SHORTAGE?!
I was glancing through the classifieds of the Inquirer today (Sunday, May 7), semi-looking for affirmation that there are jobs out there for Creative Writing majors like myself. The quick search confirmed the tough reality for writers. I was reminded of the hook to one of Jay-Z’s songs: it’s a hard-knock life for us, it’s a hard-knock life for us…
Then in bold, all-caps letters, I read: “THE SHORTAGE CONTINUES…” Then below it, just above the crease where the newspapers are folded in half: “FOR U.S. IMMEDIATE NEED OF…” The next line was in the largest font of the entire ad—all caps and italicized. “NURSES & PT’S!!!”
I’ve exhausted this topic already, whether through my writing, through conversation over lunch, or accompanied by a few bottles and expressed in a crisp Filipino that can only be induced with alcohol.
But allow me a broken-record moment…
No…
I’ll save everyone the trouble. Just a few rhetorical questions:
1. Where’s the greater shortage? In the States? Or at home?
2. Who’s in immediate need here? The US? Or our country?
3. Can the culprits behind this ad be charged with treason?
I’ll end this by presenting a poem published in the same newspaper on the same day. Not exactly related, but nicely written, nevertheless.
Sa US Embasi
Ni Rommel Rodriguez
Dito sa US Embasi
Kinalawang ang aking mga matang
Tinuligsa ng mga imaheng nangangarap
Makakita ng nyebe; matandang naka-wheelchair,
batang amerasian ng karga ng kanyang ina,
mga young professionals na nagpa-praktis
ng English accent, mga nilalang
Na hindi ko matantiya kung
Anong puwersa ang sa kanila’y dito nagpadala
“Probably you’ll see snow there.”
Sabi ng consul sabay ngiti at tango ng mga Pinoy
Habang nakapila sa mahabang prusisyon ng
Patagong panunumbat.
Magdala kaya ako ng minatamis na saging?
O maglagay sa garapon ng mga sangkap
Ng haluhalong magpapangilo ng aking ngipin?
Pagtawanan kaya ako ng mga Kanong
Nagtatanong kung ang mga Pilipino’y
Sa puno pa rin nakatira
O kung kumakain pa rin tayo ng aso kahit hindi piyesta?
Matapos ang kaliwa’t kanang pila
At paghihintay na matawag ang numero
Upang hindi mapagkamalang mag-t-tnt o terorista,
Lalabas ng tarangkahang bakal
At aantabayanan ang pasaporte’y matatakan.
Puputaktihin muli’t muli ang isipan
Kung marapat pa rin bang
Iwan ang sariling bayan.
____________
Thu 11 May 06
I was glancing through the classifieds of the Inquirer today (Sunday, May 7), semi-looking for affirmation that there are jobs out there for Creative Writing majors like myself. The quick search confirmed the tough reality for writers. I was reminded of the hook to one of Jay-Z’s songs: it’s a hard-knock life for us, it’s a hard-knock life for us…
Then in bold, all-caps letters, I read: “THE SHORTAGE CONTINUES…” Then below it, just above the crease where the newspapers are folded in half: “FOR U.S. IMMEDIATE NEED OF…” The next line was in the largest font of the entire ad—all caps and italicized. “NURSES & PT’S!!!”
I’ve exhausted this topic already, whether through my writing, through conversation over lunch, or accompanied by a few bottles and expressed in a crisp Filipino that can only be induced with alcohol.
But allow me a broken-record moment…
No…
I’ll save everyone the trouble. Just a few rhetorical questions:
1. Where’s the greater shortage? In the States? Or at home?
2. Who’s in immediate need here? The US? Or our country?
3. Can the culprits behind this ad be charged with treason?
I’ll end this by presenting a poem published in the same newspaper on the same day. Not exactly related, but nicely written, nevertheless.
Sa US Embasi
Ni Rommel Rodriguez
Dito sa US Embasi
Kinalawang ang aking mga matang
Tinuligsa ng mga imaheng nangangarap
Makakita ng nyebe; matandang naka-wheelchair,
batang amerasian ng karga ng kanyang ina,
mga young professionals na nagpa-praktis
ng English accent, mga nilalang
Na hindi ko matantiya kung
Anong puwersa ang sa kanila’y dito nagpadala
“Probably you’ll see snow there.”
Sabi ng consul sabay ngiti at tango ng mga Pinoy
Habang nakapila sa mahabang prusisyon ng
Patagong panunumbat.
Magdala kaya ako ng minatamis na saging?
O maglagay sa garapon ng mga sangkap
Ng haluhalong magpapangilo ng aking ngipin?
Pagtawanan kaya ako ng mga Kanong
Nagtatanong kung ang mga Pilipino’y
Sa puno pa rin nakatira
O kung kumakain pa rin tayo ng aso kahit hindi piyesta?
Matapos ang kaliwa’t kanang pila
At paghihintay na matawag ang numero
Upang hindi mapagkamalang mag-t-tnt o terorista,
Lalabas ng tarangkahang bakal
At aantabayanan ang pasaporte’y matatakan.
Puputaktihin muli’t muli ang isipan
Kung marapat pa rin bang
Iwan ang sariling bayan.
____________
Thu 11 May 06
posted by M.V. at 4:56 PM
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