Almost two months of blogging hiatus and days ago, I was just too fired up to open that “New Post” page and hit “Publish.” As I opened my blogs and accessed my online milking cow, I was surprised that a page welcomed me saying that my Adsense account was disabled by Big G.
Share Some Love, Share This Post and Spread the News
My blogging buddy Jehz posted a blog article and at the same time a contest about the Cheapest E-bay item and it was a great contest as people and bloggers scrounge to share the cheapest item they could find on e-Bay and have them for free.
I must say that I am always amazed with how and what Jehz is posting on his blog; full of wit, humor and fun. But I am also amazed to see that they are also SEO articles that rises up on the top pages of search engines though not too many people know, or is it only I who is thinking of that, LOL!
Back to the cheapest E-bay item, Jehz is at the third spot on Google on the keywords cheapest e-bay item, ehehehe!
I don’t know if there are really searching for those keywords but nonetheless, I can say that Jehz is really a genius.
Share Some Love, Share This Post and Spread the News
Thinking that I should have thrown this blog unto the black hole of the blogosphere since I got for myself already a self-hosted blog at Commentaries on Socio-Political Issues of PinoySoundingBoard.Com, haunted me and led me back to the blog where I started it all. It felt like a true love that has kept on bothering me and leading me back to where I started to know and experience love. Wow, I am all tears because of the overwhelming joy.
I could not just let this blog be deleted, forgotten or simply disown. This is me.
Cheesy! :D
With the elections coming nearer as everyday opens up for us and then passes us bay, putting all resources and arms ready are imperative calls for me to disseminate information, news and issues of national and personal concerns. Thus, news, political issues and commentaries will be once again posted here at Ani-Mo! and at PinoySoundingBoard with the latter more focused on commentaries while the former will more dwell on delivering all sets of news and some humor post for its loyal readers.
So that means that I will be swinging from these two blogs regularly.
Hope to see all of you guys back here and engage with me once again. :D And expect for regularly posting to resume here after this welcome post.
May the Ani-Mo be always with us.
Yahooooo! PoOf! Time to party!
Share Some Love, Share This Post and Spread the News
image by Phillip West A pack of dark heavy clouds coming from the east corner of the sky coalesced with the radiant morning sun; until the whole light was covered by the hue of greed and indulgence. Fear enveloped humanity. Everything now was full of darkness and terror.
Slowly, the dark clouds opened up ushering the evil that has once again resurrected from the forgotten part of the vast universe after being vanquished by the Knights on their legendary battle. His black robe and fiery eyes signal the return of the man whose heart was enveloped by the “dark side”. From his eyes, people can clearly see vengeance and thirst for blood; the blood of those who defeated him. Signaling the annihilation of the select race that has thrown him in to a black hole centuries ago, he called out his Cro-Magnon-like minions and summoned them to sow seeds of terror and destruction.
“Bring to me all the Knights. Kill all those who will block your way!”
To this, his minions scattered in all directions of the earth killing innocent lives, destroying everything they could see until they could bring all the Knights to their master.
1. Writing to Exhale: Jan was tweeting, humming tweet tweet when two Cro-Magnon-like creatures appeared before his doorsteps ready to kill him with their deadly crooked swords and sharp fangs. True to his skills as a Knight, he immediately took his armored black helmet and wore his black leather jacket. As one of the monsters tried to strike it’s sword to Jan’s head, he “exhaled” on it hundreds of tweet messages. The monster fell on its knees because of the sheer volume of tweets and Jan instantaneously used his helmet to crush the monster. “@Jan_Geronimo: Right at your back!” A fellow twitter-buddy sent a tweet on his screen and Jan immediately jumped off the window and landed on his scooter. His donorcyle's engine roared running 20kph off the roads of Mindoro. As the monster ran furiously after him, Jan shifted gear and headed towards the ugly monster and hit it with his 20kph blinding speed. The second monster died and vanished. This knight then tweeted, “I’m all well. Two down, buddies! James Dean here.”
2. The Struggling Blogger: It was a lazy day for Roy who was still brainstorming for posts for his 13 blogs on his cozy sofa that blogging bought, while sipping his own version of steroids: coffee. A good idea suddenly popped up from this spiritual director for his post. But a slimy monster with 15 eyes, 5 hands and 3 feet jumped off the new sofa of this Knight. “I will kill you! Grr!” said the monster. Roy saw how dirty his new sofa now was and got so angry at the despicable sight. He rolled up his sleeves and took the stance of a true warrior. As the monster was ready to pop up one of its ugly bulging toxic eyes, Roy took his hot coffee and poured it over the monster. The monster was burned and screamed to death, and Roy took the opportunity to swat it with his “fully-loaded” mobile phone. “Not on my new sofa, you sucker!”
3. Zorlone: Doc Z was still enjoying his siesta, a sleeping beauty for three hours now. He thought he was only dreaming when a hot chick suddenly turned into an ugly creature. He was still half-naked when he saw that everything is real. The monster with his crooked sword chopped Doc Z’s water-bed into two flooding his room. He then jumped off his nearby CD player and immediately pushed the “play” button. “I will never dance again, guilty feet, got no rhythm.” To this, the monster was in trance and started to dance asking for the aircon to be turned on. Doc Z saw the opportunity to kill the beast and took his laptop; aimed his video cam and took his stethoscope that flashed a laser beam on the monster. Kaboom! “That is what you call a Ghostbuster scandal dude. Kawabangga!”
4. Dear Bloggery: She was out for a break having her vacation on La Luz, Batangas. But the radar of the dark entities was just so strong that they tracked this beauty sun-bathing at the beach front. “You’re hot dear, but Master told us to kill you.” Snow did not quip and just took off her shades to take a good look at the enemy. “You sure?” The monster showed its fangs and jumped off Snow, but she suddenly sprayed it with snow and the ugly creature froze to death. “Now, don’t ever bother my vacation.”
5. Tales From the Mom Side: Dee already knew that some of the Jedi Knights and Lady Warriors were attacked by the minions of Darth Vader courtesy of the endless blow-by-blow tweets of Jan. To this, she and her husband Luke readied themselves. Argg! “We have ugly visitors dear.” said Dee to her “cute” hubby. She readied her laptop with its stars and smiley stickers. When Luke opened the door, bullets and lasers coming off from her smiley and star stickers peppered their ugly visitors. “Don’t ever dare try to go near my laptop and its stickers. Right Luke?” “Aye, aye madam.”
6. Home Buddies: Near their neighborhood people were already screaming and running for their lives. Fedhz just kept still playing with her child. She paused for a while and prayed so hard that her family be spared from all these atrocities. Hours passed by and no monsters ever came near them. But outside a monster was reading a sign posted at Fedhz’s doorstep, “Home Buddy”. The monster was a couch potato. Poof!
7. Social Media Philippines: Rob also heard the news but he just kept his cool on his cubicle. He tried to compose a tweet just in case a monster suddenly attacks him. Kapoow! His officemates fell unconscious after ferocious Cro-Magnon-like creatures barraged at the opposite cubicle. He then immediately sent his tweet. “I am the one you are looking for.” he said. The monster marched forward and one of them wounded Rob on his left arm. Rob stood up and just rubbed off the flowing blood. He took off his shades and fired at them his laser beam like Cyclops. All of a sudden, a “padyak” rammed the other monster from the opposite side of the office killing it with the bladed “padyak wheel”. A familiar man then stood up and told Rob, “Believe me, I was the one who really tweets.” Oh Mr. Palengke in the house!
8. Dare to Speak: It was quite a surprise for Silver to see dark clouds all over her head on high noon. “This is not quite the same weather when I was in our little place Barrio Siete. Ininto man ni nga panahon.” she whispered while reminiscing here old roots. “Waaah!” Ugly creatures crushed her furniture and flowers in her garden. She ran for her dear life not knowing what to do. One monster got hold of her by the hand and not letting her go. “We will crush you and bring you to Darth Vader.” Kling! She suddenly knew what to do. “Hey, I will go with you if you could answer my questions.” The monsters scratched their heads and replied, “Seems a good idea. OK.” “Who is blah…blah…blah…When was the blah…blah….blah…What is the blah…blah…blah…” The monsters got so dizzy and fell unconscious not knowing what to answer with Silver’s unending quiz bee narrations. “Laki kasi sa gatas.” said Silver with a sheepish smile.
9. Kelvinonian Ideas 2.0: He was on his way to school sporting that funky outfit and hairstyle and a pro-camera dangling on his shoulder. Students suddenly screamed while others jumped off from the second floor of the school building. Chug…Chug…Chug… “Who are you?” Kelvin asked. “We are here to kill you!” Chak! Chak! Chak! Kelvin took pictures of the dark legions and got them blinded by his camera’s thundering flash. He immediately manipulated the pics off his laptop, tweak some stuffs and clicked “save”. In an instant, the monsters turned into miniature toys and screensavers.
10. Barrio Siete: The barrio council convened already on what to do and everyone is now ready with their bolos, talong, patola, kalabasa, okra and upo in hand. The barrio kapitana shouted, “Let us chorva the uglibesh monsters with our chenez weapons!” To this all the barangay tanods shouted in response, “Chorvahin sila!” An army of ugly creatures arrived and the skirmish commenced. Kapitan Reyz smashed the monsters with talong and patola while some of the tanods where wapakels in readying the cauldron. “Winers na attech. The monster pakbet is now ready mga chorvalors!” shouted the kapitana. And the feast started.
The remaining monsters went back to their Master badly wounded and feeling defeated.
“Master, those Knights and Warriors were just so strong. Our army was defeated.”
Darth Vader turned from his back from what he was busy doing in the computer and starred with great anger to his minions.
“Dimwits! Stop the crap! Go occupy those seats and now make your own lists of Top Ten Nominees. Let us all defeat those suckers in the remaining four voting weeks.”
“Yes boss! But could you teach us how to make a blog account?”
DISCLAIMER: All characters in this short epic battle are all fictional. Any resemblance of characters to real life are mere coincidence. Violent reactions, disputes on the storyline and characterizations should solely be expressed on the comment form.
Share Some Love, Share This Post and Spread the News
I am once again trying to invoke the power of the whole cosmos by reciting a new mantra that hopefully could override the basic sad fact that I am a total idiot when it comes to technicalities on blogging.
“I know how to tweak my blog.” Hum…
You got it right. Jan’s latest post announced that I am moving this blog to its new home on a wordpress self-hosted blog courtesy of very generous blogging buddies. And though Big Bro already announced it to the whole universe via his superb post that the “house blessing” would be “very very soon”, it may once again take me another weekend to get all things fixed and before you could see the whole new look of Ani-Mo!. If only my parents endowed me with a Bill-Gates-patterned genes, the moving out could have been a breeze.
My Thoughts on How to Choose a Rockstar Domain Name
“I am a tech-savvy blogging geek.” Hum….
I got lots of great suggestions on my previous post of what domain name to take with Elmotlumot.com topping the list and only a select but persevering blogging buddies pushing for me to sport Quickieblogger.com and Niluluhurangblogger.com. Now, I am wondering why no one ever affirmed my suggestion of taking Superveryhandsomeblogger.com? Old Zen master whispered to me: “just believe in yourself.” Hum…
Few important points on choosing a domain name that I considered. Since I am not the tech-savvy guy, I forgo of sharing technical stuffs here and end up looking like a Jay Leno trying to be like Oprah:
1. Your domain name should also be your blog site.
This may be elementary to some but a few fundamental items on this one are worth remembering especially for all those who are also planning to take their blogging to the next level. It is much easier for readers and people to remember a blog’s name than its url because readers focus much of their attention on the content of one’s blog (or comment form, for rabid commenters, ehehe) and not much on its url. Hey, one cannot comment on the url!
More often than not, first time readers and visitors get the imprint of your blog or site through its big bold blog title on your header and browse through your blog posts. And with the ultra sensitive url form and address structure, a missing letter, misspelled domain name or wrong domain name extension could usher your visitors and returning readers to another blog; to its owner’s delight.
Here are some examples:
Blog Name/Title----Domain name plus their extension
Writing to Exhale----www.writingtoexhale.com The Struggling Blogger----www.thestrugglingblogger.com Jaypee Online----www.jaypeeonline.net
Therefore, putting synchrony with your blog’s name and domain name could give convenience to your readers and visitors rather than giving them a maze to test their patience. Imagine if your blog has this setting: your blog name is The Struggling Blogger and its domain name plus extension is www.writingtoexhaleandinhale.net. Total blogging disaster!
2. A domain name describes your persona
One should never get a domain that he loathes, for blogging should bring us total control, confidence and harmony and not a conflict over what we do. It should be indicative of the personality of the blogger behind the blog. As uber blogger Jan told me on one of our many conversations on his long and vibrant comment forms: your blog is your resume. Our blogs tell us of who we are as the blog and the blogger is only one, unless of course you have a multiple blogging personality syndrome. Coherence between our blog's Yin and Yang gives and readers a sense of genuine identity and not some pretentious blogging expeditions and experiment on the blogosphere. It also unconsciously sends some personal trademark to all those who visits such a blog.
3. A domain name gives readers your sense of blogging style and branding
I may be reaping lots of traffic come the start of UAAP with the Ateneo clashing over arch-rival La Salle for having Ani-Mo! as my blog name. But after some brainstorming and focusing on those three stuffs to consider on choosing a domain name, I realized that my blog name (which is also the same in part on my present domain name on blogger) is not really that reflective of my take on things and my direction on blogging.
Though it could give maybe some setback on my ranking and present PR come my eventual evacuation, changing my blog name Ani-Mo! into Pinoysoundingboard has set clearer parameters for my blogging and has given me more focus on what direction to take. It also reflects my persona and the sense of brand I want to build over my blog. And more importantly, I have come to synchronize my blog name that of my domain name, which basically I failed to do in blogger.
Pinoysoundingboard.com therefore will be my wordpress self-hosted blog about commentaries on current events and blogging with a magazine-type wordpress theme.
I just hope that when I move out of blogger to house my blog on a new and more spacious home, I would not find myself chanting my mantra all day long all by myself. But first thing is to tweak all the stuffs that need to be fixed. Just so thankful that there are so many generous people who are set to help me out.
Hum… Hum....
Hum....
What were your considerations in choosing your blog name and domain name? How do you find my new blog name and its domain?
Share Some Love, Share This Post and Spread the News
image by beth I think I could claim that I made one of the craziest lists of nominees for Mam Janette Toral’sEmerging Influential Bloggers of 2009 with nominees ranging from those who could make you a one sharp-fanged rabid commenter to a blogger fuelled with caffeine on maintaining his 13 damn outstanding blogs with vigor; from one blogger who can shut the daylight out of the career Angel Locsin for being such a beauty, to a mom blogger that I once called “bro” after her tear-jerking comment here. *blushing* And that list undeniably made me one crazy blogger after luring all bloggers from all sides of the earth to suggest two more blogs that I could include on my list of eight while actually I only listed seven and skipped a number, proving that I was always enjoying my time at the fourth row during my math subjects. I confess that it was not totally part of the trick but an honest mistake. Therefore, my list leaves me three more vacant spaces for superb and emerging influential bloggers to occupy.
Though this may came a little bit late but I would like to share some thoughts on the current buzz on the Pinoy Blogosphere about the Influential Blogger and maybe guide also those who are not yet done with their precious lists.
But who is the Influential Blogger?
Mam Janette succinctly described the emerging influential blogger by sharing some excerpts that we could use as guides on our selection from the king of leadership himself, John Maxwell who said “Leadership is influence. No more, no less.”
Here are some other points on leadership and influence: • Everyone influences someone. • We never know who or how much we influence • The best investment in the future is a proper influence today. • Influence is a skill that can be developed.
But how could we know that a blogger is influential?
Though you send me a basket of “balut” or freshly-baked gourmet pizza, but that does not assure you of my vote and love unless you are one hell of an influential blogger in your niche.
Let me share an incident.
There is this one very aggressive blogger who emailed me quite a number of times. First time, asking me how am I doing on my blogging and asked me to check out his blog. Poof! Second time, asked me if I have my list already and maybe could consider his blog to be included on my powerhouse list. Poof! I did not reply to his emails being true to my word that the one who deserves will get his due.
And the hullabaloo happened. There was this heated exchange of comments on another blog with the same guy who emailed me against one hot hunk blogger, whether a new blog with almost no posts on it be included on the nomination with the sheer reasoning that the owner of the blog has done tremendous things on doing SEO works on his other blogs. Darn, it was like Fernando Poe Jr. versus his arch nemesis Paquito Diaz! Bang, bang! Kaboom! Pow!
The owner of the blog refereed, and guess what, the SEO guy placed his blog on the top of his list of nominees!
I think, one important point is that the blogger in general could not be separated from his blog; he is his blog! This is where he expresses his ideas and connects to the world, and where the world connects to him. Without his blog, he is nothing but a solitary ordinary man confined on his own life space. His blog speaks for him and listens for him (hopefully he does know how to listen) to whatever other people say.
Therefore, one’s blogging influence is measured by his communicating power to his audience. You communicate with people and they recognize you and this is where influence comes in. Power here is not the strength to put down others or force readers and visitors to confine themselves on fear and guilt for speaking out their minds or worse excommunicate them from the blogosphere . Either, recognition is not about praises on our blogging prowess but is basically all about honesty. Readers, friends and strangers, interacts with you on your blog; they may most of the time agree but are not also afraid to disagree with your ideas for they know that being influential means being open-minded to the wider world and to other voices. This blogger may not be the highest authority or the man solely holding the bastion of truth on his niche but his voice could be recognized as a valuable point-of-view worthy to be listened to. And if I further may add, he basically influences your own blogging in some ways. That is the influential blogger.
Vote, Vote Vote!
There are those who got scandalized with bloggers who placed their blogs on their own nominations. Or those who are irritated by the nomination-spree of bloggers of their own friends to their list that makes them top the canvassing week by week.
I have nothing against this one, but if I could only use the same measure stick that I use on my own nomination on other bloggers, my sole criterion is “meritocracy”. For heaven’s sake, if you think you truly deserve and take note you feel your readers, friends and blog visitors attest to that, then go on! One who deserves his due should not be robbed by this great opportunity. Vote your friends, nominate them and even yourself maybe; if and only if they truly and you truly deserve to be on that list side by side other Pinoy uber bloggers. I saw many bloggers who did not nominate themselves though they are really pretty much qualified technically and in the strictest sense of the word influential. But in the end, our votes will therefore speak of ourselves.
My Final List of Even Crazier Emerging Influential Bloggers!
In the coming days, I will be posting my own “complete list” of even crazier emerging influential bloggers, minus my moronic way of counting from 1-10, promise. So brace for yourselves.
Three slots are still open and they will be occupied in just a couple of days. My congratulations in advance.
What is your own “distinct” definition or criterion of an emerging influential blogger as basis for your list of nominees? Who is the Influential Blogger for you?
image from jhay rocas Yehey! Independence Day! It is a holiday and many of us surely will celebrate our moments of liberation from work and academics with a short vacation over the weekend or flock the nearest malls to cool off ourselves and enjoy a whole day of window shopping happy meals.
I know, I know, let us revere this day. Hear me guys? Therefore, when you go to the mall to spend your independence day, take out from McDonald’s a burger and large fries for your dear friend Elmot. Now, that is one holy act of charity. :D
But fact is: the sacrifices of our revered heroes are now mostly left on their own hardened monuments scattered all over the parks and busy lanes of our cities coated with dust and disregard. Their cries for a better nation for the next generation devoid of corruption, poverty and illiteracy are still as elusive as capturing Osama bin Laden or “Garci”. These are realities that could make us bite our lips and languish in silence. I am still praying so hard though that I would not see a “statuette” honouring our most beloved Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo anywhere, even beside the “statuettes” of the 7 dwarves in children’s parks. For heaven’s sake, let us not make a great disservice to Snow White and let us not insult those hardworking dwarves! Poof!
But I will not choose to dampen my spirit having a litany of all the ills in our nation for I am still on seventh heaven after receiving a wonderful and unique gift from a friend that tries to prophesy my fate in the blogging world.
Jaypeeonline Dot Net You Rock!
As a birthday gift for myself (for all those who haven’t sent their gifts yet, they are still very welcome until I celebrate my next birthday), I won 1st on Jaypeeonline’s Top Commentator for March with the whole of cosmos conniving for me to take home $15 in Paypal, a wordpress Wordcamp shirt and wordpress schwags. And I can say that Jaypee and blogging buddy Jan unleashed the commenting prowess in me and sharpened my fangs. Meow!
And a few days ago, I received these wonderful stuffs with the king of pinoy blogging Jehzeel Laurente himself arranging the delivery of the items. I opened the package with my heart pounding so fast in excitement and kaboom!, I am now the proud owner of the unique WordCamp Las Vegas shirt and schwags! Wearing the shirt gave me the feel of being at the WordCamp, Las Vegas! Wow! I can say that Jaypee really knows how to make his readers feel so special. I can only sing hallelujah to him.
Thanks Jaypee! Visit his blog for a bigger upcoming event and he will make you feel real special.
A Blogging Omen?
On one of my previous posts I shared my plan of packing my stuffs and move out from blogger to a self-hosted blog under wordpress. With so many considerations to weigh like financing this new venture and knowing the fact that I came from the village of idiots when it comes to tweaking web stuffs, I asked for a sign from heaven (darn, so cheesy!!!). And though I was like a hopeless romantic waiting for the falling star to make a wish, but asking for a sign never failed me this time. The heaven-sent sign? Those wordpress stuffs that Jaypee sent me! Tells me to move to WP.
And for an update: I do now have a web host for my eventual moving out from blogger, but I am still contemplating on what domain name to choose.
I have been trying to summon some divine inspiration on choosing a domain name and all I came up after asking for a help from a friend who does not want to be named here lest lose his dignified stature are these stuffs: niluluhurangblogger.com, (courtesy of reyna's previous comment on one of my posts) elmotlumot.com, quickieblogger.com (no comment), thesuperveryfamousblogger.com (half-truth), thesuperveryhandsomeblogger.com (truth), gumigilingnablogger.com (lie). Now, that is what you call divine inspiration eh! LOL!
So save me guys, from further degeneration and on tickling my silly imagination and be censored by the MTRCB. On to you now, suggest a domain name for me here. Tips: not a so dead serious name; something that reflects my personality and this blog; and exciting. Price for the winner: I will include you in my constant imagining, and give a hot domain name for your blog, LOL!
image by eduverse I am back! Once again (coz I have yelled this on my blog so many other times…ooooppsss). Let me therefore correct those reports that were circulating the web that spiked the most searched news on google trends. No, I was not assassinated by those people I nominated and spoofed on my Craziest List of Nominees. I am very all well, alive, kicking and blogging! And I must admit though that since then, I started to wear a bullet-proof vest. LOL!
No more excuses lest I will get some hard spanking from LJ (once again….ooopppsss). I have to make a post today after leaving all the throngs of my screaming die-hard fans camped out on my blog waiting every second of their breathing life for any word from me. And now, I can once again hear them screaming? Ows, thank you, thank you. I thought I would be seeing a jungle of moss took over my blog after more than a week of absence. Thank God it has been kept alive by uber blogger friends. Balut for you guys.
I actually took a one week vacation leave from work which ironically was not really an exhilarating escapade on the Amazon with piranhas nor staying-at-home-watching-TV-24/7 bonanza style that I planned. My wife’s grandfather died and after a couple days came their family reunion. A week of grieving (tears in the morning and of course tong-its in the evening till the next daylight), and three days of get-together with all the pancit and screaming of oldies to a village of children running to and fro without their underwear.
To make the long story short; I haven’t posted for more than a week and got myself so darn tired instead of sipping a fruit shake with my skimpy swimming trunks under the summer sun (peeepeeww…hey, don’t try to imagine how I look like on this outfit, though it would be close to that Jude Law) on the beach as I planned.
Well, need to get over it; rearm and be back to work, blogging and studies with the same fire and (over)confidence that I had when I posted my Crazy List of Emerging Influential Bloggers.
Back to My Desk
Yesterday was actually the first day of our official reporting to work. But we as an office spent it on a recollection in Tagaytay to help us focus and maybe start our job on the right path without the emotional baggage and unnecessary spiritual burdens. And I think the activity did really me out on putting myself back on a work mode without a heavy heart.
And to think, that one of my most crucial job for this school year is being one who is in-charged of Vocation Promotion for the De La Salle Brothers in our university. You are reading it right guys, I am not high on drugs or on the smoke of burning flip flops. Wooohhh! Can you imagine that? Now I am thinking of consulting my own spiritual director Roy, ehehe! Hope I could send more young males inside the formation house for more vocations that pull their legs out to the real world.
Thesis Writing ASAP!
I will also be enrolling on my thesis writing 01 in a couple of days to finish my master’s degree in guidance and counseling. This is already my 5th year on the graduate school of education and so the director has always been screaming at me to finish my studies lest I will have to take refresher courses for exceeding the 5-year residency. Wow, such a lazy man I was! Now, I am scrounging for topics for my thesis, from parental discipline to OFWs, from househusbands to stupid teaching strategies. Maybe I should write about blogging? Darn! My head aches! All my brain cells are still on vacation mode…And one more thing. Finishing my Masters will increase my salary quite big time, ehehehe! This part is what is exciting.
Blogging SY 09-10
I am actually contemplating one important thing regarding my blogging. I am actually planning of having my own self-hosted blog, transferring the contents of this blog to a wordpress. I think having my own self-hosted blog could make my blogging more regular and easier for me to do. I could also my millions of avid fans a better place to stay in; warm, nice and cozy. I am still researching for a good webhost (if not free webhosting) and one good domain name; doing all my mathematics.
I hope to follow suit with LJ’s metamorphosed blog and Doc Zayden’s eventual jumping to WP ship. And it will be one hell of a happy blogging family here.
Ahhh…no, it is not part of the Hayden videos. Well, I just hope that I could juggle all these three important things and tasks that I will have to do this new school year. Best of luck then to Elmot!
Any topics that you could suggest for my thesis, if it is not too much of a burden for you guys? LOL! Do you think that it is wise for me to transfer this very famous blog to a self-hosted WP blog? Will I become one heck of a good vocation promoter? LOL!
image from bebo I can’t believe it, but this is actually my 100 and first post since I started blogging. Wow! Now, I am hearing throngs of my screaming fans…somewhere. And if I could only twist some arms from blogger.com or I was just plainly a tech genius that could find ways to escape the natural talent of Ms. Janette Toral for nifty details and where to find them of course; I could have given Roy a good fight with his inclusion of my blog to his own set of prestigious nomination. Maybe this blog would simply fit for the Influential Blogs category huh? Oh, now I am hearing once again my screaming fans…somewhere. LOL!
I am therefore already content with the fact that so many great bloggers were actually planning to include my blog on their lists without me begging for it; even the Reynz, Queen of Pinoy Blogosphere focused her eyes on me (blushing), a boylet understudy, only to learn later that I am disqualified. So she has to yield to the authority. See, even the queen follows rules, nut head senators!
So, since this blog fell from the ranks of nominations because of technicality, what a way to spend my 101st post but by making my own list of nominations for the Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs of 2009.
Beware: all nominees on my list are crazy bloggers! When you get near them, you will get addicted to their blogs and become rabid commenters…just like mine. So better know them. LOL!
Elmot’s Crazy Nominees to the Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs 2009
1. Jan of Sa Labas ng Mandaluyong – All hands to my Big Bro! And at the same time the LJ of your dreams. No, not LJ Reyes or Moreno on their kinky polka dot bikinis…it’s Lolo Jan! What can I say, the blog name already speaks for itself why he is on top of crazy my list of blogs. LOL!
2. Roy of The Struggling Blogger – If this guy have 13 damn great blogs all working just fine, we are all therefore doing a great disservice to this genius and blogger on steroids if he is not included in our list. Did your mom Idol Roy made you drink steroids instead of infant formula? LOL!
3. Snow of Dear Bloggery – What can I say about her? Cute. What else? Cute. Now, where is my balut dear Snow? Don’t forget the suka and asin ha? Ehehe!
4. Dee of Tales From the Mom Side – Great mom, writer and lawyer! The wife of the one and only “handsome” (according to Dee) Luke Skywalker. For all those who love freebies, this is the place to be. :D
5. Doc Zayden of Zorlone – A full-time poet and part-time doctor. A full-time doctor and a part-time poet. Loves “bukols”and making great sizzling scripts for dear Elmot and his students. That is Z! I nominated him so that he will get his hands off his digicam and his “careless whisper moves”. LOL!
6. Silver of Dare to Speak Out – The Kuya Germs of your dreams! Don’t sue me Roy for plagiarism. Blogger 24/7, she posted one of the most outrageous Storm Trooper having an LBM beside her laptop.
8. Fhedz of Home Buddies – Once called her a “bro” after her tear-jerking comment on my post. What a nut I was, LOL! She will remind you of your own very loving mom on her posts.
9. You!
10. You!
2 More Spots For Us to Work Out!
Though I was totally searching the web to complete my list, unfortunately, I don’t want to have a monopoly on making my list of nominations. So for all of you guys, kindly help me out decide which blogs to include on the last two spots, suggest here blogs (either your own or of someone you know) that are worthy to be included here. A balot would already do, but hey, I will ask some more from you.
This is first. He should qualify for this project; and that would not lead me therefore to making my “tough ten” nominees.
Second. The blogger is one crazy blogger, that whenever you visit his/her blog; you instantly become one screaming fan and a rabid commenter doing your own social climbing 101.
Third. The blogger/blog that you would suggest here is not involved in a sex scandal fronting the You Tube. If you think that they are prone to doing one, then it is time for you to do your divine civic duty: nominate them here and save them from the wrath of Bong Revilla!
Plus,do some convincing here with the other guys (know them too) that you deserve to be nominated. My nomination is not some freebie; earn it dude. That is the way it is.
Give Me Some Lovin!
So for all those nominated here and will be nominated, I would ask you therefore to also give me some lovin (careless whisper playing as background music, turning on the aircon). No, I am not asking you to nominate me and receive Ms. Janette’s edict that I am disqualified. I would be simply asking you to support my blog, this very famous blog, in your own special way. That’s it!
And from my end, since I nominated you, I will do my very best to campaign for all of you…through traditional ways and dirty tricks alike. Ooops…
So, maybe I will just wait for my freshly-baked Garden Gourmet Pizza Doc Z?
I haven’t never really appreciated these words only until lately when I would wake up from the middle of the night because of precious some text messages saying I won this or that and they were all for my taking. And I could say that I was like some hyperactive nuts only to look at myself in the mirror in the morning sporting those funny eye bags. You know who you are. LOL!
Manna From Heaven
First thing is that I won Big Bro Jan’s Top Commentator for April after literally braving the raging storm just to hit the mark and take home his secret prize. It is now though no longer a secret. I won John Grisham’s book “The Appeal”. And just after a couple of days, the mail man in the middle of the storm was calling me out from our house. I don’t know if that book has some curse in it. But the mail man was certainly pissed off; he was all wet. I read the book for two days, until the early morn only to get pissed with a nasty ending with the villain laughing to his heart’s content while cruising the Hudson River on his multi-million yacht. And I myself would want to email John to make my own “appeal”.
Second. Together with Fafa Roy, we won Dee’s contest on her blog. And the price is a book “Chicken Soup for the Soul; Moms and Sons”. Don’t worry Reynz, this is not the chicken that Lee took from your palace and let them dive over some boiling water and papaya. :D Actually, this is my first time to own a chicken soup book for I just contented myself in the past of barrowing books from our library and returning them with excessive fines for me to cry over be depressed for it. Thanks Dee! I just hope that the book will be delivered on a sunny day this time.
Surely, dear momma is so proud of me.
Thank you guys Jan and Dee!
Water Springing from the Rock
I was so surprised that Roy featured me on his blog through Bloggers Connection. Roy’s impassionate description of me and my blog was so well crafted that one commenter said that I could pass as a toothpaste commercial model? Photoshop really makes miracles, ehehe! While the other one could not stop from describing me as a “cutie” from the start of her comment till the end, right Lee? That she would have ignored the featured blogger if not for being a “cutie”. Nice! I guess if I posted the picture of Golum, she would have just cut her throat and blame Roy for the tragedy.
It was a post and a project that was well accepted by his readers and friends that he could already pass for an A-list showbiz insider, ala- Boy Abunda; I can’t imagine Roy move and dress up like Boy, even more like Krissy, LOL! In short, he made me real handsome on his post. I could only grin from where I am (actually even into my sleep) with the “boy-next-door” packaging. Thanks Roy!
But another unexpected miracle that Roy did to me is when he included my blog on his list of his Top Ten Emerging Influential Bloggers. This is a shocker for me. I thought I could only content myself on being the secret PR operative carrying with me a bag full of tricks (which is now no longer a secret) of all my blogging buddies who were already nominated. Here is Roy’s list.
Don’t worry, I am not mistaken. It is really 7 as of this writing. Roy has only 7 yet, and the edict from the Palace of the Queen has gotten his attention already to fill in the last three lest he suffer the consequences of not joining the free raffle and take home a “lapad” or a “gin-bilog”. Guys, could recommend to Roy some blogs that you think are worthy to be included on his hot list.
Thanks Roy! You owned yourself a good spot on my list. So watch out also on my own Top Ten Emerging Influential Bloggers.
The Feast at the Queen's Palace
One meaningful definition that I could give to blogging is relationships. While others blog just for the sake of labeling other bloggers some Neanderthal “jologs’ term as one publicity stunt disguised as somewhat an authoritative understanding of the whole universe of blogging and pull a party after getting some cheap massive traffic (no links, it is not worth another traffic believe me); I choose to understand my blogging experience as a web of relationships. It may not be always happy nonetheless I know that somewhere out there, there are friends and buddies who make me always excited to show my best and worst on blog and their blogs too.
Part of this happy experience is getting myself acquainted at the Palace of the Queen of Pinoy Blogosphere. At first I was just standing by the lobby and eavesdropping on the conversations of her counts and countess, dukes and duchess, and of course her serfs and some spies. Now, I am actively engaging myself on the ladder of social climbing 101. Let us go Fafa Roy and let us chorva the “bukol-loving” Doc Z and the “kapa-master” Jan! LOL!
Thank you guys and to all my blogging buddies for making blogging this fun! To Jan, Jaypee, Roy, Snow, Gem, Bingskee, Holly, Doc Z, diTesco, Yatot, Luke, Lee, Reyna, Silver, Dee, Ceblogger and Roel...Thanks alot!
UPDATE:
I am sorry to say this to all my screaming fans out there, wherever you are (hey, scream! there you go), but this blog of mine is "disqualified" to being nominated to the Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogger, for as Ms. Janette Toral commented on Roy's blog, I started Ani-Mo!!! way before May 2008. I really appreciate your support especially for Roy. Hey, Z, hope I could still get even just a slice of your pizza! Maybe this blog of mine will pass for the "Influential Blogger" category? ehehehe! What do you think?
And kindly help me also guys on making my own Top Ten List of Emerging Influential Bloggers. Any blog that you deem worthy to be included on my own list?
Did you enjoy my post? You can actively participate in the discussion by commenting. And to keep updated by the latest news, commentaries and discussions, you can also subscribe through your email.
This post is a continuation of the active discussion on my post entitled "The Grand Engagement of Romance and Politics", with special attention to the issue of the Eastern views of the Western's valuing of the family, more specifically on the American Family.
I don't presume to judge other cultures' ideas of family. It irks me when people outside the U.S. suggest that we Americans don't care about family.
The U.S. is huge, geographically, and we are free to travel, live, work, and move within its borders. Naturally, that leads to widely scattered families as children grow up and leave to attend school or to find jobs, and parents retire to their dream homes. Travel within the U.S. is relatively cheap and easy; we keep in touch, and we visit. It's never often enough to suit our parents, but we don't move across the country just to avoid each other. We keep in touch by mail, by phone, by email, chat, and Web cams.
How many people come to the U.S. on student visas - and stay? Maybe they're just trying to get as far away from their families as possible! How many people leave their homeland to work in the U.S.? Perhaps they don't value family.
Here's the reality I grew up with: My great-grandmother moved in with my grandparents before my mom was born, and lived with them until she required skilled nursing care - more than twenty years later. My parents and I lived with my grandparents for the first four years or so of my life, while my mom and dad attended college. Years later, we moved back in to help my grandmother take care of my grandfather following his heart attack. This wasn't extraordinary, to my way of thinking; this was what "family" was about, taking care of our own.
My husband is not from the U.S., originally. People have asked me, "Are there major cultural differences? Big adjustments?" Not really. Family comes first. While we were dating, my husband never asked me choose between him and my family; he never once asked me to break the rules and rebel, or put a date with him before a commitment to some family event. He treated my parents and grandparents with kindness and respect, and they had no difficulty seeing what I saw in him.
Trust and mutual respect are crucial. The rest just falls into place. I grew up an only child, so you might say that acquiring two brothers and a sister by marriage was a big "adjustment," but it has enriched my life immeasurably.
My father-in-law was surprised that I "let" him live with us over the past eleven years. To do otherwise would be unthinkable in his culture, but like so many people outside the U.S., he seemed to think it was some anomalous and extraordinary thing that I would want him to live with us. I say we really need to be more careful what TV shows we export. When people overseas get their notions of "American culture" from a mix of Fox News, American Idol, and reruns of Little House on the Prairie and Three's Company...there's a problem. Our "reality shows" are not real at all.
So, needless to say, my father-in-law was stunned. But most of the people I know - friends, coworkers, and folks down the street - would do the same for their families. Being a "tight-knit family" doesn't require cramming everyone into a single home; being dependable doesn't mean fostering dependence - quite the opposite. The only people I know of to be "kicked out" and made to fend for themselves are those who are under a "tough love" edict - people who do drugs or can't function for themselves because they're so content to take advantage of others. There, it may be fair to turn them out, at least for a while, but that's more of a "teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime" kind of thing, rather than a lack of caring or a sense of family. And there are sad cases of mental illness or physical disability requiring specialized care that a family simply isn't equipped to provide - personally or financially. I see that as a failure of the social services and healthcare systems we've set up, and something that should be a shared community burden.
Here, in the U.S., we have the families we are born into, and the families we choose. We have traditional married-with-children families, couples who are childless by choice, single parents, gay couples, adoptive families - and these ties are strong.
Then again...there are families like these. It isn't the homelessness that hurts the worst, but the abandonment by family. I can't deny that there are selfish, thoughtless people who turn their backs on their own parents or children, and I won't even pretend to understand how or why they do it. They have their reasons, and to judge them without knowing their side of the story may be as wrong as it is to condemn Americans for having no appreciation of family. All I know is this: So long as I have a roof over my head, family in need can sleep under it and share my food - provided they don't put other family members' health or safety at risk through their behavior. I doubt that selfish people are unique to the U.S., and maybe it's better to be cut adrift from people who could turn their backs so easily than to be taken in, resentfully, or abused.
"Family" puts pressure on people - makes them want to do more, to be better. When someone can't provide for their family, their family is a daily reminder of their failures and shortcomings. Sometimes, the pressure is too much, and people seek to escape. Financial troubles break up too many marriages, and broken marriages too often lead to broken families. Perhaps it stems from a lack of hope and the feeling that nothing in life is in your control. My husband would point out that poverty and lack of education are usually to blame - no matter where in the world you look, it comes down to resources and opportunities. I think it isn't that we place little importance on family; it's that we place so much importance on it. No one wants to fail at the thing they care about most; when we let our families down, frustration and powerlessness turn to self-loathing.
From the media, people get unrealistic ideas about sex and what constitutes love and happiness. They mistake infatuation and "hot sex" for a real relationship, and marry too young or too hastily. Nagging dissatisfaction and the notion that life is passing them by sometimes that leads to divorce. This is part of the price of freedom - freedom to choose who we marry, and freedom to make mistakes. The consequences can be tragic, but it isn't that we don't value family - just that sometimes, the people we choose to include in it might better have remained friends or strangers.
I'm no expert on Eastern vs. Western culture and "family values," just someone who thinks we're all too quick to judge one another and to over-generalize about the people "elsewhere." That doesn't lead to empathy and world peace.
On to you now guys. Do think that there is a misunderstanding from the east of the western's way of valuing the family primarily because of the media? What are the things that we could still do to promote peace and understanding in present world mired with barriers and divisions?
About the Author: Holly Jahangiri is a professional writer who claims, tongue-in-cheek, to channel the spirits of Edgar Allan Poe, Erma Bombeck, and O. Henry. Her books are available through 4RV Publishing at http://www.4rvpublishingllc.com/Store and Amazon.com.
For more of Holly's writing, be sure to visit her blog, "Do I Have to Spell It Out?" at http://www.blog.jahangiri.us Copyright 2009 Holly Jahangiri.
image by hypertextlondon For all those who may not have catch the news but are watching the American Idol faithfully in last few days, and for all my avid fans, faithful readers and commenters (which is actually only a handful of them, hurray! ehehe!), here are the headlines from blog posts about news and politics for the past week that certainly deserves a second-look and short commentary from yours truly.
And what the hell are Abalos, Defensor, Atienza, Neri, GMA, Mike Arroyo and all cohorts and lapdogs doing? I would not mind if they share with Jun Lozada the same cell at Muntinlupa. Lapdogs with rabies are deadly when on the loose.
Ahh....they are all enjoying the one and only grilled "burjer" of Benjamin Abalos at Wack-Wack Gold Club, stuffed with especial ingredients and a patty made from all the tampered election returns of 2004. Right Garci? Hmmmm... Bona petite!
And the "butcher" is in the Congress? Ah, I will still give him the benefit of the doubt, if he can live up to the moniker student activists and lives he guillotined, by butchering down to nothingness the over-inflated "pork" barrel our most beloved and respected Congressmen are squandering. Understood Sir? Aye, aye Sir!
Wow! What a way to celebrate the Day of our Beloved Laborers but by waking up carrying your things before the day even sees the light, lining up for hours and looking for an elusive job? Hmmmm....Crisis since last year? Well, our beloved workers have been asking for an across the board wage increase and better protection of jobs since 2002. I think it should be called now as the "Soon-to-be Laborers Day"?
Ok, mea culpa. This is a bias, I watch Sex and the City, LOL! But what are Hollywood couples up to? Are they on to a twin-siblings spree or she-has-a-twin-I-want-to-have-one-too attitude and antics? Is it from the food they eat or are they all actually aliens from Universal Studios?! Heeelllpppp!
The news that broke the hearts of Judaism. But I like their taste and sheer love for solemnity. Unlike so many actors and actresses getting married qwho are trying to make some extra million pesos out of their wedding from media outfits; even their own pregnancy and giving birth. Way to go though Ryan and Juday!
You are totally right! Oh my gosh, there is really a blogger out there making this great post about values? Hurray!
I confess, I am not actually voting Manny Villar for this grave mistake he made. Having all those ducks on a pen is something that I could still swallow, but a lady crying over a "buwa" and sp much bleeding while I am eating my favorite chips in front of the TV is just too much. I am always nauseated and vomiting whenever this commercial is shown. And I hate you for that Manny boy! Kadiri ka talaga! Yuck! Arrggg...oh, and now I feel like vomiting just by making this comment. Arrrgghhh...
The post title may be short but I obviously enjoyed the simple picture of Daniel Smith there with the "before" and "after" thing just like what we are seeing on a slimming pill commercial on Home Shopping Network. Hahaha! The Embassy really fed him well eh? Will he therefore become a "swine" flu carrier? Hahha! Just a thought...but you may want to answer.
At last, the day of reckoning will come to a close inside the four corners of the ring. And I am so damned excited to watch who are all those politicians (including our mayor in Bacolod City) who will be cruising past security personnel just to be with Pacman on the boxing ring, and be marked as those who left their desks with dust and mites and spent thousands of pesos for travel, accommodation, girls, booze and bets. "Epal"!!! I just hope that all those politicians will have "swine" flu in the U.S. because of using their "pork" barrel irresponsibly despite the glaring picture of poverty in our nation...and may they infect all other corrupt officials. I will not apologize. That is my power punch.
Any links that you would still want to add? Additional comments regarding all these news? Be heard here.
Did you enjoy my post? You can actively participate in the discussion by commenting. And to keep updated by the latest mews, commentaries and discussions, you can also subscribe through your email.
I really appreciate all of you my blogger friends for all your prayers and affection to what I and my family are individually and collectively going through right now. Certainly all your prayers and kind messages to me are sources of strengths in this time of trial. Today, permit me not to talk about politics or news or blogging for a while.
Yesterday, my father was already discharged from the hospital and is now resting and recuperating in our house in the province.
My mother told me that he is always in great pain. He cannot move that much and every little action entails an agonizing pain for my father and a sad and helpless view for my siblings. He is into liquid diet something that he really resents. The doctor put on bandages over his chest down to his abdomen to let the fractured ribs and his wounded lungs heal. Everytime he coughs, he is spitting blood. Being away from his side working here in Cavite, I just cannot imagine the pain he is going through and the emotional burden my mother has to carry on her wearied shoulders, as if the long years she was with him was not yet enough. This is the first time in my life that I saw my father so helpless, cringing in pain and shedding precious of his rare tears. This is the father that I have not come to grow with. I don't know if he is crying solely because of the physical pain that is punishing him or also because of the heavy emotional burden of being so helpless in this circumstance. But I would try to believe it to be both.
My name Gerson actually was derived from his name Generoso (like the name of the cheap brandy on sari-sari stores that keeps him company on many depressing occasions). I grew up angry at him, something that I was not proud of. I was angry at him for so many reasons, reasons that a son won't usually be proud to share to his buddies and to total strangers.
I could say that he never shed much sweat and blood to toil for our family's needs and welfare. He only stays at home, do some household chores, watch his select favorite TV shows and go to bed early. That is his routine. Being an eldest son that I am, who grew up in poverty but reared by my mother with a spartan spirit, I resented having a father like him. My young mind and tender heart looked for a father that I could be proud; a father who is a stellar model of industry that I could put side-by-side with my buddies' hardworking dads.
But he was not one of them; he was not like them.
He is so distant, something that a son could only see, but could not touch and reach nor embrace like the clouds and stars we dream of reaching. I haven't heard from him asking me how I was doing, how was school, or was I hurt or am I happy? Maybe all fathers are like that, I used to reason out, something to justify what I have.
I could only count on my fingers on a single hand the times he attended my countless recognitions and graduations to pin my medals. I could only count on my fingers the rare times he signed my report cards. He never visited me in the seminary or called me up on my phone to check how I was doing on my religious formation? Maybe all fathers are like that, I still used to reason out. But the bricks of anger were filling up up my young heart, soon to tower like a wall.
On all these times so difficult and hurting for me, the only person that has become my refuge was my mother. Her strength, wisdom and virtues of telling me to understand my father despite of everything for he was just a victim of his own historicity and more importantly for he is still my father no matter what, slowly toppled down the wall of anger that I was building out of sheer frustrations and resentment. My mother's warm love and her strength all throughout the years of being there for us as a great mother and a father; nourisher and provider at the same time, softened my heart for my father. My mother was my security. If my mother loved and tried to understand my father for so many years without showing any stain of vice towards him, how can I not do the same?
My mother was a woman of great virtues; devout wife and mother. Call her a martyr, but for me she is a saint. Without her, I could have become the man that I hated; the man that is my nightmare.
I have slowly come to understand and love my father just the way that he is. It was not an easy road that I have taken, but I am just glad I did.
I can never forget the one instance he told me he loves me and how proud he is of me: when he was so drunk, and gave me 20 pesos as a gift. I was so surprised and so joked him that I wish he is always drunk.
He was an unwanted child. My grandmother being so preoccupied with her work, tried to abort him for a couple of times. But my father maybe just wanted to live, though was born premature. My auntie who sent me to school told me stories about my dear father that slowly opened my heart to embrace the man I once told myself that I would never wanted to become.
When he was still a child, he was so fickle, so sickly and shy. His IQ is below average and he is slow to pick up lessons on school. To this my grandmother hired a nanny and tutor for him. But to no avail. He once run away from school, went home full of tears and begging my aunt and my grandmother not to send him anymore to school for he really can't comprehend everything.
My father maybe is just but a victim of circumstances. This is the father that I once hated but now so much loved.
Last Tuesday, he fell from the roof of hotel. He is working there together with some of my uncles. At the age of 53, he said that this would be his last hurray. He wanted to show to us his children that he can work to provide for his family's needs; that we can be proud of him.
But the accident came.
Now I miss him. He may not change or become the affectionate father I once dream of having, I can surely become a father to my children the way I wanted a father to become to his children. I may not receive from him the things I wanted to feel, but I can surely give to my children the things I would have wanted to receive, for I truly know what children wants from their fathers; and maybe only then that I could truly feel satisfied.
I am proud of my father.
Share Some Love, Share This Post and Spread the News
I have not been able to make a post for the last 5 days. My blogging big brother Jan already sent me an email which only now that I have read asking what happened to me. They haven't even seen my shadow on the blogosphere.
So many news already happened, with the most prominent that of Ted Failon. I wish to make a post on this one but I simply can't. No, I am not resigning from blogging. There is a more important concern for me right now.
Apologies to all my blogger friends. I haven't visited or posted comments on my favorited blogs on my blogroll.
Last Tuesday, I was scheduled to make a post, but I received a text message from my sister. My father is in the hospital; quite in a critical situation. He fell from the roof of a hotel that they were working on together with my uncles and nephews. He fell so bad that he has cringing of severe pain. After getting examined by the doctor at the Riverside Hospital, he suffered from 2 broken ribs. He was given some first aid by the attending physician but my father still kept on cyring, something that you would very rarely see from him.
My uncles brought him to another hospital and he was reexamined, and the doctors saw this time 3 broken ribs and has pierced his lungs and caused four wounds on it. The doctors then made some procedure to save his lungs from deflating because of the wounds.
To make things worse, they discovered that he has tuberculosis.
My father is not really a chain smoker but can smoke an average of 6 sticks a day. Many years ago, I told him to stop from smoking if he wants really to enjoy his family. Being the eldest among 4 siblings that I am, and having some authority in our family, he followed my wish. But after 6 months, he is back to his old habit.
Having a TB is curable, but having a father at his age of 53 so hard-headed that he is, this illness is so fatal.
This family tragedy I must say that has caught us off-guarded kept my away from blogging fro 5 days.
My father is always crying because of so much pain, that only some injected medicine could make him sleep and not feel the pain only for a moment.
We are not that close; he is not touchy, not showy, not talkative. He never shows his emotions to his children. He does not tell us how he feels. He is like a wood, unaffectionate and distant. I used to feel bad about this, used to be so angry at him being like that as a father to us. But the years changed me, and just accepted him the way that he is; he is jus a product of his own historicity.
And this tragic accident made me also reflect on my love for my father; the things that I have not received from him and the things that he should have shown us. But he is my father...and came this fear on me of losing him this early. This moment made me think and feel on my own solitary moment how I cherish him and love him with all the despite of and inspite of.
I made this post today quickly just to dispel from my blogging friends their worries of how I am doing or where I am, of why I am not blogging for days.
I am now on my way to buy some medicine; just made a stop at an internet cafe to make this short post.
Sorry, this is just quick. Quick check of Twitter and instant message. Can't visit yet my friends' blogs. Can't check yet all the mails.
Hopefully, everything will be just fine for my father...and our family.
I wish for all your prayers for his speedy recovery.
Thanks for all the understanding guys.
Hope to be back next week.
Share Some Love, Share This Post and Spread the News
This is one Easter greeting from the Eastern Church that they do still practice today. But for us 21st century Christians, we simply greet Happy Easter, and so there goes the egg hunt and the dancing bunnies in the malls to our hearts' delight.
One great thing that this day not only reminds us believers but also brings us is the clear message of hope for everyone...for all those who believe and for all those who have faith to a Being greater than ourselves. The Paschal Mystery of Christ's resurrection which is His suffering, death and resurrection is also a reflection of our way of life that gives us the guiding light to trod not because of a blind type of following, but because be deeply believe. Despite of all the trials, disappointments, heartaches, unlucky circumstances and our individual subjective experiences of dying, there is this perfect reassurance that there is joy, truimph, grace, abundance and happiness so long we hold on to Him who never gave up each and everyone of us.
There are three virtues that I wish to share out of my own personal reflection (and may I not sound too preachy about this post) on our celebration of our own personal stories of sufferings, death and resurrection. I wish that these three virtues could guide us in living a good life, as much as I try myself to live up these things and reflect these things on my daily dealings; difficult but not impossible.
Faith
When I was young, I used to be so amazed with people on flowing white robes with smoking golden jars and stuffs, and old women praying incoherent Latin prayers and songs. Maybe this is one reason why once in my life I dreamt of becoming a priest; I got so engrosed with rituals, religiousity and ceremonies. I believed then that being religious is being faithful. But is now a precious experience of the past.
Faith for me is something that one holds so dear. It is something that is so precious to you that you can even offer your life for it; you can exchange your life for this truth or this thing or this experience more than anything else when circumstances ask it of you.
The early Christians, many of which became saints of the Church through martyrdom are classic examples of my simple understanding of faith. They did not hesitate to get decapitated, crucified on the cross upside-down, burned to death, fed to wild beasts or tortured up to their last breath, all for their faith; faith for the resurrected Christ of Nazareth. They hold their faith so dear that dying for them is nothing but a way to be with the One whom they believed and loved so much more than the world's riches or promises.
Faith is something that guides our lives; it is something the helps us on the way see things, judge experiences and our response on them.
Let me give a classic example. A husband who truly loves his dying wife or child, he will be confronted of the question of what is the most important for you in your life? And most often than not, a father or a mother would say, if I could only give myself in the place of my dying chid.
But there are also people who hold in their lives money, power and prestige as the most important things more than others. These are the things that they hold so dear more than relationships, service, family or sometimes even self. They can steal, cheat, kill, silence dissent or even manipulate the truth to protect these things. Sad to say, there are so many of these kinds of people today.
I realized that faith is not about golden robes or towering candles, incoherent prayers and public display of a belief system. though celebrating your faith with the community is also important. But faith is your own authentic personal relationship and constant encounter with your God; the God who probes the mind and heart, who knows your silent screams and your loud protestations. Faith is the murmuring of your soul and the joy of heart in front of your Creator.
Service
One of the most misunderstood and misjudge song during its time is that of the band Yano, with their song "Banal na Aso, Santong Kabayo". They were unfortunately at the receiving end of the outrage of the Church. But for me the song is only but reflective of the sad truth of many of us Christians as simply occasional Christians (maybe during Sundays or even only during Lent and Simbang Gabi) doing only a lip service out of what we believe in.
Our faith is nothing, is dead according to St. James when only confined to ourselves. The greatest symbol of Christianity is the cross and on it are two lines. One is vertical, while the other one is horizontal. Our live of faith should lead us to two relationships, one that is between us and our Creator and the other one is between us and all the people around us.
I got strucked when I saw this big crucified Christ hanging on a wooden cross on one little chapel. The man hanging in there has no hands! And below is short scrip writeen, "You are now my hands".
Our beliefs to simply put it should be transformed into actions of service, not only to those people we love but more importantly to total strangers, the voiceless and faceless, for what merit will it have if we only serve those people who are already dear to us?
And for me, this is one of the most difficult part of living. To be an authentic believer.
Communion
Our belief to something profound and our works for others out of the generosity of our hearts is an affirmation of our communion and solidarity with our community; a deeper consciousness that we are parts of whole and what is happening to the whole body would certainly affect us and what we individually do also affects the bigger family.
This is why when Jesus went to temple, he got so angry with all the peddlers not really because of the solely putting up businesses in the temple area but because fo the unjust and corrupt ways that the peddlers are doing that hurts most of the poor Jews to goes to the temple. Jesus was angry because he felt the pain of unjust being a member of a community of believers.
My pesonal moments of silence are also my special moments to reflect on what I am doing with my life; where I was, where I am and where I want to go, not not necessarily inside the church, usually inside the toilet, ehehe! Living a life of authenticity is a struggl for me personally, but I am willing to pay the price. At least when I die, I could say the one Creator when I faces him that at tried.
Happy Easter everyone! May we all find our inner peace amidst a noisy and troubled world. Hope I did not sound preachy here LOL :D
Share Some Love, Share This Post and Spread the News
