True Value

Rught now, I am gaping at people coming in and out of stores wondering how much they could spend in a day. Surely, they have the means to purchase a lot and it makes me think, have they been rich since? Or do they earn so much in a month? 

Life for me has gone a long way. One proof is where I am sitting at the moment, I am just not elsewhere but Shangri La- may not be as classy as Rockwell or some other high end malls but certainly one fine place to be in, less crowdy and better ambience. Further, I am writing this down over my iPad Mini- imagine that? Giggling...

What is a true value? I remember chatting with a college classmate. I asked him where is our classmate who is a top student in the university and was told that she is holding a high position in Ayala. Then, my classmate told me, unlike him who is just a team manager because he was some sort, lazy and irresponsible. The words strucked me, why was he thinking that his position or title is something to be ashamed of? For one, it is a lead position and second, people are after that post.

We are both team managers, unlike him , I am no certified accountant yet. Wherever I am now, I am grateful, and I mean it. It took me years to get to this stage in my career. Back from my humble beginnings after graduation, I was like an all around office worker, accounting assistant, seasonal auditor, daily office clerk depositing money in the bank or posting courier for the cheques to different branches.

Now, I am a full pledged team manager handling 8 people under my watch. I am still adjusting, convincing myself to move from an individual contributor to people developer - and it is pretty difficult but, I am learning...

Among us, team managers, I maybe the only one without a car- does it bother me? No! I have other plans...

While at times, it is tempting to pretend to be someone else, live a life like a true bachelor, at the end of the day, I have dreams to fulfill since I was a kid- a simple and happy life, own house, and own room.

I think, at my age, I know exactly where I am going, or at least, what I want to do with my life - independence. Whatever comes, I will take it.

Some people have worked hard from day one, and I admire them, and inspired by them. Some people  use their looks to earn money, and I envy them, ha ha! Some people are rich, I wish I was one as well. 

But all this are achievable... You won't get everything in life of course. I think, I am thankful for what I have, for what I can do with what I have. 

I maybe have a strange family, but they are my family.

I have friends from different groups, and the network is continuously expanding.

I have a flourishing career too.

I have no love life? Lol... But my heart feels it from time to time, but when I feel it, I tend to lose control of my sanity, and I am afraid of my own emotions. Ooops!

At my age now, I am curious of what future can bring me. I have matured, sensibly, I hope. 

Still, I will always be a kid, mentally and physically. Innocent and pure?

30 Going 13

It's not everyday that a man turns 30, is it?

In about 1 hour and 2 minutes, I will officially become 30 years old. Question now, do I look physically 30?

Whatever the answer is, I will be one and there is no denial to it anyway.

What happened on the last 29 years or at least back from being a 13 years old which matters more. I was thirteen when I entered secondary grade, the top pilot section. I was so little that people keep picking on me. Back then, I always had been reserved, quiet, and studious.

Fast forwarding 17 years later, I remain to exhibit those traits. I think I will always be that man who prefers to be behind the curtains.

People of my age are either been married and raising a family or off abroad with their flourishing careers. As for me, I am at the peak of my career as well, very much single and will continue to be, maybe. There is some pressure? Yes, definitely. When I was asked the other what are my plans, I wasn't able to answer but in my mind, do I need to answer that? Or I am only afraid of my own answers?

But then again, I am an independent man, free actually. I would like to just enjoy myself with family and friends and let fate takes its course. We all have our own directions to take, and for that, to each is his own journey.

I'm grateful for new found friends and colleagues, and that is one reason to be happy.

Personally, I still have my unaccomplished mission, and that I need to realize, not for any other persons but for myself.

For the next and many years to come, thank you and to God be the Glory!

My Brother's Journey

The tragedy trapped our family yet into another difficult situation. It happened in the morning of January 28 while most of the family members were deeply asleep, my second to the youngest sibling, Joe- my brother's name, met a motor accident in Taytay, Rizal. It left him his left leg severely damaged and broken, a pain my mom was yet to uncovered.

As early as 7am, I was already at the office preparing for the scheduled planning session with my new cluster when I received a text message informing me of my brother's accident. It was a shocking news, I felt so cold, and again recalled the accident that took my oldest brother's life about six years ago, in the same fate- motor accident. I called up the number right away, asked the more important questions on how badly my brother was affected, and the more answers I get, the scarier it sounds to me, and my brain is trying to oppose the hard truth. I skipped the scheduled planning and decided to go back home, telling my mum would be the harder part. How will she take it this time? How can a mother go through the same dark episode of seeing her son suffering? But there was no other way but to go straight to the point, I told my mum we needed to go to the hospital, and she asked why. I said, Joe had an accident, and I saw the fear in my mum's eyes, and the tears that 's about to flow. Instantly, I fought over my own tears. I busied myself into my gadgets.

Couple of hours later, we reached Manila East Medical Center, and the scene was heart braking, my brother was was in so much pain, and my eyes are redder than normal. I was praying, so was the rest of the family. "Please save his leg, please..."

We all agreed to bring him to Philippine Orthopedic, to increase the chance of his recovery. We fear that keeping him in that hospital would totally cost his left leg, all the hospital did was to increase the billing rate by the hour.

At Philippine Orthopedic, we were told that the situation was really bad, and critical. The doctor did not promise any false hope, it was straight forward but easier to accept rather than believe into some falsified truth just to keep us away from hurting. What to do? Definitely we cannot give up!

And so we gambled in that tiny ray of light, of hope. We bought the first huge spend, the steel that amounted to 25,000 pesos followed by medicines of almost 5000 and another steel worth 3000 and so the list...

The first operation on monday night brought him into a more comfortable state, something we could all be thankful for. He can sleep peacefully through the night without experience an agonizing pain.

The first night at the emergency ward was followed by second, third, and fourth with the similar routines of buying medicines, getting blood donors, etc. This of course is the usual life at the hospital.

Orthopedic is a very old national hospital. The buildings and the facilites are outdated. The only thing that keeps it running are the doctors known for their specialisations, expertise.

During the one night that I stayed beside my brother, I observed and realised so many things.

Living a life is costly in all aspects, and will be more expensive when confronted by emergency situations like accidents,sickness, or worse- death.

I wanted to cry but I can't. I have to be strong all throughout this phase.

However difficult the situation is, we have to keep going. I know that while my brother seldom speaks, deep inside, he is crying, he might be asking why it happened, or repenting for his youthful stubborness.

And in this odd and unfortunate times, you can verify the real friends and family that you have.

My brother is yet to embark on a long journey of hospitalization, of operations. For the next few months, the hospital will be his home, and we will be his primary home.

Just now, I made a pact, I will support him in this life long journey....