Wallet na maswerte

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo

 

TODAY, in my continuing effort to “travel light” in this world, I went over a pile of my past acquisitions and marked some for clearing. I have segregated and marked the boxes and bags to be passed on to whoever I think would most need them, treasure them as I did, really use them for their true purposes. I didn’t realize I have so many unused clothes and clothes that I wore only for one occasion. Some of them were gifts from others who thought I might do justice to their fashion sense. The rest I bought for myself, to encourage me to lose weight, at a time when my friends and I were binging on food.

And then there were the books. So many books I had no time to read because I was busy looking at gardens, planting and focused on organizing various advocacies. It was a great comfort to see these books piled in a corner of the room, reminding me of a time when I had the time to read one or two in one sitting, with coffee beside, or on the bed, which often stained the books and the bedsheets as I got excited with the ideas and stories, and turn around, oblivious of the precarious location of the coffee cup.

Among the many things I found in the boxes were handwritten letters and greeting cards, from friends all over the world. So many emotions in these letters, even now, as I read them, they jump alive from the stationaries. My parents always sent birthday cards, big ones, some play “Happy Birthday to you!” as you opened them.

In one box were my mother’s belongings. There were some clothes, a sewing kit, napkins from various restaurants she visited, wrappers of various kinds, gift items she bought but forgot to give. My mother has strange habits. One of them was keeping all the wallets she was given on different occasions. She said that the wallets should not be thrown away, and if it is no longer being used, to pass it on to someone who needs luck. She calls them “wallet na maswerte”, or wallet that gives luck.

Whenever I needed to borrow money, my mother would gently pull out the required amount one by one, and kiss them away, as she hands them over. She told me, money has an energy, and one must treat them with care, so they would remember you, and come back to the wallet.

Strange indeed, that her wallets were lucky, considering that some of those who borrowed from her did not pay her back, some for years, until she passed away in 2017. She had their names listed behind the huge calendar she hanged on the wall to remind her to collect. It was a very, very long list. Most of them did not show up during her funeral. They explained, they had no money to travel to Manila, but did not mention possible settlement for their debts.

 

Four gives, and forget!

 

Manang, Manang!

makibulodak man kuwartam

naganak diay anak ko

intarayan diay nakasikog, madi.

saan nga makaruar idiay ospital

bayadan kanto, sige metten kadi.

 

Pangnga-asim, Manang!

isublik malpas maysa a bulan

agpirmaak kasuratan

abgayadak, di ka itarayan!

 

Note: “Four gives” is a lending practice where the amount owed is to be paid in four equal installments.

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