LOVE CHIcKEN Soup for the Filipino Soul from Ai CHIcKEN by Eloisa J. Palisada May-June 2007 March-April 2007 issue After a delicious respite (I hope) during the Golden Week, we are back to our daily routine of work whether in school, office, in the fields or factory.  What is rampant in most people in Japan is the May disease or “gogatsu byo” phenomenon which occur after April, start of the fiscal year, the first month of rush, trying to absorb new things, pushing hard one’s limits or to adjust to the new environment especially for new students, freshmen and newly employed college graduates. After the surge of energy and idealism to meet lots of stressful demands, come this mental/physical exhaustion, desolation and depressive state. One may hit the wall and wonder, “What is truly the purpose of my life?” “What’s my worth?” When something like this strikes me, I stop and give myself time to pay attention to small, simple things such as a pencil.  Let me share this with you: The Pencil Parable* A child was watching her grandfather writing a letter and asked him: “Are you writing about us or about me?”  Her grandfather put down his pencil and said, “I’m writing about you, yes.  But more important than the words I write is the pencil that I’m using. I wish you’d be like this when you grow up.” The child looked at the pencil, intrigued and didn’t see anything special. “But it’s the same as all the pencils that I’ve seen in my entire life.” “It all depends on how you look at things, he remarked. There are 5 qualities in it that if you can achieve them, you will be a person at peace with life.” First quality: You will be able to do many great things, but remember there is a hand that wants to guide your steps. This hand we call God. He will always guide you if you allow Him. And allow other human beings also to access you for the many gifts you possess. Second quality: Sometimes I need to leave what I am writing and use a pencil sharpener. This makes the pencil suffer a bit, but in the end it is more sharpened. In the same manner, you must be capable of suffering some pains by going though various problems, but you will need them to make you a better, stronger person. Third quality: The pencil understands that we use an eraser to correct mistakes you might make; that to correct what we did or grow through them is not something bad, but it is something important to keep us in the path of justice. Fourth quality: What really matters in the pencil is not the wood nor the external form, but what is on the inside. That is why always take care of the most important part of you; your interior self. Fifth quality: The pencil leaves a mark. On every surface you walk, you must leave your mark. Know that everything you do in your life you leave a trail. So, try to be aware of each action you take. And no matter what the situation, continue to serve God in everything. Everyone is like a pencil… created by the Maker for a unique and special purpose. By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life having a meaningful purpose in our heart and a relationship with God daily. You were made to do great things! * Adapted from a power point slideshow sent to me by a friend. Thanks. eloisa "... a time for everything" It’s been a long silence since my last “Chicken Soup.” These lines that follow from Ecclesiastes best describe those times of absence: There’s a time for everything and a time for every happening under heaven: A time for giving birth, a time for dying… A time for healing, a time for building… a time for tears, a time for laugher; a time for mourning, a time for dancing... a time to be silent and a time to speak. Last May 7th my mother passed away after suffering from a lingering illness. Not even 10 days after her funeral, my father was discovered with terminal cancer. It was a bit of a shock. After four months, on Sept. 23rd, he was reunited with her. Hence losing both parents in such a short span of time is really tough, almost unbearable for the human strength. It was Divine grace that gave me strength, fortitude and courage to deal with grief. I believe that God wipes away tears from our eyes in His time. I believe that though their earthly life has ended, our relationship with our departed loved ones still continues. I believe they continue to live in our hearts, loving and guiding us. I believe that someday we will be reunited in heaven when God calls us back to His Home. I thank God for the fullness of life He gave my loving, caring, and sacrificing parents. In their life, they taught us, their children, to grow in faith, in love, and in service. It was very consoling to be present at my father’s last serene moments. Oh, how I witnessed in awe the radiance and peace in his face. His last words: Love one another and God bless us. In their dying, they taught us and still continue to teach us how to live. On behalf of my brothers and sisters, I thank you for your prayers, for sharing our pain and our hope. Praise and thanksgiving be to the Lord of Life and Death.    ---------------------------- March-Apriil 2006 Issue: Sabi ko sa editor, pass muna ako for this issue kasi I had too much in my schedule, my mind and my heart. I had to visit my mom back in the Philippines  because she is very sick. Pero when I went to Manila, I met a friend who has a friend here in Japan. She said that she had been reading my articles and was deeply touched. In fact, she wrote to me an e-mail but unfortunately, it didn't reach my inbox. Nagustuhan niya masyado ang Jeepney Press at bumalik daw ang bilib at respeto niya sa mga Pinoy. Just from that meeting, it dawned on me how our words create impact to those whose hearts are ready to be moved.  Kaya eto at naghahabol ako sa deadline ng Jeepney Press. I had a chance to talk with another writer/poet back home. When I gave her a copy of Jeepney Press, she showed me one of her poems. When I read it, sabi ko, I want to share it with the other readers of JP and asked her permission. She agreed naman. I always take with me a copy or two of Jeepney Press wherever I go. Kasakay ko palagi. Kaya marami akong nararatnan. Anyway, the poetry below was written by this poet I met when she discovered that her best friend had cancer. She would visit her everyday and bring her something that they both like - saging (banana). This has become a symbol of their friendship. Orig 'to!  I'd say that between friends, even a simple, ordinary item could be a precious gift especially when it has a sentimental value like unconditional love. This simple and extra special saging speaks not only of friendship but also joy, pain and hope. Sa saliw ng pawis at ngiting kay tamis Sabay pasalamat sa aking pagsapit Masayang pagbati't tanggap na mainit Sabay abot-dating ng saging na bitbit. Saging na bitbit huwag mawaglit Ang aking kasama't karamay sa sakit Pagkain at aliw sa hapag sapit Lasa't tamis gamot sa mapait. Saging na bitbit nasa aking isip Nakikita ko roon senyales ng panahon Grasya ng Poon: pag-ibig, pagtugon, Pag-asa, pagsuong, paniniwala't pag-ahon. Kaibigan ko't katoto, Rose, kapatid kong totoo Hindi mamagkano, Salamat sa iyo. Dasal at alay mo Isama ako. Saging bitbit sigurado Pagdating ko sa inyo! Walang suhol ni kondisyon Saging na bitbit sa aking puso't isip Saya o sakit masarap sa dibdib: Timpla'y tama, sa Diyos mula. Simbolo nga ng pagiging kapwa. January-February Issue 2006 LIFE IN ABUNDANCE Happy New Year, Happy New Life sa lahat, mga kababayan! Kumusta na man po? Maraming salamat sa inyong pagtangkilik sa Jeepney Press. Na-survive natin ang 2005. Move on tayo with much hope sa bagong taong ito. Sa pasada natin ngayon, meron naman akong kwento tungkol sa buhay ng isang tao na ating ipangalanang Onsoy. Sana makapagbigay ng bagong pag-asa ito sa inyo lalo na kung ikaw ay feeling mahirap, walang-wala o talagang maralita.                                                                                                                                       Biyaya ng Maralita Si Onsoy ay ipinanganak sa kahirapan. Ang kanyang mga magulang ay kailanman hindi nakapag-aral sa ano mang paaralan. Sampung taong gulang na siya nang ikinasal ang kanyang mga magulang. At saka na lamang siya nasundan ng kaisa-isa niyang kapatid na lalaki. Kahit sila mahirap, ang pagmamahal ng kanyang ina ay walang katumbas. Sinikap niyang matuto si Onsoy magbasa at magdasal pati na rin sumayaw sa lahat ng paraan at oportunidad na meron sa kanilang purok. Nang siya’y 6 na taong gulang, ang kanyang ina ay nakahanap ng dalawang matandang dalagang school teachers sa elementarya at namasukan siya bilang katulong nila para lamang mapaaral si Onsoy. Anim na buwan pa bago siya maaring mag-enrol, kaya tulung-tulong muna siya sa kanyang ina sa mga magaan na gawaing-bahay. Ilang araw ang nakaraan, nagkaroon ng malaking insidente sa bahay ng amo ng ina. Naghahapunan ang buong pamilya. Si Onsoy at ang kanyang ina ay nandoon lang nakatayo sa tabi. Ang padre de pamilya ay humingi ng container at gustong hugasan ang kanyang mga kamay. Labas naman si Onsoy at naghanap ng container. Nang siya’y bumalik, nakita nila siya at lahat ay tumayo, gulat na gulat, galit at sumigaw, “ORINOLA!”  “Balik, balik.  Hindi yan!”  Sa buong buhay niya, si Onsoy ay di pa nakakita o nakagamit ng orinola. Ang mangmang na si Onsoy para sa kanila ay talagang nangangailangan mag-aral. Kaya para kay Onsoy, ang direksyon ng kanyang pag-aaral ay walang iba kundi pataas at tuluy-tuloy na. Finally, pina-enrol na siya, kahit kulang sa required na edad. Sa simula, pinagtatawanan si Onsoy na parang payaso sa kanilang klase dahil sa kanyang pagbasa ng Ingles na may dialect accent. Sa kabila ng lahat, dahil sa pagsikap, nakaraos na rin siya at naka-adjust hanggang high school. Bunga ng pagmamahal ng kanyang ina at salamat sa kalooban ng Diyos, nag-graduate siyang Valedictorian ng klase. Ganun pa man, nandun pa rin ang kanilang kahirapan. Sa kanilang graduation ceremonies, pinahiram lang siya ng coat and tie. Ang kanyang hiram din na sapatos ay maliit at masikip; hindi siya maka-tayo ng matuwid. Subalit sa kanilang graduation party, abot niya ang langit nang isinayaw siya ng kanilang Salutatorian. Ibig sabihin, hindi si Onsoy ang unang nag-invite sa kanyang sumayaw sila. Yon ang “first dance of his life,” ika nga. Para silang ideal pair; equally proud. Sa katotohanan, taga-alta sosyedad si babae. Sa saglit na yon, walang mahirap, walang mayaman.    Mula noon, para kay Onsoy ang bigat ng kahirapan ay nalaglag at lumaho. Sa ngayon, sampu na ang mga anak ni Onsoy at puro nakapag-aral at propesyonal. Siya naman nakatapos ng masters niya at “merissítimus” pa - ang pinakamataas na grado sa kanyang unibersidad. Naging titser siya sa lahat ng level mula elementarya hanggang graduate school hanggang siya nag-retire. Bagama’t hindi pa rin nawawala ang kahirapan sa buhay, damang-dama naman ang mga biyaya na bigay ng Diyos para sa lahat. Sana nagustuhan ninyo ang istoryang ito na mula mismo sa bibig ni Onsoy-- ang pinakamalapit sa aking puso, ang aking mahal na ama. Salamat Pappy! You are my Valentine!