Braso, maghunos-dili ka. Konting panahon na lang at tuturukan ka na naman.
Libre na nga ang injection, aatungal ka pa?
Pang-apat na yan. At ang dahilan, tulad ng nakaraan, ay pampalakas ng katawan.
Haskang laguta! Tayo ba’y nagiging bakunadik na?
*****
Sunod-sunod na naman ang mahaba’t malakas na sirena. Ayaw ko nang sumilip sa bintana at sundan ng tingin ang ambulasyang humahagibis.
Dasal ko lagi na manawari’y ligtas ang isinusugod ng sasakyang EMS sa ospital.
*****
Kuwento ni Ingkong Ambo: “In-on ko ang TV. May pulitikong nag-advice: ‘Get the best protection.’
So, pinatay ko ang TV. Humangos ako sa botika. Bumili ako ng condom.”
*****
Umaasa’t nananangis ang sanlibutan: “Wakasan ang digmaan! Peace, peace!”
Samantala, meron diyan na agresibo ang sugod-atras pero ang gusto ay “piece of this, piece of that.”
Kapag umusbong na ang mga kabute, ang mistulang gagalaw lang ay ipis.
Ang marami ay helpless and (excuse me) pissed.
O, susuutin mo ba ang sandalyas ng mangingisda?
*****
My Muslim brothers and sisters are fasting and praying during the Islamic holy month of Ramadhan. My Christian brothers and sisters are reflecting on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ as they pray for spiritual salvation.
Both are strengthening their minds, bodies and souls in these moments and making it relevant to the times we are all in. Why not? After all, both Islam and Christianity teach the existence of only one loving, benevolent, compassionate and forgiving Bathala.
Yet, I wish that humankind will continue to pray for reason to prevail among peoples, wherever they are in the dimensions of the universe, whatever their resources are, whoever they got their genes from, and whenever they were born and exalted.
Pray for reason; and pray that the reason is peace.
“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” (Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi)
*****
Napansin ni Tandang Tasyo na ang mga payaso, komedyante at mga kalbong gumagaya kay Kuya Istib, at yaong walang pigil ang hagikhik at halakhak ay masasaya at tumatamasa nang mahabang buhay.
Siguro nga, aniya, laughter still is the best medicine kahit may sampalan, I resign at ten-year ban along the way. (Kuya Oscar, ang galing mong magpatawa sa gitna ng drama.)
Dagdag pa ni Tasyo: Kahit na minsa’y mahirap lunukin ang ibang mga mapait na joke at hugot, just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down. (Kaaya-aya talagang sabayan si Ate Dyuli.)
Wika nga ni Ella Wheeler Wilcox sa kanyang tulang Solitude: “Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone. For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, but has trouble enough of its own.” Kung naarok mo, paki-esplika nga.
Patotoo ng Bee Gees? “I started a joke which started the whole world crying; but I didn’t see that the joke was on me. I started to cry which started the whole world laughing; oh, if I’d only seen that the joke was on me.”
Kaya, kung tampulan ka ng klase-klaseng biro, huwag mabuwisit. Be sweet, kansuswit.
*****
Laging tandaan, nasusulat man o hindi: The sheep has sailed (in Noah’s ark, remember?).
Nangyari ito nang umarangkada ang delubyo.
*****
Wingdang ka na ba sa presyo ng gasolina? Kung gayon, purchase an electric chair.
Car ba, hindi chair? Puwes, tanggalin ang h at i, hello.
Huwag mabahala kung can’t afford mag-buy ng electric car, unahin mo munang maghanap ng charger.
Iwasan din ang usisa kung battery included. May nag-promise na darating din yan. Wait na lang kung kailan.
Hay, naku! Take a nap at nang hindi makuryente sa karimarimarim na pamumulitika sa paligid.
But if you insist na manatiling gising, isipin ang masasayang moments ninyo ni Misis para makalimutan mo ang mga masalimuot na bahagi ng modern living.
*****
Has everyone gone to the dark side of the moon?
Itigil na ang mga reklamo. Hindi ako naniniwala na ang mga baku-bakong kalsada ay pansamantagalan. Mabuti nga at inaayos ang mga ito sa ikagiginhawa ang mga may-ari’t nagmamaneho ng mga sasakyan.
Kuro-kuro ni Mang Isko: Baka naman ganoon talaga ang gawain nila. Kitang-kita ang kita sa tuwi-tuwina.
Bato-bato sa langit, kapag naipukol, ang tamaan may bukol. Hala ka! Full moon na naman sa ika-16 ng Abril. Patutunayan kaya nito na mali siMang Isko?
*****
Maraming nagsasabi na masyado daw akong skeptic.
Ayos lang yan, kaysa naman septic.
Wetaminit, impyernong mainit! In some sense, parang pareho lang sila.
*****
The New Word Order: Lies, spins and twists, biased, mixed and confusing messages and one-sided outbursts are the wordy weapons of choice of insecure barkers and sabre rattlers that howl the loudest.
New World Order? Basahin ang nasa itaas. Look up, talukap.
Dating order: Ginisang munggo; pritong isda at sawsawang suka, sili’t kamatis; at unli rice. Talu-talo na!
*****
Sir Winston Churchill once remarked: “Some people’s idea of free speech is that they are free to say what they like. But if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage.”
At times, outrage turns into dreaded dispute. When unintended consequences happen, these “some people” and their buddies look for long tables to spew stale saliva on. Eowww!!!
Meanwhile, the public will have to walk on hallowed ground where flowers have gone.
*****
Palaging naririnig: Actions speak louder than words. May pakapin pa: Walk the talk.
Kuya Sam Bilibit, which came first: Nang maimbento ang bulong … este, gulong … o nang maglakad ang tao?
*****
Give experts and politicians a listen, in amusement or otherwise, but begin taking their word with a grain of salt, perhaps to make the blah-blah-blahs a little bit tasty although a bit unhealthy.
Perhaps, that may explain why flip-flops are trending among experts and politicians nowadays.
It`s spring and near summer anyways. Footprints in the sand may soon be washed away.
Harinawa`y hindi kumapit sa mga dalubhasa`t pulitiko ang kakaibang foot-and-mouth disease.
*****
Living, perhaps struggling, in the midst of hard and trying times, it is soothing and uplifting to be reminded of what we can be and what we can do to make the world a better place for ourselves and everybody else.
Max Ehrmann, in his inspirational Desiderata, said it all:
“Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”
*****
As usual, I will root for the Toronto Raptors in the playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers.
As always, may you be well and safe in each tomorrow and beyond. #####