ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE

Secret of happiness ? find a work you truly truly like
And you'll never have to work for the rest of your life
Surround yourself with people who see your good side
Never have a dull moment, and you'll have a smooth ride

Many years ago I was in engineering and construction
Success and stress are brothers, it dulls your emotions
Design and planning, and supervision are the easy part
But hiring and firing guys, you need a cold, cold heart

That's when I decided that leadership is not my cup of tea
Always have a heavy heart following instructions to a tee
Commanding men and imposing discipline is not that easy
Having a poker face, high handedness, oh, that can't be me ...

I took the easy way out, found a business that would jive
Got into book-selling, I earned my keeps, I felt so alive
I have always loved to read, watch movies, and tell stories
You get to meet people of your own kind, absolutely no stress
    
In books I have found the kind of peace I have been searching
In my little corner I have traveled through ages, just fantasizing 
Knew how Rhett  felt when he decided to leave Scarlet O'hara
And how Luna hurt when he was betrayed by Pantaleon Garcia

With books you could talk with people who have long been gone
With writers who left behind a legacy, relating words of wisdom, 
For there's no other way we could unravel life way past beyond
Had these authors not given up their lives and words to understand

Someone called me "a walking encyclopedia", and a "book prophet
I have to be honest, I have to admit, I felt elated, I felt real great
The truth is, Its a good memory, stored at the back of  my mind
Like a USB I am, able to recall, relate the information you can find

Thanks a lot, the pleasure is mine, I'd say do'wanna be a celebrity
Success is when you've become someone you have pretended to be
Always wanted to be known- someone who's intelligent and smart
Then realized that learning is never ending, enlightenment is an art

You live and die, how long?, only God can tell, let us do our part
Everyday  could be a fresh start, have a life... follow your heart
After we're gone, can people tell how and judge how we made out
How we've touched other people's life ...and made our time count 

A TRUE TEST OF FAITH

Five  days in the hospital, what else can you do ?
Read books, watch TV, and remember the blues
I'm fine but my son is not, gotta watch him all the time
Got caught in an accident as they were making a climb

Broke his hand, broke his jaw, a tiny shard in his eye
A metal pierced his buttock, but lucky enough to survive
A 15 meter drop, their L-300 missed the bridge, took a dive
Only God's hand saved him, he's all messed up but alive

This kid is real tough, lucky, its his third chance in life
3 months old he was, when they operated on his heart
3 years ago an 18 foot fall while working for Sky Cable
All bloodied and bruised, yet he had no broken bones

Questions fire back, I asked why have all this things happen
But I bowed to His will, guess he's just being toughened
We're old and time will come, me and she would be leaving
This son is honed, he'll take charge for our other children

You'll never know what pain is until you see you child suffer
Saw him bloodied, all stitched up, painful memories linger
But that's part of life, its like boxing you're bound to get hit
Step back a bit, roll, then move forward, and stay on your feet

Much harder it is to comfort your partner than the one who's sick
A mother heart could bleed so bad,  her fears will always stick
Tears will fall, knees will shake, sometimes weaken your faith
But you have to bow and pray, and listen to God as He speaks

So hear me, those of you who's weak at heart, this is my advice
I never claimed that I am strong, or I have a heart as cold as ice
We are but a passengers in this life,  and for sure all of us will die
Make time for your kids, forget about being busy, or think of alibis

If you can't have what you wanted, enjoy the things that you have
Follow your heart, love your children and most of all your wife
Things don't always happen the way you expected them to be
But have faith, live and learn, make a mark, and leave a legacy

SON'S FAULTS ARE FATHER'S FAILURES

No matter what you try to do to your son,
    they will always try to be like their father
Yes, I did try to give them a better reason,
    hoping they would be better, and go farther

I tried to make them athletes, teach them basketball
    Joined MILO Summer Camp, reluctantly enroll
But they just could not fit in, they always fumble
    they preferred to be at home,watch TV, play marbles

Since they are better looking, mestizo and taller,
    I thought they would be smarter, be better lovers
Until now I am still asking, are both of them losers ?
    They still have no girls, just games and computers

Since I was into martial arts, tried teaching them boxing
    But to them its Dota, Counter Strike, the Anime thing
Tried to teach them history, how the world just came up to be
    But they would tell me about Naruto, Pokemon, Dragonball Z

Maybe our style is really gone, they are just in different time
    Still I don't want to give up, told them about meaning of life
Yeah, they do listen, saw nothing wrong with what I am telling
    But they find it more challenging, web design and programming

That's the way the ball bounces, you have to keep up with changes
    Your son came through you, not from you, you really have to let go
Father and sons are just like bow and arrows, stretch fully the bow
    The arrows will travel farther but you're never sure where it will show

Confucius said sons are our mirrors, through them we'll see our errors
    We should try to correct them  as we go, with all sincerity and fervor
Just love them, take them as they are, but when they fall, help them rise
     For one day they would leave, have a family, build their own paradise

That's the day when they will know how hard you have loved and tried
     To make men out of the little boys that he has guided, that he has sired ...
That's also the time when a father will know for every fault that a son had
     Its a father's failure, maybe unintended, but it will really make you sad

That's how the wheel of life is, what goes around will soon come around ...
     You reap what you sow, so build bridges, make time, and forget the alibis
When the going gets rough  need to span the gap, you can stand your ground
     Say,- I am your father and I care, pick up the pieces, let's give it one more try ! 

IF YOU COULD FEEL THE PAIN, YOU'RE STILL IN THE GAME

If you could feel the pain , you're still in the game

Life is a struggle, you can't call it by any other name

Roll with the punches, clear your head, its not over yet

Its not all about winning, its the struggle, its about respect

Its the respect that we see in the eyes of our opponent

Its not seen when we are winning, giving them a beating

Its when you are able to take their best shots and able to grin ...

Give them the look "its that all you've got" and remain standing

That's when the real struggle starts and you're in a real fight

Your opponent will try to bring you down with all all he's got

You try to fight back, never giving an inch, never giving up

Its no longer a contest but how each one will measure up

As in life, for a fighter, the beginning of one's enlightenment

Life is not merely a showcase of skills, a measure of talents

Its about discovering your strengths, honing your attributes

Never anticipate the end, allow nature to take its own course

We're just another piece of the puzzle, just another part of a plan

Like the song, a lone life touches the other, so hard to understand 

Everyone we meet is no accident, but a piece of a grand design 

Either to deliver a message, teach us a lesson, or  change our mind

So don't give up on life, the pains are just but a reminder ...

When the wheel is going down, don't hold on, just let it go

Wait and see where the wheel is going, the things going under

Trust in God, keep your faith, having passed through it, you're a Pro !

LIFE'S BEEN GOOD TO ME

I  guess my life really turned out to be like  a poem
Things are so bad I am not sure what is going  on ...
But I treat everything just like a passing storm
For I believe if it doesn't kill you, it makes you strong

'Cause I was born lucky, I've had a good run
My life as a kid was nothing but fun ...
Lolo and Lola guided me with good hands
I remember those moments, all the lessons learned

Surely my heart was broken for a number of times
But I kept on loving, drowned the tears with good wine
I remember my first crush her name was Elizabeth
In Elementary it was Zeny, in High School, Jigette

But I was so clumsy, just admired them from afar
Wrote some letters, crumple then set them on fire
College years It was  Baby, someone who's a beauty
Then found myself lonesome, just too short for Lucy

Then came the MWSS days, whoring around and wining
But I never stopped from loving , just kept on dreaming ...
For I still remember about that classy girl from Rempson
But then I realized, I'm young, surely life has to move on ...

Again I tried my luck,wooed a girl from Siliman 
She said I was funny but I was lost, without a plan
Downed bottles of beer and thought of going to Saudi
But again my heart was caught, with a lovely smile from a lady

She was so simple, so nice and I would say a real beauty
From that time I knew, someone I would love 'till eternity
We said "I do" some 30 years ago ... through time we survived
Made mistakes, made each moment count and kept love alive

Surely life is not a bed of roses, it can be heaven, it can be rasp
But life can be beautiful, someone said, just follow this advice ...
The door to happiness is a very narrow, only one person can pass
So you must become one, its a gamble, either both wins or it won' last
  
That's one lesson learned from all those years, the good and the bad
Even when it seems that things are bad, bleak and falling apart ...
Never lose hope, do not blame, and remember, never, never give up
Just wait, and pray, for things are just falling into their rightful spots 

BEST MEMORIES OF -MWSP 3

Siguro nga let's call it blessing in disguise
Project Laiban Dam natigil at naparalyze
Grupong LD-1 sa Balara office na-re-assign
I guess it was a part of God's grand design

Dahil puro mga binata good-time lang ang hanap
Pero sa buhay opisina nahirapang mag-adopt
Ugaling natutunan ng tropa sa kabundukan
Wild at magulo, sa Relocation ay di napigilan

Kapag araw ng suweldo sabay-sabay naggagalugad
Iniisa ang mga Beerhouse don sa Quezon Bouevard
Todo sa Happy Hour order ng until late in the evening
At magtatapos sa Maalikaya para may happy ending

Mayroong nagsabi na wala raw sa aming guwapo
Tanging si Ronald  lang daw ang mukhang seryoso
Matatalino nga pero puro magugulo at mga baduy,
At tanging si Boyet at Marlo ang mga mukhang playboy

Ang sabi ni Rolly mahirap daw ang maging torpe
Di man lang maka-first base at walang masabi
Di tulad sa beerhouse kapag bagong suweldo
Ang tingin sa'yo ng babae ay ubod ng guwapo

Babaeng mababa ang lipad 'wag sanang husgahan
Di rin naman nila nais ang kanilang kinasadlakan
Para sa mga binatang di pa alam ang patutunguhan
Taga pagbigay aliw at lunas sa mga kalungkutan

Grupong LD-1, si Jerry unang  nagka-family
Nasundan ni Ruth at Flavie, si Totoy at Mely
Kaya mula noon mga torpe ay nag-practice
Paano ang manligaw para maging "unders"

Kaming mga natira tuloy ang happy-happy
Pero deep in our heart we too know things can't be
Unang naging crush ng grupo ay si Norie
Walang nakaligaw, talagang puro mga torpe 

Kaya noong maging girlfriend ko si Tisay
Walang makapaniwala lalo na si Bisay
Kaya nga di inibig ay wala raw ambisyon
Ok lang sabi ni Tisay basta't may love and devotion

Talagang naiiling di maawat si Tita Eden
Panay ang saway ni  Miriam at ni Merly
Pero sabi Nelly, kung mahal mo siya Belen
Sundin ang damdamin, love him eternally

Sayang ang petition at biyahe mo sa USA
Pero handang harapin "come what may"
Ang sabi Huebert bakit s'ya ang daming lalake
Ang sagot naman niya fan siya ni Andrew E.

Total support naman ang aking mga kaibigan
Ang pagiging "unders' kanilang ipinag-diwang
Alam naman nila good time namin ay panandalian
Darating din ang araw maghahanap ng kapalaran

Ilang taon din ang lumipas bago naging seryoso
Re-organization sa MWSS ay nauwi sa bulilyaso
Privatization ang sumunod kaya isa-isang nag-resign
Grupo ng Water 3 LD-1 unti-unting nang nagsilisan 

30 years have gone by, only memories remain
The good times, the bad times, LD-1 was fun
Sana naman if ever time allows, let's meet again
Bago pa tuluyang tayo'y maging mga ulyanin

MEMORIES OF MWSP 3 -- BALARA, QC

Karugtong ito ng kahapon, LD-I ay napostpone 
Laiban engineers ay inipon, sa Balara itinapon
"Ang gugulo at kulit n'yo", mga hindi raw sibilisado
Yon ang puna ni Tita Eden at ibang mga empleyado

Mga walang modo, ayon kay Daisy, Tetchie at Lady D
Sobrang maiingay at pasaway, ang complain ni Carrie
Pasensiya sila, sadya lang mahirap na alisin at kalimutan 
Ugaling nakuha sa dalawang taon sa bundok ng Laiban

Okay lang naman sa office,  marami palang libangan
ITM, Cubao at Daungan naging paboritong Tambayan
At kapag fully loaded, groggy na sa beer at pulutan
Doon nag che-check, pipili lang ng number sa dingding

Mga crowd sa Relocation, si Miriam, Ruth, Rose at Gem
The sexy secretaries, Pilar, Alice, Luz, Violy at si Helen 
The lady engineers, Flor Umali, Susan, si Supergirl Bisay
Idagdag pa natin, two other girls, sina  Norie at Tisay

Siyempre nandiyan din ang mga bagong kaibigan ...
Si Pete, Noel, 2 x Alex, Romeo, Mel, Philip at Hubert
Ang madasaling tatlo, si Elmer, Ogie at Brother Willie
At new drinking buddies, Pareng Eddie at si Sofie

And before I forget, ang aming mga boss, d' men on top
Si Leo at Joe, Jess Arranz,Exal, Flat Top at Macaspac
Si Attorney Joven, Ben, Abe, at si Ramon at Senen
For other names I forgot to mention, mea culpa, say Amen

Life with Manila Water 3 is always worth  remembering
Ten years ng kabataan, walang direksiyon, puro good time
Maaaring sabihin di ideal, pero a past worth pondering
Thanks to everybody, till we meet again, have a drink of wine 

MEMORIES OF MWSP 3 - LAIBAN GROUP

    Maalikayang pagbati sa mga dating kaibigan
    Sariwa pa rin sa alaala ang magandang samahan
    Kantiyawan, kulitan, at malalim na pagkakaibigan
    Nabuo sa dalawang taon, Project Laiban Dam
    
    Nakapanghihinayang, mga pangarap na nabinbin
    Kung nagtuloy-tuloy sana puro tayo naging PM
    Pero okay lang sadyang ganyan ang kapalaran
    Nagkahiwa-hiwalay, ang iba'y nangibang-bayan

    Maybe, siguro di na alam kung saan-saan napunta
    Pero siguradong , naaalala, araw na magkakasama
    Hit or miss, mga pare just in case kayo'y makabalita
    Ang tulang ito ay para sa inyo, noong tayo'y mga binata

    Mga big brothers, sina Marlo, Boyet at Zalameda
    Kayo ang panlaban, namuno sa una nating protesta
    Maging maayos ang pag-trato, sa atin ng mga Magu
    Bilang professional, at  tunay na mga enhinyero

    Makakalimutan ba natin ang mabait na si Maton
    Si  E.T. na kaibigan ng  incomparable na si Bong
    Si  Edwin at Calvi, Tisoy, at ang gwapong si Gani
    Atlas,Rey Magu, at Ronquillo, Jess, Albert, at si Ely

    Ang ating mga ninong - Manyaku, Ronald at Doy
    Nandoon din si Pay, si Jerry at  syempre si Sonny Boy
    Sr. na Rick, Freddie, Flavie , Caser , RC, Delfin at Kidlat
    And of course, ang walang kamatayan na si Diegong Tabak

    Paboritong asarin, Safety Engineer na walang kapantay
    Safe na safe sa blasting sa Tanay dahil nasa kanilang bahay
    Suma-Kumagai, NIA Consult, Hines, Rafer at si Bornok
    Ganyan kasaya at kagulo ang aming buhay sa bundok

    I hope you guys will still remember, LD-1 group forever
    Next 8 years natin sa Balara, sama-sama na naperder
    Maybe next year, maybe never, if ever, where ever ...
    Now we're 30 years older,  Re-union tayo mga ser ?