MY COLLEGE RING
Trying to evaluate one morning what could be my most valuable possession I ended up deciding that it was my college ring. Not because it was a 24 karat solid gold but because it was a symbol of many things.
It was the reality of my dream as it was the reminder of my sufferings, my hope and the fulfillment of my goal. It was the key that opened my chance to share a bit of myself to anyone who needed it. My ring was the effective amulet of my whole being.
I remember once during a formal conference my ring slipped out of my finger. It made a loud metallic sound on the floor as it rolled on scandalously. I tried to follow where it stopped and when I did not see it, I stood up to find out where it landed. Some of the forum participants helped to locate my ring while greatly disturbing the ongoing conference.
When I reached the height of my frustration and bitterness in not finding my precious ring a friend of mine handed it to me after keeping it until he saw me acting at my worst.
One time during a strong typhoon I wasn’t able to go home for lunch and I felt very hungry but I realized I didn’t have money, so, I
ofered my college ring to a restaurant as 'collateral' until the following day in exchange for a lunch pack.
In another thrilling event, a whirlwind wedding was to be officiated and when the priest asked the groom for his ring, I lent to him my ever helpful ring. It was also the ring I temporarily offered during my short engagement period with my wife.
Now that I have grown up children and not knowing what to offer them as a worthy remembrance, I gave my eldest son my college ring with instructions to keep it in safe so he can pass it later to his eldest son too. To my youngest son I offered my other precious ring, a lapis lazuli in gold because its powerful healthy vibrations kept me strong and vibrant for a long, long time. He was also instructed to pass it to his future son, as he was still single, to continue the family legacy to the next generation.
To my daughters I requested my wife to share with them her own valuable possession.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
HELPERS ON LEAVE
HELPERS ON LEAVE
My most trusted and most efficient Gardener needed to go home to Surigao del Sur. He is also my highest paid helper because aside from doing the gardening he is also a handyman and a good trouble shooter.
He needed to go home because his brother who recommended him to me got in trouble after he accidentally hit with a handgun someone during a drinking spree. While our maid who was just beginning to learn the household routine chores also needed to go home as required by her husband to attend to her family especially her three year old son.
I was left with my other helper who now has to do the gardening and the household chores. He was not complaining and was very efficient too except that his brother texted him to come home as their father was seriously ill. His leave was indefinite.
Now I am left alone to do everything. I am not complaining as I used to do these things before, although now my body parts are the ones complaining. I get tired more easily but that is not my problem….
Inside the house I am fully secured by iron grills and padlocks but I feel a little uneasy without someone staying at the premises. To solve my uneasiness I invited one of our farmers to sleep at the servant’s quarter every night for my peace of mind. Too good that the farmer I invited brought his brother with him
My most trusted and most efficient Gardener needed to go home to Surigao del Sur. He is also my highest paid helper because aside from doing the gardening he is also a handyman and a good trouble shooter.
He needed to go home because his brother who recommended him to me got in trouble after he accidentally hit with a handgun someone during a drinking spree. While our maid who was just beginning to learn the household routine chores also needed to go home as required by her husband to attend to her family especially her three year old son.
I was left with my other helper who now has to do the gardening and the household chores. He was not complaining and was very efficient too except that his brother texted him to come home as their father was seriously ill. His leave was indefinite.
Now I am left alone to do everything. I am not complaining as I used to do these things before, although now my body parts are the ones complaining. I get tired more easily but that is not my problem….
Inside the house I am fully secured by iron grills and padlocks but I feel a little uneasy without someone staying at the premises. To solve my uneasiness I invited one of our farmers to sleep at the servant’s quarter every night for my peace of mind. Too good that the farmer I invited brought his brother with him
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
GHOSTLY DOORBELL
GHOSTLY DOORBELL
I bought a doorbell, the one that is wireless with a button to change the more than a dozen melodies and another button to change the volume. With it is a separate little plastic boxlike cage for the battery of the button that triggers the ringing of the bell.
I bought it not to use as a doorbell but rather as a call bell by which I can always carry the trigger button with me while the doorbell itself is attached to a permanent electric outlet.
After using it for several days the trigger button became out of order and couldn’t be repaired. So, I just plugged the doorbell to an outlet at the head side of my bed where I could trigger it by directly pushing the melody button anytime.
One night without touching the trigger button the doorbell rang. I didn’t mind it thinking that dust particles could have triggered it or perhaps droplets of rain entering the window could have caused a spark that triggered the melody.
Another night a few days later I was awakened by a non-stop playing of the melody by itself so I just detached the unit from the outlet to stop it then returned it again for the power. I got used to it that the taking out of the unit from the outlet and then returning it has become a routine.
But one rainy night I was awakened by the voice of a shouting boy coming as if from a radio but to my wonderment it was from the doorbell. I felt a kind of fear all over me so I covered myself with the protective white light of Christ through meditation to calm myself.
I cannot stop wondering how it happened. It was 12:14 in the morning. Did my doorbell pick a radio frequency? But how??? For my peace of mind I completely detached the doorbell from the outlet hoping that in that condition it won’t ring anymore.
I bought a doorbell, the one that is wireless with a button to change the more than a dozen melodies and another button to change the volume. With it is a separate little plastic boxlike cage for the battery of the button that triggers the ringing of the bell.
I bought it not to use as a doorbell but rather as a call bell by which I can always carry the trigger button with me while the doorbell itself is attached to a permanent electric outlet.
After using it for several days the trigger button became out of order and couldn’t be repaired. So, I just plugged the doorbell to an outlet at the head side of my bed where I could trigger it by directly pushing the melody button anytime.
One night without touching the trigger button the doorbell rang. I didn’t mind it thinking that dust particles could have triggered it or perhaps droplets of rain entering the window could have caused a spark that triggered the melody.
Another night a few days later I was awakened by a non-stop playing of the melody by itself so I just detached the unit from the outlet to stop it then returned it again for the power. I got used to it that the taking out of the unit from the outlet and then returning it has become a routine.
But one rainy night I was awakened by the voice of a shouting boy coming as if from a radio but to my wonderment it was from the doorbell. I felt a kind of fear all over me so I covered myself with the protective white light of Christ through meditation to calm myself.
I cannot stop wondering how it happened. It was 12:14 in the morning. Did my doorbell pick a radio frequency? But how??? For my peace of mind I completely detached the doorbell from the outlet hoping that in that condition it won’t ring anymore.
Monday, August 23, 2010
MONTEMARIA
Excerpts from an article by Roger Pe on Spiritual Tourism (Inquirer: August 21, 2010)
MONTEMARIA, a site occupying 33 hectares at Bgy. Amuyong, Alfonso, Cavite is now being built. When finished it will be a community of chapels and rosary gardens to be linked together by a 10-meter wide procession road of about 1 kilometer long.
A giant statue of St. Michael the Archangel shall welcome visitors and pilgrims to the pilgrimage site occupying around 15 hectares. There shall be 5 chapels interconnected by spiritual gardens. As planned the following chappels shall be erected: La Scala Santa Chapel, House of Mary Blessed Sacrament Chapel, Perpetual Adoration Chapel, the Chapel of the Santo Niño and most of all the 4-story Neo-classical Podium on top of it shall be the 101 meter tall statue of Mary, Mother of the Poor, supposedly the largest shrine in thw world dedicated to Mary.
Montemaria shall be an international pilrimage destination for Christians travellers and Catholic pilgrims. The site will allow pilgrims to experience the Lord's greatness through its commitment to poverty alleviation and development program.
The whole idea became possible through the kindness of San Miguel Corporation that donated what used to be the site of Magnolia Dairy and Poultry Farm.
MONTEMARIA, a site occupying 33 hectares at Bgy. Amuyong, Alfonso, Cavite is now being built. When finished it will be a community of chapels and rosary gardens to be linked together by a 10-meter wide procession road of about 1 kilometer long.
A giant statue of St. Michael the Archangel shall welcome visitors and pilgrims to the pilgrimage site occupying around 15 hectares. There shall be 5 chapels interconnected by spiritual gardens. As planned the following chappels shall be erected: La Scala Santa Chapel, House of Mary Blessed Sacrament Chapel, Perpetual Adoration Chapel, the Chapel of the Santo Niño and most of all the 4-story Neo-classical Podium on top of it shall be the 101 meter tall statue of Mary, Mother of the Poor, supposedly the largest shrine in thw world dedicated to Mary.
Montemaria shall be an international pilrimage destination for Christians travellers and Catholic pilgrims. The site will allow pilgrims to experience the Lord's greatness through its commitment to poverty alleviation and development program.
The whole idea became possible through the kindness of San Miguel Corporation that donated what used to be the site of Magnolia Dairy and Poultry Farm.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
TECHNIQUE OF AGING
TECHNIQUE OF AGING
Minus early death, aging is a reality that every individual has to experience or realize either happily or horribly.
Many people, especially women do not want to get old. They do everything, from acting young to applying rejuvenating cosmetics or surgical interventions to the point of changing completely their God-given appearance.
They want to look young and force themselves to feel young no matter if in the course they look like retardates or mannequins with permanent smiles and eyebrows.
Next to fear of death is fear of growing old, yet anybody who needs to live a full life cannot escape aging. We might as well prepare for it.
In attempts to keep young at least in appearance, many get lost in the wilderness of cosmetology and worse than getting old normally they most of the time remain horribly young.
The technique for graceful aging is to find the pathway to the Fountain of Youth by following a certain habit formula.
F-ind joy everyday,anywhere. If you are resourceful enough there are so
many sources of joy available all around you wherever you are.
O-bserve things around you and be curious about them. There are a lot of
interesting things happening that you fail to notice everyday.
U-nite with lively people. If you only meet "your kind", you will only end up
comparing notes about your problems, disappointments and ailments.
N-urture your health by eating the right food, doing the right exercise and
maintaining a good mental attitude in life.
T-hink positive. No matter how unfortunate you think you are, there are
others more unfortunate than you. Always look at the better side of
anything.
A-lways look forward and upward. The past is gone and must be buried
with the past. Don't be a slave of your past misfortunes.
I-nsist on the true, the good and the beautiful. Your opinion and attitude
about anything help in seeing the reality about them.
N-ever think old. Age is only a quality of the mind. You are only as old as
you think. Age doesn't matter if matter doesn't age.
O-bey the Laws of Nature. Live in moderation.
F-ind something different to do every now and then. Don't live in boredom.
Y-earn to learn again. There are always new things to know. Look for
them.
O-pen your mind always. A closed mind is a dead mind.
U-se your common sense which unfortunately is now very uncommon.
T-ry your sense of play. There are always interesting games for you.
H-ave a good sense of humor. Laugh at yourself and make other's laugh
with you.
Minus early death, aging is a reality that every individual has to experience or realize either happily or horribly.
Many people, especially women do not want to get old. They do everything, from acting young to applying rejuvenating cosmetics or surgical interventions to the point of changing completely their God-given appearance.
They want to look young and force themselves to feel young no matter if in the course they look like retardates or mannequins with permanent smiles and eyebrows.
Next to fear of death is fear of growing old, yet anybody who needs to live a full life cannot escape aging. We might as well prepare for it.
In attempts to keep young at least in appearance, many get lost in the wilderness of cosmetology and worse than getting old normally they most of the time remain horribly young.
The technique for graceful aging is to find the pathway to the Fountain of Youth by following a certain habit formula.
F-ind joy everyday,anywhere. If you are resourceful enough there are so
many sources of joy available all around you wherever you are.
O-bserve things around you and be curious about them. There are a lot of
interesting things happening that you fail to notice everyday.
U-nite with lively people. If you only meet "your kind", you will only end up
comparing notes about your problems, disappointments and ailments.
N-urture your health by eating the right food, doing the right exercise and
maintaining a good mental attitude in life.
T-hink positive. No matter how unfortunate you think you are, there are
others more unfortunate than you. Always look at the better side of
anything.
A-lways look forward and upward. The past is gone and must be buried
with the past. Don't be a slave of your past misfortunes.
I-nsist on the true, the good and the beautiful. Your opinion and attitude
about anything help in seeing the reality about them.
N-ever think old. Age is only a quality of the mind. You are only as old as
you think. Age doesn't matter if matter doesn't age.
O-bey the Laws of Nature. Live in moderation.
F-ind something different to do every now and then. Don't live in boredom.
Y-earn to learn again. There are always new things to know. Look for
them.
O-pen your mind always. A closed mind is a dead mind.
U-se your common sense which unfortunately is now very uncommon.
T-ry your sense of play. There are always interesting games for you.
H-ave a good sense of humor. Laugh at yourself and make other's laugh
with you.
Friday, July 16, 2010
SILENT AS A GRAVE (7/14/10)
SILENT AS A GRAVE(7/14/10)
Typhoon ‘Basyang’ passed-by so quickly as when she came doing damages to several regions including the National Capital Region. Now there was a long period of calm, not the calm that goes with the typhoon. This was the calm resulting from the damages.
Power was cut off so no T.V., no radio, no internet and yes, no cell phone signal. As if to join the great calm, the dogs stopped barking, the roosters stopped crowing and the tricycle motors seemed to cooperate.
I was wondering… was this nature’s way of showing that the prohibition of “wang-wang” was indeed very effective to completely suppress all sources of noise? Or was my inherited deafness getting too serious so suddenly? This was the kind of silence I experienced only in a truly effectively managed library. The kind of silence one felt inside the adoration chapel.
This must be what they mean when they say ‘silent as a grave’. But as I pondered more deeply on the peaceful calm that engulfed me, I started to hear in my mind the sounds of raindrops, of thunder and of the wind last night that prodded me to sleep deeper and dream dreams of by-gone days.
I heard the sounds of my children playing at the backyard. I heard their shouts at each other while quarreling about simple things. I heard their happy songs. I said I must be nearing my grave that I was hearing its ‘eerie silence’.
But no, I have not yet heard the complete sounds of all my children. Many of them were far away making their noises in other countries. I may never have the luxury of the chance to hear them all… but I always pray that they will always be safe, peaceful and happy where they were.
I knew I have traveled a long way. As I heard the sounds of the ‘Jejemon’ I was reminded of the noises made by the ‘Jologs’, who learned their crafts possibly from the ‘Jefroks’, who in turn were taught their lessons by the many ‘gangs’ and ‘barkadas’ ahead of them.
But only those like me who started early must still recall the young ‘Borokintos’ of olden times. They were the noise-makers of their days. Young boys and a few girls who gathered during moonlit nights not for a session with grass or a taste of uppers and downers as they could get euphoric with only boiled bananas or ‘bualaw’ and coffee. Many times the boys went on serenading the pretty girls in the community.
After the ‘Jejemon’, a new generation of noise-makers shall evolve. I still hope to experience how I would feel or behave with my grandchildren joining the latest technical ‘Borokintos’. When that time comes I shall be totally happy, completely at peace with myself and finally ready to embrace the eternal silence of the grave.
Typhoon ‘Basyang’ passed-by so quickly as when she came doing damages to several regions including the National Capital Region. Now there was a long period of calm, not the calm that goes with the typhoon. This was the calm resulting from the damages.
Power was cut off so no T.V., no radio, no internet and yes, no cell phone signal. As if to join the great calm, the dogs stopped barking, the roosters stopped crowing and the tricycle motors seemed to cooperate.
I was wondering… was this nature’s way of showing that the prohibition of “wang-wang” was indeed very effective to completely suppress all sources of noise? Or was my inherited deafness getting too serious so suddenly? This was the kind of silence I experienced only in a truly effectively managed library. The kind of silence one felt inside the adoration chapel.
This must be what they mean when they say ‘silent as a grave’. But as I pondered more deeply on the peaceful calm that engulfed me, I started to hear in my mind the sounds of raindrops, of thunder and of the wind last night that prodded me to sleep deeper and dream dreams of by-gone days.
I heard the sounds of my children playing at the backyard. I heard their shouts at each other while quarreling about simple things. I heard their happy songs. I said I must be nearing my grave that I was hearing its ‘eerie silence’.
But no, I have not yet heard the complete sounds of all my children. Many of them were far away making their noises in other countries. I may never have the luxury of the chance to hear them all… but I always pray that they will always be safe, peaceful and happy where they were.
I knew I have traveled a long way. As I heard the sounds of the ‘Jejemon’ I was reminded of the noises made by the ‘Jologs’, who learned their crafts possibly from the ‘Jefroks’, who in turn were taught their lessons by the many ‘gangs’ and ‘barkadas’ ahead of them.
But only those like me who started early must still recall the young ‘Borokintos’ of olden times. They were the noise-makers of their days. Young boys and a few girls who gathered during moonlit nights not for a session with grass or a taste of uppers and downers as they could get euphoric with only boiled bananas or ‘bualaw’ and coffee. Many times the boys went on serenading the pretty girls in the community.
After the ‘Jejemon’, a new generation of noise-makers shall evolve. I still hope to experience how I would feel or behave with my grandchildren joining the latest technical ‘Borokintos’. When that time comes I shall be totally happy, completely at peace with myself and finally ready to embrace the eternal silence of the grave.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
":WANG-WANG", ANYONE?
“WANG-WANG”, ANYONE?
“Wang-wang” is the common street term for siren’s sounds in the traffic. It means many things to many people as it also signifies power, strength, great influence and many more.
Since President P-Noy prohibits its use it becomes a topic of much discussion ranging from the funny to the sublime. A popular priest considered it synonymous to importance since people using it feels that way… that they are important and everybody else should give way.
People with “wang-wang” personality are difficult to deal with. They have delusion of grandeur who are willing to kill anybody that cross their way. So also are the counter-flowing thinkers. They will insists on what they believe is right and never mind what happened to everybody else.
Many go against the current even if by doing so they are sometimes delayed even further. Their idea is not really to go ahead but to go against. There is a challenge in going against because by that, one can show his superiority and messianic complex.
“Wang-wang” taught us many lessons not only for ourselves but for our continuous existence in this world we called a valley of tears. We must learn to give way, to be patient, to be cooperative and to unite with others if we dream of a better life.
We must thank President P-Noy for controlling the “wang –wang” community of Filipinos. We feel assured that he is leading us to the straight path that he promised.
“Wang-wang” is the common street term for siren’s sounds in the traffic. It means many things to many people as it also signifies power, strength, great influence and many more.
Since President P-Noy prohibits its use it becomes a topic of much discussion ranging from the funny to the sublime. A popular priest considered it synonymous to importance since people using it feels that way… that they are important and everybody else should give way.
People with “wang-wang” personality are difficult to deal with. They have delusion of grandeur who are willing to kill anybody that cross their way. So also are the counter-flowing thinkers. They will insists on what they believe is right and never mind what happened to everybody else.
Many go against the current even if by doing so they are sometimes delayed even further. Their idea is not really to go ahead but to go against. There is a challenge in going against because by that, one can show his superiority and messianic complex.
“Wang-wang” taught us many lessons not only for ourselves but for our continuous existence in this world we called a valley of tears. We must learn to give way, to be patient, to be cooperative and to unite with others if we dream of a better life.
We must thank President P-Noy for controlling the “wang –wang” community of Filipinos. We feel assured that he is leading us to the straight path that he promised.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
