sulat ni tatay at nanay...

I received this email from my friend. I want to share this to all the parents and to all the daughters and sons. And also to all the caregivers who are spending their time in taking care of someone who are not even related to them. I hope we all realize that we are growing old not growing young. Enjoy reading...


Mahal Kong Anak,

Sa aking pagtanda, unawain mo sana ako at pagpasensiyahan.

Kapag dala ng kalabuan ng mata ay nakabasag ako ng pinggan
o nakatapon ng sabaw sa hapag kainan, huwag mo sana akong
kagagalitan.

Maramdamin ang isang matanda. Nagse-self-pity ako sa tuwing
sinisigawan mo ako.

Kapag mahina na ang tenga ko at hindi ko maintindihan ang
sinasabi mo, huwag mo naman sana akong sabihan ng
"binge!" paki-ulit nalang ang sinabi mo o
pakisulat nalang.

Pasensya ka na, anak. Matanda na talaga ako.

Kapag mahina na ang tuhod ko, pagtiyagaan mo sana akong
tulungang tumayo, katulad ng pag-aalalay ko sa iyo noong
nag-aaral ka pa lamang lumakad.

Pagpasensyahan mo sana ako kung ako man ay nagiging makulit
at paulit-ulit na parang sirang plaka.

Basta pakinggan mo nalang ako. Huwag mo sana akong
pagtatawanan o pagsasawaang pakinggan.

Natatandaan mo anak noong bata ka pa?kapag gusto mo ng
lobo, paulit-ulit mo 'yong sasabihin, maghapon kang
mangungulit hangga't hindi mo nakukuha ang gusto mo.
Pinagtyagaan ko ang kakulitan mo.

Pagpasensyahan mo na rin sana ang aking amoy. Amoy matanda,
amoy lupa. Huwag mo sana akong piliting maligo. Mahina na
ang katawan ko. Madaling magkasakit kapag nalamigan, huwag
mo sana akong pandirihan.

Natatandaan mo noong bata ka pa? pinagtyagaan kitang
habulin sa ilalim ng kama kapag ayaw mong maligo.

Pagpasensyahan mo sana kung madalas, ako'y masungit,
dala na marahil ito ng katandaan. Pagtanda mo, maiintindihan
mo rin.

Kapag may konti kang panahon, magkwentuhan naman tayo,
kahit sandali lang. Inip na ako sa bahay, maghapong
nag-iisa. Walang kausap.

Alam kong busy ka sa trabaho, subalit nais kong malaman mo
na sabik na sabik na akong makakwentuhan ka, kahit alam kong
hindi ka interesado sa mga kwento ko.

Natatandaan mo anak, noong bata ka pa? Pinagtyagaan kong
pakinggan at intindihin ang pautal-utal mong kwento tungkol
sa iyong teddy bear.

At kapag dumating ang sandali na ako'y magkakasakit at
maratay sa banig ng karamdaman, huwag mo sana akong
pagsawaang alagaan.

Pagpasensyahan mo na sana kung ako man ay maihi o madumi sa
higaan, pagtyagaan mo sana akong alagaan sa mga huling
sandali ng aking buhay. Tutal hindi na naman ako magtatagal.

Kapag dumating ang sandali ng aking pagpanaw, hawakan mo
sana ang aking kamay at bigyan mo ako ng lakas ng loob na
harapin ang kamatayan.

At huwag kang mag-alala, kapag kaharap ko na ang Diyos na
lumikha, ibubulong ko sa kanya na pagpalain ka sana ...
dahil naging mapagmahal ka sa iyong ama't ina...

Bigyang halaga sana natin ang ating mga magulang. Sa mga tulad naming caregivers, ganito po ang sitwasyon ng mga inaalagaan naming matatanda. Minsan talagang mauubusan ka ng pasensya sa pag-intindi sa kakulitan nila. Pero kung titingnan natin, sila yung mga matatanda na halos di mabigyan ng oras ng kanilang mga anak kaya kinakailangan nilang kumuha ng mga caregiver. Madalas sa amin sila kumukuha ng lakas ng loob para ipagpatuloy ang buhay. Yung inaalagaan kong matanda, 91 years old na sya pero umaakyat-baba pa ng hagdan. 22 steps everyday. Habang umaakyat bibilangin nya steps, pag nasa dulo na sya, sasabihin nya, " 22 and I'm still alive" Minsan pa sinabi nya sa akin, " you know, Marianne, I'm 91 years old and I'm pregnant" Hahaha! Bumabalik na sa pagkabata. Mahalin po natin ang ating mga magulang, sa kanilang pagtanda, alalayan natin sila at wag iwanan.

Keep up the good work...

October 18, 2008, It's PMA's recognition day. The cadet's families are invited, so my parents and my siblings went there to witness the occasion. They are provided with a place to stay and some of their meals, of course courtesy of my sister Nelyn who is one of the cadets. Yah, it's also a family affair, get together, bonding...the sad part is, I can't be with them to witness and share their happiness with achievements like this. But, in my thoughts, I'm really happy for them.

Nelyn took the hard way just to enter the Philippine Military Academy. It took her a lot of courage and determination to get what she wanted. And now, here she is, one of the best students...one of the best cadet...and one of the 3 candidates for foreign study in Korea.

Although I can't see but as my family described it to me, I can feel how she transformed into a responsible and honorable person.

You're on your way to the top, ate Ne. Keep up the good work and continue to bring honor to our family and country.

Here's some of the pictures, but I can't post the pictures with uniform because the PMA won't allow it.

Ghost

I just finished watching the movie "ghost" a few minutes ago. It's so touching but it's so sad. If you can remember the movie, the actors were Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, and Whoopi Goldberg. In this movie, the guy was murdered but with his love for the girl, his soul stayed and did everything to protect the girl. He even used the psychic Whoopi to help him. It's sad to know that the one we love can no longer be with us no matter how hard we try to hold on. Life is too short. We don't know what's gonna happen tomorrow. Before it's too late, show someone all the love that you can give.

kainan sa moadon

It's Jenneth's birthday on Saturday, but we celebrate it this morning at the moadon. Pag sinabing may birthday sa moadon, you know what foods to expect, hehehe. Of course, Filipino foods like pansit, pinoy style spaghetti, biko, maja, and chicken na binili sa super. Like always, we enjoyed the food, especially when it's lutong pinoy. Now, we're looking forward sa susunod na may birthday na taga-moadon. Mag-isip ka na ng ihahanda mo, Michelle. hehehe! Mazal tov, jenneth.

Things money can't buy...

I woke up this morning a little bit dizzy and with a terrible headache. Then the things money can't but slipped in my mind.

THINGS MONEY CAN'T BUY...

PERFUMES
It's not the scent of my CK, Victoria Secret, Hugo Boss or White Musk from Body Shop, but it's the scent that feels like the hug of the person sitting next to me. The hug that warms my body even if this person is doing nothing to impress me.

SHOES
It's not my rubber shoes, sneakers, slippers or sandals that i wear. It's the person walking beside me. It does'nt matter if I walk barefoot, what matters most is the person who walks not infront or behind me, but the person who walks beside me.

BAGS
It's not my bags that makes me happy. But it's the arms that wraps around my my shoulder or waist. It's the tap on my shoulder and hearing someone says, "everything's gonna be alright".

JEANS AND SHIRTS
It's not the expensive clothes in the shops that I want to buy. But it's how comfortable I am wearing those clothes. It's like the straightjacket that feels like somebody is embracing you.

CHOCOLATES AND SWEETS
It's not the shape or kind of chocolates I eat. Although I'm not fond of sweets. It's not the tins or box of the sweets that was given to me. It's the thought and the presence of the person who gave it to me.

SUNGLASSES
It's not the sunglasses that protects my eyes from the sun. But it's the person who looks into my eyes without thinking who am I today and who I was before. It's the emotions in my eyes. Remember, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

CELLPHONE
It's not the model or specifications of my cellphone. It's the sms I received saying, "how r u?", "I miz u", "I luv u". It's the call from somebody saying, "due date na ng phonecards mo". Hehehe!

MONEY
You see, these are the things money can buy, but we're not giving attention to the things money can't buy.
It's not the money I've earned or the success I've achieved. It's not the money I've spend for all these expensive things...


But it's the love and respect i've earned, it's the love and respect I'm giving away. Most of all there's no amount of money in comparison to the people who will Stay beside me for the rest of my life no matter what.

Tennis broke my heart...

I was watching the WTA tour a while ago, Serena Williams was playing with Na Li of China. What a boring game at first because Serena beat Li in the first set by 6-0. Then on the second set, Li beat Serena by 6-1. Dissapointing, isn't it? I thought Serena will beat Li that easy, but I was wrong to underestimate the Chinese girl. Anyway, Li is rank number 30 in the world and Serena is the world's number 1 as of today. When the third set came, Serena got the first two break points. Then Li got the next 1, until Serena got the 3 break points. Whoah! But unfortunately, it's a round table again, Li beat her for amazing 6-4. I would like Serena to win the match as I would like to see her and her sister playing each other just like when they compete each other during the semifinals of the US open where Serena got her 4th US open title.