A Million Earths

     The rice paddies in our province have foot-paths (earthen mounds about a foot high) marking the boundaries of each individual paddy. A crafty farmer would sometimes in the dead of night increase by a few inches the area of his paddy by plowing/shaving the side of the border foot-path facing his land and adding more mud or earth along the side facing his adjoining neighbor's paddy. A quarrel over a few inches of land, where resort to court litigation is rare, soon erupts into physical violence, occasionally even ending in severe injuries or death to either or both of the combatants.
     Among nations, we still have territorial disputes. Sovereignty over the Spratley Islands (or Turtle Islands,)a few tiny islets located at the southwestern part of the Philippine Sea (or in the South China Sea, depending on whose map you are using), is being disputed among the Philippines, China, and Malaysia (or Indonesia, I am not sure now which of the latter two herein mentioned is involved.))  As of this writing, I believe the border between Palestine and Israel is still unresolved. Why let a narrow strip of land cause so much trouble and sorrow?
     The other day our TV's Science channel 272 reports that another planet similar to Earth has been found. It revolves around a star about 20 light years away - in our own galaxy. This planet reportedly has an environment similar to the Earth's--with oxygen, water, etc.; hence, also habitable by humans.  It is surmised that in all probability there are a million more Earth-like planets just in our galaxy waiting to be discovered.
     Scientists agree that our 'middle-aged' sun has about 5 billion years more to go before it exhausts its helium fuel and dies. Verily, mankind should have enough time to figure out a way to relocate to these Earth-type habitats before our dying Sun can consume us.  Our Sun's ire would indeed inspire us to explore the universe entire. But only if we could just come to our senses and not exterminate ourselves or destroy our poor planet through pure stupidity, rancor, and/or greed.

                                                 By Skep/vdeperalta

A Soldier's Song to His Beloved

     This is an English version of the Tagalog song that goes::-
"Ang puso ko'y dati tigib ng dusa;
 Dahil sa iyo, nakamtan ko'y ginhawa.
 Ang 'yong pagibig ang naging pag-asa
 Ng aking diwa so tuwi-tuwina...etc. "

     Before you came, my heart was filled with sorrow,
     Now that you're here, with hope I face tomorrow;
     Your sweet caresses drove my cares away,
     And your devotion gives me strength each day...
     So let us love, while there is time for loving;
     Soon I must go--. No reason to be grieving.
    When I depart to heed His call from high above,
    I'll leave with you my heart's undying love!


              English version by Skep/vdeperalta                                                      
  





                                                     

Ponderings on the Demise of bin Ladin

     I had some misgivings about posting the thoughts below.  Today, I've decided to record  them in my blogspot, so to elicit whatever remarks or comments may be thrown in  by whoever may happen to read them and agrees or disagrees with my views:-
    1.) I recall bin Ladin's first name was spelled 'Osama'. Why did the media now spell it 'Usama'? I fear some conspiracy theorists may use that spelling change as some kind of link between the USA and the deceased.
    2.) Why hide the pictures or movies taken by the assaulting team?  Why not show to the world the gory fate of anyone who dares to kill or harm American citizens and other innocent human  beings?
    3.) How did a very close and conspicuous edifice escape the supposedly wary eyes of our supposed ally--the Pakistani government and/or its military?
    4,) I wholeheartedly agree that the civilized world should feel some relief and a bit of cheer that bin Ladin has finally been given his just deserts.But the death of this al-Qaeda leader is, to me, no cause for jubilation.
Whoever gave him the idea that hate, murder, and suicide bombings will help spread and strengthen the Islamic faith is (or are) very likely still busy poisoning the malleable minds of possible future jihadists.
     I recall during our town fiestas in Bauang, La Union, the young men and ladies stage 'moro-moro' plays with colorful costumes and wooden swords. There is a battle between the Christians and the Moors.  In the end, those who hate us lose. Always, the haters lose.  Now, we are no longer engaged in a sham battle.  And I'm no prophet, but I still say Haters Lose, for Love Conquers All.
    5.) A final thought, lest I be accused as thoroughly biased and judgmental. It is widely reported that bin Ladin was unarmed when he was killed.  Therefore, nobody knows whether at the time he was killed or even before his death, he already saw the grievous error that he made and may have regretted it. He may have even sincerely repented, and was therefore duly forgiven and saved by our All-Merciful Deity. I do not know. I trust, though, that he has now seen the Light and now knows the course he had taken would not lead him or his followers to houris but to Hell. Why, in the first place, would a man's soul have need for physical pleasure from six or seven houris in heaven? Voltaire, I recall, observed:-Men who believe in absurdities are bound to commit atrocities. Alas, how true!
                                                                            by Skep/vdeperalta

Kapag Diyos ang Gabay

This Tagalog song follows the melody of "When you walk thru a storm, hold your head up high..." etc.

     Kung wala nang pera at butas ang bulsa,
     H'wag ikaw mawalang pag-asa,
     Talakayin mo lang ang dangal na landas,
     Ang oras ng malas may wakas;

     Lakad pasulong, huwag kang u-urong,
     Bagyo man ang humampas;
     Sugod, at h'wag hihiwalay
     Sa Diyos nating Gabay,
     Pag Siya ang Alalay, ika'y tatagumpay!

     'Pag minamalas ka, h'wag mukhang kawawa,
     Nasa Diyos ang iyong pag-asa;
     H'wag ka lang kakalas sa sampu Niyang Atas,
     Luha at pighati'y may wakas...

     Lakad pasulong at h'wag u-urong,
     Bagyo man ang humampas;
     Sugod, at h'wag hihiwalay
     Sa Diyos nating Gabay,
    'Pag Siya ang a-akay, sa iyo ang tagumpay...
     KAKAMTAN MO'Y TAGUMPAY!

                                      (Tagalog lyrics by Skep/vdeperalta. With apologies to
                                        Messrs. Rogers and Hammerstein.)

Eternally Yours

      Today, May 8th, is my birthday.  I was informed my Mommy had difficulty giving birth to me as I was a premature (7-months pregnancy period) first-born child. My aunts say I was so tiny, I could be carried by the assisting doctor's one hand.  Fearing that I would be unable to survive, the doctor (with my Daddy's consent) promptly baptized me "Corazon de Jesus Vivencio de Peralta, Jr. y Flores".
      Now I am a 78 years old wizened septuagenarian, still curious, getting querolous, impatient with discourteous drivers, and still hoping to hit the Lotto jackpot someday. I frankly don't feel old, although philosophically speaking, since I am conceived by my Timeless God, I may be a bit old  'earth-time' but still young in spirit. Ergo, I have a long future in store for me. You may be right that I am trying to console myself. Hope springs eternal. Truer, as far as I am concerned, is that my essence, my self, my soul is deathless - ETERNAL! And so too are you, my friend.

                (On the subject of deathlessness, I've inserted below a missive to my aunt
who died not too long ago.)--

              To my Aunt Teofila F. Nonog

      There is no Death in God's Exalted Place;
      Each soul was conceived by our Creator
      Outside the finite bounds of Time and Space.
      For you, then, Auntie, life will be better,
      Indeed, much more blissful than here on Earth.
      Let me THANK YOU, altho' belated,
      As you did care for me after my birth...

     (For Mom was then incapacitated.)

      Now surely many clan members are there;
      Oh, what a GRAND REUNION that would be!
      No doubt, you will see angels everywhere;
      Of course, they'll be in song, giving you welcome.
      Go in Peace, dear Aunt; God is calling you Home!

    
   

Magbalikbayan

     This is another Tagalog song, the melody of which is identical to the Italian "Torna a Surriento".  It is not a word-for-word translation, but the main theme is more or less the same.
,
                            Bumalik na kaibigan sa lupang pinagmulatan,
                            Pilipinas, Inang Bayan, sana'y h'wag kalimutan;
                            Doon may mga tanawing magaganda't mahinhin.
                            Kay tamis halik ni Neneng, halimuyak niya'y hasmin.
                            Mahagkan mo rin si Lola, kahit di ka na kilala...
                            At baka matagpuan pa ang dating sinisinta....
                           
                            Tayo na kabayan, Tayo na't magbalikbayan,
                            Bago sumapit ang Kamatayan!                
   

The Victory Sign

      This tale is from Barry, one of the more long-winded storytellers among the septuagenarian retirees at the Serramonte Mall: -
        "When the liberating American forces finally reached our village in Nueva Ecija, I tasted for the first time the American soldier's piece of chocolate candy (K-ration).  I became obsessed with it and kept visiting their big tent, offering to polish their boots, so I could get rewarded with the chocolate.  One day, a soldier called me to polish his suede boots.  No matter how I brushed them, they would not shine. Seeing my quandary, the soldier smiled and just gave me the chocolate bar I was salivating for. He said to see him again maybe tomorrow when he has his other boots on. I was a barefoot 11year-old  then with naturally air-conditioned (full of holes) tee-shirt. I said 'Salamat, Thank you, Victory Joe', but that was the last time I saw him..."
      To us who were kids during World War II, all these American G.I.s were Victory Joes. With middle finger and forefinger raised up in the air, we waved our victory sign, shouting "Victory Joe, Victory Joe!" as the troops passed through our villlage to the battlefront....     Since by now most of these soldiers are truly departed, we bid them farewell with the same two-fingers Victory sign: - "Peace be with you, Victory Joe."
      Peace is Victory, indeed!
.