Happy 'endings'

I’ve always loved and enjoyed playing with words. I am no etymologist or philologist but just a mere word scrutineer in search of personal amusement. And I believe and have this strange feeling that some of these words are doing the same to us  playing a trick on us.

My best example will always be the word “funeral.” Why? Because its first three letters spell FUN! Ngek!

And if you will notice, there is not much difference between the words “entertainment” and “interment.” Ngek again!

Imagine if I still have T.O.D.A.S around (our gag show on TV-13 in the ’80s), I would surely have a spoof of That’s Entertainment. I’d call it That’s Interment (Walang Gisingan!).

Take note that T.O.D.A.S. is a title also suggestive of death. But during its 10-year run (same period as Iskul Bukol), we took it in the positive on account of my prodding and influence as an Escalera brother. Todas in mahjong means “ to win” a game.

And wait, there’s more — why is it that the first syllable of the word “enjoy” sounds like END? Ngek! Parang “tapusin ang kaligayahan.”

To some extreme philosophers, life and death are really one and the same. Kunsabagay, “LIVING” and LIBING sound the same. Ngek na naman!

I touched on this “deathly” subject because of events that occurred one after the other on Dec. 31, 2010 — the last day (ngek!) of the year that just departed (ngek ulit!).

Remember, if we can say things like, “You could die laughing...,” then we can also accept, “You can laugh about dying.”

Now, end-joy, este enjoy.

*    *    *

The following happened when we returned to Manila via JAL from Narita in Tokyo at around 1:30 p.m. of Dec. 31, 2010. As we were about to land at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, one of the Japanese flight attendants announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, we will be landing short... er, shortly...”

Anak tempura o!

*    *    *

As soon as I reached home, I immediately turned on the television to catch the farewell show of Channel 2’s Pilipinas Win Na Win. At around 3 p.m., Allan K. texted me this message — “ Maraming naniniwala na sa 2012 magugunaw na ang mundo!!! Ilang oras na lamang ay 2011 na!!! Isang taon na lang para magpakabait, para magka-jowa, para yumaman, para magka-anak, para makapag-asawa!!!

Sa lahat ng naniniwalang magugunaw ang mundo sa 2012, huwag na huwag kayong maniniwala!!! Hindi po totoo ‘yan! Meron po akong Ma-ling, Spam at sardinas na sa 2013 pa mag-e-expire! Kaya imposibleng mangyari ‘yun!!! Maraming Happy New Year pa tayong magbabatian!!!

*    *    *

I went to Mass at the Christ The King Parish in Green Meadows with my family at 7 p.m. After dinner at around 9:35 p.m., I sat beside my mother Emma to make chika-chika. By the way, my mom has a hearing problem in one ear. Here’s my complete recollection of our talk.

JOEY (medyo pasigaw lahat ang dialogue ko): “Ma, napanood mo ba ‘yung Pilipinas Win Na Win kanina?”

MAMA: “O bakit?”

JOEY: “’Yung show nina Rico Puno?”

MAMA: “O?”

JOEY: “Nagsara na!”

MAMA: “Ahhh ... restaurant ba ‘yun?”

Nanay ko po!

*    *    *

And to keep up with our topic about life and death, visit the Ayala Museum and see their exhibition of In My Life: Soul Portraits by Onib Olmedo. The show runs until Jan. 16 at the Ground Floor Gallery.