50 FACTS ABOUT PHILIPPINES

March 15th, 2007 by wendy-neri
50 Facts about Philippines
Shame, shame, shame….. this was sent to me by a Canadian email buddy.

Dapat ba akong magalit sa kanya sa pagsampal sa akin sa katotohanan? That Philippines is…

50. Where the most happening places are not where the party is. Instead it is where the gang wars happen, where women strip and where the people overthrow a president.

49. Where even doctors, lawyers and engineers are unemployed. 

48. Where everyone has his personal ghost story and superstition 

47. Where mountains like Makiling and Banahaw are considered holy places.

46. Where everything can be forged.

45. Where school is considered the second home and the mall considered the third.

44. Where Starbucks coffee is more expensive than gas.

43. Where every street has a basketball court and every town only has one public school.

42. Where all kinds of animals are edible.

41. Where people speak all kinds of languages, and still call it Tagalog and where it is fast becoming unfashionable to speak English/Spanish. 

40. Where students pay more money than they will earn afterwards.

39. Where call-center employees earn more money than teachers and nurses, where doctors study to become nurses for employment abroad.

38. Where driving 4 kms can take as much as four hours. 

37. Where flyovers bring you from the freeway to the side streets.

36. Where the tourist spots are where Filipinos do not (or cannot) go.

35. Where the personal computer is mainly used for games and Friendster.

34. Where all 13-year-olds are alcoholic. 

33. Where colonial mentality is dishonestly denied! 

32. Where 4 a.m. is not even considered bedtime yet.

31. Where people can pay to defy the law. 

30. Where everything and everyone is spoofed. 

29. Where even the poverty-stricken get to wear Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger (peke)!

28. Where the honking of car horns is a way of life.

27. Where being called a bum is never offensive.

26. Where floodwaters take up more than 90 percent of the streets during the rainy season. 

25. Where everyone has a relative abroad who keeps them alive. 

24. Where crossing the street involves running for your dear life. 

23. Where wearing your national colors makes you baduy.

22. Where billiards is a sport, and darts is a bar game.

21. Where even the poverty-stricken have the latest cell phones. (GSM-galing sa magnanakaw) 

20. Where insurance does not work. 

19. Where water can only be classified as tap and dirty - clean water is for sale (35 pesos per 5-gallon). 

18. Where the church governs the people (owwss!!!) and where the government makes the people pray for miracles. (Amen to that!)

17. Where University of the Philippines is where all the weird people go.  Ateneo is where all the nerds go.   La Salle is where all the Chinese go. College of Saint Benilde is where all the stupid Chinese go, and University of Asia and the Pacific is where all the irrelevantly rich people go.

16. Where fast food is a diet meal. 
15. Where traffic signs are merely suggestions, not  regulations. 
14. Where all the trees in the city are below six feet.
13. Where being held up is normal.  It happens to everyone. 

12. Where kids dream of becoming pilots, doctors and basketball players. 

11. Where rodents are normal house pets. 

10. Where the definition of traffic is the "non-movement" of vehicles.

9. Where the fighter planes of the 1940s are used for military engagements, and the new fighter planes are displayed in museums. 

8. Where Nora Aunor is an acclaimed actress and Boy Abunda is the best talk show host, where the population knows more their showbiz stars better than their national heroes and past presidents, knows more of showbiz gossips than their national history and current events. 

7. Where cigarettes and alcohol are a necessity, and where the lottery is a commodity. 

6. Where soap operas tell the realities of life and where the news provides the drama.

5. Where actors make the rules and where politicians provide the entertainment. 

4. Where finding a deer on the road will be a phenomenon.

3. Where people can get away with stealing trillions of pesos, but not for a thousand.

2. Where being an hour late is still considered punctual. (Grabe talaga ‘to!) 

1. Where the squatters have more to complain (even if they do not pay their tax) —-  than those employed and have their tax automatically deducted from their salaries.

and finally….. .

0. Where everyone wants to leave the country!

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“Ten Commandments for Peace of Mind”

September 16th, 2006 by wendy-neri

1. Do Not Interfere In Others’ Business Unless Asked.
Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others’
affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our
way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic and those who do not
conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right
direction, our direction. This thinking denies the existence of
individuality and consequently the existence of God. God has created each
one of us in a unique way. No two human beings can think or act in exactly
the same way. All men or women act the way they do because God within them
prompts them that way. There is God to look after everything. Why are you
bothered? Mind your own business and you will keep your peace. 


2. Forgive And Forget.
This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often develop ill
feelings inside our heart for the person who insults us or harms us. We
nurture grievances. This in turn results in loss of sleep, development of
stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. This insult or injury was done
once, but nourishing of grievance goes on forever by constantly remembering
it. Get over this bad habit. Believe in the justice of God and the doctrine
of Karma. Let Him judge the act of the one who insulted you. Life is too
short to waste in such trifles. Forgive, Forget, and march on. Love
flourishes in giving and forgiving.

3. Do Not Crave For Recognition.
This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without
selfish motives. They may praise you today because you are in power, but no
sooner than you are powerless; they will forget your achievement and will
start finding faults in you. Why do you wish to kill yourself in striving
for their recognition? Their recognition is not worth the aggravation. Do
your duties ethically and sincerely and leave the rest to God.

4. Do Not Be Jealous.
We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You
know that you work harder than your colleagues in the office, but sometimes
they get promotions; you do not. You started a business several years ago,
but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one
year old. There are several examples like these in everyday life. Should
you be jealous? No. Remember everybody’s life is shaped by his or her
previous Karma, which has now become his destiny. If you are destined to be
rich, nothing in the world can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one
can help you either. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your
misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere; it will only take away your
peace of mind.

5. Change Yourself According To The Environment.
If you try to change the environment single-handedly, the chances are you
will fail. Instead, change yourself to suit your environment. As you do
this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you, will
mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmonious.

6. Endure What Cannot Be Cured.
This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we
face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are
beyond our control. If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn
to put up with these things. We must learn to endure them cheerfully
thinking, "God wills it so, so be it." God’s plan is beyond our
comprehension. Believe in it and you will gain in terms of patience, inner
strength and will power.

7. Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew.
This maxim needs to be remembered constantly. We often tend to take more
responsibilities than we are capable of carrying out. This is done to
satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. Why take on additional loads that
may create more worries? You cannot gain peace of mind by expanding your
external activities. Reduce your material engagements and spend time in
prayer, introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in
your mind that make you restless. Uncluttered mind will produce greater
peace of mind.

8. Meditate Regularly.
Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts. This is the
highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it yourself. If you
meditate earnestly for half an hour everyday, your mind will tend to become
peaceful during the remaining twenty-three and half-hours. Your mind will
not be easily disturbed as it was before. You would benefit by gradually
increasing the period of daily mediation. You may think that this will
interfere with your daily work. On the contrary, this will increase your
efficiency and you will be able to produce better results in less time.

9. Never Leave The Mind Vacant.
An empty mind is the devil’s workshop. All evil actions start in the vacant
mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile.
Actively follow a hobby. Do something that holds your interest. You must
decide what you value more: money or peace of mind.
Your hobby, like social work or temple work, may not always earn you more
money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Even when
you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental
chanting of God’s name.

10. Do Not Procrastinate And Never Regret.
Do not waste time in protracted wondering "Should I or shouldn’t I?"
Days, weeks, months, and years may be wasted in that futile mental
debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all
future happenings. Always remember, God has His own plan, too for you.
Value your time and do the things that need to be done. It does not matter
if you fail the first time. You can learn from your mistakes and succeed
the next time. Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing.
Learn from your mistakes, but do not brood over the past. DO NOT REGRET.
Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Take it as the Will
of God. You do not have the power to alter the course of God’s Will.
Why cry over spilt milk?

" The greatest mistakes we make are the risks we didn’t take. If you think
something will make you happy, go for it! So that you won’t live your life
asking WHAT IF and telling yourself IF ONLY!

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Breakfast at McDonald’s

September 16th, 2006 by wendy-neri

Breakfast at McDonald’s . Please read until the end.

This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! (After the story, there are some very interesting facts!): I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called "Smile." The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally. Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald’s one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch… an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling". His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God’s Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm). Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman’s cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you." I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope." I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope." We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are not church goers, but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God’s sweet love. I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed. In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald’s, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE. Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE. If you think this story has touched you in any way, please send to others. There is an Angel sent to watch over you. In order for her to work, you must pass this on to the people you want watched over. An Angel wrote: Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. To handle yourself, use your head. To handle others, use your heart . God Gives every bird it’s food, but He does not throw it into its nest. Keep this going

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THE GREATEST ADVICE

August 25th, 2006 by wendy-neri

THE GREATEST ADVICE -Rick Warren, the Purpose Driven Life

Don’t date because you are desperate.
Don’t marry because you are miserable.
Don’t have kids because you think your genes are superior.
Don’t philander because you think you are irresistible.

Don’t associate with people you can’t trust.
Don’t cheat. Don’t lie. Don’t pretend.
Don’t dictate because you are smarter.
Don’t demand because you are stronger.

Don’t sleep around because you think you are old enough & know better.
Don’t hurt your kids because loving them is harder.
Don’t sell yourself, your family, or your ideals.
Don’t stagnate!

Don’t regress.
Don’t live in the past. Time can’t bring anything or anyone back.
Don’t put your life on hold for possibly Mr. Right.
Don’t throw your life away on absolutely Mr. Wrong because your biological clock is ticking.

Learn a new skill.
Find a new friend.
Start a new career.
Sometimes, there is no race to be won, only a price to be paid for some of life’s more hasty decisions.

To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.
To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.
To fulfill your parenting fantasies, get a puppy.
Don’t bring another life into this world for all the wrong reasons.

To make yourself happy, pursue your passions & be the best of what you can be.
Simplify your life. Take away the clutter.
Get rid of destructive elements: abusive friends, nasty habits, and dangerous liaisons.
Don’t abandon your responsibilities but don’t overdose on duty.

Don’t live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your family.
Be true to yourself.
Don’t commit when you are not ready.
Don’t keep others waiting needlessly.

Go on that trip. Don’t postpone it.
Say those words. Don’t let the moment pass.
Do what you have to, even at society’s scorn.

Write poetry.
Love Deeply.
Walk barefoot.
Dance with wild abandon.
Cry at the movies.

Take care of yourself. Don’t wait for someone to take care of you.
You light up your life.
You drive yourself to your destination.
No one completes you - except YOU.

It isn’t true that life does not get easier with age.
It only gets more challenging.
Don’t be afraid. Don’t lose your capacity to love.
Pursue your passions.

Live your dreams.
Don’t lose faith in God.
Don’t grow old. Just grow YOU!

When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you’ll never get back.
Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give to someone is your time.
Relationships take time and effort, and the best way to spell love is T-I-M-E because the essence of love is not what we think or do or provide for others, but how much we give of ourselves.

God is good all the time!

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Jokes….

August 22nd, 2006 by wendy-neri
Parishioner: Father bakit may nakasampay na daster, bra at panty sa may
kumbento? may asawa ka?
Father: Kung aasa ako sa mga donasyon nyo, di ako mabubuhay! Tumatanggap akong labada!
_____

GF: I’m warning you! darating na si daddy within 1 hour!
BF: Eh ano ngayon? eh wala naman tayong ginagawang masama ah!
GF: Kaya nga! kung may plano ka, DALIAN MO NA!!
_____

Nun: I was raped… what shall i do?
Mother Superior: Hir, take this calamansi.
Nun: wil ds ease d pain?
Mother Superior: sipsipin mo! ng mawala ngiti sa mukha mo , Bwiset!!!

_____

Nay? bakit po VICTORIA ang name ni ate?
Kasi anak dun namin siya ginawa ng itay mo…
Eh bakit si kuya, ANITO? Ay, tumigil ka na nga Luneta at baka mapalo kita! tawagin mo na si kuya FX mo!
_____

HONEYMOON:
Wife: Hon wag mo ako bibiglain ha? I’m still a virgin
Husband: You mean ako ang una?
Wife: Yes, do it na
Husband: I did it na, kanina pa!!
Wife: ah ganon ba? Aray pala…
_____

Ama: Buntis anak ko, panagutan mo!
BF: May asawa na po ako!
Ama: Pano ‘to?
BF: Areglo na lang po… 2 M pag Boy, 2.5M pag Girl
Ama: Ok, pero pag nakunan. GIB HER ANADER CHANS ha?
_____

Maid: Sir sinong mas yummy? si mam ba o ako?
Sir: Syempre naman ikaw day! bakit?
Maid: Naguguluhan lang po kasi ako eh… sabi kasi ng driver, eh mas yummy daw talaga si mam!
_____

Wife: Dear, ano regalo mo sa 25th Anniversary natin?
Husband: Dalhin kita sa Africa …
Wife: Wow! How sweet naman… eh! sa 50th Anniversary natin?
Husband: Susunduin na kita!
_____


Holdaper: re-reypin ko lahat ng babae dito!
Prosti: ako na lang po, maawa kayo sa iba..
Lola: Sinabi na ngang LAHAT eh! sasagot pa! gagang ‘to!
_____

Dalawang probinsyano sumakay sa elevator
Gorio: magkano ibabayad natin?
Andoy: tanga! inosente! bugok! stupid! bat ka magbabayad eh wala
pa tayong tiket!
_____

Pedro bumps a foreigner
Pedro: ay sori
Foreigner: sorry too
Pedro: sori 3
Foreigner: what are you sorry for?
Pedro: (kala mo bobo ako ha!) sori 5
Foreigner: i think you are sick!
Pedro: hahahaha! sick daw, seven sunod!
_____

Pedro: Pare bakit malungkot ka?
Juan: Asawa ko nag hire ng driver, Gwapo, Bata, Macho!
Pedro: Nagseselos ka?
Juan: Nagtataka lang ako kasi wala kaming sasakyan!
_____

Anak: Itay, bibili ako ng bond paper
Itay: Anak, wag kang bobo ha? hindi "b o nd paper" ang tawag dun!
Anak: Ano po ba?
Itay: "Kokongban"
_____

Women are physically stronger than men…
Why?
Because women can carry two mountains at a time!
while men can carry only two eggs…
Take Note!
with the help of a bird pa!
_____

Madre: Father, tell your seminarian not to urinate along the fence…
Father: Sister naman, maliit na bagay lang papansinin mo pa…
Madre: No Malalaki, Father.. Malalaki! Shocked
____

Alam mo ba kung bakit may sabaw ang balot?
Kung Ikaw kaya ang ikulong sa shell… saan ka ji-jingle?
Aber?
Saan??
Sumagot kaaaa!!!
SaaaAANNNNNNN ?!?!?! Angry
_____

Farmer: lalaki na talaga ang aking anak kasi magsasaka na, "ano ang plano
mong itanim sa sakahan mo anak?"

Anak: flowers papa! lots of Bongacious Flowers!! Picture (Metafile)
____

Ama: Hoy! Huwag kang babakla bakla ha?
Anak: Hindi po Itay, pupunta nga ako ng basketbolan eh!
Ama: Yan! Astig!
Anak: Inay? nakita mo yung POMPOMS ko?

Ina: Alin? yung pink? Picture (Metafile)
_____

Misis: " Sir, mananawagan po sana ako sa mister ko kasi dinala
Niya ang limang anak namin."

Radio Host: " Ok, go ahead!"

Misis: " Honey, ibalik mo na ang mga bata, isa lang naman ang sa
Iyo diyan!"
_____

Juan: San ka galing?
Pedro: sementeryo, libing ng byenan ko.
Juan: E bakit puro kamot ang mukha at braso mo?
Pedro: Mahirap ilibing eh… Lumalaban!!
_____

Two nurses on duty…
Nurse 1: Hoy! Gaga, bakit may thermometer sa tenga mo!
Nurse 2: Ha? susmaryosep! kaninong pwet ko kaya naiwan yung ballpen
ko!! Shocked
_____

Hari: Ano gusto mong parusa? ipakain sa leon o pasukan ng bubuyog sa pwet?
Pedro: Mas gugustuhin ko pong pasukan ng bubuyog sa pwet.

Hari: Mga kawal! ilabas si Jolibee!

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TO REDUCE STRESS THE CHRISTIAN WAY

July 25th, 2006 by wendy-neri

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn’t happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won’t fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too m any.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don’t lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worri es from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can’t do anything about a situation, for get it.

12. Live within your budget; don’t use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble. 

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thought s and inspiratio ns.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don’t wait until it’s time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most.

32. Sit on your eg o.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you’re grateful for that you’ve never been grateful for before. GOD HAS

A WAY

OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

GOD BLESS YOU TODAY!

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I wish you enough

July 25th, 2006 by wendy-neri

Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their
last moments
together at the airport. They had announced the
departure.
Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the
mother said, "I
love you and I wish you enough."

The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been
more than
enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you
enough, too, Mom."

They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked
over to the window
where I was seated. Standing there I could see she
wanted and needed to
cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she
welcomed me in by
asking,

"Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would
be forever?".
Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking, but
why is this a
forever good-bye?".

"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges
ahead and the
reality is - the next trip back will be for my
funeral," she said.

"When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, ‘I
wish you enough.’
May I ask what that means?."

She began to smile. "That’s a wish that has been
handed down from other
generations. My parents used to say it to everyone."

She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to
remember it in detail
and she smiled even more. "When we said , ‘I wish you
enough,’ we were
wanting the other person to have a life filled with
just enough good
things to sustain them."

Then turning toward me, she shared the following as if
she were
reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in
life appear much
bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you
possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final
good-bye.

She then began to cry and walked away.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person,
an hour to
appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an
entire life to forget
them.

TAKE TIME TO LIVE…

To all my friends and loved ones,

I WISH YOU ENOUGH!

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Something to reflect upon….

July 10th, 2006 by wendy-neri

A mother with one eye

My mom only had one eye. I hated her… she was such an embarrassment.

My mom ran a small shop at a flea market. She collected little weeds and

such to sell… anything for the money we needed she was such an

embarrassment. There was this one day during elementary school.

I remember that it was field day, and my mom came. I was so embarrassed.

How could she do this to me? I threw her a hateful look and ran out. The

next day at school…"Your mom only has one eye?!" and they taunted me.

I wished that my mom would just disappear from this world so I said to

my mom, "Mom, why don’t you have the other eye?! You’re only going to

make me a laughingstock. Why don’t you just die?" My mom did not

respond. I guess I felt a little bad, but at the same time, it felt good

to think that I had said what I’d wanted to say all this time.

Maybe it was because my mom hadn’t punished me, but I didn’t think that

I had hurt her feelings very badly.

That night…I woke up, and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

My mom was crying there, so quietly, as if she was afraid that she might

wake me. I took a look at her, and then turned away. Because of the

thing I had said to her earlier, there was something pinching at me in

the corner of my heart. Even so, I hated my mother who was crying out of

her one eye. So I told myself that I would grow up and become

successful, because I hated my one-eyed mom and our desperate poverty.

Then I studied really hard. I left my mother and came to

Seoul

and

studied, and got accepted in the

Seoul

University

with all the

confidence I had. Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. Then

I had kids, too. Now I’m living happily as a successful man. I like it

here because it’s a place that doesn’t remind me of my mom. This

happiness was getting bigger and bigger, when someone unexpected came to

see me "What?! Who’s this?!" …It was my mother…Still with her one

eye. It felt as if the whole sky was falling apart on me. My little girl

ran away, scared of my mom’s eye.

And I asked her, "Who are you? I don’t know you!!!" as if I tried to

make that real. I screamed at her "How dare you come to my house and

scare my daughter! GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!" And to this, my mother

quietly answered, "oh, I’m so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong

address," and she disappeared. Thank good ness… she doesn’t recognize

me. I was quite relieved. I told myself that I wasn’t going to care, or

think about this for the rest of my life.

Then a wave of relief came upon me…one day, a letter regarding a

school reunion came to my house. I lied to my wife saying that I was

going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went down to the old

shack, that I used to call a house…just out of curiosity there, I

found my mother fallen on the cold ground. But I did not shed a single

tear. She had a piece of paper in her hand…. it was a letter to me.

She wrote:

My son…

I think my life has been long enough now. And… I won’t visit

Seoul

anymore… but would it be too much to ask if I wanted you to come visit

me once in a while? I miss you so much. And I was so glad when I heard

you were coming for the reunion. But I decided not to go to the

school…. For you… I’m sorry that I only have one eye, and I was an

embarrassment for you. You see, when you were very little, you got into

an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn’t stand watching

you having to grow up with only one eye… so I gave you mine…I was so

proud of my son that was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place,

with that eye. I was never upset at you for anything you did. The couple

times that you were angry with me. I thought to myself, ‘it’s because he

loves me.’ I miss the times when you were still young around me.

I miss you so much. I love you. You mean the world to me.

My world shattered!!! I felt so guilty.  I screamed and I cried for the

person who lived for me… my mother.    I wish if I could’ve thanked

her, hugged and kissed her at least once for all her love and sacrifices

… but it was too late………….

I wish it is not too late for you too!   

I don’t know if your mother gave you her eye, but every mother has

surely given her something exceptional… and that’s true love.

Mother’s love is so deep and immense that she would even give her life

for her children.  But as a child, how often we care for her?  Are you

as loyal, kind and generous to your mother as you are to your wife and

kids???  Don’t wait for your parents to die before you love and miss

them.  Apology is better than regret!      

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IN GOD’S EYES….brought tears to my eyes….truly worth sharing…

July 6th, 2006 by wendy-neri

By the time I was ten, I was totally ashamed of my father. All my
friends called him names: Quasi-Moto, hunchback, monster, little
Frankenstein, the crooked little man with the crooked little cane.
At first it hurt when they called him those things, but soon I
found myself agreeing with them. He was ugly, and I knew it!

My father was born with something called parastremmatic dwarfism.
The disease made him stop growing when he was about thirteen and
caused his body to twist and turn into a grotesque shape. It wasn’t
too bad when he was a kid. I saw pictures of him when he was about
my age. He was a little short but quite good-looking. Even when he
met my mother and married her when he was nineteen, he still looked
pretty normal. He was still short and walked with a slight limp,
but he was able to do just about anything. Mother said, "He even
used to be a great dancer."

Soon after my birth, things started getting worse. Another genetic
disorder took over, and his left foot started turning out, almost
backward. His head and neck shifted over to the right; his neck
became rigid and he had to look over his left shoulder a bit. His
right arm curled in and up, and his index finger almost touched his
elbow. His spine warped to look something like a big, old roller
coaster and it caused his torso to lie sideways instead of straight
up and down like a normal person. His walk became slow, awkward,
and deliberate. He had to almost drag his left foot as he used his
deformed right arm to balance his gait.

I hated to be seen with him. Everyone stared. They seemed to pity
me. I knew he must have done something really bad to have God hate
him that much.

By the time I was seventeen, I was blaming all my problems on my
father. I didn’t have the right boyfriends because of him. I didn’t
drive the right car because of him. I wasn’t pretty enough because
of him. I didn’t have the right jobs because of him. I wasn’t happy
because of him.

Anything that was wrong with me, or my life, was because of him. If
my father had been good-looking like Jane’s father, or successful
like Paul’s father, or worldly like Terry’s father, I would be
perfect! I knew that for sure.

The night of my senior prom came, and Father had to place one more
nail in my coffin; he had volunteered to be one of the chaperones
at the dance. My heart just sank when he told me. I stormed into my
room, slammed the door, threw myself on the bed, and cried.
"Three more weeks and I’ll be out of here!" I screamed into my
pillow. "Three more weeks and I will have graduated and be moving
away to college." I sat up and took a deep breath. "God, please
make my father go away and leave me alone. He keeps sticking his
big nose in everything I do. Just make him disappear, so that I can
have a good time at the dance."

I got dressed, my date picked me up, and we went to the prom.
Father followed in his car behind us. When we arrived, Father
seemed to vanish into the pink chiffon drapes that hung everywhere
in the auditorium. I thanked God that He had heard my prayer. At
least now I could have some fun.

Midway through the dance, Father came out from behind the drapes
and decided to embarrass me again. He started dancing with my
girlfriends. One by one, he took their hand and led them to the
dance floor. He then clumsily moved them in circles as the band
played. Now I tried to vanish into the drapes.

After Jane had danced with him, she headed my way.

Oh, no! I thought. She’s going to tell me he stomped on her foot or
something.

"Grace," she called, "you have the greatest father."

My face fell. "What?"

She smiled at me and grabbed my shoulders. "Your father’s just the
best. He’s funny, kind, and always finds the time to be where you
need him. I wish my father was more like that."

For one of the first times in my life, I couldn’t talk. Her words
confused me.

"What do you mean?" I asked her.

Jane looked at me really strangely. "What do you mean, what do I
mean? Your father’s wonderful. I remember when we were kids, and
I’d sleep over at your house. He’d always come into your room, sit
down in the chair between the twin beds, and read us a book. I’m
not sure my father can even read," she sighed, and then smiled.
"Thanks for sharing him."

Then, Jane ran off to dance with her boyfriend.

I stood there in silence.

A few minutes later, Paul came to stand beside me.

"He’s sure having a lot of fun."

"What? Who? Who is having a lot of fun?" I asked.

"Your father. He’s having a ball."

"Yeah. I guess." I didn’t know what else to say.

"You know, he’s always been there," Paul said. "I remember when you
and I were on the mixed-doubles soccer team. He tried out as the
coach, but he couldn’t run up and down the field, remember? So they
picked Jackie’s father instead. That didn’t stop him. He showed up
for every game and did whatever needed to be done. He was the
team’s biggest fan. I think he’s the reason we won so many games.
Without him, it just would have been Jackie’s father running up and
down the field yelling at us. Your father made it fun. I wish my
father had been able to show up to at least one of our games. He
was always too busy."

Paul’s girlfriend came out of the restroom, and he went to her
side, leaving me once again speechless.

My boyfriend came back with two glasses of punch and handed me one.

"Well, what do you think of my father?" I asked out of the blue.

Terry looked surprised. "I like him. I always have."

"Then why did you call him names when we were kids?"

"I don’t know. Because he was different, and I was a dumb kid."

"When did you stop calling him names?" I asked, trying to search my
own memory.

Terry didn’t even have to think about the answer. "The day he sat
down with me outside by the pool and held me while I cried about my
mother and father’s divorce. No one else would let me talk about
it. I was hurting inside, and he could feel it. He cried with me
that day. I thought you knew."

I looked at Terry and a tear rolled down my cheek as long-forgotten
memories started cascading into my consciousness.

When I was three, my puppy got killed by another dog, and my father
was there to hold me and teach me what happens when the pets we
love die. When I was five, my father took me to my first day of
school. I was so scared. So was he. We cried and held each other
that first day. The next day he became teacher’s helper. When I was
eight, I just couldn’t do math. Father sat down with me night after
night, and we worked on math problems until math became easy for
me. When I was ten, my father bought me a brand-new bike. When it
was stolen, because I didn’t lock it up like I was taught to do, my
father gave me jobs to do around the house so I could make enough
money to purchase another one. When I was thirteen and my first
love broke up with me, my father was there to yell at, to blame,
and to cry with. When I was fifteen and I got to be in the honor
society, my father was there to see me get the accolade. Now, when
I was seventeen, he put up with me no matter how nasty I became or
how high my hormones raged.

As I looked at my father dancing gaily with my friends, a big
toothy grin on his face, I suddenly saw him differently. The
handicaps weren’t his, they were mine! I had spent a great deal of
my life hating the man who loved me. I had hated the exterior that
I saw, and I had ignored the interior that contained his God-given
heart. I suddenly felt very ashamed.

I asked Terry to take me home, too overcome with feelings to
remain.

On graduation day, at my Christian high school, my name was called,
and I stood behind the podium as the valedictorian of my class. As
I looked out over the people in the audience, my gaze rested on my
father in the front row sitting next to my mother. He sat there, in
his one and only, specially made suit, holding my mother’s hand and
smiling.

Overcome with emotions, my prepared speech was to become a landmark
in my life.

"Today I stand here as an honor student, able to graduate with a
4.0 average. Yes, I was in the honor society for three years and
was elected class president for the last two years. I led our
school to championship in the debate club, and yes, I even won a
full scholarship to

Kenton

State

University

so that I can continue
to study physics and someday become a college professor.

"What I’m here to tell you today, fellow graduates, is that I
didn’t do it alone. God was there, and I had a whole bunch of
friends, teachers, and counselors who helped. Up until three weeks
ago, I thought they were the only ones I would be thanking this
evening. If I had thanked just them, I would have been leaving out
the most important person in my life. My father."

I looked down at my father and at the look of complete shock that
covered his face.

I stepped out from behind the podium and motioned for my father to
join me onstage. He made his way slowly, awkwardly, and
deliberately. He had to drag his left foot up the stairs as he used
his deformed right arm to balance his gait. As he stood next to me
at the podium, I took his small, crippled hand in mine and held it
tight.

"Sometimes we only see the silhouette of the people around us," I
said. "For years I was as shallow as the silhouettes I saw. For
almost my entire life, I saw my father as someone to make fun of,
someone to blame, and someone to be ashamed of. He wasn’t perfect,
like the fathers my friends had.

"Well, fellow graduates, what I found out three weeks ago is that
while I was envying my friends’ fathers, my friends were envying
mine. That realization hit me hard and made me look at who I was
and what I had become. I was brought up to pray to God and hold
high principles for others and myself. What I’ve done most of my
life is read between the lines of the Good Book so I could justify
my hatred."

Then, I turned to look my father in the face.

"Father, I owe you a big apology. I based my love for you on what I
saw and not what I felt. I forgot to look at the one part of you
that meant the most, the big, big heart God gave you. As I move out
of high school and into life, I want you to know I could not have
had a better father. You were always there for me, and no matter
how badly I hurt you, you still showed up. Thank you!"

I took off my mortar board and placed it on his head, moving the
tassel just so.

"You are the reason I am standing here today. You deserve this
honor, not me."

And as the audience applauded and cried with us, I felt God’s light
shining down upon me as I embraced my father more warmly than I
ever had before, tears unashamedly falling down both our faces.

For the first time, I saw my father through God’s eyes, and I felt
honored to be seen with him.   

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Joke time….hahahahahha….

June 17th, 2006 by wendy-neri

BF: may malaki ako problema.
     GF: wag mo sabihin problema mo lang problema natin dahil
     nagmamahalan tayo. ngayon ano problema natin?
     BF: nabuntis natin si inday at tayo ang ama


     "There what it takes to be. Then we shall so be it because it is.
    To do or not to is in the what, now or what else. Without which there
    never to you!" - words of wisdom from Senator Lito Lapid.


     Pare1: pare parang malalim ang iniisip mo!
     Pare2: nanaginip ako kagabi kasama ko 50 contestants ng Ms.
    Universe
     Pare1: swerte mo! ano problema mo?
     Pare2: pare ako nanalo!


     Killer: father mangungumpisal po ako
     Father: ano kasalanan mo?
     Killer: pumatay po ako ng 20 tao
     Father: bakit?
     Killer: kasi po naniniwala sila sa Diyos, kayo po naniniwala ba?
     Father: dati…pero ngayon trip trip na lang


     Patient: doc takot po ako sa bunot
     Dentist: eto gamot pampatapang ng loob
     Patient: (ininom ang gamot)
     Dentist: ano matapang ka na ba?
     Patient: oo doc! puta pag may gumalaw ng ngipin ko basag ang bungo!


     Passenger taps taxi driver’s shoulder…
     WAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! screamed the driver…
     Passenger: bakit ka sumigaw?
     Driver: sorry bossing bago lang kasi ako sa taxi. 25 years po kasi
    ako driver ng funenaria


     1 panget na bababe, hinoholdap
     Holdaper: holdap ito! akin na gamit mo!
     Babae: RAPE! RAPE! RAPE!
     Holdaper: anong rape? holdap nga to eh!
     Babae: wala lang! nagsusuggest lang…


     1 lasing nasalubong ang matabang babae na may kasamang aso
     Lasing: hoy, saan mo nakuha yang baboy?
     Babae: aso ito hindi baboy!
     Lasing: huwag ka nga sumabat! yung aso ang kausap ko!


     In a pet shop…
     Customer talking to a parrot…
     Customer: hoy! can you talk ha?! bobo!!!
     Parrot: yes i can!!! ikaw?! can you fly ha? GAGO!!!


     Priest: ang mga bakla’y walang lugar sa kaharian ng langit
     Mga bakla: carry lang po father…dun na lang kami sa rainbow mag
    slide-slide!!!


     Bobo: pare hulaan mo ugali ko, nagsisimula sa letter A
     Pare: approachable?
     Bobo:

mali

     Pare: amiable?
     Bobo:

mali

pa rin
     Pare: o sige siret na!
     Bobo: ANEST wehehe!!!


     Girl: doc, pacheck-up po
     Doc: sige hubad ka ng panty at bra tapos higa ka
     Girl: hindi po ako, itong lola ko po
     Doc: sige lola, hinga na lang po ng malalim


     Farmer: lalaki na talaga ang aking anak kasi magsasaka na…ano ang
    balak mo itanim sa sakahan mo anak?
     Anak: flowers papa!!! madaming madaming flowers! pretty diba?!

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