tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10171742938369731042025-05-10T07:54:59.579+08:00From the Heart and Mind of GebFrom the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-40662250072482757212024-09-12T06:56:00.001+08:002024-09-12T06:56:04.555+08:00birthday bluesToday is my 59th. I don't think I've ever felt so low on this day before.Birthdays are milestones. They are points of reckoning in life. What happened during the past year? What will be better this year? What are you going to achieve this year? It's your own personal new year. Today is different for me. I am at a very low point. I have no job to speak of and no money to spend. My bank From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-83730709410351052862024-08-09T15:22:00.000+08:002024-08-09T15:22:05.477+08:00Here we go again It just occurred to me that I have been neglecting this asset.So, starting today, I'm going back to this practice and blogging again.My friend says blogging here is dead. He believes people only read blogs on socmed. Maybe that's true. I'll just use socmed to bing them here then.Meanwhile, I have to revamp my main page.From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-38962200505927946672024-03-18T11:31:00.000+08:002024-03-18T11:31:00.997+08:00 From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-59490011607565534222023-06-11T22:26:00.000+08:002023-06-11T22:26:09.189+08:00YOU a storyFrom the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-77063275480473770512019-11-21T19:43:00.003+08:002019-11-21T19:43:36.575+08:00Musing in TrafficI'm on my way home and just happen to get the seat near the door. In front of me are a couple of curved metal bars and beyond them are the steps of the bus. Nice seat, must be easy to get off.
But the bus is crowded. So I am considering if I can't fit between those bars when I get to my stop
Oh the things you can think of in traffic!
From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-24835492882464283932019-08-01T11:33:00.001+08:002019-08-01T11:33:18.523+08:00Do it NowThis is a wake up call for me.
From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-88879221093758737672019-06-06T12:45:00.001+08:002019-06-06T12:45:55.696+08:00About WritingI am supposed to be working on a writing assignment right now. But my mind does not seem to respond to this requirement. It is not touched by the urgency of the matter.
So I am working on a blog post. I am hoping this will kickstart my brain so that I can finish the work I should have finished earlier.
It's funny. I've always wanted to be a writer since I was a kid. I once said that if I am From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-14715716424379955812019-05-03T01:10:00.002+08:002019-05-03T01:10:43.221+08:00Mama MiaI like that song by ABBA but it has nothing to do with this post.
I just finished watching a video from Lea Salonga's Songs from the Stage concert. In this segment (I guess it was close to the end of the show), she sang Wind Beneath My Wings and dedicated it to her mother.
Well, I found myself crying. Why?
Maybe it's because I lost my mother a few years ago and still feel it. Come to think of From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-43253559634822346712018-01-03T02:42:00.000+08:002018-01-03T02:42:13.164+08:00Another New Year, Another New BeginningI do make new year resolutions. In fact I wrote about how to keep them some years ago (note to self - ebook).
I don't believe in just going with the flow although it seemed for a time that I was just floating through life. I believe we are all meant to do something on this earth more than existing. So every year, I try to reflect and see if I am getting nearer to accomplishing what It is I am From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-85143596495655698752017-03-01T21:50:00.000+08:002017-03-01T21:52:29.270+08:00DO instead of DON'TToday is Ash Wednesday.
I once read a story in The Catholic Digest about how a mother changed the viewpoint of her three young sons about Lent. She advised them to Do instead of Don't.
This is actually good advise. Research has proven that stating an intended action in the positive brings about more desired results. Thing is, our minds seemed to be wired to ignore the "not" so it From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-53711852938278776452016-10-05T00:17:00.000+08:002016-10-05T00:20:54.189+08:00Bad Pizza Hut
Today I tried to eat at Pizza Hut Kia Theater. Tried because I never even got to order.
The store at the Kia theater block had two doors since it was on a corner. I went through the one opposite Rustan. Knowing their system, I paused at the door and waited for a few seconds for someone to show me my table. Since no employee approached, I proceeded inside and looked around for a small table From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-12443069588885377322016-02-16T21:48:00.004+08:002016-02-16T21:48:47.816+08:00Tyes of GenerositySome wonderful revelations came to me this evening.
I ride a jeepney to work on Tuesday nights. Tonight, a guy went ahead of me in boarding the vehicle. He stepped in and then decided to take the empty seat near the entry so he took a half step back and bumped into me. He said he was surprised. I was pissed off.
A little further on, more passengers boarded and the long bench where I was seated From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-29166941484967302992015-09-25T18:43:00.000+08:002015-09-25T18:43:43.959+08:00Chuckie's PizzaA former colleague when I was teaching announced that he was opening a pizza place. I told my nephew who was into food. He said he was wary about small pizza joints because they tended to not so satisfactory. He grew up liking Sjhakey's pizzas and that was his barometer.. He said he could do better than most of those local pizzas. Actually, for some of those pizzas, I would agree with him.
 From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-67591670825373942252015-09-24T14:59:00.001+08:002015-09-24T15:01:41.814+08:00Rainy NightsIf only I was able to stay home all the time, rainy days and nights would be wonderful times. The sound of rain on the window and the tin roofs sometimes make me feel relaxed and even sleepy.
However, I have to go to meetings every now and then. Like a couple of days ago when we had a meeting at Kenny Rogers along Matalino Street. We were just wrapping up when we heard thunder. Some minutes From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-42564117019984904822015-07-08T16:01:00.000+08:002015-07-08T16:01:42.575+08:00What Are You Doing"Your issues are part of midlife"
That's what my supervisor told me. I do volunteer work on pastoral care and we have these supervision sessions. During these sessions, we discuss cases and how our personal state affected the case.
In every interaction, we bring part of ourselves. Nurses may be careful but edgy because of a problem. Therapists may be overly zealous after receiving good From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-1647189404291736052015-01-01T02:01:00.000+08:002015-01-01T02:01:07.041+08:00Starting With the BangAs I write, I can still hear firecrackers way off. There were a lot this year and the show from the terrace was terrific.
We live close enough from where a TV network held its countdown so I was able to watch their fireworks display. It was a good five minute display
Yet there were other displays, not as long but equally engaging. It seemed we were surrounded by these fireworks displays. We From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-65429610558233199492014-08-23T12:43:00.003+08:002014-08-23T12:43:50.267+08:00After the FactToday I am supposed to be at a seminar entitled Pagyakap sa Buhay. The main speaker is a cancer survivor if I remember correctly who will talk about his faith experience and how it helped him through the rough times. I am supposed to be there but I am not.
This is my first real blog entry since my mother died. While I was alone in the funeral chapel, I wrote about my feelings and observations. From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-88999236504185505382014-03-30T09:47:00.002+08:002014-03-30T09:47:58.925+08:00Through It AllWe buried my mother last Thursday. Frankly, it was surreal somewhat.
We transported her from the city to her hometown early Wednesday morning. Before that, we worked on the papers. There was a minor glitch but thanks to my cousin Noemi, things worked out according to schedule.
We had a one night viewing for relatives in the area. My mother's only sister was still living there and it was really From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-41376077074992051312014-03-26T00:41:00.001+08:002014-03-26T00:41:23.098+08:00Some Kind of NewnessWe are still at Loyola Memorial Chapels. We move Mama to Pangasinan early tomorrow morning. Wehave announced that and so this is considered the last night for viewing her remains. At midnight, the place is still full of people.
Some funny things that happened here. First is that, well the noise level is so high, it's echoing. People are discussing everything but death.. Laughter is in the air. From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-41642784052442600262014-03-24T16:11:00.001+08:002014-03-24T16:16:09.791+08:00Small vrs BigI am alone again where my mom's remains i right now. My sister has to go and work on some papers for the interment, and also get some supplies. My brother is still on his way home from abroad.
If we were a bigger family, there would be more people working on stuff. We would not be so tired at the end of the day. No guests would be ignored which was what happened earlier. I had two sets of From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-65986758898304569402014-03-23T23:17:00.001+08:002014-03-23T23:17:53.591+08:00On MortalityI am in the middle of a cemetery.
Sure, it's a park There are wide open spaces covered with grass. There are trees lining the wide streets. The place is well lighted even at night. I have a cozy space with a loft, a fridge and a bathroom. Still, it's a memorial park; a cemetery.
Places like this make me think of my own death. When will it happen? How will I go? Who will be there for me?
Two From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-69676252970833244102014-03-23T20:34:00.000+08:002014-03-23T22:59:40.512+08:00Being At A WakeFor someone bordering on necrophobia, this is really a challenge for me.
I am at my mother's wake in the middle of a memorial park. The worst of it is that I might have to stay here aone tonight.
Good God, I can't even look down into the coffin.
Let me describe the place. The coffin is the first thing you will see when you enter the door. The benches and the comfort room are further into the From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-59858982894143827742014-03-23T09:58:00.002+08:002014-03-23T23:01:35.200+08:00Death in the FamilyMy mother died yesterday at around 1:30 in the afternoon. We rushed her to the hospital but she was pronounced dead on arrival. The emergency room staff tried to revive her but it was useless.
She had been dying for some tim. She fell and knocked her head a couple of weeks ago. But that only speeded up the deterioration. It was actually the diabetes that was getting her. She had been refusing toFrom the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-39039560840372719382013-12-31T13:42:00.002+08:002013-12-31T13:48:27.721+08:00Today at the BankI had a biz transaction to complete today so I made a supposedly quick trip to the bank. When I got there however, I realized that was not going to be. So I took my place at the tail of a snaking queue that was fast becoming longer than two king cobras combined.
.
The line progressed slowly even as the counter space for five tellers was fully manned. It would definitely be an irritating wait if From the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017174293836973104.post-60198548959710808712013-09-13T21:06:00.001+08:002013-09-13T21:06:53.424+08:00Of HomecomingsLast weekend, I attended my high school's annual homecoming event. This year we were supposed to be in costume based on a scifi character. There were to be prizes for best costume.
A lot of people joined the costume party (I did not, sorry). The top choice for source of inspiration was, not surprisingly the Star Wars series. The alumni association head came as Yoda. There were storm troopers andFrom the Heart and Mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15786052991215187521noreply@blogger.com0