LESSONS FROM THE MOVIE : ALEXANDER (2004)

King Philip to Alexander :

" It is not easy to escape our mothers, Alexander. All your life, beware of women.
  They are far more dangerous than men. "

" A king isn't born, Alexander. He is born of steel and of sufferings. A king must know how to hurt      those he loves. Its lonely. Ask anyone. Ask Heracles. Ask any of them. It is cruel. No man or              woman can be too powerful or too beautiful without disaster befalling. They laugh when you rise
  too high. And crush everything you built with a whim. What glory they give in the end, they take
  away. They make us slaves. "


On the other hand,  this is what Queen Olympias have to say to Alexander :

" But beware most of all of those closest to you.
  They are like snakes and can be turned. "

" Fortune favor the bold ones.
  Trust the one who gives you love.
  Life has jut begun, son. Her skin is water.
  Her tongue is fire. She is your friend. Take it.
  If you hesitate, she will strike.
  They are like people. You can love them for years.
  Feed them, nurture them ... but still they can turn their back on you. "


" I am indebted to my father for living,
  but to my teacher for living well, "      -- Alexander

" True love never has a happy ending,

   because there is no ending to true love. "  -- Alexander

" Bury my body and don't build any monument.

  Keep my my hands out so the people will know the one

  who won the world had nothing in his hand when he died. "  -- Alexander

" In the end, when it's over,

  all that matters is what you've done. "  -- Alexander

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. 

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

" 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."

ARAW NG KAGITINGAN ?

Araw ng kagitingan o kawalang pag-asa ?
Napasubo sa giyera, walang pagkain, walang bala
Sa unang araw pa lang iniwan na tayo ng Amerika
Kaya ang galit ni Pangulong Quezon, Simberguenza !

Ang sagot ni Roosevelt, Europa, mga Pinoy tiis muna
Lumaban kayo ng todo, kayo na ang bahala kay Homma
80 libong Pinoy at Kano laban lang sa 10 libong pwersa
Napilitang sumuko dahil sa gutom, cholera at malaria

"Death March" na naturingan ay isa lamang aksidente
Nagulat ang mga Hapon sa dami ng mga "surrenderees"
70 libong sumuko, walang pagkain, at saan ikukulong
Paano sila babantayan ng sampung libong mga hapon

Lumabas ang galit ng mga Hapon sa lahing kayumanggi
Asiano ang ating lahi, bakit dini-Diyos natin ang mga puti
Paano tayo igagalang  sa dami ng nag-traidor na kalahi
 Ang nagpahirap sa Pilipino, MAKAPILI at KALIBAPI

Tatlong taong walang Diyos, ang bayan ay binusabos
Pangakong "I shall return", tayo ay na-double cross
Nang sila'y bumalik,  Maynila ay agad nilang pinulbos
Dumagundong ang bomba, at mga Hapon ay inubos

Di pa nakakabangon, muling iniwan at pinabayaan ...
Isinubong independensiya ay isang kasinungalingan
Muling umagos ang dugo dahil sa nais na kalayaan
Mga lumaban na Hukbalahap namasaker sa Bulacan

Kano ang nag-dikta,  kahit nagkaroon ng halalan
Malayang nasunod ang kanilang mga kagustuhan
Parity Rights, base militar, pati kontrol sa kalakalan
Kano rin ang nagdikta sa isinulat nating kasaysayan

Di pa naman huli, mamulat kung ano ang katotohanan
Sadyang ang digmaan walang idinudulot na kabutihan
Galit ay iwaksi, kahit anong lahi, itim, dilaw man o puti
Wala sa kulay ang kaaway kundi ang mga ganid ang budhi

Sa "Araw ng Kagitingan" bayan huwag nating kalimutan
Minsan na tayong dinuhagi at bayan ay napaglalangan
Mga dikta sa  atin ng dati nating mananakop ay suriin
Ang kanilang mga kaaway maaari nating kaibiganin

Bayan o sarili, tanong ni Heneral Luna kay Buencamino
Dati ay Kastila, naging Amerkano, ngayon ay mga Tsino
Ating itanong sa ating mga sarili kung tayo ay Pilipino
Mag-aral ng kasaysayan para di na tayo muling maloko

2ND E-MAIL QUESTION : HOW WOULD I TELL MY PARENTS I'M GAY ?

          Different people react differently in different situation. I do believe that the process of creation has never stopped - every second a new life is born. I don't remember seeing so many gay people around, or maybe there were a lot even in our times but most of them we're afraid to reveal their true nature lest they expose themselves to ridicule. Most people don't mind but they deplore seeing the public display especially the older generation. Whereas before the LGBT issue were being discussed in whispers, now the discussions are done in the open paving a clearer understanding on how to handle the situations. In your case, I can't think of a better scenario than waiting for the right moment when nature will take its own course. Your father may not have noticed or just trying to suppress his doubts but surely your mother knows - its a fact you could never hide from someone who reared you.

          Filipinos are of a different mold. People who prides themselves of being real men like to ridicule gay people not because they don't like the LGBT crowd but morely because of their own insecurities. Men wouldn't admit it but a great deal of them too had some LGBT moments when they at  least fantasized how it is to make out with people of different genders. When the "Phallic Brain" takes over, men think of perverted sex - any kind of hole they could put their thing into. History relates of a lot of perverted sex, even bestiality. Maybe that's one of the reason why Sigmund Freud theorized that men think of sex every seven minutes on average.  Why God created the LGBT kind of thing maybe is not for earthlings to comprehend completely, but being there its a must to open our mind on how to handle it with all the knowledge and information we are provided with.

         Could you just imagine the kind of dilemma Bruce Jenner had ?  Imagine being called the "world's greatest athlete" during his generation, hailed and idolized by sports circle and adored by women.  But inside was a "boiling feeling" of wanting to get out of the machismo prison he was in, pretending to everyone his true identity even to his own family.  Our very own Rustum Padilla had the same dilemma having to contend with the "macho image" their family spearheaded in the silver screen.  I guess they are happier now with their new assumed identities. I couldn't imagine how you're feeling right now and I am not in a position to render a better advice than anyone. I have read and seen movies about the LGBT thing and sometimes it helps a lot when you see that your so-called problem is also other people's problem. I don't want to call it a problem actually but a situation - something you have to learn to live with and be at the best you can be.

          The grandeur of history would not have been so had all the artists of the past been all warrior kind of guys. The world of today would have been as colorful and eventful as they are had people were of the same nature - the so-called "freaks", "nerds", "dreamers" and "different people" made those things possible. Unhappiness results from comparing your self to other people, fear results from anticipating the consequences of things, and guilt results from thinking that what you have been doing is hurting other people. There are a lot of ways to handle these things - just keep and open mind, be with people whom you love for chances are they will love you back, and don't be afraid of getting hurt for its the mind and soul conditioning that make us feel we're alive, and most of all open your heart to love extended by people who care and faith to whoever you believe in.

 ***  ( Hope this is not the last e-mail I would get. Ask any question, even the crazy ones. I don't                    claim to be an expert but maybe you and I could figure things out. E-mail me at                                    kuyaedperea@gmail.co )

WINNING AND LOSING

"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents
 Work his tail off to develop them into skill, and then relents
 The pains and tears, uses the skills to accomplish his goals"
Says Larry Bird - the Boston Celtics' cager in his starring role

"You can't get much done in life if you only work on the days
  That you feel good", NBA superstar Jerry West also says
Basketball may just be a game, but Pros doesn't only play
They inspire, they entertain, and at times they lead the way

Millions are in the game but only a handful become superstars
No pain, no gain, willing work hard and toil to earn their spurs
But lest we forget that to be at the top, and to be the number one
Hundred guys have to line up trying to outdo n' bring you down

So they say, conquer the mountain so you can see the plains
Once you reach the top, no other way to go but down the drain
One must realize that falling is as natural as rising and winning
Fame and glory are the prize, pain and misery goes with losing

When you're down, the applause and cheers will but be memories
But its not hopeless for you can still go down with pride and praises
If you were good to the people who were around you when rising
They will catch you as you fall, and they will keep on believing

Good memories keep you going, smooth the ride while you're sliding
As you fall you may never be able to rise again, and quit on playing
People will remember, and never forget the guy who took the last shot
Won the championship when there was but a second in the shot clock,

Some players too tried hard but failed, always unable to take the grind
Yet kept the plays, the moves, the strategies, stack them up in their mind
So when they leave the game they have learned a lot, then hope to find
A rag tag team with unpolished talents then to teach them how to climb

As the saying goes - he who can't do, teach -  being a loser you learn
Not everyone can be like Michael Jordan, so find another way to turn
A shattered pride ... maybe the pieces you need to build another dream
And mold unpolished talents to be better, lead, and be a winning team

Losing doesn't really make one a failure if he continues to move on
Its when you quit that failure becomes permanent, then you're done
But if ever you decide to hang on, and start all over and try to swim
You don't have to drown in sorrow, then you can teach others to win