The tawny sunlight was streaming in through the wide window before me when the shopkeeper's bell jingled to announce a new diner. I set my cup of coffee on the saucer and turned to the restaurant's entrance. Through the doorway, a short, corpulent man passed. He wore a green t-shirt, a pair of blue jeans, and a deep frown.
The short, corpulent man weaved through the tables and stopped, to my surprise, before the group of men eating to my left. One of these men felt the short, corpulent man's presence and greeted the latter with a loud "Oy, 'mig!" With a loud sigh, the short man pulled one of the chairs sitting around a nearby vacant table and settled beside his greeter. "Finally out of that cubicle," he said. To which his friends-at least I thought they were his friends-replied cheerfully, "Congrats."
"Got an earful from Sir Mal earlier," the short man continued, "he said my work was too disorganized. Gwapo, I don't get him. Not a single bit. How can my work be too disorganized when I spent over twenty hours to complete it?"
"Ay, ay," one of his friends said, "you know how that gurang's head works. Because of his ripe age, he can't recognize a good work even when he sees one. Don't mind him!"
"But I bet he can't ever get mad at our Mr. Pabibo!" the short man's greeter from earlier said.
"Indeed!" the short man interjected in a voice that was now full of vigor. "Oh, I've had enough of that bugalon. He must think that just because he graduated from La Salle, he's already the smartest person in the company. Ha! Sir Mal praises him all the time not because his work is excellent, but because he is a Lasallian like him. I checked Mr. Lasalliano's work once, and it wasn't even close to being satisfactory."
"I couldn't agree more, 'mig. You know what, why don't you order your food at the counter already? Forget about work. Let's just brim our stomachs with good food and good panglibak this afternoon. Ayos?"
"Sounds nice." The short man concurred as he stood up and walked toward the counter with, I noticed, a straighter back.
Glossary:
'mig - clipped version of "migo," which means "friend" in Hiligaynon
gwapo - means "handsome" in Hiligaynon. However, it is often used to express frustration
gurang - means "old person" in Hiligaynon
pabibo - a Hiligaynon word used to refer to people who tend to show off
bugalon - means "arrogant" in Hiligaynon
panglibak - means "gossiping" or "backstabbing" in Hiligaynon
ayos - means "okay" in Hiligaynon
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Dumpsite
РазноеThis anthology of Filipino short stories explores the struggles and battles that take place inside each individual. It also unveils the daily life of Filipinos, particularly those who reside in Negros Occidental, which is my lovely home.
