Strings of Memory

Extra 3

The Backbeat

Napahinto ako at napatingin sa TV nang makita kong may bandang nagpe-perform. Sa likod nila, may nakasulat-The Reverie. That's probably the name of their band.

Iba't-ibang anggulo ng camera ang ipinapakita habang tumutugtog sila. May close-up sa vocalist, sa guitarist, sa bassist, at sa... drummer.

Bawat segundo ay iba't-ibang mukha ang lumalabas sa screen, pero nang ipakita ang kabuuan ng banda, my eyes were immediately drawn to the back. Where the drummer was.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero hindi ko maiwasang tumingin sa kanya. Seeing him at the back, making those sounds that gave life to the band, made my heart thump.

Inilagay ko ang kamay ko sa dibdib at pinakiramdaman ang tibok ng puso ko. It was loud and fast.

And that's when I knew-I wanted to be like that guy. To be the one who sets the mood of the band. Who energizes everyone to play.

"Gusto kong maging drummer! Kagaya ni Youssef!" anunsyo ko sa mga magulang ko habang kumakain kami ng hapunan.

Sabay na natigilan sina Mama at Papa.

"Bakit?" tanong ni Mama.

Ngumiti ako. "Astig kasi tingnan! Tapos, yung drummer ang nagbibigay ng groove sa banda. The backbeat! The backbone of a performance!"

Nagkatinginan ang mga magulang ko bago sabay na napangiti-siguro dahil sa excitement na nakikita nila sa akin.

"Kaya... pwede niyo po ba akong bilhan ng drum set?" sabi ko, sabay pa-cute. "Para makapag-practice ako?"

Tumango si Mama. "Sige, anak. Basta tapusin mo muna 'yang kinakain mo."

Now that I think about it, what I said was really insensitive. I want to go back in time and punch my younger self for saying that. That little piece of shit didn't even think about his parents.

Tricycle driver si Papa, habang mananahi naman si Mama. Sakto lang ang kita nila para sa pang-araw-araw naming gastusin, and yet, here I was, asking them to buy me a drum set-basically asking them to give up their income for months.

That's why I couldn't afford to pursue my dreams.

Pero kahit ganoon, sinubukan pa rin ng mga magulang kong ibigay ang gusto ko.

Dahil may drum set ang pinsan ko, pinakiusapan nila si Tita kung pwedeng ipagamit 'yon sa akin kapag hindi ginagamit ng pinsan ko. At first, tumanggi si Tita, natatakot na baka masira ko. Pero nagmakaawa sina Mama. And thinking back on it now, it makes my heart ache.

Kahit nag-aalangan, wala nang nagawa si Tita kundi pumayag. Tinuruan ako ng pinsan ko kung paano gumamit ng drums, and it was the happiest day of my life.

He taught me everything I know. At nang matuto na ako, hinayaan niya akong mag-practice sa drum set niya kapag wala siya sa bahay nila.

Pero saglit lang ang kasiyahan na 'yon.

Noong huling taon ko sa junior high, lumipat sila. Dahil doon, nawala rin ang tanging paraan ko para makapag-practice.

But having no access to a drum didn't stop me from pursuing my dreams. I decided to do a lot of fill-ins, so that I could hone my skills and still have the chance to perform. It was like hitting two birds with one stone.

I was so focused on what I wanted that I forgot something really important-something that made me change my path.

"Anong pinag-uusapan niyo?" tanong ko sa mga kaklase ko nang makitang nagkukumpulan sila.