My Christmas and of my family is a celebration of abundance not only of material things but of memories, love and other intangible things that are important to our lives.  some of the memories that we can celebrate are the passing of my sister on her board exams, the getting well of my father from a serious ailment and my being permanent or regular in my job.

On the last thing, I am happy to celebrate my first Christmas party with my co employees and through it I learned to cooperate through our Christmas presentation in our company party.

Last Tuesday, November 28, 2007 I am back again to my euphoric state when I notice that my father is getting well considering that he was able to paint a sweet smile on his face and making a thumbs up.  We are very happy considering that we are again together.  But of course,  with  all of these I pay tribute to my mom seeing all the care and support that she has bestowed on us in such situation.

Traversing on that part of my life makes me realize one thing that no matter how I argue with God, He still loves and cares for me and my family.  And for that I bow my head to  Him and may His hands be our refuge.

Some people would not like to go to a hospital to visit somebody who is dear to them but in my situation, I love to visit such place for my father’s presence in it.

I am longing to visit such place to see my beloved father and my mother who is helping and supporting each other in such confinement.  I notice a patient who is positioned next to my father’s bed.  He is an old man suffering from paralysis due to high blood pressure.  He is in a wretched condition considering that he has catheter with oxygen tube in his nose.  He is being fed only by means of dropper and his food is nothing but milk.  And if compared with my father, the latter is much better and thanks to God.

But I am amazed and my mind was tickled of what personality this man has considering that not a single moment has his wife left him who is also of same age like him.  And I found the answer to my question and that is the phrase…….. In sickness and in health till death do us part.  What a touching line but in reality such line is seldom applied to our youngster which for me is a frightening situation in the near future.  I salute that lady for her conviction in caring for her husband.

To all the couples including my parents who are still living with each other………. A toast is for you. 

Every one is claiming that his love for one will exudes even on his last hours here on earth.  Such thing is further made concrete when lovers make their vows in front of the Church as made through the sanctity of marriage.  But what is annoying nowadays is such promise is not anymore usual in this generation maybe because family life is affected by many things such as poverty, one’s profession and other things.  To this, I personally admire my parents of how they love each other even our family life is affected by such things.

What keeps me enjoying to walk on the street is the hope of seeing a proof that true love is still in the air even to this generation.  And true enough, I met a couple of both the man and the woman of gray hair with their wrinkles and their cane and it makes me amuse to see them.  What makes me feel such upon looking at them is that they are holding each others’ hand which for me is an admirable thing.  It is because I know that in the near future such scene will remain as a picture.

Seeing such couple walking on the road makes me think of many questions such as how the couple has able to survive with their love for each other.  Another is that if they can do it, how come that modern generations does not have such capability to preserve the love that they have for their partner considering that our generation is even considered as more intelligent, more advance and more intimate.

To this, I found only one answer…………………Love is not on how intelligent a person is but it is on his orientation about such  relation and whether he is serious enough to enter a commitment.

Jose P. Rizal is the name of the national hero of the Republic of the Philippine which unlike Joan of Arc, uses pen rather than sword which for him is mightier than the conventional.  Rizal as being recounted and introduced by our history books is a man of wealthy family and in his time is considered a genius.  Well, as one who comes from a wealthy family, he opt to study abroad particularly Medicine in Madrid, Spain which on that time can be considered as a luxurious destination for anyone.  Also, in his credits are several women whom he has an affectionate relation.  And for all these, Rizal can be considered as an illustrious person capable of affecting the beliefs, ideologies and perhaps the personalities of all whom he come contact with.

Heroism is said to be being different from the others and in time when Rizal was born, he is considered an exceptional one considering his ability.  But I personally come to think of it, if Rizal was burn in the present day, would he has the same recognition as he has in his life or he will just be another guy walking on the streets.  And considering that he comes from a well to do family, will he be another rich kid loitering and squandering the fortune of his family?  But such questions will remain unanswered as history has dictated what a Jose Rizal would be in the pages of our history books and consequently in the life of the Filipinos.

All of us have the chance to be a hero in our own way and as heroism is defined as doing good for others even if it cause our lives, it is for us to treat when such opportunity to be a hero comes.  After all, heroism is not dictated but an opportunity grabbed only by those who have brave hearts in them……………….. God bless the Philippines

One of the intangible things that are important to our lives and is affecting our life is our so called heaven. To the holy people it is the place where God and angels live but to others it is the thing that is the measurement of how one lives in this world. Heaven is said to be the final resting place of all of us but the sad thing is we have our own individual idea of what it and most of the time such is the place where we compare ourselves.

Heaven when being talked by the so called righteous is a very beautiful place where God will receive them. But for bad people, it will remain a dream place especially if they have accepted to themselves that they are sure to meet Satan. But come to think of it, no one has reached heaven and for this how can they say that it is good. For me, heaven is here on earth and we can make our lives good in here as to follow what God has suggested which are contained in the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, then earth is heaven but as the reverse is happening on us we are presently on the other side of the story which is hell. The so called presence of God in heaven can be done by us through being good to others. After all, Jesus himself said that he can be seen right through our fellowmen. And if ever there is indeed a place called heaven after we die, then we would not have any recourse as we have done what God has commanded.

It is indeed a challenge for us to make our present situation a heaven. But right now, we are far from that. Now to do it, we should be opened to change our lives that is to say backing off from what is evil and turn to life that is heavenly.

I notice this man who is 50 years or older, a carpenter the fact he helps in building our houses, of 5 children all were jobless and a wife who is inclined in simple game of chance.  It is normal for all men to drink liquor but every man has different personalities after drinking such thing and he is one of the few that should never taste or even see such drink.  This is so as when he is drunk, he makes chaos over our community and even encouraging everybody that he meets to fight with him.

What a disgrace to his family.  I realized that every time he is drunk he puts his family in shame particularly his daughter.  That is why such child of him transferred to another place.  But it is different when he is not drunk as he portrays a very respectable man to me as he is kind.  Also, what makes me think of him is that even though he is of such character when he is drunk, his wife remains at his side even though they can be considered a low income family.  It may be called true love and that for me is a remarkable character of his wife.

I may not have a business with them but I want to share their story especially to those who are just married or even those in a relationship that as problems are part and parcel of the so called love, it is also worth suffering just to survive that love.  Also, in a relationship it is a bilateral thing that both parties should do their part in surviving their love for each other after all both of them will have a morsel of happiness.

Last night, I was suddenly awake from my sound sleep when my mom was calling my dad in a loud manner.  I knew that there is something wrong and when I rushed out of my room, I found my mother holding the spygmamometer and my sister supporting my father in his sitting position.  From that situation, I knew that my father is in bad shape.  And early in the morning when there is still complete darkness, my mother rushed out of our house fetching a tricycle to bring my dad into the hospital.

From the time I was born in this world, the only thing that I consider of much importance is my family.  And if anybody says that it is just a reciprocation of what my family did to me – I am very glad and honored to say that it is true.  And even death is part of living in this world – that, I cannot accept especially if it is to happen to my mom and dad as well as to my sister considering the kind of life that we share in this world.

Maybe, one would question me where I am getting such affection to my family.  It has a simple answer - that, my parents bestowed upon me the kind of family life that is for me a perfect one counting all the misfortunes, worries and struggles that we have overcome.

This very day, November 8, 2007, I will go home finding our house empty as my father is in the hospital and beside him is my mother because I am not used to come home without that smiles and laughter coming from my parents as well as from my sister.  I am not used to it and I will never accept in case death has come its way to anyone of us.  I know for sure that this is just momentarily but a day in my life without my parents and sister at my side is truly an obstacle to my happiness.

It is a very rear opportunity for a community to be united especially during these days where there are differences in beliefs, ideologies, religion and others. There are times when we get united, but that does not last long.

I am a resident of the Province of Albay which was devastated by two typhoons and even though we are suffering from such ravage, my heart exudes with happiness as I observed harmony among my fellowmen. There are the helping hands that accompany us in our great downfall. For the first time, I also experienced to be an evacuee and I discovered that there is joy to be one. There are people I’ve encounter for the first time, telling story about themselves, which as a youngster, I really admired and hoping that I can use them in my life. There are also kids which I enjoyed playing with them in the evacuation.]

There is that feeling of being safe while there is an imminent danger because I am not alone and I know that God will help me through the people around me.

As I peep behind the window of the school, I see truck loads of people from different places which are in their wretch condition. I have enough time to have pity on them, but much like I would help them, my condition is not far from them, and so I closed my eyes and pray that if possible that night would pass with all of us safe.

If only everyday is a day to help each other, our nation and our community will not be suffering much like this. But after such moment, our people go back to their same character which for me is a sad moment. Let us try to be the God’s saving hand each days of our life and we will see a glorious era for our nation – the Philippines.