Coming to America… 10 years later
“May dilag ang tula,
At awit sa paglayang minamahal”
Summer 2011. It’s been 10 years since I last stood on Philippine soil. Some people won’t understand, but I have literally lived 2 lives within my one mortal lifetime. Sure, our lives are always at a constant flux, but there has not been anything as drastic as moving away from what I KNEW…
We left everything and literally lost everything. The transition was difficult…. 8 people crammed into a small one bedroom house, not having any friends, and not knowing where I was half the time! Back then, living on Ventura Blvd and Canoga avenue felt like, “wow! I’m in America”. Now, it’s just Ventura and Canoga…. Every now and then Nostalgia hits and those are the times when I come to understand and thank GOD for allowing me to go through EVERYTHING that I’ve been through.
THROUGH
moving at a constant flux, sometimes things get difficult… That’s why it’s important to put things into perspective. Some may call it Buddhism, Nietzsche’s philosophy, or even very Tyler Durden, but I thank God for it; the perspective that WE MAY LOSE EVERYTHING because we HAVE NOTHING. Nothing tangible at least.
So, with all that said, in celebration of my 10th year of living the 2nd portion of my lifetime, I got inked.
It’s a simple design.
3 stars and the sun which obviously shows love for the motherland.
Baybayin script which is the ancient script used in the Philippines prior to Spanish influence.
My script says “tula at awit” which translates to “poem and song” which is also lyrics pulled from the Philippine national anthem.
Dear Pilipinas,
I was there alongside many children protesting nuclear testing over your waters
I was there alongside many children teaching other children
I was there alongside the masses in a revolution against corruption
I was there alongside fishermen and farmers to smell your sun rise
I was there when you were flooded, polluted, and had no light…
I was there
and I will be back…
“There is beauty in the poem
And [in the] song for freedom beloved”
Franny said,
June 23, 2011 at 7:36 am
That’s true love Pau!
pauxxvii said,
June 23, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Thanks Franny… My only wordpress friend! lol!
pauxxvii said,
June 23, 2011 at 11:19 pm
(SHORT RANT: I’ve already encountered a few people who found this script to be “COOL” without knowing what it is and are already planning on getting tatted with it… I WILL STRAIGHT UP SAY… YOU’RE LAME! I don’t think people who know nothing of it or is doing it just because it’s “cool” deserves such deep rooted script on their bodies… But then again, these LAME people are out of my control… SO BE IT… =/ )
Nikki said,
June 28, 2011 at 7:14 am
Poetic as always! So funny how you’re so rooted to your roots. I’m not. Ha! And hey, I am your wordpress friend too! I haven’t really posted anything on mine. But you inspire me. Maybe tonight.
pauxxvii said,
June 28, 2011 at 11:43 am
Whohoo! More friends! Some people say writing is lonely…
Glad I’ve inspired you to write! Yeh my blogs are not as back to back as they used to be… I also haven’t read any thoughts of a cereal kind recently!
Maybe I’m so rooted coz I always have to convince everyone I’m not Mexican! lol! But I have some issues toward our people and their lack of action and when we try too hard to be westernized as a country instead of keeping authenticity (like the skin whitening stuff)
But that’s just mee