Faith in motion

It is often said that “nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa” (to God is clemency, to human is feat). Ironically though, with all due respect to the devotees who might be reading this, this is not the case. Most people tend to cling on too much to their faith, thinking that their faith would save them. That literally, their faith would save them. That until the day that Jesus would come down to them from the heavens and help them, they would do nothing but pray. Pray and pray.

I am a believer. I have faith in Him from above that He would guide me in the moments in my life that I very much need guidance. I have faith that He would grant me wisdom whenever things get tricky and a confused mind is all that I have left. I have faith.

But it is not God who would come down from the heavens only to flip the pages of my book for me. It is not Him who would sacrifice and stay up all night just to finish the things that need to be done. It is I. And as much as I have faith in God above, I must have faith in myself. Believe that I can, and I will, do it.

That is faith in motion.

Irony beats reality

When we laugh in the midst of all the chaos surrounding us, all the problems that weigh us down, all the harsh realities that life may slap on us, it is then that our spirits are tested. We Filipinos are given the rare and the most unfathomable character when facing our problems. Even how difficult the task may be, even how impossible it may sound like, still, we have the guts and the courage to smile. We have what others don’t: the strength of a lion and the humility of a hare.

Blossoms

It’s been a long time since I uploaded something here in my blog. I guess I have been busy for a while now, doing more shoots than writing. Usually I try to write something out of what I shoot. The events that took place, the feelings that I had during those times, or maybe just the reasons that inspired me to take those shots. I want to be more than just a photographer. I want to share to people not just what I saw, but also what I felt. And it’s a great thing to do actually, to write something about your pictures. The story, the real story, behind them are much more appreciated and digested by the audience if they were also in words. Although I still believe that a picture paints a thousand words.

During the whole summer, I must admit that I was a little pre-occupied with school stuff and other matters. Running to and fro place to place became my daily habit. But still, being the passionate one that I am, I still managed to steal away some pictures, just simple ones. I wanted to compile an album and I would give it the title “Colors of summer”. It would then contain all the colors that I can picture in my mind for the whole two-month-summer. And much to my excitement on this project, I failed. And failed did I. Instead of taking pictures that would represent the “colors” of summer, what I had instead were mostly flowers that blossomed during the summer. Some were taken at the later part of March, and some just before the academic year started.

I also attempted at doing a poem for this one. But I must say it’s really hard to come up with poetic words when the mind is dull and the heart is empty.

On the morning she sits idly under the temperate sun

Then she waves at me with her most tender hands.

Her fragrance alone drives me into infinite ecstasy

And the smoothness of her skin as I caress them passionately.

Click here for more pictures.

Becoming The Champ

It’s the first Sunday of May and I woke up a little early than usual. A little too early, if I must say. I immediately freshened myself up, ate my breakfast, and seated in front of the television in great anticipation of what was to become the shortest boxing match I have ever seen.

The Hitman lays half-conscious on the canvas at MGM Grand Arena.
Image courtesy of BBC Sport.

Five minutes and fifty seconds. Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton lies on the canvass staring up above the ceiling of the MGM Grand Arena seconds after he received a devastating left swing from The People’s Champ. He never saw it coming. Not in his entire lifetime did The Hitman imagine that he would be defeated for the second time. And worst, he didn’t even make it to round three. Five minutes and fifty seconds.

Too fast, too furious. That is how the 12-year-old “defeated-only-once” reputation of The Hitman ended. Just like that. What must have he been thinking while he was laying there on the canvass? “Should I retire?”, “Should I just quit and walk away?”, “Should I just lay here for the rest of my life?” Fortunately for Hitman fans out there, this is no way you warrior thinks. He instead stands up, makes his stand, and continues to fight. Just like what he did during the first two times Pacman knocked him down. And when it came down to the decision and he realized that defeat was already there knocking on his door, he graciously accepted it and walked away with honor.

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That is how we should be. We’ve been fighting our own fights, and without doubt we have faced our own horrors and our own nemesis. During those times that we were knocked down, we instinctively stood up, maintained our stance, and continued to fight, never giving up even if we were knocked down once more. That is exactly how our coach wants us to put up our fight. That is how The People’s Champ did it, and that is how we will do it. And with honor and pride, let us not wait before our five minutes and fifty seconds is over and someone knocks us down. But rather let us be that great warrior that humbly stands up and raises his arms embracing victory. Let us be our own hero. Let us be our own champ.

The greatest boxer that ever lived.
Image courtesy of BBC Sport.

The Meeting

There’s always a different story. Each passing moment, captured in perfect harmony with all the elements it is bound, is a complete unique signature of time. Not one milli of a second it is the same. Not once, not ever.

As if seen in different angles by a multitude set of eyes in a crowd, each pair has its own version of interpretation of what is happening, of what really is going on. Never before in the entire lifetime of the universe when the sun has been so bright or during the freezing coldness of each night that we have come this far to feel so fortunate to experience this wondrous moment.

And here at this very instant, though bounded by the time and distance that continually separates us, we begin to share our common differences, our own visions molding into one single picture, and we patiently tell the story of our journey apart.

Then as if in synchronous movement, the pouring had stopped. It is only then that we realize that our distances have finally met, and we soon begin to learn that our times were never really distant from each other.

natutulog ba si Bro?

“How good is good Friday?” was supposed to be the title of this one. But seeing that it’s already Easter Sunday, I changed it instead. This is actually a late post. Someone even actually “read my mind” telling me that I’m “thinking of something to write” that Friday night. I’m sorry to disappoint her but procrastination got in me first. lols.

how can we procrastinate on stuff like this? I mean, it’s about sharing something about Bro and we shouldn’t let that sharing be a victim of our mañana habit. so before I even let this thing pass until I get back to Iligan, here it is.

What is really the significance of holy week? I used to ask that to myself years ago, even until now. For some, it is a time to ask for forgiveness, for repentance, for reflection, sacrifice, and healing. and ironically for some, it is a time to earn money.

I woke up late noon (again) that Friday. My mother, Tito, and Tita were all watching the 7 Last Words on the national TV. I ate my lunch, freshened up, then sat right next to my sister watching her do her architecture work on the pc while listening to the on-going sharing on TV. At around 3:30 pm we were following the procession, the station of the cross thingy. I didn’t bother lighting some candle on the stations. I didn’t even bother praying. I just instead took some pictures, something which I love doing most, observing the people around, watching them silently pray, asking for forgiveness.

There are many things that I observed on the way up. One thing for sure is that there are kids selling candles all over. There’s a red cross tent, just in case someone needs medical help; a Greenwich van (??); and surprisingly, there are also some even selling sidewalk food (popcorn, cotton candy, etc.) and I can’t hold myself thinking “unsa ni, carnival??” I mean, there is even some selling ukay-ukay and some even do henna tattoo services. What the heck?? Are you sure we’re on the right “procession”??

But one thing that really struck me are the numerous beggars, blind singers, sick, basically the less-fortunate people, that were around. Asking for money, food, anything. Almost all the way up I can see them. Every corner you hear “hinabang mam, sir, dai, dong, kol, etc..” Then I get to ask myself, “paano ito sila naging ganito?” What is the purpose of Bro that He created this condition for these people? Why did He forsake His people?

Then, as if I always knew the answer to these questions, I realize what the real purpose is. and it is for us to realize that we should learn to appreciate, not their condition, but rather ours. Learn to appreciate.

It was then that I started to reflect on what really is the real meaning of the holy week for me. It is not only the time for repentance, sacrifice, and all. but most especially, it is the time for appreciation, for thanking Bro on all the things that He has given us. When I looked at the young kids desperately trying to sell the candles, or the blind singers, or that 15-yr old kid that has an incurable disease, I unconsciously say to myself “thank God hindi ako naging ganyan”. I appreciate more the life that Bro gave me. When you are up there, and you see all those kinds of people, you will really feel how fortunate you are. For having something to eat everyday, for having the chance to go to school, for having money in which you can use to buy your material wants, and for not having to go through all the pain and suffering that these people endure every single day.

Wag ka na magreklamo kung yan lang ang pagkain mo sa umaga, maswerte ka nga may makakain ka.

Wag ka na magreklamo kung yan lang ang baon mo papunta sa skwela, maswerte ka nga nakakaaral ka. Wag ka na magreklamo kung tatlo lang ang havianas mo…maswerte ka at may mga paa ka.

When Jesus healed the ten lepers, only one came back and thanked Him. And Jesus asked, “didn’t I heal ten of you? where are the other 9?”

Contentment is not the fulfillment of ones desires, but rather the realization of how blessed you are for what you already have.

God bless and have a happy Easter. ^_^

Le Ottimista

Life is about challenges, failure, and survival. And the greatest challenge of life is life itself. Eventually we encounter hardships, we fail, and we think of ourselves as weak ones. But these are just some of the ordinary things that life has to offer. Part of every day living. And with them comes one of the greatest challenges of all: the struggle and the continuing determination to stand up, continue, and live on. Survive.

No matter what happens, we must survive. We must live on. And we must continue to remember that there is always a bright future ahead. For what matters is not how many times we failed, but rather how many times we stood up each time we failed.

This is the lesson that The Optimistic teaches us. That life is, and will always be, a continuing struggle to survive and know our purpose in living. And as we part ways and discover for ourselves the real meaning of life, let us try not forget to look back where we came from. Let us try to hold on to the guiding principles that our mentors taught us. And let us try to remember that we always have friends to rely on, especially at times when life is tough and quitting comes in our mind. This is not, after all, a one man show.

But life isn’t always about those kinds of stuff. We may have anything to everything, but we have nothing if we are not happy. And true happiness is found from within. There is no key, technique, or secret formula to finding true happiness. We must find it in ourselves, and once we do, we must share it with others. Let us try to be happy in our own little ways, in simple things, and with people we love. For life is not about the amount of breath we take away, but rather the moments in our lives that takes our breath away.

Remember: there will always be challenges, we must survive, and we should always be happy.

These are the lessons that The Optimistic teaches us.

So to the graduates of this school year, especially to the BS Nursing graduates of MSU-IIT: congratulations to all of you and good luck. You’ll need it.

See pictures HERE.