Switching On the Sun

46 is the new 16 Not sweet 16 though... It’s more like the middle age where one either feels like he can still keep up with the young ones or he knows how it is to be young once. And from each of those sentiments, it can likewise be sorted out into different classifications and the needed balance between impulse and forethought. Much like a cross between introspection and one’s thought-of public perception leading to either refutation or acceptance, it consumes our consciousness of what transpired out of our existence over the years. I’m 46 Similarly, I ponder on the what-ifs, the how-comes, the why-nots and even the when-will-it-bes... Yes, despite of the seeming assurance of that “things-you’re-thankful-for-couldn’t-have-happened-if-you-had-it-any-other-way” sort of assumption, I do have regrets. Nonetheless however, I also have aspirations still. These two account for my quintessence as how I’d put it, I guess... Conditional on someone else’s impression, I’m either a failure o...

Regardless of where I am, being with my family is what makes me feel at home… There are moments however when you also enjoy the serenity of that personal space’s exclusivity… I (or I believe, we – my family) experienced both in a fitting MOMent along a timely occasion at a suitable retreat – make that SUITE-able haven. The commemoration of Mothers’ Day just last Sunday of which subsequent to it was the national election the next day made it a long weekend. Usually, 3-day off from work is simply spent as a longer period for ‘family time’. What makes it rather extra special is some out-of-the-ordinary indulgence. And far from commonplace indeed, we seized the chance to spend 3 nights and 3 days in a 3-bedroom suite at Azalea Residences Baguio. Markedly, too much 3s there (3-day off, 3 nights/3 days, 3-bedroom suite…) but (and as if to substantiate ‘family man’ as this site’s essence…) the best ‘3’ for me however are the similarly “threefold” reasons: father, mother and kids – Fam...

At this point in my life, it would be nice to get some 'R and R'. Celebrating four decades of existence through some breather from all the toiling throughout the years is what I seek and what will continually be sought after. Having reached this age, anyone would most likely envision being in a stress-free situation. However, that would most likely contend with and allow us to realize still the purpose of our being. For a while there, you’d also reflect back on the ‘what-ifs’ and ‘what-would-have-beens’ as much as what you have accomplished so far that of which somehow molded your essence and probably determine who you will further be. It would be hypocritical of me to deny that I’m not aspiring for the finer things in life. I want ‘this’, I want ‘that’… too many of ‘those’ actually… There’s no need to elaborate on what those are if only to point out the difference between the ‘wants’ from the ‘needs’; the necessities from priorities as much as the luxuries from what’s really...

Due to cough and colds, I was sent home from work last Monday. With an apparent suppressed cough which also had my head awfully throb, I seemed to have likewise acquired body pains. Either it was a physically-draining infection or it’s just that age is really catching up with me. I concede to the latter to be the real culprit. Those who really know me could attest that I’m not a sickly person. I believe, as much as I can physically feel it, I could have tolerated reporting for work still if not for due consideration on the possibility of a contamination. Cough, after all, even sounds off its process of virus-transmittal. Other than the possibility of transmitting the bug, chances are you also get that unwanted “Eww! Do you mind” stares; of which are added factors pushing you to rather go home and rest. As for the ‘carrier’, coughing is likewise coughing out resources. Needless to say, aside from medicines, other detriments go to “accommodating adjustments” for the patient: sort of f...

Last year (Fathers’ Day) I ‘said’ about how being a father is a privilege regardless of a fitting paternity approach. For which possibly depending on a child’s distinct nature, one’s parenting style could be reciprocally integral for both father and child. Thus, the basis of “the best dad” standards personally depends on every child’s recognition of it. Some children may deem their father to be the epitome of what a father should be but to expect that of someone else’s father as the basis of such commitment shouldn’t be the case. The person/s with the most if not the only right to declare that would have to be the father’s own child/ren. My father was more than a hero to me. I may not be able to level-up to the kind of a father he was but applying my own parenting methodology that of which works well for my children comes off similarly sound for me. That brings me to this year’s Fathers’ Day celebration… As I woke up early yesterday (Fathers’ Day) morning, just when there was this ...

Life Begins at 40; so they say. Perhaps for others, after all the years they’ve been accountable for and committed to something else as much as they've been absorbed by ‘self-establishment’ and fulfillment, life at 40 is a manifestation of having gone full-circle. I guess a new life or meaning to it is it for me or perchance a moment of realization. I’ve just realized that 40 couldn’t be the points I could be scoring in basketball after playing the game quite recently. I suppose 40 is the combined number of aching bones and muscles I felt afterwards. The timeliest awareness though was upon leaving the court. From the gym we played on just right across the street is a familiar image. As if it was really reminding me of the many season changes before me, there was a recollection-of-memories; a prominent name stood there calling: Mario’s We just had dinner there a few nights back and have been acquainted with Mario’s 40 th year. Back in the day, along Session Road where i...

Regardless of how we see one thing, it’s bound to be viewed differently by others. That’s even in reference to others’ liking as compared to the inclination of those from it has a partial attachment. What if the matter at hand is pertaining to physical attributes of people? Needless to say, people have different tastes and inclined from that of different standards. Those with a soft spot for (say) the “assessed” person will probably be defensive of any criticism in contrast with how they positively consider the looks of that person they’ve kind of developed fondness for. Children for instance or babies for that matter, in most likely probability, they’ll be considered adorable by their own parents. Even with a decent disposition in line with accommodating the stark reality bequeathed among them or their children, it would still be hurtful for parents to hear (from other people) how “ugly” their children are. It may not be attributed directly but anything suggestive of an insensitive ...

We were just watching some love story wherein the female lead had a painful (love) experience making it hard for her to move on. Making it worse is that her father isn’t as supportive. Then, I thought of the likelihood when my children will be in such a predicament… Those constantly updated with every article posted herein know this blog’s purpose being geared towards providing some guiding principle for my children. Knowing life span’s incalculability, the thought of leaving some sort of a legacy early on is promptly addressed. Having had my share of life’s ups and downs, only God knows when the next is. Although what we are to focus on is not much of how high or how low we get but by how we make the best out of it after timely realizing the reason for its occurrence. The pain caused by my first major heart ache one August 28 years ago was overwhelming. If there’s even a logical p oint behind it though, it’s for 2 (other) good reasons why that happened to me in the first place – ...

It’s not because it’s the total number of days every month has in any given year. And it’s not even concurrent with that of this post’s title posted within this month. It’s my (basketball jersey) number. Reason for it isn’t taken from that of a favorite player’s number. Speaking of which, it’s not also because it’s the balancing number figuring in between those two Bulls’ numbers, 23 and 33. In addition, 23 resembles 2 3s which is 33 and 2 3s opposite each other form 8, apparently a combination of those 2 numbers. But then, it’s not that. I just thought that, after my girlfriend-then broke up with me on one August 28, a rewarding providence might have been the reason. For if it didn’t happen, the godsend that pursued after that wouldn’t have transpired for me to experie nce. Thus, I associated the number 28 with luck (good thing she broke up with me – lol) . I used to wear number 3. Until the change in number, the only indication left of my old number are the 3s I ma...

Gone are the days when all I thought about was fun Gone are the days when I was more of a boy than a man Days when most of the time I was up and about Proving myself with a juvenile clout Going through stages of self-imposed maturity Only to fall in a trap of awkward ambiguity Thus nothing seemed to matter not even what I said An enlightening experience likewise leveling my head Seasoning my consciousness to who I will be Occurrences that taught the meaning of modesty Up till now I incessantly gain unfamiliar essentials Enough to admit my lack of potential Who I was molded who I am Though with limited know-how I’m not dumb Embracing new insights is equally welcomed As I accept the realization of my being human