Career or Family?

This was sent to me thru the yahoo!group service.. i find this interesting and worth posting (sharing) here.

EVERY moment in life, we are faced with a choice.

Which should command our preference -- the demands of our job or the duties to our family?

IF there is a board meeting today at the same hours that our son

graduates from school, where should we go -- to the boardroom or to the graduation ceremony?

IF we have to make a very important presentation tomorrow,

so as to advance our career, but our wife says she has to see the doctor

on a suspicionof cancer, which appointment should we keep?

THESE are the daily battles of conscience we have to wage,

trying to keep a balance between our responsibility to earn a living

and our opportunity to live a life.

And our choices invariably reveal who we really are.

OUR preferences indicate our true character.

Our priorities are the best indicators of our real identity.

What profits success?

I know that many of you out there would go for career on the pretension that after all,

you are doing all these for the family.

MANY of us, would rather become outstanding employees,

model personnel instead of being doting fathers or loving husbands.

MANY of you would opt to perform exceedingly well in the office even if you work 12 to 16 hours a day,

going home only to change clothes or catch afew hours of sleep.

BUT what for? At the end of the day, what have you accomplished?

What profits a highly successful professional or wealthy businessman if ultimately, he loses his family,

wrecks his marriage or dishonors the name he will leave to his children?

WHAT has a rich man accomplished if he has built a fortune and

founded conglomerates of highly profitable companies

and yet drives his own wife to vices or infidelity,

his children to drugs and delinquency and himself to spiritual decay and total burnout?

WHAT matters most? Look around you.

The evidence is overwhelming and irreversible.

Families are shattered. Marriages are broken. Lives are reduced to utter emptiness.

EVEN as man advances in wealth and success,

he deteriorates on the basic standards of joy, peace and serenity.

As we all compete and struggle forpower and possessions, we often neglect what really matters most.

In our insatiable mania for supremacy over the rest,

we often forget the most important things in life.

I WILL respect your choice. But as for me, my priorities are clear.

Between career and family, I will always go for family. I can forego that board meeting

and earn the ire of my boss or make a bad impression on my peers.

But I shall not inflict a lifetime trauma on my son by sending him alone to graduate without his dad.

I can forget that business presentation and lose a valued client or waste a career promotion,

but I cannot leave my wife alone in her moments of anxiety.

MEANINGLESS.

WHY should a well-known public figure commit suicide given all his fame and fortune?

Can his wealth and wisdom compensate for ruptures in his relationships?

WHY should a wife of a famous politician commit adultery...?

Is it lust or vain fixation for the pleasures of the flesh?

Or is it the pain of being neglected and ignored by the husband she used to adore?

WHY should a son cut his wrist or a daughter drink poison despite all the luxuries

and pleasures they are showered with?

Can money replace love?

Can pleasure take the place of affections?

THE ULTIMATE HELL

TO succeed in career and fail in the family is, to me, the ultimate hell.

John Grisham, that famous author of legal fictions wrote "TheTestament,"

which tells of a highly successful industrialist who made billions of dollars but lost his family.

In the first 10 pages of the novel, he jumped to his death from his multi-story building

in front of his self-centeredchildren.

By his will, he disinherited all of them and bequeathed his entire estate

to an illegitimate daughter who refused to accept it.

THAT is the ultimate irony; those who lusted for money lost it.

Those who were given all the money refused it. In all his dozen masterpieces,

Grisham tells us about the importance of family.

"A Time to Kill" tells of a father who went to jail for killing his daughter's rapists.

INDEED, we...should learn from the mistakes of others.

We should straighten our lives and put our priorities in order.

I DON'T know about you.

But as for me and my house, our credo is:

There is no success in a career that can make up for a failure in the family.

BUT if forced to make a choice between career and family,

I'llgladly choose the latter.

This is my philosophy, my article of faith.

I pray and work hard to live up to it.

Shared by Joe Gatuslao
Philippines

my speech for JS Prom '03

I have come accross the speech I addressed to the Senior and Junior students of Purisima School, my Alma Mater, in my YAHOO!MAIL and I think it is worth posting/sharing.

Here it is....

Greetings…..

Beforehand, I would like to relay to you the story on how I have come to Converse with you tonight. Engr. Secarro, together with his two comrades, approached me last Tuesday morning and told me about this affair and their plan. I was hesitant to accept the invitation for three reasons: First, I am not well-verse at relaying insights with regards to this sort of affair considering my being young and my experiences. Second, I don’t have ideas on what to talk for they said the activity doesn’t have any theme. Third, I do still have school chores left undone. As a matter of fact, I am absent from my classes this time. However, as Paulinians or Purisiminians as we claimed, I could not muster enough courage to turn down the invitation. Moreover, they are saying that it would be of more facile for the listeners to grasp the message if the speaker is of their class, I mean, of their age. I hope so…

You are celebrating, tonight, JS Prom and Bequeathal Ceremony. A two distinct significant events in the lives of high school’s students that are fused into one. I bet, your idea of this evening affair is concentrated merely on JS Prom that is considered by most of you as the time when the ambience turns to be poignant and romantic. A time when you are afforded an opportunity to be with your campus crush. Undeniably, that remains true. Yet, that is not the only definition of this occasion. What you have accomplished now is one of the manifestations that Purisimian Family is one and united. That love, fraternal love, flourishes among her members and even extend beyond the school premises. That camaraderie is nurtured and rapport among Purisimians is maintained and valued. This is the image that you, Seniors and Juniors, must be able to depict to the younger Purisimians and to the society in general, being their role models.

“Purisimians should make a difference.”

How could I ever be oblivious of these words of my then high school principal, Sr. Mediatrix Delos Santos, Spc, that keeps to linger in mind until now? I could still picture her reprimanding us, my batch, every morning after the flag ceremony instilling in us that same phrase. I couldn’t even vaguely remember if my batch had missed one of her sermons (let may say, her reminders) on school days. However, we are very much grateful to her for her ways paved the way of making us refined men and women today. But of course, that is coupled with our own sacrifices and efforts.

What my principal would like to emphasize when she say “Purisimians make a difference” is - First, we should convene our efforts and aim our shots on excelling in our chosen field of endeavor that would simultaneously lead to a socially buxom lives. In short, to live a morally, modest, and upright lives. Secondly, we should strive to hone our skills and traits of being a leader. Basically, we are to develop the so-called “Servant Leadership” conceptualized by Robert K. Greenleaf.

We will also witness, tonight, the Bequeathal Ceremony. The handing-over of responsibilities by the Seniors to their successors, the Juniors. The delegation of obligations by the Seniors doesn’t necessarily means that they have relinquished their duties towards the school. It only marks the commencement of a greater responsibility towards the school and the community. It is, indeed, fitting to elucidate the concept of “Servant Leadership” I have had mentioned a while ago. We may say, perhaps, that it is impossible that two roles, that of the Servant and Leader, be fused in one real person, in whatever level of status or calling.

Let me share to you the story Journey to the East written by Hermann Hesse. In the story we can see a band of men on a mythical journey. The central figure of the story is Leo who accompanies the party as a servant who does their menial chores, but who also sustains them with his spirit and his song. He is a person of extraordinary presence. All goes well until Leo disappears. Then the group falls into disarray and the journey is abandoned. They cannot make it without the servant Leo. The narrator, one of the parties, after some years of wandering finds Leo and is taken into the Order that had sponsored the journey. There he discovers that Leo, whom he had known first as servant, was in fact he titular head of the Order, its guiding spirit, a great and noble leader.

We can deduce from the story that the great leader is seen as servant first. And that simple fact is the key to his greatness. Leo was naturally an all-time leader but he was servant first because that was what he was, deep down inside him. Leadership was bestowed to a man who was in nature a servant. Leadership was something given, or assumed, that could be taken away. His servant nature was the real man, not bestowed, not assumed, and not to be taken away. Leo was servant first.

The servant-leader is servant first. It begins with a natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice stirs one to aspire to lead. That person is extremely different from one who is leader-first, perhaps because of the need to assuage power drive or material possessions. The leader-first chooses to serve after leadership is established. The difference is clearly manifested in the care taken by the servant-leader first to make sure that other people’s highest
priority needs are being served. Not that efforts are channeled to self-aggrandizement and selfish interest. Purisimians must not wait to be elected or ascribed first as leaders and then serve. You must do the otherwise. Everyone can be a leader. The new leadership definition recognizes the greatness and unique contributions of everyone. “Everybody does have a leader inside,” says Robert Reich of Harvard University. It is our task to uncover and cultivate the leadership skills we have. Leadership is no longer exclusively “top-down” rather it is “bottom-up” and “omni-directional.” Leadership is not only the assignment of elected or chosen one but it sips down among the different integral parts of the system for in the final analysis, it is not the general who wins, but the army.

It is noteworthy, however, that leadership entails greater responsibility. A leader has accountability towards the led. To effectively lead, a leader must have a vision, principle, and passion. A vision to see the potential in every situation. The principle that give him integrity and the passion to pursue his vision even at great cost.

My fellow Purisimians, I exhort everyone of you to be a servant-leader. In the words of my high school principal, Sr. Mediatrix Delos Santos, Spc, let may say, “Let us make a difference!”

Personalities with Camagong Native's Blood

It didn't cross my mind that i'll be seeing some personalities in sports and showbiz with a Camagong native's blood running down their veins. To let you know few of the many people who are successful in their chosen careers or fields, here are the following.


ZANDRO "Jun" LIMPOT

Jun's mother was raised by her father at Sitio Ilawod.. She moved to Manila when her son was entering basketball.



Jun first played with Magnolia in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL). His first team as a PRO in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) was the Sta. Lucia Realtors, where he was awarded as "Rookie of the Year." He ws then traded to Ginebra Kings. Currently, Jun plays with the Tender Juicy Hotdog squad.

SAM MILBY

Who would know that the mother of the present "Crush ng Bayan" hailed from Sitio Puro Obus of Camagong?

Sam's mother is a native of Camagong. She went to Ohio, USA after marrying a foreign husband. Year after year, Sam's family visits Tago.



Before the Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Fever, Sam was an image model of Close Up Toothpaste. He replaced Bob, who was forced evicted due to his ailing health condition, in the PBB.

Sam is one of the most sought after actor in showbiz today.

These are just few of the men from Camagong.

Too Much Expectation of Baguio

When we had our 3rd Quarter Regional Assessment regarding our work/accomplishments in the provinces, our regional coordinator for the program we are implementing spread the news that the National Program Office is planning to hold the 5th National Convention for the program implementers this year after seven straight year of not holding such activity. The news also builds my eagerness to look forward to it for the proposed venue is Baguio City.

The anticipation keeps building as the schedule is drawing near. It would be my first experience of what Baguio City is. I have been dreaming of taking a vacation there but my finances wouldn’t warrant such junket. I have been hearing from my relatives and friends, who have gone there, good news, praises, etc about the place. I have also heard and have a glimpse of the place in movies, newspapers and televisions, even on postcards and posters being distributed and marketed at various stores across the country.

On December 4, 2005 at around 7:00 in the evening, I had my first foot set on the soil of Baguio City in front of the Supreme Hotel & Convention Building. I had the first taste of the city’s air after disembarking from the Victory Lines bus.

Later that night (at 11:00 P.M.), I had the chance to walk on the city’s streets with a couple of friends. I put on my city short, t-shirt and wore no cap and jacket. It gave me the opportunity to feel on my skin the city’s climate and temperature especially that we went back to the hotel already past midnight.


On December 7, 2005, I was able to visit the ever famous and talk-about John Burham Park for I was intrigued of the lake which is always being featured in many Filipino movies with lovers go boating on it. My grandma was even bragging to me the beauty of the lake. I was wondering how it looks and where the water in it sprung.

My curiosity on the existence of a lake at that high altitude/location was answered by the taxi driver. It was made clear to me that it was sculpted by the hands of man. Knowing that piece of fact intensifies my desire to see the lake.

With a higher expectation on my mind, I was frustrated to see that it wasn’t that nice and beautiful as it was portrayed in the movies and relayed to me by my grandma and friends. The water has a brownish color which to my mind fish wouldn’t even thrive there but dengue-carrier mosquitoes. It is not to brag but we have beautiful rivers and lake-like pristine bodies of water in our place. You surely would enjoy boating and diving to its inviting clear waters.

I stayed four days in Baguio. My friends and relatives who have gone there have told me about its freezing/cold climate. That it would make you shiver in its coldness. So my grandma was so insistent that I should bring with me a thick jacket which would consume the whole space of my backpack. Instead, I brought a corduroy jacket intentionally sewed by my mother for the trip. Unfortunately, I had used it only once while I was there. It was the night when we bar hopped with our coordinator from the head office.

The climate of Baguio that time, for me, wasn’t really cold that it would send your body shivering. Perhaps, it would bring people form urban areas like Cebu, Metro Manila and Davao to shiver but it is understandable considering that these urban dwellers are used to temperatures above 32oC. Surigao has an average temperature of 23oC year-round. During the months of September to February, our temperatures are even posted below its average temperature.

I really had a pleasant time at the city even I had only a short stay there. I love their freshly picked and harvested veggies and fruits. How could I forget the first taste of a freshly picked strawberry fruit? I would say that I have a very distinct description of a fresh strawberry fruit taste. Who would even think that my description would be like this: “minus its flavor, it is like a macupa or tambis fruit sprinkled with sesame seeds. My colleagues burst into laughter upon hearing my description.

Anyway, I really wanted to feel and experience the freezing cold Baguio can offer. Unfortunately, a kababayan taxi driver told us that the coldest month of the year in the city is February. Hope to be back to the City of Pines, the Summer Capital of the Philippines, the City with Uneven Terrain, etc..

she is INTO me, doesn't she?

Sleep did not come easily to me last Friday. So I opted to watch T.V. until my eyes would become weary and bring me to sound slumber. I pressed the T.V. remote control and wander the different networks our local cable service provider has offered. RPN Network, Channel 8 in our local cable, got me interested. It featured that time a replay telecast of self-titled Oprah Winfrey’s show, which is usually aired by Star World.

Oprah’s guest that night was Greg ____ (sorry, I forgot his surname…). He is the author of the best selling advice book entitled “He is NOT into YOU.” The book was conceptualized for female readers. The author, however, does not discourage male readers to buy his book (Anyway, it is money somehow... hehehe…). This book is also being made into movie to be starred by Drew Barrymore. The movie will be released hopefully next year.

The topic that night dwells on the intricacies of relationship and how to apply the many advice found in Greg’s book. Women from different walks of life shared their experiences or the situation of their current relationship. It is on that ground where Greg draws his notion/advice on relationship – is he or not into you.

There was a striking advice Greg threw to a couple who were already in their third year of relationship. The woman is so eager to be married with this man but his man doesn’t want marriage even he has profess his undying love to the woman. They have been living together. Greg’s advice to the woman: “Find another man who will marry you for He is NOT into YOU. His advice to the man: “Set her free. She doesn’t deserve that set-up.”

The concluding words of the author were outstanding. He said: “It is healthy and very humane to love wholeheartedly. Never hold back in loving. What’s wrong is when we expect things to change even it is unworkable. What’s wrong is when we tend to rationalize things because we love them yet they have not been serious in your relationship. In short, (they/she) he is not into you.”

The topic that night was magnetizing. It somehow tells us to ponder on what’s happening with my current relationship. It shared some pointers for reflection like the line in one of Leann Rhimes song – “ Shame on you if you fool me once.. Shame on me if you fool me twice…”

My GF and I had four break-ups. The three of those happened this year and I requested the second one out of my revulsion. These break-ups were totally pointless yet they had happened. After the third time, she had been engrossed with bitterness. Her heart was filled with hatred and revulsion, which then leads to the fourth one.

It was on the last break up that she had initiated reconciliation after I failed in my attempts for settlement. She had promised to change her deprave attitudes (reflected on her text message, 8:27pm 11/04/2005). We have reconciled and she agreed not to bang me again with mga kasapot ug pagbuod.

Came the third week of November and she is back again to her old self. I wonder what happened to her promise.

I know and feel her love prior to the last break up. I know she is honest professing it to me in words but what is confusing me is she has difficulty to deliver it in actions. I don’t understand that instead of manifesting care and love, she showed revulsion and hatred. I, sometimes, think that she has been playing and had never been serious about the relationship we build.

My rationalization. A heart that is full of hatred and bitterness, receives negative energies. A person who loves yet hold back and have reservations would find difficulty in delivering and manifesting care and love to people s/he values and cherishes.

At the end of the day, I have this question in my mind:

“She is INTO me, doesn’t she?”

Curious on how Vaginas Think

It is common that women talk a lot, which makes them more confusing to understand. There are times when I am caught deciphering which I am supposed to believe.

My GF had asked a “break up” with me the night of All Souls Day. I again found myself in deep thinking why this is happening to us or why with the instant decision. I was also asking myself the following questions – how could she make that instant decision base on senseless misunderstanding? Am I really worthy of this trouble?

November 4 – As I was about to report to office, at the tricycle terminal in Tago, drivers were talking about their wives’ attitudes and behaviors. The statement of one of the drivers caught me: “Lain gayud baya inin mga babaye. Kon masakit ako sa ako asawa, siya pa hinuon an mas masakit. Naman kon motaas na an boses, magpuyo dakan lamang kita. Kalimtan dakan lamang nato an ato kasakit.”

The tricycle driver’s statement about his wife somehow enlightened me regarding women. Women are so complex for men to understand.

I remember something about a play entitled “ Vaginas Talk”, which a friend of mine have told me years ago. Correct me, if I am wrong, that it talks about dynamics of women. I would wish to see it if that play is still running for I believe it would make me more sensitive about women.

I am, however, curious on how Vaginas Think…

Analize this...

Of all the dates in the calendar, the most easy to remember are those days which fall on special celebrations/occassions - birthdays, anniversaries of any sort..etc...

It just made me wonder that the day is almost finish yet i have not recieved any message (except for the missent message intended for her brother) from the person who i consider special and who call me special.

It seems not unusual for other people but this day is "JUST our 25th Monthsary"..!

I should have contented myself in believing that she doesnt have a penny to text me but it's an unforgiving circumstance for she had sent a message. The sad part is it was not for me.

I know guys would be thinking that I am too engrossed with this lass because I often eat my pride. So unfortunate for me for I only recieve indignation instead of a little appreciation for my effort.

Is being concern something gross to do?

Are special events/occasions for people or couple something difficult to remember?

Analize those...

My Current Dilemma

I hate to become indecisive. After the many unsuccessful try in relationship with ladies, I met a lass, one of my tyros in the local college, who rekindled the passion inside me, which I thought, had simultaneously died with my last relationship. I was then caught in the middle. Should I give myself a chance to “rise” in love again or put that idea to oblivion?

I, then, give in to the idea of affording the “thing” one more chance with the hopefulness of greater or bigger success. I was motivated by the thought of ensuring things will work out for both of us.

Her parents’ show of distrust, distaste and disapproval of the relationship was our major challenge or sort of problem. There were apprehensions that she would not graduate and if she would, she’d subsequently get married.

Those things were over yet another is on the offing.

Expectations -a smooth running relationship is arm-reached following all the grapples of the first year. This is so because, if this is similar to a game, we have already reached the second level. The level where we have ample of time to discuss things, plans, etc that we want and concern us vis-à-vis the affairs of our immediate family.

This jiffy is timely to sort things out and discuss the future for both of us. I have been vocal about my desires and plans for my future with her. I am dying to start preparing the soils where I would plant the seeds for our future yet could not begin the toil for I don’t know and discern the seeds she wants us to grow.

This has been my DILEMMA for I don’t know where to start. All her plans have been kept secret to me. Until she would divulge to me her plans and desires for us, we can’t officially start living together our future today. Living together the future doesn’t literally mean living closely-physically and in one roof.

iba na pala ako ngayon

As we aged, that is of course with time, we wouldn’t notice certain changes in our desires for our life. We tend to be meticulous in choosing the things we wanted and even in how we want to live our life. We have savings and we spend it on important things. Unlike before, we save for the purpose of splurging it in shopping malls, fancy restaurants and restobars as if there’s no tomorrow to expect. We live like “one-day millionaires”.

I made some reassessment of myself and I was astonished by what I have become. Here I am thinking on saving and have many ideas on how to have good investment. Here I am who thinks of working hard to establish a rock-solid foundation for my future. Here I am who doesn’t think of girls but thought of a would-be future wife. GRABEeeeeeehhhhhh na to……!

I could remember that in the ‘90s it is so easy to stay for months without a girlfriend and hook up with a girl any time you want some company or some girlfriend thing. This is how my mind worked that time being influenced by my “babaero” circle of friends. Reasons that until now some people still coin me as “chickboy” or “babaero’. Anyway, I wouldn’t feel guilty of playing with ladies’ feelings because I had truly loved them.

I could remember that it was at the start of the 2000 that a great change in my perspective about life and girls had changed. Even the circle of friends I have had agreed that it’s to tiring to just look for a girlfriend. Time had already fashioned and conditioned us to look for wifey-material than a girlfriend-material around town. We become obsessed on the idea of preparing and starting to build the foundation of our future. There comes now the drive to earn a living and even plans of marrying. Unfortunately/fortunately, only two of us from our circle of friends have remained single at present.

I could not believe the change I had undergone yet I could not still believe that people still see me as the “chickboy” of the past despite these changes that transpired in my life.

Why should I worry about them? It’s there problem. Anyway, I wasn’t doing any harm do them. What is important is I’m not guilty of something and I am RENEWED and better than before.

TIPS para sa Ligtas, Maginhawa at Di Mailimutang Pamamaalam sa Mundo

1. Bago ang lahat, alamin muna ang tamang dahilan sa pagsu-suicide. Kung ang problema mo lamang ay dahil sa wala kang pera o iniwan ka ng minamahal mo, hindi ka dapat magpakatiwakal. Ang mundo ay tambak ng mga tao na pwede mong mahalin at ang pera ay pede mong kitain, kaya hindi ka dapat mawalan ng pag - asa. Ang pagkitil sa sariling buhay ay KARAPATAN LAMANG ng mga taong gumagamit ng cellphone at nakikipagkwentuhan sa loob ng sinehan.

2. kung desidido ka na sa gagawin mong pagpapakamatay at sa tingin mo meron kang tamang dahilan para gawin ito, ang susunod mong hakbang ay ang pagpili ng PARAAN NG PAGPAPAKAMATAY. Ang mga popular na paraan ay ang pagbibigti, pag - inom ng lason, pagtalon sa riles ng tren, pagbaril sa ulo ( o sa puso kung wala ka ng ulo pero buhay ka pa din ) at paglaslas ng pulso. Ang mga jologs naman na paraan ay ang pagtalon sa EDSA at pagpigil ng hininga.Tandaan, maari kang mabuhay pag nagkamali ka sa pagsasagawa ng mga nabanggtit, kaya pumili lamang ng isa na HIYANG sa'yo. Bukod dyan, marami rin sa mga paraang ito ang MAKALAT at NAKAKA-PANGIT. Dyahe naman kung pagtitinginan ng mga tao yung mukha mo sa ataul tapos mukha kang dehydrated
na langaw.

3. Sumulat ng suicide note. Ito ang exciting. Dito pwede mong sisihin lahat ng tao at wala silang magagawa. Sabihin mo na hindi mo gusting tapusin ang buhay mo kaso lang bad trip silang lahat. Pero wag din kakalimutang humingi ng tawad sa bandang huli para mas cool pag ginawa ni Carlo J. Caparas ang buhay mo. At tandaan, IMPORTANTE ANG SUICIDE NOTE para malaman ng mga tao na nagpakamatay ka nga at hindi na - murder. Sa ganitong paraan, maiiwasan ng PNP ang pagkuha sa kalye ng kahit sinong tambay bilang suspect.

4. Pumili ng THEME SONG. Banggitin ang iyong special request sa suicide note. Ipagbilin ng pagtugtugin nito sa prusisyon ng iyong libing. IWASAN ang mga kanta ng Salbakuta. DAPAT MEDYO MELLOW at MEANINGFUL...tulad ng mga kanta ng Sexbomb.

5. Isulat ng MAAYOS ang suicide note. PRINT. Iwasang magbura. Gumamit ng scented stationary at #1 mongol pencil. Lagdaan. Wag gumamit ng sticker. Ilagay ang suicide note sa MADALING MAKITA. IDIKIT SA NOO.

6. PLANUHIN ANG ISUSUOT. Tandaan, minsan ka lang mamamatay, kaya dapat memorable ang get - up. Pumili ng mga telang di umuurong o makati sa katawan. Magbaon ng dalawang pares pampalit pag pinagpawisan ka.

7. Kumuha ng de - kalidad na ataul. Maganda ang kulay puti dahil malamig at kumportable kahit tag - init. Huwag magtipid. Mas makakamura kung bibili ng cable ready kesa magpapalit pa balang araw.

8. Pumili ng magandang pwesto sa sementeryo. Ang puntod ng mga taong
ipinanganak sa year of the rat, dragon, rabbit, snake, tiger, chicken, pork, at beef ay dapat nakaharap sa Fiesta Carnival. Ang mga ipinanganak sa ibang taon ay dapat i-cremate at gawing foot powder para gumaan ang pasok ng pera.

9. Itaon ang araw ng libing sa unang dalawang linggo ng buwan o di kaya'y huling dalawang linggo para gumaan ang pasok ng pera.

10. Kung meron ka ng NBI, at police clearance, affidavit of loss, voter's ID, promissory note, original copy of birth certificate, at urine sample, pwde mo ng isagawa ang kalugod - lugod na gawain. Siguraduhin lang na di ka mababalita sa tabloid katabi ng mga article tungkol sa kabayong tatlo ang ulo, at sirenang namataan sa Manila Bay para gumaan ang pasok ng pera.

Untitled_02

I knew a man who is so in love with a woman he had met two years ago. I have been following them as their love affair unfolds from days to weeks to years…

I knew they are a good pair for even this woman is too sensitive on things, which has too little concern about their relationship. Even she has the tendency on taking things on herself without verifying their authenticity, this man had developed a great sense of understanding and had honed the value of patience.

I understand that this man knew that his lady is engulfed by the idea of jealousy. Due to this, gaining the trust of her ladylove is of paramount importance to him. It is for there were quite instances that his ladylove had alleged him of something that never had existed.

The worst thing happened when he was alleged of having an affair with a woman, Niña, whom he had met two yearx before he and his ladylove started a relationship. The allegation happened a month before their second year anniversary. His ladylove was asking a break-up from him.

The man wasn’t surprise of her move because he knew his ladylove well. What surprised him was his ladylove’s grounds or basis for turning down their relationship. Her decision was rooted on the issue of him having a relationship with Niña.

As far as I know, Niña was a friend of Glen, who happened to be a friend of this man. Niña graduated valedictorian at the local high school in year 2000. Based on Glen’s testimony, Niña had a crushed on his friend even during their college days. It was on 2001 Easter Sunday that Niña and his friend met through his invitation.

After the encounter, the two remained acquaintances even the man knew Niña’s feeling about him. There were instances that the man was tempted to court her but the two remained friends, as casual friends with no strings attached. In December 2002, Niña and her family went back to Cotabato and stayed there for good. Since then, the two had not met again and had remained friends.

The request of his ladylove doesn’t bother him for he knew she has the ever right to do it. What badgers him is the manner her ladylove reaches her decision. The man had observed for many instances that his ladylove had made decisions on gut feelings and on the words of other people. She always came to a conclusion without even digging further into the issue or verifying “tell tales” of people around her.

I understand that it’s difficult to believe the statement of the person whom we think had caused you this terrible feeling. Yet it’s unlikely also to just believe on what other people are saying. It always safe to see and find out for yourself what is the real truth so you can make judgment of whom you’re gonna believe.

In short, it is always a good idea “not to quickly buy what other people are saying yet to discover for ourselves the real truth so we will know who is lying.” Beware that quickly buying somebody’s ideas might bring us to peril or danger in the end.

I do hope that it would not be too late for the love affair of this couple to change and resolves things out before their “love train” will go out of its track. It is always a sad part to this man to see his ladylove suffers pain, which actually not caused by him but by small lapse in judgment or understanding of the issue confronting any of them.

May GOD guide them in their decisions always. GOD bless the two of them.

untitled 01

Criticism is always good as long as it doesn’t extend to the point of devastating somebody’s reputation. It helps people to be in good terms with his own self and with others. It also provides room for them to right their wrong. People consider critics as their personal mirror. Criticisms taken positively can better individuals and make them productive assets of the community.

Finger pointing, however, is another matter. It is a completely different thing from criticism. Finger pointing or mudslinging is synonymous to putting blame on someone without the benefit of due process. Simply blaming an individual with baseless things, with unfounded matters.

To make it shorter, criticism is healthy and finger pointing is disastrous. To criticize is to help people realize to think back on their actions. To finger point is to put blame on person with senseless things.

It is stupid for someone to react pessimistically to criticism for it would not give him integral growth.

It is pure hypocrisy if people won’t defend their ground even mud are thrown to their face. It is not being defensive to clear oneself from false allegations. Don’t even expect someone to wish you happiness the following morning after you slam that person face with horseshits. That person would come out charlatan or a complete pretender.

I am always open to criticism but I hated most being blame for something unfounded. I despise being subject of a false allegations. It bothers my peaceful living.

Living peacefully doesn’t technically leaving alone. We can live a serene life even in the presence of other people but people who grant peace to others.

It was barely to days after I met with my girl in Cebu and I was surprised when she had alleged me for something else. It’s unbelievable! Keso daw tinataguan ko siya… tag-ilad ko daw siya… etc etc etc etc…

I can stand being criticized but I can’t stand being dragged to things I couldn’t imagine I can do or will ever do.

Kung wala naman tayong magandang sasabihin, mabuti pa siguro di na lang tayo magsasalita kaysa makasakit tayo ng damdamin ng iba. Lalong - lalo pag wala naman katuturan iyong ating sasabihin. Okay lang yong mamuna ka pero huwag naman sana yong mangbintang.

It’s unfortunate that my girl knew me the other way from people who surround us. If she will only see me on the other side, she will surely say “ANG SWERTE KO PALA!”

wIsHfuL aKo

My girl and I made a pact that if distance would keep us separated due to the onus she or I should comply with our family, we should keep our bond stronger and refrain from those attitudes, actions, petty things, and fights that threatens to devastate our valued relationship. It’s barely two weeks after she left for Cebu City, I already encountered and experienced the things we should not be doing as agreed by us prior to her departure.

It is sad to say that those things are the one I hated most even when we’re still in one place. Those are the things, attitudes, behaviors and actions I despised for I wanted to leave a life full of respect, trust and serenity.

I have this reputation of being meticulous and organized in any thing. Being such, I can easily recognize if I have done something unforgivable. If I am not that quick to see my shortcomings, I am always receptive to people animadversions to refresh my (failing) memory.

I always believe in the idea that people can change. They can transform their depraved manners, attitudes, behaviors, and actions to an acceptable one, if not angelic. Reasons that I mingled even with the individuals other people derided – drug addicts, kanto boys etc.

Just last night, my girl confronted me why I am not answering to her text messages where in fact i did. The downside of modern technology especially with the presence of unlimited text and call promotions of wireless mobile communication providers. It overloads the system and sometimes doesnt forward messages to the recepient.

The thing I couldn’t believe hearing last night from my girl is her statement – “ I completely trust you” yet she won’t believe some of my statements. There is a prevalent existence of inconsistency in that statement.

Ako na ingamit an tanan klase nan pagsabot sa iya batasan. Ako na intestingan an tanan klase nan pasensiya. Wara siya masayod kon uno kasakit an ako tagbati sa pagsabot ug pagpasensiya sa iya para lang protektahan an amo relasyon. Bisan maglagot na ako dili dakan lamang nako siya confrontahon kay hibawo ako na siya pa an maglagot.

What if kaha moabot an time na pasanginlan ko siya on something na dili tinuod. Makaya kaha niya ako sabton ug pagpasensiyahan? Mahimo kaha ako niya istoryahon sa cool na paagi kaysa masakit, awayon or buodan ako?

A relationship, whether long distance or not, would not workout and last longer if you won’t winnow things out and refrain from doing, acting and behaving things that would devastate any given relationship.

Yes! It is not good to control our emotions but be sure to control our actions. We may be drowned by our negative emotions yet we can do things in a diplomatic way instead of choking one’s neck.

I stayed in the relationship because I love her so much and I have a big hope that she would change her depraved ways. Who, after all, wanted to have a relationship and family where violence resides - physical, verbal or emotional?

I am wishful that she changes her old ways so we can workout the long distance relationship she feared won’t succeed. I am hopeful that she concentrates on things that would make our bond stronger.

Troubled

I dwelled in a placid environment, nurtured by a tranquil family.

Never could I remember instances of siblings’ rivalry and my parents having a square fight since the day I reached the age of reason.

I am always longing to spend the rest of my life living in serenity. The usual way of living I am accustomed to.

There are instances, however, in my present life that keep me troubled. I marvel on the potentiality of a ferocious tiger, bone-crushing-clawed eagle or, taking the example of a softdrink commercial, bad cheetah living with a peace loving dove or tamed dog/cat in one domicile. Is this set-up possible? It’s difficult to imagine, right?

In the case of human family, the likelihood of a member, behaving like wild animals, living with a disciplined and nonviolent dweller is much likely possible. A serene atmosphere, however, is hard to achieve. But like fierce animals in Safari, people, no matter how stone-hearted, have a soft motherly side.

Human behavior changes and adapts with the environment. A placid ambiance breeds a calm behavior. It is an atmosphere I am comfortable with. A violent free environ.

As depicted in the softdrink ad, like a ferocious cheetah tamed by human hand, people’s harshest behavior and attitude aren’t thorny to transform them into a more compassionate and humane one.

People dwell with ill-mannered and ill-tempered individual because they believe that they can be transformed. Moreover, human dignity is relevant than human attitude.

Some human still wrangle being accepted as what/who they are even to the extent of tolerating their awful deeds. That I strongly oppose. It can never become acceptable no matter of time.

An unlawful criminal could be community’s best asset someday somehow. A two quarrelling fellows could be a loving married couple in the future, as in the case of my elementary classmates.

Human, no matter how harsh they are, have the capability to be good. Moreso, they are created in the goodness of God. What bother me are those people who are hard to recognize their shortcomings and take a leap to bettering them. I can’t have a sound rest if I’m badgered by the thought that some tiger-like being will choke my throat on my slumber.

Keep on Dancing

I had this feeling that my present partner has been playing with me and I am so foolish not to notice it that early. Well, that was I thought. Human errs, right?

Anyways, I had that idea creeping on my head because I seldom saw and felt affection from her. I don’t know why it is an issue for her or should I say difficult for her to give in to it. I could not even remember her giving me appreciation except for the usual ‘thank you’ thing. But for sure, I always hear complains from her. Are women really like these?

Well, that’s been a long gone issue for me. I seem to follow and think the traditional way, that women are born nurturers and appreciative. Quite true for my Xs were damn good nurturers.

I also have an attitude of candidly showing and telling people what I think is wrong and what I wanted. After all, it is honesty in the simple sense. But I was too slow to learn that it isn’t good for a guy to tell a woman their inabilities. They constantly took it as a sort of lecturing them. Poor me. I realized it lately.

I had also this perspective that it doesn’t take two to dance. Undoubtedly, I love dancing during my high-school days. My body still jumps to beat every time I hear disco beats even now. Unfortunately similar to dance, in relationship, it always takes two to have a more awe-inspiring number. So, I was wrong again. As it is said, it always takes two to tango.

I am wishful that my present dance partner in life and I are dancing on similar tune. It’s too bad for us if I’m dancing rumba and she’s into salsa. I surmise we already had reached an agreement.

I have already an affirmation that I will be “saving my last dance for her”… I just hope she is saving her last dance for me too.

Let’s us dance through life without the benefit of exchanging dance partners, of course. (Let’s be monogamous.)