OF EVAT and STRIKES

A nation-wide transport strike to protest the implementation of the EVAT Law is on-going at the very moment I am posting this blog. Transport strikes are meant to paralyze movement within a certain locality and thus, denting the economy for a period of time.

But guess what? The Department of Education has not called off classes in all public schools; private schools have the option of declaring no-classes or not.

I can hear the school kids howling and hooting at the back of the house; classes are definitely on.

During transport strikes, public transport drivers have this nasty habit of plying their routes early in the day, justifying that they need the income to defray the day's expenses. After they have met their fill, they saunter off to somewhere else.

As the day comes to an end, this effectively strands off the numerous commuters who are already in school or in their places of work. The many emergency shuttle vehicles the Government fields to make sure that these people get home are not enough. The commuters end up cursing and swearing at these public transport drivers for making their lives miserable.

In the end, the annoyance of the commuting public are turned at these drivers. But not at the Government, who in reality, is behind all these manipulations.

The irony of it all.

CONTENTMENT

A few hectares of farm lot with fruit-laden durian, lanzones & mango trees. An accessible clinic right smack in the middle of the city. A few kids who will be graduating from college soon. A comfortable paediatric practice, a loving husband, and a strong Christain faith. What more can she ask for?

Priorities. Thats the word for it. That's how she sum things up. That's how we measure up things.

My favorite author, Francis J. Kong, in his book "Only The Real Matters", wrote: "Your work, your career, your business, your profession will not bring you happiness and fulfillment unless you surrender your life to Jesus Christ."

Yups, its really Him who can give us the answers to the unsatiable whims and seemingly unanswerable questions we posed to ourselves. Answers which we must see from the signs that He shows to us.

I trod down that path before: I was on a two-year hiatus from family, burying my head deep into the assignment while the grand corporation benefited from the grey hairs that churned up as I enjoyed working with the thing that was my passion.

For two years, I took away from my family, the benefit of having a husband and a dad sleep beside them, for something I somewhat believed in that would improve the quality of life for them.

But that was 11 months ago. Now I am beside them once more. My passion remains the same though I function in a much different capacity. I never again would trade-in for something else, the time I will spend to watch and guide my kids grow up.

That's contentment.

The Captain's Daughter

I recently talked over Y! Messenger with an old friend of mine. I shall call her "The Captain's Daughter". She comes from a fine and distinguished military lineage. I first got to know her a few years back when she was on a job-hunting trip. That was five years ago.

One might expect for her to follow tradition; but she didn't. She didn't earn her stripes nor did she pursue post-graduate studies. Instead, she followed her heart. She decided to unshackle herself from the bonds that prevented her from growing up and she went out on her own.

She's a strong one, mind you. She stood there, defying opinions and sarcasms, as one might expect from a disciplined family. She stood her ground, never flinching.

Now she's in the metropolis, ekking it out and waiting as the time draw nears to taste greener pastures in some foreign country (that's the ultimate Filipino dream, right?).

God speed to you my friend.

ITS A NEW DAY!

Its 6:46 am of 7th of November 2005 (GMT +8). Another day. The start of another month. Another week. The kids are busy prep themselves for school. Their school bus picks them up at around 7:30 am. In time for their 8:10 classes. The bells on the public elementary school at the back of our house just rang its first bell for the month of November.

This is the start of my very own blog. I would like to thank Dom and the other guys for helping me startup my own blog.

I miss the guys. I didnt get to see them last week, during the long break. My family and I were off to a 1,120 km journey (Davao-Ozamiz-Pagadian-CDO-Davao) during the holidays. Renewing old ties, rekindling old friendships, and resampling favorite gourmet specialties. A most valuable trip. Seen a lot of changes in the landscape and in the people. A learning experience for the kids too; building a strong "bonding" with them.

Now its back to the daily grind. So much for being whimsical.