My Blogging Guru and the Secrets of Effective Blogging

For a very long time, I had been in search for a medium to which I can transmit the message of transcendence and existence. Now here I am stuck in this complicated blog world. I need to unlearn the way Multiply blogging site works and learn this new blogging fever.
As the ancient Chinese philosophy would say: "You can't pour a tea on a filled cup, otherwise it will spill out".
I need to find a guru, somebody who has the patience to listen and converse. somebody who can teach me the secrets of blogging.
And I found one!
I could not believe it... A doctor-friend helped me in maximizing my blog, in utilizing every widget and every button in this site. She took her laptop and turned it on 'again' just for me. I felt very important. From her busy schedule, and patients queuing outside, she managed to give a time just for me... lol.
Thanks anyway.
Now I know the secrets of effective blogging.
Thanks a lot!

Convention Gate Crasher

I wanted to disappear like a bubble floating in the air. That was what I felt when a friend of mine invited me to a convention in luxurious hotel in the city. What a disgust! Daniel, joining a convention of National Ombudsman? Funny though, but it is really not my field. Well, it happened anyway. I attended the convention, a national convention specifically. The convention took place and I was invited for a lunch. Only for the lunch.
I arrived there, exhausted and hungry ready for the lunch... I joined there. A gate crasher. I felt embarrassed for I am not acquainted to such acts. I ate and enjoyed my lunch. While in the buffet line, I saw different people from different places. One person addressed me sir, thinking that I was part of the delegates. I just smiled and pretended to be like them.
Silly!
I searched for a table. I was sighting for a table with more vacant seats to avoid opportunities for a conversation with my "fellow" delegates. I found one and sat. Focusing on the food I was eating without even looking at the people around me. I don't care what they would think of me, a savage or a glutton. I don't care. What I had in my mind was eat and run. Nothing more nothing less.
Still my mind was boggled thinking of what reasons would I give if somebody would ask me from what region are you... I was wearing my pink barong, handsome and respectable-looking government official. What would I say to these guys. Will I tell them I am from the Davao or form Cebu or Dumaguete. Thank God nobody took the courage to ask me that question or else i would experience a heck in my life.
I have to go by now, I received a call. I still have an invitation from my "fellow" delegates for a swimming in a five star hotel after dinner.
ciao!

Philosophy and Blogging

I am new to this fad of blogging. But I guess that this would help me a lot in expressing my views and in fighting for what I believe in. In this world, this technology helps a lot in connecting people. 10 years ago, in the Philippines, blogging was not that popular. One needs to be a columnist, a student organ writer, which I belonged, or a an activist just to express what thoughts that lies within. It is different these days.

I am a thinker. And as a thinker, I love to share my thoughts and reflections. But it is not that easy to share my thoughts. I need an avenue to where I can publish my thoughts and allow people to read and comment on them. This one's the best place.

So how I can I co-relate my hobby and this new stuff, philosophy and blogging?

I believe that in blogging one needs to be consistent in what he writes. Consistency is a key element in making your own philosophy in life, other than confirming your rejection of your thought and adhering to the other thought you discovered recently. That goes the same in blogging. You will receive comments, may it be positive or negative. I would be glad to receive comments, questions or clarifications. During my college days, I could still remember my professor in Epistemology telling us after our class, "peace to whom i corrected this morning". The we would answer "your true friend is the one who corrects you..." Then we would silently chuckle laughing at this daily routine. later did we appreciate the value of correcting through giving comments. Most especially in philosophy where one is indulged into questioning and reasoning.

The second thing is, in philosophy or philosophers, they would love to share their ideas, their insights and reflections. During their days, it was through publishing a book, or writing an article in a philosophical journal. How I wished I could be a part of a philosophical journal, where I can share and express my views in relation to the contemporary phenomenon taking place around. I failed in that dream. But not anymore. Now I have an avenue for expressing my desires in writing and in sharing my thoughts. Blogging is my answer. But I distinguish. What I write here is not as credible as what is written n a published book or an article in a journal. The former is carefully scrutinized by a panel of professionals and authorities in their field. The latter, is not. But what I think is note taking for is the fact that blogging is open to all. What I mean is that this tool allows different form of knowledge to collaborate and criticize or comment on ones work.

The third thing is this. In blogging, bloggers are obliged to think. Then post. Then receive comments. Then answer. Then look back again, and write. Then publish. And the cycle won't. For the sleep of reason creates monsters in the mind.

I hope that this new avenue of writing I take part with be a fruitful experience as I share my philosophies as I pass along this crossroad.

Well, I guess I have to start adjusting as to how to maximize the use of this blogging site. I would be glad if somebody can assist me.
'Till then!

My Conversations With Ms. Daisy And My Rector

My friend from the seminary, Jo-I, who left also, text me and asked what is the name of our pet monkey in the seminary. While leisurely walking inside SM City, my mind boggled as to what the name of our monkey is... I thought of it that much till I succumbed and tempted to call for a help from the seminary. I phoned the seminary and I heard the familiar tone of voice: St. Alphonsus Seminary, good afternoon. I chuckled and said, Helloww Ate Daisy... Daniel, she interrupted... Then laughter followed.

Later we talked a lot about certain events that took place in the seminary. I heard that her office was repainted and she would have wanted to tell me the color but it's better left surprise. Then i asked the name of the monkey. Mucho and Yvonne. Finally I knew it..!

Then my rector arrived and she handed the phone to him. We talked a lot, and I felt very happy hearing his voice, the terrible voice before is now a voice of comfort and nostalgia. He asked me about my latest happenings, I told him everything that happened while I am outside. i was delighted when he said that he is happy hearing my voice and listening to my experiences. Wow. At this moment of my life, while I was feeling the loneliness within, someone is happy because of me. What a delight!

We shared a lot of insights and he told me that this world I am now, is a different world compared to what I had before. But what is important is to live within the values that I was taught inside, the way of life directed toward goodness. I expressed most of my sentiments, regarding my company, the people around me, and my family. His response was very timely. He said, "While I was talking to a friend, a rector also from another seminary, he told me that what he does is to pray for his former formands. To pray for their family, jobs, and life." A word of comfort for a lonely guy here in Davao. I felt at ease and comfortable, somebody is praying for me, and that's a relief.

We talked for almost an hour. Relieved.

Jo-I, ang name sa atong monkey kay si Mucho and iyang wife kay si Yvonne...

Two Years Ago: The Day I Left The Seminary

It has been 2 years. August 3, 2007 the whole of Dumaguete City cried. The rain poured in so hard, and the sky was dark. I woke up in my room, looked at my packed bags, my empty cabinet. My batchmates were hugging. Including my so-called enemies. They sang our favorite song, Buksan and Next in Line with the strum of the guitar from Danilo. I took a bath, rushed to the refectory and brushed my teeth. I prepared myself for the last community activity in my seminary life, the morning prayer.

We prayed as a community of postulants and priests.

One thing I regret, I did not say a word of my exit. I just presumed that they knew it and i have no more business in telling them. But I forgot to thank them, the Redemptorist, my brother postulants, and the people who helped me in my journey. as I went out the prayer room, the other postulants came to me and tapped my shoulder. Without saying a single word, I knew what they meant. Teary eyed, I went to call on our driver, David, to drive for me which he never refuses. I did not expect that they would accompany me, my co-postulants. Danilo and Marvin then took the songbook and the guitar. That was the saddest moment of my life in the seminary, letting go.

Letting go of the people who journeyed with me.

Letting go of the brilliance I embraced inside.

Letting go of the structure I hated and loved.

Letting go of my bacthmates.

Letting go of the prestige and recognition of being a Redemptorist seminarian.

And most especially, letting go of the Redemptorist.

It was hard, Difficult.

Again they sang the songs. One of our staffs went and punched me on my shoulder, Ate Bebe said, why did you not inform me that you will leave? I won't have a chatmate while doing the laundry. I haven't realized how my talking made an impact to people but then. Well maybe that is the only thing I am good at, the talking.

It was still raining cats and dogs.

All of my co-postulant went with me to go to Sibulan pier. While inside the van, we were still singing and laughing. I laughed but I wept within.
Finally it's time for me to let go. I was blanked and empty when I waited in the terminal lounge for the barge. Looked at the see, the rain, and the people passing by. I wondered what will happen to me after leaving.

I arrived in Cebu without saying a word of my leaving. My benefactors, friends, and even my college director was not informed by me, personally. They were just informed after the news spread of my absence. They were disappointed if not all of them, they were sad and said I am a loss. Somehow I managed to make them laugh and to inspire them with my lifestyle. But I made my decision and it was final.

I just met a confidante, Ate Nancy, our very own college librarian. We met at Elizabeth Mall just to give her instructions with regards to the processing of my school documents and Transcript of Records. She hugged me and said her farewell. I ate my lunch and went directly to Mactan Airport.

I cried.

I will be leaving Cebu, the city I considered to be my home. The city where I learned to rise from a fall, how to live my life to the fullest, the city who taught me how to love unconditionaly.
I boarded the plane for Davao, August 3, 2007 4:30 pm.

I arrived after an hour of flight. And I saw my dad waiting for me.

Still the question revolves in my mind, what will happen to me after?

To Be Followed...

N.B.
This blog was supposed to be published on the second year anniversary, but because of a very long meeting on August 3, 2009, I mean it very long from 8am to 12:30 am, I was not able to publish this.