Emer Jacinto, soul friend of many, barely 50, died at Peak 2 of a heart attack last Tuesday. His body was carried bayanihan style, down the mountain amidst the sunset till the slopes lay pitch black by 50 or more residents living in Mount Makiling. All were mourning, men, women and children.
Emer Jacinto was not your average mountain climber enthusiast. Since the late 70’s as a student leader, he embraced environmental causes, took to heart and soul the plight of the ordinary mountain dwellers and all other farmer groups around Laguna, surrounding the Mountain Goddess Makiling. So passionate that he took the rough road of being an environmental advocate, a people’s worker, risking life, sacrificing an easy life that most UP graduates would enjoy. And the residents of Bagong Silang, Mt. Makiling mourned for the loss of their hero. We mourned for the loss of a friend.
Emer Jacinto was cremated today, a day before Mother’s Day. He has journeyed to the Light, with a last stop over at Peak 2, his favorite sanctuary. Makes me look to Makiling and promise that tomorrow, I will celebrate the Mother’s Day for Mother Earth. Shalom Emer, Warrior of the Light.
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The Barker as Phenomenon
At almost every jeepney stop, there's a barker. A barker is someone who stands like a town crier to inform people where the jeepney is going, how many more seats are available and sometimes a funny joke or two. As soon as the jeepney is full, the driver gives the barker five pesos or more. Some jeepney drivers manage to 'get away' before the barker gets to extend their open palms to his face but that would bring in curses flying in the air.
Yes they can be helpful but most of the time they suck. Barkers seem helpful but they come with a price. Barkers who wait at the provincial bus stop at the Magallanes station ask for concierge tips whether you like it or not, if they get you on a taxi cab that's not waiting in line.
Barkers get in the way. They, among other street mess, block the walk ways and it's just makes walking the streets harder than it is. Some barkers are disrespectful. They would really try hard to get attention to the point of pissing you off. "hell I'm not going to guadalupe!!!"
Terrible time when a group of barkers get together. They piose themselves like gang members blocking the pavements, talking louder than they should, laughing like they own the street and enjoying the attention.
We're the only country with jeepneys. I wonder if we're the only country with barkers as a profession. Are we so illiterate that we need shepherd dogs to herd us to the proper jeepney line? Are we so illiterate that we can't get the jobs we want or there's no jobs available period. Are we just so theatrical by nature that we enjoy performing in front of crowds.
I guess our leaders don't understand this because they don't ride the jeepneys anymore.
Yes they can be helpful but most of the time they suck. Barkers seem helpful but they come with a price. Barkers who wait at the provincial bus stop at the Magallanes station ask for concierge tips whether you like it or not, if they get you on a taxi cab that's not waiting in line.
Barkers get in the way. They, among other street mess, block the walk ways and it's just makes walking the streets harder than it is. Some barkers are disrespectful. They would really try hard to get attention to the point of pissing you off. "hell I'm not going to guadalupe!!!"
Terrible time when a group of barkers get together. They piose themselves like gang members blocking the pavements, talking louder than they should, laughing like they own the street and enjoying the attention.
We're the only country with jeepneys. I wonder if we're the only country with barkers as a profession. Are we so illiterate that we need shepherd dogs to herd us to the proper jeepney line? Are we so illiterate that we can't get the jobs we want or there's no jobs available period. Are we just so theatrical by nature that we enjoy performing in front of crowds.
I guess our leaders don't understand this because they don't ride the jeepneys anymore.
Monday, February 14, 2011
'Work Ahead
This year turned out to be a truly better one compared to the year of the Tiger. I dare not to go back to 2010. Last year started with high energies but like a candle in the wind, I simply ran out of air, literally and figuratively.
But this year started promising. There is work Ahead, literaly and figuratively. But my mindset this year will just be a day at a time. Trusting the universe is the very lesson of the year last year. I'd rather trust the universe now than go back to the sewers only to become a phoenix rising. Not a really great experience to repeat.
But all is moving and that's the best thing about life ahead! I'm excited again, passionate again to move and live!
But this year started promising. There is work Ahead, literaly and figuratively. But my mindset this year will just be a day at a time. Trusting the universe is the very lesson of the year last year. I'd rather trust the universe now than go back to the sewers only to become a phoenix rising. Not a really great experience to repeat.
But all is moving and that's the best thing about life ahead! I'm excited again, passionate again to move and live!
Saturday, February 06, 2010
The Sun that would not Set
Having lunch at Paete, Laguna with my high school batchmates, we found ourselves tinkering on the idea of the Manila Peninsula Sun Chandelier in between bites of lechon kawali bathed in Deanna's crispy pata sauce concoction. Imagine a Babaylan Sun big enough to upstage the cold steel trusses of the STC HS Covered Court. Reena drew it, we saw it. How can you go wrong with architects and engineers and secretary of Vice Mayors collaborating on the material for a kite like THING. We were worried the kite-like sun might be so light that wind might blow it away. Little did we know, unaware of the challenge that lay before us, the sun was to become a 4 plywood THING with six feet of bamboo rays clad in colored textile blanket stitched by ladies in waiting turned couturiers, found itself finally in the middle of the stage with all its splendor and glory. Beware of what you wish for, it can very well wish you back ten folds! This unforgettable experience was brought to you by STC QC Batch 85!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Stop Smoking
Top five reasons to stop smoking:
1. Living healthy. Studies on nicotine addiction continue to affirm the harmful effects that smoking can bring to a healthy body. From lips to teeth to throat and lungs, nicotine cause damage to these body parts especially with prolonged use. Other smokers even develop yellow fingers due to prolonged holding of the smoking stick. The decision to stop smoking is a decision to protect the body from ailments caused by nicotine addiction.
2. Allowing loved ones to live healthy. Second hand smokers have suffered from the bad effects of smoking. If the smoker does not value his own health, his decision to quit smoking will help household or officemates keep a healthy well-being.
3. Saves money. A pack of cigarettes a day when summed into a year would equal to fairly large amount of money. If one stops smoking, the money saved from buying cigarettes can buy a week’s vacation.
4. Become free from the cigarette addiction. Nicotine addiction controls the smoker’s life. Cravings for a smoke come in at least ten times in a day. Once the cravings come in, the smoker’s life and activities comes to a halt and all he can think about is how to serve that craving or else get out of his mind. This could be annoying for loved ones and non-smoking office mates because their lives comes to a halt as well. To quit smoking shows compassion and respect to other’s well-being and time.
5. Die healthy. The thought of dying in a hospital is scary. One reason to quit smoking is lessening the possibility of having cancer and other ill-fated disease that would surely make one suffer doctor’s experimental cures. Smoking does not bring anything but pleasure to the smoker. Too much of anything ends up fatal. Good thing that the addiction to nicotine is reversible. While there’s no lung transplant available, it’s best to stop smoking and die peacefully healthy in old age.
1. Living healthy. Studies on nicotine addiction continue to affirm the harmful effects that smoking can bring to a healthy body. From lips to teeth to throat and lungs, nicotine cause damage to these body parts especially with prolonged use. Other smokers even develop yellow fingers due to prolonged holding of the smoking stick. The decision to stop smoking is a decision to protect the body from ailments caused by nicotine addiction.
2. Allowing loved ones to live healthy. Second hand smokers have suffered from the bad effects of smoking. If the smoker does not value his own health, his decision to quit smoking will help household or officemates keep a healthy well-being.
3. Saves money. A pack of cigarettes a day when summed into a year would equal to fairly large amount of money. If one stops smoking, the money saved from buying cigarettes can buy a week’s vacation.
4. Become free from the cigarette addiction. Nicotine addiction controls the smoker’s life. Cravings for a smoke come in at least ten times in a day. Once the cravings come in, the smoker’s life and activities comes to a halt and all he can think about is how to serve that craving or else get out of his mind. This could be annoying for loved ones and non-smoking office mates because their lives comes to a halt as well. To quit smoking shows compassion and respect to other’s well-being and time.
5. Die healthy. The thought of dying in a hospital is scary. One reason to quit smoking is lessening the possibility of having cancer and other ill-fated disease that would surely make one suffer doctor’s experimental cures. Smoking does not bring anything but pleasure to the smoker. Too much of anything ends up fatal. Good thing that the addiction to nicotine is reversible. While there’s no lung transplant available, it’s best to stop smoking and die peacefully healthy in old age.
Sample Article Stop Smoking
The Cold Turkey
Bernardo Bernardo is a forty something tax collector who decided to quit smoking. There are a million and one reasons to quit smoking but there’s just one thing that bothers each and every Marlboro man out there thinking of stopping the habit: How to quit smoking easily. Bernardo Bernardo is one of those puffing souls who needed to quit smoking easily because he doesn’t want another hard work on top of his tough eighteen-hour daily routine.
Doctors consider cold turkey as the best way on how to quit smoking easily. Cold turkey is an easy advice because there are no gadgets involved, no smoking down routines, no buddy system support group clubs, and no one to blame if you fail except you. Bernardo tried the cold turkey and failed a million and one times.
There is still hope though on how to quit smoking easily without adding frustration and depression that’s usually packaged with the decision to stop the fatal habit. One way to quit smoking easily is to fool the mind for twenty-two days that smoking is not allowed in your home, workplace or bathroom. Anything done daily for twenty-two days becomes a habit just like smoking. Bernardo tried this and he just couldn’t hit twenty-two days.
Last hope for Bernardo is just to accept the fact that there’s just no easy way to stop smoking. Cigarette companies deliberately make it harder and harder for weak hearts and minds. Nicotine hits the nerves. The brain has nicotine receptors that control other nerves on how they would behave. Cutting prolonged use of nicotine leaves the brain dislodged and disengaged. The brain would have to adjust to not getting the usual chemical and therefore affects functions of Bernardo at the very physiological level.
Bernardo Bernardo has taken the first step to quit smoking and that is deciding to stop smoking. The next steps will be hard because there’s no way how to quit smoking easily.
Bernardo Bernardo is a forty something tax collector who decided to quit smoking. There are a million and one reasons to quit smoking but there’s just one thing that bothers each and every Marlboro man out there thinking of stopping the habit: How to quit smoking easily. Bernardo Bernardo is one of those puffing souls who needed to quit smoking easily because he doesn’t want another hard work on top of his tough eighteen-hour daily routine.
Doctors consider cold turkey as the best way on how to quit smoking easily. Cold turkey is an easy advice because there are no gadgets involved, no smoking down routines, no buddy system support group clubs, and no one to blame if you fail except you. Bernardo tried the cold turkey and failed a million and one times.
There is still hope though on how to quit smoking easily without adding frustration and depression that’s usually packaged with the decision to stop the fatal habit. One way to quit smoking easily is to fool the mind for twenty-two days that smoking is not allowed in your home, workplace or bathroom. Anything done daily for twenty-two days becomes a habit just like smoking. Bernardo tried this and he just couldn’t hit twenty-two days.
Last hope for Bernardo is just to accept the fact that there’s just no easy way to stop smoking. Cigarette companies deliberately make it harder and harder for weak hearts and minds. Nicotine hits the nerves. The brain has nicotine receptors that control other nerves on how they would behave. Cutting prolonged use of nicotine leaves the brain dislodged and disengaged. The brain would have to adjust to not getting the usual chemical and therefore affects functions of Bernardo at the very physiological level.
Bernardo Bernardo has taken the first step to quit smoking and that is deciding to stop smoking. The next steps will be hard because there’s no way how to quit smoking easily.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
River
the path has been laid out for me
it awaits my decision
no room for hesitation
the moment i embrace it
is the moment i become free
to move towards freedom
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
3yearstvless
Three years without television. Never better. I am cured from being a couch potato. Now, I am on the internet 24 by seven. That's okay because my family enjoys dinner together no matter what food there is on the table. I love the life without the idiot box. I'm so happy I decided to hold on those two weeks without CNN. It's so true what they say, "do something twenty two times and it becomes a habit!"
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