Friday, August 17, 2018
GOD'S GREATEST GIFT
The Greatest Gift
---------------------
Wish they could see some of the things that I've seen
The miracles of life, being blessed, and the feeling
Living on the edge, almost down and counted out
Set to drown but then saved by unexpected lifeboat
Surely in darkness you feel fear, worry and misery
Unsure of what to do, or how deal with the adversity
Don't curse the darkness, light a candle, kneel and pray
When you feel lost, have faith, God will show the way
What is God's greatest gift ? Life ? - but its a given
God created everything, we got enough time to learn
Life's meaning, what's in our heart and in our mind
The gap we could bridge, the hills we could climb
I guess I kind'a like the sunrise, what it symbolize
Its a brand new start, a total rewind, another chance,
Even if we mess up today, God watch us as we sleep
We could do better tomorrow, for our promises to keep
As sunrise come, it shines for both the good, the bad
Yesterday we did foul, today we atone and then be glad
We could right a wrong, we could even write a new song
New day is God's gift, always a rainbow after every storm
Never got to choose our brothers, our sisters, or our race
Even to whom and where and what life we'll get to face
Rather than wondering why, let's open our heart and mind
There are more gifts for us, within, seek and you shall find
Some are given good voices so they could sing the blues
Some have good hands to create, paint and draw pictures
While others have sharp minds to inspire and some to lead
And some have good bodies, help you shape up and be fit
Each one of us is a good in something, each had an attribute
We have to find the groove so we could add and contribute
We just have find what course to take, to travel which road
Be it rough or be it smooth, and leave a trail after every route
It is never wrong to question, to ask God why we were born
Seek the God who created us, not the god men have adorned
We're but a piece of a puzzle, just a note within a symphony
To leave a mark, a memory, given a role, player in history
*************** ****** *******************
" We don't change God's message ; His message changes us "
Nobody values life more than an old man for you get to see things differently. Memories of the past teaches you that there is no such thing as a "wasted time", "wasted love" or "lost opportunity". Even the things that you thought at first to be negative or wrong have all been a part of you - the sum total of who you are today. The stupid things you did will make you smile while the happy memories usually bring tears in your eyes.
You come to realize that you have been given a lot of gifts. Eyes to see the beauty of the sunrise, sense of smell to know the fragrance
around us, ears to listen to music, sense of touch to feel the world, and sense of taste to satisfy our longings and hunger. And most of all our soul or spirit to keep us in touch of the unseen world and imagination to span unreachable horizons.
Put all this senses together and you have the undefined, unreasonable, unfathomable sensation of being in love, whether it be for someone or for what we do. All given by the God that created us, and the sense of longing and doubt about the other man made gods preached by different religions. The time we have is not enough to answer all our questions but we have enough time to let our spirit free to set out and feel how it is to surrender ourself to the kind of faith that would give us the serenity we need.
As Muhammad Ali put it - " We are all but drops of water in this great world of the universe and we will all soon join the great body of water, the ocean, as we go down. Thus the fate of every soul of men."
Einstein put it in a different way - each man is a genius in his own thing, so never judge a fish for its inability to climb a tree.
As well as Bruce Lee - " We are built differently, with different attributes. Tall and long limbed are good for distance fighting, short and stocky are good for inside fighting, the fat and bulky are built for wrestling, hone your skills according to your gifts, your attributes up to near perfection. And then when you go inside the ring, do not anticipate the outcome of the fight and just allow nature totake its own course."
Our very own Manny Pacquiao explained why aside from boxing he's trying out billard, basketball, singing, politics and even movies - there's a reason why he was given those gifts (skills in boxing) he has time, he has the chance, he believe in taking risks and taking all the shots he could make, until he could do no longer. There is no such thing as losing, only temporary setbacks, so its either you win or you learn.
Thursday, August 16, 2018
MOM'S UNFULFILLED DREAM
I guess it was August when we spoke about 9 years ago
Said she was happy but it was time, time for her to go...
She told me about how good life was, but she was tired
8 years of dialysis, the pain, the bother, said teary eyed
Gotten use to to that kind of talk, thought it but a joke
But after a month she died in her sleep, 'twas a stroke
Dad's heart was broken but glad her pains have ended
Those trying years all doubts and cracks were mended
Mom told me to take care of Dad and lead a new life
Dad is so easy to love so he should find another wife
The years he spent taking care of her even in sickbed
He deserve to be happy with someone who really cared
As fate would have it, only had one unfulfilled dream
She'll never get to see the whole family together again
But its God will each one of us have to live his own life
We've had our time, move on and forget all the strife ...
The fruits really are not meant to go back to its tree
Each one get detached, the to fulfill his own destiny
At least we've had some memories to share, so pray
Love was never lost, time, and soon it will find its way
I feel sad, I feel detached, gotta admit life's like that
Something I learned. and something we've always had,
Dad and I are of the same mold although we're far apart ...
And there are voids to fill in some place inside our heart
Both short fused, easy to anger, damn too impatient
We have to keep our hands busy for time well spent
Sometimes misunderstood and seem distant, uncaring
But deep inside we care, we're that good in pretending
Said she was happy but it was time, time for her to go...
She told me about how good life was, but she was tired
8 years of dialysis, the pain, the bother, said teary eyed
Gotten use to to that kind of talk, thought it but a joke
But after a month she died in her sleep, 'twas a stroke
Dad's heart was broken but glad her pains have ended
Those trying years all doubts and cracks were mended
Mom told me to take care of Dad and lead a new life
Dad is so easy to love so he should find another wife
The years he spent taking care of her even in sickbed
He deserve to be happy with someone who really cared
As fate would have it, only had one unfulfilled dream
She'll never get to see the whole family together again
But its God will each one of us have to live his own life
We've had our time, move on and forget all the strife ...
The fruits really are not meant to go back to its tree
Each one get detached, the to fulfill his own destiny
At least we've had some memories to share, so pray
Love was never lost, time, and soon it will find its way
I feel sad, I feel detached, gotta admit life's like that
Something I learned. and something we've always had,
Dad and I are of the same mold although we're far apart ...
And there are voids to fill in some place inside our heart
Both short fused, easy to anger, damn too impatient
We have to keep our hands busy for time well spent
Sometimes misunderstood and seem distant, uncaring
But deep inside we care, we're that good in pretending
Sunday, August 12, 2018
" BATANG HAMOG PRETENDERS"
Sino ba ang tunay na mga batang hamog ?
Sila ba 'yong mga istambay sa tabi ng kalsada ?
Nagtatawag ng Taxi, nangingikil sa mga pasahero
Naghahari-harian sa parking, akala mo'y mga hero
Kadikit ng mga tanod, runner ng mga pulisya
Tsokoran ng mga guwardiya, kahati sa delihensiya
Kung magkalat sa palibot akala mo ay nasa parang
Pag nasita ng janitor sa basura sila pa ang matapang
Kapag panahon ng eleksiyon sila ang sikat, nilalapitan
Ginagamit na halimbawa, mga simbolo ng kahirapan
Subali't ang kinikita ay higit pa sa mga namamasukan
May yellow card, may PPP, mga tulong ng pamahallan
Subali't sa mata ng marami sila'y mga salot sa lipunan
Kanilang kahirapan ay di totoo at mga kunwari lamang
Masdan mo cellphone ay puro Vivo, Oppo at Samsung
May pambili ng shabu at pang-sugal pagdating ng hapon
Ang Sideline nila ay magnakaw sa gabi sa mga lasenggo
Ang makatulog sa kalye limas ang wallet, alahas at relo
Bugaw ng bakla, prosti, ikinakalakal pati ang mga bata
Na-trip ng mga Pedophile at maniac na mga matatanda
"Spotter" ng mga snatcher, at back-up ng mga hustlers
Pag may mga nanakaw o nai-snatch sila ang mga dealer
Walang pakialam sa kanilang mga anak na puro palaboy
Kahit walang namatay nanghihingi sa tao ng mga abuloy
Totoo nga at di sadyang kasalanan ang pagiging mahirap
Na siyang sinasamantala ng mga pulitiko at mga autoridad
Sila ang "people power" sa mga rally at mga demonstrasyon
Kahati sa mga "loan", mga biyaya na kunwari ay "donation"
Ang mga tunay na mga"batang hamog" ay ang mga palaboy
Na tanging sa "solvent" lunas sa gutom na kanilang inaamoy
Mga "stow-away", ulila at abandonado, o may topak sa ulo
Sila ang dapat na asikasuhin at tulungan ng ating gobyerno
Palaboy na taong-grasa na ating iniiwasan at pinandidirihan
Na ang kinakain ay galing sa tira-tirahan at mga basurahan
Nagbubulag-bulagan ang ating gobyerno pati ang simbahan
Hindi ba sila ang tunay na dapat tingnan at ating tulungan ?
**** An acquaintance of mine asked me to write something about the so called "Batang Hamog" sector of our society. She has devoted a great deal of her time and effort as well as her friends helping them and she requested me to write a piece of how I see them. I really wanted to appease her but I do not want to "play" with her advocacy for although her intentions are good, I feel that she is somewhat misled by these people who makes a living by "pretending to be poor."
Some 22 years ago I set up a little bookstore inside a commercial complex where I have to co-exist with these kind of people. Its a live and let live situation that in order to be left alone by these "street bullies" you also have to play tough and look the other way. I get to share time with them at least 12 to 14 hours a day while my store is open and at least give them the impression that I am not a guy they could mess with so they would not dare to vandalize my store when it is closed. I tried to be friendly with them at first, offering help when someone get sick or "something" but they tend to abuse your kindness. The best way to deal with them I found out later was to confront them - tell them point blank that I do not intend to interfere with their kind of business as long as they don't interfere with mine, and make them feel that messing with me would do them any good.
On the other hand, my acquaintance only get to see them at their best "cooperating time" so I know why she feel sorry for them. But if she could only see the worse part of their days when they bully passengers for "tip" for the taxi-service they offer, as well as how they extort money for the use of parking spaces, I'm sure she'll look somewhere else to offer the kind of help she is giving. I have have seen 3 generations of these kind of people and they just seem to get worse. Seeing them act as "spotters", texting or taking pictures of prospective victims for their snatcher-cohorts, and then selling the stolen stuffs later makes me feel that Thanos was right in his thinking of creating a better society.
I just could not have any form of compassion on people who don't care for their children. Almost all of the "batang hamog" in our area have at least "sold" or in their more subtle way, had their children adopted for some token "assistance. There are a few who chose to sell cigarette and candies to eke out a decent living but as long as they get "easy money" from the share of the loot from the bribes that drivers of illegal terminals, habal-habal, illegal vendors, and act as "runners" for the protection rackets and other illegal activities of people who are suppose to regulate them, they would never change.
The real victims are the pedestrians who have to queue for rides, and pay extra if do not want to be in the long lines of riders. The Taxi-riders who have to pay to get a ride at sometimes on a negotiated fare. The market-goers who have to pay for parking and watch your car "siga-siga". The janitors who gets bullied by these people as well as the security guards who tell them to toe the line. These people get a kick of bullying other people so they could get back the feeling of their "Siga Pride" having been bullied the same by the authorities that uses them. The only language they understand is that "they cannot push people who knows how to push back."
Sila ba 'yong mga istambay sa tabi ng kalsada ?
Nagtatawag ng Taxi, nangingikil sa mga pasahero
Naghahari-harian sa parking, akala mo'y mga hero
Kadikit ng mga tanod, runner ng mga pulisya
Tsokoran ng mga guwardiya, kahati sa delihensiya
Kung magkalat sa palibot akala mo ay nasa parang
Pag nasita ng janitor sa basura sila pa ang matapang
Kapag panahon ng eleksiyon sila ang sikat, nilalapitan
Ginagamit na halimbawa, mga simbolo ng kahirapan
Subali't ang kinikita ay higit pa sa mga namamasukan
May yellow card, may PPP, mga tulong ng pamahallan
Subali't sa mata ng marami sila'y mga salot sa lipunan
Kanilang kahirapan ay di totoo at mga kunwari lamang
Masdan mo cellphone ay puro Vivo, Oppo at Samsung
May pambili ng shabu at pang-sugal pagdating ng hapon
Ang Sideline nila ay magnakaw sa gabi sa mga lasenggo
Ang makatulog sa kalye limas ang wallet, alahas at relo
Bugaw ng bakla, prosti, ikinakalakal pati ang mga bata
Na-trip ng mga Pedophile at maniac na mga matatanda
"Spotter" ng mga snatcher, at back-up ng mga hustlers
Pag may mga nanakaw o nai-snatch sila ang mga dealer
Walang pakialam sa kanilang mga anak na puro palaboy
Kahit walang namatay nanghihingi sa tao ng mga abuloy
Totoo nga at di sadyang kasalanan ang pagiging mahirap
Na siyang sinasamantala ng mga pulitiko at mga autoridad
Sila ang "people power" sa mga rally at mga demonstrasyon
Kahati sa mga "loan", mga biyaya na kunwari ay "donation"
Ang mga tunay na mga"batang hamog" ay ang mga palaboy
Na tanging sa "solvent" lunas sa gutom na kanilang inaamoy
Mga "stow-away", ulila at abandonado, o may topak sa ulo
Sila ang dapat na asikasuhin at tulungan ng ating gobyerno
Palaboy na taong-grasa na ating iniiwasan at pinandidirihan
Na ang kinakain ay galing sa tira-tirahan at mga basurahan
Nagbubulag-bulagan ang ating gobyerno pati ang simbahan
Hindi ba sila ang tunay na dapat tingnan at ating tulungan ?
**** An acquaintance of mine asked me to write something about the so called "Batang Hamog" sector of our society. She has devoted a great deal of her time and effort as well as her friends helping them and she requested me to write a piece of how I see them. I really wanted to appease her but I do not want to "play" with her advocacy for although her intentions are good, I feel that she is somewhat misled by these people who makes a living by "pretending to be poor."
Some 22 years ago I set up a little bookstore inside a commercial complex where I have to co-exist with these kind of people. Its a live and let live situation that in order to be left alone by these "street bullies" you also have to play tough and look the other way. I get to share time with them at least 12 to 14 hours a day while my store is open and at least give them the impression that I am not a guy they could mess with so they would not dare to vandalize my store when it is closed. I tried to be friendly with them at first, offering help when someone get sick or "something" but they tend to abuse your kindness. The best way to deal with them I found out later was to confront them - tell them point blank that I do not intend to interfere with their kind of business as long as they don't interfere with mine, and make them feel that messing with me would do them any good.
On the other hand, my acquaintance only get to see them at their best "cooperating time" so I know why she feel sorry for them. But if she could only see the worse part of their days when they bully passengers for "tip" for the taxi-service they offer, as well as how they extort money for the use of parking spaces, I'm sure she'll look somewhere else to offer the kind of help she is giving. I have have seen 3 generations of these kind of people and they just seem to get worse. Seeing them act as "spotters", texting or taking pictures of prospective victims for their snatcher-cohorts, and then selling the stolen stuffs later makes me feel that Thanos was right in his thinking of creating a better society.
I just could not have any form of compassion on people who don't care for their children. Almost all of the "batang hamog" in our area have at least "sold" or in their more subtle way, had their children adopted for some token "assistance. There are a few who chose to sell cigarette and candies to eke out a decent living but as long as they get "easy money" from the share of the loot from the bribes that drivers of illegal terminals, habal-habal, illegal vendors, and act as "runners" for the protection rackets and other illegal activities of people who are suppose to regulate them, they would never change.
The real victims are the pedestrians who have to queue for rides, and pay extra if do not want to be in the long lines of riders. The Taxi-riders who have to pay to get a ride at sometimes on a negotiated fare. The market-goers who have to pay for parking and watch your car "siga-siga". The janitors who gets bullied by these people as well as the security guards who tell them to toe the line. These people get a kick of bullying other people so they could get back the feeling of their "Siga Pride" having been bullied the same by the authorities that uses them. The only language they understand is that "they cannot push people who knows how to push back."
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