Oh, I almost forgot, it's also the birthday of my youngest sister Issa. She's now in Taiwan, married to a very loving husband and good bayaw, Lou Kuo Ping Lo. Two beautiful children were luckily endowed to them. Beautiful An-an is somewhat kereng-keng while the older boy is the same Inchik as he is to be. I remembered that this boy, Ii, wishes not to go home to Taiwan, the last time he went to the Phils. But in anyway, time will come and they'll stay there longer in the Phils. Insha-allah.
Again, happy birthday sis.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
haPPy biRThDay...aBigAil!
Its’ my unica iha’s birthday today. She’s now 16. Oh what a girl. Imagine, may 16 years old na akong dalaginding. The mother told me na may nagpadala pa raw ng bouquet early in the morning..Naks naman. Mukhang may admirer na. Kidding aside, maganda naman ang unica iha ko. (Syempre). Sa’n pa magmamana, di kundi sa nanay n’ya. Tama na ung sa akin na lang magmana ng talino. Sa kanyang Nanay na magmana ng lahat.
It makes me say a little prayer for my daughter. I prayed na sana maging maganda at worthwhile ang buhay n’ya. Every parents wishes na maging maganda ang buhay ng anak nila. “Magandang buhay” means, yumaman and maging successful sa anumang gagawin nila. Makakita ng magandang trabaho and be into a good relationship. In other words, everything should be A-OK.
In my solitude, I also ponder what could be growing up without hardship. I relate myself to the question, since my growing up was not made on silver platter. Just imagining the hardship I endured to be the person I am now. And yet, there were times that I also find it hard to cope with the everyday pressures this present day living gives. Sometimes, I’m thinking of giving a test on my daughter and see how much she can endure. Living in the near future won’t be that easy, and the toughest will have the greater chance of surviving.
No pain, no gain. Its’ what they say, but it truly meant what it says. Life is getting harder and harder, and we’re not sure of what the future holds on us. Our pains during our striving years could be well off with what these days’ offer. Even then, the way this generation copes will be a question. Baby boomers had already made their marks. Generation Xrs still has to earn their feathers. Millenials still has to find their directions.
Nonetheless, which ever generation you belong, challenges will be there. It only changed its name.
To my abi..happy birthday, anak!
It makes me say a little prayer for my daughter. I prayed na sana maging maganda at worthwhile ang buhay n’ya. Every parents wishes na maging maganda ang buhay ng anak nila. “Magandang buhay” means, yumaman and maging successful sa anumang gagawin nila. Makakita ng magandang trabaho and be into a good relationship. In other words, everything should be A-OK.
In my solitude, I also ponder what could be growing up without hardship. I relate myself to the question, since my growing up was not made on silver platter. Just imagining the hardship I endured to be the person I am now. And yet, there were times that I also find it hard to cope with the everyday pressures this present day living gives. Sometimes, I’m thinking of giving a test on my daughter and see how much she can endure. Living in the near future won’t be that easy, and the toughest will have the greater chance of surviving.
No pain, no gain. Its’ what they say, but it truly meant what it says. Life is getting harder and harder, and we’re not sure of what the future holds on us. Our pains during our striving years could be well off with what these days’ offer. Even then, the way this generation copes will be a question. Baby boomers had already made their marks. Generation Xrs still has to earn their feathers. Millenials still has to find their directions.
Nonetheless, which ever generation you belong, challenges will be there. It only changed its name.
To my abi..happy birthday, anak!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
WhEn iT rain...iT pouRs!
We came to our resting room dripping wet. My people had just finished covering our problematic barley materials at the open area. Ah yes, I’m still here in Saudi Arabia. There is rain in Saudi Arabia? Of course, there is. Some people said that the rain in some parts of the Kingdom had been too intense and precipitation is more than 3 inches. That is why, flooding comes afterwards. Why? Because they were not used to having rain most of the year and drainage canals were not part of their civil works. So, where will the run-off go?
I even heard that rain was included in their prayers. They wish to have rains, but were they prepared to have it? What if heavy downpour lasting for more than 15 minutes comes, were will the precipitation go? In the last few years of my stay here, rain starts and ends the seasons. In 2003, hailstone came, and that was the first time in my life to see it. Ice, the size and like naphthalene balls (called “hail”) dribbling all around. Some said that it can even break the windshield of a running vehicle. It could be, yes. But that was the first and the last experience I had. In the coming years, only rain comes (even thunderstorms!) and no hailstone.
I asked the people first to uncover the piles so as to dry the canvas. They had not finished spreading the canvass when I observed dark clouds also spreading down west. And it was not just mere clouds, but rain already pouring in the area. A few droplets on my face and I asked them to cover it again.
Mind you, with temperatures at 14 deg C plus the wind factor, everybody’s chilling cold. It is hard to work with numbed hands and legs. The legs also were buried on the heap restraining every ones’ mobility. Every body’s complaining but we can’t do anything about it. Now here comes the rain that added to the misery.
Not all heaps were covered as we run out of canvass and...energy! Oh boy, we’re not expecting it to be like this. Saudi Arabia was equated with hot and arid climate. My self also stand in disbelief. Here you’ll have the extremes. Not just hot...but very hot. Not just cool...but very cool!
Oh, yes Umar! There is rain in Saudi Arabia!
I even heard that rain was included in their prayers. They wish to have rains, but were they prepared to have it? What if heavy downpour lasting for more than 15 minutes comes, were will the precipitation go? In the last few years of my stay here, rain starts and ends the seasons. In 2003, hailstone came, and that was the first time in my life to see it. Ice, the size and like naphthalene balls (called “hail”) dribbling all around. Some said that it can even break the windshield of a running vehicle. It could be, yes. But that was the first and the last experience I had. In the coming years, only rain comes (even thunderstorms!) and no hailstone.
I asked the people first to uncover the piles so as to dry the canvas. They had not finished spreading the canvass when I observed dark clouds also spreading down west. And it was not just mere clouds, but rain already pouring in the area. A few droplets on my face and I asked them to cover it again.
Mind you, with temperatures at 14 deg C plus the wind factor, everybody’s chilling cold. It is hard to work with numbed hands and legs. The legs also were buried on the heap restraining every ones’ mobility. Every body’s complaining but we can’t do anything about it. Now here comes the rain that added to the misery.
Not all heaps were covered as we run out of canvass and...energy! Oh boy, we’re not expecting it to be like this. Saudi Arabia was equated with hot and arid climate. My self also stand in disbelief. Here you’ll have the extremes. Not just hot...but very hot. Not just cool...but very cool!
Oh, yes Umar! There is rain in Saudi Arabia!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Viva Senior Nazareno...
Yesterday was the feast of the Black Nazarene at the St. John the Baptist Church, otherwise known as the Quiapo Church. In the news, you can see the throng of devotees encircling the float carrying the image. There were people or group of people who came earlier or even a day ahead just for the occasion. Devotees were very diversified; women and children, rich or poor, able bodied or even the weak. It is quite known that the 2nd highest official of the land, Vice President Noli de Castro was devotee himself. A practice he'd been doing even during his early teens. Sad to say, yesterdays' melee also brought casualties: 2 dead, a number of injured, a side from those separated from their troops.
In my town of Pulilan, there is also the Mahal na Senyor.It is another version of the Nazarene sheltered at a small chapel west of the town. On Friday afternoons, devotees tropped to the small chapel to hear mass. Some may believed that instead of going to the Quiapo Church, devotees can come to the smaller chapel and say their prayer. In both the Black Nazarene and the Mahal Na Senyor, devotees claimed of spiritual fulfillment, granted wishes and physical cure. Persons afflicted with ailments were cured from their illnesses. Persons with heavy and unbearable problems find solace, comfort and answers to their woes. If anybody stranger to the faith will hear this, surely finds it unbelievable, unrealistic.
Be it true, false or unrealistic, it was one man's choice and practice of faith that matters.
In my town of Pulilan, there is also the Mahal na Senyor.It is another version of the Nazarene sheltered at a small chapel west of the town. On Friday afternoons, devotees tropped to the small chapel to hear mass. Some may believed that instead of going to the Quiapo Church, devotees can come to the smaller chapel and say their prayer. In both the Black Nazarene and the Mahal Na Senyor, devotees claimed of spiritual fulfillment, granted wishes and physical cure. Persons afflicted with ailments were cured from their illnesses. Persons with heavy and unbearable problems find solace, comfort and answers to their woes. If anybody stranger to the faith will hear this, surely finds it unbelievable, unrealistic.
Be it true, false or unrealistic, it was one man's choice and practice of faith that matters.
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