When you know that a beggar is just acting out and is just fooling every one but you still gave him alms, are you actually committing a sin wherein you are enabling the beggar to continue fooling everyone around?

I keep on wondering about this. A beggar is acting out that his son is invalid. The son is clearly a special kid but a lot of people already said that the kid can actually walk. The beggar, the kid’s father, curses out loud when they’re not in their “roles” and they would even walk smugly down the road. The father and son tandem can be seen in Quiapo Church, Baclaran Church and most recently, the Sto. Domingo Church. It is at the last church where I see them every weekend. I just can’t stomach how the father is using his son to beg for money. He would even stand up when it’s the offertory already, silently forcing those near them to give them the money instead of giving it to the church. I wouldn’t have any problems with that normally but since I know that the father and son beggars are just fooling the people giving them alms…

There are beggars who look stronger than a horse. I don’t know why they insist on begging when they can find work instead. The father/beggar I am talking about looked to be strong and healthy. Imagine carrying his “invalid” son on his shoulders when the kid is clearly overweight, possibly around 150 pounds. Isn’t that as healthy as a horse???

I am so sorry my dear Entrecard friends! I was not able to drop for the past two days due to the typhoon that hit the city of Manila. All communication lines were shut down, affected by the very strong winds brought on by the typhoon Basyang. Electricity was cut off as well. In some places, there wasn’t even water supply.

I got my DSL connection working again as soon as we got back our electric supply. Unfortunately, intermittent connection prevented me from dropping.

Anyway, it seems the internet connection is quite steady now. I am keeping my fingers crossed so I can start dropping cards again.

Happy Friday to all!

There is just something about colorful places. It reminds you of innocence and being a kid once more. Running around barefoot and not minding the dirt and the surroundings. This is what I often feel when see a place with so many beautiful colors in it. It’s like looking in a kaleidoscope of sorts.

I love reminiscing about the past. And when something triggers it, I feel really good. You can say I had a great childhood. Today, I feel that way. All because of some lively colors.

I wish I can throw my worries to the wind and just let tomorrow take care of itself. But that would be irresponsible of me. If I am only thinking of myself, I can do that. But since at least four people are relying on me, I can’t just put their future in the hands of time, right? I need to take care of them the best way I know how.

There are times when I feel like giving up. When I feel like walking away. There are times when I feel like being selfish. But at the end of the day, I know I am not like that. I can never be like that. I’d like to think there is more good in me than the bad.

Keep the faith. That tomorrow will bring good cheer, always. That’s what I keep telling myself whenever I feel the weight on my shoulders. And that there are persons with far more responsibility than mine…

I am looking forward to this weekend because I will be seeing a number of people I’ve missed over the past few months. I am hoping it will be a great weekend for me. With lots of sleep time and reading time, too!

Enjoy your weekend!

I might be going out or staying in. Catching up on sleep is on the agenda. And relaxing is a must! Whatever you have in mind for this weekend is fine.

I am channeling thoughts of goodwill to everyone.

Happy weekend! Have fun!

It just popped in my head, this thing about life…

We are all tangled in the cobwebs of our lives. We either get stuck or we get freed. It is all up to us. We can let life pass us by or we can actively participate in it.

I choose to balance everything. Some days I just let life pass me by. But most days I actively participate. I don’t get contented with the cobweb that I got stuck in but rather, I make my own little cobwebs along the way.

A weekend spent with love ones. Catching up. Talking about the future. Worrying about the current state of the economy and the jobs that will be hard to get of newly graduates. Ranting and raving about celebrities. Humming favorite tunes in between.

This is my cozy Sunday afternoon.

My life is a gift of God given, not years but a day at a time.
Today is the day the Lord has made for me, and he planned it to be the most important day of my life.
Yesterday is gone, never to return. I must not worry about it, but leave it in the hands of God.
Tomorrow and all that it holds is God’s secret and its coming is not assured.
Only today is mine.
Each day, arranged by God with infinite wisdom and goodness is his gift,
his act of love for me.

In thanksgiving I will offer him every day the gift of myself my prayers, works, joys and sufferings.

Please God, receive them graciously.

Amen.

Do you feel like throwing your hands in the air and shouting “I give up!”? I have felt like this in the past. But time and time again, I feel like Someone’s up there is guiding me, telling me to hold on and stay strong.

So let me make a wish for every one of us today…

Happy Monday and may all of us have a peaceful, happy and joyful week ahead of us!

She became my friend in first year college. There were tough times but since we were kindred spirits, our friendship sustained college more than anything else. I remember her being so generous when she knew I had nothing to spare. I remember her being so down-to-earth, never boasting about her status in life, never making me feel like I was lower in social status. We reviewed for the board exams together and we shared so many things back then, even sharing food when we were short of our allowances. She was like a sister to me, I was probably closer to her than my real sisters back then.

We were supposed to work for the same auditing firm. But I got accepted in the accounting side (BPO) while she was in the waiting list. Instead of waiting for a call from the firm, she opted to work for a family friend’s business.

I was so envious of her that time because whenever I talk to her, I felt like she was having fun while I was being harassed by my bosses and the clients I was handling. Not to mention the salary I was earning was really small compared to her. I remember crying so bad one morning while she was talking to me and because she knew I was so depressed that day, she kept on calling to check on me. For that alone, she will forever hold a special place in my heart. Even my sisters would not do that to me.

So after half a year of enduring the firm, she asked me if I wanted to work for the same company she’s working for, the sister company being a trading firm was looking for an accountant. I went for an interview, it was just a formality because I was highly recommended by her. I was offered a job the same day I was interviewed and I accepted. We were laughing and crying after that interview. That same day, I tendered my immediate resignation at the firm.

We worked for almost a year. She was the personal assistant cum accountant of the owner. I was the one-woman accountant of the trading firm. It was a lot of fun. But then, like all good things, it came to an end. That was a pretty rough patch of my life. Something bad happened in the company and I had to resign. The trust that we shared was broken because of it.

I was so ashamed of letting her down that I did not answer her calls. I can still remember her voice, almost crying that night, while asking me if I want her to come and get me. I was being harassed by my boss back then. I was crying so hard I told her that it’s okay. But we were like sisters crying on the phone. That’s the last time I talked to her.

She talked to my mom one more time, asking about me, if I was okay. But after that, she stopped calling. I couldn’t blame her.

They say things happen for a reason and maybe, she came into my life to make me feel what a real sister is like. I am crying while writing this post. It was 7 years now. I know I should let go of the regrets I have in my heart. But this regret will forever be here.

I miss my sister. I wish she can read this now.

I am an old soul. I love listening to old music, those ballads of long ago that stirs the love in my heart. I got this from my mom who oriented us with mellow music.

My mom loved those 50s music, those that feels like you are being swayed while lying on a hammock. I remember my dad always teasing her about listening to those oldies music, especially on Sundays. Mathis, Armstrong, I forgot the other singers…

One of her all time favorites was What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. I could still see her smile whenever she heard that song. I was listening a few minutes ago to Fools Rush In, another favorite of her.

These old songs also bring a smile to my tired soul. You never do appreciate the things to have and learned until the person who helped you learn that something is already gone. Thanks, Mom!

Time and again, I find myself struggling. My sister put it aptly… I don’t really know my priorities. Much to my chagrin, she is right. And now I am asking myself, what really are my priorities anyway?

My heart and mind has only one answer… My main and foremost priority in life is to be happy and contented. That’s it! I need not be rich. I need not be sexy or beautiful. All I need is happiness and contentment in life and I would die a happy girl.

What will make me happy and content in life, you’d ask.

Seeing my family happy, healthy and financially stable. Writing to my heart’s content and not doing accounting work. Not rushing to work in the morning. Not worrying about our family’s finances. Being able to travel and truly relax.

With that said, I do have my priorities. It’s just that most of the time, I lose my focus. 95% of the time, I get lost.

I am given a wake up call last night.

Thank you.

I woke up to a gloomy skies. But I love it! I am beginning to love the rain more and more. Maybe it’s because I felt that I’m being “cleansed” in the process. Rid of the past that I wanted to forget for the longest time.

So how’s your day so far? Good morning and happy Monday everyone!