Love, politics, journalism, work and love again

IT HAS been a year since I started writing for SunStar Cagayan de Oro’s column section. I do not have an inkling how far Touché has gone or whether it has left a mark — if not an impact — to some people’s lives.

Nonetheless, to celebrate the month of love and all forms it may have, let me write an eclectic column about love for this Valentine’s Day.

This may be my most eclectic write up yet, so please sit with me as we talk about love.

***

Love is in a name.

Perhaps, our love for the country and its people is also in the nation’s name.

The Spaniards named the Philippines after King Philip during the Spanish Colonization to say that our land is the property of Spain and its king.

I’m not going to talk about the logistical hassle should the Philippines indeed change its name to “Maharlika,” but perhaps, claiming a name that is truly ours is also love for the country and its people.

The term “maharlika” had different translations: nobleman, freeman, and warrior, to name some.

Naming us as such may make the people live the life of freedom. A person of good upbringing who will not-and no longer-bow down to another colonizer.

***

Is young love real?

Does love and maturity go together? Should one reach a certain age or meet certain experiences to know what love is and how it should be?

I’m already planning to get married at 25 or 26, and people say I seem to be too young to get married.

Some are already 29 and about to hit 30, but have never found the motivation to settle into a serious relationship.

Some relationships have already lasted for years and decades, but they are still thinking twice about their current partners.

So, when is the correct time to love?

***

Love is alive even when the pocket is empty. As the classic Eagle’s song says, “Love will keep us alive.”

Some people are forced to swallow their pride and throw away their dreams to pursue moneyor survival, even.

Blessed are those who are able to meet both monetary needs and their passion. But which love should you put first: money, survival, or passion? ***

I have a love and hate relationship with journalism. But even if it does not pay well, the satisfaction of reading your byline overcomes the pain you feel from an empty pocket.

Seeing an informed citizenry is also a reward every journalist aspires. It’s a love story worth writing for.

***

Love is a choice.

When all the “kilig moments” and the sweetness expires - and it really will - all that will be left is your choice to continue to love him.

Love is a decision to love even if the feeling is gone, even if he changes, even if someone better shows up, and even if things turn for the worst.

“One true love” is only possible with much will because you may fall in love with more than one person. With commitment and decision, you can choose to stick to one person and commit your whole life to him or her.

In the olden times, it was allowable to marry more than one person. In some tribes, even women are allowed to marry more than one husband.

As a monogamous nation now, this is proof that loving a person, and only one person, requires decision.

***

A personal “hugot” from the entry above: There are plenty of men who are much better than my partner. Some are very good looking, very dashing; some are smart and a real gentleman. Some are wealthy, while some have made a name in their fields. But I will never, ever find a man like Jerryk. a ti naappot a suspect ket maysa a misis. Ti makasembron nga operandina ket karkarna. Ta ti shabu a gatangenna ket sukatanna iti underwear ti babae.

Sabali met dagiti kaso iti panagipastrek iti shabu kadagiti pagbaludan a mailemmeng kadagiti underwears wenno balon a makan dagiti bisitaenda kano a balud. Iti sabali pay a trinabaho ti kapulisan kontra kriminalidad ket ti pannaka-raid ti balay ti agama a mayor ken bise mayor ti Batuan, Masbate itay nabiit.

Naala iti balay da Batuan Mayor Charmax Jan Yuson ken amana a bise mayor a ni Charlie Yuson dagiti agkakangato nga armas kas iti Bushmasterm N-16m baby armalite, tallo a 38 pistols, maysa a hand grenade ken fragmentation grenade. Awan dagiti agama idi maisayangkat ti raid nga addaan legal a search warrant. Dagita a krimen ti mangipakita nga adu pay dagiti parikut iti kagimongan ti rumbeng a masolbar ken mabantayan.

***

Maysa pay a kontrobersiya itay nabiit ket ti inaramid ti maysa a Chinese student iti estasyon ti MRT idiay NCR. Agasem ket imbes nga agtulnog koma ti gangannaet iti pagannurotan a maiparit ti agimet iti “liquid products” iti uneg ti tren, imsabbuagna ketdin ti eggemna a taho iti barukong ti maysa a pulis. Arestado daytoy ken naibilin a madusa ti babae a suspect babaen iti deportasyon.

Imbag laketdin ta saan a bimmales ken saan a nakaaramid iti maikaniwas ti pulis. Nagpasensiya ti kalmado a pulis a nangipakita iti maysa a nga adal – a saan nga amin a pulis ket nadursok no masair ken maipababa ti kinapulisda. Adu ti nangdayaw iti kinatao ti nakuna a pulis. Dayta ti maiparbeng tapno mapasubli ti talek ken respeto dagiti umili kadagiti nakaunipormi nga otoridad.

‘Bag laketdin ta awanen daydi lolok. Ta no isu ti masurot iti kasta nga eksena…amangan ta binuyatannan iti sangabalde a taho ti babae a Tsino. Malagipko pay idi adda kinariri daydi lolok a bouncer ti kabaret. Binagkatna. Diay bouncer? Saan. Ni lolok. Sana imbarsak iti ruar ti kabaret. Diay bouncer? Saan, daydi lolok. Siulimek laengen a nagawid daydi lolok. Ti adal…maymayat tay agpasensiya ngem tay maisagmakka, saan aya? No saan a nakapagteppel ti pulis a nasabuagan iti taho…amangan ta naagkanna ti balasang, este, sabagay, sakbay ti Valentine’s Day a napasamak daytoy.

***

Ala, subliantayon ti isyu a kayatda a sukatan iti Maharlika ti nagan ti Pilipinas. Maryusep…saan a basta-basta, kabsat a mapasamak dayta. Adu dagiti legal a dokumento ti masukatan kas pangarigan kas koma dagiti agdama ken nagduduma nga ahensiya ti gobyerno. Kas koma ti Phil. National Police…pagbalinem a Maharlika National Police; ti AFP agbalin a Armed Forces of Maharlika ken adu pay nga ahesiya.

No iti pribado a sector, kas koma PAL…pagbalinem ketdin a Maharlika Airlines, imbag no mayat ti akinkua? Tinto la mapampanunotda ket. Imbes koma kano nga ti asikasuenda ket dagiti aggagabsuon a parikut ti pagilian iti agdama. Kinangina ti presyo dagiti gagatangen, kinaadu dagiti awanan trabaho, nakaro latta a parikut iti illegal a droga, talna ken kapia idiay Mindanao, korapsiyon kadagiti ahesiya ti gobyerno, panaglablabes iti takem, parikut sadiay West Philippine Sea ken adu pay a parikut dagiti rumbeng a mapakatan iti solusyon.

Ti angdodna, pards…no linuganan ti pulitika daytoy a kontrobersiya ti Maharlika…naspak ti puli! Hayyna…sapay koma ta maresolban iti kabiitan a panawen ti isyu. Adios mi amor, ciao, mabalos!