Sunday, October 3, 2010

Monolith To Stupidities





Across the convent of Santa Clara in Katipunan lies a verdant realm undisturbed since time unremembered. Cut across by a concrete highway, which obstruct the sanctum of the women in habit, the stalemate between holiness and progress settle in uneasy peace. The nuns, whose day to day affair include supplicating and accepting generous offer of eggs as means of bribe to the almighty remain content in their quiet contemplation. The paradise past however has it fate sealed in oblivion. In this patch of greens are mighty trees, whose man-size trunk and industrial-strength branches, which have stood in quiet passing for ages are now being eyed for uprooting. At ground level, where the earth gives life to varied shrubs and grasses would be soon unearthed to lay the foundations of the accursed monoliths that would serve as dwellings for the blinded. Lest we should forget, the organic citadel breathes sentience to all crawling and flapping creatures who call this place its home. For years, the ecosystem held its ground against human encroachment. It bore witness to a generation whose one desire is to stake its claim to all what it sees.

The relentless greed must end all silence.

I used to measure progress of one's city by way of counting the number of skyscrapers rising from the ground. It was how we were thought this way until such time the city itself, dense and sprawling was suddenly deluged by mud and water from the land it ravaged. Lives were lost, homes destroyed. And when the mud was cleared away and the towns rebuilt, the frenzy to put our dwellings higher until it brushes the skirt of heavens went into full swing. Monoliths were erected, open spaces, which could have been pockets of greens within a decaying city taken, so that those from the urbanside will sleep soundly at night, knowing the torrent of earth and water will never return again.


Flood Free Indeed


Sometimes it gets me into thinking: When the fault-lines finally move and the ground excessively trembles, how will these arrogant towers fare before they all come crashing back to the ground? 



15 comments:

Guyrony said...

These monstrous towers wouldn't even be able to salvage themselves when that happens. Nor will the people who purchased them.

Cio said...

Mugen,

Certain design & law restrictions will be applied for such delicate project. Designers, Architect and Engineers knows that.

Cio

Mac Callister said...

galing galing mo talaga magsulat,minsan nag no-nose bleed ako pero keri lang haha. siguro professional writer ka!

anywayz,wag naman sana haha kawawa naman pag gumuho buildings!

Mugen said...

Cio:

We must not forget, some construction firms cut corners just to earn more. Manila is not Dubai.

Guyrony:

We are the harbingers of our own tragedy. Remember Circulo Verde?

MacCallister:

Emo-emohan lang. Professional writer? Nako mas malandi pa sa frogletta ang musa ko sa pagsusulat. Pahirapan bago magkokak.

Salamat!

Désolé Boy said...

"Standing at a distance fear of her torment saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city of Babylon, that mighty city.' For in one hour your judgement has come." And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore."
-Revelation 18: 10-11
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tapos and ending magsisisihan. at ang mas nakalulungkot...
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walang mapaparusahan.
[P.S. Tama si Mac. Idol talaga kita Papa Joms!]

Unknown said...

When they come down they'll take the foolish with them. It won't be that big a loss.

MaginoongBulakenyo said...

Joms magkakabrain cancer yata ako sa entry mo ilang beses kong binasa..kakapiranggot lang kasi utak ko,bwahahaah
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Ganyan naman sila para sa larangan ng pera bahala kung ano magiging epekto in the future.
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Joms gawa kana ng book..sige na.. ikaw na ang pinagpala sa larangan ng pagsususlat.

jc said...

yeah, they "bypass" processes through bribery. isang unit lang para kay mayor, solb na.

Gerardo said...

Yeah...ika nga ni Pocahontas 'you think you own whatever land you land on, the Earth is just a dead thing you can claim..'

It is frustrating that our basis for development is to cover Earth with concrete, that it isn't trees that should tower but us. I hope our own awareness is enough not to contribute to our planet's destruction.

dario the jagged little egg said...

Sobrang lapit kaya ng Santa Clara sa Marikina faultline, I know that vacant lot sis' beside PSBA yan diba?

Masyado silang focus sa flood, eh mas nakakatakot lindol.

Blakrabit said...

sadly greens have no place in land developments.

being part of the construction business, I know that first hand and encounter it everyday.

here in Laguna, we destroy rice fields and agricultural lands to build subdivisions and roads.

:(

dark_knight said...

I admit i am one of those people who believes that when there are monstrous skyscrapers in the area means it is well developed. You got a point. You really are am eye opener. Haha

Mugen said...

Dingding:

I used to believe in such concept too. It turns out, its the other way around. These days.

Blakrabit:

Idol, Isa pa yan. Ricefields are being converted to subdivisions. Para naman lahat ay bibili ng bahay para tirhan. Usually eh papaupahan rin lang naman. The more we convert our arable land into empty homes, the lesser we devote to food production.

Marerealize na lang natin, puro tayo subdivision, wala na tayong pagkain.

Daniel:

Yup, yun nga. Yung katabi ng PSBA. Ironic nung nakasulat sa billboard. Flood free nga, pero yung mga pinutol na puno nila ang pumipigil sa baha.

Mugen said...

Gerardo:

The American Indians have a society that venerates the planet. Its too bad, their concept of harmony did not endure the passing of time.

JC:

Parang... sa Makati ko yata narinig yan.

MB:

Marami ang bumibili ng condo these days. Para magpaupa. Pera perahan lang naman ang lahat eh.

Mugen said...

Drew:

Sometimes, the innocent gets taken down as well. Minsan iniisip ko, do they deserve to suffer as well?

DB:

Sus ikaw na ang nagpost ng quote. Sino kaya ang mas well-read sa ating dalawa. Hehehe.