“Paradise (Old East Iranian: pairidaeza) is a place in which existence is positive, harmonious and timeless. It is conceptually a counter-image of the miseries of human civilization, and in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness. Paradise is a place of contentment, but it is not necessarily a land of luxury and idleness. It is often used in the same context as that of utopia.” This is how “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise” described the word.
The issue was brought about when a nephew saw this blog with the description “a place called paradise” when referring to the Philippines. He thinks that the description is quite inappropriate for a country like the Philippines. This nephew, who now lives in Australia, saw witnessed the kind of life Filipinos really lived, especially if someone hails from an average income family. He finds it difficult to believe that such description is really appropriate because he hardly experienced that when he was still in the country. As he tries to express his opposition, he made mention that I should also discuss of a place in Manila called Tondo, a place popularly known for rampant criminal incidents.
As I tried to understand his point, I told him that, “alam mo ba na may isang kanta na sinasabing ‘sa tondo man, ay may langit din’, (did you know that there was a song that says ‘even in Tondo, there is also a heaven). Then there was a moment of silence, as if contemplating what it means.
It doesn’t really matter where you are, just to experience or be able to live in paradise. Paradise isn’t just a place, nor location, nor a country, nor a territory. Paradise is an experience that need not be to go to nor stay at. Paradise can also be experience in the state of mind. A man could be in a first world country, living in a mansion house, in a posh village, driving a limousine or sports car, with a caviar and expensive wines on the table, but living a life like hell, for he’s always on the rush with barely a few hours of sleep.
Compare that to a man who lives in a third world nation, housed in a makeshift shanty, walks a mile on a dirty road just to get to work, with barely a plate of food to feed himself and his family, and drinks water on an open well, but is happy, contented and always sleeps soundly.
Now, who do you think lives in Paradise?
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