Happy Mother’s Day Nanay

After having dinner at Balinsasayaw last night, we went home and I approached my mom and told her how grateful I am for all the things that she has done for me and for our whole family. I told her I love her with all that I have and with all that I am. I won’t be where I am today if not for her undying support and unconditional love.

But my mom knows me too well and she knows that something is bothering me. So I told her I’m really upset with someone right now.

My Mom held my hands and embraced me tightly...

I asked her, “Mom, why are there so many mean people in my life right now? What do these people have against me that they could deliberately be so cruel? Why are they doing this to me? Are they just bored? What do they get from it?"

My mom looked at me and said, “Marvin, each person who enters our life has a unique lesson to teach us. It is only through these lessons that we learn about life, people and our relationships with God.”

I gazed back at mom with a confused look on my face. “I am a very fair person mom... other people should be fair to me too. I don’t lie, I don’t steal, I don’t mock people or inflict pain, I don’t cheat, I don’t ridicule others... the only thing I’m guilty of is loving someone too much... Is that so bad mom? Am I a bad person?”

So she began telling me this:

When someone lies to you, it teaches you that things are not always what they seem. The truth is often far beneath the surface. Look beyond the masks people wear if you want to know what is in their hearts. Remove your own masks to let people know who you really are.

When someone steals from you it teaches you that nothing is forever. Always appreciate what you have. You never know when you might lose it. Never take your friends or family for granted, because today and sometimes only this very moment is the only guarantee you may have.

When someone inflicts injury upon you, it teaches you that the human state is a very fragile one. Protect and take care of your body as best as you can, it's the one thing that you are sure to have forever.

When someone mocks you, it teaches you that no two people are alike. When you encounter people who are different from you, do not judge them by how they look or act, instead base it on the contents of what is in their hearts.

When someone breaks your heart, it teaches you that loving someone does not always mean that the person will love you back. But don't turn your back on love, because when you find the right person, the joy that one person brings you will make up for all of your past hurts. Times a thousand fold.

When someone holds a grudge against you, it teaches you that everyone makes mistakes. When you are wronged, the most virtuous thing you can do is forgive the offender without pretense. Forgiving those who have hurt us is often the most difficult and painful of life's experiences, but it is also the most courageous thing a person can do.

When a loved one is unfaithful to you, it teaches you that resisting temptation is Man's greatest challenge. Be vigilant in your resistance against all temptations. By doing so, you will be rewarded with an enduring sense of satisfaction far greater than the temporary plasure by which you were tempted.

When someone cheats you, it teaches you that greed is the root of all evil. Aspire to make your dreams come true, no matter how lofty they may be. Do not feel guilty about your success, but never let an obsession with achieving your goals lead you to engage in malevolent activities.

When someone ridicules you, it teaches you that nobody is perfect. Accept people for their merits and be tolerant of their flaws. Do not ever reject someone for imperfections over which they have no control."

I looked at my mom and asked, “But Mom, what do we learn from loving? Are there no lessons we learn from doing good things to others?

She replied, “Marvin, man's capacity to love is the greatest gift He has. At the root of kindness and love, and each act of love also teaches us a lesson.”

My curiosity was deepened.

My mom once again began to explain: "When someone loves us, it teaches us love, kindness, charity,honesty, humility, forgiveness, acceptance, and all of these can counteract all the evil in the world. For every good deed, there is one evil deed. Man alone has the power to control the balance between good and evil, but because the lessons of love are not taught often enough, the power is too often abused.”

My mom kissed me good night and I was left at the garden looking at the stars. As always, my mom made sense of things.

As I was gazing at the sky this thought occurred to me, “Every now and then, things will happen, to make me want to hide...But for every bad, there is a good, to keep my heart alive. And as my brother once told me, I shouldn’t have to sacrifice who I am just because someone else has a problem with it."

At that moment, I know, my heart is at peace...

I just know.

I love you Mom and Thanks for everything.

Happy mother’s day.

Royal Greetings to all the Mothers in the World

For those who are lucky to still be blessed with your Mom, this is beautiful. For those who aren't, this is even more beautiful.

The young mother set her foot on the path of life.

"Is this the long way?" she asked.

And the guide said "Yes, and the way is hard, and you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning."

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them, taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike, and reminded them to feed the dog and do their homework and brush their teeth.

The sun shone on them and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then the nights came, and the storms and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, a little patience and we are there."

So the children climbed and as they climbed they learned to weather the storms. And with this, she gave them strength to face the world.

Year after year she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most of all......unconditional love. And when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you."

The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage.

And the mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children." And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers.

One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And Mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them."

And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."

And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still.


A Mother is more than a memory.

She is a living presence. Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day...

She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is your birthday morning.

Your Mother lives inside your laughter and she's crystallized in every tear drop. A mother shows everyemotion... happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow... and all the while hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life.

She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take.

She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy...

But nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time...

Not space...

Not even death!

Ice Cream, I Scream...

Last week I took Joaquin, my 6-year-old cousin to a restaurant. He asked if he could say grace.

As we bowed our heads he said: "God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if kuya Marvin gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen."

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice-cream! Why, I never!"

Hearing this, Joaquin burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"

As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table.

He winked at my cousin and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."

"Really?" my cousin asked.

"Cross my heart."

Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, I bought Joaquin ice cream at the end of the meal. Joaquin stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember for the rest of my life.

He picked up his sundae and, without saying a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman that made the remark.

With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes, and my soul is good already."

It doesn't matter

I understand feeling as small and as insignificant as humanly possible. And how it can actually ache in places you didn't know you had inside you.

And it doesn't matter how many new haircuts you get, or gyms you join, or how many glasses of margarita you drink with your friends... you still go to bed every night going over every detail and wonder what you did wrong or how you could have misunderstood.

And how in the hell for that brief moment you could think that you were that happy.

And sometimes you can even convince yourself that he'll see the light and show up at your door.

And after all that, however long all that may be, you'll go somewhere new.

And you'll meet people who make you feel worthwhile again.

And little pieces of your soul will finally come back.

And all that fuzzy stuff, those years of your life that you wasted, that will eventually begin to fade.

What Really Counts

I got this interesting bit of e-mail from a cyber friend, who sends me wonderful and thought-provoking forwarded Internet materials:

Do you know who in 1923 was the:

1) President of the largest steel company?
2) President of the largest gas company?
3) President of the New York stock exchange?
4) Greatest wheat speculator?
5) President of the Bank of International Settlement?
6) Great Bear of Wall Street?

According to the email, these men should be considered some of the world’s most successful men because at least, they found the secret to making money.

But today, more than 56 years later, they are virtually unknown. Do you know what has become of these men?

The e-mail reveals:

The President of the largest steel company, Charles Schwab, died a pauper
The President of the largest gas company, Richard Hopson, is insane
The President of NYSE, Richard Whitney, was released from prison to die at home
The greatest wheat speculator, Arthur Cooger, died abroad, penniless
The President of the Bank of International Settlement shot himself
The Great Bear of Wall Street, Cosabee Rivermore, committed suicide.

I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this information but one thing can be culled from it and related to our lives—you may be the hottest name in 2007 but will you still be remembered by people 56 years from today?

Will the priorities you concern yourself with still be significant?

Will your millions of money amount to anything if you were mean to your relatives and didn’t help others?

Whatever grand achievements you have made for yourself will one day be forgotten. What will be remembered are the good things you have done for others.

Great men are immortalized by their great deeds.

SHOULD YOU

Here’s something good to start my week.

With all that is happening in my life right now --- malicious comments from other people, death of a dear friend… I really need to stop, breath, stop questioning God, thank Him and just continually be a blessing to the people around me.

An excerpt from the novel Tuesday's with Morrie by Mitch Albom says: "Many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."

I don’t want to be one of those people. I don’t want to be half-dead… half-asleep.

So, here I am… trying to live my life one day at a time. After all, all we really have is borrowed time. All we have is today… this moment… no one knows for sure when our clock would stop ticking for us…

So let’s make the most of today.

Here’s something that inspired me… hoping it will inspire you too.

Should you have a bad day at work…
Think of the man who has been out of work for years.

Should you despair over a relationship gone bad…
Think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.

Should you grieve the passing of another weekend…
Think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.

Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance…
Think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.

Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror…
Think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.

Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose?
Be thankful.
There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.

Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities…

Remember, things could be worse.

You could be them.


Have a nice week everyone.

Love you all.

May your soul rest in peace

Can you imagine what it feels like to have someone sit you down and tell you that you're dying? The gravity of that, huh?

Then the clock starts ticking for you…

In a split second your awe is cracked open. You look at things differently --- smell things differently. You savor everything be it a glass of water or a walk in the park.

But most people have the luxury of not knowing when that clock's going to go off. And the irony of it is that that keeps them from really living their life. It keeps them drinking that glass of water but never really tasting it.

I just found out today, that a good friend of mine died yesterday morning due to brain tumor and I can’t help but ask why. Good heavens why him? I mean, he is so young for crying out loud. He still has a lot to live… a lot to fulfill…

My knees got weak, my voice escaped me and I am left here standing… wondering why it had to be you... imagining what we would be doing if you weren't set before me… ever so pale… ever so different... ever so cold…

We say that the hour of death cannot be forecasted, but when we say this we imagine that hour as placed in an obscure and distant future. It never occurs to us that it has any connection with the day already begun or that death could arrive this same afternoon, this afternoon which is so certain and which has every hour filled in advance.

It's never going to get easier.

There is never going to be a 'Death for Dummies' book. There is never going to be an escape plan to pain because no matter how much I try no matter how much I cry my life is never going to go back to the way it used to be, because I know I can't just text you on your cell phone and hope everything disappears.

I know that I can't stop myself from hoping that one day I will just receive a text from you and smile as if nothing happened.

I know that there will be days that it will be hard to get out of bed and look people in the eye and lie when they ask how I am.

I know that its going to hurt for the rest of my life and that I will always cry, but I also know that you're in heaven now and your away from all of the pain and everything is better for you now.

I just wish I could say the same for me.

Sometimes, no matter how much faith we have, we lose people. But we never forget them.

And I promise, I will never forget you.

So long Joms…

*** Friends, please join me in praying for the eternal repose of my friend’s soul. Thank you.