Career and Patriotism
Researched by Dr Abe V Rotor
As the school year was about to end and the members of the graduating class were very eager to enter college, the teacher a kindly old lady, asked each one what career he or she will pursue. It was a sort of open forum and the teacher emphasized the zeal of patriotism and nationalism. She premised on what one can do to a fellowman.
The first respondent, one among the top students, rose, “Ma’am, I’ll be a doctor, a physician.” To which the teacher asked the reason, “to take care of the health and to heal my sick fellowman.” The teacher smiled and nodded.
Came a hand up from behind. “And what will you become Henry?” asked the teacher.
“I’ll be a soldier, ma’am – and become a general - if I can.” “And… ,” “Ma’am, I’ll defend my fellowman, even to die for him.”
No sooner did Ma’am Lapeña see so many hands vying for the next to share. “Ma’am I’ll be an engineer. I ‘ll build farm-to-market-roads so that my fellowman would not be walking to town.”
Ma’am Lapeña was thrilled by the eagerness of her students. Wouldn’t you if you were in her shoes? They have their dreams – lofty, too. Pharmacist, pilot, scientist, biologist, meteorologist, architect, businessman, even astronaut.
Except one at a corner. His thoughts seemed very far. “How about the young man over there?” Ma’am Lapeña pointed at Juan. All heads followed.
Scratching his head he stood up, look at Ma’am Lapeña. “Yes?”
“Ma’am, simple lang, po. I like to be that fellowman.” The whole class burst into raucous laughter. The school principal who was passing by peeped and grimed, wondering.
“OK, class sit down, please everyone take your seat. Write an essay.”
“About our future careers, Ma’am? “
“No, no, about Juan, the fellowman.”
Juan Tamad is a comic character, likened to, if not worst than Rip Van Winkle who slept for twenty long tears. But we have accepted him - myth and real – erasing the guilt of pointing a person like him. To an extent, Juan Tamad jolts one from his lazy bench. One good thing about him is that, he is assumed to have no other vices. ~
The first respondent, one among the top students, rose, “Ma’am, I’ll be a doctor, a physician.” To which the teacher asked the reason, “to take care of the health and to heal my sick fellowman.” The teacher smiled and nodded.
Came a hand up from behind. “And what will you become Henry?” asked the teacher.
“I’ll be a soldier, ma’am – and become a general - if I can.” “And… ,” “Ma’am, I’ll defend my fellowman, even to die for him.”
No sooner did Ma’am Lapeña see so many hands vying for the next to share. “Ma’am I’ll be an engineer. I ‘ll build farm-to-market-roads so that my fellowman would not be walking to town.”
Ma’am Lapeña was thrilled by the eagerness of her students. Wouldn’t you if you were in her shoes? They have their dreams – lofty, too. Pharmacist, pilot, scientist, biologist, meteorologist, architect, businessman, even astronaut.
Except one at a corner. His thoughts seemed very far. “How about the young man over there?” Ma’am Lapeña pointed at Juan. All heads followed.
Scratching his head he stood up, look at Ma’am Lapeña. “Yes?”
“Ma’am, simple lang, po. I like to be that fellowman.” The whole class burst into raucous laughter. The school principal who was passing by peeped and grimed, wondering.
“OK, class sit down, please everyone take your seat. Write an essay.”
“About our future careers, Ma’am? “
“No, no, about Juan, the fellowman.”
Juan Tamad is a comic character, likened to, if not worst than Rip Van Winkle who slept for twenty long tears. But we have accepted him - myth and real – erasing the guilt of pointing a person like him. To an extent, Juan Tamad jolts one from his lazy bench. One good thing about him is that, he is assumed to have no other vices. ~
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