The God Of Small Things

Showing posts with label The God Of Small Things. Show all posts

An Angry God

"Hala ka, magagalit si Papa God niyan!" An elder used to say to make us behave when we were kids. The warning always worked, as it reinforces the belief of a higher being, more supreme than the adults who used to take hold of our lives.It is an instinctive response that never fails to sway blind obedience, as each generation gets to know the Almighty by his wrath. How unfortunate that those more

The Good News

Once, I got a book.It was a token from a classmate in Diliman. A Filipino-Chinese, who spends most of her time running the family business. It was a parting gift given during our last day of class. And I didn't give it much thought until I got home.I unwrapped the present to learn that it was a religious book. Not the inspirational or self-help literature but a Manga. A graphic novel that was

The Purpose

At four in the morning, I knew sleep won't come. My work begins at 6 o'clock and to make a shut-eye tempts an overstay in dreamland. So rolled over I did, until I was at the edge of the bed. I then got up, looked at the mirror, said hello to my puffy eyes, before leaving the room with a moist towel. And just when the water from the plastic dipper cascaded down my head, the sky bursts open,

The Dalai Lama Speaks

Given the scale of life in the cosmos, one human life is no more than a tiny blip. Each one of us is a just visitor to this planet, a guest, who will only stay for a limited time. What greater folly could there be than to spend this short time alone, unhappy or in conflict with our companions? Far better, surely, to use our short time here in living a meaningful life, enriched by our sense of

Daybreaker

It was one of those nights, when one's body clock keeps a sleeper away from slumber. For me, it's those wretched midnight spells. Unable to repeat the REM after a three hour nap, I woke up, only to say goodnight to Baabaa and went on to finish the last leg of this season's raketship.Writing the children's article took two hours to put to sleep. And when I'm done, I checked the time and it's

Dream Journal Twenty Five

I was crouching in a street corner. With my knees folded and my hands pressed against my face. Not far away is a dying man surrounded by a crowd. I could hear them saying, "lumalaki yung ulo niya o!" (his swollen head is about to burst!) But I didn't care. So are my other two companions who were close by. Their backs turned away from the commotion.And then without a word, someone wrapped a piece

Self-Help

I pray, not just because I'm scared.But because I have pushed myself to the edge.My body suffers from abuse in ways I can never tell.Bumangon ako ng kama na walang katiyakan kung mag-aabsent ba o hindi. Maari rin naman kasi na pumasok na lang ako ng hapon, gaya ng paalam ng isang katrabaho na nag-beach at sumali sa isang Miss Gay Beauty Contest sa Bataan noong linggo. Subalit nagsabi nga pala ang

Bonding (Last Part)

"Let's attend the mass ha?" "Gusto ko kasing mag-communion eh..." She added.I didn't pay attention to her request. Instead, my thoughts were filled with images of the church in Ateneo. And how I would love to show her around as daybreak blankets the sky."Huy, nakikinig ka ba?""Opo mama." I answered just before the FX stops in front of the church near Araneta Avenue. But since we started our

Bonding (First Part)

"Anak, may lakad tayo sa Thursday ha?" "Yes ma..."She would tell me this over and over since Palm Sunday. It was about her plan to go Visita Iglesia to make up for the one she missed last year. Being the more spiritually connected, she had set her mind to go on a pilgrimage. To fulfill her journey, she would need me around.Searching for a companion, a street navigator, and for someone to push her

The Egalitarian

I wish all our churches and catholic leaders think like this. Last weekend, I visited a church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where I used to hear Mass the last time I taught there. I saw these words on the Sunday missal: "No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church; No matter what your current … marital situation; No matter what your personal history, age, background, race, etc.; No

From The Other Side

We were in a classroom.The Businessman Aunt stood as the proctor while my mom was one of the students. In this surreal arrangement, I too played a part. I was also in that classroom sitting as one of those who will take the test. The Businessman Aunt handed me the test paper. She said to pass it after every row receives their copies. The Businessman Aunt moved on to another row, and just behind

Tolerance

A museum official said that a group of five to six men stormed into the building twice, deliberately targeted the Buddhist relics and ruins of monasteries exhibited in the pre- Islamic collection, destroying most items 'beyond repair'.According to a source, a coral stone head of Lord Buddha, an 11th century piece recovered from Thoddoo in Alifu Atoll, was smashed up by the attackers, one of the

Sublimity Of Happiness #001

I saw five starsin the sky.and smiled.The "Millennium Falcon" building, lower level rooftop, San Juan

Saving Grace

I was about to cross the street when I passed by an old lady selling garlands of Sampaguita at the corner of Kalentong and Shaw Boulevard. It's already past eleven and from the way she lumbered close to the sidewalk barrier, there's no denial that she's been selling flowers since that morning.It was easy to close one's eyes and pretend not to see. Deluded by my own troubles, I could brush off the

Fifteen Minutes | Dream Journal Twenty Four

It was almost midnight and for some reasons, everyone at home was still up. I even remember asking the maid to get me Tortillos at a nearby store.Checking my watch, the time was 11:45. Suddenly, like a snap of a finger, like blood rushing towards the head, I knew I had to buy something - a cake for my mom. All this time we followed tradition and here I am forgetting it. Feeling the sense of

A Taskmaster's Prayer

Tonight is the start of my work week and I deliver my accomplishments to the Great Maker so that in the face of daunting tasks, I will never dare resign or surrender to the delightful temptations of defeat.

Pay It Forward

I was about to leave the office this evening when the boss called my attention. I thought he would talk to me about the recent drama at the floor, but instead he asked my opinion about a certain ex-agent who left the workplace without a word."Mugen, basahin mo ito." I leaned forward to read the email on his laptop.The letter was from someone who had gone AWOL many years ago. The sender said

World Spins Madly On

If we take the word of Harold Camping and believe in his predicted rapture, the end times happen in a few hours. The chosen ones, they say, will disappear on earth and will be taken up to heaven. While those left behind are doomed to eternal damnation as the Armageddon goes into full swing.I do not know what these doomsayers are up to, but it seems everyone is simply caught up with the Apocalypse

Mustard Seed Faith

"Umulan ka naman o..." Pakiusap ko iyon sa langit nang minsang naglalakad ako papasok sa trabaho. Katumbas rin ng isang stick ng Marlboro ang layo ng office mula sa babaan ng jeep. At sa tuwing inaatake ako ng pagkakuripot ay nilalakad ko ang distansyang iyon kahit mataas ang tirik ng araw.Humaharap ako sa team na minsan ay kakaligo lang sa pawis, pero ayos naman, lahat kami ay naglalakad