I want to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony…

In the course of our lives, we will meet about a million of the 6.7 trillion people in the world (US Census Bureau). And that’s my humble approximation. Let me clear that this does not mean that you’ll have a million friends. "Meet" might signify a casual conversation, a smile to a stranger, a one-sentence conversation with someone (yes, including when you order at your favorite fastfood chain or ask for directions from a stranger), or that person in your school/office you know by face (or by name) but never got to know personally. My question is, how do we go about treating those one million people that we meet? Do we treat the "big people" with respect but look down on the "small people"? Do we tend to smile only to those who look successful? Do we ignore someone who looks like an addict or prisoner? Is there a difference in the way we treat the rich and the poor? I certainly hope that you answered no to all questions. I’m sure that we, as some point in our lives, have been made to feel (intentionally or unintentionally) smaller than other people are. And I bet it did not feel good.

I love the story below because I feel that it perfectly illustrates how we should treat other people.

A Most Important Lesson

by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown

During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely, this was some kind of joke.

I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.

Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. “Absolutely,” said the professor. “In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say ‘hello.’” I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

I know we should not treat the story literally, as in we have to know everybody’s name, but the message for me is clear: Treat each person with respect, if not nicely, whatever his/her gender, age, nationality, financial status (most especially), disposition in life, educational attainment, etc. Each person is a creation of God and has a significance (be it big or small or minute)  in our lives, and it’s time we treat everybody well.

Around the world in eighty days

I recently heard in a radio news program that the percentage of people who read because they actually love (or like) it has been decreasing over the years. Yes, people have been reading books, magazines, newspapers…but they do so because they have to. And nowadays, reading has become more of a need than a want.

I love reading. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve come to love sitting somewhere quiet (sometimes munching chichiria) and just being lost in whatever I was reading! Reading stimulates the mind…it not only makes our brains running, it also puts something into our brains. Let me tell you a little bit of the things reading has done for me:

I’ve was able to “go” to so many places, like Canada, the United States, Rome, France, Hogwarts, Middle Earth, Narnia, the outer space, and a lot, lot more. I’ve “met” presidents, heroes, celebrities, and even wizards, talking animals, and fairies. I’ve “experienced” bungee jumping, racing cars, parachuting, and flying. I “know” how to cook paella, sew a gown, make an eight knot, fix a car, assemble an aircon, and even make a bomb! I’ve “competed” in marathons, “joined” pie-eating contests, and “watched” duels! I’ve “been” to war, in prison, and to heaven. I’ve "had" breast cancer, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis. I was “there” when the petroleum jelly was discovered, when Jose Rizal was executed, when the first human being stepped on the moon, and when Princess of the Stars sunk. I’ve "seen" the Mona Lisa, the Sistine Chapel, and the Eiffel Tower. To summarize, I’ve been around the world not in eighty days but in eighty minutes.

I wouldn’t have experienced all of these and many more others if I have not picked up my first book and read and actually love it. So I hope that the number of people who love to read will increase again and get to see the wonders that reading can do for them.

Busuanga: a trip worth taking

I haven’t always been a water-loving person. When I get to go to places, yes, I appreciate the beauty of oceans, lakes, beaches, and rivers. But I wasn’t really the type who would want to spend hours submerged in the salty waters. However, as I got to visit more places in the Philippines, I slowly became converted. And one of the places that lured me into loving the waters was Palawan.

The first place I got to visit in Palawan, in 1998, was Puerto Princesa, which, I might say, is the premier tourist destination of the province. I got to see the beauty of Palawan for the first time, getting to see islands such as Honda Bay, Starfish Island, and Pandan Isalnd, as well as tourist spots such as the Underground River National Park, Estrella Falls, Crocodile Farm, and Iwahig.

When my friends and I went to Coron (located in Busuanga Island in Palawan) in 2007, my appreciation of Palawan (and the Philippines for that matter) reached its maximum peak. And that was it, I learned to love the waters and all the other creatures living in it. Coron was such a majestic place that there is no doubt in my mind how beautiful the Philippines can be. (It’s such a sad note, then, that when we talk of tourist spots in the Philippines, Coron in Busuanga Island is not even mentioned.) I had so much fun island hopping, snorkling, and just floating on the waters of Coron. I got to appreciate not only the  waters of Coron but also the environment, the nature. Iba talaga! I think I can never overstate that Coron is absolutely the best place I have visited in the Phillipines. I’ve since then encouraged family, friends, and other people to visit Coron. I’m sure they will love it there (readers of my post on Coron have said that they absolutey loved the place).

I can’t wait to go back to Coron. And as I’ve stated in my post on Coron, if given the opportunity, the next time I get to visit Coron again, Busuanga (another municipality in Busuanga Island) will be on my itinerary. Busuanga is around an hour away from Coron. There are many attractions in Busuanga, especially for water-loving people. The beaches are gorgeous, the diving sites are heaven, and the nature is absolutely amazing. And if my visit to Coron will be an indicator of how much I will enjoy Busuanga, I’m sure I will love it there too.  I can’t wait to bask in the clear, cool waters of Palawan again — relaxing and feeling a taste of heaven again– and get to appreciate the wonderful environment there.

For those who want to enjoy the beauty of the Philippines, more specifiically Busuanga, SEAIR now flies to Busuanga daily, which takes roughly 35 minutes (it usally takes roughly an hour by plane).  This is a great opportunity for those who would want to have a majestic experience in the Islands of Palawan. And I encourage you to go there and share your experience with everybody else!

Can somebody give this girl a blackboard?

Last June 10 was Princess Wendy’s first day in her "big school". Yup, she’s already Grade 1. I wondered what "Grade 1" meant for her since it has always been a big deal when one says, "Uy, Grade 1 na sya? Wow!" What it is it with starting elementary anyway? One thing I know is that it means bigger school, harder lessons, and more projects!

Anyway, as I pondered on what new things Princess Wendy will be learning as she goes on in her elementary life, I started to think about what I have learned from her. I’ve always believed that children can teach us a lot…and that is without even them knowing it! Then, I realized that, indeed, as much as she has learned a lot from me, I too have learned a lot from her (and from other children also). Save from the nosebleeds that I get from her because of her vocabulary, hey, I picked up some lessons from her too in the 7 years she’s been around!

I learned from Wendy that trains are like people because they can chew, as in chooo-chooo! Also, that some birds are bald because their feathers are inside the pillows! Wendy also told me the secret as to why bananas go to the doctor….because they are not "peeling" well! Ha! Ha!

Aside from the laughs I get from her, I got to learn some serious stuff too:

Forgive and forget: my daughter and her best friend seem to be fighting all the time, but it’s truly a wonder how, the next moment (or the next day), they go back to being best friends as if nothing happened! If adults just learned this skill, we would be living in harmony peace. I firmly believe that forgiving and forgetting is more for the ones who forgive than for the one being forgiven (makes sense naman diba?).

Live simply: my daughter absolutely squeals on 100-peso toys as she does on expensive toys (sometimes even louder)! I mean, price means nothing to her. As long as she likes something, it doesn’t matter if it’s dirt cheap, she’ll go for it. And if she likes divisoria toys, so be it! (Good for me actually!) This can actually be applicable to us adults who think that we cannot live on simple lives…we can never be contented on what we have and always want to have what we do not have! We thrive on expensive stuff when we can go by with simple things! Simplicity is the beauty of life!

Money is not everything: My daughter always asks me during the night if I have work the next day, because If I don’t, I can stay up late with her; if I have, sorry, I have to sleep early. She’s always disappointed when I tell her that I have work because that means she’s got to play on her own. She tells me, "Mama, sana millionaire tayo noh, so you don’t have to work anymore!" (Such a simple mind!) This has taught me that children, and people in general, need more than material things from us…they need our time and presence, and more importantly, our love. Have you tried spending time with the people you love? I think this is the best way to show them that you love them.

And most of all, my daughter has taught me that I have the capability to love unconditionally, because that’s the way I feel for her. Honestly, I feel that her hugs, her kisses, her smiles, and she herself are all that keep me wanting to live a lot longer!

These lessons go to show that we learn from everybody…even from that little angel who sometimes makes us want to flush our sanity into the toilet!

Do you see a black dot or a white paper?

I remember an exercise that we had in a retreat before where the retreat master drew a black dot the size of a peso coin in the middle of a clean white sheet of paper. She then proceeded to ask us, "What do you see?" You know what? Eerybody answered, "A black dot!" (with all conviction). She then pointed out that no one even saw the white paper.

We tend to be like this most of the time…seeing the negative instead of the positive. We feel the thorns instead of smelling the rose. Sometimes, we may not even be aware that we are doing this. Seeing the bright side of things has been one aspect of my life that I have constantly tried to work on…it’s healthier, better for the soul, better for the heart, better for our lives. One thing I can say is that life is happier when we focus on our blessings instead of our problems. Yes, we do have to face the reality of our problems (after all, we have to prevent the black dot from becoming bigger)…but we have the choice of facing it with a smiling face or a crying face. We have the choice to either whine or be thankful.

The world is already full of negativity that we should start with ourselves and try to emanate that aura of positivity. Who knows, we might be helping out someone simply by emitting postiive forces around us!

Are You Blessed?
(Author Unknown, Source Unknown )

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness…you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation…you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep…you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace… you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If your parents are still alive and still married…you are very rare, even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful…you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you prayed yesterday and today…you are in the minority because you believe God does hear and answer prayers.

If you can read now, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

 So try it…focus on the white paper instead of the black dot!

A shot at wakeboarding at Lago de Oro

There are some sports that I could say would be improbable for me to try. Take surfing for example. No matter how I would like to try this sport, there are some reasons why I can’t try this. First, and most importantly, I don’t know how to swim! Yup, the most fundamental thing needed, and I don’t even know how! Second, I don’t think I’d be able to stand on a board while balancing myself on the waves.

Anyway, enough about what I may not be able to try…more on what I can try!

When my friend invited me to try wakeboarding, I told her, "Asus, nakiki-uso ka na naman!" Wakeboarding is something that celebrities are into these days. Not only that, many people are trying this [new] water sport. (I don’t know if it’s really new, but maybe its something that people are noticing these days.) As for me, I don’t want to do something just for the sake that everybody’s doing this or that.

But then, the adventurous me took over and I was able to convince myself that this is something I should try even if just once in my life. More importantly, I felt that this is something I can do.