Pinagsoltada

49

2009 . . .

JOAN came like a storm that this dry, thirsty land needs—showering it with her tears, bringing in violent winds that destroyed everything in its path, and left ruins at her wake. Joan came and brought problems to this land, and when she's gone she left a curse on it.

'Simula nang umalis ang Joan na 'yon, wala nang interesadong magtrabaho sa isang hacienda 'tulad ng sa aming mga Dela Fuente. In my opinion, dahil ito sa may option na ang mga tao na umiwas sa pagbibilad sa araw, sa pakikipagbuno sa mga hayop, o sa madaling-sabi ay magbanat masyado ng buto.

'From my observation, office work and BPO companies are now the next big thing where employees would sit most of the time and use their brains more instead of their brute strength and maximum effort. In addition, these companies are more accepting towards college undergraduates or those who only managed to finish high school. Those kinds of jobs are more available in big cities, though, so people started leaving provinces like Masbate to try their luck, mostly, in Metro Manila.

'That's what Joan probably did too, move to one of the big cities in the Philippines. Because instead of going back to her old residence in Nilabanan, she chose to board a boat toward who-knows-where.'

Ernesto put down his pen. Hindi naman siya nagsusulat gamit ito. He just whipped it left and right using his fingers while sitting in his swivel chair and thinking. Itinigil lang niya ang ginagawa nang magulohan kung paano napunta kay Joan ang train of thought niya.

Samantala, nakaupo sa isa sa mga visitor's chair ang kapatid niyang si Genaro.

His brother still wore his signature eyeglasses and brown suit. His hair was trimmed short, making him look younger than his actual age. Panay ang salita nito tungkol sa income statement ng kanilang negosyo pero tumatagos lang ang mga ito sa kabilang tainga ni Ernesto. He just could not pay attention to anything that had to do with business because he was exhausted.

Ernesto just could not help it. He was working triple time because he felt responsible for what happened to their hacienda. Siya ang dahilan ng pagbagsak nito kaya dapat niyang panagutan ito. He stayed as its honcho in hopes to fix it, but as the years went by, he was getting less as optimistic as everyone else. He just sees things for what it is, and what he saw this time was that, their farm would be coming to its bankruptcy soon.

"Itutuloy pa ba natin 'to o ayaw mo na?:

Walang-buhay na napatingin si Ernesto sa kaniyang kapatid. Genaro's eyes were already narrowing. Kitang-kita niya ang mga ito sa kabila ng kapal ng suot nitong rectangular eyeglasses.

Tinitigan lang niya ito kaya napabuntonghininga ito at ibinaba muna sa desk ang hawak na mga papel. Saglit ding tumayo si Genaro para ipihit ang upuan paharap sa kaniyang direksiyon bago ito muling umupo.

"Dili ka namamati. Parang wala ka nang gana sa trabaho rito sa hacienda. Looks like you are already giving up," maanghang nitong saad sa nanghahamon na tono nang ibalik nito ang tingin sa kaniya.

Ernesto just looked away, so Genaro continued.

"You can simply pack your bags and follow your wife and child to Tagaytay. Because if you suck in life as a businessman, then you have to make up for it by fixing your relationship with Allyssa and being a good father to Alwyn. Dahil iyon na lang ang magiging kuwenta mo sa mundong ito."

"Negative reinforcement won't make me get my ass up and work, Genaro. Kaya huwag mo 'ko gamitan ng nalalaman mo sa psychology."

Lalong naningkit ang mga mata nito. "I am not because psychology's not my expertise. Ang manhid mo lang kasi nabubwisit na ako sa 'yo pero parang wala kang alam. Are you still not getting it?"