Bestfriend

Nakakapaso ang init ng araw.  Uhaw na uhaw na ako.  Hapong-hapo na ang aking katawan dala ng mahabang paglalakbay.  Nasusunog na ang balat ko. 

Gayunpaman, walang katulad ang aking patutunguhan.  Masaya roon.  Walang kasamaan.  Walang karamdaman.  Walang kalungkutan. 

Subalit pagod na talaga ako.  Puro uhog na ang mukha ko dala ng patuloy na paghikbi.  Walang-wala na ako sa porma.  Nilapitan ko at kinausap ang aming gabay.  “Hindi ko na yata kaya…”

Ngumiti siya.  Mula sa karamihan ng mga manlalakbay, tinawag niya ang isa.  “Halika rito. Samahan mo siya.  Nalulumbay kasi siya.  Kailangan niya ng kausap.  Kailangan niya ng kasama.  At alam ko, ikaw rin, kailangan mo ng kaibigan.  Magdamayan kayo sa isa’t isa.  May plano ang Hari para sa inyong dalawa.”

Napangiti ako at kinindatan ang nasabing kasama na ibinigay sa akin.  Ngumiti din naman siya.  Noong una, medyo nagkakahiyaan pa kami.  Ngunit nang maglaon, magkahawak-kamay na naming ipinagpatuloy ang aming paglalakbay.

May pagkakataong tumatakbo kaming pareho dala ng kasiyahang dulot ng bawat isa.  Kuwentuhan.  Tawanan.  Nariyang umaawit siya ng buong lambing habang ako naman ay nagsasayaw kaulayaw ang hangin.

Subalit may mga pagkakataong may nadarapa sa amin.  Minsan ako, minsan siya.  Nagkakasugat.  Umiiyak.  Subalit bilang magkatuwang, itinatayo namin ang bawat isa.  Inaaliw ang isa kapag nalulumbay ang isa. 

Magkasama rin kaming tumutulong upang ibangon ang mga kasama naming nasasadlak.  Nakikigalak din kami sa mga taong nagtatagumpay.

Naging masaya ang aming paglalakad.  Naiibsan ang pagkapagal, ang pagdadalamhati.  Nalilimutan namin ang salitang pagsuko.  Ito ay dahil sa balikat na alay ng bawat isa. 

Hangang ngayon, patuloy pa rin kaming naglalakbay.  Natatanaw na nga namin ang palasyong aming patutunguhan.  Natatanaw na namin ang Dakilang Hari sa may pintuan.

Sabik na sabik na kaming mayakap ang Hari at umiyak sa kanyang paanan.  Ang kanyang tinig ay naririnig naming nagsasabing, “Mga anak, sige pa.  Patuloy lang.” 

Kaya’t muli, magkahawak-kamay kami ng bestfriend ko na tumakbo.  Sa hindi sa kalayuan, nakakita kami ng isang puno sa tabi ng ilog.  Tinungo namin iyon at kami’y nananalangin…

“Panginoon, salamat sa kasama at kaagapay na inyong ipinagkaloob.”

Note:  We just celebrated our 15^th wedding anniversary this year. 

Reminiscing

Allow me to reminisce a bit about my days in college...

 

I have joined an organization in college, was inducted as full-fledged member after passing the rigorous screening process.  To get the endorsement signature of members, we were asked to do some embarrassing, small tasks, like singing in the hallway, dancing with partners, crawling under the table, and shouting in the corridors.  I am quite amused as I remember it now.  Nawala ang pagkamahiyain ko dahil doon.  Out batch song was “Tuloy Pa Rin” by Neocolours.

Tuloy pa rin ang awit ng buhay ko

Nagbago man ang hugis ng puso mo

Handa na ‘kong hamunin ang aking mundo

‘Pagkat tuloy pa rin

This is the stage where we have performed during the the inter-organization contest in our school.  On the first part, I delivered a short monologue (complete with bloodstains on my forehead and with the spotlight focused on me), then we performed the song of Martin Nievera.  We placed third.

We are the reason that He gave His life

We are the reason that He suffered and died

To a world that was lost, He gave all He could give

To show us the reason to live…

He is my reason to live…

Cover of our organization’s newsletter, depicting JPIA Office after we found out that a thief has managed to go inside our office. We were scolded by the school for the incident.  The illustration is a bit blurred now but the dialogues there bring back a lot of good memories to me.

1:         Patay, wala akong pamasahe pauwi!

2:         Ni barya, walang itinira!

3:         Pera ko, barya na lang.  Nagtira pa siya!

4:         Nakakainis!  Wala na tuloy akong allowance!

5:         Huh!

6:         Grabe talaga!

7:         Hindi pa nga ako nakakabili ng libro eh!

8:         T-Shirt ko!

9:         Sino kaya ‘yon?

10:       Naka!  Wala na rin ang pera ko!

11:        A, S, D, F, J, K, L, P (busy siya, bakit ba?!)

12:       Mai-report nga ito kay Mr. Rafer

(No. 1 was Glenda, 4 was Cath-Cath, 8 was Aileen, 10 was Mona & 12 was Pants. 
Ako si No. 9.)

This particular spot was reserved then for the elite few, those who are well-off & have cars of their own and those who belong to fraternities.  I belong to neither of the two.  But I have found my own niche and friends in the school. 

Nandirito kami, ang barkada mong tunay aawit sa 'yo

Sa lungkot at ligaya, hirap at ginhawa

Kami'y kasama mo

On one of the rooms there at the 4^th floor, in the Assembly Hall, I used to attend Bible studies every lunch time.  This was led by Ate Cecille, who eventually became the wife of our Pastor.  There was a girl there who had a crush on me (but she now denies it), who eventually became my beloved wife.  I just marvel at how the Lord works in our lives!

Oh, the pure love of God

Oh, the pure love of God

Lord, help me to see

Your pure love for me

A Time for Everything

(Ecclesiates 3:1-8)

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.