Oo! Bahala na!

Tinanong ako ng isang malapit na kaibigan: Wala ka na bang choice? Diyan ka na talaga? Malakas ngunit medyo may alinlangan pa ang sagot ko noon, sabi ko: Oo! Bahala na!

Ilang oras at medyo maraming araw na rin ang lumipas noong unang tumungtong ako sa Gawad Kalinga bilang isang intern. Baon-baon ko araw-araw ang sagot ko saaking kaibigan, araw-araw, sinasabi ko saaking sarili, Oo! Bahala na! 

Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na ang sinagot ko saaking kaibigan ay medyo may kabigatan at kahirapan. Yung "Oo! at Bahala na." ay isang malakas na pagsagot sa paanyaya ng Panginoon at isang bukas na pagtitiwala sa Kanyang mga plano. 

Noong una, sabi ko, game ako diyan, sa mga experience ko ba naman bilang isang social worker, community organizer at volunteer ano pa ba ang hindi ko kakayanin? Ano pa ba ang hindi ko kayang gawin? Hindi ko nga alam kung ano ang pinasok ko. 

Lumipas ang mga araw ng tawanan at walang humpay na kwentuhan - masaya, napakasaya sa Gawad Kalinga. Ibang level ang energy ng mga community organizers at volunteers doon, parang hindi napapagod, hindi nagsasawa. Ngunit sa likod ng mga tawanan na ito ay ang isang mahapding kurot na pare-pareho naming nararamdaman sa tuwing kami ay nasa GK Villages. Oo, isang masayang pampalubag-loob na sa bawat hakbang na ginagawa mo alam mong natutulungan mo ang mga kababayan mo kahit papano, pero kasabay ng pagtalikod mo sa mga kausap mong beneficiaries ay ang lungkot na dadalhin mo habang ikaw ay pauwi, minsan babaunin mo ito hanggang saiyong kwarto, sabay tanong: Sapat na ba ang nagawa ko? 

Sa tuwing pumapasok ang mga tanong na ito saakin, tinitingnan ko ang mga kasama ko sa Gawad Kalinga. Sa kabila ng hirap at pagod, patuloy pa rin silang naglalakad patungo sa mga GK Villages para tumulong. Ibang klase! Ibang klase ang tiwala na binigay nila. Dito ginaganahan ako para mas maging isa pang mabuting intern, at mas magi pang mabuting Pilipino. Grabe kung tumaya ang mga kasama ko sa Gawad Kalinga. Baon lang nila ay lakas ng loob, tiwala sa Diyos at isang bote ng tubig.

Ngayon, alam ko na. Hindi lang ako ang sumagot ng Oo at Bahala na sa Gawad Kalinga. Bago pa man ako, marami ng tao ang yumakap ng buo sa panawagan ng Panginoon na magsilbi, maraming tao na rin ang napasubok at umiyak sa landas na pinili nila dito sa Gawad Kalinga, pero alam ko, lahat ng taong nandito ay isa lamang ang puso - isang pusong puno ng pagmamahal, pananalig at pagtitiwala. 

Oo, ilang linggo pa lang naman ako sa Gawad Kalinga. Kung ikukumpara ang mga araw na naibuhos ko dito, alam kong meron pa akong mapipiga at maibibgay para sa iba. 

Hindi madali maging bahagi ng pamilyang ito, ngunit alam ko na sa bawat problemang aming naririnig, ay ang isang malakas na sigaw ng pag-asa - maraming tao ang handang tumulong at magsilbi para sakanilang kapwa. 

Hindi ko alam kung saan hahantong ang lahat ng ito, ngunit patuloy pa rin akong sasagot ng Oo! Oo - dalhin mo kami Panginoon sa mga lugar na kailangan mong yakapin. Baku-baku man ang daan, maalon man ang karagatan, wala man tirahan o masasakyan.

Bahala ka na, Panginoon saamin! Nawa'y patuloy mo kaming bigyan ng lakas para tuparin lahat ng aming alituntunin at hangarin!

Ma ma ma MY SIruma

 

Finally! Got the chance to enjoy the summer vacation. Our destination: the beautiful paradise of Siruma, my hometown, my hiding place, my love.

 

It was Friday the 13^th when we decided to finally leave Naga. Original plan was to take the fuso (boat) to Siruma via Tinambac port but for some mystical and dark reasons of this superstitious day, we were convinced to ride the jeep to Siruma which took 8 lovely hours from our supposedly 2-hour trip.

 

 

The powerful jeep. 

 

It was a fun and exciting 8-hour trip. We got the chance to see the beautiful view of Tinambac and Siruma. More than this, the trip made me realize how inefficient and ineffective the government of the 3^rd district was in implementing road construction projects.

 

 Ralph's EPIC FAIL moment.

 

 The road may be exciting for us but I know this is a serious issue to the locals of Tinambac and Siruma.

 

 Nonetheless, Ralph, Marlon and I had fun riding the jeep on the "topload".

The 8-hr rough road trip was all worth it! We were welcomed by a beautiful view of 

San Miguel Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

San Miguel Bay (LEFT) - Pacific Ocean (RIGHT)

DAY 2

Devoted the whole day to have an intimate bonding with the SEA.

I've been always proud of our beach. As soon as we arrive at Amuris Resort

 (government-owned - open-to-all resort) I heard my friends saying - WOW! Beautiful! etc.

Ahhh. Ayos! Nagustuhan rin nila.

 

 

 

Say what? This isn't Boracay and will never be Boracay. This is only in SIRUMA! :)

Marlon and Ralph

Me and Edda

 

Marlon, our beautiful mermaid. 

LOVELY SEA! Good thing about this place: UNTOUCHED by irresponsible tourist.

Ended the night with some sort of a meeting with the Mayor. Happy to know that she's pro-environment.

Would be helping her implement some environmental programs for Siruma. I'm excited!

Gin and Chippy accompanied us all night.

 Kuya Joan (Mama's powerful right hand) was so strict. He didn't allow us to HOHOL outside the house.

DAY 3

Again, a special reunion with the sea. 

 

 So sad. We didn't got the chance to visit the other resort, Angelica, which is managed by my kinakapitid.

Siruma is giving us more reasons to really go back.

After this, we went home and had a feast! Edda and Kuya Joan (oooy <3) cooked ginataang bangkulis, prinitong bangkulis,

and pancit. We also got a special package from Coke. Haha. Thank you Coke! #Chos

We took the 1.5-hr fuso trip back to Naga, way way way shorter than jeep trip.

Some notes:

 1. You don't need a lot of money to enjoy the lovely Siruma. 

2. People are very nice especially Kuya Joan (nice Edda), Patrick (nice Marlon), Phillip (nice Ralph) and more.

3. Ginebra San Miguel is an awesome drink. It drives the locals crazy! HAHAHA

4. Bring toothbrush. You can't HOHOL if KWAYTIANGMAWTMELCH. (mabaho ang bibig mo) :))

5. Love the environment. Mother Earth has special ways of saying THANKS to those who love her.

Will miss you, Siruma! Until we meet again. I will always be proud of you! 

  

Nagmamahal,

RAMBOY :D

(Ramboy is my nickname in Siruma. It is the only place where I openly appreciate this "manly" nickname")

Photos: Marlon Martirez

Tadhana - Up Dharma Down

Tadhana has been one of my favorite songs of Up Dharma Down.

Listen to 3:28 onwards. Armie was just soulful here. 

Ba't di salubungin

ang puso ko at kunin

Ang diwang malaya

wag ng wag ng magpabaya pa

ikaw ang pag ibig

pakinggan ang himig ko

wala na sanang lalayo oh

mundong ito ay hihinto.

This is just a rehearsal. Watch them live and you'll be amazed! 

Visit UP DHARMA DOWN for their schedule. 

spread HAPPINESS

Many people would ask me: Where do you get your energy? You always look energetic, passionate, alive. Hindi ka ba napapagod? Hindi ka ba nagsasawa?

Every time I hear these questions, I could not help but SMILE.

You know guys and gals, I'm not superman. I get tired, get lost, get busted (OUCH - ito yung pinakamasakit eh). I also feel emptiness, loneliness, hopelessness. Just like anyone of you - I also cry. Nothing is so special in me that I should be considered as someone who is "extra"ordinary. 

There are some things that I want to share with you so that you would look HAPPY everyday.

Find HAPPINESS in everything that you do. 

People might not always understand why you have to do this thing and that thing. Don't mind them. Let criticism build a better you. You have your friends and most importantly your self who trust you! Bring it on!

Being PASSIONATE takes a lot of PAIN.

I may have a lot of success stories in leadership but together with those joys are tons of pains too. I have organized a movement which led to nothing, collaborated with a government official who left me hanging, loved someone who eventually killed my inner soul and being (Yun oh).

These painful stories could not stop me to improve my self so that I could be a better volunteer and advocate. 

Don't stop TRYING.

Sabi nga nila, if plan A failed you - don't worry - you still have 25 letters left. If one man failed you - don't worry - you still have God (Syeeet. Ito yung masaklap).

We found LOVE in a hopeless place (Rihanna, 2011)

Since that love is my favorite topic, hindi pwedeng hindi masali ang love. You know, love keeps us alive. And diba, sabi pa sa isang kanta, love is all we need. I may be everywhere but it doesn't mean na salawahan ako ah. My heart is madly and deeply in love with VOLUNTEERISM and YOU. (Ay, may ganun talaga). I make sure that I love the cause that I advocate. Hindi pwedeng kung ano-ano lang. 

Life sometimes writes a very tragic test. Minsan, papaikut-ikutin ka talaga. Yung akala mong multiple choice, identification pala, yung akala mong simpleng true or false, modified pala. Life will surprise us everyday. Take everything lightly and happily. Live and share yourself with others!

Enjoy life! :)