Friday, August 30, 2013

Answered Prayer

I sometimes wish I could see how my life is from up top. Sometimes, I wish I had better control on things that I was going to happen to me. Then I realize, that life isn't really how we see it. We could only see up to a certain distance and at some point we are lead to detours. We face fork roads & crossroads. I grew up in an environment where as much as things were heavily dependent on you, it is as well, I understood, that my life has a grandeur scheme, that was designed especially for me. Recently, I was reminded that the big guy up there, was in control of my life. I had to trust Him and that all He needed for me was to be ready to face what was headed my way. There are moments in ones life, when you just stop and thank the Lord. I believe this is one of those moments, where all I can say, was Thank you God, for making a way for me. Now, let me kick ass ;)

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Rains and Floods

This was a long pending post. I couldn't seem to find words to finish this one, for a totally different context but now, being stuck here at home, I feel that I finally found the words I need, to make sense of the thoughts in my head. 


Today, parts of the country is once again submerged in water. Roads are impassable, dams overflowing, flooded roads, classes and work suspended, classrooms and other buildings are now turned into evacuation centers. So many of our countrymen, stranded, unsafe and feeling cold.

This isn't the first time that we got to experience this. Back in 2009, we experienced Ondoy. We thought, that it could never happen again, but as years gone by, there's always that news of flooding in different parts of our country and it always seemed worse than the year before that. Year in and year out, relief operations are being conducted. Why haven't we learned our lesson yet? Why do we still see ourselves in the situations over and over again?

Life is a series of cause and effects. One thing leads to A that creates B and eventually causes C. This is where crisis planing goes into play. If you think about it, hindi lang ang flooding ang kailangan solusyunan. If you look at the bigger pictures, there are more pressing issues that needs to be addressed. Thats the thing with mapping out situations, it opens up more problems, we all find the roots to these effects.

As much as the relief operations provide a short term solution to all of this, I think its time that concrete steps are taken to address this problem. Hindi pwede na sa bawat bagyong papasok sa PAR eh maprapraning ang lahat sa kung anong posibleng mangyari. We all know we have the funds for this, we could only pray and hope that these are put to its proper use.

So while I'm at it, lets do our part in helping those in need. We have been blessed to have a roof on our heads and have access to the internet, be in a more comfortable state that most of our fellow countrymen, maybe its about time that we become a blessing to other people. It always feels great to know that you spent your time and put in your efforts into something that changes lives; to feel relevant and to be part of a group that brings hope and light to others, to have so little of yourself be part of something big.

FIBA Experience

Earlier this month, the Philippines hosted the FIBA Asia Championship. The podium finishers here, get to join the FIBA Worlds happening in Spain next year. Its pretty much a big deal especially for the country that loves the sport. Add to that we being the host also doubles the pressure to finish on top.

I was settled with just watching the games on TV since I knew that it was hard to score tickets. Then one day, my friends and I finally decided to watch the games live, given that we get tickets, we'll head to MoA to experience FIBA.

The first game we saw live was the game against Jordan. It took us 2 hours to get to MoA, re-routing several times on the way, since the traffic was really bad. It was halfway through the 1st quarter that we got to the Arena, but still we were so chill about it. I even remember mentioning, that we don't need to panic since its just the 1st quarter we can still take our time. When we went inside, we found that our guys were down, then it seemed like on cue, our boys made a run. My sister was all, 'hindi pa pala exciting yung game ha'. Come the third quarter, our boys, came out blitzing making most of their shots, and indulging us, with some game highlights. I think of all the times that I've been watching basketball, this is the only time that I got really tired after cheering for 3 straight basketball minutes. Nakakaubos ng energy, but at the same time, nakakakilig how much faith people have in our team. And its a whole different feeling being one with the crowd cheering for the same team. I'd usually cheer for the less popular teams, so yes, this is a welcome thing in my life. The night ended with us winning. Yay! We're on the right track people.

We missed the next couple of games. The one they lost again Chinese-Taipei, the game verses Japan, Qatar and Hong Kong that gave us the number 1 seed in our group. The next game was versus Kazakhstan. It happened to coincide with the first leg of the Philpop Concert Series. So what we (Joy, Kam, Kris, Ace and I) did was right after the show, we rushed to nearest place where the game was being shown, to just watch and maybe have dinner too. It was so much fun, a different experience altogether! We won the game and was heading to the semis. It was during the post game conversations that I realized that we might face Korea in the semis. That very country that always curtails our chances. This for me was also the most important game of the whole tournament. A win against the Koreans will give us the ticket to Spain. So it was definitely a game worth travelling to MoA for.

During the game versus Korea, it can be said that the crowd was more tensed, I couldn't blame them since it was an all important game, and Korea was the nemesis, the team where we always fell short. Everybody was hoping for a win. We were down for most of the first half, when we got back just like the match versus Jordan, we had a blazing start in the third and that helped shift the momentum on our side. It was a close game, and I was in tears in the dying minutes when I was slowly realizing that we can actually win. More than grinding out a win against these Koreans, it was the fact that we are heading to Spain that made me tear up and scream and jump up and down. It was the most surreal basketball moment of my life.

I've seen a handful of championships from NCAA-UAAP-PBA and even the DLeague, but nothing will ever compare to this. The feeling of seeing the boys get us a slot for the FIBA Worlds was something else. And I still can't believe that I got to witness history being written in our basketball book.

The following day, was the championship match against Iran. Sadly, we didn't take the gold, but silver isn't bad either. We'll take it.To the men of our team, thank you for a gallant effort. What an incredible run for everyone. Congratulations. You fought with all you have, you fought with so much heart and pride, and for that, we are thankful to you. Saludo kami sa lahat ng sakripisyo na ginawa niyo para sa bayan. #labanpilipinas


Thoughts on Travelling

I just got home from a quick getaway trip up North with a couple of my friends. There's a certain bond formed when one travels with friends. Its something so sacred that no one from outside that group understands even if you repeatedly share it to people. Its something that you and your group only understands. The fun you had during the trip isn't merely because you enjoy each others' company. Each of you engages yourselves with activities you thought you could never do and in the process creates a certain experience that you end up sharing with one another. It is these moments that binds you closer. The thing with a trip out of town with your friends is that you create an experience designed just for the people in that trip. That is what makes every trip different, because at the end of the day, the trip is always remembered by the shared moments you've had.

Monday, August 12, 2013

What you choose to show other people isn't exactly the same as what it really is. We have the tendency to pretend, to over shadow things not because we're afraid of what kind of judgement we'd get but rather its easier to live up to what people expects you to be.
It doesn't say though that we live according to what other people think we should be, but its simply making things easier for us. Standing tall in our own persona is one thing but having to explain ourselves everytime is another.

So see, no one has the right to judge us because people rarely see who we really are and sometimes, if odds are stacked against us, people would only choose to see what they want to see.

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Saturday, August 10, 2013

My friend of 8 years showed me a copy of the first ever palanca letter that Ive given her 8 years ago. At that point we weren't that close yet. We preferred hanging out with different people but maintained friendship within the same group.

Funny how after 8 years, all the things I said still stand true but on a much different scale. After 8 years, we found each other growing up together experiencing life in different ways and yet we've been each others' support system all the way.

I maybe very reluctant in labeling people my friends but I've been so blessed that when I do so, they really are friends that I can grow old and grey with.

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Wednesday, August 7, 2013

There are so many thoughts running through my head and I could only hope to engage myself in some intelligent conversation and pick on somebody else's brain as it happens. But as it turns out I am within the 4 walls of our house, echoing my thoughts. How I wish I have my person, the way Haley had Lucas and Christina have Meredith. To have a person that I can annoy with my take on things and would never even one bit judge me. Im slowly losing sanity as I am stuck here and the only thing I hear is my own voice. Oh to be able to trust another human being a part from myself.

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Ignite the fire.
Pursue the passion.
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Change lives.