Manong G(u)ar(d)
As waves crash against the shorelines of Eastern Samar, it kisses and parts lips with the Pacific Ocean. May 19, 1970 brought not only joy to a young couple in this serene province, it marked the birth of an unsung hero. The brown of his skin boasts of a purely Filipino heritage. His eyes were hidden behind the deep black lenses of a pair of sunglasses, as if to mirror how easily people overlook him. His hands, though rough at first glance, glide smoothly across the strings of a guitar to create heavenly music accompanied by his own voice. It is only fitting that he can produce heavenly music as his inspirations are divine. As an Evangelical Christian, he chooses to go against the flow instead of drifting meaninglessly along with it. In submission to tenets of his beliefs and in defiance to the dictates of society, he neither drinks nor smokes. Ever willing to take risks, in 1989, he decided to pack his bags and leave the comforts of Eastern Samar for the helter-skelter lifestyle of Manila. With a badge, a pen, and a baton, he serves not only the Ateneo de Manila University but his wife of seven years as well. Behind the Kani Bar stall in JSEC, he hides like a tiger ready to pounce on his steady diet of students without IDs. That white polo with a PADPAO patch paired with those blue slacks often mean certain death to those who defy school policies. Calm and collected with his guitar but just and thorough with his pen, he is none other than Manong Edgar Valdinar.
- I don’t drink or smoke
- 1989 was an important year (I was born and he moved to Manila)
- I don’t have kids
- I’m from the Visayas
- I’m not Catholic
- I’m a Filipino
- I can play the guitar
Unlike Manong Gar:
- I don’t hang-out in Kani Bar
- I didn’t drop out of school
- I’m not from Eastern Samar
- I’m not married
- I don’t wear a uniform
- I have Chinese blood
Reflection:
First of all, I didn’t even realize there were two guards in JSEC.
Second and most importantly, it is comforting to know that there are people out there who still value morality. I don’t mean to offend anyone, but people nowadays readily abandon whatever they stand for for a moment of pleasure. Even worse is that some don’t have any set of ideals and principles. We claim (and proudly at that) that we are the only Christian nation in Asia. And yet, in spite of all the teachings found in the Bible, we find ourselves to be one the most corrupt nations in the world. We use “Christianity” merely as a name when in actuality it is to be a follower of Christ. Our concept of what is moral is limited to going to mass, taking communion, and every once in a while confess. I always believe that decisions should be made not as a choice between what is good and bad, but what is good and right. Yes, it is good to go to mass, take communion, and you SHOULD confess your sins. But is it right that we do this Sunday after Sunday and yet go about the rest of our days living like heathens? We should really re-evaluate what we believe in and more importantly, why we should believe it in the first place.
you have chinese blood? 0.0 really? anyway, creative descriptions! nice nice! :p
Summary:
Manong Edgar Valdinar is a security guard in JSEC who hangs around at Kani Bar. Waiting for people who dont have their ids. He comes from eastern samar, during 1989 he decided to move to manila to try his luck. Like, Jed Gar doesnt smoke or drink, they both hail from visayaas. They can both play the guitar and they are both filipino. Unlike Gar, Jed doesnt hang out at Kani Bar, Jed as chinese blood, he’s not married and he didnt drop out of school.
Assessment:
He didnt just write the entry just for the sake of meeting the requirement, in fact this entry was very well-written and clear. The topic was very clear and concise, straight to the point.
“First of all, I didn’t even realize there were two guards in JSEC.” <—- LMAO =p