In A Hurry?

   The very reason why we sometimes fail is because we put some things into haste, that later constitutes wastes.

   If Journalism is the so-called 'Literature in A Hurry', then there is this concept deemed as 'Feeling in A Hurry' --- LOVE.

                                                   

   Seeing how felicitous relationships of contemporary epoch have undergone through times, we used to be envious; might as well, ambitious --- forwardly looking to romantic episodes of our life. Noticing many couples preparing for their wedding, we can't help grumbling on when will be ours. Thus, we try to immediately find our dream partner and badly grasp this person by our arms; for true love is something that we've been waiting for a long time. Perchance, some execute tactics that will hastily catch their dream partners straightaway. Actually, it's just proper if a relationship went through wholesome courtship. But what if it's not? What if it began so fast? What if it started with a mischievous kiss or the worst --- hook up? Then this calls for a red alert!

   Inevitably, there really come times when we request both God and Universe to let us meet our 'destiny' at the most urgent time possible. Constant prayers. Constant hopes. Constant wishes. Constant believings. Holding to thin line of possibility from nowhere. For sure, we have this habit of sensing every person we encounter every day. Trying to sense if the one we used to be with yesterday or the one we talk to today is the answer to our consistent request for a loving partner. Also, we try to imagine having our dream partner 'till forever. Both laughing to wise-cracked jokes. Both dreaming of establishing an unbreakable bond. Both of you growing old together and helping each other as you walk through narrow and compressed paths. Bearing these moving pictures in mind, we could actually compose a film of our own love life. And of course, both of you living happily ever after. A love story that fits with fairy tales on story books. So horrible that we sometimes live within our expectations. Forgetting that in reality, love is not always a fairy tale but at some instances, the other way. It's just disemboldening that love, for some, is always about 'having a lifetime partner'; and that's it. What important is to be with our dream partner no matter what --- whether via right or wrong means. Once we felt this unusual 'lab-dab' of our heart towards someone, we easily fell in love. We did not even analyze what was the real meaning of butterflies clumsily fluttering around our stomach and heart shapes forming on our eyes. We carelessly engaged ourselves to the idea of having our dreamboy/girl as our realtime partner, without considering if the one we badly love feels the same way.

   It is also important to note that love is at various clines --- be it just a crush, puppy love or true love. This implies that not all love-at-first-sights really mean true love to pursue. We couldn't actually conclude that what we feel is just right and the person, who generated that peculiar beat of our heart, is the right one for us. Once we kept on pushing through what we believe was right based on just subjectivity, then it is possible that we became daunted in the end as our assumptions were found to be unfeasible.

   Besides, what do you think was the reason behind short-term love stories? Well, one of the noteworthy answers here is hasty engagement to a relationship, which poses hasty outset and usually ends up with a hasty finale. The problem then is we lend our ears just to our heart, of what we want. What about the insights of our mind? What about the right thing? Ostensibly, mind is ignored in the game of love.

   Yes; perhaps, heart beats louder in our head than mind does. We, however, should still rely to our mind. Our mind is in-charge to weigh values of things. Henceforth, we would be leastwise capable of repudiating the probability of pain while aiming possibility of pleasure at just extent.

   It's just that sometimes, we can't insist our feelings the way we want it. Aside from the fact that we would be hurt, we would just also let the one we love partake to this stake of pain. It's not always us who tend to be victims here. We are hurt for we chose and let ourselves to be hurt, though we already knew that menace was behind bushes.

   Love is a sort of patience and moderation. Like anything, love is preceded by a long-term process. Having procedures and processes means to come up with an ideal outcome in apropos with our goal set in advanced. We want to be loved; and it's our goal, right? Then let every detail of romanticism flows upon the way it should. Likewise, though we have to work for it, love takes time. The matter at stake is, without a doubt, something that can light up our whole world; something that can metamorphose our life into spectral and flavorful heights. But as what folks are used to saying, just 'chillax!'

   The very reason why we sometimes fail in love is because we put it into haste, that later constitutes wastes.

Video Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJCQL147xsY

Photo Source: http://www.stockvault.net

      Journey to Agape

Our journey to somewhere goes steady,
getting along with gravity.
Can be creepy as route's slippery.
Can be funny as trip goes slowly but surely.

A journey of earthlings.
Depends on the path they're choosing.
Halts if their courage is disarming.
While continues as guts are flowing.

A journey filled with twists.
As everyone's matter of life's in risk.
A survival of the fittest.
An episode of who'll be the remaining rest.

Of how long will it take,
is based on the actions we make.
Feelin' like we're walking while handling rake
or moving along boundless lake.

Everything is unsure,
so as demure.
Impending downfalls and downgrades,
may lead colossal hopes to fade.


Monstrous impediments are on ways,
as there are sacks of fraudulent hays.
Faint lights are the only guideposts.
Terror and fright are at most.

Feels like everyone is in diluvial

for bright lights are just ephemeral.
No egresses to go out.
No assurance that could sprout.

Yet, nothing to worry.
There's a man who lightens the load we carry.
We might think that we're alone in this journey,
but we're actually walking with God the holy.

Draw the Line

              What makes up the substance of life is that we know when and how to draw the line.

   Everyone can't fail to think of how arduous it was to fight for the democracy---for the freedom that we now enjoy; and it includes one's freedom to speak about his thoughts and panoramas. Hence, it is clearly expressed in the Philippine Constitution that there should be a subsistence of the freedom of speech and expression. Accordingly, the media exercises the power of this freedom---the power to ensconce truths that can uplift the citizenry from ill-treatment and disorientation. However, this is not an easy thing to manage. Media has to pass through several setbacks. Come to think of this: if Superman has kryptonite as his drawback, media has libel as its counterpart.

              We can't negate that libel has been tough to media, particularly to the print ones. According to Malou Mangahas, executive director of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, libel has been a tool of the powerful, typically the politicians. She also stressed that it is an anathema to democracy. Thus, the Congress has proposed measures decriminalizing libel. Senator Ralph Recto has filed Senate Bill 2146 to delist libel from the book of crimes. Senate Bill 2146 seeks to repeal Articles 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 360, 361 and 362 of the Revised Penal Code and Section 4 (c) 4 of R.A. 10175 or the Cybercrime Law.

             With this proposition, journalists' doubts would be eradicated; and from there is a domino effect. There will be a firm print media to constantly provide a mechanism that fosters transparency over the operations of government. Also, the corrupt officials would doublethink to do any malefaction since the access of public information by the journalists is reinforced. Filipinos will likewise have the guts to meddle on issues needing full attention. As closely analyzed, freedom of expression is guaranteed if this bill would be passed into law. 

  In spite of everything, there should be presence of demarcations. To do that, journalists have to go back to the rudiment---the Journalists' Code of Ethics. The code provides that "a journalist shall refrain from writing reports which will adversely affect a private reputation unless the public interests justify it." For what reason? It's for them to preserve the dignity of their profession. But behind that, is the people's right to true information and one's dedication to objective reality. Here lies the notion that media shall exercise responsible journalism. To avoid incarceration or any punishment due to libel, one must try to weigh everything written within his article---if it is factual and reliable. Mind you, correct information is one of the easiest ways to a person’s heart. 

   Today that the trend of engaging on open avenues of opinion-sharing is proliferating, both media and concerned citizens will benefit, if libel decriminalization is carried into action. It is a great opportunity, but a great responsibility, as well. It doesn't mean that one can just throw any opinion he wants to throw. There must be thorough reflection. 

              For what makes up the substance of life is that we know when and how to draw the line.

                                                        

                                          Suntok sa Buwan

   Siguro, bukod sa pagtitiyagang mahalin ang taong di ikaw ang tibok ng kanyang puso, ay yung sakit na nakikita mong mas masaya siya sa piling ng iba pero patuloy ka pa ring umaasa...nagpapakatanga...tapos wala ka pang magawa para ikaw na lang ang piliin niya.

                                                 
   Yung tipong halos kitang-kita mo na kung paano niya ibigay sa iba yung pagmamahal na gusto mong sa'yo na lang sana, pero balewala ka lang...tuloy ka pa rin. Kahit halos ipinamumukha na ng pagkakataon na dehado ka na, fight, fight, fight ka pa rin. Yung pakiramdam na nasasaktan ka na nga at lahat sa kakaasa, mahal mo pa rin siya. Tapos hihingi siya sa'yo ng payo kung paano niya mapapaibig ang kanyang dream partner; pero ang payong ibibigay mo, sa'yo naman applicable. Tapos masasaktan ka. Babagsak sa mga mata mo yung luhang pilit mong pinipinid kanina pa. Para pa nga hindi halata, kunwari may gagawin ka. Lalayo ka. Aalis ka. Magkukulong sa kwarto. Magpapagulong-gulong sa kama. Mag-iisip. Tatayo't sasandal sa dingding. Tapos pakunwa'y iuuntog ang ulo sa dingding. Hahagulgol. Yuyuko. Tapos kinabukasan, andun pa rin yung sakit ng kahapon. Pero, as what is usual, haharapin mo ulit si lihim mong minamahal. Makikinig ka sa confessions niya tungkol sa kanyang hindi matatawarang paghanga sa karibal mo sa puso niya. Ikaw naman, kahit napipilitan, makikinig pa rin. Kahit na kitang-kita mo na sa mga mata niya yung naglalagablab niyang passion para ma-win ang heart nung karibal mo, magtitiis ka. Iiyak. Lalayo. Aalis. Tapos same process ulit. As in, routine ang lahat. Ito yung lagay na di sapat ang pag-untog ng ulo sa pader. Kahit pa isuntok mo ang kamay mo sa pader, andun pa rin ang sakit...dito sa puso mong mahina at mabilis mahulog sa inilaang patibong ng tadhana. Wala eh. Nagmahal ka kasi. At patuloy na nagmamahal. Yun nga lang, kumplikado ang bawat anggulo ng kinalalagyan mo.

                                       

   Kumbaga, suntok sa buwan ang kalagayan mo. Ang problema, kahit pa nga ata maging sila na ng karibal mo, umaasa ka pa. Na sana hindi mag-work yung relasyon nila. Na sana magkalabuan sila. Na sana magkaroon ng maraming aberya. Na ma-realize nila pareho na hindi pala nila mahal ang isa't-isa. Na sana maghiwalay din sila. At higit sa lahat...na sana maramdaman ng taong lihim mong minamahal sa loob ng mahabang panahon na ikaw pala talaga ang mahal niya. Tapos magpapakasal kayo. And more joyous moments will follow. Kaya lang paano kung lahat ng mga ito, hindi mangyari? Another, sakit na naman ito sa iyong puso. Ang nakakainis pa riyan, nagmamahal ka pa rin.
                                        
   Yung tipong wala ka na atang itinirang pagmamahal kahit konti para sa sarili mo. Kaya sa huli, ang frustrationg mararamdaman mo ay to the zillionth power. Pero dahil may perspective ka na hindi pa dapat pinoproblema ang bukas, ni-reject mo ang masakit na posibilidad na naghihintay sa'yo sa hinaharap. Ito ang mahirap sa ilan sa atin, eh. Kahit gaano ka-imposible, gagawin natin para sa pagmamahal. Kaya lang, ilang beses mo bang gugustuhin na masaktan? Paulit-ulit? Hanggang sa may luha pa bang papatak diyan sa mga mata mo? Kaya nga tanungin mo ang sarili mo. Baka kasi hindi mo na kaya. Ang mahirap nga lang diyan, ang puso ang kinakalaban mo. Eh, ito pa naman ang mahirap kalabanin. Habang pinipigil mong tumibok para sa isang tao, lalong nagrerebelde. Lalong nagkukumawala ang damdamin. Yun nga lang, hanggang ganito lang palagi. Puro paramdam. Puro sakripisyo. Puro pagsugal. Ito yung tipong para kang nagpautang ng malaking halaga sa isang taong di mo alam kung kayang bayaran ang ibinigay mo. Yung tipong di ka na nga mabayad-bayaran, bigay ka pa rin ng bigay. Tapos wala. Ganito ang laro ng pag-ibig. Naging biktima ka pa nga ng sarili mong puso. Sumunod ka na nga at lahat sa itinitibok at ika nila'y binubulong ng iyong puso pero sa huli kasawian pa ang resulta.  
                                         
   Hindi mo naman masabi ang nararamdaman mo. Kasi nga may mahal siyang iba. Kasi hindi ikaw yun. Kasi kinakabahan ka. Kasi natatakot ka...na masaktan. Kasi naduduwag ka. Pero kaysa naman sa nasasaktan ka, sabihin mo na lang sa kanya. Natatakot ka pa ba na masaktan? Na ma-reject? Eh, sa bawat araw, palagi ka na rin namang pinapatay ng sawi mong kalagayan. Kaya wag ka ng mag-alala pa.
                                           
   Harapin mo naman ang katotohanan. Huwag mo itong takasan. Kasi sa bawat pagpapanggap mo na kaya mo pa, ikaw din ang nagsa-suffer. Huwag kang manatili sa mundo ng puro imahinasyon...sa mundo na puro sana at puro kasi. Ganun talaga ang buhay. Nagkataong nagsimula ka sa pagkabigo. Pero maniwala ka rin namang may nakalaan talagang nararapat para sa'yo. Malay mo, dahil sa kakatiis at kakahabol sa taong lihim mong minamahal, meron ka na rin palang nasasaktan. Kasi malay mo, may lihim na rin palang nagmamahal sa'yo. Yung taong kayang gawin ang ginagawa mong klase ng pagmamahal. Okey lang namang ipaglaban ang nararamdaman. Kaya lang, sana alam mo rin ang hangganan.

   Dahil sa totoo lang, mahirap yung tipong suntok sa buwan.

      Even Time Could Fly

    10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1... Time's up!

    Pressured? Well, you don't have to worry. There's neither an exam nor a challenge for you to meet within 60-second circle. Look; we are not playing inside the "Minute to Win It" studio. Yet, here lies the fact that everyone is within a setting spiced up with time pressure.The only difference is each of us is given with abundant time to do anything we want. No specific task to do. As in no pressure at all. It's the way how you use time paramaters that counts.

                                                    

   During the days where there was no definite medium of telling time, ancient men used to based it on the specific point where sun rays struck. If this was not the case, sun and moon were their time modifiers, which is still a general way of representing the division of two time frames---the day and night. But due to the geniuses of former generations of men, exact time is made even possible as clock was invented. With this, people are able to manage various tasks one at a time. Of how efficient or productive do people use time we'll be the real talk here.

                                                   

   You know what, of how long we exist is the measurement of how long does time play important roles in our lives. Existensially, we can't see it but technically speaking, time serves as guideline for everything we do. Imagine that the idea of time is absent. It feels like we're so unsure. We don't know whether we're too slow or fast on doing something. Or if we put equal priority to various tasks. Thus, it's a good thing that we have it. Ideally, there will be less incidents of cramming that might happen. Also, efficiency can be achieved.

   As one of the innumerable people who use it, I must say that I used to waste time at some parts of my life. And as what is run-of-the-mill, I used to procrastinate too. Mind you, there's always a thin line connecting long period of time and multiple tasks. Come to think of this: the longer the time period, the less tasks are accomplished. While, the shorter the time, the more tasks are made. Seemingly, it's because we tend to take long period of time for granted. We postpone doing things due to the notion that there's another day to accomplish those. Yet, as that other day came, nothing was made. See? So in the end, we'll realize how idiot were we for wasting all our time opportunities. Sometimes, we used to put the blame on someone or something. But the real thing is, it's us who made the fault.   

                                                

   Meanwhile, we tend to control time. Yes; we could probably control time by adjusting our clocks five minutes late or advanced, but still it's useless. Besides, who's the one who looks gullible here? It's us definitely! We tend to go through uncertainties because of our improper use of time, for forgetting how short life is and how fast time is, too. 

                                             

   I can still recall the film which thought me the real essence of time. "Click" is the title of the film. In the story, there's a man who was so dedicated to his job to the point that he forgot the reason why he's doing it---his family. He didn't even bond with them. What he wanted was to be promoted in his work. Until one day, he was given with a magic remote control by an Angel of Death. Through the remote control, he was able to pass forward time to his promotion. In short, he was able to control time. But of course, every action bears a consequence. He lost his family and; he got into the point that he had to leave in this world. From that, he realized what really matters. That it's his family. It just happened as he found out that all that happened to him was a dream. As he woke up from deep sleep, he rectifies all his flaws especially the improper use of time. 

   If cogitated, we don't even know when everything will come to an end. Will you want to be within a scene wherein you're almost at the dead end or point of no return? And though you want to do the U-turn approach, it's impossible? Well, that's the consequence of our irrational behavior towards time. So, while we have ample time, make sure that we've done all important things first. Remember, in our journey, we'll used to encounter signage stating "No U-turn!". Thus, this implies that we should be rational enough on seizing up time. We cannot bring back all those wasted seconds, minutes, and hours of our lives. 

                                    

   You know why? It's because even time could fly.

  Ang Sabi Ni Hopeless Romantic...

(Confessions of A Hopeless Romantic)

   "Palagi siyang nasa panaginip ko. Anumang gawing paglimot, di siya mawala-wala sa isip ko. Nakatatak na siya dito."

   Daig niya ang mantsa sa tindi niyang kumapit sa puso't isip ko. Isang mantsang kahit anong pilit na pagtanggal, matindi ang kapit. Hanggang sa siya'y maging tatak na di na mabura-bura. Isang tatak na palaging nagpapaala-ala sa aking kumplikadong istorya. Tatak na may pulso...tatak sa aking puso. 

              

   Paano kung mag-transform ang lahat ng mga nakasanayan mo sa isang peculiar ambiance, tapos ikaw walang ideya sa kung anong nagaganap? As in clueless ka. Ang hirap 'no? Puro adjustments. Gaya ko. Parang dati lang, ang lahat ay ordinary. Simple o payak. Humihinga ako at patuloy na tumitibok ang puso ko. Ni minsan, di ko nga inakalang magfa-falter ang aking heartbeat na gaya ng nangyayari ngayon. Lahat ng ito nabago dahil sa kanya...siya na laman ng bawat panaginip ko. Siya na gugustuhin kong makasama sa mahabang panahon.

   Alam mo yung pakiramdam na nakasama mo yung taong gustong-gusto mong makasama tapos ang saya-saya niyöng dalawa; kaya lang, bigla kang magigising at malalamang panaginip lang pala ang lahat? Kainis kaya. Masyadong paasa. Tayo naman, natural na umaasa. Tapos di ka pa makukuntento kaya pipilitin mong i-revive ang naputol na masayang panaginip. Kaso, di na talaga pwede. Eh di mas lalong masakit? Makakatulog ka nga kaya lang ibang scene na ang ipinapalabas sa panaginip mo. Wala rin, di ba. At some point, maaaring sumaya ako kasi nakasama ko siya sa panaginip ko pero deep inside, nasasaktan ako. Kasi posible lang ang mga bagay na gusto ko sa mundo ng kawalan. Eh, as if naman na gugustuhin niyang sumama sa akin sa mundo ng panaginip. Isa pa, ipinahihiwatig lang ng mga panaginip ko na ang makasama siya ay napaka-imposible pang mangyari. Kung sa panaginip pa nga lang, natatapos na ang istorya namin nang hindi pa nagha-happily ever after, sa totoong buhay pa kaya? Kaya naman, talagang gugustuhin kong matulog na lang din. Yung walang gisingan. Yung tipong tanging siya lang ang makakapagpabangon sa akin sa matagal na pagkakahimlay. Parang Sleeping Beauty lang.

                                              

   Kahit mahirap at masakit, tinatanggap ko ang ganitong mga senaryo. Ganito ata talaga ang buhay naming mga hopeless romantic. Iniaasa ang lahat sa tadhana maging sa panaginip sa pagbabaka-sakaling masilayan ang hinahangaan. Seemingly, kasiyahan ang dulot nun sa amin kahit temporary lang. Kaya lang kaakibat nito yung masakit na parte eh---na gigising tayo at mare-realize nating iba pa rin pala kung ang lahat ay magiging bahagi ng reyalidad...na sana totoo na lang ang lahat. Yun nga lang, mapagiisip-isip mong hindi rin naman puwede. Kasi kumplikado. Kasi masyadong mapangarap, ambitious kumbaga. Di another pain na naman yun? Ganito...ganito ang palagi kong nararamdaman sa bawat araw, buwan at taong lumilipas. Yung feeling na kino-construct yung puso ko pag napapaginipan ko siya together with me; then bigla ring idine-demolish pag napagtatanto kong everything is within a dream. Kapag natulog naman ulit ako with matching sweetness overload 'coz of him, parang nire-reconstruct ulit si heart; kaya lang, pag nagising na ako karaka-raka ring inire-redemolish ang kaawa-awa kong puso. Tortured na nga ito sobra eh. Tipong battered heart lang. Abusadong-abusado niya. Kung pwede nga lang ipapakulong ko siya sa kasong heart abuse eh. Kaya lang napaka-unreasonable ng dahilan ko. Isa pa, nagpapa-abuso rin naman ako. Kaya medyo may fault din ako dun. Palagi siyang tumatakbo sa isip ko...gumugulantang sa'king puso.

                                            

   Lumipas ang mga taon na puro pangarap. Mga pag-aasam na baka may chance. Na baka posible. Naisip ko nga, napaka-unfair ni Mr. Kupido eh. Yung feeling na tinamaan niya ako ng pana niya na naging dahilan para umibig ako sa taong 'to; pero siya mukhang di niya pinalasuhan. Nakaka-disappoint lang. Pero andun yung hope ko na baka papalasuhan din naman si crush ni Kupido. Di nga lang ngayon. Di bukas. Baka next next time pa. Ang problema, kailan naman kaya yung next next time na yun? Magbibilang pa ba ulit ako ng mga taon? Di ko alam. Bahala na...pero habang patagal nang patagal, lalo akong nahuhulog sa kanya eh kahit alam kong he's not there to catch me. At the same time, mas lalo akong nahihirapang sumuko sa nararamdaman ko. Wala eh. Tanga na kung tanga.

   Ang hirap lang kasi patay na patay ako sa kanya samantalang siya walang pakialam sa presence ko. Nagkakasalubong kami pero wala akong makitang spark sa kanya na gaya ng sa'kin. Ni wala rin akong marinig na mala-drum rolls na sound effect sa puso niya. Ang plain. One-sided lang ang lahat. Minsan nga nang tumingin ako sa langit, may nakita akong wishing star. Dagli kong pinikit yung mga mata ko sabay sabi ng mga katagang: "Ibigay mo naman sa'kin 'tong taong to oh," habang nagpa-flash sa gunita ko yung mga nice features niya...mga simpleng rason kung bakit naa-abnormal si stupid heart. In fact, kabisado ko nga ang tunog ng kaniyang mga yabag. Sa tuwing naririnig ko ang mga yabag niya sa kalsada, ititigil ko ang anumang ginagawa ko para lang pagmasdan siyang nakatalikod habang papunta sa bahay nila. Di ko nga maiwasang mangarap na balang araw, sana mayakap ko ang likod niyang iyon. Na sabay kaming maglalakad papauwi sa aming bahay. Pero yung bulang naglalaman ng mga pangarap na ito, biglang puputok kasi alam ng isip kong di rin naman pwede. Ang sakit talaga. Parang ina-accupuncture ang puso ko. Mali at walang patutunguhan ang mga gusto ko pero patuloy kong pinaglalaban. Try lang. Pag napagod na akong mag-try, di tama na. I'm ready naman to face all the unforeseen possibilities. Of what might happen, I don't have any idea. All I know is I'll be working under positivity.

   Tsaka ganito naman talaga pag love na ang usapan eh. Kahit alam mong ang paggawa ng isang aksyon na hindi tama ay makakasama sa'yo, di mo iniintindi. Kahit wala ng patutunguhan, pilit nating hinahanapan ng malulusutan. Malay natin, mag-work di ba? Yung tipong pamantayan ng ilan sa atin ang kasabihang, "Try and try until you die. If you die, at least you try." Isa pa, love really moves in the absurdest way. Ironic at the same time. We tend to love those who hurt and can't love us back. We also take risks and seize up all the chances just to find true love. Ako nga eh, di ba? 

                                              

   Para akong isang manlalaro na di pa man nagsisimula ang level 1 ng isang game, dehado na. At kahit alam kong dehado na ako, sumusugod pa rin ako. Kasi di ko naman ito ipu-push kung di mahalaga sa akin ang pinaglalaban kong premyo...ang love na patuloy na sine-search ng karamihan sa kung saan-saan kahit pa nga ata sa dulo ng walang hanggan. Corny pero wag mong itatanggi yung totoo. Ikaw din, sino ba ang niloko mo? Kaya nga nagpapakatotoo ako.

   Saka, wala talaga eh. Lagi siyang laman ng mga panaginip ko. Anumang gawing paglimot, di siya mawala-wala sa isip ko. Nakatatak na siya dito. Tila isang tatak na may pulso...tatak sa aking puso.

-Hopeless Romantic 

             #L.O.L

      (Laughing Out Loud)

   Ngiti... 

   Tawa... 

   Hagikhik... 

   Bungisngis... 

   Hagalpak...

   Mga gawaing pinapangarap nating ma-experience kahit man lang minsan sa'ting buhay. Ang sarap kayang tumawa, di ba? Pakiramdam mo, malayo ka sa mundo kung saan ka nag-e-exist. Yung feeling na you're almost touching the clouds and you're wandering all over the azure boundless sky. The feeling is ecstatic kumbaga. 

                                       

   Oo, masarap tumawa na para bang wala ng makakapigil pa sa'yo. Ni wala nga tayong pakialam kahit pa magmukha na tayong baliw sa paningin ng iba, dahil sa ating walang-kamatayang pagtawa. Ang mahalaga ay 'yung sense of joviality prevailing within our system. Wag lang naman sana umabot sa point na malalagutan ka na ng hininga dahil sa kakatawa. Pero aminin mo, gusto mo na kung sakali mang lilisan ka sa mundong ito, masaya't nakangiti ka sa huling sandali ng iyong buhay, di ba? Ganundin ako pati na 'yung mga taong nasa paligid mo. 

                                           

   Pero, beyond all of these is the fact that genuine happiness is not that easy to achieve. Di ito gaya ng mga panindang junk foods at Beefies hotdog na nabibili ng piso-piso o natitingi. Di rin naman ito nabibili ng wholesale sa Divisoria. Kahit pa nga makipag-barter ka ng mamahaling porselana, walang makikipagkalakal sa'yo nito. Kasi, marami ang handang gumawa ng kahit anong paraan na naiisip nila para lang matikman ang ligayang hinahanap-hanap ng kanilang damdaming pukaw ng kalungkutan. It's priceless. To earn happiness, we have to work for it. Besides, nakasalalay ang lahat ng possibilities sa ating sarili. Some are happy because they choose to be happy. The choices are on our hands. E, ikaw? Ano bang choice mo? 

   Masarap maging masaya lalo na kung may ginagawa kang hakbang para sumaya ka. Pero kung wala ka namang ginagawa, pa'no ka kaya sasaya, di ba? Para kang naghihintay ng pagputi ng uwak at pag-itim ng tagak.      

   You know what, sa isang simpleng ngiti, makaka-attract na tayo ng good vibes at positive things. Sabi nga ni Mother Theresa of Calcutta, "Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other---it doesn't matter who it is---and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other." Biruin mo, di lang pala simple ang naidudulot ng isang payak na ngiti. Smile has the power to caress hearts and souls of those mournfuls. Nakatulong ka na, lumago pa ang iyong kaganapan bilang isang indibidwal. Sa tanong na kung pa'no ka sasaya, wala akong masasagot diyan. It depends on our own approaches, e. Pero may ilan akong alam na mga paraan para maging worth-engaging ang bawat araw. From there, malamang masusumpungan mo rin si happiness.

                                     

1. Always start and end your day with a smile. Sabi nga sa isang statement shirt ng Coca-Cola: "A smile a day keeps the badtrip away."

2. Indulge. Try to engage on activities na sa tingin mo ay malilibang ka. Shopping, writing, reading, watching films, or cooking will do.

3. Do things that you never experience to try. In this case, we have to undergo on a trial and error method. The outcome might bring fulfillment or frustration, but we have to be ready on such resulting consequences. If you never experienced mountaineering, then do it. Besides, there's no harm on trying.

4. Involve yourself in "life-saving" organizations. Life-saving in the sense na 'yung org na sasalihan mo ay worth-engaging. Life is too short to waste opportunities and time. Bakit di mo subukang sumali sa mga samahang tumutulong sa mga out-of-school youths o kaya ay sa mga campus-based organizations concerning göod works. Kaysa naman sa tumambay o magmukmok tayo sa isang tabi.

5. Give value to those persons around you. With that, pahahalagahan ka rin nila which might effectuate good relationship between the members of the group. Good relationship leads to happiness.

6. Affirm one's identity. Napapansin ko kasi na may ilang napu-frustrate dahil sa mga kahinaang tinataglay nila. Alam niyo, hindi sasaya 'yung mga taong walang kakuntentuhan kasi they will try to do worst things just to best their opponents or colleagues. Sabi nga ng pilosopong si Lao-Tzu: "When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you."

7. Watch or read inspirational films or books bombarded with lesson. By simply doing this, we will be able to change our perspective about life. We'll have at least the guts to conquer our fears. There, we could attain the happiness we are yearning for. 

8. Communicate with God. Gusto mo ng happiness di ba? Pwes, makipag-ugnayan tayo kay God. He's the only one who can bestow us the authentic and eternal happiness. Let us pray thoroughly, then our wants and needs will be granted.

   Sabi nga sa isang kantang pambata na kinakanta ko nung kinder pa ako, "kung ikaw ay masaya, tumawa ka. Haha. Kung ikaw ay masaya, tumawa ka. Haha. Kung ikaw ay masaya, buhay mo ay sisigla. Kung ikaw ay masaya, tumawa ka. Haha." Kitams? Kaya naman wag nating ibaon ang ating sarili sa sentimentality. Minsan din tayong nagpakalugmok sa kalungkutan. I think, it's time for us to come out from our shells and shout "hahaha."  

   Laugh as if this day would be our last. Laugh as if everything won't stop...as if we don't care 'bout disturbances for we just want to laugh. :D 

#L.O.L