It’s My First Year Bloggerversary

Hey folks, friends, mentors and fellow blogging buddies, today is my first year here in bloggerville! Isn’t that great?

It was really a metamorphosis, from the simple, naïve writer to the now more polished and sensible one.

It was my classmate in high school, Sir Gie (his pen name) who introduced me to blogging exactly a year ago today for the purpose of earning money through AdSense. But a couple of months back, I disabled that Adsense because I am more convinced now that I am here to share my talent and not to earn a dollar or two. In fact, through blogging, I am more or less $10 richer now…J but have not claimed the money yet…L

And two of my blogging-buddy-friends, Maddy and Leo, will have a guest post in celebration of this milestone in my blogging life…J

I will be posting their guest post today.

But too bad…L as I was about to log in, came power breakdown…L But anyways, am doing a draft and post this as soon as power will be restored.

Thank you so much to everyone who became my inspiration and mentor over here. Much to my desire to mention all of you here now, am afraid I can’t make a perfect roll call, so, here….to all of you my dear mentors, buddies, friends and followers alike, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I promise to make good use of my craft…J

Have a nice day and God bless us all!

What A Headache!!!

I visited Pramoda's Being Pramoda, the layout is beautiful. Every time I visit Lena's The Colors Magazine and Colors of My Soul, I envy her site's design. And even Preetilata's White Window. They are all beautifully designed blog sites and even the contents are every interesting.

And here I am, for two days, I did try to make a new design of my site. And you know what happened? It did give me a headache, a throbbing pain of my brain and skull because I almost lost all the contents of my site. I almost wasted all my efforts for more than ten months of writing. 

But thank God, it's now starting to make a face. Little by little, I was able to recover the original contents of my site. And hopefully, add some more interesting contents.

However, I will be on leave for the next couple of weeks and hope to be back soon. I have to attend to a very important personal need.

So folks, promise I will be back very soon. Ciao.....


P.S. Thanks to Lena for always dropping by my site; my gratitude to Pramoda for giving me the thought of redesigning my site and to Preetilata for being the new follower of my blogs. I love you all!

Rains and Tears

Last June, I went to Baguio City to attend a seminar and at the same time visit my two college kids. While we’re traversing Naguillian Road going up to Baguio, the road was zero visibility due to very thick fogs that blanketed the highway. Our bus was crawling like crab and the driver was turning his head in disappointment. We were like running in turtle-paced speed. Instead of the usual 45 minutes drive from Bauang, La Union, it almost took us two hours before reaching the City of Pines.

I was wide awake. I can’t close my eyes lest any single second I will do it, we’re already plunging into the deep ravine on the side of the road. I maybe the only wide-eyed companion of the driver. I was praying so hard that we will reach our destination safe and sound. And thank God, we did.

After a day in Baguio, an inclement weather set in. I thought it was just heavy downpour but when strong winds started to accompany the heavy rains, I knew a typhoon is coming our way. We were at the mall with my kids just after our seminar session for that day. We’re in a queue waiting our turn to board a cab and then our umbrellas started to fold and almost wanted to get out and stop clinging from the strong grips of our hands. We’re reduced to folding our umbrellas instead of sacrificing its longer life span. Before we could board a cab, our bodies were almost dripping with water.

The whole night, rains keep pounding on the roofs of everyone’s abode, coupled with strong winds. The following day, if not for the early morning thick fogs, then we’re so helpless watching the strong downpour.

It took more or less four straight days before the typhoon abated. I went to the market. While on my way with a companion who volunteered to help me, she told me that long heavy downpour helps Baguio get a clean bath once in a while. True to what she said, I tried to look down waterways we have passed by and really, the water down the rivers was crystal clear. Baguio indeed had taken a very good bath from the heavy rains.

After the heavy rains, there’s a positive result for the City of Baguio. Indeed, the heavy downpour was really good for this summer capital of the Philippines.

Have you cried lately? Cried so hard as if your heart will break and your nose will clog of unwanted mucous? If heavy downpour gives us a fresh new environment, I would say, crying your heart out, your heartaches would do the same for you.

Me? Yes, I did cry so hard the other night and in somebody’s invisible arms and shoulders. And it did give me a time to unload all my heartaches, all the hurt feelings that have been lodging inside me for quite a long time now, maybe for several years now. Though my head was like spinning and aching while I was crying and my nose was so clogged with unwanted fluids, my heart felt like it has been unburdened. I felt better after that buckets of tears fell from my eyes. I have longed to do for a long time now but I needed somebody to listen to me. And thanks, there was that invisible someone who did care to listen to me. All I could do at the moment was unload everything and he did caringly, heartily and lovingly listened to me. Thanks to you my friend. I hope you wouldn’t tire giving me a shoulder to cry on.

After that heavy downpour from my eyes, I felt I wanted to sleep. And I did. I was in a deep slumber so that the following morning I felt I still wanted to stay in bed for the rest of the day. This time, I wanted a long bed rest to recuperate from the past few weeks that I had been so burdened with a lot of cares. I am now contemplating of taking a long leave from work so I can totally rest and recuperate my state of health. Maybe, I will do so very soon. Yes, very soon. In a place where there is peace and quiet and open air. In a farm maybe. In my dream Farmville.

HOW CAN I TELL YOU...

Dear followers;

As of now, I may pause from writing my short story cause I need to gather enough energy and proper mind set before I do so because in the past week, my life has been a total mess. But before I go back to active blogging, I promised an avid follower that I may write blogs, one day at a time. And before I do so, May I dedicate this song to a very good friend...(Kuya, again) (popularized by Lani Misalucha).

This song's for you . . .

How can I tell you that I love you, I love you
But I can't think of right words to say
I long to tell you that I'm always thinking of you
I'm always thinking of you, but my words
Just blow away, just blow away
It always ends up to one thing, honey
And I can't think of right words to say
Wherever I am babe, I'm always walking with you
I'm always walking with you, but I look and you're not there
Whoever I'm with, I'm always, always talking to you
I'm always talking to you, and I'm sad that
You can't hear, sad that you can't hear
It always ends up to one thing, honey,
When I look and you're not there
I need to know you, need to feel my arms around you
Feel my arms around you, like a sea around a shore
And - each night and day I pray, and hope
That I might find you, in hope that I might
Find you, because heart's can do no more
It always ends up to one thing honey, still I kneel upon the floor
How can I tell you that I love you, I love you
But I can't think of right words to say
I long to tell you that I'm always thinking of you
I'm always thinking of you....
It always ends up to one thing honey
And I can't think of right words to say....

An afternoon in the office...

I didn't expect that I will be so moved by the next thing that would happen in the office that day. As I have said in my earlier post, "A day in the office", I wished that an afternoon in the office would be far better as I have prayed for it. Maybe yes? and maybe, No!

We had a staff meeting, a continuation of our first staff meeting a couple of weeks back. Delineation of work. Filling up of performance targets on a weekly basis. I did not follow the instruction set by my immediate superior, instead I prepared a target which will last till the end of the month for reason that I was given a special assignment; to assist the legislators in crafting three different codes assigned to them, respectively and which should be adopted before the month ends.

I was tasked to provide the needed technical assistance, encode the proposed drafts and for sure, make a final copy of the approved codes. What a task! Never mind, it happens once in a while, anyway! But honestly, I was challenged to the max. The sad part of it? I told my officemates that the work given me is not well compensated. Hmm...it's not significant to them, though. 

Now, the best part of that afternoon after the staff meeting? Food! We were treated to a heavy snack. But my wish? To eat ice cream, much ice cream and eat like a child. But it didn't happen. However, I insinuated that comes next staff meeting, we will eat ice cream. Yummy!!!

Photo: from flickr.com

One day in our office . . .

I arrived in the office this morning at 7:55 AM, the logbook was about to be closed for the 8:00AM closing time. 

Finalizing approved resolutions and ordinances was the first thing in my work for the day. I felt dizzy coz I have to fill in data and other references. I wished it was complete before it landed on my table so that it will be easier for me to make the final copy, but it was not. From the looks of it, I will have to research the needed data. Fine!

It's irritating to hear somebody and the same person who constantly makes phone calls to almost anyone he knows in the directory and in his personal directory. And they're not business calls but personal huh! Killing time maybe until off hours. Great way of spending government funds for personal gratification.  

I reminded my officemates I will seminar them on effective records management anytime this week. All were receptive to the idea, but rebuttals followed a little later as to who will be the over-all in charge of the records in our office. Is that a big deal? Whew. . . 

Before I went home for lunch break, I reminded one of my officemate to keep safe as she will be left alone in the office. We both laughed. She reminded me she has had her shots of vaccines for python venom, only she and I can understand what's all about the vaccine.  

That's what happened for about four hours in our office. This afternoon, more are in store for me and everyone. Wish the rest of the day will go better as I have prayed for. (well folks, am not yet back to active blogging, not now, maybe later. . .)

Nostalgia – Episode I

One morning, on one special day, with one special person inside one special ride; Something wonderful, something reminiscent and something beautiful transpired.If this is a dream, I don't wanna wake up.Yes, I want to continue dreaming until it will have a happy ending.

He held my hands, I held his. He smelled my perfume and told me it was sweet.
I smelled his perfume and told him I like it and it was sweet, too.
He looked into my eyes; I met his gaze, too.
Something reminiscent happened.

Few words were spoken; as if the presence of each other on that moment was enough.He missed me as I missed him, too. It was a long time since we saw each other.
Oh how I love this person, and though he won't say a word or two; I felt that he missed me, cared for me, and love me, too.

He again looked into my eyes, but we remained speechless.
I looked into his eyes and my desire was to shower sweet little kisses on his cheeks; On his forehead, on his lips, but rather kissed his nape.
Then again, he held my hands and I tightly held his, too.
Speechless, few words were spoken, but the message is clear.
Oh, how we missed each other terribly.

I heard knocks, knocks on the door. . . Oh no! I don't want to wake up, please. . . not now . . Please, tell me this is not just a dream, please tell me this is really happening?!?.
"Hey, you're now late, it's past 7 in the morning". Whoa. . . and it was just a . . .D R E A M!!!

Congratulations, Son!

(the following post has been a long overdue one, but I still want to post it, anyway………)

Three days from now and my son will be marching up the stage to receive his high school diploma, a manifestation that he was able to hurdle the four years of high school education. Soon, two of my kids will already be in college, his big sister, an upcoming 3^rd year BS Psychology student at SLU Baguio City. Soon, he will be joining his sister in Baguio City. Soon, he will be experiencing college life. Soon, he will be apportioning his bigger allowance than what he has when he was in high school. Soon, he will be tending to himself; washing his own clothes, cooking his own food, doing his own assignment, cleaning his own room, and doing all the necessary stuff for himself.

How time flies so fast. A few years back, he was just a naïve little boy very much pampered by his parents. Now he's already a grown up man, ready to embrace a larger world; a world full of ups and downs, a world where one's tenacity is tested. A world where one can have the worst and the best.

Son, whatever are your dreams in life, reach for them. Be rest assured that we will always be behind you. We will continue to backstop you, if only to realize your grand dreams in life. Burn your candles! Paddle your own canoe! Hitch your wagon to a star! Again, congratulations for being able to finish another ladder in your education.

Crabs Are Crabs!

That's life! Crabs are crabs! The supposed concluding statement of my last post, but I can't edit it because I posted the same using the shortcut way where in MS Office 2007, you can now open a new document either as 'blank document" or "new blog post". I recently discovered that short cut way of posting blogs. Unlike before, I would type in a word format, then copy and then paste it in a new compose mode in my blogsite.

Where am I now? Yes, I don't know if I consider it as a Filipino value that what we call "Crab Mentality". There's a favorite maxim that I have posted on the wall of our office which runs this way and I quote: "If people are trying to pull you down, be proud of it! It only means one thing, you're above them! And there's one sure reason why they hate you. . . Because they want to become. . . just like you!

Said adage has been pasted on the wall of our office for several years now! When teachers from the elementary school came to our office one time, well, they copied it, telling me that said saying is very apt to be posted on their wall, too.

Pulling each other down is characteristic of crabs. Let's animate the crab. Some people are like crabs, too. They envy others when their lot in life becomes better. Thus, the "pulling down" spree starts.

Can't they not just let those who become better in life be a living example for them to make their life better, too? Well, some living stupid people are characteristic of, like what I said, crabs! And crabs are crabs! I want to devour their negative energy but don't taste yummy, anyway!

Disrupted

A few minutes ago, I was inspired to write a new entry for my blog site. A few seconds ago, it became the opposite. Why? I am in a cold war with a sis-in-law. I castigated and scolded his delinquent son this morning for trying to remove the franchise sticker of our tricycle. He has two nannies (for the rich and famous, huh?) watching what he's doing but no one between them tried to stop what he's doing. They just watched and tolerated him.

When the mother arrived, his other nanny reported that I scolded his son. She flared up and up to this moment is still flaring up and from the looks of it, she's so mad at me. She's so adept at hurling invectives to an opponent who is not at all willing to fight back at her explosive character since time immemorial. I did not try to go out of my house. Who cares if she'll continue to utter invectives against my person? It only shows who she is.

Maybe, what I am writing now is too personal. But if I can't express how hurt I am now, I might end up in a hospital. When you don't fight back, the hurt feelings keeps building up and that may become detrimental to one's health state.

Not all scenarios like that are worth fighting back. I am not stupid to stoop to their level. I just can't believe why my in-laws seemed so indifferent with me. But one thing I know, I usually do not accommodate their financial yearnings from me. But why should I? Basically, I don't have the means to give in to their wishes and caprices. It's hard to earn money. And is it fair to lend money to people who do not pay you as promised? Once, twice, thrice, is enough!

But it seems that they have a license to demand from us from time to time which does not expire till death. And that's the reason why they are so mad at me. My husband and I worked hard to make our life better. We did not ask alms from other people, much more from my in-laws. From the start, they did not like me because they have great dreams for their son, now my husband. Maybe, they dreamed that their son will marry a rich woman which is totally the opposite of me. But is there anyone out there who would like to marry a man who did not finish college because his parents are not the kind who's willing to sacrifice just so their son can get a college degree?

While we worked hard and grabbed wonderful opportunities to make our life better, another license for them came in handy. They treat us as if we will forever be indebted to them. Of what? And why?

$4.72 Richer

Yes! Blogging made me $4.72 richer at the end of 2008. Thanks to Googles Adsense. I only found out yesterday when I tried to open my Adsense account. $4.72 only for 2008? Of course, yes! Because I only started having my blogsite late November 2008 and had only been able to let Google advertise into my blogsite sometime in December 2008 because it took me weeks before I was able to follow instructions set by Adsense and so that advertisers can crawl into my blogsite.

Sir Gie, thanks for encouraging me to do so. If I am to assess the popularity of your blogsite now, I believe you’re now a hundred dollars richer than I am because you started blogging earlier and I believe that you have wider circle of friends and followers of your weblog. If it’s not too much of the asking, please help me publicize my site too, even to your students only.

Now blogging doesn’t only cure migraines. It’s not just a way to escape boredom and homesickness. But the great side of it, it does give you money, folks! I am a living testament to that.

When I relayed my humble achievement to my classmate, Sir Gie, he texted me back, “Great”!

When I relayed the news to my daughter, she suddenly started to become interested in visiting my blogsite. Why not! I said to her. Let us earn money the exciting way. Who knows, by the end of 2009, I’ll be a thousand dollars richer? And I could do that if I’ll get serious blogging. Without any capital, but just to escape boredom and homesickness, and heal migraines, I can write for as long as I wish to.

But for now, I am not yet collecting what I earned from Adsense. I deferred being paid for the time being. I may as well have them pay me when I have a hundred dollars or more into my Adsense account.

See, what blogging can do? Try it and you’ll say I am really serious and I truly got $4.72 richer as of this writing!

CNN Heroes of the Year: A Recap

Friday evenings give me the luxury of sleeping late in the night. For the following day, a Saturday, is rest day for people like me who works five days a week. I tuned in to CNN, my preferred news channel, last Friday evening and the running program at that time was an awarding ceremony of the Top Ten CNN Heroes of the Year.

All the heroes awarded on stage have their own story to tell; the reason why they were voted heroes; the remarkable cause they promoted, the helpful programs and projects they supported; the kinds of people they have helped; which gave them the chance to be selected and voted as Top Ten CNN Heroes of the Year.

To recap their triumphs and the laudable works and deeds each one of them had accomplished, I want to share with you who touch my inner soul and my whole being. As such, their list of achievements and accomplishments is worth of emulation.

To be accurate with what I am going to share to you, I have taken this short review from the net (CNN Website):

Top Ten Heroes of the Year

Tad Agoglia, Houston, Texas: Agoglia's First Response Team provides immediate help to areas hit by natural disasters. In a little more than a year, he and his crew have helped thousands of victims at more than 15 sites across the United States, free of charge.

We can be like Tad Agoglia. If we have the means, we can help natural disaster victims in our country, the Philippines. Our country is a typhoon and earthquake belt. That’s why we are prone to such natural calamities. And before we knew it, casualties almost number by the hundreds and even thousands. They need our help. Help while we can.

Yohannes Gebregeorgis, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Moved by the lack of children's books and literacy in his native Ethiopia, Gebregeorgis established Ethiopia Reads, bringing free public libraries and literacy programs to thousands of Ethiopian children.

Should anyone from among my friends comes across with this post, I encourage you to help our countrymen especially those who are in the hinterlands get at least a book. Donate a book and find ways how. In this way, they will have a chance to get educated even just by simple means. We also have Ethiopian communities in our country. Like Yohannes, we can help educate those who live in these communities.

Carolyn LeCroy, Norfolk, Virginia: After serving time in prison, LeCroy started the Messages Project to help children stay connected with their incarcerated parents. She and volunteer camera crews have taped roughly 3,000 messages from inmates to their children.

The desperate and ill-health conditions of those behind bars especially in our country is beyond imagination. Much more, they have limited or no communication at all with the families they left behind. If I were given a chance to help, I will set up a project like that of Carolyn LeCroy. It will give those in prison precious communications with their families, vis-à-vis, which will help them cope with the miserable situation they are in.

Anne Mahlum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: On her daily morning jogs, Mahlum used to run past homeless men. Today, she's helping to transform lives by running with them, and others as part of her Back On My Feet program.

Its a very simple achivement, yet it bears significance to others especially the homeless. Why not run for a cause? In Sanchez Mira, there’s the SMIG group (Sanchez Mira Integrated Group) which is very helpful during town activities, though not as similar as running for a cause. I salute the men behind this group. Keep on SMIG!

Liz McCartney, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana: McCartney moved to New Orleans to dedicate herself to helping Hurricane Katrina survivors move back into their homes. Her nonprofit, St. Bernard Project, has rebuilt the homes of more than 120 families for free.

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was most devastating. Many Fil-Ams who permanently reside in New Orleans were victims of this unimaginable torture of nature to mankind. The devastation was beyond comprehension. Our love for our fellowmen was tested in this unforgettable event in human existence. Everybody extended help in anyway they can. And Liz McCartney is a living testament to it. May there be more Liz McCartney in our midst.

Phymean Noun, Toronto, Ontario: Growing up in Cambodia, Noun struggled to complete high school. Today, she offers hundreds of Cambodian children who work in Phnom Penh's trash dump a way out through free schooling and job training.

I am a teacher by profession, however I am not practicing my profession. I am underemployed. At times, I wish I could win in a million dollar lottery so that I can put up a school for the less-privileged, less-fortunate children in our community. There are many dole-outs from the government to help OSY’s, but its not enough. Dole-outs are even limited. After teaching them the basics of reading, writing and numbers, there’s no follow-up anymore. We need concrete results. I’ll pray hard that I’ll win in a lottery so that I can put up a concrete school and bring concrete results to our impoverished children.

David Puckett, Savannah, Georgia: Puckett started PIPO Missions to bring ongoing prosthetic and orthotic care to those in need. Since November 2000, he has helped more than 420 people in southeastern Mexico, free of charge.

Bringing a smile to a distorted face is quite a great mission like what David Puckett did to those people he helped in southeastern Mexico. We have a similar cause being done here in Sanchez Mira although a different kind of mission work. And I would like to commend the husband and wife tandem who does the volunteer work in the person of Drs. Melvin and Nancy Manuel. They offer free circumsicion to young children in Sanchez Mira every year during Holy Week. They’ve been doing this laudable mission for several decades now for the benefit of those who can’t afford the services of a paid doctor. I’m proud we have David Pucketts in Sanchez Mira, too.

Maria Ruiz, El Paso, Texas: Several times a week, Ruiz crosses the border into Juarez, Mexico, bringing food, clothing and toys to hundreds of impoverished children and their families.

The DSWD is an agency of the government who takes charge in the giving of dole-outs such as food, clothing and shelter to our less-fortunate countrymen. Maria Ruiz does the same using her personal money. Can we be like Ruiz also? Let us help our government from the burden of providing dole-outs to our poor people? Christmas is at the bend. Let’s make our fellow Filipinos happy even during christmastime only.

Marie Da Silva, Los Angeles, California: Having lost 14 family members to AIDS, the nanny funds a school in her native Malawi, where half a million children have been orphaned by the disease.

Marie Da Silva did not think of the dangers it may bring her by being in contact with children whose parents died of the dreaded disease. She, too has her own story to tell about her nightmares of AIDS that took the lives of 14 members of her family, which prompted her to help those half a million children orphaned to the disease. What she did is one great feat! Let us be like Da Silva.

Viola Vaughn, Kaolack, Senegal: The Detroit, Michigan, native moved to Senegal to retire. Instead, a group of failing schoolchildren asked her to help them pass their classes. Today, her 10,000 Girls program is helping hundreds of girls succeed in school and run their own businesses.

Life after retirement is stereotyped. You must enjoy life by cruising, by going to places around the world, by spending your retirement pay in a beautiful retirement villa, etc. But for Viola Vaughn, it’s a different story. She instead used her sunset years helping young girls succeed in school and have their own livelihood afterwards. What a great way to retire? I challenge the retirees to spend their remaining years in more meaningful, challenging causes because life after all is better and happily lived when spent helping others.

These are the heroes chosen via electronic votes and awarded by CNN. Are you like one of them? You might be one of them. I wish to be one like them, someday. . .