Thursday, November 24, 2005

quitting and career path

November 23 – From Fr. Rudy Fernandez, SJ – “Winners know when to quit to fight again another day or another place, when it’s time to let go here and/or now.”

I don’t know, but I refuse to believe him for some reason. A few life circumstances made me feel like such a loser after quitting. I don’t believe the word “quit” is appropriate for a winner, winners never quit. They perhaps rest, research some more, learn more how to fight the battle and eventually stand up from resting and continue the battle.
I am no winner in one of my personal fights. 3 weeks ago, I finally gave up on him. That’s it, no more trying, no more huge efforts, I give up! – There still is praying and a tinge of hope, but I think I’ve done my part. It hurts to finally lose the fight, India Arie couldn’t have said it any better – No one has the power to hurt you like your kin.
I pray and hope though that I may never find myself in the same position, deciding to finally quit and feel that I’ve done my part. I still have so much to learn and so much to do, not only for myself but for others as well. May I always just rest and eventually stand up again to continue each battle.

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Simply because I was tagged by Ate Mayette and I thought, why not answer - just for fun.5 Careers I thought I’d pursue when I was kid.

Computer Engineer – That’s what is written in my elementary (grade6) yearbook. I don’t think I even knew what a computer engineer does back then. I think I chose the career because it sounded “cool” and “difficult.” I sure am not a computer engineer right now. But I can trouble shoot few, minor, computer problems. If I can’t, my sis can and if my sis can’t, the computer engineer in SM North can.(hehehe)

Laundrywoman“I want to be a Labandera.” I believe I uttered those words once in my life. When we were younger, my sisters would tease me that that was my real ambition. I don’t know, perhaps to a certain extent I idolized “Manang Emma,” my grandmother’s laundrywoman. Manang Emma took pride in her work and she was passionate in doing the laundry. I cannot say the same with how I did my laundry in Bukidnon in the 10 months that I lived there. No, I didn’t do my laundry with much pride and passion, I simply did because it was the hygienic thing to do… These days doing the laundry isn’t exactly one of my favorite chores, but I’d take it over dishwashing anytime.

Doctor – The idea of becoming a doctor at 23 excited me when I was in Grade 4. I remember that a good number of my classmates wanted to become a doctor as well (talk about peer pressure). I remember watching ER and truly wanting to become a doctor. But, I just can’t get myself to memorize so much. Those thick science books in high school and college just didn’t persuade me to pursue this dream.

Discovery Channel Travelersino bang may ayaw? Get real -- you travel, have fun, learn about the country’s culture, eat different types of food, host and you get paid to do all of that!! I don’t think I need to explain further, right? --- No, I am not and never was a discovery channel traveler but my previous (and current---sometimes lang) job has allowed me to travel. I get to see a lot of my country, the Philippines. (The Department of Tourism should hire me to host a local show here in our country. I’m telling you I’ll be so good at it.hahaha. Ang bilis ko pa man din matuto ng iba’t ibang dialect. Yabang eh?) My travel around the Philippines has deepened my sense of nationalism. It has taught me to appreciate our country even more. “Ang ganda-ganda talaga ng Pilipinas, who would want to leave such a great place” --- my usual line every time I go around the country. Yes the economy is bad, government is filled with dirty politicians, corruption has reached a cancer stage beyond stage 4 but there is so much more to be thankful for. There is so much more that can be done as well. Even when I go out of the country, I find a piece of the Philippines similar or even better than what I see. Actually, I don’t think I really should have explained so much about this dream job – what’s the name of the blog again?

Director (Film, Documentaries or Photography) – It’s hard to explain why, I just really want to become one. I’ve been taking pictures since I was 10 and it has evolved so much over the years. Did I mention I’m enlisted in UP MA in Film? Yeah, I am, but been AWOL for almost 3 years already and honestly I don’t see myself pursuing it. Honestly, I’m in a “dry stage” in terms of taking pictures and doing videography, for almost 2 years now. I don’t know, I once thought I was back, but I lost it easily. “Walang libog,” for some reason, you should have seen me in college until a year after JVP, that was passion at it’s finest... The MA I’m pretty sure I won’t pursue but being a director, now that’s a different story. My new work has asked me to be excited about doing documentaries again (and there might be an MTV too). I’m taking it one step at a time.

(pahabol, this last one I dreamt of when I was in HS. High School doesn’t exactly fall under the category of being a child, but hey I was just 11 then, pwede pa.)

Jesuit! – hahaha! If I were a boy, I probably entered the society (so I can own all the Ateneos,hehehe). I just couldn’t find one that’s really close to the Spirituality and lifestyle the society lives out. Cenacle is closest, but Thea doesn’t exactly recommend it, especially for me. I guess she knows me too well to know that I’d die if required to wear skirt and a cross all the time. Hahaha! Together with some former JVP girls, I am planning to establish a society with “Mateo Sanchez” as our guide. hehehe!

Thursday, November 10, 2005

r-e-s-p-e-c-t (kuala lumpur,malaysia)

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In an Indian accent, the tourist guide began his history of Malaysia spiel - “This country is a melting pot of different cultures. As you will see later in the town of Melaka, people of various cultures, traditions and religions lived in harmony with one another. The Indians, for one, have strong influence in this country... The Sultans brought the religion of Islam and they continue to run leadership in the country. The Chinese came here to trade and also brought Confucianism with them… ”

When you go around the city, you will in fact notice that Malaysia is a melting pot of Asian countries. Malay looking (aka Pinoy looking) people do not exactly dominate the scene. On the other hand, you will also notice a lot of Indians and Chinese fleeting around.

Because different races inhabit the country, more particularly in the cities of Kuala Lumpur and Melaka, a tourist will surely notice the variety of culture that surrounds him or her. In one part of the city lies the Chinatown, on the other is the Indian Street. There’s a Mosque beside or in front of the Chinese temple. There’s a Chinese temple looking Mosque not so faraway from the Hindu Temple. And there’s a Catholic Church nearby. Their fashion sense is also a treat for the eyes. Some dress up in modern clothes while a good number still wear their traditional outfits. If the tourist is a bit of a film buff, to her it will seem as if a “bali wood” movie came to life especially when Indian songs are heard inside the mall or a cab.

And I began to think about the tagline “Malaysia, Truly Asia.” I believe, to a huge extent Malaysia is Truly Asia. Maybe because in Malaysia, there is no one dominant race; In Malaysia, as claimed by the tourist guide, people live in harmony with one another, respecting each other’s traditions and religion. The Chinese Muslims embrace the teachings of the Islam Religion and at the same time incorporate the teachings of their ancestors (so does the Indian-Muslims, by incorporating Hinduism with Islam). There is no strong Christian-Muslim conflict or conflict of any other 2 faiths; In Malaysia each major and important custom is given equal time for celebration. Indian festival, Hari Raya (it was hari raya when we came to Malaysia by the way), Christmas and Chinese New Year are all celebrated; In Malaysia there are no offensive stares (sadly, I guess except from my mom and my sister who stared at almost everyone and anything they wanted to stare at) to those who are different or to those who do not wish to conform… Offhand, in the short time that I was there, I know that if I want a model place or people for “truly asia,” I would want it to be Malaysia.

As a place, they’ve only truly began to develop freely as a nation 30 years ago but the development is evident. In their capital city, Kuala Lumpur, the roads are well made and are wide. All the traffic lights work and the people follow the traffic rules. There are modern clothes and things that are available in their shopping malls but a great number of the people still wear their traditional clothes and use their traditional equipment. Their history is not only rich of stories of those who have colonized them but also of a number of neighboring countries who visited them to trade resources and in their stay managed to influence their original beliefs. Their forests are well-protected and laws are strictly implemented. The farmers in Malaysia are not poor, most of the time they are richer than those who have finished college and are working in the cities.

The most beautiful thing about being in Malaysia is experiencing a deep sense of respect in its people. Each one respects the other whether in terms of religion, or in terms of beliefs and tradition. They seem to have deep respect in their environment and the gifts that have been given to them. They live in harmony because they have learned to respect each other. It’s an inculturated type of respect, where they value the teachings of the old and the promises of the future. It’s a respect that compromises yet doesn’t sell out.


---work related----

At the core of Integrity lies Respect. For no one can genuinely be honest and live a life of integrity without respecting other people that surround him and respecting the environment that was given to him.

In the research I am working on, the major question is - What are the various dimension/s of Spirituality of Integrity? I believe RESPECT is a strong aspect of this spirituality. I like it more in Tagalog though – PAGGALANG.

Ang taong nabubuhay na marangal at may integridad, ay taong marunong gumalang. Alam niya kung kailan at paano galangin di lamang ang sarili, higit ang iba - May paggalang siya sa di paggamit ng hindi kanya o ng pinaghirapan ng iba. May galang siya sa mga batas na nailathala para sa ikabubuti ng kanyang bayan kaya’t sinusunod niya ito. Paggalang din ang pinaiiral niya sa mga tradition ng nakatatanda at ng mga naiiba (mga Lumad o ibang Tribo pa). Ginagalang niya rin ang kalikasan at paligid na alam niyang di niya pag-aari - kalikasang kailangan at pinakikinabangan ng lahat. May paggalang siya sa kanyang salita, higit kapag ito’y nakabalot sa isang panunumpa.

Ang taong bastos kailan may ay di mamumuhay ng marangal, dahil di niya alam paano ang makisama at mamumuhay ng payapa at tama kasama ang iba.

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the perfect (OA) tourist pose
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petronas towers at night, breathtaking!
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my family at the king's palace