Hotel Rwanda

"...They’re just gonna watch the news and say 'That's horrible!' Then they will just continue eating their dinners..."

Sad but true. Even I, am guilty of it. With the daily news focused on the killings, poverty, lies, hunger, sickness, indifferences and death, who can blame a person if he stopped caring because he's fed up? People minding their own businesses. Turning a blind eye on the truth. There’s chaos all over the place.

How many of us have really contemplated on what’s happening to our world today? How many of us have acted upon our “awa”? We’ve seen worst of the worst almost everyday, everywhere. Watch the horrible reports day in and day out and witness them happen all over again. Yet, did we do anything about it?

It’s as if a bucket of ice was poured out on me, I was awakened by that statement uttered by Joaquin Phoenix. At times, whenever I hear or see something bad on the news, I say to myself, “Grabe! Kawawa naman sila.” Then I go on with my life, because you have to admit, these things happen and you just have to accept it. Still, I wanted to do something more than just feeling sorry for them. People close to me knows what my passion is or what my heart is burdened by, they know how hard I have cried to the Lord for it. With the way things are and with where I am now, I am denying this from myself and gave it up, nonetheless. It’s been so long and you can say that I am tired. That’s just me though. My own issues. Own. Haha. How selfish of me. I have just made the world more complicated. I can feel the pang of hurt and guilt witnessing the desperation our world is in, for I know that I can do something about it yet I do not move.

“Why are the people cruel?” ― “Because of hate…”

Hotel Rwanda is a film that can give you a reality check. If you have been caught up with your own selfish desires (like I have), take your time off and watch this true story. ALONE, I must recommend so that you can internalize the film more. *The genocide in Rwanda in 1994 was a very brutal and merciless massacre. It stirred up the international arena. The United Nations, the world’s political leaders, the coward US, media and everybody else were disturbed by this inhumane act of discrimination. It was the most tragic event since the Holocaust. This film captures the story of a man, who has taken upon himself the responsibility to help his fellowmen despite the slow intervention of those supposed to be “protectors” of these people. It is heartbreaking yet encouraging. Only one man… but he was able to save more than 10 lives. Expect emotional stress so bring your Kleenex. It is sad to see events such as these happen. But do you realize that things like these happen all the time? It may not be in one place and it may not be genocide, just the same, death and discrimination have painted our world red. Think Moslems and Christians, the privileged and the uneducated, the fashionistas and the jologs.

Convenience breeds apathy. You ask me why? I believe that when everything is convenient in a person’s life, he tends to forget the world outside. The real world. It may also be that people with not so convenient lives won’t give a crap about the social problems of this world for they also have problems of their own. These people feel one with the distressing state of the world. So why the heck care for the others when they have worries themselves to attend to? Makes sense. Well, correct me if I’m wrong with my statements. These are just my personal observations.

But this perception is wrong.. VERY wrong. Our state is not an excuse to be nonchalant about the world issues that all of us are facing. We should actually be the exact opposite. Act now, intervene and do something to address that problem. “Awa” or complaining won’t do any good. These are mere words and emotions that could even add up to the dilemma.

We are all here for a purpose. Stop looking inward for that purpose. LOOK OUTWARD. See the world, find a need and fill it, and ask God’s guidance while you’re at that. The place where God needs you is where your active involvement and the world’s deep hunger meet. The Lord is calling you to your purpose and the world is crying out for that hand of yours to reach. Extend it. It isn’t a smooth road if you take the challenge. You will be tested. But keep in mind: “For you to be saturated in your purpose, you have to be stretched to the point that you’re gonna break.”

We know what is right and what is wrong. We’re not innocent kids anymore. We’re not perfect, so stop pointing out our indifferences. We are created uniquely, each one of us. Let’s not pin one another to the ground. Instead, share God’s Good News, spread the love and see the world change. We may not be able to conquer the whole ‘wall’, but our little ‘cracks’ can definitely break it down in the long run.

Have faith. Be optimistic. Don’t lose hope. God will never forsake you. These are just some of the truths and perspectives I’ve realized from the film. I may have issues of my own, but the world has far bigger and more important issues than I have. If I can share my light to the world, I better start now. I must help. I can’t do this alone though.

The world needs you. Would you be extending your hand?

 

* - 3 links provided for you that you may understand the Rwanda Genocide

Sige nga, kung kilala mo ko talaga

Take a shot. Let's see if you really know me.;)

- Make a list of 10 statements about yourself.
- 4 of the 10 statements must be lies.
- Post your list and have people guess which four are lies!

Game!

1. I am a Consular and Diplomatic Affairs Major.
2. Mahal ko si Kermit the Frog.
3. Movie Freak.
4. I can do a cartwheel-russian-split routine.
5. Katabi ko sa office si Eiyu Sasaki.
6. Patay na patay ako kay Wendell Ramos.
7. I was a ballet dancer before.
8. Mula't sapul nais ko nang maging piloto.
9. I have 16 first cousins.
10. Malapit na birthday ko, next week na!!!

**got this from Ian. Naaliw ako so nakisali na rin.:-D

Maligayang Kaarawan Ma.

 

//07:05:32 PM ~ 20th May 2005

Ma,

Napakarami kong gustong sabihin sayo, ngunit di ko alam kung saan ako magsisimula. Marami ka nang nagawa para sa pamilyang 'to. Kung sa hirap lang, matindi ang tiniis mo. Mula kay Papa, sa araw-araw na gastusin, sa mga kapatid mo, sa trabaho, sa kaibigan, at sa amin.. mga anak mo. Alam ko kung gaano karaming luha ang iniiyak mo, mula't sapul na iniluwal mo ko sa mundo. Hindi lingid sa lahat ng mga nakakakilala sa'yo kung gaano kalaki ang mga isinakripisyo mo para lang sa kasiyahan ng mga mahal mo sa buhay. Mas inuna mo ang kapakanan namin kaysa sa sarili mong mga hangad. Ni simpleng matiwasay na pagtulog ay ipinagkakait mo sa sarili mo, para lang makasiguro ka na lahat kami ay nasa mabuting kalagayan.

Hindi ka madamot. Lahat na ata ng kaya mong ibigay, naibigay mo na. Naitaguyod mo ang mga kapatid mo mula sa sarili mong pagsisikap. Lahat sila nakatapos ng kolehiyo dahil sa pagtitiyaga mo. Ikaw ang tumayong pangalawang ina, mula nang iwan kayo ni Lola. Tinitingala kita sa pagiging isang huwarang panganay mo. Lahat ng kasaganahan sa buhay ay pinalasap mo sa iyong mga mahal sa buhay. Kahit malayong kamag-anak pa yan. At kahit na nagkaroon ka ng sarili mong pamilya, hindi mo tinalikuran ang responsibilidad mo sa kanila. Ngayong wala na rin si Lolo, sigurado akong masaya siyang lumisan dahil nakita niya ang puspos mong pagmamahal sa lahat.

Lalo pa sa amin. Kaming mga anak mo na sunod ang lahat ng luho. Kahit wala ng pera, gumagawa ka ng paraan para lang makita mo kaming masaya, nakatawa. Sa mga kapatid ko. Hindi mo iniinda ang antok at pagod dahil sa paghihintay mo sa kanilang pag-uwi mula sa magdamagang pagbabasketbol. Kahit pabalang kang sinasagot sa bawat pagsita mo sa kanila'y patuloy ka pa rin sa pang-uunawa. Dala marahil ng impluwensiya ng barkada kaya nabubulagan sila sa pagmamalasakit mong ito. Akala nila'y pinagkakait mo sa kanila ang kaligayahang ito. Pero alam na alam kong para rin naman ito sa kanilang kabutihan. Paano pa kaya kay Papa? Ang pagmamahal na ibinibigay mo sa kanya ay walang katumbas. Walang katapusang pag-intindi at pagpapakumbaba ang iyong ipinapamalas. Saksi ako sa paghihinagpis mo noon. Kahit sa murang kaisipan ko'y naintindahan ko na kung ano ang tunay na pagmamahal. Hindi mo siya iniwan kahit pa ilang hirap at pasakit ang binigay nya sayo. Bagkus mas minahal mo pa siya ng walang pag-aalinlangan. Ehemplo ka ng isang mabuting asawa.

At sa akin. Alam mo kung ano ang pagkatao ko. Kung meron mang nakakakilala sa akin ng lubusan, ay ikaw na yon. Madalas din tayong magtalo kagaya rin ng ibang mag-ina, normal na senaryo na yon. Pero alam naman natin na di rin natin kayang tiisin ang isa't isa. Mahal kita Ma. Mahal na mahal.

Suwail akong anak ngunit hindi ka nagkimkim ng galit sa akin. Inintindi mo ako nung nagrebelde ako. Tinanggap mo ang mga minahal ko kahit labag sa kalooban mo, para lamang sa ikaliligaya ko. Yinakap mo ako nung panahong punung-puno ako ng kalungkutan. Ikaw ang nagbigay ng pag-asa sa'kin. Hindi mo ako itinatwa nang malaman mo ang nagawa kong kasalanan. Mas lalo mo pa akong hinagkan noon. Hindi mo ako sinigawan o sinampal man lang, kahit na yun ang karapat-dapat. Ang yakap mo ng gabing iyon ang pinaka-mainit sa lahat sapagkat noon ko naintindihan ang tunay na kahulugan ng pagiging isang ina.

Ma, tapos na marahil ang Mother's Day, pero sa puso ko, araw-araw kong ipagdiriwang ang kagandahan ng iyong pagkatao. At nagpupuri ako sa Diyos, dahil ikaw ang napili Niya upang maging Mama ko. Habang buhay kong ipagpapasalamat sa Kanya yon.

Happy Birthday po.

Nagmamahal,

Normi

 

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