Mar 28, 2012
Party List
As early as 9am today I went out to photocopy some documents for my mother. She was suppose to stay in the van with my dad because the weather was beginning to warm up a lot even at that hour. As there were so many people even at that time who needs documents, id's, etc to be photocopied, my mom got impatient and she joined me inside the computer shop. Suddenly she started a conversation with one of the customers. Mom started by asking if he was still working in Makati City, and if he still takes the "service van" to go to work. From that conversation I learned that he is also a senior citizen, he already retired and then I heard the word "Party List" from him. He said that he is partnering w/his daughter who works for an NGO to set up a party-list. He is going around the country to send out flyers and to help create this group. He said that this Party List will take care of "street children" abandoned by their parents, who are hungry, unwanted and not studying. Most roam the streets and they are all over the country and are unaccounted for. I joined their conversation and told him that what they will doing is good. Well, good to me until he said that, you know when we vote, it's easy to account for the teachers because they are listed, but these children, who make up more than the teachers are all unaccounted for, they are not listed, they will make a huge voting percentage because they are in hundred thousands.
Another day in my life that made me think, before I speak and give another compliment. I wonder what their real purpose would be for creating this party list. It sounded noble at 1st, until I heard voting. I asked myself: Is it really to take care of these unaccounted street children? To make them productive and contributing citizens of this country? And to help them create an identity for themselves, so, they can also study to improve their situation? Or the party list has to be created, approved and listed in order for the people behind it to have a power group when election comes? and to have a ready and compliant followers come elections? Or is it both? I guess I will not know about it, until I get a chance to see and talk to him again. Does unaccounted mean they do not have birth certificates? Or they become unaccounted because they are not voting yet? ? ?
Jul 7, 2010
The Diary
I was going through some of the messages from friends from another social networking site (NOT FB - Face book) when this particular GM (general message) caught my attention. My friend was right, teachers should take particular interest in how this writer wrote her short story, and may even use this as an answer sheet where students can correct all the mistakes in it.
This Diary is a funny way of describing one's day, and the instances are like excerpts from a novel, funny because of all the misinterpretations, grammatical errors and what have you. Most of us who have an idea of what the writer is referring to can comprehend in one way or the other what she really wants to say. But for those who are just beginning to learn the English language,finding this funny and entertaining, many if not most may think this as the correct way to express their thoughts, and feelings and may let this become a norm in writing amusing anecdotes. Let's just hope that this is all this diary will be a funny anecdote, and that it becomes a writing exercise for learning the right words at the right situation, not some scrambled and trying hard manner to speak and write English.
____________________________________________________________________________________
My sisters and I LOL (laughed out loud) reading this article from a newspaper…our teachers should really focus on good English…speaking it, writing it. The author was inspired to publish this article because of the mangled English coming to her left & right…most of them coming from the ubiquitous social networking tool that is Facebook.
Read this without getting a nosebleed…have fun interpreting it… (“,)
The Diary
“It was jazz an ordinary day. The skies were clear, the birds were chipping.
Ang ganda-ganda ng araw! Nasa SM ako noon at katatapos ko lang mamili ng groceries.
Timing naman nasa foodcore si Angel Locsin, nagpro-provoke ng movie nya.
Grabe andaming fans, pull-packed talaga!
Dahil fans nya rin ako, nakipila na rin ako.
Then suddenly, out of the loo, may bumulong sa akin ng “Indaaayyyy…”
Huh? It sounded like a familiar sound. Who can it be now?
“Dodong!” sigaw ko.
Napalakas yata voice ko kasi the other fans turned their backs to their behind at napatingin sa amin.
Sabi ko “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be loud and proud.”
Hinawakan na lang ni Dodong ang kamay ko at lumayo kami from the crowd.
“Kamusta na Inday? Do you come here open?” tanong nya.
“Bihira lang Dodong. I’m just droppings by. Ethnic ang schedule ko eh…” sabi ko.
Memories came flushing in my mind. How can I forget to remember Dodong?
Siya na may mata ni Piolo, dimples ni Aga at bigote ni Rex Cortez.
He’s every woman’s dreamboat.
I was just starting my tour of duty kay ate noon nang una kong makilala si Dodong.
Contraction worker sya sa ginagawang bahay sa tapat namin.
Naging kami for a while then, after that were not an item anymore.
“Tanghali na Inday. What did you say we have lunch together?” tanong ni Dodong.
“I don’t mine.” Sagot ko.
Sa restaurant, nilapitan kaagad kami ng waiter.
“What’s your odor, sir?” sabi ng waiter kay Dodong.
“Do you have porkshop?” tanong ni Dodong.
“Yes, sir” sabi nito. “Our porkshop with aresistance to the teeth of boast of our chef. Domestic careful selection of pork with little fat of female liking is used. The exquisite cooking which repeated trial and error was completed. It also has healthy vegetables with salad feeling fully,” dagdag pa nya.
“And you mam?” sabay tingin naman sa akin.
Hhmmmn…mukhang masarap yung porkshop. Pero I’m cutting down on my carbon kaya pinigilan ko.
“I’ll just have water, thanks. Liquidate diet ako eh,’ sagot ko.
Pagkatapos kumain, nagyaya si Dodong na manood ng sine.
Teka, teka, this is going too far, I thoughts.
Besides, it’s a long, long way to run.
“Reality chess, Dodong. May asawa na ako, si Jay. As a mother of fact, I’m happily married,” pagmamalaki ko.
“Di na pwede yung tulad ng dati. Sorry pero I didn’t expect you still have more feelings than I expected. I don’t want you getting the way. Past is fast. Therefore, cause and defect,” dagdag ko pa.
Tumahimik sya. Parang may language barrel na namagitan sa amin.
The seconds that passed seemed like fraternity.
Di naglaon, nagsalita na rin si Dodong.
“I don’t care less!” sigaw nya.
Shocks, give me a brake! The nerd ng taong ito para sigawan ako.
To think it’s his other woman that caused our separation to part.
Kinabahan na ako. I felt speedbumps all over my body and was having panic attach.
Tinalikuran ko sya at nagmadali na akong lumakad palayo.
Pero sumunod pa rin sya like a monkey on my butt.
Hanggang sa makakita ako ng security guard.
Biglang nawala si Dodong.
“Excuse me Kuya, pwedeng magtanong?” sabi ko.
“Of course miss, I can help you with my pleasure,” sagot nya.
“Saan po ba ang exit? Could you point me to the right erection? I got lost in my eyes.”
“Diretso lang” sabi nya. “Then turn right anytime with care.”
“Thanks for your corporation,” sabi ko.
Buti na lang nandun si kuya. Pero saglit lang, I smell something peachy!
As I turned, nakita ko na namang nakasunod si Dodong!
Delaying static lang pala kanina yung pag-disappear nya.
“Nyahahaha! You can run but you can hide, Inday. No matter where you go, there you are!” pananakot nya.
Oh no, is this the end? This is too much, I feel degradable. My world started falling afar.
Then suddenly, Jay come from behind! Dodong was caught to the act.
In the matter of minute, it’s all over. I’m out of arm’s way.
“Thanks Jay, my love. But how did you…?”
Bago pa man ako matapos, sabi nya, “I was in the neighborhood. Fans din ako ni Angel eh. I heard you shout but at first I didn’t give it a thought. Pero nang makita ko kayong magkahawak ng holding hands, then I give it a thought. I know something is a missed.”
From then on, Dodong did not brother me again. In fact, he didn’t even sister me. As in platonic at wala na talaga. Pero kami ni Jay, heto, shoot sailing pa rin ang relationship.
Lalo pa ngayon, open na kami sa isa’t-isa at walang exhibitions. I feel I’m on cloud line.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
So, does it remind you of someone you know? (“,)
This Diary is a funny way of describing one's day, and the instances are like excerpts from a novel, funny because of all the misinterpretations, grammatical errors and what have you. Most of us who have an idea of what the writer is referring to can comprehend in one way or the other what she really wants to say. But for those who are just beginning to learn the English language,finding this funny and entertaining, many if not most may think this as the correct way to express their thoughts, and feelings and may let this become a norm in writing amusing anecdotes. Let's just hope that this is all this diary will be a funny anecdote, and that it becomes a writing exercise for learning the right words at the right situation, not some scrambled and trying hard manner to speak and write English.
____________________________________________________________________________________
My sisters and I LOL (laughed out loud) reading this article from a newspaper…our teachers should really focus on good English…speaking it, writing it. The author was inspired to publish this article because of the mangled English coming to her left & right…most of them coming from the ubiquitous social networking tool that is Facebook.
Read this without getting a nosebleed…have fun interpreting it… (“,)
The Diary
“It was jazz an ordinary day. The skies were clear, the birds were chipping.
Ang ganda-ganda ng araw! Nasa SM ako noon at katatapos ko lang mamili ng groceries.
Timing naman nasa foodcore si Angel Locsin, nagpro-provoke ng movie nya.
Grabe andaming fans, pull-packed talaga!
Dahil fans nya rin ako, nakipila na rin ako.
Then suddenly, out of the loo, may bumulong sa akin ng “Indaaayyyy…”
Huh? It sounded like a familiar sound. Who can it be now?
“Dodong!” sigaw ko.
Napalakas yata voice ko kasi the other fans turned their backs to their behind at napatingin sa amin.
Sabi ko “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be loud and proud.”
Hinawakan na lang ni Dodong ang kamay ko at lumayo kami from the crowd.
“Kamusta na Inday? Do you come here open?” tanong nya.
“Bihira lang Dodong. I’m just droppings by. Ethnic ang schedule ko eh…” sabi ko.
Memories came flushing in my mind. How can I forget to remember Dodong?
Siya na may mata ni Piolo, dimples ni Aga at bigote ni Rex Cortez.
He’s every woman’s dreamboat.
I was just starting my tour of duty kay ate noon nang una kong makilala si Dodong.
Contraction worker sya sa ginagawang bahay sa tapat namin.
Naging kami for a while then, after that were not an item anymore.
“Tanghali na Inday. What did you say we have lunch together?” tanong ni Dodong.
“I don’t mine.” Sagot ko.
Sa restaurant, nilapitan kaagad kami ng waiter.
“What’s your odor, sir?” sabi ng waiter kay Dodong.
“Do you have porkshop?” tanong ni Dodong.
“Yes, sir” sabi nito. “Our porkshop with aresistance to the teeth of boast of our chef. Domestic careful selection of pork with little fat of female liking is used. The exquisite cooking which repeated trial and error was completed. It also has healthy vegetables with salad feeling fully,” dagdag pa nya.
“And you mam?” sabay tingin naman sa akin.
Hhmmmn…mukhang masarap yung porkshop. Pero I’m cutting down on my carbon kaya pinigilan ko.
“I’ll just have water, thanks. Liquidate diet ako eh,’ sagot ko.
Pagkatapos kumain, nagyaya si Dodong na manood ng sine.
Teka, teka, this is going too far, I thoughts.
Besides, it’s a long, long way to run.
“Reality chess, Dodong. May asawa na ako, si Jay. As a mother of fact, I’m happily married,” pagmamalaki ko.
“Di na pwede yung tulad ng dati. Sorry pero I didn’t expect you still have more feelings than I expected. I don’t want you getting the way. Past is fast. Therefore, cause and defect,” dagdag ko pa.
Tumahimik sya. Parang may language barrel na namagitan sa amin.
The seconds that passed seemed like fraternity.
Di naglaon, nagsalita na rin si Dodong.
“I don’t care less!” sigaw nya.
Shocks, give me a brake! The nerd ng taong ito para sigawan ako.
To think it’s his other woman that caused our separation to part.
Kinabahan na ako. I felt speedbumps all over my body and was having panic attach.
Tinalikuran ko sya at nagmadali na akong lumakad palayo.
Pero sumunod pa rin sya like a monkey on my butt.
Hanggang sa makakita ako ng security guard.
Biglang nawala si Dodong.
“Excuse me Kuya, pwedeng magtanong?” sabi ko.
“Of course miss, I can help you with my pleasure,” sagot nya.
“Saan po ba ang exit? Could you point me to the right erection? I got lost in my eyes.”
“Diretso lang” sabi nya. “Then turn right anytime with care.”
“Thanks for your corporation,” sabi ko.
Buti na lang nandun si kuya. Pero saglit lang, I smell something peachy!
As I turned, nakita ko na namang nakasunod si Dodong!
Delaying static lang pala kanina yung pag-disappear nya.
“Nyahahaha! You can run but you can hide, Inday. No matter where you go, there you are!” pananakot nya.
Oh no, is this the end? This is too much, I feel degradable. My world started falling afar.
Then suddenly, Jay come from behind! Dodong was caught to the act.
In the matter of minute, it’s all over. I’m out of arm’s way.
“Thanks Jay, my love. But how did you…?”
Bago pa man ako matapos, sabi nya, “I was in the neighborhood. Fans din ako ni Angel eh. I heard you shout but at first I didn’t give it a thought. Pero nang makita ko kayong magkahawak ng holding hands, then I give it a thought. I know something is a missed.”
From then on, Dodong did not brother me again. In fact, he didn’t even sister me. As in platonic at wala na talaga. Pero kami ni Jay, heto, shoot sailing pa rin ang relationship.
Lalo pa ngayon, open na kami sa isa’t-isa at walang exhibitions. I feel I’m on cloud line.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
So, does it remind you of someone you know? (“,)
Jul 3, 2010
Pls give me back my load!
When was the last time a total stranger did you a good turn? Or better yet when was the last time you did a good turn?
In the Philippines prepaid cards are normal, and we have what we call load retailers to service those who prefer prepaid than being a regular or postpaid subscriber. I am one of those load retailers, my second month today to be exact.
It was one of those days, those busy days when I have to struggle between FarmVille and CafeWorld that a new customer walked in to have several celfone numbers loaded, that was the same day the Service Provider had a system failure. To my surprise instead of sending the request to load once I sent it thrice because there was no confirmation on my side that the number was loaded already. It was my mistake. I was thinking too much about the wilting crops on my plantation and the pot roast that I needed to serve in the cafe.
Nah! I was just confusing you.
In fact I was so sure I already loaded the correct amount for the correct number but have not received the confirmation. So, what I did was to load it again and still there was no confirmation. In the end I had to tell the subscriber to be patient and that the load will be messaged shortly. After she left, Only then did I receive a message, that the whole system was down and my distributor had no way to check if the amount was uploaded on their system. I tried calling the main office but I had a long wait and in the end my call was dropped after a voice over machine said it cannot process my request. It was one of those frustrating moments, making you curse with irritation. What else can I do? I had to message the subscriber this time and used up my personal load because we had to message each other more than 5X so that my customer will be assured that I will not run away with her money and fully understand what's happening. I also told my customer that if nothing happens that evening I will make sure to return her money come morning. The system was not fixed that night and no other help came from my distributor.
I rose early the next morning to try and call the main office again, but it was taxing to wait for a live person to assist me. Until, another one of my regulars asked for her number to be loaded. To my gladness, the system confirmed my request right away. What made me queasy and uneasy was when I discovered a large amount of discrepancy from the last amount I loaded to last night's balance. I had to call my subscriber last night if she received the load amount she requested she said yes, received only that morning. I also had to bravely ask her if any of the load last night registered on her celfone, she said no only the ones I loaded that morning. I was restless it was a loss for me and not a small sum. To my relief she said that she called the main office and had to call me back because upon checking her balance, her celfone was indeed loaded 3X. So my customer told me that she will load me back the amount. I was so happy and I thanked my lucky stars!
Please give me my load back?! I did not have to say this and beg and struggle just like the other stories I heard before I became a retailer, about those who mistakenly loaded to other celfones or loaded them 2X. Because, it happened again today. To my happiness, when I messaged the subscriber he came back right away and paid for the extra load. I prayed that many of my customers would be like these two. Their types who return stuff that they did not pay for, those who give you back the extra dollar you gave as change, etc, etc, etc, because of these kind of kind people I learned that "honesty is the best policy", and that there are still many in this world who care more about people than the money or the "free load" they will get instead of thinking it's their mistake let them suffer the consequences. I will strive to do as they did, more than that if I can. . .
In the Philippines prepaid cards are normal, and we have what we call load retailers to service those who prefer prepaid than being a regular or postpaid subscriber. I am one of those load retailers, my second month today to be exact.
It was one of those days, those busy days when I have to struggle between FarmVille and CafeWorld that a new customer walked in to have several celfone numbers loaded, that was the same day the Service Provider had a system failure. To my surprise instead of sending the request to load once I sent it thrice because there was no confirmation on my side that the number was loaded already. It was my mistake. I was thinking too much about the wilting crops on my plantation and the pot roast that I needed to serve in the cafe.
Nah! I was just confusing you.
In fact I was so sure I already loaded the correct amount for the correct number but have not received the confirmation. So, what I did was to load it again and still there was no confirmation. In the end I had to tell the subscriber to be patient and that the load will be messaged shortly. After she left, Only then did I receive a message, that the whole system was down and my distributor had no way to check if the amount was uploaded on their system. I tried calling the main office but I had a long wait and in the end my call was dropped after a voice over machine said it cannot process my request. It was one of those frustrating moments, making you curse with irritation. What else can I do? I had to message the subscriber this time and used up my personal load because we had to message each other more than 5X so that my customer will be assured that I will not run away with her money and fully understand what's happening. I also told my customer that if nothing happens that evening I will make sure to return her money come morning. The system was not fixed that night and no other help came from my distributor.
I rose early the next morning to try and call the main office again, but it was taxing to wait for a live person to assist me. Until, another one of my regulars asked for her number to be loaded. To my gladness, the system confirmed my request right away. What made me queasy and uneasy was when I discovered a large amount of discrepancy from the last amount I loaded to last night's balance. I had to call my subscriber last night if she received the load amount she requested she said yes, received only that morning. I also had to bravely ask her if any of the load last night registered on her celfone, she said no only the ones I loaded that morning. I was restless it was a loss for me and not a small sum. To my relief she said that she called the main office and had to call me back because upon checking her balance, her celfone was indeed loaded 3X. So my customer told me that she will load me back the amount. I was so happy and I thanked my lucky stars!
Please give me my load back?! I did not have to say this and beg and struggle just like the other stories I heard before I became a retailer, about those who mistakenly loaded to other celfones or loaded them 2X. Because, it happened again today. To my happiness, when I messaged the subscriber he came back right away and paid for the extra load. I prayed that many of my customers would be like these two. Their types who return stuff that they did not pay for, those who give you back the extra dollar you gave as change, etc, etc, etc, because of these kind of kind people I learned that "honesty is the best policy", and that there are still many in this world who care more about people than the money or the "free load" they will get instead of thinking it's their mistake let them suffer the consequences. I will strive to do as they did, more than that if I can. . .
May 5, 2010
Citizen v.s Transient
I bet that many of us on a daily basis do not notice anything as long as we get the
things we bought, we get examined in a hospital, we get to stay in a cozy hotel or
eat in a posh restaurant. Is it because we know money can buy people and service? Is
it because we are so used to how things are done that's why we don't know? Or is it
simply that we do not care?
In the past few years since I came back home there's not just a number but so many of
the changes that I noticed in the Philippines. I wish I could tell you it's for the
good, but it's not. Yes we have improved working conditions because in truth there are more jobs now, more businesses, more opportunities for work, we can't deny the fact that this is true. Unfortunately, the right person is not in the right bus. The talent is not in the right concert. The people work but their minds and heart are not present where they stand. This is not a political ad, but a social awareness campaign. A reminder that we are not Transients of this country but Citizens of the Philippines.
It was a very frustrating and scary scene for my sister when she suddenly saw me lying on my hospital bed in the ICU (yr2005) with my face slowly puffing up. It started as a small swell, that was 10am a few days after my operation, by 11am one doctor on duty came and he said that it's normal. They keep on telling us that the doctors are in the operating room. But by 3pm despite all the rantings and follow up, my sister was already crying my face swelled and swelled, without exaggeration to huge proportions, the nurses didn't do anything, until a lady doctor came in she said that this is not normal. She did all she can to call the other doctors. They all came and realized my tubes where all misplaced, the swelling subsided after 3 days. But this is not the end, I was feeling the most intense pain. The nurses are already talking about me, how difficult I am as a patient but they did not know or tried to find out what was ailing me. As drugged as I was and as painful the operation was I do not know what to look for. Until one nurse realized that
my bed at my back was soaked, it needs to be changed less I catch cold. The tube where the anesthesia was connected was leaking. The doctor who attached the apparatus told me that he made sure that he attached it well. Finally, it was removed while I received the intravenous pain reliever, in a few minutes I was able to sleep and felt the pain no more. No wonder many people can only sympathize because to empathize is to feel and be in the similar situation, only then do we realize what they are really feeling.
The following year (yr2006) I ventured into bazaars and entered into a partnership with our community church. I did not suspect anything because I asked about the procedures, the rules and regulations, I even told them of my condition and that I need to have an outlets for extra appliances to use on the small slot. The coordinator told me all I need to know and I asked for my contract, and was advised will receive when I made my payment. When I paid, I gave the full amount so as not to create any inconveniences, I received my acknowledgment in a piece of paper from my sales log book. The coordinator said she did not bring her receipt and consider it a temporary receipt. I started with the bazaar and found out that the place she gave me was smaller than the other stalls. To top it all the other vendors gossiped about then unfair slot allotment, the lack of traffic, unorganized information and inconsistent fees for each stall. I do not know who to believe so I asked the organizer about the other fees, and other things I heard. All the organizer said was
that it was all stated in the contract, so I told her that until now I do not have the contract and official receipt. Later that day I received the receipt, and no contract to show for it. In the middle of all that there was one concessionaire who took matters into her own hands and reported the incident straight to the parish priest. It was found out that only a few paid in full, the other pending payments never reached the church and in the end because of this negligence the church bazaars are no longer part of the church's fund raising activities.
In between yr2007 till yr2009, my family and I experienced several unpleasant incidents. There were calls and letters from different companies for a cousin of ours who never stayed here at our house. I remember this cousin of mine asked our mother if she can use our telephone number and home address as work reference. But not to have her debtors call on us day in and day out to ask her to pay her debt after she has already left the country. At first we were ever so nice to the callers letting them know that they should remove the telephone number and address since it was only used as a temporary forwarding address. But it went on and on until it came to a point that every time a call for my cousin came all of us always end up raising our voices just to make our point, because the same company calls up only the caller's name changed.
Because of the delivery trend it's now convenient to order for food without the long lines. Only thing is nowadays, the team who accepts orders are outsourced call centers. If you have a special request forget all about it, if you are craving for a dessert you will be informed only when the delivery guy is there and he gets the brunt of your rage because of your hunger.
Gone are the days in the department stores where when you ask a salesperson about an item you are attended to and endorsed properly before they leave you, even if they are not in charge of the goods. Most sales attendants are pushy because they insist that the dress looks good on you when they know fully well the color and size will not fit you.
Have you gone to a famous bakeshop and bought your favorite cake and some other pastries and realized that it all smelled of gasoline instead of butter? ? ?
One more to add to the loot, it happened again today after I made a formal complaint yesterday. My father,67 years old, who was asked to fast from 12 midnight had to wait for the third time because of the so many excuse that a clinic located in a prestigious area gave us to cover for the incompetence of their staffs. Can you imagine having to fast 3 times this week? As old as he is he needed to have his ultrasound because his tummy was so bloated and he can't stand the discomfort of the sudden pain it causes. He had to go back to the clinic three (3X) times. The first time he was told that the technician will be late for 20 minutes, only to come back home because the technician had sore eyes. The second time it was because there was an accident on the highway.
Reading all this and going through what we have experienced, do you find one similar that's happened to you? If you are among those who saw how other Filipinos worked abroad, you will all tell me and that's a definite that they will not treat you this way. When we worked abroad we will treat all the same way we treat all our patients, clients like friends and family. When I came back home, I made sure I felt what it would be to be home. And not in my life did I expect that there are so many Filipinos who do not have service, care and responsibility in their bones. They have all gone abroad. Those outside the country or who had been outside of the country care more and give more of themselves than those who are in the Philippines.
Before leaving the country in 1999 I told myself that I will be a better person with all the experiences that I will learn. But I never thought that I will be discriminated, laughed at, and humiliated in another country. In spite of that I developed a better character. I was able to show them what I am made of. I may sound conceited to many, but this is one thing I know many people who know me can attest to. I stood up my ground, I became a leader, I made a name for myself and I have lived with wonderful people who made me realize that everyone deserves to be treated well. And when i go back home I will bring it all back with me, because my family and
the people here deserve the best. I do not want them to experience what I have gone through abroad.
You see despite the hardships I encountered I realized that in any place that you go, work, play, live or visit, you have the choice, the power, the right to be a Citizen. We are all Transients. Everything in our lives are temporary, all borrowed from God. We do not own anything, even if we fill up our houses with all the material things, with all the most expensive gadgets, they are nothing. All nothing compared to the kind of person that we are to become. It's not a matter of where you are born, what your status is, the color of your skin, we all make up what our minds
want us to think. When you think that all of the above is just work, then it will all just be work, you Transient! Think about is a service as something valuable, it's necessary to think of others, of how my job will make a difference, what I will do today will affect people, then you Citizen will gain more than you ever know.
It's this if you are a Transient, you have the I don't care attitude, the I will be gone from here soon syndrome, my work will be done in 8 hours logic, I don't care if people hear me gossip about that other person they don't know him anyway, so what if I do not pass the information there's still tomorrow line, this is just a temp job I will find a better one sour grape reasoning, let me not make any needless effort retort. It's a small thing why is this lady making a big fuss about it defense mechanism. That's where we are all wrong! I was reminded by this story about a professor in one of his lectures. "When a big jar was brought into a classroom by a professor filled with big rocks, he asked his students: "Is the jar full?"
There are still some spaces, some said yes, others said no right away. So he proceeded by adding pebbles, and asked the same question, now the students said yes, but then he continued to fill it with sand, of course this time it's full. But when all the students said yes, he added water and spaces began to form. he asked them again: "What have you learned?" One said that: "There is still room for
improvement!" The professor finally said, no matter what we do there will be small things to fill in the spaces, but remember, we have to put in the big rocks first, the foundation to fill your jar, your lives, before all the other small things were brought in, small things like your house, your car, your work, your title, anything that is not about Love, God, People is categorized small things like sand under your feet they are unending and countless. . .There is no one to blame for your situation.
When you reach a certain age, whatever you do is a choice, a path that you decide to take. Even if there are outside forces, you still take your life the way you want it to be. Only thing missing is if we are doing it for God's glory, for our good as a person. When HE is missing from what we do, everything is a drudgery, empty and directionless. No wonder people do as they please, they forget about other people, because they have become I-centered. No wonder you are still in the position you are now because you do not offer you life to God and think about anyone else. No wonder evil thoughts and deeds come to our minds first, because we have cluttered our lives with doubts, unclean words, unsavory thoughts, pre-conceived notions about people and all the bad things we can think about in this world. All in the name of protecting "me, mine & myself". What would you do as an "I" without the "We" and without GOD? ? ? No wonder you are confused about yourself and your life.
So now after the litany of a novel has been written what would you like to be a Transient or a Citizen? If you would like to be treated well, would you care for anything less than the best? Would you be anyone less that the best? Are you willing to give the best of yourself, so others will do unto you what you are willing to
do unto them? ? ? ?
things we bought, we get examined in a hospital, we get to stay in a cozy hotel or
eat in a posh restaurant. Is it because we know money can buy people and service? Is
it because we are so used to how things are done that's why we don't know? Or is it
simply that we do not care?
In the past few years since I came back home there's not just a number but so many of
the changes that I noticed in the Philippines. I wish I could tell you it's for the
good, but it's not. Yes we have improved working conditions because in truth there are more jobs now, more businesses, more opportunities for work, we can't deny the fact that this is true. Unfortunately, the right person is not in the right bus. The talent is not in the right concert. The people work but their minds and heart are not present where they stand. This is not a political ad, but a social awareness campaign. A reminder that we are not Transients of this country but Citizens of the Philippines.
It was a very frustrating and scary scene for my sister when she suddenly saw me lying on my hospital bed in the ICU (yr2005) with my face slowly puffing up. It started as a small swell, that was 10am a few days after my operation, by 11am one doctor on duty came and he said that it's normal. They keep on telling us that the doctors are in the operating room. But by 3pm despite all the rantings and follow up, my sister was already crying my face swelled and swelled, without exaggeration to huge proportions, the nurses didn't do anything, until a lady doctor came in she said that this is not normal. She did all she can to call the other doctors. They all came and realized my tubes where all misplaced, the swelling subsided after 3 days. But this is not the end, I was feeling the most intense pain. The nurses are already talking about me, how difficult I am as a patient but they did not know or tried to find out what was ailing me. As drugged as I was and as painful the operation was I do not know what to look for. Until one nurse realized that
my bed at my back was soaked, it needs to be changed less I catch cold. The tube where the anesthesia was connected was leaking. The doctor who attached the apparatus told me that he made sure that he attached it well. Finally, it was removed while I received the intravenous pain reliever, in a few minutes I was able to sleep and felt the pain no more. No wonder many people can only sympathize because to empathize is to feel and be in the similar situation, only then do we realize what they are really feeling.
The following year (yr2006) I ventured into bazaars and entered into a partnership with our community church. I did not suspect anything because I asked about the procedures, the rules and regulations, I even told them of my condition and that I need to have an outlets for extra appliances to use on the small slot. The coordinator told me all I need to know and I asked for my contract, and was advised will receive when I made my payment. When I paid, I gave the full amount so as not to create any inconveniences, I received my acknowledgment in a piece of paper from my sales log book. The coordinator said she did not bring her receipt and consider it a temporary receipt. I started with the bazaar and found out that the place she gave me was smaller than the other stalls. To top it all the other vendors gossiped about then unfair slot allotment, the lack of traffic, unorganized information and inconsistent fees for each stall. I do not know who to believe so I asked the organizer about the other fees, and other things I heard. All the organizer said was
that it was all stated in the contract, so I told her that until now I do not have the contract and official receipt. Later that day I received the receipt, and no contract to show for it. In the middle of all that there was one concessionaire who took matters into her own hands and reported the incident straight to the parish priest. It was found out that only a few paid in full, the other pending payments never reached the church and in the end because of this negligence the church bazaars are no longer part of the church's fund raising activities.
In between yr2007 till yr2009, my family and I experienced several unpleasant incidents. There were calls and letters from different companies for a cousin of ours who never stayed here at our house. I remember this cousin of mine asked our mother if she can use our telephone number and home address as work reference. But not to have her debtors call on us day in and day out to ask her to pay her debt after she has already left the country. At first we were ever so nice to the callers letting them know that they should remove the telephone number and address since it was only used as a temporary forwarding address. But it went on and on until it came to a point that every time a call for my cousin came all of us always end up raising our voices just to make our point, because the same company calls up only the caller's name changed.
Because of the delivery trend it's now convenient to order for food without the long lines. Only thing is nowadays, the team who accepts orders are outsourced call centers. If you have a special request forget all about it, if you are craving for a dessert you will be informed only when the delivery guy is there and he gets the brunt of your rage because of your hunger.
Gone are the days in the department stores where when you ask a salesperson about an item you are attended to and endorsed properly before they leave you, even if they are not in charge of the goods. Most sales attendants are pushy because they insist that the dress looks good on you when they know fully well the color and size will not fit you.
Have you gone to a famous bakeshop and bought your favorite cake and some other pastries and realized that it all smelled of gasoline instead of butter? ? ?
One more to add to the loot, it happened again today after I made a formal complaint yesterday. My father,67 years old, who was asked to fast from 12 midnight had to wait for the third time because of the so many excuse that a clinic located in a prestigious area gave us to cover for the incompetence of their staffs. Can you imagine having to fast 3 times this week? As old as he is he needed to have his ultrasound because his tummy was so bloated and he can't stand the discomfort of the sudden pain it causes. He had to go back to the clinic three (3X) times. The first time he was told that the technician will be late for 20 minutes, only to come back home because the technician had sore eyes. The second time it was because there was an accident on the highway.
Reading all this and going through what we have experienced, do you find one similar that's happened to you? If you are among those who saw how other Filipinos worked abroad, you will all tell me and that's a definite that they will not treat you this way. When we worked abroad we will treat all the same way we treat all our patients, clients like friends and family. When I came back home, I made sure I felt what it would be to be home. And not in my life did I expect that there are so many Filipinos who do not have service, care and responsibility in their bones. They have all gone abroad. Those outside the country or who had been outside of the country care more and give more of themselves than those who are in the Philippines.
Before leaving the country in 1999 I told myself that I will be a better person with all the experiences that I will learn. But I never thought that I will be discriminated, laughed at, and humiliated in another country. In spite of that I developed a better character. I was able to show them what I am made of. I may sound conceited to many, but this is one thing I know many people who know me can attest to. I stood up my ground, I became a leader, I made a name for myself and I have lived with wonderful people who made me realize that everyone deserves to be treated well. And when i go back home I will bring it all back with me, because my family and
the people here deserve the best. I do not want them to experience what I have gone through abroad.
You see despite the hardships I encountered I realized that in any place that you go, work, play, live or visit, you have the choice, the power, the right to be a Citizen. We are all Transients. Everything in our lives are temporary, all borrowed from God. We do not own anything, even if we fill up our houses with all the material things, with all the most expensive gadgets, they are nothing. All nothing compared to the kind of person that we are to become. It's not a matter of where you are born, what your status is, the color of your skin, we all make up what our minds
want us to think. When you think that all of the above is just work, then it will all just be work, you Transient! Think about is a service as something valuable, it's necessary to think of others, of how my job will make a difference, what I will do today will affect people, then you Citizen will gain more than you ever know.
It's this if you are a Transient, you have the I don't care attitude, the I will be gone from here soon syndrome, my work will be done in 8 hours logic, I don't care if people hear me gossip about that other person they don't know him anyway, so what if I do not pass the information there's still tomorrow line, this is just a temp job I will find a better one sour grape reasoning, let me not make any needless effort retort. It's a small thing why is this lady making a big fuss about it defense mechanism. That's where we are all wrong! I was reminded by this story about a professor in one of his lectures. "When a big jar was brought into a classroom by a professor filled with big rocks, he asked his students: "Is the jar full?"
There are still some spaces, some said yes, others said no right away. So he proceeded by adding pebbles, and asked the same question, now the students said yes, but then he continued to fill it with sand, of course this time it's full. But when all the students said yes, he added water and spaces began to form. he asked them again: "What have you learned?" One said that: "There is still room for
improvement!" The professor finally said, no matter what we do there will be small things to fill in the spaces, but remember, we have to put in the big rocks first, the foundation to fill your jar, your lives, before all the other small things were brought in, small things like your house, your car, your work, your title, anything that is not about Love, God, People is categorized small things like sand under your feet they are unending and countless. . .There is no one to blame for your situation.
When you reach a certain age, whatever you do is a choice, a path that you decide to take. Even if there are outside forces, you still take your life the way you want it to be. Only thing missing is if we are doing it for God's glory, for our good as a person. When HE is missing from what we do, everything is a drudgery, empty and directionless. No wonder people do as they please, they forget about other people, because they have become I-centered. No wonder you are still in the position you are now because you do not offer you life to God and think about anyone else. No wonder evil thoughts and deeds come to our minds first, because we have cluttered our lives with doubts, unclean words, unsavory thoughts, pre-conceived notions about people and all the bad things we can think about in this world. All in the name of protecting "me, mine & myself". What would you do as an "I" without the "We" and without GOD? ? ? No wonder you are confused about yourself and your life.
So now after the litany of a novel has been written what would you like to be a Transient or a Citizen? If you would like to be treated well, would you care for anything less than the best? Would you be anyone less that the best? Are you willing to give the best of yourself, so others will do unto you what you are willing to
do unto them? ? ? ?
Mar 18, 2010
"Clearing Out the Clutter"
(From Our Daily Bread)
"My garage serves as a 'storage' for things that don't have a place in our home, and frankly, there are times when I am ashamed to open the door. I don't want anyone to see the clutter. So, periodically, I set aside a workday to clean it up.
Our hearts and minds are a lot like that--they accumulate lots of clutter. As we rub shoulders with the world, inevitably, perhaps unknowingly, we pick up ungodly thoughts and attitudes. thinking that life is all about "me." Demanding our rights. Reacting bitterly toward those who have hurt us. Before long, our hearts and minds are no longer clean and orderly. And while we think we can hide the mess, eventually it will show.
Paul pointedly asked, "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?" (1Cor.6:9--which makes me wonder if God often feels like He is living in our messy garage.
Perhaps it's time to set aside a spiritual workday and, with His help, get to work clearing out the clutter. Discard those thoughts of bitterness. Bag up and throw out the old patterns of sensual thoughts. Organize your attitudes. Fill your heart with the beauty of God's Word. Make it clean to the core, and then leave the door open for all to see!--Joe Stowell
More like the Master I would ever be,
More of His meekness, more humility;
More zeal to labor, more courage to be true,
More consecration for work He bids me do. -Gabriel
*Don't let the Spirit Reside in a cluttered heart. Take some time to clean it up today!"
Reflecting on this entry, YES, the mess really shows! Because no matter how we try to cover it up what we feed our minds and hearts comes out. Most of the time these 'clutter' cloud my judgment, distort my image of people, situation and things. It's tough to get away from the clog it has created. If you noticed these may come from handed down beliefs, experiences, and effect of culture and environment.
My question is this: What can man do with the pressures and havoc that these can create in our minds and hearts and in our lives? It's a choice, a choice to clean up, clear up and fill our lives with things of beauty as stated above, and if we ever get to the habit of "cluttering" we can break it!
"My garage serves as a 'storage' for things that don't have a place in our home, and frankly, there are times when I am ashamed to open the door. I don't want anyone to see the clutter. So, periodically, I set aside a workday to clean it up.
Our hearts and minds are a lot like that--they accumulate lots of clutter. As we rub shoulders with the world, inevitably, perhaps unknowingly, we pick up ungodly thoughts and attitudes. thinking that life is all about "me." Demanding our rights. Reacting bitterly toward those who have hurt us. Before long, our hearts and minds are no longer clean and orderly. And while we think we can hide the mess, eventually it will show.
Paul pointedly asked, "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?" (1Cor.6:9--which makes me wonder if God often feels like He is living in our messy garage.
Perhaps it's time to set aside a spiritual workday and, with His help, get to work clearing out the clutter. Discard those thoughts of bitterness. Bag up and throw out the old patterns of sensual thoughts. Organize your attitudes. Fill your heart with the beauty of God's Word. Make it clean to the core, and then leave the door open for all to see!--Joe Stowell
More like the Master I would ever be,
More of His meekness, more humility;
More zeal to labor, more courage to be true,
More consecration for work He bids me do. -Gabriel
*Don't let the Spirit Reside in a cluttered heart. Take some time to clean it up today!"
Reflecting on this entry, YES, the mess really shows! Because no matter how we try to cover it up what we feed our minds and hearts comes out. Most of the time these 'clutter' cloud my judgment, distort my image of people, situation and things. It's tough to get away from the clog it has created. If you noticed these may come from handed down beliefs, experiences, and effect of culture and environment.
My question is this: What can man do with the pressures and havoc that these can create in our minds and hearts and in our lives? It's a choice, a choice to clean up, clear up and fill our lives with things of beauty as stated above, and if we ever get to the habit of "cluttering" we can break it!
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