HOW IT WAS.

Compiled from my previous Facebook posts. 

Telegram, a written or printed telegraph message that is directly delivered to the recipient by a messenger. The young today are familiar with the cloud-based, encrypted instant messaging service, also called Telegram. Telegram services still operate in much of the world although e-mails and text’ing have rendered telegrams obsolete. Then, when a telegram arrived, we knew the info was extreme. Death in the family or birth of a grandchild. 📭📨📬

Favorite TV fun. “Tarzan.” A child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes. He later experienced civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild. The character was created by Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1912. Johnny Weissmuller and Ron Ely were the Tarzan dudes when I was a boy. Remember as well Tarzan's girlfriend Jane and chimp buddy Cheeta. Famous yells then: Tarzan’s elongated ululate and Bruce Lee’s catty shriek. I can do both. 🦍📺🦧

Gabardine, polyester, and corduroy pants. Hot pants? Those were the “classy” fabric for pants or jackets in my youth. Party get-ups, especially for discotheque frolic. Status symbol of some sort. These pants come with the fine, shiny shirt that is half-buttoned to reveal a macho “hairy” chest though not many Filipino dudes possess such body hairs, LOL! Remember John Travolta’s Tony Manero outfit in 1977’s “Saturday Night Fever,” uh huh? 👖🎼👖

Barter. Primitive wisdom of community engagement. Not only things are exchanged; we also traded service for similar favors. Back home in a mining town where my family lived, villagers helped in a farm and so they got free veggies and meat. In West Asheville, years ago, I rendered work in a friend’s building; he gave me old furniture. Ads from local restaurants to The Indie (newspaper) for food for volunteers in our “Bonfires for Peace” concerts. ☮️😎☯️

Summer basketball. Fun episode of my summertimes then. Me and my brothers used to play in those contests in our suburban village back home. My brothers also organized events. As a city government employee, Sonny put up “inter-barangay anti-drugs” competitions. Alvaro initiated basketball clinics in poorer towns in Baguio City, our second home-city. Those days, of course, were before cellphones captured the youth’s fancy. ⛹️‍♀️🌤⛹️

Snail mail. Of course, we still get “snail mails” from the Post Office. But mostly bills, junk stuff, and commercial pamphlets. Some maintain subscriptions to local newspapers but not for news. For coupons. The cellphone and house computer or laptop/tablet rule our life now. I don’t think many still write long emails, anyhow. Texting and IMs suffice. Same with news. Not many even read actual news over Social Media banter about the news. Ah life! 📫📭📬

Words. Courtesy and civility were common sense. These days, words are either incorrect or inappropriate per cancel-culture politics. Words like beautiful, blacklist, and pet are not good. But we may cuss, curse, and slander anyone with words that are obviously offensive yet the Immaculate Academics would not complain. Then, “Thank you, Madam!” or “Merry Christmas!” were words of respect, regardless of your religion and culture? Now? Nope. 🗣👤👀

Home delivered milk. Remember? Mostly, during my childhood in a small mining village, milk came with goat cheese, fresh vegetables, eggs, and coconut bread. All home-made or community farmed and raised. It was part of my house chores to wait for Mang (or Sir) Lucio to deliver three gallons of milk etcetera each Sunday morning and then wash up and neatly place the bottles on the front door for the delivery round next Sunday. 🍶🚍🍶

Carpooling, an arrangement among a group of automobile owners by which each owner in turn drives the others or their children to and from a designated place. I am sure this community initiative tradition is still alive, especially in rural areas. But with the advent of commercial rides Uber, Lyft etcetera, carpooling has significantly lost popularity. Carpooling also allows time for neighbors to interact more, just like the good old days. Going or gone. 🚔👨‍👩‍👧🚖

Undergarments in women. Such as the “kamison” or chemise. Not saying that I disapprove that women don’t wear them anymore. Comfort, ease–all good. Just observing. These days, you can almost see within. Very transparent fashion. Suggestive. Thongs. Leggings that loudly announce shapes. No more mysteries. Some women wear chemise as swimwear, actually. Do I sound like an 18th century puritan? LOL! My observation, that’s all. 🩱👙🩱

Photo credits: Reddit. RunningSuplado. Illusions Lingerie.