Sunday

Up, Up, and Away

I often wonder why Filipinos are so hooked in watching heroic movies. May it be controversial, fantasy or cartoons. It just seems that these movies have a common magical ingredient which enthusiast us all- that one, making us patient enough to endure moments of waiting at the long time in the cinema. But then, what do we really get from it?

Some say that these movies help Filipinos to somewhat escape from what’s truly happening in their country. Things like poverty, crimes, corruption… We see these types of news everyday whenever we take a peek at the newspaper or television. Seems like we want something new, something different and something better than a realm consisting of a big number of corrupt officials, issues of prostitution, social discrimination, lack of education and people who are tremendously divided! Ah, we had enough!! It would be nice then if there is someone like Spiderman who shall always save the day. Truly, these heroes inspire us, which gushes a thought that one day we’ll be fortunate indeed to find the magic lamp whose genii can tranform us into a real character with super powers.

However all heroes are not just in movie screens. Hero is neither an idealistic term that refers to a grand prize winner of a star search, nor the one pertaining to Carey’s sweet sounding song. Albeit we don’t have superpowers, we can all be considered as heroes. It is because being a hero includes doing what is right. It is pursuing the common good. But sometimes, we have to give up the things that we want even our dreams(familiar line huh?)


I then remember what one of my teachers made mention, “the world is crying… how can you help heal it?” Indeed, everyone of us seems to be included in an inevitable dillema. But even though the situation is fiercely aggravating, we can somehow cease our world’s wails through simple things such as becoming lamps in every corner, nevertheless a hero on our own ways. Big things start from small beginnings as they say. As long as you know what you are doing is good, there is nothing to be ashamed of.


“Kasalanan ang dapat ikahiya ng tao..” so why would you feel shy in singing the National Anthem during the flag ceremonies or singing out loud during Sunday masses? Isn’t it that these things are right? Isn’t it that these things could lead us to becoming heroes of our true selves? Reality bites. But sometimes big things dominate small things that are considerably important. Disgruntled eyes search for extravagant expulsions, neglecting small details that they need to see. Little girls and boys want to be big heroes immediately without knowing how to be little heroes first. Soon, they’ll realize that something should be done as soon as possible.

These realizations could somewhat make us think of what a real hero is. We may never be like Spiderman or Superman but if only we’ll do somethig better, we can make a big difference. All of us are important and have the capabilities to fight the monsters in our community and society. Even though we are just small heroes, if everyone of us will be united, a better hero will prevail. So if you want a better place to live in, just remember: you are a hero, you can do what is right…. you can make it!


P.S. It is not about taking a seat in the cinema and enjoying visual effects. But it is on how you can become a real hero in your life. Fly higher! Soar higher! Ü

Tuesday

do you make a difference?

this vacation,i have invested most of my time in reading various kinds of books. from self help to fictional fantasies to love stories to serious ordeals or even to Candy magazines..
it's nice to learn from other people. it's marvelous to witness others' ideas develop into a series of events wherein you find yourself staring at the book's page in amazement. it's significant to put yourself in one's shoes and pretend to face the adventures yourself. one observation is that it seems to me that all the books that i have read show me one thing that was more familiar to me when i was in high school.
motto ng SMCM?

MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

i am not really sure but as my college days go on and on, the fact that i am getting more concerned with the matters pressed to me by this society becomes more evident and true. YES. my life is becoming fast paced. my goals are the very goals that almost everyone who wants a good life possesses and holds. that is why when i dive into these books and they present to me the wrong things that our society make people believe, i can not really deny the fact that i should really do something to get my life back on the extraordinary trail that leads to making a real difference.

while it is not bad to aspire for a good life, the whole point revolves around one's perspective in living his/her life. the things that he/she intends to do and the reasons why he/she does it. perhaps it's really true when they say that good things never last... maybe it's because THE BEST things are the ones that REALLY LAST...and most often than always, these best things are found not on material things and affairs; rather they are seen on the happenings in our lives with the people who matter to us...and life only sees its meaning when we start to live for the ones who also live.

as the Buddhists say, "Don't cling to material things because they are impermanent..." but really, how easy is it to deal with life the way it should be dealt with?
how many of us live our lives half awake? when was the last time wherein we really listened to someone's story, not cheking the time or his 'speech's' duration? when was the real last time when we had a good laugh or good cry over the emotions that we have not chosen to keep because of the strong image we want to present? when was the last time that we appreciated the beauty of the grass, the trees and the flowers that are scattered along the way like they never really existed? when was the last time??? or, was there really even a time that we stopped to realize these things? to realize that LIFE IS NOT A RACE and that LIFE is so precious, it is only limited.

Morrie Schwartz said.... when you learn to die, you will live. those are not his exact words but the point is nevertheless the same. he said that surely, if people face the idea of death and realize that they don't have all the time to live, things will change... the way we look at things, the way we set our goals... the way we dress perhaps? the list goes on and on.
one line that really caught my attention was INVEST IN PEOPLE.... why? because, Love is when you are still remembered even after you're gone...and happiness is one thing that multiplies even after you have divided and distributed it.

it's all right to dream. it's perfect to aim for the skies. but know the reason for your dream. don't dream blind and don't dream for others' demands. help yourself and live your own life as if you really own it........ because God has given our lives to us because He wants us to have it.

is it easy to make a difference?
hug someone today.it can be a difference.
show your smile to a stranger.it can be a difference.
LISTEN.it can make a whole lot of difference.