Hardworking

HARDWORKING

This may sound very familiar to all of us, but this "hardworking" word has an almost different meaning now.

Like common sense, which is not so common anymore, hardworking entails with it a different meaning. I actually got this view when I joined a seminar just lately.

Hardworking, conveys a different and contrasting meaning now.

Before:

Hardworking = Characterized by hard work and perseverance.

Now:

Hardworking = Tough or too hard to push to work.

Madaming ganitong tao ngayon, and most, if not all, even get much higher pay than those who are included in the first definition. Oh well, they may have worked their way up, but that does not mean they should stop working hard upon reaching their high post and rank, right? Oo, may pinariringgan ako. Bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan, wag magalit.

Cotabato Flood Victims

If your heart does not cry for this,

or this,

and this...

I don't know what will.

Remember then, to always count your blessings...
For you are more blessed than they are.

Taken last Sunday, on my very first visit to Cotabato City, braving the roads through Maguindanao and the ARMM areas. Heart pounding passing through the barangays where everywhere you look, you see peace-keeping forces.

Mangroves - Saving Mother Earth

Mangroves are trees or shrubs that thrive in saline water, thus, it normally can be found in seashores. Mangroves are trees that are exposed to highly extreme environmental elements like salinity, water saturation, dessication, and exposure to saline air because of the water breeze as they are commonly found near riverbanks and seashores.

Mangroves however, have grown under extreme pressure from a lot of things. Human activities and interventions, most especially illegal logging has affected and led to the degradation of these mangroves. Using mangrove as wood products have highly affected mangrove development. There are also those which were unconcerned about the environment turning mangrove parks into aquaculture ponds and other livelihood.

This June, as we celebrate the Environment Month, and being part of the SOCCSARGEN Bloggers group here in my place, I am proud to have been part of a successful event we have dubbed as Mangrove Tree Planting Party. Main mission of this activity is to encourage planting, protection, recovery and development of the mangroves in General Santos City.

I woke up as early as 3am, very excited to do my part in helping to save Mother Earth by planting mangroves. Bariles texted us as early as 5:30 and a friend fetched me from the highway directly to Purok Asinan.

When we arrived in the area, the orientation just ended and the planting already began. We were shown how to plant trees so that when the high tide comes, the mangrove saplings will stay stuck in the place where we planted them and will be tied to a bamboo stick also stuck deeply in the mud for the mangrove to survive.


You have to brave the knee-deep mud. It was super soft and heavy for the legs to carry. It was as if you are gonna be stuck in a quicksand. Ever tried mudpack? That's how soft the mud feels on our legs. It is easier to lift the legs if you have power and energy bringing it to the surface, but for those who are heavy, it takes them an awful lot of effort to do so.

There were over 100 participants. With the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) as our partner, we were able to plant at least 2,000 mangrove saplings. This event was initiated by the SOCCSARGEN Bloggers but were actively participated by different groups, including college students from Mindanao State University, my Alma Mater, Petron Gasoline Station, Music City VideoK Bar, the Air Force and many others.

Getting Dirty
Me and my mangrove saplings

Not only was it a FUN activity, but it was a very worthwhile one. We did a great job in helping to preserve Mother Earth by planting mangrove trees that may protect us from the tsunami, or even salvage our economy by the wide range of valuable forest products they provide.

Getting my hands and feet wet and dirty was none of my concern that time, nor of my friends and group mates. We just wanted to do our share, and as we planted, we were saying a prayer that the mangrove we planted will have to survive so that it can protect us during times of trouble.

The rich, the poor, no one was above us that very time. We were there to mingle with everybody. We united as we planted.

Friends stopping for some picture-taking while having fun with sticking the mangroves half a meter down the muddy flats/seashore.

And resting after we have planted at least 10, some of us were able to plant 25 or more. My applause to my mates for braving the pressure of the mud flats.

It was a fulfillment for us as bloggers to have initiated such a successful event enjoining many others to plant mangroves. My salute to those who woke up early to be with us and grabbed a sapling. Even with their designer and branded shirts and shorts, some people were just oblivious to how these expensive shirts will lead to.

Despite the heat of the sun, and the sleepy moods we were still in at that time, we are proud to say: We have done our part, and will continue doing so!



Nota Bene: Thanks to Brian Dan Congson for the pictures! Thanks for being there to document this activity.

Thank You, Thank You

Dear Friends,

In case you didn't know yet, I have been maintaining one blog called Mother Instincts. This new blog I have created is a proof of how tiresome mothers feel and how happily they do the works of a mother despite their own personal weariness, and how proud they become with their kid's achievements, and many others...

In this blog, I have not been a loud-mouthed mom, but one who gives suggestions, recommendations and tips on how to become a good mother to your kids, a good wife to the husband, a good friend and workmate for colleagues, and a better friend to self.

A few of you may have visited the site already, and even left comments and I am very very thankful for that. Last night, as I was browsing through the net, my eyes caught some website containing a link to his blog, and I was surprised that some guy nominated me and that I made it to Week 2 of Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2011.

I could not believe my eyes, and thought that I was dreaming. I didn't really thought that a silent little blog like Mother Instincts could be nominated as an influential blog, but I am really flattered. And since I have already been nominated there, I would like to ask for your support in continuing to nominate me.

There will be 12 weeks, and there will be weekly top influential blogs. What you can do to include me in the following weeks to go is to write a blog post about it, and include my link in your list. Here is the FAQ and complete mechanics of this highly acclaimed contest. You are allowed to nominate your very own blog provided it has been created anytime since April 2010, a year-old blog will do, with minimum requirement of 3 months posting. After you have written your post, submit link to Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs Writing Page. If you can add the sponsors of this contest, your name will be included in the raffle and might have the chance in winning 100$ after week 12.

Please support your other friends too, who knows they might also be included in the list. Thank you very much, and hoping for your kind-hearted support.

Love,

sHeng

I Learned...

• I learned to forgive because every wrong i did was forgiven, and Dad always urged to move on.
• I learned to forget because every wrong I did, was never reminded to me.
  
• I learned to risk because you were the one who taught me to risk. You even risked your life for many others on a ship when you were younger, and I was made witness to that heroic act.
• I learned to fight, because with every twisted act, you told me we must assert our right and never be bullied.
• I learned to love, because you loved Mom, and we are witnesses to that LOVE.
• I learned to listen because you were always there to listen to us, and even to our grannies too.
• I learned not to listen to negative things, because you told me it will never bring me anywhere.
• I learned to share because you were always a giver.
• I learned to be generous because, even with something small, you were ready to give what is left for yourself.
• I learned to become a good mother, because you are the father that I have, and you were my inspiration.
• I learned to love, because the father I have has been a loving father too.
• I learned to love you more, because you have become the father that my husband never had since he was six.
• I learned to appreciate fathers because you are my father.

And all these, is because of you!

Happy Father's Day, Dad! I love you!
And to the father of my kids, my unconditional love too!

Coffee Madness

On my multiple visits to home of the most expensive coffee, Kinilis, I have learned to love the community there, I and my friends have taken the responsibility of sharing what we have for the children there. And I did my share of helping them to continue with education, and encouraged them to continue learning.

As coffee lovers, I and my friends have ventured into something really special. And one thing that makes this venture special is that, we are going to help the B'laan community more with their livelihood.

We have witnessed how they have grown and taken care of these coffee shrubs, picked these coffee cherry beans for us and selected what could be best coffee for daily consumption.

coffee cherries

ripe coffee cherries

We have witnessed how they are as a community, and we are willing to help them with their livelihood. And because we love coffee, and we love to share...

We will brew this very, very soon!


Good luck to us!

Huling Hirit sa Tag-init

We left the city at 8am, it was raining in Gensan that time, and so was Davao as we were told. But we still went despite the pouring of rain on top of our heads. It was a Thursday, we planned to have an overnight stay at Bluejaz Resort in the beautiful Island Garden City of Samal where fine white sand can be found and where tourists flock during the summer despite the island being in Mindanao.

Sir Gilbert, who was blessed with a lot and has been a very good family friend to us, shared his blessings and gave us an all-expense paid trip and overnight stay to Samal. I had to accept the chance since only the kids had the chance to go to iloilo for a short vacation while we had not been with them to treat them for summer.

Welcome to the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS)

Samal island is a place of beauty. Clear and clean waters, it is abundant with marine life and one place in the island boasts oh having bat sanctuary in it.

Since we only had a night to enjoy, we had to miss out on different things like touring Samal, and we just enjoyed the beach. Food was abundant despite its sky-high prices. Our host made sure we never went hungry, and his wallet was thinning but he never made us pull a cent from our pocket.

Bluejaz colors at night

Aside from Bluejaz, other resorts lining up the long stretch of beach are numerous, from Paradise Island, Leticia by the Sea, Pearl Farm and many others. Bluejaz is quite famous here because of its winding and gigantic slide for adults and there is also one for kids. You can also try their zipline which we actually did, for the 3rd time, I zipped. The experience did not matter to me anymore since their zipline was only a short fall from the ground and it was only 200 meters. I have already tried much more breath-taking and exhilarating zips than this one.


Bluejaz bar. This is where we had our dinner but we chose to be placed under a tree nearing the small infinity pool where we can enjoy the city lights gleaming in the seawater.


An early morning trip to the pool, and later on the beach naturally burned the three of us. Husband took a dip but not for long as they enjoyed themselves with making a sand sculpture. The son and daughter made a Mutya look-alike.

Samal Island's white sand beach, c/o Bluejaz Resort

There were a number of tourists there. we did not expect it to be still flocked with people since summer is already ending. We actually planned of a "huling hirit sa tag-init" but never expected there so many visitors in the resort who happened to make "habol" like us.

We had a blast there. The kids loved it there. It was a night of bonding with my kids where I was able to tell them stories of my childhood, I was able to tell them what we enjoyed as kids, how I got my allowances, what my parents did to make a living, and that time when there was noe electricity yet in our hometown. It was a very useful and interesting evening. Only then did I knew the kids were also interested with my past.

I will go back to Samal someday, and maybe then, I could also bring our host so he can also enjoy the fruits of my labor. This time, it is his blessings, soon, hopefully, the treat will be on me. Thank you, for everything.

If You Don't Know this Yet

I just knew this. Do not place your flash drives close to magnets and cellular/mobile phones if you want your flash drives to remain useful.

Most of us place our phones in our pockets along with the flash drives we have. Or, we place our flash drives in the same place we do our cellphones for easier search.

I just watched this on TV and found out, the magnetic field being generated by cellphones and other magnetic devices can erase data on your USB disks, or even cause your flash drives to be broken and later on, useless.

Obviously, I have nothing good in my mind to blog about. Sorry. But this sure helps, yes?

Going Back to Law School

To be or not to be, that is the question...

That is what I have in mind right now. But I do not know if I can push through with it. I stopped studying law school school when I got pregnant with my daughter, Tabebs, who is already 5 years old now. I was in second year on the first semester then, and I preferred to take care of my baby bulge than be stressed with law school pressure.

Last week, i had to indulge in a conversation with a client we had in the office, and he mentioned he was a law student too, in the same university I went to. We found out we had a similarity with the reasons why we stopped, his wife got pregnant also on his second year.

As of today, since I am not yet a regular employee in the DOLE, things just are not in its proper place. I am just praying that God will lead me in the right direction and whatever His plans for me are, I hope to see it in the proper light.

I am reading and reading the Wage Orders that the department has ordered. I want to answer questions raised by the clients who visit the office and who I always got to converse with everyday. I no longer want to refer them to the inspectors just because I do not have the authority to answer their questions. I was challenged by the boss who told me that I have to study the orders even though I am not covered with that "Labor Employment Officer - authority".

Hence, my reason for not reading any other novels nor classics since I have a booklet to memorize provisions, it's as if I went back to law school and is studying the Labor Standards. This time, without having to take a gmat review.

Maybe soon, when there is a need to, I will have to go back to Law School and finish what I once started, or maybe start all over again.

But I'm just thinking it, and I already feel stressed. Ack!