THE SM GUY NAMED JOHN MARK

The Liberals (2^nd sem)

I was so elated when I learned that John Mark was coming to school. Again.

It was a year ago when he stopped because of the battered reason of all times, financial deficiency.

“Irregular man ko Jo, because I’m working at SM right now,” he shared when we had the chance to talk.

I was more than elated when I learned that. Individuals who do saintly multi-tasking always amazed the envious-me. How did they do that? It was not that easy, even me, my time is swallowed by my studies alone. Well, I was exaggerating; I’m not doing well in my studies either. I’m a pig personified. I even eat like a pig, with a lil grace though.

But John Mark was far from being a pig.

“I shared my situation to the manager and he understood, so, he adjusted my working sched,” he said.

He studied in the morning and worked in the afternoon. And Dr. Angel Pesirla, the gentle monster himself, even granted him a special pass in the institution without wearing the prescribed uniform, which eventually brought him some unwanted recognition, which brought him the name, SM guy. Blame Miss Gina Mantua who baptized him with that nick.

There was a time when I waited for Dr. Angel at his office, so I could pass my one-week late turn-paper. I already formulated and staged some crappy reasons in my head. I would cry, if I had to.

I was talking to the monster, (who) happened to be in good mood, when John arrived.

He hadn’t finished his turn-paper. He was asking for some extension since he got some dilemma in inserting it in his bustling calendar, while, I made mine in between idleness and boredom.

Sir Angel accepted my turn paper and he granted John Mark’s entreaty. He was in good mood, remember?

John and I chatted for awhile. And again, unconsciously, he made me realized how dysfunctional I am.

He asked the manager to let him used his personal computer.

“Magpabaga nalang jud ko ani, Jo. No choice.” He grimaced.

I grimaced more, not because of pity rather my absurd attitude toward things. Here is the guy, initiative enough to make the river flow on his own way, while I paddled the boat out from the water.

I missed the guy wearing the SM uniform around the institution. I missed his lame strides, his soft enunciation of words, his hair coated with cheap gel.

I haven’t seen him for a while.

John Mark Canja, I don’t know if I’ll be elated or saddened with your decision.

The Radical in CAS

Maam Tats Nalam once said in our Criticism of Fiction class, “When you’re young and you’re not irrational, you’re stupid but when you’re old and still you are, you’re a fool.

We know that she copied that from somebody, his name just escaped me now which resorted me to drag her name her.

I am not one of those hot-blooded youngsters who screamed for freedom, holding “BASURA ANG IMPERIALISMO” placards, ousting GMA from her seat, releasing Trillanes and other political detainees, PHILIPPINES IS US’ LAPDOG and stuff. I am too damn busy (pretending to be one) to march along Colon or Fuente Osmeña. My schedule notebook was already revolting for all the things I stocked on it which needed immediate attention. The irony of it. It can even make its own protest. I want to have a new owner!

It was around February when Emz, a second-year lass, approached Sir Januar for her film for the CiNe – U film festival. Yup, she is a neophyte independent film maker. She was confused with her film, if it belonged to the documentary category, music video or what? A combination? J

To heck with its genre, rather I was interested with the film itself. It dealt with a certain activist group and she is a part of it. She enumerated her funny experiences with that group, the grounds her mom gave her, the full support she got from her big sis and go on and on.

I overheard my colleagues’ conversation regarding her active participation with rallies while wearing our prescribed uniform. They meandered her, un-so cnu-ian action. Is that so?

CNU is not her burden. Only fools think that she represented our institution and, or, she is imbibed with all the so-called values nailed in the values boulevard. It is just superficiality after all, for the sake of beautifying our school.

And she is young, full with Marxist, Aristotle-ian or whosoever principles. She is entitled to do what she thought is right.

Time will come, that her principles in life will change. That those ideals will only exist in Harry Potter – look – a-like world. Even in Hogwarts, the characters revolted. My point is, there is no such thing as perfect government, (oh yeah, there’s nothing wrong with the system, it’s the people who run such system. Whatever).

There is always an Erap, a Marcos, a GMA in every fleeting pages of history. That though people revolted and capable to oust or impeach political ta-es, still it went in full circle. George Santayana once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. Oh well Georgy, they remembered so well – the fleeing of the Marcoses, the great mansions of Erap, the SONA of PGMA. But hell, as Jessica Zafra said, wolves are good in dressing themselves; they are wearing three-piece suits and are mingling with us. Let us do it ala Wendy. “They are best (actors) actresses in pretentious roles”. pangFAMAS!

And are we the ‘tanga’ audience? Go ask yourself!

And for you, Ems, kudos!

And for me, I’m always an activist in repose.