Life in the province is quiet. Yes, it is peaceful, but not always easy. Most of the time men (and sometimes even women) are in the fields, pulling carabaos, planting crops, or doing anything just to make ends meet. Still, those are not enough, but they never complain. When things get too much, they stroll somewhere calm with their weapon: the guitar.
With a guitar in hand, a man feels free once they sing their hearts out under a tree while waiting for sunset. It does not matter if the voice is good or not. What matters is the feeling of how music takes away the tiredness and helps him hold on to hope.
Singing makes a man feel lighter. With a touch of the string, he begins to sing as if talking to someone who listens without judgement. He is aware music does not solve problems, but the melodies touch his souls in ways no one can explain.
That being said, music has become a man’s best friend because through it all, it stays and it understands. It guarantees them that even in the middle of hardship, there’s still something beautiful left in the day.
So when the sun finally sets and the last note fades, the man stands up, still tired but feeling just a little braver to face tomorrow again.
