Hope is Contagious

I was bound to go home when I decided to take a simple walk in Quiapo to buy some pirated DVD's. I know it's not a good deed but I can't help it. It's cheap and you're gonna use it once anyway so why not buy it? But I'm not encouraging you to buy some. Still, original copies are the best. When I came to a movie stand where DVD's are sold like hotcakes (for it costs way cheaper than before), I saw this movie: Letters to God.

I'm not gonna right a movie review about it in this blog. I'll leave that somewhere in cyberspace. Instead, I'll give you an idea about the film. Its about Tyler, a boy with cancer, who writes letters to God. His letters were encountered by Brady, a mailman who's having struggles with his life. They entered each one's life and the story goes on. This is a Christian movie, as the title says, but anyone can benefit from it for in the end, you'll have that heartwarming feeling. Was actually teary-eyed when I ended the film.

I am thankful for these pirated DVD's for if it doesn't exist, I won't encounter Tyler's story.

Kaway ng Buhay

Sa araw-araw ako’y gigising, babangon at mabibingi sa pag-iisa. Bababa sa hagdan, maglalakad at maghahanap ng makakainan. “Ate isa nga pong Tapsilog, scrambled, takeout.” Bubuksan, titignan, at uuwi na para kumain. Pauli-ulit hanggang sa ikaw ay makilala.

Kinabukasan didilat ang mata, nagugutom at babalik. “Ate order ko po Tocilog.” Iaabot ang aking ulam na naka-styro at titignan: ‘Aba, alam na ni ate na scrambled egg ang gusto ko.’ Hindi ko sila kilala sa pangalan, at hindi rin nila alam ang pangalan ko. Ang alam ko lang, customer ako at sila ang taga-kuha ng order ko.

Pero iba ang nangyari ng minsan ako ay napadaan sa kanto para mamasyal, ordinaryong araw na wala akong inaasahan. Magkakasama sila at nagkukumpulan sa sulok. Dumaan ako ng nagtetext nang hindi ko inaasahan,

“Sir, good morning! Kain po tayo!”

Lahat sila bumati sa akin ng maaliwas, lahat naka-ngiti na pinaramdam nilang iba ang araw na iyon. Simple man ang buhay nila na may marangal na trabaho, sila ang mga taong hindi mo inaasahang magpapaalala sa’yo na ang simpleng mga bagay ay pinasasalamatan. At karapat dapat silang bigyan ng isang malaking pasasalamat sa magandang pakikisalamuha. Ang pagbating iyon ay ang “Kaway” ng Buhay. Salamat mga kaibigan.

Musings on the Road

Traffic has always been part of my life since I was in grade 1 – the time I learned that the road outside our village isn’t as friendly as what I thought it was. There’s too much pollution, noise and threat for your life. And too much stress if its raining (just like today). But I’ve come to embrace all these facts. That I’ve become comfortable with it. So much that every time I sit on a jeep, I am able to come up with my own monologue – about me, or about the people around me. Whether to appreciate or simply be sorry for having them with me. Or plan with my other self about the things we want to do on the coming weeks, on my next birthday, on the next out-of-town, or on the next Christmas party (and come up with the most creative cheer so we can enjoy another round of Pinoy Henyo). Questions come and transect my cortex. Sometimes confusing, but lately enlightening (especially these past few weeks where my reservoir of hope and good outlooks in life is draining). Whatever it is, all these years of commuting have taught me how to use this time in a better way.

Being in traffic is one of the things that people really hate. But I’ve been thankful for these moments.