5 Years

June 28, 2008.  Exactly 5 years ago when I first set foot in Singapore.  With just one luggage and a backpack, 2 week’s worth of office clothes and few sets of casual apparels, I faced the greatest challenge of my life then:  live and work in a foreign country far away from my family.  Though it wasn’t easy, it wasn’t difficult neither.

 

I didn’t imagine that, that one big decision of mine would give me and my loved ones the best things of our lives.  What all I wanted then was to try to live independently and it turned out I achieved more than that.  I became stronger, smarter and a better individual.   I learned to deal with different types of peoples from different nations, cultures, religions, ages and orientations.  And from there, I learned to respect everyone’s opinions, preferences and differences and in the process, I gained wonderful friends and remain in touch with the good old ones.

 

Not only I did improve myself, I also got the chance to fulfil a life-long dream:  owning a house and lot.  Though I’m still 26 months away to officially claim that I am a certified house owner, I could almost taste it (fingers-crossed).

 

And in those 5 years, I managed to visit other wonderful places and what makes it sweeter is I was able to give my parents out-of-the-country trips which my mother described as something “we only thought would happen in our dreams”.  Sweet.

June 26, 2013. 2 days before I mark my 5^th year in Singapore, I’m already home.... for good and hopefully for the better.  It was a decision that came too soon.

I Lived, Therefore, I Learned - My 2011

...putting an end to a special  friendship, passing away of  a loved one,  discovering a new friendship just to watch it bid goodbye so soon, realizing your "the one that got away“ and getting out of your way to prove something but eventually finding yourself in the losing end...

That's how my 2011 has been and to quote Claire Morgan's speech in the movie New Year's Eve: 

...the times we opened ourselves up to great adventures or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt... 

I tried both... giving same result.

And as I welcome the new year, I'll bring with me all the lessons I learned but will leave the experiences behind hoping for a better and stronger Candy in 2012.

Manila, Manila...

When I first came here in SG, there was no plan of visiting Manila 'til March of next year. I am not allowed to go home in December since most of my teammates had already filed their leaves even before I got hired. It's the sad truth. I will be spending Christmas away from my family.... first time it is. So I made the most out of my very short stay in Manila last week :) But it was still bitin.. :(

Oct 23:
I left an hour early in the office to finalize my stuff. I couldn't describe how I felt that time. Excited, nervous, happy, sad... haaayyy... Good thing I had already prepared my things few days earlier or else I might just missed some important stuffs. My mind was so occupied with a lot of things. I did not even feel hungry to think that my last food intake was about 7 hours ago. I left my place at 9:30 and reached the airport 15 minutes later. I was too early for my schedule in anticipation of whatever "trouble" that this trip would get me into. With the horrible stories I have heard about CebuPacific, I'd rather not want to take a risk. Just like what my friend Mitch had told me, "Mabuti na yung maaga ka, just in case na magka-aberya man, mahaba ang time mong makipag-away". Hehehehe.... Good thing, the check-in process was smooth, did not encounter any trouble and my baggage weighted just below their limit :)

Though I wasn't starving, I forced myself to eat. 3-hour flight is too long for me. I had Pasta with Salmon and an Iced Tea. I did not finish my dinner, though. The food could no longer pass thru my throat and my stomach could no longer accept it. Excited? Yeah.. I guess so.

I went around the Budget Terminal and got myself busy. Even surfed the net for 30 minutes while waiting for my 12:40 am flight. I Checked out some items in a perfume shop and promised myself to buy a bottle when I get back :)

Boarded the plane 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time. While I was making myself comfortable on my sit, a security approached me and asked for my passport and boarding pass. He read my name and dictated it to the one he was talking to on his radio. I did not bother to ask anything. I was too busy thinking a lot of things.

The plane departed on time.

Oct 24:
My Nanay's 60th birthday celebration at Max's Restaurant

After the party, nanay, tatay and I went to SM North for my eye check-up. I felt that I needed to upgrade my glasses and sadly, I was right :( While waiting for my new pair, I shopped for clothes and pants and my parents decided to go home. After an hour, I claimed my new eyeglasses then went straight to Lay Bare for some waxing. Got home at around 7pm, had dinner and slept.

Oct 25:
Because I requested for a kare-kare today, instead of having lunch outside (like we usually do when we go malling), we stayed home, savor the food that I missed so much plus 2 ripe mangoes for dessert hehehehe.... Few hours after, nanay and I were already in Trinoma, shopping for my clothes and some pabilin of my officemates. And of course, the day wouldn't be complete without Jollibee :D Had spaghetti, burger and even bought Jollibee doll which was supposed to be for my nephew but it ended here in my room bwehehehe.... Haayyy.... what a tiring but fulfilling day.

Oct 26:
Sunday, after attending a mass with nanay our destination is Megamall with tatay. Just before we stroll at the mall, my ATM card was captured in one of the machines after my 3rd attempt to withdraw (the first 2 were successful, though). I reported it to the banks concerned and I just decided to withdraw the remaining amount and transfer it to my tatay's account the next day. I couldn't wait a week to have my card returned and I didn't want this unfortunate incident to ruin my day. Good thing nothing happened bad to my savings :). So, we shopped a little, had lunch at Bangus restaurant and I had a hair treatment, manicure and pedicure at David's. While I was having a good time, my parents had their own share of "date" hehehe...

Oct 27:
I went to Glorietta alone to buy ensaymada for pasalubong to my friends and teammates. Around lunchtime, I met a friend and had lunch at SM Mall of Asia.

Oct 28:
Went back to SG :( I still found myself crying while waiting for my plane at the boarding area. Reasons: My next return to the Philippines is in March next year, won't be spending Christmas with my family; Won't be seeing my friends for a long while. Actually, I never got to see them during this short stay; Losing something (or is it someone?) that I thought would be mine eventually, but destiny has its own surprises.

It was the first time that I cried in a public place. I didn't mind of the people around me, all I wanted was to cry, and it somehow helped me but wasn't enough to ease the pain.

I Like.... I Don't

Things that I like, so far, in my stary here in SG:

1. My room and dressing it up :)
2. I make my own diskarte sa buhay. What to cook for tonight, for tomorrow for next week. What to do with the left-over foods without throwing it away. When and how to laundry and iron my clothes. How to budget my money for one month, how to deal with difficult people hehehe... (I'm so mean..:P)
3. Transporatation is so convenient. Almost has access to everywhere without traffic jam.
4. Weekly sale.
5. I get to see my friends as often as I want, anytime of the day, without worrying on how to ask permission from my parents to stay late.
6. Internet connectivity. Sooo fast. Or baka naman nasanay lang kasi ako sa dial up sa pinas.. :P
7. Got the chance to practice my cooking skills and it's not bad after all *wink*... I told you, nay! I can cook! All I need is lot of opportunities hehehehe... but you're still the best cook in the worldwide universe mwahhhhh!!!! miss you po...

Things that I don't like, so far, in my stay here in SG:

1. Living with strangers.
2. When my diskartes are being ruined by inconsiderate people. Breaking the rules. Crossing the lines. Arrghhh!!!
3. Hindi kaaya-ayang amoy sa mga public transpo. Kailangang tagalugin, baka may nagbabasang ibang lahi hehehe...
4. The once-a-month payday. Being used to a semi-monthly payday, budgeting my moolahs is quite difficult especially when sales, promos and alikes are everywhere. Good thing I'm very much in control of myself hehehehe...
5. Just a few number of friends around since most of them are in Pinas.
6. Piracy is a no-no here that's why I'm having second thoughts whether to download tv series and mp3s or not.
7. Local seasonings do not meet my taste buds' requirements. Have to buy our own brands at not so reasonable prices in Lucky Plaza.

Is it?

While doing my usual surfing stuffs, I got this link from a friend's ym status that I wanted to post it here right away. To highlight the article:

Here's a list I grabbed from www.pinoysg.com of a few petty things that normally lead to an i'll-never-again-talk-to-you-til-the-day-I-die feud among pinoy housemates here:

1. Strands of black, curly hair gathering on bathroom floors – and even on kitchen sinks – that later manifests itself into a furry, gooey creature;
2. Locking oneself up inside the toilet for an eternity and not giving way even when a housemate is clearly in a bowel-busting, poise-threatening predicament;
3. “Paranormal” housemates straight from The Sixth Sense who keep insisting they see dead people;
4. Swiping someone else’s food from the fridge without asking the person who toiled through the night, investing blood, sweat and tears into his special delicacy of scrambled eggs and bacon;
5. Leaving the lights and heater on through the night;
6. Leaving the doors open;
7. Waiting for the garbage to pile up, hoping perhaps Oscar the Grouch would pop out of it suddenly to spew some expletives; and,
8. Using groceries and supplies like they were manna from heaven and not bothering to restock them.

And all I can say is.... yeah they are definitely true and more hehehehe.... :) Click here for the full article.

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time, there was a young lady who dreamed of working outside her Fairyland. She wanted to try something new in her life. Being a methodical person that she is, she plotted her plans accordingly, from updating her CV, planning her would-be lifestyle and even her parting words for her family. As she started to execute each and every item in her list, a major incident happened that she never thought would turn her life around. She was torn between fulfilling her 2 outmost goals in life: to take the chance to live independently or take the risk of getting into a vulnerable situation that she's been asking for even before man landed on the moon.

After so much contemplation, she chose the latter. And the rest is history which needs another entry on this page. But this story is not about whether she made the wrong decision or she definitely made the wrong decision. This story is about how she managed to put back all the pieces and started all over again.

And now.... the story begins...

Early this year, she had decided to try her luck in a land where most, afaik, IT professionals go for a greener pasture. She's been hearing a lot of good opportunities here. Not to mention that 2 of her best friends are already working here for more than a year already and they've been convincing her to follow. So, she updated her online resume and even registered for 2 more.

Months passed....

One May friday afternoon, while working on her usual stuffs in front of her desktop, she got a call from an unregistered number. The voice on the other line introduced herself from a Singapore-based agency who is looking for a Release-slash-Configuration Management-slash-Change Engineer. The caller asked for some info regarding her duties at work and later set an appointment for a phone interview by the client. 2 hours later, the Team Lead of the client called and the interview took almost an hour. Another 2 hours had passed, she received another call, this time from the Manager of the same client. She's being offered of the position and they talked about the compensation and her availability. The girl was overwhelmed, thinking how everything went this fast like lightning. And because she needed sometime to think things over, she asked the Manager to call back again later once she's home just to give her time to weigh her options.

On her way home, her mind was occupied with ifs and buts, whys and hows. This is it!!! This is the chance she's been waiting for. All she needs to do is say yes. On the very same night, the Manager called again and they talked about compensation. They agreed on the figures but she hasn't accepted the whole offer, yet. She needed to talk to the agent for other admin stuffs. Her weekend was filled with mental and emotional torture. The salary thingy has been set aside. It's a closed deal anyway. What occupies her mind are the things and people that she will left behind. Her family, her friends, the gimiks, etc. But since she had already partially prepared herself for this, the torture did not last long but enough to give her sleepless nights.

Monday, the agent called again and discussed about the whole package. She sent the offer letter on that very same day. After a numerous exchange of questions and answers in about a week, our lady dreamer finally signed the offer and the countdown began.

Days went so fast.....really, really, really fast.

One-day interview, one-hour offer negotiation, a weekend to decide, a week to finally accept it...and a month to prepare for her new journey... new life... new chapter.

First MC

I woke up this morning on a bad note. My monthly visitor is here again and giving me so much pain... pain that it has mastered since the day it entered my life. I went straight to the kitchen to prepare my baon but too lazy to pick up the utensils. I just decided to get back to bed and texted my manager that I'll be on MC (their term for SL) today. It is a company policy that even if its just a 1-day MC, you have to get a Medical Certificate. Good thing about it though is first, we have a healthcard and we can have unlimited medical check-ups in any accredited clinics for FREE; second, there is a nearby accredited clinic.... few blocks away from our block. As soon as I got my boss' reply, I went back to sleep and woke up again after 2 hours. I prepared myself for the check up.

In the clinic, I told the doctor that I have menstrual pain and all I need is a med cert because I wasn't able to report for work today. Since my condition is a normal thing, he just advised me to take a blackcurrant supplement. It has components that will help lessen the pain and even improve my blood circulation. He also noticed my pimple marks on my face and on my chest. He said that my dysmenorrhea and breakouts are due to hormonal thingy. It's in my system and to avoid such, guess what he advised! He recommended a birth control pill!!!!! Hehehehe..... According to him, this will improve my blood circulation and my skin condition. At the back of my mind... "yeah i know... these are the side effects of a birth control pill.... but I don't need this now... I don't have sex life bwehehehehe....." So after a 15-minute question-and-answer portion, I went home with 3 kinds of medicines that come with the consultation. I did not take any of those hehehe.... All I need is a med cert anyway.

At home, I researched for the blackcurrant and its benefits. It looks interesting and I might buy it one of these days. I'll check my budget first :)

Holy Week 2007

Being a non-catholic person, I'm (even my family 'coz we're half-catholic/half-methodist) not used to attend church services/activities during holy week (thursday-saturday). When I was younger (no cable channels yet), we had no choice but to watch Bible-related shows on tv and on Good Friday, the 3-hour Siete Palabras (Seven Last Words). Come Saturday, still no regular tv programming, so I either sleep or play outside with my friend. Normal life resumes on Easter Sunday where Easter Egg Hunt is all over the place.

But this year's Holy Week is far far different from my childhood experience. This time, with sky cable and dvd player, boredom is just a thing of the past.

Thursday. We watched Night at the Museum starring Ben Stiller and Robin Williams. It was entertaining and educational. Turistas came next just before dinner. Hmmm.... wasn't that good enough. I'll try to catch the Salma Hayek version of it. And just before bedtime, we watched 300. But, very late that night, we rushed my nanay to the nearest 24-hr clinic due to difficulty in breathing. We thought she would have a heart attack or hypertension... thank God, it was just a heart burn.

Friday. Watched the latest version of Casino Royale. I wasn't impressed at all. Got bored and sleepy.

Saturday. Nanay and I went to SM North Edsa and watched Ang Cute ng Ina Mo. By the way, my nanay is a certified Kapamilya and a fanatic of Ai-Ai and Kris Aquino hehehehe....

Sunday. Happy Easter!!! After attending a mass, I prepared myself for tomorrow's "journey".

Monday. By the way, Monday is no longer a holy day, but since it's Araw ng Kagitingan, no work today :). Even before the holy week started, I promised myself that I would go to Quiapo Church on this day to pray. Not the typical prayer that I do everyday, but I wanted to talk to Him in a sacred place. I chose this day because I knew all churches would be very busy with people from Holy Thurday to Easter Sunday. I chose this day because I knew, not so many people would be here at this time. I talked to Him like how a daughter talks to her father. I thanked Him, I asked for forgiveness and for more blessings not just for me but for my loved ones, as well. I couldn't help but cry, though there were several people going in and out of the church, I didn't mind. And now that everything has been said, I went out of the church, relieved. I can now do the things that I wanted to do, I can now start fulfilling my dreams that momentarily stopped for personal reasons and I can now live my life free from worries of what tomorrow would bring because I know He is always there to back me up.

Afterwards, I went to Megamall to unwind, to relax and pamper myself the best way I could.

What a feeling!!!!

By the way, some of you might get confused of my religious preference. I am a Methodist, as well as my father and my brother. But, for the past years, I've been attending catholic services with my nanay who is a Catholic. So if you would ask me, which religion I prefer, hmmmm.... mahaba-habang inuman to... hehehehe...

Si Lola

Isang araw ng biyernes, papasok na ako sa opisina at wala namang pinag-iba ang araw na ito sa nagdaang mga araw. (Yun ang akala ko! :) ) Pagdating ko ng North Ave. station ng MRT, hindi muna ako agad sumakay ng tren kasi wala na kong mauupuan e. Tulad ng dati.... naghintay ako ng kasunod na tren. Pagkalipas ng 5 minuto, may dumating na tren kaya lang lumampas e.. baka sa susunod na istasyon na magsakay. Hintay ulit ako (kaming mga pasahero ng mahigit 5 pang minuto). Dahil medyo naipon ang mga pasahero, unahan sa pagpasok sa tren.

Tulad ng dati, nakaupo ako sa aking "paboritong upuan". At dahil isa ako sa mga naunang nakapasok, isa-isa kong nakita kung pano nag-unahan ang mga babaeng pasahero na makakuha ng mauupuan. Napansin ko ang isang mag-ina (o mag-ate) na humahangos na para bang nakasalalay ang buhay nila sa upuan ng tren. Kung pagbabasesehan ang kanilang panlabas na kaanyuan (itsura), naisip ko na hindi sila mayaman, hindi rin naman nakakaangat sa buhay... sa madaling salita, mukha silang pobre... mahirap... mukhang galing squatter (inuulit ko, ang naging basehan ko lamang ay ang kanilang panlabas na anyo... hindi ko sinasabi na ganun sila.. dahil wala naman akong lakas ng loob ng mga panahon na yon na tanungin pa sila). Sa mumunting saglit na nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na mamasdan sila, napansin ko ang kaanyuan nung batang lalaki. Siguro ay nasa 4-5 taong gulang, payat (mukhag malnourished), malaki ang mata at ang kulay ng balat ay nasobrahan sa pagiging kayumanggi, na parang nasunog sa sikat ng araw. Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang pinag-aksayahan ko pa ng panahon na suriin ang pagkatao nung bata. May dahilan naman pala.....

Puno na ang tren, okupado na ang mga upuan, may iilang babae na rin ang nakatayo. Akma na akong matutulog sa kinauupuan ko (dating gawi). Ipinikit ko na ang mga mata ko hanggang sa may narinig akong tinig na galing sa isang matandang babae "Teka, papasok na ko... hintayin nyo ko... alam ng matanda ako e.. hirap na kong maglakad dahil sa rayuma ko, wag nyo ng harangan ang daraanan ko".

(Ang mga susunod na pangyayari ay maaaring makapagpabago sa pagtingin ninyo sa akin... hindi naman ako masamang tao... meron lang ako mga dahilan kung bakit ko nagawa ang mga susunod na pangyayari)

Hindi ko na tinangkang buksan ang mga mata ko dahil sa sobrang antok, hindi ko makakayang ialok ang upuan ko sa kahit kanino ng mga oras na yun dahil gusto kong matulog. At ang katwiran ko pa nuon, 2 tren ang pinalampas ko dahil gusto kong makatulog, hindi ko basta-basta ibibigay ang upuan ko. Naisip ko na kung bubuksan ko ang mga mata ko para sumilip man lang kung kanino galing ang tinig na yun, maaaring nasa harapan ko ang matandang babae na yun at wala akong ibang magagawa kundi ialok ang aking upuan. Sa madaling-salita "umiwas" ako sa responsibilidad. Alam nyo na siguro ang ibig kong sabihin. Ngunit dahil sa walang humpay nyang pagsasalita kahit nasa loob na ng tren (hindi naman sya galit, nagkukuwento sya ng kung anu-ano, tulad ng pangkaraniwang senior citizen, ung masyadong madaldal hehehehe....) napadilat na rin ako. At sa totoo lang, nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng makita ko sya na nasa kabilang panig ng tren, nakatalikod sa akin. Napangiti na lang ako at pinikit ko muli ang aking mga mata.

Hanggang sa umandar na ang tren, nawala ang tinig, ugong na lamang ng aming sinasakyan ang aking naririnig. Wala pa kami sa kasunod na istasyon (Quezon Ave.), ng marinig ko muli ang kanyang tinig. Papalakas ang rehistro sa aking mga tenga. Hanggang sa naramdaman ko na nasa harap ko na sya. Hindi ko talaga dinilat ang aking mga mata. Hanggang sa nakaramdam ako sa aking bandang kaliwa na parang may tumatayo, sa loob-loob ko... "Haay.. salamat may nagpaupo na rin sa kanya." Nakahinga ako ng maluwag, subalit panandalian lamang, narinig ko na naman ang kanyang tinig.. "Ilang taon na ho kayo?" Bigla akong napadilat at nakita ko sya sa harapan ko mismo, tinanong nya ang babaeng nasa kaliwa ko kung ilang taon na ba sya (meron pa palang isang matandang babae na syang pinaupo nung katabi ko.. akala ko pa naman sya na ung pinaupo.. hehehehe...). Ang sabi nung matandang babaeng katabi ko, "65 ho." Ang sabi naman ng matandang babaeng nakatayo, "naku, mas matanda pa pala ho ako sa inyo e." Hindi naman sagad hanggang buto ang kasamaan ko para hindi ialok ang upuan ko sa isang matandang babae na may rayuma na. Ayun, bago pa man huminto ng Quezon Ave. station ang tren, nakaupo na sya at ako, nakatayo.

Sa maniwala kayo't sa hindi, bukal naman ang pagbibigay ko ng aking kinauupuan. Yun nga lang, di ko maiwasang isipin na "kung alam ko lang na tatayo ako, di sana sumakay na ko sa nadatnan kong tren kanina." Baligtad na ngayon ang sitwasyon, ako ang nakatayo sa harap mismo nung matandang babae. At habang binabaybay namin ang kahabaan ng EDSA, nakisuyo sya sa kanyang katabi (ung nasa kanan nya) na kung pwedeng ilagay ung dala nyang bimpo sa likod nya dahil basang-basa na raw sya ng pawis. Pinagbigyan naman sya ng kanyang katabi. Matapos magpasalamat, nagkwento sya kung saan sya pupunta at kung saan sya nanggaling. Walang choice ang kanyang katabi kundi makinig sa kanya... hehehe. Ako naman, di sinasadyang mapakinggan ang kanilang pag-uusap. Huminto sya saglit sa kanyang pagkukuwento at may kinuha sa kanyang bag. Balumbon ng tig-20 pesos at iniabot dun sa batang lalaki na nakita ko kanina na ngayon ay kandong ng kasama nyang ale. Tuloy ang kwento ng matanda...

"Alam mo kasi hija, wala na akong mga apo dito.. nasa Amerika na lahat ng anak ko kaya pati mga apo ko andun na rin. Miss na miss ko na nga sila e... Kaya mula nung mawala silang lahat dito, ang sabi ko sa sarili ko, ang unang bata na makikita ko ay bibigyan ko ng pera. Kami na lamang dalawa dito ng asawa ko. Aalog-alog kami sa bahay. Gusto na akong kunin ng mga anak ko e, kaya lang maiiwan ang asawa ko. Ang sabi ko sa kanila, dito na lang ako, sasamahan ko ang tatay nyo. Hindi kasi nila makukuha ang asawa ko e. Saka, ayaw ko sa Amerika... iba pa rin dito. Lahat ng lima kong anak andun na e... isang Med Tech, isang Nurse, isang PT, isang Civil Engineer at ung bunso kagagraduate lang, MassComm. Kaya eto nililibang ko ang sarili ko.. minsan nag-jo-jogging ako sa Quirino Grandstand, ngayon may pupuntahan akong seminar para sa matatandang katulad ko. Teka.. Guadalupe na ba, dun ako bababa, hija."

Hanggang sa dumating kami sa istasyon na kanyang bababaan. Sa kanyang pagtayo, hindi man lang sya nagpaalam pero lahat kami na nakarinig ng kanyang kwento ay sinundan sya ng tingin na may ngiti sa aming mga labi. Kakaibang kwento ang aming namalas.

Ilan sa aking mga napagnilayan matapos ang maiksing pagkakakilala ko sa bida ng aking kwento:

1. Maaaring naiinis tayo sa kaingayan ng mga lolo at lolang katulad nya. Sa paulit-ulit nilang mga kwento, sa pagiging masungit nila kung minsan. Ngunit sa likod ng kanilang pag-iingay, ng pagsusungit... ay mayroong mga kwentong maaaring makapagbigay sa atin ng mas malawak na pang-unawa at malasakit sa kapwa.

2. Nakita at naramdaman ko ang taos-pusong pag-abot nya ng pera sa batang lalaki. Hindi para magyabang, hindi para magpasikat, kung hindi dahil yun ang kanyang "panata" bunga ng pagkakawalay nya sa kanyang mga apo. Kung tutuusin, hindi naman "cute" ung bata. Kadalasan kasi, hindi ba, natutuwa tayo sa mga batang "cute" - mataba, makulit, bibo, maputi, etc..etc..etc. At dahil sa mga katangiang ito, nakagigiliwan natin silang bigyan ng chocolate, candy or pera. Pero sa pagkakataong ito, kung tutuusin, ay wala namang espesyal na katangian ang batang ito subalit nakuha nya ang atensyon ng matandang ale. Nangangahulugan lamang, sa aking pananaw, na bukal sa loob ng ale na ito ang magbigay.

Haayyy... salamat sa pagkakataon na ito na nakakilala ako ng isang nilalang na tulad niya. :)

Lessons Learned

Lessons that the year 2006 had taught me:

January - Do not say "yes" if it is a NO.

February - Fight for what you believe in.

March - Learn to forgive.

April - Celebrate life.

May - Don't be hasty.

June - Be sensitive.

July - Be specific on your prayers, never underestimate God's generosity.

August - Listen attentively to what others would have to say. A little misinterpretation might cause a lifetime of suffering.

September - Take chances, take a lot of them.

October - Show your emotions, don't be afraid to let the world know how you feel.

November - Love, just love... and forget about why.

December - Learn your lessons well... be thankful... do the right thing.

Helping Others

When I was still a kid, my father used to tell me lots of things about life. Sa sobrang dami nila, baka pasko na hindi ko pa tapos isulat dito. :P Anyways, something happened to me yesterday that reminded me one of my father's "mga ginintuang-aral".

During my grade school days, naalala ko, hindi ata lilipas ang isang linggo na walang kumakatok sa pinto ng bahay namin at nanghihingi ng kung anu-ano: donasyon sa patay, damit sa mga nasunugan, dagdag na pondo sa pagpapatayo ng kapilya at marami pang iba. Nung mga panahon na iyon, tatay ko ang taong-bahay at nanay ko ang nagtatrabaho.. (hehehehe... not a typical Filipino family pero ibang kwento naman 'to.. medyo madrama pero kung interesado kayo, willing akong magkwento.. :D). So, tuwing me mga unexpected guests na tulad nito, tatay ko lagi ang humaharap... at kadalasan, nagbibigay sya, piso.. minsan, dalawampiso (abah hindi naman kaliitan ang ganitong halaga nung mid-80's). Pero kung walang-wala talaga.. "sorry po, wala ngayon e.. pang-meryenda na ito ng anak ko."

Isang araw, tinanong ko sya kung bakit sya nagbibigay e kung hindi naman totoo yung mga sinasabi nun. Ang katwiran nya, "Anak, nilapitan ka nila dahil alam nilang matutulungan mo sila. At kung me pagkakataon kang tumulong, 'wag mong palampasin, sayang. Ngayon, kung nagsisinungaling sila at gumagawa lang ng istorya.. hindi na natin problema yun... isipin mo na lang kung totoo na nangangailangan sila, kahit papano nakatulong ka... at kung nagsisinungaling sila... me karma anak... hindi tayo ang nawalan kundi sila sa pagkukunwari nila. Pero kung talagang wala kang maibigay, wag mong pilitin na may maibigay... kung sa talagang wala e." Ang sabi ko naman, "Eh, 'tay, hindi naman tayo mayaman... sayang, dagdag din sa pang-meryenda ung binigay mo." Ang sagot nya, " 'Nak, oo nga at hindi tayo mayaman pero kahit papano me sobra sa kinikita natin, ang sabi ko naman sa 'yo di ba, kung meron magbigay kung wala, e di wala."

At habang lumalaki ako, unti-unti kong naintindihan ang mga pangaral sa 'kin ng aking tatay. Hindi lang sa aspeto ng pagbibigay ng materyal na bagay: pera, damit o pagkain. Ang talagang sumiksik sa kaloob-looban ng utak ko ay: nilapitan ka nila dahil alam nilang matutulungan mo sila. At kung me pagkakataon kang tumulong, 'wag mong palampasin, sayang.

Tama sya, hindi lahat ng tao ay nabibigyan ng pagkakataon na tumulong sa kapwa nila. Hindi ba, ang sarap ng feeling kapag me natulungan ka? Pero dapat bukal sa loob, hindi ung sapilitan. :D Sa mall, me magtatanong sa 'yo kung saan ang daan papuntang MRT, sa kalye, tutulungan mong tumawid ang isang me katandaang tao, sa trabaho, kapag may hindi naintindihan sa isang process, i-explain mo.

Pero bakit ganun? May mga taong parang mamamatay kapag hiniram mo ang isang minuto ng buhay nila para lang humingi ng tulong? Hindi ka naman magpapabuhat ng mabigat, hindi mo naman sya uutusang bumili ng mais sa tindahan :(. Pero kung makahingi ng tulong, actually (hindi pala humihingi ng tulong), kung makapag-utos parang wala kang trabahong tinatapos. I may sound childish here, pero shock lang talaga ako. Hindi kasi ako yung klase ng tao na agad-agad humihingi ng tulong. Hangga't kaya kong gawin ang isang bagay, gagawin kong mag-isa. Pero hindi kasi lahat ng bagay alam ko eh, may mga pagkakataon na kailangan ko rin ng tulong ng iba. At kapag humingi ako ng tulong, ibig sabihin hindi ko talaga kaya. Hindi ako mang-iistorbo ng kapwa ko para lang magpa-cute o kung anupaman. Nakakasama lang ng loob, dahil during those times na siya ang nangailangan ng tulong, I was there to help. And now that it's my turn to ask for one, he did not even bother to ask the cause of the problem, he just said "ay di ko alam 'yan.. " sabay talikod. Good thing, though, I was able to control my temper, very unlikely of me hehehehe... siguro dahil kami ay professional, I should handle this professionally. I did not expect naman na ma-so-solve nya 'ung problem, pero naman... ano ba naman yung magpakita ng katiting na concern. Sad to say, wala... wala.. wala... akong napala.

Ganun talaga siguro, may mga tao na magaling manghingi, pero di marunong magbigay. Salamat na rin at nangyari 'to, at least next time alam ko na kung pa'no ihandle ang tulad nya. Kung darating ang pagkakataon na kakailanganin nya ulit ang tulong ko... tutulong pa rin ako... why not... 'yun ang tinuro sa 'kin ng tatay ko eh.... Pero, minsan kailangang magbigay ng leksyon e, at dito ako maaasahan.. :D.

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all times you can, by all the means you can, as long as you can." ~ John Wesley