WHEN the village is quiet, you can hear the birds chirping, the dogs barking, the cats mating or whatever it is that cats do when they’re noisy, unless it was a human couple that was making that noise.
After all, this is a village filled with people—a senator, mayors, governors, congressmen—so that when choppers fly overheard almost making the houses here shake, the first thing that comes to mind is, the one aboard is a politician since they, ahem, need utmost security while hopping from one mansion to another. Not necessarily their mansion, though, since they do receive invites from the rich and powerful.
Sana all have choppers, eh? So we can avoid the Cagayan de Oro traffic.
But choppers are always available for anyone who can afford to rent or buy them. “Money, money, money/Must be funny/In the rich man’s world.”
It’s important to choose the village’s name wisely. Don’t call it, say, Morning Dew, which may result to dew coming out of the tap and only in the morning. And not Gardens since that’s more appropriate for a memorial park. And definitely not Eco-Friendly Residences if its residents don’t know the difference between biodegradable and non-biodegradable.
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose/By any other name would smell as sweet.” Hmmm.
Our family name, for example, is sometimes mispronounced and misspelled: Camotmot, Kamomot, Camumut, etc. That’s probably the reason why my nephew’s friends simply call him Mot.
Years ago, we reserved a table at a hotel resto, and the sign said, “Reserved for Nitnit Camomot.” Perhaps the Camomot was misspelled, too? I don’t remember.
I’m sometimes called Nenette. Or even Nette-nette, which complicates my simple nickname.
It’s easier for those with familiar names although the Pinoy tends to insert an “h”: Bheng, Bhing, Bhong. Try pronouncing that and some phlegm may manage to escape from your nose.
A business name is particularly special if it ends up as the office’s or store’s signage, or even the bar’s neon sign. There’s this bar that misspelled its name, but by the time I noticed it, the neon sign was already installed. Oops. An editor can have headaches when he sees that.
The correct spelling may also prove if a product is authentic or not. Like this Kate Spade New York white T-shirt that a guy was wearing. It was the correct spelling. It was neither Kit Sped New Yolk nor Katy Speedy NY. But what surprised me was the wearer—he’s a man. I didn’t know that the brand is for men, too. And, no, he wasn’t gay. Or perhaps he was. I happen to have the weakest gaydar in this side of Pinas.
Since I hate fake people, I also hate fake products like Gucci-gucci, Pradada, Channel, etc. And also the Class A Hermes Birkin. Buy the most original item you can afford, and it doesn’t have to be any of those luxury brands. Because it’s you, and not the bag, that should define you.
In the world of the rich and powerful, though, a luxury bag is the preferred accessory. So, if you’re using a bag that resembles, say, Chanel’s Classic Flap, those who are familiar with the original won’t even take a second look.
