Unmasked

I WAS TALKING to Karen Mae. She placed an unexpected call from Japan, and it was all I could do not to gasp in surprise. She said that, now that she’s in Japan, she’ll be able to buy the pen that she promised me some weeks back. How very like her, I thought, always has in her heart friends that she cared for. The problem was, while we were talking, I heard voices calling my name from the front of our house, so I had to cut our chat short to see whom the voices belong to. Another surprise: they were Dem, KM’s husband, and Noy Atô, fellow One STG Band members. I had to admit my surprise and ask them why the sudden, unannounced call, not that I minded it. They said they just thought of dropping by, which was strange and, to satisfy a funny feeling in the back of my mind, I asked if they were sent by GenDong, our leader. The feeling was pushed by GenDong’s earlier viber message questioning if I was all right, because my love notes (more on this later) were all over the village. No, the duo repeated, they just thought of dropping by. I was caught unawares, in my house clothes, unbathed, and I could not offer them anything (there was nothing in the pantry), I could not even remember to ask them into the house, for we all sat in the porch couch and exchanged idle conversation to fill in the awkward moments. If it were the past, I’d have run to the nearest store and bought them beer to spice up the conversation but they said there was no need for it and picked up whatever subject that came to mind just to give the awkward encounter a semblance of communion. They must have felt as clumsy as I was for being in such situation and I could not discourage the difficulty so we must have felt relieved when it was time to part.

On October 3, a Saturday, I felt the itch to express love, for all the friends I have in the many communities I was committed to get involved in, and did it as soon as I felt it. Therefore, I must’ve inundated the village with the love notes GenDong mentioned in his message. I had the song “On a Wonderful Day Like Today” in mind as I wrote and copied/pasted my messages to the groups I was a member of, on social media, and only stopped when I knew I didn’t leave any group unloved. I was taken out of this glorious stupor by first, Karen Mae, and next, by her husband Dem and Noy Atô.

We are siblings from different umbilical cords, UtoLiza and me. We were complete strangers when we moved to BF Homes (they’ve been here already for a time). Myrna knew her ahead of me (they were school mates from San Miguel Bulacan) and it was only when Myrna introduced her to me that we got to know each other (being church servers) better. They were both from a Saint Paul School but their meeting again in BF Homes did not make them closer; in a strange twist, we got glued, and now even call each other ‘Utol’ (short for kaputol, slang for kapatid; Myrna calls her Elizabeth) and the tag stuck.

October 4, Sunday, UtoL, Mom (Mila Mendoza, fellow Legionary, whom I consider my surrogate parents along with Dad (her husband Domeng) and I were supposed to conduct a sick visit. Call time was 9 am. It was 10 minutes to that and UtoL messaged me saying she will be 10 minutes late. I texted back that I’ll meet her halfway and proceeded to walk to their house. When I got there, her Kasambahay Marie was on her way out and told me UtoL just left (I knew it, her Ford Escape was no longer in the garage). So I said it was all right and proceeded to deliver Ate Emma’s shirt. She wasn’t home so I gave it to the lady who opened their gate. Then returned to Nepomuceno Street, stood midway between UtoL’s house and the church so that, should they return, UtoL can easily spot me. No such thing happened after 15 minutes I decided to walk back home. I would read her messsage later that she did not have her phone with her. Clearly a case of miscommunication. She explained and I said spilt milk, no worries. Those crossed signals were absent when, after a year of her husband Kuya Totoy’s passing, she gave me three pairs of trousers with accompanying shirts (one of which he never got to wear) in fulfillment of a promise to augment my scarce set of clothes.

Dolly de Leon said in an interview that everything is political nowadays. I don’t blame her. She is in the public eye. I am not. So I can choose to be apolitical. And not be affected by the ill phenomena around me. Even in the groups I belong to. Like the One STG Band. Which sometimes gets in the whirlwind of a homeowners organization’s pursuits. That, being of human character, sets aside its original goal of making music as one and dabbles in discussing principles that go against theirs. And gets arguments from the opposite camp that court further discussions ad infinitum. I decided to clam up. Pleading the silence of Mary.

Bing is one ‘broker’ I really appreciate. She made it a point to be with Ate Rose and I when we collect (and then transfer) the Block Rosary’s Mama Mary from Ate Melis. We hadn’t had time to talk to the next house owner and were playing it by ear and Ate Melis didn’t mind to come with us, all dressed for work (it was a Monday morning) bearing the virgin, and the sun was already starting to scorch, and no one was answering our call in front of Sis Arlene’s house. There was a tarp signage on her gate with a number to call (if interested to buy double-yolk eggs) and Ate Melis called it. Ate Lisa answered and said her daughter subs her when she’s away and we resumed knocking and yelling again but to no avail. Bing suggested Kuya Ed, off we went to his house, he said they’re not the right block, and suggested his son Kuya Leo, who lives in his same complex, and that ended our brief exodus. By her garage, I repeated my apology to Ate Melis. She smiled. And extended her hand. To my almost stupefaction.

While waiting for the rosary to start, and Myrna and Ate Becky were engaged in chat, Ate Myla and I shared Fr. Eidh’s Allocutio at the meeting (which I missed because I overslept). Then she knelt to hear Sis Rhea more clearly as they discussed the ongoing activity.

Bing would not stop calling my wife Myrna until the latter reassured her of joining the Family Loving Rosary yesterday. Even on our way to church, Myrna said Bing called several times about it she lost whatever misgiving she might have had. In church later, Myrna would tell me that that was her first time to return to church esssince the pandemic. What a breakthrough, I thought.

My wife and I parted ways, she towards home and I to perform my adoration duty, and at the 4:30 Choir. Before she and Dad left, Mom sidled up to me and whispered wouldn’t I be insulted if Dad gave me stuff (including never-worn, because undersized, briefs) from his closet again. I swore to her I love hand-me-downs and bragged that I was wearing Kuya Totoy’s trousers!

Last night, I returned to Clint Ramos’ interview of Dolly de Leon and Lea Salonga in connection with their upcoming project ‘Request sa Radyo,’ and caught Dolly’s quote (which Clint loved): “Don’t be insecure; you have a seat at the table.” And Clint rejoined with “Or I’ll sit on the table itself!” I had to hand it to Dolly for holding her own beside the quintessential Lea.

At the 4:30 Mass, I was overjoyed to finally get the Acclamation right (in spite of Reese’s nudging me as a reminder, which I love because this sweetkidheart of mine never fails to amaze me! even if I already knew I’d do it. Love this Pneuma Choir Family.

This morning, after checking my mail, and reading up on essential social information, I returned to our BEC chat site to see what’s up. Ate Emma has posted a clip of Willie Ong’s latest tips for the elderly. I felt it was meant for me and watched. All 18 helpful hints on how to avoid accidents in old age. They were very encouraging. And reassuring. I was already doing some of them was why they sounded valid to me. Especially, I liked the advice to wear rubber shoes to avoid many unnecessary mishaps that would otherwise occur if the elderly were wearing fancy footwear. I will remember to ask for rubber shoes from any of my two sons the next time they are home. For size, I tried a pair (of their many pairs) in our shoe rack. Willie Ong was right. They felt precise.

Ate Relly responded to my message regarding Myrna being with me in yesterday’s Family Rosary, and the prospect of PREX for her that, “with God’s grace and will, she and Kuya Arnel hope and pray for Ate Myrna’s positive response.”

Amen.