To tell the truth I’ve never completed the Simbang Gabi. I’ve started going before, but I only got up to 4 or 5 days tops, and never got to try completing it again. And it’s not that I didn’t try, I just really don’t know why I don’t go. Or maybe, I just forgot about it.

Others would complete the Simbang Gabi to make a wish as it is said that if you completed the 9 mornings, your wish at the end of the last one will definitely come true. Others would wish for a certain thing they want the most, others would wish to have the person they want the most, other would wish the safety of others, while some would wish for happiness.

What is Happiness?

Some people, given the chance, would wish for happiness, or at least the one that would make them the happiest. But how would you know what makes you happy? Does having a lot of money while you’re alone will make you happy? Does having a big family who are all far away make you happy? Really, what would make you happy?

There are a lot of things that we think would make us happy and yet, after we got the things we thought would make us happy, we kept on looking for it all over again. We kept on wishing day after day, night after night, Christmas after Christmas, that we would have the one that would make us happy.

Make a wish, and believe

I’m not saying wishing for the things that would make you happy is a bad thing, it’s actually a good thing! It could become the stepping stones for your goals! Wishing for the thing you want most would give you the drive to do whatever it takes to have what would make you happy, thus setting a goal, and planning on how to achieve it.

But it does not always have to be wished after 9 mornings. You could always set A goal for yourself any day you like, and plan ahead on how you would achieve your goal. Wish for guidance or wisdom, and you will achieve goals you never imagined you would.

Keep on wishing! Until next time! Happy Christmas!

P.S. This was supposed to be a Christmas post but I didn’t have anything yet at that time. I got the idea for this post during the New Year mass. Have a wonderful year!

Buy not all the things life throws at us are as hurtful as the things above. Life might throw us cotton balls, rolled up tissues, pillows, things that not really hurts us. And other times, things that might benefit us like bread, butter, water, clothes, shelter, and medicine. We just have to learn which are we suppose to keep and which are suppose to be let go.

Life may throw problems at us but it’s not always like that. Sometimes there things thrown at us to make us happy, mainly the things we need as humans like love, affection, support, and other things we might need. Things that might help us continue living, healing us for all the hurt we have, and keeping us strong to live another day.

There are times when life throws us things that, not only hurts us, but wounds us too. Knives of heart breaks, darts of tears, bullets of anger, cannon balls of lies, and bursts of loneliness. That’s why we have medicines: to heal all the wounds and have it hurt no more.

Life is like a big ‘ol maze. And being hurt is something unavoidable. With every turn in every path, being hurt is bound to happen. We just have to choose a path where we could get little bit, sweet chunks of life. Little chunks that life has thrown to make the pale colorful the dark become lighter, and life a little bit sweeter.

Life may throw us sticks and stones, but it also throws us cakes and sweets. We just have to learn to appreciate the little bit, sweet chunks that life has given us to make the bitter a little bit sweeter.

My aunts and uncles are the once who mostly sings, although some of my cousins also sing when the older ones got tired or something. And let me tell you, alot of them have great voices, including my dad. Every get together won’tbe included with out anyone singing. My dad may have been a great singer (even joining the choir one of my uncles are in to) but sadly I’m not. Oh I can sing, just not that great. and mostly out of tune.

It’s one of the thing I miss the most when I see them. My aunts and uncles. They always seem to be having fun singing together or every after on another. Especially when my dad sings. He never failed to surprise me when he sings.

It’s not the same anymore. oh, they still sing, but it doesn’t feel right. Right now they sing as if they are bored. It’s as if the soul of the song have been taken away from them. As if the lyrics lost its music. Before, when they used to sing, it’s as if they’re serenading the night while the moon and stars listen and watch in awe as my family members sing their way right into everyone’s heart.

Singing has been one of the most effective way of saying how one feels together with dancing, acting, writing a poem, drawing or painting, or even in capturing a photo rather than saying anything at all. Singing is one of the most used medium in saying how one feels or in conveying a message. A lot of filipino artists use this medium to convey their message to the filipnoes. 

So when there’s an opportunity to sing and “say what you feel” or “convey a message” don’ hesitate to take the mic and sing your heart out. Opportunities come once in a while. And when it comes,take it. You might not get another chance like that again for a long time.

On a lighter note, I tried singing tonight and it does not looks, or sounds, good. ‘Til next time!

Misunderstandings has filled this world
affecting all, young and old.
I’ve been locked up in this world
chains and bars have been keeping hold.

It seems freedom is hard to come by,
and all that you can do is watch and sigh
as you look at this reality
don’t you wish for a world of fantasy?

I’d rather go to that world and see,
a world where I can be who I want to be.
Where everyone would be free,
where every lock would have a key.

Where everyone may do what they want,
to sing, to dance, to live, however they please.
Unlike the world they left where they can’t,
a world where war might never cease.

What if such world existed?
Would someone dare to go?
Would someone have resisted,
When it’s different from what they know?

It’s been lonely in this reality,
so I dare go into that fantasy
where everyone could be happy.
would someone care to join me?

I’ve been trying to escape reality,
going back and forth my fantasy
a world for every one to be happy,
a world where no one would ever be lonely.

but what ever escape I make,
I keep coming back to reality.
I know my fantasy’s a fake,
so I’ll wait till it’s the reality I see.

‘Til then, I have to settle with this reality.
Until my fantasy comes true,
I’ll just have to wait and see,
and leave this world when I get my cue.

One song is “Lucky” by Jason Mraz. Tungkol sa pagiging in-love sa best friend niya and how lucky he is dahil sa bestfriend niya siya na in-love. The other song is “Paano na Kaya” by Bugoy Drilon. Tungkol naman sa takot niya na nain-love siya sa kaibigan niya.

Two different songs, artist, and results, but the same theme: Falling in-love with your friend. Sa unang song, tanggap nila ang pagiging in-love sa isa’t-isa. Meaning, they are all ready falling for each other, hindi lang inaamin. They were happy that they fell in-love with each other. Para sa kanila, they were lucky. Dahil siguro kilala na nila ang isa’t-isa. They have the same feelings for each other and now, they know they would be happy.

Sa second song, the singer is reluctant with falling in-love with his friend. Takot siya na ma reject. Hindi niya maamin ang nararamdaman niya dahil na rin sa takot na baka hindi na sila maging kaibigan kapag hindi siya tinanggap nito. Mahirap din umamin sa ganitong situation. 50-50 chance that your friendship falls apart.

It’s not easy falling in-love. There will always come a time when you might chicken out when admitting your feelings. Wala namang masama ma torpe. Lalo na pag sa kaibigan ka na in-love. Pinapahalagahan mo kasi yung friendship nyo e. Pero there are times when you’re lucky dahil mahal ka rin pala ng kaibigan mo. Lucky kasi, kaibigan mo na siya. You just took your friendship to the next level.

Being in-love with your best friend is like gamble. There’s one in ten that would be lucky to have his or her best friend accept their feelings. And after many attempts na na basted ka sa kaibigan mo, this time around, lucky na kaya?

Harvey Dent from "The Dark Knight"

Take Harvey Dent for instance. The district attorney of Gotham and an ally of Batman. After having his face splashed with acid, he adopted the name Two-face, “choosing to bring about good or evil based upon the outcome of a coin flip.” And in the movie “Batman Forever,” Two-face used his lucky coin to decide whether to explode a bomb in the circus at the start of the film, or kill the heroes at the end. When he did not get the side of the coin with a lot of scratch, he flipped again and again until he got it. And yet the same coin caused his defeat in the end.

According to Wikipedia, Two-face uses his coin to make a decision because he can no longer make his own. He would always have two choices one being the “good” choice, the other being the “bad” one. Even as a villain, he would always have a choice not to do evil things, although he keeps on flipping the coin in order to have an excuse to do it anyway.

There’s no such thing as “no other choice.” As a girl who turns invisible once said to a surfer in silver, “there is always a choice.” We just don’t have the luxury of choosing otherwise because of the different factors affecting it. Would a robber take money from others if he’s rich? Would a kidnapper take a child for ransom when he’s got dough? Would an athlete lose if he’s already winning?

See, people do things for a reason. One would never steal if he has money. Unless of course, he’s “sick” or just greedy. One would always have a choice as to what he needs or wants to do. Whether to buy expensive, brand new stuff, or settle to 2nd hand stuff to choosing where one wants to work. There’s always a choice.

Harvey's Coin from "The Dark Knight"

Like the sides of a coin, everything is built in opposites. Yes and no, up and down, right and wrong, to speak or to be silent, being happy or sad. You won’t be given a situation wherein there’s only a single option. It will only look like it, but you’ll have other options available to you. You’ll just have to look for it.

Some people would choose to look at the negative side of things instead of the positive. They’d choose to be sad for no reason instead of being happy for a lot of reasons. And even though there is a reason to be sad, there are a lot more reason to be happy instead. It’s basically your choice how you will live your life. My friend, choose wisely.

Like the two faces of a coin, life is built with two choices. You only have to choose which side of the coin are you going to live by. Could you do it yourself, or are you like Harvey Dent? Flip a coin and see..

Dream, and make your wish come true,
you know you’ll make it through.
Like the shooting star in the sky,
make you wish fly high.

You won’t need that shooting star.
You won’t need to to look too far
all you have to do is believe in you,
and know that you can make your wish come true.

And when the moon stops shining,
and the stars stops flying,
know that the day will be bright,
and you’ll have the biggest star in sight.

Hope, dream, your wish will come true.
You just have to believe in what you can do.
Don’t make a wish of fantasy,
instead, make a wish for reality.

Make a wish, it’s all up to you,
only you can make it come true.
Make a wish and believe,
that you’ll get the wish that you conceived

You were there when no one else would be,
you kept me sane so that I would see
I don’t have to be as alone as me
and with just a smile, you set me free.

With just a smile, you took my heart away,
and now I’m asking, please would you stay?
With out you, I’m hanging by a thread,
from being sane to being insane instead.

With just a smile, I seem to let go
the reality of which I know
I started to seep into a fantasy,
where all there is, is you and me.

then, with out hesitation, you just left,
I should have accused you of theft.
Taking my heart with out permission,
do you wish for me to bow in submission?

But I guess I can’t blame you,
It was me who gave my heart to
it was my fault when I was falling
and you didn’t even have to do anything.

With just a smile, I fell for you,
With just a smile, you took my heart with you.
And since Ican’t seem to get it back from you,
could you just take me too?

Hindi naman talaga takot ang tao mag bago dahil kadalasan, yung ang hinahanap at hinihiling nila. Pero marami pa rin ang tumatanggi o hindi makapaniwala sa mga changes na pwedeng mangyari sa kanila. Dahil nasanay sila sa isang specific na lifestyle, konting pag babago lang, na paparaning na sila.

Isang magandang example ang “Who Moved My Cheese?” ni Spencer Johnson. Isang libro na maaaring tumulong sa tao kung paano mag handle ng change. Ipaparealize ng libro na ‘to na change is constant. Na normal at nanjan lang ang pag-babago, at hindi ka dapat matakot dito.

Change is constant. Sa physics, medyo magulo ang statement na’to. Pero sa buhay ng tao, normal lang. Kung kailangan mo mag bago para magustuhan ka ng ibang tao, kung kailangan mo mag bago ng trabaho para sa pamilya mo, kung kailangan mo mag bago ng mga kaibigan, , kung kailangan mo mag bago para sa sarili mo, sige lang, go! Wala naman pipigil sa’yo. Sarili mo lang.

But in reality, even with all this hardships, it’s actually one of the easier things in life. A time when all you have to think about is assignment that you haven’t done yet, quiz tomorrow, project for next month, recitation later, allowances coming from your parents, exam at the end of the month, and thesis for the next semester. How easy is that?

Yes, it’s probably hard, but to think that almost everything is being given to you, it’s a child’s play. The “real world” would be much harder. Job hunting with exceptional salary and one you would enjoy, budgeting your salary to make it last for your next one, some would also help their parents through their salary and having not so great co-workers. The factor that affect job hunting the most is the salary. You can never settle for so low when your work is too far. It would be hard to budget.

But there is one thing that would greatly affect not only our job hunting, but our whole life as well. You would have to study. Finish, do not finish, it’s up to you. But it’s always better to finish. That would be the first thing the employers would be looking for. It would be hard to find a job if you did not graduate, unless you have your own business where you can utilize your skills to the extreme, your going to have a hard time looking for work. Believe me. And it’s not just the skills. You would have to have the resources because no business is not with out capital.

It’s not being easy being a student, I know. You have a lot of things to deal with. But there are a lot of greater things in the world that you might have to deal with eventually, someday. And if you’re not prepared, what good will it do to your life? Will you be contented to just sit at home, waiting for grace? You have to work for it, you know. Even Juan tamad had to walk to the tree, lay down, open his mouth and wait for the fruit to fall. Yes he just lay down and waited for the fruit to fall, but he walked to where the fruit is. He just got tired.

A professor of mine once said, “You’re already 21, 22 and your still asking for allowances from your parents? Aren’t you ashamed? After graduation, you should be able to start supporting yourself already!” My professor is not actually fair on that. It’s not that easy to look for a job. But we must imply what that professor said in our lives. We should study well, finish, and find a decent work to be able to support ourselves. What, are you going to ask your parents for allowance when you already have your own family?