The privilege to greet special friends

Greetings to special friends, the first is one's "young boss" since ROTC days, who is turning thrice the silver age tomorrow. Knowing him from this high in shorts as he then expertly dribbled the basketball, and so friendly simple despite early affluence and, yes, a famous family name even beyond the campus gates, has been one's personal pride and honor.

Say, why chose silver over gold as the symbolic matrix for reckoning age? While gold bespeaks the best, the figure of speech often suggests the King Midas touch of easy richness. And it has the nuance of human greed that stays insatiable; whereas, silver in its lustrous sheen and dulcet purity, connotes sweetness, smoothness, and softly pervasive of achievement. And humility and benevolence…

Perhaps, his very loving parents who had chosen a very endearing nickname were then gifted with clairvoyance that their youngest offspring would someday justify such endearing appellation in his lifetime in dealing with people, rich or poor, the highly educated or the unlettered.

Yes, he has some weakness or human frailty. Perhaps, he is vulnerable to get uneasy by those who forget "utang kabubut-on" ingrained in Cebuano culture. Another probably could be the penchant of some to put one over another, just to get whatever desired through dishonesty, dirty tactics as in false sob stories or tales of woe, and the like. Indeed, the honoree has a weakness to empathize with the "have nots" and the "can't afford". His soft heart has in many instances bailed out the poor, especially the students.

Way back when the "young boss" was an ROTC Corps Commander, one was his "Able" Company commander (now "Alpha"). Sometimes after drill day, the "young boss" would invite some cadet officers to then "Yarrow Beach" resort in Talisay, or somewhere else, to while away in leisure. While some would readily go with the group, one always found "excuses" to stay behind. The "young boss" saw through all these excuses and, he candidly explained that he knew about one's poverty. Painstakingly, he said that he was just fortunate to be well-off and, he felt honored to spend for his cadet officers in appreciation for good performance.

You know what, in not so many words, he seemed to be sorry even for being a son of a "can afford" family; and, that spending for his friends was to him an act of blessing from God.

In another instance, after graduation from the ROTC Advanced Course, there was that 2-summer month probationary training at the then Fort William McKinley (now Bonifacio). It was a hectic and very hot training that the every Sunday off was a welcome refresher and, of course, those better-heeled in the pocket had to spend the Sunday-off in Manila.

One time, the "young boss" had one "singled out" to go with him. To abbreviate the incident, the "young boss" had himself later fitted with pants at the Escolta, then Manila's shopping hub for the elite, and he also bought two pairs of Florsheim, the shoes for the rich. He then insisted for one to be fitted/tailored with a pair of pants, plus a pair of Florsheim all at his expense.

 At the risk of getting rebuffed for refusing an act of kindness, the "young boss" seemed amused that one hadn't changed at all. Yes, one has had chances of ingratiating with the "young boss", which perhaps a few others may by necessity be compelled to do so, but true friendship has to be with mutual courtesy and respect, and personal pride. One respects the then "young boss" for his understanding and kindness.

And it is one's sincere prayer that as he celebrates his birthday anniversary tomorrow, he and his wife, children, and grandchildren, shall continue to count God's blessings. Happy birthday to Dodong Gullas, former Congressman of the 1st District, VP Financial of the UV, and Chairman of The FREEMAN.

And to the other special birthday celebrant, Paping Sanchez, best wishes on his three silver age also.

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