Clearance Sale

On my way out to my allergist on Tuesday,  I saw a delivered package.  It was kind of big, and I thought it was the package I have been expecting from my mother.

No, it wasn't. It's for the mister.

He opened it immediately right after he put his office bag down.

It was a new black motorbike helmet.

His new helmet, a Biltwell Bonanza DOT

He tried it on.

"You bought a new one?" I asked. I gave him a retro style helmet years ago for Christmas.

He didn't answer me. He was busy checking himself on the mirror wearing his newly delivered purchase.

"Well, how much was it?" I asked further.

"It was on clearance!" he replied.

Hahahaha!

Men are like women too. As a defense for an unplanned purchase, they'll answer the same as us.

Shy no more?

Right before the turn of the New Year, the young lady's tratu (boyfriend) Larry came to spend that part of the holidays with us. This isn't his first time celebrating with us, but his third time.

He was working remotely from our dining room.  His office is in New York. Yna was peeking at his work on his laptop, and all of a sudden, the lady came rushing to the family room from the living room, and blurted out...

"PA! PA! You should read this line from Gabriel Garcia Marquez's book for their podcast."

Well, if you don't personally know the mister, he is really shy---a polar opposite of me. 

Yna’s tratu had actually asked her if the mister would be interested in doing a voice over for their show. He said that the mister’s soft, even voice would be perfect for the lines, and Jay is also a big fan of Marquez’s books.

While I was cooking, Yna begged me to convince her father. With all my faith, power, and might, I told him...

"Jay, like what I have been telling Tata (my sister in Australia), let us do the impossible for 2020. Doing a voice over is something new for you. Do it! It's not something you'll do in front of a crowd."

He wasn't convinced yet. Yna asked me to talk to him more. So, I added...

"Do you know anyone who works for a radio station or any media as big as NPR? Do you know anyone who'll have the same opportunity and experience as this? Just remember, a lot of our friends doesn't even know what NPR is."

It's the truth. I don't know a lot of people who know about the National Public Radio (NPR), which is one of the many Apex companies in America. The mister is a listener---from news, to old radio soap operas, to classical music. Most of all, he's a fan of Tiny Desk Concerts. With me, I listen with him on long road trips, but I am more of a podcast listener. I listen to Throughline on most of my daily afternoon walks.

"By the way, don't tell Papa that the episode is for this year's season premiere." the young lady whispered to me. 

After investing a lot of my convincing power, coupled with unlimited back massage bribery, not to forget, Yna's potent persuasion,  guess what?

He agreed to do it.

Even before the episode was published, we were all so happy, excited, and proud of the shy-no-more mister.

Early morning of January 9, Larry sent me a text message with a link of the episode for the mister's 'voice actor debut.'

Throughline is NPR's first History podcast, premiered last year in February. Yna's tratu is one of the producers.

Listen to the episode here, click play below. You can also read the transcript here.


 On the evening that the podcast was aired, I was getting ready for my bed when...

"OMG! I can't believe that Christopher  Columbus had..."

...that he had ____ !" finished the mister. 

You'll find out what it is if you listen to it. Hehehe.

My sister in Australia is a fan of the podcast now. She's listening to the first episode at this very moment. Her only wish is that it'll be available on Australia Spotify one of these days.

And also, our last name is perfectly said by the host, Rund.

What's the term again?

I don't watch beauty pageants. Aside from the fact we don't have cable TV, it just doesn't interest me.

On Monday morning, I read a private group message on Facebook. It didn't sit well with me.

It was mean.

The mister's former college roommate shared a photo of the newly crowned Miss Universe, Miss South Africa.

"Wakanda forever!", he added.

That didn't irk me very much. But the urge to punch him in the face and kick his balls was strong.

And then he added, "Abi nako black and white ako TV!" (I thought my TV is black and white!)

Now, I am debating on whether I wanted to pull his head from his ass or push it more farther that it'll never see any day.

Was that a joke?

Among 35 or so people in that group chat, no one laughed, but Henry.

I can't believe at 47 and most are parents, there were 2 idiots in the group. However, one is more idiotic than the other.

It wasn't funny.

IT WAS OFFENSIVE!

Educated, professionals, parents, and older people still lack sensitivity, inclusion, acceptance, and respect for all kinds of people --- in different cultures, races, beliefs, and gender identities.

These two forgot that Filipinos are skin of color too. We are not white, and just because we have lighter skin doesn't mean you can make fun, and tell offensive jokes towards people of darker skin.

I vented my dismay and disappoint to a friend.

She asked me if this person is guapo (handsome).

I know his face isn't relevant to this topic, but I answered "No, he is not."

"You mean he's ugly?!"

"I am saying he's not handsome, and his heart isn't as well. I pity his children if he has any. What does he teach them in their home? That this is okay?"

She replied, "Well then he is definitely ugly! What do you call one who has an ugly face and an uglier heart?"

"Raul!" I replied.