Trillion Peso March: Protest Against Corruption Felt Mixed

The Trillion Peso March protests against corrupt officials yesterday would have been far more credible if they had not been crowded with traditional politicians, party-color loyalists, paid celebrities, and opportunists from the center, left, and right.

Held on September 21, 2025—the anniversary of Martial Law—the march was meant to showcase the strong voice of the people against corruption. Many citizens filled the streets with signs and chants, calling on leaders to be honest and accountable.

Photo Credit: https://colombiaone.com/ 

But the event did not appear fully clean. Old politicians were highly visible, speaking and smiling for the cameras. Supporters of different political colors turned it into a campaign parade. Some celebrities seemed paid merely to show their faces, while groups from the center, left, and right tried to use the protest for their own plans.

To make things worse, some extremists even set fires, damaged properties, and committed violent acts.

Because of this mix, the march lost the genuine feeling of a simple citizen movement. The message for change remains true, but many felt it became more about politics and attention than about truly ending corruption.

Read More »

About Me...

Preface

This poem, originally written as a reflection of my struggles, faith, and gratitude, has been lovingly edited and updated to reflect the fullness of my journey today. At first, it was a personal expression of loneliness and resilience, rooted in my trust in Allah and my deep appreciation for life’s blessings. Over time, it has also become a testament to the love I hold for my family.

In its earlier form, the poem mentioned my wife, Mouminah, and children, Mujahid and Marjanah, whose presence brought light and meaning into my life. Now, with the blessing of my youngest daughter Mysha, I have revised these verses so that she, too, is woven into the fabric of this legacy.

What was once a personal reflection is now also a family dedication, carrying my prayers, gratitude, and love for each of my children. This updated version is more than poetry — it is a record of faith, resilience, and the bonds that keep me moving forward.

My life feels heavy, quiet, and slow,
My family loves me, though at times it doesn’t show.
My friends may pass without a thought or call,
Many still judge me whenever I fall.

Under my heart lies a shadow of pain,
Upon their gestures, I feel the disdain.
Unspoken regrets return to my sight,
Ultimate chaos disturbs me at night.

All that I’ve done is to strive and to try,
All that I write is the truth I rely.
A Prophet beloved, I cherish his name,
Almighty Allah brings comfort the same.

My eyes, lips, and ears — blessings I know,
May these gifts guide me wherever I go.
Made as a servant, with gratitude true,
Merrily serving the faith I pursue.

Mouminah’s smile once brightened my day,
Mujahid’s birth stirred my soul in its way.
Marjanah’s love made my journey complete,
Mysha, my youngest, makes life ever sweet.

At last, I’ve spoken what’s deep in my heart,
And shared the feeling of being apart.
As this world rushes through its fleeting stage,
Anger consumes in this cyber-age.

Rabbī, I thank You for the gifts You bestow,
Rays of mercy through the children I know.
Raise them in faith, in Your guidance abide,
Reward our love, and keep us by Your side.

Originally posted in January 2008 but updated in 2025 to include Mysha, my youngest blessing.

Read More »

Dear 'Cuckoo' (This is from my heart to you, my daughter)

Preface

“Dear Cuckoo” is a father’s heartfelt letter to his daughter, written in the form of a poem. It carries the weight of separation, the ache of missing a beloved child, and the quiet pride of watching her grow.

The poem flows between tender confession and loving encouragement. It recalls the father’s own childhood loss, which deepens his fears of distance, yet his faith and devotion transform sorrow into strength. With imagery of trees in the rain and prayers carried across miles, the poem reminds us that love transcends absence.

This work is not just a personal reflection but a universal story of parenthood: the bittersweet journey of letting go while holding on, of trusting that a child will flourish even far away. It is a testimony to enduring love, a father’s voice echoing gently in his daughter’s heart.

This is from my heart to you, my daughter

Dear Cuckoo,

My heart feels heavy each time you go, 

Carrying books, dreams, and courage I know.

I wished your laughter stayed close in this place, 

But life called you forward to run your own race.

As your father, guilt sometimes speaks to me, 

For I never planned this distance to be.

I lost my own parents when I was still small, 

And I fear the same silence may cover it all.

Remember, Cuckoo, I offered another way,

A school in this town where you could stay.

But you chose the harder path, brave and bright, 

And I feel such pride in your strength and your fight.

Just like a tree that grows strong in the rain,

This journey will teach you through struggle and pain. 

Though you live apart, you are never alone,

My prayers reach you wherever you’ve gone.

Amid my sadness, a light still appears, 

Joy in your courage outshining my fears. 

You earned your place where competition is high, 

With wisdom and effort that money can’t buy. 

Never forget, Cuckoo, both joy and my care, 

I miss you deeply but I’m glad you are there. 

For distance may hurt, yet it helps you to see, 

The woman you’re shaping yourself to be.

All that I ask is you carry me near,

Not in regret, but in love that is clear.

Keep faith in your heart, keep praying each day, 

God’s strength will be with you to guide your way.

Hold fast, my Cuckoo, with courage and grace,

The world may be wide, but you’ll find your place. 

And though miles may divide, my love will still stay, 

A father’s devotion will not fade away.

With all my love, 

Abie

Read More »

Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab)

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should not hurt his neighbor and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his guest generously and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should speak what is good or keep silent."

عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلاَ يُؤْذِ جَارَهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ 

لِيَصْمُتْ ‏"‏‏.‏

Source: https://www.sunnah.com/bukhari/78/163

Read More »

Ina A Bae, Ama A Datu

~ (Inisurati Aum Mram)


Inako si abie gosi omie m‘raga-ragat siran,

Initagak ako ko mga loks a daa rowar iran–

Iphangilay ko limo a daripada ko Kadnan,

Ino mambo so dowa loks aya‘ko kiyakadnan.

Na maka sil‘p ako sa sawaw ka si ina a loks–

Na mat‘pd so kanoko ka gilatani ina a loks,

Na diko khabukaan siko-e ama loks sa kilida ranaw,

Na giako phaiguwani ama loks aya rak‘n marinaw.

Anda-e tumo na siran man ni tumo-ong ko!

Abie, omie, kiya loksan man so mga apoko–

Aya niyo man pakasasawita ko kabaya iran,

Ad‘n bo a oras a mapha-gitud tano siran,

Anda tano pha-khowa sa izsambi kiran,

Ad‘n bo a map‘khinang-lan tano kiran, 

Amayd‘n ko sumambi so mga ragon–

Aidaw, aidaw na marg‘n go kanogon!

Mananagon-taman ako palap‘n ka manapi,

Manogod aya ‘ndo na ‘ndalimakot darapi,

Masiyonot‘n nago mananaran sa katapi–

Miyasawang oba ‘rki ta kha-da so kanapi!

Ayako miniplayok so dowa loks nago palatiko,

Adi d‘na-e khapta so gagaw iran ‘go limo iran ko,

Apo iran a sak‘n aya, nago mala kiran-e ranon ko,

Alongan a gii‘ko siran ipamangni ko Tohan ko!

Ina a bae ‘go ama a datu– miyamboway kano,

Piyasurga kano o Allah, Allahumma ameen.

Read More »

“Salamat”

~ (Inisurati Aum Mram)

Salamat rka ‘Ina’ ka inikaritan akongka,

Salamat rka ina ka kadako t-ng-gawa

ka liyokupan akongka siiko mga kagagawi-i

nago darka makaong-n so toratod ka.

Pramigan dika phaka-ami igira komiyan ka

sabap rakna tagoraok igira miya-or!

‘Ama’ salamat rka ko dangka rkami kindarainon-n.

Inogupan ka si ina ko kiya-oyaga rakn.

Pramigan dika phaka-otu sadingka dikazo-sokat

ko pag-pr o ‘Kadnan’ oriano kinitind-gn ka ko

sambayang a sowa-sowat iyo ki ina ko ‘Allah.’

pkasabapan ko limo Iyan ko mga kaadn Iyan!

Layok nago mga pagariya na salamat rkano mambo...

ka kiasabaran iyo so mga daakn rkano misowat.

Kna oba akn skano da paginon tulan-n sa pantag.

Aya bnar na daa manosya aba miyaka-lngan ka

langon a tao na adna paawing iyan.

 Riladn mambo so daniyo rakn misowat!

Alhamdulillah! Ya Allah, Ska-i l-bi akn a phanalamatan.

Diko zsabotn tonaa-i hikmat Ka ko btad akn ogaid na,

dirakn patot obako di tarimaa so panduwan Ka rakn.

Salamat Rka ko ina nago ama akn, so layok nago,

mga pagari akn nago so langowan a limo Ka rakn.

Alhamdulillah, wa-shokrolillah ko langowan taman!

Mathay, magaan go rasay malbod...

So kapapatay go kaoya-uyag sii sa donya...

langondn anan limo nago rk-o Allah a para...

ko mga manosya, ka-an tano maka panalamat!

Alhamdulillah, wa-shokrolillah ko onaan go oriyan!

Alhamdulillah, wa-shokrolillah ko langowan taman!

Ayakodn pada-adat ko mga loks nago langowan a…

mining garing sa ayakodn panginam sa alongana maori.

Makam-babarat mowa tano sa kapipiya ginawa.

Pagawaan a donya sa masosowat nago di-masosowat.

Omani isa na pagn-dod sa hadapano Miyangadn.

Adna mithagompya nago adna mianga lalapis.

Tomoa-i, tomoa-i dn so mathangka a btad...

ka daa ba ta ridoway, nago daa barkta ikhasigi...

inonta naso ‘Tonganay / Layok’ a thito a khazasarigan...

babid ta ko makhap nago maphn-d a pagawidan...

na sii kodn pagayana so sariyat akn mga layok...

Salamat rka hay pagariya sa dangka rakn kaawata!

Read More »

Sixty Qur'anic Moral Commandments:

1.       Respect and honor all human beings irrespective of their religion, color, race, sex, language, status, property, birth, profession / job and so on. [al-Isra' 17:70]

2.      Talk straight, to the point, without any ambiguity or deception. [al-Ahzab 33:70]

3.      Choose best words to speak and say them in the best possible way. [al-Baqarah 2:83]

4.      Do not shout. Speak politely keeping your voice low. [Luqman 31:19]

5.      Always speak the truth. Shun words that are deceitful and ostentatious. [al-Hajj 22:30]

6.      Do not confound truth with falsehood. [al-Baqarah 2:42]

7.      Say with your mouth what is in your heart. [al-E Imram 3:167]

8.      Speak in a civilized manner in a language that is recognized by the society and is commonly used. [An Nisa 4:5]

9.      When you voice an opinion, be just, even if it is against a relative. [al-An'am 6:152]

10.  Do not be a bragging boaster. [Luqman 31:18]

11.   Do not talk, listen or do anything vain. [al-Mu'mineen 23:3, al-Qasas 28:55]

12.   Do not participate in any paltry. If you pass near a futile play, then pass by with dignity. [al-Furqan 25:72]

13.   Do not verge upon any immodesty or lewdness whether surreptitious or overt. [al-An'am 6:151]

14.   If, unintentionally, any misconduct occurs by you, then correct yourself expeditiously. [al-E-Imram 3:134]

15.   Do not be contemptuous or arrogant with people. [Luqman 31:18]

16.   Do not walk haughtily or with conceit. [al-Isra' 17:37, Luqman 31:18]

17.  Be moderate in thy pace. [Luqman 31:19]

18.   Walk with humility and sedateness. [al-Furqan 25:63]

19.   Keep your gazes lowered devoid of any lecherous leers and salacious stares. [an-Nur 24:30-31, Ghafir 40:19] 

20.  If you do not have complete knowledge about anything, better keep your mouth shut. You might think that speaking about something without full knowledge is a trivial matter. But it might have grave consequences. [an-Nur 24:14-16]

21.   When you hear something malicious about someone, keep a favorable view about him/her until you attain full knowledge about the matter. Consider others innocent until they are proven guilty with solid and truthful evidence. [an-Nur 24:12-13]

22.  Ascertain the truth of any news, lest you smite someone in ignorance and afterwards repent of what you did.                             [Al-Hujurat 49:6]

23.  Do not follow blindly any information of which you have no direct knowledge. (Using your faculties of perception and conception) you must verify it for yourself. In the Court of your Lord, you will be held accountable for your hearing, sight, and the faculty of reasoning. [al-Isra' 17:36]

24.  Never think that you have reached the final stage of knowledge and nobody knows more than yourself. Remember! Above everyone endowed with knowledge is another endowed with more knowledge [al-Isra' 17:26]. Even the Prophet [sallallahu alahi wa salaam] was asked to keep praying, "O My sustainer! Advance me in knowledge." [At-Taha 20:114]

25.  The believers are but a single Brotherhood. Live like members of one family, brothers and sisters unto one another. [Al-Hujurat 49:10]

26.  Do not make mockery of others or ridicule others. [Al-Hujurat 49:11]

27.  Do not defame others. [Al-Hujurat 49:11]

28.  Do not insult others by nicknames. [Al-Hujurat 49:11]

29.  Avoid suspicion and guesswork. Suspicion and guesswork might deplete your communal energy. [Al-Hujurat 49:12]

30.  Spy not upon one another. [Al-Hujurat 49:12]

31.   Do not backbite one another. [Al-Hujurat 49:12]

32.  When you meet each other, offer good wishes and blessings for safety. One who conveys to you a message of safety and security and also when a courteous greeting is offered to you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous or (at least) of equal courtesy. [An Nisa 4:86]

33.  When you enter your own home or the home of somebody else, compliment the inmates. [an-Nur 24:61]

34.  Do not enter houses other than your own until you have sought permission; and then greet the inmates and wish them a life of blessing, purity and pleasure. [an-Nur 24:27]

35.  Treat kindly your parents, relatives, the orphans, and those who have been left alone in the society. [An Nisa 4:36]

36.  Take care of the needy, the disabled, those whose hard earned income is insufficient to meet their needs, and those whose businesses have stalled, and those who have lost their jobs. [An Nisa 4:36]

37.  Treat kindly your related neighbors, and unrelated neighbors, companions by your side in public gatherings, or public transportation. [An Nisa 4:36]

38.  Be generous to the needy wayfarer, the homeless son of the street, and the one who reaches you in a destitute condition. [An Nisa 4:36]

39.  Be nice to people who work under your care. [An Nisa 4:36]

40.  Do not follow up what you have given to others to afflict them with reminders of your generosity. [al-Baqarah 2:262]

41.   Do not expect a return for your good behavior, not even thanks. [al_Insan 76:9]

42.  Cooperate with one another in good deeds and do not cooperate with others in evil and bad matters. [al-Ma'idah 5:2]

43.  Do no try to impress people on account of self-proclaimed virtues. [an-Najm 53:32]

44.  You should enjoin right conduct on others but mend your own ways first. Actions speak louder than words. You must first practice good deeds yourself, then preach. [al-Baqarah 2:44]

45.  Correct yourself and your families first [before trying to correct others]. [at-Tahrim 66:6]

46.  Pardon gracefully if anyone among you who commits a bad deed out of ignorance, and then repents and amends. [al-An'am 6:54, al-E Imram 3:134]

47.  Divert and sublimate your anger and potentially virulent emotions to creative energy, and become a source of tranquility and comfort to people. [al-E Imram 3:134]

48.  Call people to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful exhortation. Reason with them most decently. [an-Nahl 16:125]

49.  Leave to themselves those who do not give any importance to the Divine code and have adopted and consider it as mere play and amusement. [al-An'am 6:70]

50.  Sit not in the company of those who ridicule Divine Law unless they engage in some other conversation. [An Nisa 4:140]

51.   Do not be jealous of those who are blessed. [An Nisa 4:54]

52.  In your collective life, make rooms for others. [al-Mujadilah 58:11]

53.  When invited to dine, go at the appointed time. Do not arrive too early to wait for the preparation of meal or linger after eating to engage in bootless babble. Such things may cause inconvenience to the host. [al-Ahzab 33:53]

54.  Eat and drink [what is lawful] in moderation. [al-Ar'af 7:31]

55.  Do not squander your wealth senselessly. [al-Isra' 17:26]

56.  Fulfil your promises and commitments. [al-Isra' 17:34]

57.  Keep yourself clean, pure. [at-Taubah 9:108, An Nisa 4:43, al-Ma'idah 5:6]

58.  Dress-up in agreeable attire and adorn yourself with exquisite character from inside out. [al-Ar'af 7:26]

59.  Seek your provision only by fair endeavor. [al-'Ankabut 29:17, al-Baqarah 2:188]

60.  Do not devour the wealth and property of others unjustly, nor bribe the officials or the judges to deprive others of their possessions. [al-Baqarah 2:188]

Read More »