Life Lessons sa Nami Island

1. Life is full of suprises. Don't plan too much or way ahead of your schedule. Live life one day at a time. God has a more grandeur and magnificent plan than our own plan.

2. OK lang to be single or going solo once in a while, but don't dwell on it too much. As the old saying goes, "No man is an island". Also it's very hard to get solo picture when you're traveling alone!

3. Stop and smell the flowers when life is beginning to take a toll on you (and your health). Try to enjoy the simple (and free!) things in life.

4. Exercise! It's a great stress buster. Take it from a guy who works 8:00am-7:00pm on weekdays and 8:00am-5:00pm on weekends.

5. Fall in love and give your best. If it doesn't work out maybe she's/he's not meant for you. But please do try to save it though =)

6. If you're broken hearted, cry over it. Talk to friends. Ask for advice. Then cry more. One week is enough for grieving period. More than that is already fatal. Don't be tied up to a nonsense emotions.

7. Celebrate life! Enjoy life to the fullest as if it's your last. Work hard, Play harder. Go out and party, hang out with friends, serve the community, be with your family. Basta Enjoy lang. No bearing to sulk and holed up in your bedroom the whole day.

8. Love Mother Earth. Recycle. Reuse. Reorganized. We have only one planet and its a no brainer to take care of it.

9. Be fabulous. It doesn't need a lot of money to be one. Channel your inner strength and show your character. Be fab and be a winner!

10. Sing a song. Even if your voice is crooked or out of tune, still sing for joy. If singing is really not your forte play an instrument. A song for God is always in good tune.

11. Take a lot of picture. People, Sceneries, Food, and what not, take their picture. Ignore those people who tease you for taking too much picture (or even check-in on places you've visit). Good memories (via photos) are better than missed opportunity (to photograph it).

12. Stand up on what you believe and be firm on your decision. Though it's hard or have repercussion, still, standing up on what you believe will still give you a character and status.

13. Balance you life. There is enough time for work and play. OA if you're always at the confinement of your office.

14. Fact: Mother know best.

15. Reach for your dreams. No matter how high or impossible it may seem. If you set your goal on it, it is achievable.

16. Don't be afraid to learn new language. If you're on a travel to a foreign land, learn the local version of the word "Thank you". 

17. Find the perfect partner. It may take some time but it's all worth it. Don't settle for "puede na". It should be "Ito na".

18. Not all relationship sails on tame waters. Most of the times you will be tested. Welcome this as an opportunity to learn and be strong and to know more about you're partner. There will be more test once you're married.

19. At the end of the day, it's still nice to go home to your love one.

20. Just like the cherry blossoms, life is like a bloom fields. Let us make the most of it. Show our beauty and grandeur to other. Be an inspiration. Be a model. Be a servant. Be God's chosen people.

Ang blue na polo..bow..

Nitong mga nakaraang araw, tinamaan ako ng homesick.

Huwatt? Ako maho-homesick?! Parang isang himala na nangyari ito! Kasi ba naman kung kelan ang tagal ko na sa overseas ngayon pako tinamaan ng homesickness.

Inisip ko nitong mga nakaraang araw na baka puede magpa early demobilized ako dito sa saudi. Parang gusto kong umuwi sa darating na September sana.
Masaya siguro yun, baka masakasama pako sa RLTC ng Lingkod sa September, baka makakajoin ulit ako sa trcik or treat sa office sa darating na October, makakapunta ulit ako sa sementeryo/fiestahan sa November, at higit sa lahat maeexperience ko ulit ang christmas rush pagdating ng kapaskuhan!

But wait there's more! Miss ko narin ang mga kaibigan at pamilya ko sa Pinas. Miss ko na ang mga debate namin ng kapatid ko, miss ko narin makipaglaro sa mga pamangkin ko, miss ko na rin ang mga prayer meeting at fellowship sa Lingkod, miss ko narin magturo sa mga bata sa Tuloy, miss ko narin ang kulitan namin ni bestfriend. Hanubhayan, dami naman namiss!!

Kung kelan naman nagdesisyon nako na umuwi sa September saka ko naman nakita yung color blue ko na polo, and it all coming back to me now (insert memory lane song here)....

You see almost 8 years ago, right after college, nung panahong nag-aapply pako ng work, dalawa lang ang suot kong polo lagi. SM Menswear ang tatak nila pareho, yung isa is color blue, the other one is old rose.
Sa lahat ng mga interview at submission ng resume na pinuntahan ko parating ito lang ang suot ko kasi wala naman akong ibang formal wear. This polo symbolizes my struggles in finding work that time, never give up kahit na inabot nako ng bagyo sa isang examination ko sa cavite, o di kaya sobrang init naman habang nagiintay sa isang lumang factory sa liblib na lugar ng laguna. Kung noon na mahirap ang buhay dahil walang pera at sobrang hirap pa ang trabaho ay hindi ako bumigay ngayon pa kaya na im living the good life at ngayon pako bibitiw.

Then it struck me..shit..what the hell am i thinking!!!!

The reason im here is because my boss believes that I can do this job. The reason why im extended for anther 6 months is because my japanese boss trust me alone in this job. The reason im here is because i want to give the good life that my parents didn't experience before. The reason im here is because i can help further my community and my charitable institutions financially wise. The reason im here is that I prayed to God to be here.

Ang kapal pala ng mukha ko to just give up simply because I miss my life in Pinas.

Parang nasa kama na ako lilipat pa sa sahig.

Kung dati hirap na hirap akong maghanap ng work eh i never give up, ngayon pang ang dali-dali lang ng work eh ngayon pa ako susuko!! Di na oy!!!

Looking back at my polo again I made up my mind. Ok i'll finish my contract till December, and i'll make sure that ill give all my best in the remaining months of my stay here. Salamat sa mga alala na binigay ng simple at kupas kong polo, naliwanagan na ako na ang mga biyaya na ating nakakamit ngayon ay bunga ng pagsusumikap natin at higit sa lahat sa tulong ng maykapal.


postcript:
sa anim na taon kong pagtratrabaho, naka mahigit kumulang 75 formal clothes (polo at longsleeve) na ako. may mga pinaglumaan na akong pinamigay dahil hindi na kasya o di kaya ay kupas na. pero ang dalawang polo ko na ito ay kasama parin sa sinusuot ko. it is a reminder of where i came from at kung papanong struggles ang aking nagawa para lamang marating ang position ko ngayon.