afternoons with an officer

there are days here at work when i’ll just look forward for the afternoon to come . . . it’s during those times when we can afford to take some time out from work and take a little bit of rest, eat a little and try to re-energize ourselves from work.

it’s during these times that i’d wait for this officer, an aide of my boss, to come to our office room . . . and talk.  our usual discussion?  his cadet years in the pma . . .

i’m like a child listening to an elder (which is partly true, hehe) as i get interested in every story he’d tell . . . the hazing at pma, the fun moments . . . brotherhood . . . keeping the friendship through the years, war in mindanao . . . things like that.  hey, don’t get me wrong . . . i’m no warfreak . . . but i do get interested with his stories.  i guess the fact that my dad is a retired military man, i’ve been hearing stories about his days at pma also during the 60’s.  it’s interesting how things have changed at pma and how some things, like a couple of traditions, have remained the same.

but no . . . do not think that it’s always about cadets, war, and the military that we often talk about . . . sometimes we talk about life in general . . . problems in life . . . or sometimes we just clown around the office, hehe.

i love conversations with people . . . light chat that is . . . perhaps over a cup of coffee or just sitting around a table . . . or any possible scenario.  i love exchanging ideas with people.  i want to know their thoughts . . . and i want to share mine as well . . . my dreams, my aspirations . . . my frustrations . . . my pain.  in every share of ideas, i get to learn something . . . something which perhaps can teach me about dealing with life . . . and i like that . . .

i know those afternoons may seem no longer likely to happen frequently . . . maybe, it will never happen again . . .

as most of us reach that intersection in our life’s journey, i know not all of us will take the same road . . . parting is likely to happen . . . but i know it’s for the good of all of us.  as most of us here in the office take a different path eventually, although we may not see each other frequently already, i know the bond and friendship we’ve all established will be locked up inside our hearts and cherished forever.

oh well . . . i have a great feeling that we’ll all keep in touch anyway . . .

–GI 30682

simple lang

i was reading the newspaper a while ago and got hooked into reading one editorial (i forgot who wrote it though) regarding the morales-pacquiao fight.

no, this has definitely no link with regard to the boxing fight.  i’m no big fan of boxing . . . well, yes . . . i watched the fight but basically due to the fact that the whole country is watching . . . then why shouldn’t i?

now . . . the article was about how sarah geronimo sang the national anthem before the big fight.  the author basically said she didn’t like the way it was sang.  how she described it?  very operatic . . . i agree. 

no offense to sarah geronimo as i really find her to be a talented singer.  yet still, a lot of people know that i’m an advocate of simplicity . . . that’s where you find true beauty.  i would have wanted to hear a simpler rendition of the national anthem . . . not the diva way.

the author of the said editorial argued by recalling how back during our school days, our music teachers will always remind us that the national anthem is a "march" . . . and they’d always remind us of its tempo.  she even recalled an incident where former president, fidel ramos was a guest at a certain school flag raising ceremony and was disgusted with how the school children sang the national anthem, the very colorful way.  it was said that the former president made the children sing the national anthem the second time . . . reminding them that it is a "march".

i guess the former president has the right to be very patriotic.  he’s a military man, all the more.  as for me, i’m not sure if i can be described also as such.  but to tell you honestly, as i grow more mature, i’ve been loving my country all the more . . . thanks to my beloved university for making me realize that and i guess dnd or the opportunity to work for the government . . . which made me loyal to the flag, hehe.

i have nothing against singers, all the more divas, if they want to have their own versions of every song created in this world.  i know everyone wants to make a distinction and to have their own styles but i guess i’d like to request that please . . . leave the national anthem alone . . .

let it be sang the way it’s supposed to be sung . . . simple . . . i know that’s how our ancestors of long ago would have wanted to hear it . . . that’s how the first president of the country, gen. emilio aguinaldo, would have wanted it to be . . .

wala lang . . .

–GI 30682

one-sided friendship

have you ever had that feeling?  one-sided friendship, i mean . . . well, if ever such term exists . . .

basically, what i mean is . . . were there times when you feel your friends, the people nearest to your heart aren’t there for you?

i’d call it one-sided friendship . . . where on my part, i’m doing my best to be the friend and living what a real friend must be.  on the other hand, you do not get what you deserve to feel the friendship to those people. 

i guess, i’m just really longing for people during these down and lonely moments of mine and as what i often tell in this blog, i do get exasperated when i don’t get any response.  i’ve always been the patient kind of person, but this is one moment that i’m really not willing to be such.  why?  because i needed to satisfy myself . . . i need to satisfy myself that i’m feeling my worth as a true friend.  that these people i’ve been loyal to are also loyal to me.  that these people i’m always willing to give a lending hand to would also do the same to me.

but i’ve always been the dreamer . . . i’d love to dream that one day . . . these people will find a way to get back to me . . . the special way they know how . . . i’m praying for that . . . and i hope it does come true . . .

–GI 30682

flattered

it’s been more than a week since my boss tendered his irrevocable resignation from president arroyo effective the end of this month but still, i’m overwhelmed with how many people give their support to him.

i have wanted to post this blog even days before but due to the many documents piled up on my desk, i was having a hard time finding the computer.  yesterday was an achievement as i found the keyboard . . . and luckily today, i found the mouse haha.

ever since my boss has resigned, i’ve been reading good write-ups about him.  it is overwhelming all the more to even see some people from the opposition showing their support to him.  ok fine, who knows what their true agenda is.

last week, there was an article written about my boss and the law firm he put up with his partners.  it was interesting to read because it featured the other lawyers whom he took with him here at dnd.  i like the way the article described my boss and his lawyers:  people who are dedicated to work.

well at least we’re leaving dnd with a good image.  although many write-ups are dedicated to him . . . i still am flattered.  i’m still connected to this man . . . i work for him.  and knowing that people see him as a good man . . . i feel good as well . . .

–GI 30682

same fate

my mom gave me this joke last night:

"president bush called up president gloria arroyo asking how to manipulate the results of the election.  gloria arroyo answered the results are out and it can no longer be manipulated.  she added further:  ‘that’s the problem in america, you count your ballots very fast.’"

oh well . . . i guess all of us are aware of the victory of the democrats in the congress which can be detrimental to president bush, being a republican.  with many people disagreeing with some of his policies, the majority being now grabbed by the democrats can be a step towards the end of the road to his presidency.

last week, as we were discussing that issue inside the office, we again recalled the observation of many people 5 years ago . . . president gloria arroyo and president bush seem to have the same fate . . . why?  here goes . . .

both were children of the country’s president.  gloria arroyo is the daughter of the late president diosdado macapagal and george bush, the son of former president george walker bush, sr.  so, both had a taste of living in the house entitled to the president of the country . . . arroyo at malacanang palace, george bush at the white house.

5 years ago, arroyo assumed office through the second people power.  meanwhile, bush assumed office by winning the elections after a close rivalry with al gore.

both presidents succeeded presidents who battled impeachment . . .

both presidents battled terrorism problems in the country . . .

both supported the war in iraq . . .

both lost their trusted defense secretaries (syempre, kailangan kong ibida ang boss ko.  gumaya lang sa kanya sa pag-resign si rumsfeld, haha)

both are battling the threat of impeachment . . . (arroyo due to the alleged election scandal . . . bush because of the dissatisfaction of america in bush’s desicion for war in iraq).

with bush losing the majority in the congress, he now faces the threat to impeachment.  his losing the numbers.  i guess, same thing is arroyo’s problem . . . she needs to take care of her allies in congress to maintain the majority.  why?  because once the opposition takes over the majority post . . . she can be impeached . . .

with the elections here in the philippines coming in may next year, who knows what will happen?  many say that arroyo will not face the same defeat as what bush had experienced.  i don’t know . . . i guess we’ll just have to wait and see . . .

–GI 30682

where’s the christmas spirit?

i was driving on my way to work this morning and i realized something.  it’s already november and i still haven’t seen any christmas decorations anywhere.  it’s kinda amusing yet weird since we only have a month away from this holiday and it seems no one has realized that.

years ago, although i believe christmas decorations must be arranged after all souls’ day, come the "-ber" months, we can already expect the christmas spirit much to my reaction:  "ang aga pa . . ." back then, around this time, christmas songs can already be heard over the radio but i don’t think i have happened to catch a moment where a christmas song is being played on air.

i’m kinda wondering why things seem different now.  is it just me?  is it just because i’ve been hooked up with lots of things in mind that i, myself, haven’t had that christmas spirit yet so much that i don’t even notice it anywhere?  or really, many of us just haven’t felt the season coming near.

should the second choice be true, why is it so?  are we really living in such a fast-paced world . . . we’re so busy that we haven’t realized that christmas is near?  is life really down for us financially that we don’t want to think about the coming holiday so we can save our money?  i know filipinos . . . we have the attitude that no matter how much in debt we are, we’ll never forget christmas.  we’ll always take note to have lavish feasts as well as presents to other people.  we don’t care about money at this time of the year, we can worry about it later . . . the most important thing is:  we need to prepare something.  i guess this is a result of us being hospitable people.

i guess i just find things weird right now for i haven’t really seen any christmas decorations yet anywhere.  as a result, the christmas spirit hasn’t gotten to me all the more.

oh well . . . i guess the most important thing we still have to remember now that christmas is near . . . is the essence of why we’re celebrating the event.  it’s not just about gift-giving . . . it’s not about parties . . . but it’s about the birth of christ, our saviour.  i know, god will not demand for us to have posh christmas decorations at home or host a huge party this christmas.  definitely he’ll just want us to remember the true meaning of christmas . . . it’s a celebration of life of the one who’ll save from our sins . . . it’s a celebration of love by the one who sent his son to suffer in behalf of us so we can enter his kingdom in time.

well, i hope we’d just all remember the real and true meaning of christmas this year.

and, oh yes . . . after reading my blog . . . please, don’t have second thoughts about giving me a gift . . . i’d still accept them . . . haha

–GI 30682

mixed emotions

that was one unforgettable weekend . . .

it started out good . . . i was basically thanking god for some answered prayers and it felt satisfying knowing you’re still being listened to by the one up there.

yet still, with the resignation of my boss from the arroyo administarion it means, i go as well.  being in a co-terminous position, once he leaves, so do i.  all of a sudden yesterday, all the happiness i had the day before was gone.  although i was expecting it to happen, i didn’t realize that it’s going to happen soon (the resignation, i mean).  i was definitely shocked . . . but it has already happened.  i know my boss is one intelligent man and he definitely knows what he is doing and he knows it’s best.

i don’t know what my future is right now.  i haven’t really done some thinking about it.  i guess i’m still too shocked with the news yesterday and i haven’t comprehended/digested everything yet. 

really, i’m just still confused . . .

oh well, bahala na nga . . .

–GI 30682

wildest dreams come true

had nothing much to do tuesday night and knowing that the following day is a holiday, i stayed up late just watching tv.  so anyway, i chose to watch oprah.

it was a good episode.  apparently, there’s this "wildest dreams come true" kinda campaign of oprah and from how i understood it, people can post their wildest dreams at the oprah website and whichever dream the staff chooses, then they’d grant it.

i was moved with 2 segments from the said episode.  one request was that of a grade 1 teacher wanting to treat her students to a day in disneyland.  oprah granted the wish and it was nice to see the happiness in the children’s eyes as they see their favorite cartoon characters live . . . all the more to play with them and watch the lantern parade.  if you could only see the sadness in the children’s faces as the day ended and they had to go back to texas.  but one thing’s for sure . . . i know that event will forever be etched in their memories forever . . . so as oprah’s.

now, that’s one dream i’d love to be able to fulfill to others . . . to bring this certain joy or happiness to them . . . something that years from now, they can still recall and a smile on their faces will still be formed.  that’s an ultimate dream of mine . . . to bring happiness to people.

now the other segment i enjoyed was the request of an aunt wanting to have a new home with her neices and nephews and her mother.  as a background, this family of around 10 just share a room in this small and unsafe apartment.  the staff of oprah granted the wish.  they hired this certain interior designer and you should have seen how elegant the house turned out to be with each room fully furnished . . . with a garden safe enough for the children to play with. 

it was nice as you see how grateful the whole family was.  for many times, i’ve seen oprah choke as she also got overwhelmed by it.  i remember a part where the boys’ room was designed with basketball stuff and it was packed with lots basketballs with autographs from great nba stars.  then, back at the studio, one of the kids handed a letter to oprah . . . a letter from kevin garnett.  oprah was touched with kevin’s letter . . . it was a pledge to create/buy a house every month for two years for the victims of hurricane katrina.  i guess it’s touching to really see people doing charitable works all the more to rub off some of these charity works to others.

oprah had seen the gratitude from those kids.  and i was really impressed with what oprah did . . . she pledged live on television to grant college scholarships to these children, with a college of their choice.  oprah emphasized the importance of education and she made the children promise that they do good in school and college will not be a problem . . . they just knock at her door and she’ll gladly pay the college fees for the neices and nephews of this woman who requested for this new home.  such a nice episode.

now, let me elaborate more on my dream.  as i’ve said in my profile at friendster, i dream of being able to give unconditional love to others . . . giving without expecting in return . . . selfless love.  i dream of being able to put a smile on people’s faces . . . the smile which will forever be etched in their hearts as years go by.

i’ve shared this dream to a couple of friends . . . i want to build up a charitable institution sometime in the future.  i’d consider that as one of my missions here on earth.  you see at a young age, i had been exposed to doing outreach projects since grade school . . . something which made me appreciate my status in life.  and thus, at a young age, i have always dreamt of putting these less fortunate brothers and sisters of ours to places where they should belong . . . a place where people would take care of them . . . a place where they’d think there are still people who care for them.

i am also an advocate of education.  ok fine, at a young age, i hated school . . . i guess it’s normal, right?  who would want to wake up early in the morning anyway.  but as years go by and as i entered college, i’ve realized it’s importance.  aside from the fact that this is the best legacy our parents can give us . . . it’s something which will determine our future.  something that is a big factor for us to survive as we get older. 

i now believe that education is that thing which can help our country grow and develop.  education is the ultimate weapon for success . . .

i used to have difficulty deciding back then of which charitable institution to put up in the future:  an orphanage or a home for the aged?  but now that i’ve realized the importance of education, i’ve decided to put up an orphanage.  that way, i can combine providing shelter for these less-fortunate, homeless kids and giving them basic education.  once i’ve fulfilled that dream . . . i’d definitely be happy.

now, i have a goal why i’m posting this at my blog . . . i have a favor to ask you, my dear friends . . . should i die before i reach this goal . . . please continue that dream for me . . . i’d really appreciate it . . .

–GI 30682