The Most Romantic I Could Get

Aling pagibig pa ang hihigit kaya (What love can be)
Sa pagkadalisay at pagkadakila (Purer and greater)
Gaya ng pagibig sa tinubuang lupa (Than love of country)
Aling pagibig pa, wala na nga, wala. (What love? No other love, none.)

This is what I found myself reading while waiting for my friend to buy a ticket during the UP fair 2014. It is Valentine's day, and this is the most romantic verse that I could spout of. I could also spout of Romeo's love for Juliet, or that of Maria Clara's for Ibarra, but I chose Andres's for Pilipinas. Why, I don't know. This is probably the most romantic I could get, I thought.

Maybe I'm just not built for this kind of thing.

The morning after, my friend is sick. We signed up to be volunteer teachers for Mano Amiga Pilipinas. Gosh, she can't be sick now, she's supposed  to prepare the food for the kids. I ponder over waking my friend and making her prepare the food or just doing it myself. I heard heavy breathing, and a bit of throat clearing from my friend.

Fine. I guess I should do this. I mean, I prepare delightful sandwiches for myself, right? HAHAHAHA I didn't spend my time watching Eat St. Food Network for nothing, I thought.

And so I made the sandwiches.

It proved to be a big mistake. The first batch of sandwiches was a disaster. Our oven toaster's timer and heat control was busted, so I had to use the stove. Our gas tank was empty so I had to use the electric stove - which took forever to light up. And the grilling pan that I used had metal handle - I didn't use any pot holder so I ended up getting grounded.

We can't go to the site empty handed, I thought. What should I do?

I ended up just preparing the cheese, tuna, mayonnaise, and cleaning up the table and the sink instead. I was so glad my friend woke up just in time to continue and finish the food preparation.

Perhaps, trying to make sandwiches (or any kind of food for others) is the most romantic I could get, but I (and everyone else) would really be better off if I never try to be romantic again. HAHAHAHA

From one of the kids of Mano Amiga Pilipinas

 
Happy Valentine's!
Arlet

PS

Try volunteering for Mano Amiga next time! You might be pleasantly surprised to see yourself in the kids or in the other volunteers. And maybe I'll see you around!

I find all kids bright. Adulthood and society just tend to dull them down.