And as a practicing Catholic, the love I have for God will never waiver, I may struggle at times, but that love will always be there. I rarely ever wear my faith on my sleeve, I don’t announce it to the world, but that it is in the simple belief that my faith is not centered in public demonstration, but in how I lead my life, and the conversations I have with The Lord in the solitude of my mornings and evenings.

This anniversary of my birth is quite different this year, because I am celebrating with a sense of greater purpose, where in the past I have concentrated in the road of my career, always gauging the milestones that I have reached… today and these past couple of months, I have come to the realization that I could contribute to a greater good because of what has been provided by technology. My self has taken a backseat, while I sit in amazement at fellow bloggers and writers who continue to put forth the most wonderful of efforts in engaging the issues of the day.

Indeed, I feel that this has been a rebirth of not only democracy as we know it, but on a personal basis, a rebirth of how I define public service.

I may not be in front of the cameras, because honestly, I don’t like the limelight, but I am happy in the fact that I work each and every day toward a greater goal, and it is through Filipino Voices that a greater goal can be achieved. As to that goal, it shall be the embodiment of the exchange of ideas, that may also lead to action, on the different fronts of advocacy. It is in knowing that I am surrounded by willing minds, passionate Filipinos, and those who are willing to trek with me into the unknown.

There are so many individuals that have shaped the way I conduct my life, that have shaped my happiness in my everyday journey, and that stick with me through the ups and downs… and to those individuals, thank you for a life that is as fulfilled as it could possibly be.

My cup runneth over, and I am teary-eyed to even acknowledge my blessings… Here’s a toast, to many more years to come!

I know some of these personally, and many more on a non-personal basis.

We should all ask ourselves this question every day: “am I making the most of what I have been given?”

For me, I come across this question in the forms of intellectual debate and discussions, at functions and in ordinary everyday life. As if the question of human good can be encapsulated in the form of which economic theory we should all be working on?

But, sometimes, complexities does not lend itself the desirability of what most people seek — and that is simplicity.

How can we, as individuals, in our own daily lives, contribute to a better society, irrespective of what economic theory our own government and officials adopt.

The private sector can do as much as the public sector, and the motivation can often be the simple basic good, which I believe is inherent in many of us.

As I grow each day, and as I age each day, I no longer ask myself the good that I can do for myself, but the good that we can do for our society.

And thus, when moving forward with the goal of providing the platform for discussion and debate as seen over at FV, I have come to a basic belief that even though we disagree on many levels as to how to attack a problem, I look to each individual and see the goodness with which that person has conviction.

We are not socialists or capitalists, we should all be humanists connected in fate. The collective fate is the idea I would hope everyone sees our nation in.

Our future lies in the prosperity of our citizens, let us hope that we move collectively in that direction, working towards that end, because sometimes the market of humanity can often move separately, leaving the marginalized to fend for themselves.

The thought of the day is that while we control our own destiny, sometimes we can also determine the destiny of others through the act of good and compassion.

Won’t you stand beside me in this struggle? Meet our challenges? To have said, we did something, will always be enough for me.

To have done nothing, stood still, kept quiet, and lived our lives separate — that would be a shame.

It is now… CITIZEN GEORGE W. BUSH, AND CITIZEN DICK CHENEY

I could hardly contain myself this morning, that any semblance of the flu that I had left probably left me for good. In any case, I’ll try to write a more memorable post for posterity with regards to the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. So, while you wait for that groundbreaking literary work of mine, please do visit filipinovoices.com

But, I can say this, it was one of the best years so far in terms of being a blogger. I finally met a few bloggers which made this whole year even better. I revealed my age, my face, and by mistake, my identity. Well, so much for being anonymous.

The most important thing that has come out of this year, for me at least, is the fact that FilipinoVoices.com was born, out of 9 or so bloggers that started the journey with me, I am proud to say, the list is growing. We are slowly, but surely, getting to the destination, and making a difference as a blogger, I am happy to say, is a reality.

In any case, 2009 is going to be the year, where we up the ante a bit, I am hoping more people will realize that they too have a responsibility of being aware of the issues, because we are either part of the solution, or we are part of the problem.. And apathy is part of the problem.

I leave you all, with warm thanks for keeping me company in this blog, going along on my journey, and for reassuring me, that the goodness in people can extend to this place we call the internet.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Just a thought, because on this eve of Christmas Day, I hope we feel this love from the relationships we have in our lives.

And to you my dear readers, my fellow bloggers at Filipinovoices.com, and my friends and family, a wonderful, blessed, and peaceful Holiday Season.. Merry Christmas

– Yours Truly, Nick

Civil rights leaders will say, those who marched with Dr. King, that they lived to see the day, the first black Party Presidential Candidate, and now, in just a little more than a day, could be, our next president. As a Filipino, I am almost jealous, that what can happen in America, has not happened yet in The Philippines. But I will let go of that jealousy, for now, because maybe, just maybe, Filipinos the world over, will be inspired and CHANGE may just come in the form of an inspired Filipino citizenry. Much to be desired, much to ask for, but I can dream.

But then again, i shall digress, whatever your political leanings, Obama or McCain, if you are Filipino-American, please vote, it is your duty, and it is your right.

As for myself, I shall transform into a giddy little high school kid, waiting in line, to bear witness to something magical. A moment in history, that will happen just once, the fulfillment that all men are created equal, even when it comes to the Presidency of The United States of America.

Here’s the second part,

Which line was your favorite?

I liked so many of it.. this one was good, a great jab…

“I got my name Barack from my father…. it’s actually Swahali for “That one.”

Being jaded is becoming numb, because you have seen the worst, you have worked towards the best, and yet the worst seems to always prevail. When a nation such as ours have seen the corruption from up in the hierarchy all the way down to the citizenry who participates in the vote buying process, it is no wonder why being jaded does not come across as our very own national medical emergency.

And yet, as they say, knowing is half the battle.

It is better to be jaded than being apathetic, because it shows that you care, but have become numb in the fact that the nation we love so dearly is cyclical in its corruption, poverty, and lack of prosperity. It seems we have shown glimpses of our true potential only to be bogged down by the likes of Eraps corruption, The Arroyo Administration’s blunders, and indeed the inefficiency of many of those in power.

And yet, being numb still shows you care, being jaded often does not mean permanence, it just means that you need to bring life back to the passion that lies dormant.

In any case, participation is still the only way to get ourselves out of the rut of just becoming someone standing on the sidelines, instead of being someone who is part of the process. It is our government, it is our nation, and if we want to make it better, then we must take it upon ourselves to take action, either through a private institution, through public institutions, or even through our lives, by being an example of what is good with our nation.

It is by our own example that we can make the most impact on our surroundings. Let us say to others, do what I say, and follow my lead. Let us be leaders of today as well as nurturing the leaders of tomorrow.