It’s a brand new year once again. The much awaited 2012 has come. Amid the mixed feeling for the coming of New Year and the scare of the end of time, still majority of us are looking forward for a positive start on 2012. I am one of those hopeful for this year. Although gone are the days when I list down my New Year’s Resolution, still I learned to start the brand new year with a new style – no resolutions (oows). I know some of us will “philosophically” utter that they don’t even care to create NYR because they keep on failing to do their resolutions. I watched in the news and heard a specialist saying that in order to maintain and practice a new year’s resolution one must have a high level of discipline.

Ah discipline. Discipline was such a lonely word, a word that is so easy to say yet so hard to live by.

I admit I failed to have discipline in some sectors of my life. While I think of areas I feel like I lack discipline, I feel like this article will turn out as an admission of my shortcomings. When it comes to financial management, food selection, and healthy lifestyle, I know I need to improve on these areas of my life. Although I already inculcated in my mind the consciousness of doing what is right and what is good for me, still I don’t exert an extra mile to do them- all because I don’t have discipline.

It’s hard.

Good thing even if we failed to maintain a perfect level of discipline, we are given a chance to change or to be better. We are so lucky to live in a planet that revolves around the sun only in 365 days which gives an end and a new beginning of a year. New Year has a magnificent effect in our lives. I compared the coming of New Year as a restart button of our life. Like an immaculate white paper where we draw and splash colors on how our life would look like, we commit mistakes and errors in the process of creating our “masterpiece”. At some point we want to press Ctrl-Z, Ctrl-Alt-Delete, or throw away what we had started. We are eager to grab a new paper and remove in our memory that we made “silly” mistakes. This has been the scenario each year.

The first seconds, minutes and hours of the year are so fragile (this side up) and delicate to all of us. As much as possible we eradicate the possibility of committing mistakes for we believe that our whole year would be like that. We grab and attract positive and good vibes. The first morning of the year is so majestic. The rays of light from sunrise deliver positive energy as we wake up after a grand New Year celebration. Most of us even tweet or post in Facebook our wake-up experiences.

One of the remarkable and most commendable observations is we all become optimistic. I neither read any negative post nor whine in Facebook. Lahat positive!

At the start of the year, we indeed view life in a positive way. For sinners like me, we look forward for a clean slate in our scorecard of good deeds. For dreamers like me (again), we believe that our goals and targets for the year will turn out to be a reality. For working individuals (like me again), we tried as much as possible not to be late on the first day of work, thinking we will always be late throughout the year if we are late.

As we start this year, allow me to share with you instead of my New Year’s Resolution but my More and Less List:

May we become more grateful and less unthankful.

May we save and invest more and spend less for “short-lived” source of happiness.

May we practice eating more fruits and vegetable and less junk food and fast food…

more water and less soda…

more juice and milk and less coffee…

more travels and outdoor activities and less online life…

and more exercises and less “tambay”.

Lastly more inspiration and more love… nothing less.

Happy New Year everyone! Boom!

DB

PS:

Photo by: Arnel Vergara

Location: Burnham Park, Baguio City
Date Taken: 1.1.12 @ 7:44am
Exposure: 1/400sec @ f/8
Focal Length: 50mm
ISO: 200
Lens: Canon 50mm Mark II
Processed: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Lightroom 3.4

Which do you prefer, a Title Champ or People's Champ?

Last Friday night I was invited to watch the movie Real Steel by my audit friends. I had some reservations whether to join the Friday Night Movie because I don’t like the idea of fighting robots and controlled like in video games. Though I have watched a portion of the trailer still I don’t buy the story (Feeling ko kasi pambata ang movie kasi Rated G pa). But after one hell of a hectic week I seek for time to relax so I decided to join the group.

If there is a saying that don’t judge the book by its cover, then for movies, I could say don’t judge the movie by its… hmmm trailer. Movie trailer is a like marketing tool wherein  good cut and paste of scenes might result to enticement to see the whole movie. It creates curiosity to see the movie (pero bat ganun pag napanood mo eh trailer ng Tagalog movie parang alam mo na yung buong story). I proved it right when I finally watched the movie. Real Steel is actually the Real Deal!

I will try my best not to be a spoiler for the benefit of those who haven’t seen yet the movie (sus spoiler pa rin). The setting of the story is a little bit futuristic extending our sight to year 2020 where humans are replaced by robots in boxing fights. The story revolves around Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), a former boxer who once in his career had strings of winning moments but ended his career on a sour note. Charlie was a living debt after getting hooked to gambling on robot fights. His friend, Bailey Tallet (Evangeline Lilly), the owner of Tallet’s Gym and daughter of his former coach is his only ally in his roller-coaster life. His life was changed when his son Max (Dakota Goyo) came in to picture.

Definitely I enjoyed the movie. The storyline is easy to grasp. The plot is very family-oriented and the moral of the story is truly inspiring. I guess Pinoys, who aside from being basketball crazy followers, are also typical boxing fanatics will definitely relate to the movie. I could say the movie was partially inspired (wala hula ko lang)  by the growing drama of the much anticipated fight between Pacman and Mayweather, the typical David versus Goliath scenario. The boxing side is just the half of the movie, the other half tells about a peculiar kind of father-son relationship.

Living out the Lost Dream

How many of us became victims of lost dreams? No matter how big or small the dreams we lost, a feeling of incompleteness deep inside our heart remains. Call it unfinished business or a story with no end. As much as we want a Cinderella type of story in our own endeavor, reality dictates that happy ending will never be served on us on a silver platter. For Charlie’s story his life as a boxer needs a closure. He is on denial that his hey days are over. He tries to meet both ends by accepting casual underground fights. Not only that he is a hard-lucked bastard he is also a lousy gambler. He is lost and he knows deep inside in his heart he is incomplete.

One of the scenes in the movie I like best is when the little Max and Charlie engaged to an agreement. Max agreed to dance (magaling ang moves ng bata kulang na lang magteach me how to dougie) before the fight while Charlie will do the boxing. The agreement is actually the avenue for Charlie to go back to his boxing ways. The once faded dream of Charlie was relived and he was back to his fighting mode. I think this movie is the Rocky version of Robot Boxing!

And here’s something I learned from the movie. Sometimes dead or lost dreams can be revived by a simple inspiration. Inspiration might come from a certain event of our life or from someone we love. Of course most of the time inspiration comes from the person we love, giving us an invigorating drive to accomplish our dreams. For Charlie, it was through his son Max that opens the door for another chance to fight in the big stream.

The movie reminded us that it only takes a matter of time for us to get another chance to fulfill our dream. Once the opportunity knocks on our door (tao po…), there should be no reason for us not opening the door. The opportunity to fulfill our dream or to put closure to our unfinished business in life might be too hard to find nowadays but for sure it will come.

Fight For Me

Another interesting part of the story is how Charlie and Max took turn in throwing jabs of witty lines. The chemistry of the two is remarkable, both compliments each other. One of the scenes that stick in my memory is when Max was about to be taken by his aunt and uncle away from Charlie. Max only wanted one thing from his father and that is for his father to fight for him.

It actually feels good if you fight and win what you want. However fighting for someone takes a lot of guts. In all honestly, I am not a gutsy person. However through this movie I somewhat learned that it needs to be gutsy sometimes. And the secret to fight for someone lies on watching this movies (boy I need to be paid advertising this movie).  In my observation fighting for our special someone starts by being honest to someone you want to fight for. Expressing in an impromptu what you feel both good and bad as well as the admission of guilt and shortcoming might also help.

I once tried fighting for someone but I failed. Maybe back then I lack the killer instinct to finish a good round of fight. Or maybe my inexperience and lack of ample amount of effort resulted to unsavory result. But it was already in the past and just like the old ways, I charged it to experience (sabi mo lang yun, bitter ka lang). Watching Real Steel reminded me both the feeling of urgency to fight for someone but at the same time made me think and ask, “Can I do it?”

Only my guts can answer.

After leaving the theatre house feeling relaxed, I thank God for pushing me to join my audit friend for a movie night. Indeed lessons might come in mysterious ways (di ba love yun) and last Friday night it came from Real Steel.

Indeed Real Steel is a real deal!

During the past weeks, a small group of students asked my help for their feasibility study. They asked if I could be their consultant or sort of an adviser. I informed them that what I could offer is to answer their queries and give them some insights on how to conduct a feasibility study.

Actually ang baon ko lang is a small amount of expertise when it comes to doing a “feasib”.  Back in college we had a feasibility subject. My memory still serves me well as I can still remember the details of our experiences of our feasibility study. Our proposed business was a Rent-a-Room Videoke, similar to Red Box and Music 21 we have here in Manila. We call it Labyrinth Rent-a-Room Videoke. Back in Baguio during our time (I sound like parang tanda ko na ah), there was no such kind of establishment. I guess meron pero not a total package with great sounds, updated songs and a place that offers perfect party food and drinks. All we know is that there are videoke rooms for rent and meron din mga “SingKalong” (lolz).

Going back to my story, I finally met the three musketeers. Aside from bringing their fans and friends, they also brought with them their laptop and showed to me their initial draft. I could say sabog-sabog ang kanilang feasib. From marketing study to technical and here’s the catch- they have no idea how to come up or even start a financial study. I initially thought what I will share is on how to do and start a financial study lang. Numpala lahat kelangan ko silang tulungan. So since I already joined the boat, I eventually joined the journey as we coursed through the water (naks). So from all parts of the feasib, inayos naming lahat.

After my class we had our short huddle (I don’t know how to call our meet-up… huddle na lang). They showed me the progress of their work and asked them to send them to my e-mail and I will put review notes (parang audit lang kung magreview). Eventually after weeks of constant meetings, the gang managed to draft an almost perfect feasibility study. And I wish them all the luck on their upcoming defense. I joked them by suggesting to scheduled their defense near lunchtime and served the best food to their defense panel. Sabi ko daanin na lang sa dami ng food lols!

One of the things that vividly stayed in my mind is when I checked how they deliver their presentation and I took a disturbing question on what is their business’ mission and vision. I asked them to put emphasis on their mission and vision. Mission and vision will be their guiding light in their feasib. I read about different companies’ profile and on how they are guided by their mission and vision. One of them is Starbucks our friendly coffee shop in the neighbourhood. Nakakatuwa kasi this coffee shop really managed to live up its mission and vision.

And before I ended my weekend while going back to Manila (uwi kasi ng uwi sa bahay), I asked the same question to myself. Do I also give emphasis to my personal Mission and Vision? Or before I answer that personal question, do I have Mission and Vision in the first place? (Wala sa first baka nasa second place siguro… sabay ngiti! Corny!)

I wanted to be part of the group of successful individuals. I wanted to be the best. But sometimes I only see the successful me if I close my eyes or when I daydream (petiks). I keep in me wonderful business proposals, new and weird business ideas, organizations or foundations to establish and careers (with “s” po talaga) I wanted to be known with. I wanted to write a book, direct an “indie” film (or should I say “Hindi” film as in “Hindi” sya macoconsider na film… ngiti ulit!), or be a commercial model (kahit commercial ng Tiger Lion Katol magkaroon lang ng break at exposure lol!)

Funny thing is meron din palang disadvantage pag marami kang ideas at gustong gawin. I came to a certain point wherein with my long list of things to do in life I don’t know where to start or what is the order of priority. And then I go back to my disturbing question again, I guess I missed establishing what is my real mission and vision.

One of my theories in life is that the reason why people feel so depressed in life or why there are some people, who wanted to end their life, is because they already dumped the idea that they have a mission and their vision is already clouded by their problems and setbacks in life. Just to share, when I left audit after staying for almost three years, I never knew what to do next. My mind was so disturbed and I didn’t know what to choose. Eventually I chose the only available option during crunch time to decide. But I later found out that the one I chose was not for me. And I charged to experience and to my immaturity not creating a concrete mission and vision in life.

Right now I could say I still lack my personal mission and vision. To be honest, kaya nga ako napapaisip kasi I don’t see my real mission yet. I still don’t know my real calling in life. But as days go by, realizations knock on my door. I guess before any man or woman could create his/her mission, me kailangan muna syang marealize. And realization will come from our experiences, talents, passion and things we do love best.

Currently I went back to audit (the other kind of audit naman) and I enjoy my days in academe (buhay pa ang raket ko thank you Lord!). That is my first realization. I’m happy being challenged in my current audit work and I still enjoy my teaching raket. I realized masarap magshare ng learning, teaching time and tidbits of experiences to young minds. I’m sure there are still realizations to come not just for my career but also to my personal life.

As for my vision, hmmm I guess nandun pa rin syempre to aspire for greatness and to give my best to all things I do.  Easier said than done right? But the struggle is still there. I guess my vision will be to keep on track to the challenge and to simply not giving up. I used to be a quitter and I am comfortable before to accept defeat. Pero nakakasawa na rin to be branded a mediocre. So I guess tama lang when I say to myself… to simply aspire to be the best.

Starting today my…

Mission is to offer my time to others and to keep inspiring others through my lectures, teachings, blog write-ups and my daily actions (wag lang sosobra, o maging trying hard at magiging makupal).

And my…

Vision is to create “another me” in others para if I will be gone, a portion of me will still live.

Basta yun na yun!

"Patiently Waiting..."

“The waiting game is a drawn-out and tediously prolonged match between man and himself; sadly, man holds a losing record” – Keveen Cruz

I actually hate to wait. But I still do.

I am a man of impatience but I have a high value of time. In every meeting, I always make it a point to come minutes earlier from what has been agreed upon. I rather want to see the meeting room empty and to be the first one to arrive and wait.

When I go out for a date, coming on time becomes a part of the challenge, aside from making the date to be meaningful and unforgettable. I come earlier to the meeting place or to the girl’s place and take some time waiting.

But I still hate waiting but I don’t have any choice but to do so.

A friend of mine once said, “Good things happen to those who wait”. He said this when both of us left our recent job and bravely face the time of being unemployed. I couldn’t help myself but to believe in his statement and indeed there are really good results of waiting. Since then it becomes one of my principles in life- to wait.

Being a dreamer, waiting to make all my dreams a reality is indeed a life-changing experience for me. I almost give up when I failed to accomplish one of my biggest dreams. Of course I cried my heart out and asked the many “Why” questions. There is a certain point of our life when we seek the reason why our dreams are derailed for a moment and why it was not given to us in an instant. From what I learned in all the dreams that I achieved but took some time is this, “Wait and do something while waiting”.

Waiting for a moment to come; for a person to arrive; or things to happen is really a challenge. It will test your personal character and your limitation. It will give you frown and it will drive anxiety in you. It will give you the itchy feeling and a dreadful desire to make time to run faster. In short, gusto mong bumilis ang lahat.

As I learn to embrace the bitterness of waiting, I try to see the other side of the coin. Waiting shows us that the people, things and events we are looking for is just about to come. It gives a breather to prepare. Maraming pwedeng gawin. Maraming idea ang pwedeng pumasok sa ating mga utak on how to make the arrival of the things we wait to become more awesome. Move and do something while waiting. Maximizing the available time in making us to be better, para kapag dumating ang mga bagay na hinihintay natin masasabi nating we are ready and we are deserving.

Right now I am waiting and I don’t know why I do wait. I am looking aimlessly while waiting but while the upcoming arrival is about to happen, I can still do some changes to present a better me once the right time comes.

I am waiting….

But I still hate waiting.

Photo by: Arnel Vergara

“Patiently Waiting…”
Location: Burnham Park, Baguio City, Philippines
Date Taken: 7.29.11 @ 11:16am
Exposure: 1/250 sec @ f/2.8
Focal Length: 92mm
ISO: 200
Camera: Nikon D40
Lens: Sigma 70 -200mm
Processed: Adobe Photoshop CS3, Lightroom 3.4

After the Food is Gone.

I am not fan of eat-all-you-can promos. In fact I don’t even look forward eating in a buffet. However, recently I did have a chance to well “pig-out” in one of the restaurants back in my hometown during Father’s Day. Together with my family, we enjoyed our eating session with a… burp!

I took some pictures during that day, aside from eating like there’s no tomorrow. As I browsed some of the shots, I stopped on the picture of my plate. I remember how empty it was in the beginning, which later turned out to be like a plate of a “monster”.

I guess life is like a big feast, that each and every one of us is invited and has its own plate. And while we hold our plate, we all have different thoughts in our mind: “Ilang beses kaya ako makakabalik?” “Where’s the strategic place?” “Tataba ulit ako netoh!”, “Blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar level, allergies, who cares?”

 Still all our questions can be summarized to:  “how am I going to be satisfied?”

So with this question running inside our head, we then marched and proclaim a war to the all the food our eyes could see. We grab the finest, crunchy looking “balat ng lechon”. We pick-up some friendly fried chicken and “pampa” pata. We balance our takes with some leafy veges and salads (pa-healthy effect). We take turn trying all the “ulam” that ends to letter O- embutido, adobo, menudo, pochero –pahingi ng sayo! Oh by the way this is just the beginning (lol!).

Amidst all the food choices available, we try to fill our plates that we really think would meet our satisfaction. Just like in real life (me pirated life din b?) we also run to things that we think will satisfy us. We want a better of all things- a better education, a better house, gadgets, cars, a better you know… life! Some want to be rich and famous, others get addicted to power and fame and still some of us want more- to the point where in our plates in life become a little platito because of the many wants that we have.

It’s great to aspire for a better life. It’s great to have dreams and ambitions and the drive to become something extraordinary. It is normal to have the cravings for earthly stuffs and to salivate to the comforts the world can offer (Brad tao lang din ako). But we should know when to stop.

 We should know our limit of all these things. Too much of something is not good (of course even too little).  We should observe the thin line separating the feeling of “I have enough” and the feeling of “I want some more”. We should be wary of our limits and not to be driven by our greed.

So if you think your lady spoon misses her porky fork. Pagtabihin mo na sila and say… “I’m done.”

“Busog na ako.”

I feel satisified already.

I woke up so early last Monday even if I stayed late last Sunday night. I gathered all the positive vibes as I stretched my hands and moved my legs to stand up from my bed. When the cold water rushing out from the shower hit my sleepy body I knew life started kicking in me. Coming out from bathroom I felt the freshness of a morning shower and all the positive energies just wrapped my “fatilicious” body. Then I made a great statement while I was looking at the mirror, “DB you’re a hunk!”

No I did not say that, but this one, “It will end today. Dallas will win today!”

I rooted for the Dallas Mavericks because Miami Heat eliminated my Boston Celtics (that’s the main reason). You can add the fact that I love to cheer for the underdogs.  Throughout the season, basketball crazed people are talking about the triumvirate trio of Lebron James, Dwane Wade and Chris Bosh. I hated the way Lebron announced his transfer from Cleveland to Miami live on national TV (I find it too arrogant and insensitive on his part). Most of all I hated the grand celebration of presenting the “Big Three” of Miami during the preseason (it seemed they had already written a championship on their name). Pardon to all Miami fans but in my opinion, the real Big Three of the decade is still the Boston’s Big Three. But I will leave the Big Three stories for another day. I would like to make the most of my blogging time writing about my feeling after I read the inspiring stories of Dallas Mavericks- from its battle tested superstar, to the players who were described as journeymen in NBA, to the coach who once part of Boston Championship, to the emotional and tongue lashing team owner, and to the city who waited for almost three decades for a Larry O’brien trophy.

Given the chance of having snapshots during the recent Finals, I take three pictures which for me depict the drama of the whole series. Being a sports fan, I still vividly recall what happened during the first time Dallas and Miami faced-off for the championship.  I remember how Dallas acted so immature that time after winning the first two games of the series. They were already expecting a sweep and a great parade once they returned to their home. But ho and behold, that episode of premature ejaculation of jubilation motivated Miami to dominate the rest of the games. Miami won three straight in their turf. Dallas of the past didn’t know what struck them. Miami won that championship in Game 6 and for years, the stigma of Dirk Nowitzki choking during crunch time and the lack of winning character of the team stained the immaculate white and cool-as-a-sea blue jersey of Dallas.

They suffered another blow the following season when they were eliminated by the lowly eighth seeded Golden State. I guess the string of bad luck hobbled the whole team as each playoff season from then on people became prophetic and already expected an early summer vacation for Dallas- which what actually happened.

Humility

This year, a brand new Dallas comes to life. Gone are the days of being arrogant and proud. The team took some scrappy players, veteran and experienced players and a new coach who knows the feeling of wearing championship ring. Before the play-off started team’s chemistry blossomed just on time as if based on a well crafted script of a basketball movie. During the initial round of the playoff, the team was pictured with an image of HUMILITY, an image far from what they used to be five years ago. I guess Dallas got used to bowing their heads after all the setbacks they got.  They don’t have anything to be proud of, maybe not yet that time. They have no face to be proud of but they made a new face of their own. Setbacks created a humble effect to the team. They learned to be humble and simply to take the course of winning basketball. No fancy gimmicks or publicity throughout the season.  No more proud words of promises of great wins- just plain basketball. Throughout the post season there’s no words of early celebration can you hear from the players because they know their assignment is not yet finished. They humbly accept their underdog tag.  

Persistence

Game 2 of the championship series was the turning point of the story. Downed by 15 points with less than 7 minutes in the final quarter and the whole Miami fans were celebrating for another take home win.  But the Dallas got used to be in this kind of situation many times. Shot after scrappy shots, rebound after mighty rebounds, and hussle after every sweaty hussles, the game came to its gripping finale. The last two minutes was the longest couple of minutes the team ever had. Dirk Nowitzi, known as  sweet shooting seven-foot forward (not a center) and was baptized as a soft with no winning character, made the whole basketball world silent with a basket through swifty lay-up amidst the upstretched hand defense of Chris Bosh. Boom Dallas won!

 At that priceless moment, momentum was shifted to Dallas. Even some of my bosom friends changed team and began rooting for Dallas. During the interviews after Game 2, stories of the players, coach and the team’s superstar can only be pictured out in one word- PERSISTENCE. Dallas was heck-of-a-resilient team. What they accomplished that night is now considered as one of the great comeback stories in the history of NBA. Miami will also remember this setback and every generation will hear and read the triumphant story of Dallas. If not for the hard work, good ball rotation and honest defense of the team, they might have lost that game. Just like the old saying goes- “Hard work pays off. Never giving up pays off. Persistence pays off.”

Loyalty and Trust

As the final buzzer rang during Game 6, the whole Dallas team began to celebrate. It may not be the best Finals in the history of NBA, but surely, it is one of the most thrilling and inspiring series. Another picture flashed into my eyes. I see Mark Cuban and Dirk Nowitzki carrying the Champs trophy and NBA Finals MVP “mini” trophy, respectively. I see the LOYALTY of Dirk and the TRUST of Mark to his main man in all those good and bumpy years of their franchise. Nowitzki crystallized his statuette as the face and the heart and soul of the team. He overcame a broken finger, fever and cough throughout the series. Some described his desire to play and win as a Jordan-like act. Part of the future Hall-of-Famer’s success is the fact that his loyalty paid off. He waited enough and never entertained the idea of being traded or transferring to a championship caliber team. Instead he created a championship caliber team of his own in Dallas. And to Mark Cuban who before I used to hate, but now whom I could take my hat off. I am proud of his dedication and faith to his team. His unfaltering faith to his team finally gifted him a taste of champagne shower. His humble gesture of letting the original owner of Dallas to receive the trophy added an icing of respect I have for this fellow.

Life is indeed like a game of basketball.  Following this series not only brought total adrenaline rush to me but also three valuable lessons in life- HUMILITY, PERSEVERANCE AND LOYALTY with a pinch of TRUST.

Congrats Dallas!

Every one of us has story to tell. We have a box of memories like a vault of experiences from our childhood until the twilight of our time. As we grow old, we become like a classic song either love to be heard by our generation or hate by the new bunch of kids. Still we want to be heard even the silence of our actions is evident and the absence of the words we speak doesn’t mind the people around us. Are our stories will just die as we are buried? 

I believe that there is life after death. I am sure of that. My faith in God is unquestionable. I am sure I was born in this world with a purpose. I also know that when my time comes, I will return the life I borrowed from Him. This is the scenario in the life after death. This is how we view the cycle of life. We are born not from our free will. We never know that we will come out of life in this beautiful yet unfair world. We never thought that we will spend chapters of our lives around our family, friends and people whom we never know. We have our own shares of periods, of ups and downs, of hatred and love, of bitterness and kindness, of good and bad. We then worry the fats that we gain; those unwanted hairs in our body, even the scars in our skins and the smell of our existence. We never thought we will play delusion and denial with the number called age. And we never thought we will fear the end of our journey.

The facts are with us that life is temporary. Still we are afraid when the final curtain will fall. Only few are brave to face the real truth and wise to adjust their lifestyle in preparation to life after death. I know some whom as they became seasoned men and women they turn themselves back to our Creator. They have a sudden change of heart, the metanoia. We love the stories of change. We are glued to movies of sick or physically ill character who is about to die. We savour the moment when we witness the protagonist of the story turns to good from evil. How great the story isn’t it?

As much as I want to read and hear stories of good life in preparation to life after death, I then realize that there is also another kind of life. There is also a life before death. It is like the other side of the coin. It is the other side of the universe that will define the quality of life that we lived. Quality is what I am talking about and not the quantity. We all have one life but we differentiate from one another how long our stay is. Life before death speaks of the quality of life which does not depend alone as to the longevity of our stay.

People might raise their eyebrows regarding life before death. It seems like it is materialistic and worldly kind of story. Others might think that these stories will only cover the merrymaking and partying all night till the wee hours of the morning or enjoying the lavishness of the power of money and embracing the comfort being provided by our earthly possessions. I tell you, it is not. Life before death is absolutely not a one-sided story. Of course there is the bright side of celebrations, the simple and lavish festivities of triumph, success and achievements. It doesn’t end on that side alone. Our imperfections, sorrows and tribulations are all present giving more color and sweetness to our joy and happiness.

After existing of more than a couple of decade here on earth, I could say I gained my lion’s share of stories suiting enough to be retold to the people whom I will no longer meet and acquaint with. Nevertheless, it doesn’t stop me of sharing tiny pieces of my humanity to their time. Besides, only the life of mine before death is what I could only share as I cannot leave any print of what my life after death will be.

It has been my great plan to watch the movie the Bucket List. For those who haven’t seen this movie download it or rent a DVD of it now. If I could remember it right, I included this movie as of one of those movies I planned to watch during my hiatus from corporate world. But I failed to watch it. Every time I got the glimpse of this movie in HBO either the middle part or the last part ang naaabutan ko. In short, I already saw the tidbits of the movie but still I want to complete it in one single showing with my pop corn and soda.

Finally, last week napanood ko na rin sya…  without my popcorn and soda. Still I enjoyed the movie kahit na parang anti climax na ang nangyari. Finally napagdugtong-dugtong ko na ang kwento ng movie. It makes me think again and again what if same fate will happen to me. The probability is high if I will think of it. First on the list is that, my clan has always been a regular “suki” of the dreaded capital C. So there is a “what if” question bogging my mind. What if I got so lucky and be a victim as well of cancer?

Of course I don’t what it to happen (knock on the woods). But if that moment comes in my life, I will look again the DVD in my father’s DVDs (dami nyang collection ng movies) and watch all over again the movie Bucket List. At bakit (i like the pun lolz)? Because I am sure that I could see the answer in this movie.

The portrayal of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman of their respective characters is astonishing. They highlighted their individual strengths and weaknesses during their ordeal. Plus it adds color to the movie the differences between the two characters- an arrogant and proud  rich old man paired with gifted and highly intellectual  mechanic under one hospital room. The plot is so simple (I wonder bakit di makagawa ng ganito ang mga local movie makers natin. If meron man mabibilang lang), but the whole story is highly touching and senseful.

Peace of Mind and Peace of Heart

One thing that I could highlight from this movie is that both characters are at peace. Mahirap tanggapin na may taning na ang buhay mo. It’s like you are a walking time bomb but it doesn’t stop both characters to enjoy the remaining breath of their lives. Instead of going to a series of chemo treatment, tila naging bata muli ang mga maysakit  and made the best out of their lives. It’s not that they ignore or they did not accept the realities of their situation- tinanggap nila actually  na me sakit sila at malapit na silang kunin ni Lord.

Amidst the physical and emotional pain the big C gave to their lives, still they were at peace. At peace of maximizing their time to enjoy life and to resolve all the gusot sa buhay nila (konyo na naman lolz). And that will stick in my mind (good movies has good lessons di ba?). I will not wait for the time na magkakasakit ako just to remind me na oops ano pa hinihintay mo, enjoy na! I could go and travel the other side of the world or even go to US and watch a live NBA game (that’s if I become rich). I could also enjoy the most trivial happiness in life like a heartful laugh, a kiss from a beautiful lady (hekhek) and winning basket in a basketball game.  But beyond those enjoyment in life hopefully I could also prepare myself spiritually on what would be the next part of my life.

While continuing my life, isa lang din naman ang hanap natin- to have a peace of mind and a peace of heart. I know life is hard pero sana it will not be the reason why we cannot find peace in our mind. Sa isang taong kagaya ko, malikot at laging napapaisip, it’s becoming a challenge for me to have a peace of mind. I think about my future alot. I think of the welfare of my family. I think of my dreams and on the means on how to make them into a reality. I think of my heart and all the matters of the heart. Puro na lang think think think at malapit na akong maging Lenovo Think Pad!

But today I found a way that is useful in order to have a peace of mind and a peace of heart. So simple- I cleaned my room this morning (simpleng-simple). Inayos ko ang gamit ko at tinapon ang basura. Nagwalis ng sahig at nagpunas ng mga gamit. Nabawasan ang alikabok at nakahinga ako ng maluwag. I guess same is true with our life. All we have to do is simply to cleanse our life, our lifestyle, our system and our habit. Remove or lessen the negativities, forget the hatred and tender your heart. Aalisin ko na ang kurot ng inggit at pagtingin sa kung ano ang tinatamasa ng ibang tao. Don’t look at what you don’t have rather be thankful on what you have sabi nga nila and it’s true. View life as glass of half-filled water- half full instead of half empty.

I hope through this way I could enjoy my life and to have peace within me. And to end this article at mahaba na at boring na ulit basahin, learn to open the communication line with God. It’s the best conversation you can have in your life.

By the way read  Desiderata it will also help!

At peace,

DB

Sunday is my favorite day. Before I hate Sunday because it is a sign that Monday is approaching. As I grow old (let’s just say I am going classic naks!), I become a fan of spending quality time on my Sundays.

When I was a kid, I hate waking up so early for Sunday Mass. For me it was like a chore to wake up and prepare to go to mass. But things changed as I grow up. I have learned to value of spending an hour with the Lord. Parang hindi complete ang week ko if I haven’t gone to church. From being a tedious assignment it becomes now part of my habit. I give credit to my parents kung panu nila kami pinalaki (at pinataba lol!). And the way it goes, I like it. Parang sa Facebook lang na gustong-gusto kong i-like.

The best part of my Sundays is when I am home in the province. Spending quality time with family is the best thing I could do. Ako kasi ang laging wala sa bahay (kung sino pa ang hilohin sa byahe nung bata sya pa ngayon ang laging bumabyahe sound ironic noh). So I make it a point that I could spend time with my father and my siblings. After going to church minsan we go out for a Sunday breakfast. Minsan kahit sa Jolibee or Chowking lang masaya na ako. Mas masaya kung kasama namin si Paps kasi me senior citizen discount (lol!).  And the best part of it is when we gather around kahit di kami nagkukuwentuhan yung tipong makita lang namin isa’t isa eh ok na. We are not Seventh-Heaven-type na pamilya because  kanya-kanya rin kami ng mundo. Pero close kami!

One thing I like in our breakfast is the Sunday newspaper- Inquirer to be axact. It has been the name in our household ever since I could remember. My father loves reading newspaper which I guess I inherited. Ako ang madalas mauna humawak ng newspaper. I love reading the Sports only though. Nag-uunahan pa kami ng kuya ko for the Sports section. But as I grow old (going classic), I learned to appreciate the other parts of the newspaper. The Sunday Magazine is great. The business Sunday is perfect. And still the Sports is still my Headline!

This morning, I got the chance to read the article featuring one of the great basketball players of PBA- si Olsen Racela. I used to be a fan of San Miguel Beer and I admit I like the way he played. Father time ran after Olsen and he finally retired from the hardcourt after a colorful stint as a player.

The article narrated his humble beginning, from being a lowly pointguard during his school days, then becoming a backup pointguard in Purefoods (his first team) and finally being one of the best point guards SMB has created. Nandun din yung point when he almost decided basketball is not for him during the early years. But being persistent and continuing the passion for the sport kept him on track after all those years.

And I guess I learned another lesson from the story of Olsen and that is to learn to appreciate things which we already have and love. Specially in our work, learn to appreciate things kung saan naroon ang puso mo. Sometimes it’s really not doing what you like but liking what you do. And same with Olsen, he is blessed for liking what he do-being a pointguard. He did not care even if he plays limited time or playing as a backup. He just love to play.

  Right now, when young professionals are having dilemma of choosing what career they will pursue, I guess we could check the way Olsen did. He remained consistent in liking what he do in any kind of scenario. By being consistent of liking what he does, he also maintained the attitude of learning things or to give emphasis in polishing his “skill”.

We all have our own skills and yet some times we don’t know that we already have the skills or worst we take it for granted. Others already know where they excel good but still look for other areas. They explore more only to find out later on kung para saan ba sila.

As I continue writing this one, my vision becomes even clearer to what I really want to pursue in my career. Hopefully all of us find ways of liking what we do and start polishing our skills where we truly excel.

Learning to like what I do,

Dorm Boy

Last Friday, our training and assessment have finally ended. After a month of training, we are going to go live in action this week. I will surely miss the training session (kasi you are being paid while studying and doing practice cases lol!). One thing I will surely miss is the game after our lunch break. Though we played different games or what they call as ice breakers for the sleepy heads after lunch, one game stood up as our favorite- Pictionary.

Pictionary is like a charade (which my friends back in college loved to play) wherein a player draws or creates a picture of the word or term being guessed by other players. It is fun and exciting as our creative and playful minds work and think all for the glory of daily prize- chocolates! No wonder I still have some chocolates in my bag and locker. Some I gave to my friends (sabi kasi share your blessings).

As the days passed we tried to think of highfaluting words and “tricky” words which are difficult to draw. The hardest would be the intangibles like the adjectives and even numbers and would you believe even the name of “colors” are hard to guess. Nakakatuwa kung panu kumunot ang noon namin. We have different style. Me iba gumagamit ng “sounds like” or yung ibang madaya kagaya ko (hahaha!), I almost I spell out the word!

And during the weekend, I was rekindling the happy moments of our Pictionary games. I realized ang buhay din is like a Pictionary (naks). Siguro nahanapan ko na naman ng ibig sabihin ang isang bagay and even the Pictionary comes into picture. We tried to draw our life the way we would like to have as we grow old. Sometimes we draw or create a magnificent picture of what we will be in the future. It’s like our life is a clean white board and we hold our mighty markers and draw the things and scenes we dream of for others can see and tell, “this person has a bright future ahead” (as super bright kasing bright ng kawaling iniscoutch brite corny again).

And sometimes as we draw our plans in life, eto rin gusto nating ipaabot kay Lord. Even the tiniest detail gusto natin klarong klaro sa Kanya. Please give me a simple house na three storey with a pool na korteng heart, with a simple car yung Porsche , and bigyan mo po sana ako ng mapagmahal na asawa na kasing ganda ni (please write the name of your crush), and bless me with kids yung kambal na para minsanan ang pang-ospital, and a simple business na rin gaya ng Mang Inasal na binili ng Tutubing nakangiti and long life and syempre World Peace! I know I exaggerated some points pero di ba kadalasan we tend to ask for this kind of things and the kind of life.

There is nothing wrong asking for more blessings and good things in life. It’s ok actually to aspire for greatness and to fulfill one’s dream. But the hardest part of all is how to put into reality the picture we draw of our life. Sometimes parang sa Pictionary me mga gusto tayo na mahirap idrawing like my face but we still keep on drawing it. Just like in life, we have certain plans which others might think na “Pare ang ganda ng concept ng dream mo pero parang weird”. Then only to find out that weird idea is the next big thing that only you can offer to the world.

Drawing a thing no matter how hard it is will always start from one simple VISION. Yup, tama po nababasa nyo, malinaw pa po ang mata nyo. You read it right, vision. And most of us have a great plan but we lack the clarity of eyesight to pursue our dream. A sudden stumble and fall will make us go and retreat from the idea that we created. Same is true in learning to drive a bike. Sabi nila hanggat di ka natutumba or worst masugatan you will never learn how to drive a bike. For those who keep on struggling and continue their vision of driving a bike they succeed kasi they still pursue it. Others who gave up, hayun dakilangtaga-angkas/pasahero na lang habang buhay.

In life sabi nga nila you will stick to your vision if you are also driven by a simple partner of vision- Passion.

Passion is the other thing that will hold you to your vision. Passion means loving the thing you do. As we continue our life or our work each day, our passion wane. Minsan when all the passion is gone we just accept the life that is given to us. Minsan we choose na lang the kind of work na mas mataas ang salary eventhough it is against our passion. We become mechanical and robots of doing things kasi we are part of the process. We do things as an action and not what our heart dictates. If we see no passion in doing things, it becomes a chore and tedious to us. Pero if we have passion on doing a thing naku kahit mag-umaga na parang adik lang tayong nag-eenjoy sa ginagawa natin.

I’m sure mahaba na ulit tong nasulat ko and boring nang basahin. I just hope hindi lang drawing ang buhay natin. We create a vision, and find our passion. These two will give a clear and best picture of our life- kahit hindi na natin i-Photoshop ang picture ng buhay natin.

Capturing the picture of my life,
Dorm Boy