Another piece of contemplation

A lot of times, I use to linger on fantasies which I myself never thought I'd dwell into --things about varied specks of life, the shattered world of broken dreams, the inexplainable feeling of happiness, friendship, love, anger, nobility, and many more.

Now, as I am sitting here typing this mere piece of contemplation, I imagine the future.

Questions scuttle back and forth my mind. What will be the future like? What is the difference between the world I feel now and the world I will be in later?

But as I think of a way to answer these questions, to my anticipation, an answer never came.

Rather, a question, a striking question to that extent, popped. -- Am I ready for the future?

I picture myself in the future, and I seem to look at a very vague image. And by now, I should've made that resemblance clear enough. How? God only knows. But it's up to me to find out. I will try. Yes, I will.

And if you ask me that question again, well, I now have the answer.

I will be.

Manifest your ingenuity

It's 2:00 AM. Stray things fill my mind this hour -- and I can't find an authentic reason to be wide awake in the first place.

That seems to be the problem. I can't focus myself on something I must do in order to move on. I can't find a perfect reason for everything.

So that I say, should be the first step -- find a reason. Next is to motivate yourself. Then, put a little focus and determination. And lastly, manifest your ingenuity.

A weird post, eh? Told you I can't focus myself on something -- anything, rather. Well, if I got myself wrong, let's see next time.

Poverty: The Cycle of Suffering

--> This was my composed oratorical speech -- as partial fulfillment of requirements in English III.

You wake up on a chilly morning from a restless sleep, then you move a few steps to the kitchen/dining room in your cramped and shabby quarters, only to find out that you have nothing to serve for breakfast, and you have to make do with a cup of hot water so you can leave the saucer filled with last night’s leftover rice for the seven children who will soon wake up.

This is a scenario that majority of the Filipino families find themselves in: Never enough food; never enough water, no comfortable place to live; no everything. None of the things that we count as everyday things, things that we deem normal, common, and unimportant; things we often take for granted.

Now, are we just going to sit here and let this be the only story that every family in our country experience?

Friends, good day.

Aye. In the present, poverty has been the major anti-climax in our fast changing world. It can be considered as a world of no jobs; a world of famine; a world of crimes; and most of all, a world of misery.

Now I wonder, is poverty natural? Is it really an integral part of the tapestry of life? Can it be prevented? Can it be impeded? Can it be erased for all eternity?

The rate of poverty keeps on increasing everyday. Why? Let’s take a look at the people who experience it themselves. I do not think that its basic rationale and its fundamental justification is just mere laziness. I believe that it has to do with the lack of drive, the lack of motivation, the lack of effort to strive and to succeed.

Most people nowadays tend to listen to someone telling them what to do. Maybe they do this, because of the lack of confidence, or maybe just because it is easier to follow than to initiate action. Now, just imagine. Should the first move always be from a different person? Or should it begin with you?

I may presume that another root of it is a government which cannot handle its boundaries well. The governing body of a group is very important, we may even say, vital. It is the one that is being followed, and it is the one being looked up to. Now I ask myself, is our very own government an exceptionally ideal replica of values?

Now, what are the consequences of poverty? Let us imagine being the first child of a brood of eight, in a family living in the desolate squatters area of Brgy. Masambong. What would the family’s priority be? The education of this child or the survival of the family?

Education is important, as all of us know. But then, here comes poverty – messing up everything. Poverty is a cause by which a child doesn’t acquire all his rights, especially his right to a formal education. Instead of studying in the four walls of the classroom, there he is – in the streets, under the heat of the sun, and selling peso fruit candies and cheap cigarettes to the motorists that pass by.

What now then is its implication? An illiterate person is assumed not capable to have a decent job in the future – no decent job, means no salary, no salary means the cycle continues.

How then can this cycle of suffering end? Who then can stop it? Is it up to the government, engaging in fraudulent deals, where money that’s supposed to go to the improvement of our society goes into their already full pockets? Is it up to the parents, who teach the values that today’s generation emulate? The teachers maybe?, the ordinary employee?, Or is it up to each and everyone of us? Acting together, helping each other, and doing what’s right. You decide.

The Treasure and the Treasure Box

Once upon a time, there was a treasure box that was lonely for all time since there wasn’t any treasure hidden beneath him. He was sad all day and all night long – not knowing his purpose and importance in the world. He took time and waited for the time a treasure was to be put by his owner. He waited – days, weeks, months, and years. After several years of existence, unknowingly, a treasure was put by his owner in that treasure box. The owner locked the treasure box for the treasure to be perfectly hidden and kept inside.

The treasure box became happy. He was not anymore alone in this world. He had a friend who he can share his life with. His years of loneliness and longing ended because of that treasure who is in turn giving company to the not-anymore-lonely box.

The treasure and the treasure box cherished their time with each other. They shared their different points of views and their life before and after knowing each other. As usual, they had their laughs, tears, joys, and sorrows, but at least, most of the time; they are fond of keeping each other company. All was well.

The treasure box suddenly feels a different attitude towards the treasure. Friendship turned to affection, affection turned into infatuation, and infatuation suddenly grew to love. He had hidden his true feelings to the treasure. He didn’t know what the treasure will say if he asked her to stay forever. So the treasure box just went with the flow – hiding his emotions, and enjoying his everyday life with his love.

A chilly morning came. Surprisingly, the treasure box suddenly feels his lock being tampered with and being opened. His owner now needs the treasure. Much as he doesn’t want to, the lock opened, and the hands of the owner went inside him, grabbed the treasure, closed the lid, threw the treasure box in the corner of the room, and left.

The treasure box was alone again. He wanted more of his love, but that desire didn’t come into being. He was alone in the vast room again. He blamed himself for not telling his true feelings to the treasure, and his need for her – that without her, his life wouldn’t be the same.

All of a sudden, reality crossed my mind. And now I realize, I was the treasure box; literally, you were my treasure; but, he was your owner…