MATERIAL, Vincent (Finals Output).pdf
- 1. Disclaimer This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The Scent of Barako Coffees An original piece created by Vincent M. Material The initial blast of cold breeze coming from the northeasterly surface flows over some parts of Amsterdam which signifies that Christmas is near and people must prepare for a huge celebration. For most children in the Netherlands, the most important day during December is the 5th day because it is the time when Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) brings them their presents! It was the same exact day when I met these two young lads in the beautiful city of Amsterdam apart from its labeled name, The sin city of Europe My name is Brylle Zaffiro, 30 years of age, half-Filipino and half-Dutch. I am now living with my Dutch father at a small town called Amstelveen alongside the river of Amsteleiland. I was born and raised in the Philippines for almost 10 years and was transferred here in Amsterdam to inherit and continue our business, coffeelicious. Coffeelicious is a wide and humongous coffee shop here in Amsterdam with almost 50 branches nationwide and 20 additional sites in the neighborhood countries. Wayback on 1999, a year before we migrated here in Amsterdam, my Filipino mother died due to myocardial infarction (heart attack). Everytime I think of my deceased mother, the memories of being with her turn back and it was just so warm to reminisce about those treasures of mine. From the time she helps me to get ready for school up to the preparation of my favorite hot brewed barako coffee paired with pandesal, all these things are just worthy to be remembered. Now that Christmas is near, our shops are almost packed up with customers and I think its about time for me to give back the blessings that me and our company receives every now and then. Since I dont have a full day of enjoying myself from doing leisure and recreational activities, I decided to make a short trip aimlessly at Amstel River. With more than a kilometre of floats and boats, I finally reached Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum) where Sinterklaas is welcomed by the Mayor of Amsterdam. Walking unhurriedly and observing the people celebrating the feast, I stumbled in a piece of rock and accidentally bumped with two young men of approximately 20-25
- 2. years of age. Upon jumping into them, I quickly and humbly apologized for my carelessness. While waiting for their response, I looked up to them and there I found startled and surprised faces. Judging from their physical appearance, one is a short man with brown skin complexion, low bridged nose, and a black hair which resembles the characteristics of a Filipino, and one tall man with white skin complexion, pointed nose, and blonde hair which resembles the characteristics of a Dutch. I was about to speak when they started greeting me to the highest level of energy and protruded a humongous smile on their faces. I kind of feel weird about their behavior but eventually I understand why. They recognized me as the owner and CEO of the biggest coffee shop in Amsterdam and started introducing themselves to me. Hi! My name is Daniel, 23 years old, and a proud Filipino! Here beside me is my husband Enrique who is 24 years old and is a pure Dutch. Yes! We are a married couple for almost 5 years and we have been bound by a judgmental society since then. At that moment and time, I am completely shocked by what Ive heard but luckily for them, Im not a judgmental person. Since I dont have too much work that day, I invited them to the nearest coffeelicious shop around that area and they unhesitantly accepted my offer. By the time we reached the venue, I asked them what they wanted to eat. They looked very shy at that moment and so I gave them the signal to treat me like a normal person. I offered them our menu including different desserts (pies, tarts, truffles, cakes, etc.) and of course our special brewed coffees (affogato, espresso, caffe latte, cappuccino, etc.) Upon giving the menu, they both requested for a hot brewed barako coffee paired with pandesal which made me smile for a minute. I remembered my childhood memories with my mom and from which I couldnt help myself from missing her. I ordered the same exact food and there we were given a chance to have a little talk and conversation most especially about their background and stories. Daniel came from a middle class family from the Philippines and lives in a place where Barako people gather, Batangas. Daniels clan is known to be one of the most fearless, bravest and unstoppable families in their community. They hold the title The Lions'' for their aggressive behavior. Nevertheless, Daniel felt that he is different from his origin ever since he was a child. He feels attracted to his same sex and was clearly manifesting a feministic behavior. Though he was not a cross dresser, his parents noticed minimalistic unmasculine actions through their son and was scolded because of it. When Daniel got to highschool, he was bullied by his schoolmates for his unmanly movements. For this reason, this issue was raised to the faculties and eventually reached the position of his family. Daniel was scolded again by his parents and was severely punished by them. Daniel felt depression and confusion that time and so he decided to leave their home, away from loneliness and unwelcomed society. It was night and dark that time that he drove to the farthest island of the city. Daniel was about to end his miserable life by drowning himself to the sea but he was saved by a young gorgeous man named Enrique. Apart from being good looking, he seems to be
- 3. nice and kind hearted too. I was rescued by him that time and there I got the chance to know who is this savior of mine. Enrique introduced himself as a Dutch living in Amsterdam and was having a trip here in the Philippines alongside with his family for 3 months because of their business. They belong to a first class family in Amsterdam and have a good reputation in their country. He is expected to be the inheritor of their business along with the condition of being married to a girl with a high background. Enrique mentioned that I am the first person that he talked to for a long time ever since they arrived here yesterday. Days have passed and weve been really good friends. We visited each other and went everywhere we wanted to. A month has passed and I think Im falling for him. I dont know the reason why but every time Im with him, I feel happy, safe, comfortable, and loved which I never felt from my family. Time flies very fast and its about time for Enrique and his family to go back to Amsterdam. I dont want him to leave the Philippines without confessing my love and affection for him. I dont care anymore for what would happen next but I dont want to lie either. This is my only chance and I dont want to lose it. When Im about to speak, Enrique hugged me very tight like he knows what I am going to say. I love you too, he whispered while hugging me. I did the same thing and hugged him twice tighter than his hug while tears were falling in our eyes. Enrique and his family departed from the Philippines but we never lost our communication with each other. After a year, my parents knew about our relationship and they were embodied by wrath and loathsome. I am the only man in the family and the only one expected to transfer the surname of our clan. They were very mad at me at that time and by which they disowned me as their son. The feeling is very hurtful that it feels like millions of people stabbed me in my heart. I told Enrique what happened to me and my family and that he arranged a flight for me going to Amsterdam. When I arrived in Amsterdam, the weather was very cold and the snow was falling down from the sky. My eyes searched around and finally reached the gorgeous face of Enrique. We hugged each other very tight in compensation for the years that we were separated. Enrique brought me to their mansion-like house in Amsterdam and we were greeted by several guards and maids. He introduced me to his father as his future husband who made me and his father surprised. Enriques father cannot believe what he heard and disagreed with this kind of arrangement. We have an agreement my son, you shall marry a person with a high background and not just merely mediocre. More so, you must marry a woman! I cannot agree with this. Think of it carefully my son or else I will be forced not to pass down to you our business. Suddenly, silence filled the room. No father! I love Daniel and no one can stop me from loving him, even you, my father. Enriques father loves his son so much that he just thinks of what would be best for his boy. Then, be free to leave this place, said by his father. The door is wide open for you and this man beside you. If you ever realized that you have made the wrong decision, feel free to come back here and I will accept you once again. Daniel and Enrique leave the place and they started a new life without anything but love. The cost of living in Amsterdam is so high that it may reach up to hundreds of thousands here in the Philippines per month. They started from renting a small room for
- 4. the time being and bought a house after 2 years of hardship and back breaking work. A year after, they decided to get married in Amsterdam. Yes, thats right! Amsterdam as part of Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriages. After getting married, they decided to adopt 3 children, with the names Sun, Moon, and Star, which they now consider as their own saplings. They promise themselves that they will give their full support to whatever decision their children will make. They will guide them to the best of their abilities for their children not to experience what they have experienced. As for the reason why they are strolling around in Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum), they told me that they are waiting for Sinterklaas to request gifts for their beloved children. Talking to them made both parties miss what we have left on the beautiful island in Southeast Asia, the Philippines. Apart from the bad memories that happened in that place, there are still good things that contribute a lot for who and what we are today which we are all grateful for. Although we all have a good life here in Amsterdam, the loneliness of being apart from your origin is on a different scale of sadness. We were rejected, abandoned, and exiled by our own family and even so of the society. Many people think of us as a plague and pest that must be rotten in hell but little did they know that we are also humans that we have feelings to love and get hurt often. Isolation, the feeling of being jailed and judged by the society is the worst thing that most of us have to overcome. Above all, after our heart-felting conversation, we realized that Life is just like a coffee. It can be bitter, it can be sweet, it can be tasteless, and it can be anything but at the end of the day, we get to choose whether to remain the same or change for the better. - Fin -