My Baby is Now a Lady

I don't like surprises. I was under the impression that my role during Chesca's bday was only that of the photographer and all the speaking chores given to my wife, I was caught flat footed when called on to speak. I found it difficult to arrange my thoughts that time. For me, the event was a mixture of happiness and sadness. Happy because it was Chesca's birthday; sad, because she's baby no more. Naturally, what came out of my mouth was so incomprehensible I didn't understand me myself! Anyway, here's really what I wanted to say:

1. Keep your priorities straight. Life is all about achieving your goals. Know what you want and focus on accomplishing it.

2. Don't rush things. Everything will come in God's own time. Rushing into situations usually end up a disaster.

3. Always keep a POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Look at your life as HALF FULL and not HALF EMPTY. An old Persian proverb would say, "I cried a lot when I had no shoes and then I saw a man WITH NO FEET." The kind of attitude that you have will determine your future. There is littel difference in men; but that little difference can be a BIG difference. That little difference is ATTITUDE. The big difference is whether it's POSITIVE or NEGATIVE.

4. There is no SMALL TASK. Whether you are cleaning the sala, washing the dishes, or nagtutupi ka ng damit---everything should be done with INITIATIVE and accomplished with QUALITY. Making this a habit will give you the proper foundation for the corporate life.

5. Remember Newton's 1st Law of Motion: Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. In the quest of your goals failures will be there to derail your journey every once in a while. Learn from them. Each failure will tell you what NOT to do in the future.

6. Remember Newton's 3rd Law of Motion: For each action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In other words, all our actions have CONSEQUENCES. Choose your actions well. When in doubt---PRAY and God will show you the way. Make sure that when you decide on something you are ready to face the consequences. WALANG NAG SISISI SA UNA---LAGING SA HULI. In relation to this, ALWAYS DO GOOD TO OTHERS AND GOOD THINGS WILL COME BACK TO YOU. Sa mga wawalang hiya sa iyo and sasabihin mo lang e, "KARMA-KARMA lang yan!"

7. Always remember God. Thank Him for all the blessings He has given you---BIG and SMALL. God is everywhere so take each opportunity to pray.

You may be a lady now but YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MY BABY GIRL! HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHESCA! WE LOVE YOU! .

Father's Day 2010

It’s hard to be a father. Often than not you’re the great “kontrabida” to your children. Sometimes you’d wish that they haven’t grown up so fast.

When the kids were younger you could always sucker them with a lollipop or chocolate. Now, your blood pressure rises, your face becomes scarlet red, your body trembling, and your voice booming like a howitzer on automatic fire before you get them doing what needs to be done! In their eyes you’re now that spit belching, tobacco chewing, bad ass gunnery sergeant in the movie “Full Metal Jacket”! The ultimate drill sergeant!

Let’s face it; fathers are not really built to be mushy and soft spoken. Nosireee-yippiedy-do-da! They’re not the talkative type and usually express themselves in terms of grunts and the “heat vision eyes”---you know, the time when they just look at you when they’re angry as if trying to melt you with their eyes thing?! Now hold your horses there! No need getting all cranky now! I know that there are a few exceptions to this and I must say I raise my hat to these good natured, calm, and composed daddies out there. One thing is for certain---you are a rare breed!

But despite a father’s notoriety to their children, some things just can’t be seen by the naked eyes---their love for their children for instance is extraordinary! They work hard like a horse and toil to make sure that the needs of the family are met. They sacrifice much of their needs to deliver for the family. To him, the only return is to see that all his effort is worth it. This is why whenever the children do not make good on their studies the father would almost always blows his top. For him this would be like stacking up bricks all day and seeing them fall down before completing the task.

Without batting an eyelash your father would probably pull out his wallet get his credit card and have it swiped so as to pay for your tuition fee in the A-1 college of your choosing. Pikit mata at kagat labi nalang knowing full well that it would mean two or more notches will be tightened in that otherwise tight belt! Now imagine how much pain it will cost him just to see you flunk your grades! Hmmm…I think I already mentioned this incident in a couple of my blogs already…I guess it must have HURT pretty darn bad!

My-oh-my, even the holidays does not agree with us fathers. Bakit ba June ang Father’s day e alam namang kaka-enroll lang ng mga time na ito at wala na tayong perang pang celebrate!

Happy Father’s Day to my father and to all you fathers out there!!!