A YEAR OLDER

We humans left 2015. How did we mark the passing of 365 days or so, that either made or broke us?
In the Philippines,we made noise, a lot of noise: exploding firecrackers, firing guns where stray bullets killed some, shouting to kingdom come, beating drums, cans.
No doubt about it. It was merry-making to the max.
Bidding goodbye to the Old Year is as enthusiastic as welcoming the New Year. The same bravado and energy.
We discarded the old year as if it was old clothes and we hope to have new clothes the coming year.
What lessons did we learn in the past year that we should apply to our separate lives this year?
Do away with the same bad habits?
The same ritual, the same comfort zone?
We move forward or we go back to the old bad, despicable year?
There could not be a third choice?

The Padsan River in Laoag City, Philippines

***

The blogger has just gone past the accumulated years of his old man on earth who died poor.
I bleed each time I remember the allawagi, the carpenter--him who sired 11 children, two of whom died in infancy.
Him who did not wear new clothes, shoes as far as I remember.
Him with toothless smiles in his last 25 or so years.
Remembering is a perfect blade that cuts deep at the frayed edges of morning and mourning.
But rest in peace, old man, my father who did not get angry and raised his voice.
Rest in that sacred abode where there is supposed to be no night for you dreaming of the son who went to the university, the first of your siblings that hurdled the barriers of that academic world of a million dreams.
Thank you for the life, the love and the adventure, Lakay Dionisio Coloma Pasion Miguel Julian.
Thank you for the life, the love and the adventure, Baket Rafaela Corpuz Corsino Labayog Julian.