“TAMPUHAN” BY JUAN LUNA
***The Tagalog term tampo has no English equivalent. Magtampo is usually translated as ‘to sulk’, but it does not quite mean that. ‘Sulk’ seems to have a negative meaning which is not expressed in magtampo. It is a way of withdrawing, of expressing hurt feelings in a culture where outright expression of anger is discouraged. For example, if a child who feels hurt or neglected may show tampo by withdrawing from the group, refusing to eat, and resisting expressions of affection such as touching or kissing by the members of the family. A woman may also show tampo if she feels jealous or neglected by her beloved. Tampuhan is basically a lovers’ quarrel, often manifested in total silent treatment or not speaking to each other.
The person who is nagtatampo expects to be aamuin or cajoled out of the feeling of being unhappy or left out. Parents usually let a child give way to tampo before he/she is cajoled to stop feeling hurt.
Usually, tampo in Filipino culture is manifested in non-verbal ways, such as not talking to other people, keeping to one’s self, being unusually quiet, not joining friends in group activities, not joining family outing, or simply locking one’s self in his or her room. x
Mickey Mouse illustration from the United Artists 1935 publicity manual.
Fourth Day
2 minutes to 8 (PRC Main Headquarter’s Social Hall time) and i’m still riding the Philippine’s King of the Road vehicle. I was really anxious to be late, while trying to make my brain understand what’s in my handbook.
I was never late. Thank God I made it on time. My co-trainees and I took our final examination together:)
We did multi-injury splinting and bandaging today. It was really fun, my groupmates made a good job in wrapping those cloth and boards around my limbs. Maybe much more fun if i was able to participate during the application, but that’s fine,i still enjoyed it.
We also experienced transferring a victim with a spine injury from the highest floor down and back. After that, BLS Lecture was started.
I never really remember that my first BLS ret-dem victim way back in college times was Aldrin. And today, he’s my victim again on our Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation practice so i never felt embarrassed. I just hope that Friday will be good to me, that i will perform BLS well and that everyone of us will learn.
It’s my bowl and I’ll sleep in it if I want to
Third Day
Practicum day. We started the day with a Squeeze, this time i didn’t forget to write my Class Number on my paper “27”..and i got 27 out of 30 again..does that mean something? well, tomorrow is the final exam for first aid, and i’m starting to cross my fingers not to score 27/50 tomorrow.
I was so sleepy in my class today. to keep my self awake, i move on my chair often and sometimes join my seat-mates conversation. Unluckily, i was caught by the trainer, and for the first time in my life, i was commanded to transfer to another farther chair. I never felt embarrassed though. I’m even proud to experience that even if it’s a little too late coz i’m already finished my academics.
Afternoon battle. We demonstrated to our trainers what we’ve learned during the lectures. Thank God I got a high grade. Thanks to my partner and my victim for the cooperation. The down side is every muscle i have in my body is aching right now. I feel so tired but i had a good time. See you again tomorrow.
Second Day Training/Reunion with Jet
Early bird. i arrived 30minutes earlier and thank God, i was able to answer the quiz even if i forgot to review. Thanks to Aldrin for cooking and bringing us our packed lunch, we didn’t have to go down to eat out. Thanks to Aldrin also that I had my ice cream dessert. i’m so exhausted today. my body was beaten to the bones due to rescuer-victim return demonstration.
Only after the training that my tiredness and body pain were replaced with joy when i went to Robinson’s Place Manila. Of course you know the reason why so i wont elaborate it anymore.
Nice to see you again Jet! After 3 years of not seeing each other, finally it changed just this afternoon. We dine at Sbarro’s and spent most of the time talking and talking and talking. I wish we’ll have more time to bond the next time we meet.






