The Barbershop Perspective

The Barber Shop Perspective (31 March 2011) 

Image from freepik.com 

Note: This post was written on the 31st of March 2011, when I was still residing in the Philippines. I found it after looking at some old blog files, and I am not sure if it was ever published ... or if I decided to delete it at some point. I felt that what I wrote at that time is a timely reminder during these trying days .... 

As we watch and feel sad as the world reels from one tragedy to the next calamity, we, as individuals, also find it very easy to feel down because of personal challenges. 

Today was like that. 

I was feeling a bit depressed since morning over some difficulties at work and health issues of certain family members and friends. I decided to take a break that mid afternoon and asked my son Luke to join me so we can both have a haircut at the neighbourhood barbershop. 

I hoped that the distraction would lift me out of my doldrums. So, off we went to Leoʼs barbershop. And yes, the diversion helped indeed, but, I also got more than what I expected. 

As I was getting my regular 3x2, and continuously glancing at Luke, who was seated beside me enjoying his haircut, a couple entered and the man proceeded to look for his regular barber. He found him and he cheerfully took his place in the barbers chair while his wife sat on a bench smiling at everyone. 

The man was a regular it seems and he proceeded to chat with all the barbers in the shop, including the ones working on me and Luke. His voice filled the room, and, I could not help, as is usually the norm in barbershops, to overhear the conversation. 

I gathered that he worked for an airline in Indonesia. That the food there was spicy, and that he usually gets assigned to Papua New Guinea. I tried to place if he was a pilot or an attendant but could not deduce this from the information at hand. As I eavesdropped, I learned that he just got back - for an early vacation - as his wife, the smiling lady on the bench, just had a miscarriage a few days ago. 

He also told his barber that he was in a bit of a hurry since they had to attend to the cremation of their three month stillborn son. 

One barber asked the wife when she got out of the hospital and she replied that it was just yesterday. She added that she wanted to rest before the cremation but her husband wanted her to accompany him to the barbershop. All this was said with a loving smile to her mate. 

The barbers, upon hearing the details of the story, all chorused their disappointment, proclaiming "sayang", over what happened but mixed it with some light banter and teasing on how the wife probably got stressed because the husband was working so far away. 

The husband then proceeded to mention that they were hoping for a girl. He jokingly remarked that their yet unborn son probably felt bad about this - " nagtampo" - which is why the miscarriage happened. 

I was beginning to feel funny about how the conversation - of a tragic incident, no doubt - was being carried about by the couple and the barbers without a demonstrative sign of depression or sadness. 

After a minute or two, just when I was beginning to rationalize the situation, the man also mentioned to the barbers that his brother just got out of prison, but, he has not seen him yet since he got back three days ago. His wife interrupted him, saying that the brother was not out yet, but would be released the next day. The man acknowledged the correction and proceeded to discuss his brother's incarceration, with the same light tone he used for the past half hour. His barber replied with his own story of how his nephew was just caught in a pot session and is now in jail awaiting a trial. 

At this point, I felt that I was in a dream, with my body perhaps asleep back in my office chair. Luke smiling all throughout the haircut did not help me to think otherwise. 

But, after a few winks, and a slight pinch to my leg, I knew it was real and that I just had a hard time appreciating how these people around me are handling the challenges in their life. 

After a few minutes, I stepped out of the barbershop with Luke, not only with a neat crew cut, but a lighter feeling & a more confident perspective on how to deal with what life brings. 

On Reading And Listening To Stories ....

Journal: 27 October 2020

I just finished listening to the AMERICAN GODS Audio book, by Neil Gaiman. 

I have read the novel before, twice, but it was still such a joy listening to the story, especially since I have forgotten a lot of the wonderful bits and nuances,  scattered all over  the novel.

I am also currently re-reading the Harry Potter series, and I am now in Book 5 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I have read the previous books,  and this current one, possibly around five or six times, and am still delighted everytime I read it.

Whenever I am alone, and I ponder on the level of happiness I have in my daily life, I find myself being grateful for these books, that they bring me to such state of joy. 

Even the anticipation of reading or listening to to them at a later hour, brings a smile to my lips.

I have decided recently to stop subscribing to my Audiobook service, as the cost of listening to one book each month, is much more than buying the same type of books in our local bookstore. 

I felt it would be better to support our local book shops, and satisfy my listening time ( usually when I have to do regular chores) by listening to podcasts or classic audiobooks that come with our family’s music subscription service.

I still had one more credit left in my Audiobook Service account, and I decided to purchase - THE NEIL GAIMAN READER audiobook which has twenty seven hours of listening bliss. 

Perhaps, I would re-subscribe in the future,  if there is a particular audiobook that I would really want to listen to.

I started appreciating audiobooks when I decided to subscribe to the service, to listen to the adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s first few volumes of THE SANDMAN Graphic Novel, and it was hard for me to stop ever since. 

But, as I mentioned, I shall, right after I finish this current book. I have placed my account on pause, and will unsubscribe once the GAIMAN READER is finished.

From that time, I will feel less guilty in purchasing books in our local bookstore, knowing that I am not spending too much.

I do however recommend, for those that can afford it, to subscribe to your audiobook service, and of course, to keep on buying books at your local book shops, whether new or used.

I can only share my own moments of happiness when I am reading (or listening) to stories, and wish the same for everyone.

Sierra

Journal: 21 Oct. 2020

Sierra. She brought light into a cloudy day yesterday.

It was a typical Tuesday, waking up to a cool springtime morning here in rural New South Wales. I was getting ready for the tasks to be done for the day, when a message from a niece popped up on my phone, welcoming the newest addition to the family, a 5.2 pound baby girl named Sierra.

She is the first “grandchild”,  among the immediate family of my wife, and the first also, even with my own side of the family. 

As my eldest son puts it, the first of a new generation in our immediate family.

Suddenly, the cloudy morning just seemed to be brighter, and all my worries of things to come melted away. Even concerns about being born in a middle of a pandemic seemed to disappear. 

All that is left is the joy and wonder of a new life, a new wonder, a new hope for all that is important in our lives.

It is unfortunate that any plans of visiting baby Sierra in the coming holidays will be quite impossible considering the overseas travel restrictions imposed on the world.

Still, hoping to see her soon via video calls bring us excitement in the coming days.

Life is indeed a mystery. Each day brings worries … concerns and anxious moments. But it also brings nuggets of delight, and surprises, and smiles.

Blessings like Sierra help us go on with our lives, despite the obstacles and difficulties we face each day.

My Journal.

Journal: 19 Oct. 2020

Today, I decided to write my journal entries, as if they’re going to be published for public reading. And perhaps I will put it in my “Shoplifter” blog. Or maybe not. I haven’t decided yet.

Why this sudden decision?

I did think about this, I remember, months or years ago, but just never had the courage to post personal matters about my life, for public reading. 

Tonight, I happened to read the latest entry in Neil Gaiman’s blog, and admired how beautiful he writes about his everyday life, and  this idea crept up once again in my mind.

And here I am.

Does this mean that I would be writing more mundane things, and less personal ones, since I plan to share it with others?  Maybe…. or maybe not…. let’s see how it goes in the coming days.

One thing that I am looking forward to, is that I would need to put in more effort in the way I describe the normal, everyday things that are going to happen in my life.

And hopefully, the dear readers who stumble into my blog, would appreciate the way I tell my story… the story of my day that had just passed.

Everyday Life in words.

I read a feature article yesterday, about a column written by a writer who is in her senior years.
I liked the way she wrote about everyday occurrences in her column, taking particular notice of how she observes things she encounters in her daily life, with words meant to be read by her readers.

It occurred to me that it would be nice if we , or I in particular, wrote my journal entries with the intent of writing it for the general public. 
I was wondering how it would compare with the normal way I write, which is of course more personal, and probably vague, since I do not expect anyone to read it, aside from my family, once I am gone, and they have managed to find it.

I thought I would give it a try, and perhaps even post these journal entries in this blog, with some editing of course.

I make a mental note, that I should bring my small notebook all around the house, or when I make the trip outside the house ...
(Note that this is written during the Covid19 Pandemic, where everyone is advised to stay at home, except for essential trips) 
....to purchase groceries. 
This way, I can jot down bits of stuff that I can then include in my journal.

I believe I have written too much (in my journal) about things that are  going on inside my head…. my fears… hopes… prayers… and I should also focus on what is happening around me… how the weather is getting colder… how the days are getting shorter, and how darkness sets in a lot sooner as winter is approaching.

I hope that when I do get these pieces posted, that there would be at least one reader who would appreciate the new way I look at everyday life, and how I will try to put it in words.

Being Part Of A Nation

Being Part of A Nation 

In twenty-four hours, I will  receive my Australian citizenship, and by default, lose my status as a citizen of the Philippines. It is one of those major events in one’s life …. not as important as being born … or accepting death, but pretty much in the same category as being married, and even much higher than reaching your 50th birthday, or going into retirement. 

Everyone, I suppose, with maybe a handful of exceptions, gets born into a citizenship. The place of your birth, or inheriting the citizenship of your parents. 

I was born a Filipino citizen, and will be a Filipino citizen, until tomorrow. Fifty two years. 

Tomorrow, I hope to reflect what it will be like to be an Australian citizen. Today, I will ponder those fifty-two years of being a Pinoy. 

I would like to think that the current situation of the Philippines, where a brewing dictatorship is being resurrected, would add significance to this change in my life. But, I realise, that this predicament, and sentiment on my part, has always been there. 

Growing up, I took great pride in my Filipino heritage, vehemently defending it from imperialist and home grown forces that insist on dictating the culture and identity of my homeland. I found myself, much to the chagrin of my parents, in dangerous situations, when I joined protests and actions against the Marcos dictatorship. 

I rejoiced at the newfound freedom and re-birth of democracy after the People Power Revolution of 1986. And, throughout the difficult process of nation building in the years that followed, I was vocal and passionate about political, social and civic affairs of my country. 

When I migrated to Australia five years ago, there was a tinge of sadness and regret, especially when the country had a brief moment of pride under the Noynoy Aquino administration. True, it was very far from perfect, but there were signs that the Philippines was on the road to being a prosperous and developed nation. 

With today's tragic circumstances in the Philippines…. Extra Judicial Killings, the trampling of democratic institutions, and the ongoing attempt to tamper with the Constitution in order for the politicians to consolidate their power, this regret has turned into a relief, for being away such madness, and into the much, much more civilised and democratic society in Australia. 

A few days ago, the editor of the local paper interviewed me and my family, as part of the news features for the Australia day celebrations. This ceremony, in our local area,  is  where we will say our pledge of commitment to Australia, and receive our citizenship.  

My eldest son Noah, in that interview, said something that was a bit profound, enough to be highlighted in the article. He said, upon being asked about how he felt about changing citizenship, 

“I’ve never tied myself to belonging to one country”… 

He added... 

“It doesn’t feel like I’m leaving my Filipino lineage, I’m adding to my life by becoming an Australia citizen”. 

I had pretty much felt the same this past year, when getting our citizenship was already in the works, but my son put it in words that I do not think I can improve on. 

Sometimes, I feel a surge of patriotism for my new country, Australia, which sort of triggers a sense of guilt. Looking deeper, I realise it is because of my sense of gratitude, for this new country I belong to, and to the kind people who have welcomed us and has given us a “fair go” at a chance for a good life, that I am developing this love of country, of having pride in being a part of Australia. 

Everyday, for the past year or so, I read about the struggle of many Filipinos, who are fighting their own government, and I join in, through the new form of battle - social media warfare- hoping that the little I do, will make a difference in fighting for justice and democracy. 

I asked myself today, if I will still do the same tomorrow. 

And I say, Yes. 

Even as an Australian citizen, I will never cease to be concerned for the welfare of my birth country, and for the families and friends I have in the Philippines. 

I will, like my son pointed out, be a citizen of the world, and have love, pride, and concern for both the country I was born in - the Philippines, and the nation that has embraced me and my family, - Australia. 

Today, I do not forget, I do not say goodbye. 

But I look forward to tomorrow, where I will strengthen my bond with this country I now call my home, and use my status as a global citizen, to help in the struggle of  the country of my birth. 

 (Photo Credit - https://www.crossed-flag-pins.com/Friendship-Pins/Philippines/Flag-Pins-Philippines-Australia.html) 

Being Filipino

It's been more than a year since my last blog post... It was about the burial  of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

And it wasn't my article... I was just sharing it .... written by a group of lawyers who wanted to remain individually anonymous. So much has happened since then.

Being a resident in another country, and looking at what is happening all over the world... in the Philippines, in the USA and Europe, one cannot help but be dismayed and disheartened with the coming year.

The Extra Judicial Killings in the Philippines, the escalating conflict between Trump and North Korea, the slave trade in Libya, continuing tension in the Middle East, and of course, the terrorist attacks in the US and other parts of the world that everyone sadly seems to have accepted as ordinary.

Being a Filipino living overseas, and hoping to acquire citizenship in my country of residence soon, I am both saddened and excited at the prospect.

Unlike in the previous years however, where the prospect of giving up my Filipino citizenship would bring sadness to my mind (and fully considering applying for dual citizenship), the current sadness I feel is different.

With what is happening in and to the Philippines under Duterte, I am more revolted at the attitude and principles of many Filipinos, some of them very good friends and family members, in supporting, not only the Extra Judicial Killings, but the continuous destruction of democracy.

Duterte himself I can accept.... I've lived through the Marcos years to accept the existence of evil men. But to see many of my countrymen condoning and supporting such evil acts makes me feel hopeless on the future of my country of birth.

The sadness I am currently feeling, which I mentioned earlier,  is not in losing my Filipino citizenship, very soon, but in my own lack of desire to keep it.
I cannot, in all honesty, deny my longing to acquire my new citizenship,  and remove the shame of being a Filipino in the now , the present....

Writing this helps .... it vents my anger on what is happening in the Philippines.

And hopefully, once the rage subsides, I will remember what it was about being a Filipino, that I was so proud of... what it was about being a Filipino citizen, that I was so sad of losing.