I Love Valentine's Day

Forgive me, I just need to post this one.

Every morning in our quiet little village, numerous joggers often pass by in front of our gate. In the span of time that we’ve been living there, I got acquainted with but a few of the consistent joggers. When I leave early for work, I always prepare my warm morning greetings for the people that I will be meeting on the street on that day. A smile is always handy to carry around these days.

An elderly couple never fails to catch my attention everyday. Yes, they are jogging but no, they are not. I mean, they are part of the joggers group but they are not running, only walking.

There are three items that made them odd from the rest as per my observation. One is that the lady is always carrying a small flower on her hand, gumamela, santan or others often a white one and sometimes red. The other one is that they always wear the same color, if the guy wears blue then the lady will also wear the same hue, if it’s orange, then orange it is. As I would see it, it is their uniform per se. The last odd thing may not be odd but perhaps sweet. They always walk holding hands and as others would say… PSSP (pa-sway sway pa).

Last Saturday, Valentine’s day, I got up early because I promised to myself I would not missed this morning. I went in front of our gate to catch a glimpse on the odd old couple. True enough my sacrifices were greatly rewarded. Got hold of my checklist.

1. Same color of clothes. Check. They are both wearing red shirts and white shorts. Same sneaker brand too.
2. Holding hands with the swaying movement. Check. With casual conversations every so often.
3. A flower on one hand. Check. A red rose I suppose.

I always love Valentine’s Day.

I was so inspired that I greeted them, “Good morning! Happy Valentine’s Day!”

They both smiled and greeted me as well, “Hi, Happy Valentine’s day to you too!”

That night, during my dinner date with my wife, I told the story of the old couple. She knew who I was talking about because she also noticed them everyday. We hoped we would grow old like that sweet couple.

This morning, I saw them again. Same color, holding hands, one flower. But as I was about to greet them, they greeted me with a very warm “Happy Valentine’s Day to you!”

I was caught by surprise. Not knowing what to do, I greeted them the same thing, “Happy Valentine’s Day to both of you too!” They just nod their head, smiled and walked away.

This is going to be a fine day I thought, because I love Valentine’s Day. I was wrong.

On my way to the office, I received a text message about my operators being absent, hence low output. During the day, I was grilled on the phone by an unsolicited customer. I got non-conformities on my department’s audit and was late at my meeting with the top management that irked them. Aside from that there were these things that are waiting for me at my desk – overdue reports, claims, stress, pressures and everything in between.

I have to admit, today was not my day. I sure wish that that today did not happen. I was about to swear on this day because of all the bad luck happening to me when I thought of what day is today. Then suddenly, the morning scenario with the old couple popped into my head. It was then that I realized, that I was just simply being reminded by the odd couple, that everyday is Valentine’s Day.

I sure love Valentine’s Day!

Touchdown!

Binabantayan ko sa ngayon sa internet ang isa sa mga most-watched television event sa America. Hindi ito star-studded gaya ng Oscar. Wala ring mga text votes gaya ng American Idol. Wala rin ditong presidenteng manunumpa gaya ng Obama inaguration. Kundi purong laman at lakas lang ang mapapanood mo. Ito ay ang SuperBowl XLIII - ang Finals game ng American Football sa pagitan ng Pittsburgh Steelers at Arizona Cardinals.

(photo courtesy of Yahoo!)

Kuya ko ang nagturo sa akin nung bata pa ako kung paano nilalaro ang labanang ito at kung paano ito naiiba sa larong rugby ng mga taga Europa. Simula non, naadik na ako. Kahit pangalawa lang siya para sa akin tungkol sa TV sports (una ang NBA syempre), pinagpupuyatan ko pa rin ang bawat laro nila. Wala naman akong paboritong team dito, gusto ko lang mapanood ang mga diskarte sa bawat play na kanilang gagawin. Mga kilos ng quarterback, banggaan ng center, takbuhan ng tight end, pasahan ng running back at syempre mga sayaw kapag naka touchdown na.

Maraming pelikula na ang nagawa na umikot sa tema ng larong ito. Ilan lang dito ang mga paborito kong Jerry McGuire ni Tom Cruise at Grid Iron ni The Rock. Ibang klase kasi ang drama na nangyayari sa loob at labas ng football field, kaya maraming film producers ang kumakagat dito. Ang kaisipang maaari kang manalo sa likod ng mga balakid at hadlang ay isang magandang tema para sa pelikula. Dito rin kasi umiikot ang buhay ng tao at gaya nga ng sinabi ni Al Pacino sa isang football film, "... you can win or lose on any given Sunday...".

Naalala kong bigla ang laro namin noon sa looban, ang futbol. Sa larong basebal iginaya ang konsepto ng laro pero imbis na papaluin ng bat ay sisipain yung bola na igugulong ng isang pitcher. Kailangan mong dumaan sa apat na 'base' na may mga bantay din, pipilitin kang i-out ng mga kalaban mo sa pamamagitan ng pagbato o pagdikit sa iyo ng bola.

Maliit lang ako non, nung bata ako, hindi mo iisiping malakas akong sumipa at magaling umilag. Kadalasan, ipinamimigay ako kapag kampihan na, liability daw kasi ako. Sabagay, ilang paa, kamay at mukha na rin ng mga dumadaan ang aking tinamaan kapag dumaplis ang binato kong bola sa kalaban. Pero kapag sipaan na, nagiging asset na ako. Ilang bintana na rin ang aking nabasag dahil tinamaan ng bola na sinipa ko. Buti na lang laging magaling makipagtawaran ang nanay ko sa mga biktima ko.

Hindi alam ng mga anak ko ang larong ito. Nung Sabado sa isang parke sa Manila, itinuro ko sa kanila ang larong ito. Tuwang-tuwa ang dalawa kong anak at may natutunan na naman silang bagong laro. Kahit pawisan na at galit na ang mommy nila, hinayaan ko silang maging bata at hinayaan naman nila akong maging daddy nila. Takbo dito, habol doon, dapa dito, gulong doon. Pagod, hingal at puro pawis na ako kaya niyaya ko muna silang umupo. Habang nagpapahinga, isang maikling komento mula sa aking bunso ang kumurot sa puso ko. Sabi niya "Iba talaga kapag andito si Daddy!". Biglaang nawala ang pagod na nararamdaman ko. Isang salita lang ang naisagot ko sa kanya, "Taya!". Takbuhan kami ulit.

Isang agaw ang ginawa ng isang Pittsburgh Steelers na player at itinakbo ang bola tungo sa goal nila. Karipas ang takbo, walang lingon-lingon, habang di magkamayaw ang mga fans sa kakasigaw. TOUCHDOWN! 100 yards ang layo ng kanyang itinakbo, ayon sa Yahoo, ito na ang pinakamalayong interception at touchdown sa buong history ng Superbowl. Siya na siguro ang pinakamasayang tao nung oras na yon.

(photo courtesy of Yahoo!)

Nangiti lang ako. Hanggang ngayon, ninanamnam ko pa rin kasi ang mga binitiwang salita ng aking bunso. Nangingiti ako tuwing naaalala ko ito. Tunay ngang madrama sa loob at labas ng football field. Di man halata sa hitsura ko, pero sa puso ko, di magkamayaw ang galak ko, daig ko pa kasi ang naka score ng isang record TOUCHDOWN!