Nothing's Easy

(image from: http://macscouter.com/usscouts/cartoons/KNOTS_MB_climbing.jpg)

I was always travelling, I mean commuting, on a daily basis. I do not have a car and as of now, I would like to keep it that way. For a freelance Events Specialist, it is a must for me to meet different people everyday. Travelling via jeepney, bus, and railways are my professional kind of sea to where I catch my fishes. Fishes like prospect clients, suppliers, and most of all, life's teachers. Taxi becomes an option only if I am really late, if my hands can't carry the loads of things that I bought, or if I'm not feeling well.

With this, basically, some people asks me, "bakit di ka bumili ng kotse? (why don't you buy a car?)" or "mag-taxi ka na lang (ride a cab)." I often answer "wala akong pera (I have no money) :D. Seriously, it is very uncomfortable travelling on a heavy traffic. It is very uncomfortable riding a cramped jeepney. It is very uncomfortable to ride an overloaded bus. It is also very uncomfortable to be on a jam-packed railway. So the easiest way is to ride a taxi. But wait, isn't it hard to have a taxi to take you on places like MALABON, NAVOTAS, and MAJARLICA Village? Damn... Nothing's easy.

The taxi I was riding one so early morning/ so late night, passes along the Manila Pier, North Bay Boulevard. People taking this route do know that this place is loaded with "informal settlers". The driver complains "Hating gabi na traffic pa din! (It's midnight and it's still a heavy traffic)." I told the driver that the route Pier to North Bay would've been so wide if the original government plan the road was followed. But unfortunately, the other half has been occupied by the informal settlers. They were relocated and given their own house and lot but they still keep on coming back. They say that there is no decent source of income thus their livelihood turns bad to worst. Living in their relocation area is very HARD.

Fact: Almost EVERYTHING is HARD. Some people find it hard to live with lots of money to spend. Some people was burdened where to find money for their vices while their family has nothing to eat. Some even begged for death to come but they keep on living longer. Therefore, nothing is easy. Some people think that regardless their perseverance, they still can't make it out of the slump. Yeah, perseverance is one of the keys but regardless how much work a person put into his life, if he causes problems to others, I doubt that he would have a good and prosperous life.

Fact: NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE. Aside from putting your faith to the Lord above, industriousness, discipline, and smart work are the basic success stories elements. And also most importantly, by being good to others. We cannot control the problems that come into our lives. We can definitely minimize the problems caused by ourselves but we do not have control on what others do to their live that affects us.

Problems are problems, challenges are challenges. We cannot run from it. Reagardless how fast you run, at the end of the day, you will still have to deal with it. Nothing's easy but also nothing is impossible. We usually deal with problems in a very negative mood but in reality, you can still solve it with a positive attitude. We cannot change our burdens but we can definitely change the way we approach them. Positivity clears way to the proper solution, negativity dooms people and their relationships. Best opportunities, great lessons, and strengthening experiences are concealed in the hardest of problems. Regardless how hard life is, it is not impossible to be happy. Face it, we all have to deal with it, so it's up to you how.

A Funny Twist

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I heard in an FM radio program that this DJ, who is known to give a straight to the point advices to his callers and listeners, have a problem which he usually try to solve for others. That same DJ cried on air because of his personal dilemma. I will not elaborate more in his problem regarding his lovelife. I only want to share this same situation that happens to a lot of people. People can say some good advice to those who are in a difficult situation. This usually happens among friends and families. It is not meddling but showing concern and giving motivational help for those who really needed it. The issue is being in a twisted situation. A dilemma that you have actually given solution for others but ironically, now that you're personally experiencing it, are in need of that same solution. We usually know how to solve it for others, but how come we have a hard time dealing with it ourselves?

Seldom are people who dealt their problems head on and finally move on. We all have the capacity to do that. But for whatever reasons maybe, personal affinity to the problem, human weaknesses, risks, are only considerations to take a look at but should not hinder upon doing the appropriate solution and action. People always know what is right. We all do have problems that were custom made for each and everyone of us. But really, emotions are the biggest pull down factors for us. Hey, what pulls us down may actually push us up. Once you're down, there is nowhere else to go but up, just keep moving.

I am currently dealing about this problem. We all have to prepare for our future and family life. In fact, I always gave advices to my compeers who were in that situations, an example was having an unplanned pregnancy way before even planning to settle down. I do give advices and always happy to help those who need some "enlightenment". Here is my situation: I worry about that promise I gave to my girlfriend for us to be wedded next year but what hunts me is the fact that I still do not have the capacity and the right to be a financially stable family man. It depresses me. I do not want to get older without a family. It is hard to follow your child growing up, specially that the world is rapidly changing and provides gaps for each generations. And we all do know that human life span is getting lesser and lesser as years gone by. I do not want to be financially unstable with children entering high school with me as either their sick or dead father. It really frightens me.

I know I gave people advices on those same problems, but actually, I do need to remind myself of those advices. A personal time for yourself is all you need. What I did is I stop for a while, shutdown my computer, get away from any outside distractions and just focused on myself. I did a personal check up. Where am I right now, what is the goal that I have to achieve, and what is that problem thats causing me to slow down or blocks my way. It is like giving myself a time to heal and recover from the scars of scares. And after the evaluation, we can come up with a solution. What we actually need is within ourselves. We are all capable of solving our problems. That is why it is called "problem", because problems have solutions. If the a situation has no immediate remedy, therefore it will have in it's own time or it shouldn't bothered you at all. Most of the times we create our problems. We can also inject our respective solutions. I am not saying that you should be just positive because knowing what are on the negative side is as much as important. For me, I found out that I simply lose my motivation, that is the problem. What pulls me down, the feeling of time running out has become a push up factor for me to be more industrious and smart. To be more motivated and inspired. All I need and we need to to is to be broad minded. Be calm. Be responsible. And most of all, be caring for yourself.

Expect Less

In his first State of the Nation Address, our beloved president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III did not fail to put flowers unto his message (http://www.gov.ph/2010/07/26/state-of-the-nation-address-2010-226/). Indeed, like what have happened in his oath taking, and what he has said during his campaign, everything is about how evil his opponents are and how dirty the previous administration were. To be honest, I don't even know if he personally writes his messages or he has a ghostwriter. Whoever wrote it amazes people who easily fooled by sensationalized statements.

As far as I am concerned, I can compare his messages into a Chicharon. Regardless how huge his words are, how crunchy they may sound, but still it has no sense, just full of air. Why do we have to hear about how worst the Gloria Presidency was and his words that he is leading us on a "straight path". I would love to hear what he will do for us to walk on his promised "straight path". His platforms, his plans, his promises. He has a vision but no mission, he has objectives but has no way on how to meet them.

Disappointing... Instead of leading us forward, he keeps on hunting the failures of the past. We have learned from the past, now we could remedy our present to have a brighter future for each and every tomorrow. I don't want to agree on this but with the way things are happening in his few weeks in the office, to be not pessimistic about our country's future, I think every Filipinos may EXPECT LESS so you will feel our country ACHIEVE MORE.

The Person Our Country Needs

This momentous day signifies the triumph of democracy through the Filipino people. We do know that the result of the Presidential race is a result of a clean and honest election. It is the first automated, first that the nation coped up with the advancement of the modern age. It is not surprising that the outcome is based from what the majority really inked on the ballot. It is not surprising because this is the nature of the true Philippines. The general public vote for the person they think our country needs.
And there he was, standing in the Quirino Grandstand and took his rightful place, a place given by the Filipino people. The man our country needs. To be honest, I did not vote for him. But hey, he won and he deserves a chance. He deserves respect. And regardless who we vote, he deserves our whole hearted support. He is what the majority says our country needs.
Can he give all of us a better life? Good education for each young Filipinos? Sufficient, if not more, income for every Filipino household? Ample food in our tables? Employment? Security? Can he abolish poverty? Can he totally wipe out corruption? The answer is he cannot.
The hard truth is he cannot do that. He is definitely not who our country needs. Not even those who ran for president and other positions along and against him. The slapping fact is that he might can give the best programs and rightful reforms but it is still up to the people being addressed to that program to take the initiative. He can give every people living in the squatters area home but it is still up to those people who were given those houses the choice to be relocated in their respective abode or continue living to a place where they do not have to pay for water or electricity. He can give a memorandum for better education but it is still up to the student to study or just fool around. He can create more jobs but was the unemployed qualify for a position knowing he fail a lot because he just do whatever he wanted to do during his years studying? How can he pull down our electric and water bill if many Filipinos have jumpers in their houses? How can he stop calamities if we ourselves cut trees, waste precious water, smoke, throw our garbage wherever we want. This is just some, there are a lot more things unsaid that makes each and everyone of us responsible for our own sufferings.
He is not what our country needs. He is just a representation of the many, a person that will serve and assist our country. It can’t be done by one man alone. The persons our country need are us Filipinos. Until the time that every Filipinos became responsible for themselves, for others, for his or her environment, and for the nation, the day of us going back to the glory that was ours is quite far-fetched than what we expect. Be responsible, know your role, do your part.

The Capacity To Choose

Another school year has started, another batch of hopeful-soon-to-be-professionals are striving hard to finish their journey towards graduation. Usually, parents provide their children the gift of education in the hopes that their children will have a better life in the future. Future... hmmm... future of the students, it only means their waiting professional life. And for the most, it is about employment. I would like to share an employment situation that I witness happening to a highly qualified person placed in an "orthodox type" of company.

This person is known in their campus as an "intelligent, down-to-earth" type of student, very active in curricular and extra curricular activities. That garner her credentials and awards. An officer of a national level student organization. After her first project based work, she was hired by a top real estate development firm as a marketing officer.

As usual, like every eager newly hired employee, she submits herself to what the company demands from it's people, but unlike many others, her company usually gives a single day-off per month (in their department), per employee. Marketing officer by job title: marketing officer, events organizer, and supplies purchaser by job description. They were given a high salary grade but still, human body has its own limitations. The management's response is that they give a high pay grade and the extra days are counted as overtime. A fast financial and professional status promotion, but faster toll on an employee's health. Aside from lack of rest, pressure and daily dilemmas in the workplace contribute in a fast health deterioration. Indeed, a high price for a secure employment.

What do you think, would a future professional be eager to work if he or she will be hired by a company with this kind of manpower treatment? I don't think so. We know that money run everything in this world, but bear in mind that there will be no money if there is no people. Manpower, people, human resources, whatever you want them called, are still the most important asset of a company. There is a price in every money, but you cannot put a price on a person. The company pays for the work and service done, not buying a person to be their wage slaves. Sadly, this is how I saw her situation.

But again, the company is being managed by people, so definitely they have emotions, reasons, drive, and heart. We cannot change how the company treat their employees over night, Rome wasn't built in one night. You cannot change your workload, but you can change on how you approach it, on how you handle it. The truth is that a person cannot be depressed by any outside influence, unless he or she permits to. If you feel that a situation is starting to be depressing, stay away from it. And when the pressure is building up, don't worry, regardless on how you approach it, a problem always have an answer, so better deal with it cheerfully. We are all different and unique in our own special way. We have the capacity to decide. To influence and be influenced. Do not expect them to change for you. But you can change for the better and somewhat affect your workplace. An impressed boss usually listens and treasure their outstanding employee. The management do what they do because they think it is the best for the company. Anyways, you definitely not be their employee and being paid by them if they didn't exist at all. Remember that a higher level achieved by a company, the harder it gets to stay or even climb farther. But once excellence become a daily routine, it will never be hard to produce the highest quality of performance permanently. It is not the company that makes honor possible, it is always the people inside and working in it. A boss will always have an ear to those who makes him cheer. You can always take a time out, but once you quit, you can never go back. Every pressure and expectations makes a person better, every problems and challenges makes a person wiser, and every punts taken and experiences learned makes a person stronger. You cannot make your boss look at your situation right now, on how tired and how sick you are, but human boundaries are always meant to be extend beyond limitless . Make yourself better each day. Anyways, if they can't see it, you can always talk it to them. They cannot do anything but to give you your well deserved rest. Just be ready when you return to the office, make them see what an ample amount of rest can do not only for the employee but to the company as well. Anyways, if you think that change is impossible, you can always do yourself the favor of looking for another company while still working, or save enough money to put up a little business then quit. It is always important to pay respect to your company. Make sure that they will have enough time to look for a replacement. We always have a choice. We always have the capacity to decide. We always have the responsibility for the outcome. And regardless the difficulty, the best always comes from the right decision.

When It's Time

It has been more than a month since I have last blogged. To be honest, the hype of the previous election has got into me. A month before the first automated election was held, there was a good reason for me to politically inspire my blog, to help for a greater cause. But unfortunately, we didn't win the election, and fortunately, we won the honor and respect of the public. The cause is pretty much alive and continues to grow only in another form.

I would like to explain the reason why I should stop blogging for a while. I didn't blog not because of any kind of depression due to the result of the HALALAN. I didn't blog not because I lose my will to do it. I didn't blog not because of dismay. I didn't blog because I know it is not yet time.

For me, blogging is my way of sharing my personal insights and experiences to other people. To affect their lives positively and help them even in my humble way of awareness and inspiration. How will my blog be able to serve it's purpose if its still politically motivated and somewhat very much painted of what has just happened last May? How will I able to reach out if my thoughts are trapped in the previous national scenario. It would only produce sentiments on why my candidate and our cause have the right to triumph on the said event. It is just that I still want us to be heard, just to let the people know the truth, then regardless the verdict, we will openly accept it. So now, it is not what my blog should be painted with. I have to let it be kept and serve as a new form of knowledge. The key word: KEPT. It is a wonderful memory. I should learn and grow from it and not hinder me from learning and sharing new thoughts. I let myself enjoy the time to move on and learn the proper way to carry it with me. Things should be handle in its own time. When it is time to eat, you should eat. When it is time to work, you should dedicate it for it. When it is time for your family, do not go to the company of your friends or even doing office work. When it is time for your friends, you should enjoy that time with them. And everyone should always have the time for themselves. A time to assess, regenerate, and recover from everything. Like the time-off I have given myself. Responsible Time Management and proper handling of situations are the key to your today, tomorrow, and the rest of your lives. Live and enjoy everything in it's own precious time. Because when it's time to go back to Him, you could definitely can't stop it because "it's time".

Walking on a border line

We certainly know the emerging subculture called Jejemon. They are individuals who makes a word different by means of changing it's appearance and even it's spelling. I can say at first that it is somewhat colorful and creative but there is something not right about it. What is wrong about it is that those people already applied that improper grammatic construction to their daily lives. A "lifestyle" as they say. What is improper is not a "lifestyle", it is destructive. Some businesses even capitalized on it. I personally received a text message from my mobile network about a certain promo that uses Jejemons way of talking as a ringback. It is cute at first and irritating after, and it is definitely wrong.

Those kids in that generation could have a hard time communicating in a proper manner. Especially, we train our kids to be creative and innovative but always take morals and ethics into consideration for them to be ready to the professional world. Ask a high school student to speak proper tagalog, take note, not english, TAGALOG, to the elders. Most of them really find it hard to fluently speak their native language. We are all walking in a border line, we cannot always play safe. We, as human beings, have the capacity to decide on what option to take. We should always take precautions and responsibility on our actions. Go beyond the walls of technicalities but always be sure that your move is always grounded by morality and ethics. Let's take the Americans as an example. Definitely, they culture of the black americans, the way most of them talk, like "there ain't no shit about it", "wazzup doug?" are some basic colorful words that we might be hearing from them. Ask them to write or speak proper english, they will definitely be properly outdone by Filipinos. I can't imagine native Filipinos who can't speak their native tongue.

I like the move made by the Department of Education. Please read the link: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/deped-declares-‘all-out-war’-vs-jejemons

Another thought, we could not make our children take drastic actions because they know that they can say sorry and go for a fall back. They should also learn discipline and responsibility. It is not only our obligation to the young ones but to each and everyone of us as well. CReativity is something that nourishes and flourishes life, not destroy it. Language is part of a culture and culture is life. Always do what is right and you can never go wrong.