Thursday, September 22, 2005

Proyekto sa Filipino



CRUSH
(To the melody of sa Paskong Darating)
Composed by:
Jennylyn,
Joan &
Danieson
I
Ang crush ko’y dumarating
Pasulyap-sulyap sa akin
Sa harap daraan
At ako’y kikiligin

II
Nagsuot na nga ako
Ng kwintas at polseras
Mahal na pabango
Ay aking inilabas

III
Siya’y ibang iba
Walang panama si Aga/Ara
Kaya ako nama’y
Laging nagpapacute

Chorus
Ang crush ko’y
Ang gwapo (2x)/ganda (2x)
Ang macho (2x)/sexy(2x)
Na lalaki/babae

IV
Ang araw na ito’y “
Di ko malimutan
Pagkat ito ang araw
Siya’y nasilayan

(Instrumental)
VSa Paskong darating
Kay Sta. Claus ay hihiling
Na siya’y masilayan
At sa aki’y mainlove rin

VI
Nawa ay matupad
Ang Kahilingan ko
Pagkat ito ang tanging
Hangad ko sa Pasko

Repeat I – III
Repeat Chorus (3x)

Monday, September 19, 2005

Misery and Richness

Nowadays, the words “miserable,” “poor,” “unhappy,” “sorrowful,” “unfortunate,” “distress,” “despair,” and the likes have become a fad to the television screen, radio broadcast, print media, private conversation, or even in the sari-sari store near you. For instance, when you wake up in the morning what is the first information that you would hear in the newscast? Is it “Movie ticket back to P18.00” or “heavy traffic in EDSA- NO MORE”? In reality, a practical Filipino of our days would rather catch their favorite actors and actresses on television screen than spending money equivalent to a whole day baon; or would reasonably choose to be part of a sardine for 10-30 minutes inside the MRT/LRT than be stuck in the long road of EDSA for several hours. For most of us, life indeed is getting worse and worse and worse everyday.

For us, Filipinos, we love to create images of our own mansion in Forbes Park; our own Jaguar or Mercedes Benz; our dream vacation in London; our romantic experience in Paris; or our own condo unit in the most brilliant tower in Makati. And in order to achieve these aspirations we try to dig all our strengths and abilities in every situation. So when these dreams aren’t met, it’s like the end of the world and we tend to blame not just ourselves but also those horrible things that ruin the path of our goals. What most of us don’t realize is that we make our own destiny, we define our own success and we can always choose to be happy. We all have burning ambitions to escape from misery and perhaps be rich (with P5M money in our bank account), but in this day and age, I think it would be better to define misery and richness in different perspective. Let me share with you my experience in VIDES (Volunteers International for Development Education Service) and from this I will give you my own revised meaning of these two words.


It was March 6, 2005 when I first stepped on the ground of Malibay, Pasay City. I was astonished to see hundreds of streetchildren under the scorching heat of the sun excited to hear God’s news and be fed afterwards. Honestly, it took me sometime before I finally realized that I was there to take part for a volunteer mission for kids -something that I have never done before. When the event had started, at the back of my mind I really wanted to hide and run away but because I brought someone with me I couldn’t do that. During those hours, I regretted my decision to join because supposedly I am already watching my favorite tv program (those hilarious and romantic scenes I’ve been waiting for a week). Sigh! But without noticing, I was already having fun with these "less fortunate" kids. Some of them were dressed in grimy, soiled and dirty clothes. But in spite of this, they still manage to have beautiful or handsome faces because they have the sweetest smiles and the brightest eyes in Malibay.

When giving of shirts had started, one first year high school student really caught my attention. She actually belongs to the group but she chose to help us in distributing the shirts. I was amazed how much kindness and compassion she has. And suddenly, I have told myself that this young lady is richer than those seating in MalacaƱang. She may only have few material properties but she definitely owns a benign heart.

Indeed, these kids have touched my life even in just one day. Through them, I have learned the essence of hope and solidarity. Thanks to VIDES and to my friend who accompanied me. That huge mission had given me a chance to understand that misery is not always a mixture of difficulties and anxieties but it could also be a great source of richness. And richness is not just about material prosperity but it could also be the sum of great love and strong faith. If we could just learn to act like children, as if they are multi-million dollar young men and women of the world, the words “successful” and “happy” would be a nice headline. Don’t you think?

Friday, September 16, 2005

Height Deficit

More than nine years had passed but I can still see vivid pictures flashing into my memories the very first day I entered a classroom with thirty-four total strangers of my age and one gigantic, priest-like teacher. I was like a twelve year old burgeoning teenage obscured in a body of an eight-year-old innocent, impish and subservient kid. Extremely big to be a grade two pupil but was too small to be a high school student. And like what majority would say “Parang inutusan lang bumili ng suka.” Alright, I was known as one of the smallest species in the tribe of I-Newton (my high school year level and section). I was one of the cutest and young-looking novices in our class, so to speak (That sounds better, don’t you think?).

Because of this apparent fact, a lot of insecurities were eating me up. There were numerous moments in the past that I would ask myself why God created me small? Did He even think that when I turn twenty-five I might bump into five feet-ten inches tower creature, which I have not seen for nine years, and would probably say to me “Gosh! You look like the same person I knew except that you have bigger boobs (as if).”? Ouchhh!!! Well, this fact would not be so painful if I didn’t notice my classmates and friends growing taller every year. If only I was able to stop the movement of the hands of the clock and discovered Growee vitamins and Cherryfer during my younger years, I could have been a living proof to these growth syrup and food supplement.

Additional to my nuisance, when I was in my senior year in high school there was one incident that I would never forget. I was walking with my friend inside the school campus when someone tapped the back of my chum and told her in a serious fascia and an arrogant tone, “ate, ate tignan mo ko Grade Five pa lang ako mas matangkad pa ko sa kanya…” At that moment, I wished I could freeze all the living mortals in the world so no one could convict me to a crime that I just did (of course, there is a little exaggeration on that part). Well, that was just one of the most excruciating episodes of my teenage years. Now that I’m twenty-one years old, I still encounter almost same occurrence one after another, but this time with more forbearance on my part.

But of course, life isn’t so bad at all. Amidst all the rudeness and inequality of our society, is the opportunity to live like a child without having to worry about the image I create. I can always go to the playground, feel the afternoon breeze on the swing and do some silly acts with my ten-year old brother while handling a cone of chocolate-flavored ice cream in my right hand. For sure, most of us were able to experience the same thing during our younger years wherein we don’t mind if the Philippine president is facing crucial accusations or he/she is being appreciated in SWS survey. On my part, bringing back my childhood memories is definitely an easy thing to do. Although at times it’s hard to watch a PG-18 movie in theaters, otherwise I can catch it on a tv premiere or VCD.

Such things had insulted me but why should I? Looking back from those unpleasant events caused by my frustrating height, I have realized that my life is not that miserable as I thought. Actually, not everything in this world has been taken away from me. I am blessed with a loving family, comfortable shelter, sufficient education, good health, supportive friends and a strong sight of what it was like to be young.

Indeed, my life has become more challenging and happier because of the so called “Height Deficit.”

Popular Posts

Archive