Konted's Make My Day: The Times Are A-Changin'

The Times Are A-Changin'

In the old Roman calendar, March was the first month of the year. After December came March. But this was changed and January and February were added. From 10 months to 12 months, so I was made to understand. And January was taken from the name 'Janus', the Roman god of beginnings and transitions. Janus is a two-faced god looking two ways. Similarly, January is symbolic as we look forward to the months ahead and, likewise, we look back to the past months. A good time to contemplate and make assessments. And if needed, we make adjustments and reset goals.

As I sat alone in an armchair amidst the blaring sounds and glittering, colorful lights shooting across the skies welcoming the new year, thoughts of years gone by started flashing through my mind. As one who sometimes finds delight in dwelling on the past, it was flashback time for me. I was turning back the hands of time.

I clearly recalled, many years ago, when my 2nd son Allen was a grade school student at the Ateneo de Manila in Katipunan. He was an energetic kid who liked to run and run and play basketball with just anyone his age or even older. He always had marbles and bubble gums in his pockets and when it was time to go home, it was not surprising to see dust and dirt on his shoes, pants and shirt.

There was a time when he had a near scuffle with a bigger, taller and older student. There was some pushing or shoving but no punches were thrown. It was "away bata", so to speak. The bigger kid. while taking a fighting stance, shouted: "Hindi mo ba alam anak ako ni Senator Heherson Alvarez?" To which my son Allen, with clenched fists, shouted back: "Hindi mo din ba alam anak ako ni Teddy Gener?"

Here was Allen pitting his father against the father of his opponent. A plain citizen against a Senator of the Republic of the Philippines. Allen had that big psychological image of his father that he would accept any dare or challenge. In his mind, I was bigger and tougher than anyone else. BTW, this is just an old story about Allen which I sometimes recall and it always elicits that corresponding laughter. I do not mean to put the other kid and the good senator in bad light. Senator Alvarez was a good member of the Philippine Senate and I always voted for him. Back to the ballgame.

Now, why am I telling you this? Because times are a'changin'. In those days, I could do no wrong in the eyes of Allen. I was indestructible. I was invincible. I was infallible. He looked at me as the walking encyclopedia. But not anymore. Not now. He begins to question my wisdom. My opinions do not carry a lot of weight anymore. He does things most of the time on his own. Without consulting me. A stark contrast to the days of old. The times, they are really a- changin' !!!!!

- Konted