Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Nagsusulat Ako
Nagsusulat ako dahil…
Nagsusulat ako dahil…
Nagsusulat ako dahil…
Kaya’t nagsusulat ako.
********
Hey guys! Missed me? I know right. So as consolation, I am giving you this new poem. (Naks! First time ko tumula!!! Love it!) I scribbled this one while watching my classmates practice their blocking for our fashion show Le Vogue on the 29th. :D I suffered the longest WRITER'S BLOCK in my life and for the first time in months I spotted an inspiration-- the dancing leaves of a tree... So there. The reasons why I write. :D to GOD be the glory! :D
Sunday, December 6, 2009
ON SUFFERING
I remember I was working on this essay back when I was troubled. By that time, so many people around me is suffering. Though we don't share the same experiences, we were both working out our troubles-- with God's help.
I cannot quite remember how I want this essay to go because it had been three months since then. So I just decided that I'd share whatever I had written down so far. And you'll be disappointed on how short it is.
If I have much time, I'll try to work this out again and maybe I'd be able to remember my original message intended for this essay. For now, let this piece be with you.
There is so much suffering around us... wherever I look, wherever I go...
I have had my share of sufferings.. And I believe that if i haven't, i wouldn't be able to distinguish them happening to other people.
I have had my chance at suffering. And I had learned the lesson it has to give. My next step is to share myself to those people who are having their chance on suffering-- for comfort, for support, for back up... just like those people who shared theirs when I was down and troubled...
Suffering has drains us most of what we have. Yet without suffering, we will never know compassion. Without suffering we wouldn't know how comfort feels. Without compassion, we'll never find out the extent of our strength.
>>I really wish I could finish this. Maybe someday. I feel that I am going to dedicate this one to a friend. However, I cannot remember what comes next after those paragraphs.
I cannot quite remember how I want this essay to go because it had been three months since then. So I just decided that I'd share whatever I had written down so far. And you'll be disappointed on how short it is.
If I have much time, I'll try to work this out again and maybe I'd be able to remember my original message intended for this essay. For now, let this piece be with you.
There is so much suffering around us... wherever I look, wherever I go...
I have had my share of sufferings.. And I believe that if i haven't, i wouldn't be able to distinguish them happening to other people.
I have had my chance at suffering. And I had learned the lesson it has to give. My next step is to share myself to those people who are having their chance on suffering-- for comfort, for support, for back up... just like those people who shared theirs when I was down and troubled...
Suffering has drains us most of what we have. Yet without suffering, we will never know compassion. Without suffering we wouldn't know how comfort feels. Without compassion, we'll never find out the extent of our strength.
>>I really wish I could finish this. Maybe someday. I feel that I am going to dedicate this one to a friend. However, I cannot remember what comes next after those paragraphs.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
CARROT, EGG AND COFFEE BEANS
This is another "shared" posting. I happen to encounter this very cute story at Christianster. Many thanks goes to angel_riza for posting it. =] Read it, be inspired and most of all, learn.
[I know! I know! Forgive me for posting another "re-post" again, ok? I've been very busy lately, or maybe I was just lazy. I'll try my best to come up with something original within the following days, so watch out for it.]
In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see? Carrots, eggs, and coffee."
The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity ... boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"
The mother elaborated for her daughter; "Are you the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity you wilt, become soft and lose strength? Are you the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but then changes and hardens with the heat? Some people have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, they become hardened and stiff. Though their outer shell looks the same, on the inside they are rigid and unyielding. Or perhaps you are like the coffee bean. The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, the bean releases its fragrance and flavor.
If you are like the bean, you get better and change the situation around you, when things are at their worst. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, you elevate yourself to another level.
So the next time you experience adversity, remember to ask yourself, 'Am I being a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?'"
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
[I know! I know! Forgive me for posting another "re-post" again, ok? I've been very busy lately, or maybe I was just lazy. I'll try my best to come up with something original within the following days, so watch out for it.]
CARROT, EGG AND COFFEE BEANS
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil.
In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see? Carrots, eggs, and coffee."
The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity ... boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"
The mother elaborated for her daughter; "Are you the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity you wilt, become soft and lose strength? Are you the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but then changes and hardens with the heat? Some people have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, they become hardened and stiff. Though their outer shell looks the same, on the inside they are rigid and unyielding. Or perhaps you are like the coffee bean. The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, the bean releases its fragrance and flavor.
If you are like the bean, you get better and change the situation around you, when things are at their worst. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, you elevate yourself to another level.
So the next time you experience adversity, remember to ask yourself, 'Am I being a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?'"
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
I WAS SHOCKED
I was shocked, confused, bewildered *note: this is not mine. I came across this from a site called Christianster. I believe it's an original by DRIN, one of the Christianster members... Be inspired! Thanks to DRIN, by the way... =] |
Monday, September 7, 2009
BALITANG LAMESA
LAMESA. Sa bahay namin, meron kaming folding lamesa dati. Natutupi ang paa nito at gawa siya sa magaan na bakal. Medyo may kalawang na siya kaya naman nung mag-apat na taon ako ay bumili kami ng isang lamesang gawa sa kahoy na hugis bilo-haba at may anim na upuang kasama. Sumakto naman ang bilang ng upuan paglipas ng panahon dahil naging anim din kami sa pamilya.
Sa Pilipinas (at kahit saang bahagi naman siguro ng mundo) ay mahalaga ang pagturing sa kasagraduhan ng hapag-kainan at malaki ang respeto sa pagkain. Dahil na rin sa pananampalataya natin na ang Diyos na may lalang sa lahat ang Siya ring nagbigay ng pagkaing ito. Sa bahay namin, bawal kumain nang nakasimangot, o kaya nagrereklamo na sunog ang sinaing dahil inggrata ka sa biyaya ng Panginoon kapag ganun. Ingat din sa mga butil na nalalaglag mula sa bibig dahil sita agad ang mapapala mo. Magulo ang oras ng salo-salo sa mesa pero masaya. At dito sa bansa natin, nakaugalian na rin talaga ang pagsasalu-salo ng buong pamilya sa hapag-kainan.
Mayroon ngang komersyal ang lucky me na kung saan ipinapakita nila ang isang bata na kumakain mag-isa. maya-maya ay nagbibiro itong umasta na nakikipag-inuman at nagyoyosi. Sabay sabi ng komersyal na mas prone (last year ko pa nais malaman ang tagalog ng prone) sa pagkalulong sa bisyo pagtanda ang mga batang hindi nakakasabay ang pamilya sa pagkain. Sa hapagkainan kasi mas maraming nabubuhos na oras upang kumustahin ang kalagayan ng bawat isa sa pamilya. Ganda ng komersiyal na yun ah! Kumita yata lalo ang lucky me.
Pero bago ko ipagpatuloy ang lahat, nais kong ipaalam na ang kwentong ito ay hindi tungkol sa lucky me kundi sa dalawang hiwalay ngunit tila parahong karanasan ko sa harapan ng isang lamesa.
'At para po sa ating nagbabagang balita ngayong tanghali, narito si Ma-ri para sa 'Balitang Lamesa'
Nauuso na ngayon ang mga hard core news tuwing tanghali. Ang init tuloy sa aura ng pakiramdam dahil tanghaling tapat na nga ay nagbabagang balita pa ang nakahain.Pero hindi pa rin tungkol diyan ang tunay na tema ng kwento ko. Napasingit lang yan bigla.
Eto na talaga...
Naniniwala ka ba sa kasabihang, 'No man is an island?' (Sinubukan kong itagalog yan kaso ang jologs ng translation ko... hindi naman sa sinasabi kong jologs ang wikang Filipino. Ang gusto ko lang talagang sabihin ay jologs ako mag-translate. Kaya sana ay pabayaan na natin). Kung perstaym mo lamang narinig ang kasabihang yan, ie-explain ko sa'yo ang ibig sabihin. Ibig sabihin niyan ay tayong mga tao ay hindi nabubuhay nang nag-iisa lamang dahil palagi nating kinakailangan ang ibang tao upang maka-surbayb (Sabay sigaw ng 'Survivor Ako!' with matching wasiwas ng buhok) sa buhay.
Well, ako naniniwala. Kasi panu naman talaga tayo makakasurbayb sa buhay kung sakaling walang ibang tao?walang magdadrive ng dyip, walang magluluto ng ulam sa karinderia, walang sales lady sa Cubao-- pano na lang ang pagsakay natin sa dyip, pag-order ng ulam tuwing tanghali at pagpili ng damit sa mall? Pero napapalayo na naman ako sa totong nais kong sabihin.O siya siya.Balik sa tapik.
Dahil nga sa naniniwala ako na 'No man is an island', naging quest na ng buhay ko ang magkaroon ng kaibigan. Kaibigan kasi ang mga taong tulad nating Surbaybor din na makakasama natin sa paglalakbay sa buhay na ito para hindi tayo maging mag-isa.
Sa kabutihan ng Diyos sa akin ay pinadalhan niya ako ng mga kaibigan na hindi ko hinanap subalit kusang nabuo. Parang naniniwala na tuloy ako na pwede nating piliin ang kapitbahay natin pero hindi ang kaibigan. Mayroon akong kaibigan mula pa noong hayskul at mga bagong kaibigan naman ngayong kolehiyo. May mga tawag sa amin. Tunog gang nga lang pero para magkaroon kami ng sariling pagkakakilanlan. Yung hayskul ako, ang tawag sa amin ay RASMMICC. Ngayong college naman ay LUNCHMATES.
RASMMICC
Nakilala ko ang RASMMICC sa aking ALMA MATER, ang Capitol Institute (Jan ja jan...) Alam ko tipong never been heard yung school ko pero aminin, sosyal ang name!!! Anyways, since first year ay magkakakilala at magkakaklase na kami. Ang mga apelyido namin, magkakatabi sa class record dahil kami ang mga naggagandahang babaing A to D. Noong mga unang araw ng klase ay hindi naman kami naging close agad lahat. But during one fateful day... bigla na lamang nagkaroon ng kakaibang pangyayari. Kidding! Di naman talaga kakaibang araw iyon. Nagkataon lang na lunch time.
Dahil bawal kumain sa loob ng classroom, lahat kami ay kinakailangang bumaba sa canteen. At dahil first year pa lamang ay naturalmente na masunurin kami sa mga patakaran ng eskwelahan. Sa di ko na matandaang kadahilanan ay masyadong maraming tao sa canteen noon at sa lalong di ko rin matandaang dahilan ay medyo huli na rin akong nakababa ng canteen. Nang makaorder ng pagkain, naghanap ako ng lamesa na makakainan. At dahil nga sa puno ng estudyante ang canteen, mahirap nang makahanap ng upuan. Ngunit, Subalit, Datapwat sa kabutihan ng Panginoon ay mayroon pang NAG-IISA at NAG-IISA na lamang na lamesa sa tapat ng tindahan ni Kuya Eman.
Ilarawan natin ang lamesang ito. Kung lokasiyon ang pag-uusapan, naroon ito sa pinaksulok ng tindahan ni Kuya Eman. Sa kanan ng lamesang ito ay ang bakal na harang na naghihiwalay sa tindahan ni Kuya Eman at sa isa pang tindahan. Sa likod naman ng lamesang ito ay pader. Kung sakaling uupo ka dun at nagkataong maraming tao sa canteen ay tatagaktak ng todo ang pawis mo.
Kung maarte lang talaga ako ay mas gugustuhin ko pang iakyat na lamang sa classroom yung pagkain o kaya naman ay makikain sa ibang mesa na hindi pa naman gaanong puno. Pero maniwala ka, nung mga oras na yun ay hindi ko talaga napansin na mainit pala sa sulok na iyon. Third year na ako nung maging aware ako na pinagpapawisan pala ako kapag doon kumakain.
Tutuloy na tayo. Dahil nga sa nag-iisa na lamang itong lamesa, doon na kami naupo. Maluwag pa naman dahil dalawa lamang kami. At dahil nga sa nag-iisa lamang ang lamesang iyon, nakiupo na rin doon sina Crystel at Charmaine, Analiza, Sarah at Irene at Rea at ang tandem na sina Hannah at *Di ko na matandaan ang pangalan niya (HOW RUDE!).
Waluhan lamang ang lamesang iyon. Pero dahil sa magkakaklase naman kami, sige lang, pinagkasya namin ang mga sarili namin kahit sobra kami ng dalawa. Maayos naman kaming nakakain. Yun nga lang, kinailangan naming itupi ng maayos ang mga siko namin. Bukod doon, dahil marami kami, mas masaya ang kwentuhan. Yung mga hindi naman namin ka-close sa kanila ay mas nakilala namin. At higit sa lahat, hindi namin alintana ang init.
Hanggang sa paglipas ng mga araw ay napansin naming kami-kami na rin ang sabay-sabay na kumakain doon sa parehong sulok na iyon. Gaya nga ng sabi ko, wala namang nakapansin sa amin na mainit pala sa sulok na iyon dati. In fact, naging teritoryo ng nga namin ang lamesang iyon.
Kung bakit RASMMICC ang pangalan namin, simple lamang—Rea, Analiza, Sarah, Marichelle, Mary-Ann, Crystel, Charmaine. Pagtagal ay nawala sa bonding namintuwing lunch / recess sina Hannah at *Di ko talaga maalala…(T_T).
LUNCHMATES.
Nang mag-umpisa ako sa college, nahirapan akong makahanap agad ng grupo. Nostalgic pa kasi ako at hindi ko masiyado pang tanggap ang environment ng bago kong eskwelahan. Namimiss ko rin ang high school friends ko. Kaya nang mga unang araw ay madalas akong mag-isa. Kinausap lamang kasi ako ng mga friendly-ng sina Archer at Thea kaya napasama ako sa grupo nila. Sa di ko matandaang dahilan, napasama naman ako kay tetet paglipas ng mga linggo. Pero kung di ako nagkakamali, dahil yun sa pareho kaming bumababa ng Cubao mula sa LRT. Naging sabit ako sa tandem nila ni Mayu. Pagtagal ulit, naging dalawa na lamang kami bigla ni Mayu.
Pinaka-matrabahong gawin noon ay ang maghanap ng makakainan. Nakakabigla yung mga presiyo ng pagkain. Lalo na kung sa tapat ka ng CEA (College of Engineering and Architecture) ka kakain. Sa katulad namin ni Mayu na nasa kabilang dulo pa ng mundo ang tahanan mula sa eskwela, heaven na sa amin kapag 25 pesos ang pagkain. Kaso walang ganun sa tapat ng CEA. Kaya sa quest namin na makahanap ng murang makakainan, nakarating pa kami sa Pureza.
Ilarawan natin ang Pureza. Isa lamang siyang kalsada sa Sta. Mesa. Kung mula sa COC (College of Communication) ang layo ay limang minute rin ng lakaran.
Dahil nga sa pagtitipid, nakahanap kami ng isang maluwag at murang kainan na tinatawag na MAMSY’S. Pero nagulat kami nang pagdating namin doon ay nakita naming nakaupo na sa gitna at pinakamahabang mesa ang ilan sa mga kaklase namin. Ang nakaupo sa primary chair ay si Tolits. Mukha silang isang malaking pamilya. Pero bukod pa diyan, ang pinaka-ikinasiya namin ni Mayu ay ang COMBO MEAL. Sa halagang bente-singko peso, meron ka nang COMBO ng karne at gulay. ASTEEEEEEG!!! Um-order agad kami. Naupo sa gitnang lamesa sa imbitasyon na rin ng mga kaklase naming naroon na at kumain. Masarap. Lutong bahay.
Nang mga sumunod na araw, nakagawian na lang naming maghintayan tuwing lunchbreak at sabay-sabay na magtungo sa MAMSY’S. Hindi ko na matandaan kung sino ang mga orihinal na kumakain na talaga doon. Basta namulat na lamang ako dahil ang dating maluwag na gitnang lamesa ay naokupa naming lahat.
Ankonsiyusli (Unconsciously), meron na pala kaming sinusunod na mga patakaran nang hindi namin napapansin. Hindi pa pwede magsimula kumain unless nakaupo na ang lahat sa mesa at handa nang kumain. Bawal kumain nang walang nagdarasal. Si tolits, sa principal chair na talaga nakaupo. Si Niña, normal nang um-order ng extra rice at si Aprille, normal na ring manlibre ng RC paminsan-minsan.
Sa sobrang dalas namin sa MAMSY’S, posible na kaming maging endorser ng nasabing kainan. Kilala na rin kami ng may-ari kaya minsan kaming nilibre ng isang putahe.
Ewan ko kung paanong nangyari na isang araw, meron na lamang sumigaw ng, “Lunchmates, kakain na tayo,” pagkatapos ng isang subject namin. At mula noon, naging kadikit na ng pangalan naming labing-apat ang pangalang LUNCHMATES.
Sabi nila (sabi ko lang pala), kapag tinagalog mo raw ang LUNCHMATES, ang resulta ay PATAY GUTOM. Ayos lang sa akin kung ganun nga. Dahil kung piyesta araw-araw ang lunch kapag kasama ang LUNCHMATES, walang kwenta ang matawag na patay-gutom.
P.S. Dadi na nga pala ang tawag ngayon kay Tolits. Empress kay Mayu. Lioness kay Niña. Si Majo naman ay Sexy (no comment). Si reynald ay si Tikboy. Si Luis, Loisz. Si Princess ay si Tetet. Si Jill ay malunggay. Si Aprille ay si Tita Poker (lagot ako dun). Si Jake, Jake pa rin. Pokwang naman kay Lyka. Bunso para kay Joren. At ako, ako si Ma-Ri.
**************
Ito ang dalawang pangyayaring sinabi kong hiwalay ngunit kahit paano ay parehong naging karanasan ko sa harap ng LAMESA. Dahil sa isang LAMESA, nakahanap ako hindi lamang ng masarap na Lunch kundi ng mga kaibigang makakasama ko—hopefully—sa haba ng buhay ko.
Hindi ako mahilig kumain. Ang totoo, maselan ako sa pagkain. Marami akong ayaw. Alam ng RASMMICC at LUNCHMATES yan.
Pero nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon dahil kahit na mapili ako sa biyaya Niya sa mesa, binigyan Niya pa rin ako ng biyaya. Ibang biyaya na nga lang. Pero isang biyaya na hinding hindi maipagpapalit—mga kaibigan.
“Ako si Ma-ri, nag-uulat para sa BALITANG LAMESA.”
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