31 August, 2009

Isang Araw sa Bandolino

“Good morning, Willie,“ ang bati sa akin ni Cleo isang umaga patungo ako sa aking puwesto sa Accounting. Ngumiti ako at binati din siya ng “Magandang Umaga!” Ganoon din ang eksena nang makita ko si Jojie at Marissa, at ang mga kasama ko sa departamento.

“Aba, ang ganda yata ng mood ng mga tao ngayon,” pabulong kong wika habang inilalapag ang aking bag sa aking lamesa. Sinusuklay ko ang aking basa pang buhok nang marinig ko si Maricel na humihimig ng isang awitin. “Natatawa ako. Hi-hi-hi.”

Maririnig mo ang kuwentuhan kahit saang sulok.

“Ang ganda ng ‘Maalala Mo Kaya’ kagabi. Naaalala ninyo?”

“Panalo na naman ang team ko sa basketball!”

“May ni-rape na naman daw sa Marikina. Nakakatakot nang mag-OT!”

Ang sarap nilang tingnan at pakinggan. Ang lahat ay parang ang gang-gaang ng feeling.

Pagdating ng alas-nuwebe…

“Willie, paki-rush mo naman yung cheke nito.”

“Ana, line 2.”

“Jeck, tawag ka ni MGF.”

Ang kanina’y relax na kapaligiran ay parang biglang gumulo.

“Helen, kulang ang OT namin.”

“Theody, kailangan daw ng Gaisano ng sample.”

“Karen, pasingit naman sa telepono!”

Ang lahat ay parang nagmamadali.

“Joy, yung invoice ng Fitwalk?.”

“Baby, nasaan na yung repair para sa Ilanos?”

“Nasa lapat na ba yung 3099 na panlalaki para sa Metro?”

Mayroon pang nagbabanggaan sa sobrang pagmamadali. Ang mga taong kanina’y maaliwalas ang mukha, ngayo’y kunot noo na.

“Hindi pa ba napapa-extend ang Fairgroup? Ang tagal na non ah!”

“Sandali lang, puwede! Marami pa akong ginagawa!”

“Sino ba yung nasa C.R.?! Ang tagal-tagal!”

Paspasan ang trabaho, sari-saring reklamo…

“Ning-Ning, kulang na naman yung in-issue mong buckles! Lagi na lang gano’n!”

“Ano ba yan, wala na namang balat! Wala nang magawa ang mga taga-Cutting!”

“Rush, lagi na lang rush!”

Napapailing ako. Ninakaw ng ating mga trabaho ang ating saya.

Sinu-sino ba ang mga taong nalimutan nating respetuhin dahil sa init ng ulo? Ilang nilalang ang napagdamutan natin ng pansin dahil sa ating sobrang pagka-abala.

Ang bawat pagkakataon ay ibinigay sa atin ng Panginoon upang maging pagpapala sa ating kapwa. Sana sa kabila ng pressure na ating nararamdaman sa trabaho, huwag nating kalimutang ngumiti. Pagaanin natin ang trabaho ng bawat isa.

Gawin natin ang BANDOLINO na isang lugar na kaaya-ayang pagtrabahuhan para sa iyo, sa akin, at sa ating lahat.

* Pictures taken at Marikina River Park

Ang Sapateros, Official Newsletter of Bandolino Shoe Corporation

MCMXCVIII

19 August, 2009

Patuloy Lang


Matinik man ang iyong dinaraanan

Hirap at sakit man ay nararamdaman

Huwag ka kailanman susuko, kaibigan

Patuloy lang


May bagyo man sa iyong kinalalagyan

Na animo ba wala nang katapusan

Kapatid, lilipas din ‘yan

Patuloy lang


Pangyayari man ay ‘di maunawaan

Dalangin mo ma’y wala pang katugunan

Sa Kanya’y huwag kang mag-alinlangan

Patuloy lang


Nangako ang Diyos na makapangyarihan

Kahit kailan ‘di ka Niya iiwanan

Kaya’t huwag ka nang humikbi’t magdamdam

Patuloy lang


Madapa ka man dahil sa kasalanan

Pagpapatawad Niya’y laging nandiyan

Ika’y bibigyan Niya ng kalakasan

Patuloy lang


Ganyan nga, ngiti’y pakawalan

Dahil ika’y kanyang panghahawakan

Hangang sa dulo ng walang hangan

Basta, patuloy lang…

Koinonia, MCMXCVIII

10 August, 2009

Jigsaw Puzzle

One Wednesday evening, I arrived at the church with the Calvary guys busy working on a jigsaw puzzle of a dog. It was still half an hour before the Bible study and I couldn’t help but join the challenge of connecting those small pieces of cardboard. One tried to connect a piece and it fit! The eye of the dog became apparent. Another tried to do the same but it wouldn’t fit. The shape and the color don’t match. I have been there for about ten minutes already but not a single piece have I matched in the picture so far. It was hard really!

Suddenly, the Lord spoke to me about my life being like that of a jigsaw puzzle.

My life is composed of numerous bits and it was in chaos. It was disarranged by the adversary. I tried to connect them but my efforts were futile. It was too complex. Others tried to help me put it in order but they themselves were disarranged jigsaw puzzles.

And the Lord from on high reached down from heaven to do the work nobody could do. One by one, He picked up those pieces and connected them. With ease! He is a Master in arranging lives. Every shade of color, every shape, He is very much familiar with it. He is the One who created me. He knows me by name. He knows my composition, my innermost being.

As I look at myself, I marvel at the work done by the Lord in my life. He has put it in order. I could see my heart blazing with fire. It is right in the middle of the picture. My hands are already visible. It is clean! My feet and my legs, oh how handsome I am! I never thought I could be this fine looking! But… my face… it is still empty! My fingers are not yet complete. My head! It is still bald! I cried to the Lord, “Why?! What is this?”

He answered,

“My son, I am still in the process of putting your life in order. But soon, you will see your complete self. Remember, the pieces for your face were already made. I made it myself. It is just disarranged. But trust me, you would look good! I know what you would become! Soon, very soon, you will marvel at the finish picture of yourself. I am not going to give up working on you. I’ll finish this jigsaw puzzle of your life. Soon, very soon, you would be complete and be made perfect …”

I smiled and bowed down to worship Him who is faithful in finishing the jigsaw puzzles of our lives.

(Year 1995)

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