Culture

Summer Reminiscence

For some, besides Christmas, summer is the best time of the year to meet up with old friends, to travel, to learn new skills, to complete unfinished projects and to do business.

Now that summer for me has become a time to laze around and listen to good music, I couldn’t help but remember the summer days of my childhood. I used to play bay-bay, shato and gira-gira with my boy neighbors. I also climbed trees. There were countless games that children play during my time (kids before were so ingenious) but I settled for the more familiar and sensible games.

My playmates and I had our leaders and members. We also had our set of rules. We were like the characters in the movie “The Little Rascals”.

When I grew up to be a little lady or so I thought, I quit playing unlady-like and raucous games and began a small business enterprise because every summer, my brother and I were made to choose by our parents whatever we want to sell and they would give us a small capital to start off our business. So, I sold ice popsicles and it became a hit among adults and young kids alike. Since the demand was overwhelming, I purchased the popsicles direct from the manufacturing plant twice a week and I had no means for transport except my trusty BMX bicycle.

One fateful day, my cousin (who acted as my assistant) and I went flying with the popsicles and landed with a big thud. We went scrambling for the popsicles and forgot all about our scratches and our bruises. And the bike too. All we cared was our precious tinda. It really was not so bad if not for my classmate who laughed so hard till he could hardly breath (he’s asthmatic, that’s why).

The experience left an imprint, young as I was. Then I switched to another kind of business but I never stopped selling anything that I could think of because doing business has taught me the value of humility, hardwork and thriftiness—the traits that Boholano’s are well known for.

Tags: bohol, summer, tagbilaran