On the Things We Do

" Almost anything you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it. "

- gandhi

Hide Your Wounded Finger

xxx
"145. Hide your wounded finger, or you will bump it on everything.
Never complain about it. Malice always zeroes in on what hurts or weakens us. Look discouraged and you will only encourage others to make fun of you. Evil intent is always looking for ways to get a rise out of you. It uses insinuation to discover where you hurt, and knows a thousand stratagems to probe your wounds. The wise will ignore malicious hints, and conceal his troubles, either personal or inherited, for even Fortune sometimes like to hit you where it hurts. It always goes straight for raw flesh. Be careful not to reveal what mortifies and what vivifies you, lest the former last and the latter end." (Gracian, 1647)
xxx

Annotation:
Hide your flaws and don't complain about it. Don't give evil intent the opportunity to draw satisfaction for your demise. Neither should you look discouraged -  for enemies will always look for ways to bring you down. Once they realize your weakness, the more they are encouraged to bury you deeper. The wise person is prudent, instead, hides his issues or troubles - may it be personal or inherited. He does not reveal his weakness nor give out his source of strength, because former stands time and what the latter is only good while it lasts.

Manual for Climbing Mountains by Paolo Coelho

Grabbed from Paolo Coelho's blog...

You can visit his blog here.

1 min reading: Manual for climbing mountains

Davos, 11 agosto 2010
________________

A] Choose the mountain you want to climb: don’t pay attention to what other people say, such as “that one’s more beautiful” or “this one’s easier”. You’ll be spending lots of energy and enthusiasm to reach your objective, so you’re the only one responsible and you should be sure of what you’re doing.

B] Know how to get close to it: mountains are often seen from far off – beautiful, interesting, full of challenges. But what happens when we try to draw closer? Roads run all around them, flowers grow between you and your objective, what seemed so clear on the map is tough in real life. So try all the paths and all the tracks until eventually one day you’re standing in front of the top that you yearn to reach.

C] Learn from someone who has already been up there: no matter how unique you feel, there is always someone who has had the same dream before you and ended up leaving marks that can make your journey easier; places to hang the rope, trails, broken branches to make the walking easier. The climb is yours, so is the responsibility, but don’t forget that the experience of others can help a lot.

D] When seen up close, dangers are controllable: when you begin to climb the mountain of your dreams, pay attention to the surroundings. There are cliffs, of course. There are almost imperceptible cracks in the mountain rock. There are stones so polished by storms that they have become as slippery as ice. But if you know where you are placing each footstep, you will notice the traps and how to get around them.

E] The landscape changes, so enjoy it: of course, you have to have an objective in mind – to reach the top. But as you are going up, more things can be seen, and it’s no bother to stop now and again and enjoy the panorama around you. At every meter conquered, you can see a little further, so use this to discover things that you still had not noticed.

F] Respect your body: you can only climb a mountain if you give your body the attention it deserves. You have all the time that life grants you, as long as you walk without demanding what can’t be granted. If you go too fast you will grow tired and give up half way there. If you go too slow, night will fall and you will be lost. Enjoy the scenery, take delight in the cool spring water and the fruit that nature generously offers you, but keep on walking.

G] Respect your soul: don’t keep repeating “I’m going to make it”. Your soul already knows that, what it needs is to use the long journey to be able to grow, stretch along the horizon, touch the sky. An obsession does not help you at all to reach your objective, and even ends up taking the pleasure out of the climb. But pay attention: also, don’t keep saying “it’s harder than I thought”, because that will make you lose your inner strength.

H] Be prepared to climb one kilometer more: the way up to the top of the mountain is always longer than you think. Don’t fool yourself, the moment will arrive when what seemed so near is still very far. But since you were prepared to go beyond, this is not really a problem.

I] Be happy when you reach the top: cry, clap your hands, shout to the four winds that you did it, let the wind – the wind is always blowing up there – purify your mind, refresh your tired and sweaty feet, open your eyes, clean the dust from your heart. It feels so good, what was just a dream before, a distant vision, is now part of your life, you did it!

J] Make a promise: now that you have discovered a force that you were not even aware of, tell yourself that from now on you will use this force for the rest of your days. Preferably, also promise to discover another mountain, and set off on another adventure.

L] Tell your story: yes, tell your story! Give your example. Tell everyone that it’s possible, and other people will then have the courage to face their own mountains.

Life Questions

grabbed from http://www.mischiefchampion.com/style/p/2010/Aug/life_questions

Surreal

Salvador Dali is one of my favorite painters. He is known for his artistic style called surrealism.  Surrealism is defined as "Pure psychic automatism, by which one proposes to express, either verbally, in writing, or by any other manner, the real functioning of thought. Dictation of thought in the absence of all control exercised by reason, outside of all aesthetic and moral preoccupation. *

The first painting shown above is one of his great paintings called The Persistence of Memory. I like it because I think it shows how time melts and how memory fades. The second painting below is called The Metamorphosis of Narcissus, I like it too because I think it  represents a "change of perspective."  

I remember when I was a young boy, I have been doing paintings of these kinds. I was painting whatever it was that I saw in my mind, avoiding copying neither conscious pictures nor following the instructions of my art teachers. Back then, I did not know these styles of art were called Surrealism, but at that young age, I was pretty sure what kinds of paintings attracted me most; although, it is only now that I am getting to understand the workings of my mind.

*wiki

The Death of Sociology

Chapter 1: Freshman

Last night I had a chance to have dinner with an accountant, a doctor, and a dentist. And while we were having our meal and having casual intercourse on what we do and how we are doing, the spotlight  suddenly turned to me and the doctor asked me a question:

"What was your course back in college?"

The dentist and the accountant was eager in anticipation of what I had to answer, too.

"Sociology." -- I told them.

Chapter 2: Sophomore

You should have seen the look on their faces. It is as if they have lost their marbles. It is as if what I said did not deserve any merit. As if they could not believe their ears.

Then the accountant blurted out, "What's that?"--  which I personally construed to mean, "What the fuck is that? That is the dumbest course I have ever heard."

I just smiled and slyly changed the topic.

I pointed out that how great the meal was. Then I talked about the importance of doctors to the society especially to the provinces and remote places and how the medical cases of indigent patients could have been curable if only given the proper standard of care as those who had money. I also told the dentist how I felt when I  recently had my root canal and impacted tooth extracted. Then I also admired what accountants do and the fact that I love math but suck at numbers.

The thing  is, sometimes, we do not have to explain ourselves. As the saying goes, the thing with explanations is that your friends do not need it, and strangers or enemies would not believe you anyway; although, at the back of my mind, there was already an outline on how I was going to answer the "what is sociology?" question.

Chapter 3: Junior

 I would have started by defining it:

"Sociology studies human social behavior, especially the study of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society; Sociology studies social institution or societal segment as a self-contained entity or in relation to society as a whole."

Then, I would have shared to them about what the "sociological imagination" means and why it is the first step in appreciating sociology:

"Coined by C. Wright Mills in 1950's, he argued that ‘nowadays men often feel that their private lives are a series of traps’ . Mills maintained that people are trapped because ‘their visions and their powers are limited to the close-up scenes of job, family [and] neighborhood’, and are not able to fully understand the greater sociological patterns related to their private troubles.

A lot of times people feel this kind of trap because they feel that they are so consumed with their personal lives. Life for them is a mere  trajectory, a mere routine, a mere series of personal events. They are convinced that this life in nothing  but a rat race, a personal struggle to be solved.

Yet, if you look at it in a different perspective, "Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both" (Mills, 1956)

This understanding is what Mills calls the Sociological Imagination: the 'quality of mind' which allows one to grasp "history and biography and the relations between the two within society"

Ordinary people do not possess the quality of mind essential to grasp the interplay of man and society, of biography and history, of self and world." It is only with this interconnectedness of society and the individual that we can truly understand and possibly solve societal or individual problems/issues."

After that, I would have probably introduced them to the fathers of modern Sociology - Max Weber, Karl Marx, and Emil Durkheim. I would have probably explained to them Durkheim's goal of providing a scientific basis for social order and for morality to replace religion, Marx's moral condemnation of the capitalist social order, and Weber's explanation of social authority.

I would have probably told them Sociology's emergence, development, and current state.

But I did not.

Chapter 4: Senior

I hate to admit this in front of my colleagues and classmates back in college who are very passionate about sociological theories in general and to my brilliant professors who have dedicated their lives in the study of sociology, but the truth is - sometimes I feel  like I might have taken the wrong course back in college.

I have not really applied Sociology or found any use applying its principles to make more money. Sure I can explain social phenomena, but it does not make me any different than Kuya Kim Atienza or Ka Earnie Baron who knows tons of trivia (trivia means non-important, insignificant facts).

While my other friends studied to became doctors, dentists, and nurses are now treating patients whose lives depends on hard scientific knowledge and skill; while my other friends who studied engineering and architecture are now building houses, roads, and bridges; while my other friends who studied to be accountants are now making money by counting money; while my friends who studied to be businessmen are now making money work for them -- I, on the other hand, am lost, and have found my course (sociology) inadequate to make a dent of change in our society or at least to make money by applying the discipline of my course. I feel like it will not get any better.

Worse, I have a weird hunch that most Sociology students like myself, have turned out to be unhappy, nosy, facetious, obnoxiously assertive impudent individuals who are now struggling to make money out of sociological theories and imaginations or are doing something completely different from sociology.

I sometimes toy on the idea that I should have taken TESDA training on how to be mortician. I should have just  studied the science of preserving dead bodies. I could have gotten my license and probably landed a job abroad where morticians are very rare and the pay they earn is around (2) two million Pesos a year.

Like cold lifeless bodies in morgues, I feel like Sociology has suffered the same fate. It is dead. Sociology is dead. At least for me, it is as useless as a brick.

I lament and feel sorry for the fanatics of the discipline. But today, I'll put it in a box and bury it six feet underground. I will move on with my life and try get over it. My radical enchantment with it has ended. It is as impotent as penile erectile dysfunction as other "soft" sciences and is probably going the line of alchemy and astrology.

Here is the deal, you can stay with it, stick with it, learn it, be fascinated with it, learn some more, read some more, write some more, but it will not really get you anywhere. In the final analysis, we have to find some other ways and means  to hunt for food and bring home the dough if the present tools that we have cannot deliver anymore.

Chapter 5: Graduation

It is not that I despise sociology, I love sociology. It hurts me to let it go.  It took me to places I never been and showed me a perspective of life few people ever discover. But as hard science and other indispensable disciplines have built power tools  to chop trees, I feel as if sociology remained a dull knife that, as far as I am concerned, I have found of very little use.

Ask me again, "what is sociology?" I will again just probably change the topic and keep my mouth shut. When it comes to the preserving of the memory of the dead, it is always prudent to just keep quiet, especially  if I do not have anything nice to say about it  for the moment.

In Re: Mama's Birthday

July 20, 2010

Dear Mama,

Happy Birthday!
Thank you for bringing me to this world. Without you - I am nothing. Your parents must have been so proud when you were born! I share your happiness on this special day.

I do appreciate everything that you do for the family ma. What really makes you special is the fact that you are not only our mother mother, you are also our friend.

This world is a dangerous place ma - a  lot of things may go wrong, but thank the heavens for your tender love bestows a unique atmosphere  of peace, understanding, and console.

I am glad you liked the Banoffee Cake that we got for you. :)

Love,

Your son,

Always and forever,

Rah.


PS: Look ma, I found a picture of you!

Here's a picture of you on your  wedding day 27 years ago. You were just 22 then.
I love you ma, hope you get to  read this someday.

The Death of Sociology

Chapter 1: Freshman

Last night I had a chance to have dinner with an accountant, a doctor, and a dentist. And while we were having our meal and having casual intercourse on what we do and how we are doing, the spotlight  suddenly turned to me and the doctor asked me a question:

"What was your course back in college?"

The dentist and the accountant was eager in anticipation of what I had to answer, too.

"Sociology." -- I told them.



Chapter 2: Sophomore

You should have seen the look on their faces. It is as if they have lost their marbles. It is as if what I said did not deserve any merit. As if they could not believe their ears.

Then the accountant blurted out, "What's that?"--  which I personally construed to mean, "What the fuck is that? That is the dumbest course I have ever heard."

I just smiled and slyly changed the topic.

I pointed out that how great the meal was. Then I talked about the importance of doctors to the society especially to the provinces and remote places and how the medical cases of indigent patients could have been curable if only given the proper standard of care as those who had money. I also told the dentist how I felt when I  recently had my root canal and impacted tooth extracted. Then I also admired what accountants do and the fact that I love math but suck at numbers.

The thing  is, sometimes, we do not have to explain ourselves. As the saying goes, the thing with explanations is that your friends do not need it, and strangers or enemies would not believe you anyway; although, at the back of my mind, there was already an outline on how I was going to answer the "what is sociology?" question.



Chapter 3: Junior

 I would have started by defining it:

"Sociology studies human social behavior, especially the study of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society; Sociology studies social institution or societal segment as a self-contained entity or in relation to society as a whole."

Then, I would have shared to them about what the "sociological imagination" means and why it is the first step in appreciating sociology:

"Coined by C. Wright Mills in 1950's, he argued that ‘nowadays men often feel that their private lives are a series of traps’ . Mills maintained that people are trapped because ‘their visions and their powers are limited to the close-up scenes of job, family [and] neighborhood’, and are not able to fully understand the greater sociological patterns related to their private troubles.

A lot of times people feel this kind of trap because they feel that they are so consumed with their personal lives. Life for them is a mere  trajectory, a mere routine, a mere series of personal events. They are convinced that this life in nothing  but a rat race, a personal struggle to be solved.

Yet, if you look at it in a different perspective, "Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both" (Mills, 1956)

This understanding is what Mills calls the Sociological Imagination: the 'quality of mind' which allows one to grasp "history and biography and the relations between the two within society"

Ordinary people do not possess the quality of mind essential to grasp the interplay of man and society, of biography and history, of self and world." It is only with this interconnectedness of society and the individual that we can truly understand and possibly solve societal or individual problems/issues."

After that, I would have probably introduced them to the fathers of modern Sociology - Max Weber, Karl Marx, and Emil Durkheim. I would have probably explained to them Durkheim's goal of providing a scientific basis for social order and for morality to replace religion, Marx's moral condemnation of the capitalist social order, and Weber's explanation of social authority.

I would have probably told them Sociology's emergence, development, and current state.

But I did not.



Chapter 4: Senior

I hate to admit this in front of my colleagues and classmates back in college who are very passionate about sociological theories in general and to my brilliant professors who have dedicated their lives in the study of sociology, but the truth is - sometimes I feel  like I might have taken the wrong course back in college.

I have not really applied Sociology or found any use applying its principles to make more money. Sure I can explain social phenomena, but it does not make me any different than Kuya Kim Atienza or Ka Earnie Baron who knows tons of trivia (trivia means non-important, insignificant facts).

While my other friends studied to became doctors, dentists, and nurses are now treating patients whose lives depends on hard scientific knowledge and skill; while my other friends who studied engineering and architecture are now building houses, roads, and bridges; while my other friends who studied to be accountants are now making money by counting money; while my friends who studied to be businessmen are now making money work for them -- I, on the other hand, am lost, and have found my course (sociology) inadequate to make a dent of change in our society or at least to make money by applying the discipline of my course. I feel like it will not get any better.

Worse, I have a weird hunch that most Sociology students like myself, have turned out to be unhappy, nosy, facetious, obnoxiously assertive impudent individuals who are now struggling to make money out of sociological theories and imaginations or are doing something completely different from sociology.

I sometimes toy on the idea that I should have taken TESDA training on how to be mortician. I should have just  studied the science of preserving dead bodies. I could have gotten my license and probably landed a job abroad where morticians are very rare and the pay they earn is around (2) two million Pesos a year.

Like cold lifeless bodies in morgues, I feel like Sociology has suffered the same fate. It is dead.Sociology is dead. At least for me, it is as useless as a brick.

I lament and feel sorry for the fanatics of the discipline. But today, I'll put it in a box and bury it six feet underground. I will move on with my life and try get over it. My radical enchantment with it has ended. It is as impotent as penile erectile dysfunction as other "soft" sciences and is probably going the line of alchemy and astrology.

Here is the deal, you can stay with it, stick with it, learn it, be fascinated with it, learn some more, read some more, write some more, but it will not really get you anywhere. In the final analysis, we have to find some other ways and means  to hunt for food and bring home the dough if the present tools that we have cannot deliver anymore.


Chapter 5: Graduation

It is not that I despise sociology, I love sociology. It hurts me to let it go.  It took me to places I never been and showed me a perspective of life few people ever discover. But as hard science and other indispensable disciplines have built power tools  to chop trees, I feel as if sociology remained a dull knife that, as far as I am concerned, I have found of very little use.

Ask me again, "what is sociology?" I will again just probably change the topic and keep my mouth shut. When it comes to the preserving of the memory of the dead, it is always prudent to just keep quiet, especially  if I do not have anything nice to say about it for the moment.

The Death of Sociology

Chapter 1: Freshman

Last night I had a dinner with an accountant, a doctor, and a dentist. And while we were having our meal and having casual intercourse on what we do and how we are doing, the spotlight  suddenly turned to me and the doctor asked me a question:

"What was your course back in college?"

The dentist and the accountant were eager in anticipation of what I had to answer, too.

"Sociology." -- I told them.



Chapter 2: Sophomore

You should have seen the look on their faces. It is as if they have lost their marbles, as if they could not believe their ears.

Then the accountant blurted out, "What's that?"--  which I personally construed to mean, "What the f*ck is that? That is probably a dumb course."

I just smiled and slyly changed the topic.

I pointed out that how great the meal was. Then I talked about the importance of doctors to the society especially to the provinces and remote places and how the medical cases of indigent patients could have been curable if only given the proper standard of care as those who had money. I also told the dentist how I felt when I  recently had my root canal and impacted tooth extracted. Then I also admired what accountants do and the fact that I love math, but suck at numbers.

As the saying goes, the thing with explanations is that your friends do not need it, and strangers or enemies would not believe you anyway; although, at the back of my mind, there was already an outline on how to answer the "What is sociology?" question.



Chapter 3: Junior

 I would have started by defining it:

"Sociology studies human social behavior, especially the study of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society; Sociology studies social institution or societal segment as a self-contained entity or in relation to society as a whole."

Then, I would have shared to them about what the "sociological imagination" means and why it is the first step in appreciating sociology:

"Coined by C. Wright Mills in 1950's, he argued that ‘nowadays men often feel that their private lives are a series of traps’ . Mills maintained that people are trapped because ‘their visions and their powers are limited to the close-up scenes of job, family [and] neighborhood’, and are not able to fully understand the greater sociological patterns related to their private troubles.

A lot of times people feel this kind of trap because they feel that they are so consumed with their personal lives. Life for them is a mere  trajectory, a mere routine, a mere series of personal events. They are convinced that this life in nothing  but a rat race, a personal struggle to be solved.

Yet, if you look at it in a different perspective, "Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both" (Mills, 1956).

This understanding is what Mills calls the Sociological Imagination: the 'quality of mind' which allows one to grasp "history and biography and the relations between the two within society."

Ordinary people do not possess the quality of mind essential to grasp the interplay of man and society, of biography and history, of self and world." It is only with this interconnectedness of society and the individual that we can truly understand and possibly solve societal or individual problems/issues."

After that, I would have probably introduced them to the fathers of modern Sociology - Max Weber, Karl Marx, and Emil Durkheim. I would have probably explained to them Durkheim's goal of providing a scientific basis for social order and for morality to replace religion, Marx's moral condemnation of the capitalist social order, and Weber's explanation of social authority.

I would have probably told them Sociology's emergence, development, and current state.

But I did not.



Chapter 4: Senior

I hate to admit this in front of my colleagues and classmates back in college who are very passionate about sociological theories in general and to my brilliant professors who have dedicated their lives in the study of sociology, but the truth is - I sometimes  feel  like I might have taken the wrong course back in college.

I have not really applied Sociology or found any use applying its principles to make more money. Sure I can explain social phenomena, but it does not make me any different than Kuya Kim or Ka Earnie who know tons of interesting, nice-to-know facts.

While my other friends studied to became doctors, dentists, and nurses are now treating patients whose lives depends on hard scientific knowledge and skill; while my other friends who studied engineering and architecture are now building houses, roads, and bridges; while my other friends who studied to be accountants are now counting money; while my friends who studied to be businessmen are now minding their own business -- I, on the other hand, am lost, and have found my course (Sociology) inadequate to make a ding of change in our society or at the very least, make money by applying what I learned out of my course; and sometimes I feel like it will not get any better.

Worse, I have a weird hunch that most Sociology students like myself, have turned out to be unhappy, nosy, facetious, obnoxiously assertive impudent individuals who are now struggling to make money out of sociological theories and imaginations or are doing something completely different from sociology.

I sometimes toy on the idea that I should have taken TESDA training on how to be mortician. I should have just studied the science of preserving dead bodies. I could have gotten my license and probably landed a job abroad where morticians are very rare and the pay they earn is around two million pesos a year.

Like cold lifeless bodies in morgues, I feel like Sociology has suffered the same fate. It is dead. Sociology is dead. At least for me, it is as useless as a brick.

I feel sorry for the die hard fanatics of the discipline. But today, I've put it in a box and bury it six feet underground. I will move on with my life and try get over it. My radical enchantment with it has ended. It is as impotent as penile erectile dysfunction as other "soft" sciences -- and is probably going the line of alchemy and astrology.

Here is the deal, you can stay with it, stick with it, learn it, be fascinated with it, learn some more, read some more, write some more, but it will really get you anywhere? In the final analysis, we have to find some other ways to hunt for food.


Chapter 5: Graduation

I do not despise sociology, I love sociology. It hurts to let it go.  It took me to places I never been and showed me a perspective of life few people ever discover. But as hard science and other indispensable disciplines have built power tools  to chop trees, I feel like as if sociology remained a dull knife that, I have found of limited use. Is sociology still relevant? What is its relevance to me at this point in my life?

Times are changing, to be able to get the most of ourselves, I feel that we must not be afraid to set sail and go beyond our areas of discipline to find out what else is there that will make our lives more meaningful and fulfilling. "What is sociology?" I will just change the topic again.  Sometimes, when it comes to preserving the good memory of the dead, it's prudent to just not say anything.

The Death of Music

“Music speaks what cannot be expressed,

 soothes the mind and gives it rest,

 heals the heart and makes it whole, 

flows from heaven to the soul.”

Chapter I 
Birth


My mother was my first music teacher. She taught me the basic formation of the fingers to form chords. She also taught me the proper way of strumming the guitar. It has never been the same after that. Through constant practice, before I knew it, the noise I was producing became refined melody.

The more I learn about music the more I became motivated  to practice and study more. During those times, I literally slept, woke up, drank, ate, and took a dump with my guitar. I would not want to miss a minute without it by my side. I was in high school when I bought my first electric guitar. It was also a time of my growing angst towards the world. I was introduced to metal, grunge, and punk. Spell Metallica, Nirvana, Tool, and Wolfgang.

In college, I joined an organizational pool of musicians. I was there that  I met a lot of music enthusiast that some eventually became my band-mates. They were my brothers and sisters in music. My musical taste even became more diverse  as they introduced me to  Jazz, Blues, Soul, Funk, and Bossa Nova.

We performed everywhere: events, birthdays, debuts, weddings and rock concerts. We won a lot of cash when, at one time, we joined an acoustic battle of the bands sponsored by a local radio station. "Study hard, Jam Harder!" - that was our motto.

In all those times, I always refused to play for money. My principle has always been "music as a means of self expression." It was always about sharing the gift.

Chapter II 
Death


It is depressing to realize that for a very long time now, I have not played my guitar. What is even more shocking is the fact that and I do not plan to play it anytime soon. In fact, I do not even know where my guitars are now. They are probably sleeping with cobwebs somewhere. Are they safe from humidity and moisture? Are they even in their guitar cases?  I could not care less.

The first time I realized this problem was when, not long ago, I was asked by my friend, "When will be your band's next gig?"

I caught my self answering my friend this way, "I've already retired."

It was the day Music died.

Music died the same manner God died: People stopped believing him. People stopped needing him. People stopped worshiping him. Disenchantment ruled their hearts.

Music is dead. It died. It's dead. I killed it.

But I will not leave his dead body yet. I am embracing hope that someday, just like Jesus, it can resurrect itself from the dead.

I am not leaving just as yet.

I'm praying for a miracle.


Chapter III
Memoirs:

My second to the last gig with the most promising band to date, Rocks to Rockets.

My last gig  with Bey, Oikes, and Bogsie at Acoustic Enchantment at Bela Bar, Greenhills.













Photo credits:Rocks to Rockets and Aganons.

Panda's Wish

Panda wishes he had a Nikon D90.

How the Panda plans to save for this baby (Nikon D90)*.
1. Pay my self first - everyday.
2. Don't drink Cobra Energy Drink everyday.
3. Don't buy drinks in Ministop.
4. Don't drink another Starbucks coffee.
5. Don't eat any fast food.
6. Pray.
7. Always smile. Smile big. (?)
8.


*Nikon D90 is a 12.3 megapixel DX-format DSLR digital camera and it features continuous shooting at 4.5 frames-per-second, cinematic quality movie clips at up to 24fps 720p HD (1280 x 720 pixels), ISO range of 200 to 3200, 3 inch LCD, built-in 4-frequency ultrasonic image sensor cleaning, 11 point auto focus, and one button live view. Camera dimensions are Width 5.2 in. (132mm) Height 4.1 in. (103mm) Depth 3.0 in. (77mm) and it weighs 22 oz. (620g)

It Hurts

Part 1

No one laughs at the fact that mother nature makes useless parts of the body.  Wisdom teeth are good-for-nothing other than to cause pain, trouble, and inconvenience. Because it does not get better, the wisest  thing  to do is, of course, to get those suckers out of there. 


Later this day the panda will have to go to his dentist to have it checked. He has to show the dentist a photo of Pekto (a name he coined for his impacted wisdom tooth). The dentist will have to refer the panda to a dental surgeon who specializes on these kinds of procedures. Dr. Dental Surgeon will have to set the date of the surgery, and come that day - more and more pain! Pekto's days are numbered; the mere thought of "losing" him, hurts. 

Part 2

Later that day, the panda went to the Dentist and had to wait for his turn. After some minutes, at last, the Dentist was ready to see the panda.

The panda was guided to the dental chair. After explaining to the Dentist the problem, the panda showed her the old photo of Pekto(the name the panda coined for his impacted wisdom tooth). She took a good look at the said tooth.

She explained that the condition was not an easy case. The bone above Pekto is unusually thick. She also said  that the panda's second healthy molar (which the panda named Ramon) will be at risk of being extracted too, depending on how the procedure unfolds. The Dentist prescribed an antibiotic, a pain reliever, and an anti-coagulant drug that have to be taken 1 hour before the procedure.

"Your surgery will be scheduled tomorrow, you have to be well rested, okay?" - She said.  The panda and the Dentist said their goodbyes and well wishes, and the clinic session for that day was over. 

The picture of Pekto's and Ramon's death created a paradoxical sensation. The panda was happy that he will be relieved of his discomfort, but on the other hand, he was also sad because he has to lose Pekto and risk losing Ramon.

When the panda asked Pekto and Ramon how they felt after  receiving officially their death sentences, they told the panda, "Ok lang po boss, walang problema - ready na kami. Our lives were spent serving you with honor and dignity. Okey na kami -- kung baga sa jeepney driver, naka boundery na..."

The panda flashed an optimistic smile and went to treat  the said two molars to their favorite restaurant.

Part 3

There is nothing funny about the death of Pekto and Ramon.

Panda is so tired to explain anything right now.... can't write.... can't think... Zzzz....

Oh! Thanks to all humans who gave their support and encouragement. Thanks to everyone who told the panda "you can do it!" Thank you to everyone who wished him well! You are all appreciated.

He's fine now. A little bit traumatized. A little bit  shocked from the whole process....

Zzzz....

Part 4

It is sad that Ramon (second healthy molar) had to die, too. It was found out during the procedure that Pekto (third impacted molar) is unusually larger than the average impacted wisdom tooth.

You see, according to the dentist,  the biggest and the strongest molar would normally be our first molar - next would be the second molar. The third molar, normally would be the smallest. However, in the panda's case, the third impacted molar was abnormally the biggest of all his molars. That is the reason why the procedure of extracting only Pekto did not push through as originally planned.

Ramon had to go, really. He was the gambit. He was the sacrificial lamb.

The paradoxical wisdom of salvation is that someone must die so that someone can live. For there can be no forgiveness that can exist unless someone capable of forgiving pays the penalty by shedding his blood. It is sad, but that is life. Life and death co-exists in irony.

Menu for tonight? Very soft lugaw with a dash of salt. No chewing, swallow only. The panda slept the whole day, and will probably sleep the whole day again tomorrow. The healing process begins.

On Steven Hawking's Pieces of Advice

Q: Interviewer: What is the best advice you have given your children?

A: Steven Hawking: Here are the most important pieces of advice that I have passed on to my children.

1. Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet.

2. Never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it.

3. If you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is rare and do not throw it away.

4. Daily courage and infinite kindness.

To Tatay

Dear Itay,

I do not think that even if I searched the world for years and years,  I would find someone as caring, as thoughtful, as hardworking as you. You have been a great hero in my life, the greatest strength. Today, because of you I'm blessed in so many ways. You are the best. Thank you Tay for everything. I love you. Happy Father's Day 'Tay!

AND OH! For your father's day gift, you will get a box of the most expensive set of perfume our  allowance can afford. Hope you like it.

Forever,

Rah.

On Smile

“Smile, even if it's a sad smile, because sadder than a sad smile is the sadness of not knowing how to smile.”

Panda's island vacation. Part 4

Panda and Sweet Pea tried to find Nemo and Dory! :D

Panda's island vacation. Part 3

Arfy loves the beach.  Just like a dependable guard dog, he had to take care of  things while panda and sweet pea were swimming.

Arfy is such a good dog! And for that, he deserves a kiss!
 




Arfy, "swim in the water" does not mean swimming on top of a water bottle! lol :D

Why are you Arffraid  of the water?

Guess who Panda and Sweet pea caught slurping away their Red Horse and tequila sunrise while they were not looking! 

The price of sanity and happiness is expensive, but it is not paid in terms of money...

More to come...

Panda's island vacation. Part 2

The bus to the island

From Iloilo to Caticlan

 

He has a god given ability to sleep in public transportation.







But while sleeping, riot happens...

 

Alo ang Arfy escaped and broke loose!

It is not yet time for playing Alo and Arfy! :)

Arfy: "I wonder where the wisdom tooth is..."

"Panda wake up! We are almost in the island!"

"They came, they saw, now it is time to swim! Yey!"



More to come...

Panda's island vacation. Part 1

Guess who went with the panda and sweet pea to the island.

Alo (white) and Arf arf (yellow)












They sneaked in so as not to be detected by airport officials :) Fasten your seat belts Alo and Arfy!















Yum!

Touchdown! Off we go to the island!

It pays to ask

^{The panda is not religious, but he likes religious philosophies and can read about those the whole day. His favorite Bible verse comes from Luke 11: 9-10.}

^{It talks about why it pays to ask, seek, and knock than hang around and do nothing:}

⁹ ”So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

 

    ¹¹ ”Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”    (Luke 11:9-12  NIV)

How about you, do you have a favorite religious phrase or quote?

Where are you going?

He wonders where this plane is going.

He is not blind...

- but he just can't see.

Nick Vujicic, No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!

Very inspiring.

"It is a lie to think that you are not good enough..."

Reality Bites

The panda has sonic ears and x-ray vision. He mastered this at age seven by watching Bioman.

While eating at the local Buy One Take One Cheeseburger store a block away from his house, the panda witnessed an old man, probably in his early fifties, talking to the owner of a small restaurant adjacent to where the panda was eating his burger.

He wants a job. He seem to have lost a part of his leg.

"Sige na, kunin  niyo na ako dito sa restaruant niyo, kahit taga deliver lang ako ng pagkain."

"Kaya lang naman ako humihiling sayo na pagbigyan mo ako para may pambili man lang ako ng gamot. Kasi nga meron akong diabetes, naputol nga lang tong paa ko dahil nainfect to nung nakatapak ako dati ng pako. Siyempre pag may diabetis ka hindi mo namaramdaman yung sakit, hanggang sa lumala na nga at kailangan ng putulin sabin ng mga duktor..."

"Parang tulong mo narin sakin 'to... Kung hindi ko man makayanan ang trabaho dito magreresign ako kaagad, pangako."

"Marami ako pera dati, pero naubos na..."

"Pag nagtrabaho ako sayo, parang sampal narin 'ito sa mukha ng pamilya ko, para mapakita ko man lang sila na may pakinabang parin ako."

You can hear by the tone of his voice his hopelessness. He lost everything with his condition. He used to have a life, but now, is begging for a job and is willing to be paid in scraps.

The restaurant owner was just listening to this old man. She was not saying a word. For some reason though, she had to go. The panda did not see what they have agreed upon.

The old man was left sitting there. After a few minutes, finding himself with nothing to do and no one to talk to, he left, limping his way into the sunset.

The panda, for some reason, lost his appetite. The cheeseburger was twice as difficult to swallow compared to his first bite. It is hard to be happy with a yummy food and to witness a sorry old man almost begging for his life at the same time.

Maybe, some people are forsaken. Poor souls with virtually nothing left. They live in desolate perpetual subhuman conditions, torture, and tears.

On the other hand, some people live with silver spoons in their mouth. The world is their oyster.

Some people are fools.

They don't care.

Nor give a shit.