Historian’s Nook

Finals’ week is now nearing completion.  Grades are now starting to be transmuted.  Some teachers will now play ‘gods’ as they begin to determine the fate of many students – who will pass, who will still have to undergo removals, or who will fail outright. 

Looking back, I must say that this semester has been one of the most enjoyable and fruitful in recent memory.  I handled eight subjects this sem (including NSTP) – or 273 students to be exact.  I had a complete mix of creatures and living things under me that can enthrall and even fascinate one’s mind…  I had the quiet and most of the time serious Pharmacy block (Mr. Claro M. Recto is in the house), my Biochem students who seemingly hate silence, the happy and endearing Dentistry class, and, of course, the wild and wacky P.T. students.  Maraming salamat sa isang semestreng pakikinig at pagsasama!  And yes, I think this would be the last time I’d handle our 4^th year Area Studies majors.  They had me for four times now in a spread of four years.  I’m sure Ms. Ramos had seen enough of my face…

Finally, I think I really deserve a long time off.  In fact, I’ll now be performing a ‘disappearing act’ and I’ll be gone for the next couple of weeks.  I certainly need time for myself, and perhaps evaluate on the many things that had transpired within the past weeks – some of these even hurtful to others I believe.  I have said my piece time and again, and I am very sorry you know that… A time for soul searching maybe – pero actually eh gasgas na itong linya na ito.  Basta ‘yun na ‘yun.  Until then folks.  It’s now time to hibernate.  Peace out.

‘Maybe you’re not the marrying type.’  For years, several close people had been dropping this pronouncement on me many times.  I don’t know exactly, but what does it really take for me to become of ‘marrying type’? – whatever that means.  To analyze things: perhaps one should decide at the most opportune time (which I think is now; no more, no less), secure a high-paying job (which is kinda difficult to attain in UP; obtaining a ‘floating’ item in the university, seemingly, that’s next to impossibility), earn the big bucks (or maybe just hit the lotto jackpot right away), maintain a decent bank account (six digits would be fine, a million would be better; many thanks to a publishing company by the way), and of course, find the right person (yes, the ultimate one).  Can all these be the right ingredients?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  Or maybe you’ll just feel that urge (to marry) coming?  Or maybe not.

Now, what does it really take for me to become of ‘marrying type’?  I duno.  You tell me.

‘Ano anak, iluto na lang natin, para kina Panda at Bogart?’  This was the question my mom jokingly posed on me as I learned that a fish died suddenly while she was cleaning our aquarium last Saturday morning.  I must say that the fish was no ‘ordinary fish’.  If I’m not mistaken, that poor soul (if it has a soul) had been swimming inside various sizes of aquariums for the past 6 or 7 years.  Called ‘hammerhead’ by tinderos and tinderas at fish/pet shops, it’s actually a catfish (or hito) I think.  At the time of death, that hito was already full 12 inches long and perhaps less than a kilo in weight (now heavier in rigor mortise of course).  It had eaten tons of (green and red) pellets since the time I became interested in the ‘water ecosystem’.  Sayang talaga.  A mom’s friend even asked if he could have that poor fish for lunch!  How despicable.  As of the moment, I still have three big hitos and a lazy (and ugly) small janitor fish.

Now, back to my mom’s question, I retorted ‘Ilibing mo na lang ‘yan, maaatim mo bang iluto at hiwain ang inalagaan mo ng ilang taon tapos ipapakain mo lang sa dalawang alagang aso?’  Wicked.  In the final run, the ill-fated creature was eventually spared and was given ‘full burial’ by my ever reliable mom befitting a fish.  It was a day of mourning.  May it rest in peace…

People who were born in this section of the year have unusually strong will power and great obstinacy of purpose.  They are usually born to be fighters. – and the General was a great warrior in the truest sense of the word.  They have also the greatest ability as organizers on a large scale.  Yes, the Aguinaldos led the Magdalos to prominence in Cavite – and ‘Cavitismo’ at its finest.  These people are usually independent in everything they do.  It is really important for them to do everything in their own way.  Exterminate all threats: the tragic Andres Bonifacio and the hot-headed Antonio Luna included.

As far as material success or power is concerned, there are no heights to which persons born in this sign wouldn’t be able to do.  Success, however, is not making them feel really happy and satisfied.  They are inclined to lack caution, being by nature impulsive and quick in thought and action.  The imperialist Americans then (and now) were swift to take advantage of this weakness quite unfortunately.  People born here are inclined to invite enemies very easily.  They are enormously ambitious, and as a rule, they succeed in life and gain money and position.  In fact, the Truce of Biak-na-Bato netted the General an initial P400,000 pay-off as deposited by Spain in H.S.B.C. (in Hong Kong) during the early days of January 1898.  Indeed, for the many distinguished gentlemen of the time, the revolution was negotiable – to be paid even in installments.

All people and especially those who were born in this sign seldom get through life without receiving cuts, wounds, or blows to the head, either from accidents or violence.  But hey, they seem to survive long: the General ripened until the age of 94 – very much unlike the great heroes Rizal, Bonifacio, Jacinto, G. del Pilar, and A. Luna among others.  And seemingly, for some historians, here lies the problem – when longetivity now becomes a liability.

Such people prefer to be footloose and fancy free.  They concentrate all their attention on whatever they are doing at the moment, and seem to see no other way but theirs until their effort is made.  Henceforth, the secret organization K.K.K. came into being.  They are often the great workers; such people never seem to tire until they drop with fatigue.  Our Andres is a typical obrero – industrious and diligent – and a great conspirator too. 

They would rather learn on their own, through travel and experience, than endure structured classroom environments and routine work assignments.  Our Andres may have only reached Grade 4 (at our present standards) but that doesn’t mean he’s mangmang and bobo.  To have an open minded and intellectual curiosity means that these people are willing to learn about other people in an effort to understand them, while being trusting and open.  Andres even preferred to use E. Jacinto’s Kartilya as the official teaching of the society because it was superior to his own Dekalogo.  High spirited and congenial, they are a gifted conversationalist, a wonderful storyteller, and a born entertainer.  True enough, Andres once worked in Teatro de Porvenir long before the Katipunan heydays.

These people are, however, inclined to go to extremes in all things, and make sudden decisions, or change their minds rapidly, for which they may have regrets, but they are too proud to acknowledge their error.  Yes, departing for Cavite in December 1896 seems to be a military and political blunder for Andres and his entourage.  Such people, in general, are representatives of both beginnings: strength, because it is a survival mechanism, and weakness, because they are vulnerable to the demands and influence of others.  Quite expectedly, Andres was outmaneuvered in the ominous Tejeros Convention (which can be considered as the first coup d’etat in Philippine history).  Come to think of it, the demoted and affronted Supremo should have immediately shot that bad-mannered Magdalo right between the eyes.  Sayang, could’ve been good riddance.

The people who were born in this period are widely known for their dual personalities and ability to change mood from moment to moment. But hey, Rizal was not the Jack the Ripper in history as that bad rumor goes.  They make lively, entertaining, and romantic partners.  Rizal being a romantic person is the understatement of the century.  Ask the two Leonors, Nellie, and Josephine about that.  Their brains are subtle and brilliant, but they usually ‘lack continuity of purpose’.  What’s wrong with the masa leading the revolution?

Of all people, they are the most difficult to understand: in temperament, they are hot and cold almost at the same moment.  Even Rizal tried to burn the manuscripts of his novels due to much difficulty abroad.  Thanks to M. Viola and V. Ventura – the ‘novela saviors’.  Their sharp wit and excellent powers of observation make them a good conversationalist.  Consuelo Ortiga enjoyed Rizal’s company in Madrid, and his being maboka too.  Such people are usually excellent in diplomacy, and dazzle their listeners by their wit and brilliancy.   Usui Seiko must have fallen into this trap.  It is difficult even for them to understand what they want to achieve.  At heart they are ambitious for social position; but when obtained, they have become already tired of it, and are ready to go in for something else or for something totally opposite.

They often succeed the best but their more suitable career is generally that which requires diplomacy, tact, and finesse.  Isn’t it that Rizal’s pen was said to be mightier than Bonifacio’s bolo?  They can love passionately.  And Rizal was seemingly passionate about loving all of them – and leaving them in the end too.   Almost all of them are great talkers and usually very much in demand socially because they are so entertaining.  Gemini is the life of the party.  Yes, this is our Joe.  Roll out the carpet.

Ang galing naman ng TV ad ng pulitiko na ito.  Sinasagot ang pamasahe ng mga inaaping OFWs.  Sagipin nga naman natin ang mga pinahihirapang Pinoy sa ibang bansa.  Kaya lang, sa kabilang banda, hindi naman tayo mga tanga para hindi isiping sobrang aga namang mangandidato nitong panginoong maylupa/maglulupa na ito.  Hindi naman tayo ipinanganak kahapon.  Sana lang ay huwag namang gamitin ang mga OFWs para lamang pabanguhin ang sariling pangalan para sa darating na halalan 2010.  Oo na’t sagot mo na ang kanilang mga pamasahe.  Pero kinakailangan pa bang ipangalandakan ‘yang bagay na ‘yan sa buong sambayanan?  Hindi na siguro.  Hindi naman kami tanga eh.  Ang angas…