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Masaya ba ako?

May nagtanong sa akin kahapon
kung masaya ba daw ako sa
aking kasalukuyang trabaho.
Napaisip ako sa tanong niya.
Totoo, hindi ako sigurado sa sagot ko.

Siguro, hindi.
Sa isang banda, hindi ako masaya
dahil marami akong gustong gawin
sa buhay ko na alam ko kaya ko.

Marami akong pangarap
na gusto ko pang abutin.
Gusto kong maglakbay
sa buong Pilipinas
at sa buong mundo.

Pero, alam ko rin na masaya ako
dahil nakakatulong ako sa ibang tao.
Mas nakikilala ko ang sarili ko
sa trabaho ko ngayon dahil
sa mga araw-araw na
pakikipagsamaluha sa kanila.

Maraming aral akong natutunan
sa pakikipag-usap ko sa mga lola
at lolo na nagpapagawa ng affidavit
dahil nawalan sila ng senior citizen's ID.

Nalulungkot ako kapag may pamilya
na napipilitang humingi ng tulong
dahil wala na silang maibayad sa ospital.

Naaawa ako sa mga punong barangay
na pumupunta sa opisina dahil
sa mga problema sa araw-araw
na bumabagabag sa kanila.

Humahanga ako sa mga kasama
sa trabaho na taos pusong
nagtatrabaho.

sa mga simpleng tao ako
natutututong magsilbi.

Paano

Gusto kong gumising bukas
na masaya at mapayapa
kasama ang aking munting anghel
na mahigpit mong niyayakap
sa bawat oras na magkasama tayo.

Halika, samahan mo kami
maglaro sa bakuran nang bahay
nang tumbang preso, sipa at taguan.
Tara! magsaya tayo.

Ang saya ng kahapon.
Ang saya natin nuon.
Naririnig ko pa ang mga halakhak
ang mga walang katapusang takbuhan
sa bukid man o dalampasigan.

Patuloy akong umaasa
sa panaginip nang kahapon.
Patuloy akong naniniwala
na sa bawat pag-alis mo
ikaw ay babalik.

Lumaban ka
andito pa ang iyong pamilya
andito pa si lolo at lola
andito pa ang inay

na patuloy na nagmamahal sa iyo.

ang sulat na hindi ko matapos-tapos

Dearest Ate Elaine,

Kailan ba tayo unang nagkita?

Ay, oo, nuong nagkaroon kayo ng isang training sa Tagbilaran. Suplada ka pa nun, hindi pa kasi kita kilala. Pero bilib na ako sa iyo nuon dahil progresibo ka mag-isip, isang malalim na tao.

Kaya siguro, naging magkaibigan tayo. At habang lumulipas ang panahon, lalong tumatatag ang ating pagkakaibigan. Minsan nasasaktan mo ako, minsan nasasaktan din kita. Pero hindi ka nang-iwan. Kahit malayo tayo sa isa't-isa, andiyan ka pa rin para iparamdam sa akin na may Ate Elaine ako.

Minsan nasabi ko sa iyo na malungkot ako sa bagong buhay ko dito. Ang text mong ito ang patuloy na nagpapatatag sa akin: "Nalulungkot ka kasi nasanay ka na andiyan ang malalapit mong kaibigan. Pero hindi ka dapat nalulungkot kapag nakikipaglaban. Dapat humuhugot ka ng tapang mula sa iyong pinagkatandaan, sa magandang karanasan ng buhay at pagmamahal sa Diyos at sarili."

Marami akong gustong sabihin sa iyo na hindi ko maisulat. Umaabot nga nang ilang buwan ang sulat na ito dahil hindi ko matapos-tapos. Pero kagabi, napag-isip-isip ko na hindi naman talaga kailangan na tapusin ito dahil patuloy pa rin naman ang buhay. Patuloy ang pagbabago. Patuloy ang pagkakaibigan.

Andito rin ako para sa iyo, sa kung ano man ang iyong hinaharap ngayon.

Hanggang sa muli,

amor (",)

Dearest Anna Louisa, Antoinette, Normita, Elva, and Babie Mar,

Whenever I'm asked of what phase in my life I was happiest, I would always say it was when I met all of you in high school. We shared unforgettable moments. At that time, we felt we could endure anything because we had each other.

However, time came when we faced personal struggles alone. Some struggles made us into better persons, while a few left us broken and scarred. I admit there were instances when I got scared because I was alone.

But, one thing that kept me strong all these years is the love we have for each other. That love has assured me that you will continue to love me in spite of my imperfections and faults. That love has also inspired me to do my best in everything.

God always have the best intentions in His creations. His love is beyond words. Your existence in my life is the best proof of that love.

Thank you for sharing your life with me.

Love,

Mai

Hanga Ako sa Iyo, Zyra

Pagtuturo ang natapos ko sa kolehiyo
Pumasa pa sa pasulit ng mga guro
Pwede na sana akong magturo
Ngunit, iba ang landas na niliko.

Naging manggagawa ng probinsiya
Naging manggagawa ng NGO
Naging manggagawa ng kongreso
Naging manggagawa ng mga tao.

Pero mas humahanga ako
Sa pagiging guro mo
Mas marami kang mahuhubog
Na mga kabataang busog.

Pagbabago

Umiyak
Nasaktan
Humagulhol
Nalunod.

Lumabas
Nagtanong
Nag-isip
Umintindi.

Salamat
sa minsang
masasayang
araw kasama kayo.

Sa susunod
nating pagkikita, patawad.

Pauwi

Mag-isa akong uuwi ngayong gabi
Katulad din ng mga nagdaang araw
Walang kahawak na kamay
At kausap.

Pero, masaya na ako dito
Mas gugustohin kong mag-isa ngayon.

Pipilitin kong kayanin
Habang Hinihintay ko
Ang desisyon mo.

Kaya mo pa kayang lumaban
Para sa ating dalawa?

Mahal kita
Alam mo yan
Sinabi ko na nang
Paulit-ulit sa iyo.

Hanggang kailan ako
Maghihintay
Para mahalin mo
Ulit ako?

I Love Mai

Often, I laugh at myself for doing things clamsily. I am flatfooted, so I also often stumble while walking. When I was young, I was accident-prone. I even got into a fight when I was in first grade when I accidentally broke a flower vase in school. I seldom got into fights, but when family and friends are treated unfairly, I stand up for them. One time when a classmate of my older brother tried to make fun of him, I got irked and chased the boy around campus. Eversince I was young, I never liked seeing people getting hurt and being treated unfairly by bullies. My father taught me that doing good is one thing, doing nothing about injustice is another.

My father's principles are still alive everyday in my family. We all try to pay forward the blessings each of us were given. It may not bring us wealth, but we are happy with what we have, each other. We seldom talk about mundane things at home. We used to have meetings to discuss vital issues at home, but that was seldom. Often, either we each read a book, write, eat, or do house chores. Or watch television and listen to music. Sometimes, we are more talkative outside. We have misunderstandings every now and then, but one thing is for sure, we are there for each other.

I love me. I love what I am today. I love my family. I love the people.

Devoted Mother

An extraordinary individual

Never afraid to risk,
True to your word and
Out of the ordinary pal.
Naive.
It is your childlike disposition
Everyone loves.
Teach me,
Tell me your story,
Experience loving you.

Friend

Natural and simple
Idealistic and impartial,
Notably gorgeous and
Innately good hearted
A real person and friend.

Sister, sister

Reaching
Out
Sets you
Apart from everyone else,
Remarkable
Idiosyncracy you have,
Only you.

Everyone's Angel

Zealous in any endeavor in life
Yearning to learn everything
Rapt with glee, you will always be you
An angel on earth.

Pure Heart

Each moment with you calms me
Uniquely tranquil yet persuasive
Noble in your deeds and words
It sometimes put me in a thought
Catching up on whatever you said or did
Echoing your pure heart.

Dear Papa,

Why did you leave so soon?
You could have answered my questions.
You could have explained what happened.

I know I will never find
those answers I need now.

If only you could come home.

Ice Cream

I shared a gallon of ice cream with you
Something that we seldom do
It was raining that Saturday
And we were home alone

The marsmallow tidbits got the good of me
Because I could not keep my eyes off you
Your smile, your eyes
The ice cream dripping from
The plastic spoon

You tasted like chocolate.

Kaibigan

Nandito ako bilang kaibigan mo
Inakala ko nuong una na mataray ka, pero
Natuwa ako nung nagsalita ka na
Inglesira ka din pala
At totoong tao.

Happy Me

God is good.
Each day He goes on loving us through
Modest and unassuming people,
Memories treasured are countless.
Alive I will be.

Paldo

He was without shoes and had crumpled shirt on. He was a stranger, same as the many others that came before him. Paldo, as I would call him one day, caught my attention the first time I saw him. He could have been my father. Except, my father died thirteen years ago in a hospital bed.

Paldo had a frightening face when he asked if the mayor was in. I wanted to tell him that he need not be afraid and could very well enter the room as he pleased. If I woke up at the wrong side of the bed that day, I could have treated him coldly. But, I didn't. I only had pity for the man who wanted to eat one meal that Thursday afternoon.

He came at a wrong time, too, for me. I had enough change for the jeepney trip back home. I, too, had an empty stomach. But Paldo's hunger was different. He told me he hadn't eaten for two days. I knew his hunger was longer than two days.

His presence in my life that day was heartbreaking. Paldo reminded me of my father. Tito, as friends would call him, was a very simple man. Often, he would work on an empty stomach just so he could save some food for the children and my mother. I could very well remember how he used to look like when I knew he wasn't eating much. Yet, he didn't complain. He never complained.

Paldo, too, did not complain. Despite the hunger, he smiled when I told him he looked like my father. I should have hugged him that very moment. Hugged him the way I hugged my father everytime he made me sit on his lap after the usual scolding I get from him. But, I got scared. Scared because I knew his visit was only temporary, he would still go somewhere far and leave me. Like the way my father left me.

I handed Paldo my last twenty pesos and kidded him that he better get a good meal rather than use the money for something else. How he laughed when he heard it from me. Paldo told me he used to get the same kind of scolding from his late daughter Maria.

He bid goodbye and wished to see me again someday, in a better place and time.

Maybe.

Taking A Leap

You seem to have all the good things God has
And somehow, I am at a loss on what I want to say to you
Never did I hear you complain about work and people, an
Individual who stands out by simply being down to earth
Everyday, I thank the Lord for having met you.

mahal kita kapatid

madalas akong napapahinto
sa aking ginagawa
kapag iniisip kita

minsan, gusto kitang yakapin
at sabihan na andito lang ako
naghihintay

na kausapin
yakapin
patawarin
mahalin

ilang taon din tayong nawalay
hindi nag-usap
hindi nagpatawad

at sa mga taon na iyon,
hindi ako sumuko
sa pagmamahal sa iyo

salamat,
sa pagpapatawad.

Para sa isang matalik kong kaibigan...

Eto na siguro ang pinakamasaya kong araw... sa
Bagong daan na tinatahak mo ngayon.
'Yan ay tunay na paglilingkod.
Ang puso mo ay nasa nangangailangan
Na walang hinihinging kapalit na kapangyarihan.
Ganyan si Ebyang...

mabait
matalino
mapagmahal

isang bayani sa puso ko.