IT used to be that when a man promises the moon, the stars and the sun as he ventures into a romantic relationship with a woman, he is said to be in a universal love of sorts.
And it used to be a sure yes-getter because not everybody can do it, or not everybody has the guts or the nerve, never mind the balls, to do it.
Kadto lang dunay abilibad nga molitok sa maong mga pulong ang naapil sa lista sa mga dili-ingon-nato nga mo-court.
But I am talking about the relic of the past. Wa na unta na karon kay modern na god, wa na nang kinaraan nga paagi kay maka-ulaw na na.
So anybody who still talks like that gets as instant “badoy man ka oi.”
* * *
But even then, there are still believers or practitioners to this sort of “universal love” even if they are now the vanishing tribe.
The reason for remaining so – because they want to make it appear that being in a universal love is being in the supreme kind of love, that one-of-a-kind love.
Kanang dili “lima-singko” kind of love.
Mora’g tininuod ni ha, dili ni kay dula-dula lang, ahem.
Corny yes, but still sweet nonetheless.
* * *
A single mother has a huge problem.
Her daughter, already a civil service eligible and a registered criminologist at that, wanted to apply for work in the Bureau of Fire.
So, her daughter complied with all the documentary requirements, plus all the attachments and more.
Naninuod gyod intawon iyawat na lang maka-trabaho.
But when interview portion came, she was utterly disappointed.
Not because she failed to answer the series of questions, not because she failed to attach a required document and not because she had any deficiency of sorts.
But because of one thing.
The interviewer asked one thing – pay 400k first and her application will be duly considered.
Pina-ingon ang mother – asa man tawon mi kuha anang kwartaha oi?
* * *
While the mother was relaying this story to us, I was reminded of that fateful time when I, fresh from graduation and while waiting for enrollment time, decided to apply for employment at one of the courts in Dumaguete.
I wanted to work while studying law.
Upon the advice of my elder sister, I completed and filed all documentary requirements, hopeful that my civil service eligibility would suffice.
But when I submitted my application, I got the biggest heartache in my life.
After reviewing my documents, the interviewer asked me – asa man ang recommendation sa congressman?
Kinahanglan pa diay na, wa man god na gibutang sa balaod Sir, was my reply.
But he insisted saying that that was the practice in the office and said, kon wa kay recommendation ni Congressman, way chance imong application.
Susmariosep.
Deretso na lang kog atras oi, deeply devastated and vastly frustrated of the brutal realities of bureaucratic life in the Pinas.
Ingon ana diay na, di na lang ko oi, was me talking to myself.
* * *
So when the mother completed her sad tale about the 400k asking price for employment in the Bureau of Fire, I told myself nga mas mi-grabe na gyod diay ang binuang karong panahona.
Well, kon dunay binuang ug pangurakot sa taas, ang-ang man og exempted ang ubos?
