Pancit Canton

Highschool.

"Pansit Canton na naman kakainin mo?"

Tatay ko yun. Bumisita sa inuupahan naming apartment. Tatlong araw na kasi niya akong nakikita na pansit canton ang breakfast.

Nag-suggest siya: itlog, tinapa, daing, kahit ano wag lang pansit canton lagi.


College.

Isinumpa ko hinding-hindi na ako kakain ng pancit canton. Pero sa hirap ng buhay, narealize ko hindi pwedeng hindi kumain ng pancit canton. At hindi lang pala ako ang na-uumay na sa pancit canton; buong dorm.

Sa mga komercials, sikat na sikat pag mga estudyante ang ginagawang bida. Panalo dyan ang Nescafe; remember: Walang pasooooooook!!!?. Later sinali pati mga aliens. Sa coke din may students, pati McDonalds at Chowking.

Nagtaka ako, ba't sa pancit canton wala? (Sinong camper ang nagbabaon ng pancit canton?!?) Ndi kaya nila alam na staple food na ng mga students ang produkto nila? Siyempre mga rich kid di maka-relate.


Naalala ko lang ang pancit canton. Nakwento kasi ng isang kasamahan sa trabaho, puro pancit canton daw ang kinakain lately, sabi "parang buhay estudyante ulit". Medyo matagal-tagal na din ako hindi kumakain nun.

Na-miss ko tuloy.

English 101; the untold story

Can’t think of anything new to post yet. Until I heard my officemates talking something about sexual harassments.

Another flashback.

I was a college freshman. We had this English professor who was so authoritarian, and with a threatening look in his face; no one would dare speak once he enters the room. He talks with a low, hoarse voice, enough to keep us all attentive. He would give quizzes, of 10 items to be answered in no more than 30 seconds. Most of us ended up getting failing scores if not zero.

Until later on we found out from some of his former students that he’s actually gay. Not a rumor. It’s true.

Well, it wasn’t an issue. Not to me. Until one day.

We got used to his tricks. We became more relaxed in his class, laugh at his jokes, and he eventually became a bit lenient. We just finished another set of 30 second quiz that day. Arranged one seat apart, he allowed us to check the results before passing the papers. The class was rowdy. I was silently looking at my paper when he came and stood in front of me. He stared at me and mentioned my name “Mr. ______!”

Scared, I was speechless (Sir, I didn’t cheat!) I thought he’s gonna accuse me of something.

Once again he said “Mr. _______!” still staring at me.

Nervous and in a shaky voice, I only managed to say, “Sir…?”

Then, slowly he stepped forward, grabbed me in the chest and twisted my nipples.

I was shocked. I looked at my seatmate. He didn’t see it. Everyone was so busy with their papers; nobody saw it, except this girl, who happened to be a tomboy, seated in front of me. She was shocked too, and when our prof left, she gushed; “P***** ina Ely, lakas tama!”

Psychology 101

Flashback: Second Year College.
At least half of the classes I was attending were minor subjects I had very little interest with.

But I fell in love with Psychology.

My instructor was brilliant, not to mention pretty. I enjoyed listening to her lectures. During our first day, she gave us a piece of paper and instructed us to write one question, any question about life and anything about it, that has remained unanswered.

I wrote: Why do I have a lot of unanswered questions about life?

I submitted the paper with a silly smile.

Learning about what’s occurring during our sleep, dreams, wet dreams, how the human brain works, etc, etc were my favorite topics, but memorizing the parts of my brain? That’s when my brain stops working. I just hated the memorizing part.

And so, I flunked all my quizzes and probably got the lowest during my prelim exam. I got a grade no student would want to reveal anyone, but well…

It was a 68 (our school ain’t using the ABC and D’s).

In my exam paper, my instructor wrote in bold red: “What happened?”


Midterms, I never really cared about passing anymore. I wouldn’t mind taking the subject twice, more so if it’s gonna be the same instructor. But for some reason, I passed all my exams, in the end I got a 79. That’s magic.

In front of the class, she said: "If others can add as high as 11 points to their grade, so could you... right, Ely?" She glanced at me and smiled.

I got kinda inspired, but finals turned to worse. This is the time when you realize you actually want to pass everything. I needed at least a 78 to get the much coveted 75! (Note: If you are from the Engineering and Architecture Department, 70 is normal, 73 is passing, 75 is good and getting an 80 is just awesome!). With all the failing marks I’ve been getting, I knew what to expect.


Final exams, I was waiting for my Psychology questionnaires to be distributed while still bewildered from all the (wrong) computations I did on my math exam papers I just submitted an hour ago. I was already thinking about which department I should enroll Psychology the next semester. The exam was plain multiple choice, but for someone unprepared like me, choosing between A,B,C is the hardest thing.

Then I noticed a piece of paper attached on the questionnaire. I was surprised to see the question I submitted during our first day in class, and the instruction: Based from what you’ve learned from the class, give an answer – to your own question!

How clever!

It was like my make or break. I had a strong belief that this will give me a passing grade and so I started writing,

with conviction.

I wrote about the things I’ve learned from her, how I got so interested with the course, how it made me appreciate the things around me, that I should stop asking too many questions about life because everything is just so wonderful, all I need is to love and appreciate them, take no time questioning because answers often come when we stop asking, and, the flowers and the bees.

I submitted my paper smiling.

Second semester, enrolment day. I anxiously checked my grade.


Lord, all I want is a 75!

Psyched, I will never forget that 86!