Ang Gamu-gamo at ang Apoy

            May isang batang gamu-gamo. Sadyang makulit at pilyo ito ngunit may likas din siyang katalinuhan at hilig sa mga bagay-bagay na naka-aakit sa kaniya. Dahil sa kapilyuhan at sobra niyang mausisa , ilang beses na siyang pinagsabihan ng kaniyang ina na huwag masyadong maglala-layo at huwag na huwag na muling lalapit pa sa apoy ng lampara. Maningning at paiba-iba ng kulay ang apoy ng lampara. Minsa'y pula at minsan nama'y dilaw. Nag-iiba-iba rin ang taas nito, depende na rin sa lakas o hina ng hangin sa silid.

Kahit napagsabihan na nang pauli-ulit ng kaniyang ina, sadyang nahumaling pa rin ang batang gamu-gamo sa apoy ng lampara. Paikot-ikot siyang lumipad dito at dahil sa sobrang ikinaa-aliw niya ang apoy ay unti-unti pa siyang lumapit. Unti-unti pa at pa-un pa hanggang sa nagliyab ang kaniyang mga pak-pak at mabilis siyang bumulusok pababa sa lampara...

            Ang apoy ang magpapalaya sa iyo. Pangarap. Mithiin. Ideya. Uri ng pamumuhay. Inspirasyon o kaya'y pagmamahal. Marami pang ibang 'apoy' na mahahanap mo sa buhay mo. Magugulat ka na lang na mapapatid ka na lamang sa isa sa mga ito. Malalaman mo, tulad ng batang gamu-gamo, na nahuhumaling ka na nga sa apoy. Lalapit ka anuman ang kapalit; kahit buhay pa.  Bilang gamu-gamo sundan mo ang pintig ng puso mo. Ipaglaban mo ang apoy na kinapatiran mo at kahit ilang beses ka pang mabigo, asahan mo na ito sapagkat habang palapit ka nang palapit sa apoy ng buhay mo ay lumalaki rin ang tiyansang lumiyab din ang pakpak mo. Ipaglaban mo ang minamahal mo. Ipaglaban mo hanggang kamatayan. Lumapit ka lang nang lumapit sa apoy. Lumapit ka at huwag kang matatakot na bumulusok at mabigo sapagkat ang mga natatakot mabigo ay ang siya ring mga taong natatakot magtagumpay.

            ...at habang nasusunog na at unti-unti nang namamatay ang batang gamu-gamo, napangiti ito at nasabi 'Mas maganda pala ang apoy kapag ganito ka kalapit.' Tumawa at nasiyahan ang gamu-gamo sapagkat sa wakas, naipaglaban niya ang apoy hanggang kamatayan at hindi siya mamamatay; magiging isa na sila ng apoy.  

Akong Makata

Akong Makata, patay sa ngayon,
Sadyang pinili ko nang tumiwalag sa mga ilusiyon,
Mabubuhay nang patay, mamamatay nang buhay,
Sasalungat nang 'di man lamang nakikita ng kaaway.

Akong Makata, sawi sa pag-ibig,
Dagdag krus sa pasaning pandaigdig,
Hangari'y ko'y mapasaya ka, habang may-buhay,
Ngunit napako na ito sa realidad ng buhay.

Akong Makata, sinira ko na ang aking buhay,
Tiyak na mas matimbang ang sakit at lumbay,
Kung perpekto ang tingin mo sa mundo'y 'wag sa'kin lilingon,
Puputukin ang lobo, isasampal sa 'yo, babasagin ang 'yong ilusyon.

Akong Makata, patay sa ngayon,
Mabubuhay magmuli sa puso ng nasyon,
Sakripisyong handog ko ang buhay ng kinamumuhian,
Handog ko sa mundong ako'y malilimutan.

'Sang Makatang puno ng galit at sakit,
Alay sa Inang Bayang sa akin ay nagmalasakit,
Siyempre, sa'yo na 'di nakakakilala sa akin,
Nakasalubong mo kahapong 'di man lang pinansin.

Uukitin ang mundo gamit ang mga letra't kataga,
Nawa'y paglipas ng panahon ako'y maalala nga,
'Sang Makatang sawi na sa iyo'y nag-aruga,
Gamit ang buhay ko bilang isang Makata.

Gadfly

You might have heard the word gadfly before.

You might remember once or twice in you English class or while proof-reading some essays or stories that your literature or pol sci professor forced down your throat. 

Well, let me tell you what a gadfly really is.

According to wikipedia ( gosh, I have had cited this site for millions of times already),

a gadfly is a fly that annoys horses and other livestock. These are the black and buzzing creatures that we see everywhere. They create so much nuisance that the human race had an invisible sign board in their heads which says "Flies are irritating". I do understand for once these flies stick to you and seemingly start rubbing their hands, you're dead; they just won't stop bothering you even if you shoo them away. Nothing can and will stop them unless: a) You outrun them. b) You would take a bath and c) You kill them. 

Yes. Death is the only thing that will definitely stop them. 

For us human beings, the flies are categorized as pests in a higher level than ants but belongs in a lower level that of locusts and rats. But then, what does it mean to be a social gadlfly? 

Just like gadflies, a social gadfly would annoy people. It is to the extent that these human gadflies will also be labeled as 'pests' who 'does nothing but complain, complain and complain!'. But then being a gadfly means opposing the status quo. Given that everyone is part of the status quo, a social gadfly would definitely oppose the majority.

I am not just a social gadfly, I am a Socialist gadfly, meaning, I do believe in socialism and I am against any form of repression and inequality in our society. I do hate capitalism. Sadly, I am a part of it. We are all part of it yet I realized that it shouldn't be the one who will control and even dictate our lives.

In this blog, I will post notes and reflections about Social Democracy, a political ideology that I believe is true democracy, for I am still studying about it and absorbing its juices that will form my personal views about society and about life. This blog will share my views and notes with you. Please do consider it with an open mind and attack it as much as you can. For as a social democrat, I believe that debate is good not only politically but personally for it contributes to the development and awareness of each and one of us.

For the capitalists and those who would like to protect their own personal interests by accumulating personal power and wealth, kill me now. Kill me, for as long as I am breathing and I can and will write this blog, I will take you down, so kill me now.

Well, for you who is reading this, COMMENT. DEBATE. THINK.
Tell everyone that you know about this blog that would draw them to the views of a lonely poet who will clear their eyes, open their minds and rekindle the fire in their hearts.

Two things before I leave you,
1. Follow and share this blog.
If you wouldn't want,
2. Kill the Socialist Gadfly.

Thank you for reading my first post ever.

sincerely yours,
TheSocialistGadfly