21st Century Hero

I do not know what stuffs heroes are made of, but I am pretty sure they are exceedingly tough! 

^{My hero is Superman. He is all sleek; a tough and tenacious super crime buster who has got the muscles, the looks, the strength. I have a collection of big and miniature models, even glossy posters of the man of steel. For me, he is simply the hero of heroes.}

^{“Daddy, Daddy, I want to play with Manong Matthew’s toys.”} “Never can you play with my toys. Why don’t you settle with your matchbox cars and war tanks?”

^{"Matthew, lend your brother Linus your toys. He likes them too, and besides, you’re too old for Superman stuff. Here, help me with these wrenches.”}

^{There goes my Dad. He squirms at the idea that I still play with toys. He doesn’t even want to call me a boy anymore. He believes I’m already a man! And I hate it when he got me into doing grown-up things---fix the window, wash the car, move the furniture, and the most abhorable of all, babysit for Linus.}

^{It’s funny, but since you haven’t asked, my Dad has his own hero too!}

^{“You mean, Daddy, that such strong man ever exists?”}

²

^{Linus would listen to Dad with eyes wide and mouth open, as he tells and retells the same, old story about Samson. He would even act out at times, a robust man and everything that Samson is.}

^{One time, I saw Linus in his most hilarious act.}

^{“Uuughhh…uuughh…”}

^{“What are you doing, pinhead?”} 

“Run for your life, Manong Matthew, I’m going to tear down this building… watch out for those posts… uuughhh…”

^{Well, a hero indeed. He sure can pull the house down. But suddenly, a strange sound was heard.} Clanggg…thugguduggg… thwang…

^{And where is the hero of the house? You bet, it took him an hour to get out from under Dad’s study table.}

^*

^{My classmates too, have their choices of heroes.}

^{“Oh yeah, so you think Captain America can beat Spiderman? Without his shield he is never that good, don’t you think so, Matthew?”}

“My superhero is more popular than yours.”

^{“Who is your favorite hero, by the way?”}

 “Superman…”

 “Superman? But I heard he’s sick right now.”

 “He is not sick. Superman never gets sick you  dummy.”

 “Oh, yeah, so you think I’m dumb? Here take this. And let’s see what your Superman can do for you." 

Although a loud, boisterous laughter echoed through the hallway, it never hit Matthew's eardrum. What he knows is that pain has hit him hard on his abdomen.

^{“You’re a brute, Anton, you’ll pay for this.”}

^* 

^{“Now, listen pupils, you are to stick with your buddy for this entire ecotrip. Be sure to be together, and don’t get lost!”}

“Haw, haw, look who is pretty Bettina’s buddy!”

 “Miracle of Miracles, if it isn’t the Lord Matthew, the knight of the lost decade, the hero of the space age…”

 “Don’t mind them Matthew. Here, hold this map for me.”

^{Bettina is the cutest girl in the class. She is chic, lovely and kindhearted.}

^{“These are exotic leaves, Matthew. I haven’t seen anything like this before.”}

^{“Indeed, our teacher will surely reward us for such a find.”}

^{Bettina was engrossed with gathering more leaves, when suddenly she slipped through as a slimy rock went five feet down below!}

^{“Help, Matthew, help me!”}

 “Bettina, grasp on something.”

^{I found her clutching a fresh vine beside a large rock she fell on. I was so nervous I didn’t know what to do. I surveyed the place and called for our other classmates.}

^{“Help, we need help here. Somebody, help us.”}

^{The smart side of me, of course, never goes out of fire. Although I’m terribly nervous, I managed to think of my next move.}

 ^{“Matthew, please help me.”}

^{I jumped over a large, sturdy branch and swung myself with it. With me weight, I pulled the branch downward to reach Bettina.}

^{“Here Bettina, grab the end of this branch. Just relax, here. Easy now, easy…”}

^{How long Bettina and I were suspended on that branch seemed like eternity to me. But finally, I saw her through her difficult ascent to that rocky cliff.}

^{“Oh, Matthew, thank you, you saved my life.”}

^{Surprised and stupefied, I felt her arms gently wrap around my neck.} “You’re my hero! 

Still awestruck with the sudden event that happened, I did not hear this loud one coming: 

"Tsuuuppppp…” 

Wow, I can’t just believe it happened!

^*

^{Well, I still don’t know what stuffs heroes are made of, but now I’m quite sure that every one has a hero right inside his heart.}                    

^{(This is a declamation piece written by Marvin Cadornigara. This should not be used in any performance without the expressed permission from the author.)}

Love Sent from Heaven

LOVE SENT FROM HEAVEN

(English)

I see love in your eyes so bright

Tenderly sent from heaven above,

As it is purely from God divine,

It is the love of God in your eyes.

I see God’s love in your hands,

As they patiently create our home

And build our family’s character.

God indeed has touched your hands.

I see God’s love in your heart

For it bubbles out with joy and compassion;

It instructs patience and edifies kindness,

For it is wrapped with God’s own desire.

PAG-IBIG NA GALING SA LANGIT

(Tagalog)

Pag-big ng Maykapal, sa inyong mga mata ay nakikita

Nanggaling sa langit, natanggap ng buong lambing

Ito ay sadyang dalisay, dinulot ng Maykapal

Hindi mo maitago, wagas N’yang pagmamamahal.

Iyong mga kamay, Maykapal ang siyang hawak

Patuloy na naglililok, tahanan ng pananalig

At sila ang luminang, bou nating mag-anak.

Dakilang mga kamay, Maykapal ang siyang sumalat.

Nasa ‘yong abang puso, ang pag-big ng Maykapal

May ganap na kagalakan, may tigib na kahabagan

Tiyaga ay inimulat, kagandahang loob ay inihalimbawa.

Dahil ang puso’y binalot ng banal na mithiin.

GUGMA NAGIKAN SA LANGIT

(Hiligaynon)

Nahisayran ko, may gugma sa imo mga mata

Nagikan sa langit, mapinalanggaon nga ginpadala

Ginhatag sa imo sang Makaako nga makatilingala

Matuod may gugma sang Ginoo sa imo mga mata.

Nahisayran ko ang Diosnon nga gugma sa imo mga kamot

Sila nagbadlong, aton puluy-an ginapakamatarong

Sila nagdihon, aton kina-iya nga masidlaon.

Gintandog sang Makaako, imo kamot nga langitnon.

Nahisayran ko, Diosnon nga gugma sa imo tagipusoon

Naga-imbukal sang kasidla, kalipay kay kaluoy

Nagatudlo sang pagpailub kag nagaligdong sang kaayo

Tungod ini ginlikupan sang Diosnon nga balatyagon!

LUGUD PEPADALA MENIBAT BANUA

(Kapampangan)

Ikit ku ing lugud keng kekang matang masala.

Maganakang Pepadala keng kekang matang kikinang.

Kabang puru yang menibat keng Dios  ligaya.

Ini ing lugud ning Apung Ginu keng kekang mata

Ikit ku ing lugud ning Apung Ginu keng kekang gamat.

Kabang mapibabata deng gagawan ing kekatamung bale

At gawan in kekatamung panugaling pampamilya

Talaga ing Apung Ginu inaplus ne ing ke kang gamat.

Ikit ku ing Lugud ning Apung Ginu keng kekang pusu,

Uling bubula ya keng saya at ganaka,

Tuturu yang kapasensiahan at magambul ganaka,

Uling makabalut ya keng sariling buri ning Apung Ginu.

AYAT A NAGGAPU SADI LANGIT

(Ilokano)

Kadagiti matam nailadawak nga Ayat

Naggapu sadi langit nga Ayat

Naggapu ken Apo nasantoan ken puro

Nakitak Ayat ni Apo.

Kadagiti Imam nailadawak Ayat ni Apo

Pagtaeng-ngan ta naurnos mo   

Nasayaat a panag-ugali intakdermo

Kadagiti Imam Apros ni Apo.

Ayat ni Apo kadagiti Imam nailadawak

Ag dang-gay Asi ken Ragsak

Anos ken singpet naisurom

Pagayatam ni Apo isu ti balkot mon.

GUGMANG PINADALA GIKAN SA LANGIT

(Cebuano)

Nakita ko ang gugma anaa sa imong mga mata hilabi kahayag

Malumang pinadala gikan sa kahitas-an

Putli kay gikan man kini sa Dios

Kini Gugma sa Dios anaa sa imong mga mata.

Nakita ko ang Gugma sa Dios sa imong mga kamot.

Mga kamot nga makanunayong nagpanday sa atong panimalay

Og nag-ugmad sa kinaiya sa atong pamilya

Ang Dios gayod ang naghikap sa imong mga kamot.

Nakita ko ang gugma sa Dios sa imong kasingkasing

Nga nag-awas-awas sa kalipay ug kaluoy

Nagtudlo sa pagpaelob og naghatag’g bili sa kaayo

Kay kini linangkop sa Diosnong pangandoy.

GUGMA PADARA ALIN SA LANGIT

(Cuyonon)

Nakita ko ang gugma, sa sanag ang imong mata,

May pagmal na ag alin, ang langit ang ag padara,

Matod ig ara sa simbog, alin sa Dios na matod.

Dia ang gugma ang ateng Dios, Diyan sa imong mata.

Sa alima mo, nakita ko, gugma ing ateng Dios,

May pasensya, pagasikaso, ateng balay dique icho,

Ang pangabwi, ig ugali, na imong ing turo,

Alin sa ateng Dios, na nawidan imong tudlo.

Nakita ko sa imong tagipuson, gugma ing ateng Dios,

Aga bukal-bukal i kalipay, ig imau-manda kanogon,

Aga turo i pasensya, aga patas e kayadan,

Dia and aga balot, sa Dios, na kalyagan.

AYAO YAPO DU DIOS

(Ivatan)

Taito ko mabuyâ du mata-mata mo ŭ adao

Na yapô du Ama tap o Dios mabidin

A makuhat at akmay kidlat.

Taito ko mabuya ŭ adao nu ama tap o Dios du katabwan nu karukuhan mo as

mabuya kapari-parin mo du kasa bahay ta.

Asipinabaya at kinarakuhan nu kumuthuan ta.

Taito ko mabuya ŭ adao ni Apo ta

Dios du ataur mo, dawa, ipinabuya mo dyamen uyod na bigay na

Mapag-turô, rako sa pasensya

Manak-nakmen at mapag-turô su adao

Dios mamajes du bigay mo.

Credits to Rico Gomez for the Kapampangan translation, Erlinda Mique for the Ilocano translation, Benjamin Lozada for the Cebuano translation, Norman Briones for the Cuyonon translation, and Marcus Malupa for the Ivatan translation. 

Thanksgiving: A Brief Historical Look at the Celebration

     The first Thanksgiving was initiated as a three-day feast in the fall of 1621 by the English pilgrims and native Americans in the southeastern Massachusetts and eastern Rhode Island to celebrate a successful harvest. The pilgrims were joined by the local Wampanoag tribe in a celebration of fowl and deer, berries, fish, clams, plums and boiled pumpkin.  Henceforth, it has become a local fete, though sporadically, in celebration of events other than the end of harvest, i.e., end of drought, victory in battle, among others.

     Traditionally, the Wampanoag daily life is filled with giving thanks to the Creator, both for blessings and favors. The giving of thanks was basically the primary reason for celebrations, such as successful harvests, invocation of a good harvest season in the coming spring, and personal favors as the birth of a child, successful hunting, or victory in war.  Even in England and throughout Europe, celebrations complete with merrymaking and feasting follow a bountiful harvest.   So in 1621, the joy of giving thanks was blended in the hearts of both the native Americans and the pilgrims for the bountiful harvest after a year of sickness and paucity. To these people who know how to return their gratitude to the source of lief and blessings, the celebration was a total outpouring of gratitude, and merely revelry.

     Although thanksgiving and prayers were the focus of the 1621 harvest gathering, the first recorded religious Thanksgiving Day happened in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1623. During this celebration, the colonists gave thanks to God for rain after a two-month drought.  

     About 150 years later, thirteen colonies celebrated a day of Thanksgiving.  After twelve years, President George Washington proclaimed Thursday , November 26, 1789 as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to celebrate the formation of a new nation and the establishment of the new Constitution. Although it was officially declared a national day of Thanksgiving, it was celebrated as an annual celebration henceforth.

     It was Sarah Josepha Hale, then editor of the Godey's Lady Book and author of the "Mary Had A Little Lamb" nursery rhyme, who spent about 40 years advocating for a national, annual Thanksgiving holiday. While the United States was anticipating for the Civil War, her belief for a needed holiday became a strong source of hope and patriotism.  On the other hand, while President Abraham Lincoln was searching for a way to bring the nation together, Hale advocacy for a national celebration hit a perfect timing. Finally in October 3, 1863, President Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving and praise, becoming a fixed national, annual holiday. Pressured by businessmen and retailers in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued his own Thanksgiving proclamation to move Thanksgiving from the last Thursday of November to the second-to-the last Thursday of November to give people more time to shop for Christmas. Immersed in controversy and resulting to a national split in the celebration of Thanksgiving, the celebration was finally restored to the original fourth Thursday of November by the US Congress on December 26, 1941. * 

French Perfume (or How the World Was Spinning in Space)

“French perfume, Alexandra?”

“Why not, Sabrina?”

“Are you up to something? Something weird? Outlandish? Out of this world?”

“I am very sensible and very much rational. You see, I am grooming myself up to be a VJ.”

“A what? Can you spell that again?”

“Yuppp, a VJ par excellence!”

“Are you serious?”

“Uh-huh”

*

“And where does the planet Earth position itself in the vast space, Alexandra?”

“A, a, I remember that… Well, uhhm…”

“Now, who can help the beauteous Alexandra? Can you try, Matthew?”

“Easy Ma'am, the Earth is a member of the Solar System, which belongs to a larger Milky Way.”

“Sobresaliente, Matthew, thank you boy, for you are such a swell guy. Now can you repeat that Alexandra?”

“Well, I can do it! You see, the Earth is the center of the Solar System and the solar system consists of millions of galaxies!”

“How dare you mess up with your Science, Alexandra, in terrorem, how horrible. Are you Ptolemic or Galilean?”

“Or Copernican perhaps, har, har, har, har!”

“Alexandra, I suggest you give attention to your Science and learn your Science book by heart.”

“Yes, Ma'am.”

*

“I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! Why can’t I do Science?”

“Because you’re doing something else, Alexandra.”

“Oh well, why should I bother!”

*

“”Well, that’s all for now, folks, I’ll be seeing you, guys and gals, confederates and pals, to the next music video presentation of MyDiatonic channel. Before I leave, I want you to savor this exotic rhythm from the one and only jazz genius, Maximiana. Bye-bye!”

“Well, I’m not sold to it.”

“I told you, I told you, I told you…I want to be a VJ. A V-J, and not anything else. Remember that very well, Sabrina."

*

“I got a call from your teacher today, Alex.”

“Oh, you did?”

“Yeah, and I understand her concerns. She wants you to succeed…”

“Hmmm…”

“…in class”

“So?”

“What I mean is you should give more importance to your studies, and pursue whatever career you want in the future. You see, first things first.”

“What shall I do then, Mom?”

“Can you straighten up your grades, please?”

*

“C’mon guys, move it, move it fast. Form your line, and step right in. I’ll be calling you one by one for your audition. Ah, ah, ah, no more orientations, no more fuzz, no more fancy! This is MyDiatonic channel, and not ABC!”

“Okay, I can do it, yeah, I can do it!”

“Ahaaa! Alexandra Gomez? You're next!”

“Yes, I can do it! It’ll be a big hit!”

*

“Waaaaa… Sabrina… I busted out in the audition!”

“Why, what happened?”

“Waaaaa… I don’t know, but the big lady said I’d better go back to school! Waaaaa…”

*

“Forgot your French perfume, Alexandra?”

“Never mind, I’d rather go back to school, and talk about Earth not the center of the Universe.”

“Well, that’s according to Ptolemy.”

“Wake up, Sabrina, it was Galileo who said that!”

“Oooppps, did he say that?”

***