Karoling na Tagos sa Puso

Nagkakaroling na naman ang mga bata't matatanda sa amin tarangkhan. Habang ako'y nakikinig sa kanilang mga naghahalong mga tinig, hindi ko maiwasang maisip ang mga dahilan kung bakit ipinagpapatuloy nila ang tradisyong ito ng kapaskuhan. Ano kaya ang gagawin nila sa pera na kanilang malilikom?

Sariwa pa sa atin ang nakapanlulumong epekto ng bagsik na Yolanda na humampas sa kabisayaan. Maraming mga buhay ang nakitil at tila natapos nang biglaan. Libu-libong mga pamilya ang nawalan ng pamamahay at hanapbuhay. Ngayon, nakatira na lamang sila sa mga temporaryong "tents", nakipagsiksikan sa iba pang mga nawalan ng bubong. Kung hindi man sila maaagrabyado sa sakuna, e malalagay din naman sa kapahamakan ang kanilang mga kalusugan.

May mga batang nagkaroling sa labas ng aming bahay ngayong Linggo lamang. Kasama nila sa pagkanta ang magkakapatid na galing pa ng Tacloban at dito na lamang sa Iloilo tumira kasama ng kanilang tiyahin upang makabangon sa trahedyang dulot ng Yolanda. Sa kanilang tinig, maririnig mo ang tila tagos sa pusong mensahe ng kanilang kanta. Mapapaluha ka. Siyempre, inabot namin ang aming aguinaldo sa kalagitnaan ng kanilang pagkaroling. Sana, iyon ay makatutulong upang ngayong pasko, magkaroon din sila ng simpleng handang pagsasalu-saluhan ng kanilang pamilya.

Sinu-sino pa ang mga taong nagpadama sa amin ng kapaskuhan sa pamamagitan ng musika? Naroon ang mga grupo ng senior citizens. Naroon din ang mga miyembro ng Knights of Columbus. At siyempre, hindi mawawala ang mga batang may mga dumi pa sa mukha habang kinakanta o di naman kaya'y sinisigaw ang kanilang mga handang karoling. Kahit na hindi nila memoryado ang lyrics ng kanilang kinakanta ay hindi nila ito alintana. Masisilayan mo ang matatamis nilang mga ngiti habang tinatanggap nila ang munti naming aguinaldo.

Siguro, kung walang may nagkakaroling, maaaring madarama mo rin na parang hindi kompleto ang Christmas. Nasanay na kasi tayo sa tradisyong ito. Pero higit kailanman, ang pinaka-importanteng bagay na tatandaan tuwing kapaskuhan ay ang kaarawan ni Hesus. Sa araw kasing ito, tayo ay pinaaalalahanang magmahalan lagi at iwan na ang mga galit at hapis ng nakaraan. Tayo ay kumanta na lang sa himig na nagbibigay ligaya kay Hesus na siyang nagmamahal sa atin nang labis labis.

Newfound Friendship Over Songs and Pizza

Once, I was at a karaoke house/pizza restaurant in Makati together with my uncle. Boy, how he really loved singing. We needed to write about four songs on a piece of paper then give it to the waiter for him to process the songs in the videoke machine. We had to wait for our turn for the microphone since there were still other customers who were passionately singing at the top of their lungs.

When I saw my song of choice appeared on the machine's screen, they handed to me the microphone and so I began singing. I hope my voice wasn't bad since many could hear it. I think the resto was called Pizza Avenue. They really had a good-tasting pizza. You could have the regular one in four slices for Php 110. Not bad since the pie was loaded with ground beef, cheese, and mushrooms.

After I sang, it was my uncle's turn. Of course, he chose Tagalog and Visayan songs which he really belted out with  emotions. Then, a guy from the table in front of us walked his way towards us. He sat on a free chair by our table and started chatting with my uncle. He said that that he was surprised upon hearing my tito singing a Visayan song since he was also a Bisaya. He hailed from Negros and flew here in Manila to work. This guy, in his thirties, also had an awesome singing voice since he could reach very high notes. He could even play with his voice in different tones and style. And he's just friendly.

I realized that in just a short time, you could be friends with someone whom you don't personally know. This is because you can find something similar with this person, may it be culture or religion or just hobbies. My uncle and I went home almost past 12 am and boy, I had a lot of fun singing and munching pizza.

Away From Christmas

Christmas away from family is sad yet it is also the moment you realize how much you love and cherish them. It's the distance apart from them that makes you want to embrace them tightly and give them sweet kisses on the cheeks. It dawns on you how much you miss them and that there is indeed no place like home.

People tend to travel and find places they've never been to. It's because maybe, they wanted a different environment and experience new culture away from the comforts of their homes. They are also curious if they can see growth in them from other unfamiliar geographic locations. They are interested to learn new perspectives in life and see if they can get something significant from them. This may be hard since they decide to leave home where they grew up in. No mother will prepare his breakfast. No maid will wash her clothes. No one will clean his dishes and so on and so forth. They want to have a taste of independence in a different setting where they can sense fresh and new things.

Now that it's Christmas time, the longing of wanting to be with family heightens. Tears may fall from your eyes, reminiscing how happy and joyful it was to be with your loved ones. However, we can't deny the fact that someday, we may not see home amidst the jingles and parties happening around. All we can do is open our communication with them during this special day of Christ's birth. Through calling or greeting them is just one way of making you feel that distance from them can be as close as it can be.

The Mouse Wins

Whenever I hear the cat purr fiercely, I know it is up to something. It may have seen its prey- the agile mouse who runs to and fro the corners of our house. The mouse may be busy searching for its food right in the kitchen's vicinity yet it is clueless that the end of its life is just a minute away.

However, hearing the hungry grunt of the cat, the mouse will nervously hide to protect itself. It will do anything to guard its precious life from the claws of the wide-eyed cat patiently waiting for the right timing of attack. But then, the cat will grow weary of capturing the mouse who has been out of the former's sight for a long time. And the mouse will thankfully sigh since it has once again survived a day from its vicious enemy.

This isn't your typical Tom and Jerry story. Here, the mouse knew that it has no power to subdue the cat so it stayed in a safe corner where the cat couldn't reach it. Yes, the mouse was scared but it didn't also become so aggressive, assured, and proud that it could beat the cat. Its technique instead was to let the cat go tired of waiting until the purring animal gave up.

A Simple Travel

I want to travel. However, I'm not that rich to transport myself to some faraway land unknown to me. Yes, I dream of going to a tropical island surrounded with lush trees and carefree birds flying around. Or in Brazil and take a picture of me with the popular statue at Rio de Janiero as background. Or in Indonesia and experience the relaxing and invigorating ambiance of one-of-a-kind spas in Bali.

But hey, reality check please. I'm just a simple guy in the Philippines who can't afford such above-mentioned luxuries. I just go to places where circumstances of daily life lead me. May it be in the busy streets of our town or in the nearest beach that costs me a 10-peso entrance fee.  I just bike all the way to our neighboring municipalities and see the new things they offer my senses. There may be no big difference. Kiosks, a plaza, a church, and a city hall. Yet you'll be refreshed on the peculiar way they speak our vernacular. People there have similar language as ours yet the tone on how they enunciate it differ much.

Yes, traveling must not that expensive. People should just live by their means. To have a fun-filled getaway, there is no need to spend much because we can find brand new knowledge from the localities where we live. As long as we treasure every simple ride or walk to a fresh environment we've never been to, it makes us feel that we don't need many stamps in our passports just to gain wisdom through traveling. Appreciating what  our places can offer makes us proud and contented on the lanes, corners, and streets that we trudge on. Along with the various, interesting people it contains and the truth we get from them, indeed, there's no need for a plane or ship to learn more about life.

Singing is a Good Therapy

I love singing. When I sing, I feel like I'm pouring out all the baggage inside me. Through the emotions hymned by the message of the song, It seems as though I feel lighter.

A song, indeed, is more than just a song. It can save you from a bad incident that happened in your life at a certain moment. It can make you smile amidst the dilemma you're in right now.

In a song, the lyrics, tone, and beat harmonize together, resulting in a musical piece that may represent  the kind of situation you're dealing with right now. You can relate to it. It's as if singing that particular song gives you the voice to express your innermost feelings.

When I feel lost, down, or absurd, I sing. It is a medicine that automatically heals the pains life may bring. It's up to you what genre of music you like to listen to and it doesn't matter whether you are out of tune or not. As long as it'll raise your endorphins (your happy hormones) up, then go. We all deserve to smile.

Going for Your Passions

We have lots of passions burning within us. As much as possible, we try to express them because for sharing them to others makes us feel alive or makes us feel we exist. However, many of us struggle to bring out the best in us. Maybe because of fear, rejection, and uncertainty. These negative facts of life hold us back, preventing us to reach the dreams we keep in our hearts. Other external hindrances such as lack of money, sickness, and absence of family support can be factors that will try to stop us from aiming towards our goals.

But for me,  I still believe in the fact that if you follow what your heart beats for and nurture that dream inside you, you'll be able to topple down all the stumbling blocks that will pass your way. Many successful people nowadays had fallen down a lot of times just to get to where they are today. They didn't give up. They didn't trash away their dream. They believed in themselves when no one else did. All the sacrifices were surely worth it. 

Go for your dreams. There are many ways, directions, or routes to get there. Trust that someday, you'll get there. No one said it would be easy but then again, it's up to us if we are courageous enough to achieve our visions.

Burned yet Shining

You know you're disoriented when you forget a lot of things such as leaving a cousin's umbrella in an internet station or worse, discovering that your cellphone was snatched from your backpack after passing a crowded  sidewalk. This happened to me. Talk about signs of aging.

Maybe I wasn't just alert or aware of my surroundings in a certain place at a certain time. This has been me. But I've learned this lesson a long long time ago and I've moved on, believing that I would not make the mistake of being absent-minded or forgetful again. But I was wrong. It haunts me every now and then.

Mistakes happen. Yes, we learn from them but eventually, they will pop out any moment we are breathing. But instead of regretting, or cursing this unfair world, we have to bravely face them. Mistakes, as they say, teach us to become stronger individuals. At first, they may burn us. But like an armor, it should pass through fire in order for it to become sharp and yes, for it to shine.

I know I'm not perfect. But here I am, trying to become the better me every single day. I cannot please everyone else but I'm struggling to figure out what I can offer this world to make it a better place. I realized I shouldn't be too hard on myself for I have the faith that God will help me accomplish my dreams and be the person He wants me to be.

The A"maze"ing Life

There will always be this feeling of emptiness, loneliness, and helplessness. When will this forlorn emotion die? Life will give us a lot of options, but our minds couldn’t decide on what choice to make. We would oftentimes get stuck in a world wrapped in confusion. Then, in that sudden moment, we begin to break down and cry our hearts out.

We have experienced such time when we have almost exhausted all our energies into something yet in the end, we are still bound to give them up. Yes, after that last-minute decision of letting go something we ultimately value or we hold close into our hearts, we start to regret. Maybe we chose the wrong path for ourselves. But instead of drowning in depression, we resolve to smile, remain happy, and believe that something good might come our way.

It is our faith that levers us up amidst the uncertainties that we face. It is our will to survive and the determination to reach our dreams that keep us going. It is our ability to love unconditionally that gives spark to our existence. We lift everything up to the One who created us.

In a world where there are many influences, it could be hard to reach that point of individual uniqueness. Some become puppets to the ones who aren’t pretty contented and happy with their own lives. They want others to carry a life as pathetic as theirs. Unfortunate but true. It’s up to those puppets to stand up to their own rights and eventually be the best that they can potentially be.

Indeed, life is such a crazy maze. We may not know what direction to trek into but pray, and hope, that in time, we would be able to find the right way and finish victorious in the end.

Step On

Real life sucks but you don't have any choice but to embrace all its quirks and inconveniences. Outside the four walls of school, a jungle of scary events await you. If you're not brave and determined enough to face them, then you may be doomed.

Societal expectations will push you to become who you want or wouldn't want yourself to be. You will be forced to excel and move beyond your limits even if this entails sacrificing your own enjoyment or forgetting yourself in order to put up to the wishes of others. Then, you ask yourself, "Why are all these troubles happening to me?" "I've done almost everything to reach my dreams yet unexpected circumstances have hindered me in achieving my real potentials".

When things seem down, you begin to doubt all your skills and abilities. You start to question if you're really a good decision maker or if you've figured out the correct plans in your life. Well, when the worse happens, you try to comfort yourself by saying, "That's life!" You realize that you couldn't just halt your life after being squashed, burned, or trampled by a major problem. Time clicks away and you should and must move on.

You have to continue growing. It is in not stopping that you will notice positive changes within you. You will start noticing improvements in the various aspects of your life.

When everything looks stagnant, get out of your bed and continue learning. Read more books. Review more movies. Cook new recipes. Write letters. Bond with friends and family. Apply for jobs. Learn new hobbies. Exercise. Save money. Share. Be good. Pray. Clean your house. With all these little steps, you know you're educating yourself to become a better individual.

In life, there may be many quandaries that could shut down your system if you allow them to. But if you are strong-willed, enthusiastic, and positive, no one can take that smile off your face. You may not understand the world you're living in now. Or perhaps, you may not understand yourself. In the end, it is about choosing what you value the most and in the process, believing that God is pleased with what you are doing.

Finally Home

          Had you ever experienced waiting so long for your flight, doing just about anything at the departure area such as play Angry Birds on your laptop or type nonsensically on your cellphone, then suddenly, the airport personnel would inform you that your trip was cancelled? I had. Just my perfect definition of what they call “epic fail”.

          I was with my college friend, Charlene, whom I  just unexpectedly spotted sitting on a chair a couple inches across from mine. At first, I thought my eyes were only blurry. Maybe, she was just another stranger who looked like my leader in our college thesis project. When I called her name, she stood up with such surprise and we tried so hard for our shrieks to be mellowed down. I came over to chat with her. Oh, how I missed our out-of-this-world, crazy talks!

          She had been waiting here longer than I was. She was very much excited to meet her loved ones who had prepared something for her arrival after 11 months of missionary work abroad. Maybe food and tight hugs. Her best friends and boyfriend had been calling and texting her almost every minute. She told them that she would pass by a store to buy some additional food for the simple celebration back in her home.  

          How about me? Of course, I’m excited to go home too. Honestly, I missed home and I missed my dog, Chubby. It was quite a learning experience travelling in Manila. I didn’t plan to meet a lot of my relatives but I luckily had. I had met and cuddled their own huggable puppies too. I had tasted a lot of food that offered something incredibly new to my almost bored palate. I even tasted a cheap halo-halo with a leche flan on top from my tita’s  humble neighborhood. 

          Of course, my feet wearily trudged the streets of Quiapo, Divisoria, and Baclaran, thinking at the back of my mind that with clothes this cheap, how come there were still some who go naked on streets? I had been from Las Piñas to Bulacan with my sweat damping the butt of my shorts and the back of my shirt every time my cousins and I would rush to get into another jeepney, bus, or trike under the unforgiving sun.  I even thought I had been to all SM branches already in our desperation to cool ourselves down. Funny, but I would surely miss such unforgettable and one-of-a-kind experience.  Yet after a month of adventure, Iloilo was still waiting for me, for no matter where life and the wind would lead me, She would always be remembered.

         “The flight going to Iloilo is cancelled”, the crew of NAIA 3 said. “There are no lights in Iloilo Airport right now. It would be dangerous for the plane to land there”, he added. We were told to either rebook our flight or refund our payments for the tickets. 

          As expected, many of the passengers, including us, surrounded the crew, asking for clarity or if contingency measures would be available immediately so we could go home now and embrace our relatives who had been longing for our arrival. Some even shouted at the top of their lungs as they tried to squeeze out a reasonable explanation from the crew. A guy in his 50’s burst out in exasperation because he had a conference to attend. A father was infuriated because his family didn’t anymore have a hotel to stay in. And Charlene, after arriving late on her original flight and after paying 1,500 php to book the next schedule which happened to be my trip, had her shoulders dropped in dismay. She was expecting that she could finally meet her loved ones but here she was, trying to grasp the rationale behind why her trip home couldn’t smoothly push through.

          It was already night-time. We decided to rebook our flight, procuring a 10 am schedule for the next day. Some passengers took the 4 am flight, preferring to spend the night at the airport than cash out for another hotel or for fares that would take them back to the places they stayed in.

          I called my uncle and asked if my friend could come with me at their house since her place was really far from the city. He agreed, so we took a cab on the way to my uncle’s residence where we rested and waited for another day to pass by.  Charlene was thankful because despite the unexpected and unfathomable circumstances, God had found a way for her to stay safe and to bond with a friend she had not met for a long time.

          We heard in the news that the airport’s plant back in Iloilo was hit by a fire due to a short circuit, creating a power outage. This froze the whole operation of the airport, cancelling all the flights going to and from the province.

          I realized that such a crisis could not only hinder the passengers from flying to their respective destinations but it could also put a halt to various important personal and business transactions, resulting to certain losses of investment, may it be money or time.

          Alarmed upon hearing the crippling predicament, the local government instinctively thought of solutions to address such problem. Indeed, what had happened would serve as a great lesson to the province.  The officials should be ready at all times in preparing contingency measures that would prevent the incident to occur again in the future. Indeed, thinking of what might come when a particular dilemma transpires and finding ways to combat it is a critical intervention every organization must not overlook.

          Early morning the next day, Charlene and I prepared ourselves and our baggages for the flight. We thanked my tito and tita for amicably accommodating us. Yesterday had been a rough day but now, the morning was gleaming at us and I knew everything would be okay.

         Obviously, Charlene couldn’t hide her excitement as we entered the plane. It was true that we could definitely reach our destination if our hearts courageously go for it despite the barriers along the way.

        “This is it”, she uttered.  Yes, we may go to different places in the near future but let’s admit it, nothing feels like home.

Remembering Christ's Agony

"Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again."
         The mass ended at 5 pm of Good Friday but the residents of the barangays that belong to our parish didn't go directly to their respective homes. Instead, they crammed at the back of their assigned karos (floats carrying holy life-size sculptures of our Lord Jesus Christ, Mother Mary, and the saints who significantly took part in our Savior's sufferings).
          The band began to play, signifying the start of the procession. The participants of the solemn walk started to light their candles and got hold of their rosaries. As their feet began to trudge on the rough road, their lips also started to utter the holy mysteries.
          The surrounding was already dimming and the full moon brightly glowed in the black sky. The karos lit up for the images to be visible. Those who didn't come in the procession placed their sparkling candles at the foot of their gates as they mourned with Christ's death. Two hours had already passed and the people continued to amble, not minding their already weary feet.
          As the night went deeper, the radiating karos  became more apparent, sending a meditative ambiance. There was St. Peter and St. John in their silky metallic robes, Mary Magdalene clutching an oil and a hanky, St. Veronica spreading the cloth showing Christ's face, St. Elizabeth holding a broom, and there was St. Martha as well. Maria Dolorosa, being the last to be moved forward in the procession, was in her black dress.
          The different scupltures that symbolized Christ's agony also paraded: Christ kneeling down, praying by the Garden of Gethsemane; Christ being scourged in the pillar; The crucified Christ; The Pieta; and Jesus lying in His sweet-smelling casket.
          As the procession came to an end, the karos, embellished with various colorful flowers and shrubs, were blessed with holy water. People then fell in an almost infinite line to kiss the human-size carving of Christ who has died.
          This whole sanctified practice of Catholics is necessary for us to remember how the Redeemer sacrificed His life to save us from our sins, thus telling people to repent their iniquities and strengthen their faith to our God Almighty.
          The Holy Week is the moment where we reflect on the lives we are leading, trashing away the wicked actions we are accustomed to and replacing them with ways that are pleasing to God's eyes.

Soft Drink Obsession

          I hate it! I had been drinking soft drinks straight for two weeks and I know what my mother and other folks say about gulping too much carbonated drinks. It's either you'll get fat, acidic, or procure some kidney problems. 
          For my part, I experience minor headaches when I frequent such coolers but of course, I don't have any scientific explanation to prove that. All I believe is that too much of something  is bad enough. And sadly, that's what I'd been doing.
          I want to stop, but the moment I'm in our store, I can't help but grab a bottle or two. Maybe, I'm getting addicted to it. They contain amounts of caffeine anyway, which are some kind of addictive. It's as if these chilled refreshers are the only way for my thirst to subside.
          The summer sun allures me to even chug some more. So now, I'm promising myself to get hydrated not by soft drinks, but by water. I don't want to abuse my kidneys and grow old sick. It's okay to drink sodas from time to time; In parties perhaps, or in meryenda time with the barkada whom we don't see often. My rule is to take it moderately. I guess the same rule is true for the other aspects of our life.
          My siesta time may be incomplete without a bottle of soft drink, but how about training myself to love water a bit more. It's a natural cleanser and even gives me a nice skin. I don't even have to buy it.

Weird Stuff

          There are many weird things that I did this week. I don't know why I did those things. Maybe, they were just results of burning creative desires starting to flame like an active volcano.
          First, my little cousin and I cooked pancakes that turned out to be like "tikoy" (a Chinese delicacy) because we didn't include baking soda to the flour and egg (or am i correct with this recipe?). The pancakes turned out to be so shiny and sticky and as far as I'm concerned, they should be dry and fluffy.
          Second, My brother and I perspired to the hip-hop abs instructional video that my sister downloaded. My lola thought we were jerks as we danced like hyperactive chickens in our sala. My sister even filmed us with the digital camera and we all laughed as we played it because we saw how awkward we did the steps.
          Third, I would spend half of the day exhausting my vocal chords on the karaoke songs in my laptop. I just love I'm Yours by Jason Mraz and Heaven by Bryan Adams. I just hope my neighbors were not irritated with my crazy singing.
           Lastly, I was proud of myself for cleaning my room after how many decades (Of course, I'm exaggerating!) but yes, sometimes it's weird of me to fix my pad (pad talaga?). At least, it's starting to sink in me that to have a clear, peaceful mind, I should also learn to organize my room and that goes with our environment too. We have to take care of our surroundings so that we, the people benefiting from it, will benefit more.
            Weird is cool!

Gutom na Doggie

          Gabi na ako nakaalis sa isang get together kasama ng aking mga kabarkada sa kolehiyo. Pagkatapos naming pinagsaluhan ang manok, back ribs, at tsaka ice cream sa isang mahaba at masayang kwentuhan ay nagsiuwian din kami.
          Malapit nang mag alas onse at wala na ni isang traysikel ang pumapasada. Ayaw namang pakiusapan ng ibang drayber na ihatid ako sa aming bahay dahil iba raw ang kanilang rota. Kaya, heto ako, parang nanglilimos sa isang kanto sa madilim na gabi.
          At ang kasama ko lamang ay ang isang asong tila gutom na gutom. Mabilis niyang hinahalukay ang basurahang wari'y ilulublob niya na ang kanyang buong katawan dito. Buong araw yatang hindi nakakain ang askal na ito. Kawawa naman siya. Saan kaya ang amo niya? Tingnan niyo na lang ang susunod na mga larawan.

          Napaisip ako. Bilang tao, nakakakain ako ng tatlong beses sa isang araw ngunit ang askal na ito, tila nagsusumamong may matatagpuang pagkain na ipanlalaman sa tiyan. Ako nga na hindi madalas nalilipasan ng gutom ay nagrereklamo pa sa mundo kung ba't hindi ang "favorite" ko ang nasa hapag kainan, paano na lang ang ibang mga nilalang na kahit sa paglubog ng araw ay hanap-hanap pa rin ang ipangsisilid sa sikmura?
          Maswerte ako. Dapat ko yan ipagpasalamat. Kung maririnig ko man ang sarili kong nagrereklamo dahil hindi ko paborito ang ulam na nakahanda, dapat ko lang tandaan agad ang mga nagugutom tulad ng askal na ito na halos ilublob na ang sarili sa basurahan para lang maituwid ang gutom.

Changes I See in My Trike Rides

              So the first week of August was really a wet and damp week, huh? I mean, I went to and fro the hospital I’m volunteering in with white shoes splattered in mud and slacks stained with dirt no matter how careful I was to avoid the merciless speeding vehicles whose wheels splash groundwater as it came past me.

            Well, I must say I’m presently more tolerable towards the above situation because maybe, my system has become used to it. Ever since I was in elementary, I have been riding the tricycle that pass a bumpy, unpaved road, causing you to hit your head on its steel many times - and nothing is worst than raining hard when you get home poorly soaked from head to foot.

            Yes, although I’m clamoring about this, I still find riding these down-to-earth three-wheelers fun. I loved sitting on its roof, feeling the cool breeze that brushes through my face. However, there are times that I just wanted to sit on its either soft or rock-hard chairs just to prevent the burning heat of the sun. But since I’m a guy, I need to give way to the girls and the oldies as well.

            Like what I’ve expressed, I’m still amused by commuting in tricycles. You get to see inevitable changes unfold right in front your very eyes. Although it is a rural scenery while traveling along our place, one may notice that wide rice fields are now turning into expansive housing subdivisions. The kantos and kalyes I came familiar with in my day to day ride are giving birth to computer shops, big sari-sari stores, apparel shops, batchoyan, and refilling stations. Barangay chapels are renovated and made more beautiful for the dwellers. Small, kawayan houses turn into concrete ones. Trisikads and tricycles doubled in population, reflecting the increase of residents in our area. Companies arise such as the ice plant and the factory that dresses chicken, providing jobs to the residents.

            Nevertheless, some things remained unaltered. You still get to see a hardworking person in his trisikad who buys scraps in the neighborhood and a man vending in his bicycle a load of chicharon, hoping someone will buy. There is also a guy patiently carrying on his back a furniture which he eagerly sells from house to house.  A mother entices you to eat her freshly prepared bitso-bitso, pancakes, aripahol, and banana cue just to have something to give for her children she sends to school in the nearby public school.

            Good thing, there are still rice fields that relax your tired eyes with its green, refreshing view. I’m glad that trees giving off clean, cool air remain standing in its roots. I smiled on that one time I saw a blue bird swiftly fly past our backyard. I smiled for its existence. I adore the sight of colorful, graceful butterflies hovering on flowers that embellish the streets.

            Like what I’ve said, eversince I was a kid accompanied by my tita or mom in these tricycle rides, our road has been rough and rocky and unpaved. Now that I am commuting on my own, it is still is. I am yet uncertain of the time where residents would experience a smooth ride without having to worry about the mud spattering on their clothes. For now, I’ll continue to enjoy this bouncy and jerky journey and be mesmerized with the amazing changes occurring in the corners of the streets I have been acquainted to as time flies by.

Iimbitahan ko si Lolo Mag-Videoke

         Isang araw, dinala namin ang aming lolo sa St. Paul’s Hospital Iloilo dahil nananakit daw ang kanyang likuran at ubo siya nang ubo. Doon nalaman na may tubig daw ang kanyang baga. Nariyan daw sa 700 ml ang nakuha mula sa nagtitiis niyang baga.

          Buti  na lang at malinis, malapad, at maaliwalas ang silid na aming tinuluyan sa ospital. Mukhang bagong pintura ang mga pader nito at kumpleto naman ito sa kagamitan. Feeling ko nag-hotel lang si lolo. Buti na lang may philhealth at senior citizen card siya kaya’t menos gastos.

          Nagbantay ako buong umaga pero nang dumating na ang aking pinsan, umalis din naman ako para makipagkita sa mga kaibigang sina Ciong at Jo sa Atrium Mall. Dumiretso na lang kami sa SM City para magkwentuhan at mag-bonding upang hindi naman masayang ang madalang naming pagkikita. Kasama rin nila si Lynn na ngayon ko lang mismo nakilala.

          Ang plano namin noong araw na iyon ay mag-videoke kaya’t pumunta kami sa Quantum. Kaya lang maraming mga estudyante at iba pang mga kustomer na pumupuno ng mga videoke rooms kaya’t habang wala pang bakante ay inabala na lang namin ang mga sarili sa mga laro gaya ng basketbol, karera ng sasakyan, hockey, at baril-barilan kung saan parang titirahin mo yung maliliit na aliens na lumilipad. Hindi namin namalayan, marami na palang nakatapos magkaraoke at naunahan na kami ng ibang mga kustomer.

   

   Dumiretso na lang kami sa Bibo pero puno rin. Nagulat lang kami kung ba’t ang daming tao ang nakalibot sa entabladong nakatayo malapit saToy Kingdom . Dumating pala ang mahusay na mang-aawit na si Sarah Geronimo. Simple lang ang kanyang kagandahan at hindi nakakasawa. Parang hindi na siya kumanta at nag-plug lang ng konsyerto niya na gaganapin sa Central Philippine University sa susunod na araw.

           Bago namin makalimutan ang plano namin sa araw na iyon, bumalik kami sa Bibo at nagbabasakaling may bakanteng silid para sa karaoke. Salamat sa Diyos at mayroon nga! Sabik talaga kaming kumanta at the top of our lungs. Kahit hindi abot ang mga nota ay hataw pa rin kami sa pagbirit. Ang finale song namin ay ang “Survivor” ng Destiny’s Child. Ang saya saya lang!

       
         Anong aral ang natutunan ko sa araw na ito? Kung may gusto kang isang bagay na nais mong makamtan, babalik-balikan mo ito bitbit ang pag-asa na may ilalaan para sa iyo. Gaya ng kwento ko, plano talaga namin ang mag-sing-along. Hindi namin natupad ito kapag nawalan kami ng pag-asa na makakanta dahil puno lagi ang mga silid para sa videoke. Kung huminto kami sa paghintay o sa paghanap ng maaaring pagkantahan, eh di siguro nag-malling na lang kami at tumingin-tingin lang sa mga mamahaling mga bagay sa mga pamilihan, hindi ba? Inaasahan din na mahaba ang iyong pasensya habang unti-unti mong inaabot ang iyong mga ninanais. Sa pagbalik ko sa ospital, kinakailangan ko talaga ang asal na ito kasi magiging abala ako sa pagbili ng mga gamot at pagbayad ng mga bayarin. Kapag lumabas na si lolo sa ospital, iimbitahan ko talaga siyang mag-videoke.
          Kaya’t huwag mawalan ng pag-asa at habaan pa ang pasensya. Kung gugustuhin, may mararating.

Polvoron, Si Levin, at Ang Ibong Binabalanse

            Isang araw, tumambay ako sa bahay namin sa city at doon ay chumika ako sa aking pinsan na gumagawa ng matamis at nakakaganang polvoron. Binebenta niya ito ng php 1.25 kada piraso. Marami namang bumibili dahil dinadaanan ang kanyang tindahan ng mga estudyante mula sa malapit na unibersidad. Natatandaan ko pa noong bata ako, bumibili ako ng polvoron at sinisipsip ito mula sa kasama nitong maliit na straw.

           Habang patuloy na naghuhulma ang aking pinsan ng mga bilog na polvoron at binabalot ito sa cellophane, nilalaro ko naman ang kanilang alagang asong si Levin na crossbreed ng shih tzu at Japanese spinx. Napaka-cute naman siyang pagmasadan sa kanyang t-shirt at gusgusing mukha. Parang laruang doggie lang siya na madalas kong matagpuan sa mga toy stores. Tahimik niyang pinagmamasdan ang mga dumaraan na mga tao at mga pumapasadang bisikleta sa eskinita na tila naghahanap ng kalaro.

Si Levin ay naaantok.

Si Levin ay pa-shy effect.

Si Levin ay seductive.

Si Levin ay dedma sa akin.

           Tapos, dahil hindi pa kami close ni Levin kasi parang kumakahol pa siya sa akin sa tuwing nasisilayan niya ako, pumunta na lang ako sa kwarto at pinaglaruan ang parang porselanang ibong naka-display sa shelf. Wala lang, nasasayahan lang akong ilagay ang “beak” nito sa akin daliri na kahit anong gawing galaw ng aking kamay ay hindi pa rin ito nalalaglag.

Ang buhay ay dapat balanse lang.

           Tulad ng ibon na ito, kailangan din natin ng balanse sa buhay- may panahon para sa pagtatrabaho (gaya ng pagtitinda ng polvoron )at may oras din para sa mga kasiyahan sa pang-araw-araw (gaya ng paglalaro kasama ng pet dog mo). Gaya nga ng sabi nila, nakakasama rin ang sobra. Kapag trabaho ka nang trabaho, maaaring magkakasakit ka dahil sa pagod at magtatampo rin ang mga kamag-anak mo dahil parang nawawalan ka na ng oras sa kanila. Kapag sobra naman ang kasiyahan, maaaring makakaligtaan mo rin ang mga importanteng mga responsibilidad sa iyong buhay.

           Sa araw na ito, natutunan ko ang kahalagahan ng “balance” para nang sa ganoon, sakto lang ang enerhiyang ginugugol natin sa lahat ng aspeto ng buhay— mapa-pag-ibig, mapa -pinansyal, o mapa-pamilya man ito.

May Paniki sa Aking Kwarto

          Kagabi, natulog ako sa sala namin. Kasi naman, noong pumunta ako sa aking kwarto, bumulagta sa akin ang isang paniki na sinlaki ng maliit na bote ng mineral water. Nariyan siya sa aking kama, nagsusumikap lumipad nang mataas upang makalabas sa aking bintana.

          Ngunit hirap itong angatin ang sarili at mukhang may sugat pa ang kanyang pakpak na sa aking tanto, siyang dahilan kung ba’t nahulog ito sa aking bintanang kahoy na malalaki ang mga puwang.  Ang paniki ay medyo mataba at kulay dark orange ang kanyang balat. Nakakatakot pa rin itong tingnan kahit mas natatakot ako sa paniking kulay itim. Ang makitang ito’y palundag-lundag sa aking kama ay sapat na upang tumindig ang aking balahibo.

           Kaya’t pumunta ako agad-agad sa sala upang ibalita ang aking nakita sa mga kapamilya kong nanonood ng teleserye. Sumigaw ako, “May kulunatnit!!!  May kulunatnit sa aking kwarto!!!”.  Nanlaki ang mga mata ng aking mga pinsan, lolo’t lola, magulang, at  ng nakatatandang kapatid ko na lalaki maliban lang sa aking nakababatang kapatid na babae. Tanong niya, “Ano ang kulunatnit???”. Siyempre nag-korus ang lahat na sagutin siya, “Ede paniki!!! Ayteh!!!” (Ang kulunatnit ay ang Hiligaynon o Ilonggong salita ng paniki.).

          Tinawag ko ang kanilang atensyon dahil nais kong tulungan nila akong palabasin ang mamal na ito sa aking kwarto. Siyempre, gusto ko nang matulog nang mahimbing pero paano naman mangyayari iyon kung may umaaligid na hayop na mabalahibo at lumilipad-lipad?

          Nang bumalik ako sa kwarto kasama ng aking mga pinsan, namataan ng pinsan kong babae na mabilis itong pumasok sa ilalim ng matres. Siguro natakot ito sa ilaw kaya’t naghanap ng matataguan na sindilim ng kuweba. Tiningnan namin ang ilalim ng higaan pero hindi namin mahanap ang maliksing nilalang na ito. Pinalabas na namin ang ibang gamit  na nakatago sa baba ng higaan pero hindi ko pa rin masilayan kahit dulo ng pakpak nito. “Grabe, ang bilis naman magtago ang paniking iyon!!!”, sambit ng pinsan kong babae. “Tara, kunin natin lahat ng gamit upang ito’y mapalabas.”

Parang ganito ang itsura ng paniking nakita ko. Ang tawag dito ay Philippine Dwarf Fruit bat.  Picture by:   

                                              http://www.fmnh.org/vanishing_treasures/V_FruitBat.htm

          Pero sabi ko, “Hayaan na lang natin muna siyang magtago.” Sa isip ko, siguro’y makalalabas din siya ng kwarto sa kanyang sariling pagsisikap. Iniisip ko na aabangan niya ang pagkakataong patay ang ilaw at siya’y pupuslit palabas ng aking silid o di kaya'y nakalabas na siya nang hindi namin namamalayan.

          Wala akong choice kung hindi matulog sa sala at magpakasasa sa lamok na pinipiyestahan ang aking paa kahit balot na ito ng kumot. Ayoko namang pag-gising ko, katabi ko na ang paniki at tinititigan ako ng kanyang nanlilisik na mga mata. Di bale, hahanap ako ng oras na mag-general cleaning sa aking silid at sana, hindi ako nagkamali sa aking hinala. Sana’y nakapuslit siya sa gabing madilim habang ako’y natutulog sa sala.

MGA KWENTONG ULAN

         Malamig ang gabi ngayon kasi umuulan at medyo malakas ang hangin. Kaya lang, papalapit na naman ang mga nakakapinsalang mga bagyo. Ngunit hayaan muna natin ang mga Chedeng, Frank, Ondoy, at kung anu-ano pang mga bagyo at ramdamin na lamang ang lamig at nakaka-relax na tipo ng panahon na gaya ngayon- umuulan-ulan lamang at hindi nakakalipad ng pader ang ihip ng hangin. Sakto lang. Kaya nga gustong-gusto ko nang matulog ngayon.

          Nasasayahan ako kapag umuulan at nariyan lang ako sa bahay at nakapalupot sa aking katawan ang malambot na kumot. O ‘di kaya titimpla ako ng mainit na tsokolate o kape na tila pinapaganda ang daloy ng dugo sa aking kaugatan. Minsan naman, bubuksan ko ang bintana at pagmamasdan ang tila maliliit na talong umaagos mula sa kisame ng bahay.

          Noong musmos pa lamang ako ay sabik akong maglaro sa ilalim ng ulan kasama ng aking mga kapatid, pinsan, at mga kaibigan. Pupunta kami sa poso sa likuran ng aming bahay kung saan masaya naming binubuhusan ang bawat isa ng naiipong tubig sa balde. Tapos, tatakbo kami patungo sa kalsada at maghahabulan. Hindi namin alintana ang mga taong nagsisitinginan sa amin habang sakay sila ng kanilang mga sasakyang nagsisidaan sa kalye. Tinatampisaw namin ang aming mga paa sa kumukolektang tubig sa lupa. Noon, akala ko, kapag umuulan ay humihikbi ang Diyos mula sa kalangitan. Ngayon, medyo naniniwala pa rin ako rito.

          Makailang ulit din akong  umuwi sa bahay mula sa paaralan na basang-basa ang uniporme. Minsan kasi, umaangkas ako sa traysikel at kapag bumuhos ang ulan nang wala ni anumang hudyat, wala ka nang magagawa  kung hindi magpakabasa  hanggang sa makarating sa bahay. Kapag ganito ang nangyayari, niraramdam ko na lang ang ulan na dumadampi sa aking mukha at iniisip ko na noong bata pa ako ay tila walang araw na umuulan na hindi ako lumabas ng bahay upang maligo.

          Ito ang tatlong kwentong ulan na hanggang sa ngayon ay hindi ko malilimutan.

1. Sinamahan ko ang aking tiya na kumuha ng mga pakwan sa isang palayan na malayo sa amin. Habang binabaybay namin ang palayan, biglang umulan nang todo. Nilakad lang namin pauwi dahil walang dumadaang traysikel. Dala-dala namin ang mga mabibigat na pakwan sa aming mga kamay. Ang panangga lang namin sa ulan ay ang mga plastik sa aming mga ulo na dapat sana’y lalagyan namin ng mga pakwan.
2.  Noong hayskul ako, lumabas kami ng aming mga kaibigan noong isang weekend para maghanap ng mga tindahang nagbebenta ng flute para sa aming music class. Nang nakabili na kami, napagdesisyunan naming pumunta sa bahay ng isa naming kaibigan para doon magpahinga at magpraktis ng instrumento. Nang nagbabantay na kami ng sasakyan, biglang umulan nang malakas. Mahirap pa namang makahanap ng jeep noong makulimlim na panahong iyon. Tumawid kami mula sa isang kalye papunta sa iba pang mga kalye na sinisiguro naming hindi kami ganoong mababasa. Tawa nga kami nang tawa habang naglalakad at nagtatakbo patungo sa mga sisilungan. Nakarating din kami sa wakas sa bahay ng aming kaibigan  at doon, hinubad namin ang mga mga sapatos pati na rin ang aming mga basang medyas. At doon, pinatugtog namin ang mga bago naming flute na pinapanalanging hindi madadagdagan ang lakas ng ulan.

At ang finale....

3. Dahil isa akong butihing nursing student noon, maaga pa lang ay nakabihis na ako sa aking duty uniform. Umuulan nang todo noong panahong iyon. Tinext ko ang aking mga ka-dutymates kung merong pasok. Dahil walang reply ay tumuloy na lang ako. Laking gulat ko na wala akong nakitang mga ka-dutymates sa terminal kung saan sasakay kami ng jeep papunta sa isang district hospital. Kapag tumingin ako sa aking paligid, ang mga puno ay parang lilipad sa lakas ng hampas ng hangin sa mga sanga nito. Ang bubong ng terminal ay parang malilipad din. Kinabahan ako.  Doon ko nalaman sa isang drayber na wala raw pasok ang lahat ng paaralan dahil may bagyo.  Hindi na ako umuwi sa bahay dahil parang wala namang sasakyan pauwi kaya’t dumiretso na lamang ako sa bahay namin sa city. Nalaman ko roon na binaha raw ang aming tahanan dahil rumagasa sa aming barangay ang tubig mula sa ilog na nakapalibot dito. Wala namang baha doon sa bahay na tinutuluyan ko kaya’t nagpapasalamat talaga ako sa Panginoon dahil hindi na ako umuwi pa. Kung nakauwi ako, baka naabutan pa ako ng mabagsik na baha at tinangay na ako kung saan-saan.

          Ito ang mga kwentong ulan ko. At sabik akong malaman ang iba pang mga kwentong ulan na maaari kong harapin sa buhay. Humanda nang mabasa!