A Day in the Life of Anselmo 4

Freude, schöner Götterfunken 

Tochter aus Elysium,   

Wir betreten feuertrunken, 

Himmlische, dein Heiligtum! 

Deine Zauber binden wieder

Was die Mode streng geteilt;

Alle Menschen werden Brüder,

        Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt.

Joy, celestial spark, primordial,

Daughter of Elysium,

We come forward, fire-drunken

Sacred one, to thy sanctum!

Thy enchantment liberates those

Bound by custom's harsh decree;

Where thy gentle wing alighteth,

All become one family.

I always get inspired whenever I hear this song. Never mind if I can't sing it solo. It's the Fourth Movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, better known as the Ode to Joy. It's Eric Ong's favorite song and the unofficial anthem of the EOGC. Even though people know the Lupang Hinirang, people here actually prefer this. Never mind if it's in German. It's like a way of identifying yourself with the EOGC. After all, it was the EOGC that brought economic development in the first place. Not the government. And it's playing now. How appropriate! I got my salary, the song's playing at the end of my shift (6:00,) and I'm so full of joy! I'm going home; gonna take a bath, change my clothes and hit the bars, get myself drunk with fire!