Tag Archives: Filipino

Libreng Damit at mga Salamin

14 Dec

Marami akong mga panaginip na hindi ko naisusulat pagkagising ko dahil sa pagiging abala sa buhay hanggang tuluyan ko na ito makalimutan. Kaya naisip ko na bakit hindi ko ito isulat para hindi ko ito makalimutan. Bago ako matulog kagabi ay napaisip ako na ang isang tao ay pinapanganak at namamatay. Manalangin tayo at magpasalamat sa Diyos bago matulog kung tayo ay magigising pa kinabukasan para sa panibagong araw. Kagabi ay nagkaroon ako ng panaginip na tandang tanda ko pa ang mga detalye kaya habang naaalala ko pa ay sisimulan ko na itong isalaysay ngayon.

Gabi ng Sabado sa ika-14 ng Disyembre, 2025 sa aking bahay ay napanaginipan ko na naglalakad daw ako sa isang bulubunduking lugar na may mga batis. Ang mga batis ay malinaw, malinis at mababaw lamang. Nakikita ko ang mga isda na naglalanguyan sa batis. Tuwang tuwang ako na nakikita yung grupo ng naglalanguyang isda dahil nakikita ko mga tanda ng bibig nila sa ibabaw ng tubig na para bang mga tilapia ito habang nasa tabi ako ng batis. Sinubukan ko manghuli gamit ang aking kanang kamay. Malamig yung tubig sa batis nang dumampi ito sa aking kanang braso. Naswerte at nakahuli ako ng isang matabang isda na para bang Bisugo ang itsura, puti ang balat nito at nagpupumiglas pa ng ilagay ko sa aking lalagyan na parang sisidlan na gawa sa kawayan. Natuwa ako kaya nanghuli pa ako ng isa gamit ang aking kanang kamay at naging dalawa na nga ito sa dala-dala kong sisidlan. Nung magtangka ako na manghuli pa ng isa ay nahuli ko ay isang malaki at matabang hito. Ibinalik ko daw ito sa batis kasi ayaw ko ng hito. Habang pinagmamasdan ko daw ang mga isda sa gitna ng batis ay may napansin ako na isang matandang lalaki sa kabilang ibayo na parating at may dala-dalang mga bags na sa tingin ko ay tinahi at gawa niya mismo. Yari ito sa kumikinang na parang sako na walang nakasulat kahit anumang letra sa sako pero sa gilid nito ay may kulay asul na parang outline frame nito na nakatahi. Ang mga bags ay may mga bitbitan na parang panggamit kung mamimili sa supermarket. Inilapag niya yung mga bags sa mga batuhan at tuyong lupa na malapit sa batis. Maya-maya naglabas yung mama o matandang lalaki ng isang laman ng bag niya at iniabot niya ito sa akin. Nakita ko ay isang duster na pambahay na walang manggas na kulay pula at may mga desenyo ito na bulaklakin. Ang sabi ko raw sa matandang lalaki na naka-native na sumbrero na panlalaki na yari sa buli ay “Ibibigay ko ito sa Nanay ko.”

Habang ako ay naglalakad sa may tabi ng batis ay nakita ko na may kubo sa na malapit sa batis. Nakita ko na may mga inihaw na mga isda na makapal ang mga balat na kulay gray ang kulay na parang Tarian na isda itsura nito. Nakalutang sa tubig ang mga inihaw na isda na buo pa pero butas na ang mga tiyan nila na pawang wala ng mga bituka sila. Nagtataka daw ako kung bakit itinapon na lamang sa batis at hinayaang lumutang sa tubig ang mga inihaw na malalaking isda at mukhang masarap kainin ang mga ito. Tapos sabi ng matandang lalaki sa akin na “Tignan mo yung dulo ng tubo na nakatapat sa batis na nakakabit sa palikuran nila.” Napansin ko na yung dulo ng tubo ay binalot ng lumang tela at tumatagas dito ang tubig at bumabagsak sa batis na nakikita ko sa lugar na pinababagsakan ng tubig ay maputik dahil nababalot ang mga bato ng batis ng mga putik at wala akong nakikitang mga isda o anumang uri ng organismo doon kundi pawang mga bato na nababalutan ng putik lamang. Sabi ko raw sa sarili ko na madumi na ang tubig sa gawing ibaba ng batis dahil nadudumihan na ng mga tao na nakatira sa bahay na malapit sa batis.

Nagising ako sa aking unang panaginip at nakita ko ang oras na nagreflect sa kisame ng bahay ay 2:43am. Natulog uli ako.

Sa pangalawang panaginip ko ay pumunta daw ako sa isang shopping mall. Pagpasok ko raw ay nabungaran ko ang isang tindahan ng mga salamin sa mata. Yung tindera ay inalokan ako ng maraming salamin sa mata na may ibat-ibang design. Sabi niya sa akin, “Pumili ka lamang ng isa dahil ito ay libreng salamin.” Pakiwari ko ng oras na yun ay may promo sila kaya libre salamin sa mata pero Isang salamin sa mata lamang ang libre. Naglabas siya ng mga salamin sa mata one at a time na may ibat ibang desenyo at kulay. Wala pa akong nakitang mga salamin na ganito sa ibang mga shopping malls. Kahit may harang at nasa gawing gilid ako ng tindera at nakikita ko ang pagyuko-yuko niya para kumuha ng samples ng mga salamin sa drawers ng lamesa niya. May desenyo na may bulaklak at mga hayop na naka emboss sa mga salamin. May desenyo na may mga ark pa sa ibabaw ng salamin. Ang pinagtataka ko ay kung bakit yung lenses ng mata ay yung isa ay maliit ang lens nito sa kaliwa at yung isang lens sa kanan ay malaki naman. Lahat ay ganung design. Hindi balanse ang tingin ko sa itsura ng salamin na parang napapangitan ako. Tinanong ko yung tindera, “Pambabae o panlalaki ba itong salamin?” Ang sagot niya ay “Unisex”. Sinasauli ko sa kanya ang bawat pinapakita niyang salamin sa mata dahil hindi ko nagugustuhan ang design dahil hindi balanse ang laki ng lenses nito, bakit Isang maliit at Isang malaki ang lenses nito. Hanggang nag-abot ang tindera sa akin ng isang malaki at mabigat na salamin sa mata dahil yari sa bakal ang frame nito pero ang mga lenses nito ay apat na pawang malilinaw at parerehong laki nito na nakapaligid sa buong frame ng salamin. Kahit na mabigat ito ay yun na lang kinuha ko dahil sa alam ko na libre naman ito at hindi ako magbabayad. Nang kinuha ko na yung salamin sa mata ay nagulat ako ng may inilabas yung tindera ng Isang salamin sa mukha na pang lamesa na curve ang hugis nito at sa loob ng curve na salamin ay punong puno ng mga items tulad ng toothpaste, toothbrush, hand sanitizer, small lotion, etc. Ang pakiwari ko ay pagpipilian ba ito kung hindi ko kukunin ang salamin sa mata? Tinanong ko yung tindera. “Kasama ba ito sa pagpipilian o libre lang?” Ang sagot ng tindera sa akin ay “Dagdag na libre lang yan para sa iyo.” Hindi ako makapaniwala na may dalawang libreng items ako, Isang modernong salamin sa mata at Isang modernong salamin sa mukha. Ako ay lubos na nagpasalamat sa kanya dahil sa libreng items at nung paalis na ako sa tindahan ay nakita ko yung tindera na nagbigay sa akin ng dalawang libreng mga salamin na nasa counter na malapit sa exit. Maiksi ang kanyang buhok at nakasuot na puti na pang-itaas na uniporme at itim na pantalon. Napansin ko na maluhaluha ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin siya sa akin at habang ako naman ay papaalis ng tindahan. Gayunpaman, nagpasalamat pa rin ako sa kanya at tuluyan na akong umalis ng tindahan.

Nagising ako ng 5:05 ng umaga na nagreflect sa kisame ng bahay pagkatapos ng dalawang panaginip kanina lamang. Nagpasalamat ako sa Diyos sa panibagong umaga na ibinigay niya sa akin.

Hindi Ako Marunong

17 Aug

Hindi ako marunong ng wika mong Ilokano

Mabibigyan mo ba ako ng pagkakataon na mamuno?

Hindi ako marunong ng wika mong Panggalatok

Mayaya mo ba akong maglakad at umakyat ng bundok?

Hindi ako marunong ng wika mong Sambal

Makahiram kaya ako sa iyo ng sasakyan at trapal?

Hindi ako marunong ng wika mong Kapangpangan

Mapaniwala mo kaya ako na walang kasinungalingan?

Hindi ako marunong ng wika mong Tagalog

Maari mo ba akong samahan sa tabing ilog?

Hindi ako marunong ng wika mong Bikolano

Makaya ko kayang akyatin ang niyog at mga puno?

Hindi ako marunong ng wika mong Ilonggo

Magabayan mo ba ako kung saan ako patungo?

Hindi ako marunong ng wika mong Waray

Mapaghandaan mo ba ako ng mga prutas at gulay?

Hindi ako marunong ng wika mong Sebuano

Maililibre mo ba ako na hindi ako mag-aabono?

Hindi ako marunong ng wika mong Muslim

Maihahatid at magkasabay ba tayo sa gitna ng dilim?

Ako ay hindi marunong ng wika mo

Tulad ko rin, hindi ka marunong ng wika ko

Pero tayo ay mga mamamayang Pilipino

May iisang bansa at may iisang layunin

Na pinagbubuklod ng wika natin

https://livegoodtour.com/Masmeron

The Last Few Words and Cries

13 Apr

“I am telling you. Be kind to others. Help others who need your help. God bless you.”

(Teofila Mas Meron)

In times of sorrow, can you still remember the last few words of a dying person that you love most? I would like to share with you the last few words and cries of my loving mother that might break your heart and bring your eyes into tears.

10. While on her bed, my mother said with eyes closed, “Catawan, engangaro wan Mo cami. Pano na cami a pinalsa Mo?” (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Diyos ko, Kaawaan Mo kami.  Paano na kami na nilalang Mo?”

(English) “God, have mercy on us. How about us of your creation?”

At the age of 94, my mother still remember the Almighty God who created everything. In her entire life, she frequently prayed to God and attended the Holy Mass regularly.

9. On her bed, my mother said with her eyes closed, “Indo, Caca, taganan moyo co. Indo, Caca, taganan moyo co.” “Takpan! Takpan!”(Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Nanay, Ate, hintayin ninyo ako. Nanay, Ate, hintayin ninyo ako.” “Takipan! Takipan!”

(English) “Mother, Sister, wait for me. Mother, Sister, wait for me.” “Cover up!, Cover up!”

My mother was the youngest and favorite child in their family. She loved her mother and sister so much. My mother saw brilliant brightness.

8. My mother said with eyes closed, “Alalayan moyo co.” (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Tulungan ninyo ako.”

(English) “Help me.”

My mother had ready helping hands to anybody who needs help.

7. Suddenly, my mother was crying loudly while pointing her diaphragm, “Masakit eti! masakit eti!” (Zambal)

(Tagalog)”Masakit dito! masakit dito!”

(English) “Painful here! Painful here!”

My mother never complained even in rough times of her life.

6. My mother requested with eyes closed, “Dasalan moyo co.” (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Dasalan ninyo ako.”

(English) “Pray for me.”

My mother always pray for everyone’s wellness.

5. While inside the ambulance rushing into the hospital, my mother shouted, “Cacoyna labay! Cacoyna labay! Tama na! Tama na! (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Ayaw ko na!, Ayaw ko na! Tama na! Tama na!

(English) “I don’t like it! I don’t like it! Stop! Stop!

My mother never stops for being a good mother and grandmother to us.

4. While in the hospital bed, my mother said again with eyes closed, “Catawan, engangaro wan Mo cami.  Pano na cami a pinalsa mo” (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Diyos ko, Kaawaan Mo kami.  Paano na kami na nilalang Mo?”

(English) “God, have mercy on us. How about us of your creation?”

My mother was a strong believer of God. She had strong faith at all times.

3. Still on her bed, my mother said with eyes closed, “Tambayan moyo co. Tambalan moyo co.” (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Tulungan ninyo ako. Gamutin ninyo ako.”

(English) “Help me. Heal me.”

My mother was a good helper. She was very kind to children and elders.

2. Still on her bed, my mother said softly with eyes closed, “Abuloyon moyo co.” (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Tulungan ninyo ako.”

(English) “Help me.”

My mother helped her family. She really loved them so much.

1. Still on her severe body condition, my mother uttered softly, “Ya.” (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Oo.”

(English) “Yes.”

My mother had strong influential words that anybody should decide and follow.  She disciplined, guided and mentored us appropriately.

My mother just nodded her head when I talked and asked her until her complete consciousness had gone.

Yes, my mother was gone but her legacy, advises, courage, greatness, kindness, faith, laughter, memories, dreams and so forth remain in our hearts as we live.

Inaro con Kayumanggi (My Brown Love) by Teofila Mas Meron

9 Mar

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.

Don’t Just Be A Dreamer

20 Jan

This was my article before going to the United States of America on March 10, 2010.

December 20, 2008

MEYCAUAYAN COLLEGE ALUMNEWS
ALUMNEWS Feature
DON’T JUST BE A DREAMER
“Don’t just be a dreamer……. but be a doer too.” How could you figure out a young boy who came from a broken family and very poor family who tried to overcome his own struggles in life?
My parents were already separated before I was born. I did not have a father figure in our house. We did not have any real properties. We rented the lot from our neighbor and our house is made up of light materials only and no electricity at all. I studied my lessons in a dim light of lamp. My mother, as a single parent worked so hard just to support her own family. She worked in the farm during daytime and weaved mats in the evening. She was still awake at 3 o’clock in the morning. There were times that she get unpaid from farm works and insulted publicly. It had been a number of times that our family degraded, deprived and discriminated. It was very difficult to be poor. During weekends, she sold mats and vegetables in the market. She got laundry clothes from our neighborhood when farm works were not available. We were always looking for our firewood, rice and food everyday. We did not have money even for our transport which made all of us to walk back and forth several kilometers away from poblacion to the barrio every time we went there for work. I did not have enough money when I was in the elementary and high school to support my studies. At the age of 10, I was an ice buko vendor already, carrying a box of frozen items and shouting  on the streets in our hometown. I did help our family in household chores and in selling vegetables in the market. My father with his own family had physical disabilities. He had artificially-made eye due to work-related incident when he was a policeman. He had also amputated leg due to diabetes. I started to recognize my father when I was in high school when he introduced himself while we were eating in a plaza’s restaurant and when he offered help for my tuition fees in high school. I realized the hardships of my parents in raising our family; putting up things together and solving various problems. However, I retained myself in the first section of the class since elementary up to high school. I participated in some extra-curricular activities in the school.
After graduation in high school, I cried when I could not continue my studies in college because my father got sick already and my mother could no longer support me. I remembered when she said one time, “Just cut my body into pieces and sell it” “So that you have something to support for your studies” She was crying too. I cried because I got 92% general average in National College Entrance Examination but I could not enroll in college. All my classmates in the first section would go to college for the coming year. First, I took up a free 6-month training of typing course which was sponsored by the Roman Catholic Church. In the afternoon, I did tutoring to graders in exchange of “sweet potatoes” as snacks and little amount of money from our neighborhood. Besides, I had to take good care of our vegetable garden so that we have something to eat. After graduation in the vocational course, that was the time that I should  look for a better job that can provide our daily needs. But there was another problem, how could I leave my 75 year-old aunt who stayed in our house for several years to help my mother in raising our family and she had never been married. I took good care my aunt since she got an illness. Do I take good care my physically-ill aunt through her entire life or to pursue my plans in life? It was a very difficult decision.
At last, I decided to look for a job. I just my visited my aunt once or twice a year. I had been a houseboy then a fresh meat, fish, and vegetable pushcart vendor in Meycauayan City then a cigarette, candies and plastic market vendor in Olongapo City then a gasoline boy in Zambales then a factory worker of school supplies in Novaliches and finally, a textile worker in Meycauayan City. When I obtained my regular appointment, that was the time that I have to start my plans again. While working in the textile, I did enroll in Meycauayan College. I never forgot to support our family in terms of financial assistance even I was studying while working. Meycauayan College was the nearest college wherein convenient for me in terms of financial matters, distance travel and time management. This was the institution I thought that can give me a college diploma and a quality education. My expectation was really true. Even I would like to take medicine course that time but I did not have huge amount of money for the said course. Thus, I selected Biology as my major in Education. I took Education course because I want to share my knowledge to everybody.

During my college days, I performed well academically with a general weighted average of 1.78. It so happened that I was a working student then and I believed that it could be better and higher if I am just a full-time student. Despite of these, I participated in certain college activities such as impromptu speech, singing contest, been a member of a dance troupe and a contributor in the college paper. In fact, our group was the champion in the Group Pantomime Competition.
It was February 1991 when the factory wherein I was employed had been closed due to labor strike. I went back into selling cooked food in one corner of a well-known subdivision in Meycauayan just to support my last semester of study before graduation. I just borrowed monies for my jeepney fare so that I can attend the graduation ceremony together with my mother. When I stepped on the stage, I could not even stretch my legs because I am so hungry that time. I felt physically weak. My beloved mother witnessed my graduation at last in 1991.
I tried to apply for a teaching position after graduation but most private schools offered me lower salaries which were half lower salary from a textile factory where I lastly employed. One day, a friend encouraged me to apply as waiter in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia because I had a part-time job experience as waiter in an exclusive hotel in Manila. Luckily, I was hired but for the first two months abroad, I was a merchandiser in a supermarket wherein I have to lift up heavy items in a dump truck then downloading these again. I did these tasks three times a day in a 12-hour basis of work time. Again, I was not used to it. I felt so weak. The store managers could not understand the English language. They shouted and said bad words to me every time I could not carry heavy loads but I ignored it. They allowed me to transfer in a restaurant when there was somebody newly arrived from the Philippines. After I served as janitor in a Filipino restaurant then I became waiter for more than three years then a cashier/waiter wherein one of my tasks was to supervise the operation of the restaurant.
When I arrived here in the Philippines in 1994, I prepared for the Professional Board Examination for Teachers; Career Service Professional Examination which both I took in 1995. Luckily, I passed the two professional exams. In the same year, I started to practice my profession as elementary and high school teacher in a private school. While teaching in a private school, I pursued my graduate study in Manila for two years until I passed the Comprehensive Examination. I lacked just one subject which is thesis writing to finish the degree. After four years of employment, I transferred to a public school here in Meycauayan City. I had been employed also as part-time college instructor here in Meycauayan College, my alma mater, and in a public college here in Meycauayan City. Within thirteen years of continuous service in both private and public institutions, I did share all my skills and expertise to elementary, high school and college students. I did participate with my colleagues and school heads in any assigned tasks to improve the quality of education in our school. For professional growth, I attended various seminars, trainings and workshops. I tried also to contribute articles for science magazines of a publishing company here in Meycauayan City.
Last year, I passed the Praxis II Exam with a higher score. This was a professional examination given to any professional teachers in the world conducted by a licensing agency of United States of America for teacher certification. To sum up, I passed already four major professional examinations which I did not expect to happen when I was still a kid. The history repeats itself, now that I am applying for a teaching position abroad. I passed already the interview and I completed already the required documents. My only problem at present is the processing and placement fees. That is why I ask the Lord to give me some signs. My 84-year old mother wants me to stay here in the Philippines. According to her, she is now very old. It hurts me every time she says that statement and every time I say goodbye to her. My mother also said that I have already job here so why I should go so far. I love my mother so much but I want also to improve my life and the lives of our family better. It is a very difficult decision again. Would I stay to take good care of my mother and the rest of my family or to follow the next plan? I am asking for several signs to God for my next decision in life.
However, I would like to widen my horizon and to continuously do public service here and abroad. Always remember: “Do what is right in order to be good rather than do what is good in order to be right.” “Not all good things are right but all right things are good.”