I’ve been admired, criticized, shunned, marveled at and questioned because of one thing that I can never take off of my system: READING. My mom, for instance, would always go “O, libro na naman? Ang dami-dami mo nang libro, anong gagawin mo naman dyan?” with the exact wording and if I can record my voice, I can do a perfect imitation as well. Once when I was irritated of the pithy comment, I replied nastily “Hindi talaga ako maiintindihan ng mga hindi mahilig magbasa.” and I felt so guilty right after it came out of my mouth! But it was really tiring to explain why my face is replaced by the cover of the newest flavor of the week and why I never get tired of staying inside Booksale and Power Books for hours.
Other elders and acquaintances, on the other hand, congratulate me for passing the time in “such a scholarly fashion.” Even my classmates back in high school or college were like “Kaya na ni Kat yan, mahilig magbasa eh” or “Madali na yan sayo kasi may patience kang magbasa nang ganyan kakapal.” This time I want to tell them, “No, I’m not doing this in pursuit of that elusive golden knowledge that scholars are scrambling after.” Nor do I have the patience to read something I have no interest in.
Let me explain myself once and for all (at akala mo naman ay may interesado..). Hindi ako wide, extensive reader. I don’t search for and read books just to know of something or to discover something. Sabi nga sa isang site na nabasa ko,
“a reader is someone who reads as much as they can and as often as they can for their personal edification and pleasure. This is not limited to books, but would include newspapers, magazines, the internet – whatever source is available to provide the information or enjoyment the reader desires.” (credits to this URL: http://exlibris.typepad.com/ex_libris/) Exactly what I’m looking for! Unlike St. Thomas of Aquinas (my alma mater’s patron saint) who devoured books for the seach for wisdom, I read because I like to read. No, make that LOVE to read. I’m not the type who reads John Grisham, Stephen King novels dahil kailangan “good” books lang ang babasahin. I have an an extensive and varying taste in reading materials. I can read “White Oleander” or “The Crucible” one minute and I can put it down for a dose of Pugad Baboy or the day’s headlines in a tabloid. Doesn’t matter who wrote it and what it’s about, just as long as I’m in the mood to read that certain topic at the time, then you’ll find me in deep perusal of the material. But then again, as a reader, I don’t claim to know about every nook and cranny of everything. We just
Kaya sa mga nag-iisip kung anong pwedeng ibigay na gift sa kin during my birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s, or Mardi Gras (oops gumagawa ng holiday..hehe) alam nyo na ang sagot dyan. Yun yun eh!
