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Mr. Gary Valenciano was the guest in last night’s Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA). Personally, I prefer Martin Nievera’s voice over his, but what I like about him is how spiritual he is and how he was able to keep his looks young - seems he doesn’t age! Of course, Gary V’s dance moves are incomparable.

He sang to the PDA scholars his hit song, Take Me Out of the Dark, one of my favorite songs specially when I want my spirit lifted. So I just want to share with you Mr. Gary Valenciano’s TAKE ME OUT OF THE DARK, which I got from youtube. I hope all of you will be inspired by this magnificent song.

Cheers and God Bless!

Yesterday morning, I attended a recollection hosted by our university. It was just a half-day activity, simple and yet brought out the spirituality in me. What struck me is the video shown about empathy. Empathy is often characterized as “putting oneself into another’s shoes”, or emotionally putting yourself in the place of another. According to R. R. Greenson, to empathize means to share, to experience the feelings of another person.

For us to emphatize, we need to be aware and sensitive of another person’s feelings. During the recollection’s video presentation, a father talked about his transformation to a good father and husband. He narrated that before he and his wife joined a marriage encounter, he was very short-tempered - to the point that he often hurt his wife and kids physically aside from the verbal abuse. He said his transformation is hard, however, with faith and by learning how to be sensitive of his family’s feelings, he was able to control his temper and everyday is still a learning process for him. But the most important thing, he said, is learning to forgive himself with all the hurt he caused his family.

On a personal note, I am touched with this man’s sharing, coz it reminded me of how I snap sometimes when the kids are getting so cheeky. Counting 1 to 100 doesn’t always work, so sometimes I can’t help but shout at them without listening to them first or asking what really happened. For this lenten season, specially since I will have more time to spend with my 3 beautiful kids, I hope I’d succeed on understanding them more and be sensitive on their feelings. I love them so much, no doubt about that, however, I can’t help sometimes not to get angry and raise my voice, specially when they quarrel.  That is one virtue I really have to learn.

Empathy should not just be given to our loved ones, but I think we should also be sensitive to other people around us. I hope after this lenten, I will be more empathizing not just to my kids and family, but also to others - neighbors, students, co-workers, and even to those whom I don’t know. And to have empathy, we should also have LOVE, FAITH & PATIENCE, lots of them! It’s a tall order and for sure a long process, but even small steps would go a long way.

Have a blessed Lenten Season - let us all strengthen our faith!

Uncertain about how your life would turn in 2008? Are you not sure of a better year ahead? As a new year dawns, we sometimes have this hanging question — what lies ahead for us this coming year? I for one, is a little anxious on how 2008 would fare compared to 2007. I couldn’t say that this year is perfect, coz there are lots of ups and downs, but the mere fact that I am here writing in this blog means I have overcome most of my trials! Sure, it’s not yet a clean slate, but I am very thankful I have passed many struggles this year and I am very much looking forward for 2008.

For the last 2 years now (this is my third), I read Chinese Astrology forecasts every new year. I am a dragon, and most of the forecasts I read talks about a so-so year. Not that I am 100% astrology believer, coz most forecasts are general, but I just use that as a simple guide - precaution on possible things that could transpire. Nevertheless, despite my belief and fascination to horoscopes and astrology, I have more faith in the absolute divine powers of God. Nothing, not even the stars can beat God. (more…)

I just got my daughter Kaye’s report card yesterday, and quite happy with her grades. In most of her subjects, the grades increased to 90. Even in Math, which I thought is her waterloo, her grade jumped from 87 to 90. She only had two grades below 90, in Sibika & Geography where she got 89 but at least better now compared to last quarter’s 86, her lowest grade last time. Though I needed to brush up more on her Science since it got lower from 88 to 87. Overall, I am quite satisfied and so proud of her. The teacher told me she already adjusted in school. She’s a transferee and lessons in her school is quite advanced compared to her former school. Good thing she’s already settled.

When we we’re still in Australia, she went to childcare together with her brother Miguel. Though they were in separate rooms, on her second year there she moved up to the kinder room. But kinder in Oz is different from what we have here in the Philippines. I think the curriculum here in the Philippines is much more advanced and difficult - tough. (more…)

I found this nice piece last year (can’t remember the site). This is funny but definitely details in a lighter note all the sacrifices of a mother in nurturing her children. Happy kind of tired. I hope you like this nice article…ooops, before I forget I just want to clarify that I brush my teeth everyday.hehe.

Before I was a Mom -
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn’t worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

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