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Kata



“Speak not unless you can improve the silence.”
Spanish proverb

BUNTOT ng dragon ang katumbas ng kambal na paa… inihaplit paharap, iglap na sinalag ng katunggali… hindi akalaing nagkamali pala sa tangkang gagapin ang buntot… na biglang pumilantik paikot, salpak sa leeg… sa sentido… paulit-ulit.

Maikukuwento muli’t muli ang naganap na sukatan sa mga apo… hindi na kailangan pang tambakan ng sangkatutak na salita ang paulit-ulit na paglalahad, ang pagsisiwalat… nangyari na ‘yon, may nakasagupa… bulagta sa inabot na sunud-sunod na haplit ng buntot ng dragon.

Pero mababalikan ang nakaraang pangyayari. Babalikan upang may mapulot na aral, may masinop at maisalin na kaalaman sa laman. Nemo dat quod non habet—hindi maibibigay ang hindi taglay.

Ganoon lang ang kata o pinagtagni-tagning galaw sa sining-tanggulan… story-telling of a mortal engagement, not a word said, just a sequence of movements to replay whatever transpired. Just show-and-tell, it’s a recitation of poetry in motion…maybe it’s a moving story, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed, my grandchildren can appreciate stories like that—not a word, not a pipsqueak or cackle added.

There’s sheer economy of movement shining in such a telling… walang lulutang na kataga pero malalim ang taga.

Parang maliyab na pamumulaklak ng dapdap, maghuhubad muna ng dahon saka iuusbong ang mga talulot… parang hitik na pamumunga ng anonas o siniguelas, iwawaksi ang saplot na yamungmong bago itambad ang makakatas, malulutong na mga utong.

Parang masuyong pagtatalik… papalisin muna bawat tabing sa katawan…

T-teka, teka, on second thought, second thought, second thought I need not demonstrate all the variations of enlightened and blissful coupling as taught in Ishimpo, uh, that Chinese classic that’s also called “The Tao of Sex.”

It takes 30 years to get into the spirit of, say, the entire set of 108 movements in tai qi quan… uh, that’s a lifetime. Too heady strong a drink to imbibe. ‘Hirap talagang laklakin nang biglaan, hinay-hinay ang kailangan… ah, too much of a drunk am I, kaya alak pa!

At kapag nakagiliwang tumungga ng ganoong inumin, magiging gawi na rin ang tagubilin ng salawikaing Español—keep your mouth shut… kasi nga nahuhuli ang isda sa bunganga. It’s not just saying something, something must be said… hindi pulos buga lang ng laway.

Kantiyaw nga ng aking yumaong abuela sa makatsang o makati ang dila: “Mas magaling pa ang manok, pumuputak lang kapag nagluwal ng itlog, tiyak na may pagkaing ihahandog.”

Tudyo naman ng abuelo: “Bakit kikibo kung ‘kakasuka talaga ang body odor? Tanggalin ‘yang B.O.. para matira ang ki…. Er, let me stink about it.”

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