Gamblers

... If you're gonna play the game board, you gotta learn to play it right. You've got to know when to hold them ... know when to fold them ... know when to walk away ... know when to run. You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table. There'll be time enough for countin' when the deal is done ....

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Have you ever gambled? Or - have you ever played a game?

I have! It's not because I do not have a choice, but I do!

May 26, 2003 - I've already shopped and packed the things I need for the two-days convention in Cebu City. Excite? Nope! Certainly not! Who would be when I knew so well that two's not a company, and three's certainly not a group? It was so sad to think that the rest of my colleagues can never be with the three of us in the Queen City of the Pacific - just because they have already committed their vacation time with their families, or for whatever reasons.

With a sagging spirit, I almost missed the van bound for the sea port, and even almost missed the ship. But who cares? I was not really looking forward to crossing seas just to meet new faces, just to collect new experiences, much less to listen to boring lectures, perform social function in a Caribbean or Hawaiian attire, and play childish games.

But the first day of the convention passed successfully. Fortunately, the turn of events renewed my blurring hues - painting a smile in my face. Resource speakers made my brain burped with timely and useful information ... acquaintances filled my list of friends ... and experiences were worth enough to be carefully treasured at the back of my mind.

The second day came. It was fun time for all of us. We deserved it! Who doesn't?

Wearing a sporty attire, I was really looking forward to participating in all the games. I even grimaced at the thought of playing - which for me is bizarre. During my school years, playing whatever game is the last thing I would ever do. I would rather stay home and bore myself than participate with such activities. I would rather memorize and practice lengthy oratorical piece, than expose myself under the sun and be filthy with perspiration. If trapped, I would just volunteer to organize or facilitate rather than participate. But everything changes. I just wanted to feel alive and energized that day.

As expected, the activities progressed with so much fun. Vibrating laughter, sweet giggles, and childish mirth filled the convention room. Tearful joys and joyful tears were in every one's faces. Some group members looked nervous carried with great ease (or was it?) by their co-members as they passed through the black hole (that wasn't black at all), as if they were in a flying trapeze.  All players sure looked funny in a blindfold - trying to understand their leader's instructions,holding each other tightly (not because they like it, but because they're trying to protect their line from breaking, and their balloons from bursting) as they trudged their way to the unknown path. Other members even frowned as we tried to carry together the small balloon that served as an "atomic bomb" - as if it really was, and as if it was really that heavy, perhaps thinking which way to go, so as not to drop it for it might "really" explode if we do. Other teams even cheated (without their knowledge perhaps?) as if it was part of their strategic plans just to win the game. Our group even repeated a game because we did not follow the rules (or was it because we didn't fully understand it?). We even wasted so much time waiting - not because we want to, but because it was the only way. I even felt so foolish solving the mind puzzles and asking the answer for 8 times 6, where in fact, I am already in the third term of my graduate studies in teaching Mathematics.

The games ended at last. Everybody were pleased, energized, and looked like having so much fun. Winners wore glowing "smileys" on their faces as they raised their chins up with great pride. Losers, a silent frown, though pretending just to feel fine, as if they don't want to do it again ... just to redirect some unfair rules and to regain what is lost.

Our team was not declared the winner, and definitely not the loser (we still got something even though we were the last to finish the game). What ever prizes we got and shared is of no importance. What matters most was the fun that we shared together, and the lessons that we learned out of playing and losing that friendly competition.

What I treasured most was the chance to play like a child again (though sometimes we were constantly reminded that we were instructors when we tried to break some rules). I even realized that "living a life" is like playing a game -- we have to take calculated risks ... we even have to gamble.

We, at times, even have to trust unfamiliar faces, places or events (blindfolded or not) to guide us through equally unfamiliar waters. We even have to shout a shrieking "sure na!" even if we're utterly sure that we're not.

Though life isn't always fair sometimes, and though it doesn't always offer you the right chances at the right place and time, you still have to take part, no matter what happen. You simply need to know the rules, not to discover ways to break them, but to follow them. You should also have sufficient grace to face life's funny moments, and enough courage to brave yourself through life's black holes and head-breaking puzzles. You should always be prepared to smile, though with heavy heart, for it is not on how many life's battles you've fought that counts, but on how you faced life's problems with dignity  and pride.

With the right perspective towards life - how to play it ... how to be a part of it ... and how and when to shout "Sure na!", and even say "I quit!" - we will surely be winners. That's our right. That's our privilege. That's the way gamblers play in this game called LIFE.

(07.23.2003)

Published in the Feature section of the Faculty STImuli

Vol VI, No. 2, September 2003 issue