Is it too good to be true?

“It’s just too good to be true!”

When people come face to face with a huge opportunity, a gigantic responsibility or a heaven sent gift, people normally react negatively. Why is that? _­Our brain is designed to function like a watch tower, always looking at obstacles along our path. If something is out what we ordinarily do, we tend to get frightened. We question the blessing because your brain told you that it has never happened before, therefore it must be bad. You know you want to be promoted after 10 years of working. Your boss gives you the chance and then you back off. You win the lottery then get scared that hoodlums might sneak up on your house one night to steal it. You want to live a better life but you shy away from opportunities that would make it happen. When a friend wants to give you something, you always ask, “Anong kapalit?” or “What’s in it for you?”

Despite the everyday bad news that the media brings us, there still live beautiful souls who desire nothing but the good for our country and the betterment of our fellow brothers and sisters. These people beg to differ. These handful have visions greater than what you and I can think of. Think of famous people who have been persecuted, humiliated , discriminated and laughed at.

Thomas Edison

Alexander Graham Bell

The Wright Brothers

Mother Theresa

Albert Einstein

Martin Cooper - inventor of cellphone

..and the list goes on

We tend to forget that we were born in God’s image and likeness and that we were born pure. In our heart of hearts, we live to have good relationships with God and with others. We help and we live to be helped. First World Philippines? Impossible? I daresay NO.

Public Speaking Experience

Can you imagine me on a stage speaking in front of a crowd with the aim to inspire others and reach their own potential? I sure didn't see myself trodding that road. I'm the silent type kasi. I used to hide from any spotlight. I don't even raise my hand in class for recitation. I shy away from people.

The other day, I was invited as a speaker in one of the seminars that ChE students in UST were organizing. Last night I planned. This morning I executed. Funny, I never thought I'd say this, but.. what surprises me most from this kind of experience is that I enjoyed it.=) I enjoy public speaking. When you are passionate about something, you will surely do unexpected things. Things you never thought you'd do. I want to spread the community's mission of raising our country's financial quotient to be competitive with our neighboring countries. To get this message across, I volunteered to coach in our free courses. But somehow, knowing that when we talk in front of an audience, we can get our message across faster and with less effort. The professor liked it and said that she'll be inviting me again to talk to other batches. =)

I'll be doing this again soon and I'll be doing this again and again. If you also want to learn what is not taught in schools, we can schedule a seminar in your school, organization, community, etc. These ChE students were lucky, they became aware of their financial quotient, unlike during my time.=) Thank you Kristine Alberto for inviting me! Thank you for the opportunity, the food and the souvenir. Thanks so much for those who attended. =)

The true meaning of life exists in a single, universal truth. If we conquer fear, we can accomplish anything.

CA2020 Warrior Camp

I attended CA2020's Warrior Camp last Fri to Sun. It was an amazing experience na ang overwhelming ng mga realizations. Parang maya't maya gusto ko magnotes to preserve yung mga sharing ng iba't ibang tao. The variety of the people I met was so vast, from a student to retirees and everything else in between. May dancer, SPED teacher, ex-Mayor, OFW, engineers, accountants etc... May from Palawan, Bohol, and even from Dubai. As individuals we were so different. But what we all have in common is that we have dreams that we want to achieve, for ourselves, for our family, for the people we love, and for our nation. I grew up being shy. I didn't like talking to people. Never did I thought I'd enjoy conversing with people so much. Sabi nga sa Maslow's hierarchy of needs, when you focus on fulfilling he highest level of need which is Self-Actualization (growing and developing as a person to achieve individual potential; able to answer what is my purpose), everything else below the hierarchy gets achieved. To achieve that purpose is something that all of us aim to achieve. =) I want you to experience what I experienced because merely sharing what I got won't give u the same realization, nor the same feeling. The things that I got won't necessarily be the things that you need nor the things that you'll realize if you yourself experienced it. I'm grateful for the experience, the growth and the great people surrounding me. Thank you thank you thank you!