THEME THURSDAY - STAGE

When I was young, I feared to be onstage. Mother taught me how not to be frightened. First, I must believe in my self. Second, everyone else has the same feelings. And third, she told me that the earth is the biggest stage where people act and speak. The audience will judge you. But the final judgment will come from the Chairman of the Board of Judges, GOD.

With this in mind, I was able to overcome my fear. I joined a lot of oratorical contests and won. I joined the Dramatics club in high school and I was applauded. I sang "The Greatest Performance of My Life" live at the Activity Center of an old mall in my middle age.

Now, I can be onstage anytime. Be it for the church, be it in Rotary, be it at the office. My career was moving gently towards the top because of the stage. The largest stage I am performing at is a risky one. The stage where people have various interests but one thing is common. Each actor wants what he likes. And that makes my life complicated.... especially if your role is like mine.

Our 33rd Wedding Anniversary

Last Saturday, 4th of July, was our 33rd wedding anniversary. Dep and I ran out of good idea where we could celebrate. We decided to have congee and a couple of side dish both of us like at NENA's in Panghulo. Our family is really fond of LUGAW! Then, we proceeded to Sangandaan to have the tarps and brochures printed out. These are the materials we need for the Sagip project. When we went home, I stayed at the garden for quite sometime. I was surprised to see the 12 red roses arranged in a flower vase given by Dep. That's how he gives flowers to me. Never face to face.

The day before our anniversary, we met the whole family except Gear. We had our snacks at Wendy's and proceeded to the computer stores at SM Annex to buy the much needed laptop. I was so excited to have another one after my first unit broke.

Thy Will Be Done

A group of men and women were gathered at Ysidro's Garden. That night, they were bound for a three-day trip to Puerto Galera. Target: Team Building to face a very big challenge of their lives - to become change agents in Obando.

Much is expected by the community when rich leaders came in but the HOPE that was introduced in our town broke into pieces when one promise after the other did not materialize. Another one is coming in who never had any chance to talk to the grassroot level. How could they relate?

The group I am referring is the team who was torn between a decision to run or not to run with Ding. First, the only weapon they have is a firm resolve that they can help the community. PERIOD. NO MONEY TO BUY hmnn. But they have all the pledges from friends who believe in their advocacy. Just like a chicken and egg question who is first. COMMITMENT then RESOURCES or RESOURCES then COMMITMENT? Hard to answer.

Thank God, the team realized that what they are doing was not for a single person and that person needs people to work with. This is really a work of the GOOD Creator. Here are the events that happened:

1. Signal No. 2 in Oriental Mindoro 2 days before the Team Building seminar. It stopped.
2. Daughter of the Resource Speaker had fever. She was healed the night before.
3. Members of the Team were being brainwashed by the evil that men do.
4. Misinformation that Ding will no longer run in the elections was being spread like a wildfire.
5. Chris was sick but recovered from feeling bad.
6. The absence of Cesar and Bening can be redeemed by communicating to them what happened.
7. All negative thoughts were wiped out.

The Team went home with high Spirits after a bloodless compact held on Saturday night.

THY WILL BE DONE!

My First Footprints on Mindoro

March 4, 2009, I was invited by my predecessor to attend their meeting with the employees assigned in the field. The office is very nice including the people I will be working with. I intend to stay in Mindoro even on weekends to concentrate on updating the records and revising the work assignments.

First steps in Mindoro, I figured out I will enjoy staying there. The environment is clean, fresh air, fresh vegetables, fresh thoughts. I will be finishing more books. I love to live in solitude. This is not work for me. I believe, this is a mission.

Dep accompanied me. RM and EO were also with me. That's the support I really need these days.

Kids Touch Our Lives

Last Saturday, February 21, 2009, The Rotary Daycare Center of Obando were on a field trip. About 35 students aged 21/2 to 4 and their mothers went to Manila Zoo, Museong Pambata, and Rizal Park. Cora and I joined the trip coz' we were responsible for that program.

While waiting for the children, I sat on a table near the cafeteria in Manila Zoo. I noticed a conversation between 2 children, about grade 3, who were discussing about the loss of the other girl's twenty pesos. This means, she could not have lunch since her allowance was exact. Her friend told the other that they just buy 2 orders of rice and just buy 1 dish that they both like. They were counting their money to make sure that their budget was enough. I was touched by the sincerity of the unselfish girl. She was making sure that the girl who lost the money will not be sad. I intentionally ignored to help because I wanted to ascertain the true virtues I was watching.

There were some children playing around the area where I was but their attitude were more of letting their classmates know what they have like food, toys, and some stuff but I did not notice an atmosphere of sharing like the girl in my story.

A Fraction of the Whole

This novel written by Australian Steve Toltz made me laugh most of the time. But in some parts, I couldn't help but change my mood and cry. A man of principle, Martin Dean was able to survive all trials from womb to tomb. His philosophy drives you crazy but thinking it twice, his reasons and beliefs are actually happening. The schemes used by his brother Terry to help him out were clueless to Marty in all episodes.

The brothers are atheists. This, for me, made them easier to be indicted in crimes and harder to get out of the mess. They did not realize directly but come to think of some of their testimonies and you'd realize that indeed, they knew a power from nowhere was available.

Martin's son, Jasper, though he hated his father for being difficult to live with, appreciated what the father has done to his whole being. His father did not die in vain.

Similar situations happen in our daily lives but not of the same intensity. These experiences give us better learning, and light acceptance of realities.

First Major Blessing for 2009

Dep and I were into contracts with a bank to buy 2 properties. Due to business losses, we were unable to meet our monthly installments for quite some time. For me, it would have been less of a headache if we just let go of those properties. A number of discussions were made and we settled to retain one property and apply some payments for the other property to the retained lot. Ownership of the lot needs additional payment of 420K but can still be loaned from the bank.
Delaying tactics were done by Dep and I to really make a decision. The properties have good marketability. In fact, we could have earned 2M had we finalize the sale of the lot along the road. But we disregarded the offer years back. Now that we finally made up our minds to sell it before bank action, nobody has the instant money.

Last Friday, we talked to the bank President and after 30 minutes of discussions, he was convinced that we no longer have to pay the additional 420k for the interior lot that we are retaining. That's how prayers work. I believe that what happened had a Divine intervention. I consider this a major blessing on a very special day of the year, my birthday on the 24th, the day following the good news. For this, I plan to share my blessings through an apostolate work once I have the money.