Verses

This is my first ever blog on a political and social issue. I just can’t close my eyes as the fate of Charter Change (Cha-cha) and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) hangs in the balance as the House of Representatives holds its last three session days before adjourning this weekend. I can’t help thinking, is it a choice between the future of the politics or the farmers? Well, we will see later on what is really the interest of our leaders. Is it for self-preservation or for right assertion?

Four days ago, I made a choice. It is a very momentous event for me— being part of Philippine history—sort of. I attended the Ateneo School of Government’s (ASOG) red carpet screening of Lupang Hinarang, a documentary of Award-winning Director, Ditsi Carolino. This by-invitation only event aims to gather different leaders from government, civil society, business, academe, media, youth and the Church in support for the passage of CARPER. Looking around that night, I may say that it was a success.

Viewing the 90-minute documentary, which is according to Ditsi Carolino is just “a working in progress”, I could say that she was able to capture all the emotions, passions and realities of farmers’ journey of assertion of their right. She was able to put across the message, loud and clear. Truly, lupang hinarang! It made me realize, what our city is doing in this area. Is being a city give us the leverage to shun away our priorities on food production, on farmers rights, food security? What are we doing to secure the rights of those who give us food security?

So, how can we change the world? What can we do? What can I do? Well, definitely, the change starts with me. Let this blog echoes through the net and let us speak up and let everyone know the urgency of passing the CARPER now. I maybe alone now but I am sure that there is a glimmer of hope in the remaining three session days just as the song goes, “it is better to light just one little candle that to stumble in the dark”…

I am crossing my fingers on you guys!

Watching Ditsi Carolino’s documentary, Lupang Hinarang, made me remember the time I attended the World Urban Forum in Vancouver, Canada in 2006. Thea capella rendition ofthe Kenyan Girls Quartet echoed in my memory: “…Give me Lord a land rather than work in the city where money dissolves like salt in water…”

Oh! Their rendition has left a lump in my throat just as I remember it while watching Lupang Hinarang. They are so young to really feel the pain of the effects of urbanization that defies boundaries, skin color, religion…

It all started when I commented on their pictures taken at Tapuakan River in Pugo, La Union. How they wished I was there…But not yet too late for the next trip, they said.

Next trip? Santol?! Wow! They have good falls there, I said. I got excited. A classmate in my masteral class reported about this place…well, academically but not on the sites. Seeing the place through pictures, I know I will enjoy this trip. It is not yet too late to have a little fun and tan before summer ends…Teka! may summer ba? It seems it was too short this year. It started to rain as early as April!

As plans are being set, with my classmate giving me some last minute briefings on what to expect, it rained! Gosh! But the rain didn’t douse the enthusiasm and excitement.

As early as seven in the morning, all were set. Food was cooked. Travelled light…and of course, never forget the tsinelas baka mapigtas! Hahaha! Well, someone did! Ouch! He has a different kind of foot spa! (Peace, pare!)

We were welcomed by Mayor Daisy Olivar. My companions can’t suppress their awe and surprise how young the mayor is. She showed us the pictures of the places we may go. We were briefed regarding the road with his staff reporting before us. Eventually, we chose Anito Falls. We filled up their log book and even their feedback form. She sent us off with a driver and guides ….and a taste of their one of a kind ube! A two-toned all natural colored ube cake! White and violet! Ang sarap! We are like children licking our fingers over this native cake on our way to the mountains!

Then, we stopped and started to walk. All are excited and still have the energy at the start…goofing and joking around that brought laughter and giggles on the side with lots of pauses and poses for pictures…and viola! Here we are in the middle of nowhere, an awesome falls! And the rest is history…with memories and pictures in our minds that bring us to say: Isem Santol!

If you do something unpredictable today, so will I, times 10,000.

Careful now…

Do not judge the journey by the path you’re now on. Like driving, you can’t possibly know in advance if or where you may encounter detours, hairpin turns, or passing cars passing cars with noses and whatnot pressed to the window. Moreover, little, if any, of the scenery you travel through will remotely resemble the destination you have in mind. Yet neither the “constellations” you see nor the unexpected maneuvers you take will ever mean you aren’t headed exactly where you want to go, moving as swiftly as possible, getting closer every flippin’ day.

Road trip!

In a minute, something struck me. It just snapped out of me. And this time I am sure. Probably this is one of those times they say. Yeah, sure.

Sometimes, the only thing I know for certain is what I don’t want… Yet often that’s enough to go on…

Here is a song that I found describing it all…

Hey, I’m so sorry
that it didn’t work the way
that we’d always planned
Hey, I’m so sorry
that you went away
and somehow didn’t understand

We pretended for so many years, but now
its time wash away my tears

CHORUS

Cause/ And it’s all behind us now
cause we’ve learned to live somehow without each other
And its easy to see, it ain’t never
gonna be the same again

And its all behind us now
cause we found a way to live without
each other
And in time we’ll have to see
If its ever gonna be that way again

Hey, I’m so sorry
that I couldn’t find the words
that might have made you stay
and hey, it’s so funny
how we both can say the same thing in a
different way

We pretended for so many years,
but now its over baby
and so are my tears

Cause/ And it’s all behind us now
cause we’ve learned to live somehow without each other
And its easy to see, it ain’t never
gonna be the same again

I was holdin’ out for far too long
But now I finally found where I belong

Having time to go over a lot of files stored in my external hard drive made me in a pensive mood… It helped me think back to a happy time in my life. A really, really happy time. I remember the happiest I’ve ever felt…the laughter, the peace, the confidence, the ease of it all. Emotionally and for a moment, I relived a few of those moments…I didn’t think of the details (people, places, or circumstances); I just remember the way I felt.

Good… Very good. I just created some building blocks for tomorrow and the rest of my amazing life!

Isn’t it nice to know that you haven’t yet laughed, all that you’ll laugh? That you haven’t yet met, some of your very best friends? And that you haven’t yet dreamed, all that you’ll manifest?

That all bridges will be mended? That all sadness will be healed? And that life never ends?

That all of your challenges will be won? That all of your triumphs will be shared? And that the difference you’ll make, has already begun?

Well, for me, because I know that if I don’t see these things yet, I will.

Wise men say: Mothers are always right.

You hear that? Yeah! That! And these…

Modern Mothers Sayings

• Money does not grow on trees.
• When you have your own house then you can make the rules!
• Always change your underwear; you never know when you’ll have an accident.
• Do not make that face or it will freeze in that position.
• Be careful or you will put your eye out.
• What if everyone jumped off a cliff? Would you do it, too?
• You have enough dirt behind those ears to grow potatoes!
• Close that door! Were you born in a barn?
• If you cannot say something nice, do not say anything at all.
• Do not put that in your mouth; you do not know where it has been!

Traditional Mothers Sayings

• A little “birdy” told me!
• All I do is follow you around, picking up after you like some maid.
• Am I talking to a brick wall?
• Are you deaf or something?
• Are you lying to me?
• As long as you live under my roof, you will do as I say.
• Beds are not made for jumping on.
• Call me when you get there, just so I know you are okay.
• Close the door! You do not live in a barn.
• Did you brush your teeth?
• Did you comb your hair?
• Do as I say, not as I do.
• Do you think I am made of money?
• Do you think your socks are going to pick themselves up?
• Do not break your arm patting yourself on the back.
• Do not eat that, you will get worms!
• Do not go out with a wet head, you will catch cold.
• Do not make me get up!
• Do not pick that scab it will get infected.
• Do not pick your nose in public.
• Do not run in the house.
• Do not sit too close to the television; it will ruin your eyes.
• Do not talk with your mouth full!
• Do not walk away when I am talking to you!
• Eat your vegetables; they are good for you.
• Enough is enough!
• Go play outside! It is a beautiful day!
• Going to a party? Leave a phone number in case I need to call.
• Going to a party? Who is going to be there?
• Going to a party? Will the parents be home?
• How do you know you do not like it if you have not tasted it?
• I brought you into this world, and I can take you right back out!
• I cannot believe you can sleep in this filth!
• I did not ask who put it there; I said, “Pick it up!”
• I do not care what “everyone” is doing. I care what YOU are doing.
• I do not have to explain myself. I said no.
• I hope someday you have children just like you.
• I just want what is best for you.
• I will always love you - no matter what.
• If God had wanted you to have holes in your ears (eyebrows, tongue, etc.) He would have put them there!
• If it were a snake, it would have bitten you.
• If wishes were horses…
• If you could stay out last night, you can get up this morning.
• If you do not do it now, then when are you going to do it?
• If you stick your tongue out again it will fall off.
• If you are too sick to go to school, you are too sick to play outside.
• I am doing this for your own good.
• I am going to skin you alive!
• I am not going to ask you again.
• I am not your cleaning lady!
• I am not your waitress!
• Is not it past your bedtime?
• It is not that I do not trust you, it is that I do not trust everyone else.
• Life is not fair.
• Look at me when I am talking to you.
• Money does NOT grow on trees.
• No child of mine would do something like that.
• Nobody asked you
• Over my dead body!
• Pick that up before somebody trips on it and breaks their neck!
• Pick up your feet.
• Put that down! You do not know where it has been!
• Say that again and I will wash your mouth out with soap.
• Shut the door! I am not air conditioning the entire neighborhood!
• Shut your mouth and eat.
• So it is raining? You are not sugar - you would not melt.
• So what if Bob’s mom let him do it? If Bob’s mom let him jump off the Empire State Building, would you want me to let you do it too?
• Someone is going to end up crying.
• This hurts me more than it hurts you.
• Turn that racket (music) down!
• Watch your mouth!
• Well, I have not figured out how to cook “cold” yet.
• Well, people in Hell want ice water too!
• What did I say the first time?
• What part of no do not you understand?
• When I was a little girl…
• When I was young we had respect for our elders, now look at the world!
• When I was your age, I had to walk ten miles through the fields, uphill, by myself, to go to school.
• When will you be back?
• Where do you think you are going?
• Who died and left your boss?
• Who do you think you are talking to?
• Who taught you that? You did not learn that in this house!
• Wipe your feet!
• You cannot find it? Well, I cannot find it for you - I did not wear it!
• You cannot find it? Well, if you would put things where they belonged, you would not have this problem.
• You cannot find it? Well, where did you leave it last?
• You cannot start the day on an empty stomach.
• You do not always get what you want. It is a hard lesson, but you might as well learn it now.
• You kids are trying to drive me crazy!
• You must think rules are made to be broken.
• You would not be happy until you break that, will you?
• You will understand when you are older.
• A little soap & water never killed anybody.
• Answer me when I ask you a question!
• Are you going out dressed like that?
• Are your hands broken? Pick it up yourself!
• Be good.
• Bored! How can you be bored? I was never bored at your age.
• Clean up after yourself!
• Cupcakes are not a breakfast food!
• Did you clean your room?
• Did you flush?
• Do you live to annoy me?
• Do you think this is a hotel? You cannot just come here only to sleep.
• Do not ask me why. The answer is NO.
• Do not ever let me catch you doing that again!
• Do not make me come in there!
• Do not put that in your mouth, you do not know where it has been.
• Do not run with a lollipop in your mouth.
• Do not stay up too late!
• Do not use that tone with me!
• Do not you have anything better to do?
• Go ask your father.
• Go to your room and think about what you did!
• How can you have nothing to wear? Your closet is FULL of clothes!
• How many times do I have to tell you?
• I can always tell when you are lying.
• I cannot believe you did that!
• I do not buy snacks to feed the neighborhood!
• I do not care who started it, I said stop!
• I do not care who started it you stop it!
• I do not know is not an answer.
• I hope you do not kiss me with that mouth!
• I said CLOSE the door, I did not say slam it.
• I would have never talked to MY mother like that!
• If I catch you doing that one more time, I will…
• If I want your opinion I will ask for it!
• If I have told you once … I have told you a thousand times.
• If you do not clean your plate, you would not get any dessert.
• If you do not stop crying, I am going to give you something to cry about!
• If you are too full to finish your dinner, you are too full for dessert.
• I will treat you like an adult when you start acting like one.
• I am going to give you until the count of three…
• I am not always going to be around to do these things for you.
• I am not running a taxi service.
• I am not your maid!
• Is your homework finished?
• It is no use crying over spilt milk.
• I have had it up to here with you.
• Leave your sister (brother) alone!
• Little pitchers have big ears.
• Look at this room! It looks like a pigsty!
• Never try on anyone else’s glasses or you will go blind.
• No, I do not know where your socks are; it is not my day to watch them!
• Now, come back downstairs and go back up without stomping your feet!
• Now, say you are sorry…and mean it!
• Running away? Do not let the door hit you in the rear.
• Running away? I will help you pack.
• Running away? Is that a threat or a promise?
• Some day you will thank me for this. SMACK!!!
• The apple does not fall far from the tree.
• Think of those poor starving children in India… (or China, or Africa.)
• Turn off that light. Do you think we own the electric company?
• Watch your language!
• Well, people in Hades want ice water, but do you see me with a pitcher?
• What kind of a grade is that? You could do much better!
• When did your last slave die?
• When you have kids of your own you will understand.
• Where are you going?
• Who are you going with? Do I know them?
• Who do you think you are?
• Who said life was going to be easy?
• Why? Because I said so, that is why!
• You are getting on my last nerve.
• You can go out to play…after you brush your teeth and comb your hair.
• You can go out to play…after you pick up your room.
• You can go out to play…after you have done your homework.
• You cannot judge a book by its cover.
• You could have called.
• You had better wipe that smile off your face before I do it for you.
• You just ate an hour ago!
• You made your bed, now lie in it.
• You should have that phone surgically implanted in your ear.
• You will eat it, and you will like it!
• You would forget your head if it was not attached to your shoulders!
• You will always be my baby.
• Your father is going to hear about this when he gets home!
• You are the oldest. You should know better.

Mommy, you are the best! Happy Mother’s day!

There isn’t a moment in any day when someone, somewhere, isn’t better off because of something you’ve done. And no matter what you do, or don’t do, with the rest of your life, you cannot now comprehend the amounts of love, joy, and personal assistance that are already being pressed out to you in gratitude.

Hmmm…That must be nice.