Would you help a stranger?

Today is June 27, year 2011. This is a day to remember because something meaningful happened to me. Just want to share this with you...

Naka mind set ako to be domesticated and to do some errands...I finished cleaning the house (with the help of Diana) and finished cooking our lunch before 12:00 noon. So, after us nag lunch, I and Gizelle, my daughter, went to SM Pampanga.

Our first destination is to pay our Internet Bill...hmmm....daming nagbabayad, so nakipila ako. It took me about 30 minutes bago ako nakapagbayad. After that, told Gizelle na punta us ng National Book Store, as expected, a bookworm would always want to hang out in the book store.

So papunta na kami ni Gizelle, we were walking towards National Book Store na, when all of a sudden a lady approached me. The lady is about 5 feet tall, me dalang bag at some papers. Sa tingin ko she is on her late 30's. She approached me and asked me if I can help her.

Sabi n'ya, "Ma'am, puede pong humingi ng tulong?" I thought she will just ask for a direction or ask something, but to my surprise...waaahh...sabi n'ya..."Kasi po Ma'am I will have my Medical Exam today at 2:30. I applied here in SM kaso di naman po kami na inform na dapat naka dress kami. Kung puede po sana, hihiram ako ng damit." waahhh....laking gulat ko! Sabi ko, "Anong damit? I do not have any dress except what I am wearing." I was talking to her in English and Filipino. Tapos sabi nya, "Nakakahiya man po Ma'am, kung puede lang po sana, makikipalit ako ng damit ko sa dress n'yo. Kasi po kung uuwi pa ako, di ko na aabutin yung time ko for the Physical Exam." Sabi ko, "Bakit di ka nalang bumili? Me mga mura namang damit dyan?" Of course, I was hesitant...waahhh...I will wear her dress? Kalokaa...sabi ko sa sa kanya..."I can't wear your dress..." and she said, " Ma'am wala po kasi akong pambili. Meron po akong P1,500 pesos lang sa wallet ko, budget ko na po kasi yun." This time, I looked at Gizelle, sabi ko, "Kawawa naman Seng, teka lang tulungan muna natin." Sabi ko sa kanya, "Ok, me extra naman akong damit dito,(I brought with me extra cycling and blouse kasi nga umuulan ulan)pahiram ko nalang tong dress ko and ito nalang suot ko tong dala ko."

So we went to the Restroom. Ano pa nga ba, so hinubad ko yung black dress ko, and handed it to her. Then, sya naman nagbihis...waaah...paglabas nya, suot nya na dress ko. Then sabi nya, "Iiwan ko po sa inyo tong bag ko, kasama po tong wallet ko, eto po yung pera Ma'am P1,500 po laman ng wallet ko." I checked on her purse at sabi ko, "Dalhin mo nalang yung P500.00 pesos kasi baka you need to be in shoes. So bili ka nalang ng mura." Nakinig naman s'ya kasi naka tsinelas nga lang dahil sa me mga baha. So nagpalitan kami ng phone numbers, Gizelle gave her number and got her number. He name is Regina(not her real name). I told her that we will just be at Mc Donalds and that she can text us pag tapos na s'ya. She sai, "Ma'am, thank you po talaga, kakahiya man po." Sabi ko, "I understand, Good luck!"

Naghiwalay na us after that, when suddenly, sabi ni Gizelle, "Ma, sabihan mo nalang din s'ya na manghiram ng shoes sa mga saleslady kung talagang wala syang pera." So I got Gizelle's point, kaya hinabol ko na naman s'ya to tell her what to do. Sabi ko, "Puede ka nalang din manghiram ng shoes sa mga employees, kung sandali lang naman." and she said, "Oo nga po, Ma'am. Sige po, salamat po ulit. Text nalang po ako." and then we parted.

Kami ni Gizelle pumunta na sa National Book Store, nag Mcdo, then, nag ikot ikot sa SM. We were there for more almost two hours. Tapos, Gizelle went to the Restroom, ako naman naiwan kasi nakita ako ng former student ko. Nagkumustahan us, the usual. Tapos, after few minutes, Gizelle sent me a text message na punta na daw ako sa National ulit. So I went to see her. Laking gulat ko at andun na si Regina, the lady.

So I asked her, how was it. Sabi nya okay naman daw. Tapos sabi nya, nanghiram nga sya ng shoes dun sa mga sales lady. She also told me na kailangan daw nya ng certificate from a doctor about her operation. She was asked to submit it.

So habang papunta us na naman sa restroom, tinanong tanong ko s'ya. A friendly query lang naman about herself. Nalaman ko na she is working in Clark sa Call Center, she is 33, and she lives in Cerhil Subdivision in San Fernando, Pampanga. That her family name is Santos(not her real family name). The family name sounds familiar. So I asked her how is she related to Ma'am Santos, a former colleague in my former school. She told me that her husband is her uncle. What a small world indeed. In addition to that, she told me that she is applying for a sales supervisor for the new SM in San Fernado market.

Hmmm...umabot na kami sa restrooms at nagpalit na sya. Sinoli n'ya yung damit ko na maayos ang pagkatupi. Sabi n'ya gusto nya daw sanang iuwi yung damit para labhan at soli nalang n'ya sa akin. Sabi ko, no worries, ako nalang maglaba. Tapos, I asked her kung saan pa s'ya punta. Sabi n'ya pauwi na sya. Sabi ko naman, me bilhin pa kami at we need to drop by sa Betty's to buy cassava cake. Sabi n'ya, "Sige po Ma'am, dito nalang po ako, maraming salamat po, ulit. Eto nga po pala para sa inyo." Sabi ko, "Ano yan, nag abala ka pa." Sabi n'ya, "Ako nga po ang nahihiya sa inyo, passensya na po sa abala." Sabi ko, Okay lang yun iha, naiintindihan ko ang situation mo." Then, I said thank you sa binigay nya, nag beso beso usat naghiwalay na.

Wala na si Regina...pero hindi pa rin maalis sa isip ko ang pangyayari. I need to process the whole situation and so I started asking myself. These are some of the questions that came to my mind.

Unang tanong ko sa sarili ko was, paano kung I rushed at tinalikuran ko s'ya. I coud have said..."Sorry, ha, nagmamadali kami." Just to avoid her because I do not totally know her....KASO HINDI AKO ITO...THIS IS NOT ME...

What if, tinulungan ko nga s'ya at peke pala s'ya at me maitim na balak like pinaamoy ako ng kung ano just to get what I have in my bag? waaahhh...HMMM...WALA NAMAN SA ITSURA N'YA...I WAS TALKING TO HER AND ASKING HER IN ENGLISH, MATINO NAMAN. I TOOK THE RISK...BASTA I WANTED TO HELP WITH AN OPEN HEART....

Bakit ako ang nilapitan sa dami ng mga babaeng naka dress sa SM? Why me? Inisip ko, am I being tested as to my consistency on my passion to help? DAHIL SIGURO AKO ANG NAKATAKDANG TUMULONG. DAHIL SIGURO ANG OPPORTUNITY PARA MAKATULONG AY DI KO PAPALAMPASIN.

THIS IS A DEEP INSIGHT...NAISIP KO LANG...ITO AY ISANG KAISIPAN...

What if the stranger was Jesus in disguise trying to see if I would help a complete stranger in need? THIS IS A SPIRITUAL INSIGHT...YES, FOR THE LORD'S PRESENCE IS IN OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO ARE IN NEED OF HELP. I wanted to cry...right now, I have this feeling...I thank the LORD for my faith, my principles, my wisdom and my values in life.

I know in my heart that I will forever be a woman of Faith...I thank the Lord because I responded to the call to help the lady...ayaw ko din namang mangyari sa akin yun someday...I helped her because one day I may be the stranger who needs help. Salamat at meron akong feeling of RESPONSIBILITY and SYMPATHY sa aking kapwa.

Indeed, to help a stranger is the best experience for me...kasi di ko s'ya kilala. Madaling tumulong sa taong kilala mo, but to help somebody you do not really know is a RISK. Buti nalang I did not hesitate, buti nalang bukas ang puso kong tulungan s'ya....Now I have JOY in my heart because I know that I was able to help.

In life, we are given opportunities to help and I believe that God has in store for us wonderful opportunities and ways to serve Him. Indeed, the experience I had was an opportunity for me to serve the Lord and to fulfill my purpose and bring greater glory and honor for Him. And with the incident I have experienced, my heart says, THANK YOU LORD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY!

(unedited)

My Father's Profile...

NAME: ROBERTO V. BARACEROS
PLACE OF BIRTH: Rosales, Pangasinan
DATE OF BIRTH: August 19, 1928

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT:

Master of Art in Guidance and Counseling
Bachelor of Science in Education
Elementary Teacher Certificate (E.T.C.)

WORK EXPERIENCES:

Vice-President for Academic Affairs
Dean of College
Speech Director
Professor (English, Social and Behavioral Sciences)
Thesis Writing Adviser
Dissertation Advisor
Editor
Writer
Educational Consultant
Lecturer – Discussant on Educational Seminars, Workshops, Conferences, Speech Communication
Supervisor
Secondary School Principal
Elementary School Principal
Guidance Counselor
Elementary Teacher

But more than all of these…
He is a CERTIFIED GOOD FATHER OF ALL TIME...
He has always been a good father to me and to my siblings.

Thank you so much Pang, now I know why I am in the academe…now I know where I got my advocacy for education, now I know where I got my heart for those who are in need…I am now "living" your legacy and I thank you for this influence in me.

On behalf of my siblings, I express my deep gratitude for the gift of life, care, understanding, guidance and love that you always give unconditionally to us.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! I LOVE YOU, PANG!

Pagtugon sa Isang Hamon...

Pasukan na naman sa Lunes. Eto ako at di na malaman ang gagawing paghahanda sa mga dapat kong harapin para sa darating na semester.

Hmmm...meron daw akong ituturong 6 units ng Japanese Language, dalawang subjects tuwing Martes at Huwebes maliban sa aking trabahong pang opisina. Tinanggap ko dahil dati ko na itong itinuro sa ibang institusyon. Sino nga ba ako para tumanggi? Hindi nga bat isa sa aking adbokasiya ang magbahagi ng aking kaalaman bilang isang guro dahil sa paniniwala ko na ang edukasyon ay isa sa solusyon sa kahirapan ng ating mga kapatid na nasasadlak sa ganitong kapalaran? Dapat nga sigurong bumalik na ako sa pagtuturo ulit upang makapagbahagi ako ng aking kakayahan, kaisipan at kaalaman sa wikang Englis.

Bahagi na ng aking natugunang responsibilidad sa aking opisina ang magsilbi sa mga mahihirap. Gumawa ng mga ibat-ibang programang makakatulong sa ikakabuti ng kanilang kalagayan. Magbigay ng kalinga at pagmamahal sa pamamagitan ng mga proyektong nakakatulong galing sa aming institusyon. Gawain ko na ang mga ito na naging bahagi na sa aking araw araw na buhay. Masarap at masaya ang maging daan upang makatulong ka sa kapwa. Walang pagsidlan ang galak na iyong madarama sa bawat salamat na maririnig mo sa mga taong naabutan mo ng konting tulong. Tunay ngang ang tumulong sa kapwa at gumawa ng isang bagay na makakapagbigay ng kasiyahan sa mga ito ay isang marangal na gawain.

Ngunit hindi lang ang mga ito ang tawag at hamon na nais kong bigyan ng tugon at pansin. Ako ngayon ay nasasadlak sa isang malaking hamon...isang hamon sa aking kakayahan bilang isang guro ng wikang Englis dahil sa aking hangaring maturuan ang mga mag-aaral na Aeta sa aming paaralan.
Dalawang taon ko na rin kasi silang nakikitang nagsusumikap na makapag-aral dahil sa kanilang pangarap na makatapos ng kurso sa kolehiyo. Ramdam ko ang hirap na kanilang dinaranas upang magampanan nila ang mga binibigay na mga gawain ng kanilang mga guro.

Minsan habang naka upo sila sa canteen at ako ay naghihintay sa aking kasamang guro, ako ay napasali sa kanilang umpukan. Tinanong ko kung nakapag enrol na sila at ang sabi nila ay "opo". Ako ay napangiti dahil alam kong sa taong ito, madadagdagan na naman ng dalawampung Aeta Scholars ng aming paaralan. Meron na kaming dating tatlumpu kaya ang kabuuang bilang nila ngayong semestre ay magiging limampu. Marami rami na nga sila kaya ako ay nabahala dahil alam kong hirap sila pagdating sa pagbasa at pananalita sa wikang Englis. Dito nag ugat ang aking kaisipang tulungan sila upang sila ay hindi mahuli sa kanilang mga kaklase.

Alam kong ako ay mahihirapan dahil ito ay makakadagdag sa aking mga gawain ngunit di nga ba't ang pagtulong naman ay dapat puede ka kahit saan at kahit sino. Napag isip isip ko lang na kung ako ay magkakaroon ng puso sa mahihirap, kailangang kasama ang mga katutubo dahil sila din ay higit na nangangailangan ng kalinga at pagmamahal at higit sa lahat dahil sila ay nangangailangan talaga ng tulong tungkol sa kaalaman sa ibat ibang bagay.

Ang aking gagawin ay hindi magiging madali. Ngunit alam kong ako ay magkakaroon ng kagalakan sa aking puso sa aking gagawin dahil ako ay magiging paraan upang sila ay magkaroon ng kaalaman. Di na bago sa akin ang makitungo sa kanila dahil ang kanilang mga ka tribo ay akin ng nakakasama tuwing pasko sa walong pasko ng nagdaan.

Siguro nga nakatakdang dapat gawin ko silang tulungan...siguro nga ako ay kailangan tumugon sa tawag ng pagbabahagi ng aking kaalaman at marahil ang pagtugon sa isang hamong kagaya nito at makakagawa ng konting pagbabago sa antas ng kanilang buhay bilang isang mag-aaral. Ako ay nakikiisa sa kanilang pangarap at ako ay nakahandang tumulong sa abot ng aking makakaya...Sa Lunes na nga ang unang araw ng pasukan...at alam kong sa mga susunod na mga araw ako ay sasagot na sa isang tugon at handang harapin ang hamon na magsilbi sa ating mga kapatid na Aetas.

Sana nga ako ay patuloy na mabiyayan ng lakas at kagalingan ng ating Diyos Ama upang ako ay makatulong sa kanila...sana nga ako ay maging instrumento upang madagdagan ang kanilang kaalaman. Hangad kong sana ay matupad ang kanilang mga pangarap sa buhay at higit sa lahat dasal ko ang kanilang tagumpay!

Inspirational Quotes...

I love reading inspirational quotes.  Why?  Because they are my source of inspiration in my life. Reading quotes has actually become a habit and I choose to be inspired with these quotes.  I bask on them because they give me HOPE that brings me another perspectives and a new level of awareness.  

So, may these quotes about life inspire you the way they have inspired me...Happy reading...

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”
Buddha quotes

Hmmm...I always use the power of my thinking in my work and in my personal life....It pays to have positive thoughts...I have used this to my advantage...a sample situation is...when I train and coach somebody, I would condition my mind that he or she will win...Hmmm....having taught and prepared all the things that need to be done and all things being equal...BINGO...even with the projects and activities that I handle, I  use my POSITIVE thoughts and of course my FAITH...I always believe that what dwells into our hearts and our minds is what we attract into our lives...

"The brain is capable of millions of different things. It can take us to a higher level of our existence, where we can actually understand the world in a deeper way, where we can understand our relationship to things and people in a deeper way, and we can ultimately make more meaning for ourselves and our world. We can show that there's a spiritual part of our brain, it's a part that we all can have access to, and it's something that we can all do." 

- Dr. Andrew Newberg M.D.

Excellence is attained through a repetition of what we do which ultimately become a habit, sometimes resulting to perfection...We become who and what we are because we are consistent with what we do. Impressions of people on us are based on what we repeatedly do...and so we are known for excellence because it has become part of our system...an act that has become a habit.

"Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." - Aristotle, Greek philosopher (B.C. 384-322)

We have to truly love life without counting its cost...when we know we have done everything for it, when we have given everything we can to love it, in return it will love us back with overflowing blessings....Out attitude towards life will definitely define that kind of life we will have...so that if we LOVE life, I am sure, LIFE will love us back. So we should always ENJOY life because it is a BLESSING...

Our lives is a series of defining moments, strung together by passing time. Surrender fully to this moment, because it is not the moment itself that defines us, but how we choose to live in it.”--Jill Pendley

So TRUE..Love begets love...what we sow, we reap...love unconditionally and others would do the same to you...HATRED should NOT reside in our hearts for this can KILL us...kill our SELF and our SOUL...We should learn how to FORGIVE...for in forgiveness there is FREEDOM...

We must always be the first to change before we can change the world...the change we make today changes tomorrow....If we desire to live a peaceful life, then we must desire to bring about peace, by first being at peace with ourselves...we should always LIVE WHAT WE PREACH and WALK OUR TALK.

As I end, I have resolved that I would like to LIVE, LAUGH and LOVE as I journey to life.  I will always choose to have a life of LOVE, PEACE, MEANING and JOY, keeping my FAITH and TRUST in the LORD.

Up Close and Personal...

1. I can play the guitar...
2. I love dancing and singing...more on dancing...
3. I have passion for anything that has something to do with butterflies...
4. I can speak fluently 4 dialects (Ilocano, Ilongo, Visayan and Pampango).
5. I love to explore other places with friends...
6. I am speechless if the man in front of me is intelligent (na may "puso")...call it cerebral attraction..
7. I usually stay late at night...read book, on the internet...
8. I am a level-headed lady...got this gift of understanding people's nature...hehe...
9. I love giving something to a friend even for no occasion.
10. The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is brush my teeth.
11. I am unconventional in my thoughts in some ways...hmmm...
12. I am a peace loving person.
13. I enjoy bicycling and briskwalking.
14. I have done mountain climbing.
15. I have traveled alone to another country.
16. I once wanted to be a CPA-Lawyer...haayyyz...
17. I like Japanese foods...sa Filipino..like ko spicy...
18. I have been married for 24 years.
19. Got four kids...only one daughter...
20. The best ice cream for me is DURIAN...
21. I am nice and friendly...sabi nila po yan...
22. I am a romantic and a passionate person...hmmm...I don't hide affection.
23. I love sexy things...anything that is sexy...(sleep wear...etc.)..he he...
24. Got framed cross stitch which I have done myself.
25. I love to read...anything...
26. I can make people feel at ease with me in our first meeting.
27. I can speak a little of Japanese and Spanish...am trying to learn French and German languages...
28. I wish to send a letter in a bottle to a dear friend who has touched my life someday...hehe..
29. I love taking pictures and having my pictures taken.
30. I have a collection of books and butterfly stuffs...
31. Surfing the net is one of the things I like most.
32. I got married at the age of 24.
33. I gave birth to my last baby when I was in 32.
35. I love to take challenges and risks...explore life...
36. I had experienced tree top adventure.
37. I have my own Mission Statement...hmmm...it is written not only in my thoughts but in my heart as well.
38. Sometimes I am bold and daring in my thoughts...I speak my mind...
39. I always have this passion to help other people...
40. I am good in typing because I do memorize the keys (since elementary)
41. I love to scribble my thoughts.
42. I am committed to staying true to myself, in accepting myself for who and what I am...
43. I stand up for what I believe in.
44. I value people in my life.
45. I like the colors red, black and any shade of pink.
46. I regret not having taken the CPA board exam...got fear of failure THEN...
47. I love my work...it is fulfilling and I find joy in having committed to help others...
49. The life I have now and the woman I am today is mostly due to the challenges,
the trials I have fearlesly, boldly and daringly faced and hurdled.
50. I have been to Japan, Hongkong, Macau, China, Vietnam and Singapore...I wish to visit
more countries.

Speech of Gratitude and Humility...

I am blessed, humbled and privileged to stand before you this afternoon in the 7th Commencement Exercises of our institution and share with you some of my thoughts and experiences.

We are here to celebrate this momentous event, our graduation day. This is the big day for all of us, for today marks not the end of our journey to education but only the beginning. As we pursue our dreams, we continue to learn from our experiences and gain wisdom from the mistakes and failures that come our way. With this, I believe that indeed, education is a continuing process.


As I think of this occasion, I can’t help but recall the journey I have been through. As I entered the Tertiary Education, my only goal then was to finish first year college. For me this was already an achievement because I was fully aware that with our financial status, it was impossible for me to finish a degree.

I had to work as a service crew in Jollibee and at the same time study. It was a struggle for me to study and work at the same time. After Jollibee, I also worked in Burger Machine and was on duty on night shifts just to study in the afternoon. For almost a year, I sacrificed to the point that I had to sleep for only 3 to 4 hours a day thinking that it will be worth it after some time. It was during my third year when I have finally decided not to pursue my studies. I was already enrolled but since I thought that I will not be able to manage my time and meet the financial challenges involved in my studies, I thought of dropping from college. So, I went to school then and tried to reimburse my payment. However, Ma’am Chat and Sir Maniti helped me and asked me to talk to our President, Sir Mike and to our Dean, Ma’am Quiambao. With their help, I was able to continue my studies and finish my degree.

In life, one has to face challenges and trials and I have been through a lot of these in my journey. As the eldest in the family with four siblings, incredibly, I was able to surpass and withstand all these by the grace of God.

But having a degree is not just what life is all about. What then should come after this? I know that I will look for a job and probably be employed. I need to, because I want to help my family. But, with what is happening now, with the tragedy, the tsunami and earthquake in Japan and the political instability in Libya, with the unemployment and other social issues faced by our country, I am a little bit worried, but I have high HOPES that there will be a good future for all of us. We just need to have FAITH and TRUST in ourselves and of course to the Heavenly Father.

What then is our responsibility towards our country as the new graduates? As we continue our journey, we have the social responsibility to take care for ourselves and to meet the demands of today’s challenge to our changing environment. There is a call to action and I believe that we can respond to this in our own way by keeping a clean surrounding. In our homes, we should ensure that we dispose our home waste in a responsible way. This is just a simple way but we can make a difference in this country if we truly care for our environment and ourselves. Unless man can keep the environment clean, there is no future for man on earth.

Another responsibility is to work hard upon employment. Let us do our work to the best that we can with honesty and integrity. We should work as if GOD were our employer. With that guiding principle, we can never fail to do good service to the establishment where we are employed.

Fellow graduates, graduation is just a phase in life where one will have to move on to what is next. As we move towards it, we have to be grateful to all the people who have helped us in our achievement. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to all the people who have been with me and who have helped me. Thank you to the management especially the administrators, and to the selfless givers of knowledge and our mentors in life, our teachers. To my academic professors and to our academic head, Ma'am Yolanda Pangan, thank you for the knowledge and for the moral support. To our theology mentors, my sincerest gratitude for implanting the seed of faith in me which I am now anchored with. Thanks for the values you have taught and we have learned. Simply put, we must be paragons of these values. We should become role models as alumni of MQC by exemplifying and living these values like the love of country, respect for elders, loyalty, honesty and integrity. Similarly, we must resolutely commit ourselves to uphold the vision and mission of our alma mater which is Academic Excellence and Integral Formation.

To my classmates, thank you for being there for me and pushing me to succeed to the highest of my potential and best of my ability. You have helped me to set standards for myself and achieve my goals and dreams. I will forever cherish the moments I have shared with you.

Among the people who have been there for me always are my parents. I express my gratitude for their unending moral support and unconditional love. I know that they are happy to see me now that I have finished a degree. I also would like to thank my sisters for their love. They have served as my strength and my inspiration to come this far. They are actually the reasons why I pursued in my studies to make my dream come true because I know that their future in life lies in me. This is it my dear sisters…I have done this for you! This award is for Ma and Tang and for all of you.

Above all, I thank the Lord for my life and for this achievement. I thank Him for the gift of knowledge and wisdom. I will not be a recipient of this prestigious academic award if not for the gifts that He has bestowed upon me. Thank you Lord for this award….I accept it in all HUMILITY.

Dear graduates, I hope for all of us that we are able to go forth and make a difference in the world. On a personal level, I hope that each of us is able to contribute in a way that is helpful to the environment and to the Earth; and ultimately I am confident that we will all persevere and succeed because we have been given the tools and the skills to do so. With that, I would like to say, thanks again for giving me this opportunity to share my thoughts, congratulations to my fellow graduates, good luck, and MOVE ON towards your goal. God bless us All!

Unquenchable Passion to Reach Out and Touch Lives...

I have so many passions in life and one of these is helping those who are in need. I get jazzed up and excited whenever opportunities come my way to share what I have. Call it luck, but I am always given opportunities to help other people. What a blessing indeed for me to be able reach out and help "the LAST, the LOST, and the LEAST" of our brothers and sisters.

This passion started at my young age and in my young mind, I have already been exposed to situations where my father has displayed his generosity to other people. I used to see my father extending help to people. I would see him doing things for them such as, giving educational support to some of our relatives who cannot afford to send their children to school, adopting a street child, giving counseling service and giving financial and material support in his capacity. I can vividly recall how he would find time for teachers who need his professional advice. I grew up in the environment where people would often come to our house for his help. These simple acts of kindness have been drilled into the depths of my being that have inspired me to do the same. I have learned the value of being sensitive to the needs of other people with his teachings and with his examples. I remember him telling me then, "that one need not be rich in order to help people. One can share his time, attention, love, care, service and his or her blessings to those who are in need."

I am now involved in different projects and programs that help other people...help meet their immediate needs. Yes, I am with the Community Development Office of Mary the Queen College in Pampanga, with the vision and mission to engage students to do community service for them to become socially responsible. I am highly motivated to do things not because these are my duties and responsibilities, but I work beyond my call of duty. So I always have this passion to engage in projects for a noble cause because it has already been implanted in my heart. I consider my work more of a mission, and that is, to make a difference in the lives of people.

I find my mission indeed as very self fulfilling and rewarding. When people's needs are met, I see the glow in their faces, the feeling of being loved and cared for, the feeling that they are special and important. Their words of thanks melt my heart as they express their sincere gratitude. Indeed, no amount of money can quantify the fulfillment one feels through genuine service. Truly it is a gratifying experience when one shares his skills and qualities....when one shares his blessings to others.

I do believe that we can make a difference in the lives of people with the help we extend to them, after all, what people need these days is to feel that somebody is there for them. So that whatever support they receive, in cash or in kind would definitely make them feel special and important. We therefore should not wait for the programs of the government in order to act and address their needs. We can do something in our own capacity.

The call to make an action is NOW. There is an urgent need to answer this call and the time is at PRESENT. There are children everywhere who need our financial, material spiritual and moral support. Many children in our community and in our country need love, care, generosity, service and compassion. Children who are not in school because they are financially challenged. Similarly, many indigent people who are in depressed communities need free health services because they cannot afford to submit themselves for physical examinations and do not have the capacity to buy the medicines they need for their health problems. These are only few of the opportunities and venues where we can act and be involved...where we can respond to a call.

If we claim that we are believers of the word of God, that we live our faith, are we not going to do something? Shouldn't we help them and reach out in any way we can rather than wait for the government to take action? Is it only the government’s task to care for the poor, or do we have the same responsibility as well?

I believe that God showers us abundant blessings so that we can share and give these to those who do not have. With the selfless effort we give, through the precious time we share, with the little help, with the unconditional love and care that go with it, we share in their dreams of having people help them meet their needs and improve their life. Life for them would have a difference if only we continue to share in their DREAMS...Life for them would become meaningful if we unceasingly nourish our Passion to Reach Out and Touch their Lives with LOVE and Genuine Service.

I join other people with the advocacy to help those in need because of my conviction that I can be a Man for Others and that I can make a DIFFERENCE by serving my purpose. Before my God, I commit myself to this mission for I believe that there is HOPE and that nothing is impossible with HIM.

We need to do something in any way we can...In our pursue of our dream to change the plight of our underprivileged bothers and sisters, I know the task is great, but the CHALLENGE is OURS. It is then a matter of choice and decision whether we are going to take this challenge and I challenge every soul to have a heart for these people in need. More than anybody else, I challenge myself. I pray for God's grace for this challenge. I pray that HE will continue to nourish my passion in doing things for a noble cause so that I will be able to serve my purpose in this journey for His Greater Glory. Amen!

It is not how much we do,
but how much love we put in the doing.
It is not how much we give,
but how much love we put in the giving.

- Mother Theresa -

GRADUATION...

I am actually staying late tonight because I will not be reporting for work tomorrow. So I have the luxury of time to blog again .

Yesss...finally Van2 is graduating tomorrow...CONGRATULATIONS!

Hmm... Van2 was able to make it?  After four years of struggle...he made it!   He is by the way, my youngest child.  So he has finished his secondary education...what an accomplishment on his part and our part as parents.  Come to think of it, with my four children, he is the last to finish High School. This means, I will no longer be sending a child in high school and will no longer have a graduation of a child in Secondary Education.

Speaking of graduation, last year, I made a speech for a niece because she was invited to give an inspirational talk before the graduates. I remember, I also wrote a speech of introduction for the Guest Speaker of a College in the Commencement Exercises. It was indeed a very challenging task because I need to make a research about the speaker's profile who is a bishop.

I used to write speeches for graduation like valedictory addresses, welcome remarks, etc. I love writing speeches  and teaching the person how to deliver the lines. I like the feeling when I see and hear the person speaking before an audience with my thoughts. Whoaaaa, you will really feel different as your words are spoken.  Whew!

Graduation is the time where I like to watch the facial expressions of the parents. It is the moment where you can really see on their faces joy as they watch their children march and get their diplomas. Some parents even cry when their children embrace them as they express their words of gratitude.  This is what I like most during graduation, the part where the graduates will approach their parents and give their tokens of gratitude and their handwritten letter while a song is played...I like this scenario...hmmm...very personal and very touching.   On the part of the parents, they feel proud of their child.  on the other hand, graduating students feel happy because finally they have accomplished all the requirements in their subjects, thus, they are now graduates.

So graduation is here...Graduation is not the end though, but the beginning of a new life, new challenges and new journey.  It is just a phase in life where one will have to move on to what is next...to discover more what life offers...to explore and to embark into new challenges and responsibilities. Yes, in one's journey, it will not all be a success because there will always be trials, failures  and mistakes encountered, but what is important is, one is able to accept and learn from these failures and mistakes and gain wisdom.

Well, tomorrow will be the BIG DAY for Giovanni. I wonder if he is excited...I can feel that he is, although he does not really show it. 

To all the graduates, CONGRATULATIONS!

WhY eNgLiSh Is A cRaZy LaNgUage...

English is the most widely spoken language in the history of our planet, used in some way by at least one out of every seven human beings around the globe. Half of the world's books are written in English, and the majority of international telephone calls are made in English. Sixty percent of the world's radio programs are beamed in English, and more than seventy percent of international mail is written and addressed in English. Eighty percent of all computer texts, including all web sites, are stored in English.

English has acquired the largest vocabulary of all the world's languages, perhaps as many as two million words, and has generated one of the noblest bodies of literature in the annals of the human race. Nonetheless, it is now time to face the fact that English is a crazy language -- the most loopy and wiggy of all tongues.

In what other language do people drive in a parkway and park in a driveway?
In what other language do people play at a recital and recite at a play?
Why does night fall but never break and day break but never fall?
Why is it that when we transport something by car, it's called a shipment, but when we transport something by ship, it's called cargo?
Why does a man get a hernia and a woman a hysterectomy?
Why do we pack suits in a garment bag and garments in a suitcase?
Why do privates eat in the general mess and generals eat in the private mess?
Why do we call it newsprint when it contains no printing but when we put print on it, we call it a newspaper?
Why are people who ride motorcycles called bikers and people who ride bikes called cyclists?
Why -- in our crazy language -- can your nose run and your feet smell?

Language is like the air we breathe. It's invisible, inescapable, indispensable, and we take it for granted. But, when we take the time to step back and listen to the sounds that escape from the holes in people's faces and to explore the paradoxes and vagaries of English, we find that hot dogs can be cold, darkrooms can be lit, homework can be done in school, nightmares can take place in broad daylight while morning sickness and daydreaming can take place at night, tomboys are girls and midwives can be men, hours -- especially happy hours and rush hours -- often last longer than sixty minutes, quicksand works very slowly, boxing rings are square, silverware and glasses can be made of plastic and tablecloths of paper, most telephones are dialed by being punched (or pushed?), and most bathrooms don't have any baths in them. In fact, a dog can go to the bathroom under a tree -- no bath, no room; it's still going to the bathroom. And doesn't it seem a little bizarre that we go to the bathroom in order to go to the bathroom?

Why is it that a woman can man a station but a man can't woman one, that a man can father a movement but a woman can't mother one, and that a king rules a kingdom but a queen doesn't rule a queendom? How did all those Renaissance men reproduce when there don't seem to have been any Renaissance women?

Sometimes you have to believe that all English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane:

In what other language do they call the third hand on the clock the second hand?
Why do they call them apartments when they're all together?
Why do we call them buildings, when they're already built?
Why it is called a TV set when you get only one?
Why is phonetic not spelled phonetically?
Why is it so hard to remember how to spell mnemonic?
Why doesn't onomatopoeia sound like what it is?
Why is the word abbreviation so long?
Why is diminutive so undiminutive?
Why does the word monosyllabic consist of five syllables?
Why is there no synonym for synonym or thesaurus?
And why, pray tell, does lisp have an s in it?

English is crazy.

If adults commit adultery, do infants commit infantry? If olive oil is made from olives, what do they make baby oil from? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian consume? If pro and con are opposites, is congress the opposite of progress?

Why can you call a woman a mouse but not a rat -- a kitten but not a cat? Why is it that a woman can be a vision, but not a sight -- unless your eyes hurt? Then she can be "a sight for sore eyes."

A writer is someone who writes, and a stinger is something that stings. But fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce, hammers don't ham, humdingers don't humding, ushers don't ush, and haberdashers do not haberdash.

If the plural of tooth is teeth, shouldn't the plural of booth be beeth? One goose, two geese -- so one moose, two meese? One index, two indices -- one Kleenex, two Kleenices? If people ring a bell today and rang a bell yesterday, why don't we say that they flang a ball? If they wrote a letter, perhaps they also bote their tongue. If the teacher taught, why isn't it also true that the preacher praught? Why is it that the sun shone yesterday while I shined my shoes, that I treaded water and then trod on the beach, and that I flew out to see a World Series game in which my favorite player flied out?

If we conceive a conception and receive at a reception, why don't we grieve a greption and believe a beleption? If a firefighter fights fire, what does a freedom fighter fight? If a horsehair mat is made from the hair of horses, from what is a mohair coat made?

A slim chance and a fat chance are the same, as are a caregiver and a caretaker, a bad licking and a good licking, and "What's going on?" and "What's coming off?" But a wise man and a wise guy are opposites. How can sharp speech and blunt speech be the same and quite a lot and quite a few the same, while overlook and oversee are opposites? How can the weather be hot as hell one day and cold as hell the next?

If button and unbutton and tie and untie are opposites, why are loosen and unloosen and ravel and unravel the same? If bad is the opposite of good, hard the opposite of soft, and up the opposite of down, why are badly and goodly, hardly and softly, and upright and downright not opposing pairs? If harmless actions are the opposite of harmful actions, why are shameful and shameless behavior the same and pricey objects less expensive than priceless ones? If appropriate and inappropriate remarks and passable and impassable mountain trails are opposites, why are flammable and inflammable materials, heritable and inheritable property, and passive and impassive people the same? How can valuable objects be less valuable than invaluable ones? If uplift is the same as lift up, why are upset and set up opposite in meaning? Why are pertinent and impertinent, canny and uncanny, and famous and infamous neither opposites nor the same? How can raise and raze and reckless and wreckless be opposites when each pair contains the same sound?

Why is it that when the sun or the moon or the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible; that when I clip a coupon from a newspaper I separate it, but when I clip a coupon to a newspaper, I fasten it; and that when I wind up my watch, I start it, but when I wind up this essay, I shall end it?

English is a crazy language.

How can expressions like "I'm mad about my flat," "No football coaches allowed," "I'll come by in the morning and knock you up," and "Keep your pecker up" convey such different messages in two countries that purport to speak the same English?

How can it be easier to assent than to dissent but harder to ascend than to descend? Why is it that a man with hair on his head has more hair than a man with hairs on his head; that if you decide to be bad forever, you choose to be bad for good; and that if you choose to wear only your left shoe, then your left one is right and your right one is left? Right?

Small wonder that we English users are constantly standing meaning on its head. Let's look at a number of familiar English words and phrases that turn out to mean the opposite or something very different from what we think they mean:

A waiter. Why do they call those food servers waiters, when it's the customers who do the waiting?

I could care less. I couldn't care less is the clearer, more accurate version. Why do so many people delete the negative from this statement? Because they are afraid that the n't...less combination will make a double negative, which is a no-no.

I really miss not seeing you. Whenever people say this to me, I feel like responding, "All right, I'll leave!" Here speakers throw in a gratuitous negative, not, even though I really miss seeing you is what they want to say.

The movie kept me literally glued to my seat. The chances of our buttocks being literally epoxied to a seat are about as small as the chances of our literally rolling in the aisles while watching a funny movie or literally drowning in tears while watching a sad one. We actually mean The movie kept me figuratively glued to my seat -- but who needs figuratively, anyway?

A non-stop flight. Never get on one of these. You'll never get down.

A near miss. A near miss is, in reality, a collision. A close call is actually a near hit.

My idea fell between the cracks. If something fell between the cracks, didn't it land smack on the planks or the concrete? Shouldn't that be my idea fell into the cracks (or between the boards)?

A hot water heater. Who heats hot water? This is similar to garbage disposal. Actually, the stuff isn't garbage until after you dispose of it.

A hot cup of coffee. Here again the English language gets us in hot water. Who cares if the cup is hot? Surely we mean a cup of hot coffee.

Doughnut holes. Aren't those little treats really doughnut balls? The holes are what's left in the original doughnut. (And if a candy cane is shaped like a cane, why isn't a doughnut shaped like a nut?)

I want to have my cake and eat it too. Shouldn't this timeworn cliché be I want to eat my cake and have it too? Isn't the logical sequence that one hopes to eat the cake and then still possess it?

A one-night stand. So who's standing? Similarly, to sleep with someone. Who's sleeping?

I'll follow you to the ends of the earth. Let the word go out to the four corners of the earth that ever since Columbus we have known that the earth doesn't have any ends.

It's neither here nor there. Then where is it?

Extraordinary. If extra-fine means "even finer than fine" and extra-large "even larger than large," why doesn't extraordinary mean "even more ordinary than ordinary"?

The first century B.C. These hundred years occurred much longer ago than people imagined. What we call the first century B.C. was, in fact the last century B.C.

Daylight saving time. Not a single second of daylight is saved by this ploy.

The announcement was made by a nameless official. Just about everyone has a name, even officials. Surely what is meant is "The announcement was made by an unnamed official."

Preplan, preboard, preheat, and prerecord. Aren't people who do this simply planning, boarding, heating, and recording? Who needs the pretentious prefix? I have even seen shows "prerecorded before a live audience," certainly preferable to prerecording before a dead audience.

Pull up a chair. We don't really pull a chair up; we pull it along the ground. We don't pick up the phone; we pick up the receiver. And we don't really throw up; we throw out.

Put on your shoes and socks. This is an exceedingly difficult maneuver. Most of us put on our socks first, then our shoes.

A hit-and-run play. If you know your baseball, you know that the sequence constitutes "a run-and-hit play."

The bus goes back and forth between the terminal and the airport. Again we find mass confusion about the order of events. You have to go forth before you can go back.

I got caught in one of the biggest traffic bottlenecks of the year. The bigger the bottleneck, the more freely the contents of the bottle flow through it. To be true to the metaphor, we should say, I got caught in one of the smallest traffic bottlenecks of the year.

Underwater and underground. Things that we claim are underwater and underground are obviously surrounded by, not under the water and ground.

I lucked out. To luck out sounds as if you're out of luck. Don't you mean I lucked in?

Because we speakers and writers of English seem to have our heads screwed on backwards, we constantly misperceive our bodies, often saying just the opposite of what we mean:

Watch your head. I keep seeing this sign on low doorways, but I haven't figured out how to follow the instructions. Trying to watch your head is like trying to bite your teeth.

They're head over heels in love. That's nice, but all of us do almost everything head over heels. If we are trying to create an image of people doing cartwheels and somersaults, why don't we say, They're heels over head in love?

Put your best foot forward. Now let's see.... We have a good foot and a better foot -- but we don't have a third -- and best -- foot. It's our better foot we want to put forward. This grammar atrocity is akin to May the best team win. Usually there are only two teams in the contest. Similarly, in any list of bestsellers, only the most popular book is genuinely a bestseller. All the rest are bettersellers.

Keep a stiff upper lip. When we are disappointed or afraid, which lip do we try to control? The lower lip, of course, is the one we are trying to keep from quivering.
I'm speaking tongue in cheek. So how can anyone understand you?

Skinny. If fatty means "full of fat," shouldn't skinny mean "full of skin"?

They do things behind my back. You want they should do things in front of your back?

They did it ass backwards. What's wrong with that? We do everything ass backwards.

English is weird.

In the rigid expressions that wear tonal grooves in the record of our language, beck can appear only with call, cranny with nook, hue with cry, main with might, fettle only with fine, aback with taken, caboodle with kit, and spick and span only with each other. Why must all shrifts be short, all lucre filthy, all bystanders innocent, and all bedfellows strange? I'm convinced that some shrifts are lengthy and that some lucre is squeaky clean, and I've certainly met guilty bystanders and perfectly normal bedfellows.

Why is it that only swoops are fell? Sure, the verbivorous William Shakespeare invented the expression "one fell swoop," but why can't strokes, swings, acts, and the like also be fell? Why are we allowed to vent our spleens but never our kidneys or livers? Why must it be only our minds that are boggled and never our eyes or our hearts? Why can't eyes and jars be ajar, as well as doors? Why must aspersions always be cast and never hurled or lobbed?

Doesn't it seem just a little wifty that we can make amends but never just one amend; that no matter how carefully we comb through the annals of history, we can never discover just one annal; that we can never pull a shenanigan, be in a doldrum, eat an egg Benedict, or get just one jitter, a willy, a delirium tremen, or a heebie-jeebie. Why, sifting through the wreckage of a disaster, can we never find just one smithereen?

Indeed, this whole business of plurals that don't have matching singulars reminds me to ask this burning question, one that has puzzled scholars for decades: If you have a bunch of odds and ends and you get rid of or sell off all but one of them, what do you call that doohickey with which you're left?

What do you make of the fact that we can talk about certain things and ideas only when they are absent? Once they appear, our blessed English doesn't allow us to describe them. Have you ever seen a horseful carriage or a strapful gown? Have you ever run into someone who was combobulated, sheveled, gruntled, chalant, plussed, ruly, gainly, maculate, pecunious, or peccable? Have you ever met a sung hero or experienced requited love? I know people who are no spring chickens, but where, pray tell, are the people who are spring chickens? Where are the people who actually would hurt a fly? All the time I meet people who are great shakes, who can cut the mustard, who can fight City Hall, who are my cup of tea, who would lift a finger to help, who would give you the time of day, and whom I would touch with a ten-foot pole, but I can't talk about them in English -- and that is a laughing matter.

If the truth be told, all languages are a little crazy. As Walt Whitman might proclaim, they contradict themselves. That's because language is invented, not discovered, by boys and girls and men and women, not computers. As such, language reflects the creative and fearful asymmetry of the human race, which, of course, isn't really a race at all.

That's why we wear a pair of pants but, except on very cold days, not a pair of shirts. That's why men wear a bathing suit and bathing trunks at the same time. That's why brassiere is singular but panties is plural. That's why there's a team in Toronto called the Maple Leafs and another in Minnesota called the Timberwolves.

That's why six, seven, eight, and nine change to sixty, seventy, eighty, and ninety, but two, three, four, and five do not become twoty, threety, fourty, and fivety. That's why first-degree murder is more serious than third-degree murder but a third-degree burn is more serious than a first-degree burn. That's why we can open up the floor, climb the walls, raise the roof, pick up the house, and bring down the house.

In his essay "The Awful German Language," Mark Twain spoofs the confusion engendered by German gender by translating literally from a conversation in a German Sunday school book: "Gretchen. Wilhelm, where is the turnip? Wilhelm. She has gone to the kitchen. Gretchen. Where is the accomplished and beautiful English maiden? Wilhelm. It has gone to the opera." Twain continues: "A tree is male, its buds are female, its leaves are neuter; horses are sexless, dogs are male, cats are female -- tomcats included."

Still, you have to marvel at the unique lunacy of the English language, in which you can turn a light on and you can turn a light off and you can turn a light out, but you can't turn a light in; in which the sun comes up and goes down, but prices go up and come down -- a gloriously wiggy tongue in which your house can simultaneously burn up and burn down and your car can slow up and slow down, in which you fill in a form by filling out a form, in which your alarm clock goes off by going on, in which you are inoculated for measles by being inoculated against measles, in which you add up a column of figures by adding them down, and in which you first chop a tree down -- and then you chop it up.

by Richard Lederer

The Cry of a Wife and a Mom's Heart...

She is suffering in silence....her heart is torn between joy and loneliness. Yes, she is happy because she is back home and is now with her two kids, yet, she is lonely because her other loved ones are left in a country devastated by a calamity.

She can still recall the scenario in her vivid memory the sadness in her as she bids her husband and children goodbye...she is crying inside for she doesn't really know what will happen...in her heart there is pain to leave them behind. She is too helpless because she needs to be back home for her other children who are waiting for her...she needs to be home because she has other obligations and responsibilities. How painful that there is nothing she can do...if only she can stay, if only...

As she faces her everyday life, she has to deal with the roller coaster of her emotions...that of being happy and most of the time down spirited. As you look at her, she displays courage especially in front of her children and friends. She doesn't want them to see her that she is weak for she believes that as she is liberated from her own fears, her presence automatically liberates others. So she battles on her mental adversities, tries her best to cope with the struggles and keeps what she feels to herself.

At the moment she will take things as they come...She is actually embracing her situation with courage. How sad that she is helpless because she is far...in her heart she can only wish that she is with them in that way she will have peace of mind and untroubled heart. With these, she promises herself to live each day with prayers for her family because she believes that everything will be alright by the Grace of God.

Amidst uncertainty, amidst storms of adversity, she tries to keep the right perspective...It is heart wrenching to her everyday for she is faced with difficult emotions but she will remain steadfast in Christ. In her mind and heart she will find faith, hope and strength as she trusts in the Lord and make Him a constant part of her everyday journey. She believes that the CRY of her HEART is heard by her Father in heaven. The thought of this makes her withstand all trials and struggles in any form because she knows that God listens to her because she is His Beloved Child.