[Poem] Taglay kong ningning

Isang talang maningning
Tanglaw sa gabing madilim
Bawat hakbang sa ami'y gabay
Hanggang dulo ng aming paglalakbay.

Taon man ang bumilang
Sa pagsunod sa talang makinang
Lakas man ay magupo
Walang katumbas pagsilay sa tanging Sugo.

Makasariling hari man ang sumikil
Tigib man ang kanyang pagpigil
Walang sinumang makahahadlang
Pagkilala sa may dala ng walang hanggan.

Dumating na ang takdang panahon
Mga mata'y sa sabsaban ay itinuon
Sugo ng Ama ay narito na
Dumating para sa ating kaligtasan!

Milya man ating layo sa Kanya
Dulot ng ating mga nagawang kasalanan
Pag-ibig Nya pa rin ang tanging dahilan
Na ang Tagapagligtas ay siya nga ay isinilang.

Panginoon O kay buti Mo
Walang katulad ang busilak Mong puso
Wagas man Ikaw ay aming nasaktan
Wala pa ring patid ang Iyong pagmamahal.

O Hesus salamat sa Iyong pagdatal
At kaligtasan Iyo sa ami'y dala-dala
Mabuting balita kay tagal mang inabangan
Kung hatid man ay buhay na walang hanggan.

Bawat araw sambit ay pasasalamat
Dahil buo na ang pusong may lamat
Iniwang pilat ng sugatan kong katauhan
Tila naglaho sa pagdating Mong itinuran.

Mula ngayon hanggang habang buhay
Ikaw lamang ang liwanag kong taglay
Hindi na muli lalamlam aking butuin
Dahil aking buhay bitbit Iyong ningning.

-mmp 24dec2012 11:37pm

[Poem] I can't help it

As the morning greets me hi
I can't help but notice
The sun that shines on me
Like Your smile beaming radiance toward me.
As I bask under Your radiant ball
I can't help but notice
That You've been shining upon me
To get through the roads of darkness.
As I see people walking side by side
I can't help but notice
That You've always been with me
And never left me walking alone.
As I leave and come to work
I can't help but notice
How You established the work of my hands
And make excellent job for me.
As I share table with friends
I can't help but notice
How You have provided for me and my family
And never was a day of empty plate.
As You put my day to a close
I can't help but notice
The deep dark calming sky
Full of stars like shining crystals in the night.
As I rest my tired body against the bed
I can't help but notice
How You have been my peace
To escape this one crazy world.
As You put me to a deep sleep
I can't help but notice
How You sing me beautiful melody
That comforts me as I retire from the day.
My day starts and ends right
Because You cover it with Your presence, O God
No doubt, I know I am a favored child
For I can't help but notice Your love for me.

-mmp 16February2013 1:39am

[Blog] Undisciplined Civilization No More

I don't like seeing people crossing the street and are outside of the pedestrian lane. There are times I think what would they do or say if they get hit by a fast car when in the first place, they're the one to blame? In another case, at the elevator foyer, I see people who would deliberately not fall in line even if they see that all are lined up to the building door. I hate this too and a lot of times, get on my nerve. Pardon me for thinking this way but is this what they call civilization? Can we call them civilized or urbanized? Do they actually know what they are doing?

I remember back in high school, even in my elementary days, when I would see kids falling out of line because they want to. Honestly, it is so stubborn and irritating at the same time. It says in one of the campaigns in the 90s that "Sa mata ng bata, ang maling ginagawa ng matanda ay nagiging tama" so I thought to myself, what do they see? Do their parents show the same behavior that made them like that? I was then reminded of the verse "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14:33a). If God is a God of order, how come His people are not?

I turned my page to Adam and Eve when they got a simple yet very clear instruction from God to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when they eat from it they will certainly die. (Genesis 3:17) But Eve was taunted by a crafty serpent and failed to follow this Divine instruction. Yeah right, you may say that traffic rules are created by MMDA but let me tell you that we have to subject ourselves to the governing authorities for there is no authority except that which God has established [yes, even MMDA]. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted (Romans 13:1-2). 

My plea is that you do not construe this message as negative and I don't work for this government agency either. If we acknowledge and accept this simple truth - God is a God of order - then all of us can truly be called civilized and urbanized. Ultimately, this country will be a better place to live in. 

I am not being self-righteous whatsoever. I also have my own share in this problem as well so this will serve as a reminder to me that God is pleased when we acknowledge and respect the rules implemented by the authorities. Let stubbornness drown in obedience for when this is so, doing what is right will always be on top of our priorities. Things done upright, however little, puts a smile on God's face so let this be our daily goal.

Please let us act civilized because we are created that way.

[Blog] Love act

"Love thy neighbor." Sounds cliche right? I'm sure in your lifetime, you have heard this line at lease once but definitely, not never but what is it really to love our neighbor? How do we show that we love them?

When we see someone is in dire need, we stop and help. When we see someone rushing to the elevator with piles of stuff, we stop, hold the door for them and let them in. Sometimes, we go an extra mile and share the load they have on hand. If we see an old lady unsure whether to cross the street or not, we walk towards her and help her cross to the other side. When  a classmate is having a hard time understanding the lesson, we stop and lend a hand, same goes in the workplace. 

These are some of the many examples of showing love for our neighbors. You may not have an audience to applaud you as you do this but we got The One who sees everything (Hebrews 4:13). But are these for real? Don't get me wrong. If this is you, I admire you with such love in your heart but let me tell you that there are simple and little gestures that we can show love to our neighbor. 

When we wake up in the morning, we fix our bed. After taking a bath, we don't leave the bathroom cluttered with our stuff. When we go to the FX terminal or wait for the elevator, fall in line and wait for your turn. Greeting the security guard or the janitress a good morning. After chewing gum, we we don't leave it under the table or chair. When we're drying up our hands, we take one or two papertowels. When we're done with our shift, we clean our station and push the chair back where it was originally placed. Forgiving the person who hurt you the most. Apologizing for the hurt you caused someone. Returning the books you borrowed when done reading it. Sharing what you have even if that's the only thing left with you. No to vote buying. No littering. No smoking in an airconditioned room. 

You may think that I am derailing myself from my thought flow but I am not. Showing that you respect someone is an act of love. Showing that put the other person ahead of you is an act of love. Showing love through these two simple gestures is grand in my own opinion. Please do not confuse showmanship with this for, admit it or not, there are those who love to show off but God knows you and your motives in doing so (Psalm 139). And besides, God loves us so much that He sent His only Son (John 3:16) to pay for our sins, that's real love. When the sinless Son obeyed the Father to become sin and be hung on the cross, that is selfless love. I was then reminded of Jesus' command to love each other as He has loved us (John 15:12). If Jesus loves us for what we are, then we know how to really love our neighbor. 

Putting others first is something that we fail to commit in consistently doing because of our selfish nature but if we know that we are forgiven, accepted and loved unconditionally, our perspective will change. If we only look through the eyes of Jesus then I say that this is possible. After all, Jesus said "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31a) and we ourselves are the first ones to know how to value and love others as much as we value and love ourselves. Hard? Yes, it is true but with God's help, this is possible. We may think that one is like a sand paper to us but do keep in mind that we may also be one to another. Remember that Jesus also had encountered people as such in His time but He chose to love them no matter what. Amazing, yeah but that's how He moves - with love. 

Now, let me ask you this, how do you love?

[Poem] Simula

Maliksing kong binagtas, tinahak
Ang isang madilim na daan
Di alam kung saan pasulong
Mga paang hindi uurong.
Saan nga ba ang ating laban?
Tanong ko sa aming pamunuan
Tila di alam kung saan ito patutungo
Na para bang sunud-sunuran at uto-uto.
Sulong! Kapit-bisig!
Ang siyang sinisigaw ng aming bibig
Patakbong sinugod ang daang makitid
Na parang hindi nag-iisip ng matuwid.
Ano nga ba ang aming adhikain?
Ito ba'y maghahatid sa hapag ng pagkain?
Ano ba ito para sa akin
Na mismong buhay handang kitlin?
Maari bang tayo'y saglit na huminahon
At magmuni-muni sa takbo ng ating panahon?
May saysay ba ang ating sinisigaw
Na ang balik ay isa lamang na alingawngaw?
May katuturan ba ang ating ipinaglalaban
O sa lipuna'y isang malaking sagabal?
May patutunguhan ba ang usad-pagong na sistema
O magiging tila napag-iwanang sambayanan?
Palasyo ba'y sa matuwid ang patungo
O mananatili na lamang na huwad at moro-moro?
Iyan ang aking hamon
Sa kabataan ng ating panahon
Hinay-hinay lang mga katoto
Doon pa rin naman tayo ay patungo.
Huwag magligalig at magmadali
Namnamin ang ganda ng bawat sandali
Kung ang hanap ay tiyak na pagbabago
Bakit hindi mo kaya simulan sa sarili mo?
O Pag-asa kami'y Iyong ngitian
Araw na'y nagsabog ng liwanag sa kalangitan
Hudyat ng panibagong araw nga naman
Na puno ng magagandang aral ng kasalukyan.
Magbago ka, oo para sa iyo ito
Aking kausap kabataang ligaw, nalilito
Huwag kung saan-saan humanap ng pagkatuto
Tanging kay Ama lamang ito mapagtatanto.
Talikdan ang daang iyong tinatahak
Huwag nang hintaying puso mo'y mawarak
Pagkat Kanyang pangako'y tigib at totoo
Bakit pa aasa sa gintong tinanso?
Bangon kabataan, bangon
Huwag hayaang mapag-iwanan ng panahon
Ayan sa harapan mo ang daang matuwid
Bakit di mo kaya simulang tawirin?

-mmp 05october2012 1:30am

[Poem] Iyong Kaluguran

Nakahiga, nakahimlay,
Ang paa sa kama ay nakabayubay,
Tahimik, nag-iisip,
Hindi namalayang araw'y sumisilip.

Nagtatanong sa aking sarili,
Hanggang kailan dito ay mananatili,
Kung saan kay tigib ng kalungkutan,
Parang tila isang madilim na kawalan.

Bakit puso'y naninibugho
Sa kung anumang sa kapatid ay mayroon?
Bakit puso'y may suliranin
Na ito'y makamit at nang maangkin?

Bakit puso'y nagdurugo
Sa kanyang buhay na tila bulang-gugo?
Bakit puso'y naliliyo
Sa imbitasyong may rahiyo?

Saklolo, tulong, saklolo
Wala bang nakaririnig sa aking panaghoy?
Katawan na'y pagal, lalamunan kong tuyo
Sa pakikibaka sa sariling alimpuyo.

Sa aking kaibuturan tila may alingawngaw
Aking narinig, naulinigang kay linaw
Boses Mong akala'y isang hiraya
Tumatawag, nanghihikayat, nag-aanyaya.

Walang alinlangan ako'y sumunod,
Tumalima sa Iyo at nagpahinuhod,
Sa Iyong paanan ako'y umupong paluhod
Handang makinig, buong pusong may lugod.

Mahal kita, Iyong sambit
Mga mata'y nakatitig nang kay lagkit
Tila isang punyal sa aking kaibuturan
Iyong salita nanarak, nanahanan.

Sa aking pakiwari
Wala nang pag-asa sa tulad kong uri
Madilim kong nakaraan
Iyong sabi'y kalimutan.

Anak, ihinto iyong pagpalahaw
Ngayon ay hindi na ang dating ikaw
Magsaya, magdiwang sa iyong bagong buhay
Magandang kinabukasan sa iyo'y naghihintay.

Salamat sa Iyo Banal na Kamahalan
Dahil sa Iyo buhay ko ay may kahulugan
Sa Iyo, pag-asa at pag-ibig aking nasumpungan
Itatanghal, itataas sa mundo ang Iyong Ngalan.


- mmp 27september2012 02:36PM

[Poem] Ikaw lamang, AMA

Bawat pagsilay ng haring araw
Bawat paggising sa bagong umaga
Bawat ihip ng hangin sa aking mukha
Wangis Mo lamang ang nais matanaw.

Bawat tagumpay na aking tinatamasa
Bawat kaligayang aking nadarama
Kahit pa kirot ng isang pusong nasawi
Sa Iyo ko lamang nais ibahagi.

Bawat pangarap na inaasam
Bawat bukas na aking tinatanaw
Bawat katuparan ng aking ipinagdarasal
Ikaw lamang ang gantimpalang aking hinahangad.

Bawat pintig ng pusong sabik
Bawat ngiting hatid ng payapang dibdib
Ikaw lamang aking Ama
Ang tanging aking pupurihin.

- mmp 4sept2012 12:56am