Ang Kwento ni Jollibee

"Love will find its way through all languages on its own" - Rumi


The Vatican had re-edited the Bible while the Muslims over-interpreted Qu'ran


This was my last thought among a series of murmured answers to a Muslim van seatmate who asked me if i know Islam. Yes! I KNOW, but not all. in fact and i think, i know more about Islam than my Christianity. That was a lie, probably, and i answered him, "i wont talk about religion, sir, because it is often the source of conflict."

so, i continued. tuned into itouch and read the newspaper. Ya, i know your 5 pillars. in fact, i did one of them: ramadhan. i know too Qu'ran taught cleanliness, environmental care and respect for women. do you? well, i know our Church is highly divided. There are the Jesus is Lord (JIL), Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), Protestants, Episcopal....and there too are the Sunni, Shiah, Sufi, Wahabi and among others.

If the Muslim soldier had asked me what i do, id definitely break my silence, "we build water systems for the Muslim communities for them to have access to safe water." And you, what do you do? Fire guns? I continued my lipbiting and news reading.

Ye, i know too your wedding rituals and that Qu'ran shares the same story with our Bible. You even have saints (but you never prayed to them unlike some of us, Christians). One of your saints even prayed in one of our churches. Then i texted Elsan, my Tausog friend, of the saint's name.

For the whole trip back home, i answered silently the Muslim soldier-van seatmate and one Muslim family, who forged me to hurriedly consume my Jollibee spaghetti, chicken and Coke. Instead of eating inside the van, i closed my lunch pack. Then they complained of the "porky" smell and suggested to eat it fast while the van gases up or better give it away. so, i gave it away, willingly. But then, the van driver had my Jollibee pack pala. and so, it returned back in the van, along with its porky smell

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA We all laughed like close friends, but ironically, they never complained again and scolded the driver to give Jollibee away. Well, they must have not smelled the pork anymore from the backseat.

I reached Davao, unsheathed. thanks to silence, tolerance and patience. and ye, it was Rumi, who frequented in praying in some Christian churches when he is in places without mosques.

and ye, Islamic jurisprudence even says that Muslims should respect (not follow) the laws of other society. so, kung offensive talaga sa katabi mo ang smell ng pork, the proper thing for him/her to do is transfer sit.