The Random & the Mundane

THE SUNSHINE creeps into my bedroom window, seemingly prodding me to start the day already. But it has been Christmas-y cold these past mornings that it is a struggle leaving the warm embrace of my bed sheets.      

          I'm done with my deadlines which now are now few and far between but I am not complaining. I love the independence plus there other things I have embarked on which do not fall under urgent or needed yesterday.

          And, most of all, I am enjoying il ber far niente. This is an Italian phrase I learned from the book Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert which means the beauty of doing nothing. I actually took note of that part in the book that uses and expounds on the phrase. Because of it, I want to go to Italy.

         As the story goes, the author meets a guy in Italy, aptly named Luca Spaghetti who declares that Italians are masters of il ber far niente. In explaining, Ms. Gilbert wrote, “the beauty of doing nothing is the goal of all your work, the final accomplishment for which you are most highly congratulated. The more exquisitely and delightfully you can do nothing, the higher your life's achievements.”

          Far from being a bum, I now savor the moments of taking it easy and not too preoccupied with having to do something all the time. There is no racing with the clock; no more unnecessary speed. Both work and pleasure seem to have been interspersed and I love it!

Looks Like Love

        Anyway, the month of love has started and Valentine's Day – dubbed Christmas of the hearts – is just around the corner. All too suddenly, the world turns a red blush and there are Cupid cutouts and heart balloons in public establishments.

        There's news on TV about Baguio’s flower farmers assuring us that there will be enough supply of roses but they are not sure if they will be able to keep the prices down.

Don’t they say that every year?

        Concerts of both local and foreign artists fill the love month’s calendar. James Ingram, whose songs are definitely the soundtrack of many a lovelife, is one of those foreign artists in town.

          Even our bachelor President hogs the headlines in a way that is relevant to Valentine’s Day. This is quite refreshing in the midst of the teleserye-like Corona impeachment trial, former lady president GMA’s attempt to put more drama in her sorry hospital life, and the (newly) late Congressman Iggy Arroyo’s lady partners quarreling over his body a la Mano Po, the movie.

“We’re seeing each other,” President Noynoy says matter-of-factly in an interview on ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol.

          For her part, Korean TV personality Grace Lee admits to Mario Dumaual that “to be liked by a man who leads the country is flattering.”

          Wow, it looks like love for P-Noy, who not so long ago jokingly likened his love life to Coke zero – obviously unsweet, no fizz or sparkle.

          A lot of people are now on the lookout on how the duo will spend Valentine’s Day. Also, not a few have expressed their encouragement, not to mention their excitement.

          One of them is actress and Batangas governor Vilma Santos who sends her message through TV Patrol’: “I will be praying for you and at the same time for your lovelife … keep it hot and fiery … it's about time na ma-inspire ka naman pagdating sa puso.”

          And the exchange of views and opinions continue.

P-Noy says, “Pwede bang abangan na lang natin kung may mangyayari dun o wala …. kesa magplano na baka wala eh.”

          Grace appeals to the public: “Let us grow this relationship for now … privacy sana, a little bit of it, so that the President and I could enjoy as we develop what we have right now.”

          With all due respect to the President, there’s no such thing as privacy when both parties keep talking about it in public. You, Sir, may not be going into the details but confirming that you are indeed seeing each other gave us an invitation to pry and, well, meddle.

          But TV Patrol’’s anchorman Noli de Castro has this to say: “ Sabi ko sa inyo huwag niyong pakialaman baka mapurnada na naman yan.”

          Valentine’s Day always meant eating out for me and my daughters and when they were little girls, I'd give them chocolates and they would give me and their Dad cards they made in school. Of course, it's different now – Pee Ann is not here while Ghiselle surely has her “own previous appointment” on this day. But I'm okay with that ...

          It amuses me no end how we have come to make a big deal out of this day. Sweetest Couple photos galore on Facebook with each couple plugging themselves shamelessly as the sweetest for an all-expenses paid date on Valentine's Day.

          Chocolate Fire in Salcedo Village, Makati comes up with really sweet stuff that would probably go with the sweet nothings couples will whisper to each other on that red-letter day. I would surely want to receive a box of these yummy chocolate-dipped strawberries and cherries. Hmm.

        Celebrating Valentine's Day is definitely cute and I cannot discount its kilig factor. But the idea of being told to say “I love you” or show some sweetness and affection on a particular day is not cool with me. Love and affection should not be limited to one day.      

Talk Vs Twitter

        With or without a date on February 14^th, the Year of the Water Dragon is going on smoothly for me. Time continues to fly but maybe because I’m having fun.

          I have been getting together with friends and despite busy schedules, we have managed to squeeze in dining in restaurants or simply hanging out in a friend’s new house.

         All these get-togethers are punctuated with nonstop conversations, kibitzing, reminiscing, teasing and simply communicating and enjoying ourselves.

       The month of February was ushered in by a sumptuous (there goes that adjective again!) dinner with high school friends at Zensho restaurant along Tomas Morato.

          January's last weekend finally brought me and my friends at F. Jacinto Group together for that long time in coming reunion at Milen’s new house in the city of Paranaque.

          Almost on a weekly basis, I have been enjoying McDonald’s or Starbucks with former colleagues and now friends at MOD magazine. In fact, we are going on an Ilocos trip this weekend.

        We can’t seem to get enough of catching up on each other, reminiscing the good old days and what has been, and looking forward to more fun moments together.

         The conversations can only get more interesting – from today's radio and TV commentators, particularly the belligerent Tulfo brothers to the new variants of Star margarine; from the different versions of many a  showbiz gossip to the real score between some friends’ relationships; from our respective job experiences to discovering the thrill of leaving your comfort zone; from deliberating on when will the perfect groom come to planning more trips and explore new places.

          It's a good feeling to be actually – not virtually – talking to each other, and not through Facebook or Twitter.  It is exhilarating to hear the sound of their laughter – and not simply reading LOL or he-he or hi-hi – and seeing candid body language, smiling eyes or other human expressions that can only be exquisitely articulated when physically face to face.

Valentine Vignettes

          But hey I love these social networking sites. They have their purpose and I am very aware that not one is insignificant in cyberspace.

Youth Yak

        And that brings me to today's youth who definitely love to connect and interact. But do they really talk or express themselves properly?

          My friend Ruby was telling us that she is going to make a speech about the youth of today. She then gives us a sneak preview on what really happens each time she does her “guest speaker” act. She does not just convey her message through words but caps it with a dance.

          Anyway, for her forthcoming speaking gig, we would like to suggest that she does a Miriam Defensor-Santiago. She can first try to get her young audience’s undivided attention by sharing a few pickup lines.

           You can start with -- 

          Ano ang pagkakaiba namin ni Rizal?

          Si Rizal, tinamaan sa likod. Ako, tinamaan sa 'yo.

          You can then segue to the fact that, surely JR – if he was part of the present generation – will have his own romantic pickup lines, considering what a prolific writer he is.  

          He would probably ask Leonor Rivera, “paano mo masasabing bobo ako eh ikaw lang naman ang laman ng utak ko?”

          Or humor his first love from the city of Lipa by asking, “hika ka ba? Kasi you take my breath away.”

          Or romance Josephine Bracken with “dalawang beses lang naman kita gustong makasama, now and forever.”

          More than these pickup lines, the youth should emulate JR with regards to the national hero’s purpose in life. He is patriotic and loves his countrymen with a passion. He does not waste his time in non-essentials.

         The youth must know that they are not the hope of the Fatherland for nothing. They are here to initiate change as well as continuity.         

          Change in terms of acquiring knowledge as well as enhancing their talents and using them for the common good. Continuity when it comes to preserving our race and our independence as a Filipino people.      

The Post’s Principle

          In conclusion, relationships, conversations and being young are life’s randomness at its best. Also, they thrive quite ironically in the mundane.

        Aren’t love and friendship random? No matter what criteria you set for the man or woman of your dreams, somebody else comes along in real life to touch your heart. You usually go through a string of twists and turns before you discover the real lover or friend. On the overall, it is one big random process.

          Obviously, these things happen without method or specific pattern. Even among showbiz couples, chemistry cannot be scripted. A random chance definitely plays a big part in every bond or romance that comes about in our lives.

        And youth is best spent in random and never taking the mundane for granted. Young people should experience life as it is – unplanned, spontaneous, unconstrained. Lessons are learned by never knowing what is going to come next in one’s life. It’s like taking different routes until you find the journey suitable for you.

       

        Lastly, the best and most memorable conversations need not be clever. Remember Billy Joel’s song?

          Free-wheeling, no holds barred talk are fun and they can go from the serious to the funny to the irrelevant and irreverent. And topics need not be extraordinary.

          Even the legalese we hear from the impeachment proceedings have become so mundane to me. Lawyers sometimes do talk funny but then I guess that is how they should talk. 

          Let me hazard a guess on how lawyers would write a Valentine’s greeting: “Whereas and notwithstanding the above, the undersigned resolve to stipulate that you are the one I love.”

          I rest my case …