makati
One thing about Nanen: she has never failed to surprise us. At a single period of time, she could be dead serious perfecting the assigned tasks to her while unleashing her prowess to make us laugh – or cry or get irritated. Schizophrenic she is not; she has just a gift to instinctively shift from one character to another that could spontaneously transform us into laughing hyenas or combust us into raging bulls.
But beyond her colorful personality lies the true color of Nanen. Deep down in her heart, she is true and tried to her commitment. Her immersion to the real world tightens her grip to what she believes in. She would defy the pull of gravity to make sure that she presses on her principles and passion.
That was how Nanen has steeled in her resolve. I was not caught unawares at all when she announced that she decided to go beyond the four corners of her classroom to give way to her undying passion to go among the hapless and the helpless.
It was the last time we talked about it seriously. Still, she has not missed surprising me of her texts and messages. In her texts, she is still the same Nanen that I used to know, my housemate, officemate and friend.
Until I heard the news that Nanen was abducted by the military in a village where she has devoted her life. My reaction was obscure and indefinable, for Nanen was not only too frail to do that, her work is much more noble and dignified than those who are in the power. She was charged with fabricated cases.
I don’t know what has pushed the army in abducting Nanen. What is clear now is that the army and the government are too paranoid now that they would resort in these activities just to make sure that no one would go against their interest. And for some reason, they think Nanen is one of them.
That must be the exact explanation why, aside from Nanen, they still continue to pick on people who they think threaten the already wobbling government. Faces of Cris Hugo, the Maco Four, several journalists, and endless names of faceless people stream in my mind. They are victimized of the paranoia of this government.
But they are not the only ones who are victims here. We are also sufferers, being browbeaten and cowed by this government by exhibiting its expertise in the use of gold, goons and guns. We are being tamed by the sight of the pile of bodies, of the blood that spills in the broad of the day and in the dead of the night. We are the losers.
I don’t know what happens to Nanen now. But whatever will it be (which I hope would be better), I still envy Nanen. She is able to arrive at life she has always wanted, without compromise or concession. And she has surprised the hell out of me for being able to do that.
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