Tara Na, padayon!

Tara na, samahan mo akong tumaliwas sa agos, dahil ako’y tulad ng usok na mula sa sasakya’y bumubulusok ; tulad ng ulan na walang pakundangan ; tulad ng sigarilyong unti-unting nauubos, o ng liwanag na lumalaban sa dilim, o tutubing walang direksyon. Tara na, samahan mo ako. Padayon!”

 

I stepped on the escalator, took my jacket off, and walked few steps as I made my way out of the door. It was for me just another afternoon, or so I first thought. I thought it was just another end of my shift where the moment I stepped out of the building where I worked, is a taste of freedom, a refreshment of a tired body. I thought I would just cross the street with equally bored and tired climbers of the corporate ladder to hail a bus that would bring me home where I would then force myself to sleep. I was wrong.

For the full script, follow this link:

Tara na, Padayon! 

 

To BE Like Him!

Sometime, I read a story about a boy who, as a birthday gift, was given a pair of shoes by his brother. The boy is so happy as he proudly shows his new shoes to his friend. He said, “It costs me nothing to have those new pair of shoes. My brother gave them to me.”  He said with eyes wide with pride for his new pair of shoes. His friend humbly said in reply, “Whoaw! I wish I could…” Then the boy interrupted him. He knew at the back of his head that his friend is going to say, as commonly expected, “I wish I could also have a brother like him” who, perhaps, is willing to give a new pair of shoes on a birthday.   

But his jaw dropped in surprise when he heard his friend continued by saying: “I wish I could BE a brother like him.”

Since I read this story, it left a marked on me that made me “wish I could also BE a brother like him.” Until now, I try to, despite how wanting I am.

I try to be a brother to a sister who is ready to burst in laughter in times of joy; but would not hold back her tears, nonetheless, when the situation calls to.

I try to be a brother to a sister who asks for opinion from as simple as how to cook gulay to how to dump a boyfriend.

I try to be a brother to a sister I admired in exhibiting her strength of character but falls back on easily.

I try to be a brother to a sister who articulates her anger and frustrations like a pro, but forgive easily.

I try to be a brother to a sister who solicits my advice but decides for herself on matters of great weight.

I try to be a brother to a sister who wants to find joy and meaning of being young and a woman, but not forgetting she is a mother. 

I try to be a brother to a sister who is tough and toughen by experienced but easily melts down, like an ice cream under the sun, for her son.

I used to say “I wish I could have a brother like him.” Until I realized “I could BE a brother like him.” Since then, I try. And they said that for us, there is only a trying, the rest is not our business.

 I try to be a brother to a sister who celebrates her birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DING, Margie! Joyeux Anniversaire! Maligayang bati! Malipayong pagsaulog sa imong adlawng natawhan. May it be a happy one, and truly, a meaningful one! Maraming salamat. I love you and I am proud of you.

                                            

           -sa kanunay,

                                                         

                        Manong

Phoquotes!

Also available in sachets!

 
                                                         

Today, somewhere across the globe, a friend of mine, together with his friends are seated on a familiar set-up with a familiar concoction to celebrate an event that only happens once a year. It's his birthday, happy birthday Daive!

For sure (and I could only sigh wishing I am there) in the midst bacchaic gathering and festal mood, there will be topics that naturally find their way out of their mouth. It ranges from how bad the flood was, to the going-ons in the office to you-can-imagine-what. Then those topics will lead from physical to metaphysical. Words about God and His wonders and His powers will roar like thunder when bacchus is already lodged in the brain. But then, wherever the topic leads, it will find its dénoument when alcohol or the capacity to take more, runs out - whatever comes first. From the mundane, to the firmaments of heaven, the topic ends up with that poor thing who peacefully settled in the septic tank. Then we may now call it a night, or day or a dawn. It depends. 

There can be myriads of topics, yes. But, do you remember those musings over inuman whether on birthdays, simple gatherings like celebrating the subsiding of Ondoy-like flood, or anything - on how about whiskey and gin or any liquor for that matter, will come in sachet? 

Well, wonder no more for what seems like a faraway musing might just be so real, at least here in Cameroon!

Pick your choice!

Here in Cameroon, gin and whiskey are available in sachets! How about that? You can have that sip of yours so literal. They come in 5cl sachets and are available as cellphone loads are in the Philippines. For what I have observed, the workers in manual labors, but not limited to, are the base consumers of these products. So it should not be a surprise to see a worker who in the middle of construction would time and again sip a sachet of gin or whiskey that can be kept in his pocket. What more, it’s affordable! And because it comes in cacao or coffee flavor, that would keep them roused – the kind that can see them through ‘til their labor is over. Thinking home, it might also be good alternative for our call center agents to keep them awake as they have to keep our economy floating until the wee hours of the night. Because it smells like coffee, that might not be too much cause of suspicion to manong guard. In any case, just cover the smell with that of a cigarette. The last time I check, it is prohibited to enter the office with a smell of liquor on, en lieu of perfume.

By far, I have seen four brands of these spirits in sachets, and there could be more. There is that royal King Arthur who can be at par, of course this is an exaggeration, with its bottled gin counterparts. There is Lion d’Or who can be an alternative over a cup of coffee (another exaggeration) as it is café infused, enough to keep your nerves awake. Do not ask me if they could be better alternatives healthwise also. They are also available on their localized names Djaraba (I still have to find out what this means) and Sambuca (and this, too) who proudly display their being rhum au café naturel.

For now, these products are not yet available in the Philippines (the last time I know) and I do not know if there will ever be anyone who wishes so. So my friend Daive, who is celebrating his birthday, could settle on these spirits' bottled version. Whatever the case be, it will surely be a Happy Birthday!  A great celebration of friendship, of life!

But of course, in bottles as in sachets, Drink Moderately remains to be a battlecry. In this matter, one sachet after another will do. 

On a wait: Red Horse in sachet, if not in capsule! 

At 23

When I was 23, I had a life in monotony; waking up early when everyone else is on the peak of their dreams because I have to be at work.

When I was 23 I grew my hair until almost you know where, without a plan to cut it short inasmuch as I had no plans for my life.

When I was 23, I frequented mountains and seas because it's there that I could take repose on my labor to satisfy exsistential cravings.

When I was 23, I was like a boat saling... only without any direction... but always on my way.

When I was 23, in my labored attempts to find myself, I lost it with only the slight hope of finding it.

When I was 23, you were 18 and beaming.

Now that you are 23 yourself, I would say do not say hesitate monotony for in it there is harmony; nor tire over everydays' work for you'll soon realize the priceless feeling of sacrifice.

... you may grow your hair in whatever way you want. Sometimes we do things not for reasons but for feelings.

...make friends with nature, seas and mountains are always there when everyone else may leave. Find your place where you can shout or whisper your triumphs and frustrations in your attempts to champion life.

...continue sailing even how aimlessly. In due time you will find your own North Star to follow and soon find its rest. Just do not lose the lessons along the way.


...rediscover your values. Whatever makes you pause for  a while or makes you laugh hard or makes you shed tears or simply makes you sigh a satsifaction from within are the things and people that will make you happy and meaningful. Not whoever, not elsewhere. It might just be around the corner, someone you overlook.


...do not be afraid to lose yourself. Sometimes it is when losing that we find what we are looking for. 
 

Now you are 23... you may not be able to understand it all, but believe you'll soon find out how it feels like. An you'll see the difference when you are about to be 28.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Doy, Mundicks Escabusa. May HIS Blessings be!

Owl and the Sparrow

There are times when we simply stumble upon good films that has the capacity to make us stay the entire span without knowing what lies ahead but ended up with high sighs of appreciation and inspiration. See, inspiration can be found everywhere, even elsewhere. We just have to have the eyes capable to notice and a space in our heart to contain them. Consider this simple Vietnamese film Owl and the Sparrow. It might not be grand on its production. But what it lacks is filled up by the grandeur of its story, in plain simplicity.

 

It’s a story of Thuy, a 10-year old orphaned who worked in the factory of his uncle. His uncle thought of her as useless and has short temper for her.  She runs away from him, all belongings fitted in a Barbie backpack, having few amounts of money and dolls, Barbie and Ken - to whom she occasionally talks to. She finds herself in the hustles and bustles in the city and finds work from selling postcards. She then found another work selling roses and realized that one can go hungry if one does not have a story.   

It’s a story of Mr. Hai, a reserved zookeeper who loves animals more than people, is nursing over the heartaches when his fiancé left him before they could be married. Time and again, he passed by the cellphone store where his ex-girlfriend is a saleslady. He wants to know if she is happy and has already finds another.  To add his agony, he is about to be separated by the elephant he has been caring since birth because the zoo could no longer support. The city is getting bigger – he was told.

It’s a story of Ms. Lan is a 26-year old flight attendant who is having affair with his already married captain. Going back and forth in the city, she stayed on a hotel where its receptionists tease her why despite having beauty and prestigious job, she does not receive any package or letters.  Deep inside, she felt guilt over his relationship with the captain. And though many would envy on the job she’s having, she does not really know what she wants to do in life.  From above on one of her flights, like a God, she could see the people down below: women on the field, children playing, sisters holding hands.  She’s quick to remind though that she’s not a God, only a 26-year old clueless searcher who still believes in fairy tales.

It’s a story how their lives were changed the moment their stories intertwined, three unlikely strangers bound together by a single thread - goodness of heart. The span is just 5 days- from Monday, the day Thuy run away from his uncle, to Friday where Ms. Lan has to fly back to her job. Five days seem so short for a good story to take place. Yet, it was just what happened. It was long enough to change one’s life should one have the dispositions to embrace the changes that lay ahead. It was long enough to change their lives forever.  Especially if that change is instigated by a 10-year old orphan whose few belongings are covered by the grandeur of her good spirit and innocence over the rugged city life.

Owl and the Sparrow reaffirmed my belief that gladness of heart and goodness of being can brought us farther than we could ever hope for or imagine.

...it was then that HE carried you!

When things do not go according to the way the way we want them to...




When all efforts are exerted, we labor hard enough but only see frustrating results...




When we are misunderstood even by whom we thought who can undertand us well...




When the last ounce of our strength is not even enough to see us through the night... 




When even tears refuse to fall from our eyes...





...and we are numb by the pain that gnaw us 'til the bones...




Come, fall on your knees before Him...





... to Him who had and having it all!




... to Him who endured far more than we can imagine.



... to Him who is nailed on the cross.



Him who really understands!