Missing A Friend

I missed a great FRIEND of mine.

A friend whom I can tell anything without hesitation and fear.

With Him I can be my true self and openly bare my soul with - unafraid of
being judged and unaccepted.

I missed Him because It’s been a while that we haven’t talked.

If I’m not mistaken, its been years.

I missed the days when I talk and He’ll just listen..

Though most of the time I do the talking, I too can feel Him conversing.

In the silence of my heart.

Giving me consolation, wiping out the tears in my eyes and giving me a
sense of peace.

A kind of peace, they say, “the world cannot give”

Every conversation with Him is truly a relieving and refreshing experience.

Leaving the place ready to face the world again.


Now that my life was crowded with new priorities, I have forgotten Him.

And didn’t even bother speaking to Him again.

But I miss Him.

I truly miss Him.

I truly missed the happy old days when I was young, energetic, tireless and
spent much of my time spreading and proclaiming His Love.

I missed that indefatigable spirit and tireless conviction burning inside of me.


As I profess this longing for Him, I hope that I’ll be drawn closer to His
Ocean of Love.

And for me to bask again in the greatness of His Loving Presence.

And hopefully to regain the lost connection.

And to converse with Him again.

In deep prayer.

An Open Letter To My WIfe

My wife and I just turned 7.

A night before I jokingly told her, "Seven years na pala tayong nag-titiis sa isa't isa," and she bursted with laughter.

Kidding aside, she's truly a gift from above. Though our married life isn't perfect, our imperfections made our union to last for years.

So on our special day, I scribbled a letter to show my loving and grateful heart.

____________________________________________________________
June 8, 2011


Beloved YhanYhan,

Happy 7th year Anniversary.

I don’t have the materials means to have a fancy celebration today.

What I can offer is the richness and pureness of my loving heart.

Thank you for bearing with me all these years - for understanding and
loving me despite and inspite of my weaknesses, frailties and shortcomings.

Thank you for being there for me when I needed you most - for giving me
comfort, for listening to my stories, for helping me chase my dreams and
for listening to my cries of frustration.

Thank you for the daily coffee moments. For waking up early in morning to
prepare a hearty breakfast and for the sumptuous dinner every time I go
home from work.

Thank you for teaching me to be responsible, to know my priorities and be focus in life.

Thank you for teaching me what it means to be a family.

Thank you for showing me what it means to be generous, selfless and giving.

And for teaching me what it means to love and be loved.

And most of all, thank you for giving me Mandela, our adorable baby girl - our greatest treasure here on Earth.

Together, let us continue to hold hands, build our lives as we mount every foibles and fears that life may brings.

And together, let us continue to drink coffee every morning, our daily ritual of love, to show how much we love and care for each other.

I love you very much.

Know Your Worth

Looking at my old pictures, I can proudly say that physically, at least I have evolved from a dark-skinned and skinny boy that I am before to a dignified-looking banker that I am today. Proof to that is how I am labeled in my workplace. As an office newbie, my boss used to call me Fido Dido, obviously because my look resembles the character of the Sprite’s TV commercial. After several years, I am now tagged as "Matt Ranillo". Not Matt Ranillo the III (The Actor) but Matt Ranillo The Dead (Laughs!).

Kidding aside, as a student and office worker my appearance and stature in life contributed a lot to my low self worth and lack of confidence. When surrounded with affluent classmates and colleagues, I've always felt small, thinking having less in life, I am not capable of achieving more. That inferiority complex unconsciously led me to entertained self-doubt and diminished my self-trust.

Not until I came to know myself as a dear child of God. I’ve known that I am precious in His eyes. That I am deeply loved, cared and important. That unbounding Love alone gives me confidence, a childlike confidence in the Father's love.

With that knowledge came the realization that beyond physical transformation, what matters is who we are, what were made of, and our worth as His beloved Children.

The psalmist beautifully exclaims in Psalm 139:13-16:
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

One day, I came accross this beautiful story, I cant wait to share.

A black child isolated himself from a group of kids playing in front of a church. A balloon salesman tried to get their attention. So he released one red balloon and it soared up high. Then the blue, then the yellow. It all went soaring up until they all disappeared. The black boy asked the man.

“Sir, if you’ll send the black baloon, would it go as high as the others?”

The salesman answered, “It isn’t in the color, Son, it’s what’s inside that makes it rise.”

A Lesson On Giving

One of our bonding moments with my baby girl Mandela is our regular Saturday afternoon walk to the beach near our place. We would spend moments together watching the fisherfolks preparing their boat for fishing. Sometimes, we would catch some kids enjoying swimming in the murky cold seawater. When already bored, she would pull my hand and said, “Adto ta slide Daddy”. (“Let us go to the slide Daddy”) - referring to the children’s slide at the playground of the nearby orphanage.

I was told that the orphanage was built two years ago. It was actually founded by a German named Albert Schweitzer of the Albert Schweitzer Familienwerk Foundation Philippines, Inc (ASFFM)and is known as Children's Haven. True to its name, it has become not just an abode but a haven to more or less sixty (60) homeless, parentless and abandoned kids. During my several visit to the place, I took the chance to interact with the orphans by talking and playing with them. Every kid has a different sad story to tell. And their stories made me think how lucky my daughter is for having a family she can call her own. But even if they appear lacking in material provision, their young faces emanate childlike joyful spirit, genuine smile, sincere intentions and positive vibes. Everybody seems happy and doesn’t care about the world and what it can offer to them. Their friendly and welcoming gestures are manifestations of their zest for life despite of their conditions. Love and sharing abound in the place. Everybody is family and in my heart I can feel that the place is overflowing with love. No wonder my baby doesn’t want to go home everytime she lands her foot in the place.


One unforgetable experience during one of our visit made me pondered on the true meaning of unselfish giving. When we went there one Saturday afternoon, I decided to bring some munchies for the kids to eat. Our way of thanking them for their goodness and hospitality. For reaching out and playing with my baby girl.

I was surprised, when in return a boy orphan handed my baby his favorite toy – a yellow plastic ball and another baby girl named Rosemarie offered her favorite blue dress.

I was left teary-eyed.

These kids had such pure and giving hearts.

At first, I am compelled not to accept the items. I knew that having less in life, these things are precious to them – or means everything to them. In their world of nothingness, these items might be treasures in their eyes and taking it might be inflicting pain.

But all the while, I thought refusing would means robbing them the chance to experience the joy of giving. These items were given out of pure intentions – from the gratefulness and goodness of a child's heart. I can see the delight in their eyes when they offered it to my daughter which made me decide to graciously accept it.

That experience taught me what it means to truly give with a cheerful and grateful heart. The orphans might have understood what Blessed Teresa of Calcutta once said when she exhorted “give until it hurts”.

How to Teach Honesty to Kids

For most parents with growing up kids, raising an honest child might be an arduous and a challenging responsibility. Given the vast and strong media influence that sometimes edify distorted moral values, parents nowadays find it hard to inculcate in the young minds of their kids the value of honesty. But according to Mary Vanclay in her article entitled “The Honest Child: How to Teach Honesty”, there are helpful tips parents can do to teach their child the importance of telling the truth.

AVOID LABELS. Parents out of anger unintentionally say unpleasant words to their kids. They failed to realize that kids live up to the labels we place upon them. Call them a liar and overtime they may start to believe in and live up to the label. Parents should tame their tongue not to label their kids to the person they don’t want them to be.

DON’T GIVE YOUR KIDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIE. Avoid asking questions when you already know the answer. If you’re quite sure your child hasn’t cleaned her room, instead of asking, “Did you clean the room?, it would be better to ask her the reason why she wasn’t able to clean her room. Asking the “why” question allows your child to explain his behavior rather than setting a stage for a lie.

FIND THE REASON BEHIND THE LYING. “Children can learn to be dishonest out of fear for the consequences of their actions or by following the examples of others.”,says Dr. Harold Sala, author of the book, Raising Godly Kids. Enough good reasons why your child deserves to be heard. An open and free communication with your child about the reason why she lied would create a loving atmosphere. Stressing to your child your disapproval of her not telling the truth but still assuring your unconditional love and acceptance will surely encourage her to be honest with you no matter what the consequences may be. One good way to encourage honesty is to praise or reward your child if she tells the truth.

KEEP YOUR COOL. "Where did we ever get the crazy idea that in order to make children do better, first we have to make them feel worse?" says Jane Nelsen, author of the Positive Discipline book series. "Most punishment comes out of anger — and then we’ve taken the child totally out of any learning mode, because now she’s feeling defensive or afraid."

SET A GOOD EXAMPLE. Parents should model honesty to their children. As they say, the best way to teach honesty is to be honest. Parents should be extra careful not to say a lie especially if their children are around. A simple scenario if she hears you call in sick for work when you’re fine or lie about her age so you can avail of a discount on her fare ticket would send her a message that it is acceptable to say a lie.

Honesty does have a price, and it’s worth paying it now.

Life's An Amazing Race

“Congratulations, you’re team No. 1, you’re the first team to arrive.”

If you’re a certified reality show fanatic, you can easily recognize those familiar words of Phil Keoghan, host of the hit reality show AMAZING RACE. He usually utters those words, every time the first team arrives at the pit stop of each leg of the race.

The AMAZING RACE is just one of the many foreign reality television game shows invading our local television scene . It is a game show produced by CBS in the US in which teams of two race around the world in competition with other teams.Contestants strive to arrive first at the end of each leg to avoid the possibility of elimination. Unfortunately, in an elimination race, the last pair to arrive gets eliminated. Teams are progressively eliminated until three teams are left. At that point, the team who arrives first in the final leg wins the much-coveted one million dollar prize.

As a contest mechanic, the contestants will travel to different countries and various continents until they will reach the final destination – the final pit stop- which is the culmination of the entire race . At the initial race, they will be given initial directions on the first place to go to get the next clue. In order to reach the destination, the team will travel or drive by themselves, relying only on the information they can get from the travel map, clues and directions and some by asking information from the folks living in the area. Route markers also serves as helpful hints for them to reach the exact destination. But along the way, the race doesn’t guarantee an easy journey. Aside from the difficulty of reaching the exact spot, there are physically-demanding tasks that should be accomplished in order to be handed a clue for the next destination. These tasks come in the form of DETOUR, ROADBLOCKS,YIELD AND FASTFORWARD.

A Detour is a choice between two tasks, each with its own pros and cons. Teams must successfully complete one of the tasks described on the clue in order to receive their next clue.

A Roadblock is a task that only one team member may perform. Before heading into a Roadblock, teams read a vague clue about the task to come, e.g., "Who’s really hungry?" (for an ostrich-egg eating challenge), or "Who wants to get down and dirty?" (for a task involving making mud bricks).

Yield allows any one team to force another team to stop racing for a predetermined amount of time.

The Fast Forward allows the team that receives it to skip all remaining tasks on that leg of the race and proceed directly to the Pit Stop.

Admittedly, I first ignored the show when it was shown over a local channel. I find it senseless for cameras to follow infamous personalities who keeps on running and running as if there’s no tomorrow. It was only when I am able to sit down and started watching the show from start to end that I am able to appreciate the excitement that it can entice to its would-be viewers. I began to feel the thrill of watching teams compete with each other, outsmarting each other by courageously doing each tasks, racing as they hurtle with time, and even doing dirty tricks just to be the first team to land on the pit stop mat.

But I realized that aside from the excitement it can bring, the show offers a clear picture of our daily complexities in life. That looking in a deeper light, the show conveys similarities to our journey in this temporal world towards a destination.

One AMAZING RACE episode that I can still remember is that when a couple decided to give up their backpack so they can run fast and land first at the pit stop. Those extra baggages in their back hamper them from running as fast as they can to win the race. The symbolic giving up of backpack could mean giving up material things for a higher gain. Giving up things for a nobler purpose. I’m sure letting go of these things isn’t easy but it’s the only and the surest way not to be left behind and win the race.

Majority of us in this modern and hedonistic world, are pack rats who like to collect and transport stuffs. In our journey in life we tend to bring extra baggages that will make our journey tedious and tiring, uncomfortable, complicated and less enjoyable. We are overshadowed by the importance that it can provide us that we always brought them along wherever we go. These extra baggages come in different forms and sizes. It could be unfulfilled dreams and desires, failed relationships, shameful and dark past, unreconciled relationships, strong materialistic pursuits, greed for fame and power, fear, unresolved guilt, strong need for approval. The list is endless. What most of us failed to realize is that those extra weight could deter us from winning our race in life.

Relating to life, DETOURS are life crossroads. Situations wherein we are torn between a decision and options. Difficult moments to decide what in our life are worth letting go and worth keeping. An inspiration I browsed from www.authenticity-road.com states that life is a highway with roads which can be maddeningly circuitous, boringly linear, painfully narrow, amazingly wide, sadly short, or, interminably long. In life, there are several pathways laid before us that we find it difficult and confusing to decide what path to take. Due to uncertainty of our decisions, there is an accompanying risk in possibly making the wrong choice.

ROADBLOCKS are life situations that will test our independence and our courage to let go of our co-dependency and attachments – our attachment to people, materials things and places. One unforgettable roadblock task I watched happened in India that required the African American wife to give up her hair in exchange of a clue. Giving up her crowning glory is hard for the woman but she decided to let go of her attachment because that’s the only way to continue the race. The hapless husband was brought to tears. In the end, the sacrifice is worth the effort because they won the race. This is probably what author Mike Murdock refers as “experiencing a season of pain to create an eternity of gain.”

YIELDS comes in the forms of difficult people who will pull us down. In our life, there will always be negative people who will pissed us off and make our life miserable. These people will be an inevitable part of our journey so its just in the manner of how we handle them that lie the challenge. According to Donna Beal, “Difficult people are God’s sandpaper to smooth out the rough edges of our personalities.”

FASTFORWARD are life’s unexpected blessings and surprises. They comes in the forms of life’s extra comfort and convenience and answered prayers. Situations that will give us reason to look up to heaven and say “Thank you, Lord.”

God intended each one of us to enjoy our journey. He wanted us to travel light so we won’t be having difficulty carrying our backpack. He desires us all to enjoy every moment of our journey by journeying with Him and allowing Him to direct us to the right path. One beautiful promise can be found in Jn 8:12 when He said, “I am the Light of the World, anyone who follows Me will not walk in the dark; he will have the light of life.” He gives us DIRECTIONS for us to reach our destinations. In the Bible, Jesus said, “I am the Way, The Truth and The Life” (Jn 14:16). He wants us to recognize Him in the face of ordinary people because He is with us in our daily walk.

But due to our human frailties, we tend to run so fast that we miss the joy that goes with our journey. We are so preoccupied with the daily hustle and bustle of living, we hurtle with time as if life is a race and there will be no tomorrow. Even though God sent us clear directions by giving us signs, maps and route markers, still we stumble in choosing the wrong path. The enjoyable walk in our journey becomes a race always battling with time. Worst of all, like the disciples in the Road to Emmaus, we didn’t notice God walking with us. We only notice Him when we fall.

Brothers and sisters, our Catholic faith dictates that our life on this earth is a temporary journey and that we are only stewards of our life. Even though in this life, we all travel in different paths, follow different directions and embark on different journeys, in the end, we are heading towards one destination – our eternal home. Let us allow Jesus to direct us towards the right path. Let us allow Him to be our tour guide and open our hearts for Him to be our sole travel companion. After all, in the end, what matters when we came face to face with our Heavenly Father is for Him to smile at us and say, “Congratulations, my son, you’ve ran a good race.”

New Beginnings

At 32, I must have thought I've learned a lot from life.

Borrowing the concept from writer Bum Tenorio, Jr., in my silence, I interviewed myself and culled 32 simple or not-so-simple things I learned about life.

1. Being born unfortunate is not a license to an unfortunate future. It doesn’t matter who you are today, what matters is who you will become tomorrow.

2. People tend to ask themselves why they failed in an endeavor not realizing they failed not in the execution but in planning.

3. Say “10Q” even if the situation doesn’t requires you to say so.

4. Write down your life greatest dreams and aspirations and read it as often as you can.

5. The purpose of our existence is not merely existing but to live our existence. Our actions, plans, and decisions should revolve around that purpose.

6. Respect your spouse - it is one of the proven secret formula of a lasting married life.

7. Keep your passions burning. Winners are people who desperately pursue what they badly want.

8. Take a daily dose of prayer. Prayer in absolute trust and surrender sweeps out anxieties, worries, fears and doubts. Above all, it gives peace the world can't give.

9. Believe in God’s mighty hands working in your life. If things get wrong, believe that all things pass through His gentle hands. God writes straight through crooked lines.

10. Smile, smile and smile. It is the secret of a lasting youthful glow.

11. Difficult people are inevitable part of your life. You cannot avoid them but you can choose to love them.

12. Build your life on solid ground. Your good values, morals and sound principles are the strong foundations of your life.

13. Good things will come to those who wait. Patience is a virtue.

14. Hug your loved ones and say “I love you” as often as you can. Tomorrow might be too late.

15. Call each person by his or her name. It is one of the commandments of human relations.

16. Be genuinely interested in people - even if they aren’t interesting enough.

17. Take charge of your own life because nobody else will.

18. Enjoy your journey in this race called life. Take Jesus as your travel companion.

19. Laugh and laugh as often as you can.

20. Focus on the positive side of life. Be an optimist. You are far more blessed than anyone.

21. Forget all the hurts people have caused you but dwell on the good things they’ve done.

22. Your earning capacity is dependent on your self-image. Start expanding your psychological wallet. God desires you to be financially blessed so you can be a blessing to others.

23. During difficult decision moments, let go and let God.

24. All addictions - drugs, alcohol, material or sexual is a manifestation of a psychological hunger for love.

25. Don’t be afraid to try. Trying isn’t always associated with failing.

26. “Whatever comes our way, whatever battle we are raging inside, we always have a choice. My friend Harry taught me that. He chose to be the best of himself. It’s the choice that makes us who we are, and we can choose to do what is right.” (as quoted from the movie “SPIDERMAN 3″)

27. Hopeless and desperate situations aren’t forever. There will always be a way out. All sufferings and hardships will come to an end.

28. Happiness is relative on one’s perspective on it. A person with a single centavo can be happier compared to a man with a million dollar bucks.

29. Business people are sharks. In order to survive in the highly competitive corporate world, you have to swim with the sharks.

30. Married life isn't a walk in the park. You have to talk while you walk to get there.

31. The greatest gift a man can have is the gift of being a father.

32. Happiness is always a choice.

Rebuild what you call "Home"

Ang kuya ko adik

MY ELDER BROTHER IS AN ADDICT.

Pag gutom siya,

WHEN HE’S HUNGRY

Hindi niya nararamdaman ang sakit

HE DOESN’T FEEL THE PAIN.

Nagra-rugby lang siya,,

HE JUST SNIFFS SOLVENT,

Solb na..

AND IT’S ALRIGHT.

Gusto ko

WHAT I WANT TO BE

Paglaki ko

WHEN I GROW UP

Adik din ako.

IS TO ALSO BE AN ADDICT.

Para pag gutom ako,

SO THAT WHEN I’M HUNGRY

Hindi ko rin mararamdaman ang sakit

I ALSO WON’T FEEL THE PAIN

Alexander

7 Years old

Payatas 13, Quezon City

(text taken from GAWAD KALINGA Primer)

Alexander is just one of the many faces of poverty in our society today. At such a young age, his impoverished condition forces him to face the cruelties of life just to survive. Left with no choice but to embrace the harshness and ruthlessness that life has to offer for the unfortunate. His innocent words convey the inculpable cry of hopelessness and despair. His young forlorn-looking and tattered face mirrors the mentality of helplessness, confusion and impotence. For him and his kuya, survival depends on that plastic of solvent. For them, life means survival of the fittest.

Sad to note that 70% of the Filipinos belong to Class E a technical description of the socio-economic status of those who have no home, no job, and eat only once a day. Local pollster Social Weather Station, even cited that as of the fourth quarter of 2006, the incidence of hunger in the country has reach a new high. Poverty surge in our country seems to be a recurring dilemma that appears to halt no more. Just like any raging war, the battle against poverty proves no promise of winning in the end.

But who is to blame? Some blame their unfortunate situations on their irresponsible parents for not giving them a good life. Activists and militant groups point to the lack of government support and corrupt public officials as the main culprit. Some believe their case is hopeless and so there is no way of getting out. Others perceive it as just pure bad luck and fate. But on top of all these reasons, I believe it is also a valid point to stress that POVERTY IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUE. And I have the following explanation to emphasize my view.

Catholic lay preacher and author Bo Sanchez in the Kerygma Magazine January 2003 issue exhorted that one of the biggest obstacles he faced in trying to lift people from poverty is what he refers as HOMING INSTINCT. And he explained how it works in this way, as quoted :

“The people I tried to help were born poor. At the core of their being,they defined themselves as poor. If I give them a new home or a scholarship or a tiny business a part of their unconscious minds would rebel. Something screamed within them. This is not me! This is not my home! Fear of the unknown set in. And suddenly they want out. So they sabotaged their new path . They got into drugs again. Or they got pregnant out of wedlock. Or they married an irresponsible bum. So they lost the scholarship. They lost the house. They lost the tiny business. By doing so, they recreated what they had been used to. They were back home. Even if it was a home called poverty.”

I can’t help but agree with the preacher’s exhortation. Although not all, but there are some people who are born poor and think they should breath poverty the rest of their lives. For them, being born from poor parents is a license to poverty. Their mindset dictates they don’t deserve a place in the sun. So they never care to have the drive and ambition to rise from the pit of poverty that they are into. They allow their low self-esteem, financial constraint, hopelessness and unfortunate situations to stuck them forever in the pit called poverty. They just watch things happen instead of making things happen in their lives.

Idealistic as I may appear to you, but I believe WE NEED TO HAVE THE INITIATIVE TO CHANGE OUR LIVES FOR THE BETTER. We need to initiate and start it ourselves because nobody else will. After all, we are the only initiator, decision-maker, catalyst and agent of change in our lives. As architects of our lives, the future of our masterpiece lies in our very own hands and our dreams and aspirations should be its blueprint. I loved it when World Entreprenuer Awardee, Nabi Sale exclaims, “You must have a dream, and it has to be bigger than yourself.”

Rebuilding what we perceived HOME won’t happen overnight. Just as Rome was not built in a day, it takes years and years of hardwork, perseverance and persistence for you to change and elevate your social condition. It requires ample belief in yourself, in God, and in your dreams. Believe in the fullness of life that God desires for his children . Believe in the power of your dreams. Believe that you can achieve your goals if you will pursue it with avowed intent and desperation. Believe that if there are people who came from humble beginnings but made it to the top, then, surely you can.

Winding up, I must agree with what Nobel Prize winner Jacques Monod when she says, “Between the great things we cannot do and the small things we will not do, the danger is that we shall do nothing.”
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Manny Pacquiao's Yellow Campaign

"All my life I have had to fight. At first as a child I had to fight just to get something to eat. I believe this world needs new heroes. The biggest fight in my life is not boxing but it is now to end poverty in my country".

Such an admirable and moving words from RP's boxing superstar Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao during the Final Press Conference of his fight with Shane Mosley.

Yes, he is true. The world needs more heroes. Heroes like him, who not only has a heart for the poor but also felt their hapless plight and responded to their cry of hopelessness. He truly understood how it is to be one having came from humble beginning.

To prove his "fight against poverty" advocacy he had worn yellow gloves and encouraged boxing fans to wear yellow as a sign of support. during his fight where he came victorious in the end.

Manny is not only a boxing champion. His advocacies in helping the poor surely made him not only a sports hero but a true champion of the cause of the poor. Such greatness and concern for the needy made me respect and admire him more.

May his tribe increase.

For One More Day

I am a certified Mitch Alboom fan. I got his first book "Tuesday's With Morrie" given to me by a friend and I am so in love with it. And now, here's his latest addition - For One More Day. It is a book that recounted the story of a man, Chick Benetto, who gets the chance to spend one more day with his mother, who died 8 years earlier. It is a story of redemption and one's man struggle to deal with ghosts.

The story personally appealed to me because it tackles about family relationship and how we often neglect its importance. I personally love "The Times My Mother Stood Up For Me" section in the book because it proves how marvelous, genuine and unconditional the love of a mother is.

Below is an excellent book review I got from the website goodreads.com :

For One More Day is the story of a mother and a son, and a relationship that covers a lifetime and beyond. It explores the question: What would you do if you could spend one more day with a lost loved one?

As a child, Charley "Chick" Benetto was told by his father, "You can be a mama's boy or a daddy's boy, but you can't be both." So he chooses his father, only to see the man disappear when Charley is on the verge of adolescence.

Decades later, Charley is a broken man. His life has been crumbled by alcohol and regret. He loses his job. He leaves his family. He hits bottom after discovering his only daughter has shut him out of her wedding. And he decides to take his own life.

He makes a midnight ride to his small hometown, with plans to do himself in. But upon failing even to do that, he staggers back to his old house, only to make an astonishing discovery. His mother—who died eight years earlier—is still living there, and welcomes him home as if nothing ever happened.

What follows is the one "ordinary" day so many of us yearn for, a chance to make good with a lost parent, to explain the family secrets, and to seek forgiveness. Somewhere between this life and the next, Charley learns the astonishing things he never knew about his mother and her sacrifices. And he tries, with her tender guidance, to put the crumbled pieces of his life back together.

Through Albom's inspiring characters and masterful storytelling, readers will newly appreciate those whom they love—and may have thought they'd lost—in their own lives. For One More Day is a book for anyone in a family, and will be cherished by Albom's millions of fans worldwide.

My First Running Story

MY CHASE FUN RUN
Run For Personal Record
April 3, 2011, Sunday, 5:30 AM
Asiatown IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City

Finally, I was baptized to RUN.

Though I have tried joining fun run twice for the last two years, it's only
last Sunday that I've made a self-declaration and commitment to take running
seriously for three reasons.

1. To stay fit
2. To stay fit
3. And to stay fit

I've never been a sports buff and admittedly I'm not getting any younger. Thinking about my family made me realize I have to take good care of my health now. As a famous commercial tag line puts it, "Bawal Magkasakit". Being a father I have to be in good health to provide for my family. And the only healthy regimen I could think of is running.

So when this invitation for My Chase Fun Run organized by our client came in, I did not hesitate to give my nod.

I was with my boss when the run started. Being a health buff, it was him who convinced and encouraged me to have a healthy regimen and to take good care of my health. Sharing that running moment with him is such a precious and priceless moment.

In the middle of the race, I was lost in the crowd and did not see my boss anymore. I decided not to look for him and run on my own. I ran and ran. Decided to finish the 6k that I have set for myself.

Seriously running 6k for the first time is not a joke but I've make it. It was personal accomplishment for me – a personal record I've conquered myself . Not bad for a first time serious runner like me.

This is the start of my running story.

Stories behind every running adventures that are yet to unfold.

Amusing Thoughts On Marriage

Got this email from a friend. Very funny and can't wait to share.. Whether its a fact or fiction - It's your call..hahaha.

- Marriages are made in heaven. But so again, are thunder and lightning

- After marriage, husband and wife become two sides of a coin...they can't face each other, but, they still stay together.
- Married life is very frustrating.
.In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens.
.In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens.
.In the third year, they both speak and the neighbours listen.

- When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can
be sure of one thing: either the car is new or the wife is.

- Marriage is when a man and woman become as one. The
trouble starts when they try to decide which one.

- Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking
about something she says. After marriage, he will fall asleep before she finish.

- Every man wants a wife who is beautiful, understanding,
economical, and a good cook. But the law allows only one wife.

- They say when a man holds a woman's hand before marriage,
that is LOVE. After marriage, that is SELF DEFENSE.

- A wife becomes a "SEX OBJECT" when every time the husband
asks for sex, she objects!

- Marriage is the only war where you get to sleep with the enemy.

- There are two four-letter words that are offensive to
men in marriage : "don't" and "stop", unless, they are used together
("don't stop").

- Marriage is an institution where the man loses his
Bachelor's Degree and the woman gets her Master's Degree.

- In marriage, a man can have words with his wife,
but, a woman can have paragraphs with her husband.

- Marriage is love. Love is blind.
Therefore, marriage is an institution for the blind.

- There are 3 stages of SEX in a married life:
Tri-weekly, try weekly and try weakly.

- LOVE is a long sweet dream; MARRIAGE is the alarm clock.

- When a newly married man looks happy, we know why.
But, when a 10-year married man looks happy, we wonder why.


- Marriage is not a word. It is a sentence ... a LIFE SENTENCE.


Testimonials:
************ ***

A long married couple came upon a wishing well. The wife leaned
over, made a wish and threw in a penny.
The husband decided to make a wish too. But he leaned over too
much, fell into the well, and drowned.
The wife was stunned for a moment but then smiled,
"Wow! This stuff really Works!"

Son: Is it true Dad? I heard that in ancient China , a man
doesn't know his wife until he marries her!
Dad: That happens everywhere, son, EVERYWHERE!! !

************ ********* ******

Last night, my wife and I were sitting in the living room and I
said to her, 'I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent
on some machine and fluid from a bottle. If that ever happens,
just pull the plug'.

She got up, unplugged the computer, and threw out my beer!
She is such a bitch!

************ ********* ******

The great question... which I have not been able to answer is...
what does a woman want? -Sigmund Freud

************ ********* ******

"Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time
to go to a restaurant two times a week.
A little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes
Tuesdays, I go Fridays." - Henry Youngman

************ ********* ******

"I don't worry about terrorism. I was married for two years."
- Sam Kinison

************ ********* ******

"There's a way of transferring funds that is even faster than
electronic banking. It's called marriage." - James Holt McGavran

************ ********* ******

"I've had bad luck with both my wives. The first one left me,
and the second one didn't." - Patrick Murray

************ ********* ******

A good wife always forgives her husband when she's wrong.
- Milton Berle

************ ********* ******

My wife and I were very happy for twenty years. Then we met.
- Rodney Dangerfield
************ ********* ******

A Dream Fulfilled

It has always been my dream to become a teacher. Over the years, I have
developed a passion and love for teaching. For me its not only the noblest
profession but the most fulfilling and satisfying work one can endeavor.

Last February 28, 2011, I had the rare chance to fulfill that dream. I was
invited to talk before a group of university students on the topic
“Corporate Banking.”. Having toiled sleepness nights of preparation for the powerpoint presentation, all my efforts finally paid off as the talk went smooth.

The experience made me feel in love with teaching more. Sharing insights to students is such a wonderful experience I wouldn't trade for the world.

Para Kanino Ka Bumabangon?

The newly launched 60-seconder TV commercial of coffee-giant and industry
leader, Nescafe Classic really hit me in the heart. The first time I saw
it on TV, I immediately loved its script, its storyboard, and its simple
yet sensible execution. The questions - Whom are we living for? Whom do we
wake up for? simply suggest us, viewers to examine our conscience and
recall what motivates us to live each day and lead us to eventually
rediscover our sense of purpose and existense.

Nanette Franco-Diyco of Businessworld in her Ads and Ends column puts it”
Its by far one of the most beautiful commercials churned out this year by
creative agency Publicis. The thematic campaign is thought provoking and
inspirational without missing a heartbeat. It has depth while maintaining
its warmth from the quick sunrise scenes to its final quest for an answer.
Great concept. Good writing.”

No doubt, the commercial has been repeated over and over again in TV
because, as Ms. Diyco exclaims, “ it’s a commercial that leaves you feeling
good about yourself, your country and the people around you.”

Hefty Resolutions for 2011

I will summarize the things I wish to accomplish for 2011 through the classic Italian phrase “Vive Bene, Spesso l’ amore, di risata molto" which means "Live well, Love much, Laugh Often”

Live well
Indulge on a healthy diet - less meat, more vegetables and fruits
intake. Eat meat only during weekends.
Start on a healthy regimen. Brisk walking and distance running every
weekend.
Be a running enthusiast. Start joining fun run and marathon. To join
at least five (5) Fun Run event this year
Minimize softdrinks/ Coke intake, if possible, drink only during
weekends
Get oneself pampered in a spa treatment once very quarter.
No-No to Junk Foods
Start exploring/experimenting healthy but appetizing dishes
Read at least 6 management books – once every 2 months
Start learning basic Nippongo and Japanese culture appreciation
Revive the faith and have a constant daily prayer life

Love much
Daily “coffee moments” with my wife
Have a once-a quarter date with my wife
Spend quality time with my family during weekends. Don’t bring work at
home.
Schedule get-away/escapade with my family as bonding moments
Be expressive with my wife and daughter – shout them “I love you”
everyday
Give my wife a surpise gift on her birthday
Write love letters to my wife – one in June and the other one in
December
Write a love letter to my baby girl on her birthday
Monitor birthday of family and close friends and as much as possible
don’t forget to greet them
Love Mother Earth – start on a conviction to save planet Earth !

Laugh Often
Reconnect with old friends and batchmates via the website created for
the high school batch and via facebook
Have a once-in a while videoke espacade
Sorround myself with funny, optimistic, happy and positive people
Make an inventory of happy and funny moments and dwell on those happy
memories
Explore funny TV shows and watch funny but sensible movies with my wife
Retain the cheerful and happy disposition. Laugh as often as I can.
Collect happy and funny photos and mount it in an album labeled as
“HAPPY MOMENTS”

Immortal Love

ABS-CBN’s primetime teleserye, IMORTAL had really changed my primetime
viewing habit. I've never get to sleep without watching the show. I was so
impressed with the series that I never failed to watch every episode. Since
it is shown late, every episode is truly worth the wait.

On top of the superb acting ability and execution of the lead roles, Angel
Locsin and John Llyod Cruz, what appealed me most is
the wonderful message the series wishes to impart.

It is very comforting to believe in LOVE
In LOVE that knows no bound
In LOVE that will conquer the impossible
In LOVE that is willing to repel whatever forces that comes against
In LOVE that’s willing to sacrifice even if it means giving up of oneself
In LOVE that believes and hopes in the transformation that it can bring
In LOVE that will definitely triumph in the end