quote

FRIENDS ARE MORE THAN WHAT THE DICTIONARY CAN DEFINE.
FRIENDS ARE MORE THAN WHAT THE MIND CAN COMPREHEND.
FRIENDS ARE MORE THAN WHAT GOD CAN GIVE.
AND FRIENDS ARE MORE THAN ONE REASON TO SURVIVE.
BECAUSE FRIENDS ARE EXTRA-ORDINARY INDIVIDUALS THAT ONE MUST BE CRAZY TO GIVE UP!

now and before

“when blue rivers seemed to never have existed, when birds never seemed to sang, where swimming in rivers seemed impossible, when living never seemed to be fun.”

“The planet Earth is the only entity in the universe that we know can sustain life, and at that, a very intelligent life. We don’t want to lose this planet Earth; otherwise, maybe, the Earth will just be so empty without any life on it.” – Dr. Josefino Comiso

Before, when a child was asked to describe the environment, the typical answer would be: “Oh, the tree, beside the clear blue river, is full of fruits, beside the tree, are flowers of different colors. The tree also had a nest for the birds, and a whole in the middle for the owls.” This was the common answer, which soon became the typical drawing of the environment. Now, if a child is asked to describe the environment, generally, the thought would be: “The river is black in color, maybe because of the factory beside it, it smells so bad because of the garbage bags floating on it, and there are no more trees near here.”
This quick change in scenario happened within the past 20 years. These two decades changed so much of what the world is. The world is no longer a place to enjoy living in, but a place to live in, and impossible to enjoy. So many terrible things happened because less logical things were done.
From signature clothes, internationally imported goods, adopted teleseyes, gameshows and reality shows, to poor Peso quality, corrupt government officials and empty progress promises, the Philippine society has much yet under its wings. They said that the Philippines, as a country, is rich because of its agricultural lands and rivers. However, in account of this problem of global warming, the only thing Filipinos “have” will be gone. What was held dear for hundreds of generations, protected by dozens of cultures will be washed away, literally, just because the Filipinos today did not care.
The Philippine society is now seeing so much, to care intensely about the soil they’re standing on. From the questionable and incapable governance of the present administration to the rapid alarming rise in prices of necessities, it is just too much for the Filipinos to handle… or is it? There are people who are aware of the current uprising of global warming, yet still stand unaware and rely on petty excuses of having a poor government. There are still people who admittedly know what things strengthens the problem, yet still sits down, drink a cup of coffee, and point fingers at each other. In addition, there are still people who deliberately ignore the problem being too busy or thinking that it’ll be far-fetched for them to be involved in this problem. If that is the case, the water levels will continue to rise, forest fires will continue to burn its raging mockery, the ice caps will continue to fall, and thousands of species will be gone.
Just because children focus more on playing online games, just because adults focus on making a living, politicians want to earn more than celebrities, the government wants more industries than trees, and the people preferring a good contraceptive over a well living planet. This is an embarrassing way to go down. It’s just ironic to see people in the Philippines demanding a solution to this problem while belching smokes from their vehicles, using harmful pesticides, and waiting for someone else to do the dirty work.
The documentary, “Signos”, showed the relevance and the rather great effects present in the islands of the Philippines by the infamous global warming. It cited events and occurrences that strengthen the claim of immediate address to solve global warming. And included the voices of respected intellectuals in the said field, including Dr. Comiso of NASA.
The rivers of Manila are overflowing, the ecosystems in rural areas are being converted into land of industrial factories, the temperature increased by a centigrade, when it is sunny, the sun burns through the skin, and when it rains, the water swallows thousands of houses and buildings. If this scenario does not initiate mobilization, nothing will. A new dilemma should not be anticipated before doing an action. Does action need dozens more floods, thousands more of lives, millions more of destroyed houses, before it occurs. Right in front of Philippine populace lies the reason to act out. What is experienced by the society is more than enough for, at least, even half of the mass to mobilize. But, evidently, nothing is accomplished.
The thing is, again, there are Filipinos who does not see the point of helping solve the problem, because, probably, they live on a high ground, or the effects of global warming will be felt a decade from now. Ignorance, evidently, is the first wave of defense, therefore ignorance must be the first thing to solve. It’s illogical, and at the same time, immoral to look on the opposite direction when fellow Filipinos, and the rest of the world, are crying, reaching out their hand for help. It is not so much to do something big, but the mere recognition and effort to help is more than of a contribution a single person can make.
This problem requires an intricate, long and step-by-step process, not an immediate show of force, like rallies and threats, that Filipinos are familiar and well accustomed to. if solutions get postponed like this, for time-to-time, then this solution can never be done. Nothing can be achieved, because no one dared to start. The scientists today, and probably some concerned, can never be enough to make up for those who do not. What is required here is a general motion, a step that has to be done by the whole society, in unison, with consent, and with dedication.
This generation has to refuse to be that generation when everything went wrong - when blue rivers seemed to never have existed, when birds never seemed to sang, where swimming in rivers seemed impossible, when living never seemed to be fun. This generation has to make its mark, that, yes; this is the time when problems aroused, but was massively answered.

nstp proj

I prefer black and white colored pictures over beautifully-colored ones. A picture portrayed using a fine mixture of shades and colors, for me at least, prevents the perceiver to appreciate more what the picture offers. The interesting fusion of colors may provide a new and interesting perception to the painting, but it does not present wholly the message of the painting.

In the Philippine history, we were fine portraits of interesting cultures. We were living a way-of-life we could have been proud of. The white Philippine canvass was painted with a black ink that shouts individuality, beliefs, personality and a different culture. We were who we should have been. We could have been unique, we could have been different, we could have been interesting and we could have been ourselves. But thanks to the American, Spanish, Japanese and other countries’ influences, we are now the same as the rest of the globe. We are now just another state following what we were taught to as – “the right and only way of living”.
It is as if our canvass was being colored by a complicated fusion of colors. Our way of life disappeared. The supposedly different drawing was being colored just like kindergarteners do. No space was left unshaded, every inch of our cultural sketch was being overpowered by the colors of other countries. Moreover, the sad fact about this is: the coloring happened without the Filipinos noticing it, the Filipino people took concern years too late of the transformation.
The foreigners were successful in claiming themselves triumphant in giving us a “way-of-life”. HA! They were successful alright, successful in making us live like they do. But they weren’t to blame, the Filipinos, in one way or another, allowed the transformation to happen. Our grasp to our old customs were so weak that with few dictions of faith, we easily let go. Even now, we are still in the process of transformation, and our society is not doing ANYTHING to prevent it.

Our simple, fine and complete black and white sketch was ruined by the presence of colors. The colonizers may have given us the lifestyle we have now. But the fact remains that we had our own, but they erased it and developed their own. The Spanish, American, European lifestyles are not the only lifestyles, we had our own, but our grip to it was not strong enough.

reason

Man often live either for their career, well-being and family. “To be able to see their great grand children live a happy prosperous life.” or for them “to be able to prove those who did not believe in them wrong.” - Common answers that can be surveyed, nothing wrong, nothing big, and nothing not worth grasping. But fulfillment in life does not necessarily depend on success. If a man simply aims to be a lawyer, with no particularities and no must-have’s, but dies just before the release of the bar exams. That man succeeded, for he did not lose grasp, he had a dream, and he followed it.
People often find their meaning in life whether it is consciously or not. We either find things to keep us occupied, people to share it with, or set goals, be it materially or not. When finding this certain meaning each person has, people now have a reason to survive – to fulfill that particular goal. Thus, survival is not what defines life, for survival is merely a process in which man undertakes in search for the accomplishment of their previously set goal.

In the book, Dr. Viktor Frankl found various reasons to strive to survive the concentration camp: (1) to meet his (hopefully alive) wife; (2) to rewrite his lecture; and (3) to start a peaceful life anew. With this, I too have found reason in life: for my life, my career and a stable life.

Dr. Frankl did everything that has to be done for his survival, and so have I, am, and will. I too have a goal and it withheld, not by walls and brutalities of a concentration camp. I, as I may say, am still in that stage where I am learning the in’s and out’s of practical human survival – survival in everyday life (food, school, family, etc.)
It’s funny that as difficult as it is for Dr. Frankl to find a lavish meal inside camp, is the same as it is for me to experience a relatively problem-free day.
Perhaps it is that I live life on the reason of betterment, which upon thinking, is a vague and abstract goal to begin with. Nevertheless, living a life with reason is far better than reasonably living a life. I have a goal, a vague one, but still, I aim for its accomplishment, and perhaps, in time, I will find a better one.

Dr. Frankl presented logotherapy, which is pretty much described above. Man has to find his meaning, hence the title of the book, for it is in this special meaning that man sees reason to live on.
This concept seemed to be a “common-sense” thought once read, but neverwould I thought that this concept should somehow be a definition of life. In other words, it would be a natural idea that man needs reason to live and that it defines the way that particular person lives, but it is an intricate thought that this search for meaning is in itself an encompassing lifestyle for society.

Let me quote a paragraph from Dr. Viktor Frankl, for it is in this paragraph that I found essence from what he meant.

A mother of a boy who had died at the age of eleven years was telling her story. “At the death of her boy she was left alone with another, older son, who was crippled… she, however, rebelled against her fate. But when she tried to commit suicide together with him, it was the crippled son who prevented her from doing so; he liked living! For him, life had remained meaningful…” And so Dr. Frankl participated in the discussion, he asked the lady to imagine herself as an eighty-year-old woman looking back on her life. This is what she said: “Oh, I married a millionaire, I had an easy life… but now I am eighty; I have no children of my own… I cannot see what all that was for; actually, I must say, my life was a failure!” Then Dr. Frankl asked her to look back on her real life, this is what she said: “I wished to have children and this wish has been granted to me; one boy died; the other, however, the crippled one, would have been sent to an institution if I had not taken over his care. Though he is crippled and hopeless, he is after all my boy. And so I have made a fuller life possible for him… as for myself, I can look back peacefully on my life; for I can say my life was full of meaning, and I have tried hard to fulfill it; I have done my best – I have done the best for my son. My life was no failure!”

Dr. Viktor Frankl, however seemingly uninspired with a lecture-type presentation, succeeded in introducing n excellent concept to the readers. It is no doubt that Dr. Frankl is as well respected in his field, and by the society.

Everyone wants to die knowing that they had reason to live or to at least lay on their deathbed and have done every possible way to fulfill this meaning.

working

When man started to live in this world, it was at its blossoming days, with trees and animals in their serenity, humans in their naiveté – the stepping stone for evolution, and for improvement. The nature, man in majority, has chosen to grasp the beauty of the world rather than to hold what was there to be taken care of. Man first chopped trees to make fire, then to make houses, then to have furniture, and now to have space for smoke-producing companies. Man then, drank the water of lakes, bathed and branded these waters as safe, the waters now, are there never to be drank, never to be touched. With man’s desire for improvement, it is evident that certain prices have to be paid, and certain things have to suffer. As man continue to long for something better than what he has, what man has now will soon be gone.

In line with Leonardo Dicaprio’s “Eleventh Hour”, man’s current inquisition led to certain mishappenings that will seemingly be experienced by this and future generations. This film presented the infamous global warming – its effects, causes and some solutions.

Man should be held liable for what he experiences today – that is a remark often spoken, a rather assertion of a “karma” system with which complaints will be considered stupid. It is the man who first chopped the trees, threw trash on the lake, built smoke-producing companies, invented gadgets that required the use of fuel, and ignored the prior signs of this global problem. If it is man who started this, then man should experience the consequences of what he has done, nothing is to be questioned, no one is to be blamed but those who blame themselves.

Yes, it is man who surrendered to the force of societal improvement, but admission of fault is not enough. Admitting and asserting that man is guilty and is deserving of what is currently happening is just an illogical statement to banner-up humor to a serious problem. Maybe that man is the proponent, but that fact alone is just an in-the-air line that strikes people with its cruel irony that will eventually cause the lives of everyone. Yes, it maybe that man is the abuser in this story. There are those who intentionally neglected the laws, nonetheless, the responsibilities of a sensible citizen. There are people who chose to cut down trees, use harmful products, fire-up the engines of their cars without considering the precautions and warnings given by those in the academic community.

Again, admission alone is not enough; it can only be the first step towards a good thing. What the world needs now is action.
Some people say: that what’s the use in abstinence or following the rules, when there are still those who chose not to; some say that it’s too late to turn around and it will be more practical to just live what the world is now to the fullest. Statements like these are those that prohibit society from improvement, solutions and life. These are rather pessimistic assertions made by those who either know little about the current situation or know nothing about what to do. If man “caused” these problems, then man can certainly find the answers.

I believe that the populace, in general, has the ability, the knowledge, the resources, the machinery and the will to solve this long-term problem. “Eleventh Hour” cited some solutions that are consequentially doable, but nonetheless pointing to the right direction, answers provided by those who know. However, these solutions are just intangible, inexistent and far-fetched terms and jargons that would mean nothing unless executed. That is, I believe, where man comes in. It is up to the “average-Joes”, to the “working-man”, the “college-boy”, the “housewife” and the rest of the society to make these solutions answers to the problem. Statements as those mentioned are just minor set-backs when one look at it.

If man has the arms, the legs, the heart and the mind, and if global warming is a massive problem against the human race, then responding to this problem would require billions of arms and legs, a billion of burning hearts and understanding minds.

you

YOU

I did not choose to love you,

Love chose me for you, you for me,

I did not choose to think of you,

Every minute, everyday, all the time.

I did not know why I love you,

But I know…

Why wherever you are, light shines,

Why every time you talk, I am silent,

How your smile brings joy,

How your company makes me secure,

It’s because,

Of that four-letter word,

…

Nothing more.

Your smile, your face, your voice,

Your company, warmth, care and embrace,

Are my seven wonders.

For with them I hold,

Hold the world’s beauty –

All in one.

?

?

I walked with a smile to the floor,

Went up and turned my bedroom door,

Tiptoed aimlessly to the stairs,

Slept contentedly to the door,

Locked carefully across my face,

Opened joyfully on my bed,

Sat privately the knob…

…

I walked aimlessly to the door,

Opened and turned the knob,

Tiptoed carefully across the floor,

Went up, joyfully, the stairs,

Locked, privately, my bedroom door,

Sat contentedly on my bed,

Slept with a smile on my face.

…

All because you said “YES.”

bored...

BORED…

Time stood still as the clock’s hands did not know motion,

Deprived by its sole measurement.

The grunts of my environment became the basis of seconds…

One…two…three…

I looked at the empty space for there was nothing to see,

Yet the lighting dimmed and glowed.

I do not know whether the light was really changing or

My mind chose to entertain me by making me see

Different things.

The light was bright, then the light was soft,

Nonetheless, what I see is still light –

Yet, time seemed to move faster.

As I closed my eyes, and time moved even faster.

I did not see light for I could see anything.

I was a superhero, moving around my “name-ville”

Flying, with my dark red cape and glossy costume.

I was saving a world, but I was still sitting down.

Looking at nothing for I could see nothing.

I was having fun,

In the thought of having fun.

I really did not have to do anything for entertainment.

Entertainment came to me.

I looked at an empty space… and time passed.

I closed my eyes… and time flew.

My source of entertainment was everywhere…anywhere

They just needed time, I just had to look for them…

And fun came along.

It’s funny, fun was the one waiting for me.

mirror

it seems that for days it has been raining, when it has only been three hours, approximately. the droplets were pouring so angrily, as if the people walking cost them thier lives. i do not like the rain. it's like i had done something wrong to cause heaven its misery, and with its tears, the favor seems to be returning.

i was in a hurry, i needed to get home. the hole in the cieling might not be the only thing to cover up... there might be more.

the cab was caught in traffic. the red light was on, taunting me with its mockery, it's as if it enjoys watching me grow impatient. we were under a tree, the cab and i. the tears of heaven could not reach as much as it normally could, more so, sting me with its consciencious irony. it's good to be safe inside a car. the rain can not reach me in the car. the window mirrors may serve as the barrier from me and the rest of the world. the mirrors are my medium, with it, i can watch the rain drops fall with defeat, not being able to hit me with their contained anger.

but my mockery of the rain seemed to be gettting into me. the rain made me see a mirage, it made me see a lady, i can see it, face to face, nose to nose, with the glass parting our breaths, i stand assured. i was waiting for the mirage to disappear when the driver of the cab blowed the horns, with much irritation, i can say. i was beeped back to reality, as if electrified and put back to where i really was. the mirage must have disappeared too... i looked back to window, there she was still too. now knocking at the glass, if the glass was not there, the lady would be punching my nose. the lady must want something.... a donation, i presume. i need an excuse...

forgive me lady, for i am deaf. i could not hear your voice, let alone your request. i cannot hear your pain, i do not hear your call. i did not hear what my mom told about helping those in need.

forgive me lady, for i am blind. i do not see your life, even more, your need. i would not be able to see you suffer, for i would not see you cry. i do not see how helping you helps me.

i thought.

the cab moved a meter forward. ignoring the lady at the window, i gazed emptily, guessing what time i would get home. an hour later or so i guess.

the cab moved again, but this time, it did not stop. the cruel red light had stopped its mockery... alas. that was one of my problems solved. as the cab continued to move, the lady from the window haunted me with her mysterious smirk, as i decided to call it.

i could have helped her. i should have helped her. my conscious shouted with much dismay.

forgive me lady for i chose to be deaf. i kept the windows shut. i turned the music up when you cried for help. i pretended not to hear when your hopes was held high. i covered my ears when you opened your palms.

forgive me lady for i chose to be blind. i closed my eyes when yours met mine. i looked the other way when tears went down your face. i looked down when your eyes looked up.

forgive my lady for i chose not to care.

that was all i can do.... the honk broke my repentance. i wondered why the driver is still blowing the horns.

we were still in traffic. under the same tree. still under the angry tears of heaven. it has only been a minute since the driver first blew the horn.

i was electrified... again. with that i sat on the wet cardboard beside the tree looking at the lady inside the cab next to me. how i wish i could be like that. but will i as uncaring as her, when i am in her shoes... probably so. my granduer was only an illusion, yet it caused me to venture far deeper in my arrogance.

i lay down on my back, exposing my half-naked body to the angry drops of rain. i seeked no more refuge, i longed no more to escape. i give my body to revenge-seeking soldiers of heaven... i need no longer to hope, for what i have now is what the best i could have been...

fIeStA

The Fiesta Prusisyon

I opened and rubbed my eyes when I heard a loud and jolly jive of a marching band seemingly getting closer, and I knew that here it comes. I jumped briskly out of my covers and joined my family outside. They already had the chips and biscuits on baskets and bags, and I was confident that this is it. After cleaning my eyes once again, I saw that every family has done the same: fathers carrying their little children on their shoulders, moms flapping their avanicos waiting for it to come their way, bundles and plastics of snacks dawdling for their scene. This was it, the prusisyon was here.

At last, I gained sight of the entourage. The security officers were leading the chain, with very little effort clearing the way for the occasion, shortly followed by the real train. A group of elders were the real eye-catchers of the assembly. With their aged bodies, they enthusiastically perform the dance. Facing backward, knees bent, they glide youthfully mixing their performance with the interestingly amusing rhythm the band was giving. Aggressively, they move three steps backwards, their body movement merging with the cold blow of the wind creating an illusion of flawless waves within the choreography. Then gawking directly to the image of the saint, with two steps, they approach rapidly as if offering their mighty valor to our patron. The continuous pattern was creating an illusion of young children playing, it was beautiful, how the irony of the thought came up. The elderly performing the steps successively were followed by some of the officials, who walked with great authority, and then the band- then follows the reason for the occasion. Having that glorious aura and momentum, the figure of Sta. Marta demanded attention. The cart, carried by men performing the same dance as the elders, had but little garnish offers grandeur and caught everybody’s respect and admiration. After the saint has passed, the highlight follows, the followers were each carrying boxes. Each family, getting the snacks they had prepared, and throws them above the procession. Every man was forcefully getting his space, grasping any food thrown above him.

That was it. Although the steps were simple, you can see in every eye, the sense of enjoyment, the great presence of faith and that little sparks of fulfillment.

eClIpSe

ECLIPSE

ESPILCE

Sun shines as a child chooses to dream,

That blossoms the imagination,

Grows the dream, and,

Warms the desire…

For the sun ray success,

Illuminate the meaning –

Everyday and life…

For the sun spells,

Happiness that burned,

From the day the child sees that sun…

Let the child reach the sun,

Let it burn in the hands and succeed.

For that sun is the reason,

Why the child finds a new day…

But as the sun lives in ember,

As, in reality, will always be,

Covered by the moon –

That introduces dim,

Despair, impossibility and not.

To get the light of dream,

And to get the sun,

Is to see that flame,

Beyond what is crescent…

For, again, in reality, the eclipse will

Always occur – always be,

Always is…

The burden there now, is –

To see the sun,

To let the rays pass through,

To be not covered by the moon,

To see the eclipse on the other side…

To dream!

iSn'T iT fUnNy?

FUNNY?

Isn’t it funny why people dream?

I want fame, I want money, I want a car,

I want to learn, I want to study, I want to be –

A doctor, a model, a writer,

An artist, a father, a person.

Whatever the dream may be,

It creates a passion, that,

Would never be, can never be…

GONE.

Isn’t it funny that children idolize?

Voltes V, Recca, Popeye,

Spongebob, Mickey and Ash.

Captivated on the ideal, the typical,

Fiction of entertainment?

Still, these cartoons, is where the children first –

Learn to want, learn to be what they are,

Know where they will go,

The basics, so-called,

In starting the burn of Dream…

Isn’t it funny how different people dream?

Some want a new bag, a new gizmo…

Some want to enter school, to be able to read…

Some want to go abroad, to travel…

And some want to eat three meals a day…

This is not to compare, but this is to

SEE

To see that people can dream, people have them,

People are full of them.

But the funny thing in difference is that –

For some, dreams are desires,

And for some, are hopes, to reach the point,

The point where that first some, started to dislike…

I Dream,

I dream that someday…

Someday, dreams will not just be-

Exclusive.

I dream that someday,

Someday, when a person starts to dream,

Is the day that person, walks toward that dream…

For that is, what they call,

DREAMING…