Maging Malaya

Maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan!

Iba iba ang pananaw natin sa Kalayaan. 

Sa mga pagkakataong ganito, 

ang kalayaan mo ba ay para sa bayan, 

para sa pamilya, o para sa sarili mo?

Ang watawat ng Bayan Ko 

ay nakalagay sa aking sasakyan noon pang nakaraang limang taon, kung saan ito ay pinapalitan kapag ito ay nawalan na ng kulay. Winawagayway din ng hangin ang bandila ng Lupang Hinirang sa harapan ng aking kanlungan. Upang maipaalala sa isipan ko na iisa lang ang Bayan ko. Na ako ay isang Pilipino. Ang maipaalala sa akin ang mga pagsunod sa mga alintuntunin ng bansang ito na sa palagay ng tibok ng puso ko ay tama, mabuti, makatao, makabayan, at makaDiyos.

Ang paglilingkod sa kapwa Pilipino ay ang piniling gawin sa abot mg makakaya. Ang pagtulong na galing sa kaibuturan ng puso. Ang tunay na pagmamalasakit. Ang pagkalinga sa kapwa. Ang pagsambit ng mga salitang nagsasaad ng paggalang sa pagkatao. Ang aking paniniwala sa pagiging tunay na Pilipino. 

Dahil ang pang-aapi, paglilinlang, at pagkitil ng kabutihan at ikabubuti ng kapwa Pilipino ay ang pinakamasamang magagawa ng isang sinasabing kababayan.

Tayong mga Pilipino lamang ang makakapag-angat ng ating pagiging Pilipino. Gaya ng ginawa na ng iba kung saan tayo ay umani ng mataas na pagtingin sa buong mundo dahil sa karangalang nakamit ng ating kapwa Pilipino.

Nawa'y maging malaya ka.

Malayang gawin ang nais mo at hindi kung ano ang idinikta lamang sa iyong kaisipan. Dahil ikaw ay nilikha na may tapang at talino. Dahil ikaw ay nilikha na may puso. 

Naisin mong maging malaya, para sa iyong sarili, para sa iyong pamilya. Dahil ang malayang kaisipan at kaluluwa lamang ang makakapagbigay sa iyong katawan ng kalusugan. Sa iyong isipan ng kapayapaan. Sa iyong puso ng tunay na kalayaan. 

Huminga ka ng tama. Para sa tama. 
Mag-isip ka ng para sa iyong ikauunlad, hindi ng iba. 
Magbigay ka ng malaya. 
Umibig ka ng malaya. 
Ibigin mo kung sino ka at gawin mo ang iyong saysay ng buong puso. 
Nang may dangal. 

Palayain mo ang iyong sarili. 
Sa anumang kumikitil. Sa sinoman.
Maging malaya ka, aking kapwa Pilipino.

Life After

When I was younger,

I was a passionate dreamer.

I dreamed of the impossible.

I dreamed fame.

I dreamed to discover the world.

In my younger days, success was easy.

High grades, declamation medals, spelling bee medals,

and involved myself in theatre, arts, singing, teaching kids, giving.

The success lingered

as I grow

older,

wiser,

busy-ier.

In the midst of all of that modest recognition, life’s circumstances and people made me

tougher,

kinder,

more loving,

and more alive. 

More human.

In those days,

I let the rats  and the race run through me.

I let my emotionalism overtake that tiger and lion in me.

I let slaves reign over my crown.  

I let the winds fold up my wings.

I let my days be eaten by my everyday living.

I let circumstances waste my precious time in the universe.

I let the evil overpower justice.

In each time, I knew that

There is only me at the end.

That there is only me who will care about me.

That there is only me who will live my life.

I had to believe all the glory while waiting things to happen at the perfect time when the planets, moons, and stars align 

with the magical miracle pixie dust 

of the Supreme Being.

In each time, I outrageously enjoyed my days in the silence of my happy heart with

the things that I did,

how I let people feel,

and just being who I am.

Life after all those is as it is.  

Curiosity strikes in every mind. That wonder. 

Life is wonderful after all those. 

I finally released myself openly from a worldly realm. 

And I let myself flow more liberally in a river where I see the sky, the clouds, the sunset, the moon, 

the true essence of the people around me.

When you become simple vegan, 

and cannot really have joy eating greatly.

When you become a minimalist and you simplify 

and cannot tolerate complexity.

When you become more compassionate 

and cannot allow make-believes.

When you become a believer of the bottom of the sea 

and cannot allow make-ups. 

I dream to live longer and spend my days 

in peace and full of love. 

It was the impossible that is now a phenomenon.

When there is uncertainty, here I am, assured.

When there is panic, here I am, calm.

When there is sickness, here I am, well.

When there is persecution, here I am, back to life.

When there is neglect, here I am, cherished.

When there is disgrace, here I am, dignified.

The love in those words was more than any distinction. It can never lie. Only the genuineness will win through.

Put together the power in you 

because you will be greatest than any territory. 

You will be like fire that will be put off after your brightness. 

The blazing is enough. 

Rise like the sun, hold your torch while your feet are tough, 

and run your own victory. 

Only the hearts that are pure and true lives on a life as we know it.

Keep dreaming.  What truly matters. 

Only you, can complete those dreams waiting to happen. 

In your own time. It is never too late. 

Embark now on your new journey and explore the open world, enjoy life and be happy!

****

If you are grieving because your fire was put off, 

allow me to restore its brilliance 

and you will rise like the sun again forever.