WITNESS

There was a time when man was free to roam and borders were unknown. The fight for survival was the only struggle. And food was the sole determinant of human behavior, man as a prey or as a predator, hunter or hunted. As population increased and food decreased, the “Malthusian Theory” paved way to the “Theory of Evolution”. Survival of the fittest conquered the patterns of supply and demand. As a social being, man emerged with a solution to create alliances that made hunting and farming less chaotic. Continue reading →

Hey, my name is Maria. I have recently upgraded myself from a certified assistant to that of a licensed caregiver. I used to be a Nurse’s assistant. Now I am a nurse. I still work in a skilled nursing facility. Unlike a hospital, most people stay here longer and many of them end up living in one of our floors. Except for a very few, the majority are older adults. Continue reading →

Robin Williams passed away. His death reverberated through the hearts of those who enjoyed his wit and followed his humor. His abrupt farewell left a sad enigma and a space void of adequate reasons that made it difficult to understand the last event of his life. Continue reading →

The other day, a friend asked: “What is a Filipino’s role in this world as a Filipino?” I diverted and kept mum. When the primordial question of who we are emerges, all racial, cultural, and ethnic issues come into play. … Continue reading →

When notebooks and back packs are relocated towards the front aisles of stores, and when kids scan through folders, binders and prices, summer warns us that the season is closing as it reminds us that another school year calendar is about to unfold. And while a green foliage is kicked out by yellow leaves, we have a sense that the rhinovirus is also about to enter our lives. Continue reading →

Having been blessed with the opportunity of living in different continents, I cannot help but recall the many times I met Filipinos who valued their regional origin (e.g. Ilocano, Bicolano, Tagalog, Bisaya, et.al) more than their national identity. Born, raised and bred in Manila, with parents from different sub-ethnic groups and different linguistic backgrounds Continue reading →

“If you compare yourself with others, you may become bitter or vain, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself”
As social beings, it is almost impossible to avoid comparing ourselves with others. We need bench marks, averages, and starting lines for anything involved with growth and human improvement. Normalcy is determined through comparable parameters. We cannot set up standards without comparing. Continue reading →

“Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit”. Between listening to a soft spoken person or taking the role of a sounding board to someone who screams, I would definitely opt for the soft spoken person even with the voice of ant. Loud people are annoying, period. Continue reading →

“As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons”. Being on good terms with someone is at least to agree on something, to uphold a common ideal or perhaps to work for a common good. Yet although these realities are assumed from a civilized society, the diversity and divergence of individuals present this proposal as a Continue reading →

“Go Placidly amidst the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence”
If silence were a natural resource, it would have been depleted a while back. Without it, there would be no way for anyone to go unruffled. Caught in the cross roads of cramped up time, unending tasks, and stress filled days, silence seems to be more of a luxury, a negative upgrade from being a scarcity. Continue reading →