Read all About It: Pork Barrel Scam

You've got the words to change a nation, but you're biting your tongue
You've spent a life time stuck in silence, afraid you'll say something wrong 

If no one ever hears it how we gonna learn your song
So come on ,come on...Come on, come on

You've got a heart as loud as lions, So why let your voice be tamed?
Baby we're a little different, there's no need to be ashamed
You've got the light to fight the shadows, so stop hiding it away

Come on, Come on

I wanna sing, I wanna shout. I wanna scream till the words dry out
so put it in all of the papers, i'm not afraid. they can read all about it. read all about it oh

Song exercpt from: Read All About It - Emeli Sande

That song is dedicated to all the people who are speaking out about our current SYSTEM.

[ you can listen to it as a background music: Read All About It]

I've read a lot about the PORK BARREL SCAM lately. And from these blogs:  MOMANDPOP and DULZSPEAKS

We all know, that the news is not "NEW". We knew all along our tax are being used that way, but I guess those anonymous comments that gave those mindblowing figures and with rationale made us even go wide-eyed, wide-mouthed, heavens worthy of a shock.

 But here's a view of Social Transformation (which is what I see .... that is happening to our country now).... 

This metamorphosis of the caterpillar or worm to a butterfly is a powerful metaphor for societal transformation.  The people who awake to the new possibilities are like the imaginal cells of their own society. The process of societal transformation starts with the emergence of these individuals who carry with them the seeds of the future. They are "imaginal" in that they carry in their innovation an aspect of the image of the future of their society. These innovative individuals, these bearers of the future become the "deviants" of their own society. They are not recognized as the bringers of good. Rather they are attacked as disturbers of the present, destroyers of self-defeating habits of the old society (the caterpillar) which has been superficially framed as the "good life". In extreme cases, they can be killed. Kennedy, King, Gandhi, Rizal, Bonifacio, Javier, Aquino, and others were killed because they were too dangerous to the system. The auto-immune response of the old society tries to get rid of these visionaries." - Butterfly Effect, Nicanor Perlas

For a background of the "Butterfly Effect" please click on this link --> Butterfly Effect 

My initial reaction to the information given out by them anonymous... was of course.. ANGER.

It made people go screaming mad, some were giving out hopeless comments, that it is the way it is... and all that shizznit... and we cannot do anything about it.

Zilch. Nada. Let's just keep paying our taxes while they go spend the money or sit on it with their stinkin ass and let them go buy that luxury car or that luxury unit next door while the rest of the working class, keep providing for them and while most of our brothers and sisters still live in shantys and we continue to disempower them.

Well, it's a system that has been going on for years.. and if you've read the blog... if we wanna go "due process", our laws were made to protect people just like them.

And we can't possibly do another People Power... because folks.. it's insane to keep and do the same things over and over again and expecting different results.

So too in society at large. We see chaos all around. We can respond in two ways. We can complain and dis-empower ourselves with a sense of hopelessness. Or we can see this as an external symptom that the old order is collapsing and waiting to be transformed into a level of complexity and order. - The Butterfly Effect,  Nicanor Perlas

There are actually two ways to go about it.... (aside from the fact... that we can just sit back and live our own life).
 

FIRST OPTION: The Revolution.
Create different groups.

Ask everyone not to pay taxes. Call on the support of the police officials who are fed up of the system. Military officials who will drop their guns against us and pointed to them corrupt..
One group as mercenaries to assassinate all the corrupt bloodlines and leave no one behind (Wow, just like them dark wars).

Then create a different take over group.  One that carries the voice of the multitude..... now who would that be, would be a whole huge debacle. As we overthrow a system... what would ensure us that the system we place would be the perfect system.... etc.. and many other complications will rise from this. Whuddunit. Bright minds should gather and think about how to go through it seamlessly. And how do you know those underground plans wouldn't be filled with various snakes who can rat against you?

However noble the cause.... revolutions.... that can turn out bloody... cannot be our foundation for a new society that we envision.... for the system that we envision...

SECOND OPTION: Peace is the Way - Butterfly Effect

Well, we have to accept the fact that War cannot drive out War. And that HATE cannot drive out HATE. Only peace is the way.... and only love can drive out hate. only light.. can drive out darkness.

and you can say.. yadda yadda. What is peace to the multitude that is suffering? Yadda Yadda.. how can you say that while the rest of the country are starving? And thats just another bunch of "feel-good" theory.

But, my dear friends.... this is scientifically proven... and in the City that I am living in... we are reaping the results as more and more of us... "USE THIS WAY".

For a background of the "Butterfly Effect" please click on this link --> Butterfly Effect



We can all do this wherever we are..... situated... whether you are a government official genuinely wanting to serve our nation, a student, a mother, a teacher, a farmer, a lover, a healer, a gasoline boy, and insert all kinds of people.....

#1 -  Envision the kind of Philippines you want to live in. How do you see our politicians? How do you see our system? How do you envision the grandest version of Philippines? Do we see ourselves rising and becoming the Tiger of Asia... how do you envision progress? Would you want it sustainable? Go wild. Visualize the kind of Philippines you want to live in..... what are the values that we would carry as a NATION? Are we living up to our PREAMBLE ? (we have one of the best preambles by the way...)

#2 - In your own little way, what can you do ..... that can aid and support this vision? What initiatives will you take on... to address the challenges that we are facing today?

#3 - Connect with individuals who are doing "heart-based" work for our country, for their own city.... and learn from them.. or invite them to work with you....

#4 - Keep in touch with CHANGE AGENTS. People who are willing to go off the beaten path... back to being - what is true in our NATURE. Our Nature as Human Beings on this planet... as caretakers... and a brother's keeper.

#5 - Say these ... 4 positive phrases that work over and over again in your mind like a tape recorder whenever you are not doing anything: I love you, I am Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Thank you. :)

There is another aspect of the butterfly that moves us from the realm of metaphor to the realm of science. There is the so-called "butterfly effect" of the new science of complexity. We often hear how the flap of a butterfly's wings can influence weather patterns around the world. Small changes, if properly situated, can cascade and have large scale effects.

In 1969 Margaret Mead said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has". She never imagined that barely a decade later her historical analysis would receive empirical support from natural studies in the form of the new science of complexity. - The Butterfly Effect, Nicanor Perlas

Doing all these.. is not easy. It takes courage to.... do what WORKS for everybody. It takes courage to deviate from things that are normal... to going back to our natural state.

I tell you this path... Option #2... is the hardest part.  The easiest part is not to care.. and not participate.. it's also very easy to be evil. For people who stick to evil deeds are the ones who aren't courageous enough to answer the call that their hearts are saying....... but the bravest people I know.. are those people who would FIGHT and STICK TO THE VISION OF THE KIND OF PHILIPPINES WE WANT TO HAVE... and the VALUES that we CARRY as FILIPINOS.

I have high hopes. :) Because, everyday, I meet people who are in the realm of bringing in positive changes, and awesome sustainable solutions to the challenges we have today.
And yes, the old worm cells, will try to eat away.... the imaginal cells... but... let's carry on and keep transmuting everyone... and activate their Imaginal Self....

Carry on. Spread the Love... Give the Love around. :)

The Bees

I would never forget this line when I watched the movie "The Happening".... or was it "Knowing"? I forgot which movie but it was this line that caught my attention:

"If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live."

Einstein said that. And I believe it to be true. It was also re-affirmed by the years of work by Rudolf Steiner.

And the growing concern that the bees population is a huge problem.

It is believed that the bees are responsible for 75% of the crops to produce, because they need pollinators. They cause the flowers to prouce, seeds, grains, fruits and vegetables. Without the bees, there would be no mangoes, apples, cherries, strawberries, honey..... and our livestock produce would suffer too, because they can't eat grass.... and so goes the cycle.

To put it simply, without the bees, the human race would be next to be extinct.

There's also the problem that the bees are pollinating plants that are GMOs, and all the chemicals and pesticides used in farm crops. That's why they are having problems with the bee population.....

Why am I sharing this now? Because, just today a swarm of bees came to our house, turns out they have a previous hive somewhere here and a colony plans to stay here for the moment..... and original thought would be, to exterminate them and that they are pests... but no, they are not.

so, please please.... let's live with them... we are supposed to have a coexitsting relationship with them.

Kudos to all Bee Keepers I know, Mr Nicanor Perlas (Iloilo) and Tito Leo Avila.

also check my post about the symbol "BEES" bring: The Swarm

For more info:

2012: Changes and Issues

A lot of things has been emerging around the world today. Everybody knows 2012 is bringing something... to some it can be cataclysmic to others it will be glorious.

With the rise of the information technology..... you get different views from different people. I've been on a hunt as to what 2012 will bring for the past few months... What will happen at the end of this year? Will it be devastating?

But, as I searched and I searched I stumbled onto so many issues... that if I would have stayed in my pretty little bubble, I wouldn't have known about what is going on. I have given up the usual 7pm news 2 years ago and all the big media corporations because I know they are one form of "programming" the ones in "POWER" want us to be in. Media is focusing on issues that are irrelevant.... they keep us blind to what is really happening in the world.

Of course, searching online you also have to be cautious. Because, not everything you see, hear or read about are entirely true. However, I am very grateful that "alternative media" are already sprouting. Giving us information that is not available in mainstream media.

So, what are the pressing issues I stumbled upon?

• Civil Society - Last year, I was following the "Occupy Movement" which got their inspiration from the "Arab Spring". It went from "Occupy Wall Street to Occupy Philippines, Occupy Earth, Occupy the Future to Occupy your Heart". It's amazing how our mainstream media is not talking about this... This was launched by the group Anonymous and a lot of things/groups/organizations sprang forth. But, one needs to find balance in protesting peacefully in the streets. So, a group of people are currently creating and starting initiatives that will sustain us in the future. Whenever I watch the videos of the Occupy Movement, I get mixed emotions... from rage to the 1% and the feeling of hope. Although, in the end.... I know that emotions that comes from love would be 100% times more powerful than rage.
• Information Technology - With the rise of the machines, currently humans are making the "last machine to be invented by humans." If it will be invented... we will be deemed useless. And you can see it rising already. If we lose our humanity by treating people like machines.... then it wouldn't be LIFE at all. You can be amazed how some scientists are so advanced mentally that they begin to think "technology is everything". It will be another Atlantis. -_-
• Internet - with the proposed SOPA/ACTA which censors our freedom of speech.... by merely posting a youtube video or music by a labeled artist, we could be sued and imprisoned for 50 years. 
• Unfair Laws - more and more laws that violates human rights are being passed. US Pres. Obama just signed NDAA last 2011. NDAA states that people can be imprisoned and tortured without due process, foreigners or civilians. Now, what if you were caught under the law of SOPA/ACTA and be under U.S. soil? -_- And the on going debate here in the Philippines about RH Bill and what not.
• Environment - Climate Change. Global Warming to Sustainable Ecology. Solar Power. Coal-Fired Plant. Mining. Landslides. Flood.The debate goes on. Just follow Greenpeace, and other green advocaies.
• Healthcare - Also, earlier last year I saw an issue about EU banning alternative healthcare such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic, and all those ancient healing traditions and will force you to only take "allopathic medicine". Alternative healthcare will be illegal
• Economics - Actually the Occupy Movement tackled about issues in economics. How the money of the world is controlled by the 1%. And how more and more people are in debt due to unfair practices. And yeah the economy of other countries specially the super powers are tethering to the edge and they will create havoc to regain the power back.
• Hyper Consumption - with the rise of various malls as "ground zero for materialism", people are lured into the world of consumerism. You have to buy this and that....  
• Energy - Coal-fired power plants. Nuclear plants. Increasing demand of energy and they need to bastardize the Earth to get it. For what? For money. o_O. And the suppression of the technology of Free Energy.
• Values - what do we value now? It seems like people value money over people. To have more. Our society programs our people through print, tv ads, and with entertainers. We pay entertainers much more than we do our noble professions - such as educators... and priests...

And the list goes on... there are so many issues around.... locally and globally.
Which goes to show.. that 2012 is the moment where we are at the crossroads. Where humanity will choose which side to move forward to.

The old ways are clearly not working. All large institutions are going through changes and transitions (economics, politics). There are so many things happening... internally (within each one of us) and externally (polar shift and galactic alignment).... time seems to fly by.....

with all my search... I think nobody really knows what will happen on 2012. The people in POWER (1%) got their own schemes on how to keep their money and power....
All i know is that we need to be prepared... not out of fear.... but out of love. How?

 

Photo Source: heavenlypage.tumblr.com →

By going back to yourself... listen to your heart.... listen to your inner voice. Follow your intuition. Ask for divine guidance..... Stay grounded, connected to Mother Earth, always do clearing and before going out of your home... "shield yourself".

There will be lots of changes... local ones... devastating sometimes... sometimes giving us hope.... This is an intense year..... and everyone feels it....
whether it will be a challenging one for you or something glorious... it is up to you....

all i know is that the community I am in is gearing towards a sustainable future, something that starts with personal mastery...... and to tap into our Creative Self that is hibernating or sometimes covered by our "programmed self".....

should you want to connect with a community.... do tell me... I can suggest a few available in your city. :)

Wabi Sabi Life and Love

I was intrigued by this term when I read an article by Arielle Ford and it turns out she's writing a book about it called "Wabi Sabi Love".

Okay, you might ask... what? Wasabi what? Isn't that the super hot green paste Japanese seems to love?

No, It's Wabi Sabi.....

What is Wabi Sabi?

"Wabi Sabi is the ancient Japanese art form of finding perfection and beauty in imperfection."

Isn't that just wonderful?

Photo Source: Perfectly Amiss

They have even arts dedicated for that... thus the popular term Wabi Sabi Art...

Now, I suddenly remembered the basic principle of Ikebana, when I attended a mini workshop with Lady Tirol (the Japanese art of flower arrangement) ... which is somewhat related to this.. because one of the founding principles of Ikebana is to let "nature" be. Meaning, if this certain flower got a wilted leaf on it... one just allows it because it's nature. So, they don't usually recommend taking the wilted leaf and they say it's part of the beauty of Ikebana.

I am just impressed and very inspired with how rich the Japanese arts are. I just love how their teachings on Wabi Sabi and Ikebana incorporates life and nature. And how life can be interconnected to art...

and not just that... how Wabi Sabi can be adopted as a way of life and love... the beauty of nature and simplicity... this also teaches how to be in the moment... to accept things the way they are and appreciate them instead of seeing all the things we don't want and the imperfections all around us. and it also helps us become more aware of what we deem of as imperfect... may it be the weight, the pimples, the warts, the unwanted fats in certain body parts, the eyes, the nose, the skin.... and accept them... being comfortable in our own skin...

so yeah...

with Wabi Sabi life and love,

Liberty/Tina

Fabulous 2011

So long 2010... and Hello 2011!

2010 was a great year for me!

And even up to the last day... 2010 gave me one eye-opening experience... and I learned something about myself. That with everything I have gone through, I still do get scared and I have a lot of doubts in my mind - STILL. I also realized the mind is powerful but not as majestic as the heart. That the mind still relies on what you feel. And that what you feel does the rest of the job. What a work it is... to really get out of my mind and come to my senses..... what a greater work to get out of my box..... Arrrgghhh... that it's easier to post a status message over at Facebook than actually doing it. But, hey... just because I posted it.. doesn't mean I am already there.. I posted it because I needed the reminder. That was my year-end drama... now I have one last chance na lang daw. Booohooo. Pass this Tina... transform transform...


And I am even looking forward for a fabulous 2011.


(I have always planned to post a 2010 checklist but I guess I will have to post it later).

Meanwhile for my blog ritual... Imma post what I shall be having

This year.... is going to be a fabulous one for me!

I am choosing to do wonderful, unexpected things.
I choose to be more kinder...
I choose to be progressive and not procrastinate (Go Crown Ambassador!)
I choose to be a better woman inside and out...
I choose to stop running away (i almost attempted that just recently. ego still soooo strong.)
and with that....
I choose to tame and befriend my ego...

I choose to face all fears with confidence.. (GO TINA!!!)
I choose to see the beauty of the sunset..
I choose to have a "PERFECT DAY" once a month. =)
I choose to think out-of-the-box (Think RANCHO!!!)

I choose to focus on what I want and not by thinking what others might say...
I choose to surprise people - in a good, fun way. :)
I choose to be more cheerful and more charitable.... specially to the people I have judgments with.

I choose to be more adventurous (Gooooo extreme sports! HAHA!)
I choose to be fit slim and healthy as I can be for me and my family! (Sign up na TINA!)
I choose to lose the excess weight that does not serve me for the past couple of months! :)
I choose to be open to changes...
I choose to be more relaxed and beautiful...

I choose to go to even more places in the world I have never been before..
I choose to be more patient to people I do not like..
I choose to be the best girlfriend ever! *hearts&flowers*
I choose to have no obstacles... only challenges and opportunities to learn. :)

I choose to focus on more wonderful things about every person I meet.... =)
I choose to simply savor love and life... =)
I choose to stay awake more...
I choose to be more outgoing and free spirited...

I choose to change the world in my own little way...
I choose to not be weary in doing good...
I choose to lovingly serve everyone I meet... (just stay awake Tina!)


HAPPY FABULOUS NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU, my dear Friends.... =)



Cheers for a wonderful 2011!



Let's keep our vision and make this world a better place!

Stop and Surrender

Now, I stopped trying to control events, and just trust and have faith that everything will fall into a natural order, one that works.

you know the popular saying:


(via heymrblue)

so... yeah. and that the good thing about things falling apart, is that you can choose to pick up which pieces you want to have in your life.

I'm just resting while a power much greater than me takes over. :) (thinking about rest, makes me want to go have a massage!!!! i BADLY NEED ONE! maybe mamaya before i go to sleep.)

but, but, i have to get back on track. I have a "challenge", I'm working out on..... some goal.. which I will reveal as soon as I ACHIEVE it. it's in my PRIORITY FOLDER.

The recent uhmmm experience I had, I mentioned was terrible, right? It almost shattered a belief, that I keep holding on to... but, then... my angels are always around to keep me back on track. I have always believed that you need not a lot of pain and suffering to grow. Because, Jesus said: "It is finished". But, of course... you have a choice to go through all that. And like many gurus would say: "There are many paths to the mountain top."

I've always believed that Love operates on a win-mode. Being successful in life need not have a lot of negative tension involved, and that we don't really have to struggle all the time.

So... I surrender and just love. :) It's like I'm melting into another world. Some may call it a fantasy, but sometimes the truth can seem like a fantasy. Of course, I still have a feet on both worlds. And someone taught me how to take the rose-colored glasses off, if necessary. And, I did.

They say the world changes, when we change. It reflects back to us what we have been giving all along. It softens when we soften. It opens when we open our hearts.

It's this moment when LOVE matters more than anything. Not psychology, not neurosis. Just Love. That warm feeling, that despite all those broken promises, shattered dreams, half truths, hostility, you found a way to stop fighting the world... and let things be.

There'd be moments I may forget, but that's part of our journey....

*spreads the love to y`all*

peace IN! (haha. trying to be cool, eh?)

Absolute Vulnerability

Even heroes have "vulnerable moments".

Despite the superpowers and psychic abilities they have... they are human too.


Adrian Tranquili a sculptor shows us the scarcely seen, vulnerable side of our Super Heroes.

Although the outside battles are equally riveting... it is the inner battle that matters most. In Spiderman 3: "The Battle Lies Within".

Everyone can relate to them because it is not just the super heroes who goes through this.

And according to Socrates of the movie "Peaceful Warrior" based on the best selling book The Way of A Peaceful Warrior:

A warrior is not about perfection or victory or invulnerability. He's about ABSOLUTE VULNERABILITY.

And in those moments.... we allow ourselves to be human.....



So... if you are going through something..... always mind the battles within.... because they are the ones that matters most. As within, so without. Life is a mirror. It reflects back your innermost thoughts, feelings and desires.

and always remember folks, a warrior is about ABSOLUTE VULNERABILITY.. and we all have those moments.




Image Source from: Diesel Fragrance

descending into hell

WARNING: A DARK EMO POST.

if you are having a good day... stay away from this.

--------

tear stained cheeks and blood shot eyes. for no apparent reason at all. (it's been like this during random nights). her heart is breaking.... and she doesn't know why. she's confused.

confused. confused. confused.

confused, is what she is. she even wanted to beat her head or bang it against the wall for feeling like this. but, her other self... just allowed her. just allowed her to pour all those pain out in one brief moment. she couldn't believe the rush of emotion pushing through her.

she'd stop herself at the comfort room. at the shower or even when she's about to lie down.

the recent scene was the pink tiled comfort room. she checked her blackjack for the time. it took her 9 minutes. 3 minutes to cry and 6 minutes in between to calm herself and dry her eyes.

she sobbed. she can't bawl, cause she might attract attention.

it's like there's this dull ache in her chest. and while crying, she found herself asking: "Why? Why? Why do I feel like this?"

she's racking her brain and feeling her heart whether this was about the recent loss she had. and now she feels her brain was deliberately trying to confuse itself.

is this a chip on her shoulder? but, it's crazy because he is the last thing on her mind. and she's not even thinking about him anymore. she couldn't even imagine him in the future.

is it a mask? is she not over the situation yet? it's been a month of Sundays. she's not hearing his name. and the gods were all in her favor and besides she does not want to beat a dead horse.

or is it because she's losing her way? or she's trying to find it? what? what is her heart telling her?

or is she starting to feel a growing concern for someone? and all these familiar feelings are starting to surface.

or maybe she's just growing? like some spiritual detox where all the dark areas of herself gets sucked up to the surface in order to be released? a bit like colonics minus the literal shit. what is it?

it's like the time of her life where she's feeling... this journey is not fun. its too sad, too frightening, too heavy, too lonely, too hopeless.

when the gods gave the map for this journey, part of that journey is to go through the dark night of the soul.

is this her dark night of the soul, the winter of her discontent ? Should it be like what Mother Teresa in one of her famous quotes said: "I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love."?

that you just keep bleeding (and yes, remember that song). God, that sure sounds so EMO. *beats herself for talking like this. this is not her. everyone who knows her.. would be shocked* nothing short of romantic. its EMO and its unhealthy if she drones on and on about being EMO.

she's about fairy tales and happy endings. not crossroads and lonely highways. she's about the light and not the shadow. she's the angel and not the devil's advocate.

but then, maybe she's more of like Alanis' song..

"im a bitch, im a lover, im a child, im a mother, im a sinner, im a saint, i do not feel ashamed. im your hell, im your dream, im nothing in between."

------------------------------------------------

folks, bear with me. my posts are dark and dreary. not light and heavenly.

im acknowledging my ego... and letting it go,
its like im being crucified or dead and buried
its like being lost in a labyrinth.
a little bit like descending into hell.
and doing battle with dragons...

that's poetry....

in modern times... they stripped it off poetry and called it

STRESS
BURN OUT
DEPRESSION.

but... i'd just remember what the Christ said:

"this too shall pass"

and

when it's done...

i'd be happy to say:

"the past is over. it can touch me not."

S-tress? Not a problem.

Recently, i gave a talk to graduating students of Accountancy at University of Mindanao. I was invited by my cousin Jane to talk about "Stress Management". I am in the spa industry and that's one of our main thing in the industry.

It was a great experience and it's quiet challenging to get their attention. One, i'm not far their age.. so it could be just like a case of... "we know what you know." and they could be rolling their eyes. I stammered during the first few minutes and I was laughing about it because I was currently under stress. Haha.

But, with a few humor here and there I got their attention and I was at ease. It was my first time to come up with a "Stress Management" module. I got an outline online and added a few things here and there from my experience.

Psychologists would say we all need stress.... but, my spiritual gurus say... we can always choose not to create stress in our life. So, I just gave the college students the basics... it's hard enough to manage stress what more eliminating it in your life?

Although, its not exactly THAT hard to eliminate stress.. but with the programs we have... it's gonna be mighty challenging. :)

The following are my steps to managing stress..... although I know everyone knows about this.... but we might all be needing a lil review noh? :)

1.) Find a Support - a friend, mentor, minister, councilor.... to talk to. :)

2.) Get organized - arrange the clutter in your room or work area to think clearly.

3.) Take breaks, give yourself "me" time - get at least 10-15 minute break to power nap, or listen to soothing songs in your mp3 players or ipod, take a walk, anything to give you a break mentally..

4.) Take good care of yourself - eat properly, get a good rest... allow yourself to do something you enjoy each day... :) sometimes, when we feel stressed we tend to do the opposite. Hydrate yourself... :)

5.) Get regular exercise - blow off the steam and release it through excercise. This will relieve some symptoms of depression and stress. But, don't overdo it! Too much of something is bad... 45 mins. to an hour a day would be great! :)

6.) Get a hobby, do something different - add some spice in your life and do something you haven't done yet that you sure would enjoy. sign up for dance lessons, or voice lessons. Go to that film making class or photography class...

7.) Slow Down - the journey is the destination.. relax.... don't live in a hurry, curry life.... enjoy the moment. stop, and smell the coffee....

8.) Laugh, use humor - watch funny movies, be with your friends who makes you laugh, surround yourself with laughter... but a bit of advice... don't laugh at anybody's expense. if you must, laugh about yourself... it is strength beyond measure.

9.) Keeping a Diary - or a BLOG! hehe. I'm sure to some.. blogging is part of their stress management program (its part of mine!). :) Veryyy effective. It keeps me sane.. and it helps me live in the moment and cherish what happened in the past... :)

10.) Learn to relax - Get a massage!!! Go to our spa (Angel of Water Wellness Center) haha. or the nearest spa near you.... :) Do visualization techniques... deep breathing.... relax.. relax... use your different sense: touch, taste, smell, sight and sound.

for touch: get a massage, get a warm bath, go for a swim, change into comfy clothes...

for taste: eat a comforting meal, eat healthy food, sip your choice of herbal tea, drink fine wine with friends not Red Horse , ok ?? :)

for smell: smell lavender or chamomile, don on your favorite perfume or scent, shop for flowers, breathe the fresh air, light a scented candle..

for sight: watch a funny movie, read a good book, watch the clouds, watch the horizon...

for sound: listen to calm, classical music or something instrumental (it's good for your brain waves), sing to yourself, say positive affirmations for yourself, play your favorite musical instrument... if you know how to. hehe. or ask someone to play it for you. Ji Hoo from BOF would come in handy.. haha. :)

I guess that's about it. I'm sure... there are lots and lots of ways to manage stress...

You? What do you do when you are stressed? I'd love to hear from you.... :)

A Question

There are so many questions in life that needs to be answered and so many "why's?" and "what if's?". But, we often disregard those questions all because we feared questioning or we feared the answers themselves.

I don't like to ask "Why?". It's something I got from school. Asking somehow makes someone look dumb. Asking, means you did not make your homework. I know, I know we don't all think that "asking" is dumb. In fact my mom always reminds me that "If you question a lot of things, you get many answers. Maraming tanong, Maraming alam". But, you see during those times I couldn't get the drift. I learned to just sit still and listen to the teacher drone on and on about History, Science, Math, Religion, you name all the subjects.

But, of course there is a point in your life where you get to undo those habits. And that habit of just sitting back and not to question about anything that involves life are one of those habits.

All questions have their own answers. And no one question are unanswered. "But those answers are not constant", Einstein would say to you. Just like "humans", Answers have a tendency to change as we go along.

And so, if you have a question always "ASK" and never dismiss it like I used to do. Ask. Ask. Ask like a kid. The answers may not come right away. The answers might come to different forms, like a book you are reading, a line from the movie you just watched, a friend you bumped into, a billboard sign, and even from nature itself.

"Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves." - Rainer Maria Rilke.

Wait. Live your questions. Then ask. Be open to the changes that the answers would bring forth. Answers to our questions will come. It won't always come from one person, because no one person has all the answers.

Remember: The only stupid question is the one you don't ask.

Ask and it shall be given, Seek and you shall find, Knock and it shall be opened.

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Happy Birthday: Kath and Nico C.

Image Credit: Narabia

Singapore

After the Malaysia trip we decided to drop by and tour Singapore for two(2) days. If Malaysia has lovely "island bars" imagine my delight when I saw Singapore's "island bars" (refer to the picture at the right).

The bougainvillea flowers they used are just "ordinary" here in the Philippines but they used it to beautify the most part of their city! Wow. Can we not do that in our country as well? Hay. Hay. Lovely lovely. And the trees? Grabe. Salute to the people who landscaped their country. I heard Pinoys did the landscaping? Is it true? Ha? Ha?

We slept right away when we arrived. (Of course we need to recharge after the hectic non-stop travel in Malaysia).


If in Malaysia it's Genting Highlands you must visit, in Singapore it's Sentosa Island. So, by 6pm we decided to visit and watch the highlight show in Sentosa Island which is the "Songs of the Sea". It's an amazing show! They used a musical fountain and interacted it with lasers against the water particles to create 3D images. It was purely MA-GEE-CAL! I wished my sister and brother was with us that time.


We did not get to tour around the Island that much since it's already dark. But they have a nightlife in the island, I guess. Judging from the outfits of the young-uns. Hehe. There's a cable car in the island as well and it's quite different from the one in Malaysia because underneath the cable car would be minus the forest but the sea. But, I will surely try out the cable car when me and my family would visit Singapore for a vacation.

There are different ways to get in and out of the island. Renting a taxi ($35), ride a train, ride the Sentosa Bus, Cable Car, or your own private car.

We spent most of our time in Orchard Road. If you are the type of person who loves to shop, Orchard Road is the place for you. The whole of Orchard Road is filled with shopping malls. I can't name most of them, but all I remember is getting inside. Hehe. There is no trouble if you just use your feet in Singapore since everything is prolly "just-a-walk-away". Unless you are a person who can't stand walking! But, if you are a person who resides in Davao "walk-a-thon" is not a foreign word. In fact everything would be near for you. :) *walang problema pag networker ka!*



I got to visit their National Museum but not the whole of it. The building looks nice noh? :) Very attractive.







If we have the Malacañang Palace and U.S the White House, in Singapore they have the Istana Singapore. If you are on the way to visit the shopping malls in Orchard Road you can pass by the Istana. The home of their Prime Minister.




We took the last flight out of Singapore to Manila so we can fully enjoy our stay at the Singapore Changi Airport. It's like a big shopping mall. They have a wide array of duty free shops and eating outlets. They also have "free internet" which explains my "Greetings from Singapore post". Hehe. They have free massages located everywhere as well.

Changi Airport is the 22nd busiest airport & one of the busiest cargo airports in the world and the 6th busiest in Asia. They have six open air garden areas and during our stay I got to visit the two. I don't know where the other four are located. I only visited their Orchid and Fern garden.

I just have to salute and say thank you to the "smiling customs" in Malaysia and Singapore. They were friendly and not at all imposing compared to the ones in Philippines, sad to say. They would smile and encourage us to come back and even have the decency to ask us if we enjoyed our stay. If we forgot to fill something up in the customs form they would just smile and consult us.

I don't know if you travelers notice this but our customs here in the Philippines always have a serious face. No smiles and everything. Nada. I guess it's different if you are foreign or what? I'll keep this in mind when I go out this November I will look over the customs attending to foreign nationals. They could at least smile a bit and be forgiving to others when they forgot to fill something up. *my mom witnessed a scenario where the custom personnel would scold at a Balikbayan*. Hello! Philippines is our country, we should be welcomed with smiles! They could say "Hi Maam, Sir kumusta ang travel niyo?" or "Hi Sir welcome back to the Philippines!".

There's still a lot to improve in the Philippines. I do hope one day it would improve for the better. Seeing other countries excel inspires me and the desire to see Philippines improving is soooo strong. But, I shan't ask the government to do the improving. It is not a good question to ask because number one I don't think they can answer it and number two the government has matters and "personal agendas" to attend to. The future is not in their hands anyway. The future mga kababayan is WITH US.

So let's stop asking what our country/government can do for us instead let's ask OURSELVES "WHAT WE CAN DO FOR OUR COUNTRY". I think that's better di ba? :)

It doesn't matter if we can't do GREAT THINGS we can do SMALL THINGS in a GREAT WAY! Go go PINOY! Wag antayin ang gobyerno. Hehe. Let's do it ourselves!

Dirty Politics.

Since when was it clean? Some may have nice motives but a lot would have hidden agendas. I've heard too many things about their so called anomalies, and some may seem exaggerated or it may not be true but still.... all those FAR-FETCHED ideas could be possible.

Our lawyer *tsar* told us we have the right to vote and not to vote. My parents decided not to.. since they can't find anyone suitable for the position... or even if they voted for someone whom they think is fit to be in the seat the possibility of our votes to be manipulated is high. What with some people inside the COMELEC with a neon-light sign on their forehead that says MONEY MONEY MONEY?

But, of course since it would be my first time, I coerced my parents into voting with me and they were a sport. We visited three different schools because the LIST of VOTERS were shuffled. They were transferred here and there. It would then give you an idea if this was a good way to lose and let some of the voters give up after transferring them to different schools to look for their names. But then, I sticked to my "ALL THINGS ARE PURE" thought and my parents finally found our names at the third school. And, surprisingly all the people in our village were to vote in one precinct only. Cool.

Despite, what Shari advised me to fill up the 12 slots....I did not. I only voted for 5 senators. The rest of the slots, I crashed them out. I only voted for people with less "talk" and more "work". Although, whether they really worked for it.. I don't know. As long as they did not say anything AGAINST their OPPOSITION. I did not vote for all those bad-mouthing politicians because they resemble someone I abhor (but learning to love despite of) in our business (that explains our lawyer nyahaha).

Politicians were just invented to talk about LAWS that are not evident to us. They TALK too much.

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy. ~Ernest Benn

Let's compare them to scientists. If a scientist conducts an experiment, and it succeeds, they simply show what they've done. They don't need to talk because the results speak for themselves. So scientists are usually quiet types. They don't need to TALK, it is not NECESSARY. If they tried to conduct an experiment and they fail, they have nothing to say.

But, with politicians? Even if they fail, THEY TALK. In fact, the MORE THEY FAIL..... THE MORE THEY TALK... and THE MORE THEY BAD-MOUTH OTHERS to COVER THEIR WRONGDOINGS. I hope they do more SERVING than TALKING and DEBATING. Sheesh.

I would often complain about how things are in the Philippines specially politics and my mom would butt in and say: "Don't mind them. Mind your own business. Help more people and make more money. That's our job."

Sometimes, I would want to be in a politician's position and imagine doing noble things to serve the rest of the Pinoys. That's in my heart. My mom told me: "There are other ways to serve the Filipino people anak. Not just politics." Which gave me an idea. As to where and how.. I have to find out. Maybe later.

I'm not sure when would politics begin to resemble the word CLEAN. Because, whenever you say politics it usually screams DIRTY. Politics is a mess. In order to clean the mess you roll your sleeves and get your hands dirty while doing the job.

Deception, is part of government. We do not have to wonder why this and that. Governments lie to get the people's loyalty. If they lie big enough, and long enough the lie becomes the "truth". Truth and politics cannot MIX. Never.

Truth is not determined by majority vote.

We don't have to wonder why NATIONS go to WAR. Those major leaders with massive political involvement all want to prove their MANHOOD by beating up THEIR OPPONENTS. Strength is what all those politicians know and understand.

I might as well be frank now. I don't think politics is the future. Or it could help more people. It blurs the mind of people and lures politicians to be more greedy, it blinds you from the truth and it gives you more and more reasons to ruin your opposition to get your own ways.

I can't wait for the vote-counting to end.

{edit: This post is in effect of watching too much NEWS. Hehe. Every thing's hyped up by the media. Remind me... not too watch too much NEWS. Soo many bad news. }

Image from: Emiry,

Five(5) Natural Emotions - Love

Suggested Reading: Grief ,Anger, Envy, and Fear.

Credits/Ideas: CWG, and Dr. Elisabeth Kubler Ross, Wikipedia

I saved the best for last!

LOVE.

The BEST NATURAL EMOTION WE HAVE.

When you were allowed to express and receive it, without conditions or limitations, without embarrasement or inhibition, it does not REQUIRE anything more. When as a child you were made to believe that having love is not okay, that to express it is wrong - you will have a very difficult time dealing with love when you grow up.

Yet LOVE which has been conditioned, limited, controlled, manipulated, and withheld becomes unnatural. Love repressed becomes possesiveness a very unnatural emotion.

Love is meant to be UNLIMITED, FREE and ETERNAL. True love means no "obligations" for it is always FREE... an obligation cannot exist in the space of love. See to it, that your decision of love is not a PROMISE made once but as a CHOICE made over and over... and resentment will never come.

Love should be UNCONDITIONAL.

This would mean loving everyone regardless of what they believe in, regardless of what they do. You give love freely.... no-matter-what.

If we deny love that is given to us, if we refuse to give love because we fear pain or loss, then our lives will be empty, our loss greater. - Author Unknown

You do not forsake and ignore someone because he/she have wronged you.... When you say "I LOVE YOU", fret not if you will not hear it back. And if you hear it back, DO NOT WORRY THAT YOU WOULD LOSE IT.

When you TRULY LOVE.... it is FOREVER. It never goes away... nor does it fades... you simply LOVE. Love is the energy that allows us to EXPAND, to OPEN UP, to SHARE, to CARE, and to HEAL.

This UNCONDITIONAL LOVE understands.... This UNCONDITIONAL LOVE conquers everything.

This love recognizes the beauty of everything.. This is the natural expression and response we have that REQUIRES NOTHING and DOES NOT EXPECT ANY OUTCOME.

You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. - Buddha

But remember before you can love the people around you... you must learn to LOVE YOURSELF. Because, how can you say you love other people if you do not even love yourself ? It is like helping someone who does not want to be help himself/herself in the first place anyway.

Love yourself... then love other people unconditionally. :)

It is not how much you do, but how much Love you put into the doing that matters. - Mother Teresa

Do things with love. Cook with love, clean with love, and serve with love.

LOVING is the HIGHEST VALUE. :)

If you do everything with love..... you would overlook all the imperfections and ugliness... instead you would see the perfection and beauty of everything.

and I will let all the great people talk about love.....

If we make our goal to live a life of compassion and unconditional love, then the world will indeed become a garden where all kinds
of flowers can bloom and grow.

- Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Late Author of On Death and Dying

As you continue to send out love, the energy returns to you in a regenerating spiral... As love accumulates, it keeps your system in balance and harmony. Love is the tool, and more love is the end product. - Sara Paddison, Hidden Power of the Heart

Our true identity is to love without fear and insecurity. Our higher potential finds us when we set our course in that direction. The power of love and compassion transforms insecurity. - Doc Childre

Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much perfoms much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well. -Vincent Van Gogh

I have never met a person whose greatest need was anything other than real, unconditional love. You can find it in a simple act of kindness toward someone who needs help. There is no mistaking love. You feel it in your heart. It is the common fiber of life, the flame of that heats our soul, energizes our spirit and supplies passion to our lives. It is our connection to God and to each other. - Elizabeth Kubler Ross

Much has been said about LOVE already.... and of course we all have different experiences and HAVE SOOO MUCH to share about this. (even me.. I have soo much in my mind and heart that I want to impart but then... I guess not now.)

Five(5) Natural Emotions - Fear

Please read the previous Grief , Anger and Envy posts.

Next up is Fear.

Credits/Ideas: CWG and Dr. Elisabeth Kubler Ross

Fear is a natural emotion. All babies are born with only two fears: one, is the fear of falling, and the other one is the fear of loud noises.

The rest of the fears are LEARNED responses from ENVIRONMENT or taught by parents (like the fear of ghosts and etc... )

The purpose of this "natural fear" is to give us CAUTION. Caution in whatever we are doing. That whatever we do there are consequences. This is the practice of "caution". This a tool that helps keep our body alive.

Fear is a defensive advantage. Fear serves like a motivation to escape to safety.

Just like the other three emotions I have so far mentioned, kids who were not allowed to express what they fear would have a hard time dealing with it. Kids who were allowed to express their fears will have a healthy outlook towards fear.

We all need fear because it gets our adrenaline going... but too much fear paralyzes us like a rabbit caught in a car's headlights.

"Fear protects us from danger. If people do not feel fear, they are a danger to themselves" - Ritva Laaksonen, a neuropsychologist and psychotherapist at the KL Institute, a psychotherapy training centre

Fear that is continually repressed and is excessive becomes PANIC.. and panic is a very unnatural emotion.

Panic have caused other people to kill other people. Wars have started because of this. Decisions have been made because of this. Nations have fallen as well because of Panic.

The solution for excessive fear is to keep your mind busy with what has to be done and not to what might happen.

BE REMINDED: That too much fear is not good, and living in fear would not help you live the life the way you want it to be. Fear is just this instant or innate reaction we have that advices and reminds us to be cautious in our actions and be aware with it's consequences.

You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith. ~Mary Manin Morrissey

Never allow your fear to grow bigger. It blocks everything, and might motivate you to take actions that would harm you. :)

Quotes about Fear:

Fear is the father of courage and the mother of safety. ~Henry H. Tweedy

To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another. ~Katherine Paterson, Jacob Have I Loved

There are times when fear is good. It must keep its watchful place at the heart's controls. ~Aeschylus

Five(5) Natural Emotions - Envy

Suggested reading: Grief and Anger
You read the title right. Envy is the third natural emotion.

Credits/Ideas: CWG, and Dr. Elisabeth Kubler Ross, Wikipedia

Oh puhleaseee... read everything in context.

Natural envy is the feeling of desire to have something that someone has. This is when you desire to be like someone, or have something that a certain person has. This is like a five-year-old kid wishing he could ride the bike like his brother could or a teenager wanting to drive a car.

This is the natural emotion that makes you want to do it again; to try harder; to continue striving until you get what you want. It is very healthy to be envious, and it is just natural. It is human nature.

Just like grief and anger when you are taught as a child that it is ok to be envious in a healthy way, and you were allowed to express it, in your adult life, it is easy to move quickly from envy and you will have a healthy attitude towards it. But, if you were taught as a child that envy is not okay, and it is wrong to experience or express it, you will have a hard time dealing with envy when you grow old.

I know, while reading this you might be thinking... "What? Envy ? A natural emotion?". "It is just right to express it? and then teach the children to be envious?"

According to Schoeck from his book Envy: A Theory of Social Behaviour: "Envy is not wholly negative."

It is what drives us to do more, and it is just like admiring what others have achieved and wanting to achieve it yourself as well.

Basically, we all do feel envious about something one way or another. Show me a person who never wished to have something the other person has. Have you ever wished to be just like the actor/actress you do so admire? Have you ever wished to do something what other people have done like bungee jumping or go sky diving ?

Too much ENVY and ENVY repressed would lead to JEALOUSY. Jealousy is a veryyyy UNNATURAL emotion.

People have killed other people (like lovers in conflict) because of jealousy. Wars have started (just like Helen of Troy) because of this.

I think Envy is one of the 7 deadly sins in the Catholic tradition.

But, I hope you don't get me wrong here.. what I am talking about is the positive side of "envy". The "enough" envy that would drive you to where you want to be, but not the excess which would lead to jealousy. ( It's all too tricky, and I guess I can't express it wholly to you just here) I am talking about the envy that leads you or motivates you to be a better person and not cause other people harm. I hope we are clear on that.

Envy consists in seeing things never in themselves, but only in their relations. If you desire glory, you may envy Napoleon, but Napoleon envied Caesar, Caesar envied Alexander, and Alexander, I daresay, envied Hercules, who never existed. - Bertrand Russell

21 comments from haloscan:

hi. thanks for the comment on "murder,she wrote." nope, it isn't a book. but if i were to be given a chance, i'll make an ebook out of my entries, then later publish it on paper. that'd be all on mr. lisondra's wonderful artistic layouts. the title is same with a particular tv series from the time i was born til.. er.. forgot. hehe. nwei, thanks again. still on hiatus lately. and nostalgic as well, my Ryan's with me kc. hehe. chege. kendi | Homepage | 03.27.07 - 10:39 am | #

haha I think sis u're in the mood to post the 7 sins heehee.. maganda yan sis, nakaka inspired mga post you.. sobra.. d pa pala kita nalilink, so if you don't mind, I will link you.. mwah! LHYZ | Homepage | 03.27.07 - 11:18 am | #

oh yes,envy,a natural emotion...though i dont teach my children to be envios too much..maliit na bagay,yes,ok lang yun..gaya nang "kainggit ang buhok nya","ganda ng height nya",at least may compliment sa ibang tao,pero pag malaking bagay na,esp financially status,theirs or others,makakarinig na sila ng critic sa akin. at ayokong nag ku compare sila sa iba.. ghee | Homepage | 03.27.07 - 11:36 am | #

Ate Ghee: Yup...too much envy leads to jealousy... and un ung di maganda... tina | Homepage | 03.27.07 - 11:39 am | #

this is a good post striving to have wat others has would be good. envying? yes but remember too much is not good. and it will always leads to jealousy. eerrr...then it will make them do soemthing that is not good! admiring and desiring watever others has would be a good sign for us to have the determination of getting wat we wanted. again, not too much! hmm..basta i get it. i just cant really tell how.hehe! take care always..mwahugs ychel | Homepage | 03.27.07 - 4:39 pm | #

True, true! Oh Tina. You're such a wise woman. I feel better. (I think) Hehe. And I thank God we're friends. bam | Homepage | 03.27.07 - 5:24 pm | #

wow. inspirational talk. Yea. i guess theres also a positve side of envy. very well said. i love your posts. dropping by sis. lea | Homepage | 03.27.07 - 10:07 pm | #

ggrrrr nabura ang first comment ko anyhow ganda ate ng post mo, nakakarelate ang mga nagbabasa.. and tama ung sa envy and jealousy... minsan kasi nararanasan ko din yan.. ingat ka lagi ate.. have a great week! nicole | Homepage | 03.27.07 - 10:35 pm | #

tina i envy you kasi laging may matutunan sa mga post mo. dahil inexplain mo naman kung ano ibig mo sabihin sa envy, muhang di naman talaga pareo dun sa envy na tinutukoy ng church. iskoo | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 1:32 am | #

nice read.. oo nga naman.. i didnt realize that envy is the third natural emotion.. that got me into thinking also.. Im not the jealous type but maybe unknowingly I am.. hehe antonette | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 1:56 am | #

Wow sis your post is really inspiring.I agree. . Ako din envy ako sa tao. I agree na ang envy nagdadala sa atin sa tagumpay. Thanks for this. Sherica | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 8:29 am | #

Never thought about envy that way! Sidney | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 10:28 am | #

Envy and jealousy can be taken into positively. Very nice insights! dimaks | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 9:49 pm | #

aww.. i really like this entry of yours.i certainly agree with this. anyway, thanks for asharing this with us,. take care! Sandra | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 10:23 pm | #

You're right jealousy is the green eyed monster, but envy is a natural emotion, that a mature individual should have good control over. Happy belated Birthday to your Mom! She and Nermal have almost the same day hehe Angelo | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 10:39 pm | #

hay nako.i hate this feeling. i feel this and it sucks.. huhu lalaine | Homepage | 03.29.07 - 2:08 am | #

A little envy is healthy, but when taken too far it becomes dangerous. Baka pumatay pa ng tao dahil sa inggit. Ay sus. Mari | Homepage | 03.29.07 - 3:23 am | #

everything that we feel is normal... they just turn bad in excess. monMon | Homepage | 03.29.07 - 4:15 am | #

i see so talagang natural lng na mainggit ?? sabagay it is also one of the reasons why yung ibang tao sbrang nagpupursue sa dreams nila dahil may kinaiinggitan cla and gus2 nila matulad dun.... pwede rin po bang baliktad nauuna yung jealousy bago yung envy??? len | Homepage | 03.29.07 - 4:27 am | #

inggitera pa naman ako.. nyahahha.. pero sa tingin ko healthy pa naman yung sakin.. hehhehe.. joanna | Homepage | 03.29.07 - 8:55 am | #

I always tell that to my kids, instead of being envious to anybody or for anything, gawin na lang nila itong inspiration . ann | Homepage | 03.30.07 - 1:22 am |