Profound realization: Sometimes, listening attentively to unending tales of woe brings relief.
It’s nice to discover that you are running ahead of someone and a nasty bear.
*****
Late post: Tatang tried to outrun aspiring bets in the latest polls.
On the eve of the halalan, naghanap siya ng barya sa ilalim ng mesa.
Kaso naumpog, utak ay nakalog, nagka-election amnesia at hindi nakaboto.
Worse, nasira ang kanyang bad image sa laki ng umusbong na bukol sa ulo.
Tama nga ba ang kasabihang “Sky bats, hit no mad” (Bato-bato sa langit, tamaa’y huwag magagalit)?
****
South of the border, people voted again to have what they will ultimately deserve. Pretty cool, eh.
Anyways, to the victors and the vanquished, our endless thoughts and sincere prayers.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
*****
Was the US mid-term election a copycat of what we lately had?
Aling Sisa opines that the pale and dismal turnout will never outmatch any southern poll.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
*****
Mang Kiko’s pananaw: After exerting effort and giving up time plus resources, a voter’s hands may soon be bound and tied to the will of many more others.
It happens. An electorate minority seems to have waited on and seated a political majority.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
*****
Casting the ballot may have resulted in dining and wining; for some, crying and whining.
Sometimes, a selection may also be risky to one’s health and wealth for years to come.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
*****
Quoted: An election is a pillar of democracy.
Yun lang, nalaos na yata si Samson, nawawala pa si Pepe.
Ano? Hahanapin pa ba natin si Delilah at Bantay?
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
*****
Politics is meant for the many to be in a happy place where they should work hard, spend more, keep paying taxes, play less and struggle with life’s unending tales of woe.
Just forget the nasty bear. Dare the flow with the salmon. Fly to warmth with the geese.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
*****
Dialectic dialysis: Ang mahilig sa ispirito, huwag nang magmaneho.
Tigilan na ang tagay. Iwasan ang sakit sa atay.
Manatiling gising. Go big on too-big. Eh, kape, puwede?
*****
Anything good and built on faith, hope and love and is worth the fun is destiny.
Kaya kapag umarangkada ang trying hard copycat ni idol Paul ng “You are my destiny/You share my reverie/You are my happiness (You’re more than life to me)/That’s what you are,” aba’y kiligin ka na.
Datapuwat, kung lamigin ka at hindi maka-relate, it is fate.
*****
Inglisin mo, baby: Pang-ilang pangulo ng Pilipinas ang nasa Malakanyang ngayon?
Dakilang itlog: I don’t know to you (Ewan ko sa iyo).
Patay mali: I have no please (Wala akong paki).
Tanong ni MAD mascot Alfred E. Neumann: “What me worry?”
Asar talo: Eksyusmi, trolls and witches! Great Expectations ay pamagat ng libro.
Hay, naku! Kaaya-aya pa ring makinig kay Mareng Sherli’s Never, Never, Never.
*****
Mula nang tanggalin ang mga paghihigpit hinggil sa pandemya, kapuna-puna na ang malugod at masayang pagsasama-sama at pagsasalo-salo ng ng mga magkababayan, ayon sa kani-kanilang aspirasyon, hangad at naisin, kabilang na ang inaasam-asam na milestone celebration, picnic, potluck, line dancing at kinagigiliwang kumustahan at huntahan sa bus, tren, kumbinyens store at fastfood spots.
Kapansin-pansin din na muling umiiral ang damdaming maka-Pilipino, lalo na sa masayang pakikipag-ugnayan sa wikang kinagisnan, na minsa’y hinaluan ng mga natutunang salitang banyaga.
May mga pagtitipon na inaawit ang Lupang Hinirang, dala ang kasiyahan ng pagiging tunay na anak ng Pilipinas, bagamat sina Mang Huse, Aling Maria, Tatang Pedro at Manang Saling ay naninirahan na sa ibang bansa.
Iwasan ang mag-alala kung wala sa tono at sablay sa tiyempo. Kapag pumiyok o gumaralgal ang boses, emosyon yan. Saka-sakaling “watermelon” ang tahimik na ipinahahayag ng mga labi, nakalimutan ang liriko.
Tandaan, hindi ka si Diomeng o si Lea at lalong hindi ka kasapi ng Madrigal Singers. Ikaw ay ikaw.
Ang mahalaga, patuloy kang nakiki-isa sa pamayanan.
*****
Baka naman maaaring ibilang sa mga susunod pang palatuntunan ang kalugod-lugod at taos-pusong pagbigkas ng Panatang Makabayan. Heto ang pagbabalik-tanaw.
Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas/ Aking lupang sinilangan / Tahanan ng aking lahi /
Kinukupkop ako at tinutulungang maging malakas, masipag at marangal /
Dahil mahal ko ang Pilipinas / Diringgin ko ang payo ng aking magulang
Susundin ko ang tuntunin ng paaralan /
Tutuparin ko ang mga tungkulin ng isang mamamayang makabayan,
Naglilingkod, nag-aaral at nagdarasal nang buong katapatan.
Iaalay ko ang aking buhay, pangarap, pagsisikap sa bansang Pilipinas.
*****
Kabayang Mogi Mogado, wala ng iba. Matatawag na obra maestra ang mga bantayog ni Gat Jose Rizal na inukit ni Ka Mogi at buong gilas at ningning na nakatayo sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng lalawigan ng Ontario, namumukod tangi ang pinaka-latest na nasa bayan ng Markham.
Sa bawat pagkakataon, pinaglalakbay ni Ka Mogi ang diwa ng mga humahanga sa kanyang sining sa makulay na kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, sa dakilang layunin ni Jose Rizal, ang pambansang bayani, na nagbuwis ng buhay, makita at madama lamang ang bukang-liwayway ng kalayaan at katiwasayan ng Inang Bayan.
He has to his name and credit a number of plaster and sheet metal statues and sculptures and oil paintings, all of which are met with awe and reverence in Markham schools, community centers and private collection displays in Canada, the United States and the Philippines.
Among Ka Mogi’s artworks are sculptures of the Blessed Mother Mary (Fatima, Lourdes, Medjugorge, and Grace), Saint Julia Billiart and San Lorenzo Ruiz; the busts of former Markham mayor Donald Cousens and that of the late George Aguinaldo; three indigenous-inspired totem poles and a flock of Canadian geese in sheet metal, all attracting aesthetic awe at the Mogado landscape.
Mabuhay ka, Ka Mogi.
*****
While watching the recent Remembrance Day rituals, ceremonies and featured stories on live TV, I can’t help but get emotional and teary-eyed.
Albeit short and fleeting, images of why and how a host of Filipinos fought and died to engrave in the hearts of their fellowmen a clear sense of nationalism and patriotism crossed my mind.
Staring at the small Philippine flag gracing the work table, I mulled over the significance of the tricolor and the sun and its eight rays and the three stars that highlighted it.
Philippine history – told and unsaid — is replete with acts of heroism.
A case in point is the commemoration of the birth of Filipino revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio (November 30, 1863 to May 10, 1897). November 30 is declared as Bonifacio Day and is a regular holiday in the country, also known as a tropical paradise and the Pearl of the Orient Seas.
Often described as the “Father of the Philippine Revolution,” Bonifacio was one of the founders and later the Supremo of the Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Katipunan), the political and armed movement that sought and fought for Philippine independence from Spanish colonial rule.
The struggle for freedom and peace continues to this day, not only in the Philippines but throughout the world.
Until the dust settles, enjoy a good life, stay healthy, and keep safe. Mabuhay! #####