US Sixty Cents

Pagkatapos ng mga isang buwang pag-aaral ng US History & Government ay naipasa ko ng maluwalhati ang aking interview for citizenship. Dapat ay nuon pa ako nag file ng application matapos ang sampung taong paninirahan dito pero ang hindi ko maintindihan ay kung bakit hindi ko feel i-give up ang aking pagka pilipino. Nag-iisa ba ako sa nararamdaman kong ito? May pinsan ako after 20 years saka lang din nag file ng citizenship, at yun ay bunga pa ng pagtulak sa kanya ng mga kapatid nya.

Pagkatapos sabihin ni Officer Evans sa akin ang expectation ng bansang ito sa isang tulad ko, yes na lang ako ng yes. (Eh kung hindi ako mag-yes baka pinalabas niya ako sa kuwarto 'no) Expected ba nila eh ipagtatanggol ko daw ba ang US sa mga gustong sumakop dito, or if possible and necessary to bear arms against it's enemies. Sabi ko "Yes Ma'am, if necessary." At marami pang tanong ek ek ... "Congratulations, you're application has been approved." Hindi naman nya ako kinamayan. Sabi lang, "Please wait for the notice in the mail within 60 days for the oath taking ceremony." Dapat tumatalon na ako sa tuwa, pero ng mahimasmasan ako ng lumabas ako sa opisina nya, parang na-miss ko ang Pilipinas biglang-bigla. Gusto kong umuwi, para makita ko ang mga magulang at mga kapatid ko duon. Gusto kong umuwi, para makita ko din ang sitwasyon ng ating bansa.

Ah, hindi ko pa yata tunay na nai-give up ang aking Filipino citizenship. Tagalog pa rin ang aking pananalita, isip at gawa. Eh bakit ba ako nag citizen pa? Eh... just because, saka para sa mga anak ko.

FOR ALL THE MOMS I KNOW

Araw-araw na lang ay napakarami kong natatanggap na e-mail na jokes, inspirational, informative, etc. Mayroon akong natanggap na e-mail na muli kong ipa-publish dito with permission from whoever wrote this ... the credit is yours.

FOR ALL THE MOMS I KNOW

We are sitting at lunch when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of 'starting a family.' "We're taking a survey," she says, half-joking.

"Do you think I should have a baby?"

"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral. "I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."

But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes.

I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but that becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.

I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.

I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a souffle or her best crystal without a moment's hesitation.

I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of her discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.

I want my daughter to know that everyday decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighted against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.

However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother. Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child.

That she would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years - not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.

I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor. My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.

I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving. I hope she will understand why I can think rationally about most issues, but become temporarily insane when I discuss the threat of nuclear war to my children's future.

I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or a cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real, it actually hurts.

My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I reach across the table, squeeze my daughter's hand and offer a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all of the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings. This blessed gift from God...that of being a Mother.

Happy Valentine's Day

Nadampot ko lang ito sa mga padalang e-mail sa akin. Tamang-tama daw ba sa Valentine's Day?

5 Secrets to a Perfect Relationship


1. It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job.

2. It is important that a man makes you laugh.

3. It is important to find a man you can count on and doesn't lie to you.

4. It is important that a man is good in bed and loves making love to you.

5. It is extremely important that these four men don't know each other.

A Soulful Relationship

Nalalapit na naman ang araw ng mga puso. Kung sine-celebrate nyo ang okasyong ito, mararamdaman nyo na naman ang pagmamahal sa inyong paligid, galing man sa inyong mister, misis, girlpren, boypren, kaibigan, kapatid, kamag-anak, atbp., lalo na kapag nakatanggap kayo kahit isang maliit na card galing sa inyong mga minamahal. Pero hindi lahat ng tao gustong sumapit ang Valentine's Day sa maraming kadahilanan. May natanggap akong magandang email na sinulat ng isang nagngangalang Rev. Ronald McFadden. Inyong basahin at sigurado akong kayo'y mabibigyan kahit paano ng panibagong pagtingin sa inyong mga minamahal:

A SOULFUL RELATIONSHIP
by Rev. Ronald McFadden

If you're not married yet, share this with a friend. If you are married, share it with your spouse or other married couples and reflect on it.

An African proverb states, "Before you get married, keep both eyes open, and after you marry, close one eye."

Before you get involved and make a commitment to someone, don't let lust, desperation, immaturity, ignorance, pressure from others or a low self-esteem, make you blind to warning signs. Keep your eyes open, and don't fool yourself that you can change someone or that what you see as faults aren't really important.

Once you decide to commit to someone, over time his or her flaws, vulnerabilities, pet peeves, and differences will become more obvious. If you love your mate and want the relationship to grow and evolve, you've got to learn to close one eye and not let every little thing bother you. You and your mate have many different expectations, emotional needs, values, dreams, weaknesses, and strengths. You are two unique individual children of God who have decided to share a life together. Neither of you are perfect, but are you perfect for each other? Do you bring out the best in each other? Do you compliment and compromise with each other, or do you compete, compare, and control? What do you bring to the relationship? Do you bring past relationships, past hurt, past mistrust, past pain? You can't take someone to the altar to alter him or her. You can't make someone love you or make someone stay.

If you develop self-esteem, spiritual discernment, and "a life", you won't find yourself making someone else responsible for your happiness or responsible for your pain.

Manipulation, control, jealousy, neediness, and selfishness are not the ingredients of a thriving, healthy, loving and lasting relationship! Seeking status, sex, wealth, and security are the wrong reasons to be in a relationship. What keeps a relationship strong?

Communication, intimacy, trust, a sense of humor, sharing household tasks, some getaway time without business or children and daily exchanges (a meal, shared activity, a hug, a call, a touch, a note).

Leave a nice message on the voicemail or send a nice email.

Sharing common goals and interests. Growth is important. Grow together, not away from each other, giving each other space to grow without feeling insecure. Allow your mate to have outside interest. You can't always be together. Give each other a sense of belonging and assurances of commitment. Don't try to control one another. Learn each other's family situation. Respect his or her parents regardless.

Don't put pressure on each other for material goods. Remember for richer or for poorer. If these qualities are missing, the relationship will erode as resentment, withdrawal, abuse, neglect, dishonesty, and pain replace the passion.

The difference between 'United' and 'Untied' is where you put the i.