To BE Like Him!

Sometime, I read a story about a boy who, as a birthday gift, was given a pair of shoes by his brother. The boy is so happy as he proudly shows his new shoes to his friend. He said, “It costs me nothing to have those new pair of shoes. My brother gave them to me.”  He said with eyes wide with pride for his new pair of shoes. His friend humbly said in reply, “Whoaw! I wish I could…” Then the boy interrupted him. He knew at the back of his head that his friend is going to say, as commonly expected, “I wish I could also have a brother like him” who, perhaps, is willing to give a new pair of shoes on a birthday.   

But his jaw dropped in surprise when he heard his friend continued by saying: “I wish I could BE a brother like him.”

Since I read this story, it left a marked on me that made me “wish I could also BE a brother like him.” Until now, I try to, despite how wanting I am.

I try to be a brother to a sister who is ready to burst in laughter in times of joy; but would not hold back her tears, nonetheless, when the situation calls to.

I try to be a brother to a sister who asks for opinion from as simple as how to cook gulay to how to dump a boyfriend.

I try to be a brother to a sister I admired in exhibiting her strength of character but falls back on easily.

I try to be a brother to a sister who articulates her anger and frustrations like a pro, but forgive easily.

I try to be a brother to a sister who solicits my advice but decides for herself on matters of great weight.

I try to be a brother to a sister who wants to find joy and meaning of being young and a woman, but not forgetting she is a mother. 

I try to be a brother to a sister who is tough and toughen by experienced but easily melts down, like an ice cream under the sun, for her son.

I used to say “I wish I could have a brother like him.” Until I realized “I could BE a brother like him.” Since then, I try. And they said that for us, there is only a trying, the rest is not our business.

 I try to be a brother to a sister who celebrates her birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DING, Margie! Joyeux Anniversaire! Maligayang bati! Malipayong pagsaulog sa imong adlawng natawhan. May it be a happy one, and truly, a meaningful one! Maraming salamat. I love you and I am proud of you.

                                            

           -sa kanunay,

                                                         

                        Manong

Phoquotes!

Also available in sachets!

 
                                                         

Today, somewhere across the globe, a friend of mine, together with his friends are seated on a familiar set-up with a familiar concoction to celebrate an event that only happens once a year. It's his birthday, happy birthday Daive!

For sure (and I could only sigh wishing I am there) in the midst bacchaic gathering and festal mood, there will be topics that naturally find their way out of their mouth. It ranges from how bad the flood was, to the going-ons in the office to you-can-imagine-what. Then those topics will lead from physical to metaphysical. Words about God and His wonders and His powers will roar like thunder when bacchus is already lodged in the brain. But then, wherever the topic leads, it will find its dénoument when alcohol or the capacity to take more, runs out - whatever comes first. From the mundane, to the firmaments of heaven, the topic ends up with that poor thing who peacefully settled in the septic tank. Then we may now call it a night, or day or a dawn. It depends. 

There can be myriads of topics, yes. But, do you remember those musings over inuman whether on birthdays, simple gatherings like celebrating the subsiding of Ondoy-like flood, or anything - on how about whiskey and gin or any liquor for that matter, will come in sachet? 

Well, wonder no more for what seems like a faraway musing might just be so real, at least here in Cameroon!

Pick your choice!

Here in Cameroon, gin and whiskey are available in sachets! How about that? You can have that sip of yours so literal. They come in 5cl sachets and are available as cellphone loads are in the Philippines. For what I have observed, the workers in manual labors, but not limited to, are the base consumers of these products. So it should not be a surprise to see a worker who in the middle of construction would time and again sip a sachet of gin or whiskey that can be kept in his pocket. What more, it’s affordable! And because it comes in cacao or coffee flavor, that would keep them roused – the kind that can see them through ‘til their labor is over. Thinking home, it might also be good alternative for our call center agents to keep them awake as they have to keep our economy floating until the wee hours of the night. Because it smells like coffee, that might not be too much cause of suspicion to manong guard. In any case, just cover the smell with that of a cigarette. The last time I check, it is prohibited to enter the office with a smell of liquor on, en lieu of perfume.

By far, I have seen four brands of these spirits in sachets, and there could be more. There is that royal King Arthur who can be at par, of course this is an exaggeration, with its bottled gin counterparts. There is Lion d’Or who can be an alternative over a cup of coffee (another exaggeration) as it is café infused, enough to keep your nerves awake. Do not ask me if they could be better alternatives healthwise also. They are also available on their localized names Djaraba (I still have to find out what this means) and Sambuca (and this, too) who proudly display their being rhum au café naturel.

For now, these products are not yet available in the Philippines (the last time I know) and I do not know if there will ever be anyone who wishes so. So my friend Daive, who is celebrating his birthday, could settle on these spirits' bottled version. Whatever the case be, it will surely be a Happy Birthday!  A great celebration of friendship, of life!

But of course, in bottles as in sachets, Drink Moderately remains to be a battlecry. In this matter, one sachet after another will do. 

On a wait: Red Horse in sachet, if not in capsule!