Words and phrases can make or break your spirit, depends on how you take them. There are words that scar you for life, that heal, inspire or induce one to reflect. Words can be funny, sometimes uttered without a thought, and oftentimes just an ordinary remark or greeting, enough to stupefy you.
Do words absolutely define who you are? No , I think not. People see a lot of you in the outside, the source of words and perceptions that they create about you. This may sound superficial but words are sometimes used as a yardstick that gives the impression of what and who you are. Some words said maybe taken as true but others initiate us to ponder.
Words that stunned me is a simple compilation of remarks and utterances, as far as I can remember from a diversity of people that have somehow influenced me and my relationship to others.
I am sure everyone has a story to tell about Words that can make one speechless.
Read on and see what I mean.
*******************************************************
"Veinte-cuatro horas. (Beinte kwatro oras) - 24 oras."
Not the news at GMA 7. The label I got when I was a kid from crying non-stop from morning til noon. The only thing that stopped me from crying was when I get to sleep while crying. It was not just a silent cry but a nuisance and loud cry from a kid who seemed to be craving for attention always. Deserves my title.
"If you don’t call us “Ate” slimy worms will come out from your mouth."
(Gross! The warning I got from my older siblings when I refused to address them as such out of respect for being older than me. Took advantage of my naivete.)
"You’ve got a photographic memory."
(I am not sure anymore, I guess, I’ve lost it now.)
"Vangie... I love you... "
(A young lad in the neigborhood who was on the verge of being a stalker for following me around. Grrrrr, love your ass, boy. Who knows about romantic love when you’re just in elementary. Well, the last thing I heard was that his first born daughter was named “Evangeline.”)
"Hindi ba sumasabit ang hairpin mo sa jeep?"
(As a COCC cadet in training in 3rd year HS, since I’ve got a short hair that cannot be ponytailed, I fixed my hair by putting lots of hairpin on top to put it in place. My classmates envied me... why? Not because of the hair, but the greeting that came from our snobbish crush ng bayan male teacher, who took notice of me and whispered to me up close and personal. - Eat your hearts out, girls. )
"QUIT!!! QUIT NOW!!! "
(The platoon leader who taunted me to quit as a COCC cadet. But I stuck it out and became an Officer ).
"Evangeline, Pacencia , get out of the room!"
(My class adviser who sent me and my seatmate out of the classroom, perhaps telling me that even if I was her favorite student (feeling), I will not be spared from her rules in the class. Truth was, my seatmate was showing me her FLAMES results. - C’mon, guys of the 80’s, in highschool, you know what FLAMES is?)
"Evangeline, bakit kumakain ka pa, kakatapos lang ng lunch."
(A Filipino teacher who caught me eating during her class. ”Eh, gutom pa po, eh”. - Highschool rules, sucks!)
"Evangeline, you seat beside the President (of the class) for the last two quarters."
(My class adviser again who put me in the middle row, in the middle seat, thought I can be subdued by having me seated beside the class president. Well, after just a quarter, the class president was worse than me.)
"I am nominating Evangeline as Vice-President of the class."
(I didn’t pay that classmate of mine megabucks to nominate me. Thanks buddy, but no thanks, you don’t know what’s gonna be ahead when I get elected.)
"WOW, nakamercedez benz ka, huh."
(A classmate in HS who often saw me and my younger sister alight from a Mercedez Benz when our Dad used to drive us to Paco Catholic School. If she tried to look at the car’s engine, she’ll realize it’s a Toyota in a Mercedes Benz clothing.
"I saw you two cheating."
(Words written in red ink when we received our papers back. - Yaikks! Sorry Ma’m, we’ll never do it again. Thought it was cool.)
"Walang diyos, blah, blah..."
(A belief proclaimed by a great and well known artist-painter when I personally heard him say that while lecturing us, would-be-enrolees on painting. - Sir, your gift is exceptional but you scared me out of my wits with your professions of your eccentric philosophies in life. Fortunately, sir, I was a student of St. Scholastica’s College and I believe in God. Several years later, I read in the newspaper that you have died. Finally, you met your Creator, may you rest in peace in the heavenly kingdom of God.)
"Why haven’t you had any boyfriend?"
(A curious dude who happened to be a balikbayan cousin thrown that question at me. He got a smart answer, “I dumped them.” (Them? )
"Gusto mo reypin kita..."
(Uttered by my 5’ 10” ADHD student who defied all my rules). ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Just cast him a piercing look, he stopped and bowed down.)
"Tomboy ka ba?"
(During my driving lessons, the instructor, perhaps for lack of something to say, and wanting to satisfy his insatiable curiosity, bravely asked me that question. Well, manong, you got your answer, NO!)
"Bakit di ka pa nag-aasawa?"
(My usual answer since I’ve heard it asked many times, “Strict parents ko.”)
"Iha, ang dami mo namang anak."
(The old lady remarked when she saw me walking with 5 kids in tow ages 9, 8, 6, 5 and 2, who were my niece and nephews. Ahh, I should have replied, “Sorry, can’t help it.)
"PANGIT!!!!!!"
(The taong grasa who was obviously visibly irked when I failed to drop him a coin. I should have given him a P100 bill, it might spell a different me, a “DIYOSA” walking by.)
"Pahingi ng waffle....
(Me) Sorry, ubos na....
Pahingi na lang ng kiss."
(A conversation from a young taong grasa who’s a ladies’ man.)
"Attorney, ako na ang magbabantay ng kotse mo. (Ehh, me an attorney!)"
(Said by a watch-your-car boy who appeared from nowhere. Well boy, for your information, I am a Supreme Court Justice, the court of last resort.)
"Talk to her, mabait yun."
(An advise I often heard from our clients/borrowers to fellow borrowers who default in the payment of their loans. Mga sipsip, better be or you can’t have your renewals).
"Pag tumatawag ka nanginginig na ko."
(A male loan client who avoids talking to me for fear that my wrath will destroy him. - Tsk, tsk, I am the most compassionate loan officer you can talk to, strict though but with a soft heart.)
"I’ll treat you to a lunch."
(Thanks, but no thanks, you’re not bad but I don’t play around with married guys, sorry.)
"I’m a balikbayan widower from Spain, come with me or give me your number."
(An indecent proposal from a man in his late 50’s or early 60’s, said while I was tending my Waffle store.)
"He’s dead. Bruce is dead."
(My handsome playful Golden Retriever pup who died at 3 months old because of corona virus. RIP)
"You are a Child of the Universe."
After a hard day’s work, got in the car and drove, with shoulders heavy, depressed, scared and feeling defeated. Turned on the radio and the melodious words/lyrics reverberated in the car, “You are a Child of the Universe.” That lulled my spirit to a state of peace. - My advice, listen to that song.
Not the news at GMA 7. The label I got when I was a kid from crying non-stop from morning til noon. The only thing that stopped me from crying was when I get to sleep while crying. It was not just a silent cry but a nuisance and loud cry from a kid who seemed to be craving for attention always. Deserves my title.
"If you don’t call us “Ate” slimy worms will come out from your mouth."
(Gross! The warning I got from my older siblings when I refused to address them as such out of respect for being older than me. Took advantage of my naivete.)
"You’ve got a photographic memory."
(I am not sure anymore, I guess, I’ve lost it now.)
"Vangie... I love you... "
(A young lad in the neigborhood who was on the verge of being a stalker for following me around. Grrrrr, love your ass, boy. Who knows about romantic love when you’re just in elementary. Well, the last thing I heard was that his first born daughter was named “Evangeline.”)
"Hindi ba sumasabit ang hairpin mo sa jeep?"
(As a COCC cadet in training in 3rd year HS, since I’ve got a short hair that cannot be ponytailed, I fixed my hair by putting lots of hairpin on top to put it in place. My classmates envied me... why? Not because of the hair, but the greeting that came from our snobbish crush ng bayan male teacher, who took notice of me and whispered to me up close and personal. - Eat your hearts out, girls. )
"QUIT!!! QUIT NOW!!! "
(The platoon leader who taunted me to quit as a COCC cadet. But I stuck it out and became an Officer ).
"Evangeline, Pacencia , get out of the room!"
(My class adviser who sent me and my seatmate out of the classroom, perhaps telling me that even if I was her favorite student (feeling), I will not be spared from her rules in the class. Truth was, my seatmate was showing me her FLAMES results. - C’mon, guys of the 80’s, in highschool, you know what FLAMES is?)
"Evangeline, bakit kumakain ka pa, kakatapos lang ng lunch."
(A Filipino teacher who caught me eating during her class. ”Eh, gutom pa po, eh”. - Highschool rules, sucks!)
"Evangeline, you seat beside the President (of the class) for the last two quarters."
(My class adviser again who put me in the middle row, in the middle seat, thought I can be subdued by having me seated beside the class president. Well, after just a quarter, the class president was worse than me.)
"I am nominating Evangeline as Vice-President of the class."
(I didn’t pay that classmate of mine megabucks to nominate me. Thanks buddy, but no thanks, you don’t know what’s gonna be ahead when I get elected.)
"WOW, nakamercedez benz ka, huh."
(A classmate in HS who often saw me and my younger sister alight from a Mercedez Benz when our Dad used to drive us to Paco Catholic School. If she tried to look at the car’s engine, she’ll realize it’s a Toyota in a Mercedes Benz clothing.
"I saw you two cheating."
(Words written in red ink when we received our papers back. - Yaikks! Sorry Ma’m, we’ll never do it again. Thought it was cool.)
"Walang diyos, blah, blah..."
(A belief proclaimed by a great and well known artist-painter when I personally heard him say that while lecturing us, would-be-enrolees on painting. - Sir, your gift is exceptional but you scared me out of my wits with your professions of your eccentric philosophies in life. Fortunately, sir, I was a student of St. Scholastica’s College and I believe in God. Several years later, I read in the newspaper that you have died. Finally, you met your Creator, may you rest in peace in the heavenly kingdom of God.)
"Why haven’t you had any boyfriend?"
(A curious dude who happened to be a balikbayan cousin thrown that question at me. He got a smart answer, “I dumped them.” (Them? )
"Gusto mo reypin kita..."
(Uttered by my 5’ 10” ADHD student who defied all my rules). ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Just cast him a piercing look, he stopped and bowed down.)
"Tomboy ka ba?"
(During my driving lessons, the instructor, perhaps for lack of something to say, and wanting to satisfy his insatiable curiosity, bravely asked me that question. Well, manong, you got your answer, NO!)
"Bakit di ka pa nag-aasawa?"
(My usual answer since I’ve heard it asked many times, “Strict parents ko.”)
"Iha, ang dami mo namang anak."
(The old lady remarked when she saw me walking with 5 kids in tow ages 9, 8, 6, 5 and 2, who were my niece and nephews. Ahh, I should have replied, “Sorry, can’t help it.)
"PANGIT!!!!!!"
(The taong grasa who was obviously visibly irked when I failed to drop him a coin. I should have given him a P100 bill, it might spell a different me, a “DIYOSA” walking by.)
"Pahingi ng waffle....
(Me) Sorry, ubos na....
Pahingi na lang ng kiss."
(A conversation from a young taong grasa who’s a ladies’ man.)
"Attorney, ako na ang magbabantay ng kotse mo. (Ehh, me an attorney!)"
(Said by a watch-your-car boy who appeared from nowhere. Well boy, for your information, I am a Supreme Court Justice, the court of last resort.)
"Talk to her, mabait yun."
(An advise I often heard from our clients/borrowers to fellow borrowers who default in the payment of their loans. Mga sipsip, better be or you can’t have your renewals).
"Pag tumatawag ka nanginginig na ko."
(A male loan client who avoids talking to me for fear that my wrath will destroy him. - Tsk, tsk, I am the most compassionate loan officer you can talk to, strict though but with a soft heart.)
"I’ll treat you to a lunch."
(Thanks, but no thanks, you’re not bad but I don’t play around with married guys, sorry.)
"I’m a balikbayan widower from Spain, come with me or give me your number."
(An indecent proposal from a man in his late 50’s or early 60’s, said while I was tending my Waffle store.)
"He’s dead. Bruce is dead."
(My handsome playful Golden Retriever pup who died at 3 months old because of corona virus. RIP)
"You are a Child of the Universe."
After a hard day’s work, got in the car and drove, with shoulders heavy, depressed, scared and feeling defeated. Turned on the radio and the melodious words/lyrics reverberated in the car, “You are a Child of the Universe.” That lulled my spirit to a state of peace. - My advice, listen to that song.
2 comments:
Yes I agree words can leave us speechless at times ... so it's up to us if we let it affect us or take it with a grain of salt ...
Oh my gosh! I had a grand time laughing Vange sa "words that stunned me"....nagka-kabag ako....I really enjoyed your blog....I'm looking forward to your future entries....
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