Fighting against the Time

Omar Mamento

Through the edges of life, a man can survive in combating his own fear. Life’s challenges
are the glowing opportunities to gain strength to win life.
This is the story of Nasser Tanggal Dicolano, a first year AB English student of the
University of Southern Mindanao which is a representation of all the stories of
sufferings and success, a story that is larger than life. This 19 year-old Maguindanaon
lives in the lower stream of Datu Montawal Maguindanao, Batungkayo.
As early as three years old, his mother left the country to work abroad.
“Anak, dito ka muna. May bibilhin lang ako. Kapag lumubog na ang araw ay ‘wag mo na
akong hintayin.” Her mother hugged him tight when she uttered these words, as he
remembers.
A mother’s love and care was stolen from him because of that happening. Life seemed
heavy but it didn’t stop him. Paddling a hoary recycled bicycle, Nasser’s father untiringly
sends him to school every day. He would kiss his father’s cheeks before entering the
school gate. But one day, it stopped. His father went to General Santos for work.

The distance made everything even farther when his mother stopped sending money for
their finances and never heard anything from his mom from then. He would cry river of
tears at night when a memory interrupts him, his circumcision day where his father
nervously waited for him and his most decorated preschool and elementary graduations
when he garnered numerous awards and high honors.

“Noong wala si Ina sa tabi ko, pati si Ama, kinukuha ko na lang ‘yong damit ni nila para
yakapin kasi namimiss ko talaga sila. Madalang lang si Ama umuwi kaya ‘di ko
mapigilang mangulila. Simula pa lang noong una, kami lang talaga ang magkasama.” He
said with gloomy eyes and a shaky voice.
Nasser lived in his uncle’s home where jealousy have grown inside him. He usually feels
mad of his situation when he sees children like his age having their parents beside them.
He wanted to hurt people so he could release his deep loneliness.
But despite the negativities that surrounds him, he managed to control his anger and
prays to Allah. He comforts his self by believing that this is Allah’s way of molding him
into a better and stronger son of his distant parents. And that these thorns are the
obstacles to achieving a bright future.
“Satingin ko ay pag-aaral na lang talaga ang kakapitan ng tao. Kasi ang hirap isipin na
tambay ka lang, ganito pa ang katawan sa akin, ang hina-hina ko. Sakitin pa. Paano
kong hindi ako mag-aaral ng mabuti?” He asked with rationalization.
After the long dark nights, Nasser’s mom came back. When she arrived, Nasser got
confused. He cannot remember his mother’s face. His mother’s presence gradually made
things better because they’re now complete. But there are nights when he hears silent
arguments from his parent’s room. He would hear fights about other party in his
parent’s relationship and worse money matters. After few months of living together, his
mom flew back to Saudi to work again to sustain the family’s needs.
This is a new challenge that Nasser will face. He opens his eyes and stands from his
dilapidated mat at four in the morning to cultivate his father’s small corn field. After an
hour, he goes home for breakfast with bagoong and tiny dried fish as viand and then
take a bath. He walks the stony road of Maguindanao from their house to the highway to
wait for a ride. At a young age he learned to budget his money, he would sit on a top of a
jeep to save money for fare. This has become Nasser’s daily routine.
Nasser’s life got dimmer when his father enrolled him at a private high school in
Kabacan. His father wished the best for him. But he was bullied and judged as a weak
person. He once opened his lunchbox at the school canteen with rice, soy sauce and
vinegar for lunch. People looked at him. Some laughed. He felt left out. He felt like a
melting ice seeing people’s reaction when he started eating.
He only had twenty pesos in his pocket for his daily allowance.
Because of that sad incident, he transferred at a public school where he felt safe and
relaxed. No pressure, he became his true self. He excelled in academics and extra-
curricular activities. He never felt alone with the support of everyone around him.
“Pinipilit ko pa ring mag-aral kahit kapos sa buhay. Sinusulit ko ang bawat panahon ko
sa eskuwelahan. Gusto kong matuto. Gusto kong mag-aral ng mabuti para sa
kinabukasan ko. Hindi lang para sa akin kundi sa mga taong sumusuporta sa akin.” No
lumps in his throat jammed as he articulated these words.
He kept believing that his mother didn’t care for him. He questioned the decisions his
mother have made since he is young.

There’s another incident in his life that haunts him when he is alone. One sunny
afternoon, his uncle called because of an emergency. His father collapsed and was
rushed to the hospital. According to the doctor, his father’s kidneys are weak and his
lungs are problematic. His father was absent during his graduation that saddens him.
He visited his father after the graduation ceremony wearing his toga.

“Napapasigaw si Ama sa nararamdamang sakit. Lahat ng parte ng katawan niya ay

masakit. ‘yong gugustuhin mong ikaw na lang ang makaramdam ng lahat sakit. Kung
puwede lang ilipa ‘yong sakit niya sa akin.’Yong hindi kana lumalabas sa kwarto niya
para lang bantayan siya. Minamasahe ko siya para lang mapasaya siya. Pero lumalala na
talaga ang sakit niya.”
He was surprised when his mother finally came and joined him all throughout the
graduation ceremony.

April 21, 2018. Nasser’s mother went back abroad to work again for the medication of
his father and for his education. On that same day, Nasser surfed the internet of what
food is best for his father. They’re already home from the hospital. Unexpectedly when
he came home, it broke his heart to pieces.

“Pauwi na ako no’n. Pagdating ko ng bahay. Wala na si Ama. Hindi ko siya kayang
tignan. Lumabos ako sa bahay. Mas mahirap Makita ‘yong taong importante sayo na
nakasama mong mangarap, nakasama mo lahat. Pareho kayo ng pangarap. Gustong-
gusto niya talaga akong mag-AB English noon. Ang gusto ko BSE-English. Hindi ako
magaling pero gusto kong matuto. Hindi ibig sabihin na gusto mo ‘yong isang bagay
doon ka.” He said with tearful eyes.

He couldn’t believe the death of the most important person in his life. Since it was the
day of his enrolment, he planted his father in his warm embrace and whispered:
“Kukuha ang ng kursong AB-English. At kagaya ng pangarap mo, magtatapos ako sa AB-
English. Pangako ko ‘yan. Niyakap ko ang malamig niyang bangkay habang umiiyak.
Wala na akong mapagkukuwentuhan kung ano ang buhay ng pagiging college student.”
He stated while crying.

Today, Nasser is keeping himself compose in his climactic life and that he needs to keep
his head held high for his dreams and his father’s. He believes that Allah will guide him
in the path he’s taking and the way may be dark and bumpy he will exert every effort to
reach the pinnacle of success.
To the students who experienced the difficult challanges of life, Nasser has this to say:

“Wag kayong susuko. Dahil sabi nga nila, kung ayaw maraming dahilan, kung gusto
maraming paraan. Ang pag-aaral ay ang tanging sandata natin para sa mabagsik na
hinaharap. ‘Wag nating gawing balakid ang karanasan natin para lamang isuko ang
pangarap natin. Bagkus, lumaban tayo at ipakita sa kanila na hindi tayo talunan, na
kaya nating lumaban kahit kalian. Bukas man ‘yan, sa hinaharap man ay lalaban tayo.
Dahil ang pag-aaral ay ang susi sa ating tagumpay.”