Roughly around 10 years, ago, give or take a year, my friends from UP (my classmates back then), had always enjoyed a fellowship over coffee, breakfast, a view of our beautiful campus and the major daily broadsheets.
Our nook was Homespun. It was on the 3rd floor of the Vega building outside of the UP Los Banos campus. It had wide open windows which allowed us to enjoy the panoramic view of our world. Homespun was a family run business that served breakfast, lunch and dinner - canteen style. It had bucket seats and tables and at that time, 1999 - sported one of the fastest dial up internet connections and yes, they served very decent food.
There was always someone who came in with the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Philippine Star. For some reason, we enjoyed both papers. Some went straight to the Horoscope section - most went straight to read works by Amando Doronilla, Randy David and our favorite, Conrado de Quiros. We talked and argued about our different ideas on topics ranging from socialism, democracy, Rizal, our gay professors, punctuations, grammar, music and many others. Sometimes we would talk for hours and just stay there till we get our next meal for the day. By the time we are ready to leave our coveted spot with the view, there will be acquaintances who would gladly take over and continue the mental masturbations.
This was the time when the actual generation of post Martial Law babies, the Eraserheads generation had started sprouting out of their shells and are engaging with world with their tenacity and individualism. This was the time when Erap was just hailed into power, and taken down a few months later. This was the last century. This was the time when companies like Google and Apple were not heard of yet and a walkman was still a common thing to have. This was 10 years ago. Oh how things have changed - and oh how other things have remained the same.
Now I find myself reading through the same sections in the PDI online (www.inquirer.net), looking for the same familiar names with the same familiar tone of writing. Granted, we've all aged and our attention span a bit shorter, but there's nothing better than a good column that coincides with your feelings and thoughts.
Today I read Professor David's message to the people and the new president. It spoke of hope and renewed spirit while providing the wise words that not only speak to Mr. Aquino, but also to each and every person that reads it. Part of it goes:
"TODAY BELONGS, OF COURSE, TO OUR NEW president, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. That means it is also the first day we don’t have Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as president. What a great difference that realization instantly brings! It is as if a heavy curtain of demoralization is suddenly drawn, and quickly we regain our bearings...
That means basically: don’t lie, don’t steal and don’t cheat. Don’t enrich yourself while in office. Follow the spirit of the law, more than its letter. Do not ask your lawyers for advice on how to interpret the law in order to get what you want. Ask them rather what is right and what is just.
Talk to the people and listen to them. Take time to converse with the youth, know their dreams and anxieties. Live and travel simply, remembering always that it’s the people’s money you’re using. Work hard, but be frank about what you can and cannot do. Public service is a shared burden. Tell the people how they can help the government. Lead by example."
Now the world that I am in does not have the wooden bucket seats, the view nor the contemporaries whose smiles, laughter and opinions I miss. It is a cold, quiet cubicle with artificial lighting and a monitor. I am fortunate enough to still get a chance to read my David's, de Quiros and Doronillas every so often. I guess I am also fortunate that I am able to share this with whoever wants to read it.
So here it is - read on. Enjoy.
(read: Prof. Randy David / Public Lives / Decency and the presidency)
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