To my family, I am Nunoy. (That's a Kinaray-a, Ilonggo, term of endearment for the second son of the family.) To my friends, I am Elis (single L).
Ellis (with a double LL) on the other hand is the name of my youngest brother. He was three years younger than me. He only lived to be 26. Dengue took him away from us more than six years ago.
When he was 14 years old, entering his senior year at Manila Science High School, he was diagnosed to have brain tumor, hydrocephalus. They had to open his head and take out the tumor. Thank God it was benign. He was out of school for one year. The Manila Science High School Administration, after surviving the brain tumor, initially did not want to admit him back. But better thinking prevailed and Ellis got his High School Diploma at Manila Science.
He wanted to be a doctor. He took up BS Microbiology at UST but things did not go according to plan. He ended up finishing BS Computer Science instead = )
In our family, Ellis is truly the gifted one, artistically. He can draw. He can sing. He can dance. (Among the three of us, only he was able to pass the Manila Science standard. I guess he is also the smartest among the three of us, too.)
He is really a beautiful boy.
But life had to happen and he had to become far more beautiful inside.
To start, he was really a charmer to begin with. He makes friends easily and when the brain tumor came and he survived - this side of him went to over drive. His personality now is even more attractive than his looks were. He even joked, that he started the trend of being semi-kalbo = ). You see, because of the radiation therapy, the hair never grew back.
I miss him.
But I know that he is in a much better place now. There, he is complete. There, he is perfect again. Cancer can not touch him there. The ravages of dengue is nowhere in sight.
He is beautiful again. Smiling. Laughing. Pain-free.
Thank you Lord for the pain and loss that I felt. For because of it I learned that my life is finite. Thank you Lord that I number my days. Thank you for the pain of death that I appreciate the gift of life.
"... why think like mere men?"
Saturday
Wednesday
learning facilitator's burden
"...to show the familiar in the new and to show the new in the familiar."
Monday
500 Days of Summer: a look back
I was with Beb.
She wanted to see this movie, 500 Days of Summer.
I have no problem with watching so called "chick-flicks". I am a movie fanatic. For me, watching movies has a lot of benefits. First, time with Beb. Second, I am entertained. Third, I have this chance to see great story tellers present their work. (Have you ever heard of this movie - City of god? For me, this is one of the greatest action movie ever filmed!)
Of course, there are Hollywood movies. The one with big stars (like Tom Cruise, Will Smith or Brad Pitt) and big budgets (like The Transformer). And there's something called 500 Days of Summer. A Little Miss Sunshine kinda movie.
It's been awhile since I got curious, technically curious, on how the director told the story. And when the story is about love, my attention is piqued even further because - how can one tell a story about love? To tell a story about infatuation is not that hard. Lust story? Even easier. But love? I mean, love in itself is mysterious. And for a director to tell a story about love, means that the director must understand love first.
Story telling after all is a logical skill but love is... well, something else = )
Growing up, Sleepless in Seattle was fascinating for it was grown up love. This love story was told without the two main character ever kissing each other. Not that kissing is a bad thing = ) But the director, Nora Ephron, smartly moved away from this usual device, kissing, to sell love. Fascinating = )
Then, we have Before Sunrise. A 1995 film. I actually watched this film at HBO years after 1995. I tuned in because of Ethan Hawke of Dead Poet's Society. What was fascinating about this movie was that for almost all of the 1 hour and 41 minutes, the camera was transfixed on Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy having a "once in lifetime conversation in romantic Paris". Fascinating, because the quality of conversation was the device used to peddle love. Fascinating = )
Then, we have 500 Days of Summer. A Pulp Fiction editing on a "love" story.
The one line that blew me away from this movie is a line told by the best friend of the main actor - "... she is better than my ideal girl. Why? Because she is real."
= )
"... God is love."
She wanted to see this movie, 500 Days of Summer.
I have no problem with watching so called "chick-flicks". I am a movie fanatic. For me, watching movies has a lot of benefits. First, time with Beb. Second, I am entertained. Third, I have this chance to see great story tellers present their work. (Have you ever heard of this movie - City of god? For me, this is one of the greatest action movie ever filmed!)
Of course, there are Hollywood movies. The one with big stars (like Tom Cruise, Will Smith or Brad Pitt) and big budgets (like The Transformer). And there's something called 500 Days of Summer. A Little Miss Sunshine kinda movie.
It's been awhile since I got curious, technically curious, on how the director told the story. And when the story is about love, my attention is piqued even further because - how can one tell a story about love? To tell a story about infatuation is not that hard. Lust story? Even easier. But love? I mean, love in itself is mysterious. And for a director to tell a story about love, means that the director must understand love first.
Story telling after all is a logical skill but love is... well, something else = )
Growing up, Sleepless in Seattle was fascinating for it was grown up love. This love story was told without the two main character ever kissing each other. Not that kissing is a bad thing = ) But the director, Nora Ephron, smartly moved away from this usual device, kissing, to sell love. Fascinating = )
Then, we have Before Sunrise. A 1995 film. I actually watched this film at HBO years after 1995. I tuned in because of Ethan Hawke of Dead Poet's Society. What was fascinating about this movie was that for almost all of the 1 hour and 41 minutes, the camera was transfixed on Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy having a "once in lifetime conversation in romantic Paris". Fascinating, because the quality of conversation was the device used to peddle love. Fascinating = )
Then, we have 500 Days of Summer. A Pulp Fiction editing on a "love" story.
The one line that blew me away from this movie is a line told by the best friend of the main actor - "... she is better than my ideal girl. Why? Because she is real."
= )
"... God is love."
Saturday
1 Cor 13: 7
"Love is patient and kind..."
With ALL the adjectives, why start with being PATIENT?
I guess, He knows we are all not perfect = )
Assures us that even if we are not perfect, He loves us.
I guess, Christmas arrived early for me this year. Sending Your only begotten Son to save the inconsistently fumbling fool like me. Cool = )
Thanks, Lord!
With ALL the adjectives, why start with being PATIENT?
I guess, He knows we are all not perfect = )
Assures us that even if we are not perfect, He loves us.
I guess, Christmas arrived early for me this year. Sending Your only begotten Son to save the inconsistently fumbling fool like me. Cool = )
Thanks, Lord!
Friday
choice and its burden
Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.
Choice and freedom.
As President Obama would have said, "Let me be clear..." - absolute no choice and absolute no freedom is definitely bad. Counter-productive. Destroys the welfare of the human soul.
But it does not necessarily mean that an infinite number of choices increases productivity and enriches our welfare. In fact, at a certain number of choices, (and the economists have to figure out this number) - the return of our best choice diminishes and we will already feel bad about our best choice = )
Meaning, once all the choices are really known, it goes on to say that we also know all the opportunity cost of all the choices that we did not choose. Right?
So, at a certain number - the value of our best choice will be overran by the summation of all the opportunity cost of all the choices that we did not choose. Right?
So, does it mean that the more choices we know, the worse off we will feel later when we already have chosen our best choice? Hmmm.... Interesting = )
So, does it also mean, that from this context, ignorance is bliss? Or maybe just a certain of level of ignorance = )
Maybe the Salesmen got it right. If the issue is to close a sale, try the time-tested approach: limit the choices. Because if we let the goal of choosing the best choice for the sake of choosing the best choice - we won't get anywhere.
I guess, decisions and choices will need happen, even if we feel bad about them afterward, because our life on earth is also finite. Choice have to be understood in the context of time for in the the end, our time will end.
And as a matter of fact, we were not given a choice about that either. But as to how we end, well, we have an infinite choice about that = )
And suddenly, for me, time has a new meaning.
"... why think like mere men?"
Choice and freedom.
As President Obama would have said, "Let me be clear..." - absolute no choice and absolute no freedom is definitely bad. Counter-productive. Destroys the welfare of the human soul.
But it does not necessarily mean that an infinite number of choices increases productivity and enriches our welfare. In fact, at a certain number of choices, (and the economists have to figure out this number) - the return of our best choice diminishes and we will already feel bad about our best choice = )
Meaning, once all the choices are really known, it goes on to say that we also know all the opportunity cost of all the choices that we did not choose. Right?
So, at a certain number - the value of our best choice will be overran by the summation of all the opportunity cost of all the choices that we did not choose. Right?
So, does it mean that the more choices we know, the worse off we will feel later when we already have chosen our best choice? Hmmm.... Interesting = )
So, does it also mean, that from this context, ignorance is bliss? Or maybe just a certain of level of ignorance = )
Maybe the Salesmen got it right. If the issue is to close a sale, try the time-tested approach: limit the choices. Because if we let the goal of choosing the best choice for the sake of choosing the best choice - we won't get anywhere.
I guess, decisions and choices will need happen, even if we feel bad about them afterward, because our life on earth is also finite. Choice have to be understood in the context of time for in the the end, our time will end.
And as a matter of fact, we were not given a choice about that either. But as to how we end, well, we have an infinite choice about that = )
And suddenly, for me, time has a new meaning.
"... why think like mere men?"
Wednesday
farmville, pepeng and ondoy
The twin typhoons and the water they brought were catasthropic. I guess my heart will carry this burden for a long time.
But I find Farmville user statistics and what it represent even more troubling = )
Serious.
But maybe I am mistaken and that the user statistics is a start of something good and encouraging, too = )
Serious.
Farmville was launched last 19 June 2009 and it now has 11 million daily users across the world. (According to my Google research, this Facebook application is the fastest growing game in its history.) As to how many Filipino users there is, I guess you have to open your Facebook account and do a little of creative math and a bit of aggregate forecasting = )
Now, off to Seriousville...
The thing about facts is that it is cold and it is unemotional. Things only start to jump out when we bring in our context, look and see what it means.
To the pessimist and the "angry" people, these Farmville statistics are troubling because it suggests that people enjoy farming as long as it is confined to their laptops or PCs. As long as farming is done in the comforts of their homes or even their beds. As long as farming is done according to their spoiled-bratty time, like farming at night, and not in nature's time. As long as it does not make them sweat and lose their gluthatione-induced fairness.
That's troubling because virtual farms and virtual money can not feed the people in the evacuation centers. Nor can the love, the understanding, the effort and the commitment to virtual farms help abate the real rushing waters from the mountains. Nor can it feed the ever growing malnourished and undernourished people of the world. Farmville statitics is troubling because it trivializes the importance and significance of farming!
But to the optimists and the young at heart, these statistics is great news because suddenly the 1st wave technology, agriculture and farming, is in vogue and cool again. (Note: Second wave technology is the Industrial Revolution and 3rd wave technology is the Information Technology Revolution.) Farmville apparently shows the Netizen of the world about the rules and law of nature. Farmville opens the eyes and mind of the spoiled-brats about the importance of time and the role it plays in farming. Farmville also shows the significance of weather and the importance of having good and agriculture-friendly weather.
The Farmville statistics are encouraging because there is this unique and fun way of communicating the importance of agriculture to the next generation that somehow can not be communicated fully by their financially-struggling sun-burnt parents. Farmville statistics are enouraging because, at last, there is this way to communicate this obvious fact, so obvious that it is almost a mysterious secret - when the farmers do not go to work anymore, as in not plant rice and raise animals, the whole world will not eat!
So, which one of the analyis and scenario will come to past?
Depends on how many pessimists and optimists act out there. If the pessimists outdo the optimists, then we are all doomed. If the optimists outdo the pessimists, then wisdom comes.
But the funny thing is this, the scenario and analysis that speaks to you most reveals the state of your heart = )
"... why think like mere men?"
But I find Farmville user statistics and what it represent even more troubling = )
Serious.
But maybe I am mistaken and that the user statistics is a start of something good and encouraging, too = )
Serious.
Farmville was launched last 19 June 2009 and it now has 11 million daily users across the world. (According to my Google research, this Facebook application is the fastest growing game in its history.) As to how many Filipino users there is, I guess you have to open your Facebook account and do a little of creative math and a bit of aggregate forecasting = )
Now, off to Seriousville...
The thing about facts is that it is cold and it is unemotional. Things only start to jump out when we bring in our context, look and see what it means.
To the pessimist and the "angry" people, these Farmville statistics are troubling because it suggests that people enjoy farming as long as it is confined to their laptops or PCs. As long as farming is done in the comforts of their homes or even their beds. As long as farming is done according to their spoiled-bratty time, like farming at night, and not in nature's time. As long as it does not make them sweat and lose their gluthatione-induced fairness.
That's troubling because virtual farms and virtual money can not feed the people in the evacuation centers. Nor can the love, the understanding, the effort and the commitment to virtual farms help abate the real rushing waters from the mountains. Nor can it feed the ever growing malnourished and undernourished people of the world. Farmville statitics is troubling because it trivializes the importance and significance of farming!
But to the optimists and the young at heart, these statistics is great news because suddenly the 1st wave technology, agriculture and farming, is in vogue and cool again. (Note: Second wave technology is the Industrial Revolution and 3rd wave technology is the Information Technology Revolution.) Farmville apparently shows the Netizen of the world about the rules and law of nature. Farmville opens the eyes and mind of the spoiled-brats about the importance of time and the role it plays in farming. Farmville also shows the significance of weather and the importance of having good and agriculture-friendly weather.
The Farmville statistics are encouraging because there is this unique and fun way of communicating the importance of agriculture to the next generation that somehow can not be communicated fully by their financially-struggling sun-burnt parents. Farmville statistics are enouraging because, at last, there is this way to communicate this obvious fact, so obvious that it is almost a mysterious secret - when the farmers do not go to work anymore, as in not plant rice and raise animals, the whole world will not eat!
So, which one of the analyis and scenario will come to past?
Depends on how many pessimists and optimists act out there. If the pessimists outdo the optimists, then we are all doomed. If the optimists outdo the pessimists, then wisdom comes.
But the funny thing is this, the scenario and analysis that speaks to you most reveals the state of your heart = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Tuesday
michael stipe's epiphany
My teenage years were flavored with the first three albums of U2, a dash of Michael Jackson, a bit of Spandau Ballet, a drop of Tears for Fears, a side trip with the Cure that eventually led to the appreciation of the Seattle sound of Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots. Of course, I also took the local counterparts like The Dawn, Rivermaya, Eraserheads and this is a bit of a stretch, True Faith.
But there was this one particular song that resonated with me during that "boy becoming a man" years. It was song by REM, Everybody Hurts.
I was channel surfing one night and I was suprised to see Michael Stipe, REM's frontman/ songwriter, with this famous pleasantly plum Italian chef on a TV show. I said, "Hmmm, that's a bit weird?"
When I looked at the credits, it was an episode of Iconoclast.
With interest properly stoked, I took it all in.
I always knew that Michael Stipe was really a songwriter first. I was suprise to know that he was also a fan of U2. In fact, he felt bad that he did not write A Beautiful Day and he even told Bono about it, too = )
For me, the pearl of the episode was when Michael Stipe opened up and blurted out something like this, "... one day, I was among closest friends. Having dinner. It was a time after a concert. I was sitting there but I was not there. My mind was off to something. I caught myself saying - this is (friends, dinner and conversation) boring. It took me sometime to figure out that that situation was not boring. That my friends are interesting people and that I love them. I soon realized that I was so inflated by the tour. Still in a high of performing in front of a thousand crowds. Receiving that much attention. I found out that I had to deflate. Had to come back to earth..."
I guess that will explain all the excesses we see when celebrities, stars, famous and powerful people unravel right before the eyes of the Internet-fused world. They hadn't deflated yet = )
How many actors and actresses have we seen and read behaving badly? How many politicians have we seen and read that went greedy and sold the Philippines? = )
"Vanity is my favorite sin..." as Al Pacino said in The Devil's Advocate. And the greatest lie the Devil can tell is to tell us that he does not exist = )
I'm glad. Yes, I am glad that even though we live dark times, we also live in a time when light can truly be seen. Why? Because it is dark = )
I'm glad that our current generation is given this opportunity to be remembered that we were not asleep and did not run away from the challenges.
I am glad that I live in world that has heard the stories of South Korea and of Singapore. On how they both overcome odds of limited natural resources and became a part of the 1st world countries in one generation. I am reminded of what Taiichi Ohno said when he was still inculcating the now famous Toyota Production System Technology within Toyota, "Do not use money. Use your head!"
May I dare add to come down to earth, too?
Exhale. Deflate...
"... why think like mere men?"
But there was this one particular song that resonated with me during that "boy becoming a man" years. It was song by REM, Everybody Hurts.
I was channel surfing one night and I was suprised to see Michael Stipe, REM's frontman/ songwriter, with this famous pleasantly plum Italian chef on a TV show. I said, "Hmmm, that's a bit weird?"
When I looked at the credits, it was an episode of Iconoclast.
With interest properly stoked, I took it all in.
I always knew that Michael Stipe was really a songwriter first. I was suprise to know that he was also a fan of U2. In fact, he felt bad that he did not write A Beautiful Day and he even told Bono about it, too = )
For me, the pearl of the episode was when Michael Stipe opened up and blurted out something like this, "... one day, I was among closest friends. Having dinner. It was a time after a concert. I was sitting there but I was not there. My mind was off to something. I caught myself saying - this is (friends, dinner and conversation) boring. It took me sometime to figure out that that situation was not boring. That my friends are interesting people and that I love them. I soon realized that I was so inflated by the tour. Still in a high of performing in front of a thousand crowds. Receiving that much attention. I found out that I had to deflate. Had to come back to earth..."
I guess that will explain all the excesses we see when celebrities, stars, famous and powerful people unravel right before the eyes of the Internet-fused world. They hadn't deflated yet = )
How many actors and actresses have we seen and read behaving badly? How many politicians have we seen and read that went greedy and sold the Philippines? = )
"Vanity is my favorite sin..." as Al Pacino said in The Devil's Advocate. And the greatest lie the Devil can tell is to tell us that he does not exist = )
I'm glad. Yes, I am glad that even though we live dark times, we also live in a time when light can truly be seen. Why? Because it is dark = )
I'm glad that our current generation is given this opportunity to be remembered that we were not asleep and did not run away from the challenges.
I am glad that I live in world that has heard the stories of South Korea and of Singapore. On how they both overcome odds of limited natural resources and became a part of the 1st world countries in one generation. I am reminded of what Taiichi Ohno said when he was still inculcating the now famous Toyota Production System Technology within Toyota, "Do not use money. Use your head!"
May I dare add to come down to earth, too?
Exhale. Deflate...
"... why think like mere men?"
Sunday
the gifts named ondoy and pepeng
Please do not get me wrong. My heart breaks for the victims of these two storms. My heart is broken.
But the gift that these two storms gave us is the deepening of our souls.
I hope you have seen pictures posted in Facebook about the famous Malacanang son. About his actions at the height of the flood. About what he was busy with considering the plight of his constituents. No wonder Mommy had to go there to personally deliver the relief goods.
But this is not solely about that. That is simply a backstory. Not the story. Not the point.
I hope and pray that with this experience, we have a set of new eyes in looking at what truly ails our country.
And on that light, I hope and pray that we see that no matter how visible is the politician in giving aid or saving people - our country will never be out of poverty by giving aid to its citizens.
What is necessary are actions to make aid obsolete.
Seriously, do we know anyone who got wealthy by living on aid?
Do not get me wrong. There are times where aid is necessary but to limit the quality and the type of leadership to aid-giving is very limited. Scary. Dangerous.
Lord, let the flood do its work on us.
"... why think like mere men?"
But the gift that these two storms gave us is the deepening of our souls.
I hope you have seen pictures posted in Facebook about the famous Malacanang son. About his actions at the height of the flood. About what he was busy with considering the plight of his constituents. No wonder Mommy had to go there to personally deliver the relief goods.
But this is not solely about that. That is simply a backstory. Not the story. Not the point.
I hope and pray that with this experience, we have a set of new eyes in looking at what truly ails our country.
And on that light, I hope and pray that we see that no matter how visible is the politician in giving aid or saving people - our country will never be out of poverty by giving aid to its citizens.
What is necessary are actions to make aid obsolete.
Seriously, do we know anyone who got wealthy by living on aid?
Do not get me wrong. There are times where aid is necessary but to limit the quality and the type of leadership to aid-giving is very limited. Scary. Dangerous.
Lord, let the flood do its work on us.
"... why think like mere men?"
Saturday
the current education's limitation
"In school, knowing the right answers lead to success - excellent grades!
But in life, to be successful, knowing the right questions (properly stating the problem) is as equally important as knowing the right answers!
So, how do we teach learners to ask the right questions?"
"... why think like mere men?"
But in life, to be successful, knowing the right questions (properly stating the problem) is as equally important as knowing the right answers!
So, how do we teach learners to ask the right questions?"
"... why think like mere men?"
define - success
"... it is waking up in the morning and being excited about what you are about to do for the day that you rush out through the door."
Friday
a fork on the road
There are actually two gentlemen names I was really hoping to write here. I guess, that will be for next time = )
To the two gentlemen, I know you will find your way. Do not give up on the struggle. I promise, you will be better for this. I know it is painful but better to know now your mistaken thinking in place designed to right them.
Your good hearts will lead you to a path much much better than what you have chosen so far. Listen to your hearts. Your soul, if you must. Talk to that little boy you once were and ask him if this is what you really dream of becoming. That little boy knows things ;- )
A dream will not be placed in your heart if you will not be given the means to make it a reality. Just do not give up on it. And do something. And if you do something, make it different from the last time. Remember, if you want what you do not have; you have to do what you have not = )
Secondly, pick your friends carefully. Remember that a man is known by the company he keeps.
And lastly, if you see your name below - you move on the next challenge. For now, let me offer my congratulations.
lyndon
juni
zach
francois val
billie
gladys
charmie
rose
beatrice
zharlene jane
may himala
transformer
marie chris
pamela
"... why think like mere men?"
To the two gentlemen, I know you will find your way. Do not give up on the struggle. I promise, you will be better for this. I know it is painful but better to know now your mistaken thinking in place designed to right them.
Your good hearts will lead you to a path much much better than what you have chosen so far. Listen to your hearts. Your soul, if you must. Talk to that little boy you once were and ask him if this is what you really dream of becoming. That little boy knows things ;- )
A dream will not be placed in your heart if you will not be given the means to make it a reality. Just do not give up on it. And do something. And if you do something, make it different from the last time. Remember, if you want what you do not have; you have to do what you have not = )
Secondly, pick your friends carefully. Remember that a man is known by the company he keeps.
And lastly, if you see your name below - you move on the next challenge. For now, let me offer my congratulations.
lyndon
juni
zach
francois val
billie
gladys
charmie
rose
beatrice
zharlene jane
may himala
transformer
marie chris
pamela
"... why think like mere men?"
Thursday
the gift of pain and of failure
There's nothing beautiful about pain.
But there's something beautiful about a life transformed once the pain finishes its work, a wiser person.
There's nothing beautiful about failure.
But there's something beautiful about knowing that you're still here and still breathing. Given a second chance.
Failure is never a person. It is an event.
"... why think like mere men?"
But there's something beautiful about a life transformed once the pain finishes its work, a wiser person.
There's nothing beautiful about failure.
But there's something beautiful about knowing that you're still here and still breathing. Given a second chance.
Failure is never a person. It is an event.
"... why think like mere men?"
Monday
information defined
What is the definition of information?
"... information is the answer to the question."
"... information is the answer to the question."
Butuan's place in Philippine history
We all know that Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines in March 1521. Our history books told us that fact. In fact, our History teachers even made us memorize that = )
But how could they land and celebrate mass in Cebu when this is supposed to be first time a foreigner stepped on our shores? And how would our ancestor understand the significance of a mass or even of the legendary Sto. Nino when it was given as a gift? I mean, could the Spaniards speak Cebuano? Or could our Cebuano ancestors speak Spanish?
Think about that for a minute = )
What gives?
As far as I know, the Philippines as we know it is a European idea. And the reason they can talked to our ancestors is because some of our Malayan ancestors riding their balangays has reached the shores of Mother Spain. In fact, it was this very Malayan ancestors of ours that told Magellan how to get to La Islas de Filipinas = )
There must be a Malayan ancestor that acted as a sort of interpreter but do we have that fact in our historical books? Serious.
And here's the other thing, if one would visit the Ayala Museum, they have an exhibit called "The Gold of Our Ancestors". There, and this is proven by archeological digs, our ancestors have been doing trade with our fellow Asians, the Chinese, somewhere in Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, Butuan to be exact.
The fact is this, our Chinese brothers have been engaged in barter with our Butuan brothers as early as the 11th century. A mere 400 years before Magellan. Spain may not even be Spain at that time. Our Chinese brothers brought with their pottery and silk and our Butuan brothers bartered with their gold. Yes, GOLD!
You see, even before the conquistadores told us that we are indios, our ancestors had the sophistication to appreciate the value of GOLD! Our so-called indio ancestors had the skill even to harness this metal and transform them in beautiful works of arts. (Please visit the Ayala Museum and you will see what I mean.)
And the reason this skill is native to us is because we have GOLD in abundance in the Philippines at that time.
Now, as to when, why and how we started to believe that we are indios and not this sophisticate is another matter = )
Our "indio" race has produced a Jose Rizal. Let's not forget that.
"... why think like mere men?"
But how could they land and celebrate mass in Cebu when this is supposed to be first time a foreigner stepped on our shores? And how would our ancestor understand the significance of a mass or even of the legendary Sto. Nino when it was given as a gift? I mean, could the Spaniards speak Cebuano? Or could our Cebuano ancestors speak Spanish?
Think about that for a minute = )
What gives?
As far as I know, the Philippines as we know it is a European idea. And the reason they can talked to our ancestors is because some of our Malayan ancestors riding their balangays has reached the shores of Mother Spain. In fact, it was this very Malayan ancestors of ours that told Magellan how to get to La Islas de Filipinas = )
There must be a Malayan ancestor that acted as a sort of interpreter but do we have that fact in our historical books? Serious.
And here's the other thing, if one would visit the Ayala Museum, they have an exhibit called "The Gold of Our Ancestors". There, and this is proven by archeological digs, our ancestors have been doing trade with our fellow Asians, the Chinese, somewhere in Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, Butuan to be exact.
The fact is this, our Chinese brothers have been engaged in barter with our Butuan brothers as early as the 11th century. A mere 400 years before Magellan. Spain may not even be Spain at that time. Our Chinese brothers brought with their pottery and silk and our Butuan brothers bartered with their gold. Yes, GOLD!
You see, even before the conquistadores told us that we are indios, our ancestors had the sophistication to appreciate the value of GOLD! Our so-called indio ancestors had the skill even to harness this metal and transform them in beautiful works of arts. (Please visit the Ayala Museum and you will see what I mean.)
And the reason this skill is native to us is because we have GOLD in abundance in the Philippines at that time.
Now, as to when, why and how we started to believe that we are indios and not this sophisticate is another matter = )
Our "indio" race has produced a Jose Rizal. Let's not forget that.
"... why think like mere men?"
poverty's blessing
We all know poverty's curse and woes but do we know its blessings? Its gifts?
Do not get me wrong. I am not advocating that we should all be poor and not create earth-friendly wealth. That's not the point = )
You think Manny Pacquiao would mesmerize the whole world if he came from a well-to-do family? The magic does not work. Or would Manny Pacquiao even take up boxing if he was from the middle class?= )
What I meant by poverty is this situation where we are placed and the choice is really made clear to us. So clear because there's no other choice but to go through it! = )
Poverty is a place where choice is crystallized. A situation that crystallizes what is it that we truly want! A position where we truly lived!
And once we get through it, we become a better person. A "wholer" person = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Do not get me wrong. I am not advocating that we should all be poor and not create earth-friendly wealth. That's not the point = )
You think Manny Pacquiao would mesmerize the whole world if he came from a well-to-do family? The magic does not work. Or would Manny Pacquiao even take up boxing if he was from the middle class?= )
What I meant by poverty is this situation where we are placed and the choice is really made clear to us. So clear because there's no other choice but to go through it! = )
Poverty is a place where choice is crystallized. A situation that crystallizes what is it that we truly want! A position where we truly lived!
And once we get through it, we become a better person. A "wholer" person = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Saturday
flood's wisdom
I hope and pray that in the end, we all realize that when we really reach out and help each other - it is not surprising our race can produce a Jose Rizal.
Now, if we only we can do something about the state of meritocracy in the Philippines = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Now, if we only we can do something about the state of meritocracy in the Philippines = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Thursday
the hole in bright one's wholeness
I have signed the paper already. Bright One will graduate. With honors.
But my heart really breaks.
This student is suppose to be the best of batch. Well, this student is. But that's not the point = )
I am now wondering, how will Bright One contend if place in situation to defend Bright One's position in solving a problem with the likes of the Singaporeans who will also graduate with a degree of Industrial Engineering this year? Will Bright One have enough heart to show the beauty of Bright One's smarts? Or will Bright One fold and wait for "help" to come?
Who made the mistake? Bright One? Or the Learning Facilitator because Learning Facilitator never gave Bright One the chance to learn the importance of being confident with one's thoughts when Bright One was given the opportunity?
"... why think like mere men?"
But my heart really breaks.
This student is suppose to be the best of batch. Well, this student is. But that's not the point = )
I am now wondering, how will Bright One contend if place in situation to defend Bright One's position in solving a problem with the likes of the Singaporeans who will also graduate with a degree of Industrial Engineering this year? Will Bright One have enough heart to show the beauty of Bright One's smarts? Or will Bright One fold and wait for "help" to come?
Who made the mistake? Bright One? Or the Learning Facilitator because Learning Facilitator never gave Bright One the chance to learn the importance of being confident with one's thoughts when Bright One was given the opportunity?
"... why think like mere men?"
the gift of the flood
In the end, we all realize that though the government can help if they act, it is really up to us and God.
It also destroys the myth that in order for our lives to improve, the government must change first. Not really. In order for our lives to turn for the better, we all need to go back to who we really are. A race known for bayanihan.
Yes, lives were lost but it could have been worst if our neighbors never reached out and lend a helping hand.
No matter how we want to be westerners (but who isn't in this time and age?), to forget what is good about the Filipino race, bayanihan, is perilous.
"... why think like mere men?"
It also destroys the myth that in order for our lives to improve, the government must change first. Not really. In order for our lives to turn for the better, we all need to go back to who we really are. A race known for bayanihan.
Yes, lives were lost but it could have been worst if our neighbors never reached out and lend a helping hand.
No matter how we want to be westerners (but who isn't in this time and age?), to forget what is good about the Filipino race, bayanihan, is perilous.
"... why think like mere men?"
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