A THOUGHT COMING FROM A SIMPLE MAN
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Posted:Mar 31, 2008 4:02 pm
Last Updated:Mar 12, 2026 3:47 pm 4028 Views
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While waiting for the summer program to start, the three of us decided to take a break and indulge ourselves to the beautiful gift of nature.The decision to go somewhere had left us with a problem of who will be handling the stirring wheel? I violently refused it because I do not want to feel the nervousness I had when I drove my friend's pack going there last holy week. I guess all my courage were drained when I realized how steep the terrain and how dangerous it was for my little stature.
To solve our problem, we agreed to get the service of my friend's cousin --- Kuya Jun.It was the first time I met him and I felt comfortable with his presence. Before our long journey, he had started as my driver around the city. I got to know him better. He was a former seaman from Cebu City who married a chemist from Gen. Santos City. He then decided to quit because his wife was diagnosed with cervical cancer and is undergoing series of chemotherapy. I admired Kuya Jun so much for his unconditional love and faithfulness to his wife and . He is very simple and very firm to his belief that his family can make it through this trial that they are facing now.
As we continued with our journey, I learned to admire Kuya Jun and I keep the silent hope in my heart that his wife will be fine soon. How I also wish, that if men will have Kuya Jun's views surely, many wives and will be happier.
I was in my deep thoughts when he patted my shoulder and told me that, " Kung may matino lang akong kaibigan paliligawan kita." We laughed together and I gladly answered him, the word "matino" is just too difficult to meet.
Now, Kuya Jun is not anymore our driver but he is one of the nicest people whom we call "FREND".
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THE COURAGE TO DECIDE
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Posted:Mar 28, 2008 8:32 pm
Last Updated:Mar 29, 2008 3:18 pm 4212 Views
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Last year when I quit my job, I felt so anxious. Honestly, I was just holding my sanity too tightly because if I wont, I might had exploded.
My job was my security blanket for many years.I thought that it was my all but out of the blue I felt bored, used and burned.I quit!!!
My first question to my best friend was, "Do you think I can still make it through without my job?" She laughed because she cant believed that it was me talking to her.I was crying for unknown reason.She told me to look around and visit her once , which I did after two days.
I was welcomed by the staff and . She showed to me the records and led me to the vacant table. My name was engraved beautifully on the plate.
It was the time I realized that I got so many things to do. I have so many concerns to handle and these are all mine. I am the boss and no one can command me on what to do. I set the deadline and I can declare a holiday anytime I want.
This day marks the 1st year of my decision to quit my job. I can say that its the right decision that I ever made.
I found the fulfillment within the venture that I took. Together with my staff and my very efficient assistant we made to extend quality services among the . We introduced something different in the field of learning. We learn and grow together.We enjoy the smiles and compliments of our patrons.
Most of all...
We are coming out with a bigger expansion this coming June and I have more time to spend for myself.
I appreciate more the simplicity of life and I am happier than ever.
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BITTER SWEET BETRAYAL
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Posted:Mar 27, 2008 5:00 pm
Last Updated:Mar 28, 2008 4:26 am 4309 Views
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Things will just occur and often they come with a purpose. No matter how noble the purpose is the realization of it will sometimes come later. The wisdom behind each event will appear in a form of negative events that will give painful and bitter feelings.
I guess, betrayal from a friend and business partner is one of the most painful experiences I ever known.
I am so blinded with my honesty and loyalty to the sense of friendship that I mis look the small things which could had given me the signs that betrayal is about to happen.
I unselfishly shared my ideas on the technicalities of our operation but I ended suffering the pains of backstabbing.
He had taken everything, ever tried to go underground with our staff and . The worse part is, he still calls me "friend" and go on with his transactions with me as if nothing happened.He never thought that all the while I am very much knowledgeable and very much informed of whats going on behind my back.
Other friends, are really furious but I still keep my sanity in order to deal with him on the right time. I don't intend to talk to him this time because I might end up wringing his neck. I am still working on the termination of his legal connection to our venture so that when we talk things are set and he got no chance of denial.
Friendship is not our issue but I can not continue having business with him anymore.
I am also contemplating on the idea of giving him one hard kick on his ass for him to feel the pains I have been through.
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MY PERSONAL JOURNEY WITH MY FRIEND
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Posted:Mar 27, 2008 4:30 am
Last Updated:Mar 27, 2008 3:55 pm 4408 Views
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Its been sometimes since I took my break from Blogs ville.
Many things happened and I got a chance to reflect things in my life.
The holy week visit of my friend with his and cousins had left me very tired until Holy Thursday.
Driving them around the scenic places of Gen. Santos , South Cotabato and Sarangani Province had proven to be very difficult because I was also trying to observe some Lenten practices which I used to do since I was a .
I concretely familiarized the real idea of exhaustion and stress yet I was glad because I also met few good people in the places we visited.
Observing the way my friend and his mingled with each other, I was able to appreciate the upbringing I got from my mother. I felt luckier that I was blessed with strict parents. I learn to appreciate the way my parents inculcated to us the value of work and self discipline.
I am 30 yet I still feel the joy every time my mom scolds me for decisions and behaviors that I repulsively took. I used to abhor that scoldings but now I am happier and luckier for having good parents who remind me whenever I forgot the values they taught me.
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THE "MUMU" TALE
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Posted:Mar 16, 2008 9:17 am
Last Updated:Mar 27, 2008 4:59 am 4298 Views
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I cant sleep after receiving a text message from my best friend.
It was yesterday when we last saw each other. I noticed some red spots on her face and forehead. I told her to visit the doctor for my suspicion was some kind of skin allergy.
She did but tonight, she informed me that she will be undergoing a period of quarantine due to her medication. I felt disturb thinking that the disease is really contagious...
I asked for further clarifications. She told me that an "albularyo" checked on her and she got this kind of malady because somebody had casted her the spell of "barang".
There I totally lost my dreamy state!!!
A "barang" or a sort of witchcraft. I am imagining a big pot, a magic stick, a voodoo doll, a flying broomstick etc...I am really amazed by these things...More when she told me that, the kind of spell casted on her was really strong due to the coming of Lenten season.
Another big whattttttt???? (from me!!) I am again imagining the advancement in the course of witchery...the possible upgrading to improve the software that they are using... naloloka na yata ako dito...
Of course, I cant just laugh because My friend is expecting me to empathize with her.Although, I cant really think of an instance where on earth she got this idea of entertaining such possible reason of her sickness. She added that I have to keep myself armed with "luya" (ginger) and "bawang" (garlic)whenever I go out. (Magpapaksiw ba ako?) . Of course, I did not tell her that!!!
If there are people who can really put the spell to make other person sick,why cant they put their best spell to some corrupt officials of our country? For sure, this is more exciting and nobler deed. We might end up having a witch heroine and a warlock hero.( not a bad idea )
This is uniquely Filipino, A religious celebration equated with pagan practices.
I am reminded of my encounter with Balikbayan cousin. After, 10 years of working abroad as a nurse, I still heard her saying "tabi-tabi po" addressing the unseen creatures in our farm when we went to get some "buko". I was really intrigued and I asked her if she was also saying the same thing in US whenever she went out to the bushes. She said no!!!
Mas lalo akong naloka!!!
Because the answer had given me an idea that mumu and other unseen creatures do only exist here in the Philippines!!!!
Wala nga bang mumu sa US? Eh bakit may English terms din itong mga mumu kung wala sila sa US?
My ghost!!!! This supernatural exposition is breaking my brainless head.
I'd rather go back to sleep...
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FALSE ALARM
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Posted:Mar 16, 2008 5:35 am
Last Updated:Mar 27, 2008 5:16 pm 4255 Views
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Suspicion is always luring the air. Trust is such a strange thing today. Life is indeed precious that an ounce of prevention is better than cure. Social awareness must be worn daily. Watch out and keep on guard.
This is very much true in our place specially this Lenten season.Together with the observance of lent is the act of taking extra precautionary action for the possible bomb treats. We got our first taste of public awareness this afternoon when a sudden commotion occurred in our favorite chicken house. WE almost panicked if we did not recognize the source of commotion.
Prior to the incident, we decided to visit a friend whose business is the processed products made from tuna and the usual visit ended with buying some for consumption.One of our companions wrapped her frozen products with multitude of manila papers and placed the parcel inside the paper bag that she was carrying. We then proceeded to indulge ourselves with our favorite buko-halo and native chicken inasal from our favorite restaurant.
We made fun of the waiters while inspecting the local food products displayed on the shelves.As their regular patrons, we were so comfortable kidding around with the staff.
Things went on normally as we occupied our particular place in the restaurant. While waiting for our orders we were discussing about the newly concluded Pacquaio - Marquez fight. We are not into boxing but we equated the fight to the political issues in the country today. We were so engrossed with our discussion when out of the blue people from the other portion started to stand and move to different directions. It was a sort of panic which brought other customers rushing to the door.
We also stood and prepared to vacate the area when I overheard the supervisor commanding the cashier to call the bomb squad. I asked why, she pointed to me the abandoned paper bag on the top of the shelves where the local food products were displayed.
I recognized the paper bag which contained the tightly packed frozen tuna products....It was the paper bag that Malou was carrying. People were really rushing and pushing each other out of the place because of the fear that it might be some bombs left by terrorists.
It was Amie who exclaimed loudly that there was nothing to fear because the paper bag belonged to us and it did not contain any bombs. She took and brought it to our table. We heard several comments and there were some who started to laugh.
We too laughed and we continued our discussion. The topic was the stupid panic due to bomb scare. No matter how we deny the fact that things are just fine in our place, people are still conscious about the possibility that any moment worse might happened.
We left the place and almost all the customers were staring us. I did not dare to stare back because I might end up reading some negative condemnations from the eyes of nervous customers.
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THE PRICE OF SAYING YES..
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Posted:Mar 15, 2008 7:29 pm
Last Updated:Mar 16, 2008 1:50 pm 4358 Views
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The messy and tupsy-turvy planning of my activities this month have been driving me crazy. I am beginning to feel the sense of regret for scheduling things and for simply saying yes to every commitment without checking my other regular and permanent scheds. I also conclude that, I am a certified masochist who wanted to have the taste of "feeling busy" and accomplished nothing much....grrrrrrrr!!!!
Anyhowssss, I am learning (again) and am just glad, I have my two best friends whom despite all the sermons are still there willing to save me from worse messes...
I am forever grateful and I owe them a lot too. Through their help things were simplified and we come up to the best organization of my affairs for two months...I did not give up any commitments but I have my two sidekicks as my proxies to some which I cant handle personally...The commitments are mainly becoming "ninang" to some angels delivered by my former students who have shifted to the career of motherhood. Six baptisms have been scheduled from the feast of Easter onward when there will be an upcoming fiestas...I can just imagine how productive and prolific Filipinos can be!!!!
I got one unique invitation which will remind me to take time investigating before saying yes.
Its a wedding invitation from the niece of my Muslim friend.I reluctantly said yes when she called me last week, thinking that I will just come to grace her wedding with my presence.
Anyway, I always enjoy Muslim weddings because the richness of their culture is clearly displayed on this occasion. The fact that not many Christians will be honored to witness this kind of event due to fear and hesitation brought about by cultural conflict made me feel happy for I am privileged to be with both without any problems.
However, I did not expect that the invitation will be extended to my performance of an important role in the ceremony as one of the usherettes (bridesmaid for Christian wedding). In short, I will be wearing the traditional Muslim terno complete with veil. I don't know how I feel now, my best friends are teasing me.
One thing is sure, I will be on my Muslim terno on the 30th of March at exactly 9:00 a.m. This is my first experience of becoming a bridesmaid and it will be on the Islamic wedding. For sure, If I will become a bride, It will be on the Christian wedding.
I felt honored receiving these invitations from people who were once part of my life but I cant stop myself to smile whenever I remember these events.
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TAKING A SHORT BREAK
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Posted:Mar 12, 2008 4:04 pm
Last Updated:Mar 13, 2008 7:30 am 4189 Views
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March and April are my busiest months.
Coping with the deadlines of the reports due every end of the school year is literally consuming my time.
Planning the summer programs to be offered in our intervention center is exhausting my limited intelligence.
Preparing the instructional materials, restructuring the place and reorienting the staff would often turned me as dead as fallen log on the wee hours of night.
A long lost friend from Hongkong will be coming next week too. He will be spending his Holy Week here and with all his plans of visiting and searching for his relatives, I don't know if my week will still be holy.
Among all the concerns I got, attending to my friend's affairs is the thing that I cant delegate to any of my working partners. We have been friends since then and he has been so good to accommodate me whenever I make abrupt decisions of spending some times in his place. Often, he will playfully spank me because my unplanned visits would turn his schedules into mess and would leave him with many sleepless nights trying to beat his deadlines because I had taken his time from work.
I used to complain for too many papers, gadgets and blue prints of buildings in his car.
Now, I am trying to picture myself on the same situation. I cant complain. My backseat is also messy with papers and blue prints of learning.
Maybe, when I pick my friend this Monday, I will also spank him for giving me my own dose of medicine.
I will miss blogging, but I am hoping for a more colorful writings when I get back.
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PUZZLED, CONFUSED OR WHATEVER
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Posted:Mar 11, 2008 9:30 am
Last Updated:Mar 12, 2026 3:47 pm 4012 Views
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Have nothing to write tonight...
My mind is somersaulting to the question asked to me this afternoon...
" Miss, bakit ba sa tuwing may problema sa pamilya ang babae ang palaging dapat magsacrifice?"
Was not able to answer it...but I found myself questioning too...
" Bakit nga ba?"
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GRADUATION GOWN
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Posted:Mar 10, 2008 6:27 pm
Last Updated:Mar 11, 2008 9:00 am 4036 Views
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Another academic year will about to end. Graduation is coming soon too.Its been for several years that I have been witnessing this momentous event in the lives of many students who display unexplainable joy for completing their programs at last.
I have been taking part on this particular journey designed for and by several students. The routine of yearly graduation does not appeal to me anymore. The hassles of wearing my academic gown, waiting for the program to be finished and soaking wet in perspiration is no joke at all.
To console myself, I often take delight watching the different colors and designs of the academic gowns worn by my fellow faculty members.They represent the various institutions where they had completed their masters and doctoral degrees.The various designs fascinate my playful and naughty mind.
The pride and honor are also mirrored on the faces of both the budding BA graduates and much more among the faculty members for the prestige bestowed on them by their various degrees as represented by the graduation gown. Literally, the graduation gowns patterned the hierarchy of the academe.
Once out of my playful nature, I asked fellow professor who stand tall and proud on his doctoral gown if he knew, why we got to wear gowns like this during graduation?
He stared at me and asked if does it really matter to know why? Yay!!!!!
Anyway, I still keep my BA gown and I don't have any intentions of getting another.What matters to me is that, program will end soon so that I can get rid of this geothermic gown and move comfortably in my tattered jeans and cotton shirt.
Seriously (take note, I can be serious too), I am just hoping that this academic year, I had imparted something among my students that will inspire them to move forward in search for the things that will help them find themselves.
AND
Honestly, I have greater hopes for my female students that they would learn how to see life beyond the traditional ideologies of being a "perfect woman".
I may not be a perfect model for them but at least I tried to show how to live happily within the decisions and the principles that I preach.
Am very much sure also that those students who were victimized by my nonsense musings in my classes had a good idea why we need to wear those gowns during graduations...
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