Switching On the Sun

Fetching my mother from the grocery last Sunday, I’ve picked up ire as well. She was about to board the car when a cab driver wouldn’t allow her to comfortably and safely get in as he continued to unpleasantly drive towards her. As if that wasn’t enough, he rudely shouted at my mom saying she shouldn’t be boarding where we were – in a drop-off point where they too pick up their passengers. That ticked me off! I was behind the car as I just closed the compartment door right beside the cab driver. Having witnessed his arrogance, I approached and disdainfully cursed him. Pointing out his disrespectfulness seemingly admonishing him of how would it affect him if such is similarly done to her mother, I bullied him. I was somewhat harsh. The cab driver’s face suddenly changed into a terrified-pitiful look. Guilty, I knew I could have been more diplomatic… Spur of the moment rather got the better off me… If my bullying of him was witnessed by anyone, chances are, their sympathies will be ...

Upon entering some establishment, we were welcomed with greetings uttered with passion. As soon as such welcoming was delivered, they proceeded with what they were doing as if the greeting was obligatory. I didn’t feel the sincerity. Though, I didn’t bother. Some sensitive customers would have reacted… While the misconstrued saying “The customer is always right” gives customers prerogative to loftiness, it gives service personnel conscientiousness to servitude. What is discontenting about this though is not the sense behind it, may it be politically right or otherwise, but the unlikely nature on how the workforce applies impartiality regardless of the situation it represents. Modesty and patience are considerable factors. These attributes are relatively important when interrelating with people from different walks of life. Accordingly, working in an environment where consumers as customers are the main source of an establishment’s bread and butter, they also deal with ‘indirect cu...

The title is rather suggestive of a horror story wherein a young Count is boldly biting on exerting his influence all over and among those within an ancient castle. Far from the eerie scenarios though, it’s a familiar circumstance in a modern setting. With change as the only constant thing as not just a popular cliché but a guiding principle. Horror is what it is only for those proud enough to embrace such development. On the face of innovation in a time such is vital, new ideas are sought for. In achieving these, young bloods are taken into service; classically, at the expense of old school’s pride. When I was just starting (once a new blood) with the company I am currently employed in 6 years ago, we were told of the new ideas we can bring in as one considerable reason for which we were hired. Not to put my best foot forward nor simply make an impression, I considerably contemplated on decently abiding professionalism. Accordingly, I’ve earned a significant reputation for my subst...

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” is a line from Matthew 6: 2-4 that's remindful of humility. Literally though, in getting some work done, coordination between both hands with pairs of others rather clasps the idea of others’ testament of your deed instead. We had our hands full setting up a “trade” showcase to be awarded to a recipient for a politician’s generous cause of which we co-sponsored. In the midst of the rush not to unveil the surprise, a right hand from that of a public servant reached out for an acknowledging hand shake as we became subject of lenses worthy of media hype. Smile? Click! Click! Click! Click! Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!   As the program progressed, more cameras rolled and clicked for documentation (err) publicity. Politicians abounded. True to their words (oops) style, they delivered their speeches with conviction BUT modesty… “Oh don’t you just admire them for their knack for subtle bragging? ...

Yellow, more than the bright color that it is, its meaning is also ironically associated with cowardice. It is the color for a trademark of former Philippine President Corazon Aquino. Even before her passing, yellow ribbons were tied all over as a sign of respect and in support of Tita Cory (as she was fondly called) who was then battling with colon cancer. At least in that aspect, no signs of pessimism were manifested if only to wish our former President full recovery. Her point of view was sought for, thus, her recovery was then vital. Her presence has always been and would have been influential in persuading peace to rather be empowered through a democratic system. She has been, after all, instrumental as the principal figure representing every Filipino, in putting the Philippines in world history via People Power’s peaceful restoration of freedom back then. She's a global icon of democracy. True that her regime was the most beset with coup attempts. It is through one of these r...

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 – ...

Of all the days this week that I have to tend to some work-related errands, how untimely it was to fall on a Wednesday. Not that there was a problem with it, it’s just that the company vehicle I usually use is subject to the number coding scheme on Wednesdays, 5 being the last number along its 3-letter, 3-digit plate number. My car’s plate number also ends with 5. The Number Coding is a traffic scheme where cars, with its plate number’s last digit, are not to be driven along major routes during its designated “coding” day. Needless to say, I was to either take a cab or the cheaper passenger jeepney as an alternative. I preferred the latter as it will allow me to take a walk that likewise served as an exercise. Making the most out of it, I was enjoying sights I’ve not seen for a while. Just as I was observant of occurrences I came passed through, I was oblivious of this one thing that will actually remind me of the aptness of every incident happening for a reason. A camera clicked, a...

There are times when I just ask myself why… Though unlike a curious child whose whys are based on finding out the answer for the first time, mine’s more on the recurrence for the nth time seemingly due to stubbornness or perhaps lack of viable options. “Why am I not learning from it?” would perhaps be the exemplary question that tops it all. “Why do I still do it despite knowing its possible consequences?” could actually be answered with “why” itself - Why is temptation so enticing? It’s a question that’s instinctively asked despite having experienced the answer. As such, it rationalizes another “why” in asking as to addiction’s clout on us. Why am I going through this or that? Or perhaps, why you? Why did I even write this you may ask if your next question would be why you are even reading this nonsense (if such be the case) in the first place? It’s the same reason as gullibility that seems to make sense when we’re into it. Why is that? You could as well ask why does it has to be a...