When a man was dropped off at the airport by his
brother, they unconsciously
got in the lane designated for private cars for
quite a while. Trying to
unload the bags, an Expedition driver pulled up
next to them, ranting and
raving that they were not supposed to be there.
While driving home, the ferocious pangs of the
bitter words the driver shouted at them began to
tear apart his calm mood. However, as he
turned his face to the serene sky, lo and behold,
he realized suddenly that he had been
missing the most awesome sunset he had seen in
months. Yes! Blazing orange, brilliant yellow and
flaming red fused together, a tapestry of colours
on a canvas that only the greatest Artist could
have painted. "Wow!" popped into his mind, soothed him, causing the negative thoughts to vanish into oblivion.
Yes, when pestering thoughts begin to crowd our mind,
engage in the majesty of the moment. Look around.
Observe.
Activate our wonder quotient. Enjoyment reserves no place.
No wonder at this point, the land of the Philippines is the island we're
going to explore. Philippines....is there anything good about the Philippines?
Somebody said, "people lose perspective when they can't see the stars."
It makes sense. We can be in Disneyland where stars proliferate, and without
observing them, you'd never know that.
With this lo-o-o-o-o-n-n-nng intro, what am I driving at? That
Philippines is still a beautiful, lovely island as ever!!! Despite the Abu Sayyaf
kidnappings, horrendous typhoons, raging volcanic eruptions, depleting economic crunch, unbelievable floods on top of the mountain (amazing!),
I strongly believe that we still have an exceedingly bright future.
Dear friends, bear in mind that this is not the end of the story. It's just
a twist in the plot. Transient but not permanent.
At this point, avoid excesses in our lives. I asked a friend of mine to
share her most wonderful experience in traversing the world. She answered
without delay: "Walking on the streets of London; feeling the biting cold
air and hearing the British accent everywhere." How about that? Had the Philippines not been a tropical island, the experience wouldn't have been as
sublime. Have you tried blowing bubbles? Walking barefoot? Cracking a smile?
Paying an honest compliment?
Friends, look up. Look around. Observe. Avoid excesses. Make room for
childlike moments. Try to raise our awe and wonder faculty. Find at least
one reason every day for saying, "Wow."
Btw, here are my reasons for saying "wow about this lovely land."

Did you know that in the Philippines ....
1. the prospect of sending our elderly parents to a nursing home is
inconceivable?
2. we greet our elders by touching their hands to our forehead?
3. we host our balikbayan relatives for weeks and can still smile about it?
4. we use the finest things we own only when there's company?
5. we keep a "tabo" in our bathroom?
6. we recycle plastic shopping bags as garbage bags?
7. we shower at least once a day?
8. we think a meal is not a meal without rice?
9. we feed all our visitors?
10. we always leave a morsel of food on our plate at a party lest we appear famished?
11. we like sweet spaghetti?
12. we tail an ambulance just to beat the traffic?
13. we can't make a purchase without haggling?
14. we use paper foot outlines when buying shoes for friends and relatives?
15. we point with our lips?
16. we greet one another by raising our eyebrows or tossing our head?
17. we can convey 30 messages with our facial expressions?
18. we ask for the bill at a restaurant by making a rectangle in the air?
19. we call the waiter "boss" or "brod?"
20. we cope with a serious situation by turning it into a humorous one?

- Nenu Sta. Romana - Cruz