Litrato’t Salamin

Ni Isabel Azaña

Ako’y muling babangon sa kinabukasang magdudulot ng pagod.

Hindi mawari kung hanggang kailan susubukang kumayod, Sapagkat ang pakiramdam ay parang laging may pagkukulang.

Tila ba’y kakaunti pa lamang ang aking nagagawang mga hakbang.

Tinititigan ang litratong nakasabit sa dingding–Taong suot ang helmet ng Agsikapin.

Kasalukuyang nag-aaral at

Para sa larawang puno ng ambisyon at pangarap

Sunod-sunod ang mga tagumpay at magagandang balita. “Congratulations!” o kaya “Ipagpatuloy mo yan!”; ang laging sinasabi.

Mga gantimpala at medalya sa litrato ay kitang-kita. Ngunit litrato’y hindi sa akin, sapagkat ‘di pa ako nagwawagi.

“Kailan ko rin kaya ito mararanasan?”

Isang tanong na laging binabanggit sa harap ng salamin. Inip kung titigan ang sarili sa salamin, at hindi na sa larawan

Na tila ba’y pagod nang sumubok sa mga bagay na dapat pang gawin.

Sa salamin, nakita ko ang taong

Ngunit ang ngiti ay pilit nang hinahanap.

Sapat pa bang sinusunod ko lang ang litratong bitbit ang ambisyong nais abutin?

O nakalimutan kong dapat magpahinga at sarili’y dapat alagaan pa rin?

Masyado ko atang pine-pressure ang aking sarili Dahil nakalimutan kong hindi naman pala ito karera na dapat magmadali. Ang propesyon sa litrato’y hindi ko susukuan at patuloy na tutuparin, Ngunit gagawin ko ito sa hakbang na kaya ko, ‘yung makahaharap sa salamin at ipagmalaking “Kaya ko rin.”

Ako’y muling babangon bukas at kinabukasan.

‘Di lang naman pala pagod ang dala ng araw-araw.

By Christian Reganit

It is unfortunate that some people invalidate our pain. Few of them are mean-spirited haters who easily dismiss our dreams as worthless and lame. Rejecting, disregarding, refusing to believe, or even situation minimizing– “We’ve all experienced these things.” Oh, wait! There goes the right term to sound downplaying.

My bad, I’m sorry for that.

But in this poetry, I am not only apologizing for myself. Not only for my own mistake. But also, I am apologizing for those people who invalidate your pain. Those people who made you feel that you’re unworthy. That your emotions are unacceptable, and your thoughts are rubbish. I am asking forgiveness for those people whom you expected to support you under any circumstances, but also the first one who put massive disbelief in your ideas, goals, and dreams.

I’m sorry for that.

I wish my apologies would make you feel better. I wish that in just a snap of sorry, it would lighten up your bag of disappointments, and would clear your mind– full of frustrations. I hope that those people who made you feel that you’re unworthy, unacceptable, and rubbish will be forgiven, for perhaps they are also victims of someone else’s invalidation.

My bad, and I’m so sorry for that.

I am glad that despite hearing those unremarkable people, you never stumble. Because look at you now! Victorious. But sharing your thoughts and success with those who dismissed you, you’ll be stronger and even more successful.

I may not be right in my assumptions at this moment, but whether you’re a student, professional, or in the process of your glorious moment. Be reminded that success is meaningless if you are uncertain. Questions and doubts are part of the process. Hefty marks on your heart will slow the progress, but never stop chasing until you feel better and complete.

Life is forgiving. Everyday is a chance. True success is authentic happiness. Find yours and reflect on it