Ah Kong, who never reached Grade 1, can’t understand the daily TV and radio news’ “yakyak,” but ignorantly can discern that atmosphere of the “anito” (spirit) of Christmas is seeping unimpeded in nook and cranny of Cordillera Administrative Region and Region 1, reviving girlhood and boyhood in us, of memories cherished, or dashed dreams.
Laura Ingalls Wilder sighs,”Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas time.”
Charles Dickens muses,” Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home.”
Sannamabits, but how fast time flies, days seemingly long but the year is short. Whatever the nature of our individual lives, we are embroidered by anticipation and retrospection as the calendar continues racing ahead, churning uncharted waters.
True, often the good things are coursing away faster and faster into the past. But so are the not-so-good things, much as we want them undone. So, Ah Kong clearly remembers a tale told during one Christmas, about biblical Solomon.
Solomon called his wise men and presented them with a challenge: “Find me a cure for depression.” They meditated for a long time then gave him advice.” Your Majesty, get a ring and have it engraved with the words, This too shall pass.”
He had a ring made and wore it constantly. Every time he felt sad or depressed, he looked at the inscription, which tended to lift Solomon’s spirits.
Yes, good Sirs and Madams, no use crying over spilt milk. Like what Atty. Joe Molintas always reminds forsaken fool, Ah Kong. Whenever I try to press charges why ladies snarl, bare their fangs and hiss at me when I merely grin at them, Joe would soothingly say, “ Ah Kong, look at moon’s bright side. If you can forgive as well as forget, keep from growing sour, surly, bitter, and cynical and downright being ugly, you’ve got it half licked, my pren.”
So, off to life’s bright side, like my legal counsel says, like, liking our sunflower – now dotting Cordilleran hillocks come every December – which looks upon the sun, not dark clouds.
Heretofore, Ah Kong re-quotes, “God rests you merry gentlemen…” Or gentle women…
Here’s to you, Daily Laborer’s readers, your friends, families, including, op kors, your enemies and your enemies’ enemies. Without you, it wouldn’t have reached this far.
May Cordilleras’ majestic mountains caress you; may Region 1’s flatlands bless you, may the luck of the anito enfold you, and may the blessing of Kabunyan behold you.
Ah Kong’s Irish social development colleagues, too, say, “Here’s to you, as good as you are. Here’s to me as bad as I am. As bad as you are and as bad as I am, I’m as good as you are, as bad as I am.”
Apo, we all want to live long, Ah Kong, prays we live to be a hundred, even two hundred, with one extra year for repentance. Better, we leave the table a little bit thirsty, leave the table a little bit hungry and rise from bed a little bit sleepy.
For Ah Kong’s babaero friends, and wishing to change next year for the better (or worst), Shushh! “This coming Christmas, a toast to our wives and a toast to our sweethearts? May the two never meet?”
We love and respect our elders, a culture carved in stone. Pray, tell, of anyone disrespecting elders for no apparent and justified reason and we’ll haul them before our city councilor, Faustino Olowan. Surely, our good pren will have cooing words for elder haters, like, “You have the right to remain silent. But, on second thought, you have the right to say anything. And maybe used against you, aber?”
For us who incessantly complain not enough money, clothes, food, jewelry, shoes. . . Hear, city councilor Peter Fianza, Ah Kong’s “wind whisperer,” enjoining, “We complain not having enough money, clothes, jewelry, shoes, etc.? Have we ever met somebody with no feet…?”
So we may well pack excess clothing, toys, other house items, what-have-you, and give where giving is a time honored tradition.
So maybe, just mebbe, we borrow moolah from pessimists? Ano ikaw sabi? Malami tao pesimista, sigulado yan, not expect being repaid. Malami luko- luko ngayon Disyemble. Ako isa sa kanila, ehek!
So, here’s December’s cherished wish: May the most we wish for, be the least we get.
As for me, I pine for a friend, berating me, “go to hell, Ah Kong!” Gleefully, I look forward to making such an exciting trip.
