American writer Max Ehrmann’s famous prose-poem Desiderata (1927) states with finality:
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 labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
*****
Hustong pagbungad ni Impong Tasyo sa food court, binati siya ni Tatang Ambo: “Long time … no see, buddy. We really missed you. And you’ve grown a goatee. Seems you like spelunking that much! Yes?”
“Teka, pa-Inglis-Inglis ka pa. Kadarating ko lang. Pero sige, kape at ispelungking din ang order ko.”
Hindi pa humuhupa ang mga pailalim na hagikhikan, sabi ni Ka Mulong: “Pagpasensiyahan na lang natin, mga katoto. Isipin na lang natin na it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”
Singit ni Lolo Tiago: “Pasok ba sa usapin ang ‘Be Kind to Animals’?”
*****
During a meeting, the president stood and did a Ka Freddie:
“Ako ang nakikita, ako ang nasisisi, ako ang laging may kasalanan.”
Bulong ng PRO: “Allergic to bad mouths? Say nothing, hear nothing, feel nothing and do nothing. Never for better and always for worse, be nothing.”
Mouthwash will never work. Give it as a present and be ‘unliked’ and ‘unfriended’ immediately. Para mo na ring niregaluhan ng suklay ang kalbo.
Better yet, have a listen to and draw good vibes from Ka Freddie’s Bulag, Pipi at Bingi.
Surely, pasok sa usapin ang ‘The cold and frigid, the hard and stiff can also be found in graveyards.’
Whatever, join ka na lang sa many who still believe that “it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”
*****
An array of quotes, quotes and quotes follows, courtesy of Aling Masing.
Robin Sharma, a Canadian writer and one of the world’s top inspirational speakers on leadership and personal mastery, is quoted: “Criticism is the price of ambition.”
In Act 3, Scene 2 of the historical play and tragedy Julius Caesar written by poet, playwright and actor William Shakespeare, character Marc Antony’s oration carried the words “Ambition is made of sterner stuff.”
Dramatist Oscar Wilde wrote: “Our ambition should be to rule ourselves, the true kingdom for each one of us; and true progress is to know more, and be more, and to do more.”
Back to Shakespeare, guys. In his tragedy titled Macbeth, main character Macbeth confesses to his wife that he has no reason to kill King Duncan. He understood that even on earth, evil deeds often “return / To plague th’inventor”. Translated, it’s karma.
Maka-relate naman kaya lahat ng uhaw sa kapangyarihan at mahilig mag-diyos-diyosan?
*****
Wait! What? Bossing, ang lalim ng mga tinuran sa itaas. ‘Di ko maarok.
Simple lang, Tandang Tasyo. Kung talagang mahirap maintindihan, mag-kape at mag-ispelungking ka na lang.
Mabuti pa, lalo nating pagandahin at painugin ang mundo. Ngumiti, magpatawa kahit hindi kalbo, at mag-react naman sa jokes ng iba. Laging maging masaya. O, ‘di ba?
*****
OMG! After a 2019 New Year’s Resolution to avoid repeats, did I just write the word kalbo twice? Ang kulit!
However, just a thought: It seems that many heads are likely heading that way, mine included.
Advice lang: Avoid King Kong. Run and hide as fast as possible. That giant monster likes roll-ons.
But never worry. “It is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”
*****
A friendly reminder, it is 2019 and nagparamdam na ang winter. Baka lang naman, in case Tandang Tasyo, Tatang Ambo, Ka Mulong, Lolo Tiago, Bossing Asyong, Aling Masing and the rest of the kinship of fastfood elders tend to forget, it is mid-January 2019 at nananalo ang Raptors!
Katulad nga daw ng kalendaryo, ang bawa’t yugto ng buhay ng tao ay may pahina kung saan nasusulat at nakatalaga ang nakaraan, kasalukuyan at hinaharap.
So, earn and earn and count and count blessings. Please lang, huwag ding kalimutan bilangin at bayaran ang mga utang.
*****
It’s not yet too late to expose my top ten resolutions for the lucky Year of the Earth Pig.
Peks man! Cross my heart! Hope to dye my hair (kung hindi pa nalalagas) pink.
Tenth: If ever someone gives me a cellular or smart phone, I’ll never use it to cook eggs.
Ninth: I’ll always listen to and heed friendly advice, and avoid friendly fire.
Eighth: Life is short, so it is said. I’ll enjoy it by changing channels when politicians are on-air.
Seventh: I’ll never even try to make both ends meet. Ever saw how prices of food and goods have lately risen? Give me a reason that will stop corporate greed from pulling the consumer’s ends farther apart, when the government does not seem to care about raising the people’s earning and buying power.
Sixth: I’ll keep my body fit. Pants with new waistlines can strain the food budget. I root for healthy legs that can walk miles because of the stupidity of losing a TTC transfer ticket.
Fifth: Peralysis is a bad illness, you know. Mahirap talaga ang walang kayod.
Fourth: I believe in reason. ‘Ika nga, kapag gusto, may panahon; kapag ayaw naman, may rason. I’ll remain calm in the face of reciprocity. Kung late sila, ‘eh ‘di maghihintay ako, no pressure. Sabi nga ni Pareng Janusz, see you when I see you; sabay like ni Pards Jerome.
*****
Teka, mga singit na mensahe lang po.
Una, congratulations to Grand Knight Janusz Masilungan and members of the Knights of Columbus (KoC) Maharlika Council # 7488 as they celebrate their 39th charter anniversary at the St. Rose de Lima parish hall on January 19.
Pangalawa, congratulations too to Grand Knight Jerome Peralta and members of the KoC Our Lady of Asumption (OLA) Council # 12582 as they celebrate another milestone at the OLA parish hall on January 26.
Pangatlo, may fund-raising trip ang KoC San Lorenzo Ruiz Council # 8809 sa Niagara Falls on January 26. Relax. Have fun. Join us. For particulars, please e-mail me at butchgalicia@yahoo.com.
*****
Okay, back to my delayed 2019 resolutions that were carefully thought of without any resoluteness,
Third: I’ll always be calm in the face of adversity. I won’t get mad when someone sticks a dirty finger at me. I’d simply wave back, smile widely and be happy with having stuck five at them and having the last laugh.
Second: I’ll quit smoking. This is a tall order. I’ve been promising this since time immemorial, to no avail. I’ll try again, although the judge, jury and executioner in me say otherwise. On the lighter side, I’ll start by not buying smokes and patronizing OPEC (Other PEople’s Cigarettes).
Of course, first on my list: “It is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”
*****
Last but not least and never late, HAPPY BIRTH ANNIVERSARY to Balita Publisher TESS CUSIPAG.
To Balita readers, HAPPY NEW YEAR! #####
