Sure there's YELLOW everywhere
I wasn't even born in February 1986 to witness People Power, but I knew that my parents played their part. Plus, being born in June of the same year, my first president is the same leader who helped restore democracy.
But seriously, what are we doing to keep that democracy in place? Or at least what are we doing to keep that spirit of nationalism alive?
It's more than just wearing yellow shirts and posting yellow ribbons. And maybe it's more than what we read and what we see in photos and videos.
People Power is a thing we should practice everyday. It is this nation's constant struggle to be free of corrupt and abusive officials. It our fight for our Motherland to have the kind of leaders and people it deserves.
So maybe it's best we ask ourselves everyday, what have I done for my country today?
Singapore
(This is one of those spur-of-the-moment, random writings of mine)
There's something about Singapore that makes me dream bigger dreams.
A view from Fairmont Hotel in 2008.
I really can't explain (which I should be able to do, right?), but there's this vibe in the city that makes me eager to do better at a lot of things.
I've been there for a week which is the longest that I've been away from the Philippines and I hate that one of my initial instincts was to compare my homeland to Singapore. It was organized there, which I rarely see here but one night, before I slept, I realized that I missed how chaotic it is in Manila. Funny, I missed the noise too.
I met a lot of Filipinos, at work, in the streets, friends of a colleague, on the plane and not to conclude or anything but I felt that wanting inside them to come home. There must be really no place like home.
Will we ever be like Singapore? Will we ever have efficient train lines? And will most of our cab drivers be ever nice?
The answer is I don't know. It's up to us and to our government I guess.
A view from Park Royal in Kitchener Road.
But now I know why I dream bigger dreams when I'm in Singapore. If they can do it, why not us?
(This is one of the wonders of blogging/writing. Your unanswered question gets answered.
2009
It's that time of the year, when everyone looks back to see what life has become in a span of 365 days. I used to write the highlights of all the months but I want to try something different this year. And in the spirit of doing a year in review, I will try to write the major lessons that 2009 has taught me.
People come and GO.
I should have learned this a long time ago but when it happens, always feel like it's the first time. Ever felt that someone's gonna be there forever? You can't imagine spending a day without sending a message, or talking endless nonsense over the phone or just being there for each other when you're dark and twisty and bright and shiny. Things like that end. No matter what, it is bound to end.
The unexpected changes everything.
Major risks were taken this year. From personal choices to career jumps. Most of them turned alright, some went very much ALRIGHT. Then I realized they're all about taking the risks. I am glad I had mustered all the courage that I could to make a big decision this year, even if at least a quarter of me says I shouldn't do it. Or even if people kept telling me, six months is just six months. Sometimes, the uncertain is something to look forward to. There will be surprises everyday and even if I was tired or exhausted, all I can say is, "just bring them on."
When in doubt, close your eyes, and leap.
(Close your eyes and leap is a line from Defying Gravity)
That sounds a little stupid but you'll never know what will happen until you do it. Just go ahead, do it! Life is too short to spend too much time thinking or worrying.
Small choices matter.
Silence can end friendship for not talking is a choice itself. A simple yes or no changes the name of the game. Little actions build big results. That I learned and sometimes wish I could undo it. But I can't. Too late.
Change is inevitable.
I belong to an industry where there are no rules (yet?) or a written formula of success exists. What sells today, sucks tomorrow. One is as good as his last story. And so I have learned to experiment and to keep trying new things. Grey's Anatomy says it best when Meredith said, "Either you adapt to change, or you get left behind." What's important is for one to keep his doors open to all the possibilities of the future. Who knows, maybe ten years from now, blogging is not as relevant as it is today? Or maybe computers have gone obsolete no one uses them? The future is uncertain that's for sure, but the people that are willing to innovate are to stay forever.
There's a reason for everything
Sounds like an old, useless cliche. This year, I did ask God a lot of questions and often times, I get answers when I don't ask for it. I think its the lack of faith that makes us worry, its the lack of trust that makes us go crazy over little issues turning them to unnecessary problems. Nothing happens by chance, ever.
Laughter cures everything, and heals everything.
I tried to laugh or smile at all the not-so-nice-things that I encountered in 2009. Maybe because I knew that there's nothing anyone could ever really do about it but to smile and know that nothing can tear one apart unless he submits himself into it. And oh friends that didn't talk for years, if they're real, they will surely laugh at all the stupid things that once were issues or misunderstandings. They'll laugh at themselves like they never did before ( I did).
The best ideas are conceived in dreams.
The best things in life, the greatest achievements on earth were once called 'impossible'. They usually start as things that's never bound to happen. And that is the best part of dreaming, that challenge to make it to happen, the courage to make the 'im', POSSIBLE, the passion to turn the dream into reality. Sometimes, a dream is all just a blur, no definite direction, and yes, uncertain!
I once dreamed of becoming a journalist, but I didn't quite know how to get there. And then I took a different path. But somehow, destiny found its way to put me back on my path and now I'm here even if I don't even know how I got here or how it happened. My point is, all my life I thought this dream is just it, a dream. Until I stopped thinking it was, until I decided I will take this path. And here I am, doing what I love best, telling a story everyday. Never get tired of turning your dream to reality because that's what our lives are about. At the end of the day, I think it's nice to know that you've done something you can be PROUD of.
And I leave you with this nice line I found at NAIA Terminal 2's washroom while waiting
Don't complain about life, many die young.
Oh yes, ranting never helped, ever.
So this is where I say, cheers to 2009, you have been awesome!
And to 2010, always a beautiful day to save lives, we will have fun!
What's your greatest 2009 lesson?