Pinoy Stories and Letters of Flight or Fight

By Sevbec

This book is about the author's attempt to cope with so many depressing situations in humorous, sardonic and sometimes sarcastic manner.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palibrio
• Release date: Jan 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9781617644351

Book preview

Pinoy Stories and Letters of Flight or Fight

Sevbec

Copyright © 2011 by Sevbec.

Library of Congress Control Number:                   2010942233

ISBN:                        Hardcover                           978-1-6176-4434-4

                                 Ebook                                  978-1-6176-4435-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Palibrio

1-877-407-5847

www.Palibrio.com

[e-mail]

321666

Contents

Chapter 1

Letters in Search of Acknowledgement

Chapter 2

Broadcasting behavior

Chapter 3

Frustrating theories of a

Devastated Economist

Chapter 4

Madrid Fugitive

Chapter 5

Giving Birth Starting Life

Chapter 6

Bea Glenice, The story behind the name

Chapter 7

Dear Bea

Chapter 8

Coping with Family life

Chapter 9

Dear Nanay

Chapter 10

Tricks for an Old Midwife

Chapter 11

Cheers for Cherrie

Chapter 12

Cheers and Ecstasy

Chapter 13

Manong returns

Chapter 14

Naninibago

Chapter 15

Tatay and his kite

This book is lovingly dedicated to my Parents

They are very influential in forming my values.

To my Nanay Mrs Dominica C Severo. She taught me that we are living in a world of ups and downs, frustrations are inevitable and success must be earned. She leads a life the way GOD told her to do. She did not asses life in terms of cost benefit analysis by doing so my mother perseveres.

To my Tatay Mr Cesar G. Severo Sr. He once told me Nobody wins argument. Dedicating this book to him is my chance of telling him You cannot argue against facts. You cannot argue that the world is square, the fact is it scientifically proven that it is round. Well we can have different views. He may opine that the Rolling Stones are better than the Beatles then our discussions will be endless. We have our share of touchy disagreements. But I can honestly tell myself that I will survive ugliness and greed by trying to understand my father.

Chapter 1

Letters in Search of Acknowledgement

THE REBEL’S CREED

Their cries are unheard

Their sufferings are ignored

They raise their arms

They clench their fists

Their revolt is illegal

But their uprisings are valid

Who are we to blame them?

Dear Tatay,

There’s no reason to write to you anymore since you became a man whom I cannot read. I’ve done all the best I can to bring back the father I once understood. I’ve found out that there are another you, a man who is hard to reconcile with the one who raised me. You could have implemented my transparency proposals and you can tell me See I told you not to do it and for the record Tatay I could have stick with you.

Anyway you will find this letter long and emotional. Nanay told me of the time when you’ve bet on a political loser during an election. The result is a disaster to your business, contracts were few and far in between. I and my brother were college bound and because your career has gone downhill you cannot send us to college. You became vulnerable to Nanay’s persuasion. Nanay shed her former life, a rural health midwife and found a job as an Enterna, a stay in two day off a week domestic maid. She cried her way to Spain so that I and the brother can earn our degrees in New Era College. I guess you’ve learn your lesson. Before I join your business you’ve bet on a political winner. This letter is a result of Nanay’s continuously nagging me to keep in touch with you. Her tactics had worked on you and it is effective on me.

Here is the catch Tatay, Nanay never told me what to write. So if you’re ready to read a letter that will make your temper flare then go on reading. I am not going to write how much I regret my decision that leads me here in Madrid and want to go back to your firm. I am not a hypocrite. I will also write to you the details of my hardships here and may it arouse your empathy and at the same time feel the blame of my situation.

The survival of your business is far more important than the opinion of your son you failed to read my intentions. Maybe you’ve assume I would bend to the dirty rules of the construction world but then I fled. Had I stick with you perhaps we’d be breaking each other’s neck and the noble person I once knew you to be would be dead. You are now a very happy man since nobody can prevent you from bribing your overlords. You have eliminated your son who fester you with reforms. Nobody can argue of the efficient way you run your company even before I join it. But your skills with be naught without the blessings of your patrons, those whom you faithfully prayed with cash. If you fail to pray to them they will sink your business and can look for other faithful. You are practicing a very bad religion Tatay. For your patrons my idea of transparency is a sacrilege never to be mentioned or worse practice. Anybody who preaches transparency will be excommunicated. You’ve made me a bitter man Tatay. The very expensive signatures of your political lords cause your school buildings to be underfunded and shoddy. You got to admit you are a part of the circus and I despise the man in you who collaborate with them. The largesse you’ve got from your evil lords is far more important than the sense of fair play you’ve raised me with.

You have constructed those weather indicator classrooms and school buildings. You know what I mean, if you’re inside you will notice the weather outside. They have leaky roofs during the rainy season it rains inside as well. In the summer the sun shines thru its roofs. The moment I’ve found out the reasons behind those classrooms I grimaced. There’s the point I can no longer look at them it hurts me to admit the deceit you have done to those innocent school kids. I still imagine those classrooms Tatay but here in Madrid I can no longer see them.

I thought I became smarter when I’ve earned my degree in Economics. Those theories and policies I’ve studied develop in me a sense of civic spirit and heightened social awareness. I was younger then and more idealistic, believing I can change my surrounding for the better. Now I realize I am wiser only because I am sadder. You see you’ve killed whatever civic spirit I have the moment you and the establishment you represent ignored my good intentions Despicable is the right word to describe your construction activity. Frankly Tatay I have given up all hope of ever returning to our country. I had accepted the fact that I have personally exiled myself half way around the globe. My life now is my way of licking my wounds it is my way accepting tragic events I cannot alter. Now I don’t think I can ever read my textbooks again. They are probably still in my room and dusty but I don’t mind. By coming here in Madrid I know I rub your ego the wrong way. Well I hope you are feeling deserted.

I’ve been around here for more than a year now and I know dozens of Filipinos who fit here like fish into water. I am not going to mention strangers to you. Do you still remember my cousin Boyet. The son of Auntie Mely, my mother’s sister well he is a waiter here in the restaurant I’m working and believe me he is having the time of his life. A very hard working guy who back when we were in the Philippines wakes up early in the morning to tend their farm. Boyet was the kid who walks two kilometers to and from the school because he cannot afford the fares. He wears patched rubber sandals made even worse by his walkathon. You took piety of him that you bought him sneakers but instead of wearing it in his daily hike used it only inside the school perimeter reasoning out that it will last longer that way. Only when you insist you will buy him another pair every time his shoes worn out force him to throw away those much abused rubber sandals. You even insisted he live in our house because it is only twenty meters to school. I still remember him bare footed planting rice in their mud filled plot of land while the sun at high noon shine at its strongest. Our restaurant is marbled paved and he wears a pair of shiny black shoes. It is air conditioned so he doesn’t worry about sweating. He enjoys his job he doesn’t consider it work. For Boyet work means planting rice always stooping and occasionally stretching his back before the spinal column breaks. He considers waiting for diners as passing idle time but not work. As a result he has the tendency to spend his money as fast as he can earn. He got the latest DVD video camera and hangs around with his girlfriends right after working hours. They are regular habitués of the various discotheques of Madrid. He owns a gray Peugot and no longer the kid who does the walkathon. I’m not your physical kind of guy, I don’t have the sort of training my dear cousin have. I don’t enjoy washing dishes for me it is worse than planting rice especially when I cannot cope with the mounting dishes, casseroles and ladles. I am your sedentary and cerebral kind of guy. Chaps like me can fit in the academic challenges of economics but not in washing dishes and mopping floors.

If it is going to make you feel good I miss my flexible working hours as your consultant. I’d gather data in your main office and in my own sweet time analyze them. I would confer my ideas to your accountants, computer technicians and to you. I don’t have deadlines. Here in Madrid I must at least in my job at the latest 12:30 noon to prepare the washing machine and to wash plates I’ve left behind the night before. My afternoon shifts ends at 4:30 p.m. or five depending on the number of our clients. My evening shift starts at eight or eight thirty. Every working day is an inner struggle to paste myself in my bed and to get up and prepare to go to work. Here in Madrid I am an ex Economist. I don’t think it is a good idea to hang my diploma on top of my washing machine. It got nothing to do with my productivity It’s not a boost to my self esteem whenever I’m screamed at and ordered by the chief, waiters and supervisors who don’t know the distinctions among demand curve, supply curve and equilibrium points. I’m fairly accurate in making forecasts but not fast enough to wash those waist deep plates and heavy casseroles.

Whatever scholarly achievement I’ve earned is left behind and my diploma is literally hidden in my closet. Here I don’t flaunt my qualifications. Now I don’t think I can read my textbooks again. They are probably still in my room and dusty but I don’t mind. I became weary of my intellectual side and as much as possible I must turn away from anything that will remind me of my academic background.

Here it is not necessary to submit a Curriculum Vitae to qualify as a dish washer. The only thing my Chief requires of me is my legal status. I have a Permiso de trabajo y Residencia it means I am legally allowed to reside and work in Spain. Nobody asks me here of market imperfections and price elasticity. There are events which tempted me to express my academic opinion. Our chief is a proud over confident man and brags to me

The washing machine costs 3,000 euros and it is meant to ease your work.

I could have countered

It is meant to wash more dishes in a cost efficient way. If ten dish washers costs less than three thousand euros and can be clean the same or more plates then you won’t hesitate to hire another nine guys.

Whether machines and equipments are meant to ease work to laborers is purely accidental their primary objective is for a laborer to work more. Our Boss has flair of throwing his weight around us it would be a blow to his inflated self esteem if I’d argue with him. Instead I kept my thoughts to my self because if I will express it my Boss will be ruder to me. I will never make statistical correlations between clients’ orders and their tips. Formulating theories are no longer my concern but to make those plates clean shiny and ready for the kitchen chief and his crew. I knew my capacity Tatay I don’t have the skills to be promoted. I am going to be stuck doing menial jobs. Well I’ve tried preparing salads and all I get to show are wounds on my fingers, complains from my co workers and verbal abuses from my chief. Our Ensaladero or salad maker is a Filipino who after six months is promoted and very adept at his job. The performance of our Ensaladero compared to mine is an indicator I will never be promoted from washing dishes. I admit I am annoyed in my job but regret is very far from my mind and in my heart. You see Tatay I feel relieve leaving your firm now I am no longer bothered of sleepless nights by those dilapidated school buildings you’ve constructed because I am no longer a part of it. When I was your Economic consultant I was drinking a sweet poison that sooner will kill my soul

When my co workers asked me about my life I mentioned I am a graduate of AB Economics and it is hard for me to land a good job and I came here because of the income, my convenient alibi. The proverbial greener pasture is the typical reason of Filipinos as well as other nationalities who came to immigrate here in Madrid. I am not going to tell them the list of disappointments leading me here.

I’ve known a couple of our countrymen and compared notes with them and I come to the conclusion that my wage scale here and my day offs are above standard. It is my incentive of sticking with my present job. I feel I can fare better absorbing my discomfort here than the moral and emotional issues I’ve dealt with your firm. Madrid is a nice place to live. I have been here for a long time and I have yet to see a street riddled with holes. They are not practicing the politics of public infrastructure the way you guys are doing perhaps on a lesser degree and their methods are not as deliberate the way you guys are so skilled with. Traffic flow here is smoother and much more organized and traffic lights exists and functioning. A driver here does not need to be familiarizing with bump cars to endure.

My mother is fully much aware of my situation and suggests to me to take up Spanish language lessons. If I can communicate better I can find employment opportunities outside restaurants. Nanay is even asks me to resign from my job she will support me financially so I can concentrate on my studies. I reject her proposal I don’t want to be a burden once again to Nanay. Phonetically Spanish is easier to study than English because words are pronounced as they are spelled but for me Spanish grammar is far more complicated I have trouble differentiating Yo estoy from the verb Estar and the verb Yo soy from the verb ser which is the same as I am in English. I have four Spanish courses in New Era College they were prerequisites before obtaining my degree but I really never pay attention to those subjects since my priorities were Microeconomics, Statistics and Welfare Economic subjects. Until now I cannot distinguish Yo soy from" Yo estoy I believe that Yo estoy are used every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Yo soy are every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. I would not be surprised if a native Spanish speaker would correct me, Yo Estoy must be used every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Nanay is not satisfied when I told her of my lame excuse of immigrating here in Madrid. I told her

We both miss each other Nanay and I felt it is about time to ease our loneliness.

I will never forget Nanay’s face the first time she saw me at Madrid’s Barajas International Airport, mixtures of relief in joining her, melancholy for the life I am going lead here and mystery because she is not satisfied for the half truth I told her. For the sake of transparency Tatay I will allow Nanay to read this letter and will be upset after reading this letter but I am hoping she will comprehend all those events which make me flee your company.

This one is a long shot Tatay that you will feel the agony of losing the respect of your son and such agony will serve as your wake up call for confronting your demons. Can’t you realize that because of your apathy you have lost your wife to Madrid and then your son? I don’t expect you to radically change your world I am not naïve it cannot be change. It is you whom I want to change.

Madrid is not a paradise Tatay I am still new here and like a common tourist I marvel at the classical architecture of buildings of Cibeles and be enthusiastic of the relaxing ambiance of tshe Parque del buen Retiro I will definitely stay here in Madrid Tatay and five or ten years from now I will no longer admire this place the way I do now.I enjoy the food here. In my work we ate what you may consider as some rich man’s food back home. Here I have tasted various types of spaghettis and like some new kid I still enjoy toblerone chocolates and ice cream every summer. Here I can afford hamburgers but time will come when those foods I’ve mentioned above will no longer stir my appetite. I will always be queasy of calling my superiors by their first name. I guess it is because of the Filipino culture of respecting elders and our reverence for authorities. My Boss doesn’t want to be called

"Señor, for favor"

Diego, his first name will do referring to him as Señor will make him old. Any way I have some compatriots for company and I still refer to them as Manong Berting, an Ilocano who hails from Cagayan. There is Kuya Dying a tagalong from Nueva Ecija. As you know Manong and Kuya refers to older men. I don´t like seeing couples kissing in the streets, parks or the subway train for me showing such intimacy is better done in private. In spite of the cultural and emotional adjustment I am experiencing this place for me have traits which for the rest of my life or at least as long as I live I will envy. Egalitarianism pervades Spanish society well there is still a class division but not as clear as in our country. I have this impression whenever I am in the subway train that all those folks that surround me are cosmopolitan I cannot identify rich from the poor here by the way they dress. It is not uncommon to see ordinary people wearing suits I mean in the country where I came from people who wear neckties are very exclusive and treated with reverence. In my work alone, Kuya Dying is more chic than our head waiter who is a Spaniard. Manong Berting’s car is the latest BMW while our kitchen chief’s car is semi brand new he can afford a brand new car but he is not interested. An old Madriliño pensioner constantly wears suits every time he hangs around my favorite bar and I can tell you he is a far better dresser guy than the Spanish Prime Minister. The top notched of all my envy Tatay is realizing Spain is better governed than the Philippines. I mean no right thinking Spanish politicians would distribute pens, cups and shirts with their names and faces on them just to win votes. Elections can really be won here based on politicians stand on issues, credibility and track records. We Filipinos I think are more passionate about our elections. During Elections not a street can escape posters and banners of candidates it creates a holiday appearance and of course there are singers and dancers by every campaigner to attract voters. On the down side are increase crime rate during this season. Let’s face it Tatay political exercises in our country can really be hazardous to a lot of Filipino politicians’ health far more dangerous than smoking. Well there are really exemptions but more often than not is those who are endorse by guns, goons and gold can be elected. Here I am amaze on the lack of posters I guess Tatay voters here are not impressed by appearances. Accept it Tatay the money you’ve contributed to your political patrons are used to buy school supplies and clothes that are used to bribe voters. Such dirty tricks are even euphemistically called election paraphernalia. I realize that by your contributions you have benefited from the system. It makes me sick to think that instead of pointing your middle finger to the system you have given it your thumbs up. I still remember my high school friends in our rendezvous. I sorely miss our family supper Saturdays and Sundays. Well it is only at night time that your family is complete during lunch time me and my brother were at the canteen Nanay was at her office and you at your firm. I still can be nostalgic of my former life Tatay. Madrid just the same will live its purpose I am very far from the issues which makes my life bitter. Every time I lay in bed I am able to sleep and wake up the next morning without the excess moral baggage of guilt. Every end of the month I am earning an honest man’s wage. Your income and specially your lords are the expense of those innocent and hapless Filipino tax payers. I dare you to accept all my accusations Tatay. I dare you to prove that my motive of immigrating here in Madrid is wrong. Our relationship has turn into tragedy let us not make it worse by pretending we can improve it. You can never expect me to pack up my bags and leave. Let us not communicate because doing so will only aggravate disappointments with each other.

Your son,

Dear Tatay,

After my first not so subtle letting of off some steam rebel letter I thought I will never write to you again. There are certain factors that prove me wrong. You must give credit to my mother for writing to you again.When it’s one a.m. here in Madrid I’m too tired and sleepy from washing dishes in the restaurant I’m working. It’s probably six a.m. or seven a.m. in the Philippines and you are drowsy from drafting designs so long distanced conversation between us is farfetched but thanks to internet and e mail we are able to communicate to each other.

Nanay told me about your medical problems, you’re a diabetic casualty candidate. In so many occasions she called you and wanted for you to monitor your blood glucose level. I have ideas on determining the consumer price index but I am afraid it got nothing to do with diabetes. She is alarmed of your tendency for pastries, ice cream for desserts instead of fruits. You require eight teaspoonful of sugar to your coffee while one is enough for your son here in Madrid. She cringes on the complications hanging like the sword of Damocles over you. I cannot argue against Nanay’s litany of facts and so must you. An MD will tell a cancer patient that sooner he will meet a guy with the black hood and scythe in a matter of fact fashion. My mother does in differently. If you are here Nanay will explain it to you in an end of the world scenario. She dreads the complications, the possibility of retinal damages (you getting blind), and poor healing of wounds particularly of the feet (gangrene). Nanay does not want you amputated. She prays that you avoid the possibility of your wounds taking too long to heal, your feet affected with gangrene and turning blind. She asked me if I observed in the symptoms which I denied, she is relieved. I don’t see any reason to lie to her because it will mean your health. You don’t go to the bathroom to pee more than the ordinary. You’re not always thirsty your vision is okay and your not getting thin. I guarantee Nanay that your weight varies a little from my college era up to the present. Yet Nanay still insists your blood sugar is getting closer to that of a diabetic unless you mend your health habit. Nanay is a midwife or was a midwife the moment she worked here as an ‘interna’ and failed to renew her license. She’s not a doctor but her medical opinion is more reliable than the hemming and hawing in your e mails. I agree with my mother’s recommendation to you. Discipline your self, balance your diet and make yourself and exercise program.

I did try my best to alleviate Nanay’s doomsday scenario. All of us are bound to meet our maker, there is such a thing as judgment day. I do have my frustrations Tatay yet I am not in a hurry and so does you. You can delay your appointment but it’s going to be your decision. The surgeon general is right in warning us that smoking is hazardous to our health I agree with him and folks with smoker’s cough but he cannot prevent people from buying cigarettes. I and Nanay are in the same predicament, for we are here in Spain and cannot lock you up and tie you behind your back and forced feed you.

You know Tatay, I have this pseudo psychoanalysis (with apologies to Sigmund Freud) theory for your coffee drinking binge. I figured your business and social environment morally stinks that you compensate it with pouring to much sugar in your cups. You’re not much into alcohol. I know you to be a social drinker just to accommodate your buddies. You know your limitations. You seldom walk zigzag in the street and can drive safely home.

You’ve told me about our house that really needs an urgent renovation. You’re a Civil Engineer and when you say that our house needs only the signature of three or four typhoons before it will be history I believe you. It really amazes that you intended to sue Pangasinan Provincial Colleges for non