(GETTING inspiration from a Paul Simon song) I met my old classmate on the street last night, and she seemed so glad to see me. I just smiled. And we talked about some old times and we drank ourselves some beer…
That’s not how it really went; we just had coffee and just a cup at that. When, during one part of our opening hellos, I told her of my coming date with the knife, she commented not to worry, I could well afford it.
Not at all, I said, relatives are chipping in as I can only afford scrap. As if to prove her point, head to toe, she teased, “Look at what you got?”
Just projection, smokes and mirrors, I kidded, but to oblige her, I’m going there, I thought. For starters, the original baseball cap. It’s a gift from a neighbor who’s been overseas. Costs an arm and a leg if I were to buy it locally. (Not available here, though) If only I could, I still won’t, of course, just too expensive and therefore not practical for me.
Incidentally, like my old Nike Huaraches, which, when brand new, fetches for more than five thousand bukols (but just got for only 250 flat), I got a third of my collected baseball caps at the friendly neighborhood local ukay-ukay stall.
Almost all of which I bought at 30 pesos each. Don’t even be misled by the Penshoppe tee and the tiger shorts. They, too, are gifts from the matey. The smartwatch is a precious birthday gift from my firstborn.
In all, way beyond the measly monthly pension of this senior. I told her, actually, ninety-nine of a hundred that I have on me, and what you’re seeing at the moment is… “Thank you, dear sponsors.” So much for the projection. Truly smokes.
Seriously, while it’s true that impressions matter in the social sphere, it’s noticeable enough that most people, without much of a pause, check each other out by the brands you have on. And it just comes naturally. Is this an indication of how consumerist we’ve all turned out to be?
I am reminded of a time long ago in the hinterlands, when I happened to meet some old Lumad leaders who lamented that their young people have become critical of the old ways, with most of them preferring instead to venture down to the town centers and donning Levi’s in favor of their tribal robes. I wish I had an answer then. I’ve a guess now, but I’m not telling.
