Curbside Stories

Photo from  here . "Learn to appreciate and world will appreciate your existence." It is funny why many people don't know how to appreciate.  If there is one important lesson that I have learned last year, it is to appreciate even the littlest of things. About a week ago, I had a conversation with a co-worker.  She was complaining about why she did not get the gift that she wants last Christmas and instead she got a coin purse worth 10 pesos.  She even said that even though she gets less salary, she gives expensive gifts.  I was shocked.  I don't know where her words are coming from.  I was supposed to give her a gift for doing little favors for me but when I heard her say those things, I thought she will probably not appreciate what I will give her.  I was offended. I was taken aback.  I got the same coin purse she was complaining about and I never thought that I would receive a gift from that person because I know that she has a ...

Photo from  here . Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. - Matthew 7:12 -------------------------------------- Sadly, judging other people based on their status in life, the clothes they wear, the way they speak, the food they eat, the company of friends they keep and all other criteria man has ever made, happens every time and everywhere.

Photo from  here . If you do the right thing, honesty will be your guide. But, if you will be crooked, you will be trapped by your own dishonesty. - Proverbs 11:3 ---------------------------------- I had a stressful day today. I had an investigation, together with other authorities, about a case of dishonesty... stealing a considerable amount of money. It involved one employee who's been in service for almost 10 years. It's a sad and disappointing case.  I was saddened by the fact that it involved money and an old employee. I still couldn't grasp the idea of the case. Just like the other cases we have investigated, it was of fateful discovery. I was disappointed because the person involved did not make use of the chance to defend herself. We asked her if she could explain the circumstances and yet we only received a blank face for a response. She briefly cried but I could not sense the sincerity and truthfulness of each drops of tears from her eyes.  After about three hou...

"Never let a day pass by without telling the people around you that you genuinely care." After work, my son, sister, nieces and aunt went to a restaurant for dinner. It was our aunt's gesture of kindness to us.  We had buttered shrimps, calamari,  sinigang na tanigue  and sizzling  pusit ... it was a sumptuous dinner.  After eating, while my sister is singing her favorite sone in the karaoke, my son and I went out to catch the cold breeze.  We had a little running around, his laugh was contagious.  After a while, a vehicle slowly approached the parking lot.  I noticed it was coming but my son reminded me to stay on the curbs because I might be hit by the vehicle. My son is only two years old. It was really heart warming to hear from the mouth of a child those words of genuine care. I felt the sincerity of his words. Isn't it wonderful if we hear words of care from our loved ones, friends and co-workers? Caring people give us another reason to live...

Photo from here . The parable of the fish and loaves is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Its message is simple--sharing. I am from the Philippines and I am very much aware that ever since the government announced the stay-at-home order because of the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of people have become poorer and that majority worry about their daily living. I currently live in the US and I can see the contrast between the effects of the order between a third world country and the US. I didn't worry for my family here in as much as I worried about my family and friends back in the  Philippines because we still have our jobs and we still can provide for our family. For that I am grateful. It hurts me to watch in the news that food and resources that are supposed to be for the people, land in the hands of corrupt government officials. I feel angry about a lot of people's deliberate disregard for authority and guidelines to prevent the spread of the disease. How...

Ask yourself a hundred times: "Am I ready to tie the knot? Am I ready for a lifetime commitment?" If you answer yes without any hint of doubt, go ahead. Otherwise, rethink and postpone before it is too late.

While driving to work this morning, I suddenly thought of the relationship between speed, distance and time--contemplating about how we sometimes describe distance as how fast we could get to our desired destination. It's easier for our sentimental and always longing self to accept distance as 17 hours away than 7 thousand miles away. If you are in a long distance relationship, the concept of distance tires us because its measurement seems unfathomable so we'd rather describe it in terms that has shorter limits like time in a day. In our mind when we say 17 hours away, we know that in less than day, we will be with the one we love.

I didn't let the Yuletide Season to pass without teaching my child the value of love and sharing. I have a busy schedule and I know it's the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with him.  Last December 18, we went to the relocation area of Yolanda survivors in Isla Bonita, Rosario, Cavite to give gifts to children and to give them soup to warm their stomachs. We were with other employees and their kids.  There were singing, dancing and games. Everyone was happy. Seeing smiles on their faces are so precious. I could tell from the look in my son's eyes that he learned some valuable life lessons from that experience. 

This weird looking fella landed on my knee yesterday. I immediately took notice because he has the face of a frog and the wings of a fly to match the oddly placed four legs.  I took a snap and before I could take a second look at the image, it was gone. What kind of an insect is this? I have never seen anything like it before. Regardless of its weird looks, I find it fascinating that it somehow took its time to greet me and remind me that there are things that maybe new to us and we might never fully understand its purpose, but take time to appreciate that its being new and weird or odd brought us a different experience to learn and to share.

You know you are getting older and you are oftentimes preoccupied by work when you get to appreciate the simple things in life like seeing bright lights at night, carnival rides and the most absurd thing of all--enjoying a different traffic. While enjoying the traffic yesterday, I had a little conversation with myself. I said, "Never hinder anyone from finding their own happiness." I replied, "You should talk to me more often." "I am. But you don't listen.", I answered annoyingly.

It's Holy Week and I succumb myself into watching the television with my son. I have to take this opportunity to spend the long vacation with him because I have a really busy schedule. Yesterday's show was about the 7 Last Words, the first word of Jesus Christ is what really brought me into deep reflection. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34) A married couple shared about their struggles in life. The husband was a drug addict, philander, and plainly irresponsible father. For ten years the wife endured everything but her faith and trust in the Lord did not falter. One day, the wife's prayer was answered. Her husband completely turned his back away from his old ways and sought the Lord's hands for healing.  What struck me about the couple's story is the wife's commitment to their marriage. Yes, her husband drifted away from them but she remained steadfast and loving. She was ready to forgive and forget everything...

I am close to finishing my MBA. I am going to miss this university, a lot!  Wish me luck on my last semester. God bless!

I have a lot of things to be thankful for, the first one would be I am still alive today to greet the new year. Last year was a breaking point for me, to re-think about the life I wanted to be for me and for my child. Although there were many disappointments, the blessings that were given to me are more than enough for me not to hold grudges. I got promoted, I think it was the best part. So, what will 2014 have for me... I bet, it's still the best! Happy new year to all! God bless us!

My son was born on January 18, 2008 at around 10:15 PM via Caesarian Section. He weighed 7.9 pounds, pretty large boy.  After five years, I could still vividly remember the first time I held him when the doctor put him on my chest when he came out. I was still at the operating room. I was groggy because of anesthesia, but, I could still remember his loud cry, his pinkish and wrinkly skin, and his angelic face. He is such a darling! He is my life and the only person who brings constant happiness in my life.

I don't know about you but whenever I am stressed, I go to a different place. It is not necessarily a far place, just a different ambiance or away from the source of the stress.

There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, there will be dismay among nations in their confusion over the roaring of the sea and surging waves. The planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken, causing people to faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world. Then they will see the Human One coming on a cloud with power and great splendor. Now when these things happen, stand up straight and raise your heads, because your redemption is near. Luke 21:25-28 Take care that your hearts aren't dulled by drinking parties, drunkenness, and the anxieties of day-to-day life. Don't let that day fall upon you unexpectedly, like a trap. It will come upon everyone who lives on the face of the whole earth. Stay alert at all times, praying that you are strong enough to escape everything that is about to happen and to stand before the Human One. Luke 21:34-36 Are we prepared for the second coming of Christ?  That was the question ...

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." - Nelson Mandela Well, my Managerial Accounting subject is not yet officially over since we still have classes on Saturday and I still have to pass my take home final exam. But, I am pretty sure (my confidence level is at its peak) that I will move on to the next chapter of my MBA... Information Management System. The moment that I learned that I will have an accounting course, butterflies immediately went fluttering into my stomach. It reminded me of the days when my least liked subject was Accounting 101. Looking back to my experience, the frequent basic accounting I meet everyday at work and the cold and clammy feeling I get while reporting process costing and budgeting... I can say that you can never really escape from your fears. Face your fears. Face them more often until you feel you are not afraid an...

"Each day is a special gift from God, and while life may not always be fair, you must never allow the pains, hurdles and handicaps of the moment to poison your attitude and plans for yourself and your future. You can never win when you wear the ugly cloak of self-pity and the sour sound of whining will certainly frighten away any opportunity for success." "You will achieve grand dream a day at a time, so set goals for each day, not long and difficult projects, but chores that will take you, step by step, toward your rainbow. Write them down if you must, but limit your list so that you won't have to drag today's undone matters into tomorrow. Remember that you cannot build a pyramid in twenty-four hours. Be patient. Never allow your day to become cluttered that you neglect your most important goal--to do the best you can, enjoys this day, and rest satisfied with what you have accomplished." "Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on the ext...

I am reading my Money, Credit and Banking book when I suddenly remembered that once upon a time I was known and being called as Row 6, Seat 2. It was how our Accounting 101 teacher would call me when I was in 3rd year high school. It seems as if it is impossible for her to memorize all our names in one school year. When I was in 4th year, I am Row 1, Seat 7. But it was Row 6, Seat 2 that made a whole lot of impact during my adolescent period. It was my first time to call all the possible saints I know to pray for me so that I may not be called for a recitation. It was the first time that official receipts, vouchers, debit, credit and balance sheets mattered to me.

I was writing my schedule for November and while doing so, I feel so overwhelmed at how busy I will be in the remaining months of 2012. I am glad that my monthly planner has inspirational and motivational quotes to remind me that being busy means more blessings and more opportunities to serve.  And this quote is indeed true: doubters will not achieve any, don't expect skeptics to contribute something and cynics will not create but instead ruin you and your relationship with others.