wahahahahaha nadenggoy!!!

letter for the new members of U.P. TAO batch 2007

Dear Bros and Sis,

A warm nationalist greeting!

I am very happy to welcome eleven of you in our family. The family of U.P. TAO.

Again I would like to emphasize that we are not Tau Gxxzx Pxx though I know you've heard about that phrase time and again amongst other people whom you introduce yourself with.

But yes we are U.P. TAO in other terms a U.P. Individual or human being.

Again I want to welcome you in our family and I know you guys have been through a lot and I'm very proud that you survived all the obstacles in entering the family.

AS you see we never believed in hurting people as a measure of success. We hold on to the ideal that you are your own enemies.

I am more than proud that the legacy that our family left in U.P. Cebu continues to grow and to nourish countless individuals.

I am proud to belong once in your place, relishing my student days in our beloved Alma Mater and learning about life and love.

Yes U.P. TAO taught me to live and to love. I guess that is the main reason why all organizations and families prosper.

How fraternities get to survive the rummages of time.

When you Live and love at the same time I believe there is no greater ideology than that.

So I admonish you to love and live with each other carefully and critically.

That is what I learn from Sir Mike and all the other batches that came after me.

Oh, I have lots of stories to tell you about our family.

We have a long history since 1989 and most of them even I don't know but I can tell you of our history and from my time.

But another thing is that we are not a perfect organization. We have our ups and downs but thank God we always get up and try again.

Strive again to perfection...

We may go separate ways but this thread of U.P. TAO stretches far and wide.

So again I admonish you to love each other and help each other.

To point out each others' mistakes and forgetfulness.

To go to meetings and attend special celebrations.

TALK... TALK to each other but most of all LISTEN...

Our hearts have more to say than look at each other.

If you can and most of all if you must, please sacrifice your time for each other.

Once in awhile enjoy life together like going to the mall, or going hiking, or perhaps go to church together.

Place God in the center of you life whatever or whoever your sense of divinity is.

There is still something and someone above you and who you can ask for help.

There is always an entity that is moral and encompassing to everybody and everyones chiding.

But most of all respect each other.

Help in any way you can but always save something for yourself and the family.

Over and above everything you are now a part of U.P. TAO and you are a representative to the universe and to the world of our greatness.

In addition to this you will see we have no "tambayan" we make ourselves known by our actions instead.

We have proven ourselves time and again, but I'm not saying that you stop yourself from having one. (haha)

Remember there is always a time and place for everything.

And now is your time.

Hold it and make it right.

So in the future you may hold the memories in your heart and say to yourself.

I am a U.P. TAO and once a TAO, always TAO.

Good luck and take care.

I love you guys and I miss you.

-floyd, "TOL" batch 98-

MRT nanaman!!!

ang cute nung bata grabe

Okay madami talagang weirdo sa MRT at madaming nakakatakot na experience sa MRT pero ang ikukwento ko sa inyo ngayon eh yung nangyari sakin last week.

papunta akong trabaho nun at op kors puno ulit ang MRT (kelan ba naman siya hindi naging puno aber?)

so ganun sumakay ako at ewan ko kung talagang mabait lang ang diyos sakin o ano pero nakaupo ako.

Di naman ako chismoso pero narinig ko yung mga katabi nag-uusap.

ang itsura nila di naman masyado masasabing masa pero makikita mo para silang mga nagtatrabaho sa department store.

Anyway ang pinaguusapan nila eh tungkol sa isang superior nilang terror daw.

Sabi nung isa grabe daw talaga yung babaeng yun, brutal daw sa mga bata nya at pag nag-iinterview ng mga aplikante eh PINAPAKANTA pa nya.

At that point nanlaki ang mata ko at ewan ko kung matatwa ako o maawa...

haay... power tripping really sucks...

heniweys habang bumabyahe kami may sumakay sa cubao station na dalawang estudyante.

Lalaki naka polo ng puti, pumwesto sa hrap ko.

Pagtingala ko may nakita akong ubod ng laking kulangot sa kanang butas ng ilong at gumagalaw mehn!

Sumasabay sa pghinga nya na parang malalaglag, at konting ihit lang ng hangin ng ilong nya eh tatalsik sa mukha ko yun.

Di mo ma-imagine kung gaano ko sinubukan ilagan kada hinga nya mehn!!!

tapos ang malupit pa dun sumisinga siya ng paunti unti na parang nililinis yung ilong nya ng alikabok.

jusme torture!!!!

buti na lang nakarating nako sa pupuntahan ko...

Haay buhay...

Meron pang isang nangyari.

After nung basketball practice namin sa opisina sumakay ako ng MRT at ako naman ang nakatayo.

May kaharap akong tatlong tao.

Dalawang baabe na nursing student ata dahil naka -uniform ng puti at may cap sa ulo at may matandang semi-tulog or tulog talaga.

Heniweys nakakapit yung dalawang kamay ko sa taas na kapitan ng tren.

yung sa gitnang babae eh natutulog sa kaliwa nya yung matanda.

eh bigla akong na-ha-ching!!!

dapat sa kaliwa ko ibabaling yung bibig ko kaya lang may katabi din ako dun na nakaharap yung mukha sa kaliwang braso ko (sobrang lapet!)

kaya napakanan ako ng bahing, sabay sabi ng sorry.

tiningnan ko yung mga nasa harap ko wala namang umimik. (haay safe na, di nanaman ako nag-skandalo)

pero pagharap ko ulit sa matanda medyo half-asleep niyang pinupunasan yung kanag pisngi nya kasi nakapatong yung ulo nya sa kaliwang kamay nya so hes facing left.

pagkatapos nyang pumunas binuksan nya yung mga mata nya ng kalahati lang sabay tumingin sakin sabay natulog ulet.

muntik nakong mamatay sa tawa pero pinigilan ko.

kakaiba talaga ang MRT.

^_^

short and stout

And so you leave,
with your heartaches and forbidden memories,

You leave this world of pollution and screaming cars
the poverty and the misery
the lovers and heartbreakers.

how long has it been stranger?

Six? Seven? Eight years?

I don't know...
I almost forgot how it was until I saw our pictures together.

They were good old days isn't it?
Yet good things really do come to an end.

I guess you will never hear from me those words:
"I told you so"

Or the words: "Again??!!!"

It's been good stranger.

Those were times I'd tell my kids about
or my grandsons and daughters

"Listen I had a friend once, who's good at billiards but bad at being drunk."

Oh how they would laugh
I can almost see the glitter in their eyes

But then again you're leaving

Let's not say our goodbye's
nor our apologies

We have said much for and against each other
thats what friends are and will always be

Letting go is not too painful anyhow
We have the memories to go back to just in case we missed each other

And as you knew me once and before our painful separation:

I always wished you well even if you pained me too much
I always wished you well even if its against my principles
I always wished you well despite my shortcomings
I always wished you well after all thats happened

and now I'm wishing you well again in your departure

Let's not speak thereof anymore of this
lest we get drunk in our stupor and we cling to our sins.

My words have proven themselves and my actions otherwise.
sail now and fly my dearest one.

You belong to yourself and nobody else
Good tidings-good tidings.

oh teapot and twin teacups.

Why we should remember to say NEVER AGAIN!

Jovito Salonga

*Speech of Former Senator Jovito Salonga, martial law victim; former President of the Philippine Senate; Founder of the Bantayog ng Mga Bayani (Monument of Heroes) and 2007 Recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Good Governance. *

Commemorating Martial Law : Misa Para sa Mga Bayani

September 21, 2007

Bantayog ng mga Bayani

EDSA , Quezon City , Philippines

I understand that the Bantayog ng mga Bayani is holding this Memorial Service today, September 21, at 7.a.m. to honor the memories of martyrs who gave their lives without seeing the dawn of freedom and the heroes who survived EDSA I, but gave their all for the sake of freedom and democracy .

But allow me to make a correction. In truth , martial law was not imposed on September 21, the date mentioned by Marcos. On the night of September 22, 1972, the news was broadcast that Secretary of Defense Juan Ponce Enrile was ambushed in Wack Wack Subdvision, a few kilometers away from Manila. Enrile was not killed. I was at home, recovering from the extensive injuries I suffered from the Plaza Miranda bombing. Knowing the loyalty of Enrile to Marcos, I doubted the authenticity of the ambush and said so in my writings during the martial law . It was only after the EDSA I, People Power Revoluton , that Enrile admitted it was a fake ambush—evidently to justify the declaration of martial law in the morning of September 23, 1972, when no newspapers arrived and no TV-radio broadcasts were allowed . It was only in the evening of September 23 that Marcos publicly announced the proclamation of martial law, through TV-radio facilities of Roberto S. Benedicto, his closest crony and
classmate in the University of the Philippines.

Marcos falsified the facts, including the repeated assurance that it was not a military take over, the same Constitution, he said, remains enforced . He also falsified the two justifications for the imposition of martial law--- the NPA rebellion in the north and the Muslim insurgency in the south. There was no NPA when Marcos came into power after the November 1965 elections ---but it was his brutal record of repressiveness, brazen corruption and the rigged elections of 1967 and 1969 that led to the formation of the CPP and the NPA. It was Marcos who caused the Muslim massacre in Corregidor in 1967 and led Nur Misuari in Sulu to revolt against Marcos regime. Marcos gave himself away when he said the Old Society (of which he was the leader) was sick , and a " New Society must be born to reform society."

In any case, the Marcos declaration of martial law crushed the hopes of the youth , who saw no future except to underground . Edgar Jopson , Manny Yap and others, like Ninoy Aquino were the martyrs who died without seeing the dawn of freedom. Tañada, Diokno and Roces survived EDSA but Bantayog proclaimed them as heroes for giving their talents, time and resources to topple the Marcos regime.

*Tayo ay nandito ngayon upang alalahanin ang mga tunay na pangyayari at ipagdiwang ang mga tunay na bayani ng ating lahi. Huwag nating payagan na mangyari muli ang ginawa ni Marcos*. Never again should we allow another semblance of Marcos to come again and deceive us and our descendants, in the name of public security and for the sake of reforming
society . Only a free people can reform society and build our democracy.

Mabuhay tayong lahat at marami pong salamat.

Delivered on the 35th anniversary of Martial Law during a commemorative
mass of Claimants 1081 , member organization of Asian Federation Against
Involuntary Disappearances in the Philippines.

Mi Ultimo Adios In three Languages

Jose Rizal

I just heard the poem sang by Joey Ayala and it reminded me how much I love this poem.
Just by listening to it It brought a tear to my eye.
So I'm posting it here again as I posted in my last blog. I just don't think my blog could exist without ever paying homage to Rizal.

What I most loved about the poem is the silent call for the Divine.
The utmost surrender of pain of saying goodbye to your loved ones.

Perhaps Rizal has written the poem in his most painful times, we never really know but by just reading into It one can deeply sense the fear of death and the delight of dying for a cause.
I pray I can write a poem as beautiful as this.

My favorite line is " I’ll go where there are no slaves, hangmen nor oppressors,
Where faith doesn’t kill, where the one who reigns is God."

------------------

Mi último adiós (Spanish)

¡Adiós, Patria adorada, región del sol querida,
Perla del mar de oriente, nuestro perdido Edén!
A darte voy alegre la triste mustia vida,
Y fuera más brillante, más fresca, más florida,
También por ti la diera, la diera por tu bien.

En campos de batalla, luchando con delirio,
Otros te dan sus vidas sin dudas, sin pesar;
El sitio nada importa, ciprés, laurel o lirio,
Cadalso o campo abierto, combate o cruel martirio,
Lo mismo es si lo piden la patria y el hogar.

Yo muero cuando veo que el cielo se colora
Y al fin anuncia el día tras lóbrego capuz;
si grana necesitas para teñir tu aurora,
Vierte la sangre mía, derrámala en buen hora
Y dórela un reflejo de su naciente luz.

Mis sueños cuando apenas muchacho adolescente,
Mis sueños cuando joven ya lleno de vigor,
Fueron el verte un día, joya del mar de oriente,
Secos los negros ojos, alta la tersa frente,
Sin ceño, sin arrugas, sin manchas de rubor

Ensueño de mi vida, mi ardiente vivo anhelo,
¡Salud te grita el alma que pronto va a partir!
¡Salud! Ah, que es hermoso caer por darte vuelo,
Morir por darte vida, morir bajo tu cielo,
Y en tu encantada tierra la eternidad dormir.

Si sobre mi sepulcro vieres brotar un día
Entre la espesa yerba sencilla, humilde flor,
Acércala a tus labios y besa al alma mía,
Y sienta yo en mi frente bajo la tumba fría,
De tu ternura el soplo, de tu hálito el calor.

Deja a la luna verme con luz tranquila y suave,
Deja que el alba envíe su resplandor fugaz,
Deja gemir al viento con su murmullo grave,
Y si desciende y posa sobre mi cruz un ave,
Deja que el ave entone su cántico de paz.

Deja que el sol, ardiendo, las lluvias evapore
Y al cielo tornen puras, con mi clamor en pos;
Deja que un ser amigo mi fin temprano llore
Y en las serenas tardes cuando por mí alguien ore,
¡Ora también, oh Patria, por mi descanso a Dios!

Ora por todos cuantos murieron sin ventura,
Por cuantos padecieron tormentos sin igual,
Por nuestras pobres madres que gimen su amargura;
Por huérfanos y viudas, por presos en tortura
Y ora por ti que veas tu redención final.

Y cuando en noche oscura se envuelva el cementerio
Y solos sólo muertos queden velando allí,
No turbes su reposo, no turbes el misterio,
Tal vez acordes oigas de cítara o salterio,
Soy yo, querida Patria, yo que te canto a ti.

Y cuando ya mi tumba de todos olvidada
No tenga cruz ni piedra que marquen su lugar,
Deja que la are el hombre, la esparza con la azada,
Y mis cenizas, antes que vuelvan a la nada,
El polvo de tu alfombra que vayan a formar.

Entonces nada importa me pongas en olvido.
Tu atmósfera, tu espacio, tus valles cruzaré.
Vibrante y limpia nota seré para tu oído,
Aroma, luz, colores, rumor, canto, gemido,
Constante repitiendo la esencia de mi fe.

Mi patria idolatrada, dolor de mis dolores,
Querida Filipinas, oye el postrer adiós.
Ahí te dejo todo, mis padres, mis amores.
Voy donde no hay esclavos, verdugos ni opresores,
Donde la fe no mata, donde el que reina es Dios.

Adiós, padres y hermanos, trozos del alma mía,
Amigos de la infancia en el perdido hogar,
Dad gracias que descanso del fatigoso día;
Adiós, dulce extranjera, mi amiga, mi alegría,
Adiós, queridos seres, morir es descansar.


José Rizal, 1896

---------------


Mi Ultimo Adios (Filipino)

Pinipintuho kong Bayan ay paalam,
Lupang iniirog ng sikat ng araw,
mutyang mahalaga sa dagat Silangan,
kaluwalhatiang sa ami'y pumanaw.

Masayang sa iyo'y aking idudulot
ang lanta kong buhay na lubhang malungkot;
maging maringal man at labis alindog
sa kagalingan mo ay aking ding handog.

Sa pakikidigma at pamimiyapis
ang alay ng iba'y ang buhay na kipkip,
walang agam-agam, maluag sa dibdib,
matamis sa puso at di ikahapis.

Saan man mautas ay dikailangan,
cipres o laurel, lirio ma'y patungan
pakikipaghamok, at ang bibitayan,
yaon ay gayon din kung hiling ng Bayan.

Ako'y mamamatay, ngayong namamalas
na sa silinganan ay namamanaag
yaong maligayang araw na sisikat
sa likod ng luksang nagtabing na ulap.

Ang kulay na pula kung kinakailangan
na maitina sa iyong liway-way,
dugo ko'y isabong at siyang ikinang
ng kislap ng iyong maningning na ilaw

Ang aking adhika sapul magkaisip
ng kasalukuyang bata pang maliit,
ay ang tanghaling ka at minsan masilip
sa dagat Silangan hiyas na marikit.

Natuyo ang luhang sa mata'y nunukal,
taas na ang noo't walang kapootan,
walang bakas kunot ng kapighatian
gabahid man dungis niyong kahihiyan.

Sa kabuhayang ko ang laging gunita
maningas na aking ninanasa-nasa
ay guminhawa ka ang hiyas ng diwa
hingang papanaw ngayong biglang-bigla.
pag hingang papanaw ngayong biglang-bigla.

Ikaw'y guminhawa laking kagandahang
akoy malugmok, at ikaw ay matanghal,
hiniga'y malagot, mabuhay ka lamang
bangkay ko'y masilong sa iyong Kalangitan.

Kung sa libingan ko'y tumubong mamalas
sa malagong damo mahinhing bulaklak,
sa mga labi mo'y mangyayaring itapat,
sa kaluluwa ko hatik ay igawad.

At sa aking noo nawa'y iparamdam,
sa lamig ng lupa ng aking libingan,
ang init ng iyong paghingang dalisay
at simoy ng iyong paggiliw na tunay.

Bayaang ang buwan sa aki'y ititig
ang iwanag niyang lamlam at tahimik,
liwayway bayaang sa aki'y ihatid
magalaw na sinag at hanging hagibis.

Kung sakasakaling bumabang humantong
sa krus ko'y dumapo kahit isang ibon
doon ay bayaan humuning hinahon
at dalitin niya payapang panahon.

Bayaan ang ningas ng sikat ng araw
ula'y pasingawin noong kainitan,
magbalik sa langit ng boong dalisay
kalakip ng aking pagdaing na hiyaw.

Bayaang sino man sa katotang giliw
tangisang maagang sa buhay pagkitil;
kung tungkol sa akin ay may manalangin
idalangin, Bayan, yaring pagka himbing.

Idalanging lahat yaong nangamatay,
mangagatiis hirap na walang kapantay;
mga ina naming walang kapalaran
na inihihibik ay kapighatian.

Ang mga bao't pinapangulila,
ang mga bilanggong nagsisipagdusa;
dalanginin namang kanilang makita
ang kalayaan mong, ikagiginhawa.

At kung an madilim na gabing mapanglaw
ay lumaganap na doon sa libinga't
tanging mga patay ang nangaglalamay,
huwag bagabagin ang katahimikan.

Ang kanyang hiwagay huwag gambalain;
kaipala'y maringig doon ang taginting,
tunog ng gitara't salterio'y mag saliw,
ako, Bayan yao't kita'y aawitin.

Kung ang libingan ko'y limat na ng lahat
at wala ng kurus at batang mabakas,
bayaang linangin ng taong masipag,
lupa'y asarolin at kauyang ikalat.

At mga buto ko ay bago matunaw
maowi sa wala at kusang maparam,
alabok ng iyong latag ay bayaang
siya ang babalang doo'y makipisan.

Kung magka gayon na'y aalintanahin
na ako sa limot iyong ihabilin
pagka't himpapawid at ang panganorin
mga lansangan mo'y aking lilibutin.
Matining na tunog ako sa dingig mo,
ilaw, mga kulay, masamyong pabango,
ang ugong at awit, pag hibik sa iyo,
pag asang dalisay ng pananalig ko.

Bayang iniirog, sakit niyaring hirap,
Katagalugang ko pinakaliliyag,
dinggin mo ang aking pagpapahimakas;
diya'y iiwan ko sa iyo ang lahat.

Ako'y patutungo sa walang busabos,
walang umiinis at berdugong hayop;
pananalig doo'y di nakasasalot,
si Bathala lamang dooy haring lubos.

Paalam, magulang at mga kapatid
kapilas ng aking kaluluwa't dibdib
mga kaibigan bata pang maliit
sa aking tahanan di na masisilip.

Pag pasasalamat at napahinga rin,
paalam estranherang kasuyo ko't aliw,
paalam sa inyo, mga ginigiliw;
mamatay ay siyang pagkakagupiling!

José Rizal, 1896

Sa salin ni Andres Bonifacio

------------

My Last Farewell (English)

Farewell, beloved Country, treasured region of the sun,
Pearl of the sea of the Orient, our lost Eden!
To you eagerly I surrender this sad and gloomy life;
And were it brighter, fresher, more florid,
Even then I’d give it to you, for your sake alone.

In fields of battle, deliriously fighting,
Others give you their lives, without doubt, without regret;
The place matters not: where there’s cypress, laurel or lily,
On a plank or open field, in combat or cruel martyrdom,
It’s all the same if the home or country asks.

I die when I see the sky has unfurled its colors
And at last after a cloak of darkness announces the day;
If you need scarlet to tint your dawn,
Shed my blood, pour it as the moment comes,
And may it be gilded by a reflection of the heaven’s newly-born light.

My dreams, when scarcely an adolescent,
My dreams, when a young man already full of life,
Were to see you one day, jewel of the sea of the Orient,
Dry those eyes of black, that forehead high,
Without frown, without wrinkles, without stains of shame.

My lifelong dream, my deep burning desire,
This soul that will soon depart cries out: Salud!
To your health! Oh how beautiful to fall to give you flight,
To die to give you life, to die under your sky,
And in your enchanted land eternally sleep.

If upon my grave one day you see appear,
Amidst the dense grass, a simple humble flower,
Place it near your lips and my soul you’ll kiss,
And on my brow may I feel, under the cold tomb,
The gentle blow of your tenderness, the warmth of your breath.

Let the moon see me in a soft and tranquil light,
Let the dawn send its fleeting radiance,
Let the wind moan with its low murmur,
And should a bird descend and rest on my cross,
Let it sing its canticle of peace.

Let the burning sun evaporate the rains,
And with my clamor behind, towards the sky may they turn pure;
Let a friend mourn my early demise,
And in the serene afternoons, when someone prays for me,
O Country, pray to God also for my rest!

Pray for all the unfortunate ones who died,
For all who suffered torments unequaled,
For our poor mothers who in their grief and bitterness cry,
For orphans and widows, for prisoners in torture,
And for yourself pray that your final redemption you’ll see.

And when the cemetery is enveloped in dark night,
And there, alone, only those who have gone remain in vigil,
Disturb not their rest, nor the mystery,
And should you hear chords from a zither or psaltery,
It is I, beloved Country, singing to you.

And when my grave, then by all forgotten,
has not a cross nor stone to mark its place,
Let men plow and with a spade scatter it,
And before my ashes return to nothing,
May they be the dust that carpets your fields.

Then nothing matters, cast me in oblivion.
Your atmosphere, your space and valleys I’ll cross.
I will be a vibrant and clear note to your ears,
Aroma, light, colors, murmur, moan, and song,
Constantly repeating the essence of my faith.

My idolized country, sorrow of my sorrows,
Beloved Filipinas, hear my last good-bye.
There I leave you all, my parents, my loves.
I’ll go where there are no slaves, hangmen nor oppressors,
Where faith doesn’t kill, where the one who reigns is God.

Goodbye, dear parents, brother and sisters, fragments of my soul,
Childhood friends in the home now lost,
Give thanks that I rest from this wearisome day;
Goodbye, sweet foreigner, my friend, my joy;
Farewell, loved ones, to die is to rest.


José Rizal, 1896

(Modern English translation by Edwin Agustín Lozada)

Habang Natutulog

Words and music by Joey Ayala

Habang ikaw ay natutulog
ako naman ay nagising
at naupo sa may bintana
at nakisama sa ‘yong paghimbing
sarap mong lambingin
lalo na’t madilim-dilim
habang ika’y natutulog

Inaantok ang umaga
ayaw bumangon tinatamad
ikaw naman ay nananaginip
sa mga ulap ay lumilipad-lipad
saang langit napadpad
nais kong sumabay
habang ika’y natutulog

kaibigan, kasama
kahati, kabiyak
sa luha’t halakhak
kapiling, kasiping
Umaga na mahal
sa silid ng pagibig ko

Tahanan, silungan
supling at kapatid
Kaakbay at kaakay
karamay sa buhay
Umaga na mahal
sa silid ng pagibig ko