ENOUGH OF YOU

There are a lot of people in this world that are simply unforgettable. People like you...you, who have been a part of my life for so long...you, who have been inside me, lingering in my head, into my heart, and in the depths of my being. You, who has been far from me since we went to college. You, who have forgotten me for so long and now has recognized me, yet no longer inside your soul like I was before. You, who left me, depressed, insane, grieving, hurting, lonely, alone. You...so much of you inside me that knowing what you are now, married and happy and apart from me. That's the last. I didn't win this battle. No! I lost it all. I waited. I was no longer available when you came back, as well as you...taken and no longer free. Now, I can turn your tapes to crushed films.... I can burn your letters... I can tear our happy picture on the 10th of October. I've had enough of those memories. I've had enough of those happy thoughts. I've had enough of everything we had... I've had enough of you... Enough.

For Those Who Hate Us

I write today as a vigilant Filipino who loves her country as well as her fellow-Filipinos. I'm writing for all Filipinos, as well as for those who hate us for some reasons. I'm jotting down my statements in enumeration as well as my thoughts about "an open hate letter" from a certain American, by the name Art Bell. Thought #1. Filipinos are not perfect. So are you. Thought #2. Filipinos are known to be of the Malay-Indo race. This makes us Asian at some point or another. However, our ancestors were from the Aetas, whose ethnic group live in the province of Pampanga. Thought #3. Filipinos are hospitable. Thought #4. Filipinos are not defined by their race. We are defined by the ways we show respect to our elders by saying "opo" and the "pagmamano" (or blessing) tradition. We have kept that for a very long time. Thought #5. Though we have diverse cultures, races, dialects, customs, norms, literature and even music, yet, these diversity is our own uniqueness as Filipinos. Thought #6. Identity? The first 5 statements I gave is our IDENTITY as Filipinos. In addition, Filipinos are more patient, more diligent, hardworking, industrious, family-oriented, and above all, loves and fears God above all else. Aren't these the very reasons why countries like yours depend on us for domestic help? Go figure! Some of us may have been into other kinds of work (this includes becoming a prostitute). But, what pushes these people to become what they are is the fact that they strive to give their families better lives. Thought #7. Philippines is a Third World country indeed. But, aren't the best inventors and performers come from us? We give pride to our nation in our lowliness. This gives us pride in ourselves. No human being, not even YOU who hate us can steal that pride away from us. We may fall over and over again. Our feet are more grounded than yours. This makes the fall a bit hurting. This makes us stand up again and again and become better people. Thought #8. Find our identity you say? Read our poems! Read our literature! Read and sing our songs! Our identity as Filipinos are written all over it! Thought #9. We 'puke' you say... At least we don't hide from the truth. In the end, let's see who will smell filthier....??? Thought #10. Take a look at our youngest and most celebrated International Star, Charice Pempengco... She made big waves roar all over the world because of her strong and forceful voice. Charlie Green, the young British-American Star. Charice is 16 years old. Charlie is around 11 years old. Gabby Dela Merced, our lady in the Racing camp...she has been number one in racing and is up to drive for Formula 1. Armando Balite, the Filipino who invented the Armalite which you guys use today for war. A Filipino computer science student was the one who invented the most dreaded "ILOVEU" virus and is praised by other countries. We invented the engine that uses water or hydrogen instead of gas. Those are a few of what we can be proud of because other men from other countries including yours who also have been proud of us. I wrote these things to defend my countrymen. Your insults will be a challenge for us. It hurts how much you hate us and yet we have given ourselves so freely and with whom we have accepted though your eyes see the "shadows" in us. I guess, somehow, I hope, I have given light to you that you may see the brightness of who we really are. WE ARE FILIPINOS! Nations may have come to conquer us but we have protected it with our lives and we will continue to protect it until the end.

LOVE is GREAT FEELING

It's funny how we individuals turn from babies to toddlers to playful kids to puberty to adolescence then to adults. It's also strange when and how we shift our mindsets, ideals, emotions, and opinions from the childish to the most mature dispositions. But, the most mysterious of all the things that happen to human beings everyday is how LOVE has become a constant part of everyday life; an abstract feeling which we have for different people, in different occasions and in different ways. Love...

Somehow it turns many different lives upside down and makes them go around. The challenge is the way we handle the feeling when it is growing stronger or slowly dying down. It has it's differences but it remains the constant word for the feeling... love for a mother/father/both, love for a sister/brother, love for a cousin, love for a niece/nephew, love for an uncle/auntie, love for grandparents, love for a boss, love for a co-worker, love for friends, love for an ordinary stranger, or a love for a special someone... however we call that love we feel for that certain person, it is still love and the test is how we show that we do; the difference is the way it is shown to them. What makes love a great feeling is when one learns to just give himself/herself to that someone without hesitations, without prejudice, without waiting/wanting/asking for something in return. It's a great feeling when one learns to just let go while love fills in everything inside the heart. You know you have felt love when you have learned to just listen and obey without hesitation or regret... You know you are in love when all you see, feel and smell around you, even in your dreams, is that one special someone... You know you have love when you just give and give without thinking about asking them or wanting them or even waiting for them to reciprocate the feeling... You know you feel it when your world revolves around that person, never wanting him/her to let go... You know you have it, when "Yes" is the only answer to a proposal of "I do's" with that one person... And lastly, you know you are and have learned and accepted that you have love, if dying for that person doesn't even scare you a bit... =) That's how great it is... Maybe, it was the same when Jesus felt it too for all of us that it feels so good to have given up your life for a friend, and that we feel so good knowing He loves us until the end.