[Here's the much-awaited sixth (and probably last?) installment of my translations of Bob Ong Quotes. Enjoy!]
Kung paniniwalaan namin kayo na hindi naglaro ng tubig kahit na basa ang damit n’yo, kayo ang niloloko namin; hindi kayo ang nakapanloloko.”
If we are to believe that you are not playing with water even if your clothes are wet, we are the one fooling you; not you fooling us.--------------------
Bakit ba ayaw matulog ng mga bata sa tanghali, alam ba nilang pag natuto silang umibig e hindi na sila makakatulog kahit gusto nila?
Why is it that kids are not taking a nap in the afternoon? Do they know that if they learn to fall in love they will not be able to sleep anymore even if they want to?--------------------
Minsan, may mga bagay na hindi nakikita. Sabi nila, kailangan mo raw makita ang mga bagay na iyon para patunayan na totoo nga sila. Pero naniniwala ako na may mga bagay na kahit hindi nakikita eh totoo. At para sa akin, mas higit silang mahalaga kaysa sa mga bagay na nakikita…
Sometimes there are things you cannot see. They say, you need to see these things to prove that they are real. But I believe there are things that though you cannot see them, are real. And for me, they are more important than things you can see.--------------------
Kahit na anong bagal ng paglakad mo, kung di ka naman niya gustong habulin, hindi ka talaga nya maabutan..kahit na mag- stop over ka pa.
No matter how slow you walk and he/she doesn’t want to go after you, he/she will never reach you, even if you make a stop-over.--------------------
Sa mga taong di nagpaparamdam sa kanilang mga kaibigan e mabuting patayin nalang namin kayo para magparamdam kayo.
To people who are not making their presence felt to their friends, it’s probably better if we just kill you so you will make your presence felt.--------------------
Tipong pag sinabihan ka ng sorry, pwedeng sumama pa ang loob mo. Pero pag sinabihan ka na ng SUPER SORRY, naku - bawal na magtampo! Kasi super na yan.
It’s like if you’ve been apologized to, it’s possible that you’ll still be sulking. But if you’ve been told that they are SUPER SORRY, why, stop moping because it’s already super.--------------------
Makakapagbago ka lang kung kaya mo nang aminin na hindi mo mapagkakatiwalaan ang sarili mong pag-iisip, dahil ito rin ang nagtutulak sa ‘yo sa bisyo.
You’ll be able to change only if you admit to yourself that you cannot trust your own thoughts, because it will also push you towards vices.--------------------
Pag binisita ka ng idea, gana, o inspirasyon, kailangan mong itigil LAHAT ng ginagawa mo para lang di masayang ang pagkakataon.
If you’ve been visited by an idea, a desire or inspiration, you need to stop everything you’re doing so as not to waste the opportunity.--------------------
Wag kang matuwa sa mga bagay na nakikita mo sa ngayon. Lahat iyan ay panandalian lamang at anumang sandali ay maaaring mawala.
Do not be amused by things you can see today. All of that are just fleeting and could disappear at any moment.--------------------
Parang eskwelahan din ang buhay e. Marami kang pag-aaralan, pero hindi naman lahat ‘yon e importante at kailangan mong matutunan.
Life is also like school. You’ll get to study lots of things. But not all are important and necessary for you to learn.--------------------
Sa kolehiyo, maraming impluwensiya ang makikita. Masama o mabuti man ito. Wag mo isisi sa thesis partner o sa kaibigan ang lahat kung bakit nasira ang baga mo sa kakayosi, nasira ang atay mo sa kakainom at kung bakit nagkaroon ka agad ng pamilya. Kung talagang matino kang tao, kahit sino pa mang tarantado ang kasama mo ay maitutuwid mo pa rin ang daang tatahakin mo.
In college, you’ll get to see many influences, either good or bad. Don’t blame your thesis partner or friend if your lungs are harmed because of smoking, your liver impaired because of too much drinking and why you got yourself a family too soon. If you are a sensible person, even if you are with the most evil person, you can still straighten the road you are to walk on.--------------------
Wag mawawalan ng gana sa buhay. Kung ano yung galing mo, kulit mo, lakas ng sigaw at tuwa mo sa mga laban ng UAAP, NCAA, mga sports fest o concert ng paborito mong banda, wag mong iwawala hanggang sa pagtanda. Wag kang tutulad sa ilang kongresista na nagre- report sa trabaho para lang matulog.
Don’t give up your zest for life. What with all your talents, your annoying persistence, your earsplitting shouts and joyfulness at every UAAP, NCAA, sports fest or concert of your favorite band, do not lose them ‘til you’re old. Don’t take after a congressman who reports to work just to sleep on the job.--------------------
Kung gusto mong maging musikero, sige lang. Pintor, ayos! Inhinyero, the best! Kung gusto mo maging teacher, pilitin mong maging teacher na hindi makakalimutan ng estudyante mo. Kung gusto mong maging sapatero, maging pinakamahusay kang sapatero. Kung gusto mong maging karpintero, maging pinakamagaling kang karpintero. Kung gusto mong maging tindero ng balut, wag kang dadaan sa harap ng bahay naming para mambulahaw sa gabi kung ayaw mong masaktan!
If you want to be a musician, go for it. A painter, fine! An engineer, the best! If you want to become a teacher, try to be a teacher who will never be forgotten by your students. If you want to be a cobbler, be the best cobbler. If you want to become a carpenter, be the greatest carpenter. If you want to be a balut vendor, don’t pass by my house just to bother us at night if you don’t want to get hurt!--------------------
Kahit kelan walang maling desisyon, nagiging mali lamang ito kapag hindi napapanindigan.
There is never a wrong decision. It only becomes wrong if one does not stand by it.--------------------
Hindi ako naniniwalang kailangan ng tao mangarap dahil gusto nya ng pera o gusto nyang sumikat o gusto nya ng impluwensya. Side effects na lang ang mga ‘to, tingin ko. Nangangarap ang tao dahil binigyan sya ng Diyos ng kakayahang mangarap at tumupad nito. Tungkulin nyang pagbutihin ang pagkatao nya at mag –ambag ng tulong sa mundo.
I don’t believe that a person needs to dream because he wants money or fame, or influence. These are all just side effects, I think. People dream because God gave them the capability to dream and make it come true. It’s his duty to improve his personhood and contribute something to the world.--------------------
Minsan, kailangang ituro ng mundo sa’yo ang tama sa paraang masasaktan ka para matandaan mo.
Sometimes the world needs to teach you what is right in a way that hurts you so you will remember.--------------------
Pero tanging ang utak lang ng tao- sa buong kalawakan- ang natatanging bagay na nagpipilit umintindi sa sarili niya.
But it is only the mind of a person – in the entirety of space – that is the only thing that is persistent to understand oneself.--------------------
Kung wala kang alam sa buhay ng dalawang tao o kahit pa man may alam ka sa isa sa kanila, wala ka pa rin sa tamang lugar para lagyan ng kahulugan ang mga kilos nila.
If you don’t know anything about the lives of any two people, or if you know something about one of them, you still are not in the right place to put any meaning in their actions.--------------------
Walang taong panget. Nagkataon lang na yung mukha nila hindi uso at hindi in.
There is no ugly person. Chances are his/her face is just not in style right now and is not in.--------------------
Karapatan kong madapa at bumangon sa buhay nang walang tatawa, magagalit, magtatanong, o magbibilang kung ilang beses na ‘kong nagkamali at ilang ulit ako dapat bumawi.
I have the right to fall and stand up in life without anyone laughing, getting mad, asking or counting how many times I committed mistakes and how many times I should get even.--------------------
Ganyan talaga ang mga tao, pipihit-pihitin ang katotohanan hanggang sa sumang-ayon na ito sa kumportableng posisyon ng mga makasarili nilang puso.
That’s just how people are, they will twist the truth until it agrees with the comfortable position of those who have selfish hearts.--------------------
Ang liit at laki ay nasa isip lang. Bakit kami nina Bubuyog at Gagamba, may naipundar din kami kahit papano. Nasa pagsisikap lang ‘yan ng tao!
Being small or big is just in the mind. Why, take us Bees and Spiders...we have at least built something. It’s just a matter of diligence on the part of humans.--------------------
Natawa ka man o nandiri sa pagkaing may kakaibang pangalan, isang patunay lang yan na apektado ka ng salita.
If you laughed at or were disgusted by food with a very odd name, this is proof that you were affected by words.--------------------
Tama na sigurong malaman namin na lumalakad ang mga kamay ng relo at tumatakbo ang panahon.
It’s probably enough that you know that the hands on a watch are slowly moving and time is running.--------------------
Paggawa na ba ng mabuti ang hindi paggawa ng kasamaan?
Is it already doing a good thing if you're not doing anything bad? --------------------
Pero mas mabuting mabigo sa paggawa ng isang bagay kesa magtagumpay sa paggawa ng wala.
But it’s better to fail on doing something than succeed on doing nothing.--------------------
Wala kang ibang paghuhugutan ng sipag, tiyaga, at determinasyon kundi sarili mo.
There is no other place where you can draw diligence, patience and determination from but your own self.--------------------
Previous Translations:
Part 5 / Part 4 / Part 3 / Part 2 / Part 1
We had reached an impasse. I know engaging in a debate with my partner about the incident won't change things. All I know is, I was deeply affected...because I used to be one of them and I feel I still am. A journalist will always be a journalist. She will continue to express using the mighty pen (or keyboard, as the case may be).
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