THESE DAYS, my life in the Philippines is just a series of events.
My life is not really just a life, it is THE life.
I achieve a lot by doing things that I like.
And by just being who I am.
I think I’m totally 50 years old now ─ golden, shiny, and bright.
Even if I’m just really a youthful 49.
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Since coming home in August, I’ve been to Manila twice.
To South Cotabato once.
To Bacolod twice (thrice tomorrow, when I go to speak on The Hiligaynon Literary in the Modern World at the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos).
To Guimaras four times.
To Capiz once.
And I plan to visit Antique before October is over.
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I’m leaving Iloilo for Manila en route to Los Angeles on Nov. 1.
I would have stayed 89 days, maybe 90, in the Philippines during this visit.
But what an amazing race of life it has been.
I felt I have moved heaven and earth, comforted the desolate, and touched the hearts of warriors in less than 90 days.
If I may say so, I may even have made someone fall in love.
But that would sound too much of a claim.
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I have many proud moments during these 89 days.
I’ve posted personal best records, too.
Like giving a seven-hour lecture-workshop for P14,000─probably a record for the most expensive talk by a mere writer in Philippines.
Like becoming the FIRST Ilonggo performer at the 68-year old Palanca Awards ceremonies ─ and arguably the first Palanca Hall of Famer to do it, too.
Mostly, I’ve been just being extraordinary.
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Consider: Three HIV awareness lectures in high schools personally given in my hometown where HIV and AIDS are becoming a serious issue with new recorded infections on the rise.
In addition, I’ve also guested on the late night radio program Hutik sa Kagab-ihon with Bombo Ian Gajete over Bombo Radyo Iloilo on the same topic and advocacy.
Of course, we also talked about my sex life, past and present.
And my shameless use of the vernacular when teaching about sex and HIV.
And how I try to remain HIV negative, despite my being sex positive.
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But in all this HIV awareness advocacy, my proudest moments are my insistence on our vernacular words ─ giti, putay, buto, itut, chupa, in teaching and educating the youth and our rural folks.
I’ve chronicled this long story here in Panay News in a four-part series that started on August 29.
I detailed the occasion, and the cause of my insistence on understandable terms in the teaching of sex education, and HIV and AIDS awareness.
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I hate it that health workers shy away from the most impactful words as if sex is a dirty thing.
Sex is beautiful!
Sex is amazing and wonderful!
Unless you don’t get it.
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Three more things that I’m proudest:
Because high school kids realized I am not kidding them, and they can honestly talk to me about sex because I am honest and straight forward with them, I have gotten a boy properly treated for gonorrhea.
I have also prevented an abortion, and averted a teenage suicide because of teenage pregnancy.
And just the other night, a father (a fan reader here at Panay News) texted me that he wanted to talk to me because his son turned out positive for HIV.
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The fan reader told me that his wife (the son’s mother, of course) does not even know at this time.
The father and son are so burdened, and he was so relieved at that moment that he was able to tell me.
He has arranged a meeting with me. A threesome with the son!
And I promised myself, I’m gonna hug the HIV-positive son with all the love the world should give him.
In Peter Solis Nery’s philosophy: No shame, no blame, only love.
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Now, if all these happened because I used my name and renown, and became “foul-mouthed” to some constipated people, it is well worth it.
I dare the goodie-goodies to outdo all that I have done in less than 90 days!
And so, now you know why I can say whatever sh*t I want to say.
And have the big balls to do it.
On this newspaper, over the radio, in social media, in real life, and wherever I want to say something.
Because I ACTUALLY SAVE LIVES.
And comfort the afflicted like Jesus would. (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
