Have you ever looked at your life through a microscope and noticed that no matter what you do it seems that it’s never enough. The older you become the more you are aware that the doors of possibilities are narrowing in front of you, and leaving you with the feeling that opportunities have passed you by.  From the time you are born, you are confined to the laws of society.  Following the norms is such an exhausting ordeal for any child.  You are programmed to follow a normal pattern of responsibilities and expectations. Your formative years consist of your being forced to go to school and to learn a multitude of knowledge just to have the basic tools to survive the competitive world we live in.  To top it all, you are expected to have a prestigious career in order to live a happy comfortable life.  Society dictates that the life you should aspire to create for yourself involves having a decent paying job, family which includes being married with kids, and a house in the suburb with a white picket fences. Unfortunately, many are faced with the reality that they will never achieve the perfect life.  Even for those who have accomplished the so called Ideal life would look back in their lives and question if they truly lived genuine happy lives. Were their lives designed by their own decisions, or molded base on what society expects of them?

Have you ever asked yourself if this is all what life has to offer?  Many turn to religion to have a since of hope that even if the present life results in disappointments, despair, and broken dreams, that the after life could bring ultimate peace and happiness. Some search for happiness now through spiritually but the struggle is an endless battle, going through the motion everyday trying to achieve happiness.

For some, however, can’t handle the struggles of life, as a result they would give up and end their miserable life. 

The question is if number 10 is considered to be a perfect life, what grade would you give your life? What changes are you planning to make to achieve your perfect life?

When you reach a certain age ( mid 30’s and above ), you have this feeling that fewer and fewer people would find you attractive.  Because I was focused on my work and my responsibilities for many years, it never crossed my mind that some young people would actually find me attractive.

Just yesterday, I decided to use a public transportation (“ jeepney” - like a small bus) for the first time after many months.  There were middle age men and women, and a group of young ladies in their late teens to early twenties.  When I got out of the jeepney, and walked on the pavement, the young ladies shouted, “I love you”.  I turned to them with a smile on my face and said, “I love you too”.  Everyone in the jeepney started to laugh.  They waved their hands as I walked on.

The funny thing was, I was actually smiling the whole day.  I realized that no matter what age you are, whether you are married or single, you still need to feel attractive. You still hunger for some form of compliments from people around you.

I think from now on, I should compliment people on the way they look, or the things they do to make their day.

Maybe you should try it too!  Maybe…………………., we could forget the effects of the global financial crises for one day.  Imagine if we could do it everyday. Woooo!!! That is something to think about.

I hate the fact that we live in a world where violence are so rampant.

I hate the fact that some religions think that they are better than others.

I hate the fact that so many are wasting food while others are scavenging for scraps.

I hate the fact that many children are being abused by adults.

I hate the fact that many rich can easily get away with crime why the poor ends up in jail.

I hate the fact that the powerful controls the lives of the weak.

I hate the fact that many youth don’t respect their elders anymore.

I hate the fact that the drug syndicates are becoming richer while the users are becoming poorer.

I hate the fact that we are so dependent on the computers.

I hate the fact that the ones we love might return the favor with less enthusiasm.

I hate the fact that young soldiers are dying during war while the leaders are sitting safely in their offices.

I hate the fact that we can’t get away from white lies.

I hate the fact that many politicians are corrupt.

I hate the fact that the salaries are low but expenses are high.

I hate the fact that I’m wasting my time writing this crap. Heheheheh!!!

But………… I love the fact that I’m alive, and have the choice to think about whatever chap I want to think about today.

What makes this occasion so remarkable is the fact that this is the only time and place in the Philippines where the Vatican allows the devotees to eat meat on days of fasting and obligation.  A copy of the famous Bantayan Indult can actually be found in the museum of the Saints Peter and Paul Parish of Bantayan.  

Visitors welcome the pleasant surprise as they are amazed by the fiesta type of atmosphere of the island. Generally, this phenomenon would ignite their curiosity as they ponder on the reasons behind the special consideration made by the Vatican to allow the locals to eat meat.  Strange as it seems, the reason is actually a simple and logical one.

All the way through history, fishing has been the main source of livelihood for many Bantayanons.  Therefore, it is only appropriate that during Holy Week, they would dock their boats by the beach and rest their nets to devote their time not for fishing, but for worship and thanksgiving.  For them, this is a special occasion to thank their God for the abundance of marine life, safety at sea and good health. 

During this short period of time, there is a definite scarcity of fresh catch in the wet market and a prominent temporary increase in population. As a result, the locals have no choice but to offer a variety of alternative dishes to their visitors.  For this reason, the visitors are treated to a festival of dishes, including local delicacies and their famous lechon.

The most awaited procession brings together locals and visitors as they jointly partake in a majestic yet solemn parade of the carrozas.  The usually empty narrow streets are soon overwhelmed with a slow flowing river of people and carrozas.  What make this procession uniquely Bantayanon is its magnificent carrozas they painstakingly constructed and decorated. Gone are the days of simple floral decorations.  In Bantayan, the view is a feast for the eyes as you are engulfed by the assortment of grandiose carrozas adorned with bright neon lights, native materials, imported flowers, and intricate designs.

Bantayan is definitely a place to visit during the Holy Week. A beautiful sanctuary for you to renew your faith, to strengthen your family bond, to relish the mouthwatering meals, and to savor the golden sunset as the sun submerge into the charm crystal blue sea.  This April 5 to 11, the destination is undoubtedly Bantayan Island.

Here is a question I would like to ask. Imagine if you had a very bad experience with a person of a different race, would you still be open to accept the other members of his/her race without reservation?

I was thinking about it because I have always considered myself as an indiscriminative, nonjudgmental type of person.  Yet I can’t help wonder what if he/she is the only person I know from his/her race.  Then he/she does something to me that makes me really hate him/her and the trust is no longer there.  What if later I meet another person who is a member of his/her race?  I wonder what will be my reaction.  Will I be open-minded and accept the person without prejudice, or will I put a distance between us to be cautious and to ensure that the pervious incident will not happen again?  

Could racism at a personal level be a result of a misunderstanding or conflict between 2 individuals of different races?  Is it possible that one reason for an individual hating a whole group could be as a result of a negative encounter of just one member of that group?  

How about you? How would you react to this situation?

How many of you out there have parasitic friends? Those particular friends that suck the life out of you. How about the one that takes and takes, yet you can’t help yourself but give and give? Despite of all of the negative things you face of being a friend, you still can’t seem to let go of the friendship.  For some reason you would feel guilty if you break the friendship.  You might even feel pity for the person.

Yes, we all have those kinds of friends. To break the bond is so hard to do, but if you have the sense to end the friendship, you will feel like a million bucks after the short period of guiltiness.

If you take a close examination of your life, you would probability notice that most of the problems and headaches you have are because of friends and family. If you have to delete all the problems you have that are caused by other people, how much is actually left behind?  Families unfortunately you can’t really get rid of totally, so you just have to suck it up. Parasitic friends on the other hand are your road to a less wrinkled face and headaches. 

So…….. What are you waiting for?  Start getting rid of those parasitic friends and live a less problematic life. …….. Like me! Hehehehhehehe!!!!!

Ever since I could remember, I always had the impression that your word of honor is one of those important qualities you should have. Whenever I promise something I always do it unless something unfortunate happens that is beyond my control.  But even in those situations, I always inform the person concerned before hand that something has happened and truly regret for breaking the promise.

Unfortunately, these days, people don’t seem to valve their words anymore. Promises are commonly made but mostly broken without prior acknowledgement. Have we become a society with no conscience?

Here is an example, some fellow teachers borrowed money from another teacher. The individual amount is really not that large but it is a matter of principle. If you say you will pay, pay it.  If you can’t pay it on the day you promised, then have the manners to talk to the person concerned and not just pretend that nothing happened or try to avoid the person all together.  Holy Moses, you are teachers, what is wrong with you!!!

How about this? Friends asking you to do a job with the promise of financial returns or share. All of a sudden, they change their minds without you knowing, and leave you with the expenses and  the embarrassment of facing the other people concerned. 

I don’t know …………. but I believe in Karma. I believe in word of honor and manners.

To those heartless so called friends and associates out there, remember this, Karma can be such as pain in the ass when in comes back to you. What you do to others will come back to you 10X more.

Good Luck to you!!

Two weeks ago was my dad’s death anniversary. Unfortunately, I was so busy that day that I forgot about the anniversary. Strange enough, during that particular day his image would popup in my mind several times. I only realized the following day that it was probably his way of trying to remind me of him.

Today, I visited two patients in two separate hospitals. The first patient is our family friend who was in the  ICU ward after having a hip surgery and post operative infection.  I decided once I got there that I was not going to enter the ward . I requested my mom to enter the ICU ward without me while I waited outside with some of the relatives of the patient. The second patient is my cousin who was admitted in another hospital where my dad was hospitalized several times in the course of his illness.

As I entered the 2^nd hospital, I recalled the many times I entered those doors and the many times I had hoped it was the last. In the two years that my dad was diagnosed of having renal cancer, it was the most mentally, physically and financially draining for the whole family.

I remembered going to classes(1st year of my masters) and feeling a little dizzy from lack of sleep the previous nights. Yes, there were many sleepless nights because the private nurses did not have the strengths to handle  my dad so they would wake me up several times to ask for my assistance. His position in bed had to be changed every four hours to prevent bedsores as the result of his being bedridden for so long.

One time my sister was left in the evening to look after my dad and all of a sudden he went into cardiac arrest. Because the suite was located on the top floor of the hospital, only the interns were on that floor during that time. Unfortunately, they were still new to hospital work and did not know how to handle that situation. My sister decided to take the lead in resuscitating my dad. She was crying while she was trying to bring life back to my dad. After a long evening of people working together, eventually my dad was able to recover from that ordeal. My sister later confessed to us that she has resuscitated many sick children in the past, but never as draining emotionally and physically as that moment.

Even now I still can’t stand certain food that I ate in the hospital during the time I was looking after my dad, or even the smell of lemon air freshener still bothers me a lot. I guess the smell and  the food reminds me of my father in his lowest moments of his life. Those are the kind of memories we all try to forget.   

Despite the last two years of his life, I salute my dad for living a full life. I’m proud of him for being the first doctor to deliver the first siamese twins in our region (Southeastern Cape, South Africa) , and for doing a tremendous job in helping the survivors of the James Jones Massacre in Guyana, South America. I guess I am most proud of his accomplishment as a great father to all of us.  

Thank you dad for giving me many opportunities in life but most of all, thank you for giving me life.