Ruth and I - Not a Love Story

Note: Three-quarters of this piece is in Bisaya or in Cebuano language. So, if you stumbled on this website because you were once my student, you can check out my other pieces, most of them are in English. Thanks.

Three years ago when I was still in college, I met a young lady in the waiting shed near our school. I was waiting for a Ceres to take me home then, but I noticed her because she was wearing formal attire and full-face makeup, like a businesswoman. And when she saw me looking at her from head to toe, I thought she would snap at me and get angry but instead, she smiled and introduced herself.

R: "Hi, Ruth diay ko day. Estudyante ka dire day? "

M: "Ouh, ikaw? Asa diay ka padung te nga mura mag garabe nimong pormaha?

R: Unsay asa padung, nga didto nako gkan sa ____________. Nangaplay kog trabaho unta.

M: Ha? Nganung unta man? Nadawat naka?

R: Madawat kaha ko nga wa mn ko mo tiwas ug pa interview.

M: Ha? Imong gibiyaan ag nag interview nimo? Ka bad pod nimo te uy.

R: Ayy laliman pod ka day grabe nakong prepare sa akong kaugalingun. Attire, make-up, nag practice sa mga basic etiquettes in an interview, nag review pajud sa mga basic interview questions unya ag gipangutana ra kay 'What is your name?' Where did you graduate?' ug ang pinakagrabe 'WHAT IS YOUR POLITICAL PARTY?' . Wa ko katingog dayun uy. Nagwerla akong utok.

M: Aysuss lagi Bohol. Luwag ag basehan. Unya te, nilakaw raka largo human ato?

R: Ayy wala pod uy. I said "Does it matter Ma'am? " Ingun cya "It does, and it will always do. If you're not supporting _________(name of their political party) you will never be accepted". So ning ingon ko "I'm sorry Ma'am but I'm not in the mood in telling you who am I supporting. Whether we are on the same side or not, I don't want to be accepted because of that. I want to have this job because I met all your standards and not because I'm near to your heart. I better go, Ma'am, there are better things to do in our house than talking with you here. Next time you post your requirements in Job Application ads, better write *Must be a supporter of ________* Thank you and God bless.

Mao to ning lakaw dayun ko.

M: Wow. Hahha. Kuyaw nimo te uy. Kuyaw ka, pero ari nako kay naanay Ceres.

Ikaw? Biktima ba pod ka sa duol sa luwag?

Wa ba ka ka apply sa scholarship kay dili mo kaila sa tig hatag sa form?

Wa ba ka kadawat ug ayuda, kay kontra mo sa tig lista?

Wa ba ka mahatagi ug dessert sa fiesta, kay dile mo kaila sa tag-iya? Hahha.

Note: Based on true story. Pakyu diay sa nag interview ni Ruth.