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Life is not a joke, definitely not by a long shot. The trials and tribulations of living which we all must pass through can hardly be considered laughable or comical. Still, we can use jokes to live a happy life. This is exactly what my father Mansueto believes.
Mansueto Carlitos is a typical yet strongly principled provinciano (someone from or living in the province). He is very particular with everything that he is doing and he always want to do things right. He is a hardworking farmer/carpenter and a strict but loving father to us six children.
Despite his stern and serious demeanor, however, he has the ability to make other people laugh, even to the point of shedding tears. From his younger years, he is already popular as a prankster in the farm, where robust men of the community work together on rotation basis. In particular, he is known for the incident when he kissed a very conservative maiden and got away with it unpunished. A lot more stories of this nature abound, all with happy or humorous endings
Whenever the mood in any get-together gets dull and boring, he will surely find a way to crack a joke and break the ice. If he is with women and the talk becomes sober or staid, he would form his fingers to resemble lips and then let it land on one cheek with a loud kissing sound. He might be reciprocated with angry verbal tirade or get hit with anything handy, but in the end, all will be well and feeling good. If he is with his drinking buddies, and the atmosphere becomes tense or strained, he will mimic the action of a woman and sound like one until everyone else tries to outdo each other. The effect of the free-flowing alcohol from local coconut wine is thus perfectly countered.
Mansueto makes skillful use of this inherent capability in more noble far-reaching affairs. He is able to court for others unable to express emotions to loved ones, he helps in turning romantic liaisons reach the altar, and he is frequently called to restore broken relationships.
Take for instance when our neighbors husband-and-wife Francisco and Danila separated. Danila went to stay in a relative’s house in the next town, so Francisco, feeling remorseful, asked advice from my father. He told Francisco that to win back the heart of Danila he has to court her again. He has to bring her good food like the first time Francisco asked for Danila from her parents. Francisco did not have the resources at the time so my father loaned him some amount.
Very early on the next morning they prepared the food and readied themselves for a two-hour walk uphill. Mansueto said they should be early so that they can still catch up with Juan, Danila’s uncle, before he would leave home. When they arrived at the place, only the two daughters of Juan appeared. Obviously, Danila was in hiding, so Mansueto asked the two ladies to bring her out. The two refused at first as their father was not around and he might get angry if they will let her go. Mansueto, in his softest lady-like voice, said he only wanted to ask her some questions. The two were therefore persuaded to call to her.
Danila was crying when she went out to see them.
Mansueto quickly asked, “Why did you leave Franciso?”
“Because he will not look for work thus he can not afford to let me eat cooked food.”
“What then is he feeding you?”
“He provides only vegetables without rice.”
“You are not a goat so I bet you cooked it. Therefore it is already cooked, correct? Besides, if you have love as the main ingredient, it does not even matter if it is cooked or accompanied by rice. In fact, I think you would not even be thinking of eating if you have plenty of loving.”
With the last statement, the ladies burst into laughter and Danila’s crying turned to chuckles. In front of Francisco, Mansueto advised her that should her husband not feed her with cooked food again, she should tell him so that he would personally scold Francisco. He also promised to help him find regular work so they will always have rice with cooked food. After waiting a while for Juan to arrive, Mansueto decided to bid goodbye to the two daughters and told them to just tell their father that it was him who fetched Danila.
My father made good on both his promises. Soon the reconciled couple could be seen everywhere in the community romantically holding hands or leaning against each other ever so sweetly, impervious to the stares and giggles around them.
This therefore is the essence of Mansueto, my father - the joker. He may not be rich but he has an awful lot of wealth, in friends and in the amount of happiness he has brought to all our lives.
Written By: Jose Carlitos