Duniya Mein Hum Aaye Hain

The title is Hindi for "We Have Come To The World."

When I heard the song for the first time, of course, I didn't know what it meant, but I was deeply moved by the woman's behavior in the video so I viewed it with great appreciation.  From the time the song starts--with the vision of a woman sweating while manually plowing a field--to the meal she prepares food for her children, to the time when the crops grow, it was such a treat to watch.

I can resonate with the children in the video since I know how hardworking a woman my mother is.  I always look up to empowered, hardworking women.  People like my mom, Liza Quirog, people like Lea Salonga, Michelle Obama, HM Queen Elizabeth II, HM Queen Rania of Jordan, the late Mother Theresa, St. Joan of Arc, are perfect examples of women who should be emulated not only by other women, but by everyone.

Anyway, back to the song.  The reason why I came across it isn't accidental.  This morning, while reading an article about India's national personification, Bharat Mata, I came across a suggestion by Wikipedia to read about the film Mother India.  I clicked and I got redirected and read the plot.  I found it very interesting and wondered if I could see snippets of it on YouTube, and so on and so on until I found the video.  To my surprise, it's actually a musical film, which makes it more awesome!

I have yet to learn what the entire song says word-for-word, but here's an essential translation of its meaning, which I found online:


If we have come to the world, then we have to live.
If our life is poison, then we have to drink it.


After falling again and again in our troubles,
we will keep doing it 'till we get it right.


If we burn ourselves, we will keep walking in fire.


The one who gave us sadness will make it go.
God is with us, so we shall not be afraid.

We must remove sadness from our hearts.

One who lives with respect dies with respect.


If a person loves his/her work, then what work is difficult?


It's beautiful, isn't it?

Here's the video:

Shanti Aum: Peace!

I'm writing in English today so you may rejoice!

I'm starting on this brand new book my mom gave me.  Of course, by "starting on," I mean I've started reading it.  It's called The Leader's Way and it was co-written by His Holiness The Dalai Lama.  It's an awesome book and I already made that judgment before I even started reading it.  Go figure.  My mom doesn't give things she doesn't feel good about.  What kind of awesome person would do that?

I'm currently not in the position to give any review about the book since I'm not even half-way yet.  It's not one of those pure-fiction novels one would open and read the entire night and finish at 2AM.  No.  It's something that takes pondering on.  A few pages and one needs to stop to go out into the world and try to absorb the contents by living out the insights one has gotten out of it.  It's not something you could get into you by skimming or reading very fast.  Jason Bourne has no place in this.

What else do I have to write about besides my hunger?  I really don't want to delve into MY hunger 'cause it's too vast a topic.  If I allow myself to start, I'd end up making comments about bad linguine at Pizza Hut, so never mind.

Oh, yes, it was our regular Theosophical Society session last night and we had a new guest.  It's always a treat for us to have new guests especially if they're there to learn and not simply to preach what they think they know. This most recent one, we could tell, was willing to learn.  Yes, we do have non-member attendees who attend to show off or ask irrelevant queries--to Dad Vic, nonetheless.  However, I'm trying to be as Theosophical as I can in dealing with such kind of personality.  We have to help such people in their growth--even if (and especially because we're aware that) they have a long way to go.  If it's not the TS that's going to at least try to help them, then who else?

Every single being is my brother/sister--embraced as I am in one kind of hidden love--no matter how much it irks me to admit it when having specific people in mind.

Shanti Aum.

Blessed be...

Kina-Unhang Pagsulat Sa Pinulungang Binisaya: Kinahanglan Lang Jud Ko Mopagawas Sa Akong Gibati

Nahibalo ko nga kung makabasa ka niini unya nahibalo ka usab kabahin sa panid sa usa ka mamumulit nga masabtan sa Bisaya nga "Mga Butang nga Wala'y Nagsulti Kanako Pero Nakat-onan Ko Guihapon" (Stuff No One Told Me But I Learned Anyway kung sa Ingles) ug kung nakabasa ka sa ika-12 nga binutad, mo-ingon tingali ka nga wa ko'y buot og gamay ko og utin!  Pero wa ko'y labot!  Kaugalingon ko kining akta ug isulat nako ang buot ko nga isulat, bahala na og unsa'y ikasulti ninyo!

Gisapot ko!  Gisapot ko kaayo kay tulo ka tsinelas sa silong wala na'y pares!  Ang usa, giguba ni Janggo og ang duha wala'y nakahibalo og asa.  Gi-ahak!

Malinawon man unta ko nga pagka-tao.  Giplano man gani unta nako nga ang kina-unhang pagsulat nako sa natawhang pinulungan kabahin guihapon sa URI, pero dili na jud matabang!  Dili pod ko ganahan nga sa Ingles kini nako isulat dinhi kay daghan kaayong makasabot.  Luoy intawon pod kadtong mahilo ang dagan sa ilang mga adlaw mahitungod kay nakabasa sila og maot gikan sa akong panid.

Mosulat lagi ko og maanindot nga Binisayang artikulo.  Ayaw kaguol.  Sabta lang usa ako sa pagkakaron kay ga-maot gayud ang akong buot.  Mopaingon ako sa buhatan sa akong amahan mahuman ako niini.  Magdungan kami og panihapon ug gusto ko nga humana ang akong mga nagdiling gipangbati sa pag-abot ko didto.  Gusto ko nga magmalipayon ang akong kinaiya hangtod sa pag-uli ko dinhi sa among balay.

Pasaylo-a ako nga gipang-bubo ko tanan akong mga maoton nga kalabutan.  Gusto ko gayud nga wala'y mantsa ang kadakuan sa akong adlaw.  Oo, nakabasa ka og sakto.  Bag-o pa ko nakamata.  Usa ka oras pa lang kay alas siyete sa buntag na ako nipahulay gikan sa akong adlaw gahapon.

Dinhi ko na kini humanon.  Dili ko na kini patas-an pa kay aduna pa ako'y pagabuhaton sa dili pa molarga.  Makapangutana ka og unsa?  Maligo!

Sina-Unang Artikulo sa Tagalog: Ang Pagmulat ng Pagmamahal sa Bansa sa Pamamagitan ng Pagiging Bahagi ng URI

Ito ang sina-unang artikulo ko sa wikang Pilipino.  Ginagawa ko ito upang mapatunayan sa sarili ko na kaya ko at hindi ako isa sa libo-libo sa atin na nawawalan na ng damdaming makabansa.  Ipinagmamalaki ko ang ka-ugatan ng aking mga ninuno at ang Wikang Pambansa.


Nakikiusap ako sa mga mambabasa nito na huwag akong pintasan!  Nahihirapan ako ng kaunti dahil bawat salitang minamakinilya ko ay pumupula.  Hindi ito kinikilala ng diksiyonaryong Ingles sa kompyuter ko.


Maitatanong mo sa akin kung bakit pumasok ito sa isipan ko.  Ang sagot ay hindi dahil kasali ako sa mga pangyayari no’ng ika-16 at 17 ng Disyembre.  Hindi ‘yon ang nakamulat sa mas-malalim na pagmamahal ko sa aking pagiging Pilipino, kun’di ang muling pagiging aktibo ko sa gawaing hangad sa kapayapaan kasama ang Inisyatibo ng mga Nagkakaisang Pananampalataya (URI o United Religions Initiative sa Ingles).


Mahigit tatlong taon na ako sa organisasyong ito.  Pumasok ako noong 2007 nang ma-ingganyo matapos sumali sa isa sa kanilang mga panayam na tinawag na Adhikain ng Kapayapaan sa Pagitan ng Nagkakaibang Pananampalataya (VPAR o Visions of Peace Among Religions sa Ingles).  Tatlo sa amin do’n ay tumungong makapagtayo ng isang samahan ng mga kabataang Boholano mula sa iba’t ibang mga relihiyon.  Di nagtagal ay itinayo ang tinawag naming TULAY kasama ang iilang nadagdag na mga kasapi.  Ang ibig sabihin nito kung isalin sa wika natin ay mangangahulugang “Pagtitiwala, Pag-uunawaan, at Pagkakatuto sa Pagitan ng mga Kabataan” (Trust, Understanding, and Learning Among Youth sa Ingles).  Nagsimula kami na labindalawa lamang sa grupo at ang pangunahing layunin namin bukod sa pagpapalaganap ng iminumungkahi ng pangalan ng organisasyon ay ang pagligtas ng kaligiran.

________________________________________

Dalawang taon ang lupimas nang humiwalay ako sa ama ko.  Bunga nito ay natuklap din ako mula sa URI.  Naging tahimik ako at nabuhay na may pagsasarili sa Cebu.  No’ng mga taong ‘yon, pinanatiling Buhay ang TULAY sa pamamagitan ng pagsisikap ng pinsan kong si Kristine.  Pinanguluhan n’ya ang kanilang mga gawain at sinigurong maapoy ang kaluluwa ng adhikain.


Noong Oktubre, bumalik ang alibughang anak sa kanyang ama.  Hangarin ko sa oras ng pagbalik ay maging aktibo muli sa URI at buhayin muli ang organisasyon ng aking ama na tawagi’y Mga Boluntaryo ng Kagandahang-Loob sa Bohol (BGV o Bohol Goodwill Volunteers sa Ingles).


Ang mga detalye ng kung bakit inilipat ko ang atensyon ko mula sa TULAY patungong BGV ay mahaba at ipapaliwanag ko sa ibang artikulo na.


Ilang linggo ang nakalipas at pinadala ako sa Quezon City para sumali sa ika-anim na panrehiyong kapulungan sa URI sa Timog-Silangang Asya at sa Pasipiko kung saan ay nakilala ko ang ibat ibang mga pinuno ng mga magkahambing na mga organisasyon.  Iyon ang tiyak na simula ng pagmumulat ng malalim na pagmamahal ko ng kulturang Pilipino.  Bawat isa sa mga kasabwat mula sa ibang mga bansa ay duminig sa bawat araw ng pulong suot ang kanilang mga pambansang pananamit.  Namasdan ko rin na ang aking mga damit ay may mabibigat na katangìáng pang-kanluran at walang tanda ng aking pagiging Pilipino.  Ikinalungkot ko na ang mga hinirang kong damit para sa okasyong ‘yon ay hindi gawang Pinoy at hindi kumatawan sa lahi ko.


Nagkaroon ako ng malaking katuwiran para baguhin ang ilan sa mga paningin at ugali ko sa buhay.


Simula no’n, bukod sa pagpapalaganap ng kapayapaan, naidagdag sa mga hangarin ko ang pagpapalaganap ng Pilipinong pagkakakilanlan sa mga kabataan sa halip na pumanig sa banyagang mga kaugalian at kabihasnán, kaya noong ika-16 at 17 ng Disyembre, sumuporta ang BGV bilang isa sa mga tagapanagot sa sina-unang Pambansang Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawang Kabataan Hinggil Sa Mabuting Pagkamámamayan (National Youth Congress on Good Citizenship sa Ingles).


Sumali din ako bilang isang kasabwat at kinagitlan ko ang galing ng ilan sa kanila sa pagsasalita ng wikang Pilipino nang walang pagkakautal ni isang beses.  Sabi ko sa sarili ko, “kung magagawa ko ang magsalita gamit ang wikang Ingles sa ganyang klaseng antas ng pagbatid at isinaalang-alang na ito ay dayuhang wika, dapat magagawa ko rin ‘yon gamit ang Tagalog at Bisaya.”


Nagsimula ako sa Tagalog at susunod nito ay Bisaya naman.

Giving Up On Wordpress

A couple of weeks ago, I created two Wordpress.com-hosted blogs--one for TULAY CC and one for Bohol Goodwill Volunteers CC.  I wanted both CCs to maintain websites about organizational on-goings and what not.  It was sort of my last fatherly deed for TULAY CC before I officially turned the keys over to Kristine.

Just an hour or so ago, I tinkered with the BGV CC blog because I wanted to add a heading image to the main page.  I tried and tried and tried, but there was always a limitation that kept me from doing what I wanted to do.  I tweaked this; I tweaked that, but all to no avail.

I finally decided to give up and resort to the more familiar and more convenient Blogger.com.  Good old Blogspot!  Yeah!  I didn't want to give myself a reason for my head to start aching.  I was willing to learn, but then I realized that Blogger is way better, anyway.

So, yes, the new blog for us is now boholgoodwill.blogspot.com!  I was finally able to use the heading I wanted.  Go check it out!  I haven't posted any articles yet.  I'm too tired to even fill out the blanks there.

Sleep is imperative!

zzzzzZZZZZZZ!

Bonding with Dad

I spent Christmas and New Year with my maternal family.  Deal with it!  Does that mean I regard my father any less?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!  Dad and I have had our bonding days before each celebration.  For example: shortly before the day of the Winter Solstice, dad and I went to Dimiao (my dad's municipality of origin) to visit my 90-year-old grandmother.  Another example?  Well, nearly every night before Christmas eve and New Year's Eve, dad and I had dinner together.  Happy?

Does it matter that our days of "quality time" didn't fall on the holidays?  The important thing is the awareness, acceptance, and openness about the love present in day-to-day living.

Then, again, of course, we did have our New Year bonding today.  Imagine: the last time I met my dad was last year?  [LOL]  It wasn't any kind of bonding that involved expensive stuff or elaborate festive excursions.  No!  It was just food and road trip outside the city.

Apparently, he sent me a message at around 9:00AM asking me to come over to my uncle's place for lunch.  Unfortunately, however, it was not until 30 minutes past 12:00PM that I got to read the message.  I messaged to apologize and, thankfully, it was all good to him.  I took a quick shower and had myself driven over to my uncle's, where he still was.  There, I had a late lunch and a couple of hours of watching boxing on the television.  I didn't really care whose matches those were--not even the fact that it was boxing.  What mattered to me was that I was sitting there with my family.  I was also glad to be there since I got to see my cousin Kristine.  I had missed her birthday on the 26th because I had another engagement, so to have bonded and spoken with her was really nice.

After all that couch-potatoing, dad and I went to a restaurant called Garden Cafe for some snacks.  We had vanilla ice cream-topped mango pie.  It was awesome!  We stayed there for about an hour and a half--way after we'd finished everything on our boats--before deciding to go out and drive around the city for a while.  Awesome, wasn't it?

We didn't get hungry, but we developed a craving for pizza after seeing a mental billboard of Alberto's Pizzeria somewhere along the highway.  So, being the pigs that we were, we decided to order a couple of pizzas and we ate them in the car.  Of course, we didn't finish them.  I gave up after my 5th slice.  Afterwards, as a random thing, we went on a road trip to Panglao to see the lighted park.

You see:  A couple of weeks ago, when dad went all praises about the lights in our city's public park, someone brushed his remarks away saying they were nothing compared to Panglao's park's lights.  So, on this last day before work resumes for him, he decided to take a drive there.

When we did get there, I noticed that some of the lighted structures standing on the lawn had already been removed.  The scenario still retained its beauty, though.  It was probably better than our city's, but I don't think it was appropriate to say that ours was nothing compared to it.

Anyway, that was the final part of our father-son bonding day.  He drove me home afterwards and here I am blogging about it.

Toodles now!

BLAST OFF!!!

Nope, no rockets here!  But of course, I did fly!  Hahaha!  Never mind how; never mind why; never mind when!  All I can say about it is I loved it!  I loved every single moment of it--fright and all!

I spent a huge part of New Year's Eve sleeping since I knew I'd be awake the entire night.  Ate Lorz, my mom's best friend, woke me up and I, in turn, woke my mom up, too.  It turned out my mom had planned to go to the beach, but was wary about making such decision because she had so much to do.  Imagine that!  New Year's Eve and she was working.  To make matters more churny, she nearly fell into a state of anger for being uncontrollably busy even on the last day of the year.  She finally decided to drop everything and let loose after a few minutes of non-stop blabbering by me and Grandma.  [L!O!L!]

It was already 6:00PM and quite dark when we headed to the beach.  We brought Inu and Bro-Nu (Inu's brother) so they could have fun, too.  And boy, did they!  The tossed, turned, ran around, play-fought, swam, dove!  They did it all!  The great thing about it was we were able to remove Bro-Nu's ticks and fleas.  Yep, he had some.  We don't know where he contracted them, but he had a lot.

We decided to head home at about 8:30PM when I complained to mom that I was really hungry already.  We didn't bring any food and Ate Nining, the rest house manager told us that there wasn't any ready-to-serve food around, so we had to leave.  My tummy was starting to make funny noises.

Right after dinner, I blasted off the ground on my own for the first time!  Oops!  Not a a good topic to elaborate on.  Just so you know.  It's up to you to figure out what I mean.

Come 10:30PM and we were in our festive moods.  Ate Lorz had returned from changing clothes in her house, and we shot off for Alona Beach to see the fireworks!  It was one heck of a party there!  We sat at a section whose name I forgot, had a couple of beers, pizza, and had fun until the countdown, which we gleefully joined!  10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  We greeted 2011 with screeches and jumps like little children once more!  The fireworks display was beautiful!  15 minutes of awesome sky lights...  thousands of dollars burning in the sky, so to speak.  [More LOL]

Before leaving, we stuck around for a while and joined the hundreds of others celebrating 2011's arrival!  We drank some more, and allowed Janggo to run and jump around, too.  He was a crowd favorite!  On more than three occasions did a foreign man/woman call on him to feed him and carry him and pet him.  In his own little way, he was able to put smiles on people's faces, too.

We waited until he finally gave up and retired to sleep.  Cute little Janggo!