kaya ayaw ko sa anti planking law.
conversations with myself - i drive myself crazy
before 2008, i was a commuter. i learned to commute when i was in high school, whenever i had to stay late in school and the school bus could not wait for me, which rarely happened. i took the LRT, rode jeeps and tricycles to get home. when i got to college, i rode the bus to UP diliman (the MRT did not exist yet) every morning at 6am during my freshman year. later on i rode with friends, paying for my share of the gas, but if i had to stay late in school, i commuted on the way home.
when i got to law school, they were already building the skyway, and traffic was horrible on SLEX, so my parents put me up in a boarding house for two semesters, and i went home only on the week ends, when my dad would pick me up every friday. when i transferred to another school to continue my studies i commuted again, sometimes in the wee hours of the morning, because my classes ended at around 9pm and i had other activities in school, so sometimes i would get home by 11pm. most of the time, though, i would commute only until taft avenue/vito cruz, since i could hitch a ride with my siblings who were studying in that area.
i took up driving lessons in 1999, during my second year in law school. it was a 5-hour course, spread over 5 saturdays, and it was offered by socialite driving institute. my mom said it was the best driving school there was, and she had taken lessons there as well. i first drove a toyota (i think it was a toyota), manual transmission, and the instructor led me through BF homes, exiting to CAA and the alabang-zapote road. after the course, they helped me get my driver's license, which had been used only as a means of identification and was not renewed on time, until 2008.
even after i had been issued a driver's license, i refused to drive any of our vehicles. my usual excuse was that i didn't have any car to drive, since my dad, mom and brother drove all our cars. then my brother left, and my sister learned to drive and started taking the car to work, so i was left again as the commuter in the family. at least, i reasoned, i was an expert commuter, who knew what jeeps/buses/trains to take, and how to avoid attracting undue attention. in short, i was the only one in the family who would qualify as a street-smart commuter (i think).
then my sister left. there was no more excuse for me not to drive, since i could choose which car to drive. but i still resisted.
so what happened?
one fateful night in 2008, my parents were not in the country, and the rain was falling hard. i had already missed my class in graduate school because i could not commute in the rain. but i had to get to work, and i could not use the excuse that it was raining. so i rode the tricycle, got so freaking wet, and thought of how pathetic i was that i could not drive a car when i had a license and i had a car to drive.
at that time, my driver's license had expired on my birthday, so when i had resolved to drive no matter what, i renewed it 2 months later, and paid the penalty for late renewal. and then i took the chance by taking out the car from the garage and driving to work. and i have been driving ever since.
when i got to law school, they were already building the skyway, and traffic was horrible on SLEX, so my parents put me up in a boarding house for two semesters, and i went home only on the week ends, when my dad would pick me up every friday. when i transferred to another school to continue my studies i commuted again, sometimes in the wee hours of the morning, because my classes ended at around 9pm and i had other activities in school, so sometimes i would get home by 11pm. most of the time, though, i would commute only until taft avenue/vito cruz, since i could hitch a ride with my siblings who were studying in that area.
i took up driving lessons in 1999, during my second year in law school. it was a 5-hour course, spread over 5 saturdays, and it was offered by socialite driving institute. my mom said it was the best driving school there was, and she had taken lessons there as well. i first drove a toyota (i think it was a toyota), manual transmission, and the instructor led me through BF homes, exiting to CAA and the alabang-zapote road. after the course, they helped me get my driver's license, which had been used only as a means of identification and was not renewed on time, until 2008.
even after i had been issued a driver's license, i refused to drive any of our vehicles. my usual excuse was that i didn't have any car to drive, since my dad, mom and brother drove all our cars. then my brother left, and my sister learned to drive and started taking the car to work, so i was left again as the commuter in the family. at least, i reasoned, i was an expert commuter, who knew what jeeps/buses/trains to take, and how to avoid attracting undue attention. in short, i was the only one in the family who would qualify as a street-smart commuter (i think).
then my sister left. there was no more excuse for me not to drive, since i could choose which car to drive. but i still resisted.
so what happened?
one fateful night in 2008, my parents were not in the country, and the rain was falling hard. i had already missed my class in graduate school because i could not commute in the rain. but i had to get to work, and i could not use the excuse that it was raining. so i rode the tricycle, got so freaking wet, and thought of how pathetic i was that i could not drive a car when i had a license and i had a car to drive.
at that time, my driver's license had expired on my birthday, so when i had resolved to drive no matter what, i renewed it 2 months later, and paid the penalty for late renewal. and then i took the chance by taking out the car from the garage and driving to work. and i have been driving ever since.
conversations with myself -- an introduction
finally, i can start the long-awaited series that i've been planning. no, not a telenovela (although who knows), nor something monumental as LOTR or the HP series (again, who knows). this is something more...realistic, and something i can write about since i do it everyday.
yes. i have conversations with myself. it started when i was stuck in traffic, i don't remember when, and i started answering questions that my head threw at me, and answering them out loud. it made for good self discovery, and provided material for the essay(s)/blog entries/short stories i was planning to write but never got around to doing so. until now. i also planned to write everything out in longhand, but my brain worked faster than my fingers could write my thoughts down. besides, i worked on computers and laptops for so long now that my fingers are actually less adept at writing longhand and more excited to tap away at keyboards.
of course there are some things that i cannot write about in a blog, so i still maintain a private journal, written in longhand with penmanship that was honed by years of classes at st scho manila, and then further maintained in law school, because good penmanship was an unspoken prerequisite for the bar exam.
wow. just introducing the planned series is already a blog entry in itself.
what am i aiming for, with this series? well, i just want to write what i think. there's just too much information running in my mind right now that i grow tired even when i'm not really doing anything. also, there's the added bonus of self-discovery. i never thought i had a pretty much busy life, even though i rarely go out except to go to work, go to church and go to the bank and the grocery store.
there are also realizations about the world i live in, and the people and things and events around me. although i wasn't living in a cocoon all my life, there are some things that, from a third party point of view, may have been different if things were or weren't done.
and of course, this series could be my chance to (a) become a published writer, (b) join the palanca awards, and/or (c) find something to enhance the talents given to me. (C) sounds feasible, but (a) and (b), who knows. :)
yes. i have conversations with myself. it started when i was stuck in traffic, i don't remember when, and i started answering questions that my head threw at me, and answering them out loud. it made for good self discovery, and provided material for the essay(s)/blog entries/short stories i was planning to write but never got around to doing so. until now. i also planned to write everything out in longhand, but my brain worked faster than my fingers could write my thoughts down. besides, i worked on computers and laptops for so long now that my fingers are actually less adept at writing longhand and more excited to tap away at keyboards.
of course there are some things that i cannot write about in a blog, so i still maintain a private journal, written in longhand with penmanship that was honed by years of classes at st scho manila, and then further maintained in law school, because good penmanship was an unspoken prerequisite for the bar exam.
wow. just introducing the planned series is already a blog entry in itself.
what am i aiming for, with this series? well, i just want to write what i think. there's just too much information running in my mind right now that i grow tired even when i'm not really doing anything. also, there's the added bonus of self-discovery. i never thought i had a pretty much busy life, even though i rarely go out except to go to work, go to church and go to the bank and the grocery store.
there are also realizations about the world i live in, and the people and things and events around me. although i wasn't living in a cocoon all my life, there are some things that, from a third party point of view, may have been different if things were or weren't done.
and of course, this series could be my chance to (a) become a published writer, (b) join the palanca awards, and/or (c) find something to enhance the talents given to me. (C) sounds feasible, but (a) and (b), who knows. :)
i'm baaacccckkk!!!
this is the rebirth of my blog. haha. i hope i get to update it as regularly as possible (meaning on the week ends). this can be the repository of essays that hopefully will make up a book. or whatever. this is not a journal. it's going to be a series of essays.
later!
later!
five things i learned from dad
5 things I learned from Dad
Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano on dad, Danao City Mayor Ramon D. Durano III
1. Prayers inspire solution to all problems.
2. Compartmentalize one’s concerns.
3. Importance of temporary escapes
4. The joy of running (the sport)
5. Politics as vocation
Beauty editor Agoo Bengzon on dad, retired Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna
1. Pursue your passions – no matter how late in life. My dad took piano, cooking and singing lessons in his 60s!
2. Always be humble. My dad is probably one of the most intelligent and accomplished men on the planet, and yet he has never bragged about it. He lets his children do that for him. Haha!
3. Show your love. From childhood all the way to my adult life, my dad would always give me a card with a personal message on my birthday and on Christmas day. This thoughtful gesture always made me feel loved and appreciated.
4. To be safe is better than to be sorry. He has been touted as “Mr. Safety Sam.” You should see his face when my boys start jumping on the bed. For the first few seconds, he’ll pretend to be amused, then later on he’ll say: “O, tama na. Tama na…”
5. Give thanks to God. Can you believe my dad has been completing Simbang Gabi for the past three or four years (or more)? I myself have never been able to do that! He has also never missed Sunday Mass no matter how sick he may feel or how late in the day it might be.
BBC World news anchor Rico Hizon on dad, businessman and real estate consultant Jose S. Hizon
1. Always be patient. Never lose your cool. He always tells me “Talo ang pikon.”
2. My dad has always stressed hard work, honesty, integrity and a don’t-worry-be-happy attitude in the workplace. He said if you embrace these values and virtues, you will gain the respect of colleagues, achieve your career goals and have a stress-free work day.
3. Never lose faith in God. Our Father in heaven will always be by your side.
4. Do not live beyond your means. Set aside money for the rainy day. Make wise investments.
5. Give back and share with our less fortunate brothers and sisters. What I learned from my dad I would also like to pass on to my son Migo.
Cinderella’s VP for merchandising Richard Coronel Santos on dad, businessman Al Santos
1. He taught me to be a good leader, a good businessman, a good brother, a good son, and a good Atenean.
2. He introduced me to sports at a very early age. Because of this, I became a champion in jet ski, basketball, soccer and golf. Hence, I was able to be part of the Philippine teams in soccer and jet ski that competed in Europe and the US.
3. He taught me to be a gentleman and to treat women well.
4. He taught me not to get into any vice like drugs, alcohol and gambling.
5. He taught me to be God-fearing, to love God above all, and to do everything for the greater glory of God.
Actress Chin-Chin Gutierrez on dad, Dr. Hermes Gutierrez, botanist, taxonomist and author of “Materia Medica”
1. I learned so much from his paradoxical nature: He is open-minded yet cherishes independent thought, free-spirited yet keeps the discipline of a scientist even outside the laboratory.
2. Respect for space: He created a big space for all of us by forming little corners of his “paraphernalia” in the bedroom and his “concoctions” in the kitchen, then told us we can have all the space from floor to ceiling, just leave Papa’s corner as it is.
3. He would always pull our attention to his trained scientific way of objective inquiry, which in the long run, allows for an open and non-judgmental attitude.
4. In the ’70s, he was already advocating for our forests and ecosystems, witnessing a paradise on the brink of collapse. Impassioned, he used to tell us: “Let them do their politics, I have to do my science for the poor!” This taught me that knowledge is empowering as long as it is applied in light of compassion for every creature’s good.
5. In a natural way and by example, my father taught me how to understand and manage life’s challenges, what it takes to sincerely respect and express genuine concern for the environment – man and nature, and that beyond our profession and talent, God has a special vocation for each of us to fulfill.
Travelife magazine editor in chief Liza Ilarde, on dad, Eddie Ilarde, former senator, television institution, and radio host of “Kahapon Lamang” on dzBB
1. Always be on time. I may be late for work or for press cons, but I try my best to be on time for flights, shoots, meetings and sit-down dinners – and I call or text if I’ll be late. My dad is always at least 30 minutes early for anything!
2. Always lock your door. Ever since we were kids, my dad has taught us to be security-conscious and aware of our surroundings. Unfortunately, it’s made me very paranoid!
3. Take care of your mom. When I was younger, my dad would always make me accompany my mother everywhere. That can be a drag when you’re a kid because you’d rather be with friends. Now that I’m older, I quite like hanging out with my mom.
4. Don’t let anyone push you around. Sometimes this can get you into trouble when you speak your mind or demand things you feel you deserve or have a right to. So sometimes, if it’s no big deal, I try to be cool and just let it be – up to a point.
5. Try it, you might like it. My dad loves to cook, so we are always obliged to eat – or at least try – what he cooks. I have tried to apply this to other areas of my life.
Supermodel Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez on dad, Modesto David de Leon, who “lived a life of extreme simplicity, modesty and humility ’til age 67. He would have been 84 last June 15.”
1. Living simply and honestly will allow you a restful night.
2. There is nothing wrong with admitting you are wrong.
3. To raise a conscientious and responsible child requires great trust.
4. Arrogance has no place in the home, only kindness and humility.
5. Everyone is deserving of respect – young, old, men, women, rich, poor, dogs, cats.
Entrepreneur Ingrid Chua-Go on dad, Benjamin Chua Jr., banker and director of Metrobank until his passing in May 2002
1. Always be honest and fair to everyone and in everything you do.
2. Never, ever fight with family over money.
3. Be grateful for all your blessings.
4. Share your blessings with the less fortunate.
5. Remain humble even if you’ve “achieved” success.
PBA cager Gec Chia on dad, businessman George Chia
1. I learned that great actions speak of great minds. While I was growing up, my dad would always remind me that education would be his greatest gift to me. Now that I am older, I realize the importance and power of education and knowledge.
2. My dad taught me to laugh and enjoy life. After all, life is short.
3. I have realized from him the importance of perseverance. He has instilled in me, through his words and examples, to never give up on anything. I believe that hard work and determination play a major role in one’s success.
4. I learned to always listen to my instincts and to stick to my principles. I will sleep better at night doing so.
5. I learned never to regret my decisions, to only learn from my experiences, live and enjoy the present, and plan and look forward to the future.
Events director Jackie Aquino on dad, retired Philippine Air Force General Ernesto A. Aquino
1. Forgiveness. Despite everything I have done to hurt him when I was going through a dark period, he never said anything. Now I realize the meaning of that saying: Forgiveness is a responsibility and not an emotion.
2. Any goal will mean more to you if you know you really worked hard for it, not because you had connections to get it done.
3. No amount of success will compensate for failure in the home.
4. The truth is still your best ally.
5. You can do anything you want but you also need to know your limits.
“Urban Zone” host Daphne Oseña-Paez and her siblings Cyrus, Johanna and Pauline on their dad, former diplomat and retired Philippine Air Force Colonel Delio Oseña
1. We learned the value of integrity and of living with a clear conscience. My brother adds, “even though my head is kicking my buttocks throughout and my wallet is not as thick as others.’” My dad, a former military pilot for President Marcos, held the position of comptroller of the Presidential Special Mission Wing. We had one secondhand car during his entire career and no hidden wealth to speak of.
2. He told all of us to always be generous to people in need who gather courage to ask for help. To treat everyone with respect no matter who they are. My dad took care of the soldiers who worked under his leadership. And because of his example, I am always conscious of taking care of our staff – at home and at work.
3. Know a bit of something about everything, just in case you find yourself sitting at dinner either with a head of state or the humblest of people. To this day, my dad can discuss anything with anyone, from headlines and world issues to P. Diddy and Judy Ann’s wedding. This is something that has come in handy in my work.
4. “When you run out of fingers, count your toes.” This was the lesson he taught my sister Johanna while tutoring her in Math. For us, this means if you run into a stumbling block, go and find another way.
5. “When entering a new space/place, always look for the nearest emergency exit.” This is something Pauline and I take to heart – and it applies to physical rooms and career plans. My dad has the best survival skills. Because of this lesson, not only am I security/safety-conscious, I also always have a back-up plan for my career and little enterprises.
********
here's my own 5 things i learned from my daddy.
1) education is important. my dad was a working student during his college years. he sold pandesal, worked at construction sites, and became a proofreader at a printing shop, because he needed to. one of his uncles supported his education, but he had to find a way to support his everyday expenses. finishing school for him was a way out of poverty.
2) age is just a number. my dad is 67, but he still finishes the crossword puzzle everyday, does consultation work for the company he used to be connected with, drives a manual vehicle, walks the dog everyday, feeds the cats, trims the trees, fixes the roof, checks the plumbing and electrical connections, and travels every other week to the province. and he is the president-elect for rotary year 2010-2011. no idle time for him, that's my dad. and did i mention that most of my friends think that he's just 53 years old? :)
3) never forget to pray. my parents have made God the center of their lives. they pray together every morning and go to church together on weekdays and sundays. and they have passed on that same faith to us, their children, so that no matter how busy we are, no matter where we are in the world, no matter how hard or easy our lives are, we must always look to God for guidance, protection and strength.
4) always be on time. my dad is a stickler for punctuality. he'd rather be early than late for anything. i think i got that trait from him, because i hate being late.
5) take time to look back at how you've lived your life, so you can remain humble and be thankful for where you are now.
father's day, etc.
another father's day has come and gone. dad and i went to mass today at 8:30am, one of those very few week ends that either he or mom or both of them are home.
i'm not thinking it's a bad thing. i understand why they have to go to the province on week ends. they have their projects for the rotary club, and the house they're building on the lot where my grandparents' house once stood and where i spent a lot of my childhood summers. i understand why they have to be there, because no one else can do what they do -- lead the club, promote the projects, watch over the construction. i've learned to spend week ends alone at home most of the time. well, not saturdays because now i have school on saturday afternoons. sundays are the lonely days.
i don't know what the point of this post is. maybe i just wanted to update my blog, considering that the last entry was written almost a month ago. i've been busy with work, adjusting to the new schedule (3pm-12midnight), and coming home to sleep.
and then there's school, which started for me two saturdays ago. i'm taking the last 2 core subjects on the curriculum, then i'm thinking of taking my electives and the last subject (business policy) over the next 2 terms. then i think of whether to pursue a second master's degree in public administration, or go for the thesis for my MBA and then go on to the DBA program. i still don't know what electives to take, because i can only go to school on saturdays and i have to consider what subjects are available.
or i'm thinking, go on LOA for a couple of terms from school, go to the states for a 3-week vacation, visit my siblings and their families, and then come back and enrol again. that depends on the budget, though. even with the A(H1N1) virus, travelling isn't cheap.
i have too many options to think about right now.
see. the title of the post has nothing to do with most of this entry. oh, well.
i'm not thinking it's a bad thing. i understand why they have to go to the province on week ends. they have their projects for the rotary club, and the house they're building on the lot where my grandparents' house once stood and where i spent a lot of my childhood summers. i understand why they have to be there, because no one else can do what they do -- lead the club, promote the projects, watch over the construction. i've learned to spend week ends alone at home most of the time. well, not saturdays because now i have school on saturday afternoons. sundays are the lonely days.
i don't know what the point of this post is. maybe i just wanted to update my blog, considering that the last entry was written almost a month ago. i've been busy with work, adjusting to the new schedule (3pm-12midnight), and coming home to sleep.
and then there's school, which started for me two saturdays ago. i'm taking the last 2 core subjects on the curriculum, then i'm thinking of taking my electives and the last subject (business policy) over the next 2 terms. then i think of whether to pursue a second master's degree in public administration, or go for the thesis for my MBA and then go on to the DBA program. i still don't know what electives to take, because i can only go to school on saturdays and i have to consider what subjects are available.
or i'm thinking, go on LOA for a couple of terms from school, go to the states for a 3-week vacation, visit my siblings and their families, and then come back and enrol again. that depends on the budget, though. even with the A(H1N1) virus, travelling isn't cheap.
i have too many options to think about right now.
see. the title of the post has nothing to do with most of this entry. oh, well.
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