UNDAS…........

By: dodong.

November 2, 2010 & 2011

From the Spanish translation -Dia de muertos, it means the day of the dead. The Christian celebration of All Souls Day takes place in every 2^nd of November each year throughout the world. Usually the celebration is a holiday in other countries. The holiday is seen as the opportunity for the families to have a reunion, the time for the family and friends to gather together to pray for and remember their family members and friends who have died. 

 

In the Philippines, included in the special non-working days in the Proclamation # 459-Philippine holidays for 2013 issued by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III are November 1 and 2, but usually the religious holidays start in November 1, the commemoration of All Saints Day (Todos Los Santos) up to November 2 the commemoration of All Souls Day. Filipinos are expected to be busy a week or two prior to the celebration of UNDAS since they will clean, repaint the tombs, gravesites, small pantheons or their family mausoleum for their dear departed. On the day of the celebrations, people visit to the cemeteries and bring flowers, foods, and sometimes beverages and offer prayers or mass for their deceased relatives and light a burning candle.

As we celebrate All Saints Day, we remember our young children who died innocently as certain for their sainthood and this reminds ourselves too of our call to holiness, our great challenge to become saints.

 As we celebrate All Souls Day, we have to remember the souls of our dead love ones who depart from our midst but not really gone from us in our memory. So that in essence we are thinking that all of us have souls not only the dead but also importantly the living. Hence we have to be thoughtful of what we are going to do to feed the souls of the living to prepare for our own departure to be able to pass from life to death… to life after death and have everlasting peace in the Eternal kingdom of our Lord God in Heaven.

The Mental Faculties which make man a better person

There are six (6) mental faculties:

            Will,  Perception,  Memory,  Reason,  Imagination, & Intuition

I purposely write these thoughts as my guide on how to use them properly.

Will – Is the only mental faculty which has no subconscious mind function. It’s a conscious mind function that we use to focus our attention. It can be built by exercise. We can help stay focused by doing short meditation exercise like we focus our attention on a candle flame or a pool of water.  Get relaxed and do it without our mind wandering. It is said that normally we have only 5 or 10 seconds of focus and the mind will be wandering to other issues of concern. Some have trouble and they are easily distracted. They bounce around from one thing to another and they never finished anything because they can’t stay focused. Lack of focus ruins productivity, and success in anything depends on productivity.

We use our will by developing the power of our mind. And power of mind is developed when our mind is directed on something specific and it filters out all non-relevant information, eliminates all the clutter or negative thoughts that fill our mind.  This is something that it works not to allow distractions, like negative thoughts that impede our ability to succeed and eventually create a positive outcome in our life.

“You’ve got to develop mental strength. And you develop mental strength with the Will. The Will is the mental faculty that gives you the ability to hold one idea under the screen of your mind to the exclusion of all outside distractions.” –Bob Proctor

Perception – Has both conscious and subconscious mind functions. It controls what we become aware of in our environment and we choose to see it, bad or good. And that’s it in the conscious mind we have a choice. The choice we make has a big influence on how we respond and how we feel about it. We perceived to stimuli or everything in a contrast of choice to see the good or bad, front or back, in or out, and up or down, showing the duality in most everything, as Bob Proctor puts it, “Law of Polarity.”

Sometimes we ask advices and suggestions purposely not to know other ideas or wisdoms or sort of other perceptions but only to gather and know who and what agrees with our beliefs to reinforced our egos because what matters and important to us is our beliefs.  That’s why most of us are blind to contradictory evidence and we only believe that our beliefs are true. It’s a conceited perception. Supposedly, subconscious mind through different experiences and inputs determines and filters what becomes morally and upright perception to focus on.

  

“You must be able to see yourself, with your inner eye, already in possession of the good you desire.” –Bob Proctor

Memory – Has both conscious and subconscious mind functions.  When we get new inputs of information, they get processed by the short term memory of the conscious mind, and while they’re there, they’re easy to remember. But new information only stays in the conscious mind for about 20 seconds and after that it’s gone if no emotions attached to it. Very strong emotions either good or bad passed through subconscious mind for storage and the thing perceived as important and have some strong emotions especially love attached to it would stay much longer in our mind. They can be the source of belief systems that control us unconsciously.

“ Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.”- Kevin Arnold

Reason –Has both conscious and subconscious mind functions. It works primarily in the conscious mind and its job is to analyze, compare and evaluate ideas. Subconscious mind cannot originate ideas. It can only take ideas pass through from conscious mind and only decide how to apply them.  It is a small part of our mind but it’s part we’re most aware of and it’s what we usually mean when we say that we’re thinking. Neuroscience has shown that the conscious mind only uses about 5% of the brain, and some important parts of it don’t develop until we’re in our 20’s. That’s why teenagers do dumb things—one of the last parts to develop has to do with understanding the consequences of choices. We always have choice, and the power of reason comes in to help us choose wisely.

It has one other really important capability- it can take all the information it has and stir up and come up with brand new ideas. If it’s a big new idea that disrupts the balance between our beliefs and life experience, the subconscious mind may object by making us uncomfortable.  But if we persist, it has to move into action with our new idea. The bigger the new idea, the more the discomfort has become. Go ahead with that new idea, we’ll get used to it.

“Reason is always weak where prejudice is strong “- Norman MacDonald

Imagination –Has both conscious and subconscious mind functions. It is the way that we can test and experience our future and our dreams. When we vividly imagine something with emotional intensity in our conscious mind, we impress it on the subconscious mind and produce the same emotional and biochemical reactions in our body as the actual experience. The power of imagination must be used correctly. Whenever we are imagining something good or bad, that power is at work. Don’t imagine what we don’t want our mind because dreaming is a form of planning. It must be used correctly to visualize what we want, and it’s one of the most powerful tools. It trains our mind in what to notice and what to remember.

“Thoughts become things. If you see it in your mind, you will hold it your head.”- Bob Proctor  

 “If you conceive in your mind, then it can be brought to the physical world.” – Bob Proctor

Intuition – It works both conscious mind-verbal and subconscious mind-emotional functions. Which means it works with feelings instead of ideas, the “gut-feeling” that we sometimes have. So when our conscious mind intuits something, we’ll get an idea, something that we can verbalize. Our subconscious mind will give us a feeling about whether something is right or wrong.

The power of intuition is very powerful and very important.  Where does this information come from? Many people call it a “spiritual power” because it works on information we don’t consciously have. WES calls it “metaphysical power” which just means “beyond the physical.” Intuition is our connection to the Mother ship of consciousness, which pretty much knows everything. Some people call it God.

“Vibrations never lie. A person could be saying one thing and yet, thinking another.  Get to the point where you pay closer attention to the vibrations you are receiving rather than the words you are hearing. Intuition is one of the most valuable mental tools you possess. Begin to consciously use it.  Your rewards will be worth the effort.”- Bob Proctor

These are our mental faculties, and we humans are the only species on this planet that have them all.  With them we can build the life of our dreams. So we use them wisely.

 Source: Daily Gratitude by Wes

Should Christmas displays be banned in public places?

Allow me to share my opinion re: Should Christmas displays be banned in public places?"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." This is the first Amendment of US constitution that interpret also the separation of State and the Church and is now same first amendment is being used by the Petitioners (Nativity Committee) to argue for their petition that injunction be granted in their favor, and Judge Audrey B. Collins used same to deny the petition for injunction.

I am a catholic, I believe there is no law that prohibits the exercise of our freedom of religion or our freedom of worship, freedom of speech and I believe too that the government does not favor or against any  specific religion. The issue here is not whether or not tax is being used in the Christmas displays but rather, whether or not the State has the power to regulate the use of public place or space for religious displays. It is my opinion that our constitution guarantees the absolute freedom of our religious belief but not absolute freedom to exercise of that belief, meaning the State can regulate the practice that it should conform and must be in accordance with the other laws. 

Going back to the very question, the government has already allowed 60 long years the display of this Nativity tradition in the same park, the Palisades Park, Santa Monica and the State did not only favor the Catholic or Christians but other religions as well including the Atheist when last year they erected some displays to promote their beliefs. The government have already shown that it can be done or allowed in a limited period of time and within their power to regulate, the park has ample space, and different religions have proven also that they can co-exist with each other.  Why ban the Christmas displays which add attraction to the onlookers in the park.  I don't know of any government subsidy given to specific religion or how a government fund is utilized in this regard. A better deal may be is give equal space allocation to each applicant who wish to put up seasonal displays. Peace to all people of goodwill. Be happy this Christmas. Thanks!

Readers’ feedback: Should Christmas displays be banned in public places?

Asian Journal Online - Fil-Am News, Filipino-American Community Newspaper

The Untold Saga of His Childhood Life, Dreams, and Passions.

By: dodong

Carlos Gomez was born in an Aries zodiac sign, normal and grew up as an aggressive teen age child who lived in rustic area whose parents were farmers, loved fishing in the mountain river, used to play his neighborhood peers, hide and seek, shooting and catching birds. At weekends his father loved to go hunting wild pigs and wild chicken in the forest with him using long rifle cal. 22.

 He said they had a prey with a wild boar; they could not carry together the prey for 50 meters more because it’s too heavy and he was young and helpless in that situation from the middle of the jungle. Realizing the predicaments, his father left the dead wild boar, put some live bullets at the top of the prey, (until now he didn’t understand what does it signify the putting of live bullets on the prey) and accompany him get out the forest and instructed him to inform and fetch his grandpa and his uncles to help his father carry the prey from the middle of the jungle.

He has nine siblings in the family with one brother as the seventh sibling with eight sisters. So he grew up with his sisters at his side as helpers to their parents, make copra and meet some of their daily family chores. Being the only male as aid to the family often left him the burden especially that his father got a lingering and recurring illness for the period of 2 years.  He had to quit schooling for the same period to do the farming.

Further as he told, life of farmers in the place where he was raised had been really that hard. It was very difficult to just depend on the farm produce in the year round. They experienced a situation so mired in poverty with no sufficient food for the family, no budget for health of the family members and practically nothing for their education. At young age he learned to dream a better life and help his family in that dire need to uplift their economic conditions.The hardships that befall upon him when he toiled the farm made him aspire for better education. His father taught him that hardship is overcome by realizing that it is part of the suffering and sacrifices in life, and sacrificing one's personal convenience to attain the personal well-being is the by-product of patience and perseverance, the ingredients of success. It gave him a good perspective in life, the test of deprivation on his teenage life to be present with any activities in school during weekends and some extracurricular outings, as his presence was badly needed by his family made his life tough that pushed him harder to dream and pursue for a bright future, to finish his studies come hell or high water. So when he enrolled in college, three of them siblings find their ways to support themselves as working students. He finished his Bachelor of Science in Commerce, major in Management, at St. Paul University, Surigao City. He completed (WILL) Workers Institute on Labor Law at UP School of Labor And Industrial Relation, Diliman, Quezon City.

He had his teenage crush in high school. He developed inferiority complex when his love crash rejected him and in the process he became shy for a long while and very frustrated. He first composed his love letter inside the church. He wrote and sent more letters, but he just received bunch of unanswered returned letters. In the church, deep inside his heart was crying and he was hurt, the feeling and humiliation that he felt were so mentally painful, heavy and that he even thought his soul was in agony. The perceived failure taught him a lesson not to be serious with women, this was deemed his challenge to study harder and tried to be smart and promised not to be outdone by the women. He struggled, worked hard and successfully overcome his being timid. His passion then with women was a little bit distorted. He had the temerity to court girls who were even friends. Then he found out his classmate friend in high school was charming. He realized he fall in love again. He had an intense feeling of this girl more than the other girls. She inspired him in his studies when they two of them were on steady. But he couldn't give much time with her because he had other commitments. Unfortunately, their decision not to make public their relationship and only pretend they were just friends did not set well for it only did favor him to continue befriending with other girls without inhibition. Their pretenses proved disastrous and not helping on their relationship to prosper. Untimely, nevertheless he learned his mistakes.

In reality, he is religious, a doer more than a talker, merciful, loving and caring one. He loves music though he didn’t have a good quality of voice, he is a musician in his own right. He just mimicked the songs. He loves beautiful women. He said their intelligence makes them beautiful.

One time during college break, his male friends with their girlfriends were having beach outings. He met a lady whom their friends were secretly proposing them to have a blind date. At hindsight, his perception of all  the girls was changed. It finally dawned on him that a person either he or she is capable of loving and ought to be loved and respected. He has totally changed in ways he never imagined. He met his destiny, that lady became the sister of his sister in-law. Next is history.

Bon Voyage!

A Journey in Life

                                    

 By: dodong

     A friend traveler offers his words of wisdom, a tip which could be worth enlightening to you and me who wish to resume our continuing journey in life. 

     As in any sojourn, he said; first know the direction and destination.  Never hesitate to make a first step for “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Assume imperfection in our moves because human frailty comes in times when we do not expect it. A successful life is never an accident, it’s a result of good decisions, sacrifices, guts, risks and allowing God to live and reign in our hearts and minds. Learn and feel contentment in our hearts as we proceed no matter what our status would be, just know how to appreciate the blessings we receive from above. If we stumble, commit unpopular decisions which lead to humiliations displeasing the society, we have to acknowledge our weaknesses and show remorse, the hurt may be less if we start coping the situation and go on with the new life than having a life under the cover of so many pretensions. The important thing, he said, we take responsibility of what we’ve done. The inevitable pain we realized is part of our growing that should not deter our desire to move on.  So we must now translate the hard lessons into wisdom and allow the learning to guide us as we go on into the next step of the journey.

       Reassess where we faltered, and the desired destination must be re-clarified. It is necessary to know the things to be improved and take a new route if needed, and know if we have enough energy to proceed.  It’s a long way for sure there will be perils that line in our path and no matter how astute we are, some events not to our liking it’s going to happen beyond our control.  But we should be ready to face them, knowing that the guidance and wisdom of those who traveled ahead of us remain a faithful beacon in any tumult that our journey shall face.

        For the couple you should be firmed towards the consolidation of your strengths, the refocusing of your collective purpose, and the enhancement of your shared resolve to support the plans of achieving your aspirations. 

        In life many things happen unexpectedly. So we must be prepared, as to where and when our journey ends, it will surely come when we are all out of time, not in harmony with other matters, or simply put it we have no more time. No matter how we plan and arrange our lives in order, it's still God's plan that prevails in the end. Good luck!

The Boulevard of the Untamed Dreams

by: dodong



The sun starts its reign of the day. The dazzling beauty of the rainbow-like colors of the sea, the tiny waves approached the shores when stillness was the mood of the pacific ocean, and the scent of the early morning breeze how could one forget you. It reminds like it just happened yesterday, a vivid recollections, these are but the reminisced memories of the then little boy who used to witness the sunrise at Bacuag sea front while collecting a kind of small clam, the sea shell called “Caraycay.”

The view of the scenic silver sparkling sand of the shores winking as it shined seemingly begs for mercy, the people and the relatives of the fishermen who hardly open their eyes, eagerly waiting the fishermen who went on their fishing adventures the whole night, queuing and waiting to have a glance on their catched were over jealous when finally plenty of sorted fishes caught were being displayed. Undeterred by the heat of the shores as the sun seemed hotter than usual they did endure to be able to select the best fish of their own choice.

Oh summer time here I am as the boy quipped, no classes, unyielding for more playing time, swimming & sun bathing seemed relentless, at the seashores with ample gusty winds conducive to kite flying, these were children’s festivities during the day. While parents were busy in the farms harvesting rice, their kids were also busy making sand castles, casting fish nets and bait fishing. “Aso-os” and “buga-ong” were the common fishes caught.

Unlike the years that had gone by, people at present find it difficult to rely on aqua-marine product for their livelihood. It’s likely our place is already over populated or source of marine resources are very much depleted. The LGU’s timely putting fish sanctuary covering mostly the town’s stretched shores was the best control measures ever done to protect and preserve the newly hatched and fish spawns to ensure the growth of the same to replenish our supply of fishes due for people consumption.

The people of Bacuag have witnessed the construction of seawall in the past years, and our LGU has successfully sponsored the holding of national skim boarding competitions. What we need now is the much improve beach and more presentable seashore to cater our visitor’s good sight. Let’s not be reluctantly mover of progress. We shall help our leaders get rid of eye sores and pollutions at the seafront. Support the realization of the plan to construct the Bacuag Boulevard from the Bitaog River down to Sabang river. This tourism project will not only improve the sight of our town’s beautiful seashore but will surely help us in income generating endeavors and augurs other recreational locations like safe bicycle lanes during night time and a good place for ocean and sunrise spectators and star gazers, expectedly nightlife will be alive because amenities will flourish such as barbecue grills and other food concessions. Be part of the dreams!

The Waterfalls of Little Baguio

The Beauty of ‘Sandayong’...by: dodong

Commune with nature, this is the message of my late father. I remember while I was still young he maintained the mini irrigation dike for our rice farms in Canaya, Sto. Rosario, I could not recall the author but he said something this way, “you could not step twice into the same river, for other waters are ever flowing on to you” unless the water is stagnant. This reminder was still vivid and he instilled into my mind to ensure that water in the dike must be monitored seeing to it with no leak at all times & should not be wasted due to the scarcity of waters in our farm every drop of water from the dike shall be put to use.

Then I realized and found out that rivers are more than just a necessity for man’s survival but also a masterpiece of God’s work. We fetched water using our bamboo container, we took water from the improvised pipe made also of bamboo we called it “Sandayong.” Water in “sandayong” holds a special fascination on me that seem to transcend reality to capture my imagination on waterfalls from a downhill near our farm. Then I had invented a mini waterfall by creating a detour of small rivers “sapa” down to the cliff. At that moment my man-made waterfall exists from mountain stream capturing the seemingly tamed water cascading to our rice farms.

Let me tell you about Jurong Falls. It is the tallest continuously running artificial waterfall in the world, at 30 meters (100 ft) tall. The falls are located within the open access water aviary at the Jurong Park in Singapore. This has captivated millions of tourist there. Water plunges over the top of a touring cliff at a rate of 140 liters per second. The water is circulated through a meandering stream that cascades down over a series of levels, creating an ideal environment for water birds, fishes, plants and other life forms at the aviary.

What differentiate from Jurong Falls is that our waterfall is made by nature. We could develop and enhance the beauty by sensuously sculpting slot, adulating and stunning slick-rock deep locations. We could construct and improve a landscape to make basin-like pool of water where falls drop and where people could swim. We could also conduct reforestation and regulate the area for tourism purposes. Peace and order conditions necessarily must be improved.

Infrastructure projects will follow. Roads and bridges must be built from Barangays Dugsangon and Payapag up to Little Baguio. These infrastructures must be maintained and sustained to enable to support the developments and enhancements of the tourism in Little Baguio. This will not only be limited to benefit tourism industry but also boosts and facilitates the farm to market shipments of agricultural produce made by the southern portion of our people in the municipality. In the end our community can have another sustainable development program in pursuit for a better quality of life for its empowered citizenry.