Now she is creating her own nest with her husband. But we continued to chat, text, or call at least three times a week. We still share our stories about work, about anything, books we read or even  our dreams … I say to her ” my daughter and my bestfriend”.

I remember  Kahlil Gibran’s poem on children:

They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Finally the time for the boat ride!  It was fun and okay, we disembarked in Guadalupe. The trip took 1 1/2 hour, coincidence in numbers!   We can see the people and houses along the river.  I tried to imagine how it must have looked during its early days. It must be beautiful and it most be a center of the community’s activities.  My history teacher used to tell us, that towns were made along the rivers or seas, because the major source of transportation were boats.  And I often wonder how come why we did not became the best boat builders. Sayang we did not take pictures.

Pasig River

I hope that the government will utilize the ferry boats for public transportation to ease road traffic.  The communities and industrial establishments around Pasig river should also do their part in maintaining the river.  Ms. Ming Ramos’ efforts in spearheading the rehabilitation of the river is now being seen.  Now that Ms. Gina Lopez is managing the work, there will be more improvements not only to the river but also to the people living there.

It would be wise if the government will study the feasibility of improving the rivers from the area of Montalban, San Mateo and Marikina and connect it to Pasig.  The travel time will be more enjoyable and less traffic.  But it will be a herculean effort since it will involve politicians.  I hope that Miss Lopez and MMDA will have more authority and clout to implement this grand solution.

My wish is that the politicians will leave a legacy of good governance with vision and emphasis on ecology.  The problems and solutions of Pasig river and all the rivers in between goes back to the source, the forest and mountains of Quezon province and surrounding mountains.  If major effort is done to plant more trees in the mountains there will be less flooding in the lowlands. There should be mass planting involving every school and offices around Luzon.  Someone  out there must have a very good idea how to strategize this.  The government’s zoning of areas should be re-oriented favoring the balance of ecology.  I know this is easier said than done, but am sure our prayers will help.

This is just an ordinary scene on my way to work.  But today something stirred my mind… as a woman of no means, I understand how it is to be poor and with no family to provide secure lodging and food; as a woman in mid-life transition, I thought of my mortality.   And I prayed for her that she will have what she needs… that only God can provide.  My generation offers little interest in helping persons like her, they usually are referred to an institution.  In the province when I was growing up… neighbors take turns helping the poor, widows, orphans and unwed mothers.  Help and care abounds in the community. But now it seems to be a virtue of the past. Or is it?

Where is self dignity in working instead of begging?

My son who is wise beyond his years… commented one time that persons who just wait for the money to come (without working for it) are the type who will never be able to save and instead will only waste the graces they receive.  This is a sad reality.  It is easier to ask for money from friends and relatives who work abroad than working for it.  Begging can be in any form.  There are those who are professional beggars for worthy causes (fund raisers)  -whom I admire; beggars for daily food, happy enough to get anything, no worries of the future; there are beggars who plan their lives, time and vices around their donors, like parasites.

There is dignity in work. It gives satisfaction in providing for one’s own needs and for his family. There is joy and pride in work well done and money earn the hard way.  We should not encourage begging in the streets,  we should empower the poor, illiterate, and unskilled to learn and earn. We should re-orient our stories to encourage Juan Masipag not Juan Tamad.

Libud suroy - is a visayan (Philippine dialect) word for a wanderer, adventurer, or a bum. And in essence that is what I would have wanted to be… but in reality I am glued to my computer and books… dreaming for an adventure of a lifetime.