Freedom

Canon SX100IS, 1/125, f4.3, 60mm, no-flash, ISO 200

Sabi nila, mabilis mo daw mararamdaman ang kahalagahan ng isang bagay kapag ito ay nawawala sa iyo. Ang tingin ko, totoo lang ito sa una. Kapag nalugmok ang bayan sa napakatagal na panahon ng pananakop, ito ay napapagod din at nasasanay maging isang alipin. Bagamat masasabi nga siguro na malaya tayo ngayon, ang araw-araw na hirap at pasakit na nararamdaman ng maraming mamamayan natin ay nagbibigay ng bagong kulay sa tunay na kahulugan at tamis ng kalayaan.


ENGLISH - Some people say one gets to appreciate the value of things only when they disappear. In my opinion, that is true only in the beginning. When a suffering country has been held captive for a long time, it grows weary, and becomes used to the life of a slave. While it can indeed be claimed that we are a free country today, the torment and burden felt by citizens everyday give a whole new color to the meaning of freedom.


FRENCH - Certains disent qu'on finit par apprécier la valeur des choses seulement quand elles disparaissent. À mon avis, c'est vrai seulement dans le commencement. Quand un pays de souffrance a été jugé pendant longtemps captif, il se développe las, et devient utilisé à la vie d'un esclave. Tandis qu'il peut en effet réclamer que nous sommes un pays libre aujourd'hui, le feutre de supplice et de fardeau par des citoyens journaliers donnent une nouvelle couleur entière à la signification de la liberté.