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I have been in a hiatus from blogging for a very long time now. As you can see, my blog template is barely done. I don't have time to fix it because of the current situation I'm facing. Being marooned in Singapore. 

I came here 4 months ago looking for a job and hoping to fulfill my dreams of a bright stable future. But the road ahead was really tough in achieving that dream. Some of those obstacles I have been hurdling all these times are : 

1. Stingy and Ruthless Boss - who hypocritically shows you he cares even he's not. Tricking me into taking the job because of a big offer in the end he lowers it down to a minimum pay. Where's the word of honor there? Well, giving me apples everyday is not enough to ease the emotional trauma he gave me.

2. "Curry-fied" and Blunt Tasting Food - that made me forget how happy I am when I am eating. It's like every meal in every stalls or restaurants you turn to, there's curry. I'm not picky with food actually. I still eat what is served in front me. But I just lost the satisfaction and happiness after  I eat. Right now, I just eat for the sake of living. 

3. Depletion of English Vocabulary - knowing that I am in a foreign country belongs to a company where I am the only Filipino, Everyday, my proficiency in English language is put to test. The worst thing would be, all the proper grammar and dictions I learned before will be gone to waste because Singlish (Singapore-English) is what is in here and not American English. How does Singlish works? Imagine it like as a Carabao English or English "Barok/Tarzan". Phrases like "Finish already" when they mean "We are out of stock"  or "You go back now" when they mean "Go home now". There's also there weird fillers like "Lor, La, Ler" and the like every after sentence. In the end, I find myself being quiet during discussions or normal chit-chats.

4. The Smell that Only the Rich Can Afford  - as what I have said before, Singapore has low crime rate. But did you know you could die here easily not because of the crimes but because of that.. how should I say this... not so very nice odors fumigated by people who either consumes very strong spices in their food or people who never takes a bath and had their own sweat as their own collection of natural perfume. There were many incidents that I am cornered by these people and I don't have a choice but to enjoy the smell that life offered them.

5. Stress, Worries and Health Issues - where I just found out here in Singapore, during on one of my check up, that I have a minor heart problem. There's a tendency that my heart would go faster beyond the normal beating per minute when I am stressed out and when my hypertension attacks. I feel like my health condition is worsening here but I'm still carrying on. I had to ask some of my good friends and my family to send me packs of Aspirins and Multivitamins. What's worse also, Insomnia is really eating me up here. Not only that, I am now used to keeping the tension inside me instead of letting it go. I don't have a choice but to let it subside and try to move on as much as possible. This is how it works in this fast paced society.

6. Longing For Everybody - that includes my family, friends, students, organization, lifestyle and many more. I tend to miss my nieces and nephew more thinking that I would miss a lot of things as they grow up. As for my friends and organization, We were just starting and getting to know each other. I am just very afraid that one day, when I go back and would finally settle down, things won't be the same as before within the group. 

To those who are in the Philippines and have family members abroad working, I hope you could see our stand that it is not very easy being away from you. Think about the money you are spending that came from our hardwork here. That doesn't mean we are earning more here means you could get too comfy in overspending the money we send you. Just so you know,  even we are earning 6 times or 7 times or even 20 times bigger than we are earning back there, think about the cost of living here. It's never the same as Philippines. It still is expensive for us to go to the movies, have a massage, have a haircut or even just have a 1 rice 2 viands meal set.

Now, that I'm in the same position as with the other OFW's(Overseas Filipino Workers), I get to feel what they feel and suffer what they had been suffering all this time. I just hope all of you could see this too. If Philippines was just as progressive as Singapore or any other First World countries, there is no need for us to leave our homeland. But do we have a choice? Yes, we have but then we are pushed against the wall to take the rougher road just to survive life and it seems like still having no choice at all.

This is just my share of the story. What more for those other OFW's who are out there working hard to achieve betterment in life. As what Spiderman said "With great power, comes with great responsibility". As what we OFW's say "With bigger salary comes with bigger workloads, suffering, stress, depression and longing" So sad, right? But this is reality.

Just now, a good friend of mine messaged me on Facebook sharing his personal issues regarding the conflict between his passion and his family. He was already at his limits and was really confused on what decision to make. Then, the blogger inside me was rekindled. I was inspired to make a blog post about his issue. In such a way, I won't be just helping him but I could also help other people who has the same issue. Hitting two birds with one stone.

Well, I was in the same situation like him before. My family, especially my mom, had so much control in my life that I can't even do what I really wanna do. Then I came to a point where I have to turn the world upside down. I got choked up on how much they invaded my being. The "do this.. do that" kind of stuffs. From a good and angelic aura, I decided to become a cold and rebellious soul. I tried everything: booze, smoking, all-night parties and the like. I never had a healthy relationship with my mom and my sister during that time. We live in the same house but we pretend we don't see and hear each other. I struggled so much to survive and continue on living without their assistance. During the time I was lost, I found an interest that piqued me, cosplaying. I dived into it and they knew about it. They never understood the essence of my passion and started calling me names. They've been spreading rumors through out our neighborhood that because of cosplaying I became weird, disrespectful and naive. They even told me that I'm turning out to be a homosexual with cosplay. But I just never reacted and kept it inside. But by the time I joined the first cosplay event in our hometown, I got interviewed on the television, I was acknowledged by some people and I even get to take home 3rd prize unexpectedly. Then when they knew about this, they stopped messing my life and never talked ill again about my passion. It took almost 2 years before I somewhat straightened things between me and my family, especially my mom and sister. My relationship with them was not as healthy as before when I was in my childhood days but atleast we are able to talk now without hostility.

What I learned from all of these experiences? Well, it's just this, rebellious attitude would never solve the problem. The more you get colder the more things get complicated. It's better to look on the brighter side. Stay optimistic as much as possible. Whatever negative they had said about you, take it as a challenge. A challenge that would prove to their very own eyes that you are far better than what they expect and tell you to be and that there viable reasons why you are fighting for something you really love. If you really love something, you would as much as possible fight for it and never back out. By any means you get tired of fighting for it, take a deep breath, recollect yourself and think about the reasons why you are doing this passion and why does it make you happy. You'll find yourself making the people around you understand what it truly means to be you. Life is not all about money and winning. It's all about doing what you really like and what really makes you happy.

 Life is too short to be sad. Every moment you spent being sad is a wasted time you could never go back to. Cheer up! You are far better than you think who you are. Live your passion... your dream... your LIFE. 

This coming Sunday, June 27, 2010,8PM, Lagao Gym the Generals will encounter the one and only goddess of laughter and spontaneous fun, Vice Ganda. Yes! you read it right. The unevictable judge of the #1 daily talent show in Philippine Television, Showtime, is going to invade Gensan and will give the Generals unendless smiling faces. What surprises me more is the guesting of his undying judge partner in showtime, Gladys Reyes. This concert is really getting exciting! What excites me most is its striking concert title: "MAY NAG-TEXT! MAY SHOW AKO? LIVE IN GENSAN"

Vice Ganda started as stand-up comedian in comedy bars. He was well-praised by avid comedy bar fans because of his spontaineity in making people laugh. Every joke he presents are all natural that is why ABS-CBN gave him a break to be one of the judge and main cast of Showtime. Not only that, because of his tantamount humility amidst the defamation he receives, he now earned the spot of one of the best comedian in the Philippine History. Not only that, soon, he will release his first movie as "Petrang Kabayo" with Luis Manzano as his leading man.

Now, this is the only chance that Generals will grab the opportunity to hear, see and feel the magic of Vice Ganda's alluring beauty and mystifying words. I don't want to be left behind in this experience because I do admit that I am one of the biggest fan of Vice Ganda even before he entered the television and movies. I don't want to pass this chance to watch him live and upclose that's why I preferred blogging about his concert through the contest of our undying and lovable Soccsksargen Blogger Head Sir Avel. If you don't have the budget to buy the ticket but wants to enjoy the concert you can visit this link and check out the contest mechanics.

Ticket prices are at P250 (General Admission), P500 (Lower Box), P750 (Courtyard, Back Portion) and P1,000 (Courtyard, Front Portion).

For more info and ticket reservations, please call Ms. Dolly Santos at (083) 554-2123 or 0922-8898-285. Or Mara de Pedro at 0918-5809800. Tickets are also at available at ASIA UNITED BANK, Santiago Boulevard, GenSan.

Below also are the sponsors of this concert. This concert won't be possible without these people:

Well, I have been in hiatus for 6 months now in my blogging life. You ask why? because I was deprived with the technology to connect to the world wide web. I had my internet connection cut off because I haven't paid it for 7 months now. Hahaha! So, I would like to say sorry to my everdearest Soccsargen Bloggers for not getting in touch with you guys, especially to Sir Avel. Whew! I will find time to get my blogging life back. But for now, I have to look for a better job here in Gensan. The only thing I can promise is that I won't leave Gensan yet... now that I had found a reason to stay. Cheers everyone! :D

For three days, October 25-28, I have been visiting the ICT (Information Communication Technology) E-business week 09 events held at Robinson's Place in Gensan hoping to find the real meaning of ICT and how significant is its impact on the Generals. I immediately started my quest to seek for further understanding of the said event.

By the time I set my foot on the said venue, I have seen, heard and felt what ICT is really all about. IT is not just about computers, showcasing or promotion but rather what really lies deep within this event is UNITY amidst DIVERSITY. It is because different people came together as one for a vital purpose... tell the whole world that Gensan has potentials and is ready to conquer information, communication and technology.


I also read from GenSantos.com and Mabuhay Techno Park Official Site that a future IT Park will soon rise in General Santos City by 2011. It had fueled my soul to confidently encourage my students to pursue their IT career in their hometown instead of leaving it.It is another reason to love Gensan more. Thus, the information I have learned is enough to convince me that Gensan could be the next IT hub in the Philippines and that surely means alot of opportunities for Generals especially for the future IT Professionals.

We are GENERALS!

We are ready to take it to the NEXT LEVEL!

For we are ICT!

Love, for me, would be one of the greatest mysteries in life. Why do I say so? It is because love does not have the most concrete definition that would best describe it. In first place, it is not meant to be DEFINED but rather it should be FELT and CHERISHED to be completely understood. Also, Love can be compared to a horizon where you thought you fully grasped what is it really all about but only to find out that what you have learned was not even enough.

I can still remember from my early childhood days, it was always during sundays, where I could repeatedly hear this same song. A song that plays straight from our cassette player in full volume. While the song is being played, a loud booming voice blends in with the rhythm and lyrics of this distinct song which later I have been used to listening. No doubt, this voice belongs to my dad. I always reprimand him saying "Pa, kagahod sa imo. sakit sa dalunggan. hipos bala?" (Pa, you are so noisy. my ears hurt. can, you quiet down?) He would just look at me with a warm smile in his face and leave a short response saying "Pabay-i lang ko ah. Masanay ka lang sina" (Just let me be, You'll get used to it, eventually). And he was never wrong for I had started singing that song (even I don't know the lyrics completely and thinking that I was around 12 years old back then) with him every sundays from that day on. Sometimes my mom and even my other siblings would join us too.That made us a family chorale which had been one of my most important and worth cherishing for memory of my early childhood. days

I reached high school and college where, unconsciously, I forgot the song and never sang it again. Not until around my sophomore years in college when one of my classmates, a big fan of "oldies" songs, started blasting this song throughout the whole floor in one of our free time during school days. At first, I was puzzled because the song sounded familiar and my mind was rushing to look for the right lyrics of the song. Only to realize that this was the song which my dad had been singing every sunday in our precious abode home. I almost burst in tears when I remembered how significant the song was that time. I called my dad up and I told him how much I thank and love him for everything he had done for me and to our family. The usual bright mood and overpowering laugh was his reply to me.

January 20, 2006, the event that turned everything in my life upside down. My greatest downfall. My greatest loss. He passed away without saying his last goodbye. Being the last one to know, it hurts so much that I never get to totally thank him for everything that I have in my life. I never get to tell him how much I appreciated the song he taught me when I was still a kid. It was a love lost infinite times compared to the love I lost from heartbreaks. I was totally torn apart to pieces knowing that I have wronged him sometimes and I never get the chance to say my sorry's to him too.

For a long time, since he passed away, I went astray, unguided and turned out to be a rebellious son. I live a life in denial of his absence. I was totally lost without him. It took me more than a year to realize and accept his absence. But still, the emptiness inside can be felt. Then I only realized how much I love my dad. A love that knows no bound. I nearly gave up on life but a significant memory of him in my mind having that warm smile always flashes back to remind me that he never left me. He may not be here with me right now but rather he was always present in my heart and mind making me far more stronger as a person. All along i was not empty but rather I am a person who is filled in with overflowing love by my greatest inspiration in life: myDAD. Right then and there I realized that I should have looked deeper in me because the answer to my emptiness was just right here inside waiting to be found and be accepted.

I would say the chorus made it deep inside my being. It keeps on playing on my mind every time I am missing him.

Some of you would be wondering if what is the fuss about this All Out of Love "cheesyness"... It is because the artist who sang this song, whom I could only listen to through the stereo before with my dad, is coming over in Gensan to perform this once in a lifetime concert. You read it right! Air Supply Concert in GenSan is now dream come true for me. I'm definitely sure that they are going to perform Lost in Love and I am hoping that this time, I could hear the song one more time not through the stereo nor the music players and alike, but straight from them, live! . It is a chance for me to once again feel the eternal love of my dad for me. A chance to look back at the past and see how far I've gone and if I really made him proud through this concert, especially the song.

By the way, Air Supply in GenSan Concert is a major production of Dreamwork Ventures Inc.’s Platinum Concert Series 2009, in cooperation with the City Government of GenSan, the GenSan City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., ABS-CBN. Other partners are Grab A Crab Restaurant, MISO Hardware, San Miguel Corporation, Coca Cola Bottlers Inc., East Asia Royale Hotel, Coffee Dream, Giacominos, NY Fries and Dips, Giacominos, Gaisano Mall of GenSan and Gregoria Printing Press.

What's great is that Mr. Bariles, owner of the famous blog GenSan News Online Mag ,with its partner Grab A Crab Restaurant,owned by Mr. Michael Wee, is running a blogging contest again entitled What Air Supply Song Are You? Blog Contest , after the successful David Pomeranz Concert last February 14, 2009. I know it seems like I'm so desperate to win but if it is the only way I could meet the artist that inspired both me and my dad then I would step on my pride for this once in a lifetime chance.

This is My Story. My Life. My Love.

It may not be as sweet or as perfect as other love stories but it was the most humbling experience for me not only as a person but also as a son.