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When I went to Japan as an exchange student back in my college days, I learned to appreciate the people and the culture of this wonderful country. I don’t how much it has changed since I was last there in 1999, but back then it was as technologically modern and advanced as Japan has been reported to be. However, it still retained its unique culture that is impressive, to say the least. In train stations, you could still see older women wearing the traditional kimono. The art of bonsai-making is still as alive as ever as a testament to the creativity and unique genius of the Japanese people.

One of the art forms popular not only in Japan but around the world today is the anime or Japanese animation. Shows like Pokemon, Gundam and Dragon Ball attest to this. Interest in Japan- it’s people, language and culture- has even increased with the surge of popularity of anime.

In the internet, chatting with anime enthusiasts is possible through Anime Chat City. By just filling out a form, you can have instant access to anime chatrooms and talk with those who share your passion about this particular art form. It’s easy and best of all, it’s free. Click on the link above to get your daily dose of fun anime chat lines.

I was looking into my closet today and I realize how thoroughly “housewifish” it was. Seriously, I got lousy shirts, long summer dresses that has seen its day, and old sweaters that make no fashion statement at all. Well, not that I need to be fashionable when I’m doing laundry at home. But it would be better if once in a while, I’d wear something new at the very rare times I go out to party.

While searching the internet for the latest styles- I guess I’ve been out of the scene for far too long- I found Beatdrops Closet, an online clothing store that offers fashionable rave clothing at a reasonable price. They’ve got hoodies that simply stand out, expandable shorts and for the more daring, flashing multicolored LED sunglasses. Check out the link above to start browsing thru the beatdrops closet!

I am a pet lover. In fact, I have a pet dog- a shih tzu named Jewel- who my family and I simply adore. In my experience, Jewel not only serves her canine purpose as a guard dog, she also instinctively knows when I feel down or depressed. When I was still under chemotherapy and radiotherapy and would feel faint or dizzy, she would know and would never leave my side until I’d feel better. Once, she even saved my little Carmela’s life. Jewel didn’t stop barking until we checked our baby’s position on the bed and realized that she was almost smothered by an oversized pillow.

While it’s easy to acquire a pet, its day-to-day care requires more than pure love or affection. Grooming, feeding and regular vaccinations are part and parcel of responsible pet ownership. Thankfully, your local veterinarian and fellow pet lovers can help in this area. Pet Information can also be gleaned from Petwave, a website that gives an A-Z guide in caring for dogs and cats. It also gives detailed information of canine and feline basic care and nutrition, breeds and health, among others. It’s the first of its kind website on pet care and health management using today’s veterinary standards.

So if you’re thinking of getting a dog or a cat or if you want to deepen your knowledge in caring for a pet you already have, visit Petwave. Click on the link above to get started on your journey.

The streets are quiet here in Dumaguete. There is no sign of the usual melee of motorcycles, pedicabs and four-wheeled vehicles in the downtown area. This only happens when our very own Manny Pacquiao has a fight. And the whole city, make that the whole country, has not watched in vain. Pacman did it again, this time outshining and outboxing Oscar dela Hoya, another boxing great.

Congratulations Manny! All Filipinos everywhere are mighty proud of you!

It’s that time of the year again, when Christmas carols fill the air, when bedecked trees of green or white adorn houses, stores and offices, when shoppers busily splurge on gifts and things with their hard-earned bonuses. There’s always something about Christmas that makes everyone more occupied than they are the rest of the year.

And yet, with the economic downturns that the world is experiencing now, I can only wonder if Christmas is as merry as it was the years before. Sometimes, I’d like to think that it is, that it should be. Yet, when I see the difficulties around me, and experience the crunch myself, well, I don’t know if I still sound as positive. Without money, how else can we enjoy the “worldly spirit of the season”? That is, how can we shop and wine and dine?

The little child in me, however, reminds me now that Jesus is still the reason for the season. And in the midst of poverty and lack, the birth of Christ is what we celebrate- not the shopping, not the partying. Jesus was born in a lowly manger, after all, and the whole Christian world has celebrated this birth year after year. That should be enough.

My Christmas is Merry because of this. How about you? How Merry is your Christmas?

People are the heart and soul of any organization. That’s why HRDs or Human Resource Departments are present in most companies. Yet, it is also a fact that HR personnel spend majority of their time in routine, paper-heavy activities that are not only a waste of time
(for both employees and the company) but of creative talent and brains as well.

www.iEmployee.com has created the revolutionary iEmployee HR & Benefits, a “fully customizable and secure HR sofware solution” that manages most administrative tasks- from the hiring process, performance reviews, bonuses and compensation, open enrollment, employee self-service to benefits administration- thus allowing HR professionals to make more productive use of their time. For the tedious task of employee time tracking, iEmployee also has a Time and Attendance software that not only eliminates paper timekeeping hassles but also integrates seamlessly into the payroll and increases productivity. Because iEmployee is web-based, it can easily be implemented and has virtually zero IT impact.

To learn more about this revolutionary new software, click on Human Resources Management.

It has been said that works of literature and art speak to the soul. What I write or read a poem, for instance, I always glean a lesson or two which I can use in my own life or in my interpretation of the events of the world or the actions of people around me. Looking at works of art, like paintings for example, offers a similar kind of feeling. It’s amazing how an artist can use color and canvas to convey meaning and touch the soul.

Park West Gallery (www.parkwestgallery.com) with locations at Miami, Florida and Southfield, Michigan, as well as in major cruise ship auctions, offers the best in fine art from artists like Charles Lee, Arkady Ostritsky and Thomas Kinkade, among others. They have 400 experts who travel to international and domestic locations to seek out the best works that nourish the eye and the soul. Just recently, the gallery received the 2008 Best of Southfield Award in the Arts and Dealers Category by the U.S. Local Business Association. Park West is the life work and dedication of one man committed to the arts, Albert Scaglione.

Park West now presents Charles Lee whose contemporary and pleasing style is a must-see. Click on Charles Lee and Park West Gallery to view some of his sample work.

The future… ah, now that’s something people fear. With the knowledge that our life in this world is not forever, the uncertainty of what tomorrow brings is like the proverbial sword of Damocles that hangs over our heads. In the final analysis, death is the only thing certain in our tomorrow, whether we like to acknowledge it or not. And the way I see it, one of our responsibilities while we are still alive and well is to ensure that what we’ve worked so hard to achieve is kept safe and intact not only for our “sunset years”, but if possible, even further beyond- for our children and grandchildren as well.

Northern Trust is a company dedicated to serving its clients the world over with financial planning, private banking, business banking, investment management,and trust and estate services that help you confidently plan your family’s future, among others. They even have plans tailored to fit the needs of every individual- the business owner, the legal and medical professionals, the corporate executive as well as plans designed for families in transition. You can even make an impact to your community by establishing “a tradition of charitable giving” through the wide array of Northern Trust’s philanthropic services. Their very informative and easy-to-navigate website features news, insights, podcasts, that prospective customers and guests will find very helpful while the institution’s existing clients can easily access their accounts via the private passport of the company’s website.

Click on charitable trust to secure your future and that of your loved ones today. Learn more about Northern Trust’s services today!

I was in one of the internet cafes in the city about 9 days ago, happily downloading free lessons from the internet to my USB flash disk so I could use them to teach my two-year old at home (oh yes, I’m still a teacher at heart even if I haven’t been to a classroom in years). I was so engrossed with what I was doing as I clicked merrily away that when my husband came to pick me up, my head was already spinning with ideas and excitement for my little one’s, ahem, “home education.” I had also forgotten my USB flash disk.

I didn’t remember until I was about to go to bed that night. I woke my husband up, and at around ten o’clock in the evening, we went back to the internet cafe, hoping against hope that my precious flash disk would still be there. It wasn’t.

I was in tears. I cried not because of the files which I had downloaded- I can always download them again- but because pictures, photographs from my baby’s birth up to the present- was stored in that little silver contraption. That’s why I termed that USB “precious.” Close to a thousand family pictures chronicling my baby’s birth to her first step to all the joys and sorrows in between were saved in organized folders in that disk, and the thought of losing them was more than painful.

I prayed. I asked God to please touch the heart of whoever had my USB to return it. I asked Mama Mary’s intercession to lead the person who got it- for whatever reason- to do what was right. I only had one bond paper- sized poster placed at the same internet cafe so that the finder might know where to contact me in case he or she had the heart to return it.

Four days after that incident, I received a text message from the cafe attendant informing me that my USB flash disk was returned. God had answered my prayer. Truly, Mama Mary had interceded.

I never got to know who returned my USB. But to whoever you are, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. May God shower you with abundance because of your honesty. In this modern day and age, where exemplary virtues can sometimes be hard to come by, your honesty is proof positive that this is still a kind world.

I was going to share with you more amusing, fashionable, quaint, odd, and even downright dangerous tactics utilized by motorcycle drivers and their riders in Dumaguete City (see my previous post “Scenes from the Motorcycle”). However, a very serious incident happened which made me decide to write about this instead. This very unpleasant scene was experienced by my sister-in-law and a friend (and I’m pretty sure that this is also shared by countless others in the city) just recently, and it is caused by man’s best friend.

They were navigating a turn when her friend who was driving spotted a medium-sized dog sitting by the side of the road. She slowed down, anticipating the dog to cross. When the canine showed no sign of doing so, she continued on. And then in a sudden flash of movement, the dog ran, right smack into the gap between the wheels of the motorcycle, causing it to jam, and immobilizing the handlebars. As a consequence, my sister-in-law’s friend got badly bruised on the chest, arms and legs, my sister-in-law got nasty abrasions on her legs, and the suicidal creature who was the root cause of the said accident still managed to run away. When they asked the bystanders living in the area who witnessed the accident whose dog it was, all they got were negative answers of “I don’t know.”

I’ve already written about dogs causing pointless accidents in our streets in one of my previous in columns in the MetroPost before. And if I’m not mistaken, the provincial government has already stepped up the drive in ensuring that our streets are free of strays and rabid canines that make driving a living hell, especially for those on single MCs.

But it is still a fact that more needs to be done. And whether the effort comes from the barangay, city or provincial levels or the dog owners themselves, the problem of street dogs can only be solved through concerted effort. Please, this is an appeal for a more determined, resolute action against this problem. To the authorities: impound strays, make dog tags mandatory (and ensure that every dog has one), and make sure that they are all vaccinated. To all dog owners, keep your dogs within your fences, put them on a leash when you take them out walking unless they are very well trained to heed your every command, have them vaccinated especially against rabies, and if in spite of all your precautions they still manage to get out of the gate and cause some poor driver or their rider to fall off their vehicles, please be responsible enough to own your pet and help out the victims in whatever way you can.

There are already a number of documented and undocumented motorcycle accidents in the city caused by these dogs. But being the City of Gentle People that we are, perhaps we are taking this matter way too gently for our own good. All of us, authorities, residents, dog owners, pet lovers, every single one of us, are too passive where this issue is concerned. We already have laws, but they need to be strictly implemented if any impact is to be felt.

We are a motorcycle city. People of all ages, including the very young (I mean parents who bring their month-old infants to ride with them) and the very old use this modern convenience to get around. It is high-time that we make the city streets safer by taking dogs out of the picture. Unless they’re taking a walk with their masters, dogs don’t belong on the streets. Their rightful place is within the fences or walls of the homes they so fiercely protect. Not the sidewalk, not the side streets, not the main thoroughfares, not the highways. Dogs don’t belong on the streets, and it is our responsibility to keep them off it.

How does one stay happy? Amidst the increasing prices of goods and our daily “battles” to put food on the table, amidst the grief of losing our loved ones, amidst all the challenges that life throws at us each and everyday, can we stay truly happy?
In the recent “World Happiness Index Survey,” the researchers found that “people of rich countries tend to be happier than those of poor countries”. Ronald Inglehart, a political scientist, who headed the survey, said: “The results clearly show that the happiest societies are those that allow people the freedom to choose how to live their lives.” (see livescience.com for more on this report).

Personally, I’d like to agree that people who are free and are given a vast array of opportunities to live their lives to the fullest, are the ones who are more fulfilled, and of course, more happy. Although money doesn’t really buy “authentic” happiness, it’s certainly easier to stay happy if you have some dough in your pocket based on my personal experience.

Yet, what’s amazing with Filipinos (being one myself) is that despite our lack of monetary and financial resources, we are able to laugh at life’s problems. Of course this does not necessarily equate to happiness, but as a people, we are resilient enough to keep hope and faith and laughter alive against all odds. We have the ability to laugh and cry at the same time and still maintain our sanity. I suppose when all that we have is lost, then what else is left to do? Crying won’t change things and complaining only stresses us even more. But keeping a positive outlook and laughing at the problem? Now that’s the best medicine!

Devastating. This is the only word I could think of as I watched the horrendous aftermath of Typhoon Frank that swept the Philippines last week. Destroyed homes, power disruptions, food and water shortages in provinces like Iloilo marked the fury of the storm. But of all these, Frank showed the full force of his wrath with the sinking of MV Princess of the Stars in Sibuyan Island, Romblon. Only a handful of the more than 800 passengers on board survived the tragedy.

As I watch on TV the family members of the passengers of the ill-fated vessel, I can’t help but empathize with their grief. Those faces that are at all at once hopeful and yet hopeless, expectant yet resigned, mirror sorrow in its most profound form. Not knowing what has happened to a loved one, whether a child, husband, wife, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt, grandparent or friend is still alive or already dead is perhaps the worst form of torture imaginable. How could there ever be closure for them?

Having lost my father recently, I understand the importance of holding vigils, saying prayers and finally, of laying him to rest as vital in the bereavement process. This period somehow eases the initial shock of losing someone so dear, and these ceremonies, if they so be called, smoothens the transition of letting go, and of ultimately accepting the reality of death. I am by no means done with grieving. I don’t think one can ever be “finished grieving.” Perhaps, only time can assuage the pain that death brings. But my only consolation is that deep in my heart, I know that my father is in a far better place, and this helps me a lot in being able to go on with my life.

But what about those whose family members are still waiting for news of their loved ones aboard MV Princess of the Stars? The agony of not knowing where they are, the torture of not being able to give a proper burial- these intensify the feelings of grief a million times over. I can only pray that God give them the courage and the faith to face this trial in their lives. I also hope that the shipping company understands and takes to heart the needs and requests of these relatives. The news on TV features them complaining of their requests going on deaf ears, of not being given sufficient information, of being left in the dark.

I hope that Sulpicio Lines doesn’t treat the passengers on board their boat as mere statistical losses. Everyone on board that ship was once a flesh-and-blood member of a family. He or she had dreams, had loved, had cried, had trusted the shipping company’s judgments enough to travel in the midst of impending storm. Thus, the concerns of their loved ones must be addressed and heard.

Frank’s wrath has subsided for now, but we are left to grapple with the devastation and ruin that he brought on us as a people. Let’s take a moment to say a little prayer to those who were lost in the storm, holding on to the faith in our hearts that though their families may not see them again or may not have the chance to lay their bodies to the grave, God has already brought the souls of those who had perished to the tranquil seas of their Heavenly Home.

What happens now? This is the question I always ask myself now that my dad has already been laid to rest. People around me say that life doesn’t stop with death, that there are a still a lot of things that those of us left in this mortal world have to occupy ourselves with, that there are still people who need us. Relatives and friends remind me that I still have a daughter who is only two years old who is dependent on me for everything. And I know that.

Despite this, however, there are moments when I simply can’t move or do what needs to be done. Grief can be very crippling and though I try so hard to let go, part of me seems to want to hold on to the memory of a father who lived so bravely and loved ever so deeply. This might sound too emotional but I know that nothing will ever be the same, that a part of me has died too.

Writing seems the only release for me now. But this I can’t even do without shedding a tear, and I feel so tired and drained at this constant sorrow that hangs over me everyday. How does one cope with such loss? What happens now? Will I ever heal? These are just some of the questions that I ask myself during these trying times. I only pray that God and Mama Mary will give me the strength to go on living. I need that very much.

The motorcycle. Ah, what an indispensable modern-day convenience! Compared to four-wheeled vehicles, it has its own distinct advantages. For one, it’s cheaper by a long shot. Those of us in the upper level of the poverty line can at least afford to buy or loan one. It’s also more economical to use. With the rising gasoline prices nowadays, a fifty peso tank refill can at least get us to the market and back (albeit when I was in college, it used to get me all over the place for three days). Last but not the least, the motorcycle is traffic-resistant. With a skilled defensive driver, the single MC can easily swerve past rows of cars, easy rides and pedicabs jammed in our narrow city streets, and get us to our destination faster with time left to spare. Indeed, the motorcycle combines the ease of a bicycle and the speed of a car in one sleek and useful package.

Yet, with all its virtues, there is one thing that the motorcycle sorely lacks: It does not protect its riders from the elements. Heat, wind, rain, dust and smoke—the brunt of all these have to be borne by its riders. Add to this list suicidal street dogs madly dashing through the highways, drunken or otherwise stoned pedestrians and/or drivers, and reckless or imprudent drivers in general, who make life miserable and downright dangerous to the majority of decent and courteous motorcycle-riding public in this city.

Things being already as they are, we who ride our single MCs everyday have to deal, and our coping mechanisms have resulted to some rather peculiar scenes from the motorcycle:

1. The Masks. I don’t recall the Dumaguete motorcycle riders in my youth wearing masks. Back then, masks—whether they were surgical types, gauze ones or the wash-and-wear kinds—were only worn in hospitals. Not now. The increasing number of vehicles plying our city streets and the growing incidence of smoke belchers have made masks a necessity to the MC riders, especially to those of us whose lungs are too weak to take on all the pollution.

2. The “Hand” Mask. In the absence of a mask, the hand shall suffice. It looks quite peculiar at first, but on hindsight, I think this position not only makes for protection from dust and pollution, it also makes for safety: The backrider covers his or her own mouth and nose with her right hand and uses his or her left hand to shield that of the driver’s, leaving the driver free to maneuver the vehicle.

3. The Arm Gloves. Sunscreen just won’t do. The more enterprising entrepreneurs noticed darkened arms of the poor motorist since they are the body parts most exposed to the sun’s heat, and decided to make arm gloves. They look like regular gloves, except they’re longer (arm-length) with open ends at the knuckles (perhaps keeping the knuckles unwrapped helps motorists retain their grip on the throttle). At sixty pesos, they sell like hotcakes not only to single MC drivers, but to pedicab drivers as well, who only utilize one glove to protect their exposed left arm. Those without arm gloves improvise by inserting both arms into long-sleeved polos in much the same way that doctors would when they touch babies inside incubators.

4. The Overturning Umbrellas. When it rains, motorcyclists can either seek shelter and wait when the downpour stops before continuing their journey or go on regardless of the shower. The more prepared of us, however, readily open the handy umbrellas we’ve brought along. Most of the time, our tight grip would prove no match for the fury of the wind, which would cause our multi-colored, multi-sized sunshades to overturn, resulting in a rather comical scene of a man (or woman) fighting with an umbrella to the delight of other riders and pedestrians.

5. The Motorcycle Raincoat. Raincoats come in all shapes and sizes, but the most ingenious ones are those especially made for motorcycle riders. A long time ago, single MC riders had to contend with getting their lower extremities wet when the rainy season comes around. That was when raincoats were still cut a tad too short at the knees. Now, however, they are cut long enough at the front to protect the driver’s arms and legs from getting wet. Others are big enough to “hide” the backrider.

DUMAGUETE CITY- The torrential downpour this week turned an otherwise mundane spillway in Bagacay into something of a tourist spot. My husband and I were making our way towards the Hypermart when we realized we could not get across because the overflow, well, overflowed. The heavy rains had so increased the water level that it flooded the road and caused torrents of brown, muddy river water to gush down at incredible speeds, rendering it impassable to most motorcycles, pedicabs and any other two-to-three wheel contraptions known to man.

To most that is. Because there were not a few brave souls who dared to cross the raging surge, and their attempts, successful or not made for a rather entertaining show to those of us who watched. Some adolescent boys also earned some dough pushing these bold riders to safety as their vehicles stalled in the middle or near the end of the violent flow. The fearless (or perhaps they were practical- turning back means more gasoline, and thus more money spent) drivers who dared the tide also employed different tactics just to make it through. There was one pedicab carrying a full load of passengers whose driver decided that accelerating all the way was the key to a successful cross. Other motorcyclists thought that going slow as one traverses the tide and then accelerating near the end in order to get the their vehicles out of the water was a better idea. One man on a bicycle mulled over his situation and thought that carrying his bike and wading across was his best option.

Many of those who revved up their engine and accelerated from start to finish ended up getting stuck near the end. Those who went slow at first, and then going full throttle near the end had better chances of not stalling, while the man who decided to carry his bike and wade across successfully made it through with his pride and his bike intact.

That scene on a rainy Tuesday afternoon reminded me about the gushing torrents of trials and ordeals that we face in our journey through life, and our responses to them. When faced with troubles, do we hurry through- anxious to get out of it as fast as we can-and curse whoever we can for allowing us to suffer? Or do we tread the waters cautiously, carefully feeling the way, allowing ourselves to immerse in the problem and learn a lesson or two from it?

One of the pamphlets which I got from Carmel Church in Lipa, Batangas is entitled Suffering: How to Make the Greatest Evil In Our Lives Our Greatest Happiness by Fr. Paul Sullivan,O.P. Contrary to the notion that suffering is evil, he writes that “suffering is not simply an evil, for no one suffered more than the Son of God Himself, more than His Blessed Mother or more than the Saints. Every suffering comes from God [because] nothing happens to us without His wish or permission.” Fr. Sullivan believes that God allows people to suffer “because He is asking us to take a little share in His Passion… God suffered all the dreadful pains of His Passion for each one of us. How can we refuse to suffer a little for love of Him?” If borne with the utmost patience, he said that suffering becomes the gold in our lives, bringing out all that is good in us. “Those who have suffered are usually the most charming people.” The key, he says, to graciously bearing all our sufferings whether they are trifle ones or major agonies is to “accept them with serenity and patience. What really makes suffering difficult to bear is our own impatience, our revolt, our refusal to accept it. This irritation increases our sufferings a hundredfold and, besides, robs us all the merit we could have gained thereby.” Besides, God does not allow us to suffer alone. If we ask for help from the Almighty to bear our sufferings, then He gives us the strength to bear our troubles. Fr. Sullivan shares the experience of one doctor who published an article in the secular press on the power of prayer. The doctor claimed that: “Prayer is the greatest power in the world.” He further shared: “I and my colleagues frequently see that many of our patients, whom we have failed to cure or whose pains we have failed to alleviate, have cured themselves by prayer. I speak now not of the prayers of holy people, but the prayers of ordinary Christians.”

This doctor’s proclamation reminded me of my oncologist’s reaction three years ago when he noticed vast improvements in my cancer after only my second chemotherapy. He asked me if I prayed, and when I answered in the affirmative, he nodded his head and said: “Pagpatuloy mo ‘yan. Mahal ka ng Diyos.” (Just keep on praying. God loves you.) Fr. Sullivan also urges his readers (as I do) to ask the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary in our times of suffering, saying: “God gave her all the immense graces necessary to make her the perfect Mother of God, but He also gave her all the graces, the tenderness, the love necessary to be our most perfect and loving Mother.” Certainly, the intercession of the Mother of God is a very puzzling, if not difficult, concept to accept for some, but from one who has experienced the power of her miraculous intervention, I can only say that Our Blessed Lady loves us immensely.

We all have our personal overflows to cross everyday in our lives. Whether we choose to step on the gas and accelerate all the way to the end, or go slow, immerse in the tide or carry our bikes and wade through the turbulent waters, we can be assured that God, like the adolescent boys standing by the overflow, is ever ready to help. Their only difference is, God doesn’t ask for pennies or anything in return. He only requires our faith.

We make decisions everyday. Things as trivial as what to eat, drink or wear all have to be decided on. Of course the more serious ones like where to go for college, what career to pursue or when to settle down absolutely have to be thought over and eventually have to be resolved. Come to think of it, we have to keep on making decisions every single moment of our lives—unless, of course, we encounter situations or are placed in circumstances that are totally beyond our control. Accidents, for example, belong to that sphere far beyond the reach of any human power. They are unexpected, undesigned and often unfortunate occurrences which involve embarrassment at the least and death at the most. Sickness, too, when they come, especially when you’ve kept away from vices and have lived a generally healthy lifestyle before the diagnosis hit, also belongs to that realm that leaves one bereft of that capacity to make decisions. We hear of individuals who don’t smoke getting lung cancer and transfusion patients contracting infection from AIDS-contaminated blood. It’s completely out of their hands and most of the time, it’s unfair.

Yes, at that precise moment when these mishaps strike, we are left completely helpless and at the mercy of the whims of a very cruel fate. But once the shock has subsided, it is reassuring to know that the power to decide has not completely left us. We can and still have to deal with the aftermath. After all, once placed in such conditions, we have no other choice but to deal with it—and dealing with it usually involves a hefty lot of decision making. For instance, when I got sick, a lot of things had to be decided on: To proceed or not with the treatments, to go home or stay in Manila, to curse the high heavens and blame them about my plight or pray and psyche myself up to beat the cancer. The decisions that my family and I made were not easy ones. They were even quite painful. But what is life without pain anyway? John Patrick in his play The Teahouse of the August Moon wisely puts it thus: “Pain makes man think. Thinking makes man wise. Wisdom makes life endurable.” Every resolution that is of consequence in our lives involves pain as decision-making is by nature a tortuous, agonizing process. However, when we know that we’ve considered all the pros and cons, weighed all there is to reflect on and prayed about it unceasingly, then the decision, no matter how tough, can be made with peace of mind and heart.

It takes courage to make sound judgments. Sometimes, it’s even easier to not accept the reality of the situation, bewail our fate and simply just give up. But the men and women worth their salt make it their choice to be face life head-on. The decision to live a courageous life amid all of life’s battles can be a conscious choice. And how do we do that? Victoria Lincoln in The Arts of Living has an answer that we can ponder on:

“Courage begins when we can admit that there is no life without some pain, some frustration; that there is no tragic accident to which we are immune; and that beyond the normal exercise of prudence we can do nothing about it.

But courage goes on to see that the triumph of life is not in pains avoided, but in joys lived completely in the moment of their happening. Courage lies in never taking so much as a good meal or a day of health and fair weather for granted. It lies in learning to be aware of our moments of happiness as sharply as our moments of pain. We need not be afraid to weep when we have cause to weep, so long as we can really rejoice at every cause for rejoicing.”

Filipinos love celebrations. In Dumaguete alone, we have barely gotten over the Buglasan mania and preparations for the city fiesta are already in full swing. With December just around the bend, Christmas also smells wonderfully close. Of course New Year follows, then Valentines and then …but I’m getting ahead of myself. You do get the picture, don’t you? Fiestas and celebrations are part and parcel of the Filipino (perhaps, even the human) psyche. We just love festivals!

But we don’t have to wait for fiestas or special family occasions to come around so we can party. Life is reason enough for a toast. In fact, I’ve noticed that the more I found reasons to celebrate, the more life gets placed in perspective. So what really makes life worth celebrating?

Family comes first in my list. I savor every precious moment of my daughter’s infectious laughter and my husband’s firm resolve. Of course, when it comes to family, I must not forget to mention Jewel, my “eldest daughter,” whose canine loyalty is far more precious than any material possession that I have.

The next best thing to family is food—especially Italian fare. Savoring very creamy and cheesy pizzas and pastas have become a very precious treat. And now that it’s also imperative for me to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, I’m giving my taste buds a workout with varied tastes and textures. Everyday is a fiesta with sweet lansones, chilled watermelons and would you believe, steamed okra dipped in salt and vinegar.

Then, there are pictures. With the invention of camera phones, priceless moments are captured easily and printed just as quickly. Photographs capture that once-in-a-lifetime instant when a face cannot look exactly as it did at any other time, when a first step was taken, when the triumph of a victory or the pain of loss is as genuine as the day it was felt. When I look at the photos I have of my daughter—from the time I first held her in the delivery room up to now—I always find a reason to celebrate.

I always get a kick out of people whose eyes narrow and jaws drop whenever they see me. So on my list, I always find a cause to celebrate when I see old acquaintances and yes, even relatives, who disbelieve that I’m still alive. Sometimes I even get the feeling that others wish me dead just to prove what they want to believe. So I celebrate everyday of the life that the good Lord has given me so that I can continue to proclaim how wonderful He is and how truly effective Mama Mary’s intercession is. Of course, the jaw dropping gets pretty hilarious sometimes, so a bash is always in order every time that happens.

Last but not the least, I find reason to celebrate in everything that Life throws at me. The joys, fears, uncertainties, sadness, anger and grief—all sorts of emotions and sentiments that make this existence colorful and vibrant are more than enough for a toast. Dreams fulfilled and dreams yet to be realized, the everyday struggle to either succumb or fight—all these scream for a celebration. Because despite all of life’s punches, it’s still good to be alive.

MANILA- 2007 is now only a distinct memory. Yet for me, it certainly did not go quietly away. Like the fireworks that lit up the Manila skies from midnight to dawn of December 31, 2007 to January 1, 2008, the year that just closed was one fraught with colorful- sometimes dazzling, sometimes deadly- displays. And that’s just on my own turf. In the realm of politics, calamities and showbusiness, 2007 can certainly boast of its just share in the limelight.

As our little family watched the dark skies light up with the rainbow of colors that herald the coming of the new year, as we listened to the ear-splitting sounds of whistle bombs, triangles and baby rockets in our midst, it suddenly occurred to me that all these noise and fanfare are simply forerunners of the year ahead. Just like any other year that came and went, 2008 will certainly have its share of surprises, trials and accomplishments. Just like any other year, it will give opportunities and take them away without batting an eyelash. And just like any other year, it will have the same number of month, weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds that it always has. Yet, like every time it came and went, the New Year always gives a frayed humanity what it sorely needs: hope.

Although I’ve made the New Year speak like it was some sort of pyschic offering us a glimpse of the future, the truth of the matter is that 2008 or time for that matter, doesn’t have a hand in what happens to the world, to our country or to us. It simply gives us a blank page, an empty calendar in which to work on. It allows us to close the year before with all its successes, failures and emotional baggage and gives us a fresh slate in which to work anew. Though by no means does it give us rose-colored glasses or reason to believe that things will certainly work for us this time, every New Year gives us endless possibilities. It presents prospects for improving our lives, our health and our relationships. It allows us that precious chance to make of ourselves something better, aspire for things greater than ourselves, and ultimately get down to business to do the work necessary to make all these happen.

We are already given the groundwork to pursue our hearts’ desire- all the time that the Year of the Rat holds stretches out for us like an empty highway that extends to that place we could call success, contentment or achievement. And because we are mortal, 2008 could also lead us to that eternal sleep which only God can wake us from. Yet, even with such ominous acceptance of our own mortality, the New Year confers on us the hope that in spite of it all, we could still live our lives and make our mark in this world. For in the final analysis, it is the hope of something better, be it in this life or the next, that urges us to face life head on.