Clocked in for DST, incidentally, on my birth anniversary.
Searched for the jackpot at a rainbow’s end with St. Patty.
Blew a warm adieu to Arctic blues and tolerable snow.
Welcomed the spring equinox; winked at a patch of golden dandies.
Embraced the fact that very soon, there might be some “Achoo!”
That will eventually pass, so I got ready and prepped for sunlit bliss.
Rooted for 2023 World Baseball Classic champ Japan that put on a show.
Heard the birds singing while nestling; saw a mid-air flock of comeback geese.
Done a lot of inspirational reading; thought a lot less of breeding.
Into stuff in between meditating and medicating, life is never boring.
Grocery runs were fun, until the card picked up a bigger sum.
Enjoyed the madness of silence, brighter smiles are yet to come.
Offered Ramadhan thoughts to Muslim kin and friends in southern Philippines.
Wondered how the Trudeau-Biden and Putin-Xi meets could bring world peace.
All’s well that begins well and ends well, I always love to think.
For a stay-home senior, the universe and I had a great March link.
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Balita ko, students had fun and enjoyed the March break.
Para safe, hindi ko na inalam ang side ng mga magulang.
Ngunit marami rin ang patuloy na nangangamba sa katiwasayan at seguridad sa loob ng paaralan.
As usual, officials ay puro blah-blah-blah at band aid; umaatungal na kailangan nila ng budget to address threats to safety and violence in schools. Show me the money; or else, no money no honey?
Nuon: Schools are safe. Ngayon: Save the schools. Never ending story: Taxpayers to the rescue!
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Remember ko pa sa grade school, may patutsadang magtanim na lang ng kamote ang mahina ang kukote.
Sa paglipas ng panahon, unti-unti kong naarok na ang tinuran was not an insult; datapuwat ay reminder na the challenges of a good future are not that easy to hurdle. Maraming balakid ang dapat lampasan at maraming suliranin ang dapat lutasin.
Wala nga namang bobo kung pagyayamanin ang kaalaman sa likod ng noo.
Ang magtanim ng kamote o kalabasa o kangkong ay hindi masama. Biyayang laman-tiyan din ‘yan. Ngunit a Filipino folk song warned: Magtanim ay ‘di biro.
Likewise, neither is it bad to gather itlog, huwag lang sa test paper.
Having grounded feet, utile hands and an active body ay kasinghalaga ng having a healthy educated mind.
Filipinos have always placed premium on education and productive mindsets.
The big number of students of Philippine roots garnering the highest academic honours in Toronto institutions ay nagpapatunay lamang ng galing at talino, pagsisigasig at pagsisikap ng mga butihing members of the community.
Isang snappy salute sa inyo! We likewise wish that your tribe increase and prosper.
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Nakalulungkot gunam-gunamin na mayroon pa ring maiitim ang budhi na sadyang binabaluktot ang katalinuhang biyaya ni Bathala at isinusulong ito sa masamang paraan. Bad, ‘di ba?
Ang mga walanghiyang nang-i-scam live evil. Hindi pa ba maliwanang ang ika-walo at ika-sampung utos sa Ten Commandments? Ito kaya ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit Moses broke the stone tablets on which God’s simple but profound laws were etched? Sa mga manloloko’t scammer, mamili kayo, preso o impiyerno?
Best friend, gamit utak naman: Kung walang magpapaloko, out of business ang mga manloloko.
Kaso, may pagka-unfair daw ang mundo kaya makulit na paalala ni Ka Teban: Mas angat ang luko-luko, may ospital; ang tanga, wala!
Eniweys, katuwaang pang-Timog, isang walang prenong Happy April Fool’s Day sa lahat.
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The Toronto City Clerk has set the by-election for the vacated mayoral seat on June 26, a Monday.
Kung buo ang iyong paniniwala na mahalaga ang halalan sa pagtaguyod ng maka-demokrasyang kalayaan at kaunlaran, aba’y go out and vote.
Wailing Aling Saling is asking: When is the next election?
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Social and traditional media’s thinking that it is heaven-willed to dish out “what the public needs to know” is, at its worst, a delusional idea.
Although containing fact, it most information from the media does not help tell why the lesser continue to have less, the weaker stay weak, and the survivors remain struggling.
Thus so, information becomes irrelevant to viewers, listeners and readers and does not spur and instigate reasonable public life-affecting responses and decisions.
Obviously, the public’s positive perception and acceptance of daily intelligence hinges on “what the people want to know.”
But grieve not. There are still many who subscribe to the ethics and morals of responsible journalism in the universal search for truth, justice and peace.
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I am still at a loss why poet-writer friend Aling Lauren strolls through the woods to look for her muse, and ends up running away from a moose.
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Ano ba talaga, Kuya?
Sa Imong Mata! Some see great stuff like an apple; others behold beauty’s forever joy. The Little Prince has a simple secret: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Paano na ang “to see is to believe”? Sabi ni Ka Sanny, huwag matulog sa pansitan.
One thing about Ka Sanny was his wit. He lived in Matang Tubig in Tondo, Manila. As manager, he named the village basketball team Eyes Water. Yet, he avoided and dared not stare at watery eyes.
Be grateful that your eyes opened in the morning. Look around. Be aware. Stay mindful.
Truly, the eyes are the gateways to the soul. Naghilamos ka na ba? Hala! Brush the teeth too.
Epektib naman na if you blow gently on one’s eye, nakatatanggal ng puwing. If you see eye to eye, magkasingtangkad ba kayo? Haw haw di karabaw na ang kurap ng kurap, talaga bang corrupt?
May pagkakataon na you won’t see it coming; but please lang, no way ang an eye for an eye.
Daylight Savings Time man o hindi, tititigan ka rin ng oras. Sometimes, you will be blinded by a flash or be wide-eyed with the glitter. Ingat, simply take care.
Nakaaasiwang tanong: Bakit ikaw lang ang hindi makakita sa sarili mong mukha?
Walk the talk. Ang bawat paglalakbay ay uusad lamang sa unang hakbang; in modern times, the first turn of a wheel. Ganoon din dapat ang pag-iisip at pananalita.
Dahil desidido si Mang Kiko na bumili ng pako sa Quiapo upang gumawa ng bangko, hindi siya lilihis patungong Cubao.
Kung boboto ka ng next mayor of Toronto sa Hunyo 26, ang ihalal ay ang kandidatong ang kahahantungan ng diwa at salita ay madalian at taos-pusong pampublikong gawa.
Warning: Many politicians have downloaded the “Blah! Blah! Blah! Amnesia!” app. Matapos kumurap sa kamera at hilamusan ang mike, nagiging makakalimutin na; kwidaw, selective pa. Ngiting aso pang mangungutya: “That’s all, folks. Ngumawa na kayo for all I care.”
Please, pulpolitiko, don’t hate tiktok, aliw sa litong tuktok at pamawi ng pintig ng batok. Just walk your talk.
May kasabihan: Sa hinaba-haba man din daw ng dasalan at lakaran, ang prusisyon ay magwawakas din sa simbahan. Hintayin natin.
Know your place. For starters, huwag makialam and never get involved in something beyond your limits and control. Hindi ka tubig na kapag pumasok sa mga bitak at biyak, puwedeng makalusot.
Lalong huwag makisawsaw sa mga issues and concerns not directly affecting your life and well-being.
Ang lahat ng bagay nga ay magka-ugnay, pero duon ka sa wasto. Always strive to do the right thing.
Ayayay! Don’t waste time on slime, unless nadulas ka sa pilapil o nasyut sa lubluban ng kalabaw.
Move on. Do you exactly know someone’s story and what someone is going through? Do you understand the excruciating pain and the insatiable longing that follows after the loss of a loved one? Do you comprehend the near endless depression after a huge failure?
If not, then ikaw ang dapat mag-move on sa buhay mo.
Empathy and sympathy may help ease the burden pero hanggang saan at hanggang kalian?
Akda nga ni Kuya Rommel: Anyone may move on, but the pain persists.
But obviously, korek lahat ng may move, kasama na si Mick Jagger.
Move on, move in, move out, move up, move down, move about, move around, move forward, move back, move sideways, move mountains, etcetera.
Tumpak! To move means to be alive. Obyus ba?
Time heals all wounds. Ayaw kong masyadong maging literal, pero wala pa akong naririnig na doktor na nagreseta ng time. Habang may panahon, umiwas sa away at gulo, lalo na sa digmaan.
Tandaan ang kabulustugan: Ang sundalo, habang nasusugatan, dumarami ang peklat. Every scar is a clear reminder, kahit itanong mo pa kay dok.
It is What It Is. Pambihirang patis!
Power is relative. Ang sabi ng iba: More power, more relatives.
Naka-relate ka ba? If not, Kabise will declare na hindi ka kamag-anak.
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This Holy Week — from Palm Sunday on April 2 to Easter Sunday on April 9, I will reflect on how I can keep the faith of Redemption, hope for the New Life, and wade in the pool of love created by the suffering Jesus Christ endured and the Ultimate Sacrifice He made.
I will praise the One above and I will sing for humanity.
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Until we meet again, eat well and sleep well. Wake up and shine. Stay safe. #####