Back Again

It’s great to be back again in my hometown. It’s been five days that I’ve stayed in Kabacan. I rented there a room in a boarding house along Abellera Street near Wesleyan Bible School, recommended by my officemate Bing. I got it for a very minimal amount, called student’s price. I feel like a student once again, travelling and coming home every weekend. I have boardmates who are students in University of Southern Mindanao. I’m glad to be acquainted with them.
It’s good to see my family doing well. The new venture of my younger sister called ATM, stands for Automatic Tubig Machine is on its way. When I got home the structure was already constructed. It’s going to be operational soon. It’s a good investment that I supported which will later produce additional income. Maybe next week when I come home, the system will be successfully installed. I was able to meet my friend Jun Fresco, the owner of this business yesterday when he dropped to inspect the structure.
Later in the evening, Kuya Dodong and I went to inspect if the harvest of rice in my area was finished. Indeed, it was done and ready for processing. Soon it will be sacked and sold in the market. I treated Kuya Dodong and Ongkid with some drinks from our store.
This morning, I attended the third mass. I wasn’t able to attend the second mass. Last night,Jing Jing, Roger and I agreed to attend the earlier mass but I did not make it because I had a transaction with Ate Tess this morning. I washed my clothes and had lunch in my auntie Ebing’s house. The boxing fight of Marquez and Mayweather was on the 8th round when I arrived. Mayweather won the game.
I went to Fit Mart Mall and paid my electric bill. I met Agnes Paglinawan, my former co-member in our High School choir. I told her that this morning, I watched the world tour concert of Mariah Carey and I recalled her because of the song “Hero”. She used o sing this song when we were in High School. She answered me that maybe it was a sign of our meeting.
I missed the High School Choir group. I still remember some of our songs, Panis Angelicus, The Lord’s Prayer, Buhay ay Yaman, Masdan mo ang Kapaligiran, Tuldok, Masdan mo ang Mga Bata, May Isang Bayan, Gonna Build a Mountain, Himig ng Pag-ibig, Magsimula Ka, etc. These songs have special place in my heart because it reminds me of my happy days in High School together with other choir members. I recalled how we practiced and prepared during rehearsals for our various competitions and performances. It was very tedious and hectic. Our choir conductor that time was Mr. Jurilla. He was very particular of the mastery of the song and the choreography. We frequently stayed late at night for the practice. But our victories and experiences were worth remembering. The experience taught me patience and hard work. In order to succeed, one must persist and prepare. Practice makes perfect.
Things happen unexpectedly. It may occur unnoticeably, plainly or vividly. These moments become precious for it helps you recall people, things, places and events. It will help you connect to the past and make you aware who you are and what you’ve been through. We cannot turn back time but deep within our rich memory we can go visit the past and cherish the beautiful memories we have created at various points in our life.

Will Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao be a good leader?

That is a tough question and it plays in my mind as many Filipinos wait and see what will be the next for the Filipino's boxing hero. It has been a rumor that Manny will run in a congressional position in Sarangani Province in the next coming election. We know in the prior election that he lost the congressional race in the first district of South Cotabato against Representative Darlene Antonino –Custodio. We also have heard that accompanied with that fiasco was a big loss of money for Manny.

"He should focus his attention to boxing," commented by many of his fans. "Boxing is his forte and politics is different ring. Let it be for political experts. If Manny really wants to help his countrymen, he can do so by initiating social projects," they added.

Contrary to those ideas, many insist, "Manny can be a good public servant. He can set a good example and his track record in boxing will show that many of his qualities are the basic elements in good governance. "

Both parties have a point. Who can be convinced that Manny, with humble beginnings can really lead? But who can underestimate the speedy-puncher 'Pacman'? Many times in his fight Manny got 'dehado', underestimated and belittled by spectators that he would lose the fight. What happened? Many times they were proven wrong by the not only surprising but overwhelming results. Will it be the same if he enters the public service?

We can hear, "Filipinos have gone through a lot of experiences but never learned." But in those circumstances, you see… where are the Filipinos? Still surviving, we may not be learning but we are still living, hoping and winning. Others have learned but they "died".

In my own opinion, we don't have the exact formula for good governance. I believe that a good leader is not born but made, made by tough situations and decisions. It starts with the mind, the perception that nothing is impossible under the sun. No matter how hard the circumstances, a good leader can come through. But it must end with the heart because the motive maybe different. What do we need to elect a leader? Somebody qualified under the Philippine constitution. If Manny is qualified, let him run and let the people decide. If he wins, let's give him all due respect, cooperation and the chance to lead. If he fails then he should concede as a gentleman, like a sportsman in boxing. So that everybody will know the he gave his all while he played the game and winning is just the fruit of all the toils.