Friday, February 24, 2017

SILANG KULANG SA PANANAMPALATAYA

Sa palagay ko, mayroong tatlong malinaw na klase ng mga Kristiyano at/o Katoliko sa panahon ngayon.  Ang mga maka-sinauna, ang bukas ang isip at ang mga mahina ang paniniwala.  Bagamat pinangungunahan ng malaking bilang ng mga Katoliko/Kristiyano ang Pilipinas, nahahati naman ito ng ibat-ibang sekta na mayroong kanya-kanyang turo.  At mismong sa bawat isang sekta ay nahahati pa rin ito sa ibat-ibang interes dahilan upang mabigong maging isang malakas na tinig at pwersa ang Katoliko/Kristiyano.  Sa paglipas ng panahon, maliit na bilang na lamang ngunit mayroon pa ring mga Katoliko ang kung tawagin ay sarado-Katoliko na mula kanunu-nunuan hanggang sa ngayon ay tapat sa Relihiyon at sinusunod pa rin ang mga itinuro pa ng mga matatanda.  Sa puso at isip ay konserbatibo sila sa pagkilos, pananamit at pag-intindi sa nakasulat sa Banal na Aklat. Mas marami naman sa kanila yung mga Katoliko na bagamat nasa puso pa rin nila ang mga itinuturo ng Aklat ay nagiging bukas naman ang kanilang isip sa pang-unawa sa mga sitwasyon.  Makabago na sila ngunit ang dulo-prustrera pa rin nito ay ang takot nila sa nakagisnang kinikilala nilang Diyos.

Samantala, ang mga mahihina ang paniniwala ay iyung nasa isip na lamang nila ang pagiging Katoliko.  Nakakalungkot isipin, ang nakararaming bilang sa Kristiyanismo ay iyung mahihina ang paniniwala – sila yung mga bumabatikos sa turo ng simbahan at yung mga nagsisimba at nagdadasal lamang kapag may delubyo.  Sila yung mga nasa umpukan na nagchichismisan, yung mga maiingay at bastos sa social media, yung mula ina hanggang sa anak ay nagmumura, yung naghihintay ng mali ng isang personalidad, artista o politiko upang may mabatikos, yung mga nag-iba ng paniniwala na ang dating bawal ay itinatama ngayon.  Halimbawa, ano nga bang bahagi ng “Huwag Kang Papatay” ang hindi maunawaan ng mga Katolikong ito na pilit pa rin nilang binibigyang katwiran ng ibang kahulugan ng kautusang ito?  Na sinasabing dapat lang patayin ang mga masasama upang mawala na ang mga ito.  Ngunit naiisip ba nila na sa sinasabi nila ay masamang tao na rin sila kaya kung susundin ang sinasabi nila ay ang ibig sabihin ay dapat na rin silang patayin?  Kapag sinabing huwag kang papatay, wala na itong ibang ibig sabihin kundi huwag kang papatay.  Pansinin natin, sinasabi nila na sila ay Katoliko pero hindi sila nagsisimba o hindi daw sila sumusunod sa iniuutos ng Simbahan dahil may nakikita daw silang mga mali sa Katoliko.  Nagbabalatkayo lang na sinasabing kristiyano ngunit ang totoo ay ginagamit lang nila itong dahilan at sinasamantala lang nila ang ganitong katwiran dahil ang totoo ay mahina lang talaga ang kanilang pananalig sa Diyos.  Kung tutuong sa namumuno sila nagagalit, bakit hindi sila mag-isang dumalaw ng anumang oras sa Simbahan at taimtim na magdasal?

Pamilyar sa atin ang mga tagpo na ang sigaw ng karamihan ay “Ipako sa Krus”, yung ang maraming tao ay nililibak si Hesus at nang naipako na sa Krus ay nagdiwang pa ang ibang tao na ang mismong damit Niya ay pinagsugalan pa?  Ganito din ang karamihan sa mga tao ngayon – di ba ang daming kung anu-anong masasakit na salita ng panlilibak ang naririnig at nababasa natin sa social media? Di ba kayraming humuhusga kapag may taong pinaghinalaan o pinagbintangan pa lamang ay nagdiwang nang malamang mapupunta sa hindi maganda ang kanyang kapwa?  Hayun sila, nagkantahan, nag-inuman, kumain ng masasarap o nagsugal bilang pagdiriwang.  Sa panahon ngayon, sila yung mga Kristiyano/Katolitko, o sabihin na nating kahit anu pang kinaaanibang relihiyon, na mahina ang pananamplalataya.

Ipinagmamalaki ng mga Pilipino ang Pilipinas na pinakadominanteng Katolikong bansa sa buong Asia pero kung titingan mo karamihan sa mga taong ito ay silang mahihina ang papanalig.  Si ate na matapang sa pagsasabing patayin ang mga gumagawa ng karumal-dumal na krimen ay siya nama’y hindi marunong nangingilin kaya mahina ang pananampalataya.  May isang lalaki ang pilit nangangatwirang ang kautusang “Huwag kang papatay” ay depende ang ibig sabihin pero ang totoo ay hindi naman siya maka-Diyos.  Meron namang ibang tao na tila maamong tupa sa pagrorosaryo pero mala-tigre sa pagpapatupad sa parusang kamatayan.


Hindi naman mahalaga kung magpakakonserbatibo ka sa iyong relihiyon upang maging mabuti kang tao. Kung ikaw ay HINDI mapaghiganti, mapanghusga na akala mo’y napakalinis mo, mapaghangad ng kapahamakan sa iyong hindi kakampi, natutuwa sa problema ng iba, matalas ang dila, mapanira, nangugulo, mapagmagaling at mapagsanto-santohan – anuman ang iyong relihiyon ay para ka na ring mabuting tao.  Aminin mo, kung ikaw ay may MGA nakaaaway – baka kasi ikaw ay hindi mabuting tao.  Minsan pa ay aking isusulat: wala sa isang relihiyon ang pagiging mabuting tao.  Kung paano ka makipag-kapwa tao, iyun ang susukat sa iyo na isang mabuti kang tao.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

WHEN LOVE COMES

As per instruction, this article is written for teens genre from theme, format and text.

The love story of Zac and Jaz have started back when they were teens.  A young love that they never thought will spring, grow and lasting.  They sketched the love that developed by respect, ambition, trials and amity.  This is a simple story that gives inspiration to those who are ready to love for the first time or for another time.

Zac and Jaz were actually the best of friends who were sharing prank and silliness during those years of growing up.They were born on the same year and grew up together with the songs, movies, fashion and the world’s headline news of their years.  They both live in a small rural areawhere simplicity is usual to every resident.  Zac’s childhood was full of importunate of a county boy that a child has to experience like paddling in the water, running to rice mill, rolled in rice straw, fled into swimming at the river, learned biking on the young age, and used to play street games or called the traditional games with other neighboring children.While on the other hand, Jaz lived in the same area though apart from Zac’ grew up place.  Most of the time she was fond of playing in their house with her paper dolls like the usual sweet girl, sometimes jack stone with her girl siblings.  And yes too, she’d experienced playing hide and seek, and patinterowhen her older cousins brought her outside their house.

It was during high school when Zac and Jaz’ path have crossed their ways.  They entered on the same school without knowing that one of the freshmen students of that school, who were themselves, will be their better half.  Like an ordinary new student during the first day high, both were excited to find their new found group of friends, teachers, and schoolmatesin the new phase of their growing up as high school and as teenagers.  Though days and weeks have passed but still the young Zac and Jaz have not seen each other yet.  They were on different class who were doing their own daily routine as students and live each day as they enjoy the newly found life of growing teens.  Untiltheir common friends brought them together in an event for a school activity, Zac and Jaz met each other for the very first time.  But like a child without idea of fondness and attraction to opposite, Zac and Jaz first impression was very quiet like ordinary start of an acquaintance where smile is the nicest thing they can give to someone whom they have just met.  There was no love at first sight because the truth isboth were still childish in many ways.

Destined to meet again, Zac and Jazjoined in the same school club where they fond of, the Math Club.  Their analytical mind brought themselves in the fun of learning more about arithmetic.  Although they have their own group, but the common friends that connect them in various occasions brought their times and chances closer.  Often they see each other in student canteen during break time when hanging, in school gate when going home after the class, in library when studying and researching, and during the activities and meeting for the Math Club.Most often when they meet, Zac and Jaz used to talk about their group activities and some trivial and mundane things about everything.  Until later, they feel comfortable to talk worthwhile questions other than personal thing.  Like brother and sister, they found comfortable with each company, laughed at each other’sfunny story, and later exchanged each’ s secret shallowness. 

As the times passed and their friendship went deeper to the point they can reveal their own admiration to others.  Growing in the ages they have realize their interest to have special friend, they kept the friendship even they have their own life individually and spending personal bonding with other friends.  But in the end, they still used to see each other as usual routine of their friendship.  Zac even asked help from Jaz to introduce him to the girl he likes when he got to see someone he likes.  When Zac had his first serious girlfriend, Jaz was the first person to whom Zac told with.  But because of childhood, Zac had no relation that last long.  When he was down, Jaz was there to comfort him.  In times of confusion, needs and failure, there is one girl who always cheered him up.  There were times Jaz briefed Zac about the proper way of courting and about what girls want so that the relationship will last long.

On the other hand, Jaz was so lucky to have a protective friend like Zac.  When someone is courting her, his friend Zac checked the character and personality of the suitors.  But as typical county girl, it is out of her mind to have mutual affection with someone.  Her focus was school where she excelled in academic and in activity as choir member.  Call it partner in crime, the duo established their friendship full of zany things, shared laughter and enjoyment.  During the Junior-Senior Program, Jaz has her own escort while Zac was in relation with younger girl in the same school which made them no chance to dance as best friend.  Until the graduation ball where the two seemed gloomy as they will part their ways to college.  Zac will send to school in the South while Jaz will enroll in their provincial college.

Perhaps it was destiny when Zac had no choice but to register in the same college of Jaz’s.  They should have fun because it will going to be like the same old days again and it would be fun to be together again,however in college it seemed different.  Zac found his own circle of friends and he learned some games of life.  Hehad this tempestuous group, he became troublesome, and was engaged in vices, while Jaz who is dreaming that someday she will meet the man that will love her for the rest of her life, had fall in love with a quiet guy in the same school.  By chance, they lessen the times they usually go and talked together.  Jaz did not long after her first relationship, soon she concentrated her times in school.  The absence of everyone lack their normal days, they missed the presence of each one.  And it was during the college years when the two realized the importance of each other.There were moments when Zac was alone he missed the presence of Jaz.  For sure she’ll get mad on him in his negligence in studies.  That was the time Zac felt something about Jaz that was not ordinary while the confused Jaz was green-eyed when she heard rumors about making friendship of her best friends to others.  Until they used to see each other again, doing the things like the old days.  And while Zac is staring at Jas’ smile, he saw the spark in her eyes that this girl is a perfect partner - Intelligent, helpful, kind, understanding and down-to earth.  Of all the things happened between their friendship, it was difficult to become friend and lover.  The foremost fear is that the friendship might wreck and lost but true love will speakas the old saying goes, true love will moves in mysterious way.  Days have passed, they just kept themselves in studying and never allowed themselves to go with anybody.  Their company is enough to keep their days going and before they knew it, Zac is offering his love to Jaz.

The feeling was mutual, Jaz could have been developed to admire ZAc as her best friend.  She was fuming to many girls who hurt and deserted Zac because all what she wanted to her friend is to be happy.  And maybe the reason she felt that way was she have actually fallen in love with her best friend.  But both were worry to lose their friendship if their relationship will not work.  For the next two years of their stay in the college until they march on the stage, Zac and Jaz decided to call themselves engaged.  Their relationship was developed purely thru friendship, but they were not free from harm of dispute.  Temptation tested the solidarity of their relationship, the girl most often cried.  One time, the father asked Zac to take care her girl and never give pain.  Despite the trials in their relationship, they did not quit on their struggle to keep their feelings.  Until gradually, Zac changed his habits and decided to be faithful with Jaz.  Shortly after the college days, they decided to take their vow as husband and wife.

Today when Zac is looking back those times, he can’t quite realize to come up in this day. Though it has been passed for many years now but it’s still nice to have those times playing in his mind and he can’t help bringing those times to keep on coming back.  When he look at his sleeping wife, when he closely staring at her face he probably say time has changed her beauty but for him she’s still the same girl he loved for so many years passed.  Jaz might not know it but sometimes when Zac looks at her while on sleep, Zac has tears on eyes because for him he found the heaven in her wife’s care and affection.  For so long Zac have been waiting a love to come and own, and now that he found her, he whispered to himself that Jaz is what he prayed for.   Jaz has been always there for him since then till now.  Despite the shortcomings and mistakes, she still tries to understand Zac.   Their marriage have gone under fire but they made to get rid the obstacles, through thick and thin, rich and poor, sickness and health, for better or worse, Zac and Jaz grown up their marriage.

Funny to think that the person who will be with you for the rest of your life has long been with you - just right beside you.  For long you have known each other and all the while when you learned to love, the least you know you’ll be ended up with someone just right with you – surprisingly.  If you could just know to open your eyes wide to found that someone in your side….  Now, Zac and Jaz were blessed with three grown up children that very soon will raise their own family.  Looking the gray hair on their head, Zac and Jaz drew the picture of true love that they can pass on to their children.