ANG BALIKBAYAN

Isang araw sa bansang Estados Unidos, abala si Lucas sa kaniyang mga dadalhing pasalubong sa pagbabalikbayan. Halos 25 taon na rin ang lumipas mula ng iwan niya ito sa edad na 16. Kasama niyang namumuhay sa Amerika ang kaniyang mga magulang at dalawang kapatid. Dito na sila nanirahan at isa na silang "American Citizen" sa ngayon. Nakapag-asawa na rin si Lucas sa Amerika. Isa ring

Pilipina na si Maria Cristina. Biniyayaan sila ng isang anak na babae na nasa 12 taong gulang na ngayon.

"bakit mo naman naisipan na magbalik bayan ha, Lucas?" usisa ng kanyang ina na si Mom Lailani

"gusto ko lang pong maglibang sa aking sariling bansa"

"iiwan mo kami rito e kaarawan mo sa araw ng Pasko alam mo ba yun?"

"inay, unang nagpapasko ang Pinas, kinabukasan pagkatapos ng Noche Buena sa Pinas, babalik ako dito, icecelebrate pa rin natin ang kaarawan ko, siguro mga alas 11 ng gabi ng Dec 25 o a bente sais dito sa tate ang balik ko kaya hintayin niyo ko, itry ko talaga, masyado na akong busy next year baka di na ko makapagbalikbayan"

"kelan ang alis mo rito?" "bukas , Dec 15, mga sampung araw ako roon, magsisimbang gabi ako, nay halos 25 taon akong di nakabalik ng bansa, kaya wag niyo na akong tutulan"

"sino naman ako na tututol, ang mahalaga, masaya ang anak ko, ang problema kay Cristina, papayag ba siya?"

"nag-usap na kami inay, pinayagan niya ako, gusto ngang sumama, kaso maraming trabaho at si Jasmin na anak namin walang magbabantay, alam niyo naman dito sa Tate, youth are wild kapag di nagabayan"

"where are they nga pala anak?" "there, at the park nag-eenjoy sa snow, medyo makapal ngayon sa NY, kaya nageenjoy sila riding in ski"

"di ka sumama?"

"prepare all things muna Ma, mahirap bukas mag-ayos"

"saan ka tutuloy sa bahay natin?" "yap tumawag na ako kay Cousin Jennifer, she prepares all things there for me, mag papa cater ako sa birthday ko doon, closing the street of Marigold he he he"

"me pupunta kaya e lahat me handa that time pasko e" tanong ng ina

"mag-papalaro ako at mamimigay ng gift" tugon ng huli

"ikaw ang may birthday tapos ikaw ang mamimigay?"

Ma, si Jesus ang may birthday, iyon ang mas mahalaga, kung me mag-greet sa akin magbibigay ako ng gift sa kaniya, sa unang babati lang ha"

"bakit di mo ba ipapaalam na birthday mo anak?"

"doon ako lumaki sa Marigold Ma, halos lahat ng neighbor natin alam na birthday ko kapag pasko, kaya lets see the results, na mimiss ko na rin mga long lost friend ko specially yung kababata kong si John Paul, saan na kaya siya ngayon"

"sino yun yung taga slum area?"

"yeah, siya yun pero mabait yun kahit mahirap lang he's one of my great friend, di ba siya nag Valedictorian noong primary ko, nakapag-aral kaya siya, kasi nong High School bigla siyang nawala at nawalan ako ng balita sa kaniya, lalo na ng dinemolish na ang slums"

"di mo na makikita yun baka lumipat ng bahay, maybe nakapag-abroad na matalino e, maybe he's now a great engineer or something, I know magaling sa Math yun, di mo kaya e kaya third honorable mention ka lang anak"

"ha ha ha! oo nga Ma reminiscin ka ha, magaling nga siya sa Math, I miss him sana ma meet ko, pero kahit sina Kabron at Tope, ma-meet ko lang ang mga kalog kong friends e masaya na ako"

"Von voyage anak, sana maging masaya ka sa kaarawan mo"

"thanks Ma, (tsup! humalik sa noo)) bayaan niyo me pasalubong kayo sa akin na daing na pusit, don't forget to greet Jesus ha, siya ang may birthday second lang ako ha ha ha"

"ikaw talagang bata ka, of course, sige anak maiwan na muna kita"

"nice talking to you Ma" "okey, see you at the dinner anak"

Nakarating ng Pinas si Lucas, nagsimbang gabi ito. Pinuntahan niya ang mga dating kaibigan.

"gwapo mo at mataba pare, sarap talaga mamuhay sa Tate ano?" wika ni Kabron na kababata ni Lucas

"di naman, hiyang lang, oo nga pala si Tope ba san na ngayon?" "patay na siya pare, nasagasaan tatlong taon na ang nakararaan, lasing kasi ng tumawid sa daan, laging naglalasing kasi mula ng mamatay ang anak niyang 8 taon sa dengue"

"dengue? "oo iyong sa lamok galing, nakamamatay iyon"

"I heard that in US, mostly sa tropical part of the world, mosquito na lumalabas tuwing 5am to 6am at ganun din sa gabi ,kaya dagdag ingat kayo of course pati ako, ay naku buhay talaga , hmmm, saan ka man naroron Tope, kumusta na lang, oo nga pala sa Dec 24 ng alas 3PM, maghahanda ako sa bahay, pupuntahan ko si Chairman para sa permit"

"permit saan?" "ipasasara ko ang Marigold Street, maghahanda ako, magpapalaro may mga papremyo, kahit bata matanda pwede pumunta, mag rerent ako ng comedian, clown o magician"

"wow galing naman, sige tutulungan kita diyan"

"of course kaya nga pinuntahan kita e, how much ba?"

"ikaw naman, di naman ako nagpapabayad"

"joke lang Tope he he he, oo nga pala wala ka bang balita kay John Paul?"

"wala pare alam ko pina demolish ang iskwateran e, mula noon di ko na nakita"

"ganon ba, sayang, di bale sige pare tulungan mo ako ha?"

"yes yes yes!" sagot ni Kabron

Dumating ang takdang araw, maraming bisita si Lucas, masayang masaya siya, nagdatingan din ang mga kamag-anakan niya sa Pampanga. Maraming bata ang nabiyayaan ng regalong inihanda niya. Masaya ang lahat sa mga programa at palaro. Masasarap na pagkain din ang kaniyang inihanda.

"pare laki ng ginastos mo mga magkano lahat ito?" tanong ni Tope "umabot ng 150,000 pero masaya ako wala sa akin ang pera basta masaya ang pagbabalikbayan ko"

"tutal malaki naman ang kita mo sa Tate bilang Engineer, abot ka siguro ng 300,000 a month sa piso" "di naman, tama lang pampamilya"

"oo nga pala salamat sa regalo mong Adidas Rubber shoes, ang ganda"

"welcome pare, pasensiya ka na yan lang nakayanan ko" "sus ikaw naman ganda nga e"

Isa-isang nang umaalis at nagpaalam ang mga bisita ni Lucas. Hahabulin kasi ng mga ito ang Noche Buena sa kani-kanilang bahay. Maraming di masyadong uminom ng alak at kumain. Ipinabalot niya ang mga pagkain sa iba at ipinamigay. Naging abala ang lahat. Walang nakaalala ng kaniyang kaarawan. Tanging pasko lang ang tanging nasa isip ng lahat, wala rin siyang narinig na pagbati kay Hesus. Maging si Tope ay di naalala ang karawan ni Lucas.

"Tope, pwede ka nang umuwi naghihintay na pamilya mo parating na ang Pasko" wika ni Lucas

"sige pare, salamat, bukas bago ka bumiyahe pabalik puntahan kita rito ha?"

"sige pare hintayin kita" Nag-uwian na ang lahat ng makita niya ang isang magbabalot na kanina pa nakatingin sa kaniya.

"pare, nagtitinda ka pa rin e pasko na, halika kumain ka muna" wika ni Lucas

"salamat po, kailangan po kasing magtrabaho me sakit ang nanay ko, matanda na po kasi e"

Gutom na gutom na kumain ang magbabalot.

"magkano ba lahat iyan at papakyawin ku na" tanong ni Lucas "60 po lahat ng itlog, 4 po ang puhunan ko sa isa, ibebenta ko po ito ng sampu isa para may sais akong tubo, bale 600 po lahat ng itlog, tubo lang po ako ng 360, ibawas pa po ang patrabaho sa paglalaga na 40, malinis na 320 lang ang kita pag nabili lahat"

"whew! nalito ako roon ha, galing mo sa kwentahan pero ,sold! eto 2 libo, pamasko ko na iyan sa iyo, bili mo ng gamot ang nanay mo ha?"

"naku maraming salamat po sir salamat po" "okey lang iyon Pasko naman e, siyanga pala ano pangalan mo?"

"John Paul Mangahas sir"

"Jo..John Paul!" gulat na nasambit ni Lucas

"yes sir, kilala ko nga kayo, kayo po si Lucas Madrigal kaklase ko po kayo sa San Andres Elem. School, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIR"

"ha! alam mo birthday ko, ha ha ha ikaw nga si John Paul, what happen to you?"

"mahirap lang kami sir, after high school di na ako nag college, tinulungan ko na lang nanay ko sa pagtitinda, namatay na rin tatay ko ten years na, medyo ganito lang po talaga ang buhay ko, but tanggap ko po ito"

"don't ever ever call me sir John (niyakap niya ito) ikaw lang ang bumati sa akin ng happy birthday, you know may gift ako sa unang babati sa akin, and that is I will bring him or her to USA to work with me, any work na pwede niyang gawin, I'll prepare all the things sa documents, kahit mahirap kunin ito aayusin ko at gagastusan, ikaw pala iyon Paul"

"salamat po pero ang nanay ko diko maiiwan, me sakit po siya e"

" telka nga muna wag mo akong ipo o opo ha, we are the same human sige, I double the price, tell your mom kasama siya ipagagamot ko siya roon, my wife is a doctor there, deal?"

Umiyak si John, tumulo ang kaniyang mga luha at dumaloy hanggang sa leeg, may halong kasiyahan ang kaniyang mga mata, yumakap ito kay Lucas.

"Happy Birthday Lucas, salamat, wala naman kaming mga dokumento para makapunta doon"

"ako ang dokumento mo John Paul , ops siya nga pala sino ang may Birthday ngayon?"

"ay si Jesus din pala, Merry Christmas, and happy birthday pala kay Jesus para ka pa ring elementary Lucas"

"good at don't ever ever forget na ang pasko ay kaarawan ni Jesus, pangalawa lang ako ha ha ha, tara at pumunta tayo sa inyo, doon ako magpapasko, dali at 30 minuto na lang pasko na"

"a..a kakahiya Lucas sa ilalim lang kami ng tulay nakatira"

"e di sa ilalim tayo ng tulay mag noche buena, ha ha ha!, Jenny ikaw muna bahala sa bahay aalis lang kami ng kaibigan ko! wika ni Lucas

"sige kuya ako na bahala" sagot ni Jennifer na kaniyang pinsan.

Umalis ang dalawa, naglakad lang ang mga ito,nakaakbay pa si Lucas kay John Paul habang bitbit ang basket ng balot. Tuwang-tuwa ang mga ito. Ito na ang huling pasko ng pamilya ni John Paul sa Pilipinas at sa Amerika na sila maninirahan ilang buwan simula sa maningning na araw na iyon.

WITH YOU BY MY SIDE - By David Haas

When I'm feeling all alone and Im far away from home,

God I need you to hear me

When my friends all turn away

then I ache to hear you say that you are with me thru it all

You are the light, you're the song that Im singing

whom should I fear when you are with me

For you are my God and with you there is nothing I cant do

with you by my side (Refrain)

When I feel all sick inside with no safe place to hide,

God I need you to listen

When it seems I cant go on

Then I long to hear the song reminding me you are my friend (Refrain)

And as I go through my life, I will keep you in my sight,

To walk with me and be my strength

God, I know your plan for me

To help all those in need

To you alone I give my life (Refrain)

Last Refrain:

You are the light, You are the light

you're the song that Im singing (singing)

whom should I fear when you are with me

For you are my God and with you 

there is nothing I cant do with you by my side

With you by my side (2X)

Lord, I need you by my side, 

with you by my side Lo- oh-oh-ord, with you by my side

You are the light, you're the song that Im singing.

THE JOB INTERVIEW

One young academically excellent person went for an interview for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the first interview; BUT in that Company, the director did the last interview, and made the final decision. 

The director discovered from the CV, that the youth’s academic result was excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never was there a year he did not score. 

The director asked, “Did you obtain any scholarship in school?” and the youth answered “no”. The director asked,” Did your father pay your school fees?”. The youth answered, “my father passed away when I was one year old and it was my mother who paid my school fees”. 

The director asked, ” Where did your mother work?” The youth answered, “my mother worked as cloth cleaner.” The director requested the youth to show his hands and the youth showed a pair of hands that was smooth and perfect to the director. 

The director asked, ” Did you ever help your mother wash clothes before?” The youth answered,” never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books, furthermore, my mother could wash clothes faster than I could” 

The director said, I have a request, when you go back today, go and help to clean your mother’s hand, and then see me tomorrow morning. The youth felt that the chance of landing the job was high and when he went back, he happily wanted to clean his mother’s hands. 

His mother felt strange. With happiness mixed with fear, she showed her hands to the kid. The youth cleaned his mother’s hands slowly and his tears fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother’s hands were so wrinkled, and that there were so many bruises in her hands. 

Some bruises were so painful that she shuddered when his mother’s hands were cleaned with water. This is the first time that the youth realized and experienced that it is this pair of hands that washed the clothes every day to earn him the school fees and that the bruises in the mother’s hand were the price that the mother paid for his graduation and academic excellence and probably his future. 

After finishing the cleaning of his mother’s hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother. That night, the mother and son talked for a very long time. 

Next morning, the youth went to the director’s office. The director noticed the tear in the youth’s eye and asked: ” Can you tell me what you did and learned yesterday in your house?” The youth answered, ” I cleaned my mother’s hands and also finished washing all the remaining clothes.’ 

The director asked, ”Please tell me what you felt.” The youth said: “Number 1, I know what appreciation is now’. Without my mother, I would not be successful today. Number 2, Now I know how to work together with my mother. Only now do I realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done. Number 3, I know the importance and value of family relationship.” 

The director said, “This is what I want. I want to recruit a person that can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the suffering of others to get things done, and a person that would not put money as his only goal in life to be my manager. You are hired.” 

Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates, every employee worked diligently and as a team and the company improved tremendously.

NOBODY - BUT MOTHERS

A MOTHERS LOVE - Inspirational Story

By Unknown Author

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:

For cutting the grass:

$5.00

For cleaning up my room this week:

$1.00

For going to the store for you:

$.50

Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping:

$.25

Taking out the garbage:

$1.00

For getting a good report card:

$5.00

 For cleaning up and raking the yard:

$2.00

Total owed:

$14.75

Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:

For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me: No Charge

For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you: No Charge

For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years: No Charge

For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead: No Charge 

For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose: No Charge

Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is: No Charge.

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you." And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: "PAID IN FULL".

‎"Nobody knows of the work it makes; To keep the home together. Nobody knows of the steps it takes; Nobody knows - but Mother." 

~ Anonymous

THANK YOU MOTHER

‎

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us; when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." ~ Washington Irving

INSPIRING QUOTE - on CHANGE

"Things do not change; we change." 

~ Henry David Thoreau ~

INSPIRING QUOTE - on LIFE

"Life began as a mystery and will end as a mystery, but what an exciting and wonderful time it is in between." ~ Diane Ackermann ~

INSPIRING QUOTE - on PURPOSE OF LIFE

"You come into the world with nothing, and the purpose of your life is to make something out of nothing." ~ Henry Louis Mencken ~

INSPIRING QUOTE - on TREASURE

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." ~ Thornton Wilder

INSPIRING QUOTE - on PRAYER

"Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." ~ Garth Brooks

INSPIRING QUOTE - on LOSING GOD

"When we lose God, it is not God who is lost." 

~ Unknown ~

INSPIRING QUOTE - on HOPE

"Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark." 

~ George Iles

INSPIRING QUOTE - on TRUST

"Don't trust to hold God's hand; let Him hold yours. Let Him do the holding, and you the trusting." ~ Hammer William

INSPIRING QUOTE - on LOVE

"There is no greater love than to lay down ones life for ones friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me." ~ 

John 15:13

You loved me,

When I was so unlovely,

You sought me

When I was lost;

You showed me

How much You really loved me,

When You bought me

At the highest cost

There’s no greater love than this,

There’s no greater love than this,

That a man would give his life for a friend;

There’s no higher sacrifice

Than a man would give his life,

You have paid

A precious price for me

You chose me,

When I was so unworthy

You cleansed me

With Your own blood;

You clothed me

With righteousness and mercy,

And You crowned me

With Your steadfast love

There’s no greater love than this,

There’s no greater love than this,

That a man would give his life for a friend;

There’s no higher sacrifice

Than a man would give his life,

You have paid

A precious price for me   (2)

You have paid

A precious price for me…

INSPIRING QUOTE - on CHOICES

"In every mistake, there is a message. Some people miss the message because they're too busy berating themselves for the mistake." --- Unknown

INSPIRING QUOTE - on POSITIVE ATTITUDE

"At the end of the day, you can either focus on what's tearing you apart, or you can focus on what's keeping you together." --- Unknown 

INSPIRING QUOTES - on FATHERS

"Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad." ~ Unknown 

"One night a father overheard his son pray: Dear God, Make me the kind of man my Daddy is. Later that night, the Father prayed, Dear God, Make me the kind of man my son wants me to be." ~ Unknown 

INSPIRING QUOTE - on GROWTH

"Don't go through life, GROW through life." 

~ Eric Butterworth ~ 

INSPIRING SONG - GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU

God Will Take Care of You

Be not dismayed whate'er betide, 

God will take care of you; 

beneath his wings of love abide, 

God will take care of you.

Refrain:

God will take care of you, 

through every day, o'er all the way; 

he will take care of you, 

God will take care of you.

All you may need he will provide, 

God will take care of you; 

nothing you ask will be denied, 

God will take care of you.

(Refrain)

No matter what may be the test, 

God will take care of you;

lean, weary one, upon his breast, 

God will take care of you.

(Refrain)

"What worries you masters you." ~ Haddon w. Robinson

INSPIRING QUOTE - on GRATITUDE

"With gratitude, all life appears as a blessing - without gratitude, all of life is perceived as a burden." --- Jonathan Lockwood Huie