A Journey in Life

                                     
 By: dodong

     A friend traveler offers his words of wisdom, a tip which could be worth enlightening to you and me who wish to resume our continuing journey in life. 

     As in any sojourn, he said; first know the direction and destination.  Never hesitate to make a first step for “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Assume imperfection in our moves because human frailty comes in times when we do not expect it. A successful life is never an accident, it’s a result of good decisions, sacrifices, guts, risks and allowing God to live and reign in our hearts and minds. Learn and feel contentment in our hearts as we proceed no matter what our status would be, just know how to appreciate the blessings we receive from above. If we stumble, commit unpopular decisions which lead to humiliations displeasing the society, we have to acknowledge our weaknesses and show remorse, the hurt may be less if we start coping the situation and go on with the new life than having a life under the cover of so many pretensions. The important thing, he said, we take responsibility of what we’ve done. The inevitable pain we realized is part of our growing that should not deter our desire to move on.  So we must now translate the hard lessons into wisdom and allow the learning to guide us as we go on into the next step of the journey.

       Reassess where we faltered, and the desired destination must be re-clarified. It is necessary to know the things to be improved and take a new route if needed, and know if we have enough energy to proceed.  It’s a long way for sure there will be perils that line in our path and no matter how astute we are, some events not to our liking it’s going to happen beyond our control.  But we should be ready to face them,  keep knowing the guidance and wisdom of those who traveled ahead of us, as they remain a faithful beacon in any tumult that our journey shall face.

        For the couple you should be firmed towards the consolidation of your strengths, the refocusing of your collective purpose, and the enhancement of your shared resolve to support the plans of achieving your aspirations. 

        In life many things happen unexpectedly. So we must be prepared, as to where and when our journey ends, it will surely come when we are all out of time, not in harmony with other matters, or simply put it we have no more time. No matter how we plan and arrange our lives in order, it's still God's plan that prevails in the end. Good luck!

Time Flies!

Reminiscence some say is gratifying the past. Yes and No, it also helps purify or polish something or improve a situation in the future, because if you recall unforgettable experiences you will try to avoid events or actions that gave you problems. In other words your error becomes a mistake because you don’t correct it. Who is perfect anyway? But if you had allowed it to happen and commit another mistake(s) then you’ll be a recidivist. Make your past memories be a lesson; good or bad shall be refined. Forget those that bother you most, pull you down in at the abyss of ignominy and heartaches. Treat them as life challenges and opportunities.  To a certain degree this will put your energy into more useful endeavor and a healthy end.

Your mom had sacrificed a lot. We were mostly affected emotionally by her temporary absence from our midst before, when she went to the Land of freedom and opportunities for greener pasture. What is important now is our present day to day subsistence. It is of the essence that we acknowledged our shortcomings and imperfections. Let us be honest to ourselves and practice humility. Respect is bestowed first in the family as member and as a person. Let us talk and listen to one another and be consensus in any matter. As long as we live together as one family, am your father and I will assert my authority and responsibility as head of the family.

If she could be followed, your mom wanted to grow old with you, but what she meant as I assumed, she likes to stay with you probably longer than always.  This is just water under the bridge. She is completely gone from us with no hope of seeing her but not anymore this world again, only if possible, I would like to, even in dreams we can communicate, help us in any predicaments that we are in, may be we can be together in the other dimensions through her intercession. What is certain is not her returning but my going sooner or later. Predestined as it may we can’t stop our life cycle. So our goal is your good upbringing and to mold you into a better person. Although she knew everything changes as time goes by, but we expect that you’ll change for the better not on the contrary. Life sails sometimes on rough seas and on stormy weather. That’s what parents do to lead and guide you when you’re learning to comprehend complicated things and make you strong, develop sturdy muscle physically and mentally prepared in any eventualities or when you’ll have family of your own.

We shed tears in joy and we didn’t know how to manifest our happiness and how proud we are when you show your special talents and become responsible. Very proud that our children are society's assets, professionals but our hearts bleed too when you unknowingly tolerate and become irresponsible and disrespectful to yourself and may be to other people, slowly be eaten up by the other side effects of the hip hops, Sci-Fi, Wifi tech and by your wanton disregard of the very norm and time honored values your forefathers had instilled us to respect and follow.

You may not realize the true worth and value of a thing unless the thing is lost. “Tempus fugit… Memento mori (L)” Time flies…Remember you are mortal!

A compilation of my Facebook posts (Publish @ A Letter.. blog)

Sunday, January 8, 2012

No guts no glory. Every sacrifice has a fruitful reward, every failure has a second chance. We only have to be strong by God's grace to make it through the tests of life, just believe and have faith. LIFE isn't perfect but wherever LIFE leads you, it's because of a purpose.
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You know me. Heal me. Bring me back into the fold of your arms. I tried to live up to your expectations but nonetheless prefer to live mine. I choose to pass an easy path for a happiness that wont last. HELP ME FIND YOUR WAY for Love, Peace, Joy and eternity...!
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Feel the real sweetness of joy after you've experienced the bitterness of sadness. If only we could appreciate the contrast of life, we would know that life is so colorful.
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In this wrangling world, life is a constant battle for survival. As we grow older, the rules change on daily basis. Our mission is not to escape, but to survive; Not to deal with triumph, but to deal with failure; Not to run away from fear, but to master it. It takes courage to keep on fighting. So, if you feel like rules has shifted one step higher, deal it with greater faith and never ever surrender.
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Time is so precious that no amount of money worth to compensate the lost time...don't let the opportune time pass without saying "I love you to the people who deserves to know your affection". May be your tomorrow never comes!
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Learn to love music. When you are involved in playing and listening music, you enter into a different world. You react as music reaches to different parts of your body. It reinvigorates your energy thus gives you the feeling to clap or dance or even cry which release your negative feeling. Music can help your fight even in the most difficult situation, it would help your mind stay cool. You can easily forget words in any speech but easily remember lyrics and tunes in the songs. It can capture imaginations, new creativeness and let our minds wander, thus you would find new ideas and new approaches to deal the varied spectrum of our lives.
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As I grew up I learn to communicate and love music. Music is one of the mediums the living animals used to communicate each other. As time went on, we love to like almost every type of music from pop, rock, slow rock, jazz, classical, new age music and the like. We all agree that music is the part of our world and our nature.
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God never gives a burden heavier than we can carry. No matter what, He wants us to be happy than sad. If birds sing after the storm, why can't we? No one has traveled the bridge of success without ever crossing the streets of trials. God never promised us an easy journey in life, only safety on board. Smile, then be happy! If God is with you no one can defeat you. You can be sure how the journey is going to end.
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Don't think that you are already successful when everybody seems envious because everything is coming your way. Reflect and pay attention you might be in the wrong way. Success is not measured by the attainment of wealth, positions, honors and popularity (may be you got all by inheritance), but by doing what is good to the people regardless of affiliation, class or religion. Hence we will respect you out of love but not out of fear, as respect is earned and not imposed.

The Boulevard of the Untamed Dreams

by: dodong

The sun starts its reign of the day. The dazzling beauty of the rainbow-like colors of the sea, the tiny waves approached the shores when stillness was the mood of the pacific ocean, and the scent of the early morning breeze how could one forget you. It reminds  like it just happened yesterday, a vivid recollections, these are but the reminisced memories of the then little boy who used to witness the sunrise at Bacuag sea front while collecting a kind of small clam, the sea shell called “Caraycay.”

The view of the scenic silver sparkling sand of the shores winking as it shined seemingly begs for mercy, the people and the relatives of the fishermen who hardly open their eyes, eagerly waiting the fishermen who went on their fishing adventures the whole night, queuing and waiting to have a glance on their catched were over jealous when finally plenty of sorted fishes caught were being displayed. Undeterred by the heat of the shores as the sun seemed hotter than usual they did endure to be able to select the best fish of their own choice.

Oh summer time here I am as the boy quipped, no classes, unyielding for more playing time, swimming & sun bathing seemed relentless, at the seashores with ample gusty winds conducive to kite flying, these were children’s festivities during the day. While parents were busy in the farms harvesting rice, their kids were also busy making sand castles, casting fish nets and bait fishing. “Aso-os” and “buga-ong” were their common fishes caught.  

Unlike the years that had gone by, people at present find it difficult to rely on aqua-marine product for their livelihood. It’s likely our place is already over populated or source of marine resources are very much depleted. The LGU’s timely putting fish sanctuary covering mostly the town’s stretched shores was the best control measures ever done to protect and preserve the newly hatched and fish spawns to ensure the growth of the same to replenish our supply of fishes due for people consumption.

The people of Bacuag have witnessed the construction of seawall in the past years, and our LGU has successfully sponsored the holding of national skim boarding competitions. What we need now is the much improved beach and more presentable seashore to cater our visitor’s good sight. Let’s not be reluctantly mover of progress. We shall help our leaders get rid of eye sores and pollutions at the seafront. Support the realization of the plan to construct the Bacuag Boulevard from the Bitaog River down to Sabang river. This tourism project will not only improve the sight of our town’s beautiful seashore but will surely help us in income generating endeavors and augurs other recreational locations like safe bicycle lanes during night time and a good place for ocean and sunrise spectators and star gazers, expectedly nightlife will be alive because amenities will flourish such as barbecue grills and other food concessions. Be part of the dreams!

Little Baguio Waterfalls

The Beauty of ‘Sandayong’...by: dodong

Commune with nature, this was the message of my late father. I remember while I was still young he maintained the mini irrigation dike for our rice farms in Canaya, Sto. Rosario, I could not recall the author but he said something this way, “you could not step twice into the same river, for other waters are ever flowing on to you” unless the water is stagnant. This reminder was still vivid and he instilled into my mind to ensure that water in the dike must be monitored seeing to it with no leak at all times & should not be wasted due to the scarcity of waters in our farm every drop of water from the dike shall be put to use.

Then I realized and found out that rivers are more than just a necessity for man’s survival but also a masterpiece of God’s work. We fetched water using our bamboo container, we took water from the improvised pipe made also of bamboo we called it “Sandayong.” Water in “sandayong” holds a special fascination on me that seem to transcend reality to capture my imagination on waterfalls from a downhill near our farm. Then I had invented a mini waterfall by creating a detour of small rivers “sapa” down to the cliff. At that moment my man-made waterfall exists from mountain stream capturing the seemingly tamed water cascading to our rice farms.

Let me tell you about Jurong Falls. May be it is the tallest continuously running artificial waterfall in the world, at 30 meters (100 ft) tall. The falls are located within the open access water aviary at the Jurong Park in Singapore. This has captivated millions of tourist there. Water plunges over the top of a touring cliff at a rate of 140 liters per second. The water is circulated through a meandering stream that cascades down over a series of levels, creating an ideal environment for water birds, fishes, plants and other life forms at the aviary.

What differentiate from Jurong Falls is that our waterfall is made by nature. We could develop and enhance the beauty by sensuously sculpting slot, adulating and stunning slick-rock deep locations. We could construct and improve a landscape to make basin-like pool of water where falls drop and where people could swim. We could also conduct reforestation and regulate the area for tourism purposes. Peace and order conditions necessarily must be improved.

Infrastructure projects will follow. Roads and bridges must be built from Barangays Dugsangon and Payapag up to Little Baguio. These infrastructures must be maintained and sustained to enable to support the developments and enhancements of the tourism in Little Baguio. This will not only be limited to benefit tourism industry but also boosts and facilitates the farm to market shipments of agricultural produce made by the southern portion of our people in the municipality. In the end our community can have another sustainable development program in pursuit for a better quality of life for its empowered citizenry.