Stop the "Copy-Idol" Syndrome

I suck at being original. I always have this tendency of imitating the people I look up to. I have my own style doing things yet when I get impressed by these big people, I can't help but try hard to look, sound or think like they do. But I usually look up to people whom I can relate to or who I think I share some similarities with so it must be not that bad at all. Or maybe I only thought so but not really.

And I can say that I'm not alone in this department. This tendency for us to copy the people whom we admire is an epidemic. Such behavior results to loss of individuality and uniqueness. And this is one of the biggest factor why most people now seemed to think, look and sound the same. It is not totally wrong though as long as you are aware that you are doing this and not just being a mindless chameleon camouflaging everything else around him just to fit in. But unfortunately, the reason is the latter most of the time. And yes, I know that chameleon's camouflage doesn't work like that. But you get the point.
 
A lot of us are trapped into wanting to become the same as our "idols". We admire them so much that we aim to become a duplicate of them. But let me tell you straight. This will never happen. I'm sorry. It's not that I'm saying you are not capable to reach their level. You are. And it's great to be inspired and to learn from these great people. But if you continue aiming to be their "copy", you'll remain to be in their shadow no matter how good you become in the future. 

So stop trying to be so much like them and start becoming the best of what you can be.

And please remind me to tell this to myself.

Pain, A Parent And A Child's Perspective

As a parent...

I can't imagine how painful it is for a parent to see her child suffering even for some deserved punishment because of the mistakes he did. Just how hard it is to bear witnessing your own flesh and blood hurting as a product of his wrongdoings. More of the pain of seeing our child in torment is the guilt and awareness that we're an accomplice on what's happening to him. We question ourselves of our shortcomings on how and why he ended becoming into what he is now. We are tortured with guilt of bringing him into the situation. We blame ourselves. We let them down. This knowledge amplifies further the pain that we feel inside and it crushes our heart.

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As a child...

We know that we are all responsible of our own individual fates. However our parent treated us is never the single reason of what we become. It is more of the decisions that we make and the choices that we take. And we can't remove that emotional bond that we have with them no matter how bad a person we become. We'll still be that small fellow that our mothers once bore in their bosoms and the little playful kid whom our fathers once gently protected. And it hurts to know that our own malevolence put them into such heavy pain. Our bad choices will hurt not only us but also our parents upon seeing us getting punished for our mischief. It hurts as a child seeing our parents suffering especially if we know that the cause is ourselves and all our own wrongdoings. 





....We can never win with conscious bad choices in life. It will never hurt only one person. At least two people will be in pain, and one of them will always be that most important to you.

9 Ways to Change the World by the Inch

There are lots of simple things people do that can instantly make our day complete. Those simple gestures when you suddenly feel very thankful and compelled to do the same thing to others. Like when you’re treated well or simply greeted respectfully by a random person. Pardon the cliché, but kindness is contagious. Yet, so is rudeness. So I suggest the following simple acts for you to try doing today to spread kindness and changing the whole world on a per inch basis. It’s doing kindness on the people nearest to you. Let's all do it. Now.

1. Give way to another commuter in traffic. Because when someone do that to you, you feel so  much better that you'll surely remember it. Chances are you will do it to others in return the next time.

2. Smile, say hi or hello, good morning/afternoon/evening, excuse me, I'm sorry or thank you for even the smallest effort you get from another person. We take these gestures for granted. But admit it. Whenever you hear these words from another person, it's a big deal and it feels like the sun shines on you.

3. Be early. If you can't, then be on time. It's the biggest favor we can give to the other person we have commitments with.

4. Whatever it is, do your job well all the time. Always give your best effort to all your clients, customers, co-employees, employees, bosses, etc. I'm not saying you have to be that goodie-goodie guy always. I'm just saying you have to do properly whatever task and responsibility you are assigned with. Sometimes, even if it's the least we can do at work, we still miss it. And the fact that I have to say this means I have to say this.

5. Connect with a friend/relative you haven’t talked to for a long time. It may either be a long talk or just an exchange of hi and hello but for sure, you’ll both be happy and rejuvenated with the experience.

6. Give away an old stuff that you don’t use or need anymore but still in good condition. A friend will love the gesture and you will enjoy the free space you can get. More rooms for the new.

7. Buy your parents, spouse, grandparents, children, sibling, roommates, housemates a “pasalubong” today. Giving them a treat does not require an occasion or anything to celebrate. Being with them is always enough reason.

8. Tell a special person how much you appreciate their role in your life. Let them know how they help you keep up with life. Give them compliments. But this is tricky. They might think that you’re suicidal or something so timing might be necessary in doing this. But what the heck, just tell them how lucky you are to have them around.  

9. Share this post to others. You'll never know when you'll meet the other person reading this. Let them be your sunshine today.  Then, like my page  to get the next tips.


 

Marumi, Makalat at Nakakasawa? Sinong Kawawa?

Habang pinagtatawanan at pinagkikibit-balikat natin ang mga kandidatong sumisigaw ng "pandaraya", at di natin pinapansin ang ilang grupo na nagsasagawa ng sariling imbestigasyon sa mga iregularidad sa halalan at tinatanggap na natin na buong katotohanan ang kasabihang sa Pilipinas ay walang kandidatong natatalo kundi meron lang nadadaya, hindi natin maaalis ang katotohanang marami ang dumanak na dugo ng ilang tao na napatay ng dahil sa pulitika, na ilang mga tao sa paligid natin ang alam nating tumanggap ng pera para sa boto, ilang mga black propaganda na tayo mismo ang nakatanggap at nakabasa at ginagawa tayong tanga para isiping paniniwalaan natin ang bawat isa doon. Na pinaniwalaan naman din nga ng iba.

From a Facebook post.

Hindi kaya ang "pagkasawa" ng tao sa usapang dayaan sa eleksyon ay pakana rin ng iba na maumay na tayo at di na lang pansinin at tanggapin na lang kung ano ang resulta? Resulta na hindi lang patungkol sa mga bilang kundi maging ng kalat na iniiwan ng kada halalang natatapos. Kalat ng mga tarpaulins at posters. Kalat ng maruruming salitang binato ng isang kandidato laban sa kanyang kalaban. Kalat ng hidwaan at pagkabahabahagi ng mga mamamayan dulot ng pagsuporta sa kani kanilang mga kandidato. At kalat kalat na karahasan, bahid ng dugo dulot ng kaswapangan sa kapangyarihan.  Kalat ng kawalang tiwala ng mamamayan sa sistema ng eleksyon. Makalat. Marumi.

From another Facebook post.

Pero sawa na nga ata ang tao. Kaya hayaan na lang daw. Ganon din naman daw ang mangyayari. At tayo tayo din naman ang kasali rito. Kaya sino pa ang aasahan nating mag-aayos? Ah, kawawa ang mga susunod pang henerasyon. Palala ng palala. Kawawa ang mga bata.  Dahil lang sa ating "pagkaumay at pagkasawa", pamamana na lang natin sa kanila kung ano ang sistema.  Sa anak ko, sana ay wag mong ikagagalit ito sa aming mga naunang henerasyon balang araw. Sana rin ay sa panahon mo at ng mga susunod pa ay wala nang dugong dadanak, wala ng maruruming paggamit ng  pera, wala na ang walang kapararakang siraan. Pero tama ka, paanong mangyayari kung wala kaming gagawin. Pasensya ka na. 

Don't Seek Happiness

Happiness as a sole goal is never ideal.  Without considering other factors, it is just selfishness and will always be unreachable. It is human nature not to be contented. Maybe for  a while but after achieving something that we think makes us happy, we'll start getting used to it and the effect starts trickling down. And the hunt for happiness starts again like you never experienced it before. And it will be a vicious cycle.


The trick is to stop seeking and look at what you have around. See the people and the things  that keeps you going. Try to look back at the young you. Remember the first time you appreciated a surprise "pasalubong" from dad? Or that day when you had your favorite sandwich made by your mom for your school "baon"?  That's authentic "happiness" and it happened when you're not seeking for it. I'm sure that those things that will make you truly happy are still around without the need to seek for them. You just have to look, feel and appreciate.

According to Experts

Experts say that when you tell people that something is said by experts, chances are they will believe it without confirming the veracity of the source or the information itself.

Anyway, you don't have to believe me on this. I'm no expert.

Wanted: “Dirtiest” Subject in School Curriculum

Sex education? Hindi. Hindi naman marumi ang sex. Nagiging marumi lang yan pag di ginagawa sa tamang paraan. At hindi rin ito ang gusto kong pag-usapan natin dito. Sa ngayon ay nasa debate pa rin sa Supreme Court kung ii-implement na ba ang RH kasama ang lahat ng nilalaman nito. At isa na nga rito ang Sex Education dahil sa paniniwala ng iba na kailangan ito ng mga Pilipino lalo ng mga kabataan para maging handa. Kaya para daw alam nila ang gagawin para hindi mabuntis ng maaga, pag uusapan ng mga estudyante kasama ng kanilang guro ang sex sa loob ng paaralan. Alam mo sigurong di ako sang-ayondito kung matagal ka nang bumibisita sa blog ko. At puedeng di ka rin naman sumang-ayon sa akin. Pero malamang ay umagree ka sa susunod kong sasabihin.

Mandatory Politics Education mula 2^nd year hanggang sa senior year ng high school. Marami sa Pilipino ngayon ang di na nakakaabot ng college. Wala rin akong statistics kung ano ang average level na inaabot ng isang Pilipino sa pag-aaral pero sa tingin ko ay sapat nang simulan sa 2^nd year high school ang pag-aaral patungkol sa pulitika at pagpapatakbo ng gobyerno. Sakto na para sa paghahanda nila sa unang pagboto pagtuntong ng edad disiotso kahit pa hindi nila matapos ang high school. Kahit papano ay magkakabackground na sila.

Ang magiging laman ng subject ay patungkol sa functions ng bawat posisyon sa gobyerno mula sa Brgy. Captain hanggang sa Pangulo ng Pilipinas.  Pag-uusapan din dito kung ano ang dapat na kakayahan ng mga taong kakandidato sa bawat posisyon. At paguusapan din ang mga mabubuti at mga di magandang nangyayari sa pulitika ng bansa. Korapsyon 101. At isasama rin dito ang pagtalakay sa responsibilidad na meron ang simpleng mamamayan.

Mainit ngayon ang usapan sa kakatapos lang na eleksyon ang kakulangan  raw sa kaalaman ng maraming botante. Marami raw ang mangmang at walang kakayahang magdesisyon at pumili ng tamang leaders ng bansa. May punto naman. Marami rin kasi talaga ang walang pakialam at pagdating ng eleksyon ay bahala na lang sa mga iboboto nilang kandidato. Kung sino na lang ang sikat at matandaan nila ay yun na lang. Wala rin naman daw kasi mangyayari.

Pero kung tutuusin, ang simpleng problemang ito ay puede namang solusyonan sa pamamagitan ng sistema ng ating edukasyon. Ipasok sa curriculum ng high school ang Politics Education. Kung gusto pa nila, pati sa College na rin ay maglagay pa ng additional unit patungkol dito. Tutal ay napakabigat namang responsibilidad nito na ginagawa natin kada tatlong taon. Mas mabigat at mas may importansya pa kesa  sa Sex Education na pinagpipilitan nilang ipasok at sinasabing kailangan para labanan ang kahirapan na kung tutuusin ay mas tama naman nating matutunan sa bahay. Pero ang patungkol sa pulitika, paniguradong hindi ito maidedetalye ng ating mga magulang sa atin. Depende na lang kung may background sila dito.

Andali lang namang solusyonan ng problema. Kaalaman ang problema kaya edukasyon ang sagot. Pero bakit wala pang nakakaisip? O baka may nakaisip na pero baka walang sumusuporta. E bakit nga, ikaw ba ay susuporta sa isang panukala na sya rin mismong magpapahinto sa palabigasan mo? Pero panigurado akong marami pa naman ang may magandang hangarin sa ating mga pulitiko. At tulad ng sex, hindi din naman talagang marumi ang pulitika. Pero kasi, pulitika sa Pilipinas ang pinag-uusapan natin.