Friday, June 27, 2008

...

I didnt want to blog about the Princess of the Stars because 1) other blogs do this sort of thing better than I do, and 2) my brother-in-law might have been on that boat and I guess I didnt want to jinx his survival. Then my wife sent an SMS from Masbate yesterday and she confirmed that her brother was indeed on that boat and is still missing. I hope she's wrong. I hope he never went on board. You can never really tell with my brother-in-law. He's, shall we say, erratic. He'll tell you he'll do one thing, assure you in fact, then turns around and does something else.

I havent seen him for years. The last time was over 10 years ago when he dropped by the house and asked if he could stay for a few days until he could get back on his feet, and I said sure, and had him do stuff around the house, which he was glad to do. Not heavy stuff; just the usual: go to the palengke, cook, stiff like that. It was fun having a regular drinking buddy on the weekends too. He offered to paint the bedroom. I said he didnt have to do that, but he insisted, so I said ok. He did a decent job, and left the next day. I found out later that he took a gun I kept on top of the aparador with him. (It wasnt loaded, so relax, Gunless Society freaks.) We didnt hear from him for years at a time: he's back in Masbate, he's in Cebu, he's in Davao. There were even rumors that he was dead, but a letter would appear and it would be from him. He couldnt come back to the house probably because he was too embarrassed, but I wouldve welcomed him I think, but he kept in touch with my wife. I didnt mind not hearing from him. In fact the less I heard from him the better.

And now...

5 comments:

Resty Odon said...

The tragedy really has a different effect once you know someone among the victims. I guess all you can do right now other than pray, is to go through the process of grief (instead of suppressing it).

Jego said...

My brother-in-law is the 'masamang damo' type. He's the type you can't rely on for anything but someone you'd want watching your back in a fight or when things get rough.

If he was on that boat I won't be surprised if his name doesnt appear in the manifests. He's the type who can get around the country without paying for tickets. I dont know how he does it, but he's a charismatic, charming sort of chap. Just like his mom. But that's another story.

grifter said...

actually, not to be indecent here, but the thing that struck me most is that you kept a gun.

Which begs the question: did he ever get to use it?

Which then begs the usual torero making-light-of-the-situation zinger: maybe he shot the crew of the ship, hence no one was able to man the vessel, typhoon or not.

Jego said...

Yes, my fellow torero, I understand the perplexity the gun caused you. Because the Traveling Toreros dont need guns. All we need is our wits and our devastating sex appeal. Nyaahahahahaa!!

But like I said, it wasnt loaded and didnt think of getting bullets for it, although the other Torero in Texas couldve supplied me with some. In fact he wanted to get me a bazooka.

grifter said...

damn Texans. i ain't messing with 'em.