DAY 12, 13 & 14 - ANOTHER SHOT AT LIFE ( In Time of COVID-19 )

Movies, books and internet, eat, pray, love, jokes and stories

A mother, a father, 2 sons, 3 daughters, in 30 square meter of space

Laughter and hope still win over the deaths and uncertainties outside

We still don't have have anything to worry about, and took things in stride

Its been years since we've had this kind of fun, as if its a picnic

We still have some fund, food is not yet a problem, no reason to panic

But in other places are chaos, people are getting impatient, hungry, desperate

Around the world, its no different, 195 countries affected increasing at a fearful rate

Me and my wife, we've had our life, but the kids... only about to start

With the all the fears, the worries, you have to have faith, you have to be smart

To question our destiny, why us? why me? will never help, our lives are Thy hands

W'ever we'll become, w'ever the aftermath, if ever we, or you survive, try to understand

Our life is but a gift, we live according to a grand design

Someone Up Above call the shots, in a tapestry we're but a strand

No regrets, I've had my chance, dreamed of kids with books on their hands

I gained their hearts, but they loved algorithms, the binary, laptops and CAMs

Gadgets did not, nor Cellphones built walls around

Love and understanding, tolerance still build stronger bonds

Food is still the shortest way to your children's heart, coupled with loving words

They will seek your shelter, they will even keep you inside their own private worlds

I sometimes wonder why families fall apart. We're not really parents of the perfect kind, nor our children a source of  great pride, we have our faults, but somehow we were able to patch things up before things get out of hand. I guess I could even say that I own the fault of not being able to provide a comfortable life for them, and without some help, could not even support them through college, but somehow the failures I had were never shoved on my face. 

Somehow the time I spent caring for their needs, cooking their meals, the stories, the so-called corny jokes, had made them all blind to my faults and shortcomings. My kids call me "Sugar Daddy" for my fondness for sweets occasionally they buy me a pack of my favorite "Flat Tops".

Now they call me "Download Papa" 'cause of my fondness for movies, boxing and documentaries, so they bought me a 1-Terra hard-drive. Simple things, simple joys, I gave them those in their younger years, and now I guess its their turn.

I am not very sure if you could consider this a good advice - " It is better to score points at home than anywhere else. " You will be drawn away for much of your social life and outside adventure, but you can sleep, rest and be comfortable at home. The adventure, the fun, travel and "good-time", I've had those when I was young, now I have books to fill in those gaps.

DAY 11 - COUNTING YOUR BLESSINGS DESPITE COVID-19

" In the time of test, the family is the best "
-- Burmese Proverb

" If you have troubles falling to sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep ... counting your blessings ... "
- from the song "Count Your Blessings" by Bing Crosby


Lyric-wise, one of the most beautiful song,  a wonderful composition 

It is how things around us reflects itself but what we see, our own reflection

For life they say is like a river, we can go with the flow or swim against the currents

But to appreciate our life, we must learn to navigate... take some time to smell the flowers

The flowers may seem more beautiful at the other side of the fence

But what we have in our garden is ours to admire and smell its essence

We can't have everything that we love, but we can love everything that we have

Its easy to do, comparison is the death of joy,  beauty lies within our hearts, our better half

As the saying goes, may we have what we want, and want what we get

May we live in interesting times, and have interest in the time that before every sunset

Everybody is given the same day, the same hours, minutes in the day, morning to sundown

No matter how many times we get lost or fall down , it is never to late to get up or turn around

Just listen to this song, feel what it says, 

maybe you'll get its drift someday ...

There was a time when I felt to low and wanted to give up on life

But this wonderful movie, gave me hope, made me thankful that I'm alive

It maybe an old movie, its message is always timely, just pretend you never knew

For every misfortune, just like a storm, after it has passed, there will always be a rainbow 

Simply there are better lives reserved for other people but don't despair

We all live under the same sun, maybe on different grounds, breath the same air

But we get visited by night after the end of each day, we need to rest, we need to sleep

At the end of our rope is the beginning of God's, we gotta be patient, with our faith to keep

Watch this movie ... it's a classic

Her's another good movie ...

Some other feel good movies you can enjoy while this quarantine is going on :

Good Will Hunting ...... Matt Damon & Ben Afflect

A Little Bit of Heaven ........Kate Hudson                 

It Could Happen To You .......Nicolas Cage & Brigette Fonda
Family Man ........Nicolas Cage & Tea Leone
Children of Heaven ...... Iranian Movie
Eat, Pray, Love ....... Julia Roberts
The Green Book ....Mahershala Ali
Philomena ......Steve Coogan & Judi Dench
The Best Years of Our Lives .... Dana Andrews
The Sound of Music ......Julie Andrews 

DAY 10 - REMEMBERING SISTERLY LOVE BEYOND COVID-19

'Lest I forget, the real deal, the true matriarch

Her dream paved the way to enjoy the Canadian way of life

She started in Montreal by her lonesome, married and bore a son

Took in the family one by one, now they are so many to make up a clan

But for me  I won't forget how good she was when we were young

She bought me my first 45 rpm record of my favorite song

Made me walk proud in my teens with the Fila shoes I was wearing

Yet it were not the gifts but the kindness, that's the thing I really miss

From my other sisters I picked up the habit of making lists and scrapbooks

I came to love books and I spent my time living in imagined worlds

Sometimes things doesn't go your way, you don't know where you're headin'

Your sisters will try to guide you but you're hard of listening

Guess they were right a lot of times, I should have focused on my career

Or maybe I should have tried working overseas, be an engineer

But my heart was not into it, I could not overcome my fear

Just couldn't think I could beyond the family I hold so dear

I know it will be hard for them to understand

Why I chose this life instead of the one they had

Sorry to disappoint you guys, I just followed my heart

DAY 9 - LIFE'S GREATEST GIFT

Time is now that we should make peace with our past

We never got to choose our parents, their memories are made to last

Something I learned that I want my to know like a song

Parents are not always right, but they are not always wrong

My kids taught me how lovable their grandparents' touch

Despite the distance, despite not seeing them much

They had so many fun memories, especially that of my Dad

They remember his jokes, antics and the food that they had

The thought that they'll never gonna see them really made them sad

You'll never know how much they love you until you have children of your own

I failed to make them proud ...but I appreciate the love they have shown

For all the mistakes, the failures, I passed on the lessons to my sons and daughters

I may have failed in my career, but surely I've done enough  make them better

If there is life beyond the one we've had on earth,I'm sure my Mom is smiling

I have made my peace with Dad, he'll leave a lot of love worth remembering

As they say, no matter how hard you try, it will be like father, like son

You may be able to break the pattern, but the seed had been sown

Life is like that, you try take the good, bury the bad and  try to reach the top

But somehow the things that you buried have a way of  shooting up

The best way to deal with it is to allow it to blossom on a better ground

Gotta remove the weed, trim the unnecessary sprouts, cultivate the mound

Lessons you learned will act as fertilizer,  your love will act as water

Your children will blossom under the care and sunlight of their mother

Like a tree they will grow, from its shade you can rest and seek shelter

Bear sweeter fruits, grow better roots ...

HE AIN'T HEAVY ... HE'S MY BROTHER

We're five brothers, and I am the eldest

No way can I claim that I am the best

I live in the southeast, they're in the west

May we meet again someday, and that is my wish

Thousands of miles away, separated when we were kids

We did have a common childhood before they migrate

To a land of milk and honey, to mountains full of snow

Got left behind, dreamed some but never got to follow

To my four brothers, a toast to all your prosperous lives

Give my regards to your kids, and to your wonderful wives

Let bygones be bygones, let us wish each other happiness

Ours are different paradise I hope you all the best 

Maybe I was not much of a big brother

But it is not because I am shorter

Its just that your dreams are not my dreams

Got a little bit lost but mapped out  different schemes

The truth is I miss you all ...

To my brothers, I dedicate this song 

DAY 8 - OVERCOMING FEAR IN TIME OF COVID-19

Taken from "The Diary of Anne Frank" - a book of writings from the Dutch language diary of kept by a girl young while she was hiding for two years with her family during the Nazi occupation of Netherlands.  She knew she was living in a borrowed time for discovery of their hiding place would surely land them to the concentration camps for Jews. Holed up and cut off from the outside world, the 13 year old Jewish girl, the Franks and another family, faced hunger, boredom and constant cruelties of  living in confined quarters, and ever-present threat of discovery and death.

We are no near to their miseries, but just the same, outside our homes the danger is real. The day after also is tinged with uncertainty and fear of catching the virus. We have to cling on to whatever trace of beauty and good things we can think of so as to dampen our fears.

Day 8 is here and the total shows 350 affected, 25 deaths
Life is in God's hand, we have to be strong despite the threats
Like a thief in the night we are not sure when they will strike 
We could borrow the courage of the young girl, Anne Frank

Hidden in the attic,  lived two years frightened of daily peril
She turned her fear into a prose, thought of freedom so unreal
No right to exist,  her only crime was having been born a Jew
Yet she carved a niche in world history reserved only for a few

Many times in the past, it was prophesied the world will end
Small pox decimated the 90 percent of the Mayans and Aztecs
The Black Death, Spanish Flue and Cholera has killed millions
So too the Great War and World War 2 ravaged many nations

Then came more after the war, the Asian Flue, AIDS and H1N1
Now its Bird Flue and Corona virus that we have to overcome
Men have survived before, maybe millions will get sick and die
Can't lose hope, some will survive, in God's hands our destiny lie

We don't have the answers right now but surely there will be
Men were designed to handle every kind of nature's mystery
As fear crept deep into your heart, kneel down, look up above
Pray, surrender and what will happens next ... He will decide

The Bible says there's a time for everything, a time for every season

A time to be born, a time to die, a time to weep, and a time  to mourn
So is a time to laugh, a time to sing our favorite songs, a time to dance
And with our borrowed time, to pray and hope for one more chance

Just like Anne Frank, I too dreamed of living even when I am gone...
Had I made a difference, will some remember the good things I've done
I've lived a good life but I pray for more time, before I finish my run
A chance to make up for lapses I made when I missed to the right turns

THE SEVENTH DAY - LOVE IN TIME OF COVID-19

The seventh day, gotta fight boredom any which way you can
Started the day by cleaning the stove, the sink and the kitchen
Prepared breakfast, then a few chapters, the classic, Lord Jim 
307 cases, 19 deaths, stats still growing, the future still uncertain,  

It is a sunny Sunday but we cannot go out to enjoy  the weather
To break the ice started sharing stories, recall funtimes together
Some sadness crept as I remember my father, brothers and sisters
They're all settled in Canada, hope they are a situation far better

There were gaps, some misunderstandings that time has healed
I felt sorry for my parents for I was to them a dream unfulfilled
I have learned from my mistakes, I found peace and happiness 
We built a home and taught them there's more to life than riches

Hope that like SARS, Covid-19 will also fade and die this summer
Worrying won't help, we just have to pray to be kept out of danger
Cherish every minute, every hour... dream as if we will live forever
Continue, live, love, learn, maybe tomorrow things will be brighter

Only faith can keep us safe for I believe that life is meant to last
Someone up above call the shots, call it destiny, for the die is cast
We have to make do with what we have, or whatever is left of us
We dare not ask why, our lives surrender, may these come to pass

No use anticipating what will happen, after these there'll be chaos 
Blame game will start, pointing fingers for the lives that were lost
But as history teaches, for every disaster there'll be some heroes
They will rise above the ruins, lead and prevail whatever the cost 

I've had a good run,  its the kids turn to see how far they can go
I guess I have enjoyed my life to the fullest, hoping they will too
Reached the point when even if I have a choice to alter my past
Honestly I can say won't touch a thing for I no longer wear a mask

LOVE IN TIME OF COVID-19 (The 6th Day)

What is there to do, the 6th day of community quarantine

Two kids with work at home, web design and algorithms
The wife is the queen, for she has to supervise everything
Says I have to be productive,  I took charge of the kitchen

Its clean, clean, clean, cook, and keep the food for the kids
Only one is allowed to go out to buy food and other needs
So the eldest son was designated to be the representative
Two other kids are doing their theses ...luckily a reprieve

We have to be sane and smart, and follow the decisive path
These are not mere rumors,  its much like the bubonic plague
Today there are  300 cases, 17 deaths... must control the toll
For more deaths will follow if people will not heed the call

Political measures will not work to solve a medical crisis
By next week people will have no food, people will resist
When people go hungry there'll be anarchy in the streets
What we need is a true leader who can give what we need

I remember, grandpa's words, "nothing's harder than hunger"
His mettle was measured by war... and our war is no better
Their's were against conquerors, ours versus unseen terrors
Keep our faith... pray this darkness will not enter our doors

There's only one way to beat the fear, the stress and boredom
We may be quarantined but we still enjoy our very freedom
We're far luckier, we have the internet to know news around
The world is on our fingertips, and friends can still be found

What we can do ? Explore the mind ...the good things in life
Now is the time to reconcile and mend every internal strife
Maybe you're holding on to something, now's the right time
Words may hurt, but truth unsaid -  ill will is a bigger crime

So as they say, "A family that prays together, stays together !"
Life is what we put in our time, it is not meant to last forever
The love, the laughter, the sweet times, they are life's markers
Even when you're gone, the good things will be remembered

P.S. ---

There's a saying that  " When you're sailing in the rough seas with no land in sight, the only sane thing to do is keep steering and ride through the waves and pray that they will not overturn the ship."

In times like this, uncertainty lurks and we have to keep track of things happening around us, we are left with no choice but to make use of the time we have until the sky clears.

Kaya yakapin mo ang lahat nang iyong mahal sa buhay

Di mo batid ang bukas, Diyos na lang ang tanging gabay

Muling sariwain ang saya, bagay na sa inyo'y nag-uugnay
Mga magagandang alaala kung sakaling magka-kawalay

A scene in the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" where the survivors trapped inside 
the National Library have to choose the books that could be burned so as to keep 
themselves warm...

LOVE IN TIMES OF COVID - 19

We are in an uncertain times because of the COVID-19
We're now on the fifth day of the community quarantine
We got'ta stay at home, to be safe, avoid the viral strain
We should not panic, we just have to bear all the pains

Just think of the of good times, now the tide is turning
Things happen for a reason, a reminder? or an omen
The religious says a prelude, the world's coming end
Whatever it is, there may still be time, our life to mend

The virus stink but don't think tomorrow will be bleak
For after every storm they say, there's a rainbow streak
The world has survived two world wars and pandemics
There's more to life than money, politics and economics

Crisis brings the world together, enemies become friends
Boundaries maybe are closed  to shut out the viral spread
Death is everywhere, affecting  both the rich and the poor
May help a lot  if we allow God to enter our heart's door

Guess its about time for us to sit down and contemplate
Have we missed a thing, a chance, to love, to celebrate
Life have not been all bad, there were some good parts
It is never to late to say I love you, to lighten our hearts

The possibility always lingers, we may not see tomorrow
Just think of all the good times to tone down our sorrows
Yesterday we may have forgotten to do something good
Now is the time for some and try to put in soothing words

It  may not all be that bad.. view our world from the inside
Fear of sickness, thoughts of death, as danger lurks outside 
Nothing we can do but wait...  hope and pray it would end
Make our house a home, say thanks to family and friends

We have lived, we have shared stories, and laughed together
Thanks for the good times, life's not designed to last forever
I say "Thank You" to my parents, my 3 sisters, my 4 brothers
To all my cousins, in-laws, all my friends and acquaintances

Let us all hope for better times ...may this too pass over

WHAT'S WRONG WITH MARRIAGE

" When a man is unmarried, his life is incomplete. But once he marry, he's finished ! "

                                                                                                                     - Zsa Zsa Gabor, Actress

"  Women, can't live with them, can't live without them. "  - Frank Sinatra, Singer and actor

"  By all means, marry.  If you get a good spouse, you'll become happy.

    If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher."

  -  Socrates, known as the Father of Philosophy

I wish the wedding ceremony would include the reading of some sort of a "Revised Miranda Rights" by the priest to the man who is about to recite his marital vow. It goes something like this :

" You have the right to remain silent. Everything you say can be used against you. You have no right to an attorney for no one can bail you out unless you agree that she is right or you are wrong. A happy wife is a happy life, and failure to do so, you are will be  sentenced to a life of hard labor and eternal misery. "

Its the real choice to make - to be right or to be happy.

Someone once said, "A wedding is just an event, a marriage is an achievement."  I have always wondered why some couples who vowed to each other to love and honor, until death do them part, ended up going separate ways after just a few years of being together. Most people would think that maybe they didn't try hard enough, but I guess, that maybe they tried too hard and forgot the main ingredient of being together - chemistry.

Chlorine is a toxic gas that irritates the skin, the eyes and the respiratory system. Sodium , on the otherhand, is also a poison in powdered form. Yet when you chemically combine the two elements, they  form the compound Sodium Chloride, commonly known as the table salt. Probably the most commonly used ingredient in giving taste to the food that we eat. There was even a time in the early Roman Times when the table salt was used as a currency for trading. Likewise, two people who goes into marriage should get rid of their poisonous qualities to form a bond that would spice up the life of everyone they come close to be with.

Guess I was lucky to have a mathematician for a partner for she sees me as a problem that needs to be solved. She knows how to divide the sorrows, multiply the joy, subtract the bad traits in my ways and add to the things I do best.  She was able to differentiate the good sense out of the failures I committed and integrate the good qualities I have that I thought I never have. She provided the equilibrium that allows my kids to be what they wanna be and knows me so well by the number. And most of all, she is the other side of the triangle of which we have our faith on top to form a good family.

Me, on the other hand, being a man of letters provide the colors, trying to draw a picture of a happy life. I may have failed in bringing in a good number of material things but knowing thousands of ways to say I love you in the things I do have kept her blind of all the failures I bring in. One good piece of advice I can give to anyone who wants to keep a marriage intact is to capture the happy moments in your life in form of photographs, maybe keep a diary or store away some souvenirs, to remind you that when things are not going your way, you have some good memories you can go back to and some better moments you can look forward to. You have to keep your faith to keep the wheel moving. 

And maybe someday ... you too could read a woman like a book.  

Who gets the girl in the end is always the most interesting part of every story.  The wedding is not merely a rope you use to tie your woman with, but a good reminder that when things are falling apart, you have a rope to cling on to.