Monthly Archives: August 2004

Ulan

Napapanahon ang kuwentong nasa ibaba ngayong malakas ang ulan. Hindi ako ang nagsualt nito. Ipinasa sa akin ng isang kaibigan. Ayokong nagfo-forward ng e-mail kaya’t ipinost ko rito:

Smell of Rain

A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as the doctor walked into the small hospital room of Diana Blessing.

Still groggy from surgery, her husband David held her hand as they braced themselves for the latest news.

That afternoon of March 10, 1991, complications had forced Diana, only 24-weeks pregnant, to undergo an emergency cesarean to deliver the couple’s new daughter, Danae Lu Blessing.

At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound and nine ounces, they already knew she was perilously premature. Still, the doctor’s soft words dropped like bombs.

“I don’t think she’s going to make it,”‘ he said, as kindly as he could. “There’s only a 10-percent chance she will live through the night, and even then, if by some slim chance she does make it, her future could be a very cruel one.”

Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor described the devastating problems Danae would likely face if she survived. Continue reading

Pagsosolo

Minsan, kapag pinipili nating paligayahin ang sarili at unahin ang ating pangangailangan bago ang kasiyahan nila, minamasama ito ng ating partners.

Mabuti kung simpleng panunudyong “Ganyan ka na ngayon!” o “Ay naku, nagsosolo!” ang ihihirit sa atin. Pero paano kung sa halip ay tawagin taying “mahina ang tuhod” o “duwag” at “umaatras sa laban”? Continue reading

My Young Blood Article

Nalathala noong isang taon sa Young Blood section ng Philippine Daily Inquirer ang artikulo ng aking Lakambini. Kahapon naman, natupad ang pangarap kong magkaroon din ng munting espasyo roon:

Angelo de la Cruz and national sovereignty
Philippine Daily Inquirer
August 12, 2004, p.11

Criticisms from within and outside the country were hurled against the Philippine government when it announced, although vaguely, the withdrawal of our troops in Iraq to save the life of our kababayan Angelo de la Cruz, an overseas Filipino worker hostaged by armed anti-occupation Iraqis.

The United States expressed its disappointment and its ambassador here advised our leaders to know who our real friends are. According to Australia, the pullout might set a precedent and invite more attacks. Analyses by foreign media organizations–and some local outfits, too–also regard the decision as a mistake. Continue reading