Sagada is a small town located in Mountain Province where broken people go in the search for inner peace. Maybe, it became popular in the year 2014 after the film titled “That thing called tadhana” aired in cinemas. It’s a story where two broken souls met to mend each other’s hearts. By then it become popular spot for those people who want to heal their hearts, clear their minds and restart their lives – that’s the power of Sagada after all.
But “Sagada” does not only pertain to the place itself, it can be a person; a person who hurt you, a person who leaves you, a person you wishes to be with you, a person you love, or you-ikaw mismo.
May panahon na pakiramdam mo may kulang, may nag-iba. Hindi na ikaw yung dating kilala ng mga taong nakapaligid sayo and you started to question yourself why, and what if’s are already inside your mind. You lost your passion. You cannot enjoy the thing that makes you happy. You started to feel lonely. You experienced being a victim of gaslighting where the default position of self blame and pleasing others are so destructive. You are exhausted from the reality and toxicity of life. You feel demotivated because of too much stress and pressure. You find it difficult to go to bed at night. You find it harder and harder to get out of bed in the morning. You drag yourself through each day. The effort to do the small things is huge. Worst, you are stuck in the sea of distorted thoughts or lost in the field of uncertainties and yet, it feels like home.
People always say you should talk to someone, tell someone. But the thing is, how do you put words on something so hard that even you don’t understand? How do you explain to someone that you want to live your life but you don’t know how? Starting a new day is day is like a torture; broken soul, distorted thoughts and lifeless body. And during those depressing times you find it harder and harder to live your life again.
Your life is like a Mountain and while reaching your summit may mga aalis, may bagong darating at mayroong mananatili. And those people are your Sagada’s ; a person who hurt you, a person who leaves you, a person you wishes to be with you, a person you love, or you-ikaw mismo. Sa panahon na tatahakin mo ang bundok ng iyong buhay mas makikila mo ang mga taong nakapaligid sayo maging ang iyong sarili.
Sagada, kung sa’n lilimutin ang sakit ng iyong pag-alis
Ito yung mga taong mahalaga sayo pero hindi mananatili sa tabi mo. Mga taong umalis dahil sa ilang daang dahilan o mga taong tuluyan ng umalis sa mundong kinabibilangan mo. You gave love but they gave you pain. You treasure them but they treat you like a trash. You want to keep them but they chose to hurt and leave you. Well, that’s the irony of life but you need to move on. And the irony of pain is that, you want to be comforted by the person who hurt you. But mind you, you cannot continue your trail if you have exes baggage dahil mahihirapan ka lang, mabibigatan ka. Don’t try to fix things that meant to be broken. Kailangan mong tanggapin ang masakit na katotohanan na hindi lahat ng tao sa buhay mo ay permanente, mayroong mga pandalian lang. Sometimes the person you want the most is the person you’re best without. Some things are meant to come in your life, just not meant to stay. Losing someone or something is a part of growing up, it teaches a worth life lesson. At sa kanilang pag-alis isabay mo ang pagpapatawad. Forgive the person who hurt you because you deserve peace. At sa pagpapatuloy mo sa pag-akyat baunin mo ang mga ala-ala at aral na galing sa sakit, dahil iyan ang magpapalakas sayo.
Sagada, kung sa’n lahat ay isinigaw
Ito yung takbuhan mo. Your shoulder to cry on. It can be your parents, friends, or special someone. Kay Sagada kaya mong maging mahina, hindi ka takot na ipakita yung totoong nararamdaman mo. Sa kanya kaya mong iiyak ang lahat, kaya mong humarap ng wasak at mahina dahil alam mo sa piling niya pwede kang maging malaya na hindi ka huhusgahan. Sa kanya pwede mong isigaw ang lahat ng bumabagabag sa puso’t isip mo. Siya ang taong paulit-ulit na iintindi at tatanggap sayo. Siya ang taong magsisilbing ilaw sa bawat madilim na lugar na tatahakin mo. Ang kanyang kamay ang pupunas sa mga luhang kumakawala sa iyong mata. Siya ang makakasama mo sa bawat paakyat at pababang daan na iyong tatahakin. Siya ang taong makakasama mo hanggang sa makita at makilala mo ang pinaka huling Sagada.
Sagada, ang tagpuan kung sa’n itinakdang magwakas
ang kwento ng ako at ikaw
ikaw ang natitirang takbuhan
ng pusong ligaw at giniginaw
SAGADA
Ang pinakahuli at pinaka importanteng Sagada ng buhay mo ay ikaw. Mahalaga na kilala mo ang sarili mo because at the end of the day ikaw lang din ang may kakayahang hilumin ang sugat na mayroon ka. Hindi ka matutulungan ng ibang tao kung hindi mo tutulungan ang sarili mo. Love yourself unconditionally first before you love other people and before other people will love you. Embrace your flaws so that you’ll live your life to the fullest. Learn how to appreciate your existence and be thankful every day.
Reaching the summit of a mountain is not easy, so your life is. It is full of challenges but amidst of struggling to reach your peak its worth to try and fail until finally you can watch the sea of clouds from above. The fresh air along the way cast your anxiety. The path that you take signifies that life is not about giving up when the roads are bumpy and crack, it’s about your perseverance and faith. You can pause for a while but continue afterwards. Together with your Sagada, you can watch the sunrise and sunset which both symbolizes a new beginning-a new hope.
To the person reading this, I wish you all the best in life. You are worth it and you are enough!