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.

DATE DAY April 29

Yesterday was heavy for me and for Karla so we decided to just relax and have a break.

Our usual dates aren’t like other couple’s. While most of them go to malls and eat dinner in a fancy restaurant, we prefer to just stay at home, watch a movie, goof around, and talk. We like it better. Its way simpler, more intimate, very meaningful, and cheaper!

I think both of us have grown so much in our relationship. We learned from each other and we’re very patient and understanding of one another. And, we’re also very professional. When it is time to work, we work but when it is time for us, we forget all the work and switch to our together mode.

It has been a productive day indeed. By just spending the time with my girlfriend, Karla, we were able to learn more about ourselves and be thankful for having one another.

I am looking forward to more date days to come.

COUNCIL MEETING April 28

Today commences our work as a council. Days or even weeks before that, we have all been preparing our individual proposals for each of our projects. Some of us are new to this whole concept of a college council. But, it was really nice to have seen everyone working together towards one goal.

First thing we did was the review of the CAMP Student Council Constitution. We noted what we thought needs to be revised, omitted, improved or added. This will be formally put into writing as a resolution to be approved or rejected by the General Assembly.

After that, we evaluated the project proposals of each council member to plot the schedule of activities for the first semester. We had a really substantial conversation and I am really excited for the whole academic year.

We also had a meeting with the Freshmen Block Coordinators regarding the freshmen affairs. We agreed on certain limitations and responsibilities that we and the FBC’s have when it comes to freshmen affairs.

It was overall a very productive day for not only for me but for us, the CAMP SC. It wasn’t just time for work but for us to actually bond and be closer to each other while fulfilling our duties as council members. This just means that you can actually have fun while working. The key is to love what you’re doing and to just cherish the little things that you can learn in every experience that your work gives you.

Here’s to a very productive year for us, CAMP SC!

APOLOGY

It has been several days since I lost internet connection in the apartment. But it does not mean that I stopped blogging already. I have hand written my blogs and will be posting them all at once when I have internet connection already.

Apologies. :)

Happiness

DISCLAIMER: This blog is for April 27. I wasn't able to publish it because I didn't have internet last night. My apologies.

I went to Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 tonight to pick up Tita Empong who went to Hong Kong to cover for Tita Emilie’s absence in work while she is in Nueva Ecija. I arrived there a few minutes after ten in the evening. Meanwhile, her flight is scheduled to arrive fifty five minutes after eleven. I waited for about an hour or two just sitting and observing other people around me. It was absolutely boring and unproductive. So, I decided to walk a little bit and message my Karla regarding the CAMP SC meeting tomorrow. I thought to myself, that’s the most productive thing I can do given the circumstances that I am in.

After the long wait, she had finally arrived. We rode a cab to Cubao specifically at the Five Star Bus Terminal. While in the cab she handed me a medium-sized, yellow Giordano t-shirt she purchased at the Hong Kong airport. She also gave me two toothbrushes and a bar of a variety of the Lindt chocolates.

I was happy, contented, and flattered at the gesture. Yes, they are little things, petty as some people would say but the thought of her remembering me and giving me those little things made me really happy. I think that is absolute happiness: seeing contentment and joy in the little things that people do or give another. It’s not the brand or the price of that something that defines the essence of giving or remembering, the gesture and the thought of giving that something – whatever the brand, the price, the quality, and the use – is what matters most.

I therefore conclude, today was not as bad as I thought it would be.

Council

Today, I have focused on planning the first formal meeting with the University of the Philippines Manila College of Allied Medical Professions Student Council AY 2011-2012.

Our first meeting will be on Thursday. We will be planning and scheduling the whole school year. We will also be evaluating the current Constitution of the CAMP SC and see if we need to amend or revise something to be presented in the first CAMP General Assembly.

I am really looking forward to a great year. I am hoping that I will be able to encourage my council mates to be at our best in everything that we do. And I am very positive that we can deliver because I trust my council mates and we want nothing else but service, excellence, and awareness for our fellow CAMPers.

It will not be a piece of cake for us but with unity, cooperation, and optimism, I am certain we can do it!

Gardening

My Nanay and Tatay's families are both fond of gardening - landscaping, treeplanting, and the like. I thought to myself, there must be something in that activity that keeps them hooked to this.

Yesterday, I went with my Tita Emilie to a place where a lot of varieties of decorative plants are sold. We spent a few minutes there and after a while, we ended up filling the tricycle with all these plants big and small. It looked like a mobile jungle.

And today, when I woke up, I knew what we are going to do: Plant them in places where they look best, where they will be most appreciated.

It was tiring but at the end of all of it, it was very fulfilling to see the plants in their rightful places. It made me smile and appreciate this kind of activity. But just when I thought this is the hardest part of the job, it struck me that there is an even harder task. That is, to nurture and really take care of all of it.

REFLECTION:

We choose the things that we want and need to plant in our minds and bodies. We culminate by changing little things, taking smaller steps toward the achievement of our goals. And some of us (including myself) are not able to sustain it. There are even times that some of us quit just when we are almost there.

Changing things and nurturing them are not easy. It takes so much discipline and drive to continue doing it. It takes a strong character and a focused mind to achieve our goals.

So, whenever you feel like quitting, remember the first day you decided to do what you started doing. Try to internalize the attitude and the determination that you possessed when you did that. It's going to help you get closer to realizing your goals.

Glitch

My cousins and I went with our relatives to a nearby resort. I actually just got home. It was a 30-minute ride from where we are in Gapan to Penaranda where the resort is located.

We arrived there just exactly two hours before the resort closes and we just made the most out of the remaining time. They had a couple of pools and my cousins and I swam even in the kiddie pool just for fun.

When the time to leave came, we were faced with a problem. One of the tires of my cousin's husband lacked air so we had to wait for more than an hour to get the tire vulcanized. Unfortunately, the vulcanizing shops in Penaranda were all closed so, they had to bring the tire to Gapan. Because of that, more time was wasted waiting for us to be able to get home. But, I don't think that was a waste of time because we were actually having fun taking pictures and goofing around with each other.

In our everyday lives, we encounter unexpected difficulties and challenges which require an alert mind and a highly rational thinking to overcome. Because when a glitch occurs, there is no other way but to fix it.

Games

Most games are played in teams and there is one goal in mind: WIN!

Today, I played patintero and habulan with my cousins who are ten years younger than I am. I really enjoyed it. It brought me back to my childhood when not a day passes without me playing tumbang preso, tagu-taguan, luksong baka, etc. with my neighbors.

I'd go home just in time for dinner but, before I position myself in the dinner table with my sister and parents, my Nanay (mother) would reprimand me for not using my towel to wipe my sweat and for having really dirty feet and stinky smell. So, before we eat, I take a bath and get dressed as quickly as I can so I'd be able to eat with my family.

In every game, there is a loser and a winner. And most of the time, at least one in each team stands out as the leader. The leader formulates strategies for the members to have focus and to perform well in the sport. But, that does not mean that the leader is the one and only important component of a team. The team members are as important as the leader. Unity and cooperation should always be present to achieve the goal.

In life, there are different kinds of games. But most games in life are played in a group effort. Working well with other people and having that positive and respectful personality would help you succeed.

Go team!

Quality Time

Only once or twice a year am I able to spend time with my cousins in Nueva Ecija. Its during one of these: Christmas, summer, or one of the holidays like Holy week. Sometimes, I travel to Bacolod where my parents reside.

So, every time I'm with them I make sure we spend quality time together.

Last night felt unique and quite special. My cousin Gio, my sister Zion, and I watched a couple of movies together. We laughed and it made me realize that that was actually the first time we did that together.

I think its worth writing and remembering.

That is quality time.

Preparation

In a couple of hours, I will be on my way to Gapan City, Nueva Ecija to spend the rest of the Holy Week.

Gapan, which used to be just a part of Cabanatuan City, is where Tatay (father)grew up and spent his childhood days. We lived there as a family for more or less the first three years of my life until we moved to Bacolod City, which is conversely, a home to Nanay's (mother's) relatives.

As we all know, the Holy Week is a holiday which most of us Filipinos make the most out of. We get our bags and leave for vacation with our families or friends. Some of us who are away from our beloved ones even fly to our hometowns just to get pass the traffic and hassle of riding a ship or worse a bus in more than an eight-hour trip. On the other hand, some of us just ignore all the hassle just to save money. Bottom line, we all do this to reunite with our families because we consider our ties of greatest value as Filipinos.

And on this occasion, just like any other Filipino, I will also go… home.

My "productive act" for the day is packing up.

When I pack up, I put everything in one place. I put my bag beside my things. And then, I write a list to make sure that when I'm done putting everything in, I have something to double check it with. Furthermore, I can refer to it again and check if I have everything with me when I go back.

Shirts, check.

Pants, check.

Shorts, check.

Underwear, check.

Toothbrush, check.

Cellphone, check.

Money, check.

I went over the list once, twice, thrice. And then, I looked around to make sure I did not forget anything for my trip. After some time I felt at ease. I was sure I have all that I need for my trip.

Packing up or preparation is one very important component of travelling. You have got to be sure you have everything or else things will be difficult for you. Inconvenience will ruin the whole experience.

Its just like our everyday lives. We get up, get dressed, and go out of our homes. But, are we really prepared for the day? Have we packed enough courage, strength, and motivation up in ourselves to do our tasks? To fulfill our purpose?

Think about it.

When in doubt, always look up to Him and ask for guidance. Trust me, it never fails.

Start Simple

PRODUCTIVITY: easy word to spell or even pronounce, isn't it? But when I actually researched about it to give focus to the things that I will be doing to be productive, its scope spans from economics to biology, to biochemistry, to engineering, and to many more fields. 28,000,000 google search results appeared.

Roget's Thesaurus defines productivity as the "quality of being efficient." One can be very efficient in many simple ways and with that, I think I can be productive.

Huge changes do not always happen in a blink of an eye or is not always caused by just one equally huge act. Sometimes, it is accomplished bit by bit.

When I first thought of myself blogging, I thought of doing things that fulfill a greater purpose like making a video of myself advocating for the environment and the like which is not exactly me.

But, when I actually sat and started to really think about my first featured "productive act", I thought to myself, "It does not have to be a huge thing and I am not doing this to impress other people or change their mind the instant they read this."

This blog is intended for me to become better, to be disciplined, and to spend each day with a goal or purpose in mind (to be productive) and hopefully, inspire others to do the same.

Hence, I decided to start doing simple things.

It was not hard for me to look for something that I can do around the house. I was actually overwhelmed by the many things that I have to fix and to clean up. And so I chose to fix my study area/living room which is this:

It has been a couple of weeks since the last day of classes, but the papers, books, pens, and other academic materials were still all over the place. I started by isolating the trash from the important things. I swept the floor and wiped it with a mop. And lastly, I put everything in their proper order.

In this simple and elementary a task, I learned a lesson: If you want to change, alter, or improve something about yourself or something in your environment, don't jump to make it happen. Instead, take smaller steps and learn from each stride you make.

Now I know why I never accomplish my New Year's Resolution...

Productivity

For the past couple of days, I've been thinking of doing something that would actually keep me busy; something that would keep my mind working and my body moving.

Good thing I talked to my girlfriend, Karla Neri about this and she happened to tell me that she is going to start blogging again.

It made me realize that I kind of actually miss writing and so I decided to make my own blogsite. And this is what I came up with: Project Productive Patman.

What does it mean to be productive? Businessdictionary.com defines it as a "relative measure of efficiency of a person, machine, factory, system, etc., in converting inputs into useful outputs."

Therefore, in simple terms, you are productive when you make something useful, valuable, or important out of anything to anyone, anything, anytime, anywhere in any means.

This whole idea of being productive is really making me excited. This will be a really simple blog. This will contain a narrative of at least one productive thing/act/decision that I have made every single day.

And, I hope that eventually, it will also inspire others to become productive individuals.

Day 1 starts tomorrow. :))