Ang Langaw Sa Ibabaw Ng Kalabaw

"Ayoko ng tinatapakan ako, ayoko ng masikip,
ayoko ng mabaho, ayoko ng walang tubig,
ayoko ng walang pagkain, ayoko ng putik!!!”

----Maricel Soriano to Gina Alajar in

Maryo J. de los Reyes' “Kaya Kong Abutin Ang Langit”

Kung saan madumi, nakadidiri, mabaho, may nakasusulasok na amoy, (hhmm.. <--ano ang ibig sabihin nun? Heheh.) maantot, nabubulok at napapanis dun naman nagsusumiksik at nagsususuot ang mga pasaway na mga langaw. Di ko nga alam sa kanila kung bakit ganun ang preferences nila, samantalang halos lahat ang gusto ay ang mga bagay at lugar na malilinis, mababango, maayos, magaganda at kaaya-aya. Anu bang meron dun? May ginto kaya dun? O baka may mapagkakakitaan dun?

Na-enganyo tuloy akong silipin at pag-aralang saglit ang buhay ng dalawang magkaibang nilalang----ang langaw at ang kalabaw. Wala naman silang outstanding similarities kaya hindi sila mahirap i-distinguish sa isa’t-isa. Andami nilang differences kaya madali rin silang bigyan ng kakanyahan. Para sa akin, napakakontrobersyal ng phrase na ito: “…para lang siyang langaw sa ibabaw ng kalabaw.”. Oo, napakahilig nating mga Pinoy sa mga katulad nitong mga pasaring na tila simple lang ibig sabihin ngunit may subliminal na mensaheng nais ipahatid. Sabi nila sadyang maka-Silangan ang ganitong pagpapahayag ng damdamin. Hindi tayo sanay na diretso ang pagpapahayag ng ating mga damdamin o saloobin. Kaya puro pasaring na lang ang ating sandata upang maipahayag ito at ng hindi ganun katindi epekto nito sa taong pinag-uukulan.

Eto ang mga resulta sa mga na-research ko tungkol sa mga langaw. Biruin mo andami palang mata ng isang langaw. Flies have over 4,000 facets for sight in each eye. Flies are attracted by movement more than color. Flies have a smelling distance of over 750 yards. Eto pa, a fly's feeding range is usually limited to two miles. Malayo rin pala ang nararating nila bilang mga ‘mini scavengers’. Di niyo ba alam na, a single garbage can, if not emptied, can be the breeding ground for 30,000 flies. Wala silang konsepto ng “family planning”. At eto pa, during warm weather, a fly can produce a family generation in less than two weeks. Kaya pala ang sobrang bilis nilang dumami.

Eto naman ang mga na-research ko tungkol sa mga kalabaw. Anga kalabaw o carabao ay kilala bilang beast of burden. Sobrang sipag nila. Biruin mo maglakad ka ba naman ng paulit-ulit sa iisang lupain. Kilala rin sila bilang mga water buffalo. Lagi silang nasa putikan. Malamang hindi nila kasama si Maricel Soriano. (Hehehe..) Kasi ayaw niya dun, sinu ba naman ang may gusto bumilad sa araw at sa maligo o magbabad sa putikan. Eto pa, alam niyo ba na before about 1925, a carabao costs 50 pesos. Syempre pa, the carabao is considered as a national symbol of the Philippines. Simbolo daw kasi ito ng kasipagan kaya siya napili. (Sana totoo nga!) Alam nyo ba na may island na malapit sa Manila Bay na ang pangalan ay Carabao. (Eh anu naman?! Hehehe..)

Marami pa tayong pwedeng malaman tungkol sa dalawang nilalang na ito. Maari pa tayong mabigla sa mga bagong madidiskubre natin tungkol sa kanila. Eh anu naman ang kinalaman nun sa mga katagang: “…para lang siyang isang langaw sa ibabaw ng kalabaw.”? Ewan ko. Mahirap bigyang buhay ang eksaktong diwa nito. Eh anu naman kung may langaw sa ibabaw ng kalabaw?! May masasaktan ba? May mamamatay ba?

Minsan ang hirap hanapan ng tamang perspektibo ang mga katagang tulad nito. Kasi maraming possibleng ibig sabihin ito. Puno ng pag-aalinlangan kung tama ba, mali ba, sobra ba o kulang ba ang pagbibigay interpretasyon sa mga tulad nito. Pwede rin kasi itong manggaling sa isang kapwa langaw niya na naiinggit lang at nais rin maabot ang ganoong estado. Maari rin sa isang concerned citizen na langaw na nakakapansin. Pwede rin naman sa kalabaw na tinutung-tungan at walang malay na tini-take advantage siya. O di kaya sa kanya mismo, na minsan lang makalasap ng makarating sa itaas ay siya namang tindi ng pagyurak sa mga nasa ibaba. May mga dapat unawain at may mga hindi. Nilalang din sila ng Diyos kaya't sila rin ay may saysay.

Ang hirap sigurong maging langaw? Eh ang maging kalabaw?

Minsan kasi ‘tao’ rin sila eh.

Do You Have A Rich Personality?

I'm having a hard time to arrange and reminisce all the memories that we had while we were in our Caticlan Mission and Boracay Treat, specifically putting the right words to suit the right emotions. Whew! So, I decided to share this test that I took a week before our mission work. Try this also if you have time (www.thirdage.com) ! Be a millionaire, think like a millionaire! (Hehehe... At least kahit dun lang.. Thank God! I know I'll be one of them someday..sooner!!! Hehehe..)
Check out the result of the quiz that I took:

The Contender

Missed it by that much. Does that mean you'll never make it to the Valhalla of wealth, the Millionaire's Club? On the contrary, you show nearly every indication that you're on your way to full-member status. You're like a great and gifted pupil -- full of potential, and well trained. But you still might need to fine-tune your art before attaining full-fledged wealth-master status.

Can You Snatch the Pebble?

Clearly, you have studied the sacred scrolls and learned from the experts. You are a money scholar, and you've set out to build your wealth by the book. But maybe you interpreted the texts a bit too literally. You've got guts, toughness. Somewhere along the line you've learned perseverance -- an essential attribute for anyone who wants someday to be rich.

However, be wary of this gift. The extreme of perseverance is obstinacy -- a trait that can be incompatible with the business of making millions. Don't try to do everything yourself. Avoid being hidebound to the idea that you must overcome every obstacle, prove all of your doubters wrong. This may fuel your resolve but, ultimately, it will distract you from your primary mission: seeking opportunities, taking the measure of their potential and exploiting them. Sounds like a lot more fun than knocking your head against a wall, doesn't it?

The Right Stuff

Your family is one of the many factors in your favor. In "The Millionaire Mind," Dr. Thomas Stanley discovered that nearly all of the millionaires he interviewed for his book said that spending time with family was compatible with wealth building, not a distraction from it. Remember that the next time you're faced with the choice of rebalancing your portfolio or going to your daughter's swim meet.

What's more, you've got integrity. That's good, because on this path you'd be lost without it. Integrity and honesty are not just important for living well, but markers of financially successful people. If, as Stanley's millionaires point out, you do wrong by your clients, your suppliers, your employees, what chance have you to sell them your ideas and gain their trust?

Summary

You're on the right track. Pick your battles carefully and listen to your inner voice. Develop a love for what you do, or find another occupation that makes you want to leap out of bed each morning.

Mother's Prayer

Lord,

As I wake up early this day
I praise You for giving me this life to shop and pray

I adore Your Name beyond all the famous shopping malls
I exalt You on high beyond the dollar’s increase in the market tolls

I lift You up in the midst of the worst traffic schemes
I honor You beyond the horror of shopping screams

Forgive me, Oh Lord if I limit Your power in my wallet
Pardon me, if I don’t know how to control my pocket

I’m sorry for sometimes I exceed in my budget
Cleanse me with the salary and income that I get

Wash me with You blood as I allocate my family’s priority and needs
Purify my children from begging too much money, without any good reason indeed

I repent Lord that I worry a lot about tomorrow
But surely I thank You for saving us from deep sorrow and the need to borrow

I am forever grateful to You for not making our refrigerator empty
And for giving us the food that’s not too sweet nor too salty

I thank You for giving me a husband to share these responsibilities
Even though we also share the burden of monthly bills for our utilities

I appreciate You for guiding and teaching my children to learn everyday
Enabling them to lead a quality Christian life someday

Thanks for fetching them up with security and assurance as they travel
Thanks for helping us, as parents, to understand things that they want to unravel

Thanks for letting me wake up early in the morning just to check if they’re okay
Even just to give their “baon”, would mean to me a special way

Heal me from any sickness that I’m feeling, as what You can see
Please don’t let my kids, ask for more money, as if they have “kidnapped” me

Let my husband realize that he needs to train himself to wake up early
Bless my family and this nation that we may continue to love each other dearly

Lastly, bless me Father as I wear my apron and “duster”,
That I may become Your servant and not just to be a good mother

But I have to live a life for Christ, to work and to love forever
Which I have found in their heart, a home to live together

In Jesus‘ Name, with faith and love I pray.

Amen.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!


Created: 05102002
Event: Mother's Day

What Is So Amazing About Grace?

Actually, I shouldn’t have this article for this day. I have another topic in mind. But since, I am having a hard time figuring out the right outline for that article, I decided to post this one since my neurons tell me that I must post this first. (Hhmm… Nag-eexplain pa, pwede namang wala. Hehehe…)

Okay. Fine.

I am really amazed about God’s grace. It seems that as a Christian, the word, ‘grace’ has been overused, harassed, unknown, and most often than not, misused and hackneyed. It’s like it has been considered as a Christian expression that it has seemingly lost its real value. I’m not saying that all Christians don’t give much value on the significance and usage of the word ‘grace’. But what I’m trying to drive at is the point that most Christians do not seem to acknowledge, appreciate, appropriately utilize and be thankful for it when it comes. Essentially, at first, one can really have a hard time identifying, appreciating, utilizing, and being thankful for it because it’s really the nature of grace. But if you are that sensitive enough to God’s ways and you have a deep and healthy relationship with Him, you won’t have this as a problem. In fact, the more we know and understand God’s nature, the more we can explore and appreciate His works and ways such as His grace.

Everyday, we are bombarded with different circumstances. And most of the time, it gives us stress, squeezes our character, stretches us to our limits, gets our joy of living, robs our budget, ruins our delicate faces (Delicate?! Baby?! Hehehe…), wounds our hearts and a long list of hurts and pains goes on. (Andami naman, buti buhay ka pa?! Hehehe...) How do we react on, in and with those situations? Do you easily grumble, or put the blame on God, or somehow would like to give up on life?

Well, at first glance, it is very easy for us to react on such things. But think twice!! Mag ‘hunos-dili’!! Aren’t you amazed on how God wakes you up with a ‘grand spotlight’? And that for the rest of the day it never fails to follow you in different angles? (Hehehe… I feel that way too, except during rainy seasons. Hehehe…) That every time you have no batteries for your alarm clock and you’re late to cook for breakfast, God has set a natural alarm clock that has an automatic snooze and by the time it stops you can fry it. (Hehehe… Whoala! Alarm clock turned breakfast. How frugal!) Aren’t you aware that God dresses the flowers of the fields without the flowers worrying on what uniform they should wear, or if they can still be considered a ‘fashionista’? Do you know that God has prepared the biggest and grandest eat-all-you-can buffet that no one can imagine? (Of course, we should discipline our eating habits. Not everything is edible in a buffet, right?! Some are intended to just garnish and not to be eaten. Don’t practice gluttony. Tsk. Tsk. Kaya maraming nauubusan sa pila eh.) Do you know that God has built the oldest university? Yeah, it’s the University of ‘Life’. (Hehehe… Syempre lahat enrolled. No hassle na sa pagpila sa Registrar at Accounting.) And aside from that, God, our Dean, has left us with the greatest teacher of all, the Holy Spirit. (Wow! Syempre pa, laging Siyang present. Hehehe…) Aren’t you aware that God never fails to give us our daily wage or salary or allowance on time? It’s only us who doesn’t know how to budget it that’s why most of the time we are always broke. In addition to that, most Christians are not paying their spiritual taxes like their tithes. Do you notice how God cheers us up when we are tired? For a mother, the laughter of a baby or her child, the success of raising up a well-mannered son or daughter, a nice long chat with friends or neighbors (Daldalan at tawanan to the max ito! Hehehe…), or even a shopping spree. For a father, an enough provision for his family, the assurance and security of his family members, a nice basketball game or chess tournament, a fixed ceiling or water pipe (Syempre sino ang gagawa?! Hehehe…), or even a new car. For a student/teenager, a passing grade, a nice remark from the teachers and his parents, an all-expense paid gimmick (In your dreams!), or even graduating with flying colors. For an employee, an on-time salary, a promotion, a longer nap after lunch (Huh?! Half-day ka na lang sana! Buti pumasok ka pa?! Hehehe…), the approval from the boss, or even a significant bonus. See how God showers His grace to all of us. Yet still we don’t notice, identify and in fact be thankful for it. We are always asking for a grand blessing to come or even to drown us before we become thankful, happy and satisfied.

Not to be too spiritual, but I believe that everyday God showers a sufficient amount of grace to sustain us. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) Blessings can come to us in many faces, natures or characters. They may be in disguise but we can still call them through their names. For a blessing that you’ve prayed and eventually God answered, then it is called an answered prayer. A blessing that you’ve worked for, it is called a fruit of labor. A blessing that you expect to come, it is called a provision. When a blessing has no human intervention or any human work involved or can’t be explained, it is called a miracle. When a blessing is noticed and shared, it is called a testimony. When a blessing is deserved, it is called a reward. A blessing earned is called a favor. A blessing observed is called a Godly experience. A blessing unnoticed yet expected is called a blessing in disguise. We can define more and more things about blessings as they come to us. And they actually bring us back to our senses.

I may not define ‘grace’ technically or spiritually. (Wow! Sa haba nun di ko pa na-identify. Tsk. Tsk. Hehehe…) I may not have the sufficient words to convince you how to define grace. It seems that every time I get to confine the word grace into a series of events, sentences, paragraphs, stories, testimonies, or even lives of different people, I always fail to consider more and more of it. It seems that grace like love can’t be placed in a box. I’m only left with reminder of the Calvary, the Cross and His Compassion. It may appear as too simple yet it is very sincere.

What is so amazing about grace? I believe it’s self-explanatory. A lifelong answer.

An undeserved blessing. Unnoticed. Unexpected. Undefined.

(I got the title from Phillip Yancey’s bestselling book. I didn’t have the chance to talk to him about this, but I will be when we meet each other either at joint fellowships, or at the ‘traysikelan’, in parties, in gimmicks, or in cooking seminars, or at any place convenient for him. (Wow! How courteous of me! Hehehe…) Honestly, we don’t know each other, but soon we will be. (As if!! Hehehe…))

ENTREPRENEURIAL LEGISLATION: The Art of Robbing the Nation

Entrepreneurial Legislation----a socio-political concept of executing or constituting business transactions out of law-making or legislation. Etymologically, the word “entrepreneurial”, means running a business enterprise, and “legislation” means the act or process of law-making; which we can obviously draw the foundation of this idea. Many of our lawmakers have enriched themselves while in office, and while many are conscientiously honest, the majority operates in a setup that is structured around the hunt for spoils. (Chua and Coronel, The Perks of Lawmaking) It explains how lawmakers of the majority have earned so much for themselves without taking into consideration the achievement of proper implementation and creation of policies or laws for the common benefit. It illustrates the reality of what a legislator should do primarily being elected by the people, and be responsible enough in doing their jobs for what they’ve been called for.

Legislators ought to be responsible to legislate and not to transact business neither to protect their business nor their business partners. Their priority is make laws and policies which will regulate, promote and secure the attainment of common good, and not being biased to which class they belong. No one shall be above the law. Laws should treat all individuals equal, regardless of their political, social, and economic influence. Hence, these things or concepts of what a law should be are merely endangered in existence. Most of our legislators consider legislation as a “sideline” rather than a priority. They even make laws to satisfy their business necessities. Most of the time, to maintain a stable relationship with their business partners and sustain their social status by giving favors to influential people or to business tycoons. All of these reasons lead us to a specific point of view. It all boils down to their ‘greatest intention’----their insatiable hunger and greed for money and power. Thus, making it enough to oxidize them and to frivolously and unconscientiously take away the breath of every starving and expecting Filipino citizen.

Needless to say, the legislators in the image of “traditional politicians” (TRAPO) and the businessmen especially the business tycoons, moguls and magnates have created a haven for them within the halls of legislative proceedings which eventually influenced and made our laws very rigorous and harsh to ordinary naive people, but very tender and placid for them. For this reason, it undoubtedly leads us to a conclusion of why our country lives in an impoverished and bleak stature. And this is why the gap between the glamorous circles of the elite and squatting perimeters of the mass continues to grow. The rich becomes even richer; the poor becomes indigently frail, making our laws cheaper and futile. It is only because most of our legislators are continuously robbing people’s money through selling and making laws out of corporate and personal benefits only and not for everybody.

The continuing fad of graft and corruption through entrepreneurial legislation in both Congress and Senate evenly progress like a contagious disease which will eventually contaminate the whole legislative body and the whole government system as well, if it would not be prohibited through proper actions or remedies. Legislators should take into consideration that there are many crises in our country that should be given enough attention rather than piling-up huge money in their personal bank books. They should focus on creating and implementing effective and efficient laws and policies, which will help solve those crises with its suitable, equal and appropriate performance.

The government’s budget deficit bulges, that as it increases our budget for the local expenses decreases and even becomes stringent and stiff. Our legislators should understand and realize that their immediate success should be proportionately equal to every common citizen who voted for them with trust and loyalty. They should concentrate in uplifting the lives of the ordinary individuals and that they may have what is due for them accordingly with what our law states. Pondering on the idea, the national survival and progress depends on how they perform their duties and responsibilities with dignity and pure integrity. And that every citizen paying their taxes and abiding to the laws should benefit equally from the laws that they make. Giving emphasis, our laws and policies are for everybody, but it is not cheap----always available, but not for sale!

**This is a re-post. I took it from my old, dead, ‘nilulumot’ and inept blogsite. And now, I’m sharing it again. I wrote this article for my subject in college, Dynamics of Philippine Politics. This article is inspired by the ‘forbidden’ book in Congress entitled "The Rulemakers" by Sheila S. Coronel and Yvonne T. Chua.

Hating Ships, Loving Water and Loving God More

I really hate riding on ships.

Thank God, I haven’t had any chance to ride any of those; and I’m not planning to. (How about a ‘special escapade cruise’?!----It depends where, when and with whom. You know, special escapade cruises, though very expensive, are more relaxing and has a soothing, calming and tranquilizing effect for its passengers unlike the normal course of sailing: boring and very tedious. Hehehe..)

I just hate it. I really hate the feeling of vomiting, the “nausea-tic” effect while traversing the monotonous view of the ranging waters----the queasiness that it brings and perturbed feeling while spending long hours of waiting and wandering. It’s like having emetophobia (fear of vomiting), illyngophobia (fear of vertigo or feeling dizzy when looking down), cymophobia (fear of waves), potamophobia (fear of rivers or running water) and selachophobia (fear of sharks) ----all rolled into one. Actually, I don’t have any of those; I just feel researching and stating them. Hehehe… I feel threatened whenever I hear stories of sharks playing under the ship and eventually surrounding it. I hate ‘Titanic effects’, though romantic still it’s tragic. (Wow! How poetic! Hehehe… I can’t stand romance trapped into a tragedy. And who wants to?! Maybe Romeo and Juliet?!) I feel uncomfortable not because I don’t know how to swim, (huh, I had my swimming lessons when I was still in grade school with my village friends.) but because of the threatening stories I hear from those who have ridden ships most of their lives.

Ironically, I love water. In fact, I can’t live without it. Everyday I consume many liters of water just to keep me going for the rest of the day. As an effect, I sweat a lot. There are times I just feel that I have more water than blood in my body. (Doc, is that a fact?! Hehehe...)

I remember when I was confined in the hospital for almost 2 weeks because of Dengue. My doctor told me that I was also suffering from dehydration. Huh?! I was shocked. Almost all my life, every night and day, I always have a bottle of water with me. And I see to it that it is always empty before I sleep at night. And now, a doctor telling me that I was also suffering from dehydration?! Eventually, he explained to me the secondary effects of Dengue such as dehydration. It’s funny that almost all of my visitors have this uniformity of idea of bringing lots of liquids such Gatorade (except the dark-colored ones) and almost all brands of mineral water available. Every hour, I get to drink at least 10 liters of water and 5 bottles of Gatorade. (Isn’t that enough?!) I almost drown myself with water and Gatorade trying to hydrate myself once again. It seems like I had an insatiable thirst that no liquid could or will ever quench. (Hmm…O.A.?! Hehehe...) Yeah, that’s true. Thank God, as I was discharged from the hospital, I felt like I have no more blood running through the veins of my body instead I have tons of water flowing in my system keeping me alive. Hehehe... I almost considered the idea of passing a ‘two-week VTR’ to the advertisers of Gatorade and almost all brands of mineral water, thinking that I would be a very efficient and effective endorser of the said brands; and to prove that they have healing effects in a regular usage. Hehehe... At least now, I’m back to my normal life of drinking normal liters of water everyday. And thank God, I’m also normally hydrated.

See how I love water and I hate ships.

This coming May 15-20, 2006, our church has organized a medical/dental mission, film showing and concert in Caticlan (Boracay). I really love to join in that mission work. But I’m also caught in a dilemma of whether joining them in a ship (Come on! Have I not over-emphasized how I hate riding on ships?!) or taking a delayed flight on May 18 (Grr… all flights going to Aklan: fully booked. I don’t believe it. My mom said, some airlines do not allow passengers to occupy the seats at the back part of the plane. And they are not explaining why.) Take note, the whole mission trip will end on May 20, don’t you think it’s not worth going if I only have at least 2 days to spend it with them? (How impractical!) To think, if I will take that May 18 flight to Aklan, the only flight available coming back to Manila will be on May 30. (Don’t you think that’s too much for a vacation?! Hehehe… Plus the fact that I have to enroll on May 26 for law school.) Or the option of joining them, forgetting my anxieties, surrendering my ‘fears’ to God (How spiritual, but it’s true, and that’s the way it should be.) and overcoming the things that I hate for the sake of loving God more and deeply serving Him through this mission, film showing and concert.

I know some would say that it is not a dilemma. Some would even think that this problem is so petty considering that financial difficulties should be given more emphasis. But come to think of it, inasmuch as I want to think about the financial predicaments that this trip would entail, I believe that each participant-minister of this mission work should have the right reasons for doing this mission. That there are still issues that one should consider before going to the mission field. I thank God for dealing mine as 'petty' as it may appear; and other things that need a revamp and repair. Others may have concerns bigger and more serious issues than hating ships, abhorring nausea and dizziness, overcoming phobias, and being threatened by playful sharks. Others may have certain issues of the heart, or attitudes, or character, we don’t know. But it’s not my business to criticize neither to scrutinize anyone. I believe that God has prepared each minister that He sends to the mission field to sow more souls for Him; and harvest fruits for His glory. That’s the big deal!

Come to think of it, it’s more than---hating ships and loving water, it’s all about loving God MORE!!!!

P.S.: Please pray for our Caticlan Mission. Please pray also for the people of Caticlan that may God open their spiritual eyes and ears for the God’s Word of salvation and healing. Please pray for a continuous financial support for our mission works.

Thanks. God bless!

My Prayer Song

HEART OF WORSHIP
Matt Redman

When the music fades,
All is stripped away
And I simple come
Longing just to bring,
Something that’s of worth
That will bless Your heart

King of endless worth,
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I’m weak and poor,
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
All about You, Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the things I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus