MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE

This picture reminds me of how the Filipinos busily preparing something on this yuletide season.Christmas isn't just an ordinary thing for us but a greatest and long celebration of the year.I truly miss how the Filipinos did the traditional Christmas preparation.
It's Christmas time now and we can't stop it....thanks God, at least I have friends here in Thailand..I'd say newfound friends who are foreigners too that keeping me alive and joining me celebrating the season. I truly miss home...
Merry Christmas to all.............

FILIPINO TEACHER - CNN HERO OF THE YEAR

Pushcart educator named CNN Hero of the YearMANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 2) For his innovative “Kariton Klasrum” (pushcart classroom) Filipino educator Efren Peñaflorida has been awarded by CNN as “2009 Hero of the Year.”
Peñaflorida was awarded during the CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. He received his award from American actress Eva Mendes. He bested nine other nominees from different countries for the Hero of the Year award. The nominees were initially selected by a panel of 14 “Blue Panel” luminaries but the Hero of the Year award was given to the one with the most number of online votes in the CNN Heroes’ website.
Peñaflorida will have been the first Filipino to become a nominee of the annual CNN Heroes’ awards and the first Filipino to win the top prize.
The project, already on its third year, is a tribute by the international news organization to selfless humanitarian acts of individuals from different countries.
In his acceptance speech, quoted by CNN, Peñaflorida said: “Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of different colors, shapes and sizes. We are one great tapestry. Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to the next one in need.”
"So to each and every person inside in this theater and for those who are watching at home, the hero in you is waiting to be unleashed. Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve. As I always tell to my co-volunteers ... you are the change that you dream as I am the change that I dream and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be."
Peñaflorida will receive $100,000, which will be used to fund his work in the Dynamic Teen Company (DTC), a volunteer organization that he put up to conduct his “Kariton Klasrum” program.
Peñaflorida’s program conducts weekly visits to poor and underserved areas in Cavite, north of Luzon, to teach young people basic lessons in Mathematics, English, and Science using only a specially designed pushcart.
In a previous interview, Peñaflorida said he would continue holding weekly lessons and hoped that it would encourage other people to lend time to help others in need.
When they learned that Peñaflorida was chosen as CNN's “Hero of the Year” on Sunday, his members were busy training new volunteers for the "pushcart classrooms," the same work that gave him worldwide recognition.
Peñaflorida's 20-year-old sister Glenis Mae was at the group's office in Cavite City, attending the training and learned about the good news after checking CNN's website Sunday afternoon.(Source:Inquirer Global Nation)

Just like to share this touching story which I got from Global Nation Inquirer website when a (certain) Filipino teacher won as "Hero of the Year" by CNN news just this November 22,2009.
I know that I'm already late on posting this one but better late than never. I never knew anything about the latest buzz about my country since I left last October 26th.
When I checked the site and viewed it on youtube I cried a tear but immediately wiped it dry 'coz there were some students playing computers seated on both sides.
The info above gives you a definite birds eye view about the whole story..so just read them.Check this video to view the whole thing about Efren Penaflorida
Lastly, I am proud to be a Filipino Christian teacher........

A LONELY CHRISTMAS

It's my first time to spend a Christmas season a seas away from my country Philippines. This is also the first cold, sad and lonely Christmas in my entire life.



Is it worthy to worry on Christmas day?


Trying to ponder deeply and amuse myself in this yuletide season.



Tears would just simply flows down when I am thinking of the great Christmas in the Philippines.

A SLICE OF LIFE IN THE PHILIPPINES

If I had my life to live over, I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax; I'd limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after the other, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had it to do over again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over again, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dance; I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.

-=Attributed to Nadine Stair=-

I found these pics at Flickr.com a pictures of the common situation in my country Philippines.The pics reminds me of the usual and routinable life in the Philippines but laid back and so simple.
There's no really place like home, and home is where your heart is. The above phrases were also taken from smiles4angels account as I was viewing his collection of pics.I Just simply love it and relate the message.
The pics that you just see above are just among the slices of life in the Philippines...miss home.

TEACHERS PRAYER

Teacher’s Prayer

I want to teach my students more
than lessons in a book;
I want to teach them better things
that people overlook -
the value of a rose in bloom
its use and beauty too,
a sense of curiosity to discover
what is true;
how to think and how to choose
the right above the wrong,
how to live and learn each day
and grow up to be strong,
to teach them always how to gain,
in wisdom and in grace,
so that they will one day make the world,
a brighter, better place.
Lord, let me be a friend and guide
to give these minds a start
upon their way down life’s long road,
then I’ll have done my part.

Becoming a teacher wasn't a dream for an impatient person like me, but you see I am teaching and graduated the course.
I can't literally believed that God had put me into this profession...and now trying myself to enjoy this kind of vocation in a foreign land.
As I was roaming around the net world, I thought of browsing a teachers prayer..so I stumbled down on a certain page and found a lot of prayers including for teachers. I am posting it here because I am already loving this profession because this is what the Lord wants me to be.
Teaching Thai students the English language isn't easy nor a piece of cake..you really have to exert effort, patience, and understanding. Somehow, the prayer above would be my tools to use just to reach out the heart of these young innocent future leaders of this Siam country. I may not appreciated it now but in the long run, God would extend the horizon of my human understanding.

THE ADJUSTMENTS OF A SINGLE MALE

It's the 1st day of the month of December. As usual, I was away for awhile since my sked is quite tight. Its already Christmas and we can't stop that. The most wonderful time of the year has arrived and I can feel the cold wind touches my face, but the spirit of the season seems to be lonely and dry because Thai people doesn't celebrate Christmas.
This really makes me lonely more so as I'm away from my family for the first time,celebrating the yuletide season an ocean away from friends, kins and my parents. Honest to goodness, I am still adjusting now..I don't know when I am going to adapt the atmosphere of being away from home.
There are moments that I was almost tempted to shout and scream at the top of my lungs because of the feeling of being congested and enclosed with loneliness and nothingness.
Living in a foreign land makes you cry and sigh and even asking yourself why am I here? this isn't the country that I wish to be...I arrived expecting adjustment to life here in Thailand would be a breeze since its the Philippines neighboring Asian country.
The transition is a very stressful one, the reason I am physically stressed and my weight is loosing out of control.
My discouragement is due to a combination of things which left me weak and powerless. No matter how much would I try to fit in myself still there is lacking and am always a foreigner.
I found one of the hardest adjustments was getting used to living in such a land that you never wish for or dream of. I am also struggling of loosing sense of close tight relationship with the people around.
I miss the companionship of my friends and acquaintances,family, and I always have this feeling of being a lone hitch hiker most of the time.Despite of the lessons I've learned in life I spent most of the time feeling sorry and lonesome.I am tryin myself to study the language so that it won't be so hard for me to adjust the culture but I am not motivated to do so because the lacking of interest.
I just found myself in the midst of wilderness looking for something far and nowhere. Just encouraging myself deeply that God had brought me in this country because he has a reason, but my heart refused to accept that I have the purpose why I am here.
Last month I was in Laos exiting as required by some foreigners who can't obtain a certain visa. I spent 2 days and 1 night in Laos just to get a non B visa at Royal Thai embassy in Vientiane, Laos.
The country wasn't that impressived but it's peaceful. The language they were using was similar to that in Thai.
I was enjoying when I went there because I got the chance of meeting Filipinos so as with other foreigners sharing the same problems.
We stayed in a simple hotel with simple foods.The night was a bit fun just as the Filipinos love to sing in videoke.I decided to walked around with new found friends in a baywalk.
The trip going to Laos was so tiring because we were just boarded on a van with 11 passengers. We left 10 in the evening at Bangkok and we arrived in Laos early 5. We left the van and boarded to a bus that took us to Vientiane to process our papers at the embassy.
It was really hot at that time and tiring, but it's a good experienced to travel to a neighboring country around Asia.
Despite of that, my struggles isn't finished yet...I need to continue my journey no matter how lonesome it is.

CULTURE SHOCK-most depressing feeling

Coming and teaching in Thailand wasn't a serious pivotal plan, just as its the only poor 3rd resort I reserved when hitting USA or China fails.
Right now, I am still in the brinks of culture shock. Weighing myself in every nook of the situations in order to adapt the country.
I thought it would be easier for me to get used to a country which is only an Asian neighboring country of the Philippines.
To my surprise,I felt a total naive ignorantly when my feet started to thump on the Siam soil, without knowing what to do and what's happening around. Just like a blind grappling in the midst of the dark without direction.
Honest to goodness, traveling or working abroad is a tenacious desire since I am purely surrounded with US immigrant kins and friends,which is up to now a wish to be granted,hopefully.
My heart is reluctant to show its feelings of agitation which to be in Thailand is a fulfillment of my long desire or not.
Hence, journeying to USA is still on the highest level of my dreams. It doesn't matter though if its not an English speaking countries so long I could make a conquering quest to the land of the blondes and white.( do I sound like a racist? don't get me wrong please, I hate segragation)its just that they have the nicest and progressive countries on earth.
Frankly, I'd have to say my dreams isn't fulfilled yet so as the God would give me the chance to see America or the countries that I long to see.
When I arrived at Bangkok (new) International Aiport it occured to me that Thailand is technologically progressive than Philippines. The airport is so big and centralized comparing to that our new terminal.
I was really stunned when we got on to a taxi which was a right hand drive. The city itself is not as dirty like in Manila.They don't horn their cars, no smoke belching and not reckless driving.Got the chance to see Bangkok for 5 days because the school wants me to obtain a working visa, which the system in the immigration was really confusing and bad. A few of them can speak English, really.
During halloween, they celebrated it differently from the rest of the world like the usual we do.Its one of their big festival which was a cleansing of the soul by floating small flower boat made of banana or improvised one.
I watched how they celebrated it and its noisy to be exact but tolerable.

MY FIRST TRAVEL ABROAD

Sorry for the long blog absence...I failed to write something because my time was occupied with so many things. Now, I am back and updating it once again about the recent happenings of my life. I didn't expect that the first country that I was about to visit is Thailand. It never popped out just as my plan would be either in the USA or China. When a sudden call came from Thailand, I was hesitant at first to accept the call since it's not my target. I prayed hard and was asking for signs from the Lord, believing that it was really God's will. All my things were packed up just as preparing myself for the new environment that I am going to trod. As I was heading to the airport with friends to accompany me, I never felt the excitement nor the happiness since I knew that I am leaving for a country that I never prayed so hard nor asking God for it that much. When Cebu Pacific Airlines touched down at the airport, my feelings were like backing out and going home to the Philippines. The emotions of homesickness hit me like a fist while we were driving to Bangkok to get a rest for a while since I arrived almost 12 midnight. The excitement had never visited me so I didn't appreciate much of my coming here to Thailand. After all, I thank God for giving me the chance to see the other side of the world though it didn't reach my expectations. I hate to complain at all to the Lord because He has been so good to me. The place where I am staying right now is located in the northern part of Thailand, 3 hours from Bangkok by van and 41/2 by bus. I felt more frustrated when none of them can't understand my English nor nobody from the place could talk to me except the Thai English teachers with their awful lucid English, but for the high school students, it drained my strength so badly. To be in Thailand wasn't a dream to me since I am always wishing to be in a country of blondes and white people, especially in the English speaking countries. I knew God works in mysterious ways but sometimes my human understanding isn't deep enough to comprehend His ways. My first day of teaching was so terrible so as on the second day since I can't fully extend my horizon on how to tickle them. Nevertheless, I am already here but still praying that God would send me home.

 

MELANCHOLY PLACE

As a young person, happiness and contentment isn't hard to achieve so as finding the way which you never know where to go. Uncertainties in life is becoming normal to human just as the way you look around seems to be monotonous.
This is the common life of a common person who tried to combat the loneliness of this world while finding the light in the midst of a dimmed melancholic place.
Just as the blind continue to grapple the hard things he can hold on to, the same way we continue to walk in the darkside of life until we finally found the light beyond the borders of failures.

ONE SOLITARY LIFE

Was blog absent for a while..decided myself to be in the hiatus for a couple of days since I was occupied with tutorial works so as my monetary budget was out..then. Now, I am back and love to share things more of me.
When you see the face of a person smiling, just as the sunshines in the sky shows the world that one feels happy and the moods is soaring high.
Most of the times, I feel so very sad and really don't know why, maybe its because I am struggling & grappling still attaining my dreams. Friends would just jokingly said, its a matter of tuning yourself through different frequencies of life; go with the flow of the current where it leads you.
Life is like a river continuous procession moving forward in a steady stream. Sometimes the flowing is rough when it isn't too deep. One of the reasons why I am sad its because halfway of my friends and acquaintances were already gone abroad and some of which were expecting me to be at the other side of the world already, grazing the greenest pasture.
I have thought occasionally that I was born unlucky, deprived by fate. Albeit failed a hundred times or so I am still firmly determined to try with the hope fortune would give its damn way. As luck would have it, my spirited heart has resolved the simpler form of acceptance, so long as the world continue to revolve around the axis there is still hope.
As the song goes " beyond the dark cloudy nights, the sun is shining through".I would have retired my fate if God would leave me just as it is..but I believed He won't do that to a special creature like me.

A STRONG MAN VERSUS A MAN OF STRENGTH

A Strong Man isn't afraid of anything...
But a Man of Strength shows courage in the midst of his fear.

A Strong Man won't let anyone get the best of him...
But a Man of Strength gives the best of his to everyone...

A Strong Man makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future...
But a Man of Strength realizes life's mistakes can also be unexpected blessings an capitalizes on them...

A Strong Man wears a look of confidence on his face...
But a Man of Strength wears courage.

A Strong Man has faith that he is strong enough for the journey..
But a Man of Strength has faith that it is in the journey that he will become strong.

A Strong Man works out everyday to keep his body in shape....
But a Man of Strength builds relationship to keep his soul in shape.

A Strong Man tangibly shows and proves his masochism through responding to a sensation...
But a Man of Strength strives his best to resist temptation.

Got this inspiring line from a book that I borrowed (and refused to return it back) since its all about Compendium..among the collections I read from the book is this A Strong Man versus A Man of Strength.
What is the difference between being a Strong Man and a Man of Strength? I guess the two has distinctive separated characteristics..
We consider ourselves strong because we believe we are ,yet,it was only a form of defensing ourselves so as we don't want to be called as weak.
However, we failed to be a Man of Strength because we refused to recognize our weaknesses nor accepting our errors but pushing ourselves to believe that we are.
It is God who makes us strong and who gives us the strength just to be the both.
There's nothing wrong being a Strong Man so as a Man of Srength...what if we combined the two? can we be a Strong Man just as a Man of Srength?
I think the two should go together, they are parallel depending on how you claim yourself and share it to what it is.

A GRAIN OF DREAMS

Each day that you live is like turning the page of a book that still has no end. One whole day is a continuation of the story that makes up your life.
I've been away for a quite sometimes and was unable to update my blog since I'm getting addictive of Facebook farmtown games so as the Twitter.It's already the month of September which the signs of Christmas started to fill our days with the coolness of the weather.Ber(as in September, October, November) has been the starting point of Christmas in the Philippines though it isn't visibly clear but you can feel it the blowing of the air that gently touches your face coldly.
Sadness won't leave me peacefully since counting the year 2009 is becoming a months now yet nothing happens in my life worth to be counted of.
I have a couples of applications that was sent and under evaluation by now which is a good opportunity (from) abroad.My fingers is crossed tightly that somehow the Celestial Being would be kind enough to me this year...I really need to get out of the island before the year ends.
My journey as I grow older is the process of knowing who I am, then recognizing my strengths, and limitations, and finally realization would proved me that no matter how I dream big still its a grain of dreams after all.
Sometimes my knees shake painfully, too tired of fighting the same reasons and goal yet nothing happens...Honestly, familiar faces whom I know which some of them are younger than me successfully making their way abroad that brings so much pain and tears in my life, why they have the good chance to work abroad yet I can't?
Signs isn't enough to be appreciated that opportunity is on its way to my door ready to be grasped...I had enough signs..so enough for it...I want answers that would satisfied my long questions.

OLONGAPO: A POTPOURRI OF CUISINE

Source:www.gdhs.org)
I got this old pic in the 80's at the site of George Dewey High School mentioning of Olongapo wasn't only a place of clubs, bars, discos, and sex workers but also fine dinings around the city itself.
This pic was featured in the GDHS newspaper a school intended for Americans who were living in the Base at that time.Of course, it was contributed by GDHS students news journalist.
Olongapo was then considered as the sin city because of its prostitutions and American G.I.Joes seeking for pleasure when they had their cruisers docked in the Subic, but thanks to this newspaper for saving Olongapo from the shameful mockering of prejudice and shallow minds.




MAGSAYSAY: MORE THAN JUST A STREET
Way back then, Magsaysay was the famous street in Olongapo because its the center of entertainment and the bridge that connects the main gate of Subic Naval Base and the main city Olongapo.If you are a nocturnal fellows and wants to have the best nightlife in the Philippines, Magsaysay was the little Las Vegas back then...clubs, discos for old and for young, bars you name it and Magsaysay had it.
My family were able to survive the pangs of poverty because most of my kins income were coming from the nightly pleasure(don't get me wrong of this term) of Magsaysay. Magsaysay Ave.as we called it now for it was the center and the source of Olongaponians bread and butter.It was fun & lively then comparing it today,the streets were filled beautiful workers and snowied with Americans.
I had a lot of sweet memories in Magsaysay where I used to hang out at my brother's work watching the latest videos while sipping coke.
Across Magsaysay is a long boulevard facing Subic Naval Base, which is a volunteers park now was among of my fave places in Olongapo.I just usually found myself staring at that Base filled with dreams and hopes that one day soon,I could live and be a part of the Americans.That's how so simple my happiness way back then,to be in Subic Naval Base which was already an America for me.Nostalgic as it may seems but my heart is still flashing back the good old memories.

REMEMBERING 80'S COMMERCIALS

Those who grew up and spent their teen-agers life in the 80's just like me, I guess you have the reasons to remember these videos way back then.
Its proclaiming that the youth is the hope and future of this world...that the new generation is people's tomorrow.
This commercial jingle was advertised by Coke drinks choosing young people of the 80's as the next ones who will build the future...I truly missed this commercial..truly brings me back in time again.Too bad to recall, that I considered myself then as tomorrow's people but I haven't proven myself to the world as the new inspiration,and a new builder for the coming Gen X.


TOMORROW"S PEOPLE

I am the future of the world
I am the hope of my nation
I am tomorrow"s people
I am the new inspiration
And we've got a song to sing for you
We've got a message to bring to you
Please let there be, for you and me,
A tomorrow (tomorrow)
If we all can agree
There" ll be sweet harmony
Tomorrow (tomorrow)
If we all will be there to share
Feelings so real and so true
Promise us tomorrow
And we""ll build a better world for
you.


This one was shown using our very own version led by Lilet....the former teen star singer back then.

Jim Paredes: It's time to be our own heroes

Cory Aquino after Ninoy’s death at Times Street, 1983.

The first time I saw Cory Aquino was on TV. She had just arrived from the United States and looked every bit like the grieving widow. On TV, she expressed her grief over her husband’s death, put the responsibility of Ninoy’s assassination on the Marcos regime and demanded the release of all political prisoners.
The last point particularly impressed me since my mother and stepfather were political prisoners in Bicutan at that time. I just had a feeling then that there was more to the soft monotone and the non-political body language that spelled “housewife” more than “politician.”
I saw her once in Bicutan when I was visiting my parents. She came bearing rubber slippers for the detainees and to talk with and console them. At the time, the detainees were composed of two factions, the social democrats and the national democrats who were constantly trying to discredit each other. Cory reached out to both, perhaps realizing that they were all in jail because they loved their country, and she could certainly identify with that.
Cory was a calming presence. She could sit with hardcore communists and hardnosed politicians and melt their intransigence by simply knowing how to listen to them. She was almost non-threatening with her soft voice and kind demeanor, which were assets during those highly polarized times. And yet behind it was a woman of steel who must have decided earlier on, during Ninoy’s incarceration, that the way to peace was not more of the macho posturing that invariably brought violence but through a commitment to listen in a healing way.
The death of Ninoy had a profound effect on me. It forced me to confront my artistic identity and authenticity. Sure, I knew the craft of a songwriter-performer, but was I a true artist who dared express myself freely? If so, why was I reluctant to express my outrage at what was happening? From small tentative steps APO taken after Ninoy’s death, we became emboldened artists who took up the cause of ending the dictatorship and promoting democracy in the way we knew best — though songs and humor. One might say, we walked on the edge and even jumped a few times. Lucky for us, the net always appeared.
I remember listening to a lot of speeches, reading a lot of opposition materials, attending countless rallies and even as I did a lot of the latter, I must admit I often wrestled with my own fears of the martial law forces. But I did it anyway because each time I saw Cory Aquino stand on a makeshift podium and confront the regime head on, it inspired me to do my share in the struggle for democracy.
There was something riveting about an unlikely candidate, a widowed housewife standing up to a dictator who held all the cards. Her courage was simply contagious. It was like seeing the story of David versus Goliath playing out in real life.
Cory’s term as president was tumultuous, largely because of the disloyalty and lust for power shown by elements of the armed forces and her former defense chief Juan Ponce Enrile. It was beset with endless coups and natural calamities.
I bristled at the fact that the soldiers always got away scot-free only to stage the next destabilization effort, even if they failed miserably each time. And yet, I wonder now if a less forgiving, more “macho” leader would have succeeded in preserving the democracy that we fought hard for in EDSA. We could have easily gone back to another dictatorship, given the temptation to use a strong hand to deal with the many crises. Perhaps we did need the kind, maternal symbol that was Cory Aquino to help heal the rifts among her fighting children.
In truth, there were very few moments that I was in Cory’s presence where we actually talked. I blush when I remember how speechless I always became in her presence. But each time we did meet, she made sure I felt her appreciation for my participation in the cause.
In the last few years of her life, there were times when Cory’s magic seemed like a spent force. The rallies she called people to attend were miniscule compared to the magnificence of the People Power shows of force of earlier days. People seemed to have lost interest in her singular message of preserving the legacy of Ninoy and his belief that the Filipino is worth dying for. But she plodded on. It did not seem to matter to her how many showed up. It was always about the message.
And yet, the news of her death, though expected, came as a shock. It was like a pall of gloom had suddenly descended on us all. We realized that we were orphaned. We had lost an icon, a mother, a leader, a friend, a decent human being. She was a benign shining spirit whom we presumed would always be there. Especially in these days of quiet desperation, her maternal mien was a comfort zone. At the wake, not a few people asked in all sincerity, “Who will be the symbol of democracy now that she is gone?” Indeed.
Cory’s death has surfaced a lot of feelings aside from grief. Some of it is probably plain nostalgia for those who walked with her in the journey to EDSA, but I suspect there is a lot more to it. People know integrity when they see it and respond accordingly.
It was heartwarming to see throngs of people in avenues break into wild applause as her casket passed by. It was an affirmation of the good she had done, a recognition of her decency and integrity as a person and her untiring efforts in expressing tangibly her love for our country.
To me, the people’s spontaneous reaction is proof that we are rediscovering what it’s like not to be cynical. The tears shed, the huge crowds, the compassion and intense interest manifested everywhere has rekindled for some the candle of idealism which everyone thought had long melted away.
Even aging EDSA warriors like myself were starting to believe that the ideals of EDSA belonged to a bright but short era that had already passed. But what is shaping up seems to suggest that reports about the death of EDSA 1’s meaning may have been premature and exaggerated.
Even if I have a good feeling about it, I prefer to be cautious and say that it remains to be seen if indeed the spirit of EDSA has been rekindled. The coming days will tell us for sure. But speaking for myself, Cory’s death has reawakened my idealism. I want to help get this country back on the road to fulfilling its manifest destiny of greatness.
Joseph Campbell once said that doors closed to others will open to you when you respond to the call of your life’s mission. Cory was “just a housewife,” as Marcos once sneered. And he was right. But what he did not count on was this housewife’s admirable courage that brought him to his knees. The stars aligned for her because she did not flinch once she decided to take up the challenges of her time.
When I visited President Cory’s remains in La Salle Greenhills, I saw old friends and fellow street warriors weeping. Since I was one of the first in line, I had the privilege of blessing her remains with holy water. As I bade farewell to my leader, my muse and my inspiration, I tried to hold back my tears but I was unsuccessful.
Death can make a person larger than when he/she was alive. The symbolic is always more potent than the literal. It’s probably because symbols have a built-in open-endedness that grows more and more as people engage them and imbue them with powers greater than what they had in life.
And so Cory and Ninoy’s heroic tale will be counted among the noble stories that will continue to inspire us as a people for generations to come.
Ninoy’s funeral was the way it was largely because of the way he died. Cory’s was the way it was because of how she lived.
Today we are again at a crossroads as a people. We either awaken and resume our march to the Promised Land or continue adrift wandering aimlessly in the desert. EDSA 1’s work remains unfinished business. Just as Ninoy passed the torch to the reluctant Cory, she has now passed the torch to us. Like Cory, we only need to say “yes” to rise to the occasion and rekindle the candle of idealism that was lit in ESDA 1.
It’s time to be our own heroes.(Source:JIm Paredes's Facebook blog)

I received an email from Flipkids Pinoy pertaining to Jim Paredes knowing of Cory back then.Jim Paredes is known to be one of the Philippines finest entertainers...and blogger itself.He put into writing what he has gone through emotionally when Cory died.
Since I feel the same way, I decided to repost them here so as everyone can read too and letting this blog an outlet of their grieve of Cory's death.

WHO'S INSIDE THE COFFIN?

Got this pic from the Twitter account of Chuckie Dreyfus when I updated my Twitter...this pic was taken during the death of the late President Cory Aquino when the guards took it outside.
I can't believe that a journalist took a mistake of writing an entry without checking them doubly...hehehehe.
I just hope the Malancaniang Palace won't give their bad reactions about this news paper.

NINOY AQUINO'S LOVE POEM FOR CORY

The late national hero Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., wrote this poem for his wife, former president Corazon C. Aquino, decades ago. Composer and singer Jose Mari Chan later set the piece into music and included it in his album, Constant Change.


I have fallen in love
with the same woman three times;
In a day spanning 19 years
of tearful joys and joyful tears.

I loved her first when she was young,
enchanting and vibrant, eternally new.
She was brilliant, fragrant,
and cool as the morning dew.

I fell in love with her the second time;
when first she bore her child and mine
always by my side, the source of my strength,
helping to turn the tide.

But there were candles to burn
the world was my concern;
while our home was her domain.
and the people were mine
while the children were hers to maintain;

So it was in those eighteen years and a day.
’till I was detained; forced in prison to stay.

Suddenly she’s our sole support;
source of comfort,
our wellspring of Hope.
on her shoulders felt the burden of Life.

I fell in love again,
with the same woman the third time.
Looming from the battle,
her courage will never fade

Amidst the hardships she has remained,
undaunted and unafraid.
she is calm and composed,
she is God’s lovely maid.
(Source:http://goodnewspilipinas.com/?p=7583)



This poem was made by Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. for Cory at Fort Bonifacio on October 11, 1973.Former President Cory Aquino was in a great battle against cancer when Kris and Noynoy announced it publicly.She was the first Filipino woman who became a leader in the country and even the first in Asia.
The poem is telling of a strong love of Ninoy to Cory when he was in captivity and confined in a chilled prison.It tells of inspiration and description how Cory was a strong woman during the martial law till Ninoy was in jailed ,which she was solely taking care of the Aquino kids in the absent of Ninoy. Cory fulfilled the dreams of Ninoy by fighting against the dictatorship of Former President Marcos.She led us out from the hands of the Marcos regime to freedom,she brought us back the democracy that once being stolen from us.EDSA Revolution was born when she continue to fight not just for Ninoy's assassination but for the Filipinos.I was only an elementary pupil when Ninoy was assassinated in the old MIA.
I was then a High School student in Olongapo when the Revolution was born in EDSA..we supposed to have our field trip in Manila then but it was postponed because of the chaos happening during election.
I am very much affected of her death because I am a fan of Ninoy and witnessed how a mother was trying to protect her children from a cruelty of militaristic rules.It was her who widen my understanding about democracy and learned how we were suffering and witnessing the death of a thousand Filipinos during Martial Law.Her memory shall be remembered always as we are enjoying the freedom we have right now in memory of her and Ninoy.

LEAVES THE FUTURE TO FATE

(Source:seraphic.wordpress.com)

When future seems untrue & blurred, as if hope gone slowly to forlorn-we glided to discourage and ask," What Future do I Have? ".
Growing up in a poor family, I always dreamt of having a fine,classic life.But up to now I'm still gruppling tightly whether chance would come or not. Aside from obtaining a good christian Education; shaping & building my own dreams is really hard to establish when I only start now putting a scaffold in the midst of my adult years.
I remember an old song that goes," When I was just a little kid, I asked my mother what shall I be? Will I be richer, will I be poor?; this is what she said to me, " Que sera, sera whatever will be, will be. That song describes the simplicity of a kid's dream and confusingly what future holds for him out of his innocence, as the mother can't help out to pull a better future for her kid but leaving the future to fate. When we hope, we tried our best to realize it but when the heaven seems so silent and prayers left unanswered, we become helpless but give fate to control.
As a dreamer and dreaming of big things to happen in my life,the journey must go on though it remains still a question till now. However,I strongly believe with faith in my heart that God will help me to fulfill my dreams before the due of time.
Frailty as I am, discouragement sometimes knocks me off down to the ground helplessly.I know from start that life is like a boxing, its up to us to escape from the hit of every jab of the opponents and prepare ourselves to face the possible strong blows of life.
Do I leave my future to fate? I just don't know....I'm still asking myself about it..but to be safe, leave it up all to the Lord.
Let me share a nice passage that I received from a friend through text:
"Life is full of uncertainties, we'll never when our time on earth is up till its over. So take many pictures, laugh much, have a long walk with someone, take time to look up at the stars, eat like there's no tomorrow, sing loudly, feel the cold wind, smile a lot and love like you've never been hurt before because every 60 seconds you spend, is a minute of happiness you'll never get back."
What a real awakening..isn't it? My views in life has been changing every battles of life I face on daily..it's so tiring but I need to continue the battle that I have started.

(SURVIVOR) MAN AGAINST THE WORLD

SURVIVOR-MAN AGAINST THE WORLD

Have you ever walked alone at night
Like a man against the world
No one takes your side
A boat against the tide
When your faith is shaken you start to break
And you heart cant find the words
Tossed upon the sand
I give you a man against the world
All the people cheer til the end is near
And the hero takes a fall
Then theyll drag you through the mud
Youre only flesh and blood
I have walked the path from dark to light
And theyve yet to come to terms
Alone I take my stand
Im only a man against the world

And love, like a distant reminder
It tugs at my shoulder
It calls me home
I shout, can a single voice carry
Will I find sanctuary within your arms
Someday when the answers clearer
Someday when I even the score
Youll reach and youll find me near you
Right beside you
Forevermore

But for now Ill walk the night alone
Like a man against the world
A brand new day will shine
Through the avalanche of time
Now the roads grown long, but the spirits strong
And the fire within still burns
Alone I take my stand
I give you a man against the world

I just only know this song a couple of months ago.While I was on my summer vacation in Olongapo city..A piled of cd's was just messing around, one of it was a collection of 80's slow rocks.Since I'm an 80's guy I played it and this song caught my senses...I paused for awhile trying to savor and understand the message.
Upon hearing the song,I felt a sudden change of emotion that chilled me to goosebumps..Realizing that I am the man being mentioned against the world.
Sometimes,I felt that nobody takes at my side when I am down and out, frustration of fulfilling ones dream keep on taunting me.
Discouragement and envy keeps on dancing around me as if hopes has no longer power to encourage my weary soul.
Nevertheless, the song says But for now Ill walk the night alone
Like a man against the world
A brand new day will shine
Through the avalanche of time
Now the roads grown long, but the spirits strong
And the fire within still burns
Alone I take my stand
I give you a man against the world.

THE MAN WHO KNOWS

The man who knows not
But knows not
That he knows not
Is a fool, Shun him.

The man who knows not
And knows
That he knows not
Is a student; Teach him

The man who knows
But knows not
That he knows
Is asleep; Awaken him

The man who knows
And knows
That he knows
Is a teacher
Learn from Him

I got this lines from the book of my Korean student while awaiting for the class time.This really caught my attention and decided to copy them and posted down in here. I like how the messages goes knowing where to place yourself and where to learn from every person you've met everyday in this lonely planet.
Sometimes,we already have the knowing but we refused to share it nor expanding it..Sometimes we ended up a fool or sleeping...

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU GOING TO

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU GOING TO
(Diana Ross)
Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you
Where are you going to?
Do you know...?

Do you get
What you're hoping for
When you look behind you
There's no open doors
What are you hoping for?
Do you know...?

Once we were standing still in time
Chasing the fantasies
That filled our minds
You knew how I loved you
But my spirit was free
Laughin' at the questions
That you once asked of me

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you
Where are you going to?
Do you know...?

Now looking back at all we've planned
We let so many dreams
Just slip through our hands
Why must we wait so long
Before we'll see
How sad the answers
To those questions can be

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you
Where are you going to?
Do you know...?

Do you get
What you're hoping for
When you look behind you
There's no open doors
What are you hoping for?
Do you know...?

This song was sang by Diana Ross,theme song from her movie Mahogany which she starred herself.
The song is asking a certain assurance in life about the future.I really like this song so much.It has been my question in life since I started to realize the uncertainties of my future...

REMEMBERING FARAH FAWCETT

This is one of the longest I have gone without blogging for sometime.I just let my twitter account to be updated of myself everyday.
Well, I'm back now and ready to wash out images again after the sad feelings I had of MJ's death.
Another sad news that shocked me was the sudden death of my fave actress Farah Fawcett. She's one of the original members of Charlie's Angels way back midst of 70's - 80's.
Right after the proclamation of MJ's death was also the announcement that she passed away after the long fight of cancer.Farah Fawcett was no longer active in the showbiz scene about late 80's. Among the original members,she's the most popular and the only blonde which the entire young women back then used to mimic her hairstyle.
She wasn't my crush eventually, its Jacklyn Smith the other member.
I can't even tell you how much pleasure I have derived from watching these shows. It's a total trip to nostalgia event while I was young and adoring these sexy and angel actresses of the 70's number tv show.
it's knocking loose all kinds of memories from when I was a youngster and indulge the entire show with my kins being addictive of the show.It was the most successful series of the 1970's.The 3 women who first played Charlie's Angels were Jaclyn Smith, Farrah Fawcett, and Kate Jackson.
In spite of being famous for her swimsuit pose, which was replicated on millions of posters, it wasn't until 1995 that she agreed to pose for Playboy. That issue sold over four million copies, which made it the magazine's biggest seller for the decade.
I can still picture some of the scenes of the tv show...She would be always my fave and can't afford to forget her.

REMEMBERING MICHAEL JACKSON

It took me a while to update my blog..honestly,I'm so much affected of this global crisis things..it sucks.Just this morning,a certain news broke me into silence while listening to an FM radio station when they announced the sudden death of Michael Jackson known to be the King of Pop.
I really have to say this,though it may sounds me annoying or corny but I am affected its because I grew up on his songs.Its like loosing a friend when you are used to see and hear his musics being played around on the air.
The moves,the songs, the voice, the screaming of the crowd when he is singing on stage is not easy to forget.The music industry is loosing one of the best icons in the world.It was really shocking when I heard it, its like I can't simply believe my eyes that one certain favorite is dead.
Among the songs that I simply played on my MP3 is "One Day In Your Life", "Happy",& "Music".

Really, I can't believe his death is so soon...according to Chuckie Dreyfus one of the famous child actors during his time : "Like a comet... blazing across the evening sky... Gone too soon..." God be with you, MJ. Rest in peace"
To be exact, we are loosing the best performer in the world and his memory lives on forever...I really adore and loves his songs.Michael Jackson would always be Michael Jackson.
Here are some of the videos that I love to view every now and then.

IN THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE

csliew92.blogspot.com/

In this earthly journey, each of us is not blessed with abundance in life. Some were born with a silver spoon on their mouth, while the others on the opposite.
Some may born literally poor but richly blessed in the end because of hard work & determination to escape in the quicksand of poverty. As we journey through life, we'll probably notice that things begin to change little by little. We get more responsibilites & faced challenges. Its like playing cards, which tricky games involved just to get win, or we use mathematical methods to get the winning pair. If you play your cards rightly, in the end, lossing is far from your hands.
Our future is a game that must be played with winning strokes to assure us of victory. As we are coming of age each day, it is these years of our lives that we attempt to build a world of our own without any assistance given by our parents in order for us to walk independently.
Life is full of frustrations while you continue to walk in this lonely life....what we are going to do is enjoy what life has to offer, or else we won't be able to do it again when we started to fade slowly..that word's of goodbye is highly pronounced.

SIGNIFICANT MOVIES

(As jobless for three months) Other activities that made me busy (aside my applying for abroad online) is watching movies at my friend's notebook.I couldn't have this life of viewing significant movies I have known,without Jack's (my close friend) kindness of sharing what he has collected. Well, his liking of movies reflects of what he is and his perception towards life & so am I too.
Eventually, we both have the same interest in terms of choosing movies to watch..at least some, though.That way, it helps us to widen our views based on what we saw practically by apply them both ways politically & religiously.Embracing the philosophy of communism isn't bad as long as you practice it, in line literally to its tenets. To be treated equally is what our planet's needs to have, from the oppressor who selfishly gain for their own benefits. I like what Karl Marx was trying to prove to the world just to give what is fairly deserving to us poor. Distributions of wealth fairly enough to meet the needs of the needy.
My Social Philosophy and Literary Interpretations subjects helped me to open the reality of what Communism do to the world as it is suffering from the greediness of opportunistic politicians and the church who just interfere for their ownsake.
Watching these two movies enhance my insufficient ideas about equality under the tenets of communism.
Not just because I agreed and embrace communism,I'll hold guns and revolts just as our revolutionists did....I wont do that.

I watched this movie twice because of the implications that influences my belief as a person.According to the review of this film," Its about two lives running parallel for a while with common aspirations and similar dreams ". Its a life changing journey of Ernesto Guevara known to be Che Guevara. Before the world knew his name, he was a simple volunteer medical practitioner that started as one journey that defined his life.On his journey with his friend, he saw the changes how Latin America was being separated by boundaries yet connected in just one continent. Che's views in life changed upon his journey that embraced him to Marxism philosophy that made him to be world's great revolutionist. On the road of his travel, he witness how the poor being mistreated and separated from the well-off community. He saw Latin America filled with injustice influenced by the westerners.Che recorded every details of his long travel contrived to what his eyes visibly seen. His feelings became worn out more of condition when he finally boarded to a ship headed to San Pablo Peru, as the pitiable passengers embarked to a small boat being pulled by the ship he boarded separated to the affluent passengers ship. The provincialism & segregation of the proletariat to the bourgeois, gave so much trouble to Che that annoyed him to revolt against imperialism.



Defiance movie is another holocaust story based in real life during Nazi's occupation half of Europe. It was led by two Jew brothers who were determined to lead thousands of refugees to fight against the Nazi and escaped them in the middle of the forest till the war was over.The two Bielski Brothers weren't recognized much globally of the bravery they had till this movie was shown. I have been fascinated of reading and watching about Holocaust since I started to own a novel Anne Frank diary.It gives me views how Jews suffered under the cruelly hands of Hitler mercilessly.My perception becomes maturely deep seeing this happenings in the past without any consideration at once.
Hitler was considered as the notorious killer of all times because of his theory that Europe will govern with one blood but German.I collected some of holocaust movies and even documentaries that would help me to open more of eyes about the past historically.

A REALISTIC FAITH IN A REAL WORLD

When you are deeply drowned with an onerous problems in life, it is really so hard to maintain a realistic faith in a real world today. A real world with not much hope but frustration. I rushly cut my vacation early this May believing that a sure job awaits me when I get back to Cavite from Olongapo.Surprisingly as it was, my notion collapsed as if an avalanche of melting ice covered me all over.
Admittedly, I sighed sadly with so much pain in my heart which immediately I prayed hard to the Lord to comfort me.My desire accompanied by expectation,slowly to vanish on a thin air, that a manifolds of wrinkles visibly shown on my face.
Fighting against the most impossible odds, rejoicing is hard to describe just as increasing a realistic faith.Sometimes you feel that the world is no longer revolving around you and time stops to rotates, as if you are in the bridge over troubled water and life is seemingly low that almost touching the ground filthy covered with dust just seeing yourself in the middle of a barren land which nobody can call you but yourself.Could you possibly lift your spirit and enhance your faith? Though, I'm half-miserable and gloomy today my faith to the Lord is still foldly intact.
Honestly, my heart is filled with envy seeing my friends and acquaintances who are luckily made thier lives abroad. I always thought to myself, Why can't I go abroad? Why God is so kind enough to open doors to other people, yet, selfishly neglect me? How long would I dream & anticipate that things would rightly fall in place for me? Do you think it'll happen? Sabi nila, habang may buhay may pag-asa, daw! it has been a favorite quotes to those who are weakly hopeless just to enliven the spirit hopes up.
Mind you people, I'm getting on in years now & still finding that job that'd help me to establish my own family & build my dreams somehow for my kids.
But God is always in control, His mighty plan is mysteriously hidden to us mankind,lets just anticipate that everything will be concealed in His perfect time.

THE FRAGRANCE OF MEMORY

It lessen the difficulty of life when you are at home, though Cavite has been a home for me since 1996 still there's no place like to be in Olongapo.
"Home is where your heart is" - that's an old adage declares the truth never changes. When I'm home, I always have the reason to recall my youthful innocence days. Landmarks that are left reminds me about what is being forgotten. It helps to reduce the occurrence that causes sadness or missingness of puerility.
Admittedly, uprooting a nostalgia clears the oblivion of the past. The road to every memories is faded by endurance of time, but no matter how vague it was the trails of contemporaneous reflecting the old photographs of what is on the past. You bury them in oblivion but it will resuscitate continuously.
You can't escape the gayety of your teeny booper days when it specially gives you the shower of happiness.
Every drop of it satisfies the unsatisfying content of my longings. Recollecting the pictures of the good old days is my only simple joys that needs to be fed by counting every smiles and laughter I had made back in the past.That's exactly the fragrance of memory.
I really love doing it because you can't see it at all, for tomorrow is another day, unless you'll look back.

Olongapo market way back in the 80's.

Magsaysay ave. way back then

RAINBOW CONNECTION

RAINBOW CONNECTION
Kermit the Frog

Why are there so many
Songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side
Rainbow's are visions
They're only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told and some chose to
Believe it
But I know they're wrong wait and see

Someday we'll find it
The Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me

Who said that every wish
Would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star
Somebody thought of that
And someone believed it
And look what it's done so far
What's so amazing
That keeps us star gazing
What so we think we might see

Someday we'll find it
That Rainbow Connection
The lovers the dreamers and me

Have you been half asleep
And have you heard voices
I've heard them calling my name
Are these the sweet sounds that called
The young sailors
I think they're one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
There's something that I'm supposed to be

Someday we'll find it
The Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me

This is my fave song.It was popular way back in the early 80's sang by Kermit the frog theme song from the movie "The Muppet Show". No matter how vague it was still I can remember how Kermit sang this wonderful song.Its the entrance of the movie,while Kermit playing the guitar hovering over in the river,beneath in a peaceful moonlight evening.
If you go along with the flow of the lyrics and savor its juices,you'll see yourself in the fantasy land of reality.
The song is truly sad and lonely,yet, soothing.Every time I sing or hear this song,it brings me back the time where I was young,naive and dreaming of going to some place that I wish to see.
As an adult person, I still believing that dreams do come true no matter what.Loneliness,envelopes me when times of reckoning the days,how I would make my dreams come true.
But just as the song goes,someday I'll find it the rainbow connection,the lovers the dreamers and me.

(MAN) AGAINST THE WORLD

What a long absent..such a long blog absent.I never forget blogging but then my life has been guarded with four walls.I have no qualms and angst at all, but a clear and peaceful mind.Huh! this is a long vacation I got for this year.
My long vacation is unexpected because of this world economic melt down.I am affected, the world is much affected too.
I didn't expect that I could have been an idle for this long..3 months straight jobless.I was at loss, stressing my mind physically with this crisis thing.However,God has given me a wide understanding about the casualty that is happening around that would surely inflict my spiritual.
Worries and complains has no rooms in my heart this time..not really this time, but minimally controlled emotions.At times, worries had tempted me to voice out my outburst emotions crazily, nevertheless God is wholly controlling it.



"Have you ever walked alone at night
Like a man against the world
No one takes your side
A boat against the tide
When your faith is shaken you start to break
And you heart cant find the words
Tossed upon the sand"

This passage is taken from the song of Survivor, "Man Against the World".I am completely against the world right now...I believed I really am. I have walked alone in the dark with so much fear and goosebumps about the creepy and scary shadows that following me .My faith has been shaken ever since I started to be seriously focused on my spiritual but done it already & allowed God to be in charge of me.When you are involved in missionary works its like in a rock the boat.Everything is getting down sadly the financial part,And you heart cant find the words,Tossed upon the sand. Painfully as it is, bravery is the word that I thought of to apply or else..I'll be lost in the battles of life.

TIRED OF BEING TIRED

(photo:ladybegonia.multiply.com/journal/item/80)

"In life, you may feel tired of fighting for the same reason everyday. You may feel that everyone is moving so fast leaving you far behind and you may feel that there's no point of moving on.There's no certainty in life.
It's not how fast you get there, it's on how you played the game. Put in mind that at times, it's better to be like a turtle who patiently moves and enjoys every step of the way rather than a rabbit who runs so fast and misses every simple detail of life."
-unknown-

This was the text message I received from a friend. I saved it because the message reflects how I went through everyday. Concerning of my age, I always complains, whinning here and there forgetting to appreciate the little things that God has given me.
I guess my angst in life since then is resulting to failures in life which I can't hardly to accept. Honestly, acceptance is the hardest part specially if it tells about your wishes, & ambitions in life.Time fly so fast so as our age fades just as the leaves that nowhere to go.
I didn't know that my angst becomes a habit when you allow it to grow in your heart,knowing that it goes with you every where you go.Because of my recent malady situation financially,my mind would always entertain & filled with complains and anger, worrying about tomorrow about my future, losing the hope of trusting the Lord fully.
However, I thank God for friends nearby and abroad for the kind prayers and words of endearment that continue to enliven my dying spirit. Tendency of worrying is the food that usually I feed on my mind,that I need to rush things because of my age that I might not have ended to work at all or marrying someone.Or losing to grab the best job that I wish to have eternally, or worrying that I am already losing my track and left behind with my friends and collegue.
Human as I am, that is one of my weaknesses in life...a worry-wart individual..when I received that text,just finding out that at times we need to slow down in order for us to appreciate and understand more the meanings of life..isn't it wonderful? is it?
Last week, I went home to Olongapo with so much pain in heart but happy as well knowing that I'll be seeing home for this year.
Meeting with my classmates and batchmates back in High School were among the people whom I'd met with a little boys thing happiness, which gave me a head ache because of the mixed drinks we had just drunk.
Anyway,I enjoyed that night being with them and hopefully meeting with them again sometimes soon.

A WEEK IN OLONGAPO

One day I decided to quit. I quit my job, my relationship and my spirituality. I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. “God”, I said. “Can you give me one good reason not to quit?”


His answer surprised me. “Look around! Do you see the fern and the bamboo?” “Yes”, I replied.


He continued, “When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.”


“In the third and fourth year, there was nothing from the bamboo seed but again I would not quit. Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just six months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.”


“I know that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots but I will never quit on you. Don’t compare yourself to others. The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come and you will rise high.”


“How high should I rise?” I asked. “How high will the bamboo rise?” He asked me in return.


“As high as it can?” I questioned. “Yes!” He said, “Give me glory by rising as high as you can.”

– Unknown

Life is getting harder everyday as I can see it. My staying in Cavite is always routinize by the same schedule and same errands. As a standby and jobless,time has been so fast that as if my world is getting smaller.
I received text from my first cousin in Olongapo asking me to come home just to attend the birthday of her second baby which at first I was hesitant because of the financial conditions I have had.
Telling her about my status, she sent me a fare just to come home...well,since I have nothing to do in Cavite I packed my things right away and drove home. Boarded on a bus way down to region 3, my face was painted with happiness and sadness as well asking myself what would I do next when I get back to Cavite?
Do I still have the chance and a so called- bright future ahead of me? I can't help but shed tears and asked God.
Knowing that life is filled with uncertainties,I checked my mails at our High School website when I arrived in Zambales..I was catching up all of the comments and two mails from a friend back in high school.
Touring the entire site checking what's the new update and new batch member who just accidentally found our site was the second thing I did with so much missingess in my heart. A dear 4th year classmate of mine who just posted his blog about Never stop quitting had stricken my heart with awe,spiritually.
I just found out that many from my high school batch mates have experiencing the same fate as mine..but they never thought of quitting though at times they thought of it but still the spirit of bravery have pushed them to fight the hurdles in life.
The message above was the note being posted by my friend at his blog which a good awakening for me,perhaps.
I thank God for giving me so much friends who just continue praying and giving me pieces of advise which I think it serves as my propeller the reason why I'm still here in this world.