📚 FEATURED STORIES
A TALE FROM TWO STREET CHILDREN
Lesson from Two Kids in the Street
Not long ago, I stumbled upon an old blog entry I wrote back in 2008. Reading it again felt like opening a time capsule, a moment that still speaks volumes.
At the time, my car was out of service, so I was navigating the chaos of public transport. One morning, under the heat of the sun and running late, I ended up in a jeepney after struggling to find a ride. Sitting quietly, I passed my daughter’s school, reminding myself that our decision to move her and her sibling to a more affordable school was just temporary. Still, the weight of financial pressure sat heavy.
THE GIFT OF LIFE
Lesson from the Hospital Bed
Sometimes we get so caught up in our own struggles that we forget how vast and varied human suffering truly is. Just days before Christmas in 2015, I was in that place, overwhelmed by pain, frustration, and a deep sense of helplessness.
What started as a stubborn stomach ache turned into five days of agony and hospital visits. Painkillers only dulled the edge. Eventually, the doctors told me I needed surgery. “It’s not life-threatening,” they said. “You can live without this organ.” Still, the idea of going under the knife filled me with unease.
A PARENT'S HONEST REFLECTION
Single Dad's Struggle
Today began on a low note. I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that I was inadvertently teaching my child the art of procrastination. Why? Because I had become so engrossed in my own sense of time, thinking only of myself. While my daughter rose early, brimming with energy and readiness, I purposefully delayed, convincing myself there was plenty of time.
I LEARN FROM MY DAUGHTER
A Lesson about Love and Commitment
When my wife left for the Middle East in search of better opportunities, I found myself taking on the dual role of both mother and father to our children. It was a new chapter filled with challenges, one that demanded constant adaptation and resilience.
Yesterday, a Sunday, brought its own set of hurdles. Our groceries were running low, and it happened to be my maid's day off. I decided to take my eldest child along for the shopping trip while the younger ones stayed at their grandparents’ house.
MY LIFE BEGIN'S AT FORTY
The Beauty of Turning Forty
They say life begins at 40. For me, it’s more than just a saying, it feels like a truth quietly unfolding.
Tomorrow marks that milestone. It isn’t a dramatic shift, but rather a gentle turning point, a farewell to the whispers of youth and a step into something greater. I’m no longer young, but not yet old either. I stand in that middle ground where time is no longer measured in years, but in meaning.
BREAKING FREE FROM THE CYCLE
Enlightenment in Everyday Life
There’s something about mornings that has always been a struggle for me. My body wakes early, but my spirit often lags behind. One moment I’m calm, the next I’m swept into the whirlwind of preparing for work, rushing, stressing, and already drained before the day has even begun. It feels like I’m racing through life without ever really starting it right.
BALANCING DISCIPLINE TO A CHILD
Enlightenment in Everyday Life
Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child
Many of our ancestors grew up under strict discipline, a tradition passed down through generations. My childhood was no exception. I still remember the reddish marks on my arms and legs from my father’s worn-out belt, and the sting of my mother’s wooden strip. Those moments often filled me with fear and resistance, as I tried to escape or defend myself. My father, however, justified it by saying it was far gentler than the horsewhipping his generation endured.