Nope. Kung walang himala, wala ring same old, same old. (Kalabaw lang daw ang tumatanda.)
Each day is a new day, my friend. Gumising, ngumiti at pasalamatan ang Diyos for the wake-up. Open your eyes to your only chance to capture every moment and make your new day the best you have ever lived. Greet the world with happiness.
Be the best of who you really are. Be human and humane. Keep the Golden Rule at heart, but don’t forget Murphy’s Law. Remain kind. Keep help handy. Be free to choose and decide, but do the right thing. Remember that your freedom expires when the freedom of another begins. (Now, am I beginning to sound like you-know-who?)
Hanggang sa kumalembang ang orasyon at handa ka nang magpahinga, think and act positively. Sleep is good but never overdo it.
Purihin and Diyos sa bawat bukang-liwayway hanggang takipsilim that you fulfill and that fulfills you.
*****
Thank God at masaya nating nairaos ang 2021 Thanksgiving Day, kahit may public health protocol called capacity. Although doubts and sad pandemic realities linger on, mananatili tayong steadfast and undaunted sa ating panalangin na harinawa’y better things will soon come.
Family and friends shared faith, hope and love as they mingled and sat around the table to savour the food and centerpiece turkey, the symbolic bird of the harvest and blessings aplenty.
It had been a long time since a more meaningful holiday bonding was celebrated, no thanks to the pandemic.
Sad stories might have been recalled and told. But in the end, cheer and glee filled time and space, a moment all joyful hearts would forever embrace.
“Sana all,” patuloy nating ipanalangin. “Marami pong salamat,” ang lahat ay batiin.
*****
Tanong lang po: Mayroon kang dalawang itlog at isang longganisa, does it mean na may breakfast ka na?
Ay, ambot! Kung liberal mag-isip ang kausap, malamang ay matawa. Pero kung konserbatib ang makaririnig, tulad ni lola’t lolo, tiyak na mababatukan ka. Millennial na nakatutok sa gadget, harinawa’y pansinin ka sana.
End of conversation. Period. Huwag nang humirit pa at baka ang debate’y kung saan pa mapunta.
Kaibigan sa agahan, wait a minute. Nasaan ang kapeng mainit?
*****
Bago ka mag-breakfast at bago mag-swimming ang pandesal sa kape, join me in revisiting the beautiful Philippines, the Pearl of the Orient, ang lupang sinilangan na mahal nating lahat.
Due respect goes to Filipinos — a cheerful, friendly, hospitable, hard-working and resilient people — whose beauty comes from within and shines out for the world to behold.
Why, then, can’t some of its honourable and outstanding men and women collectively see the beauty of it all? And they are not even blind.
*****
Don’t get me wrong. I really do like politics.
It makes me face head-on my worst fear … the bad politician.
Wait. What? There is a Philippine general election on May 9, 2022?
Here we go again!
*****
Kahanga-hanga talaga ang halalan sa ating Inang Bayan.
Ito ay colourful, family-oriented and very promising.
Alin, ang lupang sinilangan? Hindi, ang halalan!
*****
Speaking of colour, a friend has a hard time spelling fuschia. Baka naman daw puwede, pink na lang.
The rainbow’s ROYGBIV, pastel, neutral, dark, gray, sepia, brown, technicolor, etc. works fine too.
‘Yun ngang mga kapangalan ng Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, walang angal sa kulay, ako pa?
Karagdagan, pinasikat nina Sir Paul M. at Stevie W. ang Ebony and Ivory, tulad ng mga artists who made That’s What Friends Are For a global hit.
With so many tints representing political parties in the May 2022 Philippine polls, ganoon din kaya karami ang mga politikong gagawing makatuturan at walang bahid ng kulay ang sumpang to “preserve and defend its Constitution, execute its laws, do justice to every man, and consecrate myself to the service of the nation?”
*****
Kabayan may be proud to have a global record-setting presidential family affair, having had two pairs of Presidents from the same house.
Father Diosdado Macapagal served as President from 1961 to 1965 and his daughter, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo served as President from 2001 to 2010.
Mother Corazon Aquino served as President from 1986 to 1992 and son Benigno Simeon Aquino III served as President from 2010 to 2016.
Being history, we know how things and stuff played out during their terms.
I hope Kabayan will be smiling and prouder to have a third of its kind after the May 2022 elections.
Whatever transpires during the long wait-and-see will absolutely be fun.
*****
Electoral competition (or is it ?) between candidates with the same blood line or between bets affiliated by affinity had been around for decades, a troubling thorn in an ingenious but perturbing so-called democratic process.
The creation and perpetuation of political dynasties had become a dynamic component in local elections. Kamag-anak Inc. has grown by leaps and bounds into a thriving cottage industry; better yet, a well-entrenched big-ticket business.
Verily, the virus tagged as conjugal constipation should have been perpetually cremated a long time ago. Sa ngayon, ang sabi ‘da ay kahit ang mga botante no longer question the notion of one family standing supreme in the locale. Negating the realm of public interest, running in local politics has turned personal.
In so many cases, other aspiring families boldly gave the political power play of “gold, guns and goons” a shot, without foreseeing that the duel would never stop. Of course, Steve H. might have wrongly announced the Miss U winner instead of proclaiming the Filipino beauty, but he would never host Family Feud in the islands.
Really, I like Philippine politics. It is so “family-centred.”
*****
“On my honour, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country.” This is the Scout’s oath and one of the three prime promises every scout holds dear in his heart.
Jokingly, a Mindanaon friend implied that the oath was mandated as off limits to politicians, just like the grass in newly-mowed lawns in subdivisions. Paano na kung hindi mapanindigan ang operative word – honour?
Tingnan mo nga naman. Fairy tales begin with “Once upon a time …” and ends with “… and they lived happily ever after.” Politicians begin with “I promise …” and the end remains to be seen.
Siguro naman, hindi totoo na ang lahat ng pulitiko ay “very promising.”
*****
One cannot complain if one does not vote.
Kabayan needs someone to blame for his misery.
Sometimes, the only way to name one is through an election.
This might work well, but only in a stable democracy.
*****
Every time politics comes to mind, I remember my late father, Felicisimo Mina Galicia Sr. (October 26, 1932 to January 26, 1981).
Mang Chitong, as he was then addressed, was coaxed by his peers to run for public office, an idea that was not even in his wildest dream. Well, he accepted the dare with a happy-go-lucky “que sera sera.”
He can crack jokes and tell tall tales and engage in debates with his barkada all day. But to deliver a five-minute political monologue atop a stage overlooking very, very many friends and strangers was never his bottle of San Miguel Beer.
Isa pa, hindi niya gawain ang magbitiw ng pangako na batid niya ay mapapako.
Kahit na nangangatog, tumayo siya sa entablado, huminga nang malalim at nagsimulang maging stand-up comedian. When people began buying his jokes, halos ayaw nang bitiwan ang mike at hindi na mapigil ang kanyang palabas na lumampas na sa speech time niya. It was good that he did not sing, kundi’y uwian na.
Although no politics was said and no promises were made, his camaraderie with the crowd earned him a spot in the village council of Barangay Balumpare in Sampaloc, Manila.
Serious with his newfound vocation, he spent more time grinning with kabarangays at Kabise’s corner store, at the street basketball court or the barangay hall.
I frankly have no idea how Dad went about his duties. Pero, naniniwala ako na he used the power of laughter para makalusot sa anumang gusot.
Rightfully so, Mom was very pleased those days. Dad was always “out’a sight.” But her delight was only for a time.
Dad soon realized that politics was no big joke. After his term, he laughed his way to the exit, never ran again. Yet, he still walked around and tried to make everyone’s face light up during stormy moments.
*****
If my dad were alive today, he would be celebrating his birth anniversary on October 26.
How old would he be?
Wait, I have to take a look at the picture of his tombstone.
The picture is safely kept in the card compartment of my folding wallet, which is in a small gold-plated case, which is in a small chocolate box, which is in a bigger shoebox, which is in a backpack, which is in an old worn out travelling bag, which was accidentally placed by my missus in a balikbayan box she recently sent to the Philippines.
Anyways, Happy Birthday in your best place, Dad.
*****
HAPPY HALLOWEEN, everyone! ####