Ang Mga Natatanging Ina

Mayroong iba’t ibang klase ng ilaw ng tahanan — may mga inang maalaga at maalalahanin sa pamilya, may mga nanay na masipag at gagawin ang lahat para sa kanyang mga anak, may mga mama na tumatayo rin bilang papa, may mga mommy na bagets at millennial-ish, may mga mudrang ‘sige, go lang’ sa kung anumang gusto ng kanilang mga anak — pero siguro ang natatanging karakter na maipagmamalaki ng isang ina ay ang kanilang pagiging selfless.

Biruin mo, iibahin ang sariling pangalan na kinalakihan para sa kanyang minamahal, inialay ang buhay at naghirap ng siyam na buwan sa pagdadalang tao at maghihirap pa ulit ng ilang taon sa pagpapalaki sa kanyang mga anak (at patuloy pang sasakit ang ulo sa susunod pang mga taon). Pero sa kabila ng mga pawis at luha, mga sigaw at galit, hinding-hindi mapapantayan ang pagmamahal ng isang ina sa kanyang mga anak.

Marami mang makasalamuhang mga kaibigan sa paglabas ng bahay, makakilala man ng nais na makasama sa buhay, malayo man ang marating ng mga paang minsang tinuruan nilang maglakad, mas masarap pa rin sa pakiramdam ang bumalik sa yakap ng isang ina. Alam kong iba-iba tayo ng perspektibo sa buhay at may kani-kaniyang ina na hinahangaan, pero para sa akin, ikaw pa rin Ma, ang pinaka-kakaibabe sa lahat. Labyu! Happy Mother’s Day! Pati sa mga ina nating lahat!

Finish Line 2017

Ladies and gentlemen and variations thereupon, my entry for the 2017 year-end graduation essay:

There are times when I randomly ask myself questions like “Nasaan kaya ako ngayon kung di ako nag-journ?” “Ito na ba talaga ang gusto ko?” Tapos, blangko. Wala na. Hindi ko maisip ang sarili ko sa ibang kurso o sa ibang pamantasan. The joys of being a PUPian, of being a journalism student, and the memories I have made with the people I have met along my journey is somewhat tattooed in my heart. I know that the Deity has laid this on my path and words are scarce for me to tell how grateful I am to be here. The experiences and the people have really made a part on shaping me to become the person I am today.

Nakakatawa kung paanong ang lahat ng nangyari kung paano ako napunta sa mahal na mahal kong kurso ngayon eh dahil sa napakaraming chances. At naniniwala rin naman ako na “Everything happens for a reason.” (Ecc. 3:11)

Surviving the Media Warzone

 

Six years ago, I was once a typical junior student who was accidentally chosen by their school paper adviser to be part of the editorial team, to replace the originally chosen news writer because of some conflict. As an amateur in the world of journalism, the trainings I have went to and contests I have joined is an eye-opener for me on how and what it feels like to somehow belong on the fourth estate, and these makes writing, especially news writing, my first love. It was ‘Love at first write.’

Why I chose him?

​​To anyone who has ever asked me or will ever ask me why I chose him.

I chose him not because of his physical aspects, but because he’s strong, strong willed, strong at heart, strong in his effort and love for me. 

I chose him because he makes me laugh, even when I don’t think I can, even when I don’t want to, even when I feel like I don’t know how to, even when I have lost my motivation to.

I chose him because he always brings me back to Earth when I seem to have drifted elsewhere.  I chose him because he is humble in his accomplishments.

I chose him because he loves to share his love for music, the alien and robot way, animals, family, friends, and me.  I chose him because he’s not at all what I dreamt of.  He’s so much more than that.

He’s not perfect, none of us are, but he’s perfect for me because he reminds me every day how much I mean to him, how beautiful he thinks I am, how much he loves me.

I chose him because we can be out true selves around each other and that is exactly who we love.  I chose him because most of the time we goofy with each other, life is entirely too short to be serious all the time, but we know when it’s time to be serious.

I love him because in his arms is where I find peace, because his smile is absolutely unforgettable, his laughter is most beautiful thing I’ve heard, his eyes are filled with the most genuine kindness, his kisses literally erase all my anxiety and worry.

I chose him because I wouldn’t want to experience life changing things without him or with anyone else.  I chose him, because, I did.

-OLTM

On Science and Pen and Everything in Between

I won’t be writing about what knowledge about journalism I have gained but rather the ‘life hacks’ this internship has taught me. And of course, these will be my key to a great leap of faith on the path I will plan to take in the future.

This is a story on what I have learned in life through this internship. And in this, I will be taking journalism in a much different and deeper perspective.

Closer

There are billions of people in the world
And they all want to fall into better places
They want wider skies for more stars to wish on
Limitless roads where more lights can rush through
But I see so much radiance in the smallest of spaces
Like in these inches collapsing between us
Where all I can think is safer
Move closer
Inhibitions are fading into a pinprick on the horizon
And there’s no telling where our highway hearts will take us
Except here
On the safer side of almost
Where lie isn’t part of believe
Where the rain outside our window
turns my eyes into kaleidoscopes
and all I can see is this
A life that doesn’t tear like wet paper when I hold it
And I want to take you to every beautiful place I know
I want to take you to my favorite sidewalk
To the quiet shore where I once discovered hope
To the city that holds my childhood laughter
I want to take you to my first upon a star wish
To eyelash shadows dancing against cheeks
To every tender part of me
But I can’t picture stars brighter than the one shining just for us
Or a sky wider than the one in our future
Or a road more beautiful than the one we’re currently on
I can’t picture anywhere safer than your arms.

-Word Anonymous

(Photo by Luigie Hadap. Follow him on Instagram at instagram.com/luigiehadap/)

Asintado

Magkapareho tayo

Parehong maraming beses nang nasaktan

Paulit-ulit

Sa iba’t ibang paraan

Ng iba’t ibang tao

Okay lang yan. (Kahit di ka talaga okay)

​Okay lang yan. Kahit minsan hindi kita maintindihan, okay lang. Mahal pa rin kita.

Okay lang yan. Kahit minsan hindi kita maramdaman, okay lang. Mahal pa rin kita.

Okay lang yan. Kahit minsan hindi ko na malaman kung ano nga bang problema at kung bakit.

Kung ano bang nangyari at nagkakaganito tayo. 

Kung bakit minsan ang labo. 

Kung bakit minsan nandyan ka naman pero hindi kita makita. 

Kung bakit minsan parang ang lamig na at mukhang ayaw mo na. 

Na parang malapit ka nang bumitaw sa aking mga kamay na mahigpit na nakakapit sayo. 

Na para bang magigising ka na sa katotohanan at iiwan mo na ako.

Hindi ko alam. 

Ewan ko. 

Ayokong magpadala sa mga iniisip ng utak ko. 

Basta ang alam ko, mahal kita. 

Mahal na mahal kita. 

Kahit na ganyan ka. 

Kahit na magulo ka. 

Kahit na minsan malabo ka. 

Kahit na minsan hindi kita maramdaman. 

Kahit na minsan hindi ka rin makaramdam. 

Mahal na mahal kita. 

Kahit na maraming nakatingin at maraming may sinasabi, mahal na mahal pa rin kita. 

Kahit na parang ayaw mo na, mamahalin pa rin kita. 

Mamahalin kita hanggang sa aking huling hininga. 

06/22

Every day, I struggle, physically, emotionally, financially, just to find a company where I can apply for an internship.

Dear Fellow Pulileños,

Hi!

First of all, ipopost ko ito not to brag about being a “concerned citizen” or what. This is just because things are worsening as the elections draw closer. At ito ay opinyon ko lamang bilang isang legit na botante ng Pulilan. At uunahan ko na kayo. I won’t endorse any candidate. This message is for all. Especially sa mga supporters ng bawat partido.

Let’s get straight to the point. “Supporters” kayo. Hindi kayo “fans” kaya please stop na mag-away at magparinigan sa social media. Supporters nga eh. Why not support your candidates na lang? Ibida nyo yung mga palataporma nila. Yung mga magagandang nagawa nila o magagawa para sa bayan natin. Ibida nyo yung strength nila hindi yung weaknesses ng kalaban nila. Sobrang annoying na kasi ng mga nakikita ko sa news feed ko. Kesyo namimigay daw ng pera, pinadeport or what. I mean, wth is happening to you guys? Hindi sabong ang pulitika. Kayo mismong mga supporters ang gumagawa ng ikakasira sa mga mayoral bets nyo.

Magpakatotoo tayo. Involved talaga ang pera kapag eleksyon. Pero dahil sa “matatalinong netizens” may sumasama ang image pero aminin nyo na lahat yan nagbibigay talaga. Kaya nga tayo may free will eh. Kung sinong gusto mong iboto yun ang iboto mo. Hindi naman yan bidding. Kung sino yung highest bidder sya ang mananalo. Strategy yan ng bawat team eh para makinig ang sambayanan sa mga plataporma nila. Why not umattend tayo ng campaign rally ng bawat partido kesyo may perang iabot o wala para malaman nyo kung ano ba talaga yung mga gusto nilang mangyari para sa bayan. Wag lang natin pagbasehan ang pangalan. Take a deeper look sa pagkatao nila and their initiative and willingness to serve the masses. Sabi nga sa campaign jingle ni Binay “Sinong may nagawa na? Sinong may magagawa pa?” (Disclaimer: I am not pro-Binay) But what I love most at sana hanapin ng bawat botante ay yung tatlong characteristics na sinabi ni MDS on the first Presidential debate: ACADEMIC, PROFESSIONAL AND MORAL EXCELLENCE.

One more thing. Itigil na natin ang pagpaparinig sa social media at ang pagiging “matalinong netizens”. Huwag idaan sa away kung taliwas sa paniniwala mo ang pananaw ng iba. Tumahimik na lang tayo kung wala tayong magandang sasabihin. Mas maingay ang latang walang laman kaysa sa wala. Ang annoying na kasi lalo na yung mga text brigade mula sa anonymous persons na di ko alam kung paano nakuha number ko na sinisiraan ang kalabang partido. Tumigil na rin tayo sa pagrereklamo lalo na yung mga wala pa naman talagang naitutulong sa paglago ng bayan na ito. At lalo na yung hindi naman pala rehistrado. Since you’re not a voter, you’re political opinion is irrelevant. Kaloka ah. Let’s start anew guys. At kung sino man ang pinagpalang maupo sa munisipyo, suportahan rin natin. Hindi makakasulong ang Pulilan kung tayo mismo tumatanggi sa pag-unlad.

At sa mga iluluklok ng sambayanan, please lang. Tuparin nyo yung mga pangako nyo. Wag nyong papaasahin ang taumbayan. Sawang-sawa na kami sa mga manloloko. Mahirap masaktan. Alam yan ng ‘This Crappy Generation’.

Ang pagboto parang pakikipagkita sa crush natin, pinaghahandaan at pinag-iisipan. Six years at stake! Hindi ito lotto na kapag natalo tayo taya na lang ulit. Anim na taon tayong maaapektuhan especially the youth at ang mga first time voters katulad ko. Future ito ng pamilya natin. Please make the critical choice. Vote wisely talaga mga kapatid.

Kung umabot ka man sa part na ito, congatulations. I-claim mo na lang ang sobre mo sa kung sinumang mananalong kandidato sa Mayo 9.