The Statue

The Statue
There was a statue of a child in front of him. He had a globe on his hand and a scepter on the other. He wore a glamorous red vest with sequins on its neckline. His hair was rather curly.

“There it suits you right. The little Sto. Niño wasn’t naughty when he was young. You be real good now and pray for the forgiveness of your sins.”

It was his mother scolding him for he had broken her glasses. He didn’t notice it on the sofa and it was crushed for he sat on it.

He thought of why he needed to ask forgiveness to a statue of a child. He remembered the story of the Sto. Niño from their lesson in school. Instead of praying, he thought of how it would’ve been if there were no statues to kneel at when he gets scolded at home.

Then he felt insulted when he saw its smile.

“The Statue” entails a possible indifference that the early receivers of it were likely to have had felt.

In the Hospital Ward

The door creaked as the doctor entered the room. She went to the section draped with green curtains. Then I heard her say, “You should learn to accept it now. You just have to think of those who love you.”
She was saying this to a beautiful young girl, whom I had seen only once when the nurse drew apart the curtains covering her bed, in a tone freed of sympathy. I heard her sob.
This room we share gave no sign of hope. Its walls painted white foretell the future we await- based from the doctor’s prognosis. The crucifix hung on it only reminds me of what is going to happen.

This piece suggests many reactions from different readers. And I myself would want to know their answers to this question: What does this mean to you?I want to know how this episode affects a reader.

SentimentS

I remember my kindergarten graduation when I said, “When I grow up I want to be a doctor.”

Back then I did not know how impossible that dream would be.

Fourth year high school was a decision-making stage for college. I was a step closer to having a job, or so I hoped. My friends decided to take the UPCAT, it was the first college entrance exam that I took. I wanted to pass it not because I knew much about being a UPian rather because that exam was worth four hundred fifty pesos, a two-day stay in a hotel and my fare to Davao where the testing center was in the Philippine Science High School. It was even too difficult.

I first chose a campus that would not give much burden to my parents both emotionally( for I know they would miss me) and financially( for the farther the distance, the more costly it is).I wanted to be practical. Though later many people deem practicality with this “Unta sa State College na lang ka miskwela dili pa gasto.“

After choosing a campus my options crashed down into seven courses available. My first choice was BS Computer Science-it was said to be a good choice for the many job opportunities in store for its graduates. Somehow I knew my weakness: I would surely fail it. BA English(Creative Writing) came next- without pretense it was my personal choice. Nothing corrupted that choice.

“Ngano nagBAE ka?“- a frequent question.

I chose BAE because I know I like English better than all the subjects, even though I wasn’t in good terms with my former English teachers in High School.

I don’t like people who discourage me. I don’t like those who look down on me being a “mere” English student. I don’t like them for pointing out their many advantages over us.

They don’t know of the uncertainties that we face. they don’t know how we are subjected to most criticism. They don’t know how long it takes to write something worthy to be even read. That’s just it. They just don’t KNOW.

I did not expect that writing scholar sponsor’s cards, Tagalog stories, even the mere luck of winning writing contests took me this far- to study under the BAE program. For almost two years now, I still doubt if I would be successful in this venture.

It isn’t easy being here. Anyway, I am a try-hard-do-it-again-next-time girl. I’ll cope with the overwhelming challenges to show THOSE people WHAT it takes when one’s heart aspires for something it wants.