Every Day is a Gift

           While nearing the completion of this year, I reflected on what has happened on my life during its course. I was amazed on how blessed I am as I recalled back the events of this year. How precious the life is- that is one of the focuses of my reflections this year. Life just come and go so we must need to embrace every moment that comes each day. Consequently, some of those reflections which I would like to share with you are the following: A three-legged stool : - each leg relies on each other for strength; - on top of the stool is a space for a comfortable sitting; - equal footing for each leg to stand in balance and in harmony; - each leg's brace provides support and strength as the three of them       intertwined with each other imagecredit :   http://www.freeimageslive.com/galleries/nature/trees/pics/trees01830.jpg   Relating it to life: - we need support system such as each other, family, friends, rel...

          How do you define the meaning of Christmas? What is the importance of this season in your life and that of your family? Who do you spend your time with on Christmas time? At times, when you are obssessed with new things such as clothes and gadgets, what you look forward as a younger boy or girl at this season is the luxurious gift that you will receive from others.           These are but just some of the questions that come to your mind when you think about Christmas. You may think perhaps of the times when you were still young and the idea then of Christmas was mainly focused on the following: imagecredit: a. receiving gifts and giveaways from loved ones especially from parents; b. playing time with friends  c. opportunity to go around and mill with friends to make carolling to various houses and even to strangers thus allowing the spirit of Christmas to be shared with everyone       ...

          It's Christmas morning! And many people in this side of the world are still sleeping at 8:09 am. I woke up with the priest's words during the Christmas eve mass still ringing in my ears. His main message centered on the theme: "Can we see Jesus who was born in lowliness and in poverty?"            In our culture, the long Christmas celebration which starts in October until January, focuses on the material aspects -- food, parties, new clothes and gadgets. If not for Yolanda, people would still have those annual big and pompous celebration. I believe that calamities do happen before Christmas to give us a message -- TO SIMPLIFY.            I remember last year, when I introduced a gift-less Christmas to my family in respect to the Pablo victims and survivors. It was done but was not well received. Nakasanayan na kasi eh (It has been a tradition.) . And worse, I heard " Si Tito Nel kas...

          Previously, it was typical for any family that a father goes to work and provides the needs of the family. On the other hand, the mother stays at home to take charge of the children. Nowadays, it is but prevalent that both parents prefer to work so as to provide the financial benefits of the children. These two contrasting realities both have their positive and negative effects.           You may perhaps think that children with both working parents naturally receive the material benefits. As such, the parents can afford to buy anything luxurious like toys, modern gadgets, and can even send the children to exclusive schools. Moreover, proponents of this view argues that due to the family's extra wealth, it will enable them to go overseas for a holiday.           On the other hand, one of the possible negative results when both parents are working is the deprivation of guidance and moral support...

What would be food without salt? Salt, what an amazing ingredient. Can you imagine your favorite adobo without any salt? Salt is even added to caramel to give it a rounded rich flavour, don't believe me? Get a salted caramel ice cream or tart they're the craze nowadays, I've had an amazing, can't get enough of it popcorn that was sweet and salty. It was sold in this huge, plastic pillow case size bags and people where queueing up to buy not just one bag but two!  Salt, what an amazing ingredient indeed.  Ever wondered what it meant to be salt? In (Mt 5: 13) Jesus told us "You are salt of the earth but if salt loses its salty taste it cannot be made salty again. It is good for nothing. It must be thrown out for people to walk on."   One of the functions of salt is that it helps preserve food. I know, I'm thinking of tuyo (salted pilchard or anchovies), dried squid man this writing is making me hungry!   What salt does is it prevents t...

         When you're being a sports enthusiast, you would know that on each one of us, there stays a kind of player when you are into a game. No matter what your recreational activity is, from ball sports to cards and even to online games, one question that you ought to ask yourself is " Are you aware of your own dynamics when you are playing? "  Just to point out certain types of player that you can be, you can either be one or more of the following: 1. passionate player 2. impulsive player 3. vindictive player 4. easy go lucky player 5. team player 1. Passionate player- you are into into the game...you put your heart in every game you play. You are willing to go one step farther from what others are doing....as they say, exerting extra mile. Moreover, you know the in and out of the game. You try and search for ways to improve your skills. You don't just stop while the practice is over, instead you go for extra effort to harness your ski...

          Do you have a true friend? Do you consider yourself a close friend to somebody? What is a true friend by the way? You may perhaps think of many diverse meanings on what a true friend is but the best part of this is for you to be one real friend to somebody before you could really tell that you have one.           Allow me to share with you two quotations on friendship which I considered to be undoubtedly instrumental in establishing and maintaining friendship. First, this one by Nerrisa Nam as she says, " Always be there ". Yes, giving quality presence is a very essential ingredient to a true friendship. Nowadays you are pounded with lots of technologies that keep much of your attention that at times, you tend to neglect in staying focus on your relationship with a friend. Physical presence counts a lot in progressing one's friendship. However when friends are separated by some distances or even a thousand miles away, the...

          One could not hold back tears and emotions while watching the current news on the recent catastrophe that struck the Philippines. Amidst the chaos brought along by Typhoon Haiyan, one could simply ask himself/herself, " Where will I go from here?". Perhaps this may even end up as a very vague question for much uncertainty is what lies ahead as an aftermath of Haiyan.           However, you could also find the resiliency and firmness in the hearts of the Filipino people that in the midst of this disaster which claimed thousands of lives and left a large score of homeless people, many still chose to continue with their journey in spite of this seemingly dark chapter of their life. imagecredit:   By  tungphoto , published on 08 February 2011           The Philippine government through its president, Pres. Benigno Aquino Jr. is trying its very best to restore order and hope on the sit...

          While having a conversation with a friend, the idea that " men are turned off by women with strong personalities"  came up to my mind and then I started to share and asked her opinion about such notion. Thus, I came up with this post just to contribute thoughts about this familiar belief.           My friend, being a girl with a strong personality herself, affirmed this notion. Experience wise, she observed that men around her felt uneasy and uncomfortable dealing with her. Consequently, she felt inside herself being unwelcomed and unsupported.  Being an outspoken and witty girl, she declared that those men just felt overruled by her and took them out of their safety zones.           Can you relate to such scenery? Is it a cultural thing, or why is this so? Being involve in this complicated world, you can think of many reasons and you can even add your own experience to agree or the o...

Follow my blog with Bloglovin I have so much in life I have wealth of the world No one can harm me No one can win over me This is my destiny And this is my life. Now, my world has changed I'm running out of defense I never know anyone Not even myself I knew No one can see me No one remembers me. imagecredit: Where is your claim? Is it a scheme or a dream? You own nothing You owe everything Touch your heart Down to the deepest part. Life, life must go on I bring nothing for fortune I am blessed with my nothingness It’s a grace; I have emptiness I am great with my little things I am rich with what I have left. No one owns the world nobody has the hold It is a gift and a grace Share it and take pace Don’t tire of giving many are earnestly waiting . Author: Bro. Romel Tampus Valen, SC              Brothers of the Sacred Heart         ...

          Life is a never ending journey. And as we progress with our life journey, we undertake to reflect on previous events of our life then realize that we are actually reading our own book of life. With such realization, we become so glad to be active participants to this journey. Everytime we wake up each single day, new and fresh learnings embrace us and they support us in our personal development.            On the other hand, we all know that life learnings are beyond any limit or bondary. It only takes one's responsibility to participate unceasingly in this journey that will make a corresponding difference in his/her life. One positive point in life is when we exchange our various giftedness with each other. As you and me go on with our everyday learnings, we grow the more when we exchange life's wonderful stories.            Every individual chapter in our life entails huge amount o...

          "Shall I go to work today or not?", "Will I marry this girl/boy or not?", " To whom will I entrust my career?", "What will I do with my life?"......           These are but just some of the questions that we may encounter in life. As we continue with our life journey, we also proceed making choices and decisions for its betterment. As one famous philosopher said, " Man is condemned to be free; because once he thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does. It is up to you to give LIFE a meaning. "-    Jean-Paul Sartre           What Sartre shares here is something which I deeply treasured in life. Every now and then, we take responsibility on decisions that we make either good or bad. Yet while we are free, we nevertheless are constantly guided by the basic reality that everything aims for goodness. Consequently, for every bad decision that we make, we take full respo...

          LIFE- what is it anyway? There have been so many meanings and attributions to it yet personally, I claim it as a gift -- a very precious gift from somebody up there . Hence for being as such, I am also called to positively extend it with others. Every single day, countless world events unfold, both good and bad, and as I take notice of them, I could not help myself but be reflective on them specifically with the negative events that struck our great world nowadays. imagecredit : By  Matt Banks , published on 13 March 2010 While I could not contain myself from feeling pity to all those helpless victims above, the more that I become appreciative to my own life that I have the privilege to wake up everyday. The unfolding of each new day bears personal memories so worthy to cherish. This day is parallel to a great day- the outstanding weather, such fresh air, clean environment, the serenity of the place-they usher me to treasure any day. ...

          Recently, I had the opportunity to join our household community in one of its regular meetings. And the gathering allowed me to gain further strength in the midst of my own life's struggles. Hearing from the prayers and sharings of my brothers and sisters in our group, I realized how marvelous life is. Being with loved ones and with friends are favorable circumstances that enable me to go deeper of myself and look back if where am I leading to in my own journey.           Having said that, I know beforehand that my time is not wasted unlike when I will allow it to just stay idle thus allowing me to just dumb myself with nonsense things. Moreover, I admire the candidness of my brothers and sisters in our sharing for this openness allowed me to have an outstanding sense of themselves and of myself. imagecredit : By  Christian Meyn , published on 08 April 2009           Treasured moments ...

          Since its foundation in 2005, Youtube has gained enormous amount of influences to viewers like me. And citing as an example the situation of my beloved country, the Philippines, I would claim that Yuotube has much impacted the world of politics while culturally also, it has emerged as one of the top influences when it comes to promoting the Filipino culture. Then next the area of the news reporting which for me, came as least affected among those areas (politics, culture)            Though I am now presently living abroad yet I keep myself updated everyday with what is going on in the country.Youtube videos showed how the Philippines emerged as the top economy in Asia this year.To put a further meat on the said comment, more Yuotube videos explcitly showed why the Philippines through the initiative of the president, Benigno Aquino Jr., was able to outgrow other performing economies in Asia. And it is such a...

          As I keep  myself busy with my online course, the more knowledge that I received consequently by the resources and reading we have on this. We know how powerful the influence of the internet nowadays and that's exactly the focus of this university-level study as we discuss on the topic, "Understanding Media by Understanding Google" by Prof. Owen R. Youngman under Northwestern University. Hence, I would also like to share with you my reflection on our subject.            Quoting from the question itself, "Is Google's intention to digitize all the world's books a good thing or a bad thing, and for whom?, my answer would be both good and bad. On the first place, I would say that it is good. Why? As Google emerges as a leading contributor to the world becoming a global village, the more that relationships among people of different races become augmented since the distance among nations both near and far becomes a "mere...