Father Time

I had just spent a few hours catching up with my dad in McDonalds Teachers Village, and we hasically discussed things of great import, such as how Jasmine Trias used the Sandara equation("mahal ko kha-yo!"), foreign highschoolers, the level of education, how kids learn, the danger of digital info, why Sweden has the most suicides, and what makes collectors tick.

It's amazing how much more you can learn, spending one afternoon with a Dad like him, much more than you would have in a week in a classroom.

"So, you collect comics?" He asked me.

"Opo; with what you told me, it got me thinking." I said.

"Like what?"

"Well, what does my collection say about me. Like why do I collect these titles."

"So, Ikaw, how does it enrich your life, or how does it help you relate or deal with the real world?"

Thoughtful silence.

"Something to remember. There are two kinds of collectors. One is interested in collecting because he sees the culture in what he collects, like "Oh, see, these coins are heavy and clunky, which says something about the culture of the people or system who uses these, as compared to these coins that are light." Then there's another kind of collector who will collect and collect just because he wants to have the biggest collection there is. Beat the competition."

"For the label."

"Yeah. So basically, when you collect something, don't lose the essence of why you're doing it. Are you a consumer, or a creator? It also makes you reassess where you're going. Eventually all these will lead you somewhere. The world has a niche where you will fit in, a niche na who makes it? You do."

along the way we had gotten to talking about MMORPGs, about how he once had a student who never got to class because his Ragnarok Gaming had eaten up his school time, and how the student finally went on Leave of Absence. My Dad asked him what he was going to do now. His ex-student replied he would be trucked off to Isabela; either he would join the labor workforce there, or open an Internet shop.

Papa said "You weant to play the ultimate game?"

I answered "Try Life."

"Exactly. Remember what the Hindus said: God made the Universe because he got bored. He got bored, that's why you were born a girl."

"I'm the ultimate gaming piece".

"Yes. God's walking around, figuring out how it is to survive in this world being a girl. God is figuring out how to survive being a Filipino."

"i'm the ultimate gaming piece."