i am no carlos bulosan

it all happens after the insipid ideals of my humanities class. whereas the burden of finding a book, skimming it, close, then open again and spend nights before the deadline gruelling and printing your paper hours before the class. they call it term paper, i call it pseudo liability.

but everything seems to point me toward meeting someone departed, scrutinising a rigid more complicated biography thru books and text, engaging myself towards a life he had that i might possess.

a young boy drowned by the deception of poverty. a real witness of social stigma and for others, they are the visuals of this stigma.

i never thought i could stand with my principle, i never knew i have it at all. but when my professor at the other side of the building asked the class what went wrong in our country. deep silence. all you can hear is the shuddering of the air condition and the shivery people vying for the title of i-can-handle-the-cold even when their faces disagrees.

then suddenly, a hand threw up high in the air. so high that the cold faces sigh a relief for that hand can be their hope to say i-handle-the-cold, but their faces grew more white knowing that the hand does not rebel with the cold, but rebel with the question.

i never wanted to admit it. but it’s the same hand typing at the moment. it’s when people wanted another battle in mactan but because rather inapproppriate, they call it power of the people, power of the masses. yes, we are all indeed sick and tired with the administration. don’t get me wrong, i’m talking about the present administration, the one with loud boo’s and jeer’s. yah, another present times, another boo’s and jeer’s, another call for action, different faces of the leaders, same problem.

did we all try to put ourselves in equation? or do we still need batches of great lawmakers, great leaders and great people and put them in the collection of crocodile effigy soon to be burned. it’s great to see people still fighting for a cause, but it’s weakening to see people fighting for a cause not knowing what they are fighting for because they are marionettes of social illeteracy and more despairing is that their ventriloquist is vying for a hidden power.

suddenly, that one hand raised breaks the silence of the class, hands down and i feel the collected shiver in my body and my mouth started to tremble, evidently. the professor come somewhat shocked, neither of us expected that kind of utter. but it all come into conclusion. that principle is somewhat acclaimed. well, everybody may argue for the lack of this, lack of that. i know i can’t make deep reasoning, i am not so confidant with words. but whatever your notion is/or any hater response. it’s worthy of the class’ hand. ^.^

it’s so stupid that being away from my home, i tend to make this kind of recall and be sober. I am no Mr Carlos Bulosan, the one drowned with poverty in his own lifetime. The protagonist of his own novel and years after, i observe the written words furtively.

Mr Carlos Bulosan represent the modern day migrants. the need to be lost to find theirselves away but with ease of economic norms. the need to be away for the promise of everything green. unlike him, after the worst trials the foreign land has given him, he can still see a bit of light and tries to magnify it with his spirit. i don’t know if i can handle it. america indeed is in the heart and that heart belongs to my native land.

mr carlos “allos” has given me real inspiration. i am where his foot once stood. i just don’t know if i can stand to his principle.

Memories in the Old Acacia Tree (Creative Poetry)

Creative Poetry

Memories in the Old Acacia Tree

Jeffrey Umotoy

.

I love playing

Under the old acacia tree

Drawing my name on its husky trunk

And hiding to the warmth rays of the sun

I am here through My good and bad times

Remembering the days of the Blossoming flowers

Where grasshoppers chirps and hops through the lawn

I see the rosy red morning, and the orange yoLk sundown

I play with my peers, running, hiding to the acacia tree

Alone, all I do is get a twig and write to the ground

A malady came; I’m not allowed to go to the tree

I’m so sad, cry all day, happy days are gone

I plea to my mother to bring me to the tree

The tree have chaNge, it change a lot

I don’t feel I’m home, he left me

Not just the tree,

Everything’s gone

The rosy red morn’,

Blue sky and clouds

I can hear the chirps

But they seem hiding

All I can see is Dark

And all I can feel

Is the warmth of the sun.

High school, high school! Haha, I made this poem way back in high school, suppose-to-be entry sa english week celebration. Pero yun, di ko sya naipasa. Ok lang, wagi naman ang essay entry ko (yabang!) haha.

Why I Love UP Profs! : UP Professor Quotes

UP Professors Lovely Quotes!

From: www.yehba.com

www.peyups.com

www.drowingsolutionsph.multiply.com

www.burubudoy.wordpress.com

I. www.yehba.com

1. “The aim of policy making is to
invoke action! Because action speaks louder than words! You do not just say
I love you. You say: If you love me, enter me! “
-Dr. Alfonso Pacquing

.

2.”Class, next week na lang ung result sa exam nyo. I am having a hard time
checking it. I will seek first the divine guidance on what to do about it.
Class dont worry about your grade. Let me worry about it.”
-sir de jesus,envi sci 1

.

3.(Valentines Day)
“Ano ba yan? Students ba kayo ng UP? Bakit ang bababa ng scores niyo? Siguro
wala kayong date ngayong  valentines kaya ganito kayo. Losers!!! When i was
your age i had a date. Hindi ba naapektuhan ng UP FAIR euphoria  ng grades
niyo? Parang di kayo masaya…” (sabay matching tapon ng quizzes sa sahig)
“I won’t record this. Go find a date.”
(sabay walk out.)
-Sir Doliente,BA.

.

4.Ma’am: Many people believe that we, psychology graduates can read minds…
(silence) Actually, we can.
Class: Weh.. Sample..
Ma’am: Right now, you think that I’m bluffing
-Ma’am Chei

.

5.”I don’t give surprise long exams. all exams are announced. Halimbawa,
Class, mageexam tayo, NGAYON NA!”
-Ma’am Chei (again)

.

6.”The human body is 70% water. Kaya wala kayong kasaysayan lahat. Pag may
kaaway ka, sabihin mo sa kanya, TUBIG KA LANG!!!”
-Dr. Recio

.

7.”Oo, nagpapaulan ako ng uno… baket? aanhin ko ba nun? di naman ako yayaman
dun.”
-Sir Atoy, histo I

.

8.(commenting on a thesis of a senior student)
‘Yang thesis mo? .. Mamamatay ka!! Mamamatay ka!!’
- Dr. llanes, UPM.

.

9.”Nasa bandang gilid ang fallopian tube. Kaya kunggusto niyong magka-anak ng
asawa niyo, dapat nakatagilid kayo habang gumagawa.”
-Ma’am Meggie, Zoo 10

.

10.”Last sem was the first time that I gave a grade of 5, and it felt good!!!”
Prof Goldie, Comm II, circa 1998, first day of class

.

UP MNEMONICS

ZODIAC SIGNS:
According (Aries)
To (Taurus)
Gabby (Gemini)
Concepcion (Cancer)
Laging (Leo)
Very (Virgo)
Loving (Libra)
Si (Scorpio)
Sharon (Sagittarius)
Cuneta (Capricorn)
After (Aries)
Performing (Pisces)

.

FOR BIOLOGY:
THE TWELVE CRANIAL NERVES
Oh
Oh
Oh
To
Touch
And
Feel
A
Girl’s
V________,
So
Heavenly

and it stands for:
CN 1 – Olfactory
CN 2 – Optic
CN 3 – Oculomotor
CN 4 – Trochlear
CN 5 – Trigeminal
CN 6 – Abducens
CN 7 – Facial
CN 8 – Auditory (or acousticovestibular )
CN 9 – Glossopharyngeal
CN 10 – Vagus
CN 11 – Spinal Accessory
CN 12 – Hypoglossal

.

King
Phillip
Came
Over
For
Good
Sex

FOR:
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

.

DNA BASE PAIRINGS:
Call Girl si Techie Agbayani
C-G
T-A

.

FOR PHYSICS:
NEWTON ‘S SECOND LAW OF MOTION:
a = F/m
or Father over Mother equals Anak!

FORMULA FOR PRESSURE
P = F/a
or Father over Anak equals Pamangkin!

II. www.peyups.com

1.”The more wisdom you obtain, the more you shut your mouth. This is because the more that you learn, the more you realize that there are even more things that you do not know. The true mark of an idiot is a loudmouth, the true mark of a wise man is humility”
–Paraphrased galing kay PI100. Puta best prof sa CAL.

Na overhear ko lang nung palabas na ko ng klase:

.

2.Classmate: Ma’am, pwede po bang next week na kami mag report?
Ma’am: Alam mo, God is good. And I am God. So yes, pwede next week.

.

3. Sir U Eliserio during creative writing class…

“try everything once except incest”

and one day pumasok ng room, galit na galit. hinagis ang bag sa table, nagwawala sa harap ng room dahil hindi daw nasagot ng previous class niya ang question niya. kaya dapat daw masagot namin, ang makasagot may plus points. kapag walang makasagot, lagot kami.

ang tanong…. “class, sinong lalaking artista dun sa TV show na wonder years”?

.

4.”Mamatay na mangopya…”

.

5.”Ang hindi maka-100, bobo!

.

6.”im gay. so gay i could show you my penis because it is but an accessory to my body”
-jean navera, spcm1

.

7. sa STAT 1 lab:

“ok class, alala nyo pa ba ang asymptote? sa math 11 or 17 niyo? ganun class. ganun kayo sa pagpasa sa STAT1″
-pauline pastor.

.

8. FIRST DAY OF CLASSES: “Kung may boyfriend o girlfriend kayo na hindi taga-UP, hiwalayan niyo na agad. Walang pupuntahan yan. Hindi kayo magkaka-intindihan. Tapos yung mga anak niyo, magiging bobo. Gusto niyo ba yun?”

.

9. ANOTHER PROF: “Hoy girls, wag kayong kukuha ng boyfriend dito sa UP. Pare-parehas tayong mahirap dito. Kumuha kayo ng mayaman. 80% of the child’s intelligence comes from the Mother naman eh. Kayo guys, wag kayo kukuha ng bobong babae. Kahit matalino kayo, magiging bobo anak niyo.”

.

10. “Class, Chinatown is not in China

. And Ateneo de Manila University is not… a university.”

.

11. STUDENT: Sir, pwede po magpa-sit in yung friends ko?
PROF: From what school are they?
STUDENT: St. Scho po.
PROF: “Go ahead. So they’ll realize what they’re missing. St. Scho, St. Scho… eskwelahan na ba yun sa inyo?!”

.

12. “Class, kaya mahal ang bayad sa mga professors sa ibang school kasi ang bobobo ng mga estudyante dun. Dyuskoh, I used to teach there… at lumuluha talaga ako ng dugo bago maintindihan ng mga students yung sinasabi ko. Ang mahal nga ng bayad, magkakasakit ka naman sa panga kakaulit ng lessons! Wag na lang! Dito na ko sa UP, at least nagkakaintindihan tayo. Diba?”

.

13. Dr. Recio: What causes asthma?
Classmate (na-overwhelm): Ummm, asthma is caused by… Pollens and dust and–
Dr. Recio: NO! Asthma is genetically predisposed!
After five seconds…
Dr. Recio: What causes asthma?
Same classmate: Ma’am, it’s genetically predisposed.
Dr. Recio: YES! Very good!

Matindi kasi short-term memory loss ni ma’am.

.

14. sorry class i’m late. grabe ang traffic sa EDSA, pero di ako dumaan doon!
~ acctg1 prof

di namin alam kung matatawa kami o hindi.

.

15. Dahil kami ang mga huling estudyante ni Dr. David at mahal na mahal namin siya, nag-compile kami dati ng mga quotable quotes mula sa kanya. Ito ang ilan:

“Meanings we find are the meanings we make.”

“WHAT YOU LEARN IN UP IS TO GO ON AND NEVER GIVE UP. THAT IF THERE BE ONE PERSON LEFT STANDING, LET IT BE ME. LET ATENEO FALL FIRST BEFORE UP…”

“The measure of a man is how many doors he has opened to other people, especially to those he doesn’t know.”

“To be born is to die. In between they grow and multiply like flies. 6.2 billion people in the world. Kadiri, ano?”

“Why not life? Why call it soul? Call a spade a spade.”

“Earth is the only heaven we can know.”

“religion is a successful economic institution”

“Do not live long enough to be worthless.”

“Domestication of the human male is one of the greatest achievement of the human race.”

“I do not know many. I only know enough to teach my classes.”

.

16. We do not accept anyone here in class except for those who are members of a certain minority group. For example, gays are part of a minority group, bakla ka ba? If you admit to this class that you are gay, then I’ll admit you”

-Prof “hail to the chair”, to a guy student na nagpre-prerog

in the end, ayaw umamin ni guy… di tuloy tinanggap…

.

17. Everything you need to know about the electron, it’s position, momentum, etc, ay makukuha mo sa kanyang wavefunction. Kaya kung gusto mong makilala ang isang babae, itanong mo sa kanya,’Hi.

May I know your wavefunction?’” -Prof in physics

Second day of classes
Same Prof: (kinuha ang box ng colored chalks) Ano ba naman ito… (tapos iniitsa sa lamesa yung mga dark colored chalks)

class: (tahimik na nagmamasid)

Prof: Class, sulatan niyo ang manufacturer ng chalk na ito, at sabihing tanggalin na ang mga walang kwentang kulay na ito… brown, green, violet. hindi makikita ito sa board. Convince them

class: (tahimik at gulat)

Prof: and .25 incentive sa final grade niyo!

.

18. “Bilib ka kay Alan Peter Cayetano? E ambaba ng grades n’un e!”

.

19.”Si Miriam, crush ko ‘yun dati. Muntikan na maging kami, kaso nasiraan ng ulo, kaya ‘yun, iba ang asawa ko.”

.

20. “Class, gusto ko kayong i-train na mag-English, so hen you’re here in class, magsalita kayo ng English! Ako lang ang exempted dahil matanda na ako at ako ang teacher!”

.

21. If you really love someone, just act like a swan; once he finds his mate, he will never find anyone else. But when his lover goes away, he dies because he thinks that his life no longer has purpose in this world.”

A semester of cooky, sometimes corny, but sometimes thought-provoking advice on life, love and ambition from Dr. Melitton Juanico (circa 2nd semester AY 2006-2007).

.

III. http://drowingsolutionsph.multiply.com

1. Ma’am sierra, bio150(ecology)
humangin, nalipad yung acetate dahil humangin ng malakas. imbis na hawakan nya yung OHP, dali-
dali nyang hinawakan yung whiteboard.

Sir Punzalan, Stat 121

.

2. “Summattion of five x3 plus 5×2 (reading a mathematical equation) minus one… pero di ibig
sabihin na kakanta kayo”

.

3. In this one class, we were discussing about infants and kids in their early childhood. To
illustrate kung paano nagpa-pivot prone ang isang bata, yung DEAN ng college namin ay dumapa sa
floor at doon ay nagpa-ikot-ikot. (Go Dean Jake! O di ba, down-to-earth kahit dean?)

.

4. Sir Ebreo, Span 11 – discussion: imperativo
Kapag magkaaway daw kayo ng bf mo, ang sasabihin mo is “No me toques” *thought: tama ba ang
spelling? pakitama na lang po ako.* (don’t touch me). Pero kapag okay daw kayo, sasabihin nyo
(with feelings and with actions) “Tocame! Tocame!” (Touch me! Touch me!)

.

5. Sabi ng isa naming prof:
“Why should we tie up with (name ng school) when they don’t even rely on their graduates?”
Bwahahaha! SAPUL! GO UP!

.

6. Bio1 Prof. Mamaril
“Okay, so the mountain gorilla, gorilla gorilla beringei of mount virunga is…”
(sabay pasok ng classmate ko na six-footer, maitim at shaved ang ulo, tapos nagtitigan sila ng
matagal ni prof)
“…speaking of the gorilla!”
(cue pandemonium sa klase)

.

7. Si Prof Diestro ulet…
tnanong niya sa min kung kilala ba namin siya. sabi niya “my father is a carpenter and my
father is a carpenter”. tapos meron pang “i am conceived immaculately”. sinabi niya siya daw si
hesus. nagtanong pa ng “don’t you believe me?”. huling sinabi niya “believe in me”.

.

8. “correct me if I’m right”  ~ anonymous

.

9. Sabi ng Math 100 prof
“Class you should listen because if you dont’ listen, you would not know what you don’t know!”

.

10. Nagalit sya sa iba kasi daw yung nilagay sa blue book ay mr. lang dapat daw professor kaya
ang sabi nya, “Ano ba ako dito di ba professor. It’s better to promote than to demote! Kaya nga
pag yung taga-UP pagsinabihan mong di ba taga-UST ka, magagalit daw at nakasimangut pa. Pero
pag taga-UST at sinabihan mong di ba taga-UP ka, ngingiti pa daw.”

.

11. ito pa sabi nya sa amin, “dapat kayong mag-anak ng marami, mga sampo. Huwag nating hayaan na
mas maraming anak ang mga mangmang dahil sa susunod na henerasyon ang mga walang alam ang
mamumuno sa atin kawawaya naman ang bayan.”

.

12. “ang letran kilala pero hindi yan makikita sa mapa pero ang ust kahit papano makikita…
kaya lang pagtinignan mo ang ranking mga na 500 pataas”

.

13. si prof. monsod in her conio moment, she said,
“making plantsa with the coal..”
she’s actually referring dun sa plantsa nung unang panahon na uling daw yung ginagamit para
gumana.

.

14. si tanttoco ng kas 1 nakakatuwa yung mgaa hirit nya tapos yung mga class requirments nya may
katumbas na kanta like:
group work= hawak kamay nyahahhahahahahhaha

.

15.Mareng Winnie sa Econ Auditorium, “Godd***it to hell class! Don’t sleep on me! ” Tapos
pinagalitan nya yung isang natutulog sa last row, “You, blah, blah…” ‘Tas narealize nya na ,
Teaching fellow pala sa Econ, discussioner nya, hahaha!

.

16.eto kasama sa class rules ng prof ko sa natsci1:
“you may hug, but no kissing”

.

17. late dumating sa class si Mr. MATH 17 prof na bagong kasal lang. nagmamadali tapos sabay sabi
” SORRY CLASS NAPUYAT AKO. GANYAN TALAGA PAG MAY-ASAWA…”

.

18.NSTP coordinator namin:
“Ano ba kayo! Ang iingay ninyo! Para kayong mga batang street children!”
an old relic from the martial law era on a classmate who won’t stand up while reciting:
“Miss ___, please stand up so I could see the contours of your body.”
at pag may dumadaan daw na sexy, his remark–”Wow. Rape-able.”

.

19.BULKENYO.

“Just because the bulkenyo errupts today, it is not necessarily the case that the bulkenyo
will….”

IV. www.burubudoy.wordpress.com

Paraphrased quotation from my own prof.

During our discussion

Classmate: Sir saan po kami hihingi ng appointment letter para sa inteview? (para sa mga tv station, writers, artist, government agencies and private companies)

Prof: Anong apo-apointment letter? Pakita nyo lang ID nyo.

**

Prof: Kung gusto nyo talaga malaman ang pinakamabisang pananaliksik, gayahin nyo ang isa kong estudyanteng nagbayad ng macho dancer para malaman ang buhay ng macho dancer.

**

Prof: Kung pipili kayo ng lugar para manaliksik, ayaw kong piliin nyo ang Baguio. Nadala na ako, yung estudyante ko dati dalawang magkagrupo, nagtaka nalang ako at di na bumalik pagkagaling ng baguio. Paglipas ng dalawang sem nagpakita silang dalawa kinukuha akong ninong ng anak nila. Anak ng tupa, isinabuhay ang ang kanilang pananaliksik ” teen pregnancy”.

**

Prof: Ewan ko nga ba sa mga Pilipino, iniidolo si Maria Clara, eh anak naman yun sa pagkakasala.

**

Prof: Last year, oblation run, nagpaalam mga estudyante kong huwag nalang daw magklase kesyo manonood daw sila, ako naman ito, edi pumayag. Ayun sa sunod na klase namin, nakasimangot sila di daw sila nakakita ng birdie. Kung saan-saan pa kasi nagpunta, pagkaalis nila, biglang dumaan dito yung mga nakahubad, walang katao-tao, kitang-kita ko tuloy ang biyaya.

**

Prof: Kung hindi lang nagbubulag-bulag ang pamahalaan, edi wala sana si Aguinaldo sa listahan ng ating mga bayani.

**

Sa isang klase ko sa research writing

1st meeting

Prof: Matatapos itong kursong natin ng hindi ko hahawakan ang inyong mga papel, ano kayo sinuswerte? Hindi ko babasahin isa-isa yan, edi kung ganun, ako ang matututo hindi kayo! Excuse me, “DR” na ako, di ko kailangan yan.

2nd meeting (after ituro ang intro)

Prof: Sa kursong ito, either 1 or 5 ang grade mo, pag nagpasa edi 1 pag hindi 5

3rd meeting (after ituro ang first 4 modules)

Prof: Ayan, tapos na tayo sa first 4 modules, ngayon meron na tayong grade na 1, 2, 3 at 5. Tignan natin sa susunod na meeting at pag natapos natin ang halos 30 modules, tignan natin ang grades na pagpipilian nyo!

**

Asian History Prof

Prof: Punyeta yang mga sinasabing atheist sila, The mere fact that they have that grammatical equivalent for the word GOD, it means that they have the notion of GOD. Kaya wag nilang sasabihing walang GOD.

**

Philo Prof: THERE IS NO GOD!

**

=) nakakatuwa mga prof! hehe

Lipogram to an Emo Kid

I have always seen yo as I walked down the steps of that hall named after Palma. Yo are never been hard to notice since all the color seems so bright and lod everyday–that’s merely becase of yor presence. I never thoght that yo’d ever pt the pencil’s inner sol into yor eyes, by that I mean literal. I jst don’t get that while some people try to conceal their nights sorrow yo are here ptting the lead nder yor eyes to make it look mch darker. I coldn’t find even the slightest cle when is the last time do yo have yor hairct done. It’s keeps hiding yor face depriving even yor sight to set free. Head croched, I mean… Can yo even see what yo’re doing?

It’s not a qestion that yo fancy black, it’s an open statement. I thogh it is jst yor favorite jst like those girls back in high school who really fancied pink objects. Bt why is it that yor fondness of black seems extreme to the pblics eyes? What do yo think?

Well, honestly…the reason why I write is becase some thoght is really bothering me. Remember the day when we go together to or afternoon class? Yes, before my art stdies class and I reckon, its yor hmanities. My class is at the 2nd floor and yors is at the forth floor. Jst right after yor few steps p to the third floor, I hear some whisper… “EMOX”. First I don’t get it. Thoght it’s a cast off statement and so I dropped it.

Blntly speaking. Are yo in some sort of fraternity or an org? It qite seem that yo belong somehow into somewhat grop. I wold kindly remind yo that the dormitory manager prohibits joining brotherhood in or freshman year. Well, i jst have this thoght after I hear another remark to somewhat a gy who dress p like yo.

What’s bothering me is the news from the other girls dormitory. Again they are calling her “EMO” and referring to her as sicidal as her roommate saw her with a sharp blade close to her wrist. Tell me, that’s really bothering, isn’t it?

I don’t think there is something wrong with yo and if ever there is, don’t bother bothering me. We are jst the two high school bddy in here, no one else. As of me in here, I’m still fine. Keeping p with this smmer vacation which kills. Oh, another thing. What is the name of the band yo’re referring to me? The kind of msic yo said yor p to? Ok, jst tell me in school.

Isn’t it weird that I write to yo in an Lipogram? Well, I kinda look idiot in my statements above not knowing what’s happening. Well basically it’s jst a matter of denial. Haha! Tre! I jst don’t wanna believe yo’re p to sicidal thingy, yor fashion is tolerable it’s jst those freaking description that yo’re an EMO freaks me ot. Emo=Emotional, think they jst pt things in extremities. By the way, do yo know what an Lipogram means? Well, its a writing that omits or dispenses with all words containing a particlar letter of the alphabet.

It jst tells yo that there is always “I or me” in this game bddy! Yo are not jst ” or yo” if problems occr. Don’t think yor alone. Being emotional is kinda bearable at times. We all once in a while gets a little corny.

So, it’s my time omit all the “” in this article and retain “I”. Wait, i write it in a first person statement hh. “” means “you” and “I” means “me”. So dropped the feeling yor alone coz there is always me ( yck! kinda cheesy) hehe.

I’m omitting the “” cz if not, it wont be a Lipogram thogh!

See yo in classes!

Pepe

Maria Clara: Huwad na Simbolo ng Filipina

Hindi ko alam kung kaya kong patindigan ang pamagat ng blog na ito dahil sa tindi ng kultural na bagwis na mayroon ito. Ngunit isa lang ang aking pinanghahawakan, ang mga bagay-bagay na aking natuklasan at ang pamamaraan ng mga institusyon at sariling pananaw ko upang isaayos ang mga diwa at bumuo ng sariling opinyon. Bukas ako sa inyong mga saloobin at mga hinagpis na komento, pasalamat pa ako kung may magbibigay ng pansin dahil mababatid ko na marami pa ring may puso sa ‘ting bayan.

Wari’y ang pagbibigay karakter ni Jose Rizal kay Maria Clara ay isang mayumi, marikit, makadiyos at magalang na dalaga. Ito ay ilan lamang sa mga karakter na pilit ikinakabit sa tuwing pag-uusapan ang katangiang “tunay na Filipina”. Malimit din natin naoobserbahan kung paano lantakan itong ginagamit ng lipunan upang maipakita nga na siya ang “Tunay na Filipina”. Si Maria Clara ay isang mahinhin na babae, palasimba, maayos kung magdamit, nagpapaligaw sa tamang lugar at paraan– ayan daw ang dapat na ugali ng mga Tunay na Filipina, si Maria Clara bilang batayan ng kagandahan.

Sa tuwing pinag-aaralan ang Noli Me Tangere sa sekondarya, malimit ding naririnig sa mga mag-aaral kung paano sila kabilib kay Maria Clara, ngunit marahil bunga lamang ito ng pag-iisip nating mga Pilipino na kung sino ang naapi ay siyang bida. Mahihinuha ito sa karakterisasyon kay Maria Clara. Ngunit nagsilbing palaisipan sa akin ang kalaliman ng pag-iisip ni Dr. Jose Rizal.

Kung totoo man ang lahat ng mga pang-uri na idinikit kay Jose Rizal (Halos maubos ang lahat ng positibo), naisip ko kung ganoon nga ba siya kababaw upang ilatag ang bawat titik na kanyang isinulat upang basahain kung paano ito isinaayos. Marahil nagpapaka-Dan Brown ako sa mga pagbabaka-sakaling ito, ngunit hayaan nyong subukan ko.

Kung, ating mababatid sa nobela, si Maria Clara ay may mga kaiga-igayang mga karakter nga, hindi ko ipagkakait ito. Talaga ngang mayumi siya, madasalin at masunurin. Lalo pang tumatak siya sa aking isipan ng sa isang banda sa nobela, ng makakita sila ng isang taong ketongin, nilapitan niya ito at ibinigay ang kwintas na ipinamana pa sa kanya, maluha-luha si Maria Clara bago ang pangyayaring ito dahil sa lubos na awa. Bilang ganti, hinalikan ng ketonging ang lupa kung saan ito iniaabot ni Maria Clara. Ilan lamang ito sa mga magagandang katangian ni Maria Clara.

Ngayon, kung tuwang-tuwa naman pala ako sa karakter ni Maria Clara, para saan pa ang litanyang ito? Marahil, ang akin lamang ang walang-humpay na pagpopoluridad bilang “tunay na Filipina ang may kaugalian ni Maria Clara”

Isa, pagpansin lamang. Si Maria Clara ay anak sa pagkakasala ni Padre Damasa at ng Ina ni Maria Clara. Sa isang bahagi ng nobela kabanata 36, sinabi ni Kapitan Tiyago kay Maria Clara na  “Huwag kang umiyak, anak ko,” ang dugtong na ito ang hinarap, “hindi ka kagaya ng ina mo na kailanman ay hindi umiiyak… hindi umiiyak kundi noong naglilihi…” sabi-sabi sa mga nabasa ko, sino ba namang ina na halos buong buhay ay nagnanais na magka-anak ang luluha kung kailan nagdadalang tao na? Ito raw ay sa kadahilanang bunga ng pagkakasala ang kanyang ipinagbubuntis.

Ngayon, di ko naman sinasabi na dahil lamang di tunay na Filipina si Maria Clara ay mawawalan na siya ng karapatan bilang maging isa. Binibigyan ko lamang ng pansin ang lalim ng pahiwatig ni Gat Jose Rizal sa pagbibigay nya ng karakterisasyon kay Maria Clara at kung paano sa tingin ko ay mapanlinlang ito sa mata ng nakararami.

Maari ngang Pilipinas ang ang maaring ipakahulugan kay Maria Clara, ngunit kung gayonman, pinakikita lamang dito na ang “Pilipinas” na ating kilala ay isang mapanlinlang lamang, bunga ng walang habas na pagpapakasakit ng mga Kastila, bunga ng mga masasamang motibo ngunit nagbalat-kayo bilang isang marahan at makadiyos na kolonya. Ito ang ibabanderang relihiyon ng mga Kastila. Maaring tinignan ni Rizal si Maria Clara bilang paglalarawan ng Pilipinas na tayo ay nalilinlang ng Panlabas na yumi, ganda at linis ng Relihiyon ngunit ito naman ay nagbubunga ng malupit at marahas na Panloob.

Maaring natanaw ni Rizal kung paano natin titignan ang karakter na ito, na tayo ay madaling mabulag sa kagandahan na tila ba natatakpan ang tunay na dumi nito, at tignan nyo ang binunga nito. Isang martir na babae na hindi man lamang ipinaglaban ang pag-ibig hanggang sa napilitan na lamang magmadre ang sumisimbolo ngayon sa Babaeng Pilipino, mayroon bang kahit isang matang pumuna rito? Kung mayroon man, kaunti dahil nabulag ang mata ng mga tao sa halina at kababawan ng kalidad. Tila ba matagal ng nahinuha ni Gat Jose Rizal ang kasalukuyan nating nosyon sa pagtangkilik sa balatkayong kagandahan na inilalatag sa atin ng mga dayuhang bansa.

Sa kabilang banda, ang ilan sa ating mga kababayang tunay na ginamit ang lakas upang makalaya at buong tamang na nakipaglaban ay nanatili lamang tahimik na bayani sa sulok ng ating mga silid, ni hindi pinagpipilitang isabuhay natin ang kanilang mga inialay na buhay, bagkus tinitingala lang sila di tulad ni Maria Clara na dapat isabuhay.

Anong ginagawa ni Gabriela Silang na buong tamang humalili sa asawang heneral? Ni Melchora Aquino na hindi hadlang ang edad at lakas upang tumulong na tayo ay makalaya? Si Gregoria De Jesus na hindi abaniko ang hawak kung hindi sibat ng buong tapang.

Kaya sa tingin ko, ang Filipina ay hindi Maria Clara, ito ay isang kasinungalingang pilit isinubo sa atin ng bulok na sistema.

Sige, ulanin nyo na ako ng batikos!

Go!