DEAR 2023

Three days before year 2023 ends, I wanted to sum up how the year has passed to me.  When the year is about to end every year, I’m used to do a year look back to see how the year has fared.  I am basically emotional in ending the year that made me older again, for not achieving the goals, and about the saddening events in country, in the world, and in our planet.  But I need to go on and be strong to looking forward the hope, good fortune, and the promise of new year.

Right after Christmas, I always feel the remaining days towards the end of the year seem so fast, irrelevant and no more bearing.  One week, six days, or five days, I have a feeling of those passing days are just formality to end the year technically.  I feel the last days of the year seem to be nothing and I don’t feel them anymore.  There are still birthdays of friends, there is Rizal Day holiday, and the Ninos Inocentes day but really I don't realize it anymore because they seem to go by so fast.  The New Year is calling, it is waiving and time is counting down.  Before the year ends, I want to reminisce what happened during the year.

Two days before the new year comes, I want to thank the small and tangible things I have achieved.  I want to appreciate simple things that happened during the year.  I want to relive the happiness I felt.  There are good and not so good but I still thankful to those not good for making me harder and wiser.  The year was not actually tough to me.  It was not rough, hard and sad though it was not smooth-sailing and did not pamper me but all in all, 2023 is indeed reminding me to count my blessings than make self-pity.  Yes, there were downsides but I have to accept why they happened and make their reasons blessings.

I want to thank the friendships I have today.  It may be just in our whereabouts today but for sure I will appreciate your being part of my life when the time we set our feet home.  Some of us are in distance but I really want to tell you guys are my friends that I want to have.  I maybe so quiet, unresponsive and expressive but if I can just teach my feelings to be talkative and initiative, I wish I could.  I want to appreciate the person who is doing effort to please me for all the crazy things I did and reminded me to not blame the guilt I feel about the person that I am.  And to my family, thank you for your nonstop kindness to me.   The small kids that I really love, they remind me how I was with you before I left our home 20 years ago.  We have missed so many things together but our life is meant to be like this.

As 2023 comes to near end, I am taking a step closer to the life I am dreaming of.  Today I am becoming excited to the coming new years because I am getting closer and closer to the new chapter of my life that I have been waiting long years ago.  Thank you 2023 for bringing me to Siargao and Hinatuan, this will not happen in the next few years if I did not pursue it this year.

I do not usually believe in new year superstitions but I always believe in meditation every time the old and new year meet.  I have to feel the sadness of pains and failures of the past twelve months but I have to look forward the joy and accomplishments of the new twelve months that they may bring.  Above all, I always trust God the process.  Thank you and bye 2023 and hello 2024.

SOMETHING ABOUT FRUITCAKE

I planned really well to bake a cake for Christmas. The long preparation started actually two months earlier after the good outcome of my first attempt of baking a fruitcake.  I was overwhelmed about its result albeit with small comments from friends to reduce the sweet and consider including milk for a creamy consistency.  Although I actually did not put sugar on it but the natural sweet of dried fruits and juice make the sweetness, and I know fruitcake is not made smooth but in my desire to gratify my friends, I added evaporated milk and reduced sweet tastes.

And so I planned to have another fruitcake that is better to surpass the first one.  And with the addition of red and green ingredients on it, it will be Christmas Cake that is timely to do on the holiday season.  And this prompted me to really plan what nuts to mix and fruits to consist of, when to start the first part of preparation, and little by little bought the ingredients needed.   I even soaked the dried fruits nights before the baking proper.  This time, the colors of cherries will make the highlights of my fruitcake, aside from the added dates, pistachio and cashew nuts which I didn’t have on my first fruitcake.

But sometimes even we have prepared for a long time ahead, there are things happen to make you obstructed and lost.  Even if you prepared, it will not go along to what we want, things simply do not fall in our hands.  On the very day which is on the night before Christmas as I planned, I was stressed of rushing home because of the last minutes jobs to finish, looked for a lost thing that was not really lost but just overlooked because of rush, system glitch of apps that I needed to do first so that I can start my baking process until the last minute I finally decided to stop the preparation to do the thing that I became compromised on that moment.

So I decided to do the cake on the next day which is Christmas day.  With my measuring cups and spoons, I had the whole times making the butter, combining all the ingredients, putting them in molder and baking them following the instruction.  When I checked and tested it, I am not satisfied of the outcome.  Although it can be good enough but I wanted moist fruitcake.  I still had time and I still have some remaining ingredients left although they are not as much as I had on the first, I had less amount of size of some of the ingredients, and the one that I didn’t want to put on the first bake – I put it here in this second bake.   I started making again, and when it was baked, I was surprise when tested it – I liked it.

There is something about this fruitcake and I have realization of what happened.  This fruitcake brought me an insight that sometimes no matter how you pursued and no matter how much you prepared, things will not happen if it's not meant to be.  Sometimes your attempts of perfection bring you to distasteful, and what you did without great expectation is what makes you really happy.  Of course this doesn’t invalidate the efforts we put in whatever we do.  We just do not everything.  There are just things we thought it supposed to be that we do not think what would happen if this is what happened.

ANG AKING PAGSUSULAT-3

Nagsimula akong magsulat ng mga kuwento at tula sa edad na humigit-kumulang labing-tatlo.  Ang mga isinulat ko ay produkto ng kung ano ang nararamdaman o nalalaman ko.  Maganda o hindi, kamalian o katuwiran ay isinulat ko dahil yun ang aking nalalaman.  Isinulat ko hindi para ibenta kundi upang idokumento at itago ang mga produkto ng aking pag-iisip.  Gawa-gawa o likhang-isip man ang iba ay katotohanan pa rin yun na iyun ang aking palagay, opinyon, pagkakaalam, at paninindigan.

 

Sa panahon ngayon, marami ang nag-asta na manunulat dahil kaya lang isulat ang kanilang mga salita pero wala naman sa kanila iyung sining ng pagsusulat.  Iyung naisusulat lang nang maganda ang nasasaloob nila pero ang totoo ay hindi sila marunong magsulat nang tama.  Hindi magamit nang tama ang mga salita tulad ng “ng” at “nang”, “raw” at “daw”, at “kelan” sa halip na “kailan”.  Nakakapagsulat lamang sila pero ang totoo ay marami pa silang dapat malaman.

 

Naglabasan din ngayon ang mga sinasabing manunulat pero sinasalaula na nila ang pagsusulat sa ngalan ng pera.  Sila iyung ginagamit ang kaalaman sa pagsusulat upang ang mali ay itama at ang tama ay gawing mali.  Sila iyung binabayaran sa pagsusulat ng kasinungalinan para sa mga pansariling interes.  Kung ginagawa man nila iyun dahil duon sila binabayaran ay hindi ko iyun matatamaan.  Mula nuon hanggang ngayon, ako ay nagsusulat kung ano ang aking saloobin, kung mali man ang aking saloobin ay iyun ang katotohanan at hinding-hindi ako papayag na maikumpara sa kanila.  Ito ang hindi ko magagawa - iyung babayaran ako para magsulat ng kasinungalin. At hindi ako maniniwala na mas masahol pa ako sa mga taong nagsusulat ng kasinungalinan dahil iyun ang trabaho nila, samantalang ako ay ipinipilit ko ang mali na pinapaniwalaan kong tama.  Gustuhin ko na ang maging hanggal dahil ipinaglalaban ko ang mali na ang pagkakaalam ko ay totoo kaysa ipaglaban ang mali kahit alam kong mali dahil trabaho lang nila ang gawin iyun.  Mas gugustuhin ko na ang maging mangmang kaysa maglason ng isip ng ibang tao kapalit ng pera dahil sila ang anay sa lipunan.  Sila ang sumalaula sa pagsusulat.  Sila ang naging dahilan ng pagkakaroon natin ngayon ng kababaan ng antas ng pag-iisip.  Marami ang mga hinusgahan at napahamak dahil sa kanila pero ang totoo ay sila ang totoong nagpapagulo ng daigdig natin ngayon.  Sila ang dapat turuan ng leksiyon dahil mas masahol pa sila sa kriminal. Buong bayan ang ginugulo nila, at maraming tao ang nilalason nila ang utak, at sinisira nila ang katotohanan kaya mas masahol pa sila sa kriminal.

 

Napakarami ngayon iyung natuto lang magsulat ay akala mo’y manunulat na, nagkaroon lang ng lakas ng lakas-loob ay taga-ulat na kung umasta, at matapang lang ay tagapagsalita na ang tawag sa kanila, at iyung nabigyan lang ng kalayaan na magsalita ng magsalita sa likod ng kompyuter pero sa harapan ay hindi magagawa ang katapangan, at tingnan naman mabuti kung paano sila magsalita, magsulat at kumilos.  Kung iyun man ang bago o ang napapanahon, ang tamang pagsusulat ay hindi mawawala at hindi dapat magbago.  Huwag kang magsinungalin dahil kapatid iyon ng magnanakaw.  Sa pagsusulat mo ng kasinungalinan ay ninanakaw mo ang kaalaman ng mga tao at ibinababa mo ang mentalidad ng mga mambabasa, taga-pakinig at manonood.

MABABANG TIWALA SA SARILI

"Ang sakit sa pakiramdam ng walang nagkakagusto.  Ang hirap ng pakiramdam ng hindi ka nagugustuhan.  Ang sakit ng hindi gustuhin samantalang iyung iba ang daming nagkakagusto.  May mga tao na ang dali-dali nila magustuhan.  Gustuhin sila.  Sa silid-aralan o sa paaralan, sila iyung gusto ng lahat tapos ikaw yung kahit isa sa wala man lang nagkakagusto sa iyo. Bakit ganun? Tapos sila iyung may pribiliheyo na sila yung makakapamili kasi marami may gusto sa kanila.  Meron pa silang reserba kung sakaling hindi pala niya gusto iyung nauna, o hindi matagumpay yung nauna.  Samantalang ikaw ni isa walang pumipili sa iyo.  Tinatanong mo hanggang kaylan ako maghihintay, aasa, magdurusa?”

Napakinggan ko ito sa internet, at nararamdaman at naiintidihan ko kung saan siya nanggagaling dahil dumaan ako sa ganitong sitwasyon.  Bata pa lang ay pakiramdam ko ay pangit ako at alam ko ng hindi ako gustuhin kasi naikukumpara naman natin ang sarili natin sa iba na nakikita o naririnig natin na maraming nagkakagusto.  Nuong nag-aaral tayo sa elementarya, kapag napipili ka na gumanap sa isang dula tulad pangunahing tauhan sa dula, bilang si San Jose o Birheng Maria, isang hari o reyna, o iyung napipili ka na sumayaw sa progr ama – duon pa lang ay malalaman mo na kung may kaaya-aya kang hitsura.   Ang totoo sa mga unang araw pa lamang ng pag-pasok ay pumipili na sa atin kung sino ang pinakamaganda para maging lakambini (muse) at konsorte.  Kahit alin sa mga ito ay hindi ko naranasan.  Kaya bata pa lang ay nag-uumpisa na akong magkaroon ng kahinaan at alalahanin sa sarili.  Pagkatapos, iyung hindi bibo sa klase, hindi naman nakakariwasa sa buhay, at ang mga kasuotan ay hindi naman kagandahan, ang mga ito ay lalo pang nagdagdag ng kalungkutan sa akin.  Hanggang umabot ako ng hayskul, dito mas tumingkad ang pagkakaroon ko ng kawalan ng kumpiyansa sa sarili, pakiramdam ng kababaan ng uring-tao, at naging mahiyain na ako.  Alam ko naman na hindi mahalaga ang panglabas na hitsura kundi ang panloob, pero naghahanap tayo ng magkakagusto sa atin at nangungulila ako sa ganitong paglingap upang magbigay sa akin ng lakas ng loob.  Ang ating mukha ang nagbibigay ng unang impresyon kung tayo ba ay kagigiliwan dahil hindi naman agad-agad ay alam ng mga tao ang kagandahan ng loob natin kaya nangangarap ka talaga na maging kaaya-aya ang panglabas na hitsura.

At naging kalungkutan ko ang aking hitsura dahil sa totoo nito ay napapangitan talaga ako sa sarili ko.  Kaya alam ko iyung pakiramdam ng hindi ka nagugustuhan.  Nag-iisip ako, bakit may mga tao na pangit ay mayroong artistahin?  Sabi ko, ang suwerte naman nila kasi hindi sila nahihirapan magustuhan, minsan sila pa ang nilalapitan, at nakakapamili pa dahil marami silang pagpipilian.  Marami silang bentahe bukod sa paghahanap ng kasama, mas madali rin silang matanggap sa trabaho, mas maraming papuri, mas nagkakaoon ng tiwala sa sarili samantalang ako, kailangan pang may patunayan muna bago mapansin at magustuhan.  Gusto kong pumuti, maging manipis ang ilong at mga labi, maging makitid ang hugis ng mukha, at magkaroon ng makapal na balahibo sa binti at braso.  Nuong hayskul ako ay naranasan ko pa ang ayawan ako ng kapareha ko sa sayaw dahil ang pakiramdam ko ay dahil sa hitsura ko.  At nang hindi ko malapitan ang magandang babae na gustong-gusto ko dahil pinangihinaan ako ng loob dahil sa aking hitsura, nuon ako sumuko at hinayaan ko na lang kung ano ako.

Nang sumapit ako ng tatlumpung-taon, unti-unti ay tinanggap ko ang sarili ko kung ano ang mayroon ako at tinuklas ko kung saan ako maaaring gumaling at magiging masaya.  At duon ako humugot ng lakas ng loob at tiwala sa sarili.  Ang paggawa ng malikhaing-pagsusulat, pagkakaroon ng hanap-buhay, kakayahang magpunta sa mga magagandang lugar na gusto ko, at mga bagay na mahalaga sa akin – ang mga ito ang nagiging dahilan ng aking pagiging kuntento.  Ngayon ay wala na akong pakialam, may buhok o wala, malapad ang labi o hindi, hindi ko na ito iniintindi, hindi na ito mahalaga dahil aanhin ko pa ang hinanap kong hitsura kung para saan pa?  Ngayon ay ramdam ko na ang payo ng mga matatanda na ang panglabas na hitsura ay hindi ang kailangan para maging masaya, kuntento, buo ang loob, at magtiwala sa sarili.

HOW I MADE MY SIMPLE FRUITCAKE?

 

SIMPLE INGREDIENTS:

Powder:

2 cups flour

1/2 cup mascuvado sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

 

Liquid:

1/2 cup juice or brandy/rum

2 teaspoons vanilla essence(optional)

1 cup melted butter

6 beaten egg

1/2 cup water (back-up)

1 cup sugar for caramel syrup (optional)

 

Solid:

1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup candied pineapple chunks
1/2 cup red and green maraschino cherries (seasonal)

 

SIMPLE PROCEDURES:

Soak the dried fruits overnight

Mix all powder, then set aside

Mix all liquid, then add all solid ingredients (keep 1/3 of soaked dried fruits for toppings)

Combine the mixed powder and mixed liquid/solid

Pre-heat the oven at 300 degrees F.

Grease the mould

Pour the mould with mixtures

Bake for first 20 minutes

Top the remaining soaked dried fruits and bake for another 40 minutes

Lastly, just eat right

 

PANANABIK SA NAKARAAN

Kapag naikukumpara ang kasalukuyan sa nakaraan, madalas mariirinig natin ang sinasabi ng marami sa atin na mas gusto nila ang hitrusa at pangyayari ng nakraaan sa kadalihalang mas maganda at mas maayos noong araw kaysa ngayon.  Sinasabi ng marami na mas gusto nila ang bahay nuong araw na gawa lang sa kahoy, kalsasang hindi sementado, at mga bakanteng lugar na wala pang mga naglalakihang istraktura.  Mas gusto nila ang buhay na simple lamang na walang malaking luho kundi ang magsaya lamang sa daan, ilog at bundo.  At sinasabing mas madali ang buhay at idagdag pa na mas malinis ang lugar at hangin nuong araw kaysa ngayon.  Ito ba ay katotohanan o pagkukunwa lamang?

Totoo na malinis ang kapaligiran, sariwa ang hangin at tubig, at masagana ang kapaligiran nuong araw dahil kakaunti pa lamang ang mga tao nuon. Pero ang sinasabing kapaligiran at simple at madali ang buhay nuong araw, ito ay pananaghili na lamang. Sa mga tao na pakiramdam nila ang kaluluwa ay parang nabuhay sa nakaraan, may konesiyon sa kalikasan, at yung mga tao na may pagmamahal o mahilig sa nostalgia at sa mga lumang bagay, mauunawaan na magugustuhan nga nila ang nakaraan.  Pero ang ibang tao, maaaring nanaghili na lamang sila kaya nila nsasabing gusto nila ang buhay nuong araw o ang bumalik pa sa nakaraan dahil napapagod sila sa ibinibigay ng ngayon.  Anumang bagay na wala na ngayon ay gugustuhin natin makita,  anomang bagay na nawala ay saka lamang mauunawaan ang halaga kapag wala na.  Kaya kung naikukumpara natin ang ngayon sa kahapon, hahanap-hanapin nga natin ang nuon kasi hindi na natin ito nakikita at makikita pa.  At ito ang nangyayari sa atin, hinid na maaaring puntahan ang nakaraan kaya sa ala-ala na lamang.

Ang tao na makabago, magarbo, at natural na masigasig ay hindi mapapahalagahan ang simpleng buhay nuon.  Oo, maaaring sa mga unang araw, linggo, buwan at taon ay magugustuhan nila pero yung ganuon na ang buhay nila habang buhay na hindi naman nila pagkato ang kasimplihan, katahimikan, at kakonserbatismuhan ay mahihirapan nilang yakapin ang ganda ng buhay sa probinsiya.  Kaya marami ang lumuluwas sa siyudad dahil nababagot sila sa liblib na lugar.  Sinasabing mas maayos o mas maganda ang buhay, o mas masagana ang buhay nuong unang panahon, ngunit kung ating iisipin ay sa kadahilanang simple lang ang buhay nuong araw kung kaya kakaunti lamang ang pangangailangan ng buhay na tugma nung panahon na yun kaya maaaring masagana ang buhay.  Ngunit malamang, ang mga tao nuong panahon na iyon ay naghahangad din ng pagbabago at nangangaap ng teknolohiya para sa mas maganda, mas mabilis at mas makabagong buhay kaysa sa kung ano mayruon nuon.  Maaaring wala silang pagpipilian nuon kundi gamitin ang mga mapaglilibangan na magagamit at yun kasi ang napapanahon nuon.  At hindi pa tugma ang mga bagay na mayroon tayo ngayon nuong panahon na yun tulad ng makinang pang-laba, matulin na sasakyan, telepono atbp. dahil hindi pa naman tayo nagmamadali nuon.  At may kahirapan na nuon kung kaya marami ang lumuwas ng kabisera upang magbaka-sakali ng magandang buhay.

Sa panahon natin ngayon na maraming nakikita na mga lugar na puno ng mga tao at namumutiktik ang mga istraktura, mga gusali na nagtataasan kaya hindi na natin natatanaw ang nasa malayong lugar at ang kalikasan kung kaya ang kapaligirn ay nagsisikip, kaya marami ang nakakaramdam ng kapaguran, nananaghoy ang mga tao sa dating malawak at maaliwalas na lugar.  Ang mga tao ay dumami, hindi nagplano ng pamilya, nagsiluwasan sa siyudad ang mga nasa liblib na lugar. Kung kaya sumikip, dumumi at sinakop ang mga bakanteng lugar at kabundukan.

 

Related: Noon at Ngayon (posted August 2022)

13

Is the saying true when often together

things turn boring, cannot do any better?

Many full moons and suns have revolved

around the 13 years of topsy-turvy world.

Come to think of it:

When things have changed

when you miss the old you used to be.

If the before is not the same as the after

then how can you hold on together?

You’ve been through high and low

in rain and shine, sadness and joy.

Through the years you go to the test

would you two able to pass the 13 jinx?

You can go the miles and the heights

but sustaining is always the challenges

 

Would you think…

a connection made just for fun

will be strong enough to last?

Maybe is it too petty to be huge one

or you just go with the flow of time?

Why don’t you stop and talk a while?

Why not thank than dig on the past?

Little things add up will make big blast.

Indeed you'll find more good than bad.

If you want make this 13 years and counting

in the life of a roller-coaster ride living,

forget the curse and start keep on rolling.

If things have changed, maybe it’s for the best.

Go, take the present time, and be positive at least. 

PAGBABAGO

Ano ang hangganan ng amor at awa?

Ano ang hangganan ng mabait at tanga?

Hanggang saan nga ba ang hangganan?

Maraming beses nasaktan ka na

pagpapaubaya pa rin ang kayang gawin tuwina.
Pinipili mo lang maging mabuti kaysa maging tama.

Ngunit kung paulit ulit ginagawa
iyung alam na kung saan ka nasasaktan.
Malalampasan pa ba ang sumpa
ng labing-talong kamalasan?

Ayoko ng ganito, gagawin niya iyon.
Gusto ko sana ito, iyon ang iiwasan sa iyo.
Huwag mo ng gawin iyan, hindi ka pakikingan.
May sasabihin sa iyo pero di naman ginagawa.
Pinamumukha sa iyong may mas magaling na iba
sa maraming beses, kaysa sa iyo ay mas pinili siya.
Ikaw itong nagpapakahirap at nagpaparaya
pero ikaw pa ang tila binabale-wala.
Mayroon mang mga bigay na sa iyo’y nagpapasaya
ngunit pagkalipas niyon ay may kapalit pala.

Ang lahat ng mga ito sa iyo ay nananalasa.
Kaya gaano kasakit at sa wakas ika’y magsalita
dahil ang kabutihan ay hindi laging tama.
Baka panahon na nga na magbago ka na.
Baguhin ang pagkatao, ang bagong ikaw na.

SANGANG-DAAN

Kapag humihingi ka

kapag nakikiusap ka

kapag nagmamakaawa ka

nang paulit-ulit

maraming beses

matagal ng panahon,

kapag pakiramdam mo nagmumukha ka ng tanga,

at kaawa-awa,

kailangan mo pa bang magpatuloy?

Nasa sangang-daan ka.

Kailangan mong magpasya

kung saan ka pupunta.

Sa kanan o kaliwa ba.

Siguro ay oras na para sumuko

para tanggapin,

para sa sarili mo

na sarili mo naman ang intindihin mo.

Ipaubaya mo na.

Dahil kung uukol

hindi ka na magpapaulit-ulit, ulit-ulit, at ulit-ulit.

Dahil hindi ka naman niya matitikis

kung wala siyang ibang mas nais.

"LOVE THE PHILIPPINES"

This is my reaction to Department of Tourism (DOT) new slogan that launched on July 5, 2023.  The Philippines’ DOT has new slogan from decade old “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”, it was changed to “Love The Philippines”.  I am a fan of local travel.  I am not so much interested to travel to different countries because I believe my Philippines is much better than those fancy international destinations that most of my kabayans are keen of choosing.  For one thing, I am a nature lover than modern-time mindset.  Besides, I would better support my own and patronize our own products.

 

I am not a commentator here per se, but I think it is just rightful for me to react because since I love going to different beautiful places in the country, I am in the position to have natural reaction when the DOT new slogan campaign was launched.  About two days after its debut, initially the first reaction I had was to ask “what love, why love the Philippines.”  Definitely there is nothing wrong to love the country but what initially I felt was what is that love that it wants to convey?  With only three words, it was like being left hanging.  Why?  What?  The word love is nice.  It is positive word but to use it in that way it gives different connotation that can be negative.  The way it is written, is it a command to love the country, our country? It is dictatorship.  Or is it kind of saying a loving Philippines?  Does it mean Philippines is love?  The new slogan brought questions of whats and whys.    What is love the Philippines? What love is the Philippines? What Philippines has to love? Why Philippines has to love?  Why Philippines love?  And it was followed by my impressions that it was so simple, unappealing and ambiguous.  Others said it is cringe because it is begging or imperative and imposing.

 

Unlike the predecessor that was a straightforward phrase, the new slogan is vague.  But when I read the context of the slogan and watched the slogan video, then I realized the clear message and it is nice. It is how much there is to love about being Filipino and how much there is to love about the Philippines.  When you understood our heritage, culture, story, history; you will definitely love our country. When our guests experienced the places, views, hospitality, foods, adventures and the moments, they will love the Philippines.  Love the Philippines for it has the beauty that will enchant you. Love the Philippines for its colors that will mesmerize you and sounds that will spell you. Love the Philippine for the fun that you will miss, the places that you will look for, and the people you will be thankful you met.  What we have will become the reasons to love the Philippines. Love the Philippines is loving everything about Philippines that you will love to keep on coming back to the places.

 

Love The Philippines the slogan is an emotion and an expression.  It is expressing that with all these good things in the Philippines, you will just feel and say you love the Philippines.  You will understand and appreciate it when you watched the campaign video but reading the slogan alone, it gives unfavorable feeling.  And honestly, it is not catchy – no catchphrase and it is not something that leaves remarkable good impact – no recall.  To fix but need to keep the words “Love the Philippines” without being sound dictator, I would like to make it “Love Is The Philippines”, and this is original from me.

 

If I were to make the slogan, I made two slogans on which one is an in-depth impact while the other one is a happy-vibe.  “Thousands of Paradise Philippines” and “Feel At Home In Philippines”.  The first one is representing the archipelago of beautiful places of the Philippines, while the second doesn’t sound imposing or commanding but it is symbolizing the hospitality of the Filipinos.  “Feeling Philippines” is a catchy rhyme and quick recall tagline but I am not sure if it is grammatically correct.  I have thought of many more but their sounds are not original.  “Thousands of Destinations Philippines” is supposedly but Botswana and UAE have presently used the word destinations.  Another is “The Enchanting Philippines” but Myanmar have used the root word “enchant” while the root word “amaze” was used by Ghana and Thailand.  Senegal and Belarus have already used “hospitality”.  In the context of the word love, “Fall in love with Philippines” and “With Love Philippines” are my propositions.  And lastly “Philippines The Place To Be”, while “Be the Philippines Guests” are my bottom most ideas.

#LoveThePhilippines

THE LATE BLOOMER THAT AM

Apart from sincere prayers, strategies and skills are the keys that matter most, not persistence, focus and belief, to achieve your most sought goals.  We were so determined to believing as our young and restless self can achieve the goals during our early times.  But as new and young dreamers, our resources are limited that no matter how persisted we were, things did not land to our hands because we were either incapable or unskilled, or our plans or tactics were raw and not feasible during those early times.  Our keys to achieve our most sought goals did not fit in the situations then because our strategies and skills were not enough as young and underprivileged.  But given the chance our keys to achieve our sought goals then to happen now, maybe we are already equipped enough to have the courage of bolder strategies and honed years of experience.

 

Then, and now I feel am ready today but it is already late.  There are some points in my life, perhaps many times, that I get my let say life’s achievements, moments and highlights in later times. I achieved few accomplishments just few years back, got some milestone in my later years, learned the latest technologies and planned my future just lately – I am late bloomer. Of course, it is better late than never, but the time, perseverance, and yes sufferings I had endured were just so long before the important things happened in my life.  While I am getting better at my later years, those who were established long before are getting even better.  If I had seven-digit riches at my age today, but there are those at my same age have three times bigger net asset than me.  That is the difference of being a man waited for long and being an accomplished man early.

 

But why are there people who have become accomplished even though they are still young, whose strategies and skills are enough even at their young age?  If you were born with silver spoon, if you had family’s good connection, if you were sent to good school, if you received something from your parents, if you have any or all these resources then you will have good chance of correct strategies and trained skills. But if you started from zero or you started all by your own, hard works and struggles will be real. But again, skeptic side of us will say there are underprivileged people succeeding early.  And our answer, yes there are young and underprivileged succeeded early but they are only a few.  In reality, the bigger part of people are struggling very hard to earn for a living, it’s real talk.

 

Strategy is prioritization.  They said it just a matter of prioritizing what you want no matter how difficult your situation is, make your priorities at all cost at any cost.  It has been repeatedly said many times and it sounds broken-record but why can't it be done if it's easy?  Well if your strategy is to prioritize yourself over anybody, then you will most likely go up and high.  But the question is how easy it is to prioritize your future over the current needs of your family, friends and love ones.  It is just a matter of priority but it is easier to say than do.  There are victims of this prioritization.  They are the head of the family, and they are bounded, or bind.  They know the importance and benefits of investing today, and of course, they really wanted to prepare their future but for those minimum wage earner head of the family – how hard the struggles?  Would you rather put your money in savings than pay your dues?  Would you rather fix the future when the need to settle the obligation is today?  Would you rather invest than attend the present needs?  Would you rather get insurance plan if your budget is insufficient?

 

My advice based on my lesson learned: start early because time is always our enemy.  Work, save, get plans, invest and travel – these are the things that are difficult to achieve when you get old.  It is better late than never but it is even better when doing it earlier.  Well I know this is difficult especially when we are always trying to make ends meet.  My second advice, learn to prioritize and stick with it.  And third, make budget and follow religiously.

MAGKABILANG MUNDO

Nang makalapag ako sa aking destinasyong may 762 kilometro ang layo mula sa pinangalingan kong siyudad ng Maynila, ang mga unang tumambad sa aking paningin ay ang napakapayapa at napakaaliwalas na kapaligirang namumutiktik ng mga punong natatanaw sa nakapalibot na kabundukan.  Mula sa paliparan habang binabagtas ko ang kahabaan ng daan papunta sa kabihasnan ay walang tigil ang aking nararamdamang nakakaluwag sa dibdib at paghanga sa mga nakikita kong napaka-natural na kapaligiran sa paanan ng bundok at man din ay napakapayak na pamumuhay ng mangilan-ngilang namamahayan dito.  Malinis, napakanatural at simple lamang ang Siargao.   Mula sa tatlong araw ko sa Siargao ay nagtuloy ako sa Siyudad ng Butuan upang makita ang isang ilog na matagal ko ng pinapangarap makita.  Ang pagpunta ko duon ay naging mahaba at nakakapagod na biyahe, ngunit sa loob ng may labing-isang oras ay naging tila telon sa pinilakang-tabing ang aking mga nakikita sa mga nadaraanan.  Hindi ko na ininda ang tagal ng biyahe at higit sa kagalakan kong makita at mapuntahan ang tinatawag na nakakagayumang ilog ng Hinatuan (Hinatuan Enchanted River) ay may mga katotohanan at aral akong natutunan.

Habang binabaybay ko ang mga daanan, naisip ko na may ibang buhay dito.  Habang ang Maynila ay tutok sa mga kaganapang-politikal, abalang naglalakihang pamilihan, ingay ng mga tao at sasakyan sa kalsada mula Pasay hanggang Kalookan, Quezon City, sentro ng Maynila at mga kalapit na kalakhang-Maynila, dito sa napakalayong probinsiya tulad ng Surigao ay gumagawa sila ng kanilang sariling buhay.  Mayroon silang sariling kasiyahan na pinagtutuunan ng oras at binubuo ang sarili nilang kuwento ng buhay.  Dito sa napakalayong lugar na nagsisimula ng umunlad na mga bayan ngunit masasabi pa ring napag-iiwanan pa ng makabagong-buhay ay bakas pa rin ang makalumang tanawin ng bundok, bukid at dagat.  Bakas pa rin ang makalumang pamumuhay ng mga bahay, damit na kasuutan, mga disenyo ng kapaligiran at maging mga kaugalian, ngunit may sariling kasiyahang nangyayari dito lamang.  Sa bawat istasyon ng bus na nararating sa magkakaibang oras, ibat-ibang tagpo ang sumasalubong sa aking mga mata.  Mga tindero at tindera ng kakanin, mga nasa kalagitnaan ng buhay na hindi ko masabi kung naghahanap-buhay o nagbibiyahe lamang, mga estudiyante pagsapit ng ika-tatlo ng hapon, at ang mga manggagawa na nakasimpleng pananamit.

Sa may tatlong pagkakataon ay naranasan kong makipag-usap sa mga taong ganap na hindi marunong magsalita ng tagalog.  Hindi ko sila itinuturi na pagkadismaya, kundi medyo kakatwa lang sa pakiramdam iyung mismong nasa sarili mo ng bansa ay hindi pa kayo magkaintindihan.  At nakaramdam ako ng awa dahil gaano kahirap ang pinagdaanan nila para hindi nila mapag-aralan ang salitang ginagamit sa sariling bansa nila.  Ilang pampublikong paaralan ng mga elementarya ang nakita ko.  Mababang nababakuran ang malalawak na lupain, maaliwalas ang pagkakagawa ng mga silid-aralan na nakahilera sa kahabaan ng lupain, at napakalawak ng mga bakanteng lupain na maaaring galawan ng mga bata.  Nanumbalik ang aking alaala nu’ng ako ay elementarya pa na malawak ang aming ginagalawang lugar sa loob ng aming paaralan.  Malayo sa hitsura ngayon sa mga paaralan sa Maynila at karatig-bayan na siksikan dahil maliit ang espasyo na galawan, at ang mga gusali ng silid-aralan ay halos dikit-dikit.

Sa ilang terminal ay nakakakita ako ng mangilang kabataan na alam kong nasa yugto ng pagliligawan.  Ito ang sa palagay kong kasabay sa mga kabataan sa Maynila dahil pagdating sa nararamdaman ng puso ay parehas lamang nasaang lugar ka man.  Sa humahagibis na mga bus na tulad ng kinasasakyan ko, nadaraanan ko ang mga batang kumpulan na naglalakad sa gilid galing ng paaralan pauwi sa kani-kanilang bahay na ilang oras kaya nilang lalakarin.   At sa ganap na alas-sais ng hapon habang unti-unti ng binabalot ng dilim ang kapaligiran, sa binabagtas ng sasakyan ay mangilan-ngilan na lamang ang mga taong naglalakad na aking nakikita.  Hanggang sumapit ang ika-pito ng hapon at ganap ng madilim, sa mga bahay na nahahagip ng paningin ko sa nadaraanan ko ay tila ang mga tao ay nasa kani-kanila ng bahay at marahil ay naghihintay ng hapunan habang naghuhuntahan o nanonood ng telebisyon.  Pasado ika-walo ng gabi ay nakarating ako sa huling istasyon ng aking biyahe.  Wala na halos katao-tao, tila walang mga istraktura akong makita sa paligid, at tulad sa mga pelikula, isang maliwanag na ilaw lang ang tumatanglaw sa akin mula sa mataas nitong kinabibitinan ngunit ang paligid ay binalot na ng dilim nang lumayo na ang bus na aking sinakyan.

Iba ang takbo ng oras ng nasa malalayong lugar.  Kung anoman ang mga nangyayari sa Maynila, meron silang mga sariling buhay dito.  Maraming mga tao sa bawat abangan ng sasakyan na aking narating pero hindi nakakapagod ang ingay.  Walang mga busina ng sasakyan na nakakabingi, mga sumisigaw sa pagtawag ng mga pasahero, naglalakasang tunog ng musika na pang-akit sa mga mamimili.  Sa mahabang daraanan ay may mga malalawak na taniman, ang ala-una at ala-dos ng hapon ay tahimik at hindi matao ang kabahayanang malalayo ang pag-itan, may mga nadaraanang tabing-dagat, at ang gabi ay totoong tahimik at madilim.  Kung ganito ang takbo ng buhay sa araw-araw, malamang nga na ang tao ay magiging simple lang ang buhay.  Aakapin mo ito at sisikapin na pagyamanin ang kung ano ang nasa sa iyo upang makamit mo ang kaligayahan.  Ngunit hindi pare-pareho ang mga tao.  Kung ang personalidad mo ay ang makakita ng kakaiba at makawala sa tahimik na kapaligiran, sila iyung masidhing makapunta sa Maynila.  Bilang panglibang na sa sarili ay mas gusto ang maingay, mailaw at makulay na kapaligiran kahit ito ay sa kabila ng mahirap na pakikipagsapalaran araw-araw.  At habang sa siyudad ay nakikipaghabulan sa mga sasakyan ang mga tao upang makarating sa pupuntahan, nakikipagtawaran sa palengke upang makarami ng mapamimili, nakikipagsisikan sa mainit na kalye, binabagtas ang masikip at madilim na mga eskinita sa disoras ng gabi, sa mga sekta ng manggagawang hindi natutulog ang gabi, at mga nakikipagsapalaran sa makabagong panahon, dito sa malalayong probinsiya ay nauubos ang mga oras sa pakikipagkalakalan sa pangingisda o pagtatanim, nilalakad ang malalayong daanan papunta’t pabalik sa patutunguhan, binabagtas ang madilim na mga daanan na walang ilaw, nagpapakasaya sa kaunting bigay ng makabagong panahon, at mahimbing na natutulog sa matahimik na gabi.  Ang mga ito ang magkalayo at magkabilang mundo ng ating buhay.

MORALITY IN OUR CULTURE

Morality is a very complicated and sensitive matter that has many explanations, arguments, and opinions.  Same with culture that has a very strong effects, roles and part in human race.  In this world with millions of humans in different ethnicity, demography, environment, values, and status, it is really very impossible to put morality in one perspective.  It is because it involves people’s life that has started very long time ago.  Morality and culture are part of our ancestry, heritage, tradition, and belief.  Starting at a very young age, everyone has set of standards or sense of right and wrong within their community they belong.

 

How do cultural difference and similarities influence the perception of moral norms across different societies?  Our cultural differences influence our understanding of what is right or wrong and normal or not. Appropriately, the people on the south and north, to cite an example, have different belief about their life, etiquette, tradition, political rules, and spiritual belief because of their different demographical situation.  What are correct for us may have either negative or positive perception from other groups that not similar or belong to us.  They could misunderstand us because they were not used to accustom with our understanding.  Our dresses, foods, books, or sports for instances have different styles from dresses, foods, books, or sports from the people in the Middle East countries.  This is because of the climate, condition, and location for instances; these affect our life decisions of what’s to do and what’s not.  Different societies have different values, habits, laws and moral ideas that are overlapping with other societies’ environment, economic, religion, location and cultural norms.

Another example of moral differences is the situation of the Overseas Filipino Workers.  Many moral issues that an OFW encounters when living in abroad occur when his/her cultural expectations clash with the culture of the country he is working in.  This can create dilemma and causes him doubt himself and the company he is working in.  In this case, it is best to remain calm and try to understand the foreign culture while respecting and preserving his own moral integrity.

On the other hand and on the same way, our cultural similarities have influence in the daily norms of different groups whether it is topographical, political, social and spiritual because it makes life easier.  For example, travelling around the democratic country is not complicated because rules and regulations that exist in all parts of the country are applied uniformly.  In a federal country, you have to be mindful in your social norms that you have grown with because your judicial systems have different implementation.  In USA for example, you have to be careful when passing from one state to another state that guns are prohibited and not prohibited.  In Philippines, wherever you travel, gun ban is observed all over the country.  But the only constant in this world is changes.  Our dissimilarity can soon be in harmony because morality changes as times go by.  There were times cross-dressers gays in public were taboo but nowadays they can be seen on national television that is accessible to all ages.

What extent can we argue that morality is a universal concept?  We can argue about the universal concept of morality as long as it is healthy argument.  As long as it is within the civil manner and as long as it is diplomatic way, then that is healthy argument.  Like the professional people in a professional group, debate is part of growing up and it is always welcome.  Yes, morality is universal, versatile and adaptable concept if for the sake of survival and it is generally speaking.  “Thou shall not steal” is an example of moral thought in religious scripture, and at the same it is crime mandated by state.  However the religion’s teaching and state’s laws about stealing become versatile during the matter of life and death.  When hunger happens during let say in epidemic or in warzone area, and the only thing to survive is to eat, then the general public can be forced to loot and it becomes somehow acceptable because lives are at stake. There's a moral ambiguity in looting, as looting to survive may find casual justification as to postpone any rightful tenant of law to control it. Steal what you badly need but stealing for other needs (like appliance, cosmetic, fashion, etc.) in times of hunger is not acceptable.  However it is a crime and there is no justification for superseding the crime above the law as to overlook its casual action. Looting as a matter of life is quite acceptable but that doesn’t mean we need to justify a crime on the ground of anarchy, this may find support to most but giving any circumstances will find acceptable in order of society.  Nevertheless it only says that whatever or wherever your origin, education, faith, etcetera, morality can be universal when it is for survival. 

HINATUAN ENCHANTED RIVER

 

The Hinatuan Enchanted River is a deep spring river exactly found between the boundaries of Barangays of Talisay and Cambantong, Hinatuan, Province of Surigao del Sur, island of Mindanao in Philippines, and flows into the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It was believed to be mysterious or enchanted for its unknown depth until this date.

Various local legends:

It is called “enchanted” because no one has ever reached its bottom. Local legends tell that fairies added the river’s unusual colors of sapphire and jade to the river to make its unique shade and it’s unexplored depths inspire it to be enchanted. Also other legend say the fairies dwell the river & haunted by supernatural beings which act as its protectors. (Source: Wikipedia as of 5/1/23)

WOW, SIARGAO

 

This video is the highlight of my travel to Siargao Island summarized in 3 minutes. It is a hidden paradise, Siargao is situated 800 kilometers southeast of Manila in the province of Surigao Del Norte, northeastern in Mindanao, and well known as the “surfing capital of the Philippines”

UNFORGETABLE SIARGAO

My travel to Siargao brought me into another level of excitement in expecting to experience again the wonder of travelling the beautiful places around the tropical country into reality.  When I arrived in Siargao and true enough, Siargao did not fail me to give the most relaxing feeling of an unspoiled island vibes to my senses.  Siargao easily captured my heart with its simplicity yet astounding sceneries.  While on a van passing through the long and smooth road going to its town proper, seeing the green mountains surround, the simple houses and few locals walking on the street-side made my first impression light and attached.  The natural landscape of its flora and fauna where the greeneries are abundant and the crystal clear water are shinning is simply picturesque undeniable.  The surrounding is clean and last but not the list, the friendly people are readily approachable to their guests, be it locales or foreigners.

 

As guest, Siargao has so many options to offer in both land and water.  Island hopping is always popular and favorite.  First stop was the Secret Island, an island that shows up depend on the tide, makes it called secret when not seen.  Next Naked Island, it is a bare small island with no habitats which why it was called naked.  I like Naked Island because of its very friendly look, no clutter of anything that ruins its beauty.  It has fine white sand and nice sand bar that is visibly during low tide.  And for those keen aficionados to document the beauty of the place, I think Naked Island is perfect for drone shot where it can capture the pure white sands, the clear blue and green water surrounds and the whole island itself.  Next were the Guyam Island and the Daku Island where both can welcome large number of guests, offer cottages, foods and drinks, and host picture perfect instagramable spots.  The famous boodle-fight lunch served with lots of sea foods and fruits perfectly made each one full and done.  Seeing foreigners who are not familiar with our foods, cuisines, and may even not accustomed how we eat using our bare hands, but these strangers who got along with the design of boodle fight was my take away of the day.

 

The next day was basically land tour leading to both water and land.  Secret Beach was definitely very beautiful, unspoiled, serene and relaxing.  Wherever you look, anywhere you go, every spot was simply naturally perfect.  Then Maasin Enchanted River was next.  The green and tranquil water with a waiting bamboo raft, and a ready wooden diving board for those who want to jump made the river inviting.  To continue the tour was the Coconut Mountain View, an epic viewpoint overlooking thousands of coconut trees, where the human drone was known to many.  Half way on the island day tour, we were docked on a port to ride in a pump boat for the next itinerary.  The boatman/tour guide traveled us passing through Maasin Mangrove to witness how they protect the sea and how they serve to the ecosystem.  The travel was all the way to Sugba Lagoon, a spot perfect for snorkeling and an improvised diving board is ready for the fearless divers.  And finally, Magpupungko Rock Pool is another spot for diving but it is more children-friendly spot.

 

While in Siargao, going to famous Cloud-9 is a must to do but unfortunately I had to miss due to time constraint.  It is coined Cloud-9 because of the big waves that look like number 9, a fact that will not become popular for great surfers.   The foods are good and at night, there is life to chill in some designated places.  All in all, my travel to Siargao is very touching in the sense that I felt so touched with how its natural looks, calmness, cleanliness, and its white sands captured my heart.

 

Going to Siargao from Manila can be by land and by air but for convenience, by plane is the best option.  Manila is 762 km distance from Siargao, 2 hours direct flight travel by plane, and another 45 minutes land travel from Sayak Airport to General Luna, the center of Siargao.