♫ What A Wonderful World ♫

Travelling at night is one of the best adventures I’ve experienced.

Riding in a shuttle bus, I sat near the window to have a glimpse of the world when it is dark. As we left Davao City, I saw stars like lights twinkling as if giving shade to the sleepy place. The mountainous trail was engulfed by darkness and the cemented road was lighted only by streetlights. The breeze was cool inducing me to sleep.

At midnight, we were travelling for Bukidnon. The cold, cold wind kissing my skin causes me to wake up. And I wander as I opened my eyes from slumber, I saw fireflies like heavenly bodies illuminating the giant pine trees along the road, as if guiding the travellers to a safety path. It fascinated my mind and made me smile and said to myself how wonderful the creation of our Lord, and I fall asleep again, like my companions as if they were in their homes.

As we travelled in that long and low temperature road, I was awaken by commotion. The passage was almost invisible. The driver was extra cautious since it was covered with fogs, indicating that we’re in the peak trail and a sign that dawn is approaching. The bus was carefully maneuvered by Kuya Mawie, the driver, as if he is the father guiding his siblings to a safety place.

Enjoying our breakfast at Cagayan Port, we took pictures and smelled the fresh breeze from the sea. We took the boat for Camiguin. The sea was so clear and the waves were serene, that when one throws a coin on it, the children can hold the coin with just a click of an eye and that is there way of livelihood as If beggars by the sea.

Approaching the island, I got excited. The heavenly bodies of water was so calm, crystal like clear, you can notice the coral reefs and school of colourful fishes enjoying their swim. As we stepped out, we were ferried by a bus transporting us to our quarters, which was of course near the sea. We left our baggage there and hurriedly took a bus leading to our itineraries. We took the rigid and winding road and almost invaded Camiguin Island for just one day.

The White Sand beach within the beach was a perfect haven especially for lovers. Everything was crystal-like sand, as if I was lost in a paradise, giving me idea to have my marriage ceremony there. The view of the sunken cemetery sinks always in my mind. Where in the world you can see cadavers in a piled coffer?! Probably dead bodies will be preserved because of the salty sea. At the time the waves probably took a nap since the area was so placid, the breeze was exhilarating, pondering what it is like to be buried under the sea. Anyway, that was only the replica of what happened with their cemetery when the angry volcano erupted. The Station of the Cross reminded me always to have God as the center of my life. After enjoying God’s blessings and wonderful—almost perfect creations, we have our cross to carry. 

The sumptuous supper we shared was a relief of tiring yet unforgettable moments we have encountered. Our quarters, a cottage near the beach, were cozy enough with that cold breeze blanketing you to close your tired eyes.

The next day, we were awaken by the noises of the joggers passing by. Having our breakfast at the seaside, I saw how the lovely sun rose from a deep sleep. Its rays were colourful and every strike ignites my skin. After having breakfast, we fixed our things because it is now time to leave. As we took the boat leaving for Camiguin, I took my last respect, my vision and I appreciate and marvel God’s work of art. Designed perfectly so that man will take care of it. I brought nothing with me but only memories, a memento kept in my heart, cannot be erased as time passes. 

As the song goes,♫ “And I said to myself, What a wonderful world”♫ 

The Story of Success.

 I just watched the Best Motivational Video Ever.

At first, I thought he’s only going to show his talents, the talents that only man with two limbs can do. As the video goes along, I raised a speculative eyebrow as I saw the telephone at his back; wondering if is he going to pick that up without his two arms? Later on, he started to unfold his real story by dropping his own body on the table. Then I’d realized, that is the main purpose of his story on the video. Yes, that is it.

He tried to get up to show what success really means. Success without failure and obstacles is not a success. If you tried and gave your best but you failed; NEVER GIVE UP, no matter what is going on. Don’t give up on something. Why won’t you just take a risk? Life is all about risks, and it requires you to jump. Don’t be a person who has to look back and wonder what they would have or could have had. Try it over again and again and later on you will realize that you are walking on your journey to success…with lovely smiles on your face. :)

I am very inspired with this video. Imagine, a man with no arms and legs learned not to give up. He never thought of his illness as a hindrance, instead he used it to inspire others which is already an accomplishment. He made a big difference to all of us. It made me realize that if we just believe, never doubt, try, take a risk, nothing is impossible.

There’s this one caption also from the video that inspired me a lot, and here it is.

“Are you going to finish strong?”

As of now I can’t answer that question but I know to myself that I should be going to finish this battle with head high and say that “I am still strong and fighting!”

Everyone can be an inspiration to others. How? That’s a big question for me. I’m not like the man on the video. I have two arms, two legs, and I have the complete body parts I need. These body parts I have and my ability are the things I need to inspire others. Words are not enough to inspire others but rather by actions. To show who really I am, to believe in myself and to be strong for others are the things I should do in order to inspire others.

Let us continue to be inspired, and to never fail also to become an inspiration to others. ^___^

Writing Definition

Discipline means, as stated by Webster Dictionary, a systematic training or subjection to authority especially the training of the mental, moral and physical powers by instruction and exercise. 

• In other words, it its the trait of being well behaved. 
• In short, it is a system of rules of conduct or method of practice. 
• To repeat, it is defined as undergoing rigid training submitting to rules imposed by authority.
• To put it differently, it is to develop behavior by instruction and practice; especially to teach self-control. 
• That is,the training to improve strength or self-control

#5 My Hero is Gone

A person distinguished for valor, fortitude or bold enterprise is a hero.

My hero may not have all those qualities but he is…

During my childhood days, I secretly admired him for being low tempered, quiet yet disciplinarian. A low profiled man but he is almost known to our neighborhood…friendly and soft spoken. Raising four siblings out of two marriages, he maintained equilibrium regarding our relationship with my half siblings. He filled the home with love, respect, hope and integrity. I realized now it was one of his difficult roles.

For those passing years I saw him growing old yet manages to earn a living for our sustenance, and always wanting us to finish schooling whatever the means was. Going to our small farm and engaged in selling whatever produced he has just to have a food to our table.

Recently, I noticed his body and health deteriorating but did not inform us of his illness. Despite of it, he kept working until he was hospitalized. He doesn’t undergone dialysis because it’s costly and so the day came when he can’t bear the pain and he was taken by the Lord.

His being humble, his sufferings…His sweetest smiles and laughter, being ready to help us…and his untimely death. These accounts I considered him truly a hero. He was always my hero but but he is gone.

 

That is my dad, my papang, my father, my tatay, my papa.. Yes, that's him. Someone I look up to. Someone I admired so much. Someone who inspires me to continue living life. I saw him conquer life's trials and challenges with great might and without any complaints. I saw him endure the pain and the suffering that life brought. Someone who was very strong.

Papa Leon “Dodong” Villacarlos. 

A father of all season. The “Superman” in my life.

#4The Dead Know Nothing

Many people believe that the dead can communicate with the living in different persons, like through dreams, scents, and unexplained voices. But for me, they don’t. Although the veil between the living and the dead is so thin, there is no way they can reach out for the living. Can we communicate while we are sleeping?  Not, right? How much more to those dead people?  The dead is unconscious, how can he communicate? It’s irrational to think of that. Once a person is dead the spirit will separate from the body and it will go to the spirit world while waiting for the second coming.

As for me, if there are instances for such thing to happen, it’s not the work of the soul but rather the fruitful juices of the mind.

Most of the time, when we lose our loved ones, we keep on thinking of them and sometimes even dream of them. That’s the time we think that they are communicating with us, though it all depends on the person experiencing such phenomenon. Some thinks that the soul of the dead enters the body of other human beings and in that way they will communicate with other living people. And according to the book of Ecclesiastes 9:5-6,

"For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun."

Therefore, the dead has no idea of what is happening in the world we are in.

My father just died and it was really heart breaking. I cried very hard and kept thinking of him every single night and day, but I did not experience communicating with him through any forms. I did not dream of him nor imagined him talking to me.

With my experience, I can say that it is not true for dead souls to communicate with other living forms.

#3 I Stopped to say "Thank You, Mama and Papa"

The sun was at its zenith. I was in a room with persons I’ve known so long and persons whom I’ve met two days before. We were listening to a very heart-warming talk. After the talk, the speaker asked us to close our eyes and pray. I was in the middle of my praying when the music started, family songs were on the track and the speaker prayed out loud, and tears began to fall form my eyes. As I continue to pray and cried, the speaker told us to turn around…and there they were, our parents. I searched for my parents, but unfortunately, they weren’t able to come. I cried a lot again, but that didn’t stop me from saying everything to them. I went home with a smile on my face, and I immediately hugged my Mama and Papa and told them everything that happened.

This was a scenario that happened to me way back four years ago, I was a freshman then. I could still remember that every word the speaker said was equivalent to a slap in my face and every lyrics of the song broke my heart. Tears were running in my face because I realized what a bad child I have been to my parents, and thinking why I have done such things to them, why I haven’t bothered to say thank you and the most important thing is to tell how I love them. I regretted. But things changed since then, from that moment I have grown into a family-oriented lady.

People nowadays, affected by modern world, spend less time with their family. They spend too much of their time doing works in the office because these are the things that they consider personal fulfilment. They give importance to the worldly lures rather than chatting and having a good time with their families, or having a GREAT fun time with the extended families. They prefer staying away from home. And what happens is that children are being taking cared by a non-family member like neighbours, and this is not a good thing to practice. However, despite these changes, there are still families that can keep their families together amidst the crisis and obstacles in day-to-day life. They still have the time to smile although life seems so tough sometimes. Their bonding is still unbreakable and they are still growing together.

For me, family is the most important thing in the world. If something bad happened to me, some friends may stay but some go. But my family? Neither one of them will ever abandon me, in spite of my random behaviour. Fri[end], boyfri[end], girlfri[end]. They all have an [end], except for fam[ily]. Though I am far from my parents now, I still never have the chance to see them, I always make sure that I will a send a text message to them, especially now that my father is suffering from his sickness, I would ask how is he. I may not be there to help him, but I know God is with him always. I would always pray to God. Sometimes I get too emotional if I received a text message from my brother and mother that he got admitted to the hospital again and he will be having a dialysis. But praise God that he hasn’t gone through that. Prayer truly works. 

Ten years from now, my Mama and Papa will be old and I’m gonna look back and tell them “Thank You, Mama and Papa”. I will make them happy with what I will achieve, but I will also never forget to have my time with them. I would take care of them like what they have done when I was a cute child then. I will also be patient with them. I will never ever leave them. For now, I would say “Thank You” to them through studying hard, having good grades, and also by telling them. I will be obedient, for I know these things they have told and they will tell me would make a better person, and it is for my own sake. Every little thing I’ll do will be for them and for Him. These two amazing persons have done so many things for me and my family. Though they are still busy during work days, they still have the time to mingle with us. Sometimes, when I am in trouble regarding my subjects, I would come to them and they would always help me. They have taught me many things and good values. No matter where I go or what I do, they will be there for me.

Let us value our parents now before it is too late. Our parents always love to see us happy and even sacrifice their life and happiness and go through the hardship only to keep us happy. What will happen tomorrow if we even forget to say the slightest "Thank You" to our parents today? Let us always remember that they are worth every single world of "Thank You."

FAMILY. Father And Mother, I Love You. :)) 

#2 Myself as a Reader and Writer.

Evaluate yourself as a reader and writer. Can you consider yourself a good reader and writer? Why or why not?

As a reader, I consider myself a good one but not exactly. I have read many books but there are some that I wasn’t able to finish yet. I like reading things about inspirational stories and ghost stories. I hate reading things that are too factual, like history books, because for me it’s kinda boring. The first thing I do when I read a book is to start it reading its introduction or its summary and then I’ll read the chapter. Before, I start without any preparations but I would just end up not learning something from what I have read. But now, I would really prepare and I would settle my mind and body before starting. I give my attention to what I am reading but sometimes not because I get distracted with the interferences around me. I like to take some important notes and ideas. Making a summary or an outline would help me a lot in understanding more and to recall text information. After reading, I would have a break and I will do my next task.

 I consider myself not a good writer. I am not really good in writing. Way back in high school, I was a contributor in our school publication but it happened just because my teacher told me so. She said that I am a good writer, but I thought that I am not. I know how to write but my strengths are only limited. I find it frustrating when I don’t know what and where to start and how to close it properly. I write only because it is a must in school, a writing requirement and sometimes I write to improve my writing skills. I only have a few experiences in writing. I like writing about on what I feel and my experiences. My plan for self-improvement is that I will read a lot and I will practice more in writing and I will ask for opinions from my peers, blockmates or teachers about my works.