mayroong mga tanong…
may mga sama ng kalooban…
alam mo ito, at alam rin ng iba…
na ito’y bunga ng iyong kasalanan…
tumatakbo ang iyong isip…
‘bakit ganito?’, ‘bakit ako?’
‘kailan ito matatapos?’
‘kailan pa makakalag itong gapos?’
subalit asahan mo na lang…
na ito’y lilipas at mapaparam…
at gagaan rin ang iyong pakiramdam…
at kung tanungin mo man…
‘kailan, kapatid, kailan?’…
ang sagot ay nagiisa lamang…
‘ayon sa Kaniyang kalooban.’

Notice how the rain slowly slowed down
Notice how the pain flew as it cried
Never above the power of vows
How come misery tearfully strikes

At times we are our own parasites
We would not beseech a host to live
Pestilences roaming ‘guised as bliss
Over and under our heart’s gray mist

Thought I’d be the first and only one
Didn’t know the flip would cut in line
Listened to the shining morning Sun
Lessened was the piercing healing time

Was looking for some bloody payback
Longed to see his ugly face bashed in
Yet fearful of the nearing Playback
Found these knees begging them: shed your sins!

I write this somber serenade.
The past is done.
I’ve been betrayed;
In you.
They say His will has come out.
I accept without a doubt;
It’s true.

UMAYOS NGA KAYO!
PARA KAYONG HINDI TINUTURUAN EH!!

Although the term ‘public service’ should always logically connote unconditional efforts in helping out the masses, our countrymen (and this may be true generally in all the world) have grown up with the notion that ‘public service’ comes with a price. Government officials, Film and TV Personalities, even leaders of the wealthy religious organizations tend to show up once in a long, long while to show their ‘goodwill’ unto men. But are they sincere, you ask? That, oh dear readers, is a no-brainer.

Feeding programs lasting half a day, medical missions short of medicine, and distribution of free shirts, hats, and even pens bearing their names are just a few of the ‘goodwill’ services pronounced by these people. But a not-so surprising fact is that these occur coinciding with an unofficial calendar – Pharisaic politicians seem to sprout from all directions months before arrival of the elections; hoping their names be remembered come that day. Action stars fly in. Helping out the helpless as the launching of their movies or TV series come a-knockin’; silently grimacing as they wish their Public Relations Officer made the right decision. Religious leaders strut into sight; giving out free canned goods only to see them in the same place weeks later holding an assembly. They then distribute envelopes for their much-coveted tithes and love-offerings.

Yes, the common man is already numb from the disappointment brought about by shattered promises made by desperate politicians and syndicalistic religious leaders. Worse, he cannot do anything about it. The common man is a financial and political wretch. His cries are simply insignificant to the men, women and pastors lounging around the country’s helm.

This tradition of hypocrisy surely must come to an end. And what better way to spark the plug than to be an epitome of the better cause?

Enter Mr. Public Service: Daniel Razon. The man is now endearingly called “Kuya” (‘big brother’ in the vernacular) by a rapidly growing number of people in the channels of the society; high or low. He has spent 20+ fruitful years in the broadcasting industry, traveling and meeting all kinds of people. Kuya Daniel discovered, and felt, the true needs of the man at the bottom of the social food chain. Adding inimitable moral guidance from his principled uncle and parents, it is safe to say that he is the double-edged, light-emitting needle in a haystack of media men and women. Through the words and deeds of Kuya Daniel Razon, the emotional calculus behind the act of sincerely serving the public manifests greatly. Having no desire for personal gain, be it fame or fortune or what not, he conceptualized GMK and molded it with the intent of providing people the tender, loving care that they deserve from the government and, more emphatically, their religious affiliations.

Every minute of the show is enriched with the unwavering will to minister unto the needy and lacking. Right off the bat, Kuya Daniel lays the GMK cards down — There is the free “Clinic ni Kuya” (Kuya’s Clinic) which caters unto our countrymen who are too poor to pay for medical bills thrown at them in the local hospitals. It offers various services: from general check-ups in different medical fields to minor operations. There have even been cases of patients suffering from tumors, situated in most uncomfortable creases of the body for 15 or so years, which were only recently removed through the free clinic due to their inability to pay the asking price anywhere else. There is also the “Law Center ni Kuya” (Kuya’s Law Center) which features the first ever free legal consultation service during weekdays at 5am – 5pm. GMK also boasts “Job Fair ni Kuya” (Kuya’s Job fair). Acting as an employment agency, this segment has already helped scores of people attain regular jobs; here and abroad. One of the offerings that have really opened the eyes of the public is the surge of free bus rides across the metro. A feat never achieved before by any kind of organization; most specifically the government. In calculation, the amount saved monthly by a passenger of the free rides is even greater than the added minimum monthly salary pleaded by the national unions. One also could not resist listening into the “Pondahan” (chill-out place) wherein no essence of discussion is impertinent. “Munting Pangarap” (modest wish) provides the lucky recipient with his/her request which mainly consists of an initial boost for his/her family’s livelihood. Kuya Daniel frequently asserts that if the contemporary shows and networks copy his concepts in this quest for absolute public service, then it is all the more beneficial for the people. This, which inevitably is a cliché in this write-up, is another first.

Writing about every detail of the show is tempting, the space WILL NOT be enough. Nevertheless, all these, and the other dozen or so segments, are testaments that public service is great fun and not a bore as we had been made to superficially believe. But then again, my writing skills are not enough to justify the glowing honesty of the show and its main host. It is also quite impossible to fully describe the joy I see in the faces of the public it wholeheartedly nourishes. Watching GMK is such a spiritual, enlightening, and hope-giving experience that it really is worth watching everyday.

The helplessness of the common Filipino is strongly evident. This is why it is not hard to imagine that every tear of joy and relief is worth the sacrifices undergone by those who fund the daily program. How lucky UNTV is for receiving the privilege and honor of having GMK broadcast under them. The theme for this show virtually cannot be maximized if its elements are laced with vested interests.

Another mark of how Kuya Daniel is such a standout is how he never thrives in the praises revered to him by the people he helps day in and day out. He never fails to remind them that all gratitude must be directed to the God above who inspires actions for the good of man. Oh, how humble he is for a man who has done so much! 

May GOOD MORNING KUYA^© realize its vision of extending its helping arms even into foreign lands. May the same go for the proven fact that you do not need to be a government official, nor a half-century old network station to address and augment the dire needs of your countrymen. Oh wait a minute…

They still haven’t.

 A boob-tube declaration so renowned and eye-opening, it helped push budding extraterrestrial aficionados deeper into their vocations. And along with them; the world: fixated adults suddenly wary for clammy tails peeking out from under overcoats, audacious juveniles absurdly awaiting offers from heroic men to wear black suits and Ray-Bans, and astounded post-toddling children naively anticipating Mars’ attack on Independence Day. With the public chewing off television moguls’ hands, the success of a sci-fi series was sealed.

But unfortunately, for most of us living the reality, the question still remains: Where is the TRUTH? Someone in the back hollers, “Which kind?” To which the perfunctory answer would be, “The most mysterious one, of course.” The Truth whose mere essence is already a global mystery. The Truth whose whereabouts has been chased by most and yet has eluded so many. The Truth which knows no bribe. De facto, generation’s lives have been exhausted mining for this phantom of a verity. Sheets of seemingly near-success episodes all the more trigger others to follow in the same but ‘much-improved’ path; with roughly the same harrowing results.

With those put into consideration, the saying ‘Most GOOD judgment comes from experience. Most experience comes from BAD judgment.’ appears true to form. But before we pursue this seemingly easier-as-the-years-go-by task any further, let us first present another mind-boggler: Is the world, in all its sophistication, ready for the TRUTH? Or as one of the few good men once mightily implied: Can we handle the TRUTH?

Oh, the agony!

(just came across a poem-dedicated blog of sorts and I kinda got inspired…hope the message is direct enough )

This is essentially what I read in a blog by nuttielicious a few minutes ago. I actually find it distasteful. Not the pregnancy per se, since we should always be grateful for the gift of new life. What is appalling to me is the obvious prevalence of these circumstances.

The girl even stated that both her boyfriend and her were shocked that she was pregnant. Also their mom went on record to say that she was, oh the clichés, shocked at first since her little girl was never late for curfew. What? Did I read it right?

First of all, can any couple, in all honest conscience, be shocked of a pregnancy knowing that they are sexually active? I assert not! Will you be shocked that a plant you’ve been happily fondling and irrigating bears flowers? Absurdus! And is it even sanely responsible for a parent to think that there would be no sex at all if a teenager abides by the curfew? Such lame, flour-pale excuses!

When will the parents of a lost young soul admit that their slipshod parenting was a huge factor in the child’s immature, yellow decisions?

When, oh when?

Why, oh why?

Christina. Marlon. King. BJ. Johann. Helzie. Faizal. Ace. Brian. Junnel. Michelle. Michele. Ace. Lea. Bernadette. Pam.

As we trod on this alleyway of prodigal surprises we call life, each of us encounters people whom we put on a higher esteem than others – our best-friends. As read above, those, chronologically, are more or less the best-friends I’ve had in life. Yes, I know. Half of them are, like, more beauty than brawn. But that’s for another post. Haha! Sure got you interested in my heart-life, haven’t I? NOT!!

As I was saying, people acquire alotta best-friends in life. Surprisingly, one’s batch of best-friends are also diverse among themselves. Maybe ‘coz each one caters to a certain facet of our personalities. Perhaps your best-friend in school cannot relate to your sports activities. So, you unconsciously searched for another, more sporty, best-friend. These statements do not sprout from a psychiatrist’s mind. But they make sense, don’t they? Well, they do to me anyway.

They make sense to me as I reckon it’s what I did. Let’s say a best-friend didn’t agree with on a certain matter, fashion perhaps, or maybe my love for the art of professional wrestling (whoah! That’s another topic id LOVE to write bout); if I felt that I couldn’t share that certain joy with him/her, then I’d look for someone I’d be able to jive with. Get it?

Another thing is, it makes me wonder how come, after all these years, all of my best-friends, except the present one, are already out of my life. There’s a pang of sorrow I feel when I think of the clichéd ‘good old times’. Why did they all have to go? Why? Is it ‘coz I’ve outgrown the whims I associated them with? Or have they outgrown the whims they associated me with?

Hmmmm. I don’t know…

Maybe they just got sick of my whining ass.