明けましておめでとう！ A new year, and Ohba-san, our lolo in Japan, once again throws a party for us NSP-ers in his beloved home. It has been the second time I have been in their home, and boy I just cannot believe how generous they are when it comes to welcoming guests. Ohba-san too, with his time, when he would go out of his way to accompany us to places we would love to visit and experience in Japan. Where is this coming from? From a heart of kindness, that simply wants to give? How then should I, as the recipient of…
-
-
Writing after less than two months. Wow, improvement. /sarcasm Now let’s look back at what has transpired over the past couple of weeks. July was filled with… IKEA. Undocumented, but maybe I went there almost every week after I visited there with Dean and Sienzo :)) July also happened to be my brother’s wedding! and my brother’s birthday. Went home briefly for the weekend, hugged my grandmother, bonded with the fambam, especially the nieces! So short a trip. Mom wanted to take me to the airport, but due to POEA matters we weren’t able to have that moment anymore. Then I…
-
…and before I know it, it’s already July. Time flies when you’re having fun, they say. Though in my case it’s more of, I just simply let it flow without capturing my thoughts and feelings throughout the months that passed. Like venturing through life in the ‘in between’, living in the fragments of each day, forming a loosely stitched week (weak), month… A fragmented, scattered life. Not a clear vision of the future nor a strong tie to the past and present (which of course becomes the past in a wink of time). So I remember Heidegger, as well as the speech…
-
It didn’t really occur to me that I won’t be receiving salary until about the end of next month… until later this week. Silly me for not thinking ahead, that of course before I can open a bank account, I will need an address! And not just that, it has to be after I actually move into the house/apartment I will be staying for 2 years. Instead of wallowing in regrets, best thing to do is to move forward with a positive (and definitely wiser) disposition. Suddenly I am thrust into this position and my perspective just changes. It’s like…
-
Glad, relieved, and very thankful to see an evolving Japanese work environment. Major shock of my life was when Japanese colleagues and bosses started asking how my house search was going. (omg nangungumusta sila! XD) Then we chatted about my options, they gave their opinion as well as tips. And this was during work hours, mind you, not during nomikai. Then during work hours colleagues and I would chat, other colleagues would also pitch in and join the conversation. And conversations would be happening throughout the workplace, work and non-work discussions. Really good “ba” smile emoticon Then last night I…
-
Another day, another blog. Makes me even more confused as to what I really want to do with my blog. Again, contemplating on what I ought to write here. What is my vision? What is my goal in writing again? Is it to seek an audience to which I will share my thoughts with, have a discussion with? At a later time perhaps that will happen, so I want to have a more personal goal than that, the ‘reason that commands me to write’, as Rilke said. My previous blogging experience has taught me well that writing in order to…
-
How does one walk the talk? How to make our actions consistent? Consistent with our words, and consistently done on a longer period of time–good habits. If someone goes off-track, how to go back on-track and maintain a consistent ‘flow’? Actions. Act more than think. Do not just think, act! So I’ve been realizing how important consistency is, both at work and in our personal lives. It’s not just about reputation and branding (but of course that’s also part of it), but on a personal level this means you are cultivating good habits that are really part of who you…
-
Diskarte and Initiative thrives in an environment where there is enough leeway to make decisions, an environment where initiatives are welcomed and even encouraged. More than freedom, it also means that trust exists in the relationship. I believe most parents would want their children to have ‘diskarte’, but the irony is that some of them don’t exactly provide the environment conducive to this decision-making. When every move you make is corrected every so often, with no reassurance or positive words to counter this, children will be left crippled and unable to decide, to move. Parents ought to raise children with…
-
Leftover mango cubes mixed with evap and bits of wafer cone for some added crunch and texture, and voila! This might be the first time I’ve tried evap in pure form, ang sarap pala even on its own haha! (Call me a n00b XD) #DIY #mango #dessert
-
“The psalmist wrote, ‘The heavens proclaim the glory of God; The skies display his craftmanship’ (Ps. 19:1) God’s handiwork is a spectacle that, rightly understood, should not only take our breath away but inspire us to worship and praise our God as it did the psalmist David. […] encountering the wonders of God’s creation should inspire, at the least, a heart of gratitude. Are we grateful?”