Things I want to do Before I Die (My Bucket List)

All of us have dreams -- the wildest of which our own dreams cannot even fathom. We long to see more, learn more, and travel more. Imagine being able to say at the end of your life's journey: "Wow, what a ride!" 

 We keep an unending list of things we want to achieve, things we want to change, attitudes we want to cultivate. It is so great to take the time and really ask yourself, what DO I want? Creating and achieving your life list is about deciding what you really want-which means setting goals. 

As I got older, I still had it and now, perhaps of out necessity, but nevertheless, it is about time I crack my skull open to fish for things once lost. I realized there are so many things I want to accomplish in my lifetime. Call it a quarter-life crisis. I found that some of the things I'd listed I'd already done, which was kind of a neat revelation. And here they are.

1. Serve God, make disciples. Serve the people and the government2. Write and publish at least one book - DONE

3. Spending a year with the minorities; volunteering at a homeless shelter or an orphanage; and mentoring  a disadvantaged children and youth.- DONE
4. Promote win/win conflict resolution.
5. Positively impact at least 10 people’s lives - DONE
6. Starting a profitable, location-independent business doing what I love
7. Having a million dollar investment portfolio to finance my life goals.

8. Establish my non-profit children’s foundation. - DONE
9. Exhibit my own paintings and artworks in a gallery

10. Date someone, get dumped, and remain best friends with them even though they broke my heart. DONE

11. Make my family proud and watch them enjoy life. -DONE
12. Learn to play an instrument well.

13. Wave to a stranger, smile and make them smile back. DONE
14. Go scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
15. Lay down on railroad tracks, and take a picture of the sky.

16. See Starry Night and the Mona Lisa.

17. Drive and/or ride in a Corvette, Porsche, and Ferrari.

18. Travel around the world and take my parents on a vacation abroad

19. Make 50 people smile, in one day and take a homeless person out to eat-DONE

20. Go bungee jumping and kayaking through class IV rapids

21. Go to an African wildlife safari, try hang gliding and walk the Incan trail to Machu Picchu, Peru

22. Explore Antarctica and photograph an endangered species.

23. Experience the cherry blossoms in Japan

24. Find out where my ancestors came from.

25. Understand the truth behind the time-space continuum DONE

26. Give someone a total and pleasant surprise DONE

27. Ride a camel in a dessert

28. Visit the Great Wall of China, Egypt’s pyramid, Taj Mahal, Stonehenge and Explore Teotihuacan

29. Learn to fly a plane

30. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar- DONE

31. Elect to a public office - DONE

32. Get interviewed by international media and publications like Business Week, Times Magazine, Forbes, CNN, etc

33. Realize the most beautiful, intelligent, funny, talented, compassionate woman you've ever met has fallen in love with you. (I keep pinching myself, but I'm still awake!)

34. Find someone who loves me unconditionally and Have a romantic dinner on a hot air balloon, and......

35. Get married to the woman I love and have a wonderful family life.

There’s a lot of impossible things to be accomplished but instead of worrying about when that wonderful days come I think it is best to work towards completing some simple yet spectacular things in my life. M. Russell Ballard said, “small events and choices determine the direction of our lives just as small helms determine the directions of great ships."So, what’s on your "bucket list" Shernan

Is Helping Others Your Goal in Life?

          

       Most people will admit having their own primary goals, yet secondarily the goal would be to enable the benefit of themselves which often involves others. I've come to realize that I naturally gravitate towards helping people. I work hard to help others and find my own happiness. When I'm happy and the people around me are happy as well, life is at its best. Most of all, in these times God is magnified in my life.

Helping other people even in a simplest way I know give them the hope they need to survive in this kind of living.  

       Yes, its true. To help others is a dream for everyone, it is a pleasurable feeling and experience to extend our help with others, but others keep on asking how, since they don't have an idea on how to do this. The truth is, It doesn't matter who you are, or how much you have, we all end up in the ground with our friends shoveling dirt on our face. Your family, friends, and the people you help are really the only things you leave behind that matter.

         I think if you leave behind a lot of people someday that say to themselves, "That guy really made my life better. I'm grateful I knew him.", you've had a good life.
          Bottom line - follow your passion, be a blessing to others and have a positive impact on those you care about and others in your circle of life.

I'm passionate about helping these kids to have a better future, education and healthy bodies.

EASY VS DIFFICULT

Easy is to judge the mistakes of others Difficult is to recognize our own mistakes
Easy is to talk without thinking Difficult is to refrain the tongue
Easy is to hurt someone who loves us. Difficult is to heal the wound…
Easy is to forgive others Difficult is to ask for forgiveness
Easy is to set rules. Difficult is to follow them…
Easy is to dream every night. Difficult is to fight for a dream…
Easy is to show victory. Difficult is to assume defeat with dignity…
Easy is to admire a full moon. Difficult to see the other side…
Easy is to stumble with a stone. Difficult is to get up…
Easy is to enjoy life every day. Difficult to give its real value…
Easy is to promise something to someone. Difficult is to fulfill that promise…
Easy is to say we love. Difficult is to show it every day…
Easy is to criticize others. Difficult is to improve oneself…
Easy is to make mistakes. Difficult is to learn from them…
Easy is to weep for a lost love. Difficult is to take care of it so not to lose it.
Easy is to think about improving. Difficult is to stop thinking it and put it into action…
Easy is to think bad of others Difficult is to give them the benefit of the doubt…
Easy is to receive Difficult is to give
Easy to read this Difficult to follow
Easy is keep the friendship with words Difficult is to keep it with meanings

A Lesson Learnt

One old man was sitting with his 25 years old son in the train.
Train is about to leave the station.
All passengers are settling down their seat.
As train started young man was filled with lot of joy and curiosity
He was sitting on the window side.
He went out one hand and feeling the passing air. He shouted, "Papa see all trees are going behind".
Old man smile and admired son feelings.

Beside the young man one couple was sitting and listening all
the conversion between father and son.

They were little awkward with the attitude of 25 years old man behaving like a small child.
Suddenly young man again shouted, "Papa see the pond and animals. Clouds are moving with train".

Couple was watching the young man in embarrassingly.

Now its start raining and some of water drops touches the young man's hand.
He filled with joy and he closed the eyes. 
He shouted again," Papa it's raining, water is touching me, see papa".
Couple couldn't help themselves and ask the old man.

"Why don't you visit the Doctor and get treatment for your son."

Old man said,
" Yes, We are coming from the hospital as Today only my son got his eye sight for first time in his life".

Moral: "Don’t draw conclusions until you know all the facts"

A Sincere Prayer

Dear God,

Please help me through this lonely dark time. I ask that you bring the people I love back to me. I know I have done many things wrong and you know that my heart has turned hardened and cold from any truths. I ask that even though you let me operate in free will,  you still intercede for me in this area of my life. I have found anger and cruelty to be pleasurable or a way to protect ones self from getting hurt. I ask that you show me the light no matter how small because I know I am not ready to let go on my own but that only you have the power and tools to step in and soften my heart once more. I ask that you show me what hurt pride can cause and that there is another way. I know you say that I must come to them but I ask that for this case could you come to me show your love again and forgiveness even though I am saying I need no one. Please God you are my only hope in this matter. I pray that your will be done and your truth will be unveiled. (Adapted from Oh-god.tumblr.com)

Looc Fish and Marine Sanctuary (Looc, Romblon)

        

        Looc Fish and Marine Sanctuary is located in Looc, Tablas Island, Romblon, Philippines. It is a protected marine area in the middle of the bay at Looc town, Tablas, Romblon. It was officially inaugurated on January 12, 1999. Prior to this, the community of Looc, Romblon began a four (4) year process of intensive education, community organizing and participation in a new coastal resource management project.

Located at the center of Looc Bay, the fish sanctuary host diverse species of tropical reef fishes, hard and soft corrals, sea grass beds, marine turtles, octopus, eels and seabirds. Close to the floating bamboo raft is over 500 pieces of multi-colored giant calms which are naturally regenerating. The bamboo raft serves as a home to fish wardens patrolling the bay and sanctuary. It can accommodate 20 to 30 visitors per scheduled trip. This area has become the main tourist attraction in the town. Snorkelling, diving and fish feeding are allowed in the sanctuary with minor supervision.

Together with my cousins, we visited and enjoyed the Fish Sanctuary last June 4, 2011.

Since the start, Looc fish sanctuary has grown to a considerable size, with over 1,500 giant clams, many beautiful corrals, fish of many species, and now hosts a great feeding platform, a big family favourite. Wide variety of multi-colored tropical reef fish, hard and soft corals formations, sponges, sea-grass beds, giant clams, marine turtle, octopus, eels, occasional pelagic fishes, dolphin and seabirds.

There is an office at the Looc pier where you pay the P100 per head for entrance fee and boat fare to the sanctuary. You can also rent a mask, life jacket and snorkel. It’s a 5-minute boat ride to the permanent floating shelter at the sanctuary.

The floating shelter has an opening in the middle where there is no floor and you can see straight down into the water. This allows you to see the fish very well without even having to swim. If you want to see a lot of fish, be sure to bring some bread to feed them. Floating covered viewing platform inside the sanctuary has tables and seating to accommodate group seminars and field trips. February through May is the best months to visit the Looc Bay Marine Refuge and Sanctuary. The sea is at its clearest and calmest during this time.

To get up close and personal with the fish, don a mask and snorkel and jump into the clear waters. The most abundant fish life is immediately around the shelter, you will find a reef with some other interesting formations and marine life, including giant clams, enormous sea cucumbers and starfish.

Hard Times do not Last Forever

Comfort is what you have when God gives you the victory. Then, you can pass it on to others. ~ Raye Adkins

Maya Angelou writes, "We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."

Life is a winding road and it takes us places we do not plan or want to go. While on it, we will find ourselves faced with challenges that test our endurance and belief systems. We will have our ups and our downs. The good news is that troubles can encourage or prompt us to discover some of the greatest successes of our lives.

Before exploring ways of getting through the struggle, I will start with the end in mind and some possible outcomes. Trailblazers often emerge as the result of a crisis they have successfully navigated.

Troubles teach us things we did not know and help develop new levels of awareness. As the metamorphosis occurs, you achieve what did not seem possible.

And on the other side of the experience, you may be transformed and better able to meet new challenges. Pioneers have found in themselves what I hope you will discover--- the new you. The new you will be changed, able to make it through the difficult times while experiencing some unexpected successes.

As we look at getting to the other side of trouble, there are some stages. Initially, we ask ourselves, "How am I going to get through this?" or, "Why am I going through this?" There is of course, the give-up, "I refuse to do this--I can't." The breakthrough comes when you trust that difficult times are the backdrop for "growth spurts".

Growth spurts happen without warning and are for an undesignated period. Like troubles, they disappear as quickly and unannounced as they arrived. Your goal is to figure out how to get through the tough times. Critical to your success is keeping a winning attitude.

Believe that you will get to the finish line. Hard times do not last forever. If you think, "this will take forever", you can be certain that it will. When you recognize that the crisis has a stop sign, you have taken an important step. Remember, you are greater than your circumstances and the greatest power is within you.

Avoid focusing on the problem. Do a rollback and reflect on blessings or successes from your past that you are thankful for. As you recall them, write each one, remember how you felt and what got you through it. During the day and the last thing at night, focus on victories. Plan to open your eyes each day in the manner you ended the night before, with positive thoughts that remind you of the best from your past.

Initially, starting each day with only positive feelings may be difficult. If so, write them out and read them as soon as you rise in morning. The goal is to flood the mind with hopeful messages and totally replace any self-defeating thoughts.

Now you are on the path to peacefully overcoming troubles and despite new challenges; you will make it to the finish line.

Inspired by Raye Adkins, an award-winning former public school principal turned nonprofit executive, expert on caring for children facing loss and poverty, and author

One Inspiring Story

Stanford University

This is a true story that had happened in 1892 at Stanford University. It's moral is still relevant today.

A young, 18 year old student was struggling to pay his fees. He was an orphan, and not knowing where to turn for money, he came up with a bright idea. A friend and he decided to host a musical concert on campus to raise money for their education.

They reached out to the great pianist Ignacy J. Paderewski. His manager demanded a guaranteed fee of $2,000 for the piano recital. A deal was struck. And the boys began to work to make the concert a success.

Ignacy J. Paderewski

The big day arrived. Paderewski performed at Stanford. But unfortunately, they had not managed to sell enough tickets. The total collection was only $1,600. Disappointed, they went to Paderewski and explained their plight. They gave him the entire $1,600, plus a cheque for the balance of $400. They promised to honour the cheque soonest possible.

"No." said Paderewski. "This is not acceptable," he tore up the cheque, returned the $1,600 and told the boys "Here's the $1,600. Please deduct whatever expenses you have incurred. Keep the money you need for your fees. And just give me whatever is left." The boys were surprised, and thanked him profusely.

It was a small act of kindness. But it clearly marked out Paderewski as a great human being. Why should he help two people he did not even know? We all come across situations like these in our lives. And most of us only think "If I help them, what would happen to me?"

The truly great people think, "If I don't help them, what will happen to them?" They don't do it expecting something in return. They do it because they feel it's the right thing to do.

Paderewski later went on to become the Prime Minister of Poland. He was a great leader, but unfortunately when the World War began, Poland was ravaged. There were over 1.5 million people starving in his country, and no money to feed them.

Starvation in Poland

Paderewski did not know where to turn for help. He reached out to the US Food and Relief Administration for help.

Pres. Herbert Hoover

The head was a man called Herbert Hoover - who later went on to become the US President. Hoover agreed to help and quickly shipped tons of food grains to feed the starving Polish people. A calamity was averted.

Paderewski was relieved. He decided to go across to meet Hoover and personally thank him. When Paderewski began to thank Hoover for his noble gesture, Hoover quickly interjected and said, "You shouldn't be thanking me, Mr. Prime Minister. You may not remember this, but several years ago, you helped two young students go through college in the US . I was one of them."

The world is a wonderful place. What goes around usually comes around.

Note: This is a wonderful inspiring story I've read from the blog of Jay Jaboneta of Facebook Groups. I’d like to share this story to inspire us. The original author is unknown. “All our actions truly create ripples” -JJaboleta

How One Governs Filipinas by Dr. Jose Rizal

In sum, all agree that the machine isn't working as it should.

The causes that the bad government and slow death of that country’s life are attributed to, vary depending on who studies them. Most of those who went there as functionaries or governors, those men who perhaps have a bad conscience because they have not fulfilled the duty imposed on them by the salary they received, these men shout and lay the blame for everything on the indio, perhaps to distract the public’s attention toward some other object and thus their faults will not be discovered; perhaps to convince and make their conscience believe things that by themselves cannot be believed, the way many cowards infuse themselves with valor through speechifying, the way many liars do who end up believing their own lies after repeating them countless times.

In contrast (what a parados!), those who have conscienciously fulfilled their obligations and have done everything they had to and could, within the country’s perplexing administrative labyrinth, inhibited and threatened by a capricious tyrant, who, from one mail ship to the other, can propose their removal or send them back – these blame the disorganization on the system of government, the personnel, the lack of job stability in the positions, intrigue, etc.

The friars have another system: the country’s ills are all attributed by them to the Liberal ministers, who, because they are Liberals, must be ignorant. On the other hand, the little good that there is, they attribute to themselves. Retrograde ministers, or the ministers from their convent, who by the sole fact of being such are wise, neither do good nor evil – their correct action consists of consulting them and obeying them, and this is what they communicate in lengthy telegrams that the Manila newspapers who are loyal to them publish in big letters.

As for the Liberal peninsulars who are in Filipinas, they blame the friars for the backwardness of the islands, and in their case they have more reason, since, the islands being governed as they are by the convents, the fault of the malfunctioning must fall upon the latter.

However, these Liberals forget the part they play in the dysfunction – if they were to refuse to be governed and did not serve as instruments as often happens; if they were to refuse to make concessions concerning many things that offend their convictions out of fear of losing their appointment; if they had more fortitude, more faith in their ideals, if they studied the country more and set themselves the firm objective of ending the monastic guardianship that the country is vegetating in, then the friars would not be governing Filipinas, nor would modern ideas be asphyxiated the minute they touched the beaches of Manila.

The Filipinos in general blame their country’s malaise and misery on everything above – on the friar, and on all the centuries-old elements that do not stand out for their great character, for a manifest love for the country and her inhabitants, and for a more-or-less entrepreneurial initiative in the question of reforms. The Filipinos, like the Liberals we have spoken of – and to whom they are very similar – also forget the responsibility that falls on their shoulders in their current situation, since, if the saying is true that “where the boss is in charge, the sailor isn’t,” so is the other saying that each country has the government it deserves.

The national spirit makes heard its first screams like a newborn. Before there was only the sentiment of the family or tribe; barely, just barely, that of the region. In consequence, senseless measures did not provoke strong protests from public opinion, but only among those whose relatives were more-or-less directly harmed. As far as the country is concerned, each Filipino thinks in this way: let her fend for herself, save herself, protest, fight – I will do nothing, I’m not the one who has to fix things; I’ve got enough on my hands with my interests, passions and caprices. Let others take the chestnuts out of the fire, and then we can eat them. The Filipinos seem not to know that triumph is the child of struggle, that joy is the flower of many sufferings and privations, and that all redemption presupposes martyrdom and sacrifice. They believe that by moaning and groaning, then sitting with their hands folded in their laps and letting things follow their course, they have done their duty. Others, it’s true, try to do a bit more and offer pessimistic or discouraging advice – they recommend doing nothing. There are, however, those who begin to see clearly and who do as much as they can.

The foreigners, among whom we place in the Chinese in the front line, laugh at everything that happens and take advantage of the lacks and defects of the governed and the governors, to use them. They are the happiest ones – they come over when they want, they stay as long as they please, and they leave when it’s convenient for them to do so. They are not bound by any duty toward the country, nor do they care whether the Government is more or less responsible, or the people more or less enslaved. Like the locust they strip the fields without bothering about the sower or the land. The saddest of all is that there are peninsulars and Filipinos who are like locusts in their manner of thinking and acting.

We believe that everyone is, in part, right. The parties can pass the buck to each other, the peninsulars to the Filipinos, the Filipinos to the peninsulars, the friars to the Liberals and the Liberals to the friars – we believe that even the Chinese themselves have a right to laugh at the Government and the country; it is finally a justice that we all deserve – but above all these instances of meanspiritedness, above this awful disconcertment, there is the principle that the Government in its origins is vice ridden, defective, absurd, uncommitted.

”

Commentary:

 We have tried different arrays of leaders, from the dictatorship of Marcos down to the Economic approach of Arroyo. In 60 years of presidential form of government we haven’t sailed towards progress. What is wrong with us? The System or form of Government is the menace in our Society. Our Constitution marks a major breach in political continuity, a means of establishing a new political order following the rejection, collapse or failure of an old order. As the title suggests, Rizal lays out an ideal vision of what an ideal government should and should not do, with the hope that it will motivate readers to work toward that end.

This blog post is dedicated to our National Hero in the celebration of his 150th Birthday.

Jose Rizal, How One Governs Filipinas (translated by Elizabeth Medina), La Solidaridad, December 15, 1890.

Originally posted at http://mlq3.tumblr.com/

KALAYAAN 2011

              Ipinagdiriwang natin ngayong taon ang ika-113 anibersaryo ng ating araw ng kalayaan. Ito ang dakilang araw upang gunitain ang kabayanihan ng mga Pilipino na nakibaka at nagbuwis ng buhay upang makamit natin ang tinatamasang kalayaan. Ang kagitingan at mga pasakit na ito ang dahilan kung bakit ang Pilipinas ay isang bansang malaya.

                Ang Pamamahayag ng Kalayaan ng Pilipinas ay ginanap noong Hunyo 12, 1898, kung saan idineklara ng mga Pilipinong rebolusyonaryo sa pangunguna ni Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo ang soberanya at kalayaan ng Pilipinas mula sa Espanya matapos matalo ang mga ito sa labanan sa Look ng Maynila sa Digmaang Espanyol-Amerikano.

              Kung ating susuriin sa ating kapanahunan,  ano nga ba ang tunay na kahulugan ng kalayaan? Oo, totoong malaya na tayo sa maraming aspeto ng pamumuhay at lipunan. Malaya din tayo laban sa mananakop o anumang impluwensyang banyaga. Malaya nating naipapahayag ang anumang saloobin na walang bahid ng  pag-aalinlangan, freedom of expression ika nga. Pero kung kalayaan sa katiwalian, kahirapan, pang-aabuso at pananamantala ng mga namumuno at kapwa Pilipino ang pag-uusapan, isang malaking katanungan ang nakahuma sa ating harapan.

                Sa aking pananaw, wari’y nawawalan ng saysay ang mga ganitong okasyon sa iba nating kababayan dahil sa mga katiwalian at kahirapan sa ating bansa. Maraming Pilipino ang hindi man lamang naramdaman ang diwa ng pagdiriwang na ito dahil sa mga balakid na kanilang hinaharap sa pang-araw araw na buhay. Nakakalungkot ang ganong tanawin. Ano kaya ang masasabi ng ating mga bayani kung mabubuhay pa sila sa ating panahon? Nawa’y magsilbi itong hamon sa kinauukulan. Hamon din ito pra sa bawat Pilipino na patuloy na magsikap upang makamit ang sariling kalayan sa pansariling kapamaraanan.

                Gayunpaman, dapat pa din tayong magpasalamat sa anumang kalayaang tinatamasa natin ngayon, maging positibo sa lahat ng bagay. Pangalagaan natin ito at huwag hayaang maagaw pa ng sinuman. Ipaglaban natin ito laban sa mananamantala sa anumang kaparaanan. Higit sa lahat huwag tayong magmalabis upang hindi tayo masadlak sa anumang uri ng kasakiman na siyang humahadlang upang makamit ntin ang tunay na kalayaan.

              Maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan, Pilipinas. -shernan

You don't Need Money to have a Good Time

With our Pets, Negra & Doggie

Growing up we didn't have much money and I didn't have many toys like other children, but that situation never stopped me from having a good time. When I was 8 years old my father got me my first pocket knife.  I'd go out in the field to find the perfect fallen tree branches to carve art crafts, toy guns and swords. When I was 10 years old, I wanted to construct playing house for my siblings, but knew better than to ask for a set. Instead, I borrowed my father's axe and hand saw and went out into the woods. I cut down 3 or 4 young trees, divided each trunk into 6 foot sections and notched them out like lincoln logs and then built a great little fort with them. I used the tree branches to complete the roofing and even got it mostly water proof. My younger siblings enjoyed our playing house until the leaves dried out anyway. 

You don't need money to have a good time, just a little imagination and some basic tools.

With Mangyan Kids

Life is too short, but just long enough

Life is too short to be spent regretting about the past, things you don't have, things you haven't done and places you haven't seen. Life is too short to spend it throwing negativity out into the universe; it only comes back to you. Never be awful to anyone, that person you were awful to may teach you the most. Life is too short to be spent holding grievances against one another, finding fault in your neighbors and brother, counting the wrongs done on you. We speak of a short life, but compared to eternity, who has a long one?

But, human life is just long enough to see everything turn upside down. Life is just long enough to enjoy the beauty of a sunrise the smell of blossom of the earth and the sound of laughters. Life is long enough for everything to be tried at least once. Life is just long enough to practice compassion and generosity, to comfort the grieving, to lend strength to the fainthearted, and direction to the lost. In God’s plan every life is long enough and every death is timely.

A LONG LIFE MAY NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH, BUT A GOOD LIFE IS LONG ENOUGH. -Shernan