Sex Love, Class Love
I was reading the blog of one my most favorite UP professors, Danilo Arao, when I stumbled upon one of his Youngblood (used to be a regular column in broadsheet PDI) articles from twelve years ago, The Politics of Loving.
The article started off by relaying a true story of two Kabataang Makabayan members in love with each other, but as twisted luck has it, the woman is really a military agent. And we all know that activists and military agents don’t mix well together, right? Poor guy, arrested because his “imagination triumphed over [his] intelligence”, as what Henry Louis Mencken would say. Not conducting a very thorough SI of the girl’s class background? That’s…stupid. But that’s love, I guess. The story is written by Quijano de Manila, Nick Joaquin’s pen name in journalism.
Activists follow a very unique and, I must say, enjoyable process of courtship. It is, for me, more intense and sincere. It prefers class love over sex love. Relationship between two people is very important as it should ensure their growth as individuals (and as lovers, of course), and their growth as revolutionaries. And what do you know, activists are actually prohibited to have sex until marriage! *gasps* Yes, yes. Good thing I haven’t broken this rule.
Yet. =p
The article makes me remember the day when my comrades and I were talking in Vinzon’s Hill, an elevated piece of land that looks like a, uhm, hill outside, uhm, Vinzon’s Hall. Our topic was activist/tri-athlete/TV personality Atom Araullo’s then-controversial love life. He admitted in local game show Game KNB? that he already has a girlfriend in Patty Laurel, which took us completely by surprise – not good. Then one mentioned that she couldn’t see herself going out with someone who’s not an activist. Everybody agreed with her, while I gave it a soulful thought.
And I’m still thinking about it.
It would be hard – no, make that really very hard – to commit with someone whose principles differ from mine. Someone who doesn’t believe in what I fight for. What if the guy tries to stop me from what I’m doing because he’s afraid I’d get hurt? He wouldn’t be able to completely understand the need for us people to be selfless. That in the revolution, the interests of the people come first before (more like goes hand in hand with) our own personal interests. We take every precaution there is, but sometimes things just get out of hand, especially during harsh dispersals. And so far, I think I’d rather not be with someone who’d always be at my throat and back for being what I was born to be: an activist.
Well, a retired activist, hehe.
I’m not particularly bothered about my singleness – it’s the people around me that are bothered by it. I know I never talk about this much (at all?), but I’m not ready for a commitment right now, especially after my tragic failed relationship more than a year ago. No, sire! I’m perfectly okay with the way things are going in my loveless life.
I just need someone to kiss go with later in the kissing fest, Lovapalooza 2007, to watch thousands of couples marking their properties with their saliva. I’m not partial to the “Kissing de Avance” march and rally though – sounds too stupid bizarre. But yeah, I’ll be going. Text Email me? Nyahehe!
// Rosas ng Digma: Mga Awit ng Pag-ibig at Pakikibaka. Listen to the songs. Trust me, they’re better than your regular love songs. Way, way better. =) Even my regular teenage friends are completely swept away by these songs. For those who cannot understand the Filipino language, there’s one song called I Could Have Said, which is actually my most favorite song in the album.
