Elections 01

"You know… I been hearin' a lot about dreams this past while. 'Bout second chances an' such, an' what folks expect from this place an' the hopes they invest in it. An' I do know this is a great, GREAT country, even if sometimes its future lies in the hands of fools — but I worry it might not stand the weight of all them goddamn dreams."

- Rev. Jesse Custer, The Preacher

Announcement

I've been advised to discontinue posting the rest of The Villagers, for the obvious reason that the net is rather unsafe, due to the fact that I have yet to have the series copyrighted. Anyway, I might be working on the copyright this week. Or later today. For the meantime, those who would wish to read the rest, kindly send me your respective email addresses. I'll keep the rest of the series private after the 20th part. Thanks, everyone!

The Villagers 19

The Carson twins, Alistair and Anna, always took delight in lighting up firecrackers inside Old Miss Emily Grey’s mailbox. They thought it amusing – making such a ruckus and disturbing the old lady – until they learned why Old Miss Emily lived alone and out of the public eye.

Old Miss Emily’s mother died when she was about fourteen years old, leaving her in the care of her father and two brothers. Consequently, her father imposed all of her mother’s duties upon her. All of it.

The Villagers 18

When you say “Jump!” other people would say, “How high?”

Not Henry Wong. He is all about precision.

Once, when he was still working for the circus, Ringmaster Leon asked him to jump. Henry asked, “How far?” “Vat zoo you mean how far?” the befuddled Russian retorted. To which Henry replied: “I already know just how high I can jump. What I would want to know is how far I should be from where I stand right now when I land.”

The Wisdom Of Woody Allen 02

"Life doesn't imitate art. It imitates bad television."

The Wisdom Of Gary Granada 01

“Twenty four seconds, lamang ng lima

ang kalaban; bola pa nila.

Dumidilim ang aking paningin;

ang tainga ko ay nagpapanting.

Bumabalik sa aking isip

ang nakaaway ko noong grade six.

Parang gusto ko nang magka-gera

‘pag natatalo ang Ginebra.

Galit ako sa mga pasista;

galit ako sa imperyalista.

Feel na feel kong maging aktibista

‘pag natatalo ang Ginebra.”

—

I was listening to this song on the way home and I laughed at the thought that this used to hold true for me. Funny, how I am now uninterested in watching the local basketball league on the telly.

The Villagers 17

It so happened one day that Joe was suffering a sweltering summer noon, manning the pump at the gas station. Bored, he lit up a cigarette and watched the road that stretched out into the neighboring county. Hands in his pockets, he walked around the pump; trying to entertain himself.

From out of nowhere, a speeding car hit a parked van. Miraculously, the driver emerged from the wreckage unscathed.

Amazed, Joe mouthed a “Wow!” and the cigarette fell from his lips.

The driver was traumatized by the explosion.

The Villagers 16

Mr. and Mrs. Lafuerte has quite a normal life: a marriage that has had its share of ups and downs; middle-class income; comfortable lifestyles; and two sons. Both of whom are priests.

Contemplating

Only five to go and I'll prolly stop posting the rest of The Villagers series. I've got about forty of them already - in my PC - and I'm seriously thinking about having them published, sometime this summer. Even before I have Guaranteed Disaster printed. I'll keep everybody updated.

—

The Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards has got me sleepless and anxious. Sheesh.

The Villagers 15

When the town was still young, there passed a drifter who was dying of thirst. Hostile to outsiders, the town’s founding fathers deliberately ignored the pleas of the delirious stranger. He died in the middle of the town square, where now sits a grand fountain.