CaVao~!!

Dear Friend,

How are you? Well, okay, I know it’s been a while since my last letter to you and I miss you. I do really miss you. But before meddling into something which is far beyond my business, let me greet you a Happy, happy new year! May you have a fruitful year and for the years to come. And I do hope you’re still alive when this year is going to end and jump off to another year. Life is short mate, and life is unpredictable. That’s why I’m hoping that we could still see each other before we will make our first step of our journey to another world. Yeah, I do hope for myself too.

It was a great year for me, pal. I happened to live with the shiny happy people of the Promised Land, particularly in Cagayan de Oro. I was there for almost a couple of months. It was a great experience indeed. Though I had these pressing jobs which I really need to delve, but working with this kind of people would surely lighten up the heavy load on my back. Some would say, Mindanao in general is a dreadful place. One should immediately desert before the bombs raining the whole place as they say. But I am here to negate that notion. To say that Mindanao as a whole is a chaotic place is contrary to the fact that most areas in Mindanao are very quiet and peaceful places, only a portion of it meets their premises. Well, it’s true that some of the famous vermins of the world reside on these islands but I tell you friend, I didn’t feel them nor got any sign from them when I was there.

Before I set my feet off from that precious land going back here in the big city, I was able to travel by bus to the city of Durian - Davao City. Approximately seven ours wheeling on the road, my butt was aching and my heart kept pounding because those dreadful stories about Mindanao that I heard kept spining ’round my brain. When I looked out of the window, I saw nothing but darkness but when I looked around to see what other people felt during our trip, I saw nothing but smiling and friendly faces. And those faces corrupted the whole impression that that trip could never be safe.

Some minutes passed eleven o’clock in the evening, I arrived at Philtranco Bus Terminal in Davao City. I saw my big brother standing across the street leaning his back on my cousin’s pick-up truck with his cellphone in his hand. I was certain that he was dialing my number coz in just a few seconds, my phone was ringing. I didn’t pick up the phone, I just made my way towards him and there he saw me with a great smile saying, “welcome to the eagle’s nest, bro!”. I said, you’re still a fat-ass and we laughed. Oh yeah, I could feel the flock of eagles flapping their wings as the cool breeze of the peaceful metro blowing against my face.

The next day, we went to the Philippine Eagle Park and Crocodile Farm together with my 2 beautiful cousins and my “kuya”. It was a great experience I must say. Great wave of friendly people around, who would ever think that Mindanao is a dreadful place? Well, each story has its villains as we all know but we should never forget the fact that some horror movies are not horrible at all. That’s all pal. I’ll try to post the pictures of my recent trip on my next letter to you, ok? Thanks for reading. Shalom!!!

Your lost and found friend,

Humble Soul

A Letter To The Big Tree!!

Dear Friend,

Happy weekend mate. I hope you’ll have a fruitful long weekend. I just want to thank my Creator for the air that I breathe today, for the sun that warms up my world, for the happy people I’ve met and everything.

I think I heard an eerie voice from a famous and fervid orator yesterday. I can see that he really felt relieved that he is now a free dick. I hate it but I love to talk about it. God, she’s really trying to belittle our integrity don’t you know that? Well it’s so absurd to say that she fell inlove with him that’s why she opened his cage and freed him. Or the longer he stayed behind those bars, the more popular he became and she can’t take it anymore. He’s even more popular than her that’s why she has to take him out of jail so people will never talk about him anymore. No, it couldn’t be. It’s so absurd. I don’t wanna talk about politics anymore. The more I talk about it, everything seems to be mixed-up and I’m sick of it. I’m all fed up about this. But I hope my words will find its way to your heart, if you have one.

“Mam, if you think you are a big tree, we are the small axe trying to chop you down! If you freed him because he’s way too old to be confined on that cage, then please do likewise to those ordinary prisoners who are even older than him. If you freed him because he was a former president for some respect, then amend the constitution that provides special privileges for those convicted executives and other public servants. In that way, we will never ask why. But certainly, we still have our democracy.

Regards to your stupid husband!”

Desperate,

Humble Soul

Lust~!!

Dear Friend,

Many of our youth today have gone astray. Peer pressures, family instablities, poverty and the existence of these illegal drugs itself are the primary factors that keep our youth off from the right track.

For so long now we’ve been fighting to fix this problem and still, we are fighting to solve this. Have you ever wondered why until now we’re still struggling to put an end of this war against drugs? It’s because these vermins, drug lords, pushers, etc., are protected by some of our lame leaders. Even some of our policemen or those in the arm forces in general, are physically involved on this crap. Then how can we solve this?

Even if we try to clean the whole house by starting off the ceiling down to the floor, the dirt will still come back because the pollution is still there. This is very simple to understand, right?

I have gathered all the answers I could take but the answer to this question isn’t really the answer to the problem because I have concluded that the root of this issue is, our LUST for money. Come to think of it.

Insane,

Humble Soul

Free Erap!!

Dear Friend,

How was your sleep last night? I hope you slept soundly and your day will turn out to be just fine. I feel lazy today. The weather is so unfavorable. I wanted to stay home but here I am now in the office, facing the computer and typing passionately.

I didn’t watch the last night’s episode of the INC guys’ Comparative Study though it flashed to my mind. I just don’t like these guys, they think they are pure and flawless. Anyway let’s forget about that my friend. I was able to catch the late night news on QTv last night. It’s funny to think that the former president, Joseph Estrada, will probably be given a presidential pardon by the administration. If this will be the case, what’s the use of having Erap in custody for more than 4 years, the effort of the Sandiganbayan to shovel all the evidences presented during the trials, and the multi-page verdict during the final judgment? Hello??? Are you making us fools? I just can’t really understand our justice system. It’s so tight when the suspect is just an ordinary man and yet so loose when it is a very influential moron. I don’t know the hidden agenda of this game but I believe there absolutely is. Mining those evidences has become totally worthless. And what would the former Ilocos Sur governor say about this? Well, he said that if Erap will be freed he will certainly withdraw his support to the administration and that becomes more ridiculous.  Poor governor! He has been into this game for several years and until now he wasn’t able to establish a really good gameplan.

I believe to free Erap is to prove that he is innocent and in this case, guiltiness also means innocence. This will only prove that freedom is not really free and justice is all about inequities. What a shame! It’s all in the hands of our power-hungry leaders and we’re all wrapped around their fingers. Now friend, is there still a way out? I believe there is. But can you afford to be a mere observer of this pathetic sight of our country?

Rally ’round the flag! Not with these rags!!

Love Always,

Humble Soul

Blasphemy???!!

Dear Friend,

I’m a little pissed-off today. It all started last night when I was watching WWF at RPN9. It was commercial break so I started to scroll down the channel and searched for the ABS-CBN but before I could reach to the Kapamilya Channel, I happened to stop at Channel 6 - Net TV (I’m not sure on this!). I think, that channel is owned by Inglesia Ni Cristo. I heard the 2 anchors mentioned my Church - The Roman Catholic. Well, they were making some comparative studies about the teachings of the other religions against with their religion as they claimed. I have nothing to object on that as far as I’m concerned but one thing I don’t like on these guys is, they’re trying to bombard the teachings of every religion except theirs (of course).

I don’t think if preaching God’s Divine Words were their ultimate agenda. I think their main concern is to create a great turmoil on the people’s beliefs and try to convince the people to follow the INC. Wow, they claimed that they are already saved and once you follow and join with them, you are already guaranteed a place in heaven. Great! Did God tell the prophets that only those people who join with the INC will be saved? When Jesus told Peter, the rock, that He will build His Church upon this rock, did Jesus named it as Iglesia Ni Cristo? Roman Catholic? Born Again? Seventh Day Adventist? Jehovah’s Witness? Nay!! Then why these INC guys claimed that they’re religion is the right religion for the salvation of our souls? Come on! Jesus didn’t say that we humans have to be like Him because He knew we can’t because we are only human. A sort of reparation to God is enough for Him to call us His sons. If we humbly admit that we have gravenly bruised Him by our earthly desires and make something as a sort of reconciliation, then God will surely forgive us no matter which religion you came from.

Though it so apparent to me that they are bombarding some other religion’s practices, they strongly believed that they are only making some comparative studies. Really? No, you’re making a great tsunami that would wash up the minds of the people who are not in your congregation. If you really are God’s servant, preach the gospel please and not your opinions. We all have our own way to practice our religions and mind your own business because God for sure didn’t teach you to step on some people’s feet just to let them know that your sandals are made of gold.

Let’s take the parable of the “Rich Man and Lazarus”. When the Rich Man and Lazarus died, Lazarus was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom and the rich man also died and was thrown into the lake of fire. When the Rich Man asked Abraham to send Lazarus to the earth to warn his relatives so they can repent, Abraham told him that He got some prophets to do the job and it’s only up to them if they will listen to the prophets or not. Now, we have our priests, pastors, nuns and all of God’s alter-egos who are delegated to spread His Words. If we come to think of it, don’t these INC guys are acting like they were the ones who were sent as requested by the Rich Man to warn his relatives? God is the most JUST super-being Who doesn’t force us to which path we should take. He only provides. He provides the Life, the Path and the Light but we are the ones to decide.

That’s all friend, although I still have some more to say but I decided to cut it off…. And I hope what I wrote is not a blasphemy. God Bless.

Love Always,

Humble Soul

Dirty Word, Dirty World

Dear Friend,

Did you know that ‘Adolescent’ has become a dirty word? If you don’t get what I’m talking about, please turn around, look around and observe what’s happening around you. I hope you know because if you don’t, you’re simply an idiot.

I’ve seen a lot of sex scandals involving teenagers and wow, they’re getting good at it. Every position, they looked so hot on their motion. It seems to me that they also know how to ride a monocycle. Isn’t it great?

Everyone, I guess, loves sex except those on the monasteries and missionaries for some respect. But I believe sex has its own time (I’m guilty on this one) and reason but what I’ve seen on this generation clearly tells me that sex isn’t really a sacred thing. It isn’t even a way of getting-to-know-you-better for some people, as Single’s Talk mentioned on its own talk because some did it for, you know, just like a casual thing.

I guess, it’s their way to get cold because some say when they feel hot and horny they’re looking for someone to make love with…and the opposite of hot is cold right? But what is actually on the minds of these kids are what really exist on the world where they’re living in. And we grownups have a big ROLE not an asshole.

Love Always,

Humble Soul

Did Pacman Refuse To Fight JMM?

Dear Friend,

Before I step on the pedal to crank up my day, I just want to ask you and I demand an immediate response. Did Manny Pacquiao really refuse to fight against Manuel Marquez twice as disclosed by the WBC president?

Love Always,

Humble Soul

Movie Marathon

Dear Friend,

Good day! How was your weekend? I hope it was great. I spent my weekend at home as planned. Slept a lot, ate a lot and did this some kinda movie marathon. I got 5 movies in Saturday alone and another 5 yesterday, Sunday. Well, don’t ever think that I got some bucks to grab those original dvds because movies here in the Philippines are pretty cheap. Yeah man, you can buy 16-in-1 dvd for only 50 - 70 pesos. Really cool, ‘ight?

Well I don’t really wanna buy those stuffs because I know they’re illegally distributed but damn, I can’t afford to buy those originals or if I got to dig my pocket for those original copies, they’d become boring afterwards.

But you know what my friend, although I watched the movie alone at my boarding house I feel like I got so many companies watching with me. Yeah, I’m certain because when the character in the movie tells a joke or some darned words, I can hear so many people laughing with me. I even saw some of them stood in front of me and made their way to oposite directions and it pissed me off. Well, maybe because some of the movies on the disc were copied inside the cinema and I believe that was the price I had paid.

I just wished I were with Miguel and Tulio when they made their trip to El Dorado so I can take some gold when we made our way back home, sold ‘em out and buy those original dvds.

Alwas and Forever,

Humble Soul

Mall Mayhem

Dear Friend,

How are you today? I hope you are doing great there! I didn’t have enough rest last night. I want to sleep right now but I need to see my doctor for my physical exam. But before I go to the clinic, I have something to tell you.

I forgot to tell you yesterday that there was a big explosion at the Glorietta Mall. It was very terrific. And the worst thing is, my sister was there when the explosion occurred. Good thing is, she was quite far from the place where the bomb was planted. I would say bomb, contrary to the first insinuation that the cause of the explosion was because of the leaking LPG tank inside the restaurant located at Glorietta 2 and of course that was not a fire cracker we use to welcome the New Year. Yes, friend, we were under terror attack. I can feel the dread of wandering around this big metro. I’m sobbing now.

I phoned my sister at around 3:00 pm after she texted me about what happened. I felt uneasy while searching my cellphone inside my pocket. I started to worry about my heartbeat and my body was shaking all over. There was a shaky voice on the other end, and it was very familiar to my ears. Of course it was my sister because it was her number I dialed. She then told me everything. She said she was about to purchase a USB Flash Drive at CDR-King when a sudden explosion echoed all over the place. She didn’t move until she saw some debris of glasses flying from afar and the people were running for their lives. She then ran for her life too. She said she stopped for a moment, not to make a wish that she were Wonder Woman but to look back where her sandals were because she later found out that she was running with her bare feet. As soon as she found her precious sandals, she grabbed them and ran as fast as she could. Well, I can’t tell you all the details my friend because it would take time for me to compose them. And I need to fix myself now to see my doctor.

Bye for now, friend. I hope you will have a peaceful weekend.

Always,

Humble Soul

Friday Routine~!

Dear Friend,

Here I am again. I forgot to tell you that I’ll be doing my laundry later after office. If you are not a Filipino, you may find it awful but this is the normal setting here in the Philippines. And don’t think I have a washing machine to do the job because I have none. I got to do it with my bare hands. Washing machine is pretty expensive for me although I can afford to buy one. But why spend a lot of money to do my laundry if I can do it without spending a penny? Oh sorry, it’s a ‘cent’ rather because we don’t have a penny here. No I’m not saying that you, my friend, is very extravagant, lazy and all that. I understand that, if you come from a rich country, you are living in a fast pace environment you got no time for your chores.

Anyway, forget about that my friend. By the way, do you have a name? What is it? Oh, nice to meet you ____, what’s your name again? Kindly say it loud please, I can’t hear you! Anyway, thanks for dropping by Mr. __ , oh sorry, you are Mrs. __ , I mean Miss __ …. Arrrgggg, it’s safer to say, Friend than Mr., Mrs., Miss or everything. So, what’s your plan this coming weekend? I hope you have a fruitful weekend and always a Christ-filled heart for the rest of your life. I don’t have any plan for a weekend getaway, pal. I just want to stay home, watch dvd movies, eat a lot, sleep a lot and spend some time for God this coming Sunday. I know that I always upset God. I always tried to be like Him but after all I am just a man. I’m so excited to do my laundry now.

Love Always,

Humble Soul