A Christmas thought

Last night, while waiting for Christmas Day, I was composing a text message for someone. It wasn't the ordinary Christmas greeting that we forward to all the people we know. I was making something unique that I willl only send to someone special. I do not remember the exact words but it was about how the Holiday Season's can allow us to think about the many things in our life and realize how wonderful it has been. More than than, the season allows us to identify why our life is wonderful.

That was how I felt last night, while I was watching Smallville waiting for midnight. Our Noche Buena is not that grand, we had spaghetti, liempo and then Buko Salad. That was how it has always been. There was never really a time that I remembered that we prepared that much for our Christmas feast. In the previous years, there were serious problems, but then we have come to this point. In some way, I could say that we are better than others... we had spaghetti and liempo and our salad was not some ordinary salad, there was Ice cream mixed to it. I remember the time when all we had then was a bucket of KFC, it was fun.

I really do not know how to describe it but there is some thought that might just make my point. A cousin spent Christmas with us last night. I have not seen her for very long and we had so much things to tell each other. While walking around our village she noticed how the houses around us are so much different. Even I was surprised because it seemed that it was only our house that never went through renovation through the years. My younger brother had a witty reply:

"Kami kasi walang magulang. Kung may magulang kami ngayon wala ng pinag-aaral mga magulang namin kaya ang gagawin na lang nila magpaganda ng bahay. Yung mga kapitbahay namin mga magulang yan na walang magawa sa pera nila kaya pinaganda nila ang bahay nila"

It dawned to me that although our life has not been that good compared to our neighbors. Eventhough our house is already starting to show signs of old age, inside it live three young men who are somewhat survivors in their own right, overcoming all odds and still surviving despite of all the troubles in life. I could say that we are better off that others, we have survived through the years completely on our own and by the grace of God we are good people.

I guess Christmas is not really about all the lavish preparations and big gifts, I think its a time to be thankful that life is still moving forward and that God is still in control in our lives. I have come to realize that the wonderful thing in my life is the fact that it still endures everything that comes with and still continues to look forward to the unknown future full of hope and determination to overcome every test that it has to offer.

Christmas Greeting

Its almost Christmas and I'm home.

Wala lang masaya, I do not have the sanity to write something good. I am just happy that I am home for Christmas. Merry Christmas everyone....

On the Military Organization

In the latest issue of the Corps Magazine, an officer wrote an article entitled "The Relativity of being snappy." It was an article marked by an officer's obvious concern over the restlessness of many cadets regarding the many changes and the criticism that they are contended with. It did not only was very logical but it was something that most of us, the cadets. have not seen. We failed to see that there are also others who find certain realities in the Military culture absurd.

I say this because I have always encountered not so good comments about writing things in this blog. Not that I am not able to handle it but because I pity those who fail to see that there is really no contradiction between being a soldier, having a point of view and expressing these views. It is true that our military organization is very rigid, traditional and sometimes harsh. This is the way it has been since time in memorial and to a certain extent, this has also caused some of the lapses in the organization.

In the article that I was talking about, the officer specified about this prevailing belief that those who have come ahead are in a way "more snappy." It seems that they are always right, their ideas are better and in case of any conflict between another, it is the seniority that decides. I believe this is true because in our military culture, the subordinate does not question, he simply follows. This may be beneficial especially in situations that need immediate action, but in the long run the same culture is the very disease that undermines the organization.

The military organization is made up of unique individuals with their own sets of attributes that can be used for the organization. Each one has a role to play to the accomplishment of a task at hand. The thing with the seniority is that, to a certain extent, ideas are not that much evaluated for the simple reason that the organization does not appreciate soldiers who have their view on things. Take the example of the recent comment in this blog saying that I was being very "civies." He was saying that because he has a made up idea on how is it to become a cadet. He has drawn the line on the distinction between the cadet and the civilian. I now wonder, who made this definition? Of course, that comment will just be immortalized and I will not even dare to confront the one who made it for the simple reason that it might come from someone who is my senior. But I will write about it in this blog and hope that the person reads it. Who was it that decided how I should act? Why is it that there is no written directive that I have encountered that specifically defines that I should be like this and like that? Again, it boils down to seniority, its just that he's more senior than I am... end of discussion... I lost.

Now going back to that article, it concluded in saying that by boosting the self esteem of the cadets to be confident in their decision making and going about what they are supposed to do actually strengthens the organization. Instead of the comparing and insist that I undergo the same experience that they went through in the days when having a computer was for the rich people and that cellphones were a status symbol, I would like to think that being overly critical is not contributing anything to me or to how I perform as a soldier. I would like to make the assurance that I am doing the best of what I know I should do in my capacity as a cadet and as a soldier of the people. We may not exactly agree on how I do it but this is my own experience and I am entitled to it.

Blog...blog...blog

I already started writing an entry last night but then there was a brown out, so I have to remember my thought last night and write it all over again.

For the record, I would liek to state that I have somewhat recovered from my frustration. Somewhat because I still feel bad thinking about it but now I am not that depressed and looking forward to working again. As originally projected, everything was on schedule and although I may not get credit from it, I am still proud that it was my achievement no matter how many people will complain or react that I am being proud. Please allow me to feel a sense of fulfillment for something that I did.

Anyway, I would like to blog about blogging per sec. I have always claimed that this is where I pour everything that I feel. I have often caused reactions both good and bad but this is how I am. I feel bad over things that I aspire for and do not get, I become bored and I come up with absurd ideas. The thing is I have the right to write about these things even if my grammar is not exactly perfect and even if people will perceive me negatively. This blog presents the real me, totally unadulterated. In this blog, I am free. I am not a cadet bounded by rigid rules, nor I am some sick person who longs for acceptance or recognition. I am being myself and if you do not like me then don't trouble yourself with reading what I have to say, there are more than enought websites out there that you can go to that has what you want to read about. The truth is it doesn't matter much how people react to anything that I write, I write because it is my form of expression... PERIOD.

Well, the break is in a week's time and I am very excited to be free at last. I have so many things in mind right now and am contemplating of planning out what I want to do during the period. I know Christmas will be fun this year and I am looking forward to another wonderful year ahead. Time flies so fast and by January I would have blogged in blogspot for 2 years, all in all Ang Munting Bukayo is 5 years old, imagine that!!!

There are so many things that want to talk about but there seems to be not enough time to contemplate and organize those things in my head. I will try to organize those little by little and write about it. I have just finished watching Lovers in Paris. By the way, Mitch Albom's new book For one more day is a good read, I was in tears reading it.

That's all for now... I love you people and Merry Christmas...

The tragedy of a stolen dream

"When we want something in the world, the universe will conspire to make it happen"

I am a person who believes that we always get what we deserve. This is based on the belief that God is always fair. As a result, I tend to always strive for the things that I want so that I will deserve it. That was how I did it. I improved on the things that I know I should work on, I study what I need to deserve what I want and pray hard that God will be faithful. That was how it isuntil the biggest frustration in my life.

Call me proud or whatever but I can confidently say that I am good at what I do. I am one because I tried my best to improve on it the moment I realized that I have the gift. There was this one point in my life that I realize that there was something in it for me, I took it as a sign and strived to excel on it. I guess people did notice because after sometime it was as if my name was attached to that something I am good at. I was happy with how it went and had this notion that I will get what I deserve.

How bad can it feel when suddenly all of the dreams that you strived for will be stolen by some uncontrollable force? It was a helpless situation that I find myself not knowing how to react or even merely contemplating on whether or not it was reality. I am allowing myself to feel all the feeling that goes with the frustration. The hatred, the anger, the mental torture that denies me of precious sleep. I allow the tears to fall, the questions to be blurted out even at nothingness. When I pray I ask God whether or not I was really not that deserving or if I have some unforgivable sin that justifies why this has to happen. The biggest tragedy is that it destroyed the very confidence I have on myself. It lead me to question if believing in concepts like fairness and justice is the way to do it in this world or should I simply kiss ass and be friendly so that I can have what I want? I am trying to understand if the way to succeed is striving for what you want or plainly becoming "berks" with the right people.

At this point, I am trying to find the wonder in life that I have believed so much about. I am trying to understand the lesson that I have to learn. But I am also believing that something good will come out. I am believing that justice will come at its proper time and that I will truly get what I deserve. I guess dreams are never stolen -- it is there in our hearts. People may try to cover it and allow us to be frustrated but that is where God placed it and no matter how tragic it feels, nothing can steal from me a dream that I have strived and fought for... Nothing... God Help me!!!