“Ang Buhay ay Parang Life”

“Ay, buhay! Parang life!” Mahirap ngunit dapat nating harapin.
"What a life!" It's difficult (to survive) but we should face it!

“Ang Buhay ay Parang Life.” Ito’y isang kasabihan sa Pinas na kung hindi mo kayang ipaliwanag ang klase ng buhay na meron ka, dahil sa hirap o dismaya na nararanasan mo, sinasabi ng mga Pinoy, “Ay, buhay! Parang life!” Ito’y isang pag-amin na bagamat talagang mahirap ang buhay, may pag-asa pa rin sa hinaharap. Kaya, dapat nating harapin dahil di magtagal ay makakaraos din. Ito’y isang paraan para ipaalam sa nakikinig na wala kang ibang magagawa kundi tanggapin na lang ang anumang masama, mahirap, masalimuot o di mo maintindihang nangyayari sa iyong buhay. Sa kabuuan, ang kasabihan na ito ay isang reaksiyon sa negatibong nangyayari sa tao.

"Life is like life!" (literal translation) - a saying in the Philippines when one can't explain the kind of life s/he experiences because of poverty or dismay, Filipinos say, "Oh, What a life! It's like life! (It's life meant to be!)" It's an admittance that although life is really hard, there's optimism into the future.  So, we should face it because soon we'll get over it. It's a way to inform the hearer that s/he doesn't have the ability (to change the present condition) but to accept any misfortune, poverty, complexity or incomprehensible event in life. The bottom line is, it is a saying in reaction to a negative situation a person encounters.

 

Dalawang magkabilang mundo ang namasdan ko ngayon.
I encountered two sides of the world (heaven and earth) today. 

“Ang buhay talaga! Parang life!” ("Life really is like life!")

Dalawang magkabilang mundo ang namasdan ko ngayon. Pumunta ako sa lugar na animo’y nasa ibang bayan ka dahil maraming mga dayuhan at siyempre pa, karamihan dito ay kababayan ko. Sa kalsada pa lang, parang nakakahiyang dumaan man lang at lalo pang bawal tumambay ang mga gusgusing bata na madalas kong nakikitang humihingi ng pagkain pag ako’y napapadaan sa Jollibee.

I encountered two opposite sides of the world (heaven and earth) today. I went to a place that looks like I gallivanted to a different country because there were many foreigners and of course, most of them were my fellow countrymen. Just by the impression you get of the road, it seems embarrassing to go past and more so, dirty-looking children are prohibited to loiter - these children who I often see asking for food when I happen to pass Jollibee.

Sa kalsada pa lang, parang nakakahiyang dumaan kung gusgusin ka.
Just by the impression you get of the road, it seems embarrassing to go past if you're dirty-looking!

“Akin na lang po ‘yang pagkain ninyo!” Abot-langit ang tuwa ng bata pag ibinigay mo sa kaniya pero pag-abot mo sa kaniya at napasaya mo siya, meron na namang susunod na iba.

"Can you just give me your (packed) food, please?" Giving in to the child's request make him/her extremely happy but as soon as you hand the food to him/her and made her happy, other more children come immediately after him/her. 

Dito, sa lugar na ito, bawal ang pakalat-kalat at manghingi sa napakabonggang lugar na ito! Kahit pa marami sana silang mahihingi dito kasi maraming naglalabasang puro BUO - hindi BARYA! Di ko sukat akalain na parang laruang papel lamang ang dumadapo sa kamay ng kahera/bangkera! (Di ko masyadong naiitindihan ang sistema at galaw dahil sadyang ayokong intindihin!)

Here, in this place, it is prohibited to lollygag and beg in this splendid area!
Even if they hope to be able to scrounge here because there are many BIG BILLS not SMALL BILLS emerging here! I can't imagine that these bills are like paper money that just land into the cashier/banker's hand! (I am not really cognizant to the system and movements very well because I intended not to understand it!) 

Dito sa lugar na ito, bawal ang pakalat-kalat at manghingi ng limos sa napakabonggang lugar na ito.
Here, in this place, it is prohibited to lollygag and beg in this splendid area!

“Ang buhay talaga! Parang life!” Pag-uwi ko, habang binabaybay ko ang trapik sa Roxas Blvd., nandito sa kalsada ang mga hirap na hirap makasulyap ng barya sa maghapon. Ewan ko lang kung ang baryang kinita nila sa maghapon, e… , magkasya na sa kanilang pamilya. Napaisip ako bigla… “Ano kaya kung ibinigay na lang ng tao kanina ang kaniyang barya sa mga taong hirap makakita ng barya sa kalsada?” Sigurado akong mas magiging masaya pa siya dahil napasaya niya ang iba, di ba? 

 "Life really is like life!" While on my way home, traversing the traffic on Roxas Blvd, I see these people who are really struggling all day long to even just have a glimpse of a small bill. I just don't know if the small bill they earn for the day would be enough for their family. I suddenly mused, "What if that person I saw earlier just gave his small bill to these people who could hardly earn some small bills?" I'm certain that he would feel happier because he made someone happy, wouldn't he?

"Hirap na hirap akong makasulyap man lang ng barya sa maghapon!"
"I'm really struggling all day long to even have a glance of a small bill."

Teka lang! Bakit nga pala ako napadpad malapit dito? Nagdeliber pala ako  ng mga librong Salitang Pinoy Tagalog Book para sa pangalawang pagkakataon sa American Embassy para sa mga bagong dating na opisyal ng embahada ngayong taon!

Wait a minute! What brought me in these adjacent areas? Oh, I delivered Salitang Pinoy Tagalog Books for the second occasion at American Embassy for the new officers at the embassy this year!

Teka lang! Bakit nga pala ako napadpad malapit dito?
Wait a minute! What brought me in these adjacent areas?

Kayo po ang patuloy na nagbibigay ng buhay!
It's you who continue to give us life!

Maraming salamat po! Pinupuri ko po Kayo dahil patuloy po kayong nagbibigay ng buhay! Wala na kaming hihilingin pa! Ramdam ko ang aking pagkukulang at di pa rin ako makaganti sa inyong pagpapala!

Thank you very much! I praise you for you continue to give us life! We can't ask for more! I feel my inadequacies and still can't repay you for the blessings I receive!

Ang buhay ay parang life!  Este…, Ang buhay ay pagpapala!

"Life is like life!"  Opps…. Life is a blessing!

How about you? How's life treating you? How do you feel when you see children asking for some money on the street? Please share your thoughts!

You can find more reading articles, day-to-day expressions, and  learn Tagalog grammar from my Salitang Pinoy Tagalog Book series. You can buy them at the bookstores or place your orders at:          


Salitang Pinoy Publishing                  
#38 El Jardin Del Presidente 2                  
Unit 1-E Sgt. Esguerra St.                  
Brgy. South Triangle,                  
Quezon City


If you're interested  to learn Tagalog from me contact me at 09177527142; 02-9254142; salitangpinoybooks@yahoo.com

Our BFFs In Our Lives (Part 2)

The two of us grew up as friends when we were yet young adults.
Magkaibigan na kami mula noong nasa kabataan pa lang kami.

My husband and I grew up as friends when we were yet young adults. He accompanied me in fulfilling my commitments such as accomplishing my calling and attending church services. We were likewise close to our fellow youths. All of us knew where each one lived. We were often surprised when our BFFs would just suddenly call on us. 

Magkaibigan na kami ng asawa ko mula noong nasa kabataan pa kami. Sinasamahan niya ako para magampanan ang aking tungkulin tulad ng pagsunod sa calling at pagpunta sa simbahan. Lahat kaming mga kabataan ay magkakaibigan din. Alam namin kung saan sila nakatira. Nagugulat na lang kami kapag bumibisita ang aming BFF sa amin. 

I am surprised when my BFF would just suddenly call on me.
 Nagugulat na lang ako kapag biglang bumibisita ang BFF ko sa akin. 

I think contributory to having close relationship could have been because there weren’t any other means of communication except meeting up with our friend/s personally or call his/her landline phone if our friend/s had one. I am happy that up to now, we still keep in touch. We still have get-togethers that can last for many hours.

Sa aking palagay, naging mas matalik ang aming pagkakaibigan dahil wala pa noon ibang paraan ng komyunikasyon kundi makipagkita ng personal o tumawag sa telepono kung meron man sila. Natutuwa ako dahil magpasahanggang ngayon ay nagkikita-kita pa rin kaming magkakaibigan. Nag-geget-together pa rin kami na pwedeng umabot nang maraming oras.

I value the friendship I have with my old friends, my newfound friends and of course my friends to be - friends who have common principles in life. I love hanging out, eating out or just spending time together. I can squeeze bonding time with them in between my busy schedule! Friends are just a text away. This is the time we share endless stories and experiences with one another until the wee hours.

Pinapahalagahan ko ang aking pakikipagkaibigan sa dati ko nang mga kaibigan, sa mga bago kong kaibigan at siyempre pa, sa aking mga magiging kaibigan pa lang – mga kaibigan na may parehong prinsipyo sa buhay. Gusto kong gumimik, kumain sa labas, o kahit magsama-sama lang kami ng aking mga kaibigan. Pwede kong maisingit sa aking bising iskedyul ang aking pakikipagkita sa kanila. Isang text lang ang layo ng isang kaibigan. Ang pagsasama-sama ay isang pagkakataon para ibahagi ang walang sawang kuwentuhan tungkol sa karanasan na pwedeng umabot pa sa dis oras ng gabi.

I love hanging out, eating out or just spending time together with friends.
Gusto kong gumimik, kumain sa labas, o kahit magsama-sama lang kami ng aking mga kaibigan.

I’m definite we must enjoy each other’s company because we temporarily forget our ailments like painful knees, ankles and backs. We may not know it but our friends have already taken their maintenance drug in the early morning! I don’t remember anyone complaining about sitting for many hours. Nobody complains about getting sleepy though many of us now go to bed early and wake up early.

Sigurado akong nag-eenjoy kami sa aming pagsasama-sama dahil pansamantalang nakakalimutan namin ang aming sakit sa tuhod, bukong-bukong at likod. Hindi lang natin alam na nakainom na pala ang aming mga kaibigan ng kanilang gamot, umaga pa lang! Hindi ko maalalang may nagrereklamo sa amin dahil sa kauupo nang matagal. Wala ring inaantok kahit marami na rin sa aming natutulog nang maaga at maagang gumigising!

At our age, we need each other’s compliments to boost our egos. We like to personally hear that we are beautiful as ever like what they post in our FB account! Nasasarapang makinig sa mga bola! More than that, we need the support from one another, listen to their counsels and weigh the merits, and also contemplate on other’s point of view. We delight small talks like how we spend our days, prepare a certain kind of food, share our life experiences and any thing that comes up in our minds. 

Sa edad naming ito, kailangan ng bawat isa ang magagandang papuri para gumanda ang aming tingin sa aming sarili! Natutuwa kaming marinig ng personal mula sa aming kaibigan na maganda pa rin kami na tulad ng isinusulat nila sa aming FB. Higit na kailangan namin ang suporta ng isa’t isa, makinig sa mga payo at tingnan ang kabutihan nito, at pag-isipan ang pananaw ng iba. Nasisiyahan din kami sa mga mababaw na pag-uusap tulad ng: Ano’ng ginagawa namin sa araw-araw?, Paano niluluto ang isang putahe?, Ano ang mga karanasan namin? At kahit anong sumagi sa isipan namin.

We like to personally hear from our BFFs that we're beautiful as ever like what they post in our FB account even if our face is obviously distorted!
Natutuwa kaming marinig ng personal mula sa aming kaibigan na maganda pa rin kami na tulad ng isinusulat nila sa aming FB kahit halata namang wala na sa tamang hugis ang mukha. 

We like get-togethers because it releases our stress from an unpleasant experience we just had with our neighbors. It allows us to vent our unspoken relationship with our husband/wife, relatives and other fellow beings. Our conversation can even lead us to discuss gospel principles or just anything under the clouds!

Gusto naming magsama-sama dahil nailalabas namin ang stress mula sa aming karanasang nangyari sa aming kapitbahay. Nailalabas namin ang aming sama ng loob na hindi naming masabi sa aming kabiyak, kamag-anak o ibang tao. Ang aming pag-uusap ay puwede ring mapunta sa mga prinsipyo tungkol sa turo ng Diyos, o kahit anong paksang sumusulpot na lang.

I remember as a parent to have used to ask these questions to my children: “Where are you going?” “What time are you coming home?”, “What’s the occasion?”, “Who are your companions? But now, it’s gone the other way around. It’s my children asking me these questions.

Maalala kong madalas kong itinatanong sa aking mga anak: “Saan ka pupunta?”, “Anong oras ka babalik?”, “Ano’ng okasyon?”, “Sino’ng mga kasama mo?” Pero ngayon, nagiging baliktad na. Ang aking mga anak na ang nagtatanong sa akin ng mga ito.

BFFs are supposed to uplift, empower and help you soar high!

As a final point, I’d like to address the youth. Select your BFFs who have the qualities like the kind of friendship that David and Jonathan had. Consider that one of the qualities your BFFs should have is a person who can strengthen you. BFFs are supposed to uplift you from your present state and empower you and not to knock you down. To the young once (upon a time), - be a good role model to your children. It says that parents who are keen to spend time with their own friends are more likely to have children with lots of healthy friendships. It’s also important for your child to see you looking out for your friends, and showing that friendship is a two-way thing.

Sa panghuling punto, gusto ko sanang sabihin ito sa mga kabataan: Piliin ninyo ang inyong mga BFF na may katangian katulad nina David at Jonathan. Marapatin na isa sa mga katangian na iyon ay: Ang BFF ay dapat siyang magpapatibay o magbibigay sa inyo ng lakas. Ang BFF ay siyang makakapagpa-angat sa inyo sa kasalukuyan ninyong kinalalagyan at hindi 'yung maglulugmok sa inyo sa kasamaan. At sa mga dating kabataan naman, maging magandang halimbawa kayo sa inyong mga anak. Sabi nila na kung ang mga magulang ay nagbibigay-panahon sa kanilang mga kaibigan,  maaring magkaroon din ang mga anak ng mabuting pakikipagkaibigan sa iba. Mabuti rin na makita kayo na nakikipabonding sa inyong mga kaibigan para maipakita na ang pagkakaibigan ay relasyon ng mga taong nagbibigayan o nagtutulungan  sa isa’t-isa.

BFFs are not supposed to leave you alone, downgrade you nor knock you down!

Get connected with your BFFs, maintain good relationship with them, learn wisdom from one another, and support one another in praising Him from whom all blessings flow.

Makipagbonding ulit sa mga kaibigan, panatilihin ang inyong mabuting pagkakaibigan, pareho kayong matuto ng mga mabubuting asal, at pareho kayong magtulungan upang purihin ang pinanggagalingan ng lahat ng biyaya.

John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Jesus considers us as His friends and not his servants because He reveals to us all things that our Heavenly Father wants. Blessings await us if we do His will.

The last time I texted my BFF I said: BFF, IWALY. Then he was quick to reply and said: BFF, IWABHFY.

Ang huling text ko sa aking BFF: BFF, IWALY! At ang bilis naman niyang sumagot sa akin: BFF, IWABHFY!

How about you? Are you still keeping in touch with your childhood friends? How do you feel having a long time friend? What did you use to do together? Please share your thoughts!

You can find more reading articles, day-to-day expressions, and  learn Tagalog grammar from my Salitang Pinoy Tagalog Book series. You can buy them at the bookstores or place your orders direct at:
                 Salitang Pinoy Publishing 
                 #38 El Jardin Del Presidente 2 
                 Unit 1-E Sgt. Esguerra St. 
                 Brgy. South Triangle, 
                 Quezon City

If you're interested  to learn Tagalog from me contact me at 09177527142;  salitangpinoybooks@yahoo.com