The Middle Child

Pagtatapos

Minsan naiisip na ang lahat ay tila panaginip

Halo halo ang nararamdaman, nalilito.

Ngayo'y pangarap lang ng kahapon

Hindi akalaing mangyayari.

Ika'y matatag, napagtagumpayan mo

H'wag na malungkot, magmukmok.

Bumangon at ipagpatuloy

ang pangarap ng munting ikaw.

Maaaring nahihirapan at nasasaktan

Ngunit bumalik sa unang pag ibig

Magiging masaya rin.

Kaya iwan muna't humakbang.

Magwawagi rin, ipagpabuti mo lang

lumaban ka't mahalin ang ikaw.

Sa susunod na pag gising

Ika'y nagwagi.

May bagong dalangin

kaya tumingin sa salamin

Ngumiti at lumban uli

Magiting na munting bata...

English Translation

Sometimes it is thought that everything seems like a dream

Not knowing what to feel, confused.

Today is just a dream of yesterday

It was not expected to happen.

You are strong, you have overcome

Don't be sad, sulk.

Get up and move on

the dream of little you.

It can be difficult and painful

But go back to the first love

It will be fun too.

So leave first and step forward.

You can overcome, just improve

fight and love.

The next time you wake up

You've win it all.

There is a new prayer

so look in the mirror

Smile and fight again

Brave little child...

--------------------

August 2004

(Filipino called their Mother a Mama or Ma and Papa or Pa to their Father. Then they called their older sister Ate or Te and for an older brother Kuya or Ya)

I just came home from Plaza playing with our neighbors when I saw my older sister making our younger brother go to sleep in a duyan (hammock). She slowly swing the baby hammock and singing a song that I don't recognize. I get curious and climb up to our bed to see the baby.

"Ate can I swing him too?"

"No. You're not allowed you might get him hurt" she told firmly.

I get disappointed and jump down from the wooden bed.

"Where's mama then?"

I open the pot and the tupper wares to look if there are foods our mother prepared for our lunch time but only rice I found.

"Mama said earlier she will buy ulam ( a dish that is partner for the rice). She will be back immediately."

"Really?!" I smiled widely knowing that mama might buy delicious ulam.

grrr~

I gulped hearing my stomach growl. I pouted.

I've been waiting mother for hours but she still didn't come home.

I stand up, scoop rice from the pot and put it in my plate.

"Ate? do we have a ketchup?"

"Yes, find it in the tray "

I get the bottled ketchup and put some of it on the top of my rice.

This will be my meal for the moment, I thought.

I've been sleeping when my mother woke me up. As I got up it is dark already and I smiled seeing my mother.

"Mama!" I hugged her

"Where did you go?"

She smiled and guide me to go to the table with my Ate.

"Just somewhere... Look I bought letchon manok"

"Wow yiee thank you ma!" I giggled and get my spoon and plate.

After we ate dinner, we sleep with a full stomach...

I am in a deep sleep when I've heard shouting. It is mama and papa. I am half asleep when I felt cold water splash in my face

"Ma..."

I cried as I called my mother