And the holidays are back. Ironic that I'm saying it on a holiday, but it's true. November has rolled right on in, and people--well, my friends and family at least, I don't know about yours--are gearing up for a whole another season of joy and having fun.
If you were trying to lose weight in time for all the food and drink of this time of year, then your deadline is coming up and it's time to double the effort. More importantly, if you've allowed yourself to grow weak in the drinking game and find yourself ready to give up after a couple of shots (like me! I've become an old lady in the past few months), it's time to get back on that horse and train that tummy of yours to take it--how else do you intend to survive the high (and strong) spirits of the season?
It's time to focus, people! Whether it's because you wanna celebrate the crap out of life or because you just want this damn year to end, I'm getting the feeling we're all gonna be blowing 2011 right out of the water when it comes to ending 2012 with a bang. I mean Jay Sean's been singing about it for a month or a year now: We're gonna party like it's the end of the world. Do we prove him right or what? :))
Friday, December 16, 2011
Welcome To The Wonderful Of Inside My Head
PHOTOGRAPHS
We live life in moments. I think that's why photographs mean so much to us, they have the power to silently capture single moments that would otherwise be impossible to set apart. Because while we live life in moments, each moment move into another, the way each word I write connects immediately to the next. Individually, there is some meaning; it all comes alive only when you read in full. A missing word, like a missing moment, will represent the whole incomplete. At the same time, it is impossible for us, the value or worth of these moments is to know what each has in store for us, and to what other event it will connect.
Fate is what finds these moments and brings them together. As the writer, I am Fate to the words on this page--only I know where they tend, and what each word's role is in the final story. Without me they mean nothing, just a series of scratches and unclear group together in paragraph form.
Fate, or God, or Karma, or the Force, or whatever it is one might believe it to be: it pulls us together, makes us whole. It may take a day or a year or ten or twenty before we realize what is really going on, but I think every action we do translates into something greater further down the line. And that's why it's important for every moment to stand out for us. We ought to treat every instant, every event in which we find ourselves complicated, the way we would do a photograph--we should put our best foot forward in it, because it will be recorded, and it will come back to haunt us.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Inside My Head--where nothing is as it seems and all the words are pretty.
We Have It Right
Everyone's a hypocrite--true or false?
I've had the opportunity to think about this statement the past few days. The more I think about it, the more I believe that everyone does things they say they hate in other people. Sometimes it's a harmless trait, but other times it can truly hurt.
Think about it: what is it that you hate about a person? Rudeness, maybe? Messy? Do you hate it when someone is critical of them because they talk about other people's private lives a great deal, perhaps, or noisy or secretive or snobbish? Now take a look at yourself--and make it a good, long look. Can you honestly say you've never fallen into the same category to yourself?
If your answer is yes, then I don't believe you're being honest. I've known myself to raise arms against people who cut in front of me on the road, and yet I've also caught myself doing the exact same thing when I'm running late. I say I don't like a chatty talk, but I listen with a my ear when the chismis comes my way. If you're calling me a hypocrite right now, ask yourself if you've ever thought you don't like judgmental people.
So if we're all hypocrites, what can we do to stop ourselves from hurting others? Because we can all be harmless hypocrites. It's when we go out of our way to call someone out on something we don't like about them that things start to get hurt. Especially if we don't know that person; especially if them knowing what we think does nothing for them; and most especially if our unpleasant opinion applies to ourselves.
I've learned that the best thing to do when I have an opinion is to keep it to myself. I can speak and act against anyone I want--that's my right. But saying it out loud and causing damage--and worse, needless harm--to that person when she/he is doing nothing to hurt me is overstepping my limit. And in the end, no one's happy. Not me, because I'd be a negative bitch. And not that person, because they'd have received hurtful judgment from someone who has zero right to give it. So, Let people do what they do and be who they are. As the song goes, "Shut up and let me go."
And personally (and as an end note), I hope I don't ever become that kind of hypocrite.
I've had the opportunity to think about this statement the past few days. The more I think about it, the more I believe that everyone does things they say they hate in other people. Sometimes it's a harmless trait, but other times it can truly hurt.
Think about it: what is it that you hate about a person? Rudeness, maybe? Messy? Do you hate it when someone is critical of them because they talk about other people's private lives a great deal, perhaps, or noisy or secretive or snobbish? Now take a look at yourself--and make it a good, long look. Can you honestly say you've never fallen into the same category to yourself?
If your answer is yes, then I don't believe you're being honest. I've known myself to raise arms against people who cut in front of me on the road, and yet I've also caught myself doing the exact same thing when I'm running late. I say I don't like a chatty talk, but I listen with a my ear when the chismis comes my way. If you're calling me a hypocrite right now, ask yourself if you've ever thought you don't like judgmental people.
So if we're all hypocrites, what can we do to stop ourselves from hurting others? Because we can all be harmless hypocrites. It's when we go out of our way to call someone out on something we don't like about them that things start to get hurt. Especially if we don't know that person; especially if them knowing what we think does nothing for them; and most especially if our unpleasant opinion applies to ourselves.
I've learned that the best thing to do when I have an opinion is to keep it to myself. I can speak and act against anyone I want--that's my right. But saying it out loud and causing damage--and worse, needless harm--to that person when she/he is doing nothing to hurt me is overstepping my limit. And in the end, no one's happy. Not me, because I'd be a negative bitch. And not that person, because they'd have received hurtful judgment from someone who has zero right to give it. So, Let people do what they do and be who they are. As the song goes, "Shut up and let me go."
And personally (and as an end note), I hope I don't ever become that kind of hypocrite.
That's Family, Family Matters
We love 'em, we hate 'em, we can't live with them or without them. No, I'm not talking about men. I'm talking about family.
I think if I ask anyone above 12 years of age about how many times they've lose self-control because of their mom/dad/brother/sister/other relative. It's as if families were built to drive each other insane, to be one another 's cause of ultimate frustration/disappointment. There are times that we feel we can never understand how Mom can be this way, how Dad can expect that of us, how sister and brothers can care so little or be so selfish.
We wish they would understand us, listen to us, make us feel worthwhile more often. We want them to be proud of us, to love us, to care about what we care about. And how it frustrates us that they just always seem to see things a different way, that we actually have to live with them and try to get along with them. We ask ourselves if we were adopted or switched at birth; could this possibly be my family?
And yet.
For some reason, we cannot seem to let them go. We can't ever turn our backs on them completely. There is always something, whether it's the thinnest of threads, forever connecting us to them.
I don't know why it is. All I know is, no matter how much I hate how they are sometimes, I love my family. I will fight with them, argue with them, yell right back at them when I can't take it anymore, but I would drop what I'm doing--even if I was in the middle of making a million dollars--to be there for them when they need me most. Because that's what family does. Family tells each other the truth, even when it hurts; family listens to the truth, even when it hurts. Family holds each other up, especially when it hurts.
That's family, and family matters. My mom always told me that even the closest of friends come and go, but family is there for life. We can't choose family the way we choose friends; we are stuck with them forever. And so we need to treat each other well, more so than we would other people. It is through family that we learn how to forgive and why to forgive, through them that we learn when to hang on and when to let go.
We love 'em, we hate 'em, we can't live with them or without them. And that's just the way love goes, I guess.
I think if I ask anyone above 12 years of age about how many times they've lose self-control because of their mom/dad/brother/sister/other relative. It's as if families were built to drive each other insane, to be one another 's cause of ultimate frustration/disappointment. There are times that we feel we can never understand how Mom can be this way, how Dad can expect that of us, how sister and brothers can care so little or be so selfish.
We wish they would understand us, listen to us, make us feel worthwhile more often. We want them to be proud of us, to love us, to care about what we care about. And how it frustrates us that they just always seem to see things a different way, that we actually have to live with them and try to get along with them. We ask ourselves if we were adopted or switched at birth; could this possibly be my family?
And yet.
For some reason, we cannot seem to let them go. We can't ever turn our backs on them completely. There is always something, whether it's the thinnest of threads, forever connecting us to them.
I don't know why it is. All I know is, no matter how much I hate how they are sometimes, I love my family. I will fight with them, argue with them, yell right back at them when I can't take it anymore, but I would drop what I'm doing--even if I was in the middle of making a million dollars--to be there for them when they need me most. Because that's what family does. Family tells each other the truth, even when it hurts; family listens to the truth, even when it hurts. Family holds each other up, especially when it hurts.
That's family, and family matters. My mom always told me that even the closest of friends come and go, but family is there for life. We can't choose family the way we choose friends; we are stuck with them forever. And so we need to treat each other well, more so than we would other people. It is through family that we learn how to forgive and why to forgive, through them that we learn when to hang on and when to let go.
We love 'em, we hate 'em, we can't live with them or without them. And that's just the way love goes, I guess.
Things Which Are Equally Bad Are Also Equally Good, Try To Look At The Bright Side Of Things!
I’ve very recently learned how easy it is to move into negativity. The world is filled with things to be angry about: our jobs or our schools; our work and our lack of sleep, and our inconsistent friends, the traffic, the weather, the crowds, famine, disease, poverty, war… the list goes on.
Luckily, I have in my life people whose wisdom and experience happen to help guide me back to the right course whenever I begin to go into wrong ways. I was reminded—in a rather entering, almost rough way—that feeling the need to bitch and regret our unhappy fates is a sign that we’re looking at the wrong side of the situation.
“Things might not be going the way you want them to be,” said my personal mentor, “and you may not be getting what you feel you deserve. But that’s life. It’s not fair. Instead of complaining, learn from what you’re given.”
And he added: “Remember to keep your opinions to yourself. Watch and learn, watch and learn.”
I’ve since come to realize (after much thought to the sound of sad, rainy day music) that success comes to those who don’t give up or give in to the temptation of violent manners. It’s so much easier to complain than it is to do something about it, so much easier to give good advice than to follow it.
And yet life is as generous with its blessings. How quickly we forget that having a job to angry about means we have a job at all, that parents who always involve are parents who care, and that hard work tends to reward the worker.
“Things which are equally bad are also equally good. Try to look at the bright side of things.”
Luckily, I have in my life people whose wisdom and experience happen to help guide me back to the right course whenever I begin to go into wrong ways. I was reminded—in a rather entering, almost rough way—that feeling the need to bitch and regret our unhappy fates is a sign that we’re looking at the wrong side of the situation.
“Things might not be going the way you want them to be,” said my personal mentor, “and you may not be getting what you feel you deserve. But that’s life. It’s not fair. Instead of complaining, learn from what you’re given.”
And he added: “Remember to keep your opinions to yourself. Watch and learn, watch and learn.”
I’ve since come to realize (after much thought to the sound of sad, rainy day music) that success comes to those who don’t give up or give in to the temptation of violent manners. It’s so much easier to complain than it is to do something about it, so much easier to give good advice than to follow it.
And yet life is as generous with its blessings. How quickly we forget that having a job to angry about means we have a job at all, that parents who always involve are parents who care, and that hard work tends to reward the worker.
“Things which are equally bad are also equally good. Try to look at the bright side of things.”
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Hundred Islands National Park
The Hundred Islands National Park (Pangasinan: Kapulo-puloan or Taytay-Bakes) is in the province of Pangasinan in northern Philippines. It is located in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. The islands (124 at low tide and 123 at high tide) are scattered along Lingayen Gulf and cover an area of 18.44 square kilometres (4,557 acres). They are believed to be about two million years old. Only three of them have been developed for tourists: Governor Island, Quezon Island, and Children's Island. The islands are actually ancient corals that extend well inland, in an area previously comprising the seabed of an ancient sea. Lowering sea levels have exposed them to the surface and the peculiar "mushroom"-like shapes of some of the islands have been caused by the eroding action of the ocean waves.
Why not visit one of the best places in the Philippines which has its own legend? They say that each of the hundred islands has come from the noble soldiers who fought for the country. Although there are several different islands, only three of them have been developed and are enjoyable from a tourist’s perspective: Governor Island, Quezon Island, and Children’s Island. It’s easy to get around, though – just take a bus ride to Anda Alaminos and rent a ferry bound to the island you want to stay. Children’s Island is named such because it is really perfect for youngsters – it is surrounded by shallow water, which is suitable and safe for children to play.
A trip to Hundred Islands National Park and its home, Alaminos City, is a great diversion from the hustle and bustle of the busy, urban life. Breathe in the refreshing views - rice paddies, azure sea - and the rustic and peaceful lifestyle as you make your way to Alaminos City. And upon arrival, savor the city's unique and dynamic spirit, friendly atmosphere and especially, the beauty and adventure that lies in the hundred wonders that is Hundred Islands.
Public bus lines, namely Victory Liner, Five Star, and Philippine Rabbit have scheduled rides from Manila, Baguio, Dagupan, Subic, Tarlac, and Zambales bound straight to Alaminos City and vice versa. From the terminal, either by private vehicle or tricycle, the Lucap Wharf is only a 10 to 15-minute ride away. You can find boats bound for the islands docked near the Wharf, with the Hundred Islands National Park Center staff eager to assist you with information and other things you'll need for your island adventure. The nearest islands from the Lucap Wharf are Sulpot Island, Monkey Island, Abad Santos Island and Hernandez Island, which are all 15 to 20 minutes away. The major islands, Children's, Governor's and Quezon can be reached after a 25 to 45-minute boat ride.
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