Once upon a time

Once upon a time, I was young and life was less complicated. Rules were simpler and roles were more defined. Daily living was more regi-mented. Options were less. That was then. Now, we feel there’s so much to do with so little time. Opportunities have tremendously grown and the era of hi-technology has prevailed over the old-fashioned but reliable ways. Yes, things have changed. Let’s see just how much.

Once upon a time, Dad worked while Mom stayed home to cook and bake and sew, get down on her knees to clean and watch over the children. That was then. Now, it’s fortunate if Dad has a stable job. We see women leaving home, day in and day out, getting more and more aggressive. Even a reversal of roles has happened. In still other cases, Dad and Mom work while the househelp takes care of the kids.

Once upon a time, hearing Mass was a big production in every household. Church goers were dressed in their best Sunday clothes and women wore sleeves and veils. That was then. Now, hearing Mass is an option. For some, it’s become merely a stopover before a family day in the mall. Some women go to church in short skirts, shorts, sleeveless blouses or plunging necklines. Some men wear T-shirts, shorts and just slippers. The essence of going to church is slowly slipping away.

Once upon a time, when children were children, they played piko and patintero on the streets. In the afternoon, they’d grab their bikes and go around the neighborhood. There was the lilting sound of children’s laughter in the community as they played hide and seek or habulan. That was then. Now, kids are cooped up in their bedrooms, playing their gameboys, PS1 or PS2, busy with their PC or watching STC, HBO or MTV.

Once upon a time, there were very few cars on the roads. There were taxis all right, buses and jeepneys too, but the roads were compatible to the volume of vehicles. That was then. Now, there’s traffic – heavy traffic. There’s LRT and MRT. Then there are FXs and surprise, surprise... air-conditioned jeepneys!

Once upon a time, there was only the telephone. It was black, heavy and had rotary dials. Because it was sort of a lifeline to the outside world, it was prominently placed in the living room. That was then. Now, there are telephone extensions, wireless telephones and the most important innovation of the century, the cell phone. With your pocket-sized phone, you can also send text messages, compose music, take and send pictures, record videos or transmit fax. It’s a handy organizer that reminds you of appointments, birthdays, and anniversaries.

Once upon a time, we typed our reports on rickety old typewriters like my heavy and sturdy Underwood manual typewriter. We’d be careful not to make mistakes because it was time-consuming to erase and correct. I was afraid of pulling a muscle each time I carried it to go to the next room.

If I wanted two copies of what I was typing, I needed to put those dirty carbon papers between white coupon bonds. That was then. Now, it’s the age of computers. There’s a delete button and a "cut and paste" operation. Goodbye to the carbon paper and with a single key, work can be reproduced. Now, I can save my work on a hard disk, the diskette or a compact disc.

Once upon a time, music was generally for easy listening. The lyrics were usually of love – easy to remember and sing-along to. If the beat were a little bit faster, it would be for dancing. There was also the sound of jazz, R&B, folk, not to mention country music and some arias. That was then. Now, music has too many variations. There’s rock music, alternative rock, hard rock and pop rock. Then there’s hip-hop, reggae, electronica, funk and world beat. Many of their lyrics are hardly audible; some of them, I think, need to go to anger management class.

Once upon a time, there were the 45 rpm, 88 rpm and 72 rpm records. You’d need to purchase a costly turntable to be able to listen to them or wait for your favorite radio station to play it over the airwaves. That was then. Now our options have grown. There’s the cassette tape, CD, MP3s, downloading and CD writing.

Once upon a time, you’d have to go to the theaters to watch a movie. That was then. Apart from pirated materials of films that come out silmultaneously with those on regular runs, there are laser discs, VHS, VCD and DVD. If you’re patient enough, you can wait for these movies to be shown on cable TV.

Once upon a time, there was snail mail. Now, there’s e-mail. Once upon a time, there was the telegram and the telex. Now, there’s a telefax. Once upon a time, there was the address book and the diary. Now, there are palmtops. Once upon a time, using the public phone costs tatlong beinte singko lang or 75 centavos – now it’s five pesos. Once upon a time, the girls have to wait for the boys to call them. Now, the girls call the boys. Yes, the world has changed. We’ve changed because we haven’t any other course to take but to adapt. Once upon a time, all that old-fashioned stuff wasn’t bad at all.

Once upon a time, there was only one time – standard time. Now there is one’s own time depending on the traffic and brand of watch one wears.

Once upon a time, there was love. Now, there’s lust that barely lasts.

Then, there was delicadeza – sensitivity to others and their feelings. Honor and valor. Now there’s greed – for power, for money, for this world at any cost or at all costs.

Once upon a time, God was always present in one’s life. Always there to turn to, pray to, cry to and follow. Now, He appears distant and unhearing because we have forgotten Him.

Once upon a time, we were babies, pre-teeners, teenagers, then adults. Now, we are grandparents. Community leaders. National leaders or lazy bums.

Yes, once upon a time comes only once in our lifetime.