Take a break with laughter
Nahulog sa Tulay
(He fell off the bridge.)
Once there
was a community where the parish priest got irked by the confession of the
faithful of a sin most frequently committed – adultery.
Footbridge in acrylic by the author AVR 2002
So the priest coined a code for adultery: Nahulog sa tulay (fell off the bridge). Indeed the priest was quite satisfied to hear confessions on the popular sin. Instead of saying adultery, or nangangaliwa (turning to the left, meaning unfaithful), or may kulasisi (having a pet parrot), the faithful just say “Father, “Nahulog ako sa tulay.” For which the concerned father would say, “This time be careful. Mag-ingat ka.” (Be careful)
As it
is the policy of the church to reshuffle assignments of priests, the priest in
this community was transferred to another parish.
A new
priest arrived, and as he heard confessions he was surprised to hear a string
of “Father, nahulog ako sa tulay,” that
the apparently puzzled priest simply cautioned the faithful, “Mag-ingat ka sa susunod,” (Be careful
next time) thinking of the literal meaning of the statement. With firmness he went to see the municipal engineer
and asked why he is not doing his part to prevent accidents by seeing to it
that the bridge is safe and sound.
To this
the engineer laughed and all others in the municipal hall joined. He laughed and laughed as he was the butt of
the accusation he was mistaken for.
Not
outwitted the priest said, “Well, Mr. Engineer, I still say you take care of
that bridge.”
“Father,
that bridge is not in my care.”
“It is,”
the priest concluded. “Your wife fell in
it three times.” ~
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