Photo Story

People can always see successful people ... but what they fail to see are the behind-the-scenes struggles he has to do and endure to become successful.

Have you ever thought of the hard work, persistence ... criticisms ... risks ... rejections ... time wasted ... and the late-night struggles one has to go through ... undertake ... be subjected to ... or have to put up with ... just to be where he is now today?

Success is the pay-off for the pledge and promise ... of the tireless and indefatigable resolve you have to better yourself.

For somebody to become successful, more often than not the person has to embark on decisions no one has dared before ... or has taken risks ... no one has taken the courage to venture in.

Or it could be that the person has taken more responsibilities ... or has sweated knee-deep more than what ordinary mortals are willing to shoulder. 

I have seen these types of people when I was working abroad. They are tenacious and determined ... unrelenting and tireless. Where other people are satisfied with just a meager income ... some of these types make nighttime their daytime ... just to stretch their waking hours.  Where other people content themselves with a single job ... they search far and wide ... even to the extent of having triple jobs.

I saw them juggle multiple jobs ... and what was heart-rending was they took naps in commuter buses on their way to the next job.

I have a high respect for this type of person. I just find it so amazing how their family back home failed to realize the value of their efforts and how they pummel themselves working twenty four-seven ... in the name of FAMILY.

Hibiscus Of The Day

 Hibiscus Wishlist

It Is A New Day

This is a reprint.  I am sharing it with you because the day I received it was the dawning of a NEW DAY. When I was down I thought I was all alone ... but God has been carrying me all these times.

He allowed us to be broken into pieces ... until we learned our lessons ... and what was left with me are the best pieces that will guide and protect us from future challenges.

Me: Hey God.

God: Hello.....

Me: I'm falling apart. Can you put me back together?

God: I would rather not.

Me: Why?

God: Because you aren't a puzzle

Me: What about all of the pieces of my life that are falling down onto the ground?

God: Let them stay there for a while. They fell off for a reason. Take some time and decide if you need any of those pieces back

Me: You don't understand! I'm breaking down!

God: No - you don't understand. You are breaking through. What you are feeling are just growing pains. You are shedding the things and the people in your life that are holding you back. You aren't falling apart. You are falling into place. Relax. Take some deep breaths and allow those things you don't need anymore to fall off of you. Quit holding onto the pieces that don't fit you anymore. Let them fall off. Let them go.

Me: Once I start doing that, what will be left of me?

God: Only the very best pieces of you

Me: I'm scared of changing

God: I keep telling you - YOU AREN'T CHANGING!! YOU ARE BECOMING!

Me: Becoming who?

God: Becoming who I created you to be! A person of light and love and charity and hope and courage and joy and mercy and grace and compassion. I made you for more than the shallow pieces you have decided to adorn yourself with that you cling to with such greed and fear. Let those things fall off of you. I love you! Don't change! Become! Become! Become! Become who I made you to be. I'm going to keep telling you this until you remember it.

Me: There goes another piece...

God: Yep. Let it be.

Me: So...I'm not broken?

God: No - but you are breaking like the dawn. It's a new day. Become!!

Feel free to copy, I did hope this lifts you and touches you as much as it did me when I received it.

Choice Cut

 (Some Pinoy programs on TV barely make a glitch on our radar screen, but there were lines uttered that invaded our collective consciousness so much so that we find ourselves echoing its most famous lines in our everyday conversations. Some lines manage to put a smile on our faces making us happy and contented.

Whether intentional or accidental, the classic lines resonate with us, because we can relate to the scene and see our lives being lived out onscreen.)

The Choice Cuts were taken from Gaya sa Pelikula (Just Like In The Movies) starring Paolo Pangilinan and Ian Pangilinan.

Animal World

Summer Look

Talking about humid and scorching heat ... I seldom used my aircon but when I did yesterday ... the air that was circulating was recycled hot air ... tumatagatak ang pawis ko ... wala na akong magawa kundi patayin ang aircon. Gusto ko man ang lamig ... pero ayaw kung ang feeling na parang nasa pugon ka na ... pagkatapos malaki pa ang mga babayarin at the end of the month sa electrical bills. That's double whammy.

This is the month na kay hirap i-maintain ang FRESHNESS mo.  Bago ka ngang paligo ... nagbihis ... isang hakbang ka pa lang sa labas ... HAGGARD na ang hitsura mo. Ginamit mo pa ang expensive mong pabango ... only to find later na amoy suka ka na.

Ang long sleeves mo na crispy na ibinababad mo pa sa gawgaw para magmukha kang pang-office exec ang dating  ... ay MAASIM na ...  AMOY PAWIS at ARAW pa. Ang mukha mong MAKINTAB na kalahating oras mong sinabon ... back to being OILY and GREASY ulit.

The feeling that you just stepped out of the shower ... is just a state of mind ... because the real summer look will have soon a grand entrance - drained, wilted, sweaty, and worn out.

Hindi na uso ang spic and span and immaculately spotless na get - up going to work. Sa summer ... uso yong parang galing ka sa jogging at sa work out ... or "hinabol ka ng asong ulol" look . Out of character ka ... if you look crisp and crunchy.

Summer nga eh ... kaya panindigan na. Kaya pagpasok mo bukas sa trabaho dapat in character ka. You have to be in sync with your role as a prototypal Pinoy going to work under extreme weather conditions.

If it is summer - a typical Pinoy should look drenched in sweat and perspiration ... if it is rainy ... he is drenched with rain ... or maybe flood.

Ann Curtias Brand of Humor

Ann Curtis is a good sport. She is optimistic about sharing self-deprecating stories with friends and fans and is willing to admit flaws and relive their stories just for fun. She is willing to downplay herself so others can have a hearty laugh. 

She doesn't mind the little blemishes and imperfections she shows whenever she hosts It's Showtime ... and there has never been a day when cohosts and the audience throw in loud guffaws because she misread her cues and mispronounced deep-sounding Tagalog words that have been her Achilles heel as far as hosting is concerned.. She is also willing to go to the extent of making up stories .... just to make them laugh.

Lately, the heat indices have broken records, in Iba Zambales, it has reached the acme of any heat index meters ... reaching as far as 53 degrees Celsius. 

Ann cracked a joke telling her story about people nitpicking on her singing so she said" Sa mga NANLAIT sa boses ko tuwing kumakanta ako ... AT BAKA DAW UMULAN ... ngayon magdusa kayo sa INIT. I won't sing guys ..."

Kahit pilitin ka pa Ann? Kahit magkaroon ng drive campaigns sa buong Pilipinas requesting you to sing ... para humupa man lang ang init ... na para  nang nasa pugon na ang Pinas?