Chapter 1 (Adam's Point of View)
I open the email sent by ABS-CBN. It says:
Dear Mr. De la Paz:
Greetings!
ABS-CBN came up with the Bangon Pinoy Movement. The goal of the said movement is to inspire young Filipinos is harnessing their talents. To achieve that, ABS-CBN will invite gifted teenagers to give speeches in public schools and become a guest in Vice Ganda Show.
I have seen your video blogs on YouTube and I am impressed of your talent with words. With that, I would like to invite you to become a part of this movement.
This coming Sunday, a singer from Ilo-ilo, who ABS-CBN also discovered in YouTube, will be guesting in Vice Ganda Show and will share to us his patriotic songs. It might help you in the decision-making.
I hope to get a response from you at this same email address. Thank you. God bless.
Sincerely,
Joyce Teng
I receive about ten emails a day from my subscribers, and this couldn't be a hoax; ABS-CBN's site shows this same email address. But honestly, I cannot feel any impulse of excitement.
I close my laptop, clip it between my elbow and side, and walk downstairs to ask dad of what he has to say about this. There he is at the sofa, reading the Bible. He never skips morning Bible sessions. His squinting eyes are covered by those thick glasses. His bald head emphasizes the wrinkles on his forehead. They have deepened due to his squinting and scowling habit.
"Dad."
"Wait. Let me finish a chapter."
I drop to his right and open my laptop.
Dad is a good listener, just don't try to make him listen while he is reading the Bible. Of course, I knew that all along. I only thought that showing him an email from the country's major television network would break his rules.
Finally he closes the Bible, sandwiching the golden thread with the last pages he read. He washes his hands with alcohol and wipes the remaining moist to the Bible. "David and Goliath. Very entertaining, quite inspiring. The story never gets old."
It's nearly a hundred times that I would roll my eyes and sigh as he relays to me the story of David and Goliath. Since I'm tired of hearing his personal insights about the story, I give him my laptop. "Take a look at this."
He reads the email with his fingers rubbing his unshaven chin. As seconds run, the creases on his forehead keeps on deepening.
"I don't know Adam," he says. "It might hinder you to become a--"
"I knew you were going to say that. I really knew."
He looks at me, unconvinced. "But it's up to you." He glances at his watch. He hands me back the laptop, get his alcohol and stands up. "C'mon let's take lunch. It's eleven point nine three three."
I don't feel eating lunch yet. So I pretend to search something.
"Make it fast. It's your turn to lead the prayer."
I let out a sigh. "Ok dad."
I turn off the laptop and rest it on the sofa.
Mom is already at her place. I sink to the chair across dad. In front of us are the steaming mushroom soup, sweet and sour pork and morosquita, mom had served. She's quite a good cook; it's her maternal quality which dad fancied the most.
