Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Nanay

Dear Nanay,

Nagulat ka ‘no? Sinulatan kita! Naaalala mo ba dati no’ng bata ako, lagi kitang binibigyan ng card at small gifts kapag Mothers' Day saka ‘pag birthday mo? Pero tumigil ‘yon no’ng tumigil din ‘yong appreciation mo sa mga ginagawa ko.

‘Nay, bakit gano’n? Valedictorian ako no'ng grumaduate ako ng elementary. Valedictorian din ako no’ng high school. Sa mga competition, hindi man lahat champion, may naiuuwi akong award kahit papaano. No’ng sinabi n’yong kumuha ako ng entrance exam sa UP, sinunod ko kayo kahit sa ibang university ko gustong mag-aral. Pumasa ako sa UPCAT at sa lahat ng college entrance exams na kinuha ko pero ni minsan, ‘nay, hindi n’yo ako nagawang i-congratulate.

Sa tuwing ikukwento mo ‘yong anak ng kumare mong napakatalino, sa tuwing tatanungin mo ako kung kamusta na ang high school batchmates ko na matagal nang grumaduate sa college,  sa tuwing babanggitin mo ‘yong mga pamangkin mong naipagpatayo na ng malaking bahay ang mga kapatid mo, marahil insecurities ko itong umiiral dahil pakiramdam ko ay ikinukumpara mo ako sa kanila.

Hindi lingid sa’yo na nagkakaroon kami ng pagtatalo ng kapatid ko pero kahit isang beses,  kahit isang beses lang ‘nay, hindi mo ako kinampihan kahit alam mong ako ang nasa tama. Dahil ba bunso s’ya? Alam mo kung paano ako pagsalitaan ni tatay kapag mainit ang ulo n’ya, alam mo kung ano ang tingin sa akin ng mga kapatid n’ya, idagdag pa ang mga tsismis na ginagawa nila, pero ni minsan, ‘nay, hindi mo ako ipinagtanggol. Hindi mo ako ipinagtanggol, ‘nay.

Hindi ako perpektong anak. Marami akong pagkukulang sa inyo. Wala akong inuuwing sweldo tuwing kinsenas o buwan-buwan,  hindi ko kayo madala sa abroad gamit ang sarili kong pera, at hindi ko rin kayo maipagpatayo ng malaking bahay. Ang tanging naibigay ko lamang sa inyo, bukod sa kahihiyan at sakit ng ulo, ay ang pagsunod sa kagustuhan n’yong sa UP ako mag-aral at kunin ang kursong gusto n’yo para sa akin. Tinalikuran ko ang pangarap ko sa pag-aakalang mapapasaya ko kayo. ‘Yon lang ang mayroon ako, ‘nay.

Alam kong nand’yan ka lagi para sa ‘kin. Halos wala akong maipipintas sa ‘yo bilang ina. Napakabait mo sa ‘min. Ako ba ang may problema dahil pakiramdam ko kulang pa rin?

Mahal na mahal ko kayo, ‘nay. Kaya kahit na ganito ang nararamdaman ko, hindi ko magawang sabihin sa inyo dahil ayokong lalo kayong ma-disappoint sa akin. Intayin n’yo lang, ‘nay. Makakapagsuot din ako ng Sablay at makikita ng lahat na hindi lang ako isang malanding demonyo na tuyot ang utak. Taon man ang lumipas, titiyakin kong magkakaroon ng Dr. sa simula ng pangalan ko.
                                                                             Nagmamahal,
                                                                                      Dianne

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Charlie

Dear Charlie,
And I don’t want the world to see me
‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand.
When everything’s meant to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am.
       I know you’ve been through a lot, Charlie. Having no one when you’re at your lowest. So lost living a nightmare, remembering the pain breaking you apart. Afraid of what others will think when you speak up your mind. You don’t even know what keeps you going.  Not knowing the purpose of your existence. Happiness is so foreign you can’t tell what it means.
I know you want to be happy. To finally find a place you could be. To be with people who you can call friends. To have someone who will hug you, pat your back, wipe your tears and say everything will be okay. To have people who are willing to dismiss the differences to laugh with you.
       Everyone, at some point in their lives, will have to walk on a rocky road barefooted. “We can’t choose where we come from, but we can choose where we go from there.” You can’t forever run away from your problems. They will haunt you, Charlie. You have to have the courage to face them. First is accepting that you need help. Overcoming your fears and problems will make you stronger. But there are things you can’t do alone. Slowly, open up. I understand that at your age, you feel less comfortable around your parents. You feel less warmth in your relationship with them that may lead to conflicts. But believe me, their presence is important when you feel so low. That physical closeness – those hugs, pats on the back, and soothing words will make you aware that they care and will be there for you.  It works wonders. It won’t make you Superman but it’s as if a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. You won’t feel alone. So, please, open up. Talk to them about the things you are comfortable telling. Let them give you that big hug you know you want but too afraid to ask for. I believe that change must start within the family.
       You’re not alone, Charlie. There are people who love you and will love you for who you are. You have to change the way you see yourself.  You are a great friend and a loyal one, but you have to consider yourself – your feelings. Remember what Sam said? “You can’t just stand there and put everybody’s life ahead of yours and think that counts as love.”
       LSD may not be addictive. But you should still be careful especially with hash brownies. I know you do it for recreation or just trying to overcome stress but you should not, Charlie. And please, don’t think of hurting yourself again. That’s not the answer. Would you be able to write a paper confirming there’s life after death? You won’t get anything out of it. Learn to cope with stress. Write about yourself. Not necessarily another letter for me. You can keep a journal. This may also serve as a channel for your emotions. You love music, right? Do you know how to play a guitar or any musical instrument? If you don’t, why don’t you try learning one? It will relieve your stress.
I am so proud of you. I am happy now that you know you belong somewhere. Your letters made me happy, Charlie. I’m glad to be of any help, I didn’t do anything though. Well, I know, some believe that it is easier to talk about certain – sometimes even personal things to a complete stranger than to a friend or family. But I still think it's better to talk to your parents and friends. You don’t have to keep it bottled up inside. Don’t look back. Look ahead to everything in front of you.
I will be missing your letters, Charlie.
                                                  Love,
                                                      Dianne

Thursday, July 23, 2015

ABOUT

I saw a girl whose looks scream uncertainty.

I looked deep into her eyes and saw sadness, pain, and hatred flickered through them before she quickly masked it with a small smile. A smile so small I wouldn’t notice if I don’t know her well enough - trying to hide all traces of emotions reflected in them.

I know she wanted to say, “I can’t anymore” but she didn’t.
She continued to stare blankly at me as she painted her lips with her favorite mauve brown tint.


I, then, noticed the clock hanging to my right. I quickly got up from my vanity table and hurriedly made my way out, wishing the professor will arrive later than me.

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WordPress contains academic writing.
Blogger / Blogspot is my journal.
Tumblr got the creative side of me.

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“What does not destroy me, makes me strong.”
-  Friedrich Nietzsche