the secret garden

Catch a glimpse of this "Opo", just one of the fruit vegetables' garden that sustains the people in one rural area where I spent my month long vacation. I realized that if we make used of the fertility of our soil, perhaps there is never such a thing as hunger.

"if God takes care of the birds in the sky seemingly
with nowhere to go,
then it's never impossible that God will take care
of His human creations too..."

Creativity

I couldn't help but laughed really hard till I got teary-eyed the moment I read the lines written by one of my students in his creative portfolio, during our summer class 2008 program held in another city.


In his dedication, he was thanking his parents and their coconut tree that if not for the tree, he wouldn't be able to fulfill his project. He even mentioned the struggle he had to make to climb the coconut tree inorder to come up with this very creative project.

What made me laugh is the thought that I would see the young man's humor in his creative portfolio with the way he reacted on things and situations.

His wit and creativity helped me decide to give his work an "A+" grade. (just click photos for clear view)

I was really filled with much appreciation after I realized the kind of living that they have there in a so called provincial area. And surely the coconut trees that must have been surrounding their house really helped a lot!

With very less expense, he was able to make his project not only memorable to him but very inspiring to his readers.

Indeed, an old cliche makes sense that, "poverty is not a hindrance to success."

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I so love this poem...

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

by Max Ehrmann

a mission...

"Nothing is greater than the heart of a volunteer..."

Three years had passed when I took part as a volunteer-teacher in one of the non-government organizations in Davao. That didn't take me too long to stay however then for I had difficulty in including the schedule as a volunteer in my workload for my whole already stressful day.Though I was happy with my paid job, I knew then that I would be even more a fulfilled individual had I only continued to work as a volunteer.

For quite sometimes in my moment of recollection, esp. when I see children just loitering along the street wearing ragged clothes and worn-out slippers, I remember "Mario". He's just like any other helpless streetchildren that I came to encounter during my volunteer. Mario, a 9-year-old who didn't ever want to write. No matter how much we'd try to have him hold a pencil and handed him a piece of paper, he would refuse to follow unlike other children in the foundation. He was timid but it seemed to me that there surge something furious in his eyes. If it was madness I don't know. In my mind, I know Mario needs more than learning to write his name or reading the Alphabet. Later then, I found out that he hated his own father. After which , I haven't heard of Mario at all.

I am blessed I know..if not for money then of having supportive parents and a complete education. If I would count my blessings then it's so overlwhelming to realize that I have what I wanted to enjoy yet it would be sad to realize when there are people like "Mario" who has very less. I know there are a lot like "Mario" in the world today. We may put the blame on the parents or on poverty but still one thing for sure, in my mind...what good I could have done if I only stayed at the foundation. I know deep inside that there is always a way to help...to be a volunteer. But if we will not start it now for our personal obligations are first in a row...then "when"?

The world needs us today. Let's volunteer.

shortage

some say that, "it is an insult to the government when its country is already facing scarcity..." and its true.

people are already falling in line para lang makabili ng isa hangga't dalawang kilo lang ng bigas para lahat maka-avail. eh paano na yung may malaking pamilya? rice has been our staple food. kapag nakikita nating kamote at saging nalang ang nasa hapag-kainan natin aba eh talagang hirap na hirap na talaga tayo nyan. this is no longer a simple case of poverty. the scarcity that we are facing is already alarming.

rice shortage ang bansa natin ngayon. paano naman tayo sa mga darating na bukas kung hindi eto maresolba? tiyak in deep skilled workers shortage na tayo..as in "brain drain"...kasi lahat gusto nang magtrabaho abroad..di na uso ang patriotism. aanhin mo nga naman yun kong kumakalam na sikmura mo at ng pamilya mo.

naisip kolang..at pwede narin siguro maitanong .."may i know what's our government's plan?" gusto ko yung "specific"...yung masasabi kong, "ahhh...nag-iisip pala talaga sila."

She's in pain...

Our Lady of Lourdes

(just click photo for a clear view)

About two weeks had passed when a news broke on local television about the image of Our Lady of Lourdes ( picture above), that can be found at my grandparents' hometown ( in Samal Island) , cried blood. Some who have very little faith and do not believe in miracles being performed by Mama Mary may have strong disbelief that in this present time, things like this are still happening. While most devote Catholics went there for a prayer vigil offering flowers and their in individual prayers and petitions.

Many stories were told right after the incident. There were some who even experienced very sad dilemmas after uttering bad words of disbelief. (Well if you don't believe in miracles, that would be up to you. But you can spare from saying anything bad against it..) One doctor came to test the blood but there was no finding because according to those who have witnessed, the blood wouldn't penetrate or even stain into the cotton no matter how much he'd tried.

As we went there in Samal Island on the exact occasion too of my lola's death anniversary last Friday, I went to visit Her grotto to witness myself. I was in mixed emotion and felt so speechless to have seen the stain of blood that remains in Her cheeks and hands. I have not seen such instance in all my life! I don't know.. but to me even when I know that everyday is actually a miracle, in my heart I know she's deeply in pain. Was that miracle a call for total conversion? yeah, sure...looking around in our society nowadays, of the so many social issues, hurts,injustices, moral degeneration and all, its actually not an impossible thing that the Mother Mary will shed a tear.

During my three days stay there, I noticed that on my second visit, the blood on her left cheek disappeared but on my third times before we went back to Davao, as we dropped by to light candles and offer a prayer, I noticed the blood stain again in Her both cheeks..and it seems to me that the blood continues to flow still. Do you believe in miracle? Well, I do.

Thanks a lot....

Aside from the fact that this letter
stands for my name Ev!:D,
I say, "a big thanks to Ash
for passing this on me!"