Everything I need to know I learned from my mom

My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside - I just finished cleaning!"

My mother taught me RELIGION
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

My mother taught me LOGIC
"Because I said so, that's why."

My mother taught me FORESIGHT
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

My mother taught me IRONY
"Keep laughing and I'll *give* you something to cry about."

My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper!"

My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM
"Will you *look* at the dirt on the back of your neck!"

My mother taught me about STAMINA
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is finished."

My mother taught me about WEATHER
"It looks as if a tornado swept through your room."

My mother taught me how to solve PHYSICS PROBLEMS
"If I yelled because I saw a meteor coming toward you; would you listen then?"

My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY
"If I've told you once, I've told you a million times - Don't Exaggerate!!!"

My mother taught me THE CIRCLE OF LIFE
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION
"Stop acting like your father!"

My mother taught me about ENVY
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do!"

THANKS, MOM!

This I so believe

I believe in my mother. I know most children do, but saying it as an adult, I feel it carries much more impact. So I say it now: I believe in my mother perfectly, unquestioningly, not least because we seem to agree on nearly everything. She and I are like the same person, one future, one past, but both in the same present.

She taught me many things, but the first and most important was always, “love yourself”. Never falter in loving who you are, what you are. Never tell yourself that you're not attractive... never tell yourself that you're stupid. Be unashamed. Feel handsome, and you will look it, feel smart, and someday you will achieve it. One is not set in stone, but is a living, breathing person, capable of mutations and changes galore. Wear your skin and hair and face and heart like designer clothing. She told me this in not so many words every day and I took it to heart, and still do. I relish myself, my shortcomings as well as talents, because they've made the person that so many other people are proud to call a friend.

She taught me compassion. Don't hate someone just because they stutter when they speak. Don't make fun of or ignore them just because they happen to be a boy and have a boyfriend or a girl and have a girlfriend. Talk to them. Treat them like you would any other person, and pass on the love a little bit. Who knows, you could meet the person who ends up being your best friend or saving your life from a giant snake like that, and all because you decided to delve a little deeper.

She taught me to fight the man, the oppressor. Don't let them push you down, stereotype you, sort you into neat little sects for them to catalogue and file away. Don't let commercialism or money monopolize your life and push out love and happiness and all the things that really matter. Don't get so lost in personal gain that you forget that there are others around you.

She taught me that everyone's life is their own. Do what you wish, but don't condemn others who do things you would never do - it's their life, their body, their choice. People every day are abused and harassed because they chose to abort a baby - called sinners, murderers, bad parents. And yet, is it our place to judge these people that we've probably never even met, over the life of a baby that may not have been the best life in the first place?

Of course, this also brings up the matter of religion. People are killing each other now, and have been since the beginning of time, over religion. Countless deaths, all for a thing we can't see, in the name of something written down in an old book. And yet, who cannot say they've felt spiritual at least one point in their life? Who can say they haven't felt connected, felt like for one moment everything is perfect? If people could learn to share in that joy, rather than tie themselves down to petty squabbles over what color robe Jesus was wearing at the last supper, perhaps the world would be a better place.

Most importantly, she taught me to love. Everything and everyone, regardless of who or what they are. She taught me to accept, to reserve judgment until I've got evidence, to always give someone the benefit of my doubt.

She taught me to forgive, but not to forget: oh no. Forgive and learn, my friends. Save up your past mistakes, so that you can learn from them in time, and perhaps love even more because of it. The world could always use a little more love.

I believe in my Mother, soundly and perfectly.

I believe in life, love, and John Lennon: "whatever gets you through the night, that's all right."

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!

RAINBOWS

As kids we are taught that a rainbow has seven colors. But as we grow older, we realize that there are other shades, hues and subtleties that are not taught to us.

Now, they remain unnamed.

But as we grow older, the more colors we see in a rainbow.

As we go on with life, we realize that scholars’ teachings are, in most cases, far from what reality has to say.

Like a rainbow, life is full of complexities.

Life is full of variations.

And the further and deeper we go through it, the more colors we see.

I pray that we find understanding when we are faced with division, and may we be dominated by equality when we discover difference.

This blog is a tribute to unity in diversity, dignity and a celebration of life.

For a moment, I seriously thought about discontinuing this blog for some obvious reasons. First, people are not reading them anyway. Second, I don’t think it’s serving its purpose. I only make people sad, which is far from what I envisioned my posts to be. Lastly, I always receive nasty comments from anonymous judgmental people.

But then again, I always remember what my mother tells me when I was still a kid. She would hold me in her arms and would tell me this: “Remember this, you have got to believe in yourself. Ignore those who try to discourage you. Don’t give up and don’t give in. Dare to speak your mind. Dare to make a difference. Dare to love… Because in the end it will be okay, and if it’s not okay, it’s not the end”

And she would tuck me to bed and kiss me good night. My mom tells me this every single night from kindergarten to fourth grade to junior high. I grew up living those words… well, sometimes…

If only for my mom, I would have long stopped writing. I would have long given up on my dream as a writer.

But just like the rainbow, which symbolizes hope in the bible, I will always be here…

After the rain…

After the storm…

I will be here… and no one’s stopping me.

Not you… yes, you.

Not even you.

I write to express not to impress.