Kata-kata: Blab 04

Sang Wala Pa Farmville sa bukid

By Pepin

Katilaw ka hampang sa bukid? Ako nag daku ako sa bukid, kag daw halos tanan nga hampang sang kaberks ko sa baryo namun na memorize ko na. kaagi ako panamang sa ginatamnan kadios, tiru-tiru sulpot, napilasan sa kilay tungod sang pikyaw, kag nabakirasan sang sobra kadalagan pag tumba patis kag sikyo.

Pero ang paborito ko gid nga kalingawan sa bukid amu ang pagpadalus-os paklang sang lubi. Pinaka ka sadya gid ni hampangon kay daw ara ka lang sa roller coaster. Bisan makapoy ini, masadya man gyapon kay damu kami ang nagahampang.

Bal-an mu sa likod balay namun sa baryo, may malapad nga banglid, kung sa diin may daku-daku nga kahoy sang passi (bugnay) kag balayong (ang bunga sini gina himu namon nga espada espada, kag gaespadahanay kami). Halin sa ibabaw sang banglid, ma slide kami paidalum paagi sa pagsakay sang paklang. Dapat sagad kami mag balance-balance para indi kami magbulidbulid sa tunga sang banglid. Ang paklang pwede nga may dahon pa, ukon ang gin tapyasan na. Mas mayo nga ang gintapyasan nga paklang ang gamiton para indi mabug-at dal-on pasaka balik sa ibabaw sang banglid.

Ang pinakamasadya kung may isa sa amun ang ma ligid sa tunga-tunga sang iya pagpadalus-os kag mag tupa sa ipot sang karbaw. May ara ako nga migo nga gin sakam ya gid ang mainit kag mabasa-basa nga birthday cake sang karbaw sang lolo ko. Ang iban gin naghulid man sa ipot, galing kay mala lang to ya. Siyempre indi madula nga may ma pilasan, may masulsulgan, ukon may mabakirasan sa amun.

Manami kay na-agyan ko pa ang makahampang sini, kay subong daw puro na lang computer ang kalingawan sang mga bata sa baryo namun (ga hampang online games pareho sang DOTA, Farmville, kag Counterstrike). Di bala sosyal na bisan ang mga taga-uma subong? Basta mahambal ko lang, masadya kag makalilingaw ang pagpadalus-os paklang. Pangita to bala banglid kag tilawi hampang.

Stanza No. 004:

It's love under the moon! This is about two hearts that are far apart from each other, but made one true promise of love under one romantic moon.

Stanza No. 003:

Are you aware of the time and what's happening within the ticking of the clock?

Stanza No. 002:

This poem is about a little girl's fate in the hands of an obnoxious father.

Opinion:

Is the world upon your shoulder?

By Pepin

If you feel stressed or depressed, you would often think that the world is upon your shoulder. Well, you can’t blame your thoughts especially that during these times, your anxiety level is also above its normal contour. But there will always be a room in your thought that will permit you to ponder. I would say, grab this chance.

Think! Even if your mind is weary and you’re a lot sweatier, just keep your mind open and reflect on things that will relieve you from your worries. Never ever take this chance to seek more explanations for your problems, or blaming yourself and others for what you and your hitches have become. Instead consider the possibilities on how you can straighten things up – Yes! Try to find a solution, and I would say “the best” answer for your problems.

Where in the world am I?

Is the world still upon your shoulders? Why not discover the world itself for instant relief? Try to go to places, discover stories, see people smiling, and feel how wonderful life is on the beach or in the valleys. You will soon find out that life is simple and there is no need to complicate. I recommend that you go out and explore the shores of Boracay or taste the golden mangoes of Guimaras. All of these will make you think that the world is just below your feet and that you are standing proud on top of it.

Kata-kata: Blab 03

Manuya ukon indi manuya?

By Pepin

May ara nga tawo nga manuya sa imu nga wala rason. Agud mapagwa mu ang init sang ulo mu sa iya, mangita ka sang paagi para makabalos. Pero amigo, indi mayo nga ibalos mo sa iya ang mismo ya gin ubra – indi mu sya pag suyaan kung gin suyaan ya ka una.

Simple lang meg, indi lang pagsapaka bala. Bal-an mo kis-a, naga panghalit ang tawo kay kulang lng na sa pansin – basi kulang lang sa pagpalangga sang ginikanan, ukon indi ya ma ipakita ang iya kusog sa simple nga bagay, amu ina nga gapangita siya away para mapabatyag ya nga “kaya ya” ang sitwasyon bisan siya lang isa.

Te kung indi mu siya pagsapakon, amu ini ang manami – madugang ang libog sang ulo ya eh. Nu pa bi? Ipa batyag mu sa iya nga indi effective ang strategy ya nga mang-away. Sa mahapos nga tinaga – mang “pissed off” ka agud ma offend sya sang iya mismo nga gin ubra.

Kung ma himasmasan na siya sang gakalatabo, ukon na paminsar ya na ang iya sala nga gin himu, amu na ina ang oras nga istoryahon mu siya sang matarong. Bal-an mu meg, ang tanan nga indi pag intindihanay mabulong sang simple nga istoryahanay. Atubanga siya sang matarong kag indi mag binata-bata nga iyawyawon mu siya.

Pero meg, kung gin sumbag ya ka, ukon gin amakan abay nga gin suyaan, ay te lain na ini nga istoryahanay. Tawga si hepe kag ipablotter na sang daun. Basi malusbot pa kilid mu kung balusan mu siya.

Kata-kata: Blab 02

Pagkatay to the Max:

Indi Man Sila Brutal Ah!

By Pepin

Madamo sa aton ang nanamitan mag kaon sang fried chicken, fried pork, kag fried beef (tapa bala!). Siyempre, sa hamot pa lang kag sa galatab nga mantika sini, indi ka bala ma ganahan? Pero kaagi ka na bala kita kung paanu ihawon ang mga kasapatan nga gina sumsuman mu?

Ang pagkatay sang baboy indi simple, kag paagi sa akon nga nasaksihan, gina higtan ang apat ka tiil sini kag gina labo sa li-og. Samtang gina gapos, grabe ang iya pag iwik. Nalu-oy ako samtang gina obserbahan ko ang iya pag antos. Pero ang kanamit sang dinuguan (parisan pa gid sang puto…pak), ang hamot sang chicharon bulaklak, kag ang kananam sang siki sini sa KBL ang ara sa ulo ko. Te maluoy ka pa bala kung indi mu gusto magutman?

Kung ang baboy kaluluoy, mas pa gid ang baka. Pista sadto sa amun kag mga alas kwatro pa lang sang kaagahon sang bispiras sang pista gin katay ang baka ni lolo. Siyam katawo ang nagbuliliganay para maubra lang ini, kag shocking sang akon nakita kay gin lampusan sang wasay ang agtang sang baka (baw! Bet gid eh!). Lingin ang ulo sang baka (anu-anu ya lang ang nagtunga sang isa ka pistil nga tuba man?), kag natumba ini samtang naga “moo…moo!” Nagsulod ako sa balay sang makadali, kag pagkabalik ko sa sagwa, gina kiskisan na ang panit sini.

Ang manok daw kasimple lang katayon. Mainit anay sang tubig kag samtang gina hulat ini mag bukal, gina gulgulan ang liog sang manok (dusak gid ang jugular vein). Ginasalod ang dugo kay pwede pa ini ma lakot sa tinola (indi ko na ya ka uyon). Ang paborito ko gid nga part sang manok amu ang ulo sini, amu na nga kung mag-ihaw sila manok sa balay, kinanlan manami ang pagtinlo sang ulo (namit gid ya ang utok kag ang mga mata). Pero kis-a indi lahog-lahog ang mag-ihaw manok kay may ara nga beses nga bisan na gulgul mu na ang liog, ga lupad man gyapon (yawat!).

Sa lain-lain nga paagi sang pagkatay sang mga sapat nga gina kabig natun manamit sud-anun, mahampang ka pa bala Farmville? (Leche nga pamangkutanon).

Stanza No. 001:

Feature:

Tatay Julio:
A brief description of a hero

By Pepin

What does it takes to become a hero? Is it a grandiose street parade or an overwhelming proclamation? Or is it billions of cash at hand or a death for the country? For the less fortunate in life, neither of these matters the most. They don’t even consider the word “heroic” to be synonymous with their everyday dedication to work and their family.

Just like Tatay Julio, a 57-year old porter at Iloilo Port. His rough job of more than twelve hours a day isn’t paying him enough sum of money to raise his family and procure the things he is craving for himself. The half-day exposure at work is causing his feeble body more aches and constant worries. Not to mention, the dozens of sacrifices that he is oblige to do to save his family from starvation; and this includes skipping one or two of his three meals per day.

But for this steadfast man, the forty-four years of work at the port may be causing him physiological pain, but giving up was never his option. He made a promise to himself that family should come first, and his commitment to his wife as a husband and to his ten children as their father should under no circumstances fade.

On his charge and his challenge

The work of a porter may seem uncomplicated for travellers arriving and departing from the seaport. But for Tatay Julio, it is always a long row to hoe. “You always need to show a full blast of your confidence and personality for people to trust you,” he added. Travellers will not always trust porters with their baggage, even if it is already too bulky for them to carry. As a result, porters will usually lose potential customers and then their income.

“You can’t blame people who will not trust you, because they are also playing safe,” Tatay Julio shared. And this situation is ascribed to how Filipinos perceived safety and security over their personal belongings. That is why, for Tatay Julio, it is always a challenge to approach people decently and present to them an honest self, so that they will not feel browbeaten or aggravated.

What’s worse in his situation is that he cannot insist on a predetermined amount for his service. He always relies for a good customer to give him a good pay of at least 100 pesos. But from an infuriated client, 20 pesos or pieces of silver coins is handed over to a porter in an uncouth manner just to ward him off of the way. “It is a common picture everyday, but I am always trying to barter my respect to these types of clients. After all he is only paying for my service and my respect is always free for all regardless of the amount they give to us,” Tatay Julio added.

At the end of the day, the income generated is allocated proportionally for the expenses of his children at school, budget for food, and payments for public utilities consumed at home. As for this hard worker, there is always something to be thankful everyday, especially seeing his family financially secured for their daily needs and expenses.

Being a man of faith

Like millions of Filipinos, Tatay Julio stand firm on his faith as a Catholic. He sees to it that God has a special place for him and his family. The heavy weight of the luggage and boxes he is carrying upon his shoulders defines his dedication to the task that heaven asked for him here on earth, and his persistence for work for the greater glory of God.

“God wanted me to do this, and I am accepting his offer,” he exclaimed. The scorching heat of the sun, the deceitful competition among porters, the minimal pay, and the rude complaints of some of people coming in and out of the seaport never neither made him hate God nor cursed heaven. Instead, he is looking at these upsetting experiences as springboards for a stronger faith.

That is the very reason why despite the long hours spent at work, he never failed to say a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. He even celebrates special days of Jesus, like Christmas, as if he is not living below poverty line. As what he shared, there is always food on their table to celebrate the birthday of the saviour.

However, like any person at crisis, there is always a bigger room in every prayer for a special request. And for Tatay Julio, it is as simple as asking God to sustain his strength the way he had blessed him since 1966 when he first started to work as a porter. “My family needs me, especially my ten children. I want to become their source of strength and inspiration,” he emotionally said.

A hero in his own right

Tatay Julio was never as gallant as those heroes on horses with their sharp-edge swords raised high to call for battle, but he is ahead of the curve being a sincere and committed man as he simply is. It was never that he was not given a chance to front a brigade or shout his estimations of democracy at freedom parks, but it is his choice to inaudibly perform his responsibilities as a Filipino labourer, a Filipino father, and most especially, a true-blooded Filipino.

There are no criteria to becoming a hero, not even an overexposed act of bravery. In his case, Tatay Julio is a hero because he embodies the quality that makes him stand out in a sea of indolence and mediocrity. Moreover, he is proficient of doing demanding tasks whole-heartedly, and be grateful at the end of the day even if there were obstacles that try to impede his dreams and aspirations for his self and his family.

To appreciate life to the fullest is what most Filipinos fail to recognize nowadays because they are starting to become less of a hopeful. But for Tatay Julio, being deprived in life is not a reason to break into pieces, because at the end of the day, one’s hope for tomorrow and faith to God will fashion a person to become whole.

So what does it takes to become a hero? It is always a pure heart to live life in a meaningful way, even if it just to carry heavy-loaded baggages and spending twelve hours at work to sustain ten little heads back home.