Monday, October 29, 2007

HAPPINESS

HAPPINESS

Happiness is by definition the state to which all aspire. For most, that state is one of deep and lasting pleasure. Such pleasure is not to be confused with transitory pleasure, which comes and goes, while happiness, to be truly happiness, must be a state that is far more stable and certain. Nor should such pleasure be confused with the avoidance of pain, for those who strive to avoid pain must also of necessity avoid happiness, which lies in the same direction as pain and is part of the same landscape. Although most pursue transitory pleasures and seek to avoid pain, we know well that such behavior does not bring us happiness. The deepest and most lasting pleasure is derived from the act of being, and is available to all at all times and under all circumstances. Happiness therefore comes about through continuous awareness of the beauty and goodness of being. Such awareness, however, is difficult to sustain. The principles of wisdom are inborn faculties that bring us to an awareness of the beauty and goodness of being and help us to sustain it. To the extent that we are happy, we have the will to survive despair. Paradoxically, however, those who are most happy have the least of fear...

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Adopt-A-Graduate

FLASHBACK...

One day, I was in the bus on my way home when a girl, about 10 years of age distributed a white envelope to all the bus passengers. The message “puwede po ba makahingi ng tulong para lang sa pasukan” was inscribed in front of the envelope.
My eyes lingered on those words for a while, and then I looked to the girl who was then busy collecting the envelopes from other passengers. When it was my turn, I handed her the envelope – empty! I handed her the empty envelope with a bleeding heart.
I never gave even a single cent to children like her. I cannot help them that way. I am not sure if I put a coin or a hundred or a ‘ninoy’ in that envelope, it will change their lives or it may just make their situation even worst, for all I know. I am not sure If they will really use the money for their education.
What if they are victims of circumstances? What if they are exploited children who are used by their parents or a syndicate to earn money for themselves?
Children like them should be enjoying their childhood. They should be receiving decent education.
I may not be able to help that poor child, But my encounter with her strengthens my will to send incapable, willing children to school in my own ways....

ADOPT-A-GRADUATE

What is Adopt-a-graduate?

An initiative which enables well to do graduates or any graduates who are willing to share a portion of their incometo help other graduates which belongs to the poorest of the poor families to continue pursue their college degree or technical course by adopting or sponsoring them.

Who can be a sponsor?

Any "can do" SOM graduates who is willing to share with others a portion of his blessings.
He should have great desire and commitment to help other graduates succeed.
Purity of intention. Should be willing to help send a graduate to college, without asking anything in return...
He shall commit himself to donate a fix amount every month to ASMSI Adopt-a-graduate project.

Who can be a Schoolar?

Any SOM graduates are qualified to apply for Adopt-a-graduate Schoolarship.
He should pass the initial screening of the Adopt-A-Graduate Committee.
A schoolar should have a clear vision of his future plans and dreams, and has a burning desire to succeed in life.
Referral from ASMSI / SOM School Administration or from a sponsor is an advantage, but not necessary.
A schoolar should have a good track record while inside the SOM.
Should have at least 85% general average in highschool and has no grade lower than 80% in all subjects.
He should be presently enrolled in any institution recognized by ASMSI (Schools accreditted by CHED, TESDA, DECS)
For College freshmen, should have at least 85% passing remarks on his college entrance test.

Batchmates,
let's join hands to send our fellow graduates to school and be a part of their succeess...
for more details, please view my post/thread at our website under ASMSI projects.

regards,

Kuya ron:)
Precious...

Diamonds are the hardest known substance on earth. As adamant as it may appear, it is highly coveted for its beauty and value. Such a brilliantly-cut piece of art can last for years, possibly forever.
But alas, unknown to many, a diamond is just a piece of stone subjected to an immense amount of pressure and heat that we can't even fathom. As odd as it may seem, we are somewhat similar to diamonds. We are exposed to tremendous amount of pressure and stress everyday. We are forced to accept it as a way of life. Some would falter, some would break, and unfortunately, only a few would survive. So how do we get away with the pressures this crazy life gaves us? I say we can't. It is an inevitable part of life.
This now poses a big question: How resilient are we to withstand it? How strong are we to survive the fall? Remember that there's no such thing as life being offered on a silver platter. No exceptions. So whenever we see ourselves stumbling due to the pressures of life, just remember what a diamond has to go through to achieve such perfection.
Life's difficulties help us develop what I can call our most wonderful gift, VIRTUES.
This is what makes a man precious...like a diamond perfected in time.

"Let each one of us be like a diamond...."


ron:)
el hafar ash sharqiyah, KSA

Friday, October 19, 2007

Share the Real World Experience

Guys;

Sr. Norie Espulgar, thru our Batchmate Norman Belga request our batch to send some representatives to deliver a Seminar about our experiences outside the Campus, what will they expect from the REAL WORLD.

As of now, Norman Belga, Bro. Randy Gimeno and also Gilbert Evangelista (tentative), volunteered for the said event. We need more fellow batchmates to participate, atleast, their presense, specially for the sharing.

Our batch is assigned to the 4th year graduating boys at Adlas.

To those interested, you may email or add to your YM, Norman Belga's email address: belganorman@yahoo.com. We will post later on his contact number.

GOD Bless!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Salamin (Glittering Images)

October 17, 2007...isang kaibigan ang dumaing sa akin...

"Ron, sa tingin ko talagang may posibilidad na maipasok na ako dun..."

napatingin ako sa kanya at bahagyang nanlaki ang aking mga mata.

"bakit naman?" kunot noo kong tanong.

"hindi ko na kasi minsan makontrol ang sarili ko,..pakiramdam ko talaga may pag-asa akong mapunta dun."

muli ay napatingin ako sa kanya. saglit akong nag-isip.("at least di ako nag-iisa".) naibulong ko sa aking sarili. tumingin ako sa kanya at bahagyang ngumiti.

"ako din".

Sa pagkakataong yun ay sabay kaming nagkatawanan at napailing sa aming mga sarili. ang kaibigan ko, halos magkapareho kami sa maraming bagay, ika nga ng iba eh pareho na daw ata ang takbo ng utak namin at ang likaw ng bituka namin. (yun nga lang mas malakas syang kumain kesa sa akin).Kung baga sa lebel ng pagkakaibigan, sa lahat ng malapit sa akin ay siya na ang nasa pedestal.
May mga pagkakataong sa tingin at kilos pa lang ay alam na namin ang ibig sabihin, mga oras na magkasabay sinasabi ang mga magkakaparehong bagay at salita, at yung mga pagkakataong napapagalitan na kami dahil sa wala na daw kaming ginawa kundi ang mag-usap ng mag-usap na para bang ang tagal tagal naming hindi nagkita, samantalang magkasama kami sa trabaho buong mgahapon, at sa bahay naman buong magdamag. We share same stories, we read same books, pareho ang klase ng taong inaayawan namin, at halos pareho kami ng mga iniisip.

The tough version of me, someone who mirrors my personality given our own differences. Someone who knew himself better, idol ko nga siya eh, dahil alam ko na mas matatag siya kesa sa akin. Kapag may problema, (as in hindi simpleng problema) palagi na'y tinitingnan niya kung saan ito nag-uugat, kung ano ang mga kailangang aminin sa sarili, kung ano ang mga katotohanang dapat tanggapin para makabuo ng isang kongkretong solusyon.
Kadalasa'y napag-kakamalang "mababaw", "mayabang" dahil sa wala siyang iniindang pagpapanggap para lang i-please ang iba, pero siya ay isang patas na tao, conscious siya sa maaaring makasama sa kalooban ng iba.
Walang kulo sa loob, but then iba pa rin ang dating niya sa iba. Kapag may ilang taong nagpapakita ng hindi magandang asal at pakikitungo sa kanya, iniisip nyang ito ay may dahilan, na kung siya ay lulugar sa sitwasyon ng taong iyon ay malamang ganito rin ang gagawin nya. Isang taong literal na bukas ang pag-iisip, isang taong naibabalanse ang mga bagay-bagay ng ayon sa nais nitong ipahiwatig, isang taong likas na matalino, maunawain at totoong tao.

Yes, isa itong "too good to be true" na pag-uugali. Na kung lahat ng tao ay may ganitong pananaw ay mabubuhay ang tayo ng walang pagpapanggap at puro katotohanan lamang. Pero ito ay imposible. Dahil maraming tao ang mahina, marami ang mas gustong paniwalaan ang sa tingin nila ay maganda, maraming taong nakikita lang ang glittering images sa salamin ng buhay nila. Yung tipong kung nakapostura ay ganun din ang repleksyon sa salamin, kung ikaw ay guro, artista, musikero, pintor, manunulat, doktor, abogado, pulis, inhenyero, pulitiko, at iba pang klase ng tao, na nabubuhay sa anino ng kanilang katayuan sa lipunan.
Ang salamin mismo ay ang sarili natin, pero tumitingin lang tayo dito para makita kung ano ang gusto nating makita, (hindi yung katotohanan sa atin) kung tama ba ang pagkakaayos ng mga detalyeng sumisimbolo sa atin para sa ibang tao. Hindi natin ito tinitingnan ng mas malalim, sa kabila ng katotohanang halos tuklawin na lang tayo nito.

Ganun talaga,...ang mundo,..ang lahat ay nabubuhay sa anino ng imaheng nais nilang makita ng ibang tao sa kanila, lahat ay nabubuhay sa paraang gusto nila (eh buhay nila yun eh)...sabi nga eh isang beses lang naman tayo mabubuhay, at ito ay hiram pa, at ang ibat-ibang relihiyon kasama na ang mga walang pinapanigan at hindi sigurado sa sarili nila ay may kanya-kanyang paniniwala kung saan nagmula ang buhay na ito, at kung saan ito patutungo.
Likas na kakaunti lamang ang mga taong may biyaya na katulad ng sa kaibigan ko. At mas lalong kakaunti ang mga taong likas na nakakaunawa sa mga taong katulad nila. Sobrang kunti na nga lang nila, ang iba pa ay nakakulong sa bakuran ng isang institusyon na nagtatawanan, nag-iiyakan, naghihiyawan, may iba na gumugulong sa sahig, tumatalon sa kama at ang iba ay tuluyan ng nalubog ang loob sa dingding ng silid na iyon dahil hindi na nya ito hinihiwalayan, at hindi sila matanggap kahit ng kanilang sariling kadugo.

Ganun ang katotohanan sa kanila, at kung ikaw mismo ay taglay ang ganung "biyaya". ay makakaisip na baka nga ikaw ang abnormal, dahil ang mundo...ang tao...hindi nila matanggap ang katotohanan na mas malakas ka, mas totoo ka, mas matalino ka dahil alam mo ang mga higit na mahahalagang bagay sa buhay at kung papano mo mai-enhance at ibabalanse ang ganitong kapangyarihang taglay mo, ay nasasayo na, kung ayaw mong mapasok ka "doon". pwede mo ng isipin na "life in this world is the hell itself" at masuwerte ang mga taong namatay ng nakangiti...although, kunti na lang sila ngayon...may tao nga ba na naging masaya sa mundong ito?...

kaya sa aking kaibigan, hindi ka nag-iisa, pero hindi din tayo magiging "candidate" para sa mga nasisiraan ng bait...

masyado ng masisikip ang silid na yun para sa atin...

ron:)
el hafar ash sharqiyah, KSA

Sunday, October 14, 2007

A Poem for Fr. Al

You made me, ME...

Before I was myself you made me, me
With love and patience, discipline and tears,
Then bit by bit stepped back to set me free,
Allowing me to sail upon my sea,
Though well within the headlands of my fears.

Before I was myself you made me, me
With dreams enough of what I was to be
And hopes that would be sculpted by the years,
Relinquishing your powers gradually
To let me shape myself among my peers.

Before I was myself you made me, me,
And being good and wise, you gracefully
As dancers when the last sweet cadence nears
For love inspires learning naturally:
The mind assents to what the heart reveres.
And so it was through love you made me, me

Before I was myself you made me, me
No matter where I go I'm not alone,
For you remain within to still my fears
And be the word that tells me who I am.
Thank You, my dear father and my friend
Coz, before I was myself, You made me, me...


Ronald V. Rafer :)
7th batch, Silang Cavite
St. Isidore family

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

October Birthday Celebrants!

Happy Birthday:

Meden Victa, Sta. Mesa Batch Valedictorian: October 11



Remy Manilag: October 19



St. Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within. May you trust God
that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the
infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts
that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence
settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance,
praise and love. It is there for each and every one.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Let's Pray for the FATHER of Binx

Guys;

May we request all to include Binx Jetajobe's father in our prayers. He's been in the hospital on and off for about 3 months fighting complications.

Thanks to all!

Saturday, October 6, 2007

SMS Batch 1996 Blog, UP!

Nauuso na rin lang, bat di pa tayo sumunod, hmm:

Introducing: ASMSI Batch 1996 Group Blog.

Kapuso, Kapamilya, basta Alumni ka ng Sisters of Mary School Batch 1996 (7th Batch - Silang, Sta.Mesa and 3rd Batch - Talisay, Minglanilla), pwede ka mag post ng article dito.

Ito'y ating lugar kung saan malaya nating maipapahayag ang ating saloobin, kuro kuro, at pati pangangamusta sa ating mga nakasama sa loob ng SMS.

Kaya ano pang inaantay mo kasama, Join na!

Contact admin: sms.alumni1996@gmail.com
Yahoogroups: sms-alumni1996@yahoogroups.com