ON PROGRESS AND THE FUTURE

When I was young, I accepted things as they were. I thought things would always remain as is.

Decades have passed and I now see evident physical development and I hear of upliftment of education.

I was so happy to see progress, since progress means  advancement and movement towards a goal.

This gives me optimism that there will always be something better in the future.

This gives me the inspiration to also do the same in my life! 

Let us be inspired to try to do our best...

First of all, believe that all things are possible.

Second, define our own goals.

Third, commit to move towards it.

We might just find out, we have achieved it! 

ON BEING AT A LOSS

Sometimes, we are at a loss on what to do with our lives...


We may be burdened by a family too early in life...
But, we may look at it as a blessing, too.


We may think we were left behind by everyone...
But, they may just be delayed for some reason.


You may think you were left behind by someone "special"...
But, it is actually his loss!


We may think we were rejected too often...
But, there may be something better in store for us.


We may not know what to do with our future...
But, this gives us time to search for options. 


Being at a loss is not altogether bad...
It just gives us time to take a break...
Assess our priorities...
Think... and think deeper...
And PRAY... Pray for enlightenment!
And PRAY that things will turn out better very soon...


And we find out... the situation will always be better very soon!!!

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER

We usually dream to be on the other side of the river, thinking it might be better there. 

Many times, we never know if it is better or not, unless, we try it out there.

Some have prospered...some have failed.

Why not make the best on our side of the fence, so they would want to join us over here!

MY FIRST SNOW

My first snow!

I remember in College we were told to watch Nora Aunor's movie "Minsan Isang Gamu-gamu".  (This is showing AGE !!!) This was about people wanting to go to the US and the consul asked Nora why she wanted to go to the US, and she answered, "I want to see i-snow".

Why is it that many Filipinos really dream of going to the US? They say it is "Colonial mentality"...still very evident in our society. However, I don't intend to dig deep into this.

I never really dreamed of living in the United States.

But, I did want to see SNOW.

Why not?

Even our Christmas songs sing "White Christmas" and dashing through the snow!

Somehow, I thought it is enough for me to experience the US and that would be fine for me!

Indeed, living in the US for nine months was a learning experience for me, aside from the hospital rotations I had.

I learned how to do domestic chores - cook, wash, iron, clean the house. (We were not used to this!)

I learned how to budget and live within our means, and look for discounts at supermarts and craft stores.

I was exposed to dealing with different races.

We actually had a great time there...so even if it was for continuing education, it seemed like a GRAND VACATION!

The folks we were with, were very helpful and gracious.

Life in the US was good.

But, life in the Philippines is better... for me!

I loved the snow, but so timely when we left because they had the worst blizzard in the decade!

So much for SNOW
... fresh snow is pristine white and amazing!
... muddy snow is no longer appealing!!
... too much snow is hazardous!!!

There are good things and nice things... and also difficulties, even in places we look up to.


There are also things meant for us.

So, if it is not for us, let us not force the issue.
We get lost in our dream to leave for the US and no longer see what may be beautiful here. 

Wherever we are in this world, let us appreciate the beauty and value of our country and our own little city or town and appreciate the here and now!
AND...May we be instruments to make tomorrows worth living!!!

ON UNIQUE FRUIT (BANGKOK)

WHAT IS THIS FRUIT?

Well, I was a bit away from the plate and i just blurted, "What is that? Sampaloc?"

Well everyone laughed at me, and in fact, pitied me!!! 

It is a CAMANCHILE!


Of course, it had a different color even if it had similar shape to the tamarind.

I told them, the only camanchile I know is Camanchile Street in Zamboanga City!!!

They all laughed.

I guess this may be more common in Luzon, but I never encountered this in Cebu or Zamboanga City!

And to think, I first saw and ate it in Bangkok!!!

So I just got some data from the net to share about it.

http://www.wordnik.com/words/kamachiles

Definition of Kamachiles

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In Guam and the Philippines, Pithecolobium dulce, a Mexican tree introduced into those islands for the sake of its edible pods and of its bark, which yields 25 per cent. of tannin. Also camanchile. See guamuchil.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090117213326AAK1Eu7

Camanchile, Pithecolobium dulce Benth. (Leguminosæ), a native
of tropical America; introduced into the Philippines by the Spaniards
probably in the first century of Spanish occupation; now thoroughly
naturalized and widely distributed in the Archipelago. 

In Mexico is is known as Guamuchil. Yes you can eat the fruits just fresh or roasted. If you are from Philippines the fruit looks a bit like tamarind but has a curved or twisted shape, white pink color. Pod contains several seeds. There is a sub variety which is bitter but still edible.

Well, I wasn't wrong that it is shaped like a tamarind!

Funny, that this is not primarily Asian but rather Central and Southern American in origin.

I like it and it tastes healthy!!!

Thanks to the friendly folks in Fai Sor Kam at the fourth floor in Paragon, Bangkok who offered it to us!


Please answer me... have you seen a real camanchile???

ON LENT 2012: GOOD FRIDAY

"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."

Let us pray that the death of Christ on the cross will bring us to the glory of the Resurrection.

Nikon D90 AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor 18-200 mm f/3.5

ISO5000

200 mm 

0 EV

f/5.6

1/4

ON LENT 2012: HOLY THURSDAY

We now celebrate Lent.

I got this excerpt from Wikipedia, just to share about Lent. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent

Lent (Latin: Quadragesima, "fortieth"^[1]) is an observance in the liturgical year of many Christian denominations, lasting for a period of approximately six weeks leading up to Easter. In most Western denominations Lent is taken to run from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) or to Easter Eve.

The traditional purpose of Lent is the penitential preparation of the believer—through prayer, penance, repentance, almsgiving, and self-denial. Its institutional purpose is heightened in the annual commemoration of Holy Week, marking the death and resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events of the Passion of Christ on Good Friday, which then culminates in the celebration on Easter Sunday of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

During Lent, many of the faithful commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxuries as a form of penitence. The Stations of the Cross, a devotional commemoration of Christ's carrying the Cross and of his execution, are often observed. Many Roman Catholic and some Protestant churches bare their altars of candles, flowers, and other devotional offerings, while Crucifixes, religious statues, and other elaborate religious paraphernalia are often veiled in violet fabrics in observance of this event. In certain pious Catholic countries, grand processions and cultural customs are observed, and the faithful attempt to visit seven churches during Holy Week in honor of Jesus Christ heading to Mount Calvary.

Lent is traditionally described as lasting for forty days, in commemoration of the forty days which, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, where he endured temptation by Satan.^[2][3] However, different Christian denominations calculate the "forty days" of Lent differently. In most Western tradition the Sundays are not counted as part of Lent; thus the period from Ash Wednesday until Easter consists of 40 days when the Sundays are excluded. However in the Roman Catholic Church Lent is now taken to end on Holy Thursday rather than Easter Eve, and hence lasts 38 days excluding Sundays, or 44 days in total.

This event, along with its pious customs are observed by Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, as well as some Baptists andMennonites.^{[4][4][5][5][6]}


Here are photos of the Cruz Mayor in Abong-Abong, Zamboanga City on Holy Thursday 2012.