Arise

“…we have 50° Celsius temperature, but in some area their heat index will go as far as 58° Celsius. At 6PM the temperature will go down in 44° Celsius. That’s it for today weather report.” You can hear it from our TV while we’re having a breakfast, it’s already 6:30 in the evening and all of us are getting ready to work or to go to school. If you are wondering why we are having breakfast at evening, well, it’s because 50 years ago the temperature reached 50° Celsius and because we are leaving at a tropical country it is hard for us to work or to go outside when he temperature is that hot. So, our government changed our way of living, the day became night and the night became day. All the activities in the morning and afternoon became different. Day time is when we sleep and night time is when we go to school, go to work, run an errand, or go to mall to shop. It’s not hard for me and to the younger generation to adjust because when we are born it’s already the normal, but for our parents and grandparents, according to them it took months for them to adjust. Now, let’s go back to the present. It’s already 8PM and I usually go to the university at this time, I will just wait for my best friend, Carlos, and my cousin Kuya (brother) Dos who will drive for us. We all go to the same University, Carlos and I are taking up AB Literature while Kuya Dos is an English teacher in the high school department. I actually don’t know why I’m taking up AB Literature, all I know is I like to read but I didn’t see that I will take it seriously to the point that I will get a course that is connected to my hobby. Unlike my best friend, Carlos, who is already decided from the start what he really wants to do. I guess I will learn to love it over the time. “Hey, we’re here!” I did not notice that we are already here at the parking lot, well anyway it’s just a 10 minute drive tho. “Bye Kuya Dos, thank you! I said. “No big deal, Migs. What time is your last class? So I can know if I can still drive the two of you.” “We’re just half day today, Kuya.”  Said Carlos. “Yes Kuya, we will just have one subject today, maybe we’re just going to walk later.” “Ok, take care!” We are now seated inside our class room, waiting for our Professor, “Do you think our prof. will show up today?” I asked Carlos, the truth is this will be our third meeting with this class and until now; we don’t have idea who will be our teacher. “I hope so.” “I don’t know if want our teacher to show up or not?” Carlos look at me when I said that, well, he should now how lazy I can be. “Come on, dude! Give this course a chance. Since you still don’t know what you really want to be then maybe let’s see what will happen first?” I just sighed and shrug my shoulder, because he is right I’m still figuring out myself and what I really want to be so maybe I will seat here in this class, for now. Ten minutes later, our professor arrived and now he’s giving us an activity. He wants us to state our name and explain why Philippine Literature (which our subject) is important. All of my classmates are now done introducing their name and explaining the said activity. Since I am seated at the back at the very last chair, now it’s time for me to speak. “Good morning po sir, I am Miguel T. Dela Cruz and to answer your question sir, I am agreeing to my classmates that it is important because it’s about our culture, heritage, and our roots. Philippine literature is the identity of every Filipino all around the world. This is not just about rediscovering the classic works of Filipino authors; this is also about discovering and nurturing every Filipino who has story to tell.” “That’s interesting Miguel, do you write?” Asked my professor. “Well, no, sir. I don’t think I can write. I never try it before; I just like to read novels from the underrated Filipino artist. I am hoping that they can have their spotlight soon.” “Thank you, Miguel. I would like to continue this conversation some other time. You may now sit down.” After that we just have a short introduction about Philippine literature then he gave the syllabus for advance reading, and we’re now done with today class. We are supposed to finish at 11:30 but since it’s our first meeting with this subject he dismissed au at 9:30. Carlos and I decided to just walk on the way home, since it’s safe in the street with all the lights that are installed each street. Carlos is now talking about the book that he read last time, he said that it might help him with our Philippine literature subject. “Do you want to borrow it? It’s really good since it’s about mythology, I know you like reading that kind of stuff.” “I want to but I’m still finishing this book about fallen angels, maybe next time?” I said. “Ok, dude. But I swear you will like it, the different deities are all there, even creatures like Bakunawa, Aswang (ghoul), Duwende (dwarf), and such.” “Bakunawa? Never heard of that thing, I just know the Aswang, Duwende and even Manananggal (ghoul that splits into two.” “It’s a moon-eater, Migs! It’s cool right? It looks like a serpent-dragon who is so fascinated with the moon.” Carlos explained. “Sounds like a joke” then I laughed. “I know, because that myth is eons ago and now we’re living at the modern times. But, what if they are real? The deities? Maybe they are sleeping somewhere waiting to be discovered.” “I don’t know dude, I just think that they are not real at the first place. Well given that sometimes I want to be a demigod haha. But I know they are not real and they never existed.” Carlos thinks for a while before saying “But do you remember the stories of our grandparents that were told to us when we are young? They said that there are different elements that live with us, like ghost, Kapre, Duwende and even Aswang. They said that they are real.” “I really don’t know what to think, Carlos. Because at some point, when I was a child I once believed to them but now that we are older, I think they are just fiction.” “Maybe yes or maybe no. But, we never really know right?” “Right” After a few minutes we arrived in our house, Carlos lives next door with us with his family. When I enter, I can see my grandfather watching TV.” “Mano po, Lolo. Where’s Lola?” I asked Lolo, we are still living with our grandparents, and it’s just normal here. “Your Lola is there in the kitchen, she’s cooking your favorite Sinigang. Go change first so we can eat together.” After we ate, time flies so fast. My younger sister is already here, she’s already on her 7th Grade, she arrived with Kuya Dos who lives next door with his wife, Ate Gab, my parents are also here, who are working in the city. We just catch up with our day and now we’re getting ready to sleep. It’s just a normal day, nothing important happened until the next day…