Tears were shed for a Stranger

            A day I think I wouldn’t care. I was thinking about what things I should do. Facing my laptop, right hand on my cheek, I kept thinking what I need. The sudden urge to go out of the house crept in my body. I ask my father to accompany me at the market and buy what I think I need. The outside world seemed rather unfamiliar and too bright for my eyes. Chatting with my father on the way made me feel comfortable and a little excited.

            The surroundings made me feel aware. That this day, this day is a special day. I just didn’t notice. Everywhere I turn my head, I see his face. There were traces of him on the road. Everybody is talking about him. I didn’t care. What’s the rush?, I thought. It’s just him, my mind told me.

            Reaching the house I’ve lived for eight years already, I felt safe and relieved. My body relaxed as I opened the door. The hollowed hall was silent. Almost no sound was produced. Then I heard voices from the television. My mother had been watching and waiting. She even turned off the electric fan and lit a candle. He’s already here, she said. My insides started to boil and I feel excitement I never felt before. I saw him. He’s looking out the window. Joy crept inside me.

            As I saw his round smiling face, a tear fell on my cheek and I don’t even know why. Gripping on the pillow beside me, I simply wiped my tears away. I can’t explain the feeling. Something in him made me want to believe. He made me feel that there’s hope. He made me want to change. But the surprising fact is, I don’t even know him, personally. Quietly, I watched his entrance. Even the strong wind couldn’t stop his virtue. A wide smile formed on my lips. I tried to stop my tears, I really did, but too bad the feeling is just too strong for me to fight it.

            I’ve lived for fifteen years and this is the first time I cried for someone I don’t know, for someone I didn’t care about. But he, he made my tears burst out my eyes. They are not tears for disappointment and sorrow but tears for a new beginning and a new start. This made me set my mind to do what I should do, and act that like I should have long ago.

            With this new hope I obtained, I started to look at my life the way I should have, realistic but with positive view. I started getting my body to work as it should and I could sense that this will be the start of a new journey on a road I decided to walk on to. Knowing that he cares, it motivated me to continue the harsh journey of reaching my desires.

            I couldn’t believe my eyes when he stepped out of that white plane decorated by the flags of the Philippines and the Papal Seal. The pope is here. Pope Francis spent a few days here, in the Philippines. He is the pope who brought the Filipinos in one. The pope who made dangerous people seem trustworthy just for that four. He is the pope who challenged the Filipinos to change their ways for better living.

            In just a matter of minutes, he made me feel different emotions at the same time. His visit here brought light to my life that will always remind me to work harder. Because of his words, my mind enlightened on how I should treat other people and also, to give importance to God. I am looking forward to his return and I hope that his words and presence gave hope and motivation to other people like its effect on me.

Stay where you are supposed to..

            The Philippines, despite being such a small country, possesses a large population. There are food shortage, unemployment, crimes, lack of money and the most terrible of all, war.  In a crisis like this, others decided to just go abroad and work there. Going to a foreign land, serve foreign people and being apart from your loved ones, is what these people sacrificed just to build a better life for the family, and also the country. They wanted their children to have a normal life, their feelings and presence at stake.

            Many children of these OFW’s or Overseas Filipino Workers live their lives almost not seeing their parents resulting to lack of closure and bonding. Children being aloof from their parents is not a healthy lifestyle to keep. With this, the parents suffer more pain. There they are on a different land working until their bones break just to supply their family food on the dining table, and when they come home, they’ll find their children not knowing even their existence. The situation is too pitiful to see.

            The family bond that was gradually strengthened between the Filipinos is now slowly disintegrating. This problem, if continued, will break the nation. Shouldn’t the government take charge of this? Low employment and salary. Dishonest politicians. Poor business management. Due to these reasons, Filipinos won’t think twice in accepting a bigger offer abroad. No one will ever progress in this country if the very people working for the nation are not really effective to seat on their spot as of now.

            The government should be reformed or rehabilitated to make the Philippines are better place to live in. People should have enough food to eat, clothes to wear, shelter to live in, nice job to attend to, and sufficient money to achieve all these.

            I strongly believe that Filipinos should stay in this tainted country and try to be happy and safe with their family. But if this would be the only option, then at least all should work hard to relive the name of the land that fought for its independence for years and to be able to express dearly that we, Filipinos, are proud to be the people of this country.

            Everyone is encouraged to fight for what is right and what is good. With this, every problem inside this damaged land be patched and healed. And also, with this, Filipinos won’t be obligated to fly miles away from the homeland to render service to those of not his race but instead, would roam the world enjoying life to the fullest.....