SINK or SWIM

Ganduyan & Golinsan are blessed with lakes & rivers, pools & ponds - it’s a surprise many “young once” from these places admit they cannot swim. Some claim they were good boys & girls, always home to help with chores, while bums like me wandered away, to hills & rivers. Be that as it may, my shame to say, many a whipping I have gotten, for gallivanting when chores were given. But joy of swimming, berry picking ... were worth the whipping, so no regretting, hehe. Besides, "planting rice is never fun, bent from morn till the set of sun".

Another reason given is near-drowning, resulting in fear of water, which victims never got over. One victim I know, dare not go, on any cruise across the sea, even to this day. Another won't ever sit, on a window seat, on any plane over the ocean... yaw anana, aquaphobia beyond da beyond.

Sharing once again an updated version of near tragic drowning, long ago in Bokong. One sunny summer day... in da merry month of May... we were swimming merrily... big boys in pool below... us little ones above... where it was shallow. Everyone having fun... until it dawned on Norman... Tom was nowhere around... ganwiddawin. Water was murky that day... we could not see... where he could be.

“TOM, KAD-AM! WHERE ARE U TOM? No answer so we holler... at big boys below... all rushed to rescue... wasdin kapukap, wasdin nin-anap... Siteg ngeg-ngeg-ngeg. Everyone groping, searching... Tom’s brother cry & cry, as time flew by. Finally, Mikey felt a body... deep under water... HE'S HERE! HE'S HERE! NAAY SINA... dadat idaka... miwed leng-ag na... ginawang inigup na... botyog eges na.

Tommy was pulled out quickly... lifeless body...bloated belly...filled with water... gulped from da river. His brother now weeping wailing... all others praying pleading... please please please... help Tommy breathe. G Ulocan began strange resuscitation... assisted by Mikey... stepping gently firmly... on Tommy's belly. Primitive but effective... very lucky that day. Nin-anges si Champag... dat ka-ike-ikeg... bigla ay kauta-uta... kumsen san eges na. Tommy finally breathing... gasping coughing... puking water...back to da river. He was alive & revived ... was all that mattered. Praise the Lord!!!

To fact check my story, here's Tommy's testimony:

"I am actually living a second life because I was taken for dead when the big boys retrieved my lifeless body from the river. The late Bomit-og Busacay and George Ullocan took turns applying their version of respiration by 'igatgatin nan eges ko engaana ay binmala nan anges ko'. Datodi ay dua died as bachelors isunga waay natago ak samet to become like them hehehe tapin di istolya..."

Bitter to imagine what could have been. Better believe what Tom would achieve. Two weeks bed-ridden... then strictly forbidden... from ever swimming again... he defied parental ruling... kept on going, sneaking... to Bokong, to Latang… wherever, whenever. So bullheaded... he persevered. Small wonder... some years later... he became a member... Silliman University Varsity Swimming Team. AGASEM DAT!!! Doubting Thomas he was not.

I share Tom's story... not for his fame or glory (those are given olredi), but rather to inspire ... those who fear water, for reasons whatsoever. That Thomas, "taken for dead" at the bottom of a river...has risen to varsity team member... speaks volumes; fears are not diamonds - should not last forever. Never say never. Old or young, weak or strong, anyone can learn. Not all can expect to be expert like Tommy... it’s okay to simply dog paddle like me. Besides having fun... the life we save may be our own.

To keep him grounded, it should be noted... Tom may be berigud swimmer, but beribad swim teacher. Just ask his twin brothers. Tom tied them to a rope, tossed them to the deep, hollered at them - SINK or SWIM! They would kick & flail away, as if seized with epilepsy. If they sink, Tom pulled them in, tossed them again... and again... imagine dat! Both were allegedly traumatized, but apparently not, since they became sea faring men - with coast guard & merchant marine.

Thus on deeper thought, Thomas has a point. In the ocean called LIFE, we SINK or SWIM. If we swim, well & good; thank the Lord. If we sink, be not afraid; call on the Lord and be assured, God our HOPE, will throw a ROPE..."Oh God our help in ages past... our hope for years to come..."