…I aM aGaInSt RaCiSm

I just want to share this true-to-life story about racism. I hope we all learn something from this. Take your time to read and share the news to all your friends. I just hope this RACISM thing would eventually vanish through this.



The following scene took place on a BA flight between Johannesburg and London . This is a true story. A White woman, about 50 years old, was seated next to a Black man. Obviously disturbed by this, she called the air Hostess. "Madam, what is the matter," the Hostess asked. "You obviously do not see it then?" she responded. "You placed me next to a Black man. I do not agree to sit next to someone from such a repugnant group. Give me an alternative seat." "Be calm please, the Hostess replied. "Almost all the seats on this flight are taken. I will go to see if another seat is available." The Hostess went away and came back a few minutes later. "Madam, just as I thought, there are no other available seats in Economy class. I spoke to the Captain and he informed me that there are also no seats in the Business class. All the same, we still have one seat in First class." Before the woman could reply, the Hostess continued: "It is unusual for our company to permit someone from Economy class to sit in First class. However, given the circumstances, the Captain feels that it would be scandalous to make someone sit next to someone so disgusting." She turned to the Black man and said, "Therefore, Sir, if you would like to, please collect your hand luggage, a seat awaits you in First class." At that moment, the other passengers who were shocked by what they had just witnessed stood up and applauded. "When you're down to nothing, God is up to something."


You can also visit me here:
http://eternallyyours-tax.blogspot.com
http://d-role-model.blogspot.com

…sPeEcH iN NuMbEr 9 MiDdLe sChOoL

Least I expect it for we have two foreign teachers here in our branch school, the other one is from the USA. I never came to think it would be me to deliver a speech to this middle school, somehow inviting students in that middle school to enroll in our language center for the incoming summer term and for the next term. What a shock when I knew it few days beforehand. Got no choice, I convinced myself.

So we did came to the said school. Dismissal time when we arrived there. I met the students at the gate of the school. So we went to the teachers office and a warm welcome greeted us when we enter the office. I was with two Chinese teachers then. So few minutes later, I started my simple and little speech. Students were very eager to listen and they were able to ask a lot of questions. I did enjoy the moments with them. Thanks for inviting us to be there. We are greatly honored. Hope to see you all in the near future. Have a good time everyone.

You can also visit me here:
http://eternallyyours-tax.blogspot.com
http://d-role-model.blogspot.com

…bIvOuAc Of LiFe

I always crave for what is best. In anything I do, I see to it I carry the best results. I have to be sure I did the best thing, not only for myself but for everybody, as a whole. I always try to find ways to get what is desired, even more than that. Enough is not enough for me. There is more than enough. There’s always a room for improvement, betterment and success. I highly conceive that.

As I kept searching for what is best, I encountered a lot of hardships that I oftentimes fall, and find it hard to stand up again and face the world. It took me a while to sit back and relax, gain energy to be fully prepared for the next challenges I would come across. It takes patience, courage and hard work to be back again in this showdown of life. I did stand up and here I am facing the daily bivouac and struggles of life.

It doesn’t matter how many times you failed achieving your goals in life, it doesn’t matter how many times you kept falling and falling again, what matters most is the way you stood up, the way you fought to be back in the battle, the way you courageously faced the trials and endured the hardships you ran across. That’s the spirit of a fighter. Difficulties are always there waiting at our doors, but every time we go out to face them, we must have the right shield to protect ourselves, to cover ourselves in the arena that we might not be defeated easily.

So, let’s always shield ourselves with strength and courage all the time we go out. By that, we are always ready to face battle. Equip ourselves with knowledge and wisdom to cleverly fight in this battlefield we call earth. Be always ready! Learn from me, I always am.

…LoNeLiNeSs

The song, Shape of my Heart by Backstreet Boys says, loneliness is tragical. Is it? Why? How? Is it that serious? But is it normal to be lonely sometimes? Are you lonely? How do you fight loneliness? What do you do to overcome it?

Many of my Chinese friends here, they can’t stand my situation. They kept asking me whether I’m lonely or not. Even my students did. They said I’m alone, the only Filipino in the city, though there are around nine foreigners, but we don’t have chance to meet because they’re working on weekdays, I am not. I am working on weekends, they’re not. Only recently that I met them through an English corner established by the English lovers here. I said I usually go to Hefei, the capital of the province once in a while to meet my Filipino friends and some other foreigners. I added, as long as there’s internet, there’s no problem especially there’s music. I wouldn’t feel lonely. I am also praying all the time to overcome it. And I proudly said to them I did. With this situation for more than six months, I have lived a normal life. I just watch TV, movies, listen to music, surf the internet to amuse myself, I told them. They were not so convinced because if they were in my shoes, they said, they wouldn’t be able to make it.

Frankly speaking, I also feel lonely. I am lonely most often. But I don’t show it. I have no choice. I have to tell myself I am not lonely ,or else, I won’t be able to stay this long here. I have to be very strong to fight this loneliness, this boredom, so as to live a normal life. And here I am, still kicking. I have fought a good fight against it. I am no longer new to this situation.

Well friends, though we, as gregarious beings, need to be with others, but there are times that we have to stand on our own feet. There are moments that we're alone. Are you ready for that? Are you prepared by that time? If it happens, what would you do to amuse yourself?

…mOrNiNg ExErCiSeS

Exercises are important to our bodies. Do you agree? Do we really need to exercise? Why? If so, do you do exercises regularly? What kind of exercise do you often do? How often do you do it? Do you go to a fitness gym? How often? What time do you often do your exercises? Have you seen an effect on your frequent exercise? Are these good only for adult people, especially fat people? Who should do exercises?

Scientifically speaking, exercise is a process whereby the body performs work of a demanding nature, in accordance with muscle and joint function, in a clinically controlled environment, with the constraints of safety, meaningfully loading the muscular structures to inroad their strength levels to stimulate a growth mechanism within a minimum time.

Lately, I discovered that my weight increased dramatically. I was shocked as I checked it. I could hardly believe. I also easily get tired as I observed. It’s somewhat a sign that I indeed get fatter and fatter. I don’t want it to happen. Actually, I stopped doing some exercises during winter season ‘coz it’s bloody cold outside. I guess it’s the reason why I gained weight sharply. Since it’s not that cold now, I’m starting to do some exercises early every morning. I jog for around five to seven rounds in an oval near my flat, a sports complex. Then walk around it for two rounds to come down. Afterwards, I do around 30 to 50 set ups, around 20 push ups and weight lifting. I’m hoping I would deliberately lessen my weight, for I don’t want to be fat, ‘coz it’s in our race. We are a family of fat people.

Now, I’m getting healthier as I monitor myself. I feel so light everyday, energetic and happier. I guess these are the products of my exercises. I don’t get tired easily now. I felt like I look younger these days, fitter and fresher than ever. Many even are saying I’m blooming. Am I? They even added whether I’m in love. I always am.

Friends, exercises are significant to our lives. I just hope you are doing some. We need them even if we feel we are strong, young and slim. We still have to do some exercises to maintain them. Learn from me and stay healthy. That’s how life should be, to enjoy it fully.

…LoVe

Loves makes the world go round and it moves in mysterious ways, according to songs. Does it? What’s your idea? What is love for you? Does it make sense to you these days? How to love? What to love? Who to love? When to love? These are just few of the queries about love.

People also have different views about it. Some call it true love. Others say puppy love. Still others tell crazy love. And many call it stupid love. Which kind of love are you having now? Are you sure about that? Think it over!

Books, movies, magazines, pamphlets, journals, songs, etc. also have their versatile definitions about love which somehow make people confused about its real meaning. Are you one of them? Are you confused about what really love is? Or do you also have your own explanations?

According to an author, Max Ehrmann, in his very famous prose poem entitled, Desiderata, “Do not be cynical about love for it is as perennial as the grass.” That’s why a lot of people became victims of love because they were so cynical about it, for true love is everlasting. It’s not like a toy that if you’re bored playing with it, you just throw it away. But love isn’t like that. It’s as perennial as the grass. Though somehow, it looks like it dies on winter season, but it’s not. It just peels off its leaves and blooms again like flowers on spring.

The Holy Bible says, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). And the ten (10) Commandments even are summarized into two (2), “Love God above all things and love your neighbors as you love yourself.” If only love reigns in our hearts, in our world today, there would have been no chaos, disputes and war, such a peaceful world.

Well friends, let it dominate in our hearts, our lives and everything will just go smoothly. Let’s strive to make it happen and make our world much peaceful, marvellous and harmonious to be lived in. Are you one of us?

…sPeEcH cOnTeSt

This has added burdens to my busy week. I have to train students for the provincial elimination round. These students were the winners of the speech contest we had a couple of weeks ago here in our city. There are 31 students all in all to be trained comprising of primary, junior high and senior high students. It’s kinda tough, huh! There was even a time I trained an English teacher because there’s also a contest for them, English teachers category.

This has put much challenges in my career now. I just wish one of them will be brought to the national competition. I just hope for the best. The training happens at night as usual, meaning, I have to go home late. Well, it’s part of the road I’m taking, so I have to endure and take it as a challenge. Good luck to all of us in our struggles in life and success in everything we do. Have a good time.

…PrAyEr

Note: Better not read if you are not Catholic, we might have conflicting ideas presented here…

Religious people don’t let the day pass without saying a prayer. They begin and end their day with a prayer. In fact, for priest, it is a mortal sin for them if they can’t celebrate a Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, even to the point of saying it alone if there are no people going to the church. That’s how serious they are in prayer. They fervently do it daily. But what is a prayer for you? Do you believe in the power of prayers? Whatever religions affiliations you may have or whatever you conceive God to be, I know you have your own prayer. How often do you say a prayer? Or do you even pray? How do you pray? Or do you just pray when you need something or when you’re in trouble? What if you are alright, do you still pray? Tough question, huh?

I was raised in a religious family. I remembered clearly, we have to pray the Holy Rosary everyday. This became stronger when I studied in a religious institution, run by nuns, when I was in high school. We were taught about prayer, how to ardently pray, what to pray, when to pray, and how to make it acceptable and pleasing to God. We do the Holy Rosary, too every night through a paging system, go to Mass twice a week, and pray extra Stations of the Cross on weekends. That’s how we were brought up there for we stayed in the school’s dormitories and can only go home once a year, for only two weeks. Quite short, though!

My belief in God and in prayer even became more stronger when I joined a religious congregation when I was in the university. I was an aspirant. We have to go to Mass daily aside from morning and evening prayers. We were serving the religious needs of the community at the same time. We were only allowed to go home once every semester.

As I was nurtured in a religious institutions, I’ve learned that Holy Mass or Holy Eucharist is the highest form of prayer, for in our belief, we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Let me ask you, do you go to church and hear Mass? As Christians, it’s one of our obligations. At least once a week.

Considerably, as we continue our everyday battle here on earth, I sometimes think of what’s beyond this life, but our religion has an answer for it. What I only pray everyday is that, I placidly live my life and be away from people who are just vexations to my way as I journey. So, whatever you believe in, stick to it, for I know, we are praying and worshiping the same God but only in different names. Adhere to what you believe and torridly pray.

Dear friends, let’s unite together and pray to have a tranquil world, worthy to be lived in, and that the next generations could still harness the beauty of the world that we are experiencing now. let’s join hands and pray altogether. Don’t forget to pray everyday. “Prayer is the only way to connect with God,” I definitely believe.

…I wAs PaRt Of It

One time, I was astonished because I was called to the office and was told I am going to have classes in a middle school in a county of my city. It was so because my colleague, an American guy, is going to Hongkong to process his working visa. I had no choice. I had to take all his 14 classes there, in addition to my own classes. Pretty tough, huh!

Upon reaching the school’s vicinity, I was amused by its grand beauty. Its location is perfect, away from the noise of the city. It’s surrounded by nature. Right across the school is a big lake which I can compare to a sea in the Philippines. At its back is a huge mountain. It’s also bordered by fruit trees. It’s indeed a perfect location.

The school caters students living from far-flung places. So they have to live in the school’s dormitories. They can only come home once a month for four (4) days, meaning, their weekends are accumulated and taken as one. Teachers are also living in the teacher’s dormitory for it’s really quite far from the city. Its population also is quite huge. There are more than 1000 students, purely senior high school students.

As for me, I didn’t stay there. I kept going home everyday ‘coz I have also a class at night, which made me much tired. I slept in the teacher’s dorm, though during lunch break before my class for it usually starts at 2:50. I was completely overwhelmed by the students’s pleasing character as well as that of the teachers’s. They are very friendly, kind and hospitable that made my stay unforgetable. They were hoping that I would stay longer but it’s out of my jurisdiction.

My short stay there was absolutely a memorable one. I just wish them success in their endeavor, the students, the teachers and the school as a whole. “Do you best and God will take care of the rest,” I powerfully believe.

… A gReAt DiEt

Why do people go on a diet? Have you tried dieting? If so, what did you eat? What was your purpose? Is there a need to be on a diet? Why? Does it something to do with figure, physical appearance? Does that mean you are not satisfied with what you have and who you are?

Food plays a vital role in our bodies. It’s from where we get our energy. But it should be balanced, ‘coz I strongly believe, “everything in excess is not good.” So we have to make our food intake equal and balance.

This morning, for my breakfast, I had an apple, a banana, three (3) slices of pineapple and a glass of milk. Now tell me, am I on a diet? Is it already considered diet? What do you think?

…FrIeNdS

As the song that goes, “Many people say true friends are hard to find,” do you think so? Are true friends or we call bestfriends really hard to find? Do you believe in that? Or they are just all around. You meet them everyday but you just don’t mind them.

Friendship is very broad because there are many different kinds of friends as people define it. There are friends in need, friends at school, old friends, colleagues, boyfriends or girlfriends, friends in business, even “fucking” friends for some, best friends and so on. But they are all friends. Which would you prefer to be with? To whom do you get along easily with? Who do you care the most?

With my short stay in this terrific world, I have also encountered a lot of friends as I continue my quest for a brilliant future in this bivouac of life. They likewise belong to those kinds of friends aforementioned above. I have as well accumulated a lot of answers from different people to the question, “What is a friend to you?”

Some people I’ve met gladly said that friends are like plants that you need to care and nurture. Others bluntly said that they are like diamonds, so precious that they can’t stand without. Quite a few strongly believe that friends are like the best books, though oftentimes the cover may seem not to be so elegant, but the contents are like bars of gold that you can treasure for a lifetime. Many powerfully said that friendship is eternal. It doesn’t ask “Why?” because for them, it’s a reason itself. It doesn’t inquire, “What if?” because it is willing to risk all. It doesn’t wonder, “Until when?” because for them, it doesn’t end. And still others even give me a passage, “In life, you will realize that the people you meet have a purpose. Some were put there to test you, others are there to use you, a few of them would teach you, and very few would bring out the better if not the best in you. Many may even cause you pains and heartaches but one must learn to move on.” They added, “so let go the people who can’t treat you right and hold on to those who love you in return and see your worth.”

Now, dear friends, your life lies in the palm of your hand. Your tomorrow is just a product of what you do today. So, take the best choice. Select the best answer to that question and hold on to them. Learn from others’s experiences. Be keen in choosing who you want to be with, because you definitely become like them, as it is said, “Birds of the same feather flock together.” Take a very extra careful with the people around you. Have a nice friendship!

Friends, thanks for passing again. I just wish you’ve already found your true friends. Hope you find this valuable and you learn from it. See you again next time. Take care of your friendship. Once again, thank you and always, be the best of what you are!

...a keepsake...9/11

Have you heard about the trucker who has painted his cab and trailer with the names of all those who lost their lives on 9/11?







The trucker's name is John Holmgren from Shafer, Minn. He has been 'pulled over' numerous times just so the troopers can get their picture taken with the truck.