A Longing Fulfilled Brings Gladness to the Heart

More than a decade ago when I first entered the so called "happiest place on earth" also known as Disneyland, I wished upon a star (amidst the fire works and the hoopla) that someday I will will be bringing the whole family to this theme park in Anaheim, California.

I have longed for that wish to be fulfilled,and somehow with hard work, perseverance and blessings from the Supreme Being...our family have been walking the magical streets of Disneyland a few days ago.

Never mind the long queue over the rides and on meeting your favorite Disney characters. Never mind the crowded Main Street during the parade and the fireworks display. Never mind the tiring walk and expensive souvenir items. This is still the place where dreams come true....where you meet and greet Mickey and Minnie, Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Jasmine, Giselle, and other Disney princess... where you can have a Jedi training and come face to face with Darth Vader and forces of the dark side... where you can ride a submarine and find Nemo deep into the ocean floor... where you can fight side by side with Buzz Light Year to infinity and beyond... it is where you can live your own adventure amidst the Pirates of the Caribbean. Of course there is also the so called California Adventure adjacent to the Disneyland theme park, but obviously a day is not enough to cover the fun and adventures that are available.

Just a few miles away from Disneyland is Buena Park, California where Knott's Berry Farm is located, the home of Snoopy (i.e., Camp Snoopy) and the rest of the peanuts gang. Again, the endless rides and thrills makes one realize that life is indeed full of adventures and one needs to "seize the day" in order to have maximum enjoyment. Indeed some of the rides are not for the weak at heart...such as the Sidewinder,Jaguar, Silver Bullet and Supreme Scream... which the teens rode to their heart's content. If you want to see a real Western community, with Indians, cowboys, miners, train robbers and the like... then Knott's Berry Farm is the place to go. They even have a public dancing square complete with competent dance instructors...western style.

Up north in the city of San Francisco one can see the world renowned Golden Gate bridge and take pictures with cold winter winds blowing in your face. Take a visit at the Fisherman's wharf and have a walk along the zigzag road down Lombard Street.

It is also heart warming to see and visit long lost friends and relatives, some we haven't seen for more than fifteen years.

A longing fulfilled brings gladness to the heart. Whether having your dream notebook computer (SONY VAIO) which I am currently using to post this blog, or just simply consuming a "baboy" dish even if it is a little bit overcooked, or someday leaving the "war zone" and put up a business in a safer environment (if there is such thing a safe environment nowadays).

As a popular Disney tune goes...."a dream is a wish your heart makes." And indeed, DREAMS DO COME TRUE!

Convention of Those Wounded in Love (by:Paulo Coelho)

General provisions:

A – Whereas the saying “all is fair in love and war” is absolutely correct;

B – Whereas for war we have the Geneva Convention, approved on 22 August 1864, which provides for those wounded in the battle field, but until now no convention has been signed concerning those wounded in love, who are far greater in number;

It is hereby decreed that:

Article 1 – All lovers, of any sex, are alerted that love, besides being a blessing, is also something extremely dangerous, unpredictable and capable of causing serious damage. Consequently, anyone planning to love should be aware that they are exposing their body and soul to various types of wounds, and that they shall not be able to blame their partner at any moment, since the risk is the same for both.

Article 2 – Once struck by a stray arrow fired from Cupid’s bow, they should immediately ask the archer to shoot the same arrow in the opposite direction, so as not to be afflicted by the wound known as “unrequited love”. Should Cupid refuse to perform such a gesture, the Convention now being promulgated demands that the wounded partner remove the arrow from his/her heart and throw it in the garbage. In order to guarantee this, those concerned should avoid telephone calls, messages over the Internet, sending flowers that are always returned, or each and every means of seduction, since these may yield results in the short run but always end up wrong after a while. The Convention decrees that the wounded person should immediately seek the company of other people and try to control the obsessive thought: “this person is worth fighting for”.

Article 3 – If the wound is caused by third parties, in other words if the loved one has become interested in someone not in the script previously drafted, vengeance is expressly forbidden. In this case, it is allowed to use tears until the eyes dry up, to punch walls or pillows, to insult the ex-partner in conversations with friends, to allege his/her complete lack of taste, but without offending their honor. The Convention determines that the rule contained in Article 2 be applied: seek the company of other persons, preferably in places different from those frequented by the other party.

Article 4 – In the case of light wounds, herein classified as small treacheries, fulminating passions that are short-lived, passing sexual disinterest, the medicine called Pardon should be applied generously and quickly. Once this medicine has been applied, one should never reconsider one's decision, not even once, and the theme must be completely forgotten and never used as an argument in a fight or in a moment of hatred.

Article 5 – In all definitive wounds, also known as “breaking up”, the only medicine capable of having an effect is called Time. It is no use seeking consolation from fortune-tellers (who always say that the lost lover will return), romantic books (which always have a happy ending), soap-operas on the television or other such things. One should suffer intensely, completely avoiding drugs, tranquilizers and praying to saints. Alcohol is only tolerated if kept to a maximum of two glasses of wine a day.

Final determination: Those wounded in love, unlike those wounded in armed conflict, are neither victims nor torturers. They chose something that is part of life, and so they have to accept both the agony and the ecstasy of their choice.

And those who have never been wounded in love will never be able to say: “I have lived”. Because they haven’t.

It's Time to Move Ahead

Trying to put an end to a psychological kerfuffle that began last month, I have conducted countless self-contained brain storming sessions and deep soul searching activities with my ever reliable yellow pad and Mongol No. 2 pencil. Also, consultation with a friend who is in a similar Special High Intensity Tension (SHIT) situation, have given me invaluable information to sort out this mess.

Random events do happen in life and it is beyond our control. It is a pipe dream to think and act as if you can absolutely direct the incidents in the next minute, next day or next episode of your life. We do plan, and planning the activities for tomorrow or the next week is a healthy practice, but it is a reality that unplanned events do happen. This is a part of life... the spice of living which gives flavor and color to an otherwise humdrum existence.

On the other hand, the occurrence of these unplanned events often leads to complications as it should not have been there in the first place...and if one is not careful, will lead to disaster. As "chaos theory" suggests, the flapping of a butterfly from a faraway land can result to a hurricane or a storm in the other side of the planet. Thus, it is of utmost importance to be vigilant of these unplanned events or suffer the consequence of sailing a ship into uncharted waters with all of the risks and dangers that goes with it. The plan gives us the map to follow towards our destination, and any deviation from this map must be corrected or the entire journey will be jeopardized.

Some people see these deviations as problems, others see it as challenges while personally, I believe that these are all learning experiences in the journey called life. Since these deviations are inevitable part of the voyage...we might as well enjoy it to the fullest, without losing sight of the destination.

It is with this premise that we should take pleasure in these unplanned events as much as possible, but always be aware and alert when ... it's time to move ahead and continue the journey.

it's time to move ahead...

time to achieve...

time to progress...

to color our dreams...

to exercise our rights...

to go for the best...

for the ones we love...

for the ones that loved us...

for the desires of the heart!

Quick Questions to Ponder

After relentless interrogation from a friend for the past days, one appreciates the value of knowing somebody who is well versed in asking the right questions. It easily sorts out things into a logical manner and helps clear one's head of "confusion."

Aside from the usual five (5) Ws and one (1) H inquiry (what, when, where, who, why, how), which would be the standard querries when gathering facts, the following imperative statements (which is the gist of the questions I have received for the past days) proves to be productive/effective as well;

1. What happened or what's going on?
   
2. How did it happened?
3. What course of action(s) should be taken?
4. What lies ahead in the future? (i.e., the consequences of item 3)
   

If we will pause for a moment and ponder the answers to the above questions, especially when in a "tight" situation, it will be enough to solve most of life's snags.

Sorting Out a Dilemma of Choice

Life is full of choices. That's a fact and if you cannot muster the strenght to make your decision, somebody else will definitely make a choice and gladly decide for yourself.

Lately, I've been into a dilemma of choice...perhaps between facts or feelings....between a logical or a psycological option.

Let me elaborate... if a person wakes up in a cold morning say at 4:00AM.....what would he or she ought to do? Continue sleeping or get-up and go to the shower, dress-up, take the bus and go to work in the early morning shift? Of course, the logical choice which is base on facts is to get up and work... while the psychological option (which is base on feelings) is to continue sleeping and dreaming!

It is much easier to make a choice between good and bad...as it is already obvious that we should decide in favor of the former and shun the latter. However, if the options will be between good, better or best...then it will be a tough decision to make...considering that most people will not leave their current comfort zones (which is the good)...in favor of a potential better or best option.

Most people always want to be sure that they can make the "right" choice, and afraid to commit mistakes. However, that's not always the case since you need to make a decision with incomplete facts/information and we do not have a crystal ball to accurately predict the outcome of the future. Still, making a choice is always better than standing still and be paralyzed by indecision. Action is always better than inaction. Being pro-active is always better than to be reactive.

Personally, I guess that making the logical choice will lead to less "complications"and a saner life...yet it makes us creatures without feelings....an automaton or robot. On the other hand, a psychological choice is always complicated and leads to complex and difficult situations...even problematical! Yet, it is the feelings that makes us human...a complete person.

The bottom line is that each one of us must always make a choice one way or the other. And hey, always keep in mind that there is no such thing as a "wrong choice." Nobody in his right mind will willingly desire to make a wrong decision. It so happen that a decision will be made without the complete facts, or without the complete picture...and if the facts and circumstances changes, as they always will...one can always change his course of action.

"ONLY THE DEAD WILL NOT CHANGE ITS MIND," and as long as one is alive...he or she will continually make choices and change his mind (or decision) from time to time.

Longing for the Taste of Baboy

While working in an Islamic country, one needs to respect the laws and traditions of the land, if you intend to survive. As the saying goes, you've got to act as the Romans do when you're in Rome.

As such, I have to forego and abstain from eating foods that are not "halal" and endure the torment and agony of eating the unending barrage of chicken, beef, lamb and venison dishes. The variety of fruits and vegetables are fine, but for a carnivorous person like myself, a gastronomic treat is not complete without the taste of "baboy" such as nilaga, adobo or lechon in all of its variants (lechon, lechon paksiw, lechon kawali, etc.).

Imagine my surprise, and that's putting it mildly, when the hotel restaurant receptionist informed me that "baboy" is indeed available somewhere in the city, albeit on the other side of town. With a map on hand and some cash in my wallet, I ventured to that part of town where baboy dishes are supposedly available. I even invited the hotel staff to join me in this epecurian celebration.

But Alas!..for some reason or another, that elusive baboy dish was not available to satisfy my palate. Murphy's law again proved to be correct that it is indeed an imperfect world...but life must continue to go on. It is a major blunder alright (to expect baboy in this part of the globe) but it is not the "end of the world" so to speak, and there will always be a tomorrow to savor that baboy dish and satisfy my longing.

The good thing though is that while I have been looking for a baboy dish and was not successful at it.... I found something even better .... I found a friend...the hotel staff.

Are You Alive? (by: Stuart Chase)

I seem to live when I am creating something – writing this article, for instance; making a sketch, working on an economic theory, building a bookshelf, making a speech.

Art certainly vitalizes me. A good novel, some poems, some pictures, operas, many beautiful buildings and particularly bridges affect me as though I took the artist’s blood into my own veins. There are times, however, when a curtain falls over my perceptions which no artist can penetrate.

The mountains and the sea and the stars – all the old subjects of a thousand poets – renew life in me. As in the case of art, the process is not automatic – I hate the sea sometimes – but by and large, I feel the line of existence below me when I see these things.

Love is life, vital and intense. Very real to me also is the love one bears one’s friends.

I live when I am stipulated by good conversation, good argument. There is a sort of vitality in just dealing in ideas that to me at least is very real.

I live when I am in pleasure of danger – rock-climbing, for example.

I feel very much alive in the presence of a genuine sorrow.

I live when I play – preferably out-of-doors at such things as diving, swimming, skating, skiing, dancing, sometimes driving a motor, sometimes walking.

One lives when one takes food after genuine hunger, or when burying one’s lips in a cool mountain spring after a long climb.

One lives when one sleeps. A sound healthy sleep after a day spent out-of-doors gives one a feeling of a silent, whirring dynamo. In vivid dreams I am convinced one lives.

I live when I laugh – spontaneously and heartily.

In contradiction to “living” I find five main states of “existence” as follows;

I exist when I am doing drudgery of any kind – adding up figures, washing dishes, answering most letters, attending to money matters, reading newspapers, shaving, dressing, riding on street cars or up and down elevators, buying things.

I exist when attending the average social function – a tea, a dinner, listening to dull people talk, discussing the weather.

Eating, drinking, or sleeping when one is already replete, when one’s senses are dulled, are states of existence, not life. For the most part, I exist when I am ill.

Old scenes, old monotonous things – city walls, too familiar streets, houses, room, furniture, clothes – drive one to the existence level. Sheer ugliness, such as one sees in the stockyards or in a city slum, depress me intensely.

I retreat from life when I become angry. I exist through rows and misunderstandings and in the blind alleys of “getting even."

Orange - A Color, A Drink, A Brand (Mobile)...An Aura?

Your Aura is Orange

You're a bit of a loner, but you're never lonely. You know how to entertain yourself. Whether you're trying an extreme sport or a new weird food, you always live on the edge. The purpose of your life: testing limits - both physical and mental... and then telling people about it. Famous oranges include: Timothy Leary, David Blaine, Tony Hawk, Carey Hart Careers for you to try: Snowboarder, Circus Performer, Undercover Agent

What Color Is Your Aura?

What Makes A Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad

(Author is unknown)

Beginning With The End (The Next 40 Years)

This is my first BLOG to post, and borrowing from the 7 Habits of Stephen R. Covey's fame, I will begin this BLOGGING adventure with "the end in mind."

The ultimate end of all our earthly existence is death. For the past week, I have heard the news of two "untimely" demise of people I know. However, I believe that there is no such thing as an untimely death, since all of us are just "enjoying" or perhaps "suffering" this privilege called life ...very much aware of our borrowed existence.

On July 2007, I will be celebrating middle life ... the age of 40. God willing, my privilege to exist on this planet will be for another generation. Hopefully, my tombstone will bore the inscriptions "1967 - 2047." Of course, there will be lot of surprises along the way, and the 2047 "deadline" is just an estimate... shall we say for "project management" purposes! The project objective: To maximize the next 40 years of life, having 40million US dollars worth of assets, learning or discovering 40 new skills or fields of knowledge, visiting 40 other countries in the world, and helping 40 million people in one way or the other... all for the greater glory of God (Ad Maiorem Die Gloriam) ... to borrow a phrase from the Jesuits.

Next step in the project management process will be the setting of milestones and time lines, to wit;

1. Detailed Planning / Write a Book / Set-up a micro-enterprise (2007 -2008)
2. Go to business school / Set-up a small business enterprise (2008 - 2012)
3. Extensive business growth and build-up / Building a top 50 enterprise (2012 -2017)
4. Set-up a charitable Foundation (2017 - 2027)
5. Semi-retired/Vacation / Visit grandchildren (2027 -2037)
6. Retired / Write another book / More grandchildren (2037 - 2047)
7. End this BLOG (sometime around 2047 or beyond ... God willing)
   

Unless I'll have a clear objective and plan such as mentioned above ... the next 40 years might become a"wandering" in the wilderness so to speak ... without reaching and tasting the "milk and honey" of the promised land. Of course, while mere mortals such as us can make some grand plans ... the final outcome will still be and always will be dependent on the Lord.

40 years seems to be a long time, but ALAS! time flies fast .... very fast! 40 years = 480 months = 2,080 weeks = 14,600 days.

Let's live our lives one day at a time. CARPE DIEM!