Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The Invisible Man


Reviving old friendships is always a good experience. Lately, I have been “chatting” with a very close college friend, and even though we have not seen each other for almost a decade now, it seems like it was just yesterday when we used to hang out at our “tambayan” at the tibak territory in UP. I can vividly remember those lazy afternoons spent discussing politics, if not about anything else under the sun like why does a mosquito bite swell.

Of course, there were good days and there were bad days. But just being with the “tropa” was enough to get me out of my stump. In our own demented ways, we were able to keep each other sane. All of us in the group at that time were of the same wavelength. We were all idealistic and assertive of our principles. We were critical, both in a bad and a good way. We were to save this beloved nation from further rape by our so-called leaders.

Sad to say, I outgrew my idealism and eventually became a corporate sell-out. I am now officially capitalism’s puppet that cannot seem to survive without having a taste of Starbucks every now and then. Too bad for me, now that I think about it.

Fortunately though, my “tropa” has kept the flames of idealism alive. In all honesty, I greatly envy them and more deeply admire them. I admire them because they are selfless, they are honest, and they are passionate and compassionate. The list can go on and on. But I wonder why my friend’s status in YM is always invisible (hehehe). Surely a good guy like him deserves recognition. And then I realized, maybe he’s invisible because he represents the cause of the invisible marginalized of this country. But then again, maybe he’s invisible because he’s just hiding from somebody. Whatever the reason is, profound or otherwise, I take my hat off to him and the few who is with him in his cause. Kudos to you, Invisible Man!

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