A one-live cat’s life

"The all-powereful Zahir seemed to be born with every human being and to gain full strength in childhood, imposing rules that would thereafter always be respected:

People who are different are dangerous; they belong to another tribe; they want our lands and our women.

We must marry, have children, reproduce the species.

Love is only a small thing, enough for one person, and any suggestion that the heart may be larger than this is considered perverse.

When we marry, we are authorized to take possession of the person, body and soul.

We must do jobs we detest because we are part of an organization, and if everyone did what they wanted to do, the world would come to a standstill.

We must buy jewelry; it identifies us with our tribe, just as body piercing identifies those of a different tribe.

We must be amusing at all times and sneer at those who express their real feelings; it’s dangerous for a tribe to allow its members to show their feelings.

We must at all costs avoid saying no because people prefer those who always say yes, and this allows us to survive in hostile territory.

What makes other people think is more important than what we feel.

Never make a fuss – it might attract the attention of the enemy tribe.

If you behave differently, you will be expelled from the tribe because you could infect others and destroy something that was extremely difficult to organize in the first place.

We must always consider the look of our new cave, and if we don’t have a clear idea of our own, then we must call in a decorator who will do his best to show others what good taste we have.

We must eat three meals a day, even if we’re not hungry, and when we fail to fit the current idea of beauty, we must fast, even if we’re starving.

We must dress according to the dictates of fashion, make love whenever we feel like it or not, kill in the name of our country, wish time away so that retirement comes quickly, elect politicians, complain about the cost of living, change our hairstyle, criticize anyone who is different, go to a religious service on Sunday, Saturday, or Friday, depending on our religion, and there beg forgiveness for our sin and puff ourselves up with pride because we know the truth and despise the other tribe, who worships a false god.

Our children must follow in our footsteps; after all, we are older and know about the world.

We must have a university degree even if we never get a job in the area of knowledge we were forced to study.

We must study things that we will never use, but which someone told us were important to know: algebra, trigonometry, the code of Hammurabi.

We must never make our parents sad, even if this means giving up everything that makes us happy.

We must play music quietly, talk quietly, weep in private, because I am the all-powerful Zahir, who lays down the rules and determines the distance between railway tracks, the meaning of success, the best way to love, the importance of rewards."

"…. I went to a train station today and learned that the distance between railway tracks is always 143.5 centimeters, or 4 feet 8.5 inches.  Why this absurd measurement?  I asked my girlfreind to find out this is what she discovered.  When they built the first train carriages, they used the same toold as they had for building horse drawn carriages.  And why that distance between the wheels on carriages.  Because that was the width of the old roads along which the carriages had to travel.  And who decided that roads whould be that width?  Well, suddenly, we plunged back into the distant past.  it was the Romands, the first grat road builders who decided to make their roads that width.  And why? Because their war chariots were pulled by two horses and when placed side by side, the horses they used at the time took up 143.5 centimeters.
So the distance the tracks I saw today, used by our state-of-the art high-speed trains was determined by the Romans. …But what has all this to do with mariage?
…
It has to do with everything to do with marriage and with the two stories we have just heard.  At some point in histortm someone turned up and said, When two people get married, they must stay forzen like that for the rest of their lives.  You will move along side by side like two tracks keeping always the same distance apart.  Even if sometimes one of you needs to be a little farther away or a little closer, that is againts the rules.  the rules say: Be sensible, think of the future, think of your children.  You can’t change, you must be like two railway tracks that remain the same distance apart all the way from their point of departure to their destination.  the rules don’t allow for love to change, or to grow at the start and diminish halfway through-it’s too dangerous.  And so after the enthusiasm of the firt few years, they remain the same distance, the same solidity, the same functional nature.  your purpose is to allow the train bearing the survival of the species to head off into the future: your children will only be happy if you stay as you were - 143.5 centimerers apart.  If you’re not happy with something that never changes, think of them, think of the children you brought into the world.

think of your neighbors.  Show them you’re happy, eat roast beef on Sundays, watch telivision, help the community.  think of society.  dress in such a way tat everyone knows you’re in perfect harmony.  never glance to the side, someone might be watching you, and that could bring temptation; it could mean divorce,  crisis, depression.

Smile in all photos.  Put the photos in the living room, so that everyone see them.  Cut the grass, practice a sport –oh, yes you must practice a sport in order to stay frozen in time.  When sport isn’t enough, have plastic surgery.  But never forget, these rules were establised long ago and must be respected.  Who established these rules? That doesn’t matter.  Dont question them, because they will always apply, even if you don’t agree with them."

"One morning a farmer knocked loudly on the door of a monastery.  When Brother porter opened the door, the farmer held out to him a bunch of grapes.

Dear Brother porter these are the finest grapes from my vineyard.  Please accept them as a gift from me.

Brother Porter understood then that fift really was intended for him; he savored every graoe and went to sleep a happy man.  In this way, the circle was closed; the circle of happiness and joy which always wraps around those who are intact with the energy of love."

After 7set of flights, 3 countries, I was able to finish the book Zahir by Paulo Coehlo.  A book recommended by one of my best friends, Marah.

I know, i took too long in reading the book.  It was a very nice book that i realized it was like the life i had 7 months ago.  It is a book that made me contemplate on every page.

Anyway in my following Blog posts, I will be typing excerpts from the book i like. 

"Some people appear to be happy, but they simply don’t give the matter much thought.  Others make plans: I am going to have a husband, a home, two children, a house in the country.  As long as they’re busy doing that, they’re like bulls looking for the bullfighter; they react instinctively, they bluder on, which no idea the target is.  They get their car, sometimes they even get a Ferrari, and they think that’s the meaning of life, and they never question it.  yet their eyes betray the sadness that even they don’t know they carry in their soul, are they happy?
I dont know.
I dont know if everyone is unhappy.  I know they’re all busy: working overtime, worrying about their children, their husband, their career, their degree, what they’re going to do tomorrow, what they need to buy, what they need to have in order not to feel inferior, etc.  Very few people actually say to me: Im unhappy.  Most say Im fine, Ive got everything  I ever wanted.  Then I ask: What makes you happy? Answer: I’ve got everything a person could ever want- a family, a home, work, good health.’  I ask again: Have you ever stoipped to wonder if that’s all there is to life? Answer: yes, thats all there is.  I insist so the meaning of life is work, family, children who will grow up and leave you, a wife or a husband who will become more like a friend than a real lover.  And of course, one day your work will end too.  What will you do when that happens?  answer: There is no answer, they Cange the subject."

2 weeks after the typhoon Milenyo left wrath to my country Philippines, more than 200 died, the President declared state of calamity to the capital Manila,
and donations local and international are given to the victims of Milenyo. 

1 day after the typhoon hit the country i arrived in Manila, after having to argue mentally with myself should i pursue flight and go ahead on my weekend home or just stay after project interest convicing from my team mates, i made into finality of my spending of weekend at Makati. 
Anyway, as i arrived the airport, surprised why is it so dark from the bridge going towards the immigration, I overheard someone say "naku wala pa atang kuryente!".  She was right, we arrived and there were no aircons and limited power for light is only available.
But amidst such chaos in an international airport, where would you ever see a local traditional band playing traditional folk songs to welcome guests and balikbayans… only in the Philippines.

On my way home, i saw the bill board frames that feel to the ground due to the strong winds yet, I still see some kibitzers taking pictures near the condemned structure.

Again in this situations, you can see what the real Filipino is.  It doesnt seem to affect a Pinoy even if he is in a calamity. Is it because he is used to in staying in a country that belongs to the asia-pacific ring-of-fire. Where Volcanoes, earthquakes, floods and typhoons always hit the country all year round.

even after a storm, or a typhoon, or eathrquake you see the filipino still can manage to smile.  Even so he is eating relief goods of canned sardines and packed noodles.

I even can remember, i was in Grade 5 when the deadly earthquake hot the Major island in the north of the Philippines.  Structures fell to the ground, and my dad have to literally park his truck on the highway for days so patient just to get our ration for petrol.(I can not imagine that Filipinos can be displined in queue if they want to!)

Where else in the planet can you see children and neighborhood people laughing, smiling, pushing each other trying to steal scene  from the new reporter on site who is on duty covering during a disaster.
Yes the Pinoys are funny. They seem not to take any problems seriuosly. They still always manage to smile.

During this times, you can also see when "bayanihan" (helping-each other) floats amongst the attitude of the disaster stricken province. Very inspiring.
We sometimes forget to realize this… the Filipinos always have this atu-psyche within themselves that there would be a rainbow or a sun after a rainy day. We are one of the born humans who are naturally hopeful and sunny in disposition.

The frustrations and devastation are there but what we do not know what floats within each true pinoy if you can not observe is our positive attitude towards problems.

sad to say, you did not see this people when the Hurricane Katrina hit US.  They maybe far more richer than us, but Sad to say that you saw how violent they went when they have to line for their ration of petrol that you might get shot, violence instead of patience.
Maybe because they are not used to it. I hope it is something for them to learn not to take things for granted … and they can learn from us.

Even how i was embarassed and frustrated that 2 days after i arrived the airport i went back there were still no power and not even fans. And yes it was terribly hot and heard foreigners talking who else would like to come back in the Phlippines. Well despite of this, I would not exchange my bieng Filipino to be one of them.
Well soon i hope and i know just months after that Milenyo, Manila will be back to normal, and i am sure those two foreigners talking will eat their words and will be back in my country…Only in the Philippines.

I would have read some blogs on Success and Happiness now i got one email that i think is more logical and i’d stick to what this has to say:

A WONDERFUL STORY ON  LOVE vs.Money