'Same old, same old every day
If things don't change you're just gonna rot
'Cause if you do what you've always done
You'll always get what you always got
...Uuh, could that be nothing'

Susmaryang Garapon! Walang ka-kwenta kwenta!

Good morning. Maayong Buntag. Marhay na aga. Magandang umaga. Let me first announce that if elections were held today, the next secretary of the DILG will be Vice Mayor Facultad (Applause). Let me however warn him that I have promised that to seven other people (Laughter). Well I guess that is how some ways of politics can occur.

As I looked around, I'm very proud to meet many friends. The Vice Mayors League has always helped me -- in 1992 and in 1995. 1998 was a skip so I guess in 2004, the Vice Mayors League will be helping me again (Applause). But there is something peculiar about the composition of the Vice Mayors. This is one group where the males are still dominant. In almost all the groups I attend, the female of the specie are dominant. But here, it is still a male domain. And it reminds me of the time when I was in law school and we were always told that behind the success of every man is a woman, and the more the success, the more the women (Laughter). Let me say, however, that that is no longer an acceptable story. Today, because of consciousness of women's rights, the acceptable story goes like this: "Behind the success of every man is a surprised mother-in-law (Laughter). And the mother-in-law is telling everybody that he would not have amounted to much were it not for my daughter."

And that is part really of the principle of sustainable development. Sustainable development means we cannot eat all the food today so that tomorrow we will all be hungry and there is nothing left on the table. Sustainable development means that we cannot take all the minerals in the hills, the mountains and the seas of the Philippines and there is nothing left, no pearls left for the future. Sustainable development means that when you commit the resources for today, you ensure that tomorrow's resources are maximized. Sustainable development is a principle that was accepted 15 years ago in all economic planning models of the world. Sustainable development, therefore, when the Vice Mayors talk about it, is an appropriate commitment because the Vice Mayors are the leaders of the consensus mechanism in every town. Sustainable development as a principle is also something that we in Aksyon Demokratiko believe in. Always, sustainable development.

It is like the story of the farmer. The farmer in Calabanga - I saw the Vice Mayor of Calabanga - won all the awards for best livestock, best fish and best seeds. But whenever he won the best seeds award, he went out to his neighbors and gave away the seeds for free. And he was interviewed by one of the Manila papers and was asked, "Why do you give it away for free? You can sell it. We are supposed to be a free enterprise system. Sell the best seeds." And the farmer said, "I give away the best seeds for free because it is to my interest to do so. Because if my neighbors have poor seeds, then during the cross-pollination when the birds and the bees and the butterflies bring the pollen from their fields to mine, then my seeds will become poorer. But if all our seedlings are good, then all our plants will grow well." It is to our best interest as Vice Mayors and as Filipinos to share the best seeds we are capable of. That is what sustainable development means. Hindi puwedeng para sa akin lamang.

I was reading an article and somebody said this, "If I do not help myself, who will help me?" But it also said, "But if I help only myself, who am I and what am I?" Of course we must help our towns. Of course we must help ourselves. But if we think only of helping ourselves, who are we, what are we, and what is the Filipino nation all about?

Everywhere I go, and some of you have listened to me very recently, I tell stories. I will apply to be the storyteller of the Philippines because it is stories that will bring us to wealth and development. All of you have gone abroad. I went on a tour in Europe. They bring me to this small chapel. I could not understand why I was there. The paint was crumbling. The chapel in San Beda is nicer but they were telling me stories galore. The whole morning we sat there in this small chapel. But it was the stories and the legends that showed the value of the people. You go on a tour not to watch the chapel but to remember the history of your host. We lack stories because we do not tell the stories of the heroes of Cebu -- Justice Lee who saved others at the expense of his life. We do not tell the story of Sadjig Bulig of Bulacan, a 12-year old boy who saved nine of his classmates when the Bocaue Pagoda sank. He tried again to save on the 10th time but was hit by a beam and died. What kind of DNA does Bulacan have that a 12-year old, after saving nine lives, will try to save another?

I tell them the story of the teacher in Harubay Elementary School. She was a public school teacher and she had P6,626 in her bank account. The computer added three zeroes. She now had P6,626,000. She went to me the next day, I was then secretary of the Department of Education, and she said, "Isasauli ko ito sapagkat hindi namin puwedeng kainin ang hindi namin pinagpawisan." Sabi ko, "Marangal at kahanga-hanga ang ginawa mo. Anong gantimpala ang puwede kong ibigay sa iyo?" And she said, "Four years na po akong nagtuturo sa bundok. Puwede bang ma-assign sa poblacion?" That is all she asked. Only a Filipino public school teacher will do that. She was living in Barangay San Felipe, 40 minutes away to Calabanga, another 40 minutes to the foot of Mt. Isarog, another 40 minutes up Mount Isarog to Harubay Elementary School. So there and then, we assigned her to San Felipe Elementary School, two minutes away from her residence. I understand now she is complaining she has no exercise (Laughter).

I tell them about Sotelo, the security guard in Festival Mall, Alabang. Her take home pay was P4,000 a month. She saw P500,000 and returned it to the owner. Only a Filipino security guard will think of returning immediately something that represented ten years' worth of salary for her.

In the United States, I addressed the Filipino-American community and I was introduced in this manner, "I came to the United States with only $100 in my pocket. Now, I have 40 employees under me." And he said, "Only in America." Palakpakan sila. So when I stood up, I said, "In the Philippines, there was a taxi driver called Emil Advincula. He saw P2,000,000 at the back of his taxi, looked for his passenger, returned the money, did not even leave his name." And I told them, "Only in the Philippines." That will not happen in any major cities in the United States. The Filipino is good. The Filipino is dedicated. The Filipino is talented. The Filipino is diligent. The Filipino is God-fearing.

But when I gave a similar speech to the San Carlos University students in Cebu, at the end of my speech, a young lady stood up. She was the first in open forum and she said, "Secretary, listening to you I feel good I am a Filipino," she said. "But if the Filipino is so good, why is the Philippines in such big trouble? If the Filipino is diligent and hardworking and talented, why is our country in such bad shape?" And I told them about Francisco Balagtas. All of us remember Francisco Balagtas. Are there Bulakeños here? Yes, Malolos is here. Francisco Balagtas gave us Florante at Laura. I will not ask the Vice Mayors because you may guess the answer, but I always tell the students whoever answers my question now I will give P5,000 to. Tatanungin ko rin kayo kung game kayo. Game ba kayo doon? (Audience replied softly). Siguro doon P2,000 lang kasi medyo mahina ang sagot. Dito, game ba tayo dito? (Audience replied loudly). Aba, P4,000 dito. Dito sa gitna, game ba tayo? (Audience replied enthusiastically). Five thousand pesos dito. Kaya doon ako magtatanong sa P2,000 dahil mura (Laughter). At ang katanungan ko ay, "Kailan ba sinulat ang Florante at Laura?"

That is almost impossible to guess. But you may not believe it. It was written in 1830. And Florante at Laura was the roots of Philippine literature in nationalism. Florante at Laura, the Tagalogs will remember, was dedicated to Celia. And I wish I could say it in Cebuano because it is nice. "Kung pag saulan mong basahin sa isip ang nakakaraang araw ng pag-ibig, may mahahagilap kayang isaisip liban na kay Celiang namugad sa dibdib?" That was the dedication (Applause). Florante at Laura influenced Rizal. It was the book Rizal was carrying with him in Europe. It was the book that was rewritten by Apolinario Mabini when he was in exile in Guam.

And Florante at Laura in the 14th stanza says this, and this is what I often repeat to all my audiences, "Sa loob at labas ng bayan kong sawi, kaliluha'y siyang nangyayaring hari, kagalinga't bait ay nalulugami, ininis sa libing ng dusa't pighati." Because there are Bicolanos, I will translate. "Inside and outside our suffering country, treachery has often been the king. The search for excellence and goodness is weakened," - only Bulakeños say nalulugami - "And is buried in anguish and misery." That paragraph 14 of Florante at Laura explains so much of Philippine history. The Filipino, the ordinary Filipino, ang mamamayang Pilipino ay mahusay, magaling at marangal. But many of our leaders upon whom we gave trust betrayed us. Kaliluha'y siyang nangyayaring hari.

Consider. We sent the best and the brightest of our students to Europe so that they will come back to educate us. Well, they educated themselves and they thought of their self-interest. Except for a few - Gat. Jose Rizal, Jose Panganiban, Lopez Jaena, Juan Luna, Antonio Luna, the heroes of the Propaganda Movement. They came back to teach the Filipino and to educate the Filipino. The others thought of self-interest. Noong ibinenta tayo ng Spain to America, what did they do? They shifted immediate allegiance. First they were with Spain, then sali na kaagad sa Amerika. They shifted. Nobody thought again of the Filipino. Kaliluha'y siyang nangyayaring hari. The Americans came, betrayed us. Akala natin tutulungan tayo, well, moro-moro pala. When the Filipinos were shooting with the Spaniards on the other side of Intramuros, the Americans attacking Intramuros had a band leading them. Nakabanda. Walang nasaktan sa kanila. Moro-moro lang pala. Kaliluha'y siyang nangyayaring hari.

Rizal, the first Filipino, umuwi, binaril sa Luneta. Kaliluha'y siyang nangyayaring hari. Si Antonio Luna, hero of the North, binaril. Kaliluha'y siyang nangyayaring hari. The best and the brightest president we had, fighter for liberty in Bessang Pass, forgot to protect liberty and somehow declared Martial Law. Kaliluha'y siyang nangyayaring hari. One of the bravest senators we ever had, Ninoy, came back to seek reconciliation, but was shot at the Tarmac. Kaliluha'y siyang nangyayaring hari. Ang pinaka-popular na Presidenteng naihalal natin, para sa mahirap, napasarap sa inom at nakalimot. Kaliluha'y siyang nangyayaring hari. A president we installed at great risk and sacrifice by the youth of the land, dedicated to truth and justice, aba'y declared all-out-war and all-out-support until she was in Malaysia. The question is, is that also a form of "kaliluha'y siyang nangyayaring hari?" Those are the questions that we must confront.

I was in the United States and there was a whole live TV program. And the TV program was composed of all the cities and town councilors of America. Live program, C-Span, thousands of them. And they were saying, "Mr. President (Bush), according to the surveys we will support war in Iraq. We came here together to show that the American people has a different voice. We are the representatives of direct democracy in the United States. We represent the voice. If you must go to war, go to war but not with our voice because we do not believe in war." The same thing can be said of all the leadership structure in the Philippines. If they must go to war, let them do so but not in our name, not with our voice.

War is contrary to all principles of sustainable development. Every bullet that is spent could have bought maybe 10 loaves of bread, maybe one cavan of rice. Every minor missile that explodes, that wounds and decimates could buy us medicines for your barangay. War is the anti-thesis of sustainable development. You cannot even sustain war because it turns into ashes everything that it touches. If there must be one sense then, if you would want to influence the national leadership, maybe the Vice Mayors should show the conscience of the Filipino. Maybe the Vice Mayors would want to say, "If you want to go to war, go to war but not in our name, not with our voice." Even in Mindanao, what good has the shooting done? Our brothers, whether Christians or Muslims, once dead they're forever dead. We must think of the Filipino.

There was a story of the guru. He was a general. Before the battle, the soldiers said, "Sir, we are ready to die for you!" And the general said, "That's very good but are you ready to live for me?" What is more challenging, what is more difficult is whether you are ready to live with commitment and dedication. We must therefore break the cycle of betrayal by leaders who pass and think of self interest. The 2004 election should change the face of the political landscape in the Philippines. After this, it seems to me, it will be very difficult. Even now, it is very difficult for the country.

I will not tell you about all the bad news. You know it: P54.50 for $1. Good for our overseas workers; bad for everybody else. Good for the exporters; difficult for those who do not earn in dollars. There are so many things that are difficult. Education. It's supposed to be free public education. But the only time we had free public education, outside cities like Parañaque, Manila, Cavite, Mandaue and Cebu where the city itself pays, was when I sat as secretary and I looked at the problems. And one of the problems was that the parents could not afford tuition. And I said, "What tuition? The law says free public education." So we did not collect. Now, it seems they are collecting. That cannot be. The Constitution says free and compulsory public education, and yet they collect under the guise of electricity, under the guise of Boy Scouts. Imagine, we are the only public school system where the girls are obliged to pay Boy Scout fee. The boys also pay Girl Scout fee. And yet they cannot become Girl Scouts.

All those are covered by a circular signed by Boncodin, Lina and myself which says, "Have adjustability in your use of Special Education Fund so that you can support Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Red Cross or Anti-TB." But it cannot be compulsorily collected because that is not the business of the public school, to be the collecting agency of anybody. And the law says voluntary. Boys Scouts in the United States sell lemonade. They voluntarily raise funds. Girls Scouts in the U.S. sell Girls Scout cookies. You can see it in the subways, you can see it in the book shops. Voluntary. Value for value. Here, no. Just collect at the beginning of the year. And the parents say it is tuition. We must abide by the law. We must implement the law. And the Executive Department, through the Vice Mayors League and the Local Government Units, are the key to development.

I have always believed and I will state it now again that the cities are the fulcrum of development in the Republic of the Philippines. The first class municipalities can also be a fulcrum of development. But the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th class municipalities, national government must care for you. National government must help more. Magsaysay said, "Those who have less in life should have more in law." Cities, 1st class municipalities, go and multiply. Second to 6th class, we will help. And if the cities can spiral their development to the neighboring towns, like in Naga they have developed the Metro Naga, then there will be sharing of development. The best seeds we will share.

What are we looking for? Today, we are looking for very simple values. We must return to the original values of the Filipino race. Remember the story of the king who said, "Lalakad ako. Ayaw kong masaktan ang paa ko. Carpet the whole kingdom!" What a waste of money because what the next king did was gumawa ng tsinelas, cut out in the carpet the form of his foot. Why cover the whole kingdom with carpet when you can protect your feet and spend only so much? Protect your feet; do not cover the kingdom with carpet. We don't have to cover the whole world. Begin with ourselves.

All leaders in the Philippines - Councilors, Barangay Captains, Vice Mayors, Mayors, Senators, Congressmen - to the extent that they are still saveable - Presidents, Vice Presidents - must comply with the four standards of leadership that you have read in all books of leadership. Number one, competence. We must know what we are doing. Hindi puwedeng pa-tsamba-tsamba. Hindi puwedeng pa-weather-weather. You must know. And we must realize that you can do things today that you can never have done before. Second, character. Competence without character is like law without morality. And that cannot be. Third is courage. Fear is contagious; but so is courage. When you stand ground, it is contagious and other people will stand by you. Fourth is Commitment. We must live by our word constantly. The youth says, "We must walk our talk." When they accuse us of being traditional politicians, when they accuse all of us who have engaged in politics as untrustworthy, the principal accusation is hindi matiwalaan, hindi ginagawa ang sinasabi. Ang tulak ng bibig ay hindi kabig ng dibdib. We must learn to live by what we say. We must walk our talk. Competence, character, courage and commitment, then we can have sustainable human growth, sustainable development among ourselves.

I will end with one story because I want to join the EDSA celebration only because they kept sending text messages that I should be in EDSA. There is a mass that is why I'm very grateful to Louie Bustamante who will certainly be in the next cabinet of the Republic of the Philippines (Applause). And there are enough positions to make that true, unless he wants to go to the United Nations or something like that. I'm very grateful he moved me forward by one hour. Then it gives me time to travel to EDSA. We have always said money is important. It is good to have money. But the more important thing is a strong human values and strong human efforts to excel. You may have all the money in the world, it will be lost unless you have good human values and you strive to excel. That must come from within. It cannot come from American aid. It cannot come from anybody. It must come from the Filipino.

And so that you will remember that, I will tell you a small story. Remember Cesar Legaspi? Cesar Legaspi was our national artist. When I was practicing law, I made his will and kept it in the vault. He went abroad for six months. When he came back, he gave me a one-meter long painting. His painting, one foot long, is worth P500,000. So it is my trophy painting. If you come to my house, I'll show it to you. The painting is in all different shapes of green. When he gave it to me, I asked him, "Ka Cesar, how did you paint the various colors of green when you are color blind?" Because Cesar Legaspi, our master of colors, our national artist, was color blind. He could not distinguish green from red. So I asked him, "How do you paint green?" And he said, "The color green outside, that is important, but you must find the colors within you. Then the paintings are beautiful."

We must find the colors within us. That is what we as a people are longing for. We keep getting bad news and bad advice and bad opinions all over. We must find the colors within us. That is the function of leadership. If we are able to motivate our people to find the colors within them, we shall finally achieve development in the Philippines. It is not money; it is the heart, it is ideas, it is our beliefs, it is our legends, it is our courage that will make us grow. And that is my final message. Development cannot be done by money alone. Development cannot be done by materials alone. It must begin with the spirit. It must begin with the heart. It must begin from within us, within the talent, ingenuity and creativity of the Filipino. Then we can have true development in real time. Thank you very much. I hope you remember (Applause).

Ano naman kay ang gagawin ko bukas para magpalipas ng oras? Matulog? Siguro 3-4 apat na oras ng pagtulog ay sapat na. Ano pa? Manood ng paulit ulit na pelikula sa HBO? Magpapawis sa gym... isang oras lang kasi ako naggi-gym. Ano pa ba? Wala na ako maisip. Siguradong titingala na naman ako sa kisame nito hanggang ma stiff neck. O dili kaya naman (wow parang sa AM radyo wakekeke) ay manood ng Russian Institute series (ito yung porno video na galing sa aking kaibigan na si Mr. Arman).

Anak ng tokwa! Ayun! Magsusudoku na lang ako! LOL. Walang kwenta!

Kamakailan ay napabalita ang balak ng ating pambansang kamao na si Manny Pacquiao na magretiro na 2-3 laban matapos ang pakikipagbasagan ng mukha kay Oscar De La Hoya. Hindi kaya masyado pa siyang bata para tumigil sa pagboboksing? Sabagay sa dami ng mabibigat na laban na kanyang pinagdaanan maaaring ikusidera na isa na siyang matandang 29 years old. Hindi kasi natatakot sa anumang pagsubok sa ibabaw ng ring ang ating bida. Subalit di pa rin mawala sa madumi kong isip ang mga maaaring dahilan kung bakit magreretiro na si Manny in such a very young age.

Narito ang ilang dahilan na aking nakikinita sa mahiwang kristal:

1. Paghahandaan nya ang pagtakbong muli sa politika. Target niya daw ay ang congressional seat sa South Cotabato, last term na kasi ng nag knock out sa kanyang babae na si Cong. Darlene Custodio.
2. Susuportahan niya raw si Obama at kailangan niya magpa surgery kay Dr. Belo para maging mas lalo silang magkahawig.
3. Tatapusin niya daw ang kaniyang pag-aaral ng management course sa University of Notre Dame sa South Cotabato.
4. More time sa kanyang pangalawang paboritong 'sports' na sabong.
5. More time with his second family.
   
6. Susubukan niya ulit ang kanyang tikas sa paulit ulit na chicks hunting sa Embassy bar.
7. Gagawa siya ng sandamukal na pelikula.
8. Magpapatuli si Manny.
9. Magpapa sex change si Manny.
10. Pakakasalan ni Manny si Ara Mina sa Las Vegas.
11. Kinukuha siyang point guard ng Magnolia bilang pamalit kay Olsen Racela.
12. Magpaparetoke siya ng ilong.
13. Susulat siya ng mahabang serye ng babasahin at kailangan niya ng maraming panahon na walang abala. Ang mga pamagat: 'I Would Like To Thanks Madam Prisident', 'Paano Yumaman Gamit ang Kinumo', 'Daghan Tsiks Sa Imbasi!', 'Ang Sikretong Kiliti ni Oscar De La Hoya', 'Walang Tsiks na Pangit sa Titing Galit', 'Ang Umayaw sa Laban Supot!' at 'My Bestfriend Chavit'.

Manny Pacquiao y Obama

Nung nasa bayang magiliw kasi ako ay napag-usapan namin ni mylab kung ano ang gusto namin na gender (just in case pwede kami mamili) ng aming second baby. Ang sa kanya ay girl at sa akin syempre boy. Preference yan kung maaring pumili but of course any gender is fine kasi gift yan from above. Kaya ngayon nalilito ako kung ano talaga nararamdaman ko. Unang una ay sa pagpili ng pangalan. Dapat payak lang na di naman napaka-simple na magtutunog boring. Dapat di naman ngalan na tunog ngalan ng isang bi@tch hehehe. Pangalawa, 'di ko naman masasabi na disappointment pero kasi ang ine-expect ko talaga lalaki. Ewan ko lang kung bakit nga ba. Siguro kasi nasanay lang ako kay Ian na 5 years ko ng kalaro, kakwentuhan at kalaban sa computer. Lalaking lalaki lalo na sa pagkain ang dami at pati sa pag-utot ang lakas (bwahaha). Eh ngayon girl na ang susunod na kabanata kaya 'di ko alam ang approach na gagawin ko sa pagpapalaki sa kanya in my part as her dad.

Dapat siguro humingi ako ng tips kay Ate Lilian kasi naka tatlong babae na siya. Natatakot ako na baka pagdating ng anak ko ng teenage years niya ay magtanong sa 'kin ng: 

• Papa paano ba magandang teknik sa paglalagay ng eyeliner?
• Papa anong kulay ng nail polish ang babagay sa damit ko?
• Papa sino crush mo sa rock band na ito?
• Papa pwede na ba akong uminom? Eh magyosi?
• Papa anong mas bagay na hairstyle sa kin?

Paktay tayo diha! Matutulala siguro ako kung marinig ko yan sa aking anak in the future.

Isa pa...paano kaya ang tamang pagdidisiplina sa isang batang babae? Sa lalaki kasi medyo kabisado ko na at nakuha ko agad ang tamang paraan para kay Ian. Ini-apply ko lang yung mga ginawa sa akin ni Nanay at pinagbuti lang yung iba para naman mag-apply sa kasalukuyang panahon. Palibhasa ako ang bunso sa pamilya namin kaya naman 'di ko naranasan na makakita ng pagdisiplina sa mas nakababatang babae.

Hanggang ngayon parang nalilito ako na excited na nangangati ang ilong at di na makapaghintay ng pag uwi ko. By the time kasi na bakasyon ko na ay 1 week old na si baby. Ang tagal pa! Mas mahirap pala ang pakiramdam ng malayo ka sa iyong pamilya lalo na kung ang misis mo ay buntis. Langya namimiss ko na ang malikot na pagikot ikot ni baby sa tiyan ni mylab. Kung pwede lang hilahin ang panahon sana December na bukas.

Nay maligayang kaarawan sa iyo! Ilang taon na rin akong absent tuwing magdiriwang ka ng iyong kaarawan at marami na rin akong utang sa 'yo. Sana masaya ka sa araw na ito at sa mga susunod pang araw. Pangalagaan n'yong maigi ang inyong kalusugan Nay. Sa susunod na pag-uwi ko ay sa Disyembre na at magkikita-kita naman tayo ngayong taon sa araw ng Pasko at Bagong Taon. Kailangan malakas na malakas kayo para maipapasyal kita kahit sa medyo may kalayuan na lugar. Di ba yan naman ang pangako ko noong ako ay bata pa na hanggang ngayon ay di ko pa natutupad dahil na rin sa kakulangan ng oras at pagkakataon. Pero this time sa susunod na pag uwi ko sisiguraduhin ko na matutupad ko mga pangako ko sa inyo.

Nay magiging lola na naman kayo. Sa Disyembre rin isisilang ang pangalawa naming anak ni mylab at babae ang aming bagong baby. Yan ay nalaman lamang namin kahapon matapos ang appointment ni mylab sa doktora niya. Naku nalilito na nga kami sa ipapangalan namin dahil sa dami ng pagpipilian. Baka gusto nyong mag dadag ng inyong suhestiyon sa posibleng ipangalan kay baby?

Naalala ko na noong sanggol pa lang sina April, Aby, Anjelou at Bianca ay gumagamit pa ng lampin at kayo ang taga tahi ng lampin. Nilalagyan n'yo pa ng burda ng ngalan nila. Nakakatuwang balikan at isipin ang mga panahon na iyon. Sana sa susunod naming baby ay maka experience din siya ng ganito kahit saglit lang.

Si Tatay nga pala kumusta? Tuwid na ba ulit ang lakad niya? Sana hindi kayo masyado nahihirapan sa pag-asikaso sa kanya at sana ay patuloy ang paglakas niya at pag recover mula sa stroke niya. Sabi ni mylab na nung bago bago pa lang nakalabas ng pagamutan si Tatay ay palagi kayong puyat. Sana naman sa ngayon ay nagbago na at nakakatulog kayo ng sapat at mahimbing sa gabi. Uminom kayo ng vitamins at supplements para hindi kayo mabilis mapagod at manlambot.

Sige Nay tirahan nyo na lang ako ng handa ninyo diyan hehe. Isipin ko na lang na isa ako sa nagluluto ng paborito ninyong pagkain mamaya. Kita-kits na lang sa Pasko sa pag-uwi ko. Ingat palagi.

God Bless!

Nagmamahal na anak,

Latebloomer

Hay naku parang it is really hard to believe na on Saturday (30th of August) ay muli na namang tutugtog ang Eraserheads para sa masa. This will be the most popular band in the country's first gig together after their break up 7 years ago. Sayang lang at hindi ko ito mapapanood ng live. Magtyatyaga na lang ako sa pakikinig sa mga songs nila sa mp3 player ko.

Narito ang lyrics ng Hard To Believe na isa sa mga sumikat na awitin ng bandang Eraserheads.

Hard To Believe - Eraserheads

I find it hard to believe
That all the pain that we are feeling
Has some meaning in this world

It’s so hard to believe
When everything you see is different
From the things that you’ve been told

I wanted life to be this way
Just a little bit of love could mean so much
Oh please don’t take it all away
But with you heaven is still close enough to touch

I find it hard to believe
That someone up there is waiting
With arms open wide and smiling

It’s so hard to believe
When someone told me that your suffering
Is what you get for living

I wanted life to be this way
Just a little bit of love could mean so much
Oh please don’t take it all away
But with you heaven is still close enough to touch
Because your love is still the only thing
That matters in this world
The only thing I can believe

It’s so hard to believe

It’s so hard to believe

I wanted life to be this way
Just a little bit of love could mean so much
Oh please don’t take it all away
But with you heaven is still close enough to touch
Because your love is still the only thing
That matters in this world
The only thing I can believe
The only thing I can believe
The only thing I can…
Believe

Ang away ay iwasan, iyan ang tunay na katapangan.

Para sa mga 'matatapang' daw na tao, partikular na dun sa mga rebelde na tila naghahamon pa ng giyera, isiping mabuti kung tunay ang  katapangang ipinakikita sa pamamagitan ng pakikipag-away, panggugulo o pananakit ng kapwa. Ang katapangan ay hindi masusukat kung gaano karami ng laban ang iyong napagdaanan o kung gaanong ikaw ay kinatatakutan ng mga tao kundi kung paano mo naiwasan ang kaguluhan at naiwasto ang iyong pag-iisip upang maging mapagpasensiya at kalmado sa mga pagkakataong may mabigat na pagsubok sa iyong buhay.

Kung may naghahamon sa 'yo ng away, ganito na lang ang sabihin mo:

Barumbado: Ikaw! Bakit ayaw mong lumaban? Sagot!

Ikaw: A-Tapang A-Tao Ako eh (sabay ngiti).