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Wish kulang

SINUBOK sa lansangan kung may mahahagilap na matindi ang emotional quotient, E.Q., the human capacity to walk a mile or more in another’s forbidding path… Kaya ba ng Pinoy ang ganitong pagsubok?

Kakaiba sa isang tampok na bahagi ng pantanghaling palabas, huhugot ng isang pangalan ng naninirahan sa sinadyang maralitang kabahayan… tatambakan ng pagkain, kagamitan at pakimkim na ilang libong piso ang mapalad na tagaroon.

Kakaiba sa alinmang ‘kikigayang palabas na bubungkal ng makabulwak-uhog o makabuhos-luhang saysay sa buhay ng kalahok sa paligsahan… para yata makapagladlad ng human drama in an inhuman television show… that segues to a loud celebration of human incompetence, the absurd, banal and trivial to elicit laughs… to numb and dumb audiences.

Pumapalakpak na ‘ko nang ilahad ni Elizabeth Oropesa ang pakay ng pagsubok… to seek out a rare bird among gulls, geese, and gargoyles out in the streets…

“Love your neighbor as you would love yourself” is the second of God’s two greatest commandments and Christ Himself explained what a “neighbor” is… and pointed to the so-called Good Samaritan.

Palihug… pakidala sa anak ng inang bilanggo ang regalo niyang manyika.

Gano’n lang. Bahala kang tuntunin kung saang lupalop naninirahan ang anak para dalhin ang regalo. Dare the daring to walk a mile in a path he hasn’t taken… so out of the box. Parang paghahanap ng karayom sa bunton ng dayami, paghahalungkat ng kamatis na napisa sa talaksan ng atis.

Many were cold but most were frozen… many were called but one chose to do—sans silly qualm or shilly-shallying-- two-bit honor to such a request. He who chose to becomes Chosen.

Gano’n sana ang mga paligsahan… talagang magduduldol ng liyab ng panggatong sa ulirat, magtatarak ng karayom sa gulugod.

‘Tindi ng hamon niyong pagsubok. Hindi na susukatin sa mga tanong ang antas ng E.Q., hindi uungkatin kung anu-ano ang mga pinag-aralan, kakayahan at kahusayan…

Maaari bang umamot ng katiting na panahon, lisanin ng ilang saglit ang nakagawian para matupad ang munting hiling ng isang nangangailangan? Lumagay ka kahit konti sa kalagayan ko…

Gano’n lang.

Gano’n lang?

An’dami ngang sablay. Umayaw. Nag-atubili. Mintis. Hindi kaya. O ayaw kayahin. Umiwas. Dinaan sa pagdadahilan ang pagwaksi sa kapirasong responsibilidad… no test of physical endurance, no gauge of intellectual savvy.

After all that’s said, said, said and done… nothing was done, puro daldal lang. Kaya hindi basta gano’n lang ‘yon.

Nakahinga nang maluwag… sa napakahabang prusisyon ng mga umaayaw, nangingimi, tamilmil o tinatamad, may isang umako para matupad ang pakiusap…

Celebration and jubilation!

Many were called. The turnout was downright cold and callused. But we have a winner who heeded the call and did what was humanly called for.

Tapos na ang palabas, pero nakatuntong pa sa ulap ang ulirat para sa “Wish Ko Lang” ng QTV-11…

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