This happened a year ago…

All our books, magazines, articles, an-inch photocopies were placed in a bamboo-made stand. For numbers of months, it stayed there in a corner unchecked by no one. Termites then, were taking their time, enjoying their lifetime meal, those reading materials!

Maybe King Termites would say “Muchos Gracias hija! lagi kaming busog!” waaah

After sawing down one-third part of it’s legs, it’s now time to say bye bye to those creepy creatures. With the help of fire plus the Calatrava chicken. The native chicken then, is taking its time, enjoying its one-day meal, those white ants!

Now it’s my turn to say “Muchos Gracias ibon! Deds na sila!” waaah

I chose and cleaned up one of the parts that has to be thrown away. I made a hole, fit enough for a 5-peso and 10-peso coin and I made a print: LABLAB AUGUST 19, 2007. For assurance, I nailed and taped it around the wood stand.

And that’s the history of my bamboo bank, I could’ve invent it without the help of termites.

Present…

All the coins that were piled up in my bamboo bank were because of my ’sacrifices’… I’d rather take a kilometer walk than pay an exact fare to a ride, I’d better have free meal at home than say bye to an Osmeña-bill just to satisfy my tummy, I’d prefer wearing my usual Tees than follow new craze in town, I’d choose jamming my sound at home than hang-out the with Researchers plus the Coordinator. And last, I’d ignore everything else, even loading up my phone, not my online accounts.

I am really working for it. How I longed to have my own guitar, I missed my highschool years, when I went home late for my rehearsals in Rondalla, I played guitar then, everything is simple, the chords, the strumming, the plucking… that’s why I wanted some more…now. The main reason of my ’sacrifices’.

So now, it’s almost been a year and I suppose those old coins can’t wait to be finally in my hands. One morning, I asked assistance to my mother, stunned her, the mouth of the bamboo bank was cracked and the nail was easily loosened. As she counted the coins, it was only 150 Php! I remember what my cousin told me “malas mag-alkansiya!” My bad! Her premonition never failed. For all those months, someone has been stealing my money!!! (kilala ko kumuha nu’n)   What about my guitar! What about those sacrifices?! What a bloody nightmare!