Pathos 1. Daily Laborer momentarily goes off on a tangent from the sober business of news feature writing to give Herald Express readers an elbow room of laughing from reading too much serious news and editorials, as many Cordilleran readers requested.
Readers wrote Daily Laborer through e-mail and predicated that in the former, the seriousness of his column bestowed on them additional news information. And thankful they are, for that.
On the other hand, readers pointed out two editorials lately published, and which dwelt on respect and fairness. Readers spilled their beans by saying they have this misanthropic feeling that these were probably written in the hours of bitterness and not in a more joyous mood.
They have a feeling the two editorials were trying to hit at something blindly with the use of a buck shot and concluded said editorials should have been straight from the shoulder. And that editorial writer should name names and not merely bank on use of innuendo, they stressed.
And they bluntly asked, “Do you write editorials?” Others even went to the point of saying, “Have you a hand in this?”
Aha!! You folksy Cordilleran readers, kayo kill-joy kayo talaga!! Why you folks want to border on being Marites or Parites!!
Ahay!!To be frank about it, Daily Laborer does not, repeat, does not write editorials, period. That’s the prerogative of the board of directors of our newspaper. Readers then requested Daily Laborer to give a piece of his mind on said published topics. So, here goes your request.
Of the so-called bitterness which readers alluded to, Daily Laborer can only say with humorous abandonment that, of the bitterness that dictated the former, it is hoped that the cause may be resolved, and the gaiety which exited the latter, perhaps, will return to exist.
But with either speculation which the reading public has nothing to do – for to afford delight and information by an editorial writer’s side – and support and acceptance of readers – are all that the twain have critically to do with each other.
In the present case, may, Daily Laborer hopes, the beneficial results be commensurate. Having prefaced thus far, Daily Laborer wishes it perfectly understood that he indulges in writing only about interesting and high-wrought articles. Besides, Daily Laborer — the dumbest columnist in town – has yet to learn the ropes of becoming a self-appointed, know-all and sanctimonious critic.
On your third question: “We know you of jovial character, or have you changed?” The answer is definitely nope! Not at all. And find Daily Laborer’s more detailed answer in Pathos 1.
Pathos1. What qualifications are derived to form a jovial character? Daily Laborer presumes we need to acquire a measure of self-legislation, composure, cheerfulness and manners commended by any observer, learned or not. Self-legislation would be an estimable pursuit.
How often, by allowing fancy to have unlimited scope, experience teaches us its bright designs are only chimera of some pictures of the imagination mirrored to blow our rosy hopes. By this acquisition, we should be able to glean what is fine and considerable, and to reject the fallacious ill, however persuasive or riveting its manifestation.
It would prepare our minds to meet the vicissitudes of life with equanimity of spirit which is an indispensable requirement for rest and a cheery pursuance of the duties of life. And with the same diligence, would we plough gladness, not only to render ourselves as pleasant hobnobs but for our very own felicity.
To allow our thinking to become disordered and despondent at every little disappointment would ineligible us for social enjoyment, impart an ebony cloud on every piece around us and render us revolting to friends.
By a constant locomotive of good humor, a person is enabled to keep alive all the finer feeling of the soul, equanimity and good disposition to all, which is most essential to peace and in our social concerns.
Let us then study to cherish these virtues which will carry us to the tide of times and land us in the port of felicity, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.
Pathos 2. Cordillera is a high land of league! Noble deeds and noble songs are her inheritance. And every individual of her land of song is rife with a story – a bold and glorious stories of other days. Scramble up unto her pine-studded mountains and you may count a redoubt on every side.
Walk down into her vales and every step you take tread upon a warrior’s grave. While every field that meets your gaze is a long journey where homes and hearths have been affirmed for – and where men have done and went to the grave.
And then, her craggy mountains, majestically reaching for the sky! Nature’s ramparts! Amazing in their freedom! Like warriors of old around a watch fire. How replete with the legendary past. How wound up her history.
It has been told before, and told here again, about a dying Cordilleran warrior, who, bloodied but unbowed, turned his last look and bid adieu to his dear Cordillera homeland.
Now, you, the visitor, who tread the warriors steps, do you not feel their influence? And, you feeling their influence, do you feel yourself a warrior, too? And what visitor — approaching their niches — takes the shoes off his/her feet – in reverence?
For the recesses are the song of dead warriors, the bards of old, the glorious throng; they of the mountains and their battle song.
As for readers second request missing Daily Laborer’s humor, well, here goes your request.
Humor1. What is law like? Law is like a dance of our traditional gangsa or pattong. People are led up around and around until they are fairly tuckered out. Law is like legal references. There are a great many terrible cases in it. Law is like a seductive and beautiful woman. Very well to pursue and court.
Law is like a nagging and scolding wife. Very bad when she follows a husband nagged. Law is like a modern fashion. People are bewitched to try the new vogue. And law is like a prison, where people like to break it and where people like to get out of it.
Humor2. In the trial of a case that happened in lowland Pangasinan, the prosecution asked a suspect whether he could WRITE, or not, a certain point important in the ongoing case. The defense, honestly replied: “Whether he (the suspect) did RIGHT or WRONG, is for your Honor to judge, but I have told you the truth anyhow. RIGHT or WRONG, I have not lied at all, at all.”
Humor3. A Marites, in the habit of spending most of her time with neighbors, (Marites ang sabi ng karamihan sa ganyang gawain) happened one day to be taken suddenly ill and sent for her husband in great haste for help at a Baguio City Police (BCPO) station near them.
The husband ran a few meters towards the BCPO station but then turned back to their house and exclaimed, “Baket, pangbirokan mi ngay kenyam nu agsubli nak kadwak dagiti kameng ti BCPO?”
Humor4. A lawyer (We call him A) in Pangasinan once wrote in bold letters “RASCAL)” in the hat of a brother lawyer. This brother lawyer upon discovering it and who can’t take a joke, entered a complaint in court and manifested in his attestation that lawyer A took his hat and wrote his exact name on it.
Humor5. A Manila gentleman, a defendant in a case against a friend, was in the course of a strict cross-examination in court and was asked the exact age of his friend turned enemy.
“Dirty,” (thirty) was his reply. “And you, old are you?” The prosecution shot back. “Why, Sir, I am dirty, too,” the defendant answered.
Humor6. Lawyers can be cool as cucumbers, or, vice-versa. One time, a Baguio lawyer was debating with a local who, getting out temper, threw a glassful of water into the lawyer’s face. The lawyer drew out his handkerchief, wiped himself and coolly said, “That, Sir, was a digression; now for the argument.”
Humor7. Benguet folks love their horses, a fact. One day, a Benguet cowboy, rode his horse along a winding and muddied country path. On the way, the horse lost its footing. The poor beast fell and threw his rider on the ground where he got mud in his face, including a bloody nose.
A friend happened to arrive on the scene, just as horse and rider were trying to stand up. “Badarong! What have you been fighting with your horse?” asked the friend.
“No, no,” replied the dismounted Benguet cowboy and added, “We have only had a little misunderstanding.”
Humor8. Laughingly narrated by Cordilleran elders to Daily Laborer long time ago. Happy Union. One time, Cordilleran gods, wearied by perpetual cries of wedded tribe members loudly complaining they were unfortunately matched, sent their messenger to highland Cordillera, with authority to divorce all complainants.
On his return to heaven, the gods noticed in his report that only a couple was left perfectly satisfied with each other. This amiable and peaceful pair never quarreled; if the woman was out of temper and suffered her tongue to use violent expressions, the husband entirely disregarded what she said; and, if he committed any improper or indelicate actions, his wife never noticed them.
The cause of this singular instance of connubial harmony puzzled the Cordilleran gods – until they learned with astonishment that the wife was apparently blind and the husband, deaf.
Humor9. And, lastly, Daily Laborer humorously adds about friendship. Real friends are like ghosts and apparitions. What many people talk off, but few ever really saw.
