WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR A BOY….

do you know….. ??? I was humming this song in my head thinking of a good title for this post.

Weekend was plain and simple – as always, but then came Sunday morning. I was awakened by my mobile’s alert for a new text message. At 10 in the morning, I was still very sleepy but when I was half reading the message from my younger brother – our youngest, living in Sydney – that his wife delivered a baby boy on Saturday, I was just like Whaaaattttt!!! It was a surprise – for I did not know that my sister in law was even pregnant.

Well, all of us in the family did not have a clue. And so the coming of the baby boy was just a big big big pleasant and wonderful surprise! That ended my quiet and peaceful weekend.

I immediately called my sister and told her about it and she said – Whaaaattttt? What kind of drugs are you on? ? I told her to read the text in her mobile – and she said “oHHHHH My Gawwwd!”

And so that was like the rest of the family!

I rang my brother and he was very ecstatic and though I could not hide my joy and surprise, I asked him why on earth did they not told us in the first place – and that is like nine months of not telling us – is like not being considered part of the family at all. I for one would not or could not hide this (if i would get preggie, of course! not!), unless there is a real and big reason not to (another story!). Just for the sake of a surprise is just a big surprise – for all it is, is not coming out as a surprise !!! Well, not in this category. What happened with the word FAMILY ??? So I was with mixed emotions.

But that warm happy welcoming feeling of having another member of the family – a baby boy – won over and I had this chance of celebrating this on my own by listening to a CD I bought last friday – what a coincidence since it was all about boys… like my subconscious was preparing me for this finale…like I kept on seeing little cute baby boys on Saturday as well, not knowing that somewhere out there, a boy in the family has just arrived.

It is “Les Choristes”. I have the DVD and saw it once. Now just to refresh my memory- I saw it again last night, after listening to the CD. Well aside from the fact, that I love anything Frenchy, I was really touched to the core by the angelic voices of these boys plus I needed a big purging of emotions or “catarhsis”. I almost cried at first – well, shamelessly I actually cried a buckett afterwards …. for joy and all that there is to Life. For those just felt and not seen. Cheers!!!

WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR A BOY….

do you know….. ??? I was humming this song in my head thinking of a good title for this post.

Weekend was plain and simple – as always, but then came Sunday morning. I was awakened by my mobile’s alert for a new text message. At 10 in the morning, I was still very sleepy but when I was half reading the message from my younger brother – our youngest, living in Sydney – that his wife delivered a baby boy on Saturday, I was just like Whaaaattttt!!! It was a surprise – for I did not know that my sister in law was even pregnant.

Well, all of us in the family did not have a clue. And so the coming of the baby boy was just a big big big pleasant and wonderful surprise! That ended my quiet and peaceful weekend.

I immediately called my sister and told her about it and she said – Whaaaattttt? What kind of drugs are you on? ? I told her to read the text in her mobile – and she said “oHHHHH My Gawwwd!”

And so that was like the rest of the family!

I rang my brother and he was very ecstatic and though I could not hide my joy and surprise, I asked him why on earth did they not told us in the first place – and that is like nine months of not telling us – is like not being considered part of the family at all. I for one would not or could not hide this (if i would get preggie, of course! not!), unless there is a real and big reason not to (another story!). Just for the sake of a surprise is just a big surprise – for all it is, is not coming out as a surprise !!! Well, not in this category. What happened with the word FAMILY ??? So I was with mixed emotions.

But that warm happy welcoming feeling of having another member of the family – a baby boy – won over and I had this chance of celebrating this on my own by listening to a CD I bought last friday – what a coincidence since it was all about boys… like my subconscious was preparing me for this finale…like I kept on seeing little cute baby boys on Saturday as well, not knowing that somewhere out there, a boy in the family has just arrived.

It is “Les Choristes”. I have the DVD and saw it once. Now just to refresh my memory- I saw it again last night, after listening to the CD. Well aside from the fact, that I love anything Frenchy, I was really touched to the core by the angelic voices of these boys plus I needed a big purging of emotions or “catarhsis”. I almost cried at first – well, shamelessly I actually cried a buckett afterwards …. for joy and all that there is to Life. For those just felt and not seen. Cheers!!!

BOY INTERRUPTED

I am possessed.

Yes, I am possessed by the spririt of Mother Theresa of Calcutta (peace be upon her!) in the past 24 hours worrying how and why other people are living in too much poverty, misery, filth and want. I am referring to people who survive and dwell in the slum areas of Manila and other major cities in the Philippines and even the world (like India, Bangladesh, Africa). And most of them are small tiny little children!

It all started with a blogsite which exposes “beautiful” photos of slum areas and the people and children who live there – my sarisari store (http://www.my_sarisari_store.typepad.com/). I should have posted some of his photos (as he allowed me, thanks!) here but it seems that blogger has problems with posting photos lately. I will do it later.

And also last night I watched this Filipino documentary in TFC (May Nagmamahal sa Iyo) – Someone loves you. The episode was about these young guy who was adopted by an Australian couple in Melbourne from a convent in the Philippines called Good Shepherd.

At seventeen, he became restless, rebellious, unhappy of his life, and went back to the Philippines for the first time on a mission to find his real parents. He dug out records of his adoption but could not trace the people who abandoned him. Instead, he found himself surrounded by these hungry infants and staring children in the orphanage where he came from.

Looking at these children and thinking about their plight, he realizes that he is indeed lucky that an Australian couple found, adopted and have given him an opportunity to live a better future. Went back to Australia with a better heart and gave a new meaning or appreciation to his adopted parents. Showed his videotapes to friends, schools and other organizations and was able to raise funds (10k) for the children. Went back to the Philippine convent again and brought with him boxes of books and other things he collected for these children for a better condition in the orphanage. At seventeen, he was able to give back what was given to him roughly sixteen years ago.

Time and again, I am reminded of these issues and I feel that I should also do something. I felt a new meaning to the word – - “help” especially to those who are totally strangers are really in need. (It is totally different when you help your family and relatives and friends, and this I am always doing! )

Life could be so empty if you live a self centered, “all-for-me” life attitude. I can see these in the sad and tired eyes of reasonably rich people here whose primary objective in life is just to make money and more money for themselves, and helping or sharing with others is not in their vocabulary.

Well, to each his own really, and everyone has their own awakening in the process. But definitely, for me, life lived for others is a more meaningful existence!

DEFRAG MY MIND

I tried and I tried even in my sleep, but I could just not remember the title of a movie that I saw just a few months ago, which was just actually a review because I saw it several times a year ago.

It’s a bit shocking, frustrating and my panic made me just itchy to remember that bloody movie’s title. Just one word, and I could not remember it. I want to test my recall facility by not searching the internet or asking friends. Finally on the third day, while I was on the train going to work, the word just clicked in my mind – Zoolander (Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson), yes the name of that idiotic movie, which my brain just blocked out for three days.

I observe lately that my recall process is a way too rusty. I could not immediately remember names of actors or actresses on the dot, like I used to. I have to struggle and sometimes use memory aids A-Z. By the way, this is my favourite mental exercise – flashing photos and recalling names of people. Or talking about movies with my friends and the actors who were in them who were in these movies as well. Or recalling names of singers or bands. I hate crossword puzzles though.

Tip of the tonque syndrome is a bit annoying. Maybe my short term memory is full and I need to defrag my mind. Can you imagine how many data, number and information we store daily in our minds. Passwords, pin numbers, phone numbers etc. etc. With the onslaught of the information highway and the things we learn everyday. It is amazing how our mind copes. Would you remember what you were doing at this time last year?

I actually panicked and went further with a bit of dramatics by telling a close friend that I might be displaying a very early sign of Alzheimers, like I could not even spell the word correctly. Imagine, the movie the Notebook, etc. Fortunately, our family do not have history of such a rare disease – like I am not related to the Reagans, etc. The bitch said that I just need to re-color my hair and have a new hairstyle and everything will be alright. Well, he could be right! I definitely need a new hairstyle. I hate my hair right now.

Or maybe I need a long holiday just to refresh my tired and weary mind. Or drink heaps of Ginko Biloba. It is winter time again and I find myself a little bit tired, lethargic and boring. I need some adrenalin rush….to awaken my senses and my sleeping mind…. Or find my summer groove….What do you think?

DEFRAG MY MIND

I tried and I tried even in my sleep, but I could just not remember the title of a movie that I saw just a few months ago, which was just actually a review because I saw it several times a year ago.

It’s a bit shocking, frustrating and my panic made me just itchy to remember that bloody movie’s title. Just one word, and I could not remember it. I want to test my recall facility by not searching the internet or asking friends. Finally on the third day, while I was on the train going to work, the word just clicked in my mind – Zoolander (Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson), yes the name of that idiotic movie, which my brain just blocked out for three days.

I observe lately that my recall process is a way too rusty. I could not immediately remember names of actors or actresses on the dot, like I used to. I have to struggle and sometimes use memory aids A-Z. By the way, this is my favourite mental exercise – flashing photos and recalling names of people. Or talking about movies with my friends and the actors who were in them who were in these movies as well. Or recalling names of singers or bands. I hate crossword puzzles though.

Tip of the tonque syndrome is a bit annoying. Maybe my short term memory is full and I need to defrag my mind. Can you imagine how many data, number and information we store daily in our minds. Passwords, pin numbers, phone numbers etc. etc. With the onslaught of the information highway and the things we learn everyday. It is amazing how our mind copes. Would you remember what you were doing at this time last year?

I actually panicked and went further with a bit of dramatics by telling a close friend that I might be displaying a very early sign of Alzheimers, like I could not even spell the word correctly. Imagine, the movie the Notebook, etc. Fortunately, our family do not have history of such a rare disease – like I am not related to the Reagans, etc. The bitch said that I just need to re-color my hair and have a new hairstyle and everything will be alright. Well, he could be right! I definitely need a new hairstyle. I hate my hair right now.

Or maybe I need a long holiday just to refresh my tired and weary mind. Or drink heaps of Ginko Biloba. It is winter time again and I find myself a little bit tired, lethargic and boring. I need some adrenalin rush….to awaken my senses and my sleeping mind…. Or find my summer groove….What do you think?