BRATINELLA AND ME dares to speak out anytime, anywhere about anything to anyone.: Episode #3: Ang Makulit

Episode #3: Ang Makulit

11 December 2009

I was right smack in the middle of an MLM presentation when my cell phone started ringing wildly Hrmph… I never turn my cell phone off during meetings (feeling ‘sutil’ heh heh).

I hurriedly stepped outside the room… Aaarrrggghhhh – it was SHE calling me again!

ME: Oh, Ma’am Vivien…. Napatawag po kayo?... I’m in the middle of a seminar po (at istorbo ka sa bagong raket ko noh… )

HER: I want to know more about your magazine.

She was brilliant and extremely witty – particularly with her idea of giving Tips & Tools – ‘TT’ for short – on how to help doctors and patients communicate more clearly.

The idea of adding a funny and informative aspect to the magazine tickled my fancy… I offered her a column as a regular feature writer.

But then – what she said next caught me completely off-guard.

HER: Make me your assistant in the magazine na lang.

ME: Anoh? …Ikaw? …Assistant ko? (Nge… ayoko nga…. masyadong makulit… heheh.)

Her tone changed afterwards… and I clearly felt the intensity of what she said next…

I suddenly had my first taste of her wisdom… VIVIENISMS.

HER: You know what, Peter… I don’t know why some people find me makulit… I’m just being CPC*. What folks here see as ‘makulit’ is just the norm abroad…

I was speechless… The impact of what she had just said suddenly struck me like a bolt of lightning.

I REALIZED SHE WAS RIGHT… and that I’ve been harboring the same, wrong conditioning all my life.

Whew! . . . What a rude awakening . . . and that was just the beginning!

* CPC = Clear + Precise + Concise