HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2013 AT 25-ISH!

Markets are extremely busy and full-packed of last minute shoppers for their media noche. Streets are occupied by people who can’t wait the evening for lighting firecrackers. Sound systems are in highest volume, playing looped of Oppa Gangnam Style and Chachacha Dabarkads songs. Each household’s chefs are busy preparing the kitchen, while children from time to time are pinching a strand of spaghetti or a small cut of cheese. Croaking voices are serenading the air while long lines of croakers are behind him, waiting their chances on the videoke. Tables are set, bottles are laid and glasses started bumping one another for a numerous sound of cheers!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hours from now, 2012 will take off its hat and 2013 will meet us with thudding hello and promising year of new hopes and chances. New Year always brings this positive sensation as everyone’s looking forward to greater rewarding and life-changing opportunities. Each New Year is different in ways of waving goodbye and greeting hello, some people are facing it in the midst of their 20’s and sort of meditating on how they are going to spend the upcoming year at their 25-ish!

Being at 25, you’re old enough to know what kind of clothing you preferred, regardless of what your peers’ outfits are. You have travelled well enough to different places either it’s around the archipelago or just at every corner of the metro. You have attended several events and met various kinds of people, races and professionals. You definitely know when are the right times to be in heels or in flats, when to wear a tie or just simply be in casual attire, when to discuss a serious topics over a group sessions or when to just give way for cracking jokes and light hearted talks. 

Your life can look a lot of different ways when you’re 25: working both on your career and lovelife, they say that at 25, you’re young enough to believe that anything is possible and old enough to make that belief in reality. 

At 25 I looked on things seriously as I marked it to be the decision-point of my life. Turning 25 signified the crossing of the bridge from “exploring to know” to “exploring what I know” and “getting more to know”.  Here I listed down sort of plan about how to spend a year at 25.

01. Take the time to find the job-and-passion-in-one.

Five years ago, I set a goal to be stable in my dream job at the age of 25. Looking now at my employment record, I already got 3 past employers in a row, having one and a half year as the longest stay and four months as the shortest with various constant records of freelance jobs outside the regular works. Obviously I failed beating my own deadline. After I resigned and be jobless in celebration of my 25^th, I finally waved my white flag of surrender to my ideals for silver year, but not to the pursuit of my dream career. My resignation from the previous job was actually the first step to bring on my dream into action. 

The age of 25 is actually the perfect time to use in finding your real, dream job. Lucky are those who have figured out their calling at early 20’s but for those who haven’t yet, well no more room for drama and self-pitying, keep in mind that you’re already 25, more mature and rational than yesterday. You definitely know yourself far better. You have taken few good bites of many things and must be able to identify now which of which are in favor of your tastes. Remember this: at 25, you are surer of what you really wanted and you are more aware of steps to follow on your trail. There’s no such thing as too late when it comes to pursuing your dreams. At 25, you are equipped with experiences, armored with maturity, fortified with knowledge. No questions ask you are ready now for the next level and confident enough on which battleground you’re best to fit in.

02. Been there, done that…Find what else to find!

Been there, done that? I don’t think so honey. At 25, you still have the energy of young horse and the strength of buffalo to join the fun run, play the bowling with friends, party on the dance floor, sing crazy on videoke bar, climb the mountain with groups, drown yourself to happy hours of drinking, and do all the things that will make you foolish if you wait and do such until you’re 35-ish and up! Take the time to enjoy the outgoing kind of lifestyle while you’re still single and at your finest young state. Turning 25 is not a valid reason to totally withdraw from the happy-going existence but rather a good excuse to explore more of what else are there to find. This is the most appropriate time to be more adventurous. At 25 you have charged the past misfits to experiences, and you are more careful and responsible enough to the consequences of your actions. Life has still lots of fun to offer at 25, so grab it before it expires!

03. Single, dating, engaged, married – you’re free to choose

Your life can be in a lot of different ways when you’re 25: single, dating, engaged or married. Statuses as such are all fitting enough for the mentioned age. You are free to make your choice, if and only you’re perfectly and confidently ready (for the marrying part). Many say that 25 is the ideal age to finally tie the knots but this isn’t a heavy reason to go panicking and rushing about wearing ring and saying “I do”. In life you can go about anything with your quick decision but marrying.

Many of our friends are happily married already at their early 20’s but it doesn’t have to give peer pressure on us – single ladies and bachelors alike. Being at 25 you’re old enough for playing around but still young enough to go on dating and meeting different kind of people who might introduce you to the one you’re looking for or bring additional to list of friends you can grow old with. You can take the time to find that someone you can’t live without; no need to get stuck and settle half-heartedly to someone who’s just “good enough”. Love takes time, there’s no reason to hustle at 25.

04. Quality time with family- A PRIORITY

Most of the people I know are guilty about neglecting their families over an important business trips, endless overtimes, client meetings, reunion with good old friends, and lots of never ending reasons to be out of the house and be absent in family’s affair. When you were a student, projects and other school requirements were valid excuses, when you get to work, quota and deadlines became your family’s new rival. Now that you’re on your 25 and time continues to roll by, don’t wait until you get married and totally missed the chances to spend enough quality time with your family.

Sooner or later, you will be having your own family, things are still different when you get to bond with your parents and siblings on your singlehood. Make use of the time and opportunity that your current situation has to offer. Your Dad and Mom will soon grow old and weak, spend the moments while they still have the strength to keep up with you: go out with them, watch movies with them, play badminton or chess with them, jog with them in the morning, do more fun things together while they still got the energy to perform various activities with you.

05. Make savings a habit, stay out of debt, use the time to invest

Maybe not that old, but being at 25 makes you not younger anymore. If there’s one thing that you should need to focus on, it’s saving. Regardless if you’re getting less or bigger paycheck, I’m telling you savings ain’t easy but definitely possible. It takes you painstaking process of discipline and self control to practice savings and turn it into habit. Why not try to save up a little for 21 consecutive paydays? It’s one good way to develop a pattern, don’t get frustrated at time to time failures, and just start all over from payday 1 until you finally made it to payday 21. Again, it’s not easy, and you’re not alone in the struggle.

Better stay out of debt. No one favor the idea of paying debt up to that age of wrinkles and already with a cane to walk with. While still young, develop that ability to spend according to your income. One way to mature is to live a life within your means all the time; that skill will definitely serve you your whole life.

Being at 25 with your developed habit of savings, this is absolutely the right timing to give way for some investments. You don’t have to whip yourself to earn enough for a condo unit, car, this and that etc., but you can set a goal for each one at a time in preparations for your future. Nothing’s sweeter and more heaven-like than to see the fruits of all your labors. 

06. Travel more… Explore the world!

Can you imagine yourself on your retiring age looking back to abundant memories of places you’ve visited? Telling bed time story to your grandchildren about how your adventure went through, laughing with your friends over the recollections of your bloopers while together on a travel. Either you travel by business or by personal intentions, travelling is always as good as eating a triple chocolate roll cake with relaxing cup of coffee. Don’t take travelling as negative as just unnecessary caprice of life. There are lots of wonderful places around that you can go without having to spend much fortunes. Don’t go for a trip to Paris or Prague if it’s beyond your means yet, Philippines has great number of beautiful spots that even foreigners are dying to visit even just for once! Travel more and get to explore various places, meet different kind of people, learn informative history and collect fun memories. Get to widen your ambit of knowledge and awareness of the world. Travelling is always good for your health, go and breathe some fresh air.

07. Don’t get stuck … get out from the box

Your 25-ish year is the perfect timing ever to gather all the guts to get up, and get out of your safely secured, comfort zone. More or less, you’re right there at “It’s now or never” stage. At 25, you’re young enough to dare anything and old enough to be on the wheel of your life and take the necessary actions to grow up. By hitting late 20’s or early 30’s, mainly there are only two kinds of people you are most likely to see: People who have lived their 20’s exploring and learning, never stop fighting for dreams regardless of the impossibilities impressed by the circumstances, striving hard to strengthen their spiritual relationship despite the innumerable failures that were luring them to give up, totally immersing their selves to life’s adventurous arena. Then there’s another kind who simply got themselves stuck, and live in an extended life of adolescence, not an inch closer to adulthood than when they left the University – staying on the job they hate for fear (and unclaimed laziness) of finding another one, staying with someone good enough just because they think being single is lonely, clinging on to “happy-go-lucky” life with all their might.

Don’t get stuck, compose yourself and get out of the box. Life has more opportunities to offer most especially at that very age. Strike the iron while it’s hot, some opportunities are knocking only once to twice, don’t let your chances pass without giving a good try. Go out in the meadow and feed yourself of advanced knowledge that will get you going on your trail. Move to somewhere that promises greater room for your improvement, take a class, and try the things that you’ve been itching to experience, kill that coward soul within and lit up that passion inside you. No greater time but at this very moment, No perfect day but today. Get up now and go out there in the open! Enjoy life!

THE FINAL CLASS WITH MORRIE SCHWARTZ

It was back to the second year of my college life, on that one lazy afternoon when Yogi Bear, the name we teased to our Intro to Broadcasting professor, entered the classroom with his bearish dimples greeting to us. He proceeded to the usual light-hearted discussion, cracking jokes at every half seconds interval and that never failed to uproar the carefree laughter among the class. Ten minutes before the dismissal he announced the book-reading analysis he required us to submit. Buying the book wasn’t a compulsory as we were State U’s students and money spending was often an issue to our parents. Thus, it was again the Beg, Sneak or Borrow solutions to our book project dilemma. Borrowing from someone who could afford buying was the first solution, stealing was of course out in the options, begging our parents to buy could be considered, or last answer was to sneak in the bookstore and read the book from cover to cover away from the sight of the staff, and that was so impossible.  The book Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom didn’t sound appealing to me. I wondered if that had something to do with our subject or Yogi Bear was just leaving us something to do while he was commissioned to some far away island for his Press job things; he was a full-time media practitioner and a part-time professor to the poorman’s University. I didn’t get excited about the whole Tuesdays with Morrie project as that seemed to be so dull and boring…well, not after I’ve gone through the lead-in words of Mitch Albom in his must-read masterpiece:  

“The last class of my old professor’s life took place once a week in his house, by a window in the study where he could watch a small hibiscus plant shed its pink leaves. The class met on Tuesdays. It began after breakfast. The subject was the meaning of Life. It was taught from the experience.” –Mitch Albom 

Tuesdays with Morrie was a story of a young man reunited with his old professor after long years of separation and lost contact. Over the years, Mitch was hardened into someone far from that strutting graduate who left the campus nearly two decades ago. Being a part of media thunderstorm, Mitch worked at a pace that knew no hours. He buried himself in accomplishments, in the belief he could control things through these achievements but life then seemed only to miss more of the things that really matter. As the old student get on with his demanding job, too wrapped up to the own siren of his life as Mitch himself described, his professor Morrie was dying to the ALS  disease but had chosen to make the best of time left. So intent was the old man to prove that the word “dying” was not synonymous with “useless”, he made his case a final project, narrating the trip as he crossed the bridge from life to death. On their reunion, the professor and the student came up with this final thesis about life’s greatest lesson and the impact didn’t affect Mitch alone but all the readers out there who got to know Morrie through this beautifully written novel. The book inspired many souls especially those who have walked around for the purpose only of existing and spent the light-speed paced, meaning-less life that they just accepted; indeed, to sit in Morrie Schwartz’s final class was a life-changing experience. 

“People are only mean when they’re threatened, and that’s what our economy does. Even people who have jobs in our economy are threatened, because they worry about losing them. And when you get threatened, you start looking out only for yourself. You start making money a God. It’s all part of this culture.” – Morrie Schwartz 

I bet no Pontio Pilate will deny to this as we all know that money makes up a big part of our world’s needs. We cannot gain food, shelter and clothing with our wallet poorly empty and as we strived to earn for living, trading lots of our dreams for bigger paycheck, our expenses only increased as our salary did. We start buying things that aren’t part of our basic necessities; advertisements turned our “wants” to “needs”. Having to admit it or not, possessions brought us the fear of losing what we have worked for so hard, we turned on money for security, trying to cure the restlessness by covering up the greediness with the so-called practicality. No one will wash his hands over this. It’s all part of the culture and we are guilty victim of the case. But we must not forget also that we still have that “gift of choice”. Morrie in his dying days had once said, “…you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn’t work, don’t buy it. Create your own. Most people can’t do it. They’re unhappy than me – even in my current condition.” It’s really a great battle to go against the flow, only the courageous will dare, but good thing that everyone got that chance to gather all the guts and make a hard choice, we can take it easy and still live a worthy life after all. The world’s happiness rate might be fluctuating but at least, humankind isn’t totally hopeless. We still have the choice, if only we really want. 

“The fact is, there is no foundation, no secure ground upon which people may stand today if it isn’t the family.” –Morrie Schwartz 

It had become quite clear to me as I’ve been to many ups and down and my whole family was there to back me up. I believed that life’s battle was something I had to face independently and my family had let me dealt with these things all by myself. But they were always on the look-out to see if I could still go on, they knew me so well, I wouldn’t call for support unless I was so drop dead helpless. One important thing I have learned was realizing the great value of my family. I was guilty of negligence and taking my family for granted but in spite of it all, at the end of the day when everyone else left, my family stayed with their undying love and patience, supported me all the way on my chosen journey, letting me to find myself. Morrie had struck me in his words when he said, “…knowing that your family will be there watching out for you. Nothing else will give you that. Not money. Not fame. Not work.” Everything had become so clear and I came up to ask myself, “Is it really worth all the sacrifices of my family for me?”  No family was perfect, but they would be there for you no matter what, they would stay with you in different phases of your life, and as you grew old and looked back to all those faces who came and went by, you would see the same faces who matured with you in time, never left your side even just for once. 

“Everyone knows they’re going to die, but nobody believes it. If we did, we would do things differently.”  -Morrie Schwartz 

My first encounter of death was back in 2004 when it hit my Lolo George, his death came like a thief, taking his life in the most unexpected time. My grandfather, a no read, no write widower who raised alone his four children, had died of Tuberculosis at the age of 62. I would always remember him as someone I ran to when mama was punishing me for my wrongdoings. He would hug me and showed me his love in every ways that he could, he was so dear to me. He was also a self-confessed hard drinker, just like me during my drinking days and he loved coffee too, as much as I did. It was something I hoped I experienced back then, sitting with him over a cup of coffee, what a lovely conversation it would have been! When he was diagnosed of the disease, we never thought it would be that worst. I was starting then to get busy with my first year in college that I never noticed much of what was going on. Until one night, death attacked Lolo in just a couple of minutes and it was the very first time I felt that world around me shattered into thousand pieces, the pain was unbearable. I had done less showing Lolo how much I love him, the fact that nothing could turn back the time that I was with him, that nothing could bring him back to life was a terrible truth that was hard to accept, a painful reality. 

“Learn how to die, and you learn how to live.” –Morrie Schwartz 

I wondered if it was really my Lolo’s time to go. Had he fulfilled his purpose on earth already? I regretted over not doing what I should have done while he was still alive. Then I wondered again, if let say I was the one who died and not him, would I regret also in heaven the same thing, for not showing enough of my love while I was on earth? If I die now, am I ready? Have I lived the days of my life to the fullest or just spent so much of time and energy to nothing important? If memories can be taken in heaven, will I have lots of happy memories with the people I loved or just thoughts of stressful, overworked hours, fighting caused by my irritating mood swings, busy days of saving up for the future while chasing the wind? 

I have always dreamed of myself becoming a successful career woman. After graduating college, I landed to my first job in a media corporate solutions production house. I resigned after one and a half year and got a scholarship in a prestigious dance company, but I left three months later, not finishing the signed contract of one year training. I was hired in a corporate company, but same with the previous I resigned after a year and a half and moved to a video production house where I lasted only four months. Big part of my reason was that it felt like I wasn’t fitting in for the job and days were becoming dull, forcing me to wake up early in the morning, going to work as if my feet were dragging heavy metals. I know so well that the problem is me; I need to find out what I really want.  For the past years, I have been too quick with my decisions, thinking that I could straighten up things whenever I twisted into some errors. But things are different now, I’m not getting any younger, I need to make a clear decision and it doesn’t have to be an impulsive one, I must think things over before I act. One thing I’m sure about though, this time I will follow my heart and not what the culture dictates or what others opinion is right. How will I able to extend happiness to others if I don’t have it in me? I decided to focus to the essentials, we’re living only once.

“Don’t let go too soon, but don’t hang on too long.” –Morrie Schwartz

When I read the chapter of Morries’ final goodbye, I was deeply moved, suddenly I felt sad about the final class of the old professor getting over. His life was never wasted anyway; he had lived life to the fullest and had given us profound wisdom and insight. The book is an incomparable treasure that leaves you forever warmed by its heartfelt message.  “Be compassionate, and take responsibility for each other. If we only learned those lessons, the world would be so much better a place.” Morrie’s wisdom echoes. Very grateful I was to Yogi Bear for introducing us the book. It’s still a long journey ahead, but I’m starting to cross the bridge now from “existing in life” to “living the life”.  The final lecture with Professor Morrie Schwartz was very memorable.  I suggest you take also the same class.

A MEANINGFUL CHRISTMAS: THE BEST GIFT TO OUR CELEBRANT

Photo from depositphotos.com

The kids watched out keenly until they wearied themselves out to sleep in waiting for Santa to pass over last night. Santa with his overworked nine flying reindeers have gotten so used in the drill of staying out of sight while children are still wide eyed and awake. This has been the scheme for years every late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve. Santa Claus in his red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots has mastered the tip-toeing and silent placing of the gifts made by Santa’s large number of elves. Children, being well aware of this fact as told to them by the elders, are still not giving up the chances of catching Santa someday (or shall I say “somenight”) on the act of delivering their Christmas presents.

I remember when we were kids we would get very much excited with Santa’s gift to us for Christmas. Until we have outgrown the idea of Santa Claus (because our parents finally revealed themselves), but still retain the tradition of gift-giving through exchanging of presents in various Christmas parties we attend with family, co-workers and friends.  

Unlike with the children, adults often get more stressed than relaxed with the season. Lots of preparation to deal with, Christmas parties to attend, gifts to buy, clothes to wear, foods to cook and the list going longer, not to mention the congested traffics, the overcrowded malls, the chaotic Divisoria, and the other side effects of the season’s busy preparations. As the famous line says, “Ang Pasko ay para sa mga bata” we adults, sometimes miss the perks of childhood every Christmas time. 

Although we outgrew the children ways of celebrating Christmas, the excitement didn’t and never will die, there’s the joyful feeling with Christmas approaching, not for Santa’s gift anymore but for the spirit of the season that comes with greater meaning: the celebrating of the birth of Jesus Christ.

photo from wallpaper4god.com

Jesus Christ is the real star of the season; we are celebrating Christmas as an annual commemoration of his birth. It is that one remarkable night of nativity that has given the world its renewed hopes, the coming of Messiah that saved the humanity from its dooms.  People often get overwhelmed with the left and right celebrations, getting fatty with lots of foods, pushing the level of drunkenness to its limit, ending the season broke when all that really matter is to celebrate by heart the season with outpouring loves and gratitude to Jesus Christ our saviour.

Let’s give Jesus Christ the best gift ever for his birthday, and that’s to live our life in His simplified ways of pursuing righteousness—“love the Lord your God” (Matt 22:37) and “love your neighbor as yourself” (v.39)

Happy Birthday Jesus Christ!

Merry Christmas everyone! Let us all have a meaningful one!

CRAME ROCKS!

Jen Bungar, the owner of the house

There is this one place that has been sheltering hanging out groups, working and studying individuals who need place closer to their company or school, and battered souls who search refuge for the release of their stress burden and emotional baggage: The Crame home of the ever generous, good hearted Jen Bungar. 

The pioneering members of the Crame house

 This small room has been catering home to numbers of individuals for quite a long time now. The place used to be the home of Bungar family until they transferred abode at Taguig for a bigger, cozier dwelling. We were in our last year in college when Jen decided to settle at Crame for the thesis making. The house at Crame then became our barkada’s thesis house.

Time went by, and many people had then set foot in and out of the house. Many had come and gone, some stayed for a little while, some just visited, and the others have stayed until the present time. All those people were interconnected, friends of Jen, friend of Jen’s friends, friends of Jen’s friend’s friends.

 

The Crame house has become as said in the famous line of a movie, “Karinderyang bukas sa lahat ng gustong kumain”. You can compare the Crame house to a small person with really a big, big heart. 

Desay, Jen, Aris, Mace, Kent

In the present time, there are five people who have been lodging at Crame namely Jen, Aris, Mace, Kent and Desay. Many are still coming at Crame in a regular basis, either to stay there overnight, letting the dark to pass out before setting off for home or just hang out there over a cup of coffee or bottles of beer. The most favorite thing that people usually do there is to chat and share each story, with topics that cover any things under the sun. If only the house can speak, it will surely have lots of stories and secrets to tell.

 Just recently, people decided to throw a House party exclusive for all who have been part of this bighearted and openhanded abode. 

The celebration was spearheaded by Aris, Jen and Uel, and the night was a fun success and great flashflood of alcoholic beverages! The party officially started at very late hour since majority of the confirmed attendees would be coming from a production cast party. Thank you to ate Mace’s pledge of Baked Mac and we had some real food to eat while waiting for the others. The celebration kicked off at 2AM, the house light was turned off and the strobe light was brought to life. People were asked to pose and had their pictures taken at the photo wall. There was also a chat box corner wherein people could write their message. 

After Jen had delivered her opening speech, the party then proceeded into the hot, blasting rounds of tequila shots. Exciting game was made, the highly entertaining body shots aimed only for pure fun. Kulitan times, happy conversations were spent together that set everyone to do another round, but with submarine drinks this time, followed by rounding shots of brandy. Good times were spent, that eventually exhausted everyone and set them off to rest and sleep except for few others who opted to stay up and waited for the dawn to break. They had just spent the hours with some deeply conversations of heartbreaks and helpful advices. 

In the following day, the few who had stayed had spent hours of movie marathon and henna tattooing with the artist Ciello. It was indeed a whole lot fun of party and celebration, recognizing the comradeship built within the accommodating, hospitable home of Crame. 

Looking forward for more fun, interesting stories, new friendships, and lots of partying to come, cheers to happy life!!!