The Plight of a Probinsyano Bar Examinee

Walking on a single file toward the gates of La Salle on Taft Avenue along with the other examinees was probably the longest and excruciating walk I ever had – emotionally that is. The air was haughtily filled with such triumphant mood for the imminent battle ahead – what with the discordant jumble of noise from various school bands, the garish streamers proclaiming certain victory, and the loudspeakers proudly hailing one by one their very own warriors.

I did not breathe that same air though. I felt remotely like a warrior either.  The atmosphere, to my mind then, was nowhere near to being triumphant.  It instead proved to be a very unsettling scene to my probinsyano eyes, and intimidating no less.   (Though living in an urbanized city like Cebu hardly makes one a probinsyano anymore – still to the Manilans, we still are.) The guy ahead of me waved at the cheering crowd and, reading the streamer, I could immediately tell he was from UP. After a few meters, the girl behind me nearly jumped with excitement when her name was prominently announced. Apparently, she was from San Beda. I, on the other hand – silently imagined my mother at church praying. (more…)

Finding Succor in Socorro

This article was published in a local Cebu daily more than a year ago.  I felt the need to re-publish it in this blog.  I am proud, not necessarily of the article, but of the amazing experience I had in this enchanting island named Socorro.  Here it is: (more…)

My Mother’s Snatcher

Whenever my mother visits Cebu, I always make it a point, if possible, to purge my schedule of any work so I could seize these few opportunities of being able to spend time with her.

A few days ago, my mother did come to Cebu.  She came with my aunt who was to undergo a chemotherapy treatment.  Before the scheduled treatment, my wife and I accompanied them to downtown Cebu in order to shop for wedding rings.  We decided this would be our wedding gift to my brother. Wary of the hazards the place is known for, I always stayed close to the three ladies the entire time we sauntered the sidewalks of Colon St.

The only time I left their company was when I went ahead in order to get to our car that was parked at a space just behind the University of Cebu. Little did I know that it was at this fleeting instance, where I was not around – a ‘snatcher’ decided to pick my mother out from among the thousands who plied the streets of Colon that very day – as his unsuspecting prey.        (more…)

Philhealth woes - stupid… stupid…stupid!

“Doc, how much would you charge for the operation?”

“Well, since you are a friend of my son-in-law, instead of the usual P50,000.00 I will only charge P30,000.00”

(At this point, neither the patient’s son nor the doctor was aware that they could avail of Philhealth benefits.  In short, in determining his fee, philhealth was not considered by the doctor.  If there was a discount, it was not because of Philhealth.  It was learned later, that P30,000 was the usual fee charged by this doctor, with or without philhealth.)  (more…)

somnambulate

Poetry, it is to a sleep-walker,
who lumbers, in restless splendor,
the mellifluous garden of azaleas,
Where they lay gossamer
in succulent rapture.
(more…)

Cochran Jr.’s Advocacy

Yesterday at SM I chanced upon a book on sale and prominent on the book’s jacket is the author’s picture and name - JOHNNY L. COCHRAN, JR. The title, in much smaller text, is “Journey to Justice”. The price – P 149.00. The name rings a bell. Oh yeah, the OJ Simpson trial. How could I forget. To the Americans, especially those who closely followed the case, his was a household name – the legal strategist responsible for OJ’s acquittal.

 At the back of the jacket reads a short essay by Cochran. It made me go straight to the counter. (more…)