#4 Scary, Isn't It?

Do you believe that the dead communicate with the living? How could you imagine that a person after departing the physical world can make some noticeable and fearing acts? Would it be possible for a dead to interfere through tangible things or even to our dreams? Well, that sounds so scary. Others, say it is impossible but for me, it is definitely yes.  A simple yet interesting story of mine has been very disgusting.

                I will never forget that time. I was still in grade two then when my uncle died due to some complicated diseases. I maybe just a little child by that time, however, I can intimately feel the pain of losing a relative and seeing the red and teary eyes of my parents and cousins. It was a very difficult moment for the entire family knowing that one life has been quenched and that, it is irreversible. At that time, I have a very great fear with wakes of the dead.  So, I keep on holding the hand of my mother fearing that maybe the dead will drag me. After all, that is just a fictional dream of a little child like me.

                The wake lasts for ten days. The burial followed which has been very emotional for the members of the family. Not knowing that this would signal the start of our happy yet scary experience about the dead. The first day after the burial sounds peculiar. We keep on hearing that the plates, spoons and forks were falling down the floor. My aunt unafraid ran down the stairs and turn on the light. I hurried toward her; however we are surprised to see that the utensils are well arranged. My aunt felt happy. I can’t do the same for I was shaking because of nervousness. The elders in the family were seemingly shocked, yet happy for they felt the presence of my uncle.  That strange thing happened successively for seven days. For one week of experiencing those things, we are almost used to it, that we disregarded it from our attention.

                On the eight day, we do not hear any tinkling of the spoon or any falling objects in the kitchen, rather when we are deeply asleep, a very extraordinary thing happened. Surprisingly, in the middle of our deep rest, we were awakened by a leaking gasul smell. My uncle’s wife noticed it first. She rushed immediately into the kitchen. I followed my aunt, and I was really surprised to see that the gasul was turned on and there is a flame in the stove that slowly dies out.  The fire disappeared accordingly with the sound of the switch as if someone has turned it on and off. We cannot explain our feelings on that moment. It is as if we are looking on as show. All the members of the family who witnessed it could not even utter a word, except for one person whose tears flowed freely- my aunt. She reminisced the times when my uncle was still alive. He is fond of cooking different foods for us. Then, we realized, that those things that happened were just about the expression of our uncle for us, that he is still there at our side.

                It may be hard for us to understand the true value of life. It is a mystery that we ought to know after every coming and passing of a brother or sister. Definitely, life her on earth and on the eternal world are different. In some instance, I firmly believe that there is a communication that exists between the people who passed away. So long as we shall live in accordance with the truth, faith and care for others will we be able to live and value life.

#3 I Stop to Say Thank You Mama, Papang

  Life comes in many shapes. What we are most especially into and who we are rely solely on our preferences we have undertaken. Above all, it is also determined in to the environment that molded us into a unique and distinct beings. This environment that prepares us for this whole life, active and dynamic interaction is the family. 

    What comes into your mind when you hear the word family? Surely it would be associated with mother, father, sister and brother. Definitely these people, most of the time surround us as we grow and understand life the way we interact with them. It is in them, that we most of the time hold for something- great inspiration and strength as we face life's daily consequences. When I was in my elementary years,my family is the one who cheers me up. My father personally goes to school to warn those students who tease and quarrel with me. 


    How about this present time? I use to ponder the harsh and brute incidents today that maligns family relations. One example is my neighbor's son who is a drug addict which I could say lack of guidance from his parents. I am scared whenever they quarrel, trying to hurt each one until blood comes out. That maybe is one of the worst and humiliating scenarios I've ever had. Another resident of our sitio who is paralyzed and has a son, an addict drinker and drug abuser. I just can't hardly imagine how they manage themselves when I hear their house trembling with flying objects. If that is the case, how do people nowadays value and honor family? 


    In my recent observation, I find it sad to say that some people nowadays neglect family values and importance. Some choose and stick to human desires for fulfillment. Professionals who are "workaholic", are so focused on their works and appointments and sometimes forgot that they have families waiting for them. On the other hand, there are also family oriented individuals who put emphasis on unity among family which is shown by their dedication to their family members. One example is their willingness to to eat meals together and share the day's experiences. However, I seldom see it these days. As time pass by, high cost of living mandates going outside the country and massive call to work hard and finding greener pasture for which family is the main reason. It is true that still family is of great importance to us but due to the imperatives of these times, we are agitated to sacrifice our valued things for the sake of that certain aim.


    I use to think that this present world are so complicated to deal with. I realized that what I am today is because of my parents who inculcated the different values and direction of my life. They are the founders and heads of the family. I use to hear it from sayings that they our first teachers and, yes, exactly. They are our guides, supporters and believers. I want to thank them  by showing that the values and principles that they have taught to me remain in my heart and mind. For me, it is in through showing them that what they have invested, all the hardships they've been, are worthy and meritorious enough to consider. Their ultimate success is to see  their sons and daughters achieving, learning and living life as it should be. 


    Life is full of surprises. This can be an opportunity that may seek through a door we might not know we left open. As we live together  with our valued love ones and friends, it is of no doubt that we may be be able to attain different spectrum of success. It propels us into a destination that suits our nature and kind. This can be achieved through our family--our parents that get our attention every time we move, our friends who remind us that we are loved and God,who places us into the right and prolific way always. I might see myself as a credible, registered and satisfied chemical engineer ten years from now. I am seeing myself to have achieved the things that is meant for me. The mission inculcated in my dreams and goals are simultaneously coming into its reality. 




    Life differs in shape. There are many intervening factors that pulsates in our way. Be it a problem, an inspiration or a challenge to take, we are still enabling ourselves to pursue and extend the spirit of a fighter to sustain another round. Our parents whose main success is our success requires a thank you that must originate from our hearts. We emulate what we mostly see into the requirement of our environment. What is important is that, we know how to distinguish right from wrong, value people who have been part of the journey and above all, learn to stop and say, thank you mama,papang. By learning so, we perform the necessities to succeed. 
    
    

#2Critical Thinker, Am I?

    As I am reading a certain journal presented by the National Aeronautics Space Agency regarding about Titan, being one of the Saturn's prominent satellite, has a capability of sustaining life, I easily took a deep breath, ponder for a while and question came immediately rushing into my mind; does it have an atmosphere? Is it capable of sustaining biological needs such water, food and shelter? Are their facts and evidences reliable enough to be considered?

    That is the way how I read an article. It is not a sort of any confrontation or opposition regarding about the said matter. It is just that I find it curious and more intriguing enough to some information where I feel new and uncommon to it.In some ways, whenever I read articles or printed materials that is against my dogma, I immediately want to finish it reading, then I do comparison and contrast. It boggles my mind whenever I cannot weigh and compare it with my own understanding or belief.




    This mentality has been triggered in an encounter with one of my board mates in which he is a Seventh -Day Adventist. I have read an article of him reprobating principles which for some of it I do firmly believe ever since. I easily made a break and glance for a while and with deep breath, I readily criticized it. I throw several questions. I did not believe on it. However, I have considered some of its sophisticated and maybe valid point of views.

    I find myself really in that kind of mentality, fond of subjecting different thoughts, ideas and ideologies in accordance with my status quo perspective. I don't know how to categorize myself and what kind of attribute I do have. It was like that until I enter the university with College English I as one of my subjects. Their I know and able to define more myself- as a critical reader and for some reason also a critical writer.

    Critical reading based on my readings and researches is defined as an in depth interpretation of any written text in a literal or figurative perspective and taking into consideration its structured thoughts and ideas. In my own point of view, I can consider myself of having possessed this kind of trait because of my several observations and evaluation. Foremost is that I am fan of reading several passages that arose my ability to ask and question delicate and controversial issues or topics.

    In considering myself as a critical reader and thinker, I have identified several criteria that qualifies me of being such. One thing is that I easily catch up and judge objectively ideas of authors. In that practice, I then knew I am practicing the SQR3 method. It is not that ultimately I do survey however, maybe researching could be an example. Questioning ability most of the time works for me. For some instances, it fluctuates maybe for some uninteresting attempt.

    Secondly, highly intellectual dissertations or articles that bang my head up are usually for me subjected to some related article comparison that  will tell me more about the main insights of  the page or article. I do most of the time, comparing and contrasting to evaluate and understand more the had-to-be-simplified words and logical presentations of different authors. It can, for me at ease bring up novel expectations, ideas and thoughts and somehow apply it for various applicable upbringings.

    Lastly, in my sense of intellectual practice, reading and writing is always  part of the process of learning and acquiring new and interesting pieces of information that will lend a hand to my barren and vacuum initial state of  thinking. It is an instrumental way in delivering raw, fresh and delightful messages to  everyone. Through critical reading and writing, I practice true professionalism of the real world scenario and be able to sustain support to our young and to be developed minds.


   

   

#1 My Mission in Life

•    " Each of us in this world is called for a mission, a mission that embodies and grows our younger determination and thoughts to a dream- until it becomes a reality".

   That is the thought I once said to myself pondering for my mission in this world. It is in no way I can tell to myself to believe in such the dreams of others, for I know I am really not. Life is broad, and with its vastness, I cannot just simply pinpoint where room or division will I be belonging to. Confusion a little bit crumples my juvenile mind to the extent of realizing that the road is a bit winding ahead. We have all woke up in this noisy, confusing and influencing society that tarnishes our unhardened mind until it becomes shiny enough to reflect the real world. We have all incurred our least till the greatest potentials up to the point of realizing our real role in this material world.

   I know by myself that I am growing- cracking the seed coat of my immaturity and dependence of one's pieces of advice from my parents and family whom I know is training me to explore and know my mission in life. I can still remember in my earlier years. It was when at my first grade that I heard the word "mission". A thought I bore in my mind was just a memorizing piece of our school. Simply, like any other oral exam, is to stand up in front and recite it. As I grew up accompanied by a mature intellectual perspective, I realized that having mission in life is not just meant to be memorized, but to be internalized. It is a greater way and direction that propels our bare feet to where we should be.

   I was raised into a family who is contented of just eating either two or three times a day, sending us to school with insufficient money to buy food and most of the time, with an achy stomach. Then, their I was called up for a very great mission- to uplift my family from the devastating poverty. My mission in life is my ultimate goal that I've wanted to achieve. Aiming with higher ideals in life is my way of doing it. The task of being a good and responsible son to my family is the very first proponent in achieving so. I also believed that this worthwhile mission will be achieved by education. Being a good student, a responsible,amiable and a model of a real fighter is what i wanted to establish. 

   My mission  must be viewed with optimism and courage to pursue even with the greatest barrier of one's journey. For in that, with the greatest obstruction in life will we testify the wholesome and undying spirit of a warrior that is moved by the affection of the glaring mission in life.
                  

   Anyone who is called for a mission and fall shortly out of his or her determination must stand up straight but flexible at any depression like a bamboo at the middle at the storm. That is my main lesson learned in life. There is no secret and trick in life in gaining what you want aside from setting up a mission that will remind us every time we act and fall. It is in our deepest extremes- joys and sorrows that we experience life's true shower of delight that encompasses our ability to integrate and assimilate different stimuli, either facts or fallacies. Then our cognitive sense endure our personal sensation of promulgating the humanitarian nature of our being- establishing a firm proposition that is meant for me as a mission. 

   My mission of overthrowing poverty in our clan sounds ambitious if been worked out of jealousy, greed and pride. It needs a clearer structuring of thoughts, ideas and plans to oppress the place which poverty has stolen in my life. As such life can be made worthy, prolific and productive if proper setting up of mission can be well articulated. I sometimes feel inspired with those people who have challenging experiences in life yet had surpassed and made it as his or her stepping stone to the environment where he or she should belong. And that is the truth, our mission in life clearly defines ourselves after experiencing the demands of our social interests that touches our emotional ego to the point of aiming ,wanting, and searching for it. 

   The challenge of having it is not the mission itself, but how well and how will you design and enrich yourself to attain it. I realized that in my way of reaching and fulfilling my mission of overthrowing poverty is the real life per se. Life after that is merely a reward - and through those ways will you be able to tell yourself that you've finally fulfill your mission. It is in our clear intents that by surpassing all those established ideals that our hearts may be freed from all dehumanizing anxieties. 

   A mission for me is a well articulated dream that originates from our innate personalities, joys and wants. My want of tasting a better life and eating a good meal pushed me to a mission shadowed with a great inspiration in life- with the Almighty God and my family will I finally reach the destination.

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