The Wind and the Tree

Pick out the cloud you want to blow away. Pick out the strongest tree you want to bend. Pick out the houses. Pick out the grasses. Pick out the airplanes, the birds and the flowers. Pick out and unite. Pick out and separate. Pick out and divide. Pick me out. Pick out whatever you wish. Pick out according to the rules of nature.

Grow out in vast lands. Grow out until you've filled the mountains, the valleys and the cities green. Grow out and find your place. Grow out and be steady. Grow out with flowers of different colors, fruits of different tastes, leaves of different shapes and sizes. Grow out and stay. Grow out with strength. Grow out and die according to the rules of nature.

Rules of nature, fate, meant-to-bes.

We belong to the same seed, the same root, the same stem. We were separated by time and by nature. The seed has to grow. The stem has to grow. The tree has to build its branches. Now, we belong to different branches but we belong to the same tree. Soon, small branches sprung out of branches. Small branches grow and create another branches. The we came along and we were surprised. We were not so distant. Others came along too. Yes, we belong to different branches but we were not so distant.

We were united by nature and time. The wind was warm and gentle and we were filled with joy. With warmth and joy, we grow.

As we grow, the wind came tired and cold. Yet we were still hoping it will return. We grow in hope this time. Soon the wind came back but it was more colder and swift. We did not understand. We did hold on. Resist to let go. Resist to let go.

Soon, we do not belong to the same tree anymore. We have to let go. The wind carries me and I was surprised. It was warm and gentle again. Now I understand. And I know you do as well.

Pick out and unite. Pick out and divide. Pick out according to the rules of nature. Grow out in vast lands. Grow out and find your place. Grow out according to the rules of nature.

Stay. Stay Deep....Even Deeper.

Stay. If you do, we’ll be the best of friends. Sure there will be a lot of good things and times ahead of us. We will be thankful for that. Sure there will also be hard times, but those times will just past by. And by the time we were good again, we will forget the bad times. But we will never regret. Instead, we will be thankful for that. We will always look at the brighter side of life, the greener shade of the leaf. Just stay more and you will see.

It’s easy to look back who were then. Yesterday is easy to look back, see, I have them listed in my memory! Sure it will also be easy to look towards the future! See it’s been years. We never thought this is future two years ago! See, it didn’t take too long. Yes, there’s a storm approaching next week, but that will be gone soon. We’ll never notice. It’ll be just a breeze. I suggest, while it is still sunny outside let’s go out with them. They will be glad too. We’ll have them come inside the house when the storm comes. Just stay longer and you will see.

Wait! The treat is still rolling. One of them is still preparing her breakfast treat. It will be exciting we’re having breakfast altogether. And yes, coffee will be served afterwards. The best coffee! Not just an ordinary coffee. I am sure there will be a lot of things to talk about over it. Oh and have you forgotten, you still owe me a treat! You can’t go, you still have to pay. Nah, forget the treat, just stay a bit more.

Now, coffee’s over and I have no more interesting stories to tell. Yes, you’re leaving. But not as sooner as I thought. I thought you will stay here after the storm. I guess the coffee over there is far better that what we have here. You go, and I have no more interesting stories to tell. You go, and I left the coffee gone cold.

The treat will still roll. The less ordinary coffee is still served. Soon the storm will come. We will overcome. The rain pours hard.

You belong to the heavier clouds. You fall off the ground ahead. You came rushing to the streams ahead. In the end, you came down to the sea. Stay deep so you won’t become a heavy cloud again. Stay deep. Even deeper. We will follow soon as we fall down.

Rain still pours hard...

Brad Patayin Mo ang Kandila!

Di ako umuwi ng province kasi natapat na weekend ang holiday. Hirap makipagsiksikan lalo na sa barko. Stay na lang ako sa Manda. Wala rin akong balak pumunta ng Cainta. Mahoholdap lang ulit ako dun. Nadouble hold-up kasi ako nung sweldo ng ate at kuya ko. Hay. Di ako mabait na kapatid, wala lang talaga akong nagawa. Che.

Bumili na lang ako ng kandila sa SM, anim na piraso. Sa lola, sa dalawang lolo, sa kapatid ng lolo, sa tiyo ng lola, sa ibang kamag-anak sa mother’s side at isa para sa mga kamag-anak sa father’s side. Siguro naman di na nila ako dadalawin. Lashir kasi umuwi ako. Thishir lang hindi.

Maiksing pabilog ang binili kong kandila para madaling maubos. Sabi kasi ng mga matatanda sa min dapat pag nagtirik ka ng kandila sa mga yumao, dapat intayin mong maupos. Sign ata yun ng paggalang. Parang nasa hapagkainan, wag kang aalis hanggat me kumakain pa. Tapos pag di ka daw nakadalaw, ipagtirik mo rin sila ng kandila, same thing lang.

8pm na ako nakauwi. Sinindihan ko kagad ang anim na kandila sa may terrace na mukhang veranda sa tabi ng kwarto. Hindi kasi ganung kataasan. Syempre plus konting dasal. Sabi ko ‘baka matagal ding maubos yung kandila at mapaovernight pa ako sa pagintay na maupos.' Naglaba muna ako ng mga mejas, panyo at underwear. Nagmidnight snack. Nanuod ng TV ng konti. Pag-akyat ko, hindi pa rin upos. 11pm na. Hindi pa ako inaantok kaya naglaro muna ako ng mga games sa laptop. Maya-maya may tumatawag sa pangalan ko sa harapan sa ibaba. Lumabas ako sa terrace. Ah yung landlady naming matandang babae pati kapitbahay naming lalaki. Tinanong nila ako kung nakalagay daw ba sa baso yung kandila. Huh? So kelangan ko ng anim na baso. Dalawa lang kaya yung baso ko (isang mug at isang plastic na tumbler). Sabi ko hindi po. Nakadikit po sya sa sahig, sabi ko. Although di ko naman kailangang idikit kasi tatayo naman ung kandila kasi pabilog sya. Sinabi ko na lang na wag po kayong mag-alala, binabantayan ko naman at iniintay kong maupos bago ako matulog. Nakabukas kasi yung pinto sa terrace at tapat lang nun ung kama ko kaya kita ko kung anu nangyayari sa mga kandila. Natatakot siguro sila na baka may mangyaring masama at magkasunog. Dikit dikit pa naman ang bahay namin. Huh? Alam ko naman yun. Sige na pagbigyan ang mga matatanda.

Tinamad na tuloy akong maglaro. Nakinig na lang ako ng kanta. Elton John. After ng limang kanta ni Elton, may tumatawag ulit sa baba, Brad! Brad! Brad! Sabay hampas sa kahoy na terrace. Alam ko na kagad kung sino ang hinayupak na to. Lumabas ako kagad kasi ang dami nyang sinasabi. Tumpak, ang anak na adik at lasinggero ng landlady namin. Baka daw gusto kong magkasunog. Di ko daw ba alam na kahoy yung bahay. Blah blah blah. Nagpinting na tenga ko. Mukha ba akong adik? Igaya ba ako sa kanya. Kuya matino ang pag-iisip ko di tulad mo. Siyempre mahinahon pa rin ako, ah kuya binabantayan ko po yan. Sagot nya, kahit pa! blah, blah, blah. Nagpinting lalo ang tenga ko. Adik talaga tong mamang to, sinabi nang binabantayan ko e. Tuloy pa rin sya, blah, blah, blah. Siyempre para tumigil sya, sundin na lang ang gusto. Sabi ko, sige kuya patayin ko na lang. Kuya, ang ganda ganda mo, ang ganda mong patayin! (haha) Nakadrugs na naman siguro sya. Mag aala una na ng madaling araw. Ah bahala ka, lagot ka sa mga yumao kong kamag-anak!

For sure usapan to mamayang umaga ng mga mahaderang kapitbahay. Hay. Manda doesn’t fit my lifestyle anymore. Huh? Anung connect. Basta lang.