Rock, Liebster!

I am not much into awards. I do appreciate when they are given sincerely. That said, I appreciate very much the nomination for a Liebster Award that I have just been given — my first of the award and my very-first online award, ever! (*thrilled-much*)

Thank you so much to Life, the Universe and Lani. I am happy because I am confident that she gave this nomination to me with her sincere heart, and I feel so honored by it. I like following Lani’s blog because I like that I get to learn things from other people’s experiences and stories (that I either can relate to or would not have otherwise known), thoughts and opinions — she has a lot of those. It’s a plus that she has a nice sense of humor as well. I like people with a sense of humor, takes your mind away from the burdens of the world. I urge you to visit her blog, and honestly, I’m saying this not because of this award but because even without it, I would have listed hers down as one of my favorite blogs to visit, anyway 🙂

Here are the rules for the Liebster Award:

1. Each person who is nominated must post 11 things about themselves.
2. You must also answer the questions that the tagger set for you in addition to creating 11 questions for the people you nominate to answer.
3. Nominate 5 – 11 of your favorite bloggers and link them in your post.
4. Go to your nominees’ pages and tell them.
5. Thank and link back to the person’s blog who nominated you.

 

Okay, the 11 THINGS ABOUT MYSELF. Don’t ask me why 11 and not 10 or a dozen as I have no idea. For this, I thought I’d link you to my USELESS BITS page instead, which lists more than 11. Just go on and click on the link.

 

Now the 11 QUESTIONS FOR ME–make that 5 questions–that Lani wants me to answer:

1. How do you decide what to write about?

Currently, I write for two reasons–work and leisure/pleasure.

For work, sometimes I am asked to write, sometimes I am asked to come up with the topics, have others write them then edit. I do a lot of research to come up with topic ideas. Usually, I just edit others’ works but I still end up adding something here and there, or if a writer misses a deadline and we are pressed for time, I write it myself. But I currently have assignments of my own.

For leisure/pleasure, I don’t have an exact formula, if you can call it that. I just write what I want to write, share what I want to share, which is what my blog is about. I always have a lot of ideas swimming in my head. The question is when do I have the time to write or finish them? If you look at my dashboard right now, you’ll see various drafts waiting to be given attention.

2. What inspired your blog name?

When I decided to create my first public Multiply account (all of my blogs before were on private mode, so to speak), I decided that it would chronicle my journey as a person, something that would be a reminder of who and what I was. It would be something that when my time comes to leave this earth, I would look back and smile and say it was all worth it. Maybe it won’t matter to anyone else especially when I am gone, but it will matter to me to see where my journey has taken me and how. So while I was thinking of my “end” and contemplating on a blog name, a saying that I’ve always liked came to mind: “The end justifies the means.” I decided to tweak it a bit to The End Justifies the Journey. What I will be in the end will be the result of my life’s journey, just like how it is going to be for everyone else.

I’m not trying to be profound here, but hey, you asked 😉

3. What was the best present ever given to you?

I don’t get a lot of presents, even when I was in school, plus my birthday falls in the summer month, May, so yeah, no classes. That said, I always treasure anything, and I do mean anything, given me especially if it is given sincerely and thoughtfully. I don’t care if it’s expensive, if you buy it with your hard-earned money, or if it won’t cost you a thing; it’s the sincerity of the act that I value more and I am always thankful for.

But I do have an answer. It would have been really hard to decide which present I should say is the best if not for a friend who, two years ago, brought me to a very special place. This place was where I received the best gift and I have not been the same since. I wish I could share it to the world. In time, maybe.

Sorry if I am being vague, but that is my answer.

4. Where is the most beautiful place you have ever been?

I haven’t really been to a lot of places yet. In random order, I’ve been to:

(a) Surigao, notably Siargao Island and Cloud Nine

(b) The Banaue Rice Terraces of Ifugao

(c) some historic landmarks and a beach in Cebu (lovely ocean!)

(d) Ilocos Norte with its various churches and architecture that date back to the Spanish era (here) and even beyond

(e) Potipot Island in Zambales

(f) museums, bookstores and libraries!!!!

I honestly need to go out more.

5. What is the best job you’ve ever had?

There are three: I enjoyed my first job in a university, that’s for sure, because I met a lot of my first friends in the mature world who taught me how it is in the “real world” outside school. Meanwhile my work in an NGO was/is the most meaningful, for sure as well, too bad I probably wasn’t cut out for it. But being a writer, or writing per se, still takes the cake for me, ’cause I get to do what I love and what I know confidently enough that I can do at the same time, as opposed to feeling awkward/incompetent when I’m not sure if I’m doing something correctly. I am not referring to a particular position but the writing tasks I’ve been doing in my past and present professional life.

 

Now, we go to the 11 QUESTIONS FOR MY NOMINEES. To my nominees, answering these is not compulsory, of course. But it would be nice to know you more. In case you want to share, feel free to answer all or any 🙂 I thought I’d answer them myself, too.

1. What inspired your blog name? (I’m copying this one because it is a very good question)

Done. Check above.

2. Who do you consider as your hero(s)/heroine(s)?

My parents. Cliché, but true. Too bad I realized this too late.

3. Do you have a weird habit? Give at least one that you have. 

As said in the link I gave, “I keep the spoon in the mug even while I drink my coffee, choco or juice.”

4. What is the best thing you like about yourself? Don’t be shy or humble. Just spill it out. 😉

Good listener, sound adviser.

5. Is there a question that people usually ask you ? Kindly share and (hopefully) give us the answer as well.

“Is your hair naturally curly?” The answer is YES.

6. Star Trek or Star Wars?

Star Trek

7. What are you currently reading? (Not original but…)

“The Paranormal Revolution”

8. Any hidden talent? Of course, please share.

Croaking like a frog. Freaks out people. I could probably learn how to beatbox, that would be interesting.

9. Iron Man, Thor, The Hulk or Captain America?  

The Hulk

10. What do you collect?

Various stuff, some you can’t even imagine. I do like to say I collect memories. Someday, I’ll have a museum and you can all go visit.

11. Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook.

 

I am nominating people with whom I have had very insightful and educational discussions with, who care about their followers and whose sites I really enjoy visiting (and I think you should as well). If you don’t find yourself tagged here, please don’t be offended. Meanwhile, if you’ve done this already and do not wish to participate anymore, kindly give us a link to your Liebster Award page — I really do want to read your answers! If you can’t answer because it does not follow your blog’s strict format, or you simply just don’t want to, no biggies, we understand 🙂

And in alphabetical order, the 11 NOMINEES are…

Andoyman

Basil Rene

Anne-Marie

Damyanti

Dave

Diana

Justine

Phil

Sanch

Tobe Damit

Yelling Rosa

 

THANKS, Guys!!!! I look forward to reading your answers 🙂

He’s the Real Masterpiece

While I am working on various stuff, I’ve decided to share this for now. I am very much in awe of the man and his excellent talent. I can’t even imagine how his brain works! But what’s really inspiring is his disposition despite his condition. He reminds us that no matter how difficult things may seem, there is always something to be joyful and thankful for. (And I will never look at typewriters the same way again!)

Please click on the image to get to the Urban Times page where the video is. I can’t post the video here because I am not sure about the copyright. It was posted by John Stofflet and I’m not sure if it’s his voice doing the narrating, but he seems to be the guy talking to the artist. Seems like the video was first shown on King-TV back in 2004 (says there in the YouTube page).

ENJOY!!!!

 

 

I Will Remember You

Today, September 10, is my father’s birthday. If he were still here, he would be 73. I would probably be home and he, my mother and I would be eating something special together at the dinner table. If not tonight, I would make sure to be home this weekend to spend the special day with the family.

He would have complete rein over the TV…Well, maybe not complete; it would not be realistic if we didn’t fight over it a bit . Maybe we’d playfully spar a little, too (I was his “alternative son”, anyway), or I’d kiss him so hard on the cheek that would make him cry out, or I’d tickle his belly that would send him laughing hysterically and my mother would shout at me to stop it. Of course, my sister and her family would most definitely be calling from Surigao to greet him, and he would be so happy hearing from his grandchild whom he didn’t remember most of the time but she was always in his heart.

I would be gifting him with a jacket or a baseball cap or even food that would be just specially for him. Since he became home-bound, it was not easy to think of other kinds of gifts for someone like him anymore. But you know what? He was always glad to receive and he would wear the clothes or cap as proudly as he wore jackets and caps back when he was still Sir Federizo, the P.E. teacher who taught most of the barrio kids how to play excellent volleyball and brought them to athletic meets — the glory days that seemed just years ago to him. If it’s food, he would be teasing my mother, taunting her because I gave it to him and she had none, then he would laugh his happy laugh like he pulled a funny trick on you.

If his birthday happened to be on a Saturday, for sure, we would be watching Maalaala Mo Kaya. My mother and I would wait till end credits. The theme song would start and there would be a sudden sparkle in his eyes like he remembered a lovely memory, but before he could say something, I’d blurt out without pause, “Dade, you sang that song in a choir when you were fourteen, right, because your teacher made you all sing, but you didn’t really sing and just moved your mouth and your group won second place anyway!” He would give an amused or astonished look wondering how in the world I knew, then laugh scratching his head after my telling him how. Every time we watched it in many years, he would always proudly tell the story like it was the first time.

Well I miss that. And that was why even though some probably thought it corny, it was one of the songs I requested that be played as we laid him to rest on May 27, 2012. Of course, I cried. And for a long time I refrained from watching the show. if only to avoid the song. But I miss his face, his voice, his laughter, his stories. So today, I would like to send this special gift to him, one that I know he will hear.

I love you, Dade, and I miss you, and yes, palagi kitang maaalala, narito ka sa puso ko (I will always remember you, you are here in my heart).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADE KONG MAKULIT

The song above was sung by Dulce and is the most-played (I think) and best (my opinion) version. Lyrics below. First in Filipino, then my English translation, although I’d rather call it interpretation because I did my own take on it a bit:

 

MAALAALA MO KAYA

Written and Composed by Constancio de Guzman

Maalaala mo kaya ang sumpa mo sa akin
Na ang pag-ibig mo ay sadyang di magmamaliw?
Kung nais mong matanto, buksan ang aking puso
At tanging larawan mo ang doo’y nakatago

“Di ka kaya magbago sa iyong pagmamahal?”
Hinding-hindi giliw ko hanggang sa libingan

O kay sarap mabuhay, lalo na’t may lambingan
Ligaya sa puso ko ay di na mapaparam

 

WOULD YOU STILL REMEMBER

Would you still remember a promise made
That your love for me would never ever fade?
Look inside my heart, should you wish to see
And you shall find only an image of you in me

“Could you possibly have a change of heart?”
No, never, my darling, till death do us part

Oh, what wonderful life, to share love so tender
My happy heart will stay with you forever

 

PLEASE TAKE NOTE: The translation above should not, in any way, be taken as an official translation. It is only a translation I made so that people will understand. However, doesn’t mean you can just copy off and not give credit or link here….Thanks for understanding.

Sunflowers for You, Tina

Dear Tina,

We may or may not have met even on the web, but that does not matter because I know you were already blessed with many friends and they were blessed to be yours.

I wanted to buy you a really nice sunflower, or a plastic one, at least. However, I did not come across anything that looked okay enough. Why give something that I know I, myself, wouldn’t like? I don’t want sincerity to be half-baked, ’cause that’s not called sincerity at all.

So I searched for sunflowers online and now happily share this:

I got this HERE. Thank you to the owner of the blog and the original owner of the picture

It’s a sunflower farm! Now you can go visit anytime and as long as you want and enjoy your sunflowers. You can even enjoy with them a great view of the famous Mayon Volcano. Isn’t nature awesome? But I guess you already know that. #LifeisGood, as I heard you always said. That’s a very good way to look at things and should be everyone’s mantra.

Do enjoy the sunflowers today and know that you will continue to be others’ ray of sunshine, their sunflower.

Rest in peace, Tina.

Sincerely,

Gi

 

 

Sunflowers for Tina

Last week, I got to read Damyanti’s post on Tina Downey . I may or may not have commented on any of Tina’s posts, may or may not have exchanged comments or praises on posts or LIKES with her, I am not sure (but then I have been trying to get back to and thank everyone who has LIKEd any of my own posts and clicked on FOLLOW). Nevertheless, it is always a sad moment when you learn of someone’s passing, regardless of whether you knew each other or not.

Having lost two very important people in my life, I can relate to those who feel grief over losing Tina. Therefore, I would like to urge you to do something very simple yet very meaningful this Monday — send Tina sunflowers.

REMEMBERING TINA DOWNEY — A TRIBUTE #LifeisGood

Let us all send Tina sunflowers. As Damyanti said in her other post, “As we mourn her loss, we also celebrate who she was: a bright, compassionate, large-hearted personality.”

You don’t have to have known her, but please, do help in giving this tribute for her; it would be like giving tribute to your own loved ones who have gone ahead. Mostly, this is how I would like to show my support to the family she has left behind. If you want to join this meaningful online event, just click on the image and you’ll be redirected to the page explaining what you should do. No, they are not asking for your money or anything, don’t worry. They’re just asking us to share and spread the love.

As Tina used to say, #LifeisGood.