Airports, Seasons, In Retrospect…

You ditched precious sleep last night to avoid heavy traffic and make it to airport three hours ahead of your departure time only to know that your flight will be delayed for seven more hours. You swing by a standby counter for an SOS and realize that all the people in line caught the same dilemma as you did today. Counters full of shouting, angry, and frustrated passengers all desperate to go home for the holidays or for some more important reasons.

Today, I realized we don’t always get a turnaround in every situation. One just has to go through the process. And in that process of waiting, something unexpectedly special happens. You meet random people from different places and background, they become your friends, you share a meal with them, you learn something new from them, and you end up appreciating a culture more. Along the way you get to help a total stranger in need or someone out of nowhere turns up to offer a hand. I remember the line "do small things, with love".

While waiting you also get the chance to meditate, reflect on what has happened the previous week and do activity planning for the next; you get to finally work on that pending report, write a social media entry about your day and with enough battery, catch up on a Lucas film prequel.

So you see today I decided to do something different. I decided not to pray to God for a change of situation. I didn’t pray that He board me on an earlier flight to get me ahead- which is something I would usually do. Today I decided to wait it out. I prayed instead for a massive amount of grace, so full, I’d be able to exultantly overcome this difficult day. I prayed for wisdom and that He opens my heart and mind to see the opportunities, lessons, and beauty behind this terrible day.

This entry speaks about how He answered my prayer today in ways I couldn’t have thought of. I guess this pretty much applies to any season that we go through in life. Sometimes we can instantly see the beauty of a season, but more often than not, we understand them in retrospect.

This year was one, if not the most difficult year to endure yet; there were quite a number of depressing and heartbreaking days along the way. It felt like a Frodo-Samwise journey to Mount Doom, many times I was drawn to giving up. There were countless times devoid of exit routes, alternatives or u-turns. Days when you just have to breathe harder, gather every inch of courage and promise left in your heart to go on and face the middle earth skirmish.

But today as I look back I know that I came out of those moments an even stronger hobbit - alive more than ever. I know that inside those dark and enshrouding clouds, I found Him. I know that I was never in the wrong place. I was where He wanted me to be, doing the exactly what He prepared me to do at exactly the right time and if I didn’t trust Him with that despite all the uncertainties, I wouldn’t be where I am this day writing about this with nothing but awe and a grateful heart- steps closer to the woman he wants me to become.

So as in Proverbs 3:5-6, hang in there bud, be still, and just trust in the process.

“If you give up when it’s winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, and the fulfillment of your fall.

Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.

Don’t judge life by one difficult season.

Persevere through the difficult patches, and better times are sure to come.”

-carpe diem-

Airports, Seasons, In Retrospect…

You ditched precious sleep last night to avoid heavy traffic and make it to airport three hours ahead of your departure time only to know that your flight will be delayed for seven more hours. You swing by a standby counter for an SOS and realize that all the people in line caught the same dilemma as you did today. Counters full of shouting, angry, and frustrated passengers all desperate to go home for the holidays or for some more important reasons.

Today, I realized we don’t always get a turnaround in every situation. One just has to go through the process. And in that process of waiting, something unexpectedly special happens. You meet random people from different places and background, they become your friends, you share a meal with them, you learn something new from them, and you end up appreciating a culture more. Along the way you get to help a total stranger in need or someone out of nowhere turns up to offer a hand. I remember the line "do small things, with love".

While waiting you also get the chance to meditate, reflect on what has happened the previous week and do activity planning for the next; you get to finally work on that pending report, write a social media entry about your day and with enough battery, catch up on a Lucas film prequel.

So you see today I decided to do something different. I decided not to pray to God for a change of situation. I didn’t pray that He board me on an earlier flight to get me ahead- which is something I would usually do. Today I decided to wait it out. I prayed instead for a massive amount of grace, so full, I’d be able to exultantly overcome this difficult day. I prayed for wisdom and that He opens my heart and mind to see the opportunities, lessons, and beauty behind this terrible day.

This entry speaks about how He answered my prayer today in ways I couldn’t have thought of. I guess this pretty much applies to any season that we go through in life. Sometimes we can instantly see the beauty of a season, but more often than not, we understand them in retrospect.

This year was one, if not the most difficult year to endure yet; there were quite a number of depressing and heartbreaking days along the way. It felt like a Frodo-Samwise journey to Mount Doom, many times I was drawn to giving up. There were countless times devoid of exit routes, alternatives or u-turns. Days when you just have to breathe harder, gather every inch of courage and promise left in your heart to go on and face the middle earth skirmish.

But today as I look back I know that I came out of those moments an even stronger hobbit - alive more than ever. I know that inside those dark and enshrouding clouds, I found Him. I know that I was never in the wrong place. I was where He wanted me to be, doing the exactly what He prepared me to do at exactly the right time and if I didn’t trust Him with that despite all the uncertainties, I wouldn’t be where I am this day writing about this with nothing but awe and a grateful heart- steps closer to the woman he wants me to become.

So as in Proverbs 3:5-6, hang in there bud, be still, and just trust in the process.

“If you give up when it’s winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, and the fulfillment of your fall.

Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.

Don’t judge life by one difficult season.

Persevere through the difficult patches, and better times are sure to come.”

-carpe diem-

#Duterte for President

I grew up knowing what exemplary public service is all about. I learned of public servants, legislators, a judiciary, and leaders hailing from different opposing parties who joined hands and stood side by side each other to fulfill a promise of development sworn before their beloved home.

I was young but I knew then that I was served by a local government that provides quality emergency response and health care access to its people; of a local government that gives equitable education and employment opportunities to its constituents; a local government that supports, empowers, and enables its business sector, the women, and the youth; I grew up with safe, clean and ridiculously orderly streets/roads to walk and drive on. I grew up in a place where the term “hold-up” remained a term and only came to life on television and action films.

I grew up seeing politicians, yes politicians, set aside pride, self-interests, and political motives, to be able to honor a higher authority and serve the best interest of their people. I grew up in a city that has incalculably opened its doors to the marginalized, homeless, abused, and found the means to attend to their needs. Moros and Christians lived as brothers and sisters. I grew up with people and leaders who not only valued and upheld, but also embodied discipline and integrity in their work.

I’m not telling you a tale of old or a myth of gold. I wasn’t born and bred in another world.

I am a Davaoeno. I call Davao City my home. And much of my knowledge and awareness on the concept of leadership, good governance, diplomacy, and genuine, selfless, public service, I learned from this man. Of course, you all know him.

Now I’ve never been sonically open about my views on politics. Many have the balls and get to say theirs on social media. Some sound, most take it too far though- commenting and flinging trivial judgement only as far as what they’ve seen on TV or browsed through Facebook, seriously lacking context.

Now, I will not discuss much or go far. I will not say that it was all perfect and we were living in a wonderland all these years. And I will not say that this old man will be the miracle bullet that will fire all this country’s troubles away. Sorry guys, let’s leave those for Marvel and DC to explore.

But if the combat and strife towards a better Philippines is all about having a trusted, reliable, strategic and high-quality ammunition on top of the chain, I’d say this old man is the best shot we've got.

Yes or No. Win or Lose. My vote and confidence will only be for this old man.‪#‎DuterteforPresident‬

-carpe diem-