When It Looks Like I Have Failed

This is a very beautiful prayer which is part of Straight From The Heart, a prayer book written by Fr. Mario Jose C. Ladra published by St. Pauls. A prayer in times of troubles and failures but looking at it differently.

When It Looks Like I Have Failed

Lord, are you trying to tell me something?

For--

Failure doesn't mean I'm a failure.

It does mean I haven't yet succeeded.

Failure doesn't mean I have accomplished nothing.

It does mean I have learned something.

Failure doesn't mean I have been a fool.

It does mean I had enough faith to experiment.

Failure doesn't mean I've been disgraced.

It does mean I dared to try.

Failure doesn't mean I don't have it.

It does mean I have to do something in a different way.

Failure doesn't mean I am inferior.

It does mean I am not perfect.

Failure doesn't mean I've wasted my life.

It does mean I have an excuse to start over again.

Failure doesn't mean I should give up.

It does mean I must try harder.

Failure doesn't mean I'll never make it.

It does mean I need more patience.

Failure doesn't mean you have abandoned me.

It does mean you must have a better idea!

Amen.

Toodles!

These Are The 116 Things We Want To See For The Philippines

One question: Are you sick and tired of being a Filipino?

My question has nothing of myself hating being a Filipino. It was a rhetorical question that needs no answers. Well, with different sorts of news being heard on the radio, watched on the television, browsed on the Internet, and read on newspapers everything about corruption, murder, uncanny behaviors, misguidance, and everything not so nice to our country, aren't you proud to become a Filipino? Aren't you wishing for a better Philippines? Are we wanting to move forward?

On the occasion of our 116th Independence Day, let's try to find out 116 things we want to see to our beloved country. There's no harm in wishing for as long as we're going to do what's best for our country, the Philippines. I just wanted to see that despite everything's what's happening here, from typhoons, earthquakes to corruptions and corrupted officials, there is still one hope and future heading towards ours.

1. No more corruption and corrupted officials.
2. Leadership and not politics; leaders and not politicians.
3. Dignity and integrity for the government officials (you know what I mean!).
4. Expressways and wider highways especially in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
5. Upgrade of education system from basic to tertiary education.
6. High-speed rail system for Luzon (attention, PNR!).
7. New sets of trains and new lines for our LRT and MRT (make it 12 lines!).
8. Filipino and half-Filipino pride in different media.
9. Good and healthy sanitation especially to the depressed areas.
10. No more beggars on the streets courtesy of some syndicates.
11. Free health cards, especially for the poor (hello PhilHealth and private HMOs!)
12. No more padrino system!
13. More prayerful Filipinos in different religions and beliefs.
14. More scholarships especially for poor but intelligent Filipino students.
15. No more age discrimination in employment.
16. The end of political dynasty in some provinces; give chance to others to lead!
17. The Senate and House of Representatives in one, powerful, legislative building, thus called Congress of the Philippines.
18. Make peace and not war especially in the West Philippine Sea
19. Competitive yet available education especially to the universities and colleges.
20. Original Pilipino Music worldwide phenomenon!
21. A beautiful Filipino film as a winner for the Oscars' Best Foreign Language Film (even as a nominee!)
22. Deserving National Artists in different field.
23. Trains (and even high-speed trains) for Visayas and Mindanao (again, attention PNR!)
24. More concentration in Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Iloilo, Dagupan, Baguio and other key cities in the Philippines!
25. A new international airport for Metro Manila (aside from NAIA!).
26. The San Miguel Beer worldwide fame!
27. Philippine Airlines serving different parts of the world!
28. Teleserye stories focusing more on the history of the Philippines (why not create Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo on Primetime Bida or Telebabad?).
29. An honorable welcome to all our Overseas Filipino Workers every time they go home (plus gifts and pampering surprises awaiting for them!).
30. Setting aside beliefs and criticisms; help the government to serve!
31. High respect and importance to the Filipino language (maintain Filipino subjects until college!).
32. Expressways for Mindanao, Palawan, Cebu, Negros Island, Panay Island, Eastern Visayas Region, Bicol, Ilocos and Northeast Luzon!
33. More international chains of hotel in the Philippines; more hotels, more jobs!
34. Cultural Center of the Philippines in key cities of the country (aside from Metro Manila!).
35. Intelligent Filipino audience especially in arts (drama, music, literature, and film).
36. Quiet but inspiring corporate social responsibility by the topnotch Filipino companies.
37. Responsible parenting for Filipinos.
38. Stronger and more intelligent Philippine National Police.
39. More Enchanted Kingdom-like amusement parks for Filipinos.
40. Instead of bigger malls, community and civic centers for each cities and towns in the Philippines.
41. Promotion of different products from different regions and provinces locally and internationally.
42. Unique tagline for the tourism in the Philippines (enough of it is more fun!).
43. Pedestrianization in key cities of the Philippines.
44. More sidewalks for people because sidewalks are for people!
45. More central business districts in the Philippines (aside from Makati, Ortigas, BGC and Alabang).
46. No more educational background discrimination for employment!
47. Public school teachers and students and private school teachers and students are equal!
48. Empowering regional literature like Iloko, Kapanpangan, Chavacano, Sugbuanon, Kinaray-a, Hiligaynon, Waray, Bikolano, etc.
49. An influential organization for writers in the Philippines that will share their expertise to the amateur yet potential writers.
50. The idea in independent films for mainstream films.
51. More music festivals in the Philippines (aside from 7,107 and Malasimbo!).
52. The behavior of restoration of Filipinos, especially in films and buildings.
53. The spirit of bayanihan not only in provinces but also in cities.
54. Focusing Filipiniana as the very first section to be seen and visited in bookstores and libraries; next will be international bestsellers.
55. Cheaper electricity charges!
56. Our own black gold (making our gasoline and oil cheaper!).
57. Cheaper and cheaper medicines!
58. No more tambay; encourage everyone to study harder to make local manpower stronger!
59. Making private hospitals reachable and government hospitals world-class in facilities and services.
60. No more network wars but healthy competition for ABS-CBN, TV5 and GMA
61. Competition per province in Binibining Pilipinas, Miss Philippines Earth, and Miss World Philippines.
62. Bus rapid transit system in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao and other highly-urbanized cities in the country.
63. Weekend markets and food festivals in different parts of the Philippines.
64. Filipinos being too intelligent and sensitive in using social media.
65. "Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan" application for resort owners not only for the local tourists.
66. Gender-preference equality and not discrimination in all aspects (girl, boy, bakla, tomboy).
67. Black Eyed Peas performing once again with our pride, apl.de.ap.
68. No more visa applications in United States of America, Japan, China, Korea, United Kingdom and other countries.
69. The Gilas Pilipinas at the Olympics.
70. The Philippine Azkals at the FIFA World Cup.
71. More museums to showcase Philippine arts and culture.
72. Most technologically-advanced flood control system in the Philippines.
73. Storm surge and tsunami warning devices in different seashores in the Philippines.
74. Earthquake-warning gadgets or applications for every mobile phones or smart phones in the Philippines.
75. Filipinos, though technologically-advanced, still have time to talk without WiFi, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
76. No more kotong cops and enforcers, just learn from your mistakes in traffic laws and pay necessary fees.
77. Be consistent in laws.
78. Equal justice, whether rich or poor.
79. Lawyers and doctors after service not after money.
80. No more terrorism; we're one Filipinos!
81. Filipino kids playing patintero, taguan, tumbang preso, tayaan, langit-lupa, luksong baka, luksong tinik, agawan-base and so much more and not iPad, tablets and DoTA.
82. The true, correct and precise history of our past to be taught to every Filipino.
83. Shopping districts in the Philippines, especially luxuriously clean Divisoria and Quiapo.
84. Responsible driving in different highways in the Philippines.
85. Expatriates work in the Philippines (something like their own version of OFWs!).
86. Small-and-medium-enterprises considered to become Filipino-pride and big companies and to give employment.
87. The return of Manila International Film Festival showcasing world cinema to Filipinos.
88. Exporting local retail business to the world like Bench, Penshoppe, Folded & Hung, Kamiseta and others.
89. Broadsheet newspaper in Filipino (Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Iloko, Waray, Bikolano, etc.).
90. Quick-response team for Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police in disasters and other emergency cases.
91. National stadiums in key cities in the Philippines (total redevelopment for the Rizal National Stadium!).
92. Establishing Department of Culture and Arts, Department of Information Technology, and Department of Sports Development as part of the executive department.
93. More theater plays, musicals and recitals.
94. Equally distributed lands for farmers, and definitely for farmers!
95. More free hugs for a peaceful Philippines!
96. Flashmobs dancing from ethnic to folk to Boom Panes!
97. Using green architecture from homes to office buildings and shopping malls.
98. Bikers and carpooling!
99. National budget equally allocated to the Filipinos.
100. Valuing the life of our national heroes, especially Dr. Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini and Lapu-Lapu.
101. Books (or e-Books) for every Filipino students.
102. Singing of the National Anthem in correct and exact way, and also one video presentation for all networks.
103. Time for super-modernization of our own Armed Forces of the Philippines (and no need to buy second-hand battleships, trucks, tankers, etc. If we can buy, then buy!)
104. Planting more trees as an answer for continuous problem about global warming (especially in cities!).
105. A government center or federal city in which all national offices are located in one place. Also, regional offices for all the regions.
106. Preservation of our UNESCO World Heritage Sites to its highest state!
107. Learning the word opo, po, oho and ho especially for the Filipino children.
108. The support of our national government in acquisitions of our TV programs in other countries, just like our own teleseryes and game shows.
109. No more Filipino time (at least a bit of adding more punctuality!).
110. Our internationally-acclaimed local fashion designers going globally-competitive with the rest!
111. The beauty of a Filipino family, just how St. John Paul II got really amazed and proud of.
112. Unique Filipino invention that will benefit mankind!
113. Not only in Metro Manila, LRT should also be constructed in other key cities like Cebu, Baguio, Davao, Iloilo, etc.
114. Though Filipino language is top priority, do not forget to use English since we're known before as the third largest English-speaking nation in the world!
115. More wonders of the world apart from the Banaue Rice Terraces and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.
116. Independence in every aspect but with extra care!

These are only the things we want to see in our country but then again, there's no perfect nation! All we wanted is to have these things: common sense, self-discipline, patience, sensitivity and peace of mind. We have been independent for so many years but no Filipino had experienced how to become independent. The best thing is simply being a Filipino and be proud of it no matter what.

Again, all of these 116 are the thing we wish for our beloved land, the Philippines!

Happy 116th Independence Day!!!

And TOODLES PILIPINAS!!!

(Image courtesy of Mikey Orsolino)

I Keep Coming Back to Brouhahas

I told myself that every Tuesday will be a Blogging Tuesday event. I don't know but I always look at Tuesdays as nothing, no special significance and blah for the entire week. Sundays are for God and family (and also The Buzz and Gandang Gabi Vice, hehe!), Mondays are for the first working day and the first for everything (I guess?), Wednesdays are for my Perpetual Help novenas, Thursdays are for my St. Jude Thaddeus novenas and also throwbacks (with hashtag!), Fridays are for partying and Saturdays are for my studies and also partying! Since then, I haven't seen anything so meaningful with Tuesdays. Now, I decided that the third day of the week will be the only day I can do blogging about stuffs.

From my last post, I am back with lots of stuff intricately thought and balanced with different perspective. Haha! In short, I am back with writing everyday's somethings. Now here are my brouhahas:

courtesy of Poetry Place

THERE ARE LOTS OF WEDDINGS - I bought the June edition of YES! Magazine and it talked about different celebrity weddings from Jericho Rosales and Kim Jones to Karylle and Yael Yuzon (now I know why since June is known for weddings and June brides). Last January, Drew Arellano and Iya Villania had their very cute wedding underground. Few weeks ago, my dude Yuan and kaps Lyrize tied the knot in a very peaceful and blessed ceremony. Last year, my good friends and siblings Ronald and Charm and Joel and Theresa equally exchanged "I do's!" I also have my former classmates, schoolmates, colleagues, neighbors and so much more who have been at the altar and sealed their wedding with a kiss. Some say that wedding is only a one-day event so why need to satisfy so many things like church, wedding gown, suits, reception, food, and so much more. For others, wedding is only for formality. Some say that the wedding is entirely the most important day for a woman to be called as the bride. That's why the groom should be the one who creates a magical day for her soon-to-be-bride. And everything shall be enticed by the taste of the bride.

They define wedding as the front door of marriage. It happens only one day but the entire journey of a married life begins the day after. Nervous as it may sound but it is a choice for the two lovers who wanted to be with each other's arms for the rest of their lives.

I have been part of an entourage. I have been a secondary sponsor from my two sisters' weddings and a recent one with Yuan and Lyrize's. I also became one of the groomsmen with Joel and Theresa's wedding. Now I am thinking when will be that perfect time? For me? The big question is, who will be the...? For the newlyweds, congratulations and best wishes!

"Mr. FU! Ba't ang pogi-pogi mo???" - courtesy of 106.7 Energy FM

ANG TAGABULABOG NG BUONG UNIVERSE - Jeffrey Espiritu started as a news reporter of RPN-9 (I am not sure if that station still exist?). He also had a show every Sundays (I forgot the title!) which features different things happening in the metro. He is a chinito guy with good looks and fit body but then I have noticed that there's something going on in him (well, it takes one to know one!). Then, he was called as Mr. FU being known for his follow-up reports (as what he did with RPN-9 as a news reporter). From television, he jumped into radio with a new work as radio disc jockey. He started with Energy FM when it was still under 91.5 frequency. While I was working back then at IVOLINE, the bus I rode back home tuned to the station and it was Mr. FU's show. I remember one male texter saying something about hooking up with Mr. FU but he replied with reluctancy. Maybe that male texter knew that Mr. FU was a woman trapped in a man's body. From Energy FM, he went to 103.5 WOW FM making as their Star DJ. It was also during his move that he was recognized as "the highest paid DJ in the country." After three years with WOW FM, he decided to return to his first home, Energy FM but in a different frequency with 106.7. And truly, I became one of his true-blooded fan! How I became his fan, again?

It was one morning, I was driving and I kept on scrolling what FM station could I listen to. Then I heard Mr. FU doing one of his segment in his show Ang Tagabulabog ng Buong Universe called Showbiz FU where he reads three different showbiz news and then he will make fun of it. Then on, I added him as one of my favorite radio programs which includes The Morning Rush, Tambalan and Papa Jack's True Love Conversations. He has his assistant named Emily (I guess he chose the name after Emily Blunt's character in The Devil Wears Prada, which happens to be Miranda Priestly's first assistant). He always asks Emily different names of celebrities, politicians, news reporters then and now and so much more, and if she doesn't know them, he tells "gaga ka, patanga-tanga ka!" He does not mean it really but it is so funny. He also loves to play names of different showbiz personalities. In his entire show, my favorite segment is Showbiz FU (which has two parts) and when he reads different messages from his die-hard fans and listeners and afterwards, he will make some funny comments then the phrase, "dahil diyan, close na tayo!" in a very provocative voice, and "mahal na kita, you're the one!" Now my morning will be totally incomplete if I wasn't able to listen to him because he really made my universe "nabulabog!"

RAILFANNING - This may consider me as a weird one but I am such a huge fan of trains. I have been trying LRT-1, MRT-2 and MRT-3 for so many times. I even tried the Philippine National Railways from Alabang all the way to Tutuban in Manila. But I am so much fan of the different high-speed railway system in other countries, most especially in United Kingdom, United States, China, Japan and France. It brings so much joy and music to my ears when I watch videos of traversing high-speed trains on tracks. I have been a huge fan of Eurostar, a high-speed train service from London to Paris and Brussels with a underground passage via the Euro Tunnel which swims under the English Channel. United States has their Acela Express which runs the Northeast Corridor line from Boston to Washington, D.C. Germany has Inner City Express or ICE, Spain has AVE, Netherlands has Thalys, China has the CRH, Japan has the Shinkansen or the Bullet Train, but what I really admire so much is France's TGV. TGV means Train a Grande Vitesse (literally High Speed Train in English) is the high-speed railway system of the French Republic known for their service and no fatalities in accidents for the past 40 years. What made me a huge fan of the trains is not really about the trains but the luscious countryside of France being halved by the agility of TGV. Its technology and services had been adopted by other high-speed train systems in the world like AVE of Spain, KTX of South Korea, British Rail Crass of the United Kingdom and Acela Express of the United States.

I just only wish that we have our own high-speed trains. Imagining going up north to Ilocos or going south to Bicol by riding very fast, very comfortable high-speed trains. Since 1892, we already had our PNR, almost 70 years before the government of France created the SNCF (French National Railway Company). I wish our government would soon pursue to have a high-speed train system that will surely benefit the Filipino people and foreign adventurers. Our interisland train system have died because of poor management and continuing declination of the services. It even brought to permanent closure when typhoons damaged the rail tracks and communication facilities of PNR especially in Quezon and Bicol. No wonder our own TGV will match the quality and technology of the real TGV of France and other high-speed rail systems of the world.

THE VOICE OF THE WORLD - Last May 24, The Voice Kids Philippines began its broadcast with the most talented kids singing their hearts out to the coaches. Last year, it became one of the most watched shows in ABS-CBN making Mitoy Yonting of Team Lea as the very first winner. I was watching some of the blind auditions of The Voice Philippines and there were only less chances of four-chair-turns. Unlike with the other franchises of The Voice from USA, UK, Italy and China, most of the blind auditionees were being wanted by all of the four coaches from their seats. Does it really mean that singers from other countries are way better than ours?

With all of the different The Voice franchises in the world, there are only two blind auditions which I really love to watch repeatedly. One blind audition was from The Voice Italy (Season 2) when a Catholic nun, named Sister Cristina rocked the stage and wowed the audience with her amazing performance of Alicia Key's No One. It made four-chair turns because of her exuberant talent. Judges from The Voice Italy, Raffaella Carra, Noemi, Piero Pelu and J-Ax were so enthused with the charisma of the Catholic nun. Finally, Suor Cristina chose J-Ax as her coach since he was the first one who pushed to button. As of this writing, she is still part of the competition with J-Ax as her coach.

Another blind audition that I fell in love with is from The Voice of China. This was during the show's first season in 2012 when a certain Wang Naien of Shanghai tried the blind auditions. He chose "Listen" by Beyonce as his piece. At first, you would not believe that a male singer will sing a very high Beyonce masterpiece but he just made it possible. The very first judge who pushed the button was Liu Huan, followed by the other three, Harlem Yu, Na Ying and Yang Kun. After having all of the judges, he chose Liu as his coach. But sadly, he was eliminated after the second round of the Battles division.

Thanks to the creative idea of John de Mol, The Voice is one of the well-loved, most anticipated reality singing competition in the world. It has a different approach in looking for talents in singing and paved the way to so many aspirants that by their voice, they can make a difference!

Now my Blogging Tuesday is done! This day will have its own significance to my life and I will start right now!

Thank you for reading!

Toodles!!!

What Had Stopped Me From Writing?

This is the question I still do not know the answer. And if I will answer, I guess I cannot fit it into writing because of so many reasons. Before the answers, let me go back to a certain point in time when my writing skills were questioned.

I am officially unemployed nowadays because I wanted to concentrate with my studies and at the same time, to take some rest in teaching (don't worry, I'll be returning next school year!). But the most intriguing reason why I left the academe is because I wanted to try in writing, editing and everything about publishing. I know, everybody knows (with flying colors, hahaha) that I have talent in writing so I can use it, I can even make money out of it. I tried to so many publishing companies, from books to magazines and even technical writing and online writing tutor but they kept me waiting.

I tried applying in one of the leading magazine publishing companies in the country. I really wanted to be part of their lifestyle site which they write about anything and everything in Metro Manila. From food, movies, celebrities, politicians, and so much more, this site can make fun of them, no pun intended. I sent my resume and I really bragged my blogsite which happened to have the same writings as they do. I still believe that I can be trained if I guess my writings were not as strong and as readable as they do. They received it but until now, I haven't heard of anything from them. Is it because I am not really a writer but an educator? Teachers can write beautifully and with full of ideas, heart and soul.

I taught Technical Writing in high school. This is difficult because it has more technicalities unlike with creative writing and even journalism. Different jargon and terminologies have been given to the students but of course I studied them. These things gave me an idea on how to make my own papers due for my studies. I just don't know if my students are also interested. I let them create their own thesis and put them into an oral defense as part of their exams. Some did well, others not so. I understand that this was their first time doing a research work. Good thing, I haven't heard anything from my superiors and my colleagues about my project. Time was actually the main thing why some of them did not do well. And my fault, I inserted their Technical Writing project to the numerous projects and requirements students need to do for the year end.

I read from Philippine Panorama only today about the slowly decline of college students getting humanities or liberal arts as their course. Specifically, they are not into the world of literature, visual arts and other forms. I am studying literature and up to heavens, I love it. Most of the incoming college students are into hotel and restaurant management, maritime studies, engineering, sciences and others which will give them the benefits. Unlike if you write and if your ideas are great, you will come a long way. But I only talked to one of the most respected professors in one of the leading universities in the Philippines that writing career in our country has served by a so-called "mafia." I did not dwell too much in it but I guess it is true. Why cannot we not follow the footsteps of other countries in which they do care about the writers, and they still have a snap with literature and the whole liberal arts (no, I'm not afraid because I know I can have a career with humanities!).

On the other hand, I became very busy. I was very busy finishing the grades of my students. I was very busy finishing two papers for my studies. And I don't have any mood for writing. Prior to this, I haven't finished two posts because of my mood swings. It includes laziness, sadness, and the "I-don't-care-what's-going-on-outside" syndrome. Because it was my time to have a rewarding vacation, same goes with my writing. Don't worry because I'm going to release it soon, if I have mood (of course, yes!)

I guess another reason was my attitude. These past few months, I've been exercising attitude towards my parents, my friends, my co-workers and even myself. There were turbulent occasions with myself and the other people so close to my life and thankfully, we made pact with each other. Because of that, I did not write. Instead of putting it into writing, I just waiting something to change in the timeline of Facebook and Twitter and watch so many usual and unusual videos via YouTube.

And then I went back to applying. This time as an online writing tutor in a company based in Alabang. In it, students from different countries will be sending their homework and a draft of their work. As a tutor, you are not going to edit their work but to tutor them what should be and should not be done in their work. It is like the students look up to their tutor as perfect example of writers. I did the simulation and it was really hard. I was not able to do necessary exercises because I relied with the sample essays they had sent me. And I also had problems with my grammar. I have problems with the perfect tenses, prepositions and run-on sentences. Turns out, they never called me back and I know the answer. Because of this, I thought how's my writing so far? I could write well I believe but could I share what I know about it, really?

What had stopped me from writing? All of these things considered as my reasons but it all boils down to one thing: I still have no definite topic (just kidding!)! Maybe I just wanted to return to my normal way of writing my brouhahas: everything I see, I conquer and I wander in my life. From reviews to celebrations, I will write. And if I keep on writing, my talent will flourish more and more. And from now on, this will be my diskarte to my writing talent! I believe someday, few months or years from now, someone will say "I nailed it!"

I will write again and I will say this last word!

Toodles!!!