayings.
Yet one thing bothered Ah, when at work or play. Every time disagreement, petty quarrel, spat or heated debate erupts between children, those pointed out as born in February were the ones who, to me, showed feelings that were out of the ordinary.
Such feelings can include sulking, refusing to make amends, are irritable, evade too renew friendship for days on end, or simply evoked other acts that voided human relations.
Whenever Ah pestered the old folks about such behavior, they repeated what they’ve said about being born in February. Ah, with a poor IQ, was confused than ever about this.
Now, Filipinos, like other nationalities for that matter, have their own unique beliefs that animate their daily living. Such beliefs, like old wives’ tales, traditions and legends could be based on myth from whence it is difficult to trace its exact origin.
Ah Kong, a Cordilleran, won’t contest that beliefs are difficult to shake off. Despite best attempts to accept rational thought and reject superstition, we cannot but accept the fact that beliefs and superstition are ingrained part of Filipino culture.
Strip an indigenous group of its belief, culture and tradition, and you viciously rob it of its own unique identity, castrating it of its right to believe what is true or otherwise.
In his growing years, Ah didn’t mind one heck what the old folks believed in, concentrating instead on being an idiot, rather than dwell matters he could hardly understand.
With due respect to elders, Ah looked at the belief as hogwash or nonsense. But, as he became a youngster, he witnessed these traits in other teenagers, too.
Ah learned the old folk’s equated “meroon kulang-kulang” to the incomplete days of February, often the 28th or 29th days of the month. The incompleteness of the days of February is believed the result why those born this month are considered as such – incomplete.
It came to pass that Ah, now an adult, completely forgot about this belief when, last week, a friend, Senyong Coldreno, from Pangasinan, Region 1, asked me to attend his birthday. So I did.
As we talked of the old days, Senyong suddenly brought out the subject of being born in February.
Senyong said,” Kuna da, being born in February, moody kami.Sumpungin, Matampuhin. As in iba ang timpla. Well, Ah Kong, in my experience, I can say yes.”
“What? You believe that? ” I said, completely taken aback in disbelief.
“Kung sumpungin man kami, meroon naman kaming appeal. Mapagmahal at malambing pa kami. Yes, we can stand on our own ways, our own style. For that is how we were born. And we are proud to be born February.” Senyong shot back.
“Maganda, gwapo, matalino, talented kami. At higit sa lahat, siyempre, sumpungin. Ikaw, Ah Kong, sumpungin ka ba? Sa palagay ko hindi, eh. Joker ka eh.” Senyong cooed.
Ah never went to school, but recalled a college professor who related that those born in February possess good as well as bad qualities, just like anyone.
They can be overly sensitive and their feeling easily bruised. When their plans don’t click as intended, they can be sensitively impatient, reason for their moodiness, the professor intimated.
But then, many of us can be as impatient too.
Wholly, they have a personality that can be outstanding as opportunities come their way while they plod for their independence in thought and action.
Ah stared at Senyong. Evening was already gathering and I had to return to Baguio. I stood up, shook hands with Senyong and smiling said, “May your wish and all the wishes of those born in February on their birthdays come true, matampuhin man o hindi kayo.”
I bade farewell and strode off into the gathering darkness where February’s season brings promise of completeness to those born this month.