Colop coy mantibok, ampangisip-isip
Lawas yan ancasalak, balo cot anolis
Cabigan a calma, main acon nakit
Labas a ayos, balo cot mangitit.
Wamo no labas a lalaki
Anggano marublom, anlalako co siempre
Maco aco conan inaro con kayumanggi.
No laluma balo, anggano bulan
Makakyas, anlulbag a lalaman
Matuynong a punta, kae angonoron a dalan.
A few days before Christmas, people go to the shopping malls and public markets to buy some gift items for their relatives and friends. I want to go and do the same but I can’t because I am already 95 years old who are sitting on a wheelchair and nobody can bring me there.
A few days before Christmas, people go to Christmas parties and enjoy with their friends and relatives. I want to go and do the same but I have arthritis already and I can’t dance anymore. I have Alzheimer’s disease too and I can’t remember the lyrics of my favorite songs.
On Christmas Day, people rise up early from bed and take a shower. Then, people prepare their Christmas meals. I want to do it the same but I can’t do it anymore by myself. I can’t rise up and there is tremendous leg and back pains every time I move my body.
On Christmas Day, people enjoy eating their meals and having happily chatting with their friends, neighbors and relatives. I want to stay longer with them and feel their presence but I can’t do it anymore. I can’t sit on my wheelchair longer because I get easily tired and there is a back pain. I can’t easily process and feel confused with the various information that I can hear. I get easily sleep on my wheelchair if nobody is interested to talk with me.
On Christmas Day, people hear the Holy Mass and visit some tourist spots. I want to go with them but nobody invites me. I used to stay at home sitting on my wheelchair or lying on my bed. I have many thoughts, feel hopeless and lonely.
Before New Year’s Day, people go to the supermarkets and buy food items. I want to do the same but I can’t go there by myself and I have no enough money to buy some foods.
On New Year’s Eve, people cook several foods and prepare them on the dining table with fresh fruits and cold desserts. I want to do it the same but I can’t do it anymore.
On New Year’s Eve, people go outside their houses. They light up their pyrotechnics and firecrackers on the sky. I want to view these things even on my window but I can’t see these lights clearly anymore because I have both eyes cataract. Instead, I tend to sleep on my bed calmly.
On New Year’s Day, people hear the Holy Mass again then they go to shopping malls and have a walk on some tourist spots. I want to go with them but again nobody invites me and brings me there.
Naynay tana congco, lolo catatangis
No sicay cayna biyay a maisip-isip
Siay luwa sa mata mantulo mapilit
Bana sa labi mon bigla mon inalis
Ayte moyna kari, ayte mo inimbi
A pamilabi ta tan pamikawili
Hino ya cot orin labas a babaye
A namiwan mon maigot nin labi
Mangibat sa wanin cakoyna mangoman
Makilabi-labi maparas manglingwan
Ta no maisip-isip tan mapapanumtuman
Siay luwa sa mata, permin balayabay.
Mangibat sa wanin cayco na umanon
Makilabi-labin maganap a nakom
Ta no maisip-isip tan mapapanumtuman
Siay luwa sa mata, permi yan andaloy
Siay canakoman ko, alangan ya comon
Ta masubot abrian a buboy
Tagarilya dila, kulop kon man-goygoy
Sa calak-an moyo sa kongco mampangimaton
Cayco comon magwa, nacom koy masubot
Magcanta sa sayte, o campo nical ngod
Anggan cantan bungat, ambo nin maganos
Malayop a oras, caldungan kan say-ngot
Cayco comon magawa, nacom ko tan buboy
Umarap sa campo ta ambo marunong
Nakaragdag congko, nakapatpol nacom
Galang yay nanugo, wangcon balangunon.
Sin sicoy sinmiban a inalila la
Mangibat sinlumbit hilay nagpasensya
Lalo sin nilumwas lako a irap la
Lalo pamasuso tan pamiliwaliwa
Sa wanin balo ta sinmiban ako
Isugo lako wari cot kayko nin mako
Ta ibuyboy la kongco a pamasiban la
Kayco makabayar anggan sa angga
Thanks God, I am still alive,
Coz I have the mission to survive,
And have the human rights for life.
They need my presence and tender, loving care,
Thus, they always ready to support my basic needs.
Thanks God, I am still alive,
To breathe the fresh air and hear the sound of the wind,
To see the raindrops falling on the green leaves,
To smell the favorite foods on the table,
And ready to eat fruits and drink milk any time.
Thanks God, I am still alive.
To hear the Holy Mass every Sunday,
To strengthen my faith on Him and receive His blessings,
To glorify and praise Him because of the wonderful things,
That He had given to me including my own life.
Salve
(Zambal prayer recited by my 92-year old mother, Teofila Mas Meron)
Salve, Santa Marian ari
Ina a mapaengangaro
Sicay cabiayan tan casamitan
Sicay mampasimalaan mi
Salve, hicay mancatanawon mi
Pinalakwan tawon anak ni Eva
Hicay mampanginawawon mi
Malawig catatangis iti sa luta sankaluluan
Hicay mampatrunan mi
ilinga mo sa comi
silay luway mata mo
nin maipangangaro
ta baling mayari ana
pamanlakwan mo sa comi
ipakit sa comi
hilay luway mata mo maipangangaro
ta baling mayari ana iti
pamalakwan mo sa comi
ipakit mo sa comi
a anak mo si Hesus
O marunong, maipangangaro
Masamit lawas Birhen Maria
Ipasisingaro mo kami
Ha masantan ina nan Dios
Pigaw kami comana, makinabang
Ha mablin taw tipan ni Jesukristo. Amen
You are a great mother to me.
Because you gave me life and showed me the world;
You are a special mother to me.
Because you care and love me tenderly;
You are a wonderful teacher to me.
Because you teach and guide me all the time;
With that, I wish you a great, special and wonderful Mother’s Day.
The days of sorrow in the Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday had ended. Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the tomb after the death of His physical body. Easter Sunday also celebrates the joyful meeting of the Lord Jesus Christ with His loving mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. How could you imagine how happy they are.
In the Philippines, the Easter Sunday tradition started as early as 4 o’clock in the morning of Sunday. There was a separate processions of the all the saints of the Catholic church together with the veiled Blessed Virgin Mary in one procession and the Lord Jesus Christ in another procession wherein people in both processions play sorrowful music. In one point of the crossroad in the community, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Lord Jesus Christ will meet each other in that particular place which starts the unveiling ceremony. A young girl, dressed up like an angel in the air will unveil the Blessed Virgin Mary in order to see her beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Then, after the unveiling ceremony, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Lord Jesus Christ go back together into the Roman Catholic church. The people in the procession will sing together with happy church songs during the unveiling ceremony and while going back to the church.
When was the last time that you had visited your mother or your child? When was the last time that you had spent time to talk with your mother or your child? When was the last time that you had served foods and spoon fed your mother or your child? When was the last time that you lifted up your mother or your child? When was the last time that you had changed the diaper and dressed up your mother or your child? Maybe your answer varies from one another. Your answer might be a few minutes ago, a few hours ago, a few days ago, a few months ago, a few years ago, a number of years ago or it never happened.
Good Friday is a day of sorrow. This was the day when the Blessed Mother, Virgin Mary, cried over the death of her beloved Son, Jesus Christ. This was the same day when the Lord Jesus Christ tearfully seen His loving mother crying continuously until no more tears came out from His mother’s eyes. The truth behind this was the moment of dying brings out pains physically, mentally and emotionally particularly between the mother and child. Sometimes, the bonding break up may lead and result into a severe depression if not properly managed by concerned individuals.
People in the Philippines went to their provinces on Holy Week. They visited several churches or so called “Bisita Iglesia” to offer prayers. Every province had unique practices in observing the Holy Week. The Lenten season initially started at Ash Wednesday. It was followed by a number of bible readings that narrate the life of the Lord Jesus Christ commonly sung in traditional tune by the elderly citizens once a week in their respective homes or churches or so called “pasyon”. Starting Ash Wednesday, fasting and abstinence practices were observed. In the Roman Catholic practices, Holy Week started in the Palm Sunday wherein people come together to greet and welcome Jesus Christ with the Palm leaves. Then, comes the Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday. During this period, Filipino families were mostly observed silence which means no disturbing noise anytime and anywhere. They were just reflecting, meditating, fasting and praying in silence at home or in the church. In the Holy Wednesday, the Holy Images of the apostles or disciples including Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ were shown to the people or so called “prusisyon” with candles and people walked together along the street to offer prayers to the Holy Saints and to the Lord Jesus Christ. Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday were a three-day of reflection, meditation, visitation and prayers wherein silence is properly observed. People reflected the sacrifices of our Lord Jesus Christ together with her blessed mother. Christian people remembered the physical and emotional pains of the Lord Jesus Christ which He had experienced together with His sorrowful mother that bring them into tears. The Easter Sunday ended up the Holy Week wherein the Christian people remember how the apostles witness the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ which bring back absolute happiness to His mother, the blessed Virgin Mary.
Hands-on 