In this article, I will speak not of the heavy lifting and mind crushing job at my workplace, but of the lighter side of our life as one of the unlikely best of friends working together for something bigger than ourselves.
I knew Alfred, whom I fondly call “Redship” back when I was in my second year high school in our coastal town in Dumangas. I first saw him during our Physical Education class. (I don’t know if he could still remember this). At that time, by looking plainly in his eyes, I saw a resilient and strong-minded man.
We clashed at every aspect of our lives. He ended my political career in our school. As a form of supposed revenge, I occupied the highest office of our school paper, with the aim of criticizing his policies and projects. He is a fundamentalist, a traditionalist animal who would never accommodate my vision back then. We always engross ourselves into Cold War.
This love-hate relationship continued when we both took up nursing at West Visayas State University. Examinations and clinical rotations soon became our battle grounds. I would submit he was a better nurse, while I drew my powers from memorizing books and journals he got his skill from his heart. We graduated at the top of our class. When we took separate paths, I was sad, really, because I would miss his thought-provoking intellect and his perseverance.
For heaven’s sake, in 2014, circumstances brought us together in a puzzling workplace, with a daunting mission. When his partner, Ate Bea moved out from the Foundation, he immediately called me to join him. I accepted his invitation because he was so persuasive. He spoke like a real missionary of peace.
In our work with Ideas Positive, now with Positive Youth Development Network, we always sit at the opposing ends. We rarely agree on issues and on strategies, but in these compassionate disagreements, we discovered the best ideas. Then he appointed me as his Chief Propagandist. This is the most demanding task, interpreting and articulating the mind and thoughts of a peculiar human being. But from these understandings, I saw the shining idealism and the transformation that he wanted to see.
In early 2000’s it was difficult for any young person to talk about health. Alfred saw the fractured system. He believed that if a young person, regardless of his creed, color, sex, gender, or culture, be given the right platform, he or she can contribute in solving health issues in his or her community. It was the first time, he was liberally thinking and I loved it.
I worked very hard to write and to compose letters, reports, speeches that could help his vision become a reality. I could not remember any single day he failed to ask me about my thoughts on his approaches. He exhausted me, and consumed my neurons day by day. He asked me to do impossible task in a weekly basis. And we woke up one day, with a different reality, a country who now views young people as driver of progress and prosperity.
Many see Alfred as a strict, serious person who doesn’t give a damn. That is incorrect. Redship for me is the most loving and the most understanding person (at least most of the time). He is very hard to comprehend, very difficult to satisfy. When we speak one on one, he always gives me a strong distinct laugh no one had the opportunity to ever witness. Our topic? Secret.
While drinking a glass of wine in a beach in Guimaras last December, I asked him if when he would stop doing these things. “Until the time you will tell me that we are done.”, he answered. He knew that the word “done” does not exists in my vocabulary.
Arguably, Alfred may not be the best, but he did a great job in the field of youth engagement. He was able to set precedents that future generations will take notice. He planted seeds for next generation to harvest and reap. He burned walls and built bridges of cooperation and partnerships.
Personally, Redship is one of the few people who believed in my capacity. He saw my power as complementary to his. He respected my opinions. He viewed my objections as opportunities for him to strengthen his actions.
One night, in Ilocos he told me, “Mikee we may be different, but we are one. We are one in our reverence to the mission. And this mission is far more important than the particular individuals who compose the institution.
For the first time, I concur with him without modifications.
I will end this note with a funny scenario I and Alfred experienced in 2017 when we were living in Pasig.
It was 7 A.M in Pasig, Manila. The sun’s rays pierced our skin; it was painful. We ran and chased and jumped and pulled and pushed and punched and kicked just to ride a jeep. It was an everyday scenario.
Alfred successfully conquered the enraged mob, he sat on the last unoccupied sit. I was crushed by two men, my hair pulled by a perspiring girl, I was scratched by a zombie woman. Alfred shouted while extending his arms.
“Come on!”
“Go on Red. Take it! I will be okay, I’ll follow.”, I replied.
I know that the same scenario will happen in the near future. We need to let go of someone. They have their own expiration date. If you are reading this, Alfred, you know it will happen very soon for conditions beyond my control.
But for now, despite the pain and the discomfort, we will continue on chasing, running, jumping, pulling, pushing, punching, and kicking for our mission to build a #healthierPH with the Filipino youth.
Always a privilege working with you.
#Mutya
MUTYA_PH 