WHAT TO WRITE

`WHAT TO WRITE

It has been my habit to wake up early as it has also been almost my habit to write about experiences, observations or just about anything. Writing is a very interesting hobby although it is not always easy to find a good topic to write about.

Today I arrived a little too early to my favorite net cafe to find out that aside from it all the other units in the area are still closed. I even suspected that it must be a holiday that I was not aware of.

The Drug Store across the street was already actively serving costumers who must have been there earlier to buy the needed medicines for a suffering patient. But at the Galeria were I was waiting for my favorite Net Café the first to open was the Western Union reminding me how people will soon need money to serve them the whole day.

I was expecting the Saddle Ranch eatery to open so I could order my brewed coffee while waiting but the Ukay-Ukay keeper came ahead. I imagined that many people also come early to buy old clothing. The Herbal store has been closed for quite a time showing that people are not yet sold to herbal medications.

Soon another net ‘addict’ like me came followed by the Waiter of the Saddle Ranch. I immediately ordered coffee and tried to offer the other ‘addict’ but he just said thank you as he rejected my offer. He sat near me so we talk about the prevailing hobby of most people, generally the younger ones, this days.

‘Internetting' as a habit could also be disastrous. Young ones are hooked to it to the point of sacrificing their daily allowances so they could go to the Netcafe where they indulge in different games. But to adults or elder ones the computer could be very useful. They need not go to the library to do paper research on many topics; they could easily contact their family members and other relatives who are stationed abroad, and many, many more but unfortunately many senior citizens are not yet computer literate and are not capable of using the computers effectively.

In my case I see to it that after breakfast I go to the Netcafe to connect to my children who are in other countries. That way parenting continues and I am always aware of their whereabouts. This is also my chance to freely do counseling. Meeting so many people of different ages in many parts of the world widens my area of communication.

There are many young ones who find a father in me that they request if they could call me “tatay”. I am of course flattered and I always try to let them feel that with me in the net they are assured of parental advice.

I am amused whenever people I don’t personally know request that I help them with their plans from what course or what job to take to how to go on with their wedding plans. I consider all these experiences very rejuvenating and mentally stimulating. Most of all many of them can confide to me their secret emotions thus being able to ventilate and express fully their otherwise suppressed feelings.

I am encouraging many senior citizens to try to learn the basics of the computer to while away their time while keeping their youthfulness if not usefulness. They say this is an invention of the devil although the devil need not be invented. It has always been with us and it is up to us to find ways to avoid them even in the net.