Baruto

This is the common term used to call for the boat used by my father. This is to say the instrument to fish in the Pacific Ocean that helps us to survive from hunger and ignorance to education.
I remembered when my mind was young and full of innocence; my father woke up at three o’clock in the morning just to cook our food; for my baon to school and I scanned my notes for the next lesson and observed him while he was preparing his food for fishing.
When he was about to leave home, He never forgot to remind me to fix myself before going to school and I accompanied him along the seashore and looking at him while he sailed away. For sometime, I used to stay along the seashore where the moonlit night reflected in the most peaceful sea and waiting for the meteor shower. When the falling star appeared, I mentioned a wish; a wish to see my mother.
My father so to speak is the most ideal father for me. Starting my mother died, he even ceded his life, but because of love for me, he had stayed strong throughout the days when hunger and thirst were coming inside our house. He is just a fisherman, but he knows everything. He is just a father, but he knows how to handle me with care. He both serves as the father and a mother until he has given me enough feathers to fly. He is just a fisherman who inspires me to listen to his stories in life. He is just a fisherman, but he molds my mind from ignorance to wisdom. I become an educated person who aspires to become a prominent figure of the community. However, when graduation came, all my dreams fell inside the box of despondency. Nothing! Nothing, but tears fell down on my face. I wanted to tear all the sweet memories in me. I wanted to curse my life in the midst of ignorance. Useless! Useless I said.
When I went home, I accidentally caught my attention to stare at the “baruto” sailing away while it was blown by the playful wind. This recalled my childhood memories with my father who by now still sails away for fishing even he is now in his old age. This is the replica of my metaphysical world where I have known by my father that he really loved my mother that is why, he refused to attend my graduation because every time he sees me on the stage, he remembered my mother. Starting when I graduated from elementary until college, he never attended my graduation.
It was sad, but fulfilling in my part.
Now, I come to realize that life is full of secrets, which reveal the truth when it is already in the right time and the right place.









March 30, 2008
Almeda’s Boarding House
Legazpi City