The only constant in this world is CHANGE

It’s a cliche and we can hear it everywhere. Whenever there’s change, our option is to live with the change or stay away with the change.

Change does happen everyday and we can’t avoid it. It can be a change in plan, direction, ordered menu in a resto, – a change of mind.

People change – their dreams, attitudes, life’s direction, function, perception, relationship, job, interest and the like. People may change by circumstance or because of self-realization. Others are just simply inspired to change and some because God touched their hearts.

Business change – directions, plans, management, business-model, and even business name or branding. A business that doesn’t change in any way is at risk.

Places change – either through the initiative of the people living in it or naturally changed by the weather.

Many times change makes us feel uncomfortable, we loss our focus, we feel disappointed. It is difficult for us to adjust and move away from the things that we were used to. Some times, we even tend to stop the change. However, most of the time, we don’t have a choice but to accept the change.

Whenever we encounter or we need any change in our life, we have to face it. Regardless if it appears to us as a negative change, we have to see the good side of it and ENJOY the change.

Perhaps, it’s best to write the greatness and love of God for us for the rest of the year. A lot of things happened – good and bad. Some made us feel better and others even bitter. But the best thing is that He allowed us to be excited again and look forward for another year.

Personally, I had a lot of memorable and remarkable experience like being “holdap”, owning and losing a laptop, receiving a joypad tablet, travelling to Palawan, hospitalization and operation, strong typhoons, successful and failed project implementation, positive and negative feedback, new business opportunities, meeting new friends and reunion with old ones, being stable and shaky,  stormy yet colorful life.

2011 has taught me a lot things like

anything we possess here on earth will be gone anytime;

relationship matters – at home, at work, in the society;

be assertive and firm;

the value of patience and perseverance;

failing doesn’t mean it’s the end, rather it’s a start of a success;

if you succeed, the first people who should feel it is your family and loved ones;

look back and thank the people who molded you to where you are now;

thank God in everything and trust Him in His plans for us.

 

All in all, 2011 is another great year of smiles, adventures, trials and success. All glory and honor to our loving God for never failing to whisper how much He cares and how wonderful is His plans for us whenever we stumble down. A happy year-end everyone and looking forward for a blessed 2012.

I even thought of just disturbing the driver and take over the steering wheel and just bump the car while in the U-Turn. However, I can’t find any police on duty who could possibly respond and help me.

They dropped the guy sitting in front to withdraw while we are moving back and forth to the same U-turn slots until the guy was able to check if the PIN that I provided is correct and maybe attempted withdraw. The guy was picked up again back to cab to report how much he got. Unfortunately, since this account has very minimal amount they forced me to give the PIN of the other ATM card that they got. I really don’t want to give them the PIN. My fear is that if I don’t give the PIN, they might bring me somewhere. True indeed, they drove me until QC circle (thank God, they went back to Quezon Ave. I thought, they’re bringing to Fairview/Bulacan area) ’til I gave the PIN. Back to Quezon Ave., they found a bank where they can withdraw so they left the guy again while they are driving me around Quezon Ave.
I felt to weak already and just entrusted everything to God. My back is aching, can’t speak loudly anymore, heavily sweating. After three turns, they picked up the guy again after withdrawing all my money in my account and continued to drive while telling me, “Pag baba po ninyo, huwag na huwag kayong lilingon. May back up kaming sumusunod. Pag lumingon kayo, papatayin na kayo non. Ito po ang bag nyo, ilagay nyo dyan ‘yang wallet nyo para di kayo halatang na-holdap.” While me begging, “Ibaba nyo na po ako. Pahingi na lang po ‘yang black na box (I was referring to my external drive). Sa trababaho ko po ‘yan. Mawawalan ako ng trabaho pag nawala ‘yan”. Then they asked, “Ano ba ‘tong box na ‘to?” So I explained, “files ko lang po ‘yan sa trabaho.” Thank God again, they hand me the hard drive and gave me Php100 (for my fare) and turn right in a street going to ABS-CBN and turn left to ELJ Ave. (if I’m not mistaken) going to EDSA (right beside MRT station).

While they continuously reminding me not to look back once they drop me nor  ask for help once they drop me. We went out to EDSA right after MRT station (going south). From there, they look for a space with no people walking in a building where there is no security guard, there is a gate going in right after John Robert Powers, more or less 100 meters away from Shell and Jollibee Sct. Borromeo. There, the left me trembling, feeling so weak, and don’t know what to do. Feeling scared that if I seek for help, the “back up” that they’re referring to will just shoot me and leave me dead. After almost a minute, I attempted to look at the plate number of the cab. It looks like TVW 503 or TVW 508. It wasn’t really clear at all.

Then, I tried to wave my hand to a bus, with no luck it didn’t stop. Looking south and north, I run Jollibee and cried for help so that I can call Bryan and my house mates. Thanks to the manager, he allowed me to use the telephone and was able to call home. While crying trembling, shaking, I waited for them to pick me up and bring me home. Thanks to Ate Via, Ate Brendz, Ate Anna and Irish. While Bryan rushed to the apartment and waited for us too. With everyone, thanking that I’m safe and alive after more than two hours of miserable life.

After almost an hour of rest and comfort, we decided to go to the Greenhills police to report the incident. Whew! This is an even more frustrating part. After initially telling the story, they brought us to the headquarter in San Juan for the Police Report. Guess what the police officer told us, “San ba banda nag-declare ng holdap? Kung sa tapat ng Kamay Kainan (me telling: tapat po ng Audi or Porsche showroom na po) … Ah sa Mandaluyong na ito. Dapat doon kayo magpa-imbestiga.”

After a quite long discussion, that’s the only time he  took my statement. After telling the whole story, the Police officer said, “Endorse ko kayo sa investigator” and brought us in the investigator’s desk near the jail (oh no!). The investigator asked me again what happened (for the third time I have to relay everything over and over again). Feeling weak and tired, we just decided to go home and take some rest.

What a horrible experience. ‘Til now I still feel scared, feeling paranoid whenever I go out and travel. Every day, every time I wake up, my dilemma  is, “how will I go to work? Which way should I take? What to ride? and so on.”

Please help me pray for my fast recovery. I need peace of mind. Thanks to my housemates and my colleagues for cheering me up and understanding, thanks also to Bryan for taking care of me, for the company and for patiently listening to my fears and for comforting me. Most of all, thanks to our powerful God who protected me from the hands of those people (they need God’s grace to change) and for giving me “second life” here on earth.

I normally take a cab when I  bring my laptop, so I took a cab in Annapolis St., Greenhills last Oct. 15 at 7:30pm. I told the taxi driver, “Manong, I’m going to _____”. After locking the door, the driver said, “Ms. medyo malambot ang gulong ko sa kanan”. I just ignored him then he said, “Lipat ka po sa kaliwa”. Since I’m confident and comfortable riding a cab in the area, I moved to the left side of the cab.

Since traffic in Annapolis is moving slow, we turned right in Missouri St. then left to Connecticut, going to EDSA. I didn’t stop the driver to take that route, since I normally take that way when traffic is heavy. As we drive to EDSA, we should be taking Ortigas flyover, but the driver continues to the U-turn slot lane so I asked, “Manong, bakit dito tayo? Dapat sa flyover.” After my last word, two guys entered the car – one sat in front near the driver, the other grabbed me, held me tight while the driving saying “Ma’am, pasensya na po. Nasa hospital ang asawa ng kasama ko. Kailangan lang namin ng pera.” while me, shouting, trying to get out from the grip of the other guy who smells so bad.

While trying to fight the holdapers telling them to just take my money (I hand them my wallet) and just allow me to alight the cab, my phone rang (it was Bryan, my boyfriend calling). I answered, “Mahal, holdaper!”(my mistake), while the bad guys try to stop me from talking and telling “ibigay mo na sa amin ‘yan kung ayaw mong masaktan.” They even told me, “Ma’am, huwag po kayong makulit. Tumahimik na po kayo. Tutusukin ko na kayo eh!”

While the cab is moving (took Ortigas u-turn), the driver is instructing the guy in front to check my wallet. While asking me, how much cash do I have. “May sengkwenta mil (50,000) or 100 libo ba kayo dyan?”  They even ask, kind of cards are those in my wallet, do I have credit card (fortunately, I don’t have), atm, etc. When they found my ATM cards, they started asking the PIN and telling me, “Ma’am, kung ayaw nyo pong masaktan, sundin nyo lang lahat ng sasabihin namin. Kailangan lang namin ng pera. Ibababa rin namin kayo”. We keep moving through, Ortigas U-turn, EDSA, then Santolan U-Turn back and port (take note Santolan U-turn is in front of Camp Crame and no police is stationed in the area). I was looking around, hoping to find someone in authority to rescue me if I attempt to shout and fight the holdapers. Unfortunately, no security officer is in the area. I felt so hopeless. I just prayed ” Lord, am I dying tonight? Please, Lord huwag muna…”

I told them, “Php ____ lang po pera ko. Di po ako mayaman. Kunin nyo na po ang lahat ng pera ko. Basta ibaba nyo na po ako.” They keep asking, how much money do I have and insisted to ask the PIN of my ATM. With my fear, I told the PIN of one my ATM that has very minimal amount. They even told me “Pag mali ang PIN na binigay mo, masasaktan ka. Siguraduhin mong tama ito.” Then they drove to Santolan flyover going to Cubao.

It was a heavy traffic Saturday night. I am hoping to have chance to seek for help from the other drivers in the vehicles beside us. However, every time I attempt to raise or wave my hand, the guy holding me presses me down and tells me. “Bubulagin na kita. Spray-han na kita ng gamot para makatulog ka. Sasabuyan na kita ng asido. Huwag kang makulit.”

With all my fear, I behaved and just waited for them to just drop me somewhere as they promised since I’ve already given the ATM PIN.

….I’ll continue the horrible story. I haven’t even gone half.

Continuation… click here

I’ve been so busy lately, for a year? (haha!)  that I didn’t have time to post much stuff on my blog. But now, circumstance calls my attention back to blogging. So guys, make sure you’ve subscribed to my rss feeds. Starting today, I’ll make sure I allot time to write what’s on my mind, share some ideas, and post some crazy and fun stuff.

Happy Reading!

This happens many times in our daily communication with different people around in different media – conversation, tweet, shout out, blog, call, chat and other forms. Many times when we talk much, we already speak curse instead of blessings; pain instead of happiness; hatred instead of forgiveness; problem instead of solution.

At times we talk less, we are often misunderstood because people around may not get what we really want to convey.

Therefore, be careful with every word we say – less or more, because WORDS are POWERFUL.

Maybe…God wanted us to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

Maybe…when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, oftentimes we look so long at the closed door that we don’t even see the new one which has been opened for us.

Maybe…it is true that we don’t know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we don’t know what we have been missing until it arrives.

Maybe…the happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Maybe…the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can’t go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.

Maybe…you should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of and want to do.

Maybe…there are moments in life when you miss someone – a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child — so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real.

Maybe…the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had.

Maybe…you should always try to put yourself in others’ shoes. If you feel that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person too.

Maybe…you should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone.

Maybe…giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don’t expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn’t, be content that it grew in yours.

Maybe…happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.

Maybe…you shouldn’t go for looks; they can deceive; Don’t go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

Maybe…you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy.

And the last maybe…..when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Maybe…you should try to live your life so that when you die, you are the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying…

We may be uncertain on what are the reasons behind everything that happens in our life, what’s more important is our attitude towards it.

While listening to his inaugural speech last June 30, understanding every lines that he’s saying to the Filipino people and the rest of the world, what’s on my mind is “let’s see if you can stand on your words and turn them into reality”. Pres. Noynoy mentioned about the no-corrupt governance, prohibition of “wang-wang”, equality of opportunity, justice, responsive agencies, emergency employment, stop corruption in BIR,  a better life in the Philippines and more. Promises that most of the past presidents has given; promises that lost the trust of the people to the government.

Noynoy is now the 15th President and I would admit that I really doubt if he can fulfill all those promises during his inauguration. However, despite of that doubt, I am still hopeful that through his leadership something good will happen to our nation. That is, if we  the Filipino people will have to agree that the realization of all those plans and platforms will be through our support – a collaborative effort of the officers, the police and military, the legislators, the businessmen, the parents, the youth, and everyone else.

I didn’t vote for P’Noy. But I will support his government in my little own way or another. I hope everyone will do the same.

The Inaugural Speech of President Noynoy Aquino

Why do many of us do this? Simply because of our desire to be accepted, be loved, be part of the group and other reasons. We also try to avoid fights, grudges, pain, arguments, disagreements, misunderstanding and the like.

However, no matter how hard we try, people still get hurt. No matter how tactful we are; no matter how caring and sincere we are; no matter how we try to protect our relationship with other people, we can never avoid misunderstanding and appear to be bias . There’s even worse, we are adjudged as someone else.

Some times the more we try to please everyone, the more relationships are destroyed; the more issues come out, the more misunderstanding we get into, the more pain others feel, the more trust are broken and the more egos getting hurt.

We really can’t please everyone because we are PEOPLE. Our individual differences – our beliefs and perceptions, our values and characters, our priorities and everything within us, always contradicts with one or another. That no matter how much effort we exert to keep all the relationships that we have in the society that we live, we will always come out as unpleasing to someone else and may lead to a broken relationship.

It’s really hard to please everyone. What matters is that we know which relationships are really important to us. With that, we know whom we will share enough time and exert effort; we know what relationship are worth keeping and worth protecting.

Therefore, at times we are misunderstood, ignored and adjudged for trying to be that someone pleasing to everyone, it’s time to remind ourselves that trying to PLEASE EVERYONE is PLEASING NO ONE.

Falling leaf from the blog, Does “Almost Fall” count as a favorite season?"

When the LEAF falls to the ground, whose fault is it? Is it the wind that blew it? Is it the branch that let it go? Or is it the leaf that didn’t hold tight?”

This started in a conversation with a friend while walking out of the MRT station. We are havin’ a girl talk and I told her, I hope this time, “he” won’t do the same thing as “this guy” did. So she started sharing an analogy about the fallen leaf that led it to a discussion about life at work, at home and in a relationship.

When a leaf falls, no one’s to be blamed because it happens naturally. Same thing at work. When an employee leaves, who’s fault is it? Is it the employee who is not happy or is not performing a good job? Is it the boss who neglected the employee and didn’t give him a good direction? (even employees who are properly paid and taken cared of leaves) Is it the new company who hired the employee?

Same applies to people who come and go in our life. Some are just like leaf who are blown by the wind and just fell and stocked on another tree’s branch. That leaf won’t stay there forever it will just stay for a while and when a bird step on it or the wind blow again, it falls to the ground.

Even the leaf that grow in our own trees. The leaf is ours for some time – it serves as producer of food for the tree’s growth; it gives shelter to people and to the birds. But after leaf fulfills its purpose, it falls to the ground. When people comes to our lives, they play different roles – big and small. Some just make us smile; some picks us up on the ground; some listen attentively and comfort us; some fill the empty space in our heart; some help us to change and be a better person; some teaches us how to love. However, whatever role they play, time will come like the leaves of the tree, they fall in the ground – these people leave.

When a leaf falls, when someone leaves, whose fault is it? Don’t blame anybody. Why? simply because it happens naturally.