Missed opportunities (?)

Do we really know if we missed an opportunity? Or letting one to go by because we’re expecting another one to come?

I’m sure everyone of us is now hooked on the news for the past hours of our lives, wasting our time thinking about this “missed opportunity” that our country had for some 24 hours now.

The 11-hour Grandstand bus siege, which took 8 foreign lives and 1 frustrated cop, ended up in a worldwide mourning. Everyone is expecting for a peaceful finish and praying for divine intervention to pacify the angry hostage-taker. What we thought a smooth negotiation turned into a bloody-mess conclusion. We missed the opportunity to save lives and save souls.

Early this morning, all were tuned in to the Ms. Universe 2010 pageant aired in ABS-CBN. Honestly, I was excited to watch this pageant for I know deep in my heart, Venus Raj will be crowned as the 2010 Ms. Universe. And so, I was so happy when she was part of the Top 15, then top 10 and lastly top 5 finalists. She has gone that far and I’m so proud of her. The Q&A came, Venus was the last candidate to answer in the Q&A portion. I guess, in a contest like this, all questions will be considered as tough questions by all contestants– given the circumstances in answering the question. Venus'question was “What is one big mistake you’ve made and what did you do to make it right?”, which she answered, “In my 22 years of existence, I can say that (I haven’t had a major, major problem) because I am very confident with my family and the love that they are giving to me so thank you so much that I am here. Thank you so much.”

Being in the top 5 of Ms. Universe was already a great achievement for the Philippines, although we missed the opportunity of winning the fabulous crown, we should all be proud that Venus has gone that far.

Are these two incidents can be considered missed opportunities? Or God is just preparing us for another one that is more fabulous than this?

The Grandstand bus-siege may be frustrating, but at least now it gave us a clear picture that our government, specifically the PNP, has no enough skills and knowledge (not even little) in handling such crisis. Sadly, most of the times we learn things in the hard and painful way where we get our strength and motivation to make things right next time. It may be unfortunate that our country was placed in a bad light, live, internationally, but pointing fingers can do nothing good either for the Philippines. It’s high time to face the reality that we, the Philippines, need a lot more to learn. For me, the incident opens the door for us to learn, to be more humble and be more cooperative to our government in praying that this event will pass, as fast as the bullet trains and together let’s begin a new start from where we fell. As to Ms. Venus, nothing has missed there, really. God prepared you to be the 4th runner up of that pageant and you are blessed for not missing that opportunity. And when you come back, stand tall for you made the Filipinos proud and divert our grieving hearts to victorious one.

Stop negative talks. Stop pointing fingers. Stop looking for major major mistakes. Let’s all move on and wait for another opportunity that God has prepared for all of us. Let's keep the faith. Let go and let God.

God bless Philippines!

Friday the 13th

Bata palang ako, lagi ko nang naririnig ang kasabihan ng matatanda tungkol sa Biernes-trese. Sabi ng lola ko noon, malas daw ang araw na ito at kailangan ng ibayong pag-iingat. Marami na ring ipinalabas na pelikula patungkol sa hiwagang taglay ng Friday the 13th. Marami na tuloy ang natatakot tuwing magkakaron ng ganitong pagkakataon sa isang taon.

Kung anu-anong kwento at haka-haka ang naiisip ng mga tao tuwing sasapit ang Friday the 13th. Nariyan ang mga sakuna, sakit, at kwento ng katatakutan na pilit ikinakabit sa araw na ito.

Friggatriskaidekaphobia daw ang tawag sa pagkatakot sa Friday the 13th (malas ka kung hindi mo alam bigkasin ang salitang yan, pero swerte ka kung kaya mong i-spell-out yan sa loob ng isang minuto, try).

Pakiramdam ko masyado nang api ang numero trese dahil kahit saang gusali eh wala kang makikitang 13th Floor, buti pa ang nuwebe eh Lucky 9.
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Nakagawian ko na ang magpacheck-up tuwing August 13 (papansin kasi ako..). Eto lang kasi ang araw na masasabi kong "para sa akin" at pwede kong gawin anuman ang naisin ko. Maaga akong nagising dahil sa dami ng text na natanggap ko (naks!) Naggayak na ako papuntang hospital nang tumawag ang boss ko. "Jho! may mali ata sa report mo, baka pwedeng paki-ulit." Hindi ako pwedeng mainis, kaya ang sagot ko, "Sige Maám, check ko." Bitbit ang laptop, nagtungo na ako ng hospital. (Bilugan ang tamang sagot. a. malas b. swerte)

Dahil may bitbit, nagtaxi na ako papuntang hospital buti na lang P45 lang ang bill ko at dahil August 13, P50 na ang binayad ko. Yebah!

Buti na lang at naisipan din ng isang ka-opisina ko ang magpacheck up sa araw na yun at napagkasunduan na dun na kami magkita sa hospital. Pagkatapos kong kunan ng dugo para sa CBC, at habang hinihintay ang kasama ko, binuksan ko na ang laptop at nagsimula nang magtrabaho. (Salungguhitan ang tamang sagot a. malas b. super malas)

Lunch time na nasa hospital pa din ako, hinihintay yung ENT doctor at tinatapos yung report ko. Bago pa man ako tawagin ng doktor eh naisubmit ko na yung "revised report" ko. Hay! Tinawag na ko ng doktor. "Mmm.. hinga ng malalim, ok. buka ang bibig, ok." Niresetahan ako ng para sa acid reflux ko at syempre ang pinakaaasam-asam ko.. Nilinis ni Doc ang tenga ko! Yipee! (Piliin ang tamang sagot a. swerte b. super swerte)

August 13. Biyernes pala ngayon, nabasa ko sa facebook account ng dati kong boss, ang Biernes-trese daw sa August ang pinakamalas, panigurado marami na naman ang magtatakutan sa araw na ito. Hindi ako naniniwala sa malas at swerte, naniniwala lang ako na pinagpala ako dahil ngayon ang araw ng aking kapanganakan. Ito ang araw na pinili ng Diyos para buuin ako sa sinapupunan ng aking Ina. At ito ang araw na ibinigay Nya sa akin para magsaya at magpasalamat sa mga taon at taong ibinigay Nya sa kin.

Sa lahat ng mga taong nakaalala at nakibahagi sa aking kaarawan sa pamamagitan ng pagbati, swerte kayo ngayon! :)

Maraming salamat po!