Championsville

It was one afternoon break during my final year in high school while me and my friends were talking about what courses are we going to take in college, when we noticed one of our classmates busy drawing something at the back of his notebook. So out of curiousity we called his attention to ask, he gladly show it to us, he was about to be finished, he was just retouching some parts of it. What he draw was, Championsville, too bad I didn’t scan that drawing, I’m not sure if he still has it, had I had a copy it might save me the task of explaining what it’s about.

Championsville is a place, a small futuristic commmunity to be built in 5 years time. It is owned by us, yes the entire class owns it. I am running a bank and an auditing firm at the same time with two of my classmates who also decided to take up Accountancy. There’s a TV station where those people who’ll be taking up Mass Communication will work. There’s a church where the one who draw it, serves as a pastor. The school will be run by the only girl in class who wants to take up education. A basketball court where the sports guys of the batch will have a league. A hospital where the future nurses will work to be lead by the sole doctor aspirant. A hotel for the future chefs, a port for the sole seaman wanna-be. A plant for the future engineers. An office of no particular nature yet, for the others who haven’t decided yet what to take. Conceited that we are, we named it Championsville ’cause we won the intramurals and field demo championship, we think we rule the school. It’s a well-kept community of highly successful individuals, there is peace and harmony, there is unity, the streets are always full of laughter just like our classroom, but then it’s fictitious, it’s a make believe.

Things were easier before, all we had to do is dream and keep on believing. The worst worries that we have is the next Calculus exam. We were full of hopes, we all thought that life is easy, that maybe someday there will really be a place called “Championsville”.

Now, nearly 8 years has passed what happened to the inhabitants of the blissful community. The accountants turned out to be as accountants, ‘though there were others who weren’t able to append three additional letters to their names but we don’t own a bank neither an auditing firm but we did worked in an auditing firm. The media people, some went to call centers, sell cars, while others to non-technical office jobs, only one was able to get somehow close to the media industry. The pastor wanna be, the one who drawn the picture, I’m not sure, maybe he already is. The only girl who wanted to teach ended up as a nurse instead, she’s registered, one of the only two, I guess. The doctor hopeful turned out to be a registered medical technologist in a call center. As with the basketball players, the team captain is taking up a master’s degree while the others, I don’t know. The future seaman fulfilled his dream, the chef hopefuls, they work in a hotel. The engineers also made their dreams come true.

Some of us succeeded, some did not, maybe most of us didn’t turn out the way we expected them. Championsville remained as a fictitious place but it is where our simple dreams were drawn. Dreams that fueled us, while others may have given up along the way, there are also others who were able to continue the battle. Years had passed, we don’t see each other now, we’ve lost touch, some friends even parted ways while there are also new friendships built but then, who knows maybe someday, we can still turn Championsville into a reality, maybe not exactly as how it was drawn or how we imagined it to be with our young minds, but something more realistic.

“As we go on we’ll remember, all the times we’ve shared together, as our life change, come whatever, we will still be friends forever”

Unfinished

I have a pending draft article in my dashboard, it’s been months since I began writing it but up until now, I can’t finish it, I don’t know how to. The message I am trying to convey through it is simple, in fact I just realized that I already posted an article almost of the same meaning after I started my “unfinished article”, the only difference is the published article seems vague as I was desperately trying to disguise it.

I don’t know if I was able to begin the article right, maybe not. It could be the reason why I can’t finish it. Maybe there are things inside of me that I am trying to hide, afraid that I might reveal it as I continue writing, I don’t know.

All I know is it’s for you, why am I trying to write it, maybe it feels like that if I put it into writing, it’s no longer inside me, it will no longer be painful (for lack of a better term). As I write down the words, I am screaming but only here is cyberspace hitching my wagon in the tiniest bit of hope that you might be able to read it.

Unfinished, that’s how titled this, plain and simple even literal, it’s about an “unfinished article” which means more than just being an unfinished string of words. The article may be very well likened to us, no definite good start, full of words in the middle but the end is yet to be written, something we both don’t know how. Do we really want to finish whatever it is? Well, it might just be a stupid piece of crap created by imaginations but what if it’s more than just that?

Maybe one day, I’ll wake up knowing how to finally finish it, it might need some rewriting ‘though but at least a period in the end is always better than an elipsis.

Just a product of a lazy Friday afternoon in the office while listening to sentimental love songs.

Simple Things

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and for a change I won’t be bitter this time like I did for the past seven years. No, I’m not in love this time, I just want to get rid of some negativities in my system, who knows, Rhonda Byrne’s “The Secret” might work for me on this.

So to greet the love month, let me share one of my favorite love songs which I am hoping to use as my wedding song

Find 7 hearts

SIMPLE THINGS
by Jim Brickman

Hey, time won’t wait
Life goes by
Every day’s a brand new sky
Every tear
Comes to dry
All that really matters in this crazy world
Is you and I together, baby
Just remember

The first leaves off the tree
The way you look at me
A thousand chiming church bells ring
The simple things are free
The sun, the moon, the stars
The beating of two hearts
How I love the simple things
The simple things just are

So here we go
Let’s just dance
Teach my soul to take this chance
Put my heart
In your hands
Out of all the moments that we leave behind
Turn around and tell me baby
We’ll remember

The thunder and the rain
The way you say my name
After all the clouds go by
The simple things remain
The sun, the moon, the stars
The beating of two hearts
How I love the simple things
The simple things just are

Oh, the ocean and the sky
The way we feel tonight
I know that it’s the love that brings
The simple things to life
The sun, the moon, the stars
The beating of two hearts
I love the way the simple things
The simple things just are
I love the way the simple things
The simple things just are
The simple things just are
The simple things
Just are

 

Life is complicated, so they say but may be the truth is “we” make life complicated. The song is every bit true, it’s the simple things that brings us eternal joy, the things which are already there yet we fail to notice. It’s the simple thing called “love” that we tend also to complicate, makes the world go around.

Happy Hearts Day!

Footnote to Cuz

I really feel so old writing this stuff, to think that I’m just 7 years older than you are. The times when I used to read you fairy tales has gone too fast without us noticing. Now, I’m living a reality far from those fairy tales while you’re on a journey of exploration and much idealism, a road which every being must get through.

You’ve got a newly found freedom, you’re away from the over supervising eyes of your parents. You think you’ve grown up and that you can do things on your own. You’re spending much more time with your friends, you love them and trust them.

Don’t get me wrong why I’m writing this, I trust you, you’ve been raised in the comforts of a loving and supportive family, I know values have been instilled very well. I trust you, despite of your young mind filled with idealistic views yet strong convictions, I trust you, it’s the people around you whom I do not. Maybe, you’ll argue that if I truly trust you, I’ll trust the people you trust. I must admit you have a point but one’s judgment is never infalliable no matter how experienced you are. I too at times fail on my judgments towards other people, but then, even people way older than me had lapses at a certain point, how much more the ones made by someone very young. These people whom you call “friends” are surely fun to be with, life becomes more enjoyable with them around, more bearable with them to cry with but sad as it is, while some may be true there are a lot who’ll betray you, some of them might even want to watch you fall right in front of their very eyes. I’m not being cynical here, I’m just trying to show you that reality is far from the fairy tale world that a young mind has created and is now thinking of living it. So before you invest too much on your friends keep in mind that you’re family must come first because they will never leave and will always want what’s best for you.

There are teenage experiences which one must not be deprived of but there is also one thing that each and every teenager must never forget, moderation. Hanging out with friends on weekends, watching movies after exams, outings during semestral breaks are considerably moderate. But the moment it exceeds moderation, that is when things to begin to wander on a different path. While teenage life has its perks of being too old to be young, too young to be old, it is also a stage where one must learn how to take responsibility. And I think a teenager’s biggest responsibility is her studies. I know you’re doing well, I’ve heard that many among your class got failing grades while you manage to pass all your subjects, but I would still like to remind you that the subjects are not getting easier but rather more difficult as you approach your diploma. Furthermore, you’ve got a board exam to take coupled by the fact that such profession needs a license or you can’t practice at all. All work and no play makes us dull but pure play and no work will get us nowhere. There’s time for everything, today is your time to study. May i just reiterate one thing Bob Ong mentioned in one of his books (I know you’re a fan), “dalawang dekada ka lang mag-aaral. kung ‘di mo pagtityagaan, limang dekada ng kahirapan ang kapalit.sobrang lugi. kung alam lang ‘yan ng mga kabataan, sa pananaw ko ehh walang gugustuhing umiwas sa eskwela.” I know I don’t need to explain further.

During our conversations, I often said that I understand your complaints ’bout your parents being too strict but believe I’ve been through worse, even up to now, it feels like my mom is an NBI agent while my dad a guardia civil. But don’t you ever go on a rebellion because in the end it will be your future that will be at stake, trust me no matter how unreasonable they are at times, they just want the best for you.

I know you’re being compared to some people, maybe even to me or to our other cousins, they are not trying to insult you or belittle you, they just want you to see a clearer, better and more realistic picture of what they are trying to point out, and please don’t blame us for that, we didn’t tell them to compare you to us.

As for love, maybe you are in love but don’t hurry, believe time will come you’re preference will change, looks is one thing but there is more to that. And the law of karma is true, you know what I mean, don’t play with them they might be a better player.

I’m not trying to meddle with your life neither am I being self righteous here. I, too have had my own fair share of mishaps and lapses, I just want to help you, make you realize things before it’s too late. Believe me, balance does exist, balance between being a responsible young adult while enjoying life, maybe hard to find or maintain but it does exist.

Let me end this by saying, it was never promised to be easy only worth it and no one gets to achieve something by sheer luck.

Love,

Your once upon a time fave cuz

Certifications and Family

CPA, CIA, MBA, LLB, CISA, CCSA, CFSA, CFC,CMA and a lot more certifications in the field of Accountancy alone. As the world becomes more and more modernized the competition becomes tougher. For one to get hired, you have to compete with a dozen or more applicants. While obtaining a license has almost become a requirement in the field of Accountancy rather than just a better option for its graduates, more Certified Public Accountants don’t stop after obtaining their first license.

I was having an afternoon chit chat with some friends, whom are fellow CPAs, over lunch. The afternoon’s topic was all about either pursuing law to have a good shot at two complicated yet most respected professions or pursuing an MBA for specialization to ace one’s career in climbing the corporate ladder. Obtaining an MBA has always been a part of my plan but then it will require two years at the very least, of going back to school while at the same time, working plus all the travels you have to let go in exchange of working on your thesis ’til the wee hours of the morning. So, I settled first on what I can obtain considering my schedule and resources, that is the CIA. It cost me time, money and effort as well and I’m really glad that it all paid off. Now, I can say that over some other applicants or some other employees, I don’t have just one, I’ve got two. But what struck me during our chit chat was when one of my friends suddenly blurted out in a joking manner, “I’m not anymore dreaming of additional titles or certifications, I’ve only got simple dreams, to marry someone who’s good looking, kind and at the same time rich, and of course to have kids of my own. Those titles and all other sorts of recognition can be easily achieved, all I need to do is study but to find the “guy” I just described is really difficult.” All of us burst into laughter and I think I’m speaking for all the other girls, that she really has a very good point. Studying may cost you time, effort and money ‘though of course you’ll gain something of value such as a sense of self-respect and personal achievement or more practically, money and power. But it can’t assure you that you’ll have a very good family life which as we all know, at the end of the day it’s your family that matters the most. Funny that some practical yet meaningful realizations spring out from a well timed intellectual joke.

I’m not saying that I’m crossing out MBA degree and additional certifications in my plan, I’m still sticking to it. But I just realized that there are a lot more important things than academic achievements, some of us spent a lifetime pursuit towards finding it, while others are blessed enough to spot it and have it early on. To those who are fulfilled in their career but has lost the chance of having a family of your own, don’t feel bad at least you still have something in your hands that others can’t take away. To those happily married with lovely kids may things remain that way, may your family stay intact. To those who have both, may you not forget to be humble and thank God everyday. To those who have neither, maybe it’s time for you to move.

Compared to having an almost perfect family life certifications are more achievable, so for now I’m choosing the more certain thing while hoping and praying to have the best of both worlds, after all having excellence in one’s profession and a blessed family life is not mutually exclusive.

Declaration of Principles by Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho is one of my favorite authors because his words inspire me, make me realize a lot of things and reflect on the things I’ve done and what I want to do. So, let me share here with you 15 Principles which I believe will also inspire you

1] All men are different. And should do everything possible to continue to be so.

2] Each human being has been granted two courses of action: that of deed and that of contemplation. Both lead to the same place.

3] Each human being has been granted two qualities: power and gift. Power drives man to meet his destiny, his gift obliges him to share with others that which is good in him. A man must know when to use his power, and when to use his gift.

4] Each human being has been granted a virtue: the capacity to choose. For he who does not use this virtue, it becomes a curse – and others will always choose for him.

5] Each human being has the right to two blessings, which are: the blessing to do right, and the blessing to err. In the latter case, there is always a path of learning leading to the right way.

6] Each human being has his own sexual profile, and should exercise it without guilt – provided he does not oblige others to exercise it with him.

7] Each human being has his own Personal Legend to be fulfilled, and this is the reason he is in the world. The Personal Legend is manifest in his enthusiasm for what he does.
Single paragraph – the Personal Legend may be abandoned for a certain time, provided one does not forget it and returns as soon as possible.

8] Each man has a feminine side, and each woman has a masculine side. It is necessary to use discipline with intuition, and to use intuition objectively.

9] Each human being must know two languages: the language of society and the language of the omens. The first serves for communication with others. The second serves to interpret messages from God.

10] Each human being has the right to seek out joy, joy being understood as something which makes one content – not necessarily that which makes others content.

11] Each human being must keep alight within him the sacred flame of madness. And must behave like a normal person.

12] The only faults considered grave are the following: not respecting the rights of one’s neighbor, letting oneself be paralyzed by fear, feeling guilty, thinking one does not deserve the good and bad which occurs in life, and being a coward.
Paragraph 1 – we shall love our adversaries, but not make alliances with them. They are placed in our way to test our sword, and deserve the respect of our fight.
Paragraph 2 – we shall choose our adversaries, not the other way around.

12A] We hereby declare the end to the wall dividing the sacred from the profane: from now on, all is sacred.

14] Everything which is done in the present, affects the future by consequence, and the past by redemption.

15] Dispensations to the contrary are herewith revoked.

Have a blessed life

Meant

I know very well how you feel,
I understand.
But what shall I do?
Stop from making my dreams come true?
It’s not what you chose to feel…
Whenever the reality kicks in,
The reality that’s adding distance between us.
What hurts the most…
Is knowing that you can do something,
Yet you just sit down there and do nothing.
Do nothing to bridge the distance,
I know you’re immensing yourself to a noble cause,
Something we ought to be proud.
I’m not asking you to choose…
For I can feel you’ve already made a choice.
Choosing to break the barriers
Will not mean that you’ll serve Him less.
If this is the road you chose to take,
I’m afraid I can’t follow you.
Maybe that’s how things are supposed to be…
We’re just meant to meet…
But not to last.
Yet, I thank you,
Thank you for lingering in my thoughts…
It keeps me company as I wander alone.
If that is how it was written…
Then, let it be…

Predicting the Future

The New Year has just begun and Chinese New Year is fast approaching. As expected, predictions and fortune tellings will soon abound everywhere. I also browse the net and watch talk shows to listen to the predictions for the year ahead but honestly, it doesn’t really get into my head.

2006 was a make or break year for me, I was scheduled to graduate in college and take the board exams. So I really was interested on the predictions for those born under the Ox sign. 2006 was a year of the dog and most if not all the websites, fortune tellers and astrologers are saying that it wouldn’t be a great year for people born under my animal sign. I got a bit nervous the first time I heard of that not-so-good prediction but then again I realize, I’m not the only one born under the sign of the Ox who’s scheduled to graduate and take the board exams, most of my batchmates are, does that mean that we’ll defer graduation or fail the board exam? Of course not. Those people who can predict the future may be great but they can’t affect us.

As it turns out, I graduated as scheduled and passed the board exams on the same year, I was also gainfully employed before celebrating my 21st birthday, who says I’ll be unlucky? Maybe, yah right, I’m not lucky ’cause I’m blessed.

Predictions and fortune telling has become a part of our lives since the ancient times but then, there are greater powers, the powers that we possess and the Divine Intervention of God Almighty.

If it is predicted that we’ll be lucky for the year ahead then, let’s thank God and pray for it to come true. If not, then let’s pray for God’s guidance and protection. No matter what, let’s work hard and keep the faith, after all no one gets to achieve something great by sheer luck.

A Blessed year to all

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2-0-0-9

It’s been 6 days since we bid goodbye to 2009, but it’s never too late to reminisce what’s so great and what’s not so great ’bout the year that passed.

2009 was indeed remarkable for me in terms of travelling,I think I’ve been to a lot of places more than ever. I enjoyed the cold breeze of Baguio in February, did some stargazing while lying in the shores of Puerto Galera last March, enjoyed the sand between my toes and had more than enough sea water in Coron, Palawan for April. Summer continued ’til May as I bonded with my family at 8 Waves Waterpark in Bulacan and finally June came, I had my first out of the country travel in Malaysia. And lastly, how can I forget our stormy Iloilo trip in July. It has been a year full of travels, one of things I love the most, it makes me feel relaxed, I really enjoy discovering new places and of course taking pictures. It may really be expensive but it’s all worth it, so for 2010, I’m hoping to travel more.

As for celebrations, my grandparents celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary last year, it really was a remarkable event for the entire family. We all did our best to make the celebration truly special. My brother celebrated his 21st birthday this year, it was a simple celebration but it really was a joyous one. Also, I got another certification this year, after almost a year of procrastinating ang waiting for my permit, I finally took the exams before I turned 24. And of course, I think the birth of this blog is worth celebrating, it was May 24 when I did my first blog entry here and so far, this has been the most updated of all the blogs I ever started and of course the most posts and surprisingly, the most hits, thanks to everyone who found this blog worthy of their time.

But of course, life happens, things aren’t always in perfect shape. Ondoy and Pepeng hit the country, while our place wasn’t directly affected we didn’t escape nature’s wrath, we were forced to say goodbye to our car. Yes, we were able to replace it but the loss was really felt, our family had to defer some plans and made some sacrifices alongside. Also, my grandfather suffered an accident, we were really sad about it, thank God ’cause he’s now okay, his recovery was really fast. And as you might have read on my previous posts, I was really sad for my career this year. I’ve been looking for a job, I got hired but then I rejected the offer for some reasons. I just hope that things will change favorably this 2010. Love life? What’s that? Seriously, nothing changed, could have beens remained as could have beens, not that I’m complaining Some people stir up things for a while but I decided to “again” drive them away, as I always did, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. As for Finances, it was a bit better except for that undispensed BDO cash which is still unsettled up to this day. I was able to minimize my shopping a bit but all went to travel, I guess.

Friendships were also rekindled this year, we had an unofficial high school reunion, too bad not so many were able to come. Let’s have another one this year, HS peeps, hopin’ for a better attendance. As for my college friends, we managed to have dinner every now and then, I was with them for my Puerto Galera trip. As for my SGV friends, I’m happy that ‘though we are not working in the same office anymore, we still travel together, so out once in a while and celebrate our birthdays with each other.

My family is still intact as it always was, I’m still close to all my mom, dad and three siblings. It’s good that my grandfather isn’t complaining much of his illness this year. I’m also happy that my cousin decided to go back to his wife but I’m sad that there is another one who ended her marriage. Also, thanks to facebook and text messaging, I’m closer to “some” of my cousins now. But then again, nothing is perfect, there are some whom I’ll just forgive ‘though there are no apologies.

2009 made me realize a lot of things, that Acceptance is the key to happiness most of the time. Accept that you are not the center of universe, things won’t always go your way. Accept that people come and go, people change, accept others as they are so that you’ll also be accepted. Most especially, Accept the things you can’t change, easier sadi than done. I also realized that every day we must alwasys be thankful and look at the bright side of life, no matter how tough it becomes. Inequalities and the state of being unfair is often times necessary in life, it was never promised to be easy, only worth it.

The 365 days of 2009 is too much to sum up in just a single blog entry especially for someone like me who is prone to over thinking leading me to numerous realizations in just one day. No matter what, we should all be thankful for the days of 2009.

“Lord, thank you for 2009. Thank you for allowing us to discover more of your creations by visiting different places. Thank you for the gift of family, friendship and career. Thank you Lord, for always guiding us, no matter what. Thank you Lord, for giving us 2010 to look forward to.
Amen”