Hey Mr. Postman

Ms. Rea, mainit ang panahon. Wag ka masyado magpakapawis, lagyan mo ng tuwalya ang likod mo para hindi ka magkasakit. Wag mo rin kalimutang mag-lunch, mahirap nang magkasakit sa panahon ngayon.”
This is one of the nice messages I usually receive from my nice friend Vic.
“Akala mo kung sino ka! Bakit? Pulubi din naman ako ha? Kung kaya mong manggago, kaya ko din! Sino ka para i-tsismis ako sa mga kapitbahay ko na kesyo hindi ako mahagilap at kung anu-ano? Gagaguhin mo ako? Dadaot-daotin din kita!”
Now THAT’S who my normally nice friend Vic is when he’s mad. I thought it was some other person, but it really was him.
My five-year old tutee and I were doing a flash card activity in his house/pre-school when we suddenly heard someone shouting outside. The two of us were stunned, for the place was very quiet then. I immediately recognized that it was Vic who was yelling at someone, but I could hardly hear what the hell he was ranting about. So I made the kid watch TV and sat near the door. I listened to them, and I listened real hard.
“Mag-trabaho ka ng mahusay! Trabaho mong magpadala ng sulat, at kung hindi mo datnan yung pagbibigyan mo, hintayin mo! Sino bang manager mo, tatawagan ko sya! Tinuruan ba kayong maging mga pulubi? Sino nagsabi sayo na magtanong-tanong ka sa mga kapitbahay ko? Imbernadette Sembrano!”
He wasn’t making any sense.
I was laughing big time.
I figured out that he was shouting at a mailman. The mailman was returning to Vic’s house for several days because he wasn’t able to give the letter to Vic. Apparently, Vic was either out of the house or sleeping soundly. So, Mr. Mailman decided to ask Vic’s neighbors if they have an idea where Vic was. Days after, Vic found that out, and he was very much angered with what the mailman did because he did not like people talking about him. The reason for this still makes me wonder.
“Eh wala ka nga sa bahay mo, anong magagawa ko? Alangan namang iwan ko lang to sa garahe, baka kainin pa ng mga askal mo,” the mailman replied.
“ A, ganun ha? Pulubi din ako noh, kaya marunong din ako mamahiya ng tao! Hala, sige, mababad ka diyan sa araw nang mangamoy araw ka! Imbyerna ka,” Vic said.
With that remark, Vic decided not to accept the letter to get back at him. He let the mailman stay under the sun. I could just imagine how hot it was, for it was summer AND 12 noon. The mailman did not speak anymore, and stood still outside the garage while the dogs barked at him.
He kept on calling him pulubi after that, and I still could not see the connection between being a pulubi and asking information from the neighbors. I tried to ask him, but I did not have the guts to do so. I was afraid that he’ll also make me stay under the sun and then call me pulubi while I get all sweaty and smelly.
After an hour, Vic let him go. He threatened the mailman to dare not return his house ever.
Mr. Mailman ran as fast as he could.
I sure am glad that I’m not the mailman.