Contributions - You and Me

All literary articles and poetry contained herein are written by staff, patients and trainees of MPF-RBR Pasig and Cebu. Some names have been changed or omitted to maintain confidentiality.

You and Me by C.C.

I am different from you,

You are different from me

You love your ups and downs

I love my ups and downs

You love your own world

I love my own world

If our worlds meet and

Walk as one then we

Can grow old together

Because for my world

Love is two bodies with one mind But if not, so be it.

Contributions - BROKEN PIECES

All literary articles and poetry contained herein are written by staff, patients and trainees of MPF-RBR Pasig and Cebu. Some names have been changed or omitted to maintain confidentiality.

BROKEN PIECES by laime

l live for you day by day
‘Til the time you have to go away
I look for you everyday
With only one thought: are you okay?

I cried out loud
But no one hears my shout The mind and heart
Are so tarn apart.

These broken pieces Will never be fixed
The hugs and the kisses Will always be missed Loved by you is all I wish.

Contributions - 192010

All literary articles and poetry contained herein are written by staff, patients and trainees of MPF-RBR Pasig and Cebu. Some names have been changed or omitted to maintain confidentiality.

192010 by PA

an ordinary day made extraordinary,

this was the day when I met my true self and

said hello to all the things I’ve been hiding from

for years I numbed myself never knowing that

I've already deprived myself of a full life

never realizing that I’ve hurt and pushed away

the people who genuinely cared about me

the day I decided to make myself whole again

picking up all the shattered pieces and gluing them

up all together again now

the funny part is who would’ve thought that

the place that seemed so horrible to me would be my

glue to help me put back all

the pieces right where they’re supposed

to be now this is my strength, my safe harbor

I believe I’m right where I

should be and I am ready.

Contributions - CHRISTMAS AROUND MY FAMILY

All literary articles and poetry contained herein are written by staff, patients and trainees of MPF-RBR Pasig and Cebu. Some names have been changed or omitted to maintain confidentiality.

CHRISTMAS AROUND MY FAMILY
by E.L

Christmas Season is just around the block. We were all geared up for our December 13, 2009 Lay Forum. Relatives were all set for the show and we were eager and happy to see them. With music blasting, the facility was filled with the Yuletide spirit.

It was around 2:00 pm when we started preparing for our Christmas presentation. Although I was very busy minding my own preparation, I kept on thinking about how I would react upon seeing my family that afternoon. How can I describe the feeling where I feel close to home yet I’m kept far away? Yes, it was eerie. The recollection of emotions – happiness and affections of my once condescending heart made me realize I never knew I can miss them this much.
The clock struck 3:15, and the show began. I can hear the first group performing outside and the audience clapping. I was sure that my family would be there. Sad thing is we are not allowed to talk to or go near them. Finally, it was our group’s turn to perform. Then, I saw them. Another weird feeling came to me: Am I happy? Sitting 15 meters away from me, the people from whom I want to ask forgiveness, are already there smiling and waving at me like I have been forgiven. I kept on looking at them while still doing my number. Then I glanced at my fellow trainees, then at the other families, and back at my family. All of them were smiling, beaming with pride and looking very content. I thought to myself: This is even better than spending Christmas around the world. Seeing our loved ones – our families and friends – laughing, applauding, smiling and just being there can bring me Christmas everyday.

Contributions - CHRISTMAS IN RBR

All literary articles and poetry contained herein are written by staff, patients and trainees of MPF-RBR Pasig and Cebu. Some names have been changed or omitted to maintain confidentiality.

CHRISTMAS IN RBR
by R. Cruz

Initially I thought that spending Christmas Eve away from my family and inside a treatment center would be the worst thing that could ever happen to me. Just the mere idea of it got me more and more depressed as the date drew nearer. I was dreading it, with the certainty that it was going to be a sad and miserable occasion.

But once again, just like my stay in RBR has taught me, life is full, of surprises and unexpected blessings. First on the list is, of course the abundance of food. It was literally a feast. Then there were the gifts from our families. I could see the eyes of my co-trainees light up and their grim faces turn into big smiles.

However, the light in our eyes and the laughter that filled the dining area had something to do with the warmth inside us, rather than material things. It was something intangible. Magical. It was a feeling of overflowing joy and a sense of belonging caused' by the realization that even if we are away from our biological families, we now belonged to a new and different kind of family: a family that stands by each other in our similar struggles towards sobriety.

Because of how I spent Christmas Eve in RBR, I reahze now, that life is indeed full of blessings and wonderful surprises.

Contributions - A True Story... Or blot?

All literary articles and poetry contained herein are written by staff, patients and trainees of MPF-RBR Pasig and Cebu. Some names have been changed or omitted to maintain confidentiality.

HALLOWEEN SCARE
(A True Story... Or blot?) by laime

Thriller! Katatapos lang ng unang tsunami sa bahay. Ngayon, tila may parating na naman.

Nag-uusap kami sa female dorm after lights off. “Hay! Wala ba kayong naririnig? May umiiyak ba? Sagot sa akin: “Matulog ka na nga. Nagha-hallucinate ka ba?” Ang buntis kong kasama, natakot: “Oy! Wag kang ganyan. Baka malaglag ang dinadala ko”. Mahaba pang usapan...blah, blah, blah. Biglang tumahimik. Tila may dumaang anghel. Finally, may nagsalita: “Patayin ko na nga ang ilaw”.

Akala ko ako lang ang di makatulog at guni-guni ko lang ang aking naririnig. Mga kaluskos, bulungan, at kahol ng aso sa backdrop ng bilog na buwan. Lumakas ang ingay kaya’t di ko na napigilan tumayo. Mula sa kinatutulugan, napadungaw ako sa labas ng bintana. Na-shock ako sa mga aninong nakita ko, at may isang biglang tumalon na parang paru-para. I thought, malik-mata lang ito. Then I heard someone shout: “Ahh! May tumatakas! May tumatakas!”. Nagbangunan ang lahat sa kinakahijaan. Sabay bukas ng shutter. “GENERALASSEMBLE!”, sigaw ng kaitaas-taasan. “COUNT OFF!”. “One, two, three, four... forty-one, forty-two.” Bulong ko sa sarili: “My gosh, kulang ng tatlo!”.
HOUSE DEAL NA!!!

My Second Home By Marj

Contributions
All literary articles and poetry contained herein are written by staff, patients and trainee of MPF-RBR Pasig and Cebu. Some names have been changed or omitted to maintain confidentiality.

My Second Home By Marj

I was brought to a place where everything was unknown to me. A place I never even thought of at my age. I was brought to Roads and Bridges to Recovery. They call this place a therapeutic community. I had absolutely no idea where I was. I just knew it was a rehabilitation center. I knew what rehab was although I didn't expect it to be like this. They way I saw it, I was sent to military school. But I wasn't. I was sent to a place where I could process the wrong things I' ve done. Better yet, to process myself.

My age is 16 years. Yes, a young age. I grew up in a very blessed family. Chaotic, but blessed. One of the important things you should know about me is that when I was brought to this place I didn't know myself at all. The only thing I was sure of was that I needed help. My family couldn't give me the help I really needed. So, they trusted this facility to help me. Having been here for 58 days, I am still trying to figure out why I m here. Well, of course I know why. Because of my attitudes? Yes. Every time I think about my past, I try so hard to do those things. Why I couldn t accept the fact that there was something horrible manifesting in me. I guess one of the reasons is that I couldn' t accept the fact that I was hurting my family a lot. Especially my mom. I've hurt my mom so much that I could honestly just detach myself so that I wouldn' t hurt her again. My dad? I don t really know anything about my relationship with him anymore.

Since I've been here, not a single day goes by when I don t think about them. I think of why I started to rebel against them. Why I didn' t even think of changing. What triggered me to do those things. I knew in my heart that I didn' t have the right to do those things because my family gave me everything I could ever ask for. Although I found myself unsatisfied. Well that s why I m here. I m here to change myself inside out. To find. out why I was never satisfied.. I m positive that I will become a better person after my stay. I still have a long way to go, a lot more to learn. I m here for my family and myself. I can t afford. to hurt the people I love any more. They inspire me to keep going when I feel lilac breaking down. This place will make me stronger. I've learned a lot already. Things I would never even notice outside. I Ion t regret being brought here. I appreciate the tough love my family here is giving me. This is now my second home.

LEAP by Garry

Contributions
All literary articles and poetry contained herein are written by staff, patients and trainee of MPF-RBR Pasig and Cebu. Some names have been changed or omitted to maintain confidentiality.

LEAP by Garry

We are leaves on Life s tree

We re born in spring rains

And we grow

As the summer sun warms our souls

We learn in its long days

As we dance in its breeze

Unknowingly, inevitably

The chilling whist of winter comes

Embracing us as we break free

Amidst the cold wind, we gently fall to the ground

Silently...

Going back to God

Joke Time

Contributions
All literary articles and poetry contained herein are written by staff, patients and trainee of MPF-RBR Pasig and Cebu. Some names have been changed or omitted to maintain confidentiality.

Joke Time

Tatay: anak, burnili ka nang tubig
Anak: hot or cold?
Tatay: sige, cold
Anak: mineral o hindi?
Tatay:mineral
Anak: bote o plastic?
Tatay: Bumili ka na lang ng softdrinks
Anak: Coke or Sprite?
Tatay: Coke
Anak: diet o hindi?
Tatay: tumigil ka nga hahatawin kita nang walis
Anak: tambo o tingting?
Tatay: peste!
Anak: ipis o daga?
Tatay. umalis ka na nga!
Anak: ngayon o bukas?

The Bonds of Life by Gladys

Contributions

All literary articles and poetry contained herein are written by staff, patients and trainee of MPF-RBR Pasig and Cebu. Some names have been changed or omitted to maintain confidentiality.

Life is like a wheel, sometimes it needs lubricant
to move
Although it runs, pain is still felt because it hurts.

Pains are part of a journey towards a life were you choose to go
And. yet heartaches are treated. as though life is full of sorrow.

In life there is what we call the bright side and. the
dark side.

It just the judgment of our naked eyes which
direction in life to go.

As long as you felt the happiness and answers to the turmoil in life you are experiencing for a long time.

The secrecy of true boniness of counseling of a true friendship will remain.
In that way we can say both of us that life is full of jeopardy s that
We can both solve by sharing its ideas in a life of an unperfect place

Are we part of bonds of life?
More or nevertheless I would say yes,
Because as we breathe and. socialize
The bondedness of true being radiate to the Brightside
Rather that to the glimside or our personality

Finally, hand in hand me are part
As a whole; as the philosophy say
Man is part as a whole being
And it is self directed. and the process of recovery of
pain is a life long process.