...HININGA NG BUHAY!

ANG ATING PAGSIBOL SA MUNDONG IBABAW,

AY HINDI SUMULPOT NG GAYON NA LAMANG,

ANG ATING HININGANG NGAYO’Y TINATAGLAY,

BIYAYANG KALOOB NG ATING MAYKAPAL.

ALABOK NA TAGLAY NG HANGING BANAYAD,

NAGLAKBAY SA LUNDAY NG DUYANG NAGLAYAG,

ANG PAGKAMALAYANG TULAD NG ALAPAAP,

SUMIBOL, SUMIKLOT HANGGANG MAGING GANAP.

HINUGOT SA TADYANG NG ISANG PAG-IBIG,

BUNGA NG MALAYA’T PUSONG PINAG-NIIG,

DIWA AT KATAWAN AY PINAPAGTALIK,

HINUBOG NG TUWA AT PUYOS NG DIBDIB.

BUHAY AY HININGA NG ATING PAG-IRAL,

BIYAYA NG LANGIT MULA SA MAYKAPAL,

HINDI MAN HINILING AY KUSANG BUMUKAL,

SA NASANG DAIGDIG NAGKARO’N NG LUGAR.

BABASAGING KRISTAL NA INIINGATAN,

MAMAHALING HIYAS SUKOL MAN SA KINANG,

HALAGA NG BUHAY ‘DI MATATAWARAN,

LUBHA AT MAS HIGIT SA LAHAT NG BAGAY.

HUWAG MONG NAISIN ANG KAPANGYARIHAN,

ANG PANANDALIANG LIBONG KAYAMANAN,

SA DULO NG BUHAY NA IYONG HINIRAM,

WALANG MADADALA NI LUPANG KATAWAN!

...PANGINOON AKO!

Ako'y Panginoon kung inyong tawagin,

Ngunit ako nama'y ayaw ninyong sundin,

Ang pita ng laman ang inyong hangarin,

Ang mga utos ko'y ayaw ninyong tupdin.

Sinasabi ninyong ako ang liwanag,

Ngunit ako'y hindi ninyo minamalas

Ang lambong na itim ang inaaninag

Ang tiwaling aral agad tinatanggap.

Hindi ba't marunong kung ako'y tawagin,

Ano't ang aral ko'y ayaw n'yong pansinin

Ang mga aral kong aking ibinilin

Sa mga apostol at kahalili rin.

Kung sabihin ninyo ako ay ang daan

Ngunit hindi ako ang nilalakaran

At ang mga taong aking binilinan

Winalang-halaga minaliit na lang.

Kaya't kung mayro'n mang matamis ang dila

Babalukto't sa 'yong pananampalataya

Sa kanilang pakli huwag maniwala

Wikang pabulaklak lahat ay 'di tama.

Ang tunay na ginto ilubog sa putik

Sa haba ng taon ibaon iligpit

At sa walang hanggang panahong mahigpit

Iyahon at ginto lilitaw ring pilit.

Ganyan kabusilak ang ating Simbahan

Sa mga pangaral ay totoo't tunay

Mula sa pagsibol ngayon at kailan man

Espiritu Santo'y palaging gagabay.

...SAAN KITA MAKIKITA!

Kristo, saan nga ba kita makikita? Hindi ba, sabi mo naroon ka sa lahat ng dako, subalit bakit ganoon lagi lamang kitang nadarama. Tinitingnan kita sa langit, subalit waring nag-aalimpuyong dibdib ang hangin, bagyong kay lakas, kulog at kidlat na tumataginting ang aking naririnig na tila wala nang katapusang ingay. Ngunit pagdating ng umaga, kapag nakikita ko ang araw na unti-unting sumisilay sa silangan, doon kita nadarama, naiisip ko na heto na naman ang bagong umaga, bagong pag-asa, bagong pakikipagsapalaran, bagong biyaya.

Hinahanap kita sa aking paligid. Wala akong kagandahang namamasid, putol na punung-kahoy, panot na bundok, pulang lupang nanlalagkit sapagkat laging tinitigatig ng tubig na hindi na makayang sipsipin ng bawat patay na punongkahoy. Tubig na nagpapadausdos hanggang sa ibaba upang magsilbing baha at kumitil ng buhay.  Subalit paglingon ko sa bukid, dama kita sa mga luntiang dahong winawagayway ng sariwang hangin. Sa mga ibon na walang maliw sa paglipad sa ibabaw ng palayan na umaawit pa sa isang masaganang ani.

Hinahanap kita sa aking kapwa, wala akong mabakas na pinaghaharian mo sila. Ang namamasid ko’y mga taong mapag-imbot, makasarili, walang pakialam sa kanyang kapwa, mga taong hindi na tumutulong sa kanyang kapwa na silang nagiging sanhi pa ng kanilang pagkarapa. Pagdapang dapat ay alayan ng paglingap subalit nagiging sanhi pa ng kanyang paglubog.  Subalit nadarama  kita kapag ako’y nakakakita ng sanggol. Narito ang isang batang walang malay na kaloob ng Diyos.  Isang batang walang pagkukunwari sa kanyang mga ikinikilos. Tumatawa kapag naliligayahan at umiiyak kapag nasasaktan. Narito ang isang sanggol na waring ibinubuka ang kanyang pakpak sa pamamagitan ng kamay at humihingi ng kalinga sa kanyang mga magulang.

Hinahanap kita sa aking tabi, sa aking pagtulog, ngunit ang nakikita ko’y dilim sa sulok ng kabahayan.  Natatakot ako sa dilim. Baka masilo ako ng asong gubat sa landas ng kadilimang aking tinatahak. Ah! Inaantok na ako, ipinatong ko ang aking kamay sa aking dibdib, ano’t sa pagkapatong nito’y nadama ko ang pintig ng aking puso, naalala kita Kristo, ikaw ang nagbigay ng aking sarili sa akin, narito’t dama ko ang iyong pagmamahal. Sa bawat pintig ng buhay na ipinagkaloob mo na hindi pumapalya mula pa ng aking pagsilang. Oo nga Kristo, hindi nga kita nakikita subalit nadarama kita sa lahat ng magagandang bagay na nakikita ko sa aking paligid!

...SA KAMPANARYO NG SAN RAFAEL!

Umuulan noon walang masulingan,,

Kinupkop sandali ng Inang Simbahan,

Dinampi ang lamig ng aking katawan,

Na tigmak sa tubig, kaluluwa’y tigang.

Sikip nitong dibdib, pusong nagdaramdam,

Hiling ay damhin ng, mapagpalang kamay,

Magamot ang sugat, maluwat ng taglay,

Hapo na ang diwa laman pa ay pagal.

Pagkat di madala ang hirap na pasan,

Ingay ng daigdig di na makayanan,

Nasaan ang hanap na kaligayahan,

Madilim ang sulok ng kapighatian.

Sa paghihikahos ng hangin sa dibdib,

Kumawala sa ‘kin ay hiyaw na impit,

Tumakbo sa dakong higit na tahimik

At iniluha ang tubig ng hinagpis.

At ang kampanaryo ang kinasadlakan,

Lumatag ang aking pagod na katawan,

Saglit lang at agad ako’y nagkamalay,

Sa hanging sariwang dito’y tinataglay.

Malaya ang matang pilit ginalugad,

Sa sulok ng diwa’y pilit na hinanap,

Kung ano ang dahil kung bakit may galak

Ang kaluluwa ko damdam ay umangat.

Narito, daigdig ang nilalarawan

Ng lugar na ngayo’y aking abot-tanaw,

Sa bandang kaliwa ay ang mga patay,

Sa kanang bahagi ay ang mga buhay.

Sa pananahimik at sa pagninilay

Kay lakas ng tinig na umalingawngaw,

Sa libingan, parang at sa kapatagan,

Dinggin ang pagtawag ng isang batingaw.

Sino mang may lungkot sino mang may hapis

Sino mang may dusang kay tagal tiniis,

Halina sa silong ng tahanang hitik

Sa mga biyayang nagmula sa langit.

Lahat ng nilalang ay tinatawagan,

Magsaya’t magpuri sa Poong Maykapal,

Halina mabuti at makasalanan,

Biyaya ng Diyos sa inyo ay laan.

.....UMAWIT ANG ILOG!

Isang matahimik at gabing malamlam,                

Natakpan ng ulap ang sikat ng buwan,

Nadama ang lungkot at ang kapanglawan,

Habang binabaybay ang ibabaw ng dam.

Sinadyang maglakad sinundan ang agos,

Matamang humimpil sa katabing ilog,

Dinama ang lamig na kanyang dinulot,

Sa lupa’y ‘dinikit ang katawang pagod.

At sa pagkahiga’y natingin sa langit,

Buwan at bitui’y bahagyang nasilip,

Liwanag at kislap ligaya ang hatid,

Ayaw nang kumurap, ayaw na maidlip.

Sa pagkakahiga ay mayr’ong narinig

Na isang malamyos at mahinang tinig,

Ang  kamay sa tainga’y agad idinatig,

Upang mawari ko mahiwagang tinig.

Tumindig, ginagap kung saan nanggaling,

Ang nakalulungkot na isang awitin,

Pulos pagdaramdam puso’y may hinaing,

Hirap ang isipan laman ay panimdim.

“Damahin mo sana ang aking paghibik,

Pakinggan mo nawa ang paos na tinig,

Pakaingatan mo kahit isang saglit

Ang pagmamahal mo’y huwag ipagkait

Inalagaan ko ang munti mong ilog,

Binayayaan ka ng libong alindog,

Sumaksi sa kanya ang ilang pag-irog,

Ano ang kapalit na maihahandog?

Tinagpas mo tao na kunwa’y di batid,

Malabay na punong sa ki’y nakadatig,

Maging mga ugat ay iyong pinatid,

Ang panghihinayang ay wala sa isip.

Hinukay ang bato at mga buhangin,

Na hindi tinantya ang lawak o lalim,

Di makatampisaw ang iba sa akin,

Pagkat natatakot sa hukay malibing.

Kay tagal kinupkop itong mga isda,

Bukas ang palad ko sa pag-aalaga,

Sa linis ng tubig sila’y inaruga,

Sa kagagawan mo namatay, nawala.

Lumawak lumalim nawalan ng ganda,

Nawalan ng kulay nawalan ng sigla,

Sa kinabukasan ano pang ligaya

Sa mga anak mo’y maihahandog pa.

Dinggin mo ang hibik at ang panambitan,

Huwag akong hukayin bagkus alagaan,

Nag-aalala kong pag ‘di tinigilan,

Hukay ay siya mong magiging libingan!

....TIYOBIBO!

MINSAN AKO'Y NAPADAAN,               KAPARA NGA NG TIYOBIBO,

SA NAYONG MAY KAPISTAHAN,        ANG KAPALARAN NG TAO,

DINAMA ANG KASAYAHAN,                PAITAAS, PABABA ITO,

GALAK SA PUSO'Y NAKAMTAN.         PARANG GULONG NGANG TOTOO.

SA GITNA NG KAGULUHAN,                NAKAHIHILO TALAGA,

TIYOBIBO'Y NAMATAAN,                     ANG BUHAY NG BALANA,

TUWA, LUHA AT HIYAWAN,                HINDI ALAM ANG PAPUNTA,

ANG BIGLA KONG NASAKSIHAN.        SA BALAKING MATAGAL NA.

SA MAHINANG PAG-INOG,                  PAGKAT HINDI MO NGA HAWAK,

NG HIGANTENG KORTENG BILOG,      BUHAY MONG SA 'YO'Y  LAGAK

ANG TAAS AY GABUNDOK,                SA MAYKAPAL ITO BUHAT,

KATAYUGANG DI MAABOT.                KABAYARA'Y HINDI SAPAT

.

SA KAUNTING BARYA,                                    SAAN KA NGA BA PUPUNTA

HINILA NG AKING PAA,                                   PAITAAS O PABABA BA?

SUMAKAY KAPAGDAKA,                                SA ITAAS TUTUDLAIN KA,

SA TIYOBIBONG PAPAALSA.              SA IBABA TATAPAKAN KA.

UMIKOT NG PAITAAS                          ANO MAN ANG MANGYARI,

LIGAYA ANG AKING NALASAP,                       MABIGO MAN O UMIGI,

PAGBULUSOK AY KAY SAKLAP,        BASTA GAWIN ANG MABUTI,

TIYAN KO AY NAHUMPAK.                  D'YOS ANG SA 'YO AY PUPURI.

.............IN SEARCH FOR FREEDOM

         Starlets posing nudes or baring their all in a sex movie, tabloids containing obscene pictures, movie stars with two or three relationships, stars admitting same sex relationships, singers and composers with their double meaning compositions, militant group with their sharper-than-sword imparting of words against government, (What government they think they do belong?) they have one thing in common—they do believe they are practicing their right of freedom of expressions.

            They all now come out in groups. Posing with thin sheath of clothing in public. More often than not, the public display is coincided with their bouncing moves and kinky melodies; the voice quality is not a preference. They tease the crowd, the crowd react, most likely when they are about on the brink of moral destruction, these groups shouted foul and reiterate they should not be treated the bad way for all they do are for arts’ sake.

            Tabloids too share their alleged sense of artistry by printing nude pictures and stories of fictional sexcapades. Curious youths are caught unaware of the bad effects of the sex fantasies of unknown writers. They should have done something more worthwhile than reading these kind of what they say an expression of human sensitiveness toward sex.

            Some groups have their way of expressing their so-called freedom of expression. My existence survived five presidents of the Republic of the Philippines. With these I can still remember them unsparingly tagged every president the monotonous word “RESIGN.”  As if no one could pass their own judgment of a president.  They say they lost their freedom when the police halted their rallies and fiery, spicy speeches. They say they lost their freedom and yet if only words can make one die, the president could die a thousand deaths.  As the president and as the head of the nation, shouldn’t he/ she deserves to be treated like the head of the family who also deserves to be respected as well because he/she thinks of the welfare of the nation?

            Everyone is entitled to his own opinion. Everyone has the right or privilege to freedom of expression.  But for me, freedom should have boundaries and limitation.  That is the freedom of the other fellowmen, the majority, who are silent, decisive, open-minded, legally inclined, people who deserve decency, integrity, and prefer a quiet way of living.

           

ANG TANGI KONG MAHAL

MATAMAN MONG MASDAN ANG AKING PAG-IBIG

ANG WALANG KATULAD NA AKING INIBIG

PINAKAMAGANDA DITO LANG SA ISIP

GANDANG BANAAG LANG KUNG IKA'Y PIPIKIT.

SA MALAYO PA LANG AY MALALAMAN NA

ANG KARIKTANG DULOT NG AKING PAGSINTA

MAGING WONDER WOMAN TALO SA LAKAD N'YA

MAKARARAAN ANG BUNTIS NA BAKA.

KULOT NIYANG BUHOK LAGING SINUSUKLAY

NGUNIT BUHOL-BUHOL LAHAT NGA AY PATAY

KAY GANDANG MALASIN MAITIM NA KULAY

SA BARADONG ILONG MABANGO PANG TUNAY.

PAGKAT ANG SIKRETO NG KANYANG ALINDOG

PINAGHALONG ULING AT LANGIS NG NIYOG

PINAKAPILI PA'Y YAONG MABUBULOK

ANG KATAS DAW NITO'Y MAYROON PANG GAMOT.

ANG IPINAPAHID SA ANGKING MUKHA NIYA

AY SIKRETO RIN NG BABAENG MAGANDA

ANG KAIBAHAN LANG HILAW ANG PAPAYA

KAPAG IKINASKAS PAGLABAS ATSARA.

HINDI KO NAPANSIN ANG TAGLAY NA KILAY

NG AKING MAMASID HINDI PALA PANTAY

PILIK-MATA PALA NG KAMBING ANG BAGAY

YAON PANG GAMIT NA NI PARENG BINIGAY.

MALAMLAM ANG MATA KUNG SIYA'Y TUMINGIN

MAYRONG PANGHALINA ITONG INAANGKIN

PAGMASDAN ANG LAGAY NG DALAWANG ITIM

SALUBONG TALAGA MGA MATA'Y DULING.

MAHINHIN MASYADO KUNG SIYA'Y TUMAWA

ANG NGIPIN N’YANG DILAW AYAW IPAKITA,

NGUNIT KUNG NGUMITI SADYANG HANGGANG TENGA

KUNG TUMAWA’Y KITA PATI NGALANGALA.

KAPANSIN-PANSIN DIN ANG MAYAMANG DIBDIB

ANG MAYON VOLCANO ANG NAKAKAHAWIG

KUNG PAGMAMASDAN MO AY KAIBIG-IBIG

BASAHAN KALAMANSI DITO'Y ISINIKSIK.

KAPAG MAGKASAMA'Y IPINAGMAMALAKI

KAPANSIN PANSIN NGA ANG KANIYANG BEAUTY

NAPAPALINGON ANG TAONG MARAMI

SA TAGLAY NA AMOY AMOY KILIKILI.

COLD SUMMER RAIN

I SEEK FOR THE SUNSHINE

THEN I FELT THE RAIN,

I SEEK FOR THE LIGHT

THE DARKNESS BEGINS.

WHY SHOULD THERE BE CLOUDS

WHEN ONE LONGS FOR THE SUN,

IT’S DIFFICULT TO BE JOYFUL

WHEN YOUR HEART CAN NOT SMILE.

HOLD STILL ON GLOOMY NIGHTS

DON’T COME TO ME SO SOON,

I HAVE TO ENJOY IT MORE

THE SUNSHINE OF MY NOON.

FIND ME SIMPLE REASON

WHY SHOULD ONE HAS TO CRY,

WHEN IT SEEMS ALL AROUND HIM

HAPPY AS THEY PASS BY.

LORD, HELP ME PLEASE TO CARRY

THEY SAY JUST LIGHTER LOAD

I CAN NOT BEAR THE PAIN

ALLOW MY LIFE TO HOLD.

PLIGHT OF A CURIOUS BIRD!

          IN A NOT SO THICK FOREST NEAR THE PEACEFUL TOWN OF SAN RAFAEL, THERE LIVED A FAMILY OF BIRDS. THE FAMILY CONSISTS OF OLEB, THE FATHER; EMADIA, THE MOTHER; JOSEC THE ELDEST BROTHER; NAJUMIG, THE SECOND AND ANIJAN THE YOUNGEST.

          ANIJAN, THE ONLY DAUGHTER AND THE YOUNGEST COULD NOT FLY YET BUT HAVE FEATHERS NOT ENOUGH TO LIFT HER TENDER BODY. SHE REMAINS WITH HER MOTHER PREPARING FOODS FOR THE FAMILY, ENJOYS LAUGHING A WHILE AND SINGING MELODIOUS BIRDS HYMNS.

          KUYA JOSEC, THE ELDEST CAN FLY WHEREVER HE WANTS TO GO AND HAVE PEER BIRDS OF HIS OWN.  HE CAN GO WITH HIS PEERS FOR AS DISTANT FOREST WHERE FATHER OLEB HAS LED HIM TO FIND FOOD FOR THE FAMILY. HE CAN ROAM THROUGH HILLS AND PLAINS AND FIELDS AND REACH AS FAR AS HIGH A MAGNITUDE HE COULD WITH HIS FRIENDS SINGING AND LAUGHING AND WANDERING THROUGH THE SKIES.

NAJUMIG, THE SECOND SON COULD ONLY REACH A MILE.  HE HAS ALREADY GROWN HIS WINGS BUT NOT READY TO FLY FOR HE HAS NOT YET LEARNED THE PROPER WAY AND DISCIPLINE OF FLYING.                                                                                                                                                                                                      

       
   HE COULD ONLY HEAR THE TOLLS OF THE BELLS AT THE SAN RAFAEL CHURCH DURING MASS. HE COULD ONLY FEEL THE COOLNESS OF GENTLE BREEZE OF MORNING. HE COULD ONLY SEE THE GOLDEN PALAY ON THE FIELDS AND THE SERENITY AND COOLNESS OF THE SHADES OF TREES AT THE SAN RAFAEL CEMETERY, AND HE LONGED TO WIDEN HIS HORIZON IN FLYING.

          ON A ONE CLEAR DAY, HESITANT WITH THE REQUEST OF HIS SON, HIS FATHER OLEB ALLOWED NAJUMIG TO GO WITH HIM AT THE NEARBY FOREST TO SEARCH FOR FOOD.  THERE WERE SO MANY DISCUSSIONS WHILE THEY WERE IN THE AIR. NAJUMIG WANTED TO PROVE HE CAN FLY BY HIMSELF BUT FATHER WANTED HIM TO LEARN MORE THE DISCIPLINE OF FLYING.  HE THOUGHT OF GIVING HIM INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROPER WAY OF FLYING, THE POSITIONS OF THE WINGS, THE ART OF DIVING, THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF FLYING WITH DIFFERENT KINDS OF WEATHER AND WITH THE VELOCITY OF THE WIND.  

          NAJUMIG FOUND IT REFRESHING TO FLOAT ON A HIGH LEVEL OF AIR AND NEVER HEARD OF THE ADVICE OF HIS FATHER NOT TO EXERT ALL HIS EFFORTS THAT HE COULD EASILY BE EXHAUSTED. DEAFENED BY ENTHUSIASM, ON HE FREELY FLEW THROUGH THE AIR AT UNPRECEDENTED SPEED, WITH ALL MIGHT, TASTED THE FREE SPIRIT OF FLYING, UNMINDFUL OF THE DISCIPLINE, EXHAUSTED AND ABOUT TO FALL ON THE GROUND. FATHER MOVED OVER TO HELP HIM.

  
“THERE YOU ARE,” THE FATHER SAID. “YOU COULD LOSE YOUR LIFE WITHOUT LEANING TO YOUR FATHER’S ADVICE.”

WITHOUT A WORD, THEY WENT BACK ON THE TREE THEY CALLED HOME.  EMIDIA LEARNED OF THE INCIDENT BUT THERE WAS NO SCOLDING MADE WHATSOEVER.  SHE JUST PREPARED MEALS FOR HER HUNGRY AND TIRED  FAMILY.

NAJUMIG SEEMED LONELY FROM WHAT HAPPENED, HE JUST LAID ON A BRANCH OF THE TREE THE WHOLE DAY.  THE FOLLOWING MORNING, HE SAW HIS COUSINS FLYING ON FREELY AND HAPPILY TOWARDS THE FOREST. AMAZINGLY, HE THOUGHT OF FLYING AGAIN BECAUSE HIS COUSINS PROVOKED HIM TO FLY THE WAY TOWARD THE  RIVER.

          NAJUMIG THOUGHT OF FLYING AWAY WITH THEM KNOWING HE WOULD BE SAFE WITH HIS COUSINS. THE WAY OF THE RIVER SEEMED TO BE A BELL THAT RINGS ON HIS EARS. THE PLACE HE LONGED TO SEE BUT WAS PROHIBITED OF UNKNOWN CAUSE BY HIS FATHER.THEN NAJUMIG WITH THE FLOCK OF BIRDS FLEW AS THEY COULD ON THE WAY TOWARDS THE FOREST. THE GENTLE BREEZE OF THE MORNING SOOTHED HIS WINGS THAT FLY’ ON TO THE SERENE CEMETERY, ON TO THE CHURCH, ON TO THE FIELDS OF PALAY AND GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES UNTIL THEY REACHED THE RIVER.

          WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT TO SEE THE WHITE LONG ROPE-LIKE WATER ON THE RIVER. HIS COUSINS NEVER MIND IT AT ALL BECAUSE THEY WERE USED TO SEEING THAT FANTASTIC VIEW FROM ABOVE. BUT, IN SPITE OF ITS BEAUTY, HE ASKED HIS COUSINS WHY THEY PASS THE RIVER ON SUCH THAT DISTANCE WHEN HE THOUGHT THEY COULD SEE ITS BEAUTY VERY WELL BY LOWERING THEIR FLYING.

“NEVER THINK OF FLYING JUST ABOVE THE RIVER, IT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED YOU TROUBLE.

“THERE IS NO TROUBLE FOR SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE”, NAJUMIG SAID.


“JUST DON’T GO AS WE SAY TO YOU.” HIS COUSINS INSISTED. WITHOUT FURTHER MEETING OF THE MINDS HE FLEW DOWN BY THE RIVER DESPITE HIS COUSINS’ DISAPPROVAL.


NAJUMIG FLEW ABOVE THE RIVER AND FOUND BEAUTIFUL THINGS TO SEE FROM WAY UP.  THE “TALAHIB” FLOWERS THAT FLOAT WHEN THE WIND BLOWS, THE COWS CROSSING THE RIVER FOR A GREEN PASTURE, COUPLES WASH THEIR CLOTHES, PEOPLE TRIED TO CATCH FISH ON WITH THEIR BANCA, THE FATHER HOLDING HIS FISHING NET WHILE HIS SON DO THE PADDLE.

“COME UP WITH THE SKY AGAIN, PLEASE?” SAID HIS COUSINS; WE ARE PROHIBITED TO FLY BY THE RIVER. “WE JUST WANTED YOU TO SEE THE RIVER BY THE DISTANCE.”

          UP AND DOWN NAJUMIG FLEW AS HE MIGHT. ENCHANTED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE RIVER HE FLEW JUST A LITTLE DISTANCE FROM ITS WATER. A MAN WAS HOLDING AN AIR GUN WAITING FOR FISH TO EMERGE, HE SAW NAJUMIG FLYING LOW AND HE POINTED THE GUN AT HIM. A GUNSHOT WAS HEARD, HIS RIGHT WING BLED A LITTLE, THE RAYS OF THE MORNING SUN BOUNCED TO HIS FACE AND FELT THE BLINDING LIGHT. HE FLEW A LITTLE, HE HEARD NOTHING, AND THEN IT WAS DARK.

          “AWAKE, NAJUMIG, AWAKE, PLEASE!”  THESE WERE THE WORDS HE HEARD FROM HIS COUSINS WHO WERE VERY NERVOUS. HE COULD NOT OPEN HIS EYES. HE COULD HARDLY MOVE.  AFTER A WHILE, EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE NORMAL. THERE WAS A SLIGHT BULLET WOUND AND THAT BLED A LITTLE THAT SHOCKED HIM. ON THEY FLEW BACK HOME WITHOUT A WORD.

“WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, MY SON?, WE WERE LOOKING FOR YOU”, HIS MOTHER SAID. “YOU MUST HAVE ALREADY BEEN HERE BEFORE LONG.”


          “YES, MY BROTHER, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE AT LUNCH, LOOK, THE FOOD IS REALLY COLD NOW.” SAID ANIJAN.

          “THERE YOU ARE MY BROTHER! SAID KUYA JOSEC. “FATHER AND I WERE DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR YOU. SOMEONE SAW YOU WITH YOUR COUSINS FLEW AWAY BUT WE WERE EVEN ALARMED FOR WE KNOW YOU COULD NOT FLY ON YOUR OWN AND THAT WE WERE CONCERNED WITH YOUR FATE.!

          WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES, NAJUMIG SAID, “FATHER, MOTHER, KUYA AND ANIJAN, I AM VERY SORRY! IT COULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR I WILL BE MORE CAREFUL THE NEXT TIME.

“YOU’RE BLEEDING,” KUYA JOSEC NOTICED.

“YES, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MY LAST DAY ON EARTH.”

“IT WAS A SLIGHT INJURY,” THE COUSINS CHORUSED.

           “HE WAS IN THE STATE OF SHOCK WHEN HE SAW HIS WING BLED, WE NOTICED HIS UNEVEN PLIGHT SO WE GUIDED HIM TO A PLACE FAR FROM THE MAN WHO SHOT HIM. THANK GOD HE MADE IT.” ONE OF HIS COUSINS SAID.

          SON,” FATHER CHUCKLED, “THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME YOU ALMOST LOST YOUR LIFE BY NOT OBEYING MY ADVICE.” “YOU KNOW, ALL THAT I WAS TELLING YOU WERE JUST FOR YOUR OWN SAKE. I WAS WARNING YOU ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT CAN DO YOU NO GOOD.  REMEMBER, WHEN I TOLD YOU THE DISCIPLINE OF FLYING YOU IGNORED, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU? YOU ALMOST FELL TO THE GROUND, NOW I TOLD YOU, BEWARE NOT TO FLY LOW TOWARDS THE RIVER, WHAT DID YOU DO?”

“MY SON, I JUST DON’T WANT YOU TO DO THINGS YOU WILL FEEL SORRY ABOUT LATER ON. EVERY LITTLE THING THAT YOU DO WOULD LEAD YOU TO YOUR FATE AND DESTINY. I WAS GLAD YOU CAME BACK, BUT, REMEMBER, WORST THINGS MIGHT HAPPEN IF YOU WILL NOT BE CAUTIOUS AND IT WOULD COST YOU YOUR LIFE, YOU SHOULD BE CAREFUL ENOUGH THE NEXT TIME.”

“THANK YOU, FATHER, I WILL ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR ADVICE FROM NOW ON. I WILL BE MORE CAREFUL THE NEXT TIME, I AM SORRY, AND I LOVE YOU.”