DISTANCE

Approximately 8,561 miles is in between us. But, thanks to technology which just makes everything so much easier.

When I wake up, its time for you to sleep. When I'm about to sleep, it's time for you to wake up. But, we never failed to make a way to talk, to see each other, just like the times when you were still here with me.

I'll always be here for you and I'll never go tired and weary of waiting for your come back. Love transcends time and distance. And I hold on to the promises we made for each other and to the bright future that awaits us.

The seas separate us but what we have will never be drowned by the gigantic waves and the strong winds of the oceans. That I promise you, babe.

When you come back, you'll see me standing at the same spot where I stood when you left.

I love you.

Change

A lot of people may feel uneasy with change. Some may resist the change, neglecting whatever benefit it may bring. However, on the other side of the scale are others who are excited about change. Optimistic and welcoming to what is laid on the table.

The question is, how are we suppose to react with change? Are we to go against it? or conform to it?

"Change is good," people say. It brings a new light to the convention, a flavor or a variety of what and how things were done. They are optimistic about change because it reinforces an individual's right and freedom to decide and take a stand. It makes everything more exciting, more adventurous.

"Change is bad," others say. They choose to do what and how people accomplish things from the beginning, from its conceptualization. Assurance and security of a tested way or path is what they are after. They'd rather stick to the old ol' ways than to invest time to test the unproven avante-garde way.

So, which side are we suppose to follow? The conservatives or the revolutionists?

"Everything in excess is bad for you."

We have heard this from many people, in different instances, in countless word choices and sentence constructions but regardless of how they say it, this for me is always a reminder. If we go back to the previous question, and answer it based on the cliche, we can then deduce that being too conservative and being too much of a revolutionist is 'not so good'.

Bottomline is for us to be wise and rational in everything we do. Let us not be too conservative that we always reject change. In the same manner, let us not be an extreme revolutionist where we instantly embrace these changes without weighing its pros and cons.

God gave us intelligence for us to think and a 'heart' to feel. If we utilize them and if we find the balance of these two, we'd be able to decide well and go for what is best for us. And lest we forget that in everything we do, we must ask God's guidance and direction.

It's not easy to move on and accept change. Neither is it easy to conform to the tradition all of the time. The beauty here is that we have the knowledge and wisdom and that we can bend ourselves and be flexible in making our decisions.

THE PAST

I think that majority of us live in the past. We have a hard time moving on, getting up, and looking forward.

But if we really think about it, the past cripples us, immobilizing every bit of motivation that keeps us going; It pulls us down to the very bottom of defeat, distress, and vulnerability.

Some people intentionally bury themselves in the past while others are unconscious victims of the past blinded by the disastrous circumstances that await their great fall.

It is absolutely not my intention to say that it is easy to forget the past. Because I know for certain that it is not, never had been, never will be easy to do so.

My intention is to urge each one of you to be firm. Instead of living in the past, learn from it and step forward. Live one day at a time and be optimistic about everything. If all else fails, look up. God is just waiting for you to ask.

Lastly, never lose hope because we "can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. (Philippians 4:13)"

Long Time

Its been a long time since my last blog.

A lot of things had happened and I have learned many things.

I haven't accomplished my goal which is to write one entry every day featuring something productive that I have done within the day. But I guess its not about writing those deeds everyday. My goal to inspire people through writing what I have done actually pushed me to do something good, something purposeful everyday.

Now, my goal will be continuing what I have started. I might do something good intentionally or unintentionally. The important thing is that I have brought change to myself and I have done something that may potentially inspire others as well.

That is something that I would do with great dedication and motivation.

UPDATE

Will be posting more here in the days to come. I drafted everything already. Just need to finish all of them.

May 1-present will be posted sometime soon.

Keep being productive: that's my mindset!

NANAY May 1

It’s been quite a while since I’ve last seen my mother. I have been missing her.

A few weeks back, my cousin told me that her mom is visiting her and she will be arriving on the 1^st of May at 7:00am (Philippine time). She also told me that my Nanay will be going to Manila with her mom. It was good news.

I felt really excited to pick them up at the airport. When I arrived from Karla’s house last night, I could barely sleep thinking about seeing Nanay again and telling her my experiences here in Manila. So, I woke up at 5am. I took a shower, put my clothes on and I went immediately to the airport. I arrived there 30 minutes before their standard time of arrival. I bought coffee to keep me up as I waited for them.

After a few minutes, their plane arrived. I stood at the waiting area, extended my neck to look left and right, trying to get a better view of the arrival area. And after a long wait, I finally saw Nanay and Nay Min. I waved at them and met them at the exit. I was really happy as in genuinely happy. The feeling was even more than what the word happy means, I guess.

We took a cab just outside the airport and headed home. When we arrived, I prepared breakfast for them and because their flight was really early, I told them to get some sleep. I, on the other hand, prepared breakfast for them – rice and corned beef. When they woke up, we ate together and as usual, I tell my stories to Nanay and she did the same. It was really fun and meaningful for me to be with Nanay again.

I really do think that distance does make the heart grow fonder. It makes you cherish every second you are with that person, whether it is your parents, your special someone, or even just a friend. It helps you appreciate the presence of that particular person in your life.

Just to wrap things up, I would just like to say, Nay, I love you so much. You and Tatay are my inspiration.

BAKING April 30

Karla and I are fond of eating. If we have money, we spend it to eat or buy something that’s edible. That’s our piece of joy.

When I woke up, I immediately cleaned the house. I swept the floor, mopped it. When it floor dried up, I did it again just to make sure that when I walk on barefoot inside the house, the dust won’t color my soles black.

After doing so, I didn’t have anything to do anymore, so I decided to text Karla. The plan was she’ll be going to my apartment and we’ll help each other with the council tasks. But, after talking to her over the phone, I was persuaded to go to her house to bake cupcakes and make icing for it with her and her Lola Gay.

And so I took a bath, put my clothes on and off I go. When I arrived she had everything ready – ingredients, tools, etc. We mixed everything up, prepared them, and tossed it in the oven, and after a while, we took it out of it. It was a wonderful experience. The cupcakes tasted good even without the icing yet. We let it cool while we were cooking the icing. When it was done, we topped each cupcake with icing. They all looked yummy and amazing. We tasted it. It was good. It was what we wanted it to be – sweet but not too sweet, moist not dry, cooked but not overcooked!

It was not our (Karla and I) first time to bake and it was definitely not our first time to bake well. The first baking session we had together was the night before we went to Abe’s farm in Pampanga with Trish, Nella, and Beth who are three of our closest friends. We baked chocolate chip cookies that time. And I tell you, they were delicious.

With this experience, I figured, a couple or group of friends do not have to go out and spend a lot of money to watch movies or shop and dine just to simply get together. Sometimes, you just really have to be innovative and resourceful. Some flour, sugar, oil, and eggs can already be mixed to make good tasting pancakes.

Staying at home, cooking a meal and eating while having some good conversation is enough for a quality time. Or if you want, you can also try baking like we did.