Tag Archives: life

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.

The Key of Success

28 Jun

Do you know that we can attain success in many ways? Believe it or not, there is always a key of success. Allow me to spell it out below for you to succeed.

S stands for Set up your goals. At the very start, you must learn how to set up your goals and stay in focus on it regardless of certain challenges and issues that you may encounter along the way. Many celebrities, athletes, businessmen, scholars, politicians and other successful people are setting up their goals at the beginning of their journey.

U stands for Understand your purpose. You need to understand your real purpose in life. Allow yourself to reflect for a moment before you will make your initial step towards your goals.

C stands for Catch up your plans. Not all your plans will turn out positively. You must have various options if initial plan fails. Have Plan A, Plan B, Plan C and so forth.

C stands for Commit yourself. Once, everything is getting well. You should learn on how to commit yourself firmly and seriously with all the things that you have started. Learn how to weigh things before making a wiser decision.

E stands for Energize your strengths. You have strengths and weaknesses personally and professionally. Maximize and optimize your skills and competencies which you think will lead you into success. Your own disposition and strategy will make you smart and unique individual.

S stands for Selfless ambition. Avoid self-centered mentality and aim for the best with the company of others. Build up a strong connection to anyone regardless of their age, sex, ethnicity, and socio-economic status.

S stands for Service-oriented actions. Provide genuine services to the local and international communities wherein you can spell out and measure success beyond its contextual meanings and standard norms of the community where you live in.

The End of Human Life

27 Jan

An inspiring speech or a very long journey ends up. An awesome story or a beautiful movie has an end. Does human life end up too? Certainly yes, the only uncertainty that we do not know is when it will happen and how it will happen. If that would be the case, what are the things that we should consider at present? Here are the things that follow:

Health Wise

If you want to live longer, you have to take good care of your health first. People have different priorities in life. Most of them are taking good care of their families, businesses, properties, finances, jobs and other people but they forget or never take good care of themselves. Neither a selfish act nor lack of empathy instead a must if you will take good care of yourself first.

Plan Wise

If you want to prolong your life, you have to plan wisely ahead of time. People have many plans in life. Sometimes most of their plans failed. Do you know why? Because they failed to plan well ahead of time. They never weigh the pros and cons of their plans in order to come up with a wise decision for them to act accordingly. Knowing the possibilities or envisioning what will happen in the future is not merely a scientific prediction but a gift of attitude to ponder.

Goal Wise

If you want to have a happy, fruitful and peaceful life, you have to set up your goals first then do it one at a time. Most people have many goals in life but only few of them succeeded. Do you know why? Some people set their goals in their minds only without appropriate actions. They don’t focus and lack of enough time and effort to let their goals come into reality. They want to stay on their comfort zones and not exploring things that bring out discomfort to them. You always think what people will say about you rather than what things that may benefit you most. Is your life depend on them for real? You are always thinking about them. Are you sure they always think about you?

Faith Wise

If you want to have a meaningful life, you have a good purpose in life. People have many purposes in life. Most of them want to have a healthy and wealthy life. They consider it a success already if they achieve something to be proud of. Does your success never end? If life story goes up and down, therefore, it is not constant. It keeps on changing every now and then. What is the only thing that must be constant in the entire human life? It is your faith, not only to your Church or God but also faith to yourself that you can and believing that everything in this world is not a permanent condition even your own life.

Blueprint Memories

19 May

Death is the ultimate destiny of any living thing on Earth. Bacteria, protists, algae, fungi, plants, animals and human beings died at certain place and time. These living things eventually exist then suddenly disappear afterwards. They grow and develop for a certain period of time. All these things are biological in nature. Several biological factors may help them to survive as well as affect them to die.

Death comes in human’s life whether you are poor or rich; illiterate or well-educated; unemployed or employed; unpopular or well-known; male or female; single or married, light-skinned or black-skinned; non-believer or believer; lowest status or highest status, and so forth. Thus, whether you like it or not, death leaves up a blueprint in one’s memories.

Certain people mark blueprint memories on you such as your loving parents, siblings, close relatives, friends, classmates, neighbors, colleagues, co-workers, teachers, administrators and even animals like your favorite pets. It is a blueprint memory in the sense that you’ve got personal, lifelong experiences being associated and directly interacted with these people and other living things. These relevant experiences and significant teachings serve as lifelong learning and create a strong foundation on you, being who you are right now.

Therefore, in order for a person to leave blueprint memories in the future, the person should have build up brighter and brilliant memories when he/she is still living on Earth.

Brother

6 Jun

“Life time is a measurable variable but life memories go beyond measurable time.”

Renato Mas Meron
Thank you for loving us.

Brother, when you were a little boy

Your parents were happy to see your face

Because people really admired your cute face

Brother, when you were grown up boy

Your parents were happy to see you working

Because people really admired your humble job

Brother, when you were a teenager

Your parents were happy to see you dancing

Because people really pleased and turned their heads on you

Brother, when your were a family man

Your parents were happy to hear your songs while singing in Karaoke

Brother, since you were born until you grew old

You let your parents, brothers, sisters, wife, children, grandchildren,

relatives, friends and neighbors felt happy anywhere and anytime

Your loving and happy memories remained in their thoughts and hearts.

Thank you for loving us.

Goodbye and Hello

27 Dec

Goodbye (“God be with you.”) and Hello (“Wishing you a good health.”) may sound contradictory words but for real, these words are so relevant and interrelated with each other.

How do you say “Goodbye” for the current year? How do you say, “Hello” for the coming year? Every year, people around the world have different beliefs, traditions and practices as observed in their own unique culture. These practices were not only be seen at the end of the year but throughout the months of the year. Variation of these practices occurs when people adopt and adapt certain changes due to some influential factors as days pass by. Throughout the year, many things had happened in our life as manifested by tears of joy, tears of pain or tears of grief. Every moment in life is so significant that marks our lifetime history. For the younger children, their clock might seem so slow while for the elderly people, it might seem so fast. Infact, they have the same clock speed.

What shall we do? Perhaps, we shall live normally with our fullest potentials. Learn how to enjoy a wonderful, happy and peaceful life. Everything starts with a wiser decision whatever the reasons or purposes that we want to be or need to achieve. Never pressure or stretch out ourselves beyond our limits and capabilities. Learn how to turn out our negatives into positive outcomes. The turning point starts in our own feet to move towards the direction that we aim to attain. Appropriate mindsetting is necessary to get into the turning point indepedently.

Hello” and “Goodbye” are still there not because of the reason that “Nothing is permanent.”, but because God is always with us permanently wherever we go and whatever we do and also saying, “Hello and Goodbye.” to us.

https://link-me.io/@masmeron

Bedridden and Helpless

17 Aug

In the middle of pandemic due to several variants of covid19, people easily get sick tremendously. Many people are still recovering from sickness.  Some of them are still in the worse medical condition due to complications. Most of the time, these people are bedridden and helpless in the hospital, quarantine facility or home quarantine.

Do you know the feelings of the patient being isolated, bedridden and helpless? Do you know also the feelings of the bedside caregiver monitoring the 24-hour medical condition of the patient? It is very tough to become a patient or a caregiver. Patients and caregivers are really experiencing physical, mental, emotional and financial pains.

Physical Pain

Medical patients are experiencing physical pains.  They cannot turn over their bodies by themselves because they are so weak. Their blood cannot circulate well which may turn into bedsores and develop into skin wounds that prone to infection. They cannot open their eyes to see everything around. They cannot open their mouth to say something what they need. They cannot eat well using their mouth. Instead, they eat through nasal tubing that brings out physical discomfort. They can sense the pain while injecting the needles on their bodies. They cannot move their bodies voluntarily.  They stay on their body positions for several hours.

Likewise, caregivers of these patients have physical pains too. They stay with them most of the time and monitor their health condition. They patiently lift up the patient’s body when needed. They patiently feed them and allow them sip some liquids in order to prevent dehydration. They quickly respond to the patient’s needs like changing diaper, cleansing the whole body and changing clothes.

Mental Pain

Medical patients are experiencing mental pain.  They have many thoughts.  They think negatively most of the time.  Thoughts like what if they cannot survive.  What will happen to them? Who will take good care of their families? Where are my children? Do they come?

Similarly, caregivers have mental pains too.  They are worrying about the patient’s severe condition.  They are thinking about what will happen next. Thoughts such as what they will tell to their families and how they will tell it. Do they feel sorry about it or just listen to what the family will say? Most of the time, caregivers are confused mentally. They cannot decide wisely on certain things.

Emotional Pain

Medical patients are experiencing emotional pain.  They can only hear the voices around.  They feel very sad that brings out unstoppable falling tears from their eyes.  Patients know that they will die anytime.  With their conscious mind, they pray silently. It is really difficult for them to leave their families, relatives and friends. It is very tough and heartbreaking process of separation in their entire life. They want to win the fight for life but they are helpless to do it.

Caregivers have emotional pains too. It is hard for them to look at the patients who are suffering from severe illnesses.  They can feel the deep pain internally. They also cry and feel sad.  They try to comfort the patients by all means.

Financial Pain

Medical patients and their families are experiencing financial pain. They spend much money and have developed huge debts from hospitalization costs, medical procedures, professional fees and medicines. They spend from hundreds to millions value amount of any currency. The outpatients incur medical expenses, food supplements and other necessary materials such as diapers, alcohol, bath soap and wipes.

Sometimes, caregivers are experiencing financial pain too.  Most of the time, the caregivers are close relatives of the patients.  If the family has poor economic condition, the caregiver usually provides the needs of the patient unselfishly. Being front liners, caregivers provide their humane services to the patients unconditionally.

https://livegoodtour.com/Masmeron

The Day of Birth

19 Aug

Renato Mas Meron

August 20, 1966

(6 + 6 + 8) = 20

(Birthyear + birth month) = Birthday

My Real Birthday

It was Saturday before the sun sets in August 20, 1966 at around 6 pm when I was born in our ancestral house at Poblacion, Santa Cruz, Zambales, Philippines. This was my real birthday.

My parents were Guillermo Menes Meron (41) and Teofila Montehermoso Mas (41). Both of them were naturally born and residents of Santa Cruz, Zambales.

My Three Pillars

I spent my childhood and teenage years in my home town. I treasured wonderful and beautiful memories there. My supporting father, caring aunt and loving mother served as the three pillars of my life.

Even though, the three pillars of my life were gone one at a time, still, I really missed and loved them so much. I would like to thank, appreciate and recognize them for their unconditional love; for providing me what I need; for allowing me understand what life is and knowing its purpose.

My Journey

I spent most of my adult years in Meycauayan City, Bulacan, Philippines and some few years abroad rendering essential public services. Life experiences built up stability on me; surpassing any challenges along the way to attain my goals.

My family, friends, relatives and colleagues are always there to advise and help me.  Most of all, I would like to thank God for giving me life, blessings and another year; for continuously guiding me on my journey in life.

I wish for a healthy, wealthy and happy life on my birthday.

Remembering Mother on Mother’s Day

19 Apr

A mother who is looking and waiting for her loving mother.

What is a Mother’s Day without your loving and caring mother? Do you know that every part of a single mother worth more than a million? Let me explain its value.

Your Head

As a single mother, you used the top of your head to carry a bundle of newly harvested rice grains for meal; a bundle of firewood for cooking or a basin of Anchovy fish for selling.  You also used your head to think wisely and find right solutions for the daily problems.

Your Eyes

As a single mother, you kept your eyes to your children for their safety. You used your eyes to discipline your children. Eyes that maybe big and wide; on-focus or understanding and kind-looking to your concern. Sleepless nights in times of sickness of your children just to ensure they were safe.

Your Nose

As a single mother, you used your nose if the newly laundry clothes were smelled pleasant and if the children were smelled stinky already and they need to take a bath.

Your Ears

As a single mother, you used your ears to listen to your children and grandchildren’s amazing stories. Through your ears, you heard the sound of the roosters in the early morning wherein you rise from bed instantly to fetch up water for daily consumption.

Your Mouth

As a single mother, you used your mouth to give pieces of advice to your children and grandchildren. You taught them the right things and told them to become nice and hardworking person with brighter dreams in life.

Your Shoulder

As a single mother, you used your shoulder to carry the “Buli” bag or “Pandan” bag with fruits and vegetables inside when going home after the whole-day work in the rice field.

Your Breast

As a single mother, you breastfed your young children regularly so that they will grow healthy someday and free from any kind of illnesses.

Your Heart

As a single mother, you provided unconditional love to your children and grandchildren. You have a big heart too to your parents, brother, sisters, nephews, nieces, husband and in-laws. You knew how to accept and how to forgive persons. You really loved them so much.

Your Arms

As a single mother, you used your arms to strongly uproot the rice seedlings, transplant them on rice fields and harvest the rice grains after a few months.  You used your strong arms to pound and manually mill the greener rice grains up and down then filter them using “Bilao” to make it into whiter rice grains.

Your Hands

As a single mother, you used your hands to prepare “Buli” or “Pandan” fibers, weave and design them properly into a local mat for sale. You used your hands to catch fishes along  the shallow river and pick up shells on the shoreline with your siblings and children. You used your hands to wash the clothes of your children and grandchildren then press these clothes after drying. You used your hand to put the wet face towel on his/her forehead when he/she has fever. You used your hands too in giving foods to the very young children and elderly people around you.

Your Waist

As a single mother, either be sunny day or rainy day, you bent your waist the whole day while planting rice seedlings on the rice fields for a little payment or non-monetized payment of your labor instead, work exchange.

Your Hips

As a single mother, you sit on your hips almost the whole night just to weave and finish intentionally the local mat so that you can sell it then later buy some foods for your children, grandchildren and sister.

Your Legs

As a single mother, you used your legs in walking distantly about two kilometers away from your home to your work place and do the same routine when going home from work place to your home. Your legs consumed all the energy reserved in walking after the whole-day work. You also walked in going to the church to attend Holy Mass with your sisters on Saturday evening regularly. You bent your knees whenever you pray.

Your Feet

As a single mother, you used your feet not only to separate the greener rice grains from its husk but also to clean up the house floor. You used your feet to stand up firmly against all tough moments that trying to bring you down but they fail. You courageously stood still and never give up.

Thus, for this special day wherein everybody celebrates the Mother’s Day  and for this special occasion wherein every member of the family comes together, what is a Mother’s Day without your loving and caring mother? What is a Mother’s Day without her presence?

Maantor nin Canta ni Nanay Openg

19 Apr

Teofila Mas Meron

Isipin mabuti bago maniwala

Sa himig at daing ng mga binata

Pag naniwala ka sa tamis ng sumpa

Kakain ng hapis, iinom ng luha

Ison mo isipon aro tan labi ko

Maski kayka mangan dapat mangan ako

Anya may mangyari konan biay mo

Mati ka ot bungat