Be There

You are there. And yet you are not.
It is not just physical abandonment by a parent that scars a child, emotional abandonment causes lifelong damage as well.
Many parents fail to understand that simply because you are there does not mean you are. Mere physical presence is not enough and cannot make up for parents' emotional absence in their children's lives.
Children arrive into this world helpless--their fate lying completely in the hands of their caregivers. Some children are more fortunate than others. They are born with parents who understand what parenting is about.
There is indifference. And there is ignorance. While there are parents who display an astonishing amount of apathy towards their children, there are parents who err because they are unaware that they are not functioning as parents.
Adults who display maturity in their personal affairs are likely to display the same sense of maturity as parents. Those who display childish, selfish and immature behavior in their personal lives are likely to display the same bratty behavior as parents.
The world today is so obsessed with the pursuit of personal happiness that self-sacrifice is almost non-existent.
If adultery and infidelity are rife today, it is not because more people are unhappy in their marriages today than 50 years ago but because 50 years ago, when people were unhappy with their relationships, they didn't jump to seek solace in the arms of the first John or Jane they laid eyes on.
You're not happy? Well you're not alone.
A lo of people are unhappy too--just like you. But some people choose to put the needs of their children first. They're lonely too--just like you. But they remind themselves about the ruinous ramifications of immediate gratification and decide to sit on their needs and desires for the moment. This is what maturity is about.
Everyone is entitled to be happy--yes. But the pursuit of happiness does not give us license to hurt our children.
Separation is honest. Infidelity is not. It's the infidels among us that i feel sorry for. But I eel sorrier for their children whose lives are forever ruined by the thoughtless actions o their parents. You think they don't know? I hope so.
When confronted with the reality that our child is in the throes of depression, we react defensively. We did nothing wrong. And perhaps that is what we DO believe. But what we believe is not necessarily true.
Parenthood is a gift but with it comes the burden of parenting. Parenthood can be a one-night affair but parenting is a lifelong commitment.
Faced with a corpse, we are confused. What did I do wrong? We think of all the times we were there for our children. But the reality is that our children think of all the times we were NOT there for them. Children judge their parents harshly--yes. But that is the price we must for the gift of parenthood.
Be there.

The Greatest Poverty

Today, October 15, 2008 is Blog Action Day and bloggers are being asked to take a stand on the subject of Poverty. EC and Friends is one with all participating bloggers on this, and here’s my take on poverty:

We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. (Mother Teresa)

Do your share, and let someone feel wanted, loved, and cared for today. World Peace!

Real Name Of Your Favorite Stars

Do you know your favorite stars real name? I have some here. Take a look…

Gerald Anderson - Gerald Randolf Opsima Anderson Jr

Sam Milby - Samuel Lloyd Lacia Milby

Chris Tiu - Christopher john Alandy-Dy Tiu

Mariel Rodriguez - Erlinda Termolo

Erich Gonzales - Erica Gancayco

KC Concepcion - Kristina Cassandra Concepcion

Mikee Cojuangco - Mikaela Maria Antonia delos Reyes Cojuangco

Claudine Barreto - Claudine Margaret Castillo Barreto

Kris Aquino - Bernadeth Kristine C. Aquino

John Prats - John Paulo Prats

Heart Evangelista - Love Marie Payawal Ongpauco

Dulce Amor - Maria Theresa Magdalena Llamedo Cruzata

Rica Peralejo - Regina Carla Bautista Peralejo

Robin Padilla - Robinhood Cariño Padilla

Anne Curtis - Anne Marie Ojales Smith

Marian Rivera - Marian Rivera Gracia

Angelika dela Cruz - Angelika Egger dela Cruz

Bianca King - Bianca Charlotte King

Camille Prats - Sheena Patricia Camille Q Prats

Chynna Ortaleza - Lara Serena R. Ortaleza

Dennis Trillo - Abelardo Dennis Florencio Ho

Diana Zubiri - Rosemarie Joy Garcia

Ehra Madrigal - Geralyn Madrigal Gaspar

Francine Prieto - Anne Marie Falcon

Rhian Ramos - Rhian Denise Ramos

Angel Locsin - Angelica Colmenares

Bojo Molina - Ubaldo Punongbayan Jr

Agot Isidro - Margarita Fteha Isidro

Dingdong Dantes - Jose Sixto Dantes III

Ara Mina - Hazel Klenk Reyes

Vina Morales - Sharon Magdayao

Nida Blanca - Dorothy Jones

Anna Roces - Anna Marinella Adad

Rico Yan - Ricardo Carlos Castro Yan

Bernadette Alysson - Ma. Lourdes Bernadette Tinoco

Carlos Agassi - Carlos Vahidi

Ryan Agoncillo - Ryan Kristoffer Lou Agoncillo

Roselle Nava - Roselle Paulino Nava

Liza Lorena - Aurora Wincett

Tootsie Guevarra - Emma Teresa Pingga

Gelli de Belen - Anna Gianella de Belen

Pops Fernandez - Ma. Anna Cielito Fernandez

Aga Muhlach - Ariel Muhlach

Inday Badiday - Lourdes Carvajal

Alma Moreno - Vanessa Laxamana

Fernando Poe Jr - Ronald Allan Poe

Snooky Serna - Ma. Milagros Serna

Susan Roces - Jesusa Sonora

Jean Garcia - Rosario Maitim

Regine Velasquez - Regina Encarnacion Asuncion Velasquez

Kuh Ledesma - Socorro Ledesma

Gerard Pizzara - Gerard Cadumog

Kim delos Santos - Kim Nicole Gehring Delos Santos

Patrick Garcia - Franz Patrick Velasco Garcia

Coney Reyes - Constancia Angeline Nubla

That’s all as of now. How about you? Do you know some celebrities real name? You can share it with us here…. Don’t be selfish…

12 Little Things We Can Do To Help Our Country

I was quite busy cleaning up my room yesterday when I found out this leaflet junked in the corner. I don't know who brought and read this one, or maybe it was junked and thrown away unread. Out of my curiosity, I picked it up and read the title. "12 Little Things Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country", by Alexander L. Lacson. As I read the whole article, it really caught my attention although these are just a small things that we usually underestimate, that, if we give focus into it, this could be possibly our one way going to the top as for our direction. Or should I say, instead of fighting back against the government, maybe it's better to ask ourselves first what we have done good for our country?

******************

And these 12 Little Things are the following:

1. Follow traffic rule. Follow the law.
2. Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt.
3. Don't buy smuggled goods. Buy local. Buy Filipino.
4. When you talk to others especially foreigners, speak positively about us and our country.
5. Respect your traffic officer, policemen and soldier.
6. Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle. Conserve.
   
7. Support your church.
8. During elections, do your solemn duty.
9. Pay your employees well.
10. Pay your taxes.
11. Adopt a scholar or a poor child.
12. Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.

That's all. And I proud to say that I did most of these things. Just like walking in a street, I patiently wait for the red signal before I walk across. Until now, every time I eat candies, I should put all the wrappers in my pocket or in my bag, instead of throwing it away; I never missed all national elections, I was always present and never in my vocabulary that I sell my vote; I always give even P1 or P5 donations in every Holy Mass collections. So, in short, even if I'm in a poverty stat I always do the best as I can, to share even in my own little way just to give happiness, if not a hundred percent satisfaction, not only for me, but for the goodness of all...

On Growing Up

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we still don't know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.
She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."
"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easi ly made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.
Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."

She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose."
She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.
One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.
Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.
These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

FINALLY I UNDERSTOOD, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL

A Visit to Lindogon, Simala

This is my second time to visit this talk of the town, the crying image of the blessed Virgin Mary located in the mount of Lindogon, Simala. No, I’m not a devotee to this patron but I’m still open to the opportunity to become one of them someday. It’s just that out of my curiosity that’s why I visited the holy place and only if I do have available time.

It was September 14, Sunday, a day after her usual date of showing miracles that falls every 13th day of the month. Together with my youngest brother Jay-r, and my youngest sister Jolina, we tend to visit the miraculous Virgin on the 14th day because we knew the holy place is no longer become crowded on that day. And since it was Sunday, a proper timing for us to join the holy mass before letting ourselves roaming around the place and have a souvenir pictures taken at the same time.

I took the opportunity to visit the holy place with my siblings minus Jason, my crippled younger, brother just to have a bonding and trying myself to be a good elder brother to them. I did it not just to be a responsible and respected one, but I want them to feel that once in their life, they have their ‘kuya” never wanted to be separated from them no matter what happens.

Just take a look at the pictures below during our moments at the holy place.

the entrance to the holy place

inside the church

the ceiling

A Very Nice Story

People were too busy that day preparing for the celebration of the New Year’s Eve, then there’s this guy who went to his working place to jam with his work mate to greet every body a happy new year. He was expecting to celebrate his new year with his girlfriend like what they did last year but his girlfriend went home to her home town. The guy jokingly bid for goodbyes for his family saying to leave something for him later as he might not come home on New Year’s welcoming. He kissed her parents goodbye and his two kids for he is a separated guy and went straight to his work place. But to his own surprised he was able to come home minutes before the new year, he went on the alley and park his bike, the festivity went on and when he was about to cross the street he saw kids picking up lost coins and fire crackers on the road so he crossed and manage the traffic both ways when a speeding motorcycle lost control and went straight on him, he was thrown several meters with out anybody noticed him first but to the driver and back riders of the bike that hit him. He crawled to the nearby side walk and collapsed, blood were spurting in his head and bathed him all over with his torn jeans. It took several minutes for him to be noticed by the by standers and rescued, most of the people witness the incident thought he was dead until he moaned in agony and realized he’s alive. But it was not that easy for them to lift him because they noticed that the guy suffered multi fractures on his leg, he broke his right femur (leg bone) and twice on his left tibia ( calf bone) but they have to rush him out to the hospital so they have no choice but to transport him through a cab and the guy was in dilemma screaming all his pain out, in an ordinary person’s view he could not make it due to blood lost, but… a miracle happened he gained consciousness. He fought to live because he feels inside that a lot of people love him and in need of his help, as if during that time he was ready to give up until a sweet cry boost his strength to live again, it was the cry of his girlfriend, as his weak body tries to deal with the situation he remained hopeless. All stored in his mind was it’s better for him to let go knowing the effect of his situation and also due to financial constraint. The day came when he’s about to be operated, he said to himself “only God Knows” he survived by the words given to him by his girlfriend and his parents, he feels ready to die that time because he knows his family would take care of his children “maybe this is my fate” he recalls. Amazingly in a span of 8 months he was able to walk normally again, work and endures sports normally just like the good old days, but the sad thing there is losing his girlfriend little by little because she works in another country now, this guy was not able to prove nor pay his girlfriend what is due for her as there long distance relationship is blurred with miscommunication and loneliness, now the guy recalls what’s the purpose of living if the person who brought you back to life is gone. “I live because of her” as he recounted the days when he was a step closer to death. Maybe people serves as a doctor in our life who shares their emotion when they are still working on us but leave us eventually when we’re okay. May God bless you all and always remember “when God closes the door, he opens the window”. And the saddest part of this story is when I found out that this story is all about………………me.