10 Things I Love About "The Philippines"

When the sure-fire hit video "20 Things I Dislike About The Philippines" came out I've tried to be objective at most.  After all, the guy who authored it has all the freedom in terms of speech and expressing his opinions. But minutes away after I clicked it, I began to be defensive and a bit annoyed. I personally took it at heart. Maybe patriotism and loyalty took its action in me. 

Admittedly, most if not all of what he'd said were true. Certainly, comments made by him should be taken as constructive criticism if we really want to take positive and sustainable action for change. 

So why am I that offended? When usually I am the type of guy who would take  opinions open-minded. 

I just can't believe when at some course of my random chat conversation to a number of foreigners online and asking them if they know all about my country -The Philippines. I was ecstatically surprised when I guess 80% of them knew little about my country.

As someone who solidly support the tourism ad campaign of our country at present, I felt disrespected more than cheated with this viral video depicting dislikes about our nation. I felt that somehow it is hindering my own "It's More Fun In The Philippines" campaign. And knowing how powerful web and media are, certainly it can ruins our effort in boosting our tourism industry.

And as a solid response, I decided to bring your attention to "Ten Things I Love About The Philippines". Maybe some of you might get caught with the same things I love. And I urge you readers to randomly check fascinating things and facts that made you LOVE THE PHILIPPINES.

Solitary Moment - Page 2

I just don't feel so good today yet these are my thoughts.

I just suddenly write and look at  what I've done.

Office isn't the best place as of the moment. Pressure building up and some people in it are just uncooperative and over demanding.

Deadlines here and there. Short notice reports and stuff troubled me a bit.

But after all of these unlikely scenarios, I just blurted out these words.

Funny thing is I took extra effort to put it in MS Powerpoint presentation and saved it via JPEG format --to look presentable.

God, thank you for extending so much of my patience. God thank you for giving me extra strength to control my temper.

God, simply I just want to THANK YOU.

In My Own Eyes - A Holy Week Reflection

"You give me hope in spite of everything

You give me love in spite of so much pain"

These are the very lines from the song sang by the character of Ben (Tyler's older brother ) in the movie "Letters to God" that struck me most. How profound isn't it? 

Earlier, we had our mini-recollection as our response in observing the holy week season here. Our location only permits a discreet observance. I'm so thankful still for the minuscule opportunity to express our faith.

On the other end, we don't focus on fear but we focus on how fear magnify our courage to serve more and to glorify our one great God despite restrictions. And I personally believe that God protects us with his unbreakable shield. But of course, we are well aware where we stand --our high respect to the culture and religious tradition remains our top priority.

Now, let's go back to the movie. It's so awesomely moving and inspiring that I quickly need to sit down and have a short review of it after the recollection. I'm not sure if I can collect all my thoughts as I have a short span memory but I'll try to use it anyway and I'll let God direct my mind for ideas to flow in unstoppably.

Letters To God --is all about a young boy fighting cancer who writes letters to God, touching lives in his neighborhood and community and inspiring hope among everyone he comes in contact. An unsuspecting substitute postman, with a troubled life of his own, becomes entangled in the boy's journey and his family by reading the letters. They inspire him to seek a better life for himself and his own son he's lost through his alcohol addiction.

Mr. Brady & Tyler

The story of what happens when one boy's walk of faith crosses paths with one man's search for meaning -- the resulting transformational journey touches the lives of everyone around them. Tyler is an extraordinary eight-year old boy. Surrounded by a loving family and community, and armed with the courage of his faith, he faces his daily battle against cancer with bravery and grace. 

Ben, Samantha & Tyler

To Tyler, God is a friend, a teacher, and the ultimate pen pal. Tyler's prayers take the form of letters, which he composes and mails on a daily basis. The letters find their way into the hands of Brady --a beleaguered substitute postman standing at a crossroads in his life. At first he is confused and conflicted over what to do with the letters. but the decision he ultimately made becomes a testament to the quiet power of one boy's shining spirit and unshakable faith.

Inspiring People - Part 2 -- Meet Yves!

This photo was taken in Tagaytay during my wedding
 last December 13, 2011 where he attended
as one of my invited guests

Yves P. Barbasina

A name, an ordinary name. And who is Yves?

Well, the world needs to know this person. He's an ordinary guy, I know, but he is a hyper driven yuppie working as a Program Manager and Administrator at SILID ARALAN INC. focusing on empowerment of youths through leadership trainings and other socially-related advocacies.

Before I give you what's fascinating about this person, let me put it clearly—I won’t be writing his autobiography here but I’ll be focusing on how I know this awesome personality.

How did we meet?

I never knew this person until one of my closest SFC leader and buddy Rex Geneston was integrated in SFC – San Rafael in Montalban (Rodriguez now), Rizal  in the later part of 2009. That was the time when he finally decided to go back home for good. Having a status of a diligent leader here in the Mid-East. Rex was easily elevated to a leadership position when he joined the SFC’s of San Rafael. And to cut the story short, Yves was once under his umbrella.

And how did we meet? Rex requested me to render a “Special Talk” intended to his unit and If I recall it right it was the “GG Talk” (God's Gift) or we call it the “Courtship Talk or Love Forum” -- it is in this talk where we discuss how the courtship happens in the community, the do's and don't and other relationship issues. I guess I delivered the said talk way back 15th of June 2010. And I can so well-remember how I was bombarded with lots of relationship-related questions during the open forum which literally rendered me in perspiring mode..hahaha! Well, to boast a bit I managed to address their queries gracefully and in accordance to our community's teaching. And Yves entered the scene when we came face to face when he shook hands with me and poured me with heart-warming compliment after my talk.

Solitary Moment - Page 1

I lost track of how many weeks I had been so neglectful of encoding an entry in my blog.

I don't know but those lost times were like my brain was put to freeze. Every time I look at my laptop and try to write, ideas won't come out.

What is happening to me? Is it a writer's block again? Damn! if it is then I want it go and stray away in my brain path. I don't need it. 

I want to write. I want to write. I need to write.

Perhaps, all of us (writers/bloggers) had been into these days. And we are quite familiar to this avenue. Most of us had been crossing its alleys a number of times. I mean days where our attempt to write isn't fruitful and we're just ending up wasting our time and finishing none. It's stupid right? A time where you really crave to write yet your brain don't give you great ideas. Your brain was like in a dormant state that forcing it to be active is really painful.

Poetry 003: Where Do I Start?

Here's another poem I wrote to breathe out my emotion during one of the weakest point in my life.


Sometimes, life is too cruel, sometimes it's mind boggling. It's the reason why I took time to let my emotional distress out. One is, to release and breathe out loud. Two, to escape the monotony of my life during those trying times. Penning this poem was one great way to ease-out the unexplained paranoia I was suffering back then. It somehow helped me though. I was just in my life's lowest point that I'm so desperate what to do and where to start again.


Originally, I manuscripted this poem last June 2, 2001. On the contrary, it is nice sometimes when we're in a state of depression because it fuels us to think deeper, contemplate further, and meticulously plan the next step we must take ---afraid of committing the same mistakes again and again. I won't elaborate what went wrong that time but it was a thing that gravely frustrates me. After that rain, my optimism and drive for life heightened in great leaps and bounds. I know there is a God above who controls me and who direct my actions. I was able to bounce back. And before I deviate further, here's the poem I am talking about:

Poetry 002: Ashes of Burnt Eyebrows

I went scrolling down files in my post poems dot com account and my eyes easily captured this poem. Upon the sight of it, I quickly rolled down memory lane. The time when I was still teaching Grade School pupils in a school in Las Pinas where my Tito owned. Run and operated by his daughter and a cousin Bam. I was compelled to create one upon the constant proddings of our principal then. And so my creative side had to work and think of a great poem worthy of a graduation recital by my first honor pupil Ephraim Ders Murro - this kid was such a clever boy. He was a 4th grader then but think like he's a first year HS student. An error has no room for him which is why I should deliver well in my class just to live up to his expectations. He has this sword-sharp's memory. I can see myself in him when I was in grade school days since I'm really good at Math. I remember my Math teacher and also an adviser in Grade 4 giving me a flat grade of 97% in Math in our 3rd Quarter Period. Wow, the highest amongst my classmates. Well, siguro dahil talagang mahilig lang akong mag-aral noon..pero ngayon..hay buhay ni pag memorya kinakatamaran ko na at si kalimot na ako..hahaha. I hope I can still boost my memory --kelangan ko na sigurong uminom ng 'Memory Gap" --meron bang gatas na ganun? Lols...hahaha.

Food Review: The Burger Joint

Like what I've said in my previous post, I am not a full blooded fan of hamburger or simply burger. Normally, I can't finish a single order. If only there is this kind of serving like --half cut burger--I would probably has no trouble eating a single dine in or take away one. But last night I did and should since for me it's quite costly to have one burger at BJ - hehehe!

Today, I will share with you my (our) experience in this burger station situated just within the Dammam downtown area -- more specifically aligned with other food and restaurant variants store like the Pizza Co, Tony Romas, Burger King, and others I forgot to name. 

It's not even our first visit since we have had our first try probably a couple of months back with the same group of happy-diners Satt, Jimmy, Ryan and Me. Our frequent trips to any of the restaurants or food chains around is one of the reasons why I gained 10+ pounds.

Well, let us not focus on my weight, I can still run a sprint though or smash a badminton shuttlecock. It's still not a problem to me yet. So here are few items we collectively agreed to eat last night. But before that, we decided first to just have plain mineral water as our meal-enders drink. Hahaha! I don't know if it can be called a meal-ender since water is like a universal solvent that can be partnered with anything. Let's see what we've got.

POETRY 001 : Distance Won't Break Us Apart

It has been said that" a long distance relationship don't work or shall I say most of the time don't work". Well, I beg to disagree, hard as it may seem but it is still upon the agreement of the two opposites sex whether they'll continue or just let it fade away with time. We can never really tell nor we can predict of what's gonna happen. Suffice to say, it still up to the both of them.

"Distance isn't for the fearful, it is for the bold. It is for those willing to spend a lot of time alone in exchange for the little time with the one they love. It is for those who knows a good thing when they see it even if they don't see it nearly enough. It is for those who believe and continue to believe that distance won't necessarily break each other up."

We Got To Rise Up

We got to rise up! We can change this generation

We can be the voice, we can be the freedom. Let us come and stand.

We read the gruesome stories, the people in need. We can do amazing works. We can bring out the change we wanna believe in.

Let us be the change, let us be the difference. We are called to arms. We are the change we longed for. Let us not be subtle with our actions. Let us not be too lax with our resolve.

Let us get moving. Let us propel our instinctive creativity. Let us inspire the people we face everyday. Let us not bicker but create ways to re-unite and re-ignite our passion.