Moving up and moving on

“Ituntun me ya kabud ing isip mu Kanaku, ing Kakataskatasang Pangatau ning Punbatala, at isuglung mu ing sablang katalinwan Kanaku. Kanita mye kang parati lub Ku, alang pamikakunu.

Makamal kung Ardyun, O talapanyambut ning pibandyan, nung e me aytuntun ing isip mu Kanakung alang pangakawani, kanita tukyan mu na la mu ring makatuntung paralan ning pamisamak ning kasuywan. King paralang ayni tumubu ing kapagnasan bang dasnan mu Ku.

Nung e mu la aysane ring tuntunan ning yoga ning kasuywan, pakikwanan mu namung gawa para Kanaku. Pauli ning kapamilatan ning pamangawa para Kanaku miras ka king kapantaspantasang tuntungan.

Nung, dapot, e mu arapat ing pamangawa king pamisip ayni, kanita pakikwanan mung kimut a sasakwil mo ngan ding bunga ring sablang gewa mu at pakikwanan mung makabili king sarili.

Nung e mu agyung gawan iting dapat ayti, kanita isuglung mu ing sarili mu king pamangambul king belwan. Lakwas pang mayap king belwan, nanupata, ya pin ing pamigunam-gunam, at lakwas pang mayap king pamigunam-gunam ya pin ing pamisakwil karing bunga ring dapat, pauli ning kapamilatn ning pamisakwil ayti, ninuman mikakapayapan isip.

Ninu mang e marirya dapot maganakang kakaluguran karing sablang mabibye lelangan, ing e mimisip king sarili na anting makibandi, ing alang maling pamituring king sarili at patas mipara king saya at lugma, ing parating migaganap at makasuglung king makatagulaling a kasuywang ating kabitasan at ing maki-isip at katalinwang mamayun Kanaku— bina yang mal Kanaku.

Ya a mibili king kasakitan at yang e mababalisa king kapigaganakan,

yang matatag king ligaya at kabigwan, bina yang mal Kanaku.

Ing talasuyu a e mamasa karing pangkaraniwang pupulanditan ding pamirapat-dapat, yang dalise, pantas, alang kapigaganakan, alang nanu namang kaplas, at yang e magpumilit manikwang bunga, bina yang mal Kanaku. Ninu mang miparang e kakalawat tula at lugma, yang miparang e managulele at magnasa, at miparang sasakwil karing mapalad at e mapalad a bage, mal ya Kanaku.

Ninu mang patas karing kakaluguran at kasalang, yang pante talakad king dangalan at kamarinayan, pali at dimla, ligaya at lungkut, kasikatan at kalawsan, yang parating ligtas king kasalatan, parating taimik at makagyu king nanu man, yang alang masabal king nanu mang tuknangan, yang makatuntun king belwan at makasuglung king makatagulaling a kasuywan, bina yang mal Kanaku.

Yang mamintu king alang kapupusang dalerayan ning makatagulaling a kasuywan at ganap a susuglung king sarili nang makikasalpantayanan, gagawan na Kung kakataskatasang parasan, bina yang binang mal Kanaku.”

~ Dalit ning Kakataskatasang Panginwan| Dangka 12, Sunis 8-20

(Bhagavad Gita| Chapter 12: Verses 8-20)

*** Ing Kakataskatasang Panginwan mismu ing mipasyag king pamagdalit na karing sunis a pakasulat a milabas king nwan a aklat ning “Dalit ning Kakataskatasang Panginwan” o Bhagavad Gita nung ninu reng malapit king Keyang pusu. Pemalino no ngan dapat, kapagnasan, gawi at pangatau nung ninu reng peka-pakamalan na.

Mengari king pengaring mangamanu karing supling na, dirinan na katamung usuk bang abalu tamu nung makananu tamung mipalapit Kaya anti king sasabyan da ring talaturu dikil king Kakataskatasang Belwan king pamanyuyu king Apung Ginu: “Lakbang kang makatamisan papalapi king Panginwan at Ya naman lakbang Yang makatalibu palapit keka.”

Malino la pangasabi deti at ala nang sukat pang ipamalino lakwas na karing malinis pilubluban a lelangan. Iti na ata ing pekamakuyad a pamisalese kalamnan ning Kapisik. Ala nang sukat pang iragdag o bawasan pa. Talukyan ta la mung masalese deti magtagumpe ta na king bye.

*** Dake Talabaldugan: 1. kaligay/ kalige – (palagyu) sigay/ sige. Maralas magagamit kareng sungka. English – a species of small snail with whorled shell. Alimbawa king pamangamit: “Mamulut lang kalige reng anak keng lele dagat bang gamitan da la keng sungka.”2. kaligayán – (palagyu) pangamaligaya, ligaya, tula, saya. English – happiness, glory, pleasure, gladness, joy, enjoyment, satisfaction, gaiety. Alimbawa king pamangamit: “Ing kaligayan ing pagnasan tamu ngan king bye iti.”

3. kaligkíg – (palagyu) pamangalgal king dimla o masiring kapanamdaman o sasal; panamdaman kaybat ning lingapngap. English – shiver, chill. Alimbawa king pamangamit: “Ala yang patugut keng kaligkig i Menang neng dusuldit yang milalabulan keng angin kaybat nang mindilu.”

4. kalimumug – (palagyu) tsang katutubu o tubu kareng gubat keti. English – local name for wild tea. Alimbawa king pamangamit: “Masampat inuman aldo’ldo ing kalimumug bang tumibe la reng gilagid.”

5. kaling – (palagyu) talnanang panampat king ugit (bangka). English – handle or stirring rod for rudder. Alimbawa king pamangamit: “Atabili neng Oning ing kaling inya mitsab ya ing bangka na napus a bengi.”

*** PAMANGAPAMPANGAN: Dakal a masulit o masakit a bage pakikwanan, parasan o pagnasan keti king yatu dapot ngara pin deng makatwa— “Alang matimtimang dalaga nung ing mangadi matyaga ya.” Mangabaldugan a ninu man, agyang asne

I had the privilege to be invited by my alma mater, the Pampanga High School, to be part of their moving up ceremony as a speaker. I graduated in 1999 as class salutatorian. This timely invitation became an opportunity for me to ponder on what I have learned from my own journey thus far, and what I can share to this present batch.

I sort of listed down some things which make up parts of the life lessons I have learned and would like to share to this year’s batch that is moving up:

1. Beyond the lessons and the facts that we learn in high school, high school teaches us how to deal with real life. For you, high school is real life. Your daily struggles are real, whether coping with deadlines for projects or homework, making sure that you survive on your allowance, or taking care of your friendships.

When you begin adulting, the struggles are elevated to a higher level, whether you meet work deadlines or lose a job, fall in love or break up with someone. Just do not be afraid of what tomorrow brings and never ever lose hope, it is during the most difficult moments when you realize how strong you really are as a person. And when you feel like you want to give up, do not be afraid to reach out, because we are never truly al one.

2. Remember that your habits today become your values tomorrow. If you make a habit of going out of your way to help other people, you cultivate the value of volunteerism. But if you start the habit of taking drugs or cutting classes, these will haunt you for the rest of your life.

3. Pursue your passions. Remember that attitude is as important as aptitude.

4. Live not only for yourself, but also for others. Live well, with what you have and what you do. The world needs men and women who think beyond themselves, and also care for their community, their city, the environment and mankind.

5. As you move up, don’t forget to also move on. When you move up, you gain a higher position, but when you move on, you recover from a set back and overcome a challenge which has made you a stronger person. All of us need to be able to face life as it comes, and make the most of it, regardless of how we started or where we come from.

6. By many standards I may not have made it yet: I don’t have a car, I don’t own a house, I don’t have a lot of money in the bank. Compared to me, I have friends and batch mates who are better off and more

accomplished than I am, and I am very proud of what they have achieved.

But the thing is, I do not like to compare, and I have long accepted that in our personal journeys we will always meet people who are lesser or greater than ourselves and we have to respect people as they are, and as they come. At the end of the day, we will all be judged by just one standard, that of the Almighty Father’s. Then it will not matter if you had an I Phone 7s or many designer bags in your lifetime.

More than any other achievements I have had, the greatest one is having my daughter Sunis. More than all the money in the world, I am content to know that I am well loved by my family and true friends. The best things in life are indeed free.

Happy moving up, Batch 2017!