I got up one morning to a beautiful sunrise in Batalay beach, a rare occurrence during my recent vacation to the province in the month of June. I thought I would go for little walk along the beach as I didn’t feel like walking on the main road. Too many onlookers, too many people to acknowledge, too many loud vehicles releasing hazardous smokes, and I wasn’t in the mood to greet and smile early that morning. All I wanted was to avail of the fresh breeze of the ocean, and to get some exercise.

I had my breakfast of rice and tinapa, with tomatoes drowned in soy sauce for dipping sauce. I put on my shorts and sleeveless blouse and happily skimmed the beach alone.

There were quite a bit of people already on the beach doing all sorts of things – the majority were the netters. I walked along, eyes fixed on what they were doing. One group of fishermen were scurrying with their nets to higher ground to close in on every single little fish. Curious Belle paused and watched every single move they made. I wanted to know what was inside the net or if there was anything worth buying. They probably weren’t thrilled of me snooping on them. It is a free world, you know, and I had every right to be on the beach as I own an itsy bitsy beach property there, too.

I continued with my walk in hopes of reaching Marinawa way over on the other side. Given the terrain, the loose gravel, the walk was somewhat torturous, plus the fact that I was wearing my flip-flop complicated it even more.

On my way over, I saw another set of netters. I stopped again and snooped. I didn’t recognize any fishermen. They must be from a different village.  Suddenly, I heard a yell from behind me. I spinned around and saw a big fat bossomed older lady with a Marinawa accent..hehe

Why are you just standing there?!

Get down and help! another guy exclaimed.

Huh, huh? was all I could say.

Before I knew it, I bent over and picked poor little minnows that got stuck in between the holes of the net. Immediately, I accumulated a handful of little fish…maripati in bikol term. One big handful, weighs about half a pound, costs php30.

I didn’t know where to put the fish and I still had a ways to go for my walk. Most people made a little sack out of their blouses and shirts, and kept their shares in there, exposing belly buttons of all sorts. I couldn’t imagine myself doing that as I would be showing not only my navel, but my protruding abdomen.

Horrified at the thought, I quickly dropped the handful of little fish to the next guy’s pile. Though now that I had a chance to gather my thoughts, I could have wrapped them in one of the tree leaves, set them somewhere cooler and safe, and pick them up on the way back.

And then some random guy from out of nowhere was lecturing me about what I was supposed to do when in this situation.

“Don’t just stand up there and stare, we need the help we can get.” Because they were in a hurry to make another cast.

Geessh, what if I didn’t want to? Such a bossy/demanding bunch of people,” I thought. Luckily, I uttered no self-incriminating words.

I proceeded to where I was heading. I met a prominent guy from my town, probably in his late 50’s whose initials are RA. He owns a beach property in Batalay, too, and he was there for a dippin’.

Me: May I pass through!

RA: (Looking unfriendly, and thinking probably that I was going to cut through his property) Where are you passing?

Me: No, I am just passing through, (my way of acknowledging people I met on my walk so I would not be labeled a snub.)

RA: Ohh

Then we got into talking and introduced each other.

RA: You are married to a white?

Me: Yes, tabi (tabi = po in tagalog, to show respect.)

RA: Good thing he is not divorcing you.

Me: (Feeling insulted) Why will he divorce me? It could be the other way around, too, you know.

He said it again.

RA: You are lucky, he isn’t divorcing you.

I could tell that our conversation was going nowhere, so I hastily said goodbye, and continued with my walk, infuriated! Why would he say that? He was a respected guy, but he acted like a jerk, in fact, he didn’t deserve  my respect. He ought to go back to grade 1 and re-learn Good Manners and Right Conduct. I actually didn’t feel a need to respond to such a fool and totally uncalled for remarks even if they were meant to be a joke.

Moral lesson: It is a must that we should think first before we speak, sparing us a great deal of hurt to someone and a great deal of embarrassment to ourselves.

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