From a traveller's point of view

Learning happens to be the by-product of travel,unknowingly.

For a traveller,the primary goal is to see the place of interest and witness its diversity first hand. However,with travel comes the process of gathering knowledge and information about the people,the place and the travel itself.

I may not be a well-off traveller going to other countries but as an individual who has a passion for nature exploration, I am already blessed to get these chances so far.

Roxas,Cebu,Bohol,Puerto Galera,Tagaytay,Boracay,Coron and now-Puerto Princesa.

Having been to these wonders helped me appreciate more our nature,true enough,there can be nothing better than what nature can offer. Its beautiful and majestic. While manmade structures can please our eyes,the many paradise onEarth can amaze us in thousand of ways!

In every travel,meeting people is another opportunity. You get to understand different characters, lifestyles,backgrounds and purposes. There is a moment to always compare your status with them,not in the sense of jealousy like they can travel more and pay a lot but in knowing that you,yourself,is always ahead of the few.

One common example is for the drivers and tourist guides. Ask them questions and let them talk then you learn so much from them. They don't earn much but their simple living and humble attitudes can inspire a traveller like myself to thank every blessing I am receiving. Yes, financial problem co-exists with our lives because it is a partner to keep us on our line of sight,to have faith in Him.

I am blogging this because I could not believe I can even travel in the first place. I've come so far,to be honest,in terms of reaping the fruits of hardwork. For all this years, my subconscious mind must have triggered to where I am at the moment. The scarcity in my life helped me aim for a lot of things,for purpose...

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.1

What Query Has Become

About 3 years ago, a team was formed by a group of unlikely individuals- a variety in terms of characters, ideals and attitudes. This team later on became the more infamous by the name of Query. 3 Years after, each member has taken his/her own path- from nobody to somebody,and from somebody to everybody's respect. Indeed, after tonight's reunion,it feels like we were back on the same comfortable ground- chatting,laughing and endless teasing! Our separation from the team didn't break the bond of friendship that we had formed strongly, as a matter of fact,it help us grow to be at our best. Until our next reunion!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Budoy: All About Pure Love

As a solid follower of various television series, I am again engaged and very well committed to watch every episode of this heart-warming and tear-jerker Gerald Anderson- starrer series named BUDOY.

Budoy is about a mentally challenged boy that thrives to show that life doesn't end despite the problems. For Budoy, keeping positive-to always smile amidst the chaos, is very important.

Watching a series like this makes you appreciate more of the life that you have, it is a social awakening as well. If a challenged individual sees the best of every situation, why can't we as normal people can't do the same?

This series also enlightens the public and the government to take care of the mentally and physically challenged and perhaps, for us to not discriminate them in the society.

Budoy's character also proved that we should love by all our heart, purest in its essence. To learn to forgive and forget and embrace the reality of our daily lives. The story is about acceptance of ourselves which will be the first step towards dreaming for the better and eventually realizing it.

Tonight, I saw the episode in our office's cafeteria, and I couldn't help myself but cry in its many scenes but most especially on the last part when Budoy spoke in front of investors and rich families of his life, his own trials when he was growing up and his love for his own mother whose raising him so hard- that was an absolute heart wrenching moment.

Perhaps, we are all like Budoy, however, unlike him, we are more afraid to speak freely of our minds or show emotions towards other people.

Let us be inspired to do good and make this world a better place, how? by becoming like Budoy, loving so pure and thinking so innocent!

Light and Shadow

In the midst of nowhere lies the point of uncertainty.

Perhaps, after a while of silence, no pen and letters, the author is fearing the unknown.

This is temporal at the moment but hope to surpass it.

Magnitude of Destruction

March 11, 2011... The whole world was shocked by the force that hit Japan! - 8.9 Magnitude earthquake followed by 30-feet Tsunami waves that destroyed properties and killed many lives.

Watching the news footages brought goosebumps to me. My eyes can hardly believe it like it was filmed or a movie filled with special effects. Sadly, it was real.

Not going into the details of the disaster, what does it tell us? That the prediction for 2012 is real? Nope, it is bigger than that.

The tragedy is an awakening for all. However advance our modern technology is, human race is nobody to the law and force of nature, that there is one above that prevails over us.

Time has come to unite, make peace.

Unfortunately, this is far from reality, with what is currently happening in middle east countries recently and the endless count of terrorisms, how can one hope of a better tomorrow...

The Boulder,the Blackberry, the Diamond and the IPF

"At this very moment, what could possibly be happening at the other side of the world? To other people?"

This was my shout out yesterday at Facebook, ,my train of thoughts after watching 127 Hours last friday night at Glorietta 4, in between my regular shift and overtime.

127 Hours, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, centers on the real life story of Aron Ralston who tragically got his arm trapped under a boulder in the Blue John Canyon, Utah. With nobody knowing where Aron has gone to, he is left but to himself, his arm pinned to the canyon wall. The struggle lasted for five days, dehydrated and delirious, he was forced to amputate his right arm with a cheap knife that cuts no deeper than his skin...

The movie was so involving especially to me who recently became a mountain-climber but more to that, Aron's inspirational survival story led me to many questions.

Right now, I am blogging my thoughts, seated comfortably inside our house, but, could there be anyone experiencing the same fate as Aron or even worse? that is not known to his or her family and friends?

I think last month, or couple of months ago, I watched Buried, it starred Ryan Reynolds about a driver who was buried in the dessert, left with nothing but a blackberry phone and a flashlight. This time, his survival was timed only for 90 minutes and he is certainly dead, not by bullets or knife, but by suffocation and being buried inside by sand, no less.

Certainly, this movie is a nightmare for a lot of viewers, to me, is inspiration.

Be it a true story like Aron's or fiction like Buried, which could be based on real terrorist activities, we can only be thankful how safe we are, and how easy our lives are.

It changed me, it really did.

While we rant or whine about the disappointments of our day-to-day jobs, we forget to realize that others are longing to just have a job, some are even desperate. Another movie that is included on my all time favourites is 'Blood Diamond." A story full of dreams and hopes for African people that only wanted no more than peace and happiness. The movie was sensationalized by the conflict diamonds. If you are into precious and expensive diamonds, could you afford to buy a piece that cost a life of an innocent life? If you are a constant asshole in the workplace, will you ever trade that ergonomic chair in exchange for an abusive black people torturing you to find a diamond by all means?

What do these stories tell us? What do they have in common?

All these movies narrates a human life, on varying extents, but shares many lessons, one of which is holding on. For Aron, it is holding on to his life; for Ryan Reynold's character, it is holding on to the possibility of being rescued, holding on to God; for the diamond miners of Africa, it is simply holding on to their dream of a simple life, for the black father is reunion of his family, and sending his son to education, learning English.

A week ago, last 5th of February, by this time, we already settled ourselves at the campsite, the cold breeze freezing our body. Prior to that is a 4 hours walk. My head was feeling pain, or my neck to be exact. I thought my body was surrendering to the high altitudes of Mount Pulag, and my mind was behaving randomly, thinking of dreadful thoughts. However, I decided to hold on to my spirits, what I was feeling was only as of that moment, I was carrying a heavy backpack, I reasoned out. And I was correct, when I unburden my self with the bag, I was relieved of the body ache.

The Climb to Mount Pulag was no feat at all, anybody can do it, as long as the will and determination is there. Your only enemies are your body and mind, if it gives up on you, you can never reach the summit.

During the climb, my mind was preoccupied with my IPF, my grade for Year 2010. It helped me re-gain energy whenever I feel losing it actually. Never in my entire career life that I felt so expectant of my performance rating. Why? Simply because I knew that my Year 2009's IPF was unjustified. It took me a while to absorb a grade of 0.8 and eventually accepted it. I don't say that my outstanding performance on 2010 was to reverse my fate last 2009, no, absolutely not. I performed and outwit myself only, because I know, I am a born competitor, and fortunately, everyone has acknowledged it, even my high superiors.

I got rewarded for an IPF of 1.2, though all of us was expecting 1.3 or higher. Am I justified now? I say yes, 1.2 tells me one thing, I will have to work harder to get 1.3 or 1.4 this year, and I have no reason to slow down.

So, if in the event I started to invite negative thoughts about my work, I will immediately fight it with the success of Aron Ralston, or the movie Blood Diamond.

With God, there is nothing impossible...

Anticipation

The pain of not knowing is killing me every second...

Right now, my ultimate desire is to finally know what my 2010 Grade is... I simply want to end this anticipation and satisfy my longing.

2009 was bad for me, or it was bad to me but 2010 is a 360 degree turn. I can only demand for the best possible rating and I cannot accept anything lower than 1.2

To be honest, it is hard for me to entertain this thought, it is affecting me. I need to have a diversion, unfortunately, I am also pre-occupied of many things and topping that list are my debts.

When can I be able to put a stop on it? If I can only own my salary for at least 3 full months, I can move on debt-free for sure. However, I could not get the support that I need...

Patience is a virtue, and big surprises await those who wait--- this was my STM's message to me...

I wish to be guided,

I pray for divine providence...

My future is dependent on this first full year result...