If I Go

 Let me sing my death song,

By the sea, by the sea;

Garb me in finest gown,

As the sun hastens down, down ,down.

Dress me in regal vest,

For I have done my best;

This is my last request,

I want to rest, I want to rest.

Sorry for my follies ,

That caused some hearts to bleed;

Sorry for my misdeed,

And the petty troubles I made.

Thank you for all the years,

Of our laughter and tears;

Thank you for the flowers,

And the candles and the prayers.

Under the wide blue sky,

Let me lie,let me lie;

Please don't sob,please don't sigh,

Just bid me a sweet,last goodbye.

Reflection on a Necrological Mass

     The burial mass reminds us that life is finite or has an end. It reminds us that it is so temporary and too short to put to waste. It must,therefore be taken as something very precious and should be highly treasured.

     Like the burial mass which begins with the phrase,"Entroibo ad  Altare Dei", or, "I now enter the Altar of God", every man entered a life which was meant to be a sacrifice for God since he was born. 

Very shortly after the mass had begun, it ends with a phrase,"Go in peace with the Lord". Life is likened to this mass too. After a brief while in this valley of tears, we go to eternity to unite with the Creator.

     Ironically, however, not all the seeds that were sown in the vineyard of the Lord, flourish and bear sweet grapes from which the wine in the sacrifice of the mass is taken, and neither all who were told to go in peace with the Lord, are with the Lord.

     If we ponder deeply on the message of the burial mass, everyone who attends it will be shaken to the reality of his mortality.He will begin to prepare his life and his spirit for that eventful time when the priest will ultimately tell him, at the end of the necrological mass for him,"Go in peace, with the Lord".

 

Gigi

Little feet, nimble and light,

Tread the meadow, green and bright;

In mincing steps as in flight, 

To evade swiftly the sight.

Then she would pluck the flowers,

And say, they were her father's;

Frolicking as she gathers,

Under the monsoon showers.

She would tell the whole story,

"The Turtle and the Monkey",

In one long sentence only;

Then, she'd chuckle happily.

Press her on her fat belly,

She would sing readily;

But if she's sore and moody,

She will say, "Wa teyi"(no battery).

Behind the door at the rear,

She'd hide and stick on each ear,

Oyangya seed ,red and queer,

And say,her earrings cost dear.

She would guard her grandmother,

For the dwarf might gobble her;

She'd draw the hunchback peddler,

And the grave of her grandfather.

She would snuggle quietly,

Because she fears the fairy;

She loved to climb the cherry tree,

Drooping by the balcony.

Now, they're but a memory,

To reminisce everyday;

For grown up is the baby,

And has left for somebody.

The Importance of Scouting

 Stalin initiated a revolution by corrupting the youth. Should one think of changing the course of a people's life,he would likely succeed if he gains stronghold in the youth.The youth of today will be the pillars of the nation tomorrow. If they are misguided, they would compose the most destructive element of the future society, serving as the restraining force to the country's development and progress; but build the youth , and you build the nation. Reforms for the betterment of a country cannot be initiated by the corrupt and the unenlightened. Only the rightfully educated can make this possible. That is why the youth of today must be moulded into morally upright citizens._They must be brought up vested with skills for survival , coupled with moral values. This is the goal of Scouting.

Scouting was founded by Lord Baden Powell in England. The Americans brought Scouting to the Philippines. Late Col.J.E.H. Stevenot worked for an independent Boy Scout Organisation in the Philippines. In spite of his American nationality, he sacrificed a great deal of his time, effort and money for the cause of the Filipino youth. He secured the cooperation of the National Assembly to Filipinize the Movement through the passage of Commonwealth Act No. 111 that created the "Boy Scouts of the Philippines",which was sponsored by the then Assemblyman Tomas Confesor and was approved by President Manuel L. Quezon on Oct. 31,1936.

The Boy Scouts of the Philippines is the Philippines Chapter of the world Boy Scout Movement.Its national objective is character building and citizenship training. Its international goal is world brotherhood. The BSP is a strictly non-sectarian, non-political, non-commercial and non-military organisation. It seeks to develop good citizenship among boys by moulding their character,training them in the habits of observation, obedience and self-reliance; inculcating loyalty, thoughtfulness for others;teaching them to give services useful to the public, and promoting their physical , mental and spiritual development. 

The fundamental principles of  Scouting ( according to its founder, Lord Baden Powell) are:

!.Duty to God and religion

2.Loyalty to one's own country

3.Belief in world friendship and brotherhood

4.Service to others

5.Acceptance and adherence to the scout oath and law

6.Voluntary membership

7.Independence of all political influence

8.A progressive program of training boys,young men and adults for responsible citizenship

The Scout Oath: On my honour, I will do my duty to God and my country and to obey the scout law;to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

The Scout Law: A scout is trustworthy,loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind,obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.

Reference: Boys Scout Handbook

 

 

   

Goodbye, Dear Maruja

You left, my friend, with your beautiful memories kept in my heart;

Those treasured moments that studded your colourful life,

I now tenderly collect in my mind like precious tokens 

That make me live in remembering that once upon a time,

There was you....

Fifty - seven years ago today,in the same school, we were assigned;

In you, a good company and friendship I did find,

Haunting shadows of the unknown I shunned behind,

Loneliness and anxiety ceased nagging my mind.

We trekked the muddy trail and waded the rustling brook,

We carefully toed the bamboo bridge that shook,

And as we sat to rest for a while on an old log's crook,

We removed the bariri clinging to our clothes like hook.

We slipped, stumbled and rolled as we climbed the hill together,

We just picked up ourselves and went on with a laughter;

Upon reaching the hilltop, we sang the "Sound of Music" much louder,

To make the gloomy day look a bit brighter.

On the way, we passed by the carabao which you called "baka",

You huddled close to me because you were afraid of the "bawa";

We stayed awake and listened to the farm lads" "harana", 

I had stomachache and you made me drink extracted "rapunaya".

We exchanged funny and scary stories from old folks we have heard,

We promised each other to keep the secrets we shared;

You pampered my taste buds with savoury meals and cakes you prepared,

We slept side by side on a rickety, squeaking bamboo bed.

We were introduced as new teachers during a district meeting,

The senior teachers made fun of us and asked us to sing;

We sang in duet"Maala-ala Mo Kaya" and " Too Young" though shaking,

The elderly teachers yelled,"Tira !, Insik kag Hapon!"while laughing.

You taught the pupils with diligence and perseverance,

For their shortcomings, with patience, you gave allowance;

And though their comprehension oftentimes faltered,

Not once, you ever said a single unkind or hurting word.

I enjoyed watching you teach the children to dance "Polka Tagala',

I loved the way you trained a pupil to sing "La Golondrina";

We teased our hair and attended Mr, Gregorio's "Despedida',

We went to the city to see Susan Roces' movie,"Maruja".

On Teachers' Day, you danced to your heart's delight,

Gracefully, happily,with your feet, nimble and light;

Entrancing, like a river nymph in playful flight, 

Like a fleeting firefly in the blue of the night.

Singing is said to be the highest form of prayer, 

And you have prayed this way, from year to year;

For you have sung a thousand times in the church choir,

Because of St, Cecilia's Choir, you were a member.

Many a time I heard you sing with reverie,

In melodious voice, you sung the hymns and the psalms prayerfully;

Because you loved fine music just as you loved to pray,

With ardent adoration for the Lord's glory.

Your life was an unfading love song and fervent prayer woven ,

Specially meant for the Almighty and your chosen profession;

Service to fellowmen and the Lord was your aspiration,

Teaching the young and praising God was your double mission.

Now, your concert is over, my dear friend,

And heaven has now brought the curtain down;

The Choir that you have left all of a sudden

Weep in mute sorrow as of one forlorn.

We could hear your songs no longer, beloved,

But I know in my heart that it has never ended;

Because with the angels' hymns they are now blended,

So sleep with your celestial songs my treasured departed.

We mourn in silence, our grief, unspoken

Yet, let not our tears hold you back from your journey to heaven;

Follow the mystical light that will lead you to the Great Beyond,

Where Our Divine Creator shall keep you in His loving hand. 

Farewell, my sister in profession, my comrade, my treasured friend. Farewell. 

 

Kinabukasan ng Bata ay Siguruhin

Bata, bata,paano ka magawa 

Na isang nilalang na dakila 

Pagdating ng panahong takda

Na ikaw, sa mundo ay makibaka ?

Madali lang, mahal kong tagapag-alaga:

Ako'y punuin ng pagmamahal at pag-aruga,

At hubugin ang ugali at paniniwala,

Habang ako'y isa pang munting punla.

Ang unang hipo sa katawan kong mura,

Ay dampi ng malambing na kalinga;

Ibalot mo ako sa saplot ng pagtitiwala,

At busugin sa tuwa't saya, at hindi sa luha.

Ang unang paligid na aking masilayan,

Ay daigdig ng ngiti at kaligayahan.

Ang unang tunog na aking maulinigan,

Ay tunog ng mga tawa at awitan.

Ang unang salitang sa akin ay iparinig,

Ay mga salita ng matamis na pag-ibig.

Upang ang unang katagang mamutawi sa aking bibig,

Ay pawang kanais-nais at kaibig-ibig.

Kung tunay na may malasakit sa aking paglaki,

Unang anim na taon sa buhay ko'y subaybayang maigi;

Ipamulat sa akin ang paghangad at pagkandili,

Sa mga pagpapahalagang tuwid at mabuti.

Sa aking mga kamay, unang pahawakan,

Mga laruang sa buhay ay makabuluhan;

Ilimbag sa mura kong isipan,

Ang halaga ng paggawa at kasipagan.

Unang anim na taon ng aking buhay, pagyamanin,

Lambong ng kamangmangan at karahasa'y hawiin;

Liwanag ng wastong karunungan ay pairalin,

Maluwalhating kinabukasan ay siguruhin.

( October 7 -13 is International Children's Week )

 

That Garden

In the tender morning of my life,

I walked that garden with great delight;

Radiant and prim, I saw you there,

Indeed, you rivalled the flowers fair.

There, I beheld you in wild envy,

How I dreamed to be like you someday;

For knowledge,you have made my mind yearn,

And my heart, with fascination burn.

Fondly, I watched you with face aglow,

Unfurl the mystery of the rainbow,

While the happy fleeting butterflies,

Peeped at the secrets before their eyes.

Then one day, my goodbye was sudden;

I traced the path that I have chosen,

But in my heart, I have not forsaken,

The hours of splendour in that garden.

 

 

Masaya Ako

 Ipinaglihi ako sa sampagita,

Isinilang na malakas at maganda;

Kalahating Adan at kalahating Eba,

Sadyang pinagkatuwaan ng tadhana.

Laging kinukutya't pinagtatawanan,

At tinatawag na malas kahit saan;

Di nila inisip na ako'y nasaktan,

Dahil tao ring may mga karapatan.

Ganito man ako'y di ko kasalanan,

Diyos ang nakakaalam ng dahilan;

Damdaming salungat sa kaugalian,

Umaalipin sa buong katauhan.

Pilit kong iwinaksi, pinaglabanan,

Ngunit pagsupil, di ko makakayanan;

Katauhang tinatakwil ng isipan,

Ng aking puso ay pinagsisigawan.

Di ko ginustong isilang nang ganito,

Di man matanggap, sana'y unawain n'yo;

Dahil sa aking buhay ay masaya ako,

At may sulok ding takda dito sa mundo.

(To all the Gays I love)