GOD SOMETIMES ANSWERS OUR QUESTIONS WITH QUESTIONS

I was motivated to scribe this blog after reading Ms. Lyn Juan's wall post , one of my colleagues from Wordbook about falling down and getting back up. I believe that life is not an easy and effortless matter; we cannot live through it without dwindling into frustration and cynicism. Family problem, health in bad situation, debts and bankruptcy, broken relationship, quest for power – these are just some of the reasons resulting to life bitterness and animosity. We think and say that we have everything we need, but then we realize that something is lacking, someone is missing. We then take somebody or try something more promising and end up with even more miserable life. Our resentment becomes greater when we have much and want more. We think we are deprived of life’s basic essentials when we can see clearly less fortunate beings around us. We blame our partners or blame other people and worst, execrate God for our miseries. We always explore to find somebody or something to complete and fulfill us where in fact nobody else can really provide it for us. Tonight, I have just finished reading a story from a Hebrew Bible. I bowled over, I twisted my own arm to get up from bed, turn the PC on to share and write this article for you. The story is about Job an exceptionally righteous man whose life was put to trials and afflictions. Job, certain of his own blamelessness, keeps up that his ordeal is unjustified as he has not transgressed, and that there is no basis for God to scourge him thus. By any means, he does not curse God's name or blame God of iniquity but instead begs an explanation or an account of his wrong doing. The scripture is mainly written in questions. Of the 288 questions on this holy testament many were from the mouth of Job. Suddenly when God eventually speak in the closing chapters, His answer to Job comes in the form of more questions. Out of the 288 questions marks in the Book of Job, 78 of them belongs to God, these are His replies to Job. What can we take from here? When our lives are put to the test we ask so many questions. Questions that leave us defenseless, powerless and impoverished. No one simply not willing to live with questions because most of the time it forces truth that we are unwilling to face, an honesty that may lead to live our lives in failure. But if we will take these life’s questions in a positive perspective we can simply find the answers. Sometimes God answers our questions with questions – questions that leave us meek, amazed, speechless and believing. No matter how discouraged we get, God has not asked us to do the impossible. He just wants us to explore His answers. It doesn’t really matter that we have more questions now than before. What matters is that we discover that the true answer to all our questions is our faith – that we have seen God as the truest answer.

GOD'S MASTERPIECE

Last night while preparing food for dinner, an evening show got my attentiveness. Too busy to peep on the boob tube, I just pinned my ears back to the program. The TV host asked the game contestant what he can say to his father .Then I heard the man saying " Itay maraming salamat, sorry dahil ikaw ang gumagawa ng mga bagay na ako dapat ang gumagawa, buhat ng mag-asawa ako ikaw ang nagpapagatas sa mga anak ko.Maraming salamat tay . . . I breathed out. Then I realized the main reason why a father's chore is no less than a mother's the most arduous job in the world is that it never end. The demands are day after day, week after week, month after moth, year after year and even when our children raise their own families... Our children we soon find out are here to hang around at least for a number of years. They don't show up like birds in the spring, then dash away at summers end. In fact as our children get older instead of putting our feet up our task seemingly augments. It's a job that never seems to get easier in spite of all those years of experience. It is a full-time job, with no reprieve, no postponement ,no time off even for sickness and recovery. A father does not stop caring just because we no longer the main providers. It never stops there. It's a father joyful pleasure to care for his children even after they no longer seem to need him. Even so fathers are human, subject to weaknesses, that they too have feet of clay, susceptible to errors just as capable of anyone else committing mistakes or sins against their children. A father must humble himself to admit that he can't be the farthermost and untainted example. He can only serve to emulate an image of a higher model. Although it may be the hardest for father to achieve, the highest examples of virtue a man can demonstrate to his children is to be quick to acknowledge when he has been wrong and seek his children forgiveness and compassion... God has chosen the father of each family to be his emissary in the home. When we became fathers He wants us to encounter a more profound achievement of security, He wants us to become shielded enough to challenge cowardice and apprehension to take the risk and make commitments. The happiest men and most satisfied in the masculine world today are those men who endowed a great deal of time and energy to his children. Fathers are the kind of masterpieces God had in his mind when he created man. When a man did his best to become a good father, God will someday meet him and will look at him to say "Very good, you have done your job well. You are a magnificent creature."

Happy Father's Day!

LOVE YOUR WORK, LOVE YOURSELF MORE

I accept as truth that people need work . . . but I intensely differ to people who deem that work is the most important thing in their lives or the only thing. We work because we must, but we have still the responsibility to love, to feel self-importance in, to venerate ourselves. Never work just for cash or power they wont salvage your soul or help you sleep at night, or fritter away your life in doubts and anxieties or stress and pressures. We may make a living by what we get, but we make a life by being righteous to ourselves and to others. Do not barter the bits and pieces of your life, time, for nothing more than money or authority - That is a rubbish bargain. If anything goes wrong, always be prepared to be more intelligent than the people who hire you. Gen. Joe Stillwell said: "The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind."

CHILDREN

We thought we are the middle of the cosmos, in fact long before we even gasp our first breath everyone is looking ahead of us. We captured your awareness. When we whimper everyone seems to come dashing. We coo and we chuckle then all of you start smiling. Everyone appreciates us. We are formidable during the time of total vulnerability. We are fussed over, calmed down, provided and every wish is granted. It was a stage of juvenile despotism. But this blissful state is not perpetual and we realized it with amazement. We are expected to learn everything. To walk, talk, tricks, including toilet discipline. As time goes by new demands arise. As we learn one skill we are ask to learn another and more. Then the world begins to be entangled by no-nos. Do'nts resound in the air. What happened to the glorious times when we could do anything we want? When we were constantly adored? Our hands are hit when we stretch them out to touch something forbidden. People frowned or shout at us because we are stubborn. Why? We had this love and adulation then suddenly it was gone and what are left are countless expectations and prohibitions. We need to stop playing because we need to obey. As we grow older, the world becomes scary with no guarantees. We are push onto the juncture of life without having the option to run through the line. The once adoring parents are now fearsome and redoubtable silhouettes after our back. Mom aborted our siblings. Dad becomes irresponsible. We are not even sure how life would supposed to turn out for us. Where have all the fun and bliss gone? The vows of the once indulgent parents? Listen to us. We want to feel significant. We are rejected and suppressed of the universal longing to be heard, to be loved and to be free. To be unbound against poverty,child labor,abuse and ignorance. We thought we are the center of your universe . . . but we are just CHILDREN.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Psalm 127:3

MY CROSS

Last night I watched Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”. Actually, I have seen the movie many times. Aside from love, hope, faith, and forgiveness this movie shows vividly how Christ carries his cross while being ridiculed, cursed, spat upon and was inflicted physical torments anyone would dare not to imagine. Jesus remained firm until to his ultimate stop for crucifixion. It was only at a later part of my life that I enabled to really understand Jesus Christ cross. It was not just chunks of lumber crossed-nailed together to serve as adornment for
His sufferings on His way up to the hill. The cross stands for trials. We have our own cross to carry in our life, and it is up to us how we will face the reality to take the burden. Carrying our own cross is not a fantasy we can just skip and vanquish; it is sufferings, discomfort, aloneness, miseries that God allowed to happen for a reason. I have encountered so many difficulties and there was a point in my life, I asked God why I have to bear the weight of my cross. I am not as strong as Him. I am not good. I am human. I complained too much. However, when I think how Jesus went through his own ordeal carrying his cross to be executed like a criminal, I felt a prick in my heart, and I realized how fortunate I am. Jesus performs great miracles but He left his being God in one corner to carry his cross as a human, as flesh and bone like me. It could have been easier, less agonizing for Him; instead He writhed and cried out in pain to bear the anguish of his cross to the very end. How could I have been a whiner when it was me who put Him on the cross? It was my sins that put Him there. From here on, I am taught to carry my cross. It is real as Jesus Christ experienced it. God at times put me to the test to make me stronger and find hope amidst the darkness. The cross is a symbol that reminds me that tribulations can be overcome. I know the cross I carry in my life is not heavier than I can bear and along the way as I sustain it on my shoulder my faith is challenged. I may lose my balance and stumble, at times slightly and at times real hard. Even so, each time I fall and do not know if ever I could get up again and God’s face is nowhere to be seen,I will trust under the shadow of His wings.

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trials; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
(James 1:12)

FOREST IN THE METROPOLIS

For those who still do not know of this interesting information, I maybe unpunctual with this news, but as the old axiom goes it is better late the never at all. Last March 1 the family went for an eat al fresco. It was a birthday treat for my youngest daughter Jessreel who actually marked her 2nd natal day on the 24th of February. Bored of monotonous and jammed malls, fast food chains and cinemas I chose to bring the family at the La Mesa Ecopark. When we arrived at the place I thought we would just see the same typical blotch of green plants and open spaces but beyond all these anticipations it was more than foliage as we enter the park proper. It was a seventh heaven full of promises! As we trudge our way to look for a place to set our picnic mat, the park seemed even more persuasive as it paraded its rare varieties of plants, trees insects and animals. Though camping and picnic sites abound around it seemed it runs a spot for us. It was actually Sunday. As luck would have it, after an exhausting walk we were able to see a good picnic site at the amphitheater. My wife and kids wheezed for their breaths as they dropped off into the grass all the stuff and picnic bits and pieces they carried all the way from the main entrance to the amphitheater but even so it was all right since the air is pretty fresher here. I was in command of everything while cuddling Jessreel lol! The amphitheater was a lot cozier reminiscent of the Banawe Rice terraces of the Cordilleras but more distant than the other places so some park goers opt not to have their picnic and camping set up here and we took that opportunity. We laid out our picnic mat under the umbrella of big trees as we shared the foods and drinks I prepared in the evening. My family felt that we were in place where we can get closest to nature while in the city. After the meal my kids kick up their heels around the area while Eva and I just watch them as we relax under the shade of trees sensing the cool soothing breeze. Jesreel, her Ditche (Pau) , Sanse(Days) and me also went to hike at the butterfly trail and hatchery. Eva and Ate Caca were left at the picnic post for a nap. After the trekking Pau and Days went back to the picnic area while Jessreel and me proceeded to the two hectares flower terraces. This is actually the La Mesa dam wall and at the middle of it is a more than 100 steps stairway leading to the reservoir. I managed to challenge my self mount the stairway while cuddling Jessreel. It was a tiring climb but when we reached the summit I was amazed to see the splendid vastness of blue water of the La Mesa Watershed. It was wonderful! I was fascinated while Jessreel was unaware what we were looking at is actually the primary source of drinking water of about 12 million Metro Manilans. Above the reservoir, partially concealed by swaying tree tops I can see some of the parks attractions below such as the fishing pond, paintball field, super ferry lagoon, swimming pool, orchidarium, fitness center and pavilions, biking, jogging and horseback riding trails and a lot more. Going down the stairway was easier but you have to take extra care or may find yourself bouncing like ball downward. Jessreel was already asleep when we came down from the reservoir and we went back at the picnic post. Eva and the older daughters took their turns to defy the steps of the dam. They posed and took pictures amidst the extravagant flowers of the terrace. . When they went back they were all sweaty, gasping for air as their knees were wobbling. Laughter burst into air. It was past 5 pm when drizzles forced us to pack up and rushed to nearby Narra Pavilion. Caca and Days took more pictures. As we waited the precipitation to stop, I was in deep imagination how in this hurly-burly, all the smog, traffic, crowded streets and slum shanties a forest as its size left remaining in the Metropolis. I thought I will need a dejavu to be able to see again how Manila looks like a century ago. If there is one place that can offer with less preparation and budget the experience and joy of boating or horseback riding of Baguio, or the excitement of swimming pools of Laguna or the adventure of trekking of Mt. Banahaw or picnic bliss in Tagaytay rolled into one - its right here. The La Mesa Ecopark covers 33 hectares, 10 of which are already operational. It rests within the La Mesa Watershed which measures 2,700 hectares and is overlapped by Rizal Province, Caloocan, Marikina, and Quezon City. It is a natural ghetto that pews in the middle of a city.
When the rain stopped we left the park with smiles etched in our faces and a promise in my thought to be back. The family has a lot yet to discover. Check it out!

HOW HONEST SHOULD WE BE?

My grade school classmate Edwin. has his Friendster shoutout like this: “Honesty does not always bring a response of love, but it is absolutely essential to it”This is very true , but how could love be expressed through honesty if we neglect our obligation to spare someone’s feelings? How could honesty express concern if we only think of ourselves? How someone could have the faith if somebody has raw honesty? I have heard a story about a man who admits to his loved one how he had wronged her. The man has been deceiving his wife all his life and decided one day to change his ways. The man seemed sincerely moved about his judgment and began to confess his unfaithfulness. His wife was aghast with his revelation and they started not to speak. A week after revealing to his wife that he has often committed adultery over the years, his wife went under the care of a psychoanalyst at a mental hospital. As a result of this tactless honesty everything about his life collapsed. What can we take from this? Disclosing the truth may be healthy and most often will not harm anyone, but there are times a thoughtless honesty can be very devastating to a relationship. We must always remember that true honesty should not be delayed. It is just like an icicle; once it thaws that is the end of it. It becomes an old sin. Confession of old sins may free the burden of guilty conscience and may bring a self-upright feeling but it is comparable to throwing up on someone. It may make the confessor feels good but it does not do much for the recipient, it hurts to the bone. It is often times like a painkiller that gives a temporary sedation than a solution. Sometimes honesty can be very self-centered thing, some people use honesty as a way to thump people under the outfit of a good person. I believe one should have to confess to God before anyone else and makes recompenses to the hurt party. A person has all the rights to be honest about his belief and intentions but he must not disregard his responsibilities not to offend anyone .It is not reasonable to liberate ones self just to get the load off the chest. Hardly ever ,people would think that lying is the best for any situation but clearly I realized that both telling a lie, and the truth has what it takes of causing harm. I also realized that honesty is not the highest value in the Christian life. It is not the best policy either. People may argue me about this but the highest values for me are love, faith, concern and the best policy is integrity. On my personal interpretation honesty and integrity have key distinctions. Look what is happening to our politics now, everyone seems to have a piece of truth to say because of self interest and greed. This could happen to any sort of situation or relationship. How can honesty be admirable and commendable if we are not willing to gamble harm to ourselves? Sometimes the reason why people want to tell what they know is exactly to loosen their pain and shift onto somebody else or to attain their selfish motives. Integrity saves the feelings of others by counseling our secrets. It is conviction of a true honest man of what is right and wrong. Integrity is an unselfish virtue... There is evidently always a time to keep silent and say nothing. Even Jesus Christ at one point did not say to his 12 disciples the truths that were beyond their comprehensions. Jesus could have answered the truth to all the charges against him but he kept still and to Pilate’s astonishment He just said . . .”no more”
The effort to say the unembellished truth sometimes boomerang and may lead to a rocky path to a weakened or worst scenario - broken relationship. Though I believe that honesty does not glorify sin nor justify it, it is sometimes the cruelest game. You hurt someone as you seem to feel self righteous about at the same time. How honest should we be?


Confess your sins to the Lord and you will be forgiven, confess them to man and you will be laughed at.

THE PRIVILEGE OF A MIRROR

In the gloomy and tranquil night when I am unable to slumber, I grasped a mirror and looked myself from it. A light spread and bounced into my face. I closed my eyes, and with clearness stimulated by relaxation my disappointments and faults tend to emerge before me like apparition from the past. I opened up my eyes and even more I find myself mirrored in almost every people I met.

With a kind of unreasonable persistence the mirror reflected thoughts and showed it off corner to corner from the screen of my mind. I see the faults I have seen in others are but reflections of my own. Their flaws, shortcomings and weaknesses, to certain extents are mine too. Perchance, some of my failures have not been as unpleasant or as evident as theirs but there were times I acted the way I should not supposed to.

Even though my letdowns seem less deliberate and I am not the same in some degrees or explicit ways for people who have not acted in total integrity and complete morality I am guilty too of my own imperfection. If I can always hold on to my mistakes I can see my own glory in the mirror and the clear ongoing process of my growth, renewal and transformation. I see myself reflected in a mirror and without speaking confesses the secrets of my soul...the truth that I am.

“The mirror will reflects back to the thinker what he thinks into it.”

TOUCH A HEART . . . CHANGE A LIFE

I have lain awake for several nights, I stood up and I pulled out a book from the ledge over my bed. It was an old book I haven’t read yet and I was clueless how it came up there. It has no covering for me to know its title and author. I flicked through each pages wanting to find something worthy of note to read. Then I traversed upon two highlighted words, pselaphao and eido .These are two thought-provoking Greek words which have something to do with touch, sight and feeling. Pselaphao as what the book defined it, means to intentionally feel, handle or touch. It is just like getting hold of and running one’s hands all over something just merely to look into for the purpose of learning its parts, make-up and substance. Pselaphao can be compared to people who get along with people for the purpose of only knowing them rather than molding, enlightening, uplifting them or helping them during tough times. Eido on the other hand means to see, but not as in a casual sight. Unlike the first, it goes much further, more to seeing with our minds in order to achieve an abysmal realization and understanding of something. Eido can be likened to those people who reach people to understand and learn them with empathy. It’s just like not physically seeing or feeling people, but in a very real denotation reaching out and touching their lives through other ways or medium. Sometimes we tend to figure out something by actually feeling its presence and looking at with it at close range. But can we understand something or somebody without actually seeing them? We can make connections to anybody without necessarily getting too close or feel their presence especially this high technology epoch, we can reach and make connections with people through different channels. What is important is that we are able to know the vital needs of others and encourage and influence them in good faith. People have the universal need to be important, to have someone who thinks well of them. Every last one of us longs for love and attention. To be significant. It is a stark reality that there are a lot of people who feels unforgotten and unloved or think that life is prickly trail so hard to struggle and too intricate to cope up with making them too engrossed with their setbacks and heartaches that they become unmindful and overlook so many of the small paradigms of how great life and love is. But the good thing is there are a lot of people out there too who set their own aspirations, outline their own course, spend time and energy not to only reach out these people but to carry others with them.. We can touch lives by insisting not to give hope for those who are in the threshold of their courage and faith or have lost their self worth, that life is beautiful and love is alive. We can change a life by a mere simple touch of kindness, courtesy and caring words..Life is to live to the fullest and love is not just to be taken but to be given too. These two most important things will goes on and on . . .Often times it is uncommon to show love, compassion and kindness because it is much easier to concentrate on ourselves and our own little world than to spare a little time of these things for others. Words may be forgotten, deeds may be put into oblivion but people will never forget how you made them feel. It only takes a moment of love, benevolence, and understanding to touch and feel a heart . . . and see a life change.

Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.Love life and life will love you back. Love people and they will love you back.

HAPPY HEART’S DAY TO ALL!!!

THE DREAMS COME TRUE, THE LEGENDS END

Rocky Marciano had looked up to Joe Louis. At a youthful age he would pin his ears back to the Brown Bomber's fights in the radio, daydreaming about someday boxing against him for the world championship. When that moment finally came on October 26, 1951, Louis was an out shaped boxer with worn-out legs. He was past his zenith. Marciano knocked Louis out in the 8th round of their celebrated fight. When asked what was his most threatening fight, astonishingly, he always said it was his confrontation with Joe Louis. The aging 'Brown Bomber' was his childhood hero. Marciano had to overpower a 'mountain' of unwillingness before he finally knocked Louis out of the ring. Marciano wept when he knocked out the person he idolized. Marciano was the only heavyweight boxing champion to retire undefeated.
Oscar Dela Hoya has won his first title before Manny Pacquiao ever set his feet in the ring. Pacquiao, who began his professional boxing profession at the young age of 16 fighting at 106 pounds, moved up two weight divisions from where he last fought, at lightweight just to make the "Dream Match" a reality. Unlike his previous fights where he was the top choice to win, it was the other way around. Boxing analysts for the most part of the promotion of this momentous fight favored the Golden Boy and branded it as a "mismatch duel". Jose Sulaiman, the WBC President said it would be a fight between a pachyderm and a hobbit horse. There was a total uncertainty and skepticism on Manny's capacity to subjugate the Olympic gold medalist and the ten times world champion in six different weight classes. When both fighters entered the ring last Sunday at MGM Hotel, Pacquiao seemed too self-assured and unperturbed in affixing his name in boxing history while Dela Hoya was sweating and tense because of the enormous pressure of being anticipated to win a fight against the much smaller man. As the bell rang to start the fight, the place was in pandemonium.15, 000 spectators roaring mostly in favor of the Golden Boy. Round after round Manny whip and fumed De la Hoya from pillar to post side stepping the Golden Boy's dreadful jabs and hooks frustrating the Golden Boy's game plan with his speed and footwork. Nobody believes that Manny would do the things he did in the ring in this fight. At the end of the eight round, Dela Hoya looked like a badly beaten man. What was publicized as "The Dream Match" quickly turned into "Oscar's Nightmare" as Manny Pacquiao gave the Golden Boy the beating and pounding of his lifetime after seven rounds. Just as the ninth stanza begins, Dela Hoya's trainer, Nacho Beristain flapped the white flag. Oscar then stood slowly from his pew, limped towards Pacquiao corner, gazed at his one time trainer Freddie Roach who masterminded the "can't pull the trigger affair", and quipped a straightforward declaration: "You're right. I do not have it any more."
When Rocky Marciano knocked Louis out in the eight rounds, everyone in the multitude seemed to turn against him. Louis' angry supporters were actually in tears; others were cursing at him. When Manny beat Dela Hoya into retirement in the opening of the ninth round boisterous euphoria rang in all corners the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Even Dela Hoya's admirers and Mexican crowd exalted the pound for pound king in jubilation.
During the post fight press conference Oscar was not around. The beating was so severe that he was taken to the hospital for "preventive measures". Many believe that Pacquiao switch off the shining stars that light Oscar's glorious boxing career. As what many and Dela Hoya himself thought would be a graceful exit to the sports he loves most, it turned out to be a bitter swan song for the legend Manny idolizes. Manny fulfilled his long time dream.When told that Dela Hoya was in the hospital, Pacquiao actually rub out a tear from his eye. And he said: "Oscar was my idol . . . he is still my idol".

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world."

WHAT WOMEN DON'T KNOW WILL NEVER HURT THEM

This doesn't have to be an obligatory action for husbands who go out like fire when unattended but rather an option to make up for oneself and save a relationship. I believe most women would rather prefer not to know the perfidy of their husbands than to know openly the agonizing truth. Women differ how to handle pain when offended. Some can easily forgive and forget, some can forgive but cant forget and others cannot both at all.So I would rather say this phrase is applicable on case to case basis. Revealing one's infidelity has its own setback. Truth, it can even leave a lasting scar in memory as well as in the heart of the one offended. One wrong just not justify by simply revealing it. It is a stark reality when us husbands cheated our wives and our conscience started to get up against us, we seem to unpack the burden of our guilty conscience by simply divulging our transgressions. Why cannot we keep it all by ourselves? Why us men did not think the consequences of our cheating in the first place? Is this fair for a betrayed wife the fact that she was the one done with injustice yet she ends up suffering all the pain of injustice? Our conscience means more than all the revelations we will make, my point is --- if we can lie to betray women why cannot we do the same not to hurt them but instead make an honest, sincere, silent atonement? Sometimes not everything that a man permitted to be told is an upright and heartfelt disclosure of mistakes because infidelity is just addictive. Some of us admit our sin because we fear our reputation more than our conscience and morality. Most often men obstinately regard their betrayal not as an unjustifiable, unpardonable self-centered choice, but rather as understandable mistakes. Once forgiven we are back on our business again. There are some of us who reveal too much, but prove nothing at all. Blessed are the men who have nothing to say and abstain from giving admission of his guilt but rather act in silent repentance. I strongly believe that he who honestly repents . . . repents no witness nor listener (God is more than enough) A true and honest remorse is just good enough to appease a guilty conscience. It is true that marriage is a relationship between two forgiving partners. Though forgiveness always come in an unbounded supply, but sometimes the pain we inflicted makes it hard to find while the wound of infidelity is still fresh. Women wont forgive unless they have believed. . unless they have understood. Husbands repent and sin no more examine the past, rebuild the present, plan the future. Wives, forgive to forget and pick up every shattered fragments of your life to start a new one. Husbands and wives , kill the sin and love the sinner.

"Repentance for silence is better than repentance for speaking"

MY HUSBAND'S WOMAN

After the day's frantic chores and routines Eva and I would savor and relish our bonding moment in the living room watching our favorite evening Koreanovela, My Husband's Woman. The story goes like this:

Cassandra Lee (Kim Hee Ae) returns to Korea after her Korean-American husband committed suicide due to business failure and deep depression. With the help of her bestfriend Jissele Kim (Bae Jung Ok) ,Cassandra starts her new life. She then meets Jerry Hong (Kim Sang Jung) Jissel's husband and falls deeply in love with him. Cassandra who has pragmatic, logical disposition even moves into the same community as the couple to be closer to him. Jissel, however did not know at first that her husband is having an affair with her best friend until only her sister Rosario (Ha Yoo Mi) discovered them kissing in the kitchen while everyone was outside in a barbecue party. Rosario told the two to keep the affair secret; for she was afraid her feeble sister will die once she gets wind of the affair. Cassandra decided to tell Jissel her illicit affair with her husband to stop Rosario's beating of her. Jissel who suffers from her own personal pressures to be a perfect wife and helps her husband become successful in his life and career turns her emotions into anger and hatred when she learns of the betrayal of her husband and good friend. The drama unfurls at this point in their lives…

This is a story of infidelity and repentance, hatred and forgiveness. Some men considered infidelity in women as a mannish attribute and some even believed that those men who love once or have a single affair in their lives are shallow people. It is a bare certainty when honeymoon has come to an end accompanying perhaps the commencement of restraints of parentage - the festival of love will grow sour and the love of wine will lose its bunch resulting in a less amorous and cold marriage. Sexually speaking, men and women respond differently in their sexual experience. Wives respond to sex more in terms of relationship, of affection and sharing than do men. Their sexual submission is far more directed precisely to their husbands, possibly at the hope for a child. A woman believes sexual union to bring her closer to her husband and to remain more intimate to him ever after. Most men respond to sex according to the craving of their sexual rhythms. Men are basically more artistic and experimental than women when it comes to love making. They have domineering behavior in bed. When wives unable to learn and respond to their husband's specific sexual rhythms men tend to look it to someone else who can satisfy his carnal desires and sexual tempos. Sex has its own heartbreak and 7th heaven. Realization of marriage may pivot on acceptance of our partner's total person. Husbands can make sex affectionate, tender and exciting by simply not doing sex for the sake of lust but for the purpose of their wives. Spouses should both learn how often, how intense, how slow, how fast, what gives delights and what offends. Husbands should learn to read the sexual languages of their wives' heart and soul, and in return wives should learn to read their husband's. When a man becomes an adulterer we obstinately regard our inter personal disappointments not as an unjustifiable, unpardonable self-centered choice, but rather as understandable mistakes. True remorse only needs confession to experience forgiveness that is always there in an unbounded supply. Show humility where life not only begins but also where joyful growth continues... True forgiveness is to forget in order to heal ourselves from pain and hatred we never should have felt in the first place. When a man leaves his wife without valid reasons for a union with another woman, he is not only breaking God's Commandments but at the same time he is making a decision that will only fuel and blow up his personal failures.


"Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
MAR 10:9

APOLOGY AND HUMILITY

Before anything else let me convey my apology to my grade school classmate Edwin Pillas and the rest of the people who were taken aback with my last two articles I wrote here. Although the contents of my last blog may sound too harsh and insensitive to my readers it was far way down subtle against the terms launched to me by my former workmate and I cannot just take a pew in one corner and take hold of myself. I think it is humanly and realistically predisposition to shield oneself or fight back when someone tries to threaten or disparage you. My only mistake was that I should not post it here. I have seven blogs in all I should have posted it somewhere else. But if I did that they would not know my side and judgment since I use fictitious names in my other blog sites. Pasensiya ka na Bro. . . . But it feels so nice to know that there is a lot of concerned people out there who reminds you what the best thing to do. Honestly, I just said my opinion and sometimes people are different in understanding and it is a natural reaction for someone to feedback on something she feels to be wrong. But with all uprightness my reply (to Shirley) meant not to cause slur or do I have any intention to offend or explode her feeling. I always make it a point to keep rather tacit or not jot down something to anyone because I am scared that I may utter something I will regret afterward, but sometimes you cannot just stay unspoken without people knowing your thoughts because I believe there is nothing to be scared of except the constant denial to find out the truth, the continuing repudiation to probe the reasons of certain incidents. Anyway, this issue is water under the bridge. I have expressed my apology and I leave it all up to her. I consider that apology does not necessarily stands for reception of guilt or fault or admission that leads to shame, or to a feeling of worthlessness and despair but rather one few ways to express self-effacement. It sometimes means giving up false security or turn back arguments which will protect us when we get pushed into a corner. Apology reminds me that I am human. A real man is not found in wealth, authority, status, intellect or fame, but in his meekness. Humility can makes a man into angel and creates within him a dimension for the nearest possible intimacy with God. Rest assured that I will not touch on this sort of issue again but rather hearten people through inspirational and motivating write-ups. You are absolutely right when you told me to stay on the positive plane. Sorry again to all my readers who were startled with the sudden turn of events and thanks Classmate Edwin for the aide-mémoire! God Bless you all!


He must become greater. I must become less
John 3:30

GOT THE WRONG END OF THE STICK . . .

Dear Shirley,

First and foremost I am not a "slasher" and I do not have the know-how to do so neither do I have it in my mind to be one. Perhaps you were slipshod in posting your critiques. Try to check your synopsis setting and alter it for your confidentiality. Take it easy, sorry if I spouted your bubble and I may seem as a demon advocate on your part. Honestly your blog is somewhat slapdash, sloppy and needs subtlety and well-defined amplifications. Blogging is not just all about writing, it needs brain and soul you cannot just criticize somebody or hurl hurting words to express your anger and disappointments. Or cite a bad model and make it as epitome for something. Because if you do that it will be just like what and old English idiom says " Birds of the same feathers , flock together". Blogging is a commitment for a specific purpose. I have explained my opinion, and opinion is just an opinion you can take it or you can leave it. Sabi mo nga di ba "Therefore, I urge them to write to me instead of making it incomprehensible. Friends can have different opinions, yet still be friends. I think it is exciting, if friends have different opinions and views on things and life and still respect one another" I think you misunderstood my blog's header (The Worst Example) . Granting the title is deceptive, with all uprightness I am not referring to you .Please try to read carefully, coherently and logically the entirety of the typescripts before you let go off your wrath. There are some points in our articles that are both obnoxious and deplorable to both of us and I can see that we are the same type of person that will not just swallow what is being fed into our mouth. I will never ever touch on names and why should I? I have been writing since I was 16 and a clever and proficient writer will not dip himself into the water to let somebody swamp him. I can make use of the splendor and virtuosity of euphemism yet recognize and absorb what I am trying to point out. I do not need to whack somebody's door. To illuminate and inform you, before I left the company I have said every word I have to utter and swiped and clouted it right before her face. I take pride and rectitude on this because I was the only one who was able to do it. Everybody knows that they saw it! I felt a gigantic load off my chest when I did that! I won my victory. . I sued her and she paid me. SSS/Pag-ibig contributions, 13th months pay, sick leaves, paid taxes on time and my salary what are these things? I do not have even the slightest indebtedness to be thankful with these ridiculous stuffs you mentioned. It's their compulsion and they have to go along with the rules as much as their employees adhere with theirs. They paid my salary because I worked for it. Yes I worked for quite a long time underpaid, under pressured and overworked. So you cannot just say I owed something to them. I did not nourished my kids with the salary they paid me. I have freelance jobs then that sufficed my family's need. I stayed too long in the company because I was dreaming I was happy but that dream turned into nightmare. Sack of rice??? . . . Installment yes pero may tubo, I should have seen you vaulted and screeched for joy if she gave it to you for free as what other more considerate companies normally do. Subdivision in Antipolo? It was a plan (or should I say strategy to fool somebody) that never came true. Yes they have tried to be benevolent by at least making promises. But as this famous adage says they are just made to be broken. You are all praises, admiration, commendations, approvals, acclaims, tributes, applause, compliments, recommendations, (what else?) because when you left the company it was on the apex of its grandeur and opulence of prosperity but when its steeliness gradually ebb year after the blames were pin pointed to the poor employees. Degrading each one of them by name calling them as morons, idiots and bullshits.Perhaps you do not know this because you are occupied savoring your Danish cook good life and the colleagues you left here still languishing with life's hardship but who cares? Why not ask the people ( specially your friends)left in there to know the truth? HIndi man ako naging mabuting empleyado . . . taas noo kong sasabihing hindi ako naging masamang kasama sa trabaho. I did not do something that caused sorrows and miseries to others.Harking back when you were just planning to go where you are now, you would pass into my art room trying to have a peek on the encyclopedia which was on the rear of my drawing table to ferret out where Denmark is, and at times asked for my unassuming artistic flair to work on some of the papers you need and your cousin's which was bound then for Faroe Islands. I was so euphoric then for you because I know you were setting out the right direction in quest for a better life. And now you have it and you are Shirley Allerup because of this company? I will respect you for that. But I can be what I am even if I did not have the chance to associate myself with this company. To tell you the truth my stay in that company was absolutely waste of time and talent. You are lucky because God gave you that opportunity and you acted with His will just at the right moment because if not you will meet the same fate. I admire your courage and strong will in chasing your rainbow. In fairness, honestly and without duplicity I have learned too a lot from this company … yes really . . . but not until I left . . . I have learned to be humane and help the less, to stand on my principle and not just swallow what is being fed to me, I have also learned to believe in myself and the importance of my family. Most importantly I have learned to forgive and have strengthened my belief in Him. I am blogging because I want to be a paragon to my readers especially to my friends and former workmates so I may awaken them and help eradicate stumbling blocks for them to gain access in new life. I know I cannot please everybody and that there will come a time somebody will get up against me. If I offended you, with all morality it was not the real intention. I have moved on and never have as wonderful and contented life than I have now. Dont you worry , I do not need to work with Bosses because I have bread and butter I call my own. PEACE!

"Perhaps it is better to be irresponsible and right, than to be responsible and wrong."

THE WORST EXAMPLE ( A Reply To Shirley Allerup's Blog)

Yesterday, September 5, I read Shirley Francisco Allerup’s blog.Yesterday, September 5, I read Shirley Francisco Allerup's blog. With due regards to my former workmate, I absolutely disagree with her. Her observations and remarks may be true but does that mean that all 91 million Filipinos are like that? It is unreasonable to pigeonhole out of some slight and improbable circumstances because I believe that Filipinos are moral, respectable and God fearing people although there are some cases several Pinoys are entangled in different waywardness and illegalities because of poverty and search for the good life. As what her friend GNP mentioned in his reply our struggle for survival is the cause of all these but nonetheless it does not make us a lesser race. I did see many times on television taxi drivers turned over millions of cash in different currencies left by foreigners inside their transport, heard stories how Filipino sailors fed and gave refuge to their own African stow-away detainees instead of tossing them out into the shark- infested sea which most white seafarers normally do. A domestic helper in Taiwan killed defending and shielding her employer against burglars who passed into their dwelling. Most of the time Filipinos too are victims of abuses by other nations. How many OFW"s languish and deteriorate in jail for crimes they did not commit? How many DH's were raped by their employers? How many Filipinas were abused, maltreated and almost battered to death by their alien husbands and went home with shattered dreams and lives in shambles? No one is flawless, no race is impeccable not even Americans nor Europeans . . . not even one. She also mentioned our former employer's axiom about being chagrined to be a Filipino. I am very indubitable not only her knew what type of morality and character this person has and all the cruelties and exploitations that until now this lady is perpetrating with her employees. If she is humiliated to be a Filipino it is because she doesn't own the innate qualities, decency and ethics to be called one. " Alam naman ng karamihan kung gaano kawalanghiya itong tao na ito, Hindi talaga dapat maging Pilipino ito!" I think Shirley really made the worst paradigm out of this person. The problem with us is that we only find faults and tend to send to oblivion all the goodness done. It's like staring at a huge circle sketched on the wall over looking and ignoring the tiny blotch inside it. We have so many things to be honored and delighted as far as being Filipino is concerned. We are known as affectionate, tender and devoted people. We do not leave our parents in caregiver homes when they get feeble and seem to become appendage to us but rather we take care of them. We lavish our visitors with our warm treatment and hospitality. We always dress in smiles despite the humongous adversities in our lives. Let us not blemish our dignity but rather embolden our pride to other race. There are so many men of different nationalities who wish to seek marriage and relationship with Filipinas. Why? Because Pinays would be archetypes of a loving, compassionate and caring wife and an idyllic mother for their kids. To be mortified of one's ethnicity is synonymous to self regret and embarrassment. Let us gaze back where we came from because in the end no matter how outlying we have gone through . . .we will find ourselves going back from where we used to be. I guess Mr. Allerup and his kids will best tell what kind of Filipino is . . .in the person of his wife. My two cents worth and God Bless you, Shirley!

"Nationality is respectable when selfishness, distrusts and conceit are all put aside for the welfare of humankind."

MGA KOLEKTOR NAGING JANITOR AT KARGADOR, BISOR GINAWANG TAU-TAUHAN, MGA AMUYONG NAGING MGA ADMINISTRADOR (Isang Kwento Mula Sa Telepono)

Tikatik ang pawis ko, galugad ko ang Metro Manila, umaabot pa nga ako ng Cavite, Pampanga, Batangas at Laguna. Kung makapagsasalita lang ang bulok kong motorsiklo matagal na sana itong nagreklamo. Pero wala kami parehong magagawa , kailangan makapaningil sa mga tao sa produktong matagal ng inaayawan at isinusuka, dahil kung hindi baka magalit ang amo kong walanghiya. Sige lang kayod lang, ginagawa ko naman ito alang-alang sa aking mahal na pamilya . Minsan kinakapos, nagagamit ko ang perang ibinayad sa akin ng kliyente, kahit alam kong mali ang mahalaga makakaraos kami sa maghapon at bukas ko na lang iisipin kung kailan at paano maibabalik ang pera sa opisina. Ilan na bang kasamahan ko ang natanggal ng trabaho dahil sa ganitong sistema? Ganuon din naman kasi, gumawa ako ng masama o mabuti, masama pa rin ang iniisip nila dahil sadyang mapaghinala ang tao. Akala mo ba lagi kang nangdaraya? Huwag sana akong matulad sa aking mga kasama, dating kolektor aba’y ginawang janitor at kargador. Yung una kong kasama, dati-rati manibela ng motorsiklo ang hawak-hawak , ngayon maghapong walis at basahan ang tangan-tangan ng pobre. Kung malas-malas pa, haharapin ang masangsang na kasilya, luluhuran at animo’y dinadasalan mapawi lang ang dumi at baho nito. Nakainitan kasi dahil wala ng makolekta sa mga “account” na pinagsawaan ng mga naunang kolektor at matagal ng nilalangaw. Nakalulungkot kung iisipin mo. Sa hinaba-haba ng panahon ganito lang and sasapitin niya. Ito naming ikalawa, nahuling nandaraya sa oras, imbes na mangolekta ay umuuwi daw ng bahay upang mamasada ng tricycle. Hindi ko alam kung totoo o hindi basta ang alam ko ginawa na lang siyang kargador at itinapon at ikinulong sa madilim na bodega. Naging tagasalansan ba ng mga encyclopediang inaamag at nabubulok na? Ito namang dati naming Bisor, nahuling nang-uumit inalisan ng katungkulan at ginawang tau-tauhan. Pero nuong araw akala mo kung sino, laging mainit ang ulo at paangil kung kumausap ng tao.Pero kapag andiyan na ang amo , hindi alam ang gagawin isang sutsot lang akala mo ulol na aso. Nabababahag ang buntot at takot na takot dito. Nakalkal kasi ang gawang multo, pilit mang ikubli hindi na nagawang itago at inamin na lang ng tuluyan. Ayaw mang lisanin ang pwestong noon ay pinamayagpagan at pinagsasaan, pero ano pang magagawa kung pinagtatabuyan na at inaayawan? Ang sakit naman! Parang sasabog and dibdib niya, pakiramdan ko pati mundo niya gumuhong bigla. Wala na ang dati kong Bisor pero alam ko nakatatak na sa kanyang isip at puso ang mapait na alaala, na kahit sino man ay hindi na nanaising balikan pa. Dalangin ko lang huwag sana maulit ang nangyari sa mga taong humalili sa kanya dahil pakiwari ko tila isang sumpa ang pwestong nilisan niya. Kung kamalasan ang inabot ng mga nabanggit ko, aba'y may mga kasama rin naman akong tila jackpot sa lotto ang tinamaan. Utusan dati,tagatipa ng makinilya, taga timpla ng kape, tagasulat ng dikta at yung isa imbestigador ng mga bagay na walang kakwenta-kwenta . . .abay akalain mong naging mga administrador? Kung dati-rati hindi sila pinapansin ngayon sila na ang tinitingala at kinatatakutan ng marami. Sumbong dito, sumbong doon, memo dito at memo duon, ito ang kanilang sandata at sikreto kaya mahal na mahal nga naman ng amo, animo sila lang ang tao na gustong mabuhay sa mundo. Walang pakialam kung nakakasakit o nakapeperwisyo at tila nawala na ang habag sa puso at katinuan ng pagkatao. Eh, ano ba sa kanila kung magsabi sila ng kasinungalingan? Maniniwala ba sa katotohanan at katarungan ang kanilang pingsisilbihan? Pilit silang nilalayuan dahil pakiramdam ng karamihan sila ay dinadarang ng mga katawan nilang nagniningas. Hoy! Nakakaawa kayo! Kahit man lang sa mga anak ninyo mahiya kayo!Namnamin ninyo ang kasarapan dahil ngayon ay malapit na kayo sa tuktok at pag naabot nyo na ang tugatog may masusulingan pa kaya kayo? Paghandaan lang ang pagbulusok dahil kung ano ang ginawa sa kapwa ay siya rin ang aanihing tama at sabay ang galabog. Ito namang mga kasama ko tila mga pipi pa rin at mga bingi. Gumuguho na nga ang templo ng Diyablo ayaw pa ring kumaripas ng takbo.Ngayon pa ba tayo mahihintakutan? Matagal din tayong nagtiis. Inalila at inalipusta. Bakit hindi tayo magsama-sama at ipaglaban ang nararapat? Huwag nating daanin sa kapusukan at galit dahil lahat naman ng bagay ay may kaparaanan at maaaring makuha sa hinahon. Kung may katuwiran bakit hindi natin ipaglaban at panindigan ang prinsipyong ipagmamalaki ng ating mga anak? Huwag tayong panghinaan ng loob dahil humuhupa ang bawat unos na nagdaraan sa ating mga buhay. Patawarin natin ang sa atin ay mga nagkasala , bigyan sila ng mga aral at kalimutan ng ganap. Manalig lang tayo sa ating mga sarili at higit sa lahat sa ITAAS . . . at tinitiyak kong hindi-hindi NIYA tayo pababayaan.

BLOGS CAN CHANGE LIVES

Josie: kuya ad mo nman ako sa YM mo...josie_pretty17@yahoo.com, tnx
jessie landingin: o ano na?
josie: hi, kuya.
jessie landingin: hallow
jessie landingin: musta na?
josie: ok nman, wla na ko sa pesi.
jessie landingin: o bakit naman?
jessie landingin: natauhan ka na rin?
josie: natauhan na kaso medyo l8 na. nbasa ko yung blogs mo, tama ka nga, mas masuwerte ka kpg wla ka sa pesi.
josie: sobra gulo na don.
josie: ang yabang ni dagul.
jessie landingin: heheheh. . . . tama yang desisyon mo bata ka pa wag ka manghinayang
jessie landingin: huwag mo na intindihin yun. . . . dapat maawa pa nga tayo sa mga tao na nanduon pa at patuloy na nagpapabusabos at hindi makita ang tiwala sa sarili. . .
josie: kalo mo kung sino siya.
jessie landingin: heheheh. masama ata loob a?
josie: di ah... hapi ako nakaalis na don.
jessie landingin: right!
josie: im here now, Philippines Airlines my future d2...
jessie landingin: i think so. ano ang work mo jan
josie: bngyan mo kasi ng lakas ng loob.
jessie landingin: ganuon?
jessie landingin: in what way na man?
josie: circulation assistant / billing section.
jessie landingin: thats good! happy to hear that
josie: dhil s blogs mo.
jessie landingin: heheheh. salamat naman at binabasa nyo blogs ko
josie: ngkaron ako ng lkas ng loob....tama ka tlga kuya, thnks ha!
jessie landingin: lalo tuloy ako ginaganahang magsulat
jessie landingin: u deserve that
josie: oo nman.
jessie landingin: matagal na hindi lang sana ngayon
jessie landingin: basta learn the lessons
jessie landingin: patawarin mo kung sino man ang may mga kasalanan sayo sa pesi
jessie landingin: forgive , forget and start a new life . . .
josie: kya nga cnsbi ko sa knila wag cla mtakot mag start new life, ganun tlaga sa umpisa medyo mhirap pero yung result ok nman. my good things silang ma22nan.
jessie landingin: tama. .. .
josie: dhl s gnwa nila sa mga tao....my bad karma rin clang marrcvd....
jessie landingin: let them know to express ur concern to them
jessie landingin: hahahahah!
jessie landingin: pabayaan mo na sila heheheheh
josie: yes...nakaaawa lng sa mga tao up to now inaabuso pa rin cla....
jessie landingin: basta magwork ka. focus mo yung mga disappoinments mo sa bago mong work
josie: hapi n tlaga ko d2...e2 na ang new life ko.
jessie landingin: congrats! and I hope u'll succeed
josie: kuya...try to help them, para ma realize nila my magandang buhay pa.
jessie landingin: thats what im trying to do
jessie landingin: kahit man lang sa blogging
josie: tama ka....
jessie landingin: i can only say or write my opinion
jessie landingin: its up for them to act
josie: i know mrmi nakakbasa sa blogs mo. and i suggest them to read ur blogs.
jessie landingin: ty! ano ba sa blog ko ang nabasa mo at nainspire ka?
josie: mrmi...sympre ung about P-nix.
jessie landingin: salamat naman kahit man lang sa pmmagitan ng blogs ko I can change somebodys life . . .
josie: pwde nman tlga yun...if youre willing 2 do sumthing new in ur life....di ba! ka2lad ko, feeling ko nun ganun kaliit lng ang mundo ko. And start reading ur blogs, mali pla ako....
jessie landingin: salamat! Salamat! ok i really want to talk to u more. bago ka ngayon jan. pag wala ka sa work mo usap tayo. I wish you good luck n your new work. Strive hard for success. I know u can make it. Thanks for reading my articles and God Bless you!
josie: thank you very much. I do!
jessie landingin: . . . over n out

This was the actual transcript of my YM natter with Josie, I deliberately modified some of the typescripts to camouflage her real character for security concern .This is one of the best recompenses I received from my blogging. It feels like drifting on Cloud nine to know you have touched someone's heart and changed life. People blog for different reasons. Some people blog for commentaries and analysis, others for their personal online diaries. Others blog for media and business purposes .Many professional writers monetize their blogs. Blogs are even used by some people to express their bitterness, rancor and antipathies against somebody. I take pleasure and joy of my personal blog because it was a fruit of forgiveness. My very first blog post entitled FORGIVE was the tiny glint that started this all. After publishing this article I felt a tremendous load off my chest. My wish that one day all people that had transgressed against me will traverse on this publication of my personal thoughts for them to know that I have forgiven them and my hope that I could change them for better. Blogging is more than a habit to me, it is a commitment and calling for everyone to know the truth because the truth is the grasp that will set us unbound, to trigger off and embolden people and rise above stumbling blocks so they can live their hopes and dreams, to share fancies and share the goodness of life for its real positive reception and enjoyment and to express endlessly my faith, gratefulness, my love for my family and above all to My Creator who gave me this endowment. Now, I guess I cannot live my life . . . without blogging.

"DREAM AS BIG AS YOU CAN DREAM AND ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE”

When Mark Andrew Spitz won seven gold medals in swimming and setting word records in each seven events at the 1972 Munich Summer Olympic Games no one ever envisioned it could be equated nor outshone by any Olympian. For nearly four decades, his incredible achievement stood as a benchmark. It was a humongous task for any athlete to break this iconic attainment in the field of sports. On August 17, 2008, Michael Fred Phelps outstripped Spitz's legacy and went for the historic eight gold medals in the Beijing Olympiad. His victories set an Olympic record and seven world records. Phelps also became the first person to win ten gold medals exceeding nine-gold-medal of Olympians Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi, Ukrainian gymnast Larysa Latynina, US swimmer Mark Spitz and sprinter Carl Lewis. Phelps 16 medals ranks second in total career Olympic medals, after Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina, who won a total of 18 medals (nine gold) spanning three Olympic Games.
Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Phelps in his youth was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention- Deficit hyperactivity Disorder) He started swimming at an early age of seven. By the age of 10, his superiority in swimming climaxed his many feats in the sport. At the age of 15, Phelps contended at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, becoming the youngest American male swimmer at an Olympic Games in 68 years. He won six gold medals and two bronze in Athens Olympics. After the Beijing Olympics Phelps momentous feat will go down memory lane forever and what makes him the greatest Olympian of all time? Phelps - known as the Baltimore Bullet worked out hard at an early age and maintained his unbending focus in the pool to realize his dream. He was inspired what Mark Spitz has done 36 years ago. Phelps said "Dream as big as you can dream, and anything is possible". In Beijing, Phelps finally harvested the fruits of his adversities and hopes and concluded his enthronement not only to become the best swimmer and Olympian of all time, but the greatest athlete of all time.

"Practice means to perform over and over again in the face of all obstacle, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. It is a means of inviting the perfection desired. Dreams come true if you survive the hardest time"

LAUGH YOUR HEADS OFF

I am a little bit late about this. Last Thursday my daughters Days and Pau were yelping and giggling in front of the computer while watching a video from YouTube. “ Ano ba yan, ang iingay ninyo!” I screeched. “Pa, tignan mo ito!” said the two. I drew near them and see what stuff was making them crazy. Pau put on the headset above my head. “ Pa, pakinggan mo at panoorin mo iyan ha?!” said Days. When Pau rolled the video we laugh our hearts out as we watch two lip-synching guys do their acts.

I’m talking about Moymoy Palaboy. This two Pinoy lip-synching siblings is the latest YouTube marvel. Lip-synching isn’t new in Youtube, in fact the first time I saw one was several years ago when two Chinese teens made it first, doing a lip synch of Backstreet Boys’ “ I Want It That Way”. But honestly, Moymoy Palaboy do it better and funnier. Using a Sony Ericsson W810i cell phone with a 2-megapixel camera and an HP laptop, the innovative music video act of brothers Ronald and Rofil Obeso debuted on the Internet in 2007 last February. Their first lip-synch video was NSync’s “Dirty Pop “and the following videos were sensational. Their “Wannabe” by the Spicegirls is currently registered at 1.3 million views and their 22 uploaded videos so far have 7.12 million hits all in all! Although the “Wannabe” is the video to beat I find the Lion King’s “In the Jungle” and “Marimar” the funniest. The very simple dramaturgical parody of Moymoy Palaboy has earned them buffs here and around the world. Out of fancy, their hilarious clowning were shot in a stark environs, in the poky living room of their Pasay City apartment, with “Mama Auntie “, their Tita nonchalantly strolling in and out of the picture. Their videos have ordinary and basic allure to the millions of YouTube viewers. These guys are making fun out of themselves to give joy to others and lighten people’s problems. They say they enjoy it too while making it big now. Watch out for more rib-prickling videos of Moymoy Palaboy. But for now let’s just show samples of cool and stimulating revisions of lip-synching spoofs and laugh your heads off!

SACRIFICE OWN HAPPINESS AND SEE IT IN THE END

I had an unfathomable reflections last night about what Carlo Corpuz, my high school classmate posted in Batchof83 e-group days ago. He has the point when he uttered these words "ang pag isipan na lang nating lahat ay kung papaano natin matutulungan ang mga kabatch natin na walang- wala sa buhay" During the past years some of us has been very occupied getting off the ground for meetings, parties, outings, reunions and the likes but have we thought on what Carlo was trying to hint at? I do not see any wrong giving precious time starting up these concerns because our school somehow benefits from it and give us the chance to re-unify with one another but have we really achieved something out from it? Or we really just want to relish the sweet savor of gaiety and cheer of missing the good old days of our youth? Or kick around our triumphs and showcase our attainments to blow our own trumpets in front of the less successful? Or the zeal to see someone how he/she looks like after 25 years? Or to think that our batch is the best amongst MHS? Have we made endeavors to ferret out and uncover those less known names of Batch '83 and see how they are doing? Or we really did nothing for them and sealed them off to oblivion because we think they cannot be of help? Tama si Carlo, sometimes people act and talk out of duplicity and egocentrism. Last week I have the chance to talk with a female classmate and we talked a lot of things regarding our batch and some of the unattended problems arising from within us. It was open and poignant, I tried to mollify her. I have one important watchword I left her . . . . "REACH OUT" . . . Try to reach out everyone, because they are all apart of us. If there is one undertaking that will genuinely give us the real significance of accomplishment it is none other than helping our less fortunate batch mates as what Carlo said and making worthy projects for MHS, and all MHS Alumni as a whole. Batch 83 is not MHS, there is a lot of MHSians before us and even a lot more after us. Though first and foremost our trust is on our own peer let us not curb the boundaries of ourselves to our batch alone. REACH OUT and sacrifice our own happiness for the happiness of others and lighten our minds to give us the real sense of peace, joy and fulfillment. You can break a strand of broomstick easily but when you put each strands together it becomes stronger and resilient. Everyone has his own role and responsibility to make this a reality. If Christ died for us, then no sacrifice is too great for each one of us to make for Him. God Bless MHSians!!!!