ANG BIYAHE NATIN AY MAIKLI LANG

The journey is short.

Isang matandang babae ang nakasakay sa tren.
Sa isang istasyon, may isang babaeng sumakay, dala ang maraming bagahe. Sa hindi sinasadya, nasagi niya ang matanda.

Napansin ito ng isang pasahero at tinanong ang matanda,
"Nakita ko ang ginawa ng bagong sakay na pasahero. Bakit hindi mo siya pinagsabihan o nagalit man lang?"

Ngumiti lang ang matanda at sumagot,
"Hindi na kailangang makipagtalo o makipag-away. Maikli lang ang biyahe natin. Sa susunod na hintuan, bababa na rin ako."

Napakaganda ng sagot ng matanda. Dapat nating mapagtanto na maikli lang ang ating buhay sa mundong ito.

Huwag nating pahirapan ang ating sarili sa mga bagay na walang kabuluhan—mga away, inggitan, sama ng loob, at kakulangan sa pagpapatawad. Lahat ng ito ay wala namang maidudulot kundi sakit sa katawan at isipan.

Sa araw-araw nating paglalakbay, tandaan natin: maikli lang ang buhay.
Kaya maging masaya, mamuhay nang mapayapa, at pahalagahan ang bawat sandali.

May nanakit ba sa iyo? Nasaktan ka sa pag-ibig?
Maging kalmado lang. Just stay calm.

May nang-api sa iyo? May nagparating ng masasakit na salita?
Patawarin mo na. The trip is too short.

May natanggap ka bang mensaheng hindi mo nagustuhan?
Huwag mo nang patulan. Kalma ka lang. Patawarin mo na.

Kung mayroon tayong kaibigan o kapamilya na kasama sa ating paglalakbay,
walang nakakaalam kung hanggang kailan tayo magkakasama.
Our journey together is too short.

Kaya maging mabuti, magpatawad, magmahal, at pahalagahan ang bawat isa. Kahit sa maikling oras na kasama natin sila, gawin nating makabuluhan ang bawat sandali.

Ang oras natin dito sa mundo ay hindi panghabang-buhay.

"HINDI MO KAILANGAN MAGING MAYAMAN O MATAAS ANG PINAG-ARALAN UPANG MAKATULONG SA KAPWA MO PILIPINO."

This is a story about a mother and a daughter. Naisip ko po itong istorya na bagay sa ating nakikita, naririnig sa panahon ngayon.

A daughter, who wants to put her mother in a nursing home, would like to take her mother’s money. But the mother refused – the mother gave her everything in life. Now the mother said, "I will give her now the biggest lesson ever."

The daughter, who has seemingly lost her mind, thinks just because her mother is 90 years old, she can ship her off to some nursing home like an old piece of furniture. The mother has her own home, properties, and cash, too. The mother told her straight up, "If you don't want to take care of me, I'll take care of myself. I've got my savings, and I'll use them to hire a caregiver and stay right here in my own house."

Well, that made her mad! Turns out she was banking on getting her hands on her money. Now she's throwing a fit because her plan isn’t going to work. It has been more than a month that she hasn’t visited or called. And she made sure to tell her mother not to bother her until she is ready to be taken to a nursing home.

Imagine being 90 and having just one daughter. These days, the mother kept thinking why God never gave her a son, or another daughter. Someone who would give some love to her. I think Rosemarie (the daughter) takes things for granted, so instead of her calling, the mother called and then gave her the biggest lesson in her life.

You won’t believe what the mother did. She knows she is her only daughter, but after they spoke, the mother invited her to urgently come as there are some big developments regarding her money, relates the mother.

Not even the next day, the very same night Rosemarie showed up, but she wasn’t ready for what was coming to her. She came in all confident and bossy, but what she saw… her eyes widened up, and she was pale as a ghost.

There, in the living room, stood a lawyer and the new caregiver, Mrs. Garcia, a kind-hearted woman ready to take care of the mother. Rosemarie's confident smirk faded quickly as the reality of the situation hit her. She had expected to find her mother weak and desperate, but instead, she found her mother stronger than ever, standing tall.

The lawyer began to speak, “Miss Rosemarie, your mother has decided to take control of her assets and well-being. She has legally assigned her savings and property to be managed by a trust, with clear instructions that ensure her comfort and care without interference.”

Rosemarie’s face turned red with anger. “This is absurd! You can’t do this to me, Mother!” The mother looked her straight in the eye and said, “I can and I have. You wanted to throw me away and take my money. Now, you’ll get nothing until I pass, and even then, it’ll be on my terms.”

The shock and disbelief on Rosemarie’s face were priceless. She tried to argue, but the lawyer calmly explained that everything was legally sound and unchangeable. Rosemarie stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

For the first time in years, the mother felt a sense of peace and control over her life. Mrs. Garcia helped her to her favorite chair, and they sat down to have tea. "I knew I had done the right thing. My daughter needed to learn that love and respect cannot be bought or coerced. They have to be earned and cherished."

As she sat, sipping her tea and watching the sunset, she said, "I am grateful for the strength I found within myself. I may be 90, but I am still capable of making my own decisions and living my life on my terms. Rosemarie and I have found a new understanding, and my home is once again filled with love and respect."

This story has taught me that it’s never too late to stand up for yourself, to demand the respect you deserve, and to teach those around you the true meaning of love and family.

“Hindi mo kailangan maging mayaman o mataas na pinag-aralan upang makatulong sa kapwa mo Pilipino.” - Nanay Anita