Never go back

Netnet Camomot

AFTER watching “Third Party” at Limketkai on Tuesday, “Keeping Up With the Joneses” and “Bakit Lahat ng Gwapo May Boyfriend?!” with Kim Daguman and Ramil Caballero aka Jack Fryday at Centrio on Wednesday, there I was again, watching “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” with my sis and adopted children at SM on Thursday.

The verdict: “Jack Reacher” is boring. Talk of the most appropriate title ever. Yeah, never go back! I had to watch “Boyfriend” again to delete ho-hum off the system.

This is what happens when I spend too much time in voluntary work. I need R&R the week after. Was supposed to meet many deadlines for more voluntary work last week but, hey, I had to breathe, thus, the movies. And food. Gotta recharge to gain energy for the next phase.

It’s back to voluntary work this week. And back to protein shakes and Batman aka the wellness coach’s meal plan. I’ve not been reading the news, nor scrolling down my Facebook newsfeed lately, so, I have no idea what’s happening outside of the movies and the food I’m hoping I could adapt to for the rest of my pre-senior citizen life. Because once dual citizenship is here, I gotta feeling my favorite word will be “keber.” I’ve already started anyway, this early, with no thanks to the recovering knee that constantly reminds me senior citizenship is waiting at the corner.

The original plan for this fiscal year that began on July 1, 2016 was to read books, lose more weight through the meal plan, and spend quality time with family and friends. But once voluntary work has been your calling for, hmmm, at least 30 years, dedicating one more year to volunteerism becomes a given.

There are many organizations that are propped up by volunteers. Most of the time, there’s no vested interest there–the volunteers simply want to share what they have with others. And it’s not always because they already have much to share. They simply want to help. That’s it.

Once vested interest enters the picture, though, volunteerism is tinged with this phrase: utang na loob.

I, for one, do recognize utang na loob. You don’t survive in this oh so cruel world without people helping you. But that help should not be a license for anyone to use, misuse and abuse you.

The essence of volunteerism is to be fully aware of all things happening in this world, to enable you to see where help is most needed. Because shoving unnecessary help down someone’s throat is not volunteerism—it’s a waste of time, effort, and resources.

The Jaycees used to have SAPAE—survey, analysis, planning, action, evaluation. I don’t know if they’re still using that now. It’s a guide for each project, with survey and evaluation as probably the most important parts.

Rotary has its motto, Service Above Self, and the Four-Way Test. Of the things we think, say or do: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

The Four-Way Test is now recited at the start of each Rotary club meeting. If old-eferring to years in Rotary, not exactly age–Rotarians can’t still memorize it despite the constant reminder at each meeting, and reading it on their club bulletins, better have that tattooed then on their wrists. Hehe.

In a perfect world, the answer to each of the four questions in the Four-Way Test should be a loud and resounding yes. The kind of yes you shout into the Grand Canyon, so it can echo back to you. A yes of lesser caliber may end up sounding like a no.

But Rotarians, Jaycees, and members of other organizations are human beings. And there’s no such thing as a perfect world.

There’s freedom to hop from one organization to the next, with the Jaycees “graduating” after reaching the age of 40–Jaycee age is 18-40–and seemingly following this joke: The good Jaycees are invited by the Rotary; the bad Jaycees are fed to the Lions. This joke has been shared in so many speeches already, I wonder if the Lions are still offended by it.

There are people who would prefer to remain in what could be considered as private citizenship, with no membership in any organization, with a mere passive role in professional organizations. If you’re an accountant, doctor, engineer, etc., there’s always an organization for your profession. I don’t know if being a non-member makes life less complicated for I’ve not tried that kind of life. But that choice definitely gives them more time to read, watch movies, and pursue other hobbies. Pair that with “keber,” and it could be the best life ever.

Ayn Rand once wrote about “The Virtue of Selfishness.” It’s a collection of serious essays, more serious than “The Fountainhead” and “Atlas Shrugged.” After reading the first sentence, you need to inhale, exhale, and stare at the green trees outside your window. Then, you reead that sentence again. And again. And again. Until it sinks in.

For its Introduction, Rand wrote: “The title of this book may evoke the kind of question that I hear once in a while: ‘Why do you use the word “selfishness” to denote virtuous qualities of character, when that word antagonizes so many people to whom it does not mean the things you mean?’”

Unsa daw?! Inhale, exhale, stare at the trees.

A friend introduced me to Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead” in 1987. It’s about architect Howard Roark. My adopted son is also an architect. For now, the similarities start with that one word.

The movie to watch next week is “The Accountant.” I’m a CPA. That was certified public accountant eons ago when the title paved the way for job interviews. Now, it’s more like my chicken pork adobo. Let’s see if the “accountant” similarity will make me go back to this trio again: movie, popcorn, diet soda.

Editor’s note: We are running this three-part piece about Filipinos in China before 1500 in line with the new foreign policy of President Rodrigo Duterte, fostering closer ties with China. That it does have a solid historical basis to it for diplomatic ties with China was started by Butuan, then an independent polity, in 1001. By this, many will be aware that it’s a lot older than our ties with the US.)