BATO SA BUHANGIN

By: Pacita Ramiro Pacis

 

Dear Tita Eza:

Hindi problema ang aking ibabahagi sa ‘yo ngayon, kungdi isang karanasan ng medyo nagkaka-edad na tulad ko.

AWA NG DIOS, sa sampung taon na nandito kami sa Amerika, ngayon lang ako na-confine ng matagal. Nadulas ako sa banyo; sa pagbagsak, naapektahan ang aking spinal column, natamaan, tail bone.

Pagkatapos ng operasyon ko sa ospital, na-transfer ako sa Rehab Facility, for ten days, malapit sa pinagtratrabahuan ng anak naming nurse.

Ganda-ganda-ganda ng surroundings. Governor’s mansion yata noon, nai-donate sa NGO. Malinis ang building,inside and out; kompleto ang facilites for the healing of the residents -physically, mentally, socially and spiritually; maliban sa food, na parang sa hotel (masarap kung masarap, kaya lang hindi sa ating nakasanayan), wala ka nang hahanapin pa. Higit sa lahat, ang babait ng personnel, mula pa man sa receptionists, nurses, doctors, certified nurse assistants (CNA’s), physical therapists, housekeeping and maintenance staff, kitchen personnel, atbp. Director of Nursing, Pinay.

Tag-dadalawa kami sa isang kuarto. Room 3 sa amin. May CNA assigned ’round the clock, para tingnan mabuti ang aming meals, comfort and safety .Night duty sa amin si Joe, isang Vietnamese – masayahin,maliksing gumagalaw, maalahanin.

Dahil sa almost kaming lahat na pasyente hindi ambulatory, tinitignan mabuti ng Management ang pagputa namin sa comfort room. As much as possible, iniiwasan nila na may madulas o bumagsak habang nasa loob. In cases of male CNA’s, rine-request ng pasyente na bantay sila outside the door.

THIRD DAY, nagkataong naubusan ako ng dalang So-en, a.k.a. “takip ng kaligayahan”. Suggestion ng nurse for me to try the diaper. As in diaper! Sabi ko naman, I haven’t tried one. “I’ll teach you how,” sabi ni Joe,CNA. Sabi ko naman I’ll learn to do it myself. “You lie down so I can show you how,” sabi niya, but I said no way. “If no way, then no way,” pabugsong sabi niya. “No way!,” inulit ko rin.

KINAUMAGAHAN, itinawag ko sa anak kong nurse ang nangyari. Ikinuwento din niya sa Director noong nangungumusta. Palibhasa, parehong nurse. Nang mag-duty si Joe sa sunod na gabi, sumbat niya, “Did you tell your daughter about last night?”, to which I said, why, what’s wrong, she’s my daughter.” “But she told the Director, and she is now angry with me. Why, did I get angry last night,” and yes, sabi ko, tumaas-boses niya kagabi. “From now on, I will not take care of you anymore, ” to which patapos ko na ring sinabi, “Kung ‘wag, di ‘wag!”

DESIDIDO NA RIN AKO na ako na mismo magsabi sa Director. That’s no way to treat a customer, and the customer is always right! Sinabihan ni Joe sa mga male CNA’s na ayaw ko raw sa kanila,kaya ayaw na rin nilang mag-duty sa Room 3.

Nakisalimuha si Ryan, isa ring Pinoy nurse. in-explain niya kay Joe na ang pag-ayaw ko sa diaper ay hindi sa galit o ilag ako sa male CNA’s kung di dahil sa kultura natin. Nothing personal. Nagkataon na sa Pinas, may natitira pa ring Maria Clara.

Sumasang-ayon din sa akin ang mga taga-Kenya, Uganda, at iba pang bansa sa Asia. Ganyan pa rin daw sa kanila, very private pa rin kanilang mga nanay.

The house was now divided! Sabi ng mga panig kay Joe na kilala siya ng Staff na naturang masayahin, na kung minsan malakas ang boses. With malice towards none, with charity for all, No sign of disrespect.

Meantime, payo ni Ryan, na hindi basta-basta magpahinto ng trabaho ng isang empleyado dito sa bagong bayan nating ‘to. Unang-una, andyan yung union. May proceso. Perhuwisyo. At kung anuman, maraming madadamay, lalo na ang pamilya, at ang binabayaran buwan-buwan….

Tuloy ko pa rin ba ang sumbong? Dahil lang sa lampin? TATLONG ARAW pa bago ako ma-discharge, nang dalhin ni Joe ang breakfast ng roommate ko, hiniling ko na mag-usap kami ng masinsinan…

Sabi ko sa kanya, “Joe, I want you to know more about me. In our country, before I retired,I worked with the Department of Local Government. We served whomever came to our office, including the boat people from your place. God knows we served them well until they were relocated to the Resettlement Area or were cleared to go out of the country. In some cases, however, there was a lot of waiting that many married and stayed behind.

I don’t see why we have to fight. In the first place, we are Asians, we are neighbors, we have the same blood flowing in our veins….”

“Okey, ma’am, okey, okey! We’re okey now, I will bring your breakfast,” he offered his palm and we shook hands…..

Gumagalang, Rosario R. —

 

Dear Rosario R.

Tanggapin mo ang aking paghanga sa ‘yo. Naging global citizen ka na rin! (Abrazo!). Being a global citizen means identifying with an ever-growing global community.

Indeed, the world has become smaller that we have become interconnected in ways that we could not have imagined. Nonetheless, there can be no world peace, no real brotherhood, as long as we do not define ourselves as, first, citizens of the world, and only second as members of our own tribe.

Of course, we need to take care of ourselves. Justice asks that we also treat ourselves fairly. But ultimately, the needs of others and our own needs should not be in competition.

“I am not a citizen of Athens or Greece. I am a citizen of the world and my Nationality is Goodwill.” -Socrates Good Job! Tita Eza —- P.S. ”

Dear Tita Eza” is based on true stories. The names, however, have been changed to protect the identity of people involved; some circumstances likewise have been fictionalized. Any similarities are purely coincidental.