The Opposite Of What We Are Or What We Have

Posted on June 27, 2008 by Beng

Generally, lahat nang tao sa whole universe (lalong-lalo na babae) ay gustong-gusto makamit ang opposite nang kanilang let say APPEARANCE. Okay, let me give you an example: SKIN TONE

In Germany:
Noong nagtrabaho pa ako, during summertime kapag lunch break namin. My office mates and I always spend the rest of our time outside the building. Madalas akong nakaupong mag-isa sa isang bench na nasa ilalim nang kahoy. Habang ang mga kaopisina ko naman ay nakaupo lantad sa araw. Kinantiyawan pa ako nang mga ito bakit daw ako nagtatago. Aba eh, wala akong balak na maging nognog ano? Imagine, kong ang balat ko ay kulay uling, ngipin ko nalang ang makikita sa akin sa gabi. Di vah?

During wintertime, madalas na hindi lumalabas ang araw (nakakadepress at nakakaputla) kaya karamihan ng mga Aleman and other Europeans ay pumupunta sa tanning studio. Talaga naman pong ang kinalalabasan ay mas brown pa ang mga hinampak sa akin. Take note may mga tao doong sumobra ang gamit nang tanning bed (addicted na), kaya nasira ang balat nila. Nagkaroon tuloy sila nang balat elepante, gone is the balat porselana. Most people using tanning booths or tanning beds are not aware that it can lead to skin cancer and premature aging of skin.

In the Philippines:
People here admires white flawless skin. Kaya dito, may sangkaterbang produkto na pampaputi ang tinitinda. You can see/buy them in the malls and pharmacies. May mga sabon na pampaputi, lotions like Block & White, facial creams at take note may tabletas pa noh? Nung dumating kami dito last March, I was so mestiza looking talaga (ubo ubo). Hoy huwag niyo akong taasan nang kilay at ako’y hindi pa tapos magrelate. Mestiza looking lang ako pagdating sa skin tone. Flawless as in talaga at umaamag pa kamo sa dilim (ngehehe). Pero matapos akong mag scuba diving nang ilang beses (kinarir ko na talaga ito), wild water rafting (exposed sa araw whole day) at magdrayb-drayb sa malalayong lugar. Guess what happened to my snow white skin (kuno)? Dark brown na po! Hindi na ito umaamag sa dilim (aside from my teeth and my bum). ‘tsaka alam niyo bang kapag lumalabas ako nang bahay sa gabi, kinakahol na ako nang mga aso nang kapitbahay namin dahil akala nila isa akong maligno. Teka, maitim nga ba ang maligno? Anyways, basta’t hindi na nila ako nakikilala.

I was so frustrated na talaga ano dahil pati aso eh gusto white skin lang. So what your lola did is pumunta nang mall and bought the complete Belo Essentials face and body whitening products, kasi whiter skin in seven days daw eh. So ayon, kuskos dito kuskos doon ako at pahid dito pahid doon naman. Aba eh, two weeks na ang nakalipas…wala pa rin akong epektong nakikita noh? My mother scolded me dahil reklamo daw ako nang reklamo samantalang paano naman daw ako puputi kong halos sa dagat na daw ako tumitira. Ayon, tama nga naman siya. When I look at myself, parang may tumutubong kaliskis na nga sa legs ko…I’m almost a mermaid na sa kakasisid sa dagat. Kailangan ko na lang magpahaba nang buhok para mas bagay. Di vah? Ay teka, napalayo na pala ako sa topic. Okay, balik tayo sa pampaputi. Yong ginawa ko ay subok lang naman ano? I can not keep a fairer skin if lagi akong naarawan. Kaya hindi na ulit ako bibili nito. I promise to do my best and to love God and my country and to obey the girl scout laws.

The Opposite Of What We Are Or What We Have

Ang mga puti ay gustong magkaroon nang darker skin.
Ang may dark skin (na katulad ko) ay gustong pumuti.
Ang mga kulot ay nagpaparebond (kagaya ni Kathleen).
Yong mga straight naman ang buhok ay nagpapakulot.

Hay ang labo! Bakit nga kaya ano?

Begging To Survive

Posted on June 25, 2008 by Beng

Every now and then, may iba’t-ibang mga tao o grupo ang namamalimos sa amin. Minsan may grupong nanghaharana kunyari and after wards may iaabot silang papel where it is written na sila kuno ay kasali sa isang charity group. I gave them some few Pesos one time dahil gusto kong makatulong kahit papaano. Just after a week, they came back and want to have some donation again. I refused this time, dahil medyo nagduda na ako sa kanilang pakulo. There are also times na may mga batang nanghihingi ng leftovers o “lamaw” (as we call it in Bisaya) para daw ipapakain sa kanilang baboy. After several times of giving them our leftovers, a bit later…hindi lang ito ang hinihingi nila kundi pati pagkain na rin. Dahil nga naman nakakaawa, pinagbigyan ko. Naging ganun na lagi ang nangyayari tuwing dumadaan sila dito sa amin. I became annoyed dahil nakita kong namihasa na sila. Kaya nung huli ko silang binigyan, I told them that this will be the last time I am giving them food. Hindi sa pandadamot, pero ayokong makasanayan nang mga bata na lagi nalang manghingi. Gusto ko lang na magkaroon sila nang kaunting hiya para sa kanilang sarili as well as dignity. Well anyway, that is what I told them…but I am not sure kong naintindihan nila ang ipinaliwanag ko sa kanila.

Yesterday around past 10:00 A.M, my nephew was playing with Gillian outside our terrace as I heard someone begging for some money (I was in the kitchen that time). My nephew said that he can’t help him and urged him to leave. Few minutes later, I peeped out the window to see if he’s gone. He was still there and I figured out that the voice I heard belongs to a very old man. Who looks so fragile and walking slowly with his self-made walking stick. My heart wrenched as I watched him.

Imagine, an old sickly man walking under the heat of the sun. Begging for some money in order to survive. And I am in my shady, comfortable house. This is where my guilt started. I ran fast to the gate, I called him and waved him to come back. I went to the kitchen, took a plastic bag and put one loaf of bread and a pack of Tocino (cured meat) in it. I also took some cash from my wallet and gave it to the old man. He looked at me and said twice “salamat sa Diyos” (thanks God), then he left.

I did not know that Kathleen was already awake and was watching us the whole time. Sinalubong niya ako sa pinto and asked me bakit ko yon ginawa? She was just wondering because I once told her na ayaw ko nang mamigay sakaling may mamalimos ulit sa amin. I explained to her na iba ang sitwasyong ito dahil matandang nakakaawa ang nanghingi ng tulong. There is always an exemption, I said. I also told her na what if ako yong tao? Isang matandang uugod-ugod, may sakit at wala ni isang kamag-anak or walang kamag-anak na tumutulong. Gutom na naglalakad sa init para magpalimos para may makain. Kaya mo ba akong talikuran at tikisin? Kaya ba nang budhi mong hindi pansinin ang tindi nang aking pangangailangan? There were tears in her eyes as she answered me NO.

A little help from us means big help to those who are in need. Yon nga lang, you have to choose whom you give because there are also abusers and pretenders among them.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us.

Self Assessment

Posted on June 15, 2008 by Beng

Walang magawa,walang maisip kong ano ang isulat kaya tuloy ako napadpad sa kong saat-saang area nang internet. Until I googled about personality evaluation or self assessment. Wala lang, gusto ko lang malaman kong ano ako (hehehe). Di ba’t minsan, lalo na’t bored or walang magawa. We do sit back and wonder why the people around us get ahead, while our lifestyle seems to repeatedly spiral down the drain? We sometimes also search for the approval of others, doubting our own abilities.

I recently asked the question to myself, what am I as a person? Siyempre hindi ko masagot ang tanong ko, so I tried finding something like the title above. And here is what I found. It’s a quiz. In order to evaluate yourself, you have to choose the appropriate answer na tugma sa iyo. Then after that, you have to score your own quiz.

Here is my quiz result:
1. (c) 6
2. (c) 7
3. (b) 2
4. (d) 1
5. (a) 6
6. (b) 4
7. (c) 4
8. (g) 1
9. (c) 4
10. (a) 4

Total Score: 41

The evaluation result:

FROM 41 TO 50 POINTS:
Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, and always interesting; someone who is constantly the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to your head. They see you also as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who will cheer them up and help them out.

I know it is simply just a quiz but quiet interesting

Do you want to know your personality? Find it out thru answering the questions below.

1. When do you feel your best?

(a) In the morning
(b) During the afternoon and early evening
(c) Late at night

2. Do you usually walk

(a) fairly fast, with long steps?
(b) fairly fast, but with short, quick steps?
(c) less fast, head up looking the world in the face?
(d) less fast, head down?
(e) very slowly?

3. When talking to people, do you

(a) stand with your arms folded?
(b) have your hands clasped?
(c) have one or both your hands on your hips?
(d) touch or push the person to whom you are talking?
(e) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair?

4. When relaxing, do you sit with

(a) your knees bent and your legs neatly side by side?
(b) your lags crossed?
(c) your lags stretched out or straight?
(d) with one lag curled under you?

5. When something really amuses you, how do you react? Do you give

(a) a big, appreciative laugh?
(b) a laugh, but not a loud one?
(c) a quiet chuckle?
(d) a big smile?
(e) a slow smile?

6. When you go to a party or social gathering, you

(a) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you?
(b) make a quieter entrance, looking around quickly for someone
you know?
(c) make quietest possible entrance and try to stay unnoticed?

7. You are working hard, concentrating hard. You are interrupted. Do you

(a) welcome the break?
(b) feel extremely irritated?
(c) vary between these two extremes?

8. Which of the following colors do you like most

(a) red or orange
(b) black
(c) yellow or light blue
(d) green
(e) dark blue or purple
(f) white
(g) brown, gray, or violet

9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to
sleep, do you lie

(a) stretched out on your back?
(b) stretched out face dawn on your stomach?
(c) on your side, slightly curled?
(d) with your head on one arm?
(e) with your head under the covers?

10. Do you often dream that you are

(a) falling?
(b) fighting or struggling?
(c) searching for something or somebody?
(d) flying or floating?
(e) or do you usually have a dreamless sleep?
(f) or do you have pleasant dreams?

“SCORE YOUR OWN QUIZ”

POINTS:

1. (a) 2
(b) 4
(c) 6

2. (a) 6
(b) 4
(c) 7
(d) 2
(e) 1

3. (a) 4
(b) 2
(c) 5
(d) 7
(e) 6

4. (a) 4
(b) 6
(c) 2
(d) 1

5. (a) 6
(b) 4
(c) 3
(d) 5
(e) 2

6. (a) 6
(b) 4
(c) 2

7. (a) 6
(b) 2
(c) 4

8. (a) 6
(b) 7
(c) 5
(d) 4
(e) 3
(f) 2
(g) 1

9. (a) 7
(b) 6
(c) 4
(d) 2
(e) 1

10. (a) 4
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 5
(e) 6
(f) 1

Add the total number of points.

OVER 60 POINTS:
Others see you as some one they should ” handle with care.” You are seen as
vain, self-centered, and extremely dominant. Others may admire you and wish
they could be more like you, but they don’t always trust you and hesitate to
become too deeply involved with you.

FROM 51 TO 60 POINTS:
Your friends see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive
personality; a natural leader, quick to make decisions (though not always the
right ones). They see you as a bold and venturesome, someone who will try
anything-well, almost anything-once; someone who takes a chance and enjoys an
adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you
radiate.

FROM 41 TO 50 POINTS:
Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, and always interesting;
someone who is constantly the center of attention, but sufficiently
well-balanced not to let it go to your head. They see you also as kind,
considerate, and understanding; someone who will cheer them up and help them
out.

FROM 31 TO 40 POINTS:
Other people see you as sensible, cautious, careful, and practical. They see
you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friend
too quickly or too easily, but someone who is extremely loyal to the friends
you do make and who expects the same loyalty in return. Those who really get
to know you realize that it takes a lot to shake you trust in your friends,
but, equally, that it takes you a long time to get over it if that trust is
shaken.

FROM 21 TO 30 POINTS:
Your friends see you as painstaking, perhaps little fussy at times. They see
you as very, very cautious and extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder.
It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the
spur the of moment. They expect you to examine everything carefully from
every side and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction on
your part is caused partly by your carefully nature and partly by laziness.

UNDER 21 POINTS:
People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone needs to be looked
after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions and who doesn’t
want to get involved with anyone or anything. They see you as a worrier, who
sees problems that don’t exist. Some people think your are boring. Only the
people who know you well know that you aren’t. The trouble is that you don’t
let very many people get close to you.

If You Are An Eagle, Don't Hang With Chicken

Posted on June 4, 2008 by Beng

Lelet a non-blogger, newly met friend (internet) of mine left this as comment on my other site. I thought of publishing this here on Lukaret because I find her message really encouraging. And I also would like to share this to some friends in real life na ‘medyo’ nagulat or puzzled sa aking pagbabago.

Hello Beng,
I’m Glad to met you here..the other side of you. parang abot kamay ko lang ang Germany thru reading your site though parang nasa Butuan din ako…hihihi…Though I don’t know you much but for sure buotan ka day thru what i read in this pages. What more can I say…ayu-ayo din ha!

May this encourage you:

If there are people in your life that continually disappoint you, break promises, and stomp on your dreams, too judgmental, have different values and don’t have your back during difficult times…that is not a friend. Sometimes in life as you grow, your friends will either grow or go.

Remember what your elders used to say, “Birds of the same feather flock together.” If you’re an eagle, don’t hang around with chickens: Chickens Can’t Fly!

Take care always
lelet

Now let me relate a bit…

Sometimes in life as you grow, your friends will either grow or go.

There is truth in every word you have in here. I can relate dahil nadaanan ko ito. I grow and changed for the better and some friends are left behind dahil naging magkaiba na ang values namin sa buhay. To me values are those things that really matter to each of us … the ideas and beliefs we hold as special. Caring for others, for example, is a value; so is the freedom to express our opinions.

Speaking of “Freedom to express our opinions.” I would like to share some words of wisdom to some friends (again) who have trouble with accepting critic or opinion. I believe, that a constructive critic is made in order to help a person to become himself or herself into a better person, or, say, to become his or her work into a better one. And I know that criticism, however constructive, can be hard to take. Nonetheless, it’s imperative that you take it well, and even with grace and style. It’s about how you can improve on something, make some thing better. You must understand and accept this if you are to listen to what others have to say with an open mind and heart.

So here we go…
Honesty is a prerequisite to a friendship. There must be a willingness to speak the truth, and a willingness to hear the truth. Friends who do not care enough to confront may save themselves a little awkwardness in the present but will end up losing their friendships in the future.

And as the saying goes…
Remember what your elders used to say, “Birds of the same feather flock together.”

Individuals of like character, taste, or background (tend to stay together). Or People of the same (usually, unscrupulous) character associate with one another, as do birds of the same species. The birds will resort unto their like, so will truth return unto them that practise in her.

I love this part very much!
If you’re an eagle, don’t hang around with chickens. Chickens Can’t Fly!
Hehehe, ganun ba yon? Though, chicken can fly din di ba? Hindi nga lang ganun kataas sa lipad ng agila.

This part actually belongs to the quote Lelet left on my comment box, hindi niya lang ito idinagdag. I found it somewhere else.
Over the years my phone book has changed because I changed for the better. At first you think you’re going to be alone, but after a while new people show up in your life that make your life so much sweeter and easier to endure.

AND IT IS SO TRUE!

Villa De Mercedes, Here I Come

Posted on June 2, 2008 by Beng

Villa de Mercedes entrance (left side).

Entrance (right side)

Guarded Gate

Here I am…

Pose ulit, sorry ginanahan lang. Ngehehe bakit, kayo lang ba ang marunong?

Overlooking Davao Gulf

The club house which is still under construction. Behind the building is Mt. Apo, there’s unfortunately nothing much to see of the majestic slope because it was covered with clouds.

Beyond nature. The country club lifestyle.
Swimming Pool (still under construction), one of the club house facilities.

A myriad of sports and leisure activities will be offered including:

At Villa de Mercedes, the beauty of nature more than just sits as a distant view from your home. It is nature at your very doorstep and the world unfolding before your eyes. The natural terrain of slopes amidst grassy meadows and local flora and fauna, greet you each morning.

The majesty of Mt. Apo bidding you good day as you leave home in the morning, is rivaled only by the calming welcome of Davao Gulf as you drive home at the end of the day.

Combining the best that life has to offer, Villa de Mercedes is situated within Toril at 535 feet above sea level, yet only 30 minutes away from the city. It is a breathtaking residential development nestled atop the hills of Catigan.

How true, how true! We went there this afternoon para matingnan ang site (my first visit since we bought our lot year 2005) at talaga naman pong ako ay nabighani sa kagandahan ng buong paligid. Talo po kamo ang Tagaytay noh? Buti nalang hindi ako nagpadala sa mga paninira ng ibang real estate agents sa Villa de Mercedes, orelse, naibenta ko na ito.

Speaking of real estate agents, super dami nila dito. You can see them in the malls and even in some beaches. Kararating mo palang sasalubungin ka nila ng mga brochures and by the time you stop, you bet they will nail you with all their blahs. Anyways, madalas ko naman silang nalulusutan by telling them na meron na kaming nabili. Pero may mga pagkakataon ding may mga agents akong nakaharap na super kulit at malakas ang loob na siraan ang ibang land developer. Like in my case, some said that Villa de Mercedes is so far away from the city, that the area – (depends on the weather) is stinky due to Nenita Farms at anek-anek pang paninira.

Okay, granted it is a bit far. But what is 30 minutes drive? I’d rather live in a place away from the city, where I can enjoy serenity, fresh air and above all…the beauty of the nature. Sabagay, iba-iba naman ang gusto ng mga tao. Some people love the urban life, hubby and I prefers solitude. Where we still have the freedom to play Tarzan and Jane (hehehe).

O ano, housing lot amidst the nature anyone?

Kauderwelsch

Kauderwelsch – im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes!

Monthly Archives: June 2008

The Opposite Of What We Are Or What We Have

Begging To Survive

Self Assessment

Villa De Mercedes, Here I Come