#ThePSN Pera Series

IN WESTERN Visayas, I have already established my reputation as the preeminent agent of provocation.

I like driving people crazy with my crazy ideas.

Because I am so good at it, people have now come to expect me to be always provocative.

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Like, if my words or attire or make up does not attract attention, people would presume something is wrong with me momentarily.

They’d wonder if I am sick.

And that’s just how it is now—16 years after I threatened to protest in the nude by the Arroyo Fountain in front of the Provincial Capitol.

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I keep some of my premier agent provocateur persona online.

But for those who don’t know me for my real life exploits in Iloilo and the region, I understand that I can be something like a shitposter. 

Mema, as the young people would call it. 

Basta lang “me ma”-gawa. 

Translation:  Just so I can post or do something.

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I really don’t care.

I enjoy interacting with my people, my audience, my readers, online.

(Don’t worry. I have the time.)

They feed me, and I feed them.

Sometimes, inspire me to many, if not great, thoughts.

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Because I actually reflect on life, I post like a mad man.

I post every thought that comes to my mind.

Mostly, they’re inane.

But often, I could phrase them originally, creatively, uniquely. 

So that they come out entertaining, or at least, funny.

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I remember exactly how this “pera series” came to be.  

I was in the kitchen discussing with my sister-in-law how much salt I’m putting in my cooking.

And I had a passing thought of a conversation, totally unrelated, with a friend who said that I am so rich because I don’t desire so many material things.

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My “pera-asin” post on Facebook was very well-received.

And, of course, I couldn’t stop with just one post.

And it was like eating potato chips.

Until I was posting variations on the theme.

Every 15 minutes.

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‘Yang pera, parang asin din ‘yan.

Because I don’t need much, I actually have too much.

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‘Yang pera, parang ano rin ‘yan.

Masarap laru-laruin at hawakan… kung malaki talaga.

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‘Yang pera, parang pacencia rin ‘yan.

Kung wala nang pacencia, madali ring nauubos.

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‘Yang pera, para ring jowa ‘yan.

Kung waley na, humanap ka ng iba!

‘Wag tatamad-tamad.

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‘Yang pera, parang mukha rin ‘yan.

Ang kakapal… ng mga mukhang-pera.

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‘Yang pera, para ring papel ‘yan.

Kung barya lang ang hawak mo, alam na this!

Wala kang papel.

Quiet ka lang.

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And life is like that.

I can swing from witticism to profundity, to a verbal puzzle, to non sequiturs, to nonsensicalism.

I just let the jokes fly, even if sometimes they bomb.

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At another time, a friend’s post ran through my feed.

It was an aphorism about being real, and not obsessing to become wealthy.

I wanted to react, of course, because I thought it was making my friend lazy and complacent.

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I also thought it is a wrong philosophy to circulate on the Internet.

I mean, I understand the real message.

But if we don’t give a different perspective, it can be dangerous.

Hello?

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And I also meant for people to question my opinion/s.

They couldn’t just agree with me!

Just as I couldn’t simply agree that “Life is not about becoming rich, but about being real.” 

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Life daw is not about becoming rich, but about being real.

Hello?

Get real!

Stay poor, pero ‘wag kayong mandamay!

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Life daw is not about becoming rich, but about being real.

Mga addict lang ang nagsasabi nito!

High ba kayo?

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Life daw is not about becoming rich, but about being real.

Poverty seeks misery as company.

I-like n’yo raw sila.

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Life daw is not about becoming rich, but about being real.

Pustahan tayo, mahirap ang nagsabi nito!

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And that’s why, I’m #ThePSN, with the hashtag!/PN