Kwentong Barbero

Classic. Barber shop. Remember the old red, blue and white thingy spinning around? I think that's the universal sign that the establishment is a barber shop. I never got that. I should research on that after this. Anyway, wow, the barber shop. A lot of memories quickly surround me. And I mean a lot.

My first taste of my hair being cut was from my dad. Yeah, not so good memories but truly very memorable. My dad was the first one who cut my hair. My mom and him fought afterward. Yeah, he caught me right smack at the edge of my left ear. It bled. My mom was furious. Me? I cried a few minutes but was all right after my mom nabbed me from my dad and gave me a lollipop. Up to now, they still talk about this and laugh at me. As if I was the one who committed that boo boo.

After that incident, I remember being at the garage or kitchen of our neighbor's lolo and being subjected to his ramblings about the war and about many things which now I don't remember. Yeah, my brother and I were subjected to a barber's long stories at a very young age. Hey, anything for a free haircut for my kids, my dad probably thought. Hooray for us.

Come to think of it (hehe, I have jokes here), I've only been to a barber shop. I've never been to a salon or parlor (apparently, the two are different). No, I'm not homophobic or something like that but there's just a sense of comfort when I'm inside a barber shop. The smell and sight of hair on the floor (not the smell of hair coloring or that foul, medicine-like smell). The stories you hear from the barbers themselves. I also don't know how the "kwentong barbero" term was coined. It now has a negative meaning. "Hoo, kwentong barbero ka naman, pare e!" In my village, it has even been shortened to "KB." Haha.

They just have views about everything. From how the president is running the country to why this congressman is now dating this particular starlet. Sometimes their arguments get too heated, you'll be afraid if they would stab each other with their scissors! Hopefully, this hasn't happened yet. Or has it? Haha.

I also have this weird thinking when I'm having my haircut. Back when I was in college, I remember praying for a nice haircut while I was seated and being pruned by the barber. Guess what? The haircut made me look like I was a tomboy. Seriously. Again, nothing against people from the fourth sex, okay? But I'm a guy! I should have a guy's haircut! So in my next haircuts after this episode, I don't know why, but I always noticed that barbers produced a bad haircut every time I prayed! So as much as I want  to thank God for giving me the money to still afford to have a haircut (and also for the barber not to cut my ear off), I wait until the haircut is done. Amen.

I don't know why I suddenly decided to write about barber shops. Maybe it's because it's part of my growing up. Until now, I still go to the local barber shops in our area. Nothing beats the facial with alcohol and the masaheng pilit after the haircut. Nothing beats the question, "Pagupit ka, pogi?" Yeah, being called pogi is nice too. Haha.It just brings you back to when you were young. Seeing barbers who were there since you were seven years old is somewhat comforting. Even though I really don't talk to them and just give them nods as answers, they're still kinda like uncles to me. Weird.

I still believe that many barberos can run a city or even a country better than some hooligans that we have in government now. They're sincere and they make you look good instead of them wanting themselves to look good. Although they may look sloppy on the outside, barbers just want you to look good for your girlfriends, wives and even your mistresses. Hehe.

Barbers for President! Oh, wait, he passed away na pala.

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