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OPINIONS
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(August
25 – August 31, 2008) The
Bard of Blaise Jopo Guerrero The devil’s means (Due to the requests
of some my friends and avid readers, I am ‘republishing’ the following story
in this column. – JRPG) One
day, Brain was talking to the major
sense organs: Tongue, Eyes, Nose, Ears and Skin. There were other sense
organs – like those buried deep in the tissues – but these five were deemed
to be the most influential in the Body. Thus, whenever there was a problem,
Brain went to these specialized organs. “The Body is dying,” Brain sighed. “It is dying
because there are too many evils going on in its system. Certainly, these
evils were infused by the Devil himself.” The major sense
organs slumped in depression because they knew what the news from Brain meant
– they were also dying. Tongue was not able
to hold itself. “Who is responsible for this? We are armed with enough safety
nets against the Devil’s traps. But with this ruin, it is obvious that one of
us has become weak, one of us has become the means of the Devil. Brain shrugged. “Who
do you think, Tongue?” “Not me!” Tongue
bellowed. “Whenever I sense an evil taste, I spit it out and I command the
mouth to zip up. There’s no way the Devil can feed the Body with evil through
me. Maybe it’s Eyes!” “Not me!” Eyes
protested. “Whenever I see evil, I immediately pull down my lids and shut
them tightly. There’s no way the Devil can bring in evil images in the Body
through me. Maybe it’s Nose!” “Not me!” Nose
blubbered. “Whenever an evil scent floats, I hold my breath or summon the
Hands to cover me. There’s no way the Devil can insist its evil whiff in the
Body through me. Maybe it’s Ears!” “Not me!” Ears
howled. “Whenever there’s an evil hum, I immediately command the Hands to
enclose me firmly. There’s no way the Devil can glide evil notes in the Body
through me. Maybe it’s Skin! “Not me!” Skin
shrilled. “Whenever I feel an evil touch, I excrete it at once. There’s no
way the Devil can embed evil sensation in the Body through me! No way! “ A grinding silence
followed the thunderous pleas of not guilty. Then Tongue glowered at
Brain. “Brain, it’s you! You are the means of the Devil!” “Why so, Tongue?”
Brain softly asked. “It’s simple!”
Tongue furiously wagged. “We, sense organs, are mere faculties by which
outside information is received. We can initially repel any undesirable
stimulus, but ultimately, evaluation and response depend on you. Brain, you
are the culprit. You brought evil in the Body. You brought death to us!” Dagger looks stormed
Brain who humbly nodded and bowed. “Yes, you are right.
Please forgive me, my friends,” Brain sobbed, then walked away. After a couple of
hours, only Brain and Heart remained alive in the Body – but they were also
breathing their last moments. Painfully, Heart
motioned to Brain. “You knew from the start that it was my fault, not yours.
My whims overpowered your careful evaluations. My impulse rejected your
reasonable responses. I brought evil in the Body. I brought death to us. Why
did you take the blame, my dear Brain?” Brain sweetly smiled
and spoke its last words. “My dear Heart, it’s simply because I understand.” *** BARD NOTES: A happy bard-reading to the members of the
Cardenas Family of Waipahu, Hawaii, especially Noli,
Orlino, Helen, Ruben and Susana Cardenas. Greetings also to
PNB Batac Branch Manager Marilyn Mata, San Nicolas
Mayor Alfredo Valdez, Jr., Barangay Chairman Joseph
Vergel P. Calajate of Gabut Norte, Badoc and the
employees of Video City Laoag, INNHS, PNB, Land
Bank of the Philippines, AMA Laoag Campus, Police
Provincial Office, Honda Prestige and GMA TV 10 Dagupan. For your comments
and suggestions, please email me at bardofblaise@hotmail.com or
bardoblas@gmail.com. Ilocos
Times copyright 2008 |
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