from a 25 yr. old kid....

A few days ago, my teacher cousin from Bohol sent me these precious pictures of gratitude from her tiddie tiny students. Immediately I started blogging about it, but for some reason, I just didn’t click that publish button. Maybe I wasn’t confident of my grammar, or my spelling, or I was just being cautious before the brutally-frank-merciless-English-bitch cop-why-did-I-have-to-cross-paths-with-her?! Gayle Opsima gets the chance to proof read it in behalf of the whole wide web. Don’t take it the wrong way, I happen to brutally love her to death and that’s the kind of love I have for her… deadly! Haha

Going back, for some unexplainable reason I just didn’t feel like it was the right time to post that blog. I guess it was kind of a shallow blog for a trying to be deep in the shallow waters like me. But I think now is the appropriate time to swim deeper and drown myself into the shallow waters of my 25 years of accumulated wisdom.  I am barely breathing. Here it goes…

Dear Small Kids,

 

Looking at your cute faces and tiny figures, makes me feel like a giant who had to be reminded that I too was once a dwarf. I remember how it was like to crank my neck and look up to the world of giants around me, and say I can’t wait to be like them. In the mean time, chasing the winds as fast as I could with my two short legs was a past time. Climbing trees and playing make believe were my favorite games. Studying was a disaster I never liked, but dreaming of what to be was unavoidable. 

Dreams…  

 

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”will always be the timeless beauty pageant question for the kids. And I’ve had more than 5 career changes based on that question alone. When I was five I wanted to be a doctor, then an artist, an artista, an architect, a driver, a pilot, a rockstar’s wife, a businesswoman. 20 years after, I am now a teacher. A pleasant surprise I’ve never dreamed of. So kids, be warned that the future will be as fickle as your childhood dreams. 

Friends…

You can either run after your childhood dreams, or you can let fate takes it course, but know that fate is what you make.  Same ways as your friends are who you choose. Take a clear look of those faces beside you, because chances are you’ll be laughing together while looking at your pictures 20 years from now.  The journey of your friendships may likely be as unpleasant as that missing tooth, dorky hair, chubby cheeks and gummy smile, but it’s what will keep you going to last a lifetime. Stick with it; it’s an adorable faces bond to have.

But keep this in mind; you are who your friends are. Friends can either make or break you. So choose wisely and think whether they are worth for keeps and your love.

Luuuuurve… 

Love… the word that should not to be confused with a boy or a girl, or else a broken heart is inevitable. But it’s a natural course of life to have your heart broken as many times as you eat per day, just make sure that he who breaks your precious bloody heart is worthy of it. It’s part of the experience. Let it be a humble learning and silently keep it. But please don’t hoard and be blunt about it, because kid, you are looking for love in all the wrong places. If you truly love yourself, you’d guard your heart, keep it intact and present it to someone worthy of it, rather than have it used and abused, gushed and opened by the meaningless passing few before it gets too rotten for the right one.  

Kilig moments are great especially when there’s substance to it.  Hopefully you’ll all be grown up when you read this, so that spares me the need to explain further. Also, be safe – always! You know what I mean…. Er… population control???

Learn…. 

In my early school years I never understood why I had to disrupt my precious sleep and ruin my chances of growing taller by having to throw myself into the routine of waking up early and into the bucket of cold morning water. Words and letters were not my friends and numbers were not helping either. 75 was a card companion I thought was big until my mom had to painfully tutor me till my crying sleep.  Learning can be painful – figuratively speaking!

Things, people, time, place and events will always present you with eureka moments. It flashes itself in the most annoying-told-you-so-in-your-face! But you got no choice but to suck it all up, then pray and learn that it shall never happen again.  

But either way, quench your thirst for learning and you’d realize how small you are in this big badass world of wonderful merriment, while keeping you’re self-centered ego in check. It’s a never ending process so might as well embrace it with open arms. 

Family…. 

Almost all you do in this lifetime is brought upon by the choices you make. What clothes to wear, food to eat, who to hang out, where to go and etc. Family is not one of those choices. These are the individuals whom we are born into, like there’s really nothing we can do about it. Parents don’t get to choose their kids, much more kids don’t get to choose their parents, but either way it’s a fortunate thing to have.  Living with a number of different personalities under one roof can be heck of a lifelong teleserye, full of drama and corniness minus the kidnapping (thank God we are not rich!) in the ending.  Daily life can be very eventful to the point that it becomes uneventful that nothing they do fusses you. Of course, given the long time that you’ve had with these individuals, your level of tolerance has got to be skyrocketing.  

Either way, you gotta be thankful for your family, because they are the ones who sculpt your backbone to its fineness. I hate to brag, but I’m very lucky to be born into this simple, average, happy family. There’s not much happening, but trust when I say that it’ll be your ideal kind of boring. I love my ideal boring family. I can only hope to spread my familial boredom in the far stable future of someday.

Bottom line is, the world can turn upside down, in and out but family will always be there. They can be overdramatic at times, but at the end of the day they’ll always have your best intentions at heart. You may not necessarily understand it, rebel with the tough love but when all else fades and the fun stops you’ll always be coming back home to mommy and daddy to comfort you from your idiotic-teenage-emo-moments. 

Future…

But sometimes, we need these emo2x moments to make us appreciate what we have. That’s life, it’s damn tricky. The good and the bad goes hand in hand - always. They are the BFFs who’ll shaken your decision making skills, just be smart about it. God has given us the free will to do what we must and nobody can question us for that. Just know that there will always be consequences attached to the choices we make, it’s called the future.

Listen closely kiddilets, the future is going to caught you off guard, nothing will be what it seems, that’s for sure. So here’s my Peter Pan advice, take your time, enjoy being young. Chase more winds as fast as you can. Climb the highest of trees and play your hundreds make believe. Be friends with your studies, love to learn, and then dream a thousand dreams from then on. 

Those are the precious times that you can’t go back to, but can reminisce with great fondness. Just breathe and live life to the fullest and everything will be alright. Lastly, find your passion, live it, and then aim to make a difference for the better. 

Whether or not this attempt at imparting wisdom can make a difference will be known years from now. But hopefully the time you turn at quarter a century you’ll be able to figure things out and brag to me how it’s done. Because babies, I tell you quarter life…..I’m running out of words….

Yours truly, 

25 year old Kid.

***
blog track
Kids by MGMT

 

 

castles in the sky...

There was once a man who became unstuck in the world. 

He took the wind for a map.

He took the sky for a clock and he set off with no destination.

He was never lost.

~ Taylor Steele~ 

***

blog track


Years around the sun - miles away

never too late for brilliante...

 It's the ...

And let 08/04/11 be marked as the day of  my red carpet "devirginization" ( if there is such a word). Special thanks to my dear amazing friend Mayang and to her amazing relative connections. Because without her relatives she wouldn't be there, and without her, I wouldn't be there...

Understandably, I had no idea as to what the dos and don'ts of a red carpet thing is, but figured that as long as we torture our feet for a couple of hours in heels then we could pass off as red carpet pros. Beso here, beso there. Chit chats over a glass of 4 seasoned cocktail juice in one hand, while keeping my balance from one foot to the other, is such a social life!

 Being a social butterfly is no easy task! It's too much effort! Most especially when you just want to be a caterpillar and squirm at the fact that the world renowned Brialliante Mendoza is just a few feet away from you. 

This close dude!!!

But I left my confidence at home, so I didn't get a picture with him (there was a group pic though, but it's useless when you don't know who owned that camera. tsk!) So Brilliante was in the end, so near yet so far...

I've never seen his movies until this,  but I've always been a fan of his accomplishments. It brings out such nostalgic pinoy pride in me. It doesn't happen much but when it does, it sure is something. Then when you watch his film you become more in awe of his brilliance! All I can say is that his/ this movie would surely evoke a lot of feelings in you even after the credits have rolled up.

Though I think his film was brilliant in the post-modernism kind of way, it still kind of bothers me that it has to take this kind of theme and genre to be appreciated by the elitist world outside. Perhaps the rawness of the plot caught me off guard to the extent that even I, as a Filipino, is still shocked and bothered by the on goings of this society that I'm living in. It's a sad sad sad reality at the same time it raises the bar of respect towards those who had to live on that kind of life. The way Brilliante directed the film, putting emphasis on the literally tiring journeys and struggles of the characters, makes you feel what it's like to live their life. And it sure is NOT easy! so you gotta give it up to them.

It's ironic how other countries gives accolades to Brilliante's films, when it should have been his very own that should be making noises for him for his vivid depictions of the socio-cultural issues of this country, by dissecting into the everyday lives our Juan and Juana. I bet we would learn a thing or two, especially those in the government.

Beyond all the ugly truths, I sincerely think that Brilliante's films are all about empowering. Opening the senses to the realities around, then absorbing the facts before challenging the viewers on this simple question: What can you do?


HEAVY ??!!!!!!!!! I feel like in 2nd year High School about to submit a free writing composition to Mdm. Generale. Haha!. On the lighter side.....

Moy! there goes my super duper belated bday present.... enjoy!.. ;)

***

blog track

TV on the Radio - Crying

 

Life in a Day...

Just makes you smile... ;)

It is a dream to make a documentary...

Someday it shall happen... 

Dreams be real.... 

the soonest...

coz we live in a beautiful world...

It's sooo beautiful that it's almost hypnotic....

I am blown away.

The Mountain from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

 My only wish is for people to realize what a beautiful world we're living in. I just hope that every human being would just take great care of it, coz clearly there's no other planet like ours. And this is the only place in the universe we can truly call our home. 

It's a beautiful world, just care for it. 

If you already do, thank you, but please let others know.

words of the apple man...

Just what quarter life needs... 

 

"Believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart."

"You've got to find what you love."

"Stay hungry. Stay foolish."

(Stumbling on Steve Jobs at Stanford. A big T.Y. to Daphne O.).

Amazing TRAVELER...

You know how it is when once your life you encounter random people who leaves distinct impressions on you? An impression that could either vary from "hmmm... he's cool" or to "ugh! what a bozo!" That's why when it comes to impressions and memories there's no such thing as "he's okay..." for what it really means is "which one was he again?." So there it is, of the billions of people in this world, thousands of people you encounter and a handful of people you chose to surround yourself with, there will always be that passerby in your life who will leave you amazed and inspired even for just a minute or two.

You must be wondering where this sentimentality is leading to, well, it leads to the start of the spicing up of this blog. Every now and then I will be featuring random strangers who I think leads an amazing life or are just simply naturally born amazing (if that is even possible, we'll find out). Appropriately, I shall name this feature the AMAZING ____________ feature. 

As I'm doing an imaginary ribbon cutting, I formally welcome you all to the beginning of my Amazing _______ feature (applause for myself and by myself.. hahaha)

***

Remember when we went to Cambodia and met this group of foreigners who requested for a jumping shot at Angkor Wat?  Well let me refresh your memory with this.

Meet Gilad Bonfil, 

Amazing Traveler.

I never really got to talk to him except for the usual chit chat of "where are you from yada2x". But from then on I knew that he totally belong to that "hmmm... he's cool" impression. Thank God for Mark Zuckenberg and his invention of Facebook because my impression sealed the deal that I definitely, was right!

Gilad is an Israeli who is currently on pilgrimage to the here and there of the world. He has trekked in the beautiful mountains of Nepal, dinned with a village chief in Laos, toured around Mongolia, fell in love with the country of Thailand and etc. etc. An amazing traveler who has taken the off beaten trails and embraced every experience offered . A man wizened by experience and travel is yes, younger than me. Read on his answers to my questions and get to know WHY he's an Amazing traveler.

1.) What made you decide to embark on this very long journey?

emmm. that's a good question. I think one of the reason is the lack of freedom I felt during my military service. After 3 years in the army, I felt I want to escape, to explore the world, to see different and interesting things I've never seen before. After 3 years of people tell me what to do , I felt I want to be the king of myself, do what my heart tell me to do, whenever and wherever. 

another reason for going traveling: We're young and we should have fun now and get to know about ourselves more and more. Don't be in rush. First experience and then make your life serious. I wanted to go traveling because I felt I haven't known myself very good and I need something that would open my mind. So I said "why not go traveling?"

2.) What are the 3 things great things about traveling?

1. get to know the most unusual people. During my travel I met really great and interesting people from all over the world. sharing stories with them and experience traveling together was good to me. Also, I met friends for life.
 

2. to see things that you've never seen before. You have the chance to see different lifestyle, different culture, different nature. But the most good experiences are when you dom't plan them. John Lennon said once: "'Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." I really believe in that. For example: in Nepal, I went trekking with 3 other Israeli guys. One day, It was too late to continue the hike so we stay overnight in a random village. it was amazing. They were dancing for us and put flowers in our necks. and we even didn't plan to stay in the village.
 

3. the last thing great about travel is that you realize there is entire world out there. Traveling defenietly open your mind and you realize our world isn't just black and white. The whole my way of thinking has been changed because of traveling. Before, I felt rage and hate about people, especially muslims because of the terrorists. But now, I understand not all the muslims are terrorists and want to kill. Thay just want to live. Also, traveling made me hate polititians cause they don't want peace. They just want power and money. I fucking hate them.

3.) What are your 3 do's and don'ts when traveling?

*open your mind to experience new things that you didn't plan to experience. Be spontenian. You may have your great experience while you don't think of them.
*when traveling, you'll found yourself most of the time with people, especially other travellers. I think it's great to find a partner and travel together. Be patient. Listen to the other person. Share your ideas and ask what his ideas. Trust him. You're not alone in this boat.
*be independed. You can only help to yourself. traveling is kind of surviving. If you experience bad times, don't let it low your morale.
 

now for the don'ts:
*your bagback is your home. Don't take more than you need. during my travel, I sent many things back home cause I realize I don't need them. Bfore you start traveling, you should think for a moment what kind of traveling. When you figure it out, suitable the things you bring to your traveling. For example: if you know you don't want to plan everything and just want to see what's happend, bring a tent with you so you won't stuck in the middle of a cold night without a place to sleep.
*don't go trekking alone. It's dangerous and you noght get lost of injured. Find partners.
*and the most important thing: YOU ARE A GUEST. don't judge the culture of the country you visit. Be polite. Have a respect. Have the willing to ask questions. Be curious. The locals would only respect you more.

4.) If you have 1 best song to describe your experience what would it be and why?

Can I change from song to a movie? "Into the wild"!

5.) What is the great thing you've learned about yourself during this period of travel in your life?

the great thing I learned about myself: I learned to be independed. I learn how to survive. I learn that I can only help to myself. I learn how to know in a short time if this person is suitable for me or not. If not, I say politely "good bye" and walk to my way. I learn to open my mind, to try new things and I fucking live it.

***

Need I say more?...

*** 

Gilad, as my honorary Amazing feature, I will be selfless and give you this track that I have been saving for myself for future use. No one deserves this more than you.... 

blog track:

Universal Traveler by Air

to be continued...

"the children are the future."
a cliche. never gave it much thought. 

but..

i know how education is like in this country, but i've never come face to face with it.
holed roofs. rotten ceilings. empty bookshelves. decaying chairs. lifeless classroom. empty-handed students. the face of education in this country.

i understand that education is a necessity in this world, but never had i  realized that sometimes it can be a luxury. and i was / am fortunate.

        

i strongly think that we are all blessed to be in a position to do our part in this society. all it takes is just a little step joined by many to make it into a big leap. 

i have no idea how it will turn out, but i'm terribly excited...

FIFAfied....

I may probably never understand football...

and I may probably never even try to exert an effort to understand it....

BUT THIS...

I understand.

 

WAKA WAKA 

You're a good soldier
Choosing your battles
Pick yourself up
And dust yourself off
Get back in the saddle

You're on the front line
Everyone's watching
You know it's serious
We are getting closer
This isn't over

The pressure is on
You feel it
But you got it all
Believe it

When you fall get up, oh oh
If you fall get up, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Cuz this is Africa
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

Listen to your God
This is our motto
Your time to shine
Don't wait in line
Y vamos por todo

People are raising
Their expectations
Go on and feed them
This is your moment
No hesitations

Today's your day
I feel it
You paved the way
Beleive it

If you get down get up, oh oh
When you get down get up, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Anawa a a
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

***

If there is one great view in this world, it is literally seeing people from different walks of life united for a common passion. 

Imagine the gaps connected...

the prejudices set aside...

the colors forgotten... 

and the moment lived....

Imagine the difference...even for just a moment... 

***

I'm not a fan of football, but am a fan of its cause. I'm not fond of crowds but I dig this kind of gathering. I hate mainstream but I loooove Shakira and everything she represents. And by writing this song she not only made me love her even more but most importantly she got me FIFAfied.

red president...

WHY GORDON?

Because unlike others, he is a man of vision and we have seen his vision come to life through Subic. Think about the economic boom and number of jobs created...

Because unlike others, he was able to sweeten the global image of the country with his WOW PHILIPPINES campaign despite the kidnapping out break. Think about pride restored...

Because unlike others, he has been at the front line of every disaster that stroked our dear nation therefore truly knows how it is to feel the plight of the victims? Think about real empathy...

Because unlike others, he doesn't play on the shades of gray. With him it's only a matter of whether he's against it or for it. Think about the strength of character ...

Because unlike others, he hasn't given hazy mumbling speeches to please the crowd. He just knows what he wants so he simply gives nothing but his piece of mind. Think about the political will...

Because unlike others, he has never hired a showbiz personality to pitch in for him thus, making him the only one with the decency to treat the Filipinos as intelligent voters. Think about confidence in the people...

Because unlike others, he was the only one to recognize that the only way to accomplish change is to start from within. That Filipinos should be ambitious enough to reach greater heights and be assertive enough to materialize those ambitions. Think about reality...

Because unlike others, I could go on and on raving about him and then hope that others would be wise enough to realize that without any B.S. and sugar coating, this guy in red could really make a great deal of change for the better.

If he was able to create Subic an economic hub when he was still a low ranking official...

And capture the real essence of this country in just a short period...

IMAGINE, WHAT MORE HE COULD DO WHEN HE BECOMES THE PRESIDENT?

to be blunt....

I WON'T VOTE FOR...

1. Candidates who makes politics their family business. I disgust nepotism in public office therefore I encourage everyone to ditch the candidate whose family names we've had to bear for the past yearSSSS! Seriously, when did democratic leadership ever become an inheritance?!

2. Candidates who are shamelessly exploiting the poverty slogan. Their cry of empathy for the poor is not only utterly fake (especially when they are riding in luxury SUVs and wearing that thick solid gold bracelets while shaking the calloused hands of the poor) but also downright thick faced! Only them can make the drama queen Judy Ann Santos seem underrated. Unfortunately, people just love those shitty soap opera kinda thing.

3. Candidates who can't get enough greed, despite being repeatedly attached to anomalous transactions, or worse proven guilty of corruption by court. Yes, am talking about ERAP and his lapdog son JINGGOY. But then again, people thrive on the drama so much that they draw a very thin line between the reel and real. Oh well, it's either that or those two are just heck of a fine actors, after all they had years of practice in playing heroes to the dim witted in the screen. Just to add, there are alot of ERAP and JINGGOYs in disguise all around, so yes am also talking about those filthy names.

4. Candidates who are semi auditioning into showbiz. Only in the Philippines would the political campaign turn into a talent showcase. Sure... what better way to impart your message than through a song and dance number?! But if you don't have the talent then might as well just hire the pros, and we voters, might as well also just cast our votes on those paid artistas. It shouldn't be more complicated than that!

5. Candidates who are litterbugs. Of course they paid some dumb head to post their unrecycable(?!) posters everywhere, thinking that everywhere is not a NO POST BILL zone. Nonetheless, these candidates should be responsible for the actions of their hired dumb heads. I tell you there is nothing petty about this practice because this would only reflect on the kind of candidate they are. That #1 they don't actually give a shit about the environment with all the paper and plastic waste they are contributing (despite their promise to be the staunch crusader of the environment), #2 they don't have a strong control and discipline of their minions (how much more when they get elected?!), and #3 they care less except for the vanity of seeing their faces plastered on the trees and private properties.

6. Candidates who doesn't have the backbone to make a stand. When the choices are only a matter of YES or NO there shouldn't be an answer of NO COMMENT or silenzzzzzz. People should worry when their candidates starts to speak like this coz it only means two things: no.1 that they don't have the political will power and no.2 they're protecting either someone else's sorry ass or their own sorry ass.

7. And most importantly candidates who disturbed my sleep early in the morning with their irritating campaign jingles serving as my alarm clock, and to think I don't have one. Noise pollution a great thing to consider for they disrupt the innocents' moment of peace.

Think carefully about your candidates.
BE BLUNT.
That's your right!

that 4 letter word...

it took a while for me to finish reading the book Odyssey by Homer but there's a reason why only after hours of reading it i picked up the book When God Writes Your Love Story that my good friend Sheengai literally forced me to read...


while the Odyssey is a classical ride of adventure, the latter is a modern day spiritual journey. what connects them though is that the latter book was able to use excerpts from The Odyssey to get its point across. and i just simply love how i can relate to what the authors were talking about. like if the authors and i were sitting across each other and discussing about it, i'd be nodding my head in a frenzy and say "LIKE I SO KNOW THAT, IN FACT IT'S IN THE PAGE BLAH BLAH OF THE ODYSSEY!"... but truth of the matter is, i'm not nerdy enough to remember such bookish details.... or if i am, i'd be a total social misfit in the nerdy world.. ha!

on a serious note, When God Writes Your Love Story (such a long title therefore i shall abbreviate it to WGWYLS... hmmm still kinda long) made me remember about a conversation with my wise Dad. not long ago he once said that the measurement of a person's success in life is in his/her choice of lifetime partner, because from there everything will fall into place. that's why he told us that it is very important to pray for your future husband / soul mate. it's kinda cheezy to think and even discuss about it, but when your parents set such a good example then you can't help but think otherwise.

i have to admit that issues like love and relationship can be a sensitive topic for me to touch on because there are some points that i feel strongly about. such that i believe that there's nothing wrong when you set such high standards coz if you know your worth or your value as a person then you should expect nothing less. i know it might sound too cocky but don't we all need to be cocky for a change?. a friend of mine even once told me that i can be too idealistic, but what most of us fail to realize is that perfection is in the ability to harmonize with imperfections of others, and grow in contentment with it. and it's just a matter of time before that imperfect person bumps into your life ready to compliment your own imperfections.

perhaps i'm just inlove with the idea of love or that my feet are just swept off by the cloudy romanticism in my head, but to simply put it in words, as what another friend of mine once said, people get what they deserve. I just hope that majority of us wake up one day and realize that we deserve nothing but the best.

frankly, i'm not the most ideal person to talk about this kind of melting cheezy thing called LOOOOVE... but when you know what you want, therefore you know what you're talking about.

but because that four letter word is such a universal topic full of intertwined complications... let me just leave you with a funny little irony of faith from the movie Alex and Emma...

"i know in my heart that i am the right man and i know that the perfect woman is out there. someone who's smart funny and beautiful, but here's the tricky part, interested in me."

love love love

WGWYLS... highly recommended...


thanks for forcing me to read it sheengai...you just got yourself into my team... if you know what i mean ;)

****
blog track for the future love...er...

Glen Hansard- Falling Slowly by verticalexit

to be pinoy...

What does it mean to be a Filipino?

Filipinos, as we Filipinos well know, are known to be one of its kind. From the bizarre delicacies (that could certainly win us the SURVIVOR or FEAR FACTOR title without a sweat), to the unexplainable folklore that only we could understand (even if we really don't) down to the unbeatable sense of humor that not even poverty could erase. And that's just among the many others.

But nothing could surpass the defining moment of what it means to be a Filipino than that of the EDSA REVOLUTION. I am proud to say that I am an Edsa baby, but I am ashamed to say that my idealistic nationalism is slowly draining. What fire I once had for the Philippines and its politics right after EDSA II (which I proudly participated even at age 14 with my friends) is nothing but burning embers that's slowly losing its heat with every political fued, corruption, and shameless self promotion that I see and read as accounted by the media. This is the part that shames me, this is the part that makes me long to be somewhere else, and this is the part that makes me just wanna smack some sense into the big nuts of every politicos, if given the chance.

The wake and funeral of the revolutionary figure in EDSA I, Cory Aquino, somehow brings back nostalgia of what it once feels like to see people united as they act for the same purpose and goal. I know that the grieving will eventually come to an end, but I wonder if there will ever be a change for the better that will come out of it.

Filipinos thrive on the dramatics (just see all the long running sappy soap operas), and that's it. My only wish is for us to realize that We, Filipinos are more than just the drama. That like in EDSA we can be united for a cause and that we can start that by voting wisely.

If a man can believe that the Filipinos are worth dying for; and his wife can act that the Filipinos are worth living for and their daughter can say that the Filipinos are worth it, then we must really be something.

To be a Filipino is to appreciate what the Philippines has to offer. To take care of its resources, to respect its fellows, and to live by the example of those who believed, hoped, fought and died for this country that they called home. And to be Filipino doesn't just mean to be in the Philippines, but to simply be a proud Filipino, with all these, wherever and whenever.

Life. Death. and In between.

Death.
I've often wondered what it means to be dead. But as i continue to ponder upon it, it made me more realize what it means to live.
Watching the coverage of Cory Aquino's death on TV struck a cord in me. Death is not such a dreadful thing - if you've lived a full good life. Indeed, a well lived life is what she had, and the thousands of mourners is the testament to that.
I would also often wonder what my own death would be like. Where the ceremony would take place, who would come to my funeral and how would the life I've lived be remembered? These are some of the thought provoking questions that pops into my head every now and then. It's silly but I'm curious.
I think that no matter how big or small the part we play in our society, how we live our lives will always be witnessed, and we need these witnesses to know that there is something and someone we live for, and that there is a purpose that is meant to be accomplished and meant to be seen. We may be unaware of it but every day we make an impact on the lives of the people around us and vice versa. No matter how big or small, good or bad, what we do is the impact that is to be remembered, for a moment or for a lifetime, and there lies the choice of how to live our lives.
So if I were to die now, I wouldn't have any expectation to what it would be like and who would be there (but maybe it would be cool to keep an attendane sheet in the third dimension, and decide what to do with those who are absent later on. hehe). I know that I've had my fair share of good and bad, but to whether or not I've lived life to fullest? Not. And will I be remembered? probably in the few days and then not.
I believe we're born to make a mark on this world. I may not be a grand personality to expect much, but knowing that I'm a part of a society and that my life is being witnessed, I only wish to be remembered to say the least.
Life to Death, it is all about being witnessed.