Sign of the Monkey

I was at Subic Bay yesterday at Nabasan beach. When we reached our cottage, we saw a lady taking photos with her camera phone. Another man had a banana in his hand. The subject of the kodak moment: Monkeys!

Just when the banana man was about to throw another banana at the group of wild monkeys, I hollered (in the roundest voice I could possibly muster): "Hoy! Bawal 'yan!" (Sabay lunok ... malaking tao pala si banana man).

The man was about to feed the monkeys right in front of a humongous sign saying "Feeding of Monkeys Strictly Prohibited". A few strides away, another sign _explains_ the reasons why the wild monkeys should not be fed. Human food may be harmful for monkeys, humans should protect the monkeys' natural defense of avoiding humans, feeding may encourage monkeys to loot beach-goers belongings etc.

Maya and I were among around ten round-eyed pamangkins witnessing the confrontation. Maya added (in the roundest voice she could possibly muster): "Tinatanong nung mga bata kung bakit daw kayo nag-papakain, eh ang linaw linaw na nakasulat na pinag-babawal yan."

In a faint whimper, banana man answered: "Eh ... nakaka-awa, eh...." Stupid excuse, banana man.

Heto sagot ko: "Ilang taon na 'yang mga unggoy dito, buhay pa rin sila. Ang mga ibang unggoy dito (sabay irap), gurang na pero hindi pa rin maka-intindi ng paunawa!"

Sabay lunok ulit! Sinabi ko ba iyon o inisip ko lang? Whew! Buti napigilan ko sarili ko! I would have loved to shout it out, if only I had thought of it more quickly ... and if banana man wasn't so big.

Here's my suggestion for Subic Bay. Make a sign that says:

Sa mga unggoy: Hwag kayong tumanggap ng pagkain mula sa tao. Makaka-sama ito sa inyo.

Pag-pasensyahan niyo na ang mga taong 'di maka-intindi ng paunawa.

- Ka Tarzan