What If...

…there’s a treasure chest…

…below the ground where I am standing right now?

…I suddenly fall…

…from the stairs, from a tall building?

…there’s a bomb…

...in the school, in the bus?

…I get locked in an elevator?

…a car hit me while crossing the road?

…I suddenly fall in a manhole?

…there’s something or someone under my bed?

…someone kill me while sleeping?

…I wake up in…

…a different place or a different time?

…I open the door and enter…

…a different place or a different time?

…I forget the key inside a locked room?

…I wake up as a different person?

…I wake up with a different face?

…I get kidnapped?

…aliens do exist?

…someone claim my identity, an impostor?

…something or someone possess me?

…I can meet someone from the past?

…someone from the past come back?

…I catch Santa?

…I can travel through time…

…change the past?

…see the future?

...I can travel from place to place…

…in just a second?

…we can enter…

…a book, a TV show, a film?

…everything…

…we think, we draw, we write, we say…

…can come true?

…all we know, all we learn…

…are just lies?

…I am Bob Ong?

…schools never exist, books never exist?

…everyday is holiday or working day?

…I will be taken into prison…

…for a crime I did not commit?

…I kill someone?

…one peso is enough?

…one peso is hard to earn?

…money does not matter…

…or nothing has a price?

…paper bills fall down from the sky?

…I am the richest man on Earth?

…we never get hungry, never get thirsty?

…I am the President?

…I can meet…

…the President?

…my idol?

…there are no religions between us?

…we do not have laws?

…nations do not exist...

…but we all live as just one nation?

…another war strikes?

…there is no more space on Earth?

…we live on another planet?

…today is the end of the world…

…later or tomorrow?

…Mama left us, leave us?

…Papa is here?

…my sister, Karen…

…can talk, can walk?

…I fall in love…

…with my mother, my sister?

…I am just an orphan?

…I came from a different family?

…a fire hit our house, a storm break our house?

…we all know each other?

…I talk with every stranger I meet?

…we are in a survivor game?

…everyone is chasing me?

…someone I know, someone I met…

…is a wanted criminal?

…I text a number I just guessed…

…without thinking I am talking…

…to God?

…to my true love?

…to a wanted criminal?

…I shout your name in a thousand people?

…I fall in love…

…with the first person I see?

…I fall in love…

…with every person?

…I fall in love…

…with someone I do not know?

…you know that I love you?

…you know that I still love you?

…you know that I am thinking of you?

…I am waiting for no one?

...I die in front of your eyes…

…right here, right now?

…I can read minds, know your secrets?

...find out your answers in the exam?

...find out your next actions, where you are going?

...find out who your crush is?

…find out that you are thinking of me?

…find out that you are thinking of sex?

…one of us is…

…an alien, a ghost, a robot?

…people do not have any emotion?

…no one know me, no one remember me?

…animals can speak?

...two different animals can produce a child?

…shadows speak, shadows run?

…the world is black and white?

…the world is silent?

…we do not have a night or a day?

…I live under water?

…the Heaven is just below us?

…we are all naked?

…we walk backward?

…I can fly?

…I am a giant or a little man?

…I can’t sleep, can’t close my eyes?

…I sleep for days, for years?

…I never wake up?

…I fall in love with the same sex?

…I were a woman, you were a man?

…we all have the same sex…

…or do not have any gender?

…men can get pregnant?

…we do not have names?

…we all have the same name?

…we can exchange names?

…we all have the same face?

…we can exchange faces?

…I become blind?

…I grow younger as you grow old?

…I grow old so fast?

…I can live for too long?

…I can live only for…

…100 days or even 24 hours?

…I know when Death…

…will soon come and take me?

…death never exists?

…I was a rich person before?

…I was a famous person before?

...I’ve been here before?

…I can see the world in just one look?

…everyone can see my actions?

…we can see the actions of one another?

…someone is watching our actions somewhere?

…we do have a destiny…

…a role, a script since we were born?

…God was one of us?

…I am God?

…I am invisible?

…I do not know where I am?

…I do not know my way home?

…I do not know where I am going?

…I lose my memory and forget everything?

…I do not see myself in the mirror…

…but see the face of someone else?

…I am alone…

…the only one living in Earth?

…I die young?

…I was not born?

…I never existed?

...everything I typed here...

...was not saved?

…everything’s just a dream?

...dreams can come true?

…I stop thinking of these little things?

…stop worrying, stop dreaming…

…and wake up?

WHAT IF…

A Serious Letter

“May time tayo ng pagsikat. May time na nasa tugatog ka. May time na pababa ka. At siyempre, may time na wala ka na.”

And so the curtain closed as these flashes of scenes are now gone with the wind. Tributes have been made and prepared just for you. The credits are now rolling… I can see your name, your face, your story…

 

So today, I have thought of writing a letter for you, not just a simple letter but an elegy for the king of comedy, a serious letter which I hope can make the people smile.

“All the world’s a stage

And all the men and women merely players:

They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts.”

-William Shakespeare

While writing this letter, I smile as I recall the hilarious antics you left within my gray cells. You are tickling our ribs for sometimes, you beat someone, you pinch someone, you toss a bucket of water on someone, you shoot someone with water which came from your mouth, or else your face is filled with creams of cake. You sometimes crumple your face for a sour expression. You sometimes wear your favorite shorts. You are sometimes a gay. You are sometimes drunk.

You are sometimes a gender-bending DARNA. You are sometimes a spoof of James Bond. You are sometimes a failed desperate advertiser. You are sometimes a sweet man visiting your lady for a harana. You are sometimes a father. You are sometimes a grandfather. You are sometimes a common social worker. 

But most of the times, I can hear your wealthy mother-in-law shouting, “Kaya ikaw John, magsumikap ka!”

But the best role you have showed to us is being a DOLPHY who seriously told the world that even if you die and live again, you will still be an actor. Now I wonder, when comes such another one? 

I know, during your times, things are not just as easy as ABC or as fast as a second goes. You will never expect to perform in a theater… if you are just a peanut vendor or a watermelon seed vendor in a theater. First of all, you need to aspire, to dream. Before the spotlight shined upon your face, you have shined a lot of shoes. Before you drove us crazy, you drove a kalesa. Before playing such epic roles, you have played the roles of different workers… in real life!

And once you reach the first step of your giant leap, walls will emerge from nowhere and block your way to the finish line. During the times of war, Japanese air raids would disturb the show. You would run in a safe air raid shelter. If no bombs exploded, the show would soon resume. The show must go on.

And your talent fee, to begin with, was a five peso!

Through the years, you remained as a good person. Once upon a time, you wanted a new partner for Susan Roces. You just met Ronaldo Valdez in a basketball court. You presented him to Susan. But Susan responded, “Wala bang iba?” But then, you brought the man in a barber shop, bought him a pair of boots and lent him your suit. When the two of you came back to the press conference, Susan finally chose him as her new partner. The good thing here is that Susan did not even realize it was the same man he rejected before!

Through the years, you remained as a wise person. When asked about joining politics, you said, “Huwag na. Natatakot ako.” But when it was pointed out that you should not be scared because you would surely win, you responded, “Doon ako natatakot, eh. Baka manalo ako. Madaling tumakbo, paano kung manalo?”

Through the years, you remained humble and down to Earth. You are just so honest to tell us that you are not comfortable in being called as the “Comedy King.” You keep your feet on the ground as you keep your hands on the pulse of the people.

“Hari ang tawag sa iyo, tulad ng isang lawing matayog ang lipad, nasa taas man ay hindi naman silaw sa sinag ng araw kundi nakatingin pa rin sa lupa kung saan ikaw ay isinilang, tulad ng isang kawayang marunong yumuko kahit dumaraan ang marahas na hangin, nakatingin pa rin sa lupa kung saan naroon ang iyong mga ugat.”

Through the years, you dedicated your life on the stage. You believed that the worst sin a performer could commit is to rest on his laurels.

Through the years, through your acts, you taught us a lot of lessons. You taught us that films with gay characters are not all the time funny but even touching. You, Kevin Cosme and John Puruntong, taught us to smile in times of crisis and problems, to laugh in times of crisis and problems, to be happy in times of crisis and problems. You simply reminded us that laughter is the best medicine. Just imagine how many people you have healed if the laughter you shared with us is truly a medicine that can cure a serious disease like cancer or AIDS or even a medicine that can cure a simple illness like cold or cough. You simply reminded us that life is a tragedy to those who feel but a comedy to those who think. You simply reminded us Charlie Chaplin’s wonderful quote, “A day without laughter is a day wasted.”

Through the years, for us, you never fade and grow old. You left footprints that waves can’t wash away. 

Through the years, I never had the chance to meet you, just to know you. But I am relieved by your words:

“Pindutin mo lang ang PLAY at magsasama ulit tayo.”

And through the years, we admire you, we love you!

Now, the greatest achievement you achieved, the greatest gift you have given to us, is how you want us to remember you.

"Gusto ko nakangiti sila kapag nabanggit iyong pangalan ko. Gusto ko ngumingiti ka, may maiwang ngiti sa iyo.”

Yes, the comedy king is dead! But long live the comedy king!

Now, as I end this letter, as you finish reading this letter, I know we are on the verge of our tears yet let us remember his words. Let us not cry. Let us smile! Let us be happy! =)

Image Sources:

http://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/51483/dolphys-life-lessons-10-wise-moves-from-the-comedy-king/

http://entertainment.inquirer.net/49683/dolphys-legacy-of-laughter

Video Source:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do2wb2TPdAk

Information Sources:

http://www.philstar.com/funfare/article.aspx?articleid=826305&publicationsubcategoryid=63

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/265078/lifestyle/people/dolphy-the-reluctant-king-of-comedy

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/264979/lifestyle/dolphy-s-life-lessons-10-wise-moves-from-the-comedy-king

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolphy

A Question for the Asian Heart

Can Asians think?

These three words can give us three various meanings. First, these words can cause an uproar as we may be under estimated, mocked or even discriminated. Second, for some of us, these words are just a trivial thing to talk about. Lastly and the most positive is the question gives us a challenge to prove ourselves that we, Asians, can think and do think.

Yes, these words ask not about the Asian’s IQ but about the Asian mind and the Asian way of thinking answers and solutions in the global issues. It is not a matter of mental ability but a matter of personal reflections and social responsibility.

To begin with, I would like to clarify that the author, Kishore Mabhubani was born and raised in Singapore yet ask this question like he had doubts.

 Most of us, Asians, will say yes, a yes with 50% prejudice. Therefore, our point-of-view does matter here for it simply limits our view of the truth we can see yet we cannot accept. As a matter of fact, the comparison between the Asian minds and the Western minds will be reviewed. And of course, the three ways of answering the question (the Yes, the No and the Maybe) will also be examined.

First, let us summarize the No’s. The Asian power has moved backward while the Western power moved forward. It is such an irony on how the larger Asian societies were outdid and colonized by smaller European societies. Worst of all, mental colonialism was injected in the Asian minds. We are mixed up with the Western system of values. We patronize the Western culture and resources more than our own. We even try to copy-paste our dreams from them. Lastly, we nailed ourselves to the belief that we depend on them. We believe that we are in massive debt on them for colonizing and liberating us.  We believe that the West reflect the perfect examples for each nation to follow. We believe that we are inferior beings from the Western people or in other’s view, the Western people are superior to us. And to think of something positive, Japan is the only Asian nation that can catch up with the West. Therefore, only a few of us can think.

Now, let us take at look at the Yes-side. The Asian economies grew more rapidly and more consistently than any other economies and thanks, some of us are thinking that progress can be achieved from being confident and independent in the global competition. Additional to this, we know what to choose, what to adopt, what to change, what to keep and what to rediscover. Therefore, we can think.

The answer of the Maybe’s will come from the actions and decisions that we did, we do and we will do. It is up to us if we will be repeating the same economic mistakes that we did. It is up to us if we can reach the Western level of political stability and harmony. It is up to us if we can achieve the same zero prospect of war that the Western people had successfully passed. It is up to us if our basis for personal development will be changed to our abilities not on our birth and connections or even on our ethnic background. The consequences will come from us.

From what I had read, the names of various Asian nations existed in the text, some noted for the first developments they did, some for being the economic tigers of the continent, some for their economic rise and fall, some for their good government system, some for their economic resilience and some for reaching the Western standards of modern progress. But as I keep on reading, I can’t find the word “Philippines” so I tried repeating the text from its first letter to its last period. But no, I can’t find it and I did not even miss it. Does it mean that we do not matter? Our name even came from a Western leader. But no, we do matter. We are not mentioned for our system, economic and political, emerged from those tigers over us.

Let us admit it. The Western minds have a clear advantage over us due to their open-minded leap as their values system is compatible with the modern universe. But let us also take note that the future lies not in the competitions and comparisons but in self-progress first, not in global diversity but in global cooperation.

Here’s a challenge for us. It is a dream to reconnect our historical past even if we suffer colonial dominations, to bring up the youth open to a new interconnected globe yet still aware to the cultures of our ancestors, to cooperate with the West using our unity in diversity and most of all, to define, remember and create our own identity so that we can empower ourselves with pride and confidence.

This year, the Asian population reached about 3.8 billion, still covering about 60% of the world’s population. Now, can we use our population as producers, not just consumers? Can we use our population not as burden but as resources?  

Yes, the past makes up the present as the present makes up the future. But the past will never make up the future. We can’t predict the future unless we make it.  

Can Asians think? Yes, we can. But do Asians think? I leave it to you. It is not a question of thinking but a question of proving and taking actions. It is not a question for the mind, but a question for the heart, a question for the Asian heart.

Image Sources: 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheila_blige/2382187929/

http://www.hblewett.com/blog/2012/06/12/yes-and-no/istock4159256yes-no-maybe-dice/

Information Sources:   

http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/resources/transcripts/123.html

http://exploredia.com/population-of-asia-2011/