By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
It will be nice to see the wrinkles, the flabs and other effects of decades gone by. These however would mean we are now better human beings. After going through two Saturn returns (stages where we go through the wringer as rites of passage to the acquisition of wisdom), the mid-life crisis (Uranus opposition its natal position that usually comes at age 38-42) and several difficult phases in between, we can rightly say we had been pummeled and tossed around to be tempered and become who we are now—mature and confident of the future. We can ascribe to ourselves the title “wise elders.”
And so we will meet at the Pilando Center along Magsaysay Ave. on June 21, 2018. I am referring to members of the Green Mountain Circle, the organization of Igorot students in UP at Los Banos in Laguna. This reunion is for those who were there in the early and mid 70s or those who consider themselves “elder” enough.
As in any other reunion, there are generally four kinds of people who will be arriving. Those who are dominantly “earth” in temperament. These are the practical people, thus, they can make money and they must have made quite a pile after so many decades. They might come in flashy cars or fancy attire. But they are the most “dense” of the lot with their preoccupation with material wealth and things.
Then there are those who belong to the fire signs. These guys are naturally bubbly, optimistic and are the most fun to be with. They dish out joke after joke and have a positive outlook on life. No matter their situations, they will find something positive from it. For them, there is always some valuable lesson to be learned especially those of the Sagitarius sign who are forever students in the University of Life. And they have the courage to take on the world.
The opposite of the optimists are of course those in the water signs. They have the most number of sad stories about themselves and others. Very sensitive, they can readily feel others, even what they are thinking. They are also the artists and could appreciate deeper things. Talk about meditation and they will take to it with alacrity. Very compassionate, they are the natural care givers, especially those who are of the Cancer sign. The odd man out among them is Scorpio who would be preoccupied with power and strategy, is passionate, and has the stamina to rise up even from deathly failures.
The last kind are those in the air signs. They are very intelligent or are cerebral. They can discuss with you academic matters throughout the night. Some of them are the best journalists because they can simplify the most complex subject matters into simple words the masses could understand. They have the most varied interests. The problem with these characters is they can be too theoretical. The failure to convert their brains to cash is quite common among them.
Of course we cannot describe people in a straight jacket. For the reality is, we have all the foregoing characteristics in various degrees of prominence.
One thing is sure. Those of us who will be attending will be envious of those who had been leading simple lives. The simpler the life is, the simpler the problems. Those who had been hard driving in pursuit of goals in careers, or vocation, or in acquiring wealth, power or prestige, have been leading complex lives which means complex problems. They might have in their pockets or bags pouches full of maintenance meds.
No matter our situations, we should attend and enjoy. But perhaps we should ask ourselves some questions regarding the government’s having spent for our education. Which is what I will be talking about next issue.
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