Foot in the mouth
BOTH yoga master and contortionist agree that the most uncomfortable position is the foot-in-themouth. The first time PDu30 found himself in this position, he got off lightly with three Hail Marys and a papal absolution..
But Washington is not as readily forgiving as the Vatican; and POTUS’ reflex action on hearing of the colorful phrase said in his direction was to postpone the bilateral talks with PDu30 until a more convivial circumstance is found.
It was the good sense of PDu30 to admit the slip of the tongue (formed by force of habit); and we express the hope that things could be set aright. As of this writing, it is not yet known if a window without a cracked window pane has been found.
It is no excuse, but the problem with the cuss words brought about by force of habit is that it was said in colorful vernacular. Unfortunately, when translated literally it sounds more offensive than the reality or the intention of the author.
I believe the Pope, who speaks Latin, understands this.
*** I remember my sainted mother Connie telling me that when she was a young girl, her father, the late Chief Justice Quirico Abeto, had a pet parrot, which her brother, Tatay Meling, impishly trained to speak Visayan cuss words.
Nothing as colorful as our Filipino (or Tagalog) swear words. Just, “Lilintian, ka!” (Which means, literally, “May lighting strike!”
The pristine ears of the Visayans, nevertheless, found it offensive; and to punish their swearing parrot, my mother fed it red hot chili. (She never told me if it cured the habit.)
I also remember in my youth hearing the same Visayan profanity in the heat of the moment. But to my recollection, the invocation has never caused anyone to be struck by lighting.)
*** Before I am misinterpreted, I hasten to say that I do not propose to punish the Punisher with red hot chili. But perhaps since he is Visayan, he can switch to the moderate Visayan cuss words like “Lilintian.”
Moreover, as they say, Visayan is such a gentle language that you would not even know if the Visayans are quarreling even when they are speaking heatedly to one another.
*** Before he vacates his job as Malacañang Protocol and assumes his mission as our envoy to Washington, I hope that Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr. considers this suggestion as one among possibilities to mellow the presidential conversation. I am sure that at Paynor’s presentation of credentials, POTUS will ask if they have speakeasy or if they speak easy in Malacañang. FEEDBACK: