Is there really any hope?

Finding positive things during times like this is very hard. Everywhere you look, you can see the unfortunate state of being of the people not only in the Philippines, but the whole world. Everyone is trying to find ways to get food and enough supplies. Everyone is just trying to survive. One can say that their supplies are enough, but it will eventually run out if the situation doesn’t improve. Personally, I can’t really say that I could find anything positive during these times for I think that it will be selfish. I definitely am thankful that we still have food to eat every day, but I am not proud of it. I feel guilty that I can’t do anything to help other people. The only thing I can do to help is by staying at home. That’s it.

One headline that I read today is that according to the government, “it can be told that we are starting to flatten the curve”. I cannot even look at it as a positive thing for a huge amount of people have not yet been tested, and there is still no definite time when this will end. Instead of being something positive to look at, it just reminded me of the government’s poor handling of this pandemic.

I am sorry.

The things I said above were more of a rant rather than telling what gives me hope. It has been giving off a bad tone. It’s just that this has been a very depressing time for me. The saddest thing is that we cannot seem to do anything but wait.
However, one thing that gives me hope is I have been talking and reconnecting a lot with the people I hold closest. They are not many. I can name and even point out how many people only are really close to me. Gladly, they are all doing well and I have been able to reach out to them during this time. I can really say that these people are very close with me. I have known most of them since preschool and elementary. I only have a few new close friends ever since I graduated junior high school, maybe even less than ten. Being able to talk and have lengthy conversations with them makes me happy. It gives me hope during these times. To these people, I thank all of you. They are only less than fifty so I know I can invite them all if I’d get married one day (LOL). All of you have kept me happy and hopeful during this depressing time. I hope I did my part to make you happy too!

There are 2 events in my life that are indeed very unforgettable. One happened in 2016, the other just this year. Both are actually positive. I enjoyed it very much. It’s just that both of those actually disappointed me on a personal level. First July 25, 2016 at the Araneta Coliseum. Mamba Mentality Tour Manila. For the first time in years, I went to QC just for a basketball related event. I don’t really like going to Araneta for it’s too far. But this one is different and very very special. It was to attend Kobe’s tour in the Philippines. I knew that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet my childhood hero, my all time idol. I did not know what would happen. I even had no idea if he will play or just give a speech. Yet still I was very excited and I really wanted to go there. It didn’t disappoint. The whole experience was very good! Kobe even promised that he will come back here in Manila. But with his recent death, it won’t happen again. The next event was in Southville. COMMA Sportsfest just weeks ago. I was very excited and was very engaged with the activities. I enjoyed playing basketball in front of my fellow comma students. We even won the championship, but as I said, I was disappointed. During the championship, I wasn’t able to play at my best due to cramps. It was bothering me since lunch time of that day. I can’t even explain why that was happening. I’m in good playing condition, I even play longer and play more games during the weekends. The timing was just bad. But hey, still we won the championship.

Both events are very enjoyable, it’s just that not everything, not 100% of the whole experience was attained. Just like life, it would never be perfect no matter how hard we strive. We should accept that. However, we should look at it as an opportunity to grow, to improve, and get better. It leaves us with an opportunity to strive harder, and to achieve better results. Life does that to motivate us!

This is from one of his famous songs, “Alapaap”.

Vocalist, songwriter, now producer, these are only a few of what and who Ely Buendia is. Born on November the 2nd, 1970, in Naga, Eleandre Buendia always have loved music even from a young age. This love for music was then finally seen by everyone when he and his group of friends started a band while they were studying in the University of the Philippines. Their band reached heights that people can only imagine, and only a few can reach. Their band, the Eraserheads, is arguably, if not the greatest Filipino band ever. Being dubbed the ‘Filipino Beatles’, the ‘Heads stole the hearts of men and women, young and old, with their very relatable and touching music.

One thing that I always loved about them is they proved that, coming from their own words, you don’t need to be “pogi” or handsome, you don’t need to be very skillful in playing instruments, and you don’t need to have the best voice in order to reach and achieve your goals. You just need to put all the effort and dedication in what you’re working with. However, just like any great band, they broke up. Surprisingly, despite the demand from their millions of fans, old and new, they have not reunited. The main reason? Their lead vocalist and arguably the most charismatic member of the band, Ely. The 3 other members, Raymund, Marcus, and Buddy have reunited and actually have performed together a couple of times already. Ely on the other hand, has always refused. The only reason? He doesn’t want to. Nothing more, nothing less.

Ely always believed that it is good to reminisce and relive the glory days, but always have wanted to move forward and grow. That is actually what I admire about him. This is the reason why they broke up, they wanted to grow. It is very harsh, even for me as an avid Eheads fan. But as a fan also of Ely, I see where his reasons are coming from.

“Gusto mo bang sumama?”

Yes I would like to go with you, Ely! That’s if you take it literally. But in reality, I have always chosen to be inspired by his mindset. Using the past experiences, good and bad, but not really dwelling on it to the point where it will stop you from growing and improving as a person. I can go on and on telling why I idolize his singing and the way he writes their lyrics, but it is really more than that. Ely has always helped me in having a mindset that is similar with him.

Like him, I want to inspire others to be better. I want to get better everyday. I also admire that he does things in his own ways, and not needing to explain why I do things, as long as I don’t step on other people. I would like to meet him, and ask him how to get better on these things. Finally, I wanna ask him how I can be better than him, ’cause that’s what he wants. He doesn’t want to inspire people just to be like him. He wants to inspire the next generation for them to be better.

I wasn’t born during their heydays, but from Ultra to Carbon, and if there would be a new album in the future, I will always go with you. I would always say yes to everytime he would be asking: “Gusto mo bang sumama?”

And if I do, but not succeed, it’s okay!

“You can’t win at everything, but you can try.” 🙂

I’ve always been lost in terms of knowing what I really want in life.

Growing up, I really didn’t know what I wanted to become. I never knew nor met my father, so I wasn’t inspired in terms of what job I wanted to have when I grow up. I also know that I don’t want to be in the office just like my mother. She has a good and stable job, but I don’t like the field she’s into. My grandmother was a former teacher and school principal, but taking education was always a second choice. I really don’t know what I want.

During elementary and high school, my grades were high in all of my subjects. It wasn’t the highest, but I was always in the best section, and my GPA was among the highests in our batch. However, like what I said, I didn’t know what I wanted as a job. Only thing I know is that I always chose what makes me happy. Having good grades and being top 1 in class never really got me excited. Yes, it was good to be recognized, but it doesn’t really make me happy.

My mother wanted me to take engineering or architecture considering my good grades in math and science, but I told her I would not be happy with that. Good thing she didn’t insist. My uncles advised that I should take computer related courses, I’m not really into it. The thing that really made me happy was basketball, but I’ve accepted from an early age that I wasn’t that good let alone being not tall to become a pro ball player.

With that, I really didn’t know what I want to become. I was a member of the Las Piñas Boys Choir, into singing, but I don’t really want to be a perfomer all my life.

However, I’ve always enjoyed watching news, reading articles, books, and stories but only about basketball. Really, only basketball, those were the things I enjoyed doing besides playing and watching again, basketball. ‘Til one day, I was required to write and submit a story as a requirement in our English class during 4th year high school. I actually enjoyed it, and got high grades from it. In grade 12, it again happened. I wrote another story which even got me exempted from our final exams.

That’s when I discovered that I was into writing, creating stories, and expressing my thoughts. I have always enjoyed expressing my thoughts through telling stories to my friends, and creating stories that are in a way based on my experiences and such. Writing essays would always excite me for it is a chance for me to show myself. It was during that time when I realized what I was good at, and was actually having fun. I enjoy talking to people, relaying stories to them, getting their opinions on things, and being able to communicate with them.

Maybe that’s the reason why I’m in AB Communication Arts. The best part is I’m good at it, and I am definitely happy with it. Happiness would always be my priority in life. It is what motivates me. It is what moves me. I’ll always choose happiness over money, fame, success, and other things, and I’m very happy when I get the opportunity to express myself. How about you? What makes you move? What makes you happy?

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

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The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

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You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

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