BEAUTIFUL

This afternoon, January 26, 2008, I have encountered a very intriguing question which for me I am only expecting to hear from my future wife or fiancé. This is when an officemate of mine ask me whether she is beautiful or not. Well, what else I can say but she is beautiful and that for sure satisfies her senses. But what is really beauty for me?

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs states that the first need of every man is the physiological need which entails for us as a human being to look good to others. this would mean that we should care for ourselves in order to look nice to others. but the question is how about those persons with physical infirmities, is such need fully satisfied in them.

Speaking from my own experience, I personally not meticulous about my looks as I am contented with what I am and what I have. I just think that even though I look different from the others, I am even much better than them considering that I can do what they cannot. That is not to brag about my personal accomplishments as a student, an employee and ultimately as a son to my parents.

Overcoming the first strata of the hierarchy of needs as proposed by Maslow does not mean that one should be contended in his life. This is so as life is a continuing process and ultimately we should strive to be at our very best in order to look good in our society and ultimately to our Creator.

HEAVEN

One of the intangible things that are important to our lives and is affecting our life is our so called heaven. To the holy people it is the place where God and angels live but to others it is the thing that is the measurement of how one lives in this world. Heaven is said to be the final resting place of all of us but the sad thing is we have our own individual idea of what it and most of the time such is the place where we compare ourselves.

Heaven when being talked by the so called righteous is a very beautiful place where God will receive them. But for bad people, it will remain a dream place especially if they have accepted to themselves that they are sure to meet Satan. But come to think of it, no one has reached heaven and for this how can they say that it is good. For me, heaven is here on earth and we can make our lives good in here as to follow what God has suggested which are contained in the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, then earth is heaven but as the reverse is happening on us we are presently on the other side of the story which is hell. The so called presence of God in heaven can be done by us through being good to others. After all, Jesus himself said that he can be seen right through our fellowmen. And if ever there is indeed a place called heaven after we die, then we would not have any recourse as we have done what God has commanded.

It is indeed a challenge for us to make our present situation a heaven. But right now, we are far from that. Now to do it, we should be opened to change our lives that is to say backing off from what is evil and turn to life that is heavenly.One of the intangible things that are important to our lives and is affecting our life is our so called heaven. To the holy people it is the place where God and angels live but to others it is the thing that is the measurement of how one lives in this world. Heaven is said to be the final resting place of all of us but the sad thing is we have our own individual idea of what it and most of the time such is the place where we compare ourselves.

Heaven when being talked by the so called righteous is a very beautiful place where God will receive them. But for bad people, it will remain a dream place especially if they have accepted to themselves that they are sure to meet Satan. But come to think of it, no one has reached heaven and for this how can they say that it is good. For me, heaven is here on earth and we can make our lives good in here as to follow what God has suggested which are contained in the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, then earth is heaven but as the reverse is happening on us we are presently on the other side of the story which is hell. The so called presence of God in heaven can be done by us through being good to others. After all, Jesus himself said that he can be seen right through our fellowmen. And if ever there is indeed a place called heaven after we die, then we would not have any recourse as we have done what God has commanded.

It is indeed a challenge for us to make our present situation a heaven. But right now, we are far from that. Now to do it, we should be opened to change our lives that is to say backing off from what is evil and turn to life that is heavenly.

DIFFERENT

I am living in a community where there is a mixture of residents from poor to middle class to rich families. And for this, I can say that in our community there are different personalities, different ideologies and beliefs but somehow I can say that we are united which I personally experienced during last year’s calamities. And as we are of different personalities, one can expect that among us will come one that can be considered as “pasaway” or black sheep.

I notice this man who is 50 years or older, a carpenter the fact he helps in building our houses, of 5 children all were jobless and a wife who is inclined in simple game of chance. It is normal for all men to drink liquor but every man has different personalities after drinking such thing and he is one of the few that should never taste or even see such drink. This is so as when he is drunk, he makes chaos over our community and even encouraging everybody that he meets to fight with him.

What a disgrace to his family. I realized that every time he is drunk he puts his family in shame particularly his daughter. That is why such child of him transferred to another place. But it is different when he is not drunk as he portrays a very respectable man to me as he is kind. Also, what makes me think of him is that even though he is of such character when he is drunk, his wife remains at his side even though they can be considered a low income family. It may be called true love and that for me is a remarkable character of his wife.

I may not have a business with them but I want to share their story especially to those who are just married or even those in a relationship that as problems are part and parcel of the so called love, it is also worth suffering just to survive that love. Also, in a relationship it is a bilateral thing that both parties should do their part in surviving their love for each other after all both of them will have a morsel of happiness.

SOUTH

History is said to be recurring all the times but we humans as our own masters, have total control over what is to happen in us or what we should avoid to happen in our lives. and if we allow to happen what will be negative on our part, that I think is stupidity.
Mindanao, a part of the Philippines which is beautiful and abundant of agricultural products is again in the lime light. well, that’s good if what is happening there can bring our country to its glory. But it is not, as kidnapping in again in its rampant situation. this time, its an Italian priest. Happening it on us again and again is an annoying thing because of the shame that it is inflicting to us. And our question again, when will this stop? Again, its our Muslim brothers that we are blaming. Poor Moslems, if they are not that poor I think they will not do it. But part of their fate should be on our part as admit it or not, discrimination is also happening on our country. That it is evident by what opportunities do Moslems have as compared to us Christians.
Maybe its time for our government not to cradle such criminals and for me it is time for the iron hand to inflict punishment on such criminals. And if any innocent people will be affected, then let it be.

COLLATERAL DAMAGE

In the past, we are proud to say that we are Filipinos as we have many good traits that we can brag about to which one of them is close family tie. This is good since, within all Asia, we are the people practicing such tradition. But today, a mostly used explanation why this trait is becoming extinct with us is our way of life and we should not marvel it.

In a broken family, the most affected party are the children since they are the only one that is left especially when the father has his own partner and the mother has her own. From the time that parents have their vows, it is good as promising to support each other whatever happens. And for this, it is but right for them to put the welfare of their children as their primary objective over their own interests. This is also a way to minimize the problems that are confronting our society because it should be understood that children coming from broken families is more or less would become menace to our society.

Exemption to this situation should be applicable to no one even if you are an artist, a politician or other profession since the problem cause by a wrecked home is confronting us in a large scale.

TARABANGAN

It is a very rear opportunity for a community to be united especially during these days where there are differences in beliefs, ideologies, religion and others. There are times when we get united, but that does not last long. I am a resident of the Province of Albay which was devastated by two typhoons and even though we are suffering from such ravage, my heart exudes with happiness as I observed harmony among my fellowmen. There are the helping hands that accompany us in our great downfall.

For the first time, I also experienced to be an evacuee and I discovered that there is joy to be one. There are people I’ve encounter for the first time, telling story about themselves, which as a youngster, I really admired and hoping that I can use them in my life. There are also kids which I enjoyed playing with them in the evacuation.]There is that feeling of being safe while there is an imminent danger because I am not alone and I know that God will help me through the people around me.

As I peep behind the window of the school, I see truck loads of people from different places which are in their wretch condition. I have enough time to have pity on them, but much like I would help them, my condition is not far from them, and so I closed my eyes and pray that if possible that night would pass with all of us safe.If only everyday is a day to help each other, our nation and our community will not be suffering much like this. But after such moment, our people go back to their same character which for me is a sad moment. Let us try to be the God’s saving hand each days of our life and we will see a glorious era for our nation - the Philippines

SAVOUR

Love can withstand against anything and it is considered as the most powerful thing here on earth that can make the impossible possible. Well, that is the thought of those who think that they can live with only love at their being. But as I look around, it made me think how love can make things impossible possible.

One Sunday afternoon, as I looked on the window of our house, I see this fellow who is known to me of age 18 with no job, still studying for his high school diploma, with a live in partner and with a newly born son. It come to my mind how this fellow can support his family considering that he has no job and is dependent to the support coming from his parent. It may be true that I cannot question the love that he has for his partner but economically speaking, there lies the big question. It is true that you can only savour the love that you have to your partner only if your stomach is full so that you can think good. After all, love is the action of two parts of your body, the heart and the brain, absence of any one of them make the love inexistencia.

Forming a family today is no joke as you have to think of many consequences that you should prepare before going to a relationship.