FOUNTAIN OF LIFE

Heavy rain pour down, should I walk till I get wet allover? I might get sick. I have no umbrella with me, but still God provides a shelter a nearby bakery, wow I feel hungry. For about thirty minutes I stand there like a guard watching, observing all the people around, waiting for the rain to stop. The truck of flour arrived and its still raining, the overseer told, "wait till the rain stop before you put it down." That moment the delivery men and the driver were restless.They are still young but no other choice but to do their job in order to earn a living. Their delivery truck was open and of course they are wet just protecting the flour not to became wet, they sacrifice theirself. The overseer of the bakery called them "come down take a break." He gave them "merienda" Wow! what a kind creature. I feel his sympathy to them. Yes to be successful you must have a successful relationship from all walks of life. After they eat, they gain strenght and enthusiastically do their job, not only because it's their function, but because they want to give an excellent service because the overseer treat them kindly. Its not the money itself, but building a relationship that matters.

Its almost an hour, and still the rain keeps pouring. What shall Ido? Command the rain? " Rain, stop!, please can you do me a favor? Wow! it works the heavy rain became a shower. My house still far I need to ride, but wait all the vehicles was full its Friday and its mid full trip. As I observed men just only held a part of jeep, standing. Is its just a culture, or a real sign of poverty? Thanks God for about two hours of praying an empty jeepney passed by, and I was amazed because the driver saw me. our distance is about ten meters away side ward. Thanks God even in small details God provides.

That night a friend of mine send me a text. "Do we still pursue our plan despite the rain?" With confidence I replied "yes". And true enough early morning when I wake up its a fine day! We have our jogging and picnic as planned its beside the river with no plates but banana leaves and ate with our bare hands. We don't bring water, so I looked at the place, and thanks God their is water safe to drink. That day, the words is clear "water is a fountain of life." One of our group told. "My cousin don't drink water because he saw how dirty the water is." He saw that it came from the dirty rivers it passes through the dirty tube. That's why he had kidney failure and died ". As a group everyone reacted one said " Not all water is dirty" Being the eldest, I said "scientifically our body is 75% composed of water, that's why we need it." first in order to live we need air, second water, and solid food is only tertiary." And I said with a joke "even how clean or safe your life style is, if its your time to die you will." I laugh telling its a joke but true.Lesson that day "we don't have to generalize its just a part, its an isolated case.It reminds me of the church leaders. Members look to the leaders and if they fall, members also fall and die. I have many acquaintance who of being a general thinker, thinks all is the same. They don't go to church blaming the leaders saying "I have no confidence to church leaders". Well God will understand I just pray on my own." Huh ! what a sigh . What can I do for them? Need to silently pray ? It works but still we need action to move mountains.

PAGLALAKBAY

Walong oras bago magbagong taon. "Makarating kaya ako sa oras ng maghihiwalay ang taon?" Sa Cubao walang masakyan puno lahat ng bus. Kung dati paroo"t parito ang sasakyan ngayon kaylangan pang pumunta sa terminal, pero wala na daw biyahe. Sige lakad tanong dito tanong doon. Ang ganda pala ng kabuuan ng Cubao akala ko himpilan lang ng mga sasakyan, may nakatago palang angking kagandahan. Sa paggagalugad ng masasakyan nakita ko ang "Chocolate Factory" "Puro tsokolate kaya ang lahat ng bagay dyan?" Nililibang ang sarili pero ang totoo naiinip na, isang taon na rin ng huli akong umuwi. Sa wakas nakarating ako sa Edsa at nakakita ng biyahe sa Pangasinan hindi pa puno pero may kamahalan ordinary bus pero presyong pang espesyal. Ang mahalaga makarating ako sa amin. Ang bilis napuno ang bus kulang na lang pati bubong pagkasyahin upang makarating lang sa paroroonan. Animo'y mabubuwal ang bus tumatagilid hindi na balanse ang iba'y nagsisigawan. Rosaryo naman ang siyang tanging hawak. Sa daan may mga nagpapaputok, may mga fireworks na nadaanan,. Sa bawat bahay may makukulay na ilaw ngunit meron ding tahanang madilim, tahimik. Ilang oras na lang makakarating na din ako sa lupang sinilangan.Pagyapak sa bayang sinilangan madarama ang pamilyar na yakap at simoy ng hangin na umukit sa aking katauhan.

Eksaktong alas dose nakarating ako ng aming tahanan. naabutan si Inay na naghahanda ng "media noche" Tahimik "Ay! may bisita pala tayo" sambit ng aking nakababatang kapatid. Buhat sa mahabang biyahe kumakalam na ang aking sikmura, tinanong kung may kanin, ipinaghanda ako ni Katel may adobo ngunit mas pinili ko ang kamatis, at tinapa. Nanabik akong kumain ng nakakamay payak ang ulam pero maganang kumain. "Ang payat mo" wika ni Katel. Si Bantay maamong lumapit, nagsasabing "saluhan kita sa iyong pagkain" Kung ako ang papipiliin mas nanaisin kung manatili sa aming munting tahanan kasama ang aking pamilya. Ito ang buhay na payak ngunit masaya. Komportableng buhay, ngunit sa isang banda may naghihintay na gawaing itinakda. Kinaumagahan kasama ang aking bunsong kapatid pumunta kami sa bukid nilibot ito. Nakakita ng mga bakang nanginginain ng damo, mga punong kahoy na namumunga. Sininghap ang sariwang hangin bagay na nakakapanabik. Maririnig ang awitin ng pang umagang ibon. Makikita ang makukulay na paru- parong lumilipad sa mga bulaklak na tumubong kusa. Nang napagod bumalik sa tahanan. "Inay puede ninyo ba akong gupitan?" ito ang pinanabikan kong oras na tulad ng ako'y musmos pinipilit gupitan ni Inay ngunit ngayo'y siya kung hinahanap-hanap. Dagling tumalima si Inay malabo na rin ang mata niya, kung dati di kaylangan ng salamin ngayon sa bawat sandali kaylangan niya ang tulong nito. Madarama ang banayad na pa-ibig at pagaaruga. Sa wari ko'y habang ginugupitan ako ni Inay ang kanyang mga kamay sabay na dumadalangin sa bawat haplos nito. Ang yayat niyang kamay na nag-aruga at pinanday ng hirap ng panahon. Kinahapunan namaalam na rin ako sabi niya "Dumito ka na, at tayo'y magtutuwang sa ating kabuhayan. Hinihintay ako na pigilan ni Inay ngunit hindi binigyan ako ng laya na gawin kung ano ang gusto ko. Kasama ng kanyang pagmamahal, payo at tiwala humayo ako at tinahak ang mundo ng walang katiyakan. Sa aking paglalakbay nakakita ng mga makukulay na bulaklak na di naman tinanim ngunit kusang tumubo, ang mga ito'y nasa gilid ng gulod. May mga ibon ding langay langay kulay puti nanginginain sa palayan. Napakagandang tanawin. May tinig na nagsasabing "Tingnan mo ang damo, ang ibon di gumagawa o humahabi man ngunit sila'y nabubuhay. Sila'y Iniingatan ikaw pa kayang nilikhang kawangis niya?" Tunay sa aking pagbabalik ang tiwala at pagasa ang siyang instrumento sa pagtahak upang makakilos ng akma sa mundong walang katiyakan.

WALK WITH A SMILE :)

At home I prepared myself, being an account executive I learned to dress like an executive. Last Saturday I attended a gatherings and a business attire is a must. I'm tired of it, wearing coat to look like an executive, its so hot especially here in our lovable country. "Sacrifice its a must" Huh! silent whisper from the right side of my head? How many rides did it takes ? Just only three rides by jeepney. Just imagine an executive attire riding a jeepney plus the free powder of dust and all the different perfumes from smoke belching, bystanders cigarette smokers,passed by the wet market, and traffic jam which means that our country is so rich in different kinds of vehicles. A silent laugh. And this place wow! its so fascinating! There is no jeepney on this place. Only private vehicles and a cab. Check my wallet" Oh no! never mind." "You have your feet trained to walk remember you graduated in a Citizen's Army Training" A consolation thought. An executive marching a hundred meters with hills knocking on the floor. "Sorry for the noise its my shoes" telling "hey! I'm tired." "Please bear with me my lovely shoes." "Don't worry I'll give you a treat I'll buy a cream for you." Inside the tent "be composed" "fix yourself" "Look at ease" "listen!". Wow! speakers are great. I was empowered by their talks. Its a prized for a little sacrificed. The gatherings finished my colleague introduce me to her business partner well shake hands from here and there. "Nice meeting you." I have another batch of meeting to attend to . "I have to go." Another sacrificed , before I leave the place, I observed that this place is designed copied from a foreign place. Yes its not for the usual Filipino. And as I looked around foreigners hang around the vicinities . "be happy without riding a plane your here at the foreign place." Where can you get that?"

Time to go.

Scene No. 1 : get a cellphone 'hey honey please pick me up"

Scene No. 2 :'"My car is out there I have to walk a little longer"

Scene No. 3 : "I love to walk it keeps me fit."

Funny thoughts but seriously as I walked I pray and said with a smile "I can conquer all things because I have a Big God!"