Intoxicated!

By Rolo b. Cena
Arabian Diaries
Dumaguete Star Informer
13 December 2009


Out of the blue, I threw a statement into the thin air that created internal commotion especially to those whose wave lengths are within my sphere: “I don’t want the night to come tonight.”

The teaser stirred the area that reactions thrown back at me were varied. Some floated the idea that I am frustrated; still others believed that I am significantly over-thought and overworked.

Nope! I negated all these floating idealistic reactions although these made sense. I am intoxicated, as in, terribly intoxicated to date. During these days, the overwhelming sense of pessimism is just hard to suppress. The message is resoundingly clear: I have had enough!

As my vacation draws near, the complexities of my job surfaced one after the other. Several deadlines were reset to earlier dates than originally planned and scheduled; current loads are re-loaded that it is almost impractical to attend to personal affairs.

Intoxication can be brought about by too much work pressures, personal and professional frustrations, over-indulgence to power and fame, and the relatively imbalanced extreme need to maintain the status quo. Intoxication comes at any time of the day. It befalls to any one regardless of creed, culture or affiliation.

To most of us overseas workers, the news that President Gloria Arroyo run for congress in 2010 is terribly intoxicating. Opinions varied that even the best of friends can be divided momentarily. To date, the entire archipelagic Philippines is deeply disturbed, no doubt about it.

Arguably, the long-running suspicion that President Arroyo is pushing for Charter Change (cha-cha) and possibly bring about a shift to a parliamentary government, where she could bag the post of the prime minister is still brewing. In a news report, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita acknowledged that the amendment of the 1987 Constitution remained a priority of Ms Arroyo.

Madam Arroyo is not far from over yet. She could easily win as representative of the second district of her home province of Pampanga, and that she would continue to exercise influence in the 15th Congress.

People of the Philippines, let’s face it; let us be realistic. President Arroyo is the President. If she gets elected, undoubtedly she will have enough latitude to do whatever she wants in the Congress.

And yes, President Arroyo is wildly showing that she is more than just suffocated by her power, fame, and stature; she is extremely intoxicated. And her intoxication is cancerous. It is no longer curable.

While most intoxication can be overcome by simply indulging in activities that can unleash the toxic wastes, Madam Arroyo’s intoxication has forced her system to develop a default that only the strongest of willpowers can click to undo or, more appropriately, to cancel the action.

Intoxication is a bomb. Allowing the tide to turn without addressing the intoxication will eventually allow us to detonate our system and perish instantly. Which is why, once most overseas Filipino workers feel intoxicated, doing healthy activities can help.

Indulging in strenuous extra curricular activities can be the best way to detoxify. In January 2010, the United Filipino Basketball Federation (UFBF) will open its first season for the year. This is the best time to sweat out those toxic wastes that have been plaguing all overseas migrant Filipinos thus overcoming the intoxication.

More to this, playing denominationally common sports like lawn tennis, table tennis, badminton, billiards, bowling or any sports outside of the tournament can be another way out. Taking a walk, jogging or working out can be highly recommended, too.

Man is a social being, thus, socializing has always been the best way of overcoming intoxication. It is through socializing, where communication is a medium, that our brains are exercised to the fullest. Socializing eases all pains and frustrations; it clarifies doubts especially when common topics are deliberated.

During the time I delivered that unwanted statement, my colleagues insisted that I call my family in the Philippines and talk about anything. At first I was a bit hesitant because I don’t want to let them feel through my voice that I am intoxicated but later that day I did it. The intoxication just simply vanished and I felt relieved and refreshed again.

Of course yielding to The One is always the best answer to it. Absolutely, there is no substitute to it.

The need to bounce back is very important to us. If we fail to do it, that simply means we are carried away by the intoxicating tide to the sea of nothingness. However, if the ball of our life gets deflated, how can we ever bounce back?

Madam Arroyo’s one last ball gets deflated and that’s precisely the reason why she cannot make a quality bounce. The deflation actually disabled her to get back to her senses and compose for the better. This deflation wrecks her so much that detoxifying herself becomes impossible and consequently may even drift her to utopia.

We Filipinos overseas always feel intoxicated but we are better off than these mentally dehydrated politicos whose vested interests are as exasperatingly intoxicating than the air pollution in the modern day Philippines. We detoxify immediately; they don’t. We learn with wisdom; they won’t.

These politicos will be intoxicated throughout their lives; overseas workers will get through it for life.