The World of Second Chances

The Right To A Peaceful Environment

February 21, 2013

Life & Love

Bati-bati na lang lahat, please!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2281246/Given-snack-taken-shot-Pictures-Tamil-Tiger-leaders-son-taken-just-hours-apart-prove-executed-Sri-Lankan-government-forces.html?ICO=most_read_module

How do we measure peacefulness?

If a community has no conflict between the civilians and the military- it is peaceful.
If a community has no conflict between the leftist and the military- it is peaceful.
If the community is vigilant enough to stand against anybody who dare to cause violence–it would be peaceful.
If the children are protected from neglectful parents–it is peaceful.
If women can go home at night without worrying about rapists and molesters–what a peaceful place!
If the family has enough food on the table–they would be peaceful.
If the husband takes care of the wife and the kids and if the wife respects the husband and loves the kids–what a peaceful home!
If everyone in the community respects one another despite the difference in religion, political views etc—it would be a peaceful place to live in.
It is our right to have a peaceful environment.
Peace must be everyone’s objective.
Valentine’s!

February 14, 2013

Wedding & Family Life

Two hearts are better than one.

“Happy Valentine’s, Ma’am!”

I smiled and greeted my officemate back. Oh, so it’s Valentine’s Day, I almost forgot. The cafeteria has plastic roses for sale. I asked the cashier if they have chocolates for sale. She said they don’t sell chocolates. The majority in our company’s workforce including me do not “celebrate” Valentine’s Day.

My best Valentine’s happened when I was in college. It was the first time I spent my Valentine’s with a boyfriend. We just invited our friends to have a group date in Mister Donut in Session Road. My then boyfriend gave me three red roses and a Valentine card. After that, our group went to Burnham Park to simply stroll. What would you expect from a group of young and penniless college students? The celebration was so simple yet we were so happy.

I was 17 at that time and I believed in fairy tales. Three years later, I celebrated Valentine’s with the same boyfriend but the happines was no longer there. Reality came in and I realized that we were just celebrating Valentine’s just for the sake of celebrating it. The love was still there but the irreconcilable differences were also very apparent. We had a Valentine photo together and my face looked old and miserable.

I celebrated Valentine’s Day just for the sake of not being left out. That thinking spilled over to my next relationship and I could feel that the pressure to please me was too much for him to bear.

The fear of being left out—it kills. It really hurts. But people who are afraid of being alone are those who have insecurity issues. In the first place, who said that Valentine’s Day is just for couples? What about the singles who want to enjoy the day? Go out and enjoy if you are one of those who celebrate Valentine’s Day. I’ll just be happy to be spending the night with my family. I may not call it Valentine’s Day but Family Day everyday!
When Being Ms. Nice Aint Good

February 7, 2013

Life & Love

After reading Ms. Joyce Burton’s (Adventures of a Beauty Queen) post about the Ms. Earth “scandal,” I realize that I have the same sentiment as Ms. Lorraine Shruck: that being polite before greedy and unrighteous people may not be the best thing to do.

A typical Filipino will just smile and keep his cool even when he feels that his rights or personal space have been violated.

Somebody cut you in the middle of a long queue–wala lang. Pagpasensyahan at baka in a hurry.

Your neighbor’s dog planted “landmines” on your yard—wala lang. Maybe the dog doesn’t mean it, you can take the dust pan and cover the poop with some sand.

Your friend or lover is late on your date— sige lang, baka na-traffic.

Some people at the office are not happy about the result of your audit and asked for a less tight tolerance—ah okay po, noted, let’s revise the audit anyway.

Being nice and polite will bring you down in the long run. For example, if you always tolerate people to cut you in the line, you tolerate others to abuse you. You tolerate that person to repeat his action to others. Other persons might think it’s okay to cut somebody in the line so they might as well adapt that “diskarte.” In the end, more people are influenced that it’s okay to be undisciplined because nobody’s correcting them anyway. You’ve just created a culture of tolerance.

At work, our integrity lies on the quality of work or service that we provide. Integrity comes with a strong-willed heart to push for what is right and not be intimidated by anyone who seems powerful. That’s the “tuwid na daan” and I remember the late Secretary Robredo said “gawin mo lang ang tama dahil sa huli, tama pa rin ang magwawagi.”

It’s okay to be impolite if being impolite means not getting intimidated by anybody over what you think is the right thing to do. It’s okay not to be a people-pleaser because in the end, ilalaglag ka rin naman ng mga yan pag pumalpak ang gusto nila. It’s okay to be a bitch sometimes. Focus on what is right and forget the people who try to influence you with their wicked decisions.
Donald Trump Jr’s Twitter Post

February 1, 2013

Life & Love

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/news/nation/8624-donald-trump-jr-causes-twitter-uproar-over-tubbataha

Okay, Donald Trump Jr., I got your point; you’re a businessman and you’re not Filipino so who are we (Filipinos) to judge you?

But you should know where we’re coming from, too. The Tubbataha Reef is one of the most remarkable coral reefs in the world; it is not just an ordinary tourist spot. Its beauty is spectacular, the habitat beneath it is vast and diverse. It is our treasure. It is our pride and it lies on Philippine seas.

I understand that it’s a stupid act to destroy a multi-million vessel just to prevent further damage of the reef. Your economy has yet to bounce back; that money could be put to more useful projects there. But we did not ask your country’s vessel to accidentally “sail” on our reef. It was an accident, yes. But damages due to accident must be compensated. The vessel destroyed something of environmental and tourism value to us.

You value the worth of your country’s vessel while we value the worth of our reef. You may never understand the feelings of the people here and vice versa when it comes to defining what is valuable and what is not.

Again, it’s all about dignity and responsibility. It’s about paying the damages done.
I Miss The Sharon-Gabby Days

January 31, 2013

That’s Entertainment

Got the video from youtube. It was Sharon’s birthday celebration with Gabby Concepcion and KC as guests. Sharon was at the prime of her HOTNESS and KC was very cute as a young girl. Looking at the video, Gabby didn’t change a bit since 1988.

My mother loved the Sharon-Gabby tandem. I remember her watching Sharon and Gabby’s movie. There’s something in their love team that’s just very charming. Their on-screen chemistry was good. I wonder who could match their loveteam in terms of following and popularity.
Thank You!

January 26, 2013

Life & Love

muchogustopanama.com

Nothing is more encouraging and envigorating than receiving a word of gratitude from somebody who received a favor from us. It makes us feel special, it makes us feel needed, it makes us feel appreciated.

The sincerity of saying “Thank you” counts better; I could cry at that. Everytime I hear my toddler say “Thank you” to me, I become emotional. You could see the happiness in his eyes for having given a toy or a favorite food. Small kids are more truthful with their emotions so I know that his gratitude is not superficial.

My husband taught me to pray before meal to thank the Lord for providing us with food. No matter what food is served on the table, the important thing is we have something to eat while a lot of people on the other side of the archipelago are going hungry because of the calamities last year.

Giving thanks to whoever and whatever makes me realize to appreciate the big things and small things in life.
My Kim and Maja

January 25, 2013

Life & Love

from tumbr

The “ahasan” issue between young stars Maja Salvador and Kim Chiu is nothing but a growing up phase in their lives. In the first place, there was no “ahasan” at all because Kim and Gerald Anderson parted ways three years before the latter found the former’s bestfriend attractive.

The question is, would it be okay to court your ex’s bestfriend? Would it be okay to fall in love with your bestfriend’s ex? Would you give your blessing to your ex and your bestfriend to fall in love?

When I was of Kim and Maja’s age, I figured in a bitter love triangle. For the purpose of anonymity, let’s call my friends Kim, Maja and Gerald. Gerald used to flirt with Kim but it was nothing but a casual flirting on his side. Kim took it seriously and hoped that their closeness would elevate to the next level. Gerald was introduced to Maja and immediately fell in love with her. Maja entertained Gerald and Kim thought that Gerald betrayed her.

Kim sought the support of some of our common friends. Some of us sided with Kim while some, with Maja. I sided with Maja because I found nothing wrong in her relationship with Gerald. Kim was just too naive to understand that Gerald never fancied her in the first place.

Maja and Gerald ended up with one another and they are now living happily. Kim has yet to meet Mr. Right. Looking back, I wished that heads were cooler and minds were more open then. I wish that I never took sides and instead became the peacemaker.

Friendship is something that’s very important to me as years are adding to my life. When feelings are hurt, it’s hard to start the friendship all over again. It’s not worth losing a true friend over some infatuation. Good thing, Gerald’s infatuation over Maja ended up in true love. But it could have been happier had everybody in our circle, including the main characters, prioritized friendship over personal happiness.