Once upon a time, in a kingdom faraway, there lived a king.

He lived in a kingdom had two wives and seven children. He was known for spoiling his children, letting them to study wherever they want and eat whatever they want. Despite this, they were never contented with their lives.

Since becoming king, his people have been divided in their opinion of him.

The first group praised and loved him for his power and wealth. The other group considered him a dictator, abusive of power and murderer.

The rebels were killed.

That night, the king bid his family good night. The king felt safe as he drifted off to sleep, his family by his side.

And he lived happily ever after in his paradise.

The end.

Once upon a time, in a kingdom faraway, there lived a farmer.

He lived in a small hut with his wife and two children. He was known to work hard for his family. He wakes up very early in the morning to start with his tasks for the day. At noon, he sends his children to school and picks them up before sunset. He’s happily contented with his life.

Since the coronation of the new king, farmers have been displeased with him. Farms were sold to big companies favored by the king. This caused the farmers to rebel against the king’s administration. He joined other people in the street

The farmer was killed.

That night, the farmer bid his family goodbye. The farmer felt defeat as he drifted off to sleep, his family in tears.

And the farmer never lived after.

His end.

It is yet another desolate night. I am once again stuck in this dimly lit room with nothing good to do. But even if I’m left with my favorite things, I do not have the energy to use them.

The bowl of food, left alone since lunch, is still sitting on the floor next to a wide cup filled with water. I would have to suffer a couple more hours in the company of little ants who have greater appetite than me. I normally would be mad at them for taking my prized food, but now, it doesn’t matter – nothing does.

Dear, oh dear! How long do I have to endure this loneliness? How can I keep my sanity with nothing to hear but the monotonous whirring of this tall electric fan? If the television was left turned on, it could have distracted me from this familiar glum feeling that I have yet been accustomed to. If only I could read the clock and set an alarm until the time when--

Wait! Am I hearing this correctly? Are those clanging of metal keys?

...

Bam!

Yes, that's the gate. She's finally here.

"Arf, arf!" I bark.

She walked towards me to pat my head and say, "You missed me little boy, didn't you?"

The room turned bright.

Walking while listening to music

In a place surrounded by tall and bright buildings

Feeling the cold breeze of a calm night

I am free, I am happy

I then stumble upon a rooftop

Looking at a majestic skyline accompanied by a bright moon

A somber and smooth jazz song plays in the background

I am relaxed, I’m filled with glee

A second passes and I find myself relaxing by the beach

Quiet and alone as I hear the waves hitting the shore

Enjoying the sunny but windy weather

I am calm, I hope for more to see

A snap of a finger leads me to be driving fast

Open road with no other cars and no rules

Shifting through gears and stepping on the gas

I am unstoppable, I feel time moving quickly

Everything goes dark, I end up in a bed

In a familiar room as the sun rises

With my phone repeatedly ringing loud

I gain consciousness, sigh, and look at a nearby clock

I was free, I was happy

Soft grass beneath my feet,
Fragrant flowers that smell so sweet,
Butterflies and bees, everywhere
All flying, wandering here and there

Small chirps and buzzing
Fills the silence of everything.
And the heat of the sun,
Touches me while I run

A place of calmness and relaxation
Where you can spend a vacation,
To find peace of mind,
Or just waste some time

Here is where I stay,
Under the clouds I lay.
Alone with no disguise,
Here in my paradise.

World of immense beauty

Home of humanity

Earth, I weep for thee

Never did I think to see

Terror attacks here and there

Homicidal killers without a care

Endless are the battles fought

Wartime talks have been for naught

Over culture, people fight each other

Race divides one another

Legislations belittling minorities

Demolishing barriers not a priority

Insufficient global resources

Subjective judicial processes

Freedom of speech denied

Unscrupulous politicians who lied

Crushed was our peaceful nature

Killed was the future

Extreme will be the price

Destroyed was the paradise

Have you ever felt this feeling?

As if you were…

Floating high above the air,

with your feet above the ground.

Where angelic voices sang,

and served as your background music.

Everyone around acted differently,

greeting you with a smile.

Ending their goodbyes with a high-pitched voice.

As if from a musical number.

Even your surroundings seemed funny.

With the sunlight beaming

Towards every beautiful thing.

Giving them that golden hour light effect.

Then, at the end of the day,

you finally ask yourself.

Am I in love? Is this feeling

what they call a drug from paradise?

But maybe you thought wrong?

Because that floating feeling,

will make you daydream.

Often in times you least expect.

In the middle of class

when your teacher calls out your name.

And then asks you the answer

To the question you didn't hear.

The angelic chorus, which

youve always heard, wll soon haunt you.

Because you'll hear the

same tune every day.

As if you pressed

the repeat button.

After a while,

you'll come up with a song name

for the background music.

And you'll entitle it “Migraine”.

Soon the people around.

Will get awkward towards you.

Well, what do you expect?

You look so confused with that floating feeling.

And the sunlight…

Oh, the sunlight.

It gets even brighter.

And everything turns hot and sweaty.

At the end of the day.

You'll regret ever having felt that feeling.

Contentment. Peace. Harmony. These words are usually related to one’s image of a paradise. It’s a place full of happiness and is absent of any negative emotion and distress. It’s a place where everyone can simply enjoy living their lives without worrying about anything else.

Some people say that paradise exists in the afterlife and one will be able to reach this place if they live a good and lawful life in this world. This is the reason why some people do good deeds, to fill up their “Good Person Quota” and enter this utopia. Others say that paradise does not necessarily have to be up there, but can be found here, in this plane. They say to just keep on being happy and keep on spreading your love and good vibes to be able to find your paradise.

However, I can’t keep with a smile on my face knowing that some people could not feel or experience the joy that I can. Not because they are not trying hard enough, but because they have bigger problems to address. Some kids are forced to work under the sun instead of going to school because their parents can’t provide for their basic needs. Some young girls, on the other hand, can never live a normal life because they were sold like cattle to a madman.

How can I live with the knowledge that crocodiles are gobbling up the people’s money and using them for their own selfish desires? Or that some people have to fear the law, the body that’s supposed to be protecting them because their skin color’s darker and different from most?

How does one live with the knowledge that some people can’t proudly show their colors in fear of rejection from people who promised to love them for whomever they may be? Or that some men have to keep on swallowing their tears in order to look strong and not be picked on, or that some women always have to worry about getting home safely at night in fear of getting jumped and dragged into the shadows, never to be heard from again?

Yes, paradise could exist in this plane, but not under these circumstances. In order to give everyone the comfort and mirth that everyone deserves, we should all get up and do good, not to fill up our “Good Person Quota”, but because that is what we should do.

Walking through what Filipinos call an eskinita, you'll see the ground covered in moss and uneven concrete. On its side, the blue pipelines, if damaged, will be repaired by what you can tell as a temporarily wrapped rubber cloth. The houses along the eskinita blend perfectly with the color of the pavements, being made out of concrete and all. Few are colored, with the paint faded from the drippings of brown rain because of the rusty metal roofs. When you walk, you have to walk slowly, otherwise, you could slip into the flowing suds and bubbles from the neighbors’ laundry excrete. Hangings of clothes, blankets, even underwear will be seen from the window bars. The road cracked and filled with wet cement and blackened gums flattened by the tires of the cars or footsteps.

The aroma of food is always mixed, a hint of fish, egg, or broth depending on the weather. Every other morning the garbage truck will come and you’ll see hankies flying about covering the noses of passengers. Smoke from cars, grill outs, and cigarettes will make you cough. The soapy smell of hanged laundry, animals such as dogs, cats, and rats may come astray, with them an unbearable stench of their droppings and fur. Some nights, as you pass by, the smell of liquor will emit from the group of men in chairs, or on occasion, women, with them comes either a prepared feast of sisig and chicharon, or just your average easy-to-prepare pancit canton.

From afar, you'll hear someone singing in the videoke, and after, elder women nagging the singers with a much more annoying high-pitched squawk; Cars rumbling, motorcycles whirring being close to the road and all; Children's gay laughter soon turning into brawls and fits of crying; and the busy chit-chat of both men and women, in either agreement or defiance. Soon, when all of this has ended, which rarely happens, there will come footsteps, it may be your own or that of others. When that too is gone, only the sound of trash hitting the road will be left, rolling about in sync with the cold sooty air acting as if it were tumbleweed.

Yet deep in the night, after all the merry-makings, nose pleasantries and wonderment will be silence. It is somber and mellow, but no matter how enticing and stimulating it is, you'll always look forward to the next day.

Yes, this may sound simple, and to some, the exact opposite of beauty and wonder. But to me, this barangay life is a joyous and pleasant splendor, with packed adventures every day.

To me… this is paradise.

Tuwing umaga, ako ay gigising. Ang aking ina ay nasa kusina at nagluluto ng pagkain.

“Good morning ma,” ang aking bati.

Tatango siya at ngingiti. Kukunin ko ang mga plato, kutsara at tinidor. Aayusin ko ang mga ito sa lamesa para kami’y makakain na. Siya naman ang kukuha sa mga pagkain na kanyang ihahain. Kapag nakita niya na parang kulang pa ang nakain ko, pilit niya itong dadagdagan para siguradong busog ako bago pumasok.

Pagkatapos kumain ako’y maghahanda na para pumasok. Aayusin ko ang aking bag at tutungo na sa pinto. Hahabulin niya ako at iiabot ang ID ko na palagi kong nakakalimutan.

“Bye, ma, I love you,” ang lagi kong pagpaalam. Tatango siya at kakaway. Maglalakad ako nang kaunti, titigil at lilingon. Muli akong kakaway bago sumakay.

Sa eskwelahan, siya lang ang naiisip ko. Ano na kayang ginagawa niya? Kumain na ba siya? Nakapagpahinga na ba siya? Paulit-ulit ko itong itinatanong sa aking sarili. Sabik na sabik na akong matapos ang klase. Gusto ko nang umuwi, pabalik sa piling ng aking ina.

Siya’y naghihintay sa may pinto. Kapag ako’y nakita niya na, siya’y kakaway nang may ngiti sa labi. Tatakbo ako papunta sa kaniya, yayakapin siya at sasabihing “Ma, na-miss kita.” Hahalikan niya ako sa noo at mapapawi na ang pagod ko.

Hanggang mag-iba ngayon...

Ma, miss na kita. Sobra. Dahil wala ka na, wala na ang aking ina. At kahit hindi na kita kasama ngayon, alam kong masaya ka. Dahil nasa langit ka na, ang iyong paraiso.