Letter from Kagay-an

Jimmy Alapag, one of my favorite PBA stars (because he’s small) has gotten married to showbiz girl LJ Moreno. Congrats and good luck, Jimmy boy.

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In one of the wedding pictures published in the Philippine Star, Jimmy was seen crying and wiping his tears away. The bride didn’t seem to give a damn.

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That’s the problem with some men. They chase women and when caught (by the women) they cry. Hehe!

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Jimmy is a sharpshooter on the hardcourt. Like my other favorite PBA player — James Yap, a fellow Bisaya. I hope Jimmy doesn’t fumble and stay on the hardcourt where they play the game called basketball.

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Here’s a letter that I’ve long been holding on, waiting for a bigger space. It was sent by Liberato Antigua last July. I didn’t have much space then. The letter says:

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Dear Mr. Jabat. I am Liberato Antigua, a classmate of yours for a half a semester at the Ateneo de Cagayan. That was long, long ago. I dropped out from school to go into business. I am Cebuano too, but I live in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.

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“I am writing you to keep you updated on the many changes in Cagayan (which the locals still call Kagay-an) since you left. CDO is not the same Cagayan you lived and studied in years ago. Then, the common transport of the ordinary people were the tartanillas. Now we have as many taxis as Cebu and there’s plan to establish an LRT which was shot down cold in Cebu City.

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We are a modern city now, Mr. Jabat. You see skyscrappers and other multi-storied buildings where once only one-floored camarins housed department stores. What you have in Cebu we now also have in Kagay-an. Oh, big strides have been happening since you left in the early 50s.

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“We have night markets like those of Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. These are regular features of business here ... In these night markets one finds all kinds of merchandise sold much lower than in Cebu City. In fact, Sir, many Cebuanos re-sell the merchandise bought here to friends in Cebu.

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“Our night markets here come twice a month — regularly. And you know what? In our night markets here are what they call ‘wellness stalls’ where tired shoppers can have brief massaging sessions from experts.”

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Thank you Mr. Antigua and your letter on the fresh outlook of your city which, when I studied there, was still like one of our towns here in Cebu.

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Liberato’s letter contained more than 20 pages. I have touched only four.

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