On following one's Passion and chasing Dreams...

I have been living the dream for the past 4 years as a florist and I enjoy working on each project and serve more than a hundred of my clients. Putting my creative juices to work always gives me a natural high. Yes, working on my passion through my business did not always have a steady pace going up, but I knew that I shouldn't stop just yet because this is my passion and my calling, at least for this season of my life. Being on this road for sometime taught me valuable lessons that I will keep for life. And being on this road also made me realize that I should be able to help those who are dreaming of chasing after their dreams, by sharing to them what I have learned so far.

Out of curiosity, I Googled the phrase "following your passion" and found tons of encouraging articles filled with good and valid reasons why one should always go after one's passion and chase one's dreams. A few of these reasons are: 1) Work on something that you love and you will never work another day in your life again; 

2) Passion trumps money anytime, since not everyone will be happy with just having money; 3) Working on the things that you are passionate about gives you a sense of fulfillment. 

Having experienced these myself, I could somehow say, that there's truth to these statements. 

However, reading from the variety of articles, I can't help but notice that there are two important things about this topic that were seldom discussed if not at all mentioned. Let me share with you what these are.

A Fair Trade?

1. To do something that you like and earn from it also means that you have to do things you dislike or even hate

For example, you are a naturally creative person, you are good with your hands and you have a vivid and colorful imagination. However, you currently have a job that pays you to sit in front of your computer all day answering emails or pacify irate clients. Wouldn't you dream of quitting your job and be, say for example, a fashion designer instead? Maybe your hands can do magic each time you hold a set of drawing materials and sketch pad. Maybe you can actually create wardrobe fit for royalty. You have talent that way. Wouldn't you rather be an actual fashion designer to the stars if the opportunity presents itself? Wouldn't you give up a stressful job that doesn't give you the pay that you deserve to go after your passion with a drop of a hat? Some would say yes, others would say no, especially if there are other people who depend on them. 

But let's look at those who would say yes to the opportunity. 

Following your passion means you won't just focus on the things that you like. Most of the time, you would have to master the art of doing things that you actually hate. Its true when you're doing something that you really like, everything else (including doing things that you dislike) seems easier to handle. However, it is also true that when clouds underneath your feet have cleared and the natural "passion high" have subsided, you will still face the reality of answering emails or picking up phone calls and assisting and or reasoning with clients. There's actually more to it than you signed up for. 

Maybe you don't like numbers, you will realize that you will actually have to learn decent accounting and worse, taxation. Maybe you find law tearfully boring, you will realize that you will actually have to be knowledgeable about a wide variety of laws on top of the basic laws that you already know. More importantly, maybe you like to keep the sanctity of your Sabbath or personal and family time, you will learn that following your passion would actually diminish the barrier between your personal life and work. My advice is, before you jump onto the golden path, think of and possibly list down your priorities and non-negotiables, that not even your "passion" can interfere with. Think long and hard if it is going to be a fair trade. If you used to hate your job because it demanded so much from you, then guess what, following your passion would demand much more, sometimes more than what you're willing to give. What I'm saying is that you should go about chasing your dream not only with a whole heart, but most importantly with a clear mind that can see beyond the present times and with a clear goal that would help you determine in time once the passion has been followed and the dream has been lived, and be satisfied and thankful for the opportunity and for your accomplishment. Don't miss the precious moment of having to pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

2. Know the sustainability of your passion

Sustainability is important especially when it comes to raising something from the ground up. You would normally see the word sustainability correlated with words such as new business ventures and sometimes even with charitable and social causes. 

I also dare to relate it to pursuing one's passion. There are questions that need to be answered: 

1) How long will it take you to work on your dream and make it into reality? Can you actually afford to invest in such length of time? 2) Imagine yourself more than 20 years from now, do you still see yourself "living the dream"? If you find yourself really passionate about doing a particular thing, and you can envision yourself doing it for the rest of your life with no questions asked, congratulations, you are really blessed, then yes go and follow your passion.

However, as for the rest of us, I learned one thing: No dream or passion is infinite and no dream or passion is exclusive, and every dream and passion has a time frame. Our passion is modified with every change in our perspective, personal and or surrounding circumstances, series of obstacles and solutions, and even our physical and intellectual capabilities and emotional and spiritual conditions. At the end, you would need to find out if your passion/ dream can live through the changing times.

The path to following your passion actually has three connecting roads. The first one is somewhat long and bumpy because it would test your patience and determination, and would require you to work, sweat, cry, bleed for and even defend your passion/dream. The second one is the longest path that is sometimes smooth but also comes with a lot of rough road patches. The part where you are actually living your dream by the day and dealing with different challenges and difficulties one at time, not smooth all through out, but still you enjoy the ride in its entirety. The second road ends and gives you joy and a sense of accomplishment. However when pursued further, the third road becomes rough again and brings unnecessary discomfort. 

Solution? Dream of pursuing numerous worthwhile, well-thought of and time-bound dreams. Avoid choosing and being stuck with one and call it a day. Chase after it, praise it's Giver, work on it, improve yourself, learn from it, share it and mentor other aficionados like yourself, then recognize when the dream has been accomplished, and its time to chase after a new one.

I say this to myself often: "Don't be afraid to say Next because its not a sign of failure". 

It may mean that you have already transformed into the person that you ought to be by staying and following your passion for that specific season in your life. It also means that we shouldn't be afraid to grow up and grow wise. And that we should muster the courage and trust the One who lights our path when He assures us that the journey continues even though a season has ended. You just have to look up and see for yourself that there's more interesting and life changing roads to tackle. All you need to do is thank and bid an old dream farewell, and take your first step in walking through new paths in pursuit of fresher passions. I believe you can do it. Go for it. Its not failure, but courage to start anew. The most important thing is that you NEVER stop dreaming and KEEP ON following your passions, even if it means letting go of your treasured accomplished dreams and embracing and working on new lofty aspirations. Just keep on going. 

God bless you! :)

3 reasons why I love dogs and why you should too

I am without a doubt a super dog lover. When asked why I love my dogs and dogs in general so much, I have three simple answers:

1. Dogs proved to me that "Love at first sight" does exist


I have yet to meet a person who won't be moved by cute puppy face even for a second. The connection between a person and a new puppy is almost instantaneous. No rapport needs to be built, the moment you hold the puppy in your hands, you would know that its love. I brought home my dog Bruce (a.k.a. Banchi) four years ago and we adopted Chester (a.k.a. Chechi) 3 years ago and those are among the best decisions we made ever.

Banchi at 2 months old

Chester at barely 2 months old

Unfortunately, there are pet owners who keep on forgetting that puppies grow up. Sometimes they grow bigger than you hoped for. They grow big enough to make such a big mess inside your house or at your garden, needs to be fed more than once a day, bathed at least once a week, needs to go out for a walk at least once a day, needs to be brought to the vet at least once a year. In short it grows big enough that he will actually need a chunk of your time and a lot of your TLC.

Sad but true that there  are some pet owners who would rather give up their pets especially if they become too sick, hard to handle, or simply because they just don't have the space, time, and money for it anymore. And the poor dog would be abandoned to fend for himself and most of the time they would become victims of hit and run, undernourishment and cruelty from the hands of moronic people who don't know any better (redundancy intended).

Most dogs have an average life span of around 12-15 years, some live much longer. So have this in mind when you bring home a puppy because its so cute, and you felt love at first sight. Please make sure that you're ready to give it the care and love that it deserves no matter what the cost. Yes, you will have to love your dog, but remember that no amount of love that you can give to your pet could ever match the kind of love and loyalty that he will ever give to you for as long as he lives. So between you and your pet, you're the luckier one because as far as your furry friend is concerned, the love at first sight never dies down.

2. Dogs teach forgiveness and unconditional love day in and day out

There are times that I would call Banchi or Chester's attention (in a firm or angry tone) for chewing up a slipper or peeing on the rug or they did other similar (sometimes annoying) dog habits like that. The moment they hear my voice, they would bow their heads and sit quietly in a corner. I believe they knew they did something that I didn't like.

But almost immediately, I would realize that dogs do stuff for a reason. They could be bored because they need more exercise, or they're irritable because they're sick, and sometimes, they just want to catch your attention. There was one instance that Banchi literally got my phone on the couch and chewed it up (my theory was he was jealous of Milo, the new puppy, he was trying to say something to me I guess). I became mad for a minute but realized that I should check on him for he might have swallowed something sharp or poisonous from the cellphone. Thank goodness all parts were complete and he did not ingest anything.

But anyway, the main thing was, even if there were times that I wasn't in a mood nor had the patience to "understand" why they did what they did, and scolded them for a bit, they are still always happy to see me even I was just raising my voice at them 5 minutes ago. They don't care if I had a bad day or I was tired, or if I was just angry a few seconds ago, they are always excited to see me each time. I would come home and  they would prance around, bark with excitement, and announce my arrival as if I was some sort of celebrity. Because for them, I am a celebrity, I am the most important creature that they ever laid their eyes on. Not because I am special or because I took good care of them (that is my responsibility), but because dogs are naturally loving and loyal that way. All they want is to be with their pack and pack leader, and as far as Chester and Bruce are concerned, that's me. And I consider myself lucky.

That's Banchi in his favorite corner. He would always stand up and greet me with this kind of happy face each time I come home :)

3. Dogs always take away any feelings of sadness, anger, and exhaustion

I may be fuming with anger and impatience, or feeling lower than low, or feeling crazy exhausted, but the moment I sit beside Chester and he would lift my hand with his head, asking for a pat or scratch behind the ear, and my arm would just rest on his furry back, all the negative feelings would just subside. Its like hearing a word of assurance from a longtime super close friend. Only Chester  did not utter anything, he did not even bark, he just sat beside me, and everything seemed to feel lighter.

There are a lot of times that I believe that my dogs understand my sadness and frustration. They may not know how we humans call those kinds of ill emotions, but they always know when I am not ok, and they would be there for me. There a lot of books, movies, cartoon plots that are based on canine-human friendship, and I know that though the plot and characters are fictional, the love and loyalty portrayed between the friendship of man and dog is always true to life.

Chester sitting on top of our favorite hangout - a low table on our veranda. I would sit there, and he would  hop on the table and sit beside me. No questions asked.

All dogs deserve a home and a family. Sadly, there a lot of stray, malnourished dogs everywhere. Unfortunately, though organizations such PAWS and CARA strive hard to save as much animals as they can, they too have limited means, funds, and shelter space. They would need all the help they could receive from concerned individuals and animal lovers. I salute people who make it their mission to foster rescued dogs and cats alike. I was watching a documentary show called Front Row aired in GMA News TV a few days ago. The segment was called Aglahi. It was about dogs who have been victims of neglect and cruelty, and how said organizations and volunteers stay true to their mission to rescue (and some foster) animals to the best of their abilities. I must say that the situations of the dogs that they rescue are beyond heartbreaking. There was one dog (Monzo) who rescued, one of its front legs need to be amputated because of a bad injury. There was another dog (Fifi) with a permanent muzzle made of metal wire (alambre). The wire was wrapped around its neck with some parts of the wire sticking inside the dog's mouth. I can't imagine the kind of people who would do this to helpless creatures. I've read this in a bumper sticker or poster somewhere in Makati a few years ago, it says: "Those who are cruel to animals are just getting started". And I absolutely agree to this.

I only have one wish for these rescued animal friends, that they too will have a shot at experiencing what its like to belong to a family and have their forever home, that they in turn, can show their owners what its like to love, forgive, and share friendship in its purest form and essence.


To know more about Monzo and Fifi, please visit the FB page of CARA and PAWS:

https://www.facebook.com/CARAPhil
https://www.facebook.com/pawsphilippines






Inspired by the Aglahi Documentary.

And also written in fond and loving memory of my faithful furry friends, Miko and Milo. 

Miko, 9 years old, May 2011

Milo, 2 1/2 years old, Sept. 2011

Lazy no-brainer dinner: Tuna Stir Fry with Leafy Greens

Mom and I had a super lazy dinner. We didn't want to cook the usual viands because none of us wanted to wash too many dishes with pots and pans after. She wanted me to buy litson manok (roasted chicken) but I was too lazy to go out and buy some. So anyway, since we're both lazy, and I still wanted us to eat healthy, I told her I'll just whip up my quick tuna stir fry with leafy greens. Its a dish that you can do in 10 minutes max from prep time to cooking time.

So if you're having a lazy evening, you can try this out. :)

TUNA STIR FRY WITH LEAFY GREENS

INGREDIENTS:

1 small can of tuna in oil (or brine, but I prefer in oil)
3 heads of Pechay, whole leaves with ends cut off
1 small head of cabbage, cut into large (around 1" thick) strips
1 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
Dried basil
Ground Pepper
Salt

Boil 3-4 cups of water, salted, in a medium sauce pan. Once the water is boiling, dunk in the sliced cabbage. Let it sit in the boiling water for about a minute, then remove from the water and arranged it in a serving dish. Set aside.

In the same sauce pan (water used for the cabbage removed),  over medium low heat, pour in the contents of the tuna in can, add dried basil (a few dashes), a pinch of pepper, mix it a bit, then add the Worscestershire sauce. Mix a couple of times, put in the Pechay leaves, then put on the lid of the sauce pan. Allow to the leaves to wilt a bit and absorb the flavors of the tuna, for around 20 seconds before stirring. Don't over cook the leaves, it should not lose its green color. Once cooked, using a pair of tongs, place first the Pechay leaves on top of the cabbage leaves that you cooked earlier, then top it with the tuna with its sauce and juices. Best served with plain hot rice.  :)

Simple dish, almost ready to eat, yet healthy and filling. Serving good for 2. :)

Happy cooking!

A little bit of vegan, a little bit of healthy: Green salad with tofu dumplings and Chinese vinaigrette

My mom raised my brother and I as vegetable-eating people. I have no problem with veggies (except for onions) even when I was a kid, so going for vegan food does not require too much effort on my part. Although, since I normally get tired of the same taste in food, I started experimenting with new recipes.

I was preparing the normal green salad one day and thought to make it a little bit more interesting. So I tried some new tweaks to spice it up.

Green salad was made of:
1 head Romaine Lettuce, washed well and tear into pieces
2 large green tomatoes (yes green! :) with seeds removed)
1 cup baby carrots, peeled and sliced
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and thinly sliced
2 hard boiled eggs, sliced (omit for full vegan diet)

Additional toppings could be: 1) Nuts, 2) Dried fruits, 3) Fresh mangoes, apples, pear or grapes

Sample salad bar:

For the tofu dumplings:

Half bar of Chinese tofu (extra firm), drained and cut into 1 inch cubes
Dumpling wrappers
Salt and pepper
Dried herbs

Wrap the tofu squares in dumpling wrapper (the same way that you would wrap siomai dumplings), seal with a little bit of water. Then sprinkle with a little bit of salt, pepper, and dried herbs on top. Or you can leave it as it is since the vinaigrette is already flavorful anyway.

Then heat up some oil in a deep frying pan, fry the tofu dumplings until golden brown. Remove from oil then let drain on paper towels.

They should look like this when cooked:

For the Chinese Vinaigrette:

2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
3 tbsp cane or red wine vinegar
3 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp organic honey
Salt and pepper to taste

Set the veggies on the plate, top with dumplings and Vinaigrette. :)

Guilt free (well, a little guilt from the frying part haha) and satisfying! :)

Try it and let me know how it turns out. :)

Pics c/o Jem Sese. Thanks again! :)

Not so healthy, but oh so yummy! Boncharms chicken :)

My version of Korean "Bonchon-Style" chicken was confirmed delicious when my grandma tasted it for the first time, and she actually liked it! Amma, our term of endearment for our 85-year old beloved grandmother has traditional Ilocano taste buds. So unless the food has Pangasinan Bagoong, or has Ayungin (small tasty fish usually cooked paksiw style) or shellfish in it, she wouldn't really fall in love with the food, though she will eat it, but she will not really indulge. Cooked the Korean Chicken for the first time and served it to my Mom, Cousin, and Amma, and it got good reviews. In fact, Amma was still asking for the left over sauce even until the following days. Now that is good thing. :)

Served it too to my friends a few days back and they also liked it. They gave it the name, "Boncharms". haha So since the recipe is not really that top-secret, I'd like to share it with you so you can try it yourself. :)

KOREAN BONCHARMS CHICKEN

INGREDIENTS FOR THE SAUCE:

1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup organic honey (if you don't have organic, then just use regular honey)
1/4 cup ketchup
2-3 tbsp Muscovado sugar (or brown sugar if you don't like muscovado)
1-2 tsp Tabasco sauce (if you like it really spicy, then add some more)
1/8 cup or 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
A pinch of salt
Pepper (put in as much or little as you like)
1/2 cup of ginger cut into large chunks
3 cloves of garlic sliced

How to make the sauce:
In a small sauce pan, saute the ginger and garlic in medium low heat until slightly brown (don't allow the garlic to become too brown please. If you do, you will have to do it over), then pour the soy sauce, vinegar, honey, Tabasco sauce, mix and allow all the liquids to heat together, before the mixture boils, add ketchup, sugar, salt and pepper. (Make sure to taste and adjust ingredients according to your preference.) Reduce sauce until it thickens over low heat. Set aside.

FOR THE FRIED CHICKEN:
I believe every family has their own version of fried chicken. But if you want to know how I made mine, here's how I did it.

1 kilo of chicken wings and legs, cleaned*and rinsed well

*When I was 13, my Auntie Didin taught me how to prepare raw chicken before cooking. After cutting up the parts, remove the thin slimy membrane-esq clinging on top of the flesh and underneath the skin of the chicken. If you cant pull out the slime completely, rub the chicken with rock salt while pulling out all the goo. Also remove all the brown fleshy bits and blood in between the bones. This way, the chicken won't taste "malangsa" or it won't have that "not fresh" taste.

2 cups of flour mixed with salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and 1/2 cup of crispy fried chicken mix

For the chicken, put flour mixture into a large bag, then put in chicken, seal the bag and shake it until the chicken becomes fully coated with flour. Heat large frying pan (the deeper the pan, the better), put in a cup or so of oil (palm oil or unflavored coconut oil is the healthiest option) but canola oil works fine. When the oil is hot, put in chicken and allow one side to brown before you flip it to the other side. Make sure that there's no more raw or bloody parts before you remove the chicken from the oil and let it drain on paper towel.

Allow the chicken to cool a little bit. Then put chicken in a deep container, slowly pour in sauce on the chicken, just enough to coat it then turn the chicken in every direction to be fully coated by the sauce. Add more sauce or serve extra sauce as desired.

Then place the chicken inside an oven toaster for about 3 minutes so the skin can get extra crispy and the sauce will become glossy and will cling on the chicken better.

Your chicken should look like this:

Really simple. If you think that you didn't get the sauce right, just practice and make it again next time. Or you could also just dip your fried chicken in some ketchup and it will be equally satisfying. hehe

Enjoy cooking! :)


Pictures taken by my friend, Jerome. :) Thanks! :)

A little bit of vegan, a little bit of healthy: Chicken tortilla burger

In one of my previous posts, I mentioned that I was in a crossing over phase to becoming a vegan. So far, I gave up eating pork and beef completely. So yes, I  have a looonnnggg way to go- I have to stop eating chicken, fish, eggs, all kinds of animal-produced dairy, condiments, etc.

I'm proceeding with baby steps so I will not shock myself with all the sudden changes. Meanwhile, I am enjoying making and eating pork and beef-free and healthier options for food. I came up with 1 new recipe which I shared with my friends. Well, its not entirely new to everyone I guess, but I made my own version of it. :) Let me share them with you too.

Chicken tortilla burger with cheesy mushroom sauce

INGREDIENTS:
FOR THE PATTIES
1/2 kilo ground chicken breast
1 big carrot grated, pressed a bit to remove a little of the excess juices
2 cloves garlic grated
A few dashes (approx. 1/2 tsp) of your favorite dried herb, I used dried Basil and oregano
3-4 dashes of Tabasco sauce (if you want it spicier, then just add more)
Salt and pepper to taste (just follow your usual preference for seasoning)
1 medium egg slightly beaten
2-3 tbsp flour or cornstarch
Small cubes of cheddar or quick melt (preferably quick melt) cheese

Additional ingredients: I didn't use chopped celantro at the time I made this, but I think fresh celantro will go well with this patty mix. If you will use celantro, just use a milder-tasting herb to go with it. I'm not really a big fan of onions, so I didn't use that, but if you wish, then go ahead and add 1 small onion finely chopped to the mix.

FOR THE CHEESE SAUCE:*
1 1/2 Cup cheese spread (like cheese whiz, but whatever brand you prefer just use it)
2 tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 1 1/2 cup water (if you find it too thick or runny, just adjust the amount of cornstarch)
1/4 (of 1 block) of quickmelt cheese grated
A little bit of salt (control your salt since the cheese is already salty as it is, or omit the salt altogether if you're ok with the saltiness of the cheese sauce) and pepper (I like pepper so I put in lots)
1 medium can of sliced button mushrooms, drained

*For a healthier version, omit cheese spread, instead heat and dissolve vegan cheese or quick melt cheese in 2-2 1/2 cups of low fat milk or soy  milk. Then follow the rest of the ingredients, but remove additional grated cheese.

To make the patties, combine everything together (except the cheese cubes). Mix until a bit sticky and well combined. Form a mound and make a cross on top as your guide to divide the patties into 4 equal parts. Get 1/4 of the mixture, make a ball and press the mixture down slightly on your palm to create a flat patty, place small cube of cheese in the middle then cover entirely with the rest of the mixture. Form into a burger patty, the same size or a little bigger than your palm. Make it plump so that it will not dry out when frying or grilling.

Put the patties on the grill (slightly greased) and cook for about 3-4 minutes each side. On the other side of the grill, you can heat your tortilla (I used whole wheat tortilla), to maximize the heat on the grill and cooking time. Make sure that there's no oil slipping on that side of the grill. The patty will turn golden brown with nice grill marks when done.

For the cheese sauce:

Heat the cheese spread on a small sauce pan, add cornstarch mixture little by little while constantly stirring with a whisk until you achieve the desired thickness. Add grated cheese, mix until dissolved. Add button mushrooms, then season to taste. Stir constantly until mushrooms are cooked.

For presentation, line up the burgers on a nice plate then pour cheese sauce on top and garnish with the fresh version of the herb you used.

Or you can serve individually together with the tortilla. Also best served with salsa. Yum! :)

That's it. Easy. :) Enjoy! :)

P.S. Pictures c/o my good friend, Jerome Sese. Thanks Jem! :)

Signs of Aging ;)

Around ten months ago, a few days before my 30th birthday, my cousin shared with me a wise piece of advice about growing a year older. She said: "Don't worry about turning 30, its going to be pretty much painless". Ending the years of being in my 20's didn't sting so much, although it somehow brought me different waves of realizations. I realized that I did not just complete a whole year, but I was about to complete a whole decade, ready to cross over to the next. And that's a huge deal. At least that's how I felt. However, though I knew that this is going to cause several ripples of emotions and realizations, I still shared the same piece of advice to a good friend who is going to celebrate her 30th birthday in a few weeks. I told her with much confidence, "Its going to be painless".

It got me thinking what the experience of turning 30 actually does to a person. Particularly to a single person. I realized that its like the time when I turned 13 or something like going through a second tier "adolescent" stage, an experience that is partly awkward, and partly life changing. Its partly awkward since traditional society norm has included this age in the range of marrying age. And yet unfortunately, I'm far from that phase or at least that's what I think. However, the good thing about this phase is that, it is also revolutionary in sense that the wisdom that I picked up from the people, experiences, places, and life lessons that I encountered in the last 30 years of my life has prepared me for the crossing over experience. I may not have another human hand to hold as I go through this, but I know that I should not fear anything for I will never be alone.

My friends and I were fondly and having a little laugh over the "signs of aging". Signs like:
1) You prefer tea over coffee while having a quiet and calming conversations with good friends over rowdy parties,
2) You prefer to read a good book than go strolling in the mall (although shopping may still sound good from time to time :D ),
3) You prefer to spend time and money on new experiences and adventures over spending money on some nice new shiny gadget (which will be obsolete before you even had the chance to actually learn its full functionality),
4) You would refer to family members, friends, colleagues who are in their teens or early 20's "mga bata", and they refer to you as "Ate" /"Kuya",  "Ma'am" / "Sir" and if they have kids, you are "Tito" / "Tita", "Ninong" /"Ninang" and
5) You actually grew interest in things that would have bore you to tears just a few years back like accounting, taxation, politics, current local and foreign news updates, mutual funds, treasury bonds, stock market investing, and goodness, growing your retirement fund.

And probably for those who are married and have kids, additional signs would be change in priorities, putting your budding new family, particularly your spouse and kid/s on top of the list. And that's ok. Just goes to show that wisdom really does come with age, we slowly learn what (and who) is really important.

There's one more thing that got emphasized (though it started years before), another sign of aging...
You would start to question if there is more to all of these. At least for me it got me thinking how I could bring my life more meaning and purpose. Earlier on, my heart and spirit was touched and had been prepared for this, but because of my ten million excuses, I was moving slowly. Though brought up in a Christian, church-going family, it was only during my early 20's when I got to know who my God really is. All my life, I know that the Lord of my family is Jesus Christ, but it was only at that God-appointed time that it was revealed to me the truth about Him. And I will be forever grateful for that day and turning point. And as I live through another decade, living through my 30's (if  I don't say it well enough in this post haha), I know that my life should not be wasted by not doing anything constructive to advance His Kingdom. And I don't mean this in an overly religious kind of way. I'd like this to be a practical application of sharing physical help and spiritual nourishment. I know that there's more to advancing in years if we share our life with people from different walks of life, just for the sake of sharing and helping, without expecting anything in return.

God bless the hearts of those who started much earlier, your wisdom is well beyond your years.

Thank you "signs of aging", you've been a good friend for telling the truth. :)

A Few Good Men

Spent my last two days relaxing and enjoying the company of two of my super close friends. It was a very chill-come-what-may kind of weekend. The dip in the pool almost literally froze our insides, which were eventually thawed by the cup of hot brewed coffee that we had together with some mouth watering pastries. It was very satisfying! Together with the good eats and great company, the three of us had interesting conversations, covering topics from the silliest down to the most meaningful. You know for sure that you're in the company of people you love and who loves you as much, when you can actually bare your heart and soul, without having to worry about being judged or misunderstood. You can speak your mind, regardless of whether you agree with a certain idea or not, and know for for sure that you will learn something new from the exchange of thoughts.

One of our topics included the recent passing of the DILG secretary Mr. Jesse Robredo. The internet is now filled with inspiring words about his life. He was described as a good man and one of those rare politicians who gives life to the words "public servant", because he literally served the people of Naga as their mayor for three consecutive terms, and later served in the Department of the Interior and Local Government, where he had the opportunity to serve the country on a greater scale. And from the good words and high regard of people from his native province, and also from his family, constituents, and colleagues, one can actually have a glimpse of the kind of life that he lived. He sincerely made a difference in the lives of many people.

From this conversation, stemmed the question: What exactly makes a good man? My friend raised this question and asked for our opinion. I stopped and dug a little deeper into my thoughts. After pondering for a while, I realized that:

A good man is someone who is balanced. He has a little of everything that is significant. He is responsible, cares and spends quality and consistent time with his family, strives and excels in his chosen work, someone who is honest, knows how to treat people with respect regardless of who they are. He is not too good at one thing to compensate for something that is non-negotiable. For example, he is a good provider to his family and helpful to the community around  him, and yet, has a temper, so short-fused, it clouds his better judgement and decision making. Like a pendulum swinging from one extreme end to the other.

He is balanced because he understands the importance of each aspect of his life. He is far from perfect, but his flaws are forgiveable. He is aware of his limitations and knows how to manage each of it to adapt to different circumstances. And most importantly, he has an integrity with a solid foundation rooted in faith. A good man has humility to admit that his goodness is not self-made. A good man knows that his goodness comes from the Source of it all. He has God in his life, that's why he bears good meaningful fruit, instead of a fruit that is grandiose yet empty bitter. You know that someone is a good man, if his children (and or people he has encountered in his lifetime) speaks of him with much pride and respect. Lastly, a good man only has one consistent face, but wears many hats. (And yes, this applies to both men and women.)

In the middle of our conversation about the characteristics of a  "good man", my friend came across an essay written by the daughter of Mr. Robredo. The essay written by Aika Robredo won the grand prize for the high school category of the Ramon Magsaysay Student Essay Competition in 2003. Every word in the then, 15-year old Aika's essay was filled with words of highest respect and admiration. Not solely influenced by their relationship as father and daughter, but because the man, on top of being the best father and head of the family, also exemplified all the characteristics of person (and public servant) deserving of a Ramon Magsaysay Award. It was a piece every Filipino ought to read and appreciate. After reading the article I realized that a good man is also someone who can create ripples of his legacy within his family and community. He strives to share himself to the people around him, giving back, what was lovingly given to him. He shares his heart and mind and creates an impact. A good man knows the goodness in him and uses this to the fullest to make a difference that benefits many and not only for himself. A good man stands by his beliefs, doing what is right, not what is easy.


Hopefully the remaining people of such characteristics will continue to share their light and will never grow tired and weary of doing good. By so doing, their light may touch others who are struggling, and hopefully they too, will eventually be motivated to live a life worthy of high respects.


There are a few good men - friends (soul siblings) who will love you no matter where life takes you; and honest and effective public servants like Mr. Robredo. I hope we will always have in us the ability to distinguish the real deal, from the wannabes. Life will be so much better if we really know the difference between the genuine and the fake.
Like gold, the fake cracks and melts under the fire, while the genuine is purified by the fire and shimmers with radiance because of it.

To my treasures, my soul siblings, I will always be grateful for your life and our friendship. I love you with all of my heart.

To Mr. Jesse Robredo, Sir, I may not know you personally, but the ripple that you created reached me and made an impact. Thank you. You are now home with the Lord.  May you rest in peace. And to your family, may the Holy Spirit embrace you and comfort you at this time of mourning. My sincerest and deepest condolences.

There's no turning back~

Two months ago, I made a life-changing decision. I was never the same person since that day. I became a more compassionate eater by deciding to become "semi-vegetarian". I know in reality there is no such thing as being a semi-vegetarian. Its either you eat meat or not. There's no middle ground. Although, I think there is such a thing as a middle phase, wherein, you are not yet totally a vegetarian, but you're on your way there.

I accidentally stumbled upon a website promoting the pros and cons of going vegan. There were even videos showing the life of farm animals from birth till their last day on earth before they become red meat for human consumption. There are poor animals like male chicks that are tossed into a grinder alive since some commercial farms prefer to invest in raising female chicks over male chicks. Yes they become ground chicken meat, feathers, beak, and all after hatching from their shell for just a day. Its a different (and worse) story for cows and pigs, but I won't go into details.

That day I stopped eating pork and beef as my crossing over phase to becoming a full vegan, if and when I have enough guts to avoid all meats and dairy altogether. Now living on seafood, chicken and veggies, and I must say, its not so bad. I don't miss eating red meat at all. So since one source of protein was eliminated in my (and my mom's) diet, I started experimenting with a few new dishes. Tofu by the way is so versatile, that it's practically my new best friend. ;)

So far, I came up with some delicious dishes:
                                         

1. Tofu wanton rolls with red cabbage coleslaw and basil yogurt dressing

2. Steamed soy garlic lemon tilapia with mixed veggies (cauliflower, asparagus, string beans, shitake mushrooms, mustard leaves, and yellow peppers)*

*For full vegetarian version, replace fish with firm tofu squares

3. Stir-fried string beans and cauliflower with veggie meat patties and crushed peanuts

5. Veggie noodles carbonara (white sauce from scratch using soy milk) with yellow peppers and cauliflower

6. Chinese tofu dumpling salad with soy-sesame dressing*

*for full vegetarian version, omit hard boiled egg

7. Meatless-beef-less pepper steak (using veggie meat strips)

I also discovered a recipe for homestyle "bonchon" chicken. Its super good! But I forgot to take pictures of the dish. I will take photos of it the next time I prepare it at  home. 

If I knew that the journey towards "going vegan" will be this fun, animal and environment-friendly, not to mention healthy, I would have started much earlier.

For recipes just leave me a note. :)

  

Strive to bless

The Art of Altruism

Helping people is both a blessing (both to the giver and recipient), and a responsibility. The opportunity to share oneself to those who are in need is present in our daily realities. It is just a matter of opening one's eyes to the pressing need of giving assistance to those who need a helping hand. Just try to observe how the world moves around you. Notice a little girl walking along the side street trying to sell little things like sampaguita, cigarettes, or even gum and candies. Turn your attention to the old man sitting by the curb as he tries to catch his breath and manage his thirst while he hauls his sack full of old plastic bottles and used paper products which he will sell to earn a few pesos for his next meal. Or a poor dog lagging along the highway with a sprained leg or body covered in mange. And sometimes we don't need to look very far. There are those who need our help within our family or in our own churches and communities. Everywhere we turn, there are opportunities calling for us to help.

IT IS A BLESSING.

"...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:48 

Although this verse is usually related to tithing or giving to the works of the Church, I also believe that this refers to our responsibility to share our blessings with others. God intends to bless more people by blessing us, the receiver of His bounty. Through our big heart and generosity, the Lord works through our sincere acts of kindness flowing from our gratitude towards the Giver of Good Gifts. It is also a form of worship towards the Lord. And by blessing others, we open more room for God's blessings to flow into our lives. As we empty our vessel, the Lord fills it up to the brim. And with our generosity and willingness to help, we give glory to the Lord, the only source of blessings. 

IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY.

We were given the power to bless and help others, yes, but we were also given the responsibility to help them rise up and become "blessers". It is good to give help, but it is not good if we give help to the point of dependency, complacency, and laziness. It is our social and moral obligation to help and teach at the same time. As a Chinese proverb says: "Give a man to fish and you will feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and  you will feed him for a lifetime". It is also upon our conscience to teach the recipient, the true value of the fish, by teaching him the hard work that comes with catching the fish. What I mean to say is that helping people is good, but helping becomes better and gains more value when we teach people how they could be self sufficient, so they too can become channels of blessings. 

I know how it is to be in need of help and I personally experienced a lot of times how to lower my pride to ask for help. Many times I have been the receiver of numerous blessings from people who are angels on earth. I know how it is to be hard pressed and was in situations wherein any source of help seams bleak. I also know how it feels to be rejected and neglected.  Through these experiences, I learned how to become merciful and compassionate. But also rising from these experiences, I realized that it is equally important to be a source of wisdom and motivation to help people rise up and do something constructive to change their situations. I learned that it is more important that people realize that the only person who can really help them  change their situation is themselves. Bottom line, the real blessing is realized only when you can help someone change their outlook and perspective, in the hope that this will help them muster the courage to alter their future by changing their ways and thinking today. 

Altruism is a blessing and a responsibility because a single act of kindness and a single word of encouragement literally changes someone's life. Strive to bless and create more "Blessers", I know it will make a difference in the long haul. 

Rekindling the love

Welcome! :) I created this blog to share words that bless hearts. I would be writing about daily wisdom that I learn from random encounters with people, places, work, and situations. Each time I hear the Lord's voice, I will share with you the wisdom that I learned. The wisdom could be spiritual, intellectual, practical, could be about the simplest life encounters, or about business, about weddings (yes since I'm a full time floral designer :) ), about people's kindness and daily heroism and bravery that often go unnoticed, about friendship, family, love in every form, blessings in all shapes and sizes, and even on food, health, cooking, gardening, pet ownership, and other topics where there is new wisdom to be found. :) You will hear what I've heard, you will see what I've seen, I will share with you my thoughts and some of my feelings in the hope that I get to share blessings of words of wisdom, kindness, love and enlightenment. :)

So here are some of the new wisdom that I learned this week:

WISDOM #1: WORTHWHILE WRITING

A few days ago, I was browsing through  my Facebook wall and saw this post on the newsfeed. It says, "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing" by Benjamin Franklin.

Social Media has given people the freedom to express how they feel right at that very moment. When we feel happy and ecstatic, sad, angered, confused, frustrated, or tired, almost immediately we would let the world know how we feel by posting it online. It has become our outlet to express a whole lot of screaming emotions steaming within us. However since the words that composed our shout outs were often times conjured up in the spur of the moment, we sometimes fail to think it through. Believe me I have many of those and I wish I could delete the words from the brains of the people who have read it. The post may have been deleted, but some people remember. But the point is, I learned to be extra careful with the things that I say online. I learned to be prudent. And I am still learning even as I write this blog. I believe that it will result into something good one day soon. People would not benefit from knowing what I ate for lunch nor where I spent my weekend, but rather they would benefit from the wisdom learned from the people that I spent eating lunch with or from people and situations that I encountered at different places. So during the learning process, I am going to write about these new wisdom. After going through the era of obsessing about posting empty words, I will learn to share words that bless. Hopefully my writing will be worth everybody's time - mine and those who would read my piece. :)


WISDOM #2: PAYING IT FORWARD

A few months ago, my family and I faced a difficult challenge. To cut the long story short, my brother and his fiancee met a terrible accident, my family and I were short of funds to cover our half of the hospital expenses, and finally eliminating all pride and embracing humility and selflessness, we came and asked for help from family and close friends who have hearts of gold. During those trying times, as I was thanking a really good friend who sent help, I remember she said: "When the opportunity comes around, remember to pay it (goodness and generosity) forward". That opportunity is here and  started to knock on my door. One of my staff needs help for her ailing father. I still don't have loads of cash to giveaway, and yet I know too well the feeling of helplessness, losing face, and throwing away one's pride for the sake of a loved one. I know it sounds so telenovela-ish, but believe me, its no joke to be in this situation. I learned to pay it forward, as my friend told me, though it may not be much, but I did it. Paying it forward even if it is difficult and even if resources are limited. It transcends above giving of financial help (although it is a big part of it), but rather offering comfort and the willingness to listen to heartaches and the readiness to share words of prayer, encouragement and comfort that heals wounded souls. More importantly, I learned that having people working for you is not just a business relationship. Its a relationship PERIOD. You are to sincerely care for the people who selflessly helped you carry out your business mission and accomplish projects for clients. I learned that in order to encourage people to really care for their work, you as their boss should learn to sincerely care for them. Again, I am no Richie Rich boss, but I learned to share what I have in the best way I can. And I believe that it has a huge impact on the people that I work with, and I am grateful for this.


WISDOM #3: THE TURTLE ALWAYS WINS

One of my favorite Filipino lay preachers, also a bestselling author and an entrepreneur, wrote this book called: "The Turtle Always Wins". Its actually a book about financial literacy and techniques/strategies about stock market investing. Over a year ago, I developed an interest in the stock market, mutual funds, and treasury bonds; things that used to be Greek to me. However, as I began reading books and articles, I slowly began to understand how it all works.By reading this book, I did not only learn about stock market investing, I also learned about patience and putting it into solemn and steady practice. In order to come out a winner as a stock market investor, you  have to run the race no matter how slow and boring the pace is. It takes patience.

However, I learned something else about being a Turtle. Being a turtle means being extremely patient at all times (something that I totally lack and have to work on by the way) and being completely focused on your goal. Being a turtle means you are not as exciting and fast-paced as the squirrel and the rabbit (all characters from the story shared in the book), you are boring yet persistent, people may ridicule you and belittle your abilities, comparing you to the vigor and speed of your opponents, but as the cliche goes slow and steady (or the turtle) is going to win the race. You just have to keep at it. Something that I have to remind myself almost everyday.

WISDOM #4: THE HIGHEST PLACE OF HONOR IS AT THE FEET OF JESUS

One of the hymns that we sang in church last Sunday was entitled: "Crown Him Lord of all". The song has around 24 lines and yet one line caught my attention, it says: "Go spread your trophies at His feet and crown Him Lord of all" I was reminded that all glory, honor, and power belong to Jesus Christ, which He deserves and much more. The greatest honor is having the chance to sit at His feet and receive spiritual enlightenment. I  am learning that sitting at His feet does not happen by following a certain schedule, but it has be a lifestyle. Something that is not always easy. But being in this place, by Jesus' feet, is always worth it. No matter how estranged we have become, we may have wandered off far from this Place, yet it is always worthy to spend everything that we are and have to Go spread our trophies at Jesus' feet and receive His Peace.