This is one of my favorite essays.
Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there to serve some sort of a purpose – teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become.
You never know who these people maybe but when you lock eyes with them, you know that every moment that you are with them, they will affect your life in some profound way.
Sometimes things happen that at the time may seem horrible, painful and unfair. But in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles, you would never realize your potential strength, willpower or heart.
This is one of my favorite essays. I don’t know the author.Everything happens for a reason.
Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck.Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness on sheer stupidity all occur to the limits of your soul.
Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. Safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.
The people you meet affect your life. The successes and downfalls that you experience can create who you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from.
In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.
If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally not only because they love you, but also because they are teaching you to love and open your heart and eyes to little things.
Make everything count.
Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people who you never have talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, even if it doesn’t seem right because you are too young or too far.
Just follow your heart. Surround yourself with those who make you smile, laugh and make you happy.
Break free and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself. For if you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you.
Create your own life,then let go and live it!
i believe that as long as the opposition does not present a credible and eligible individual who will replace arroyo’s presidency then people will not join calls for her ouster no matter how hard they try to persuade them..why? because the question at the back of their minds is who will replace her? they are calling for resignation but they dont present their platform then people will come to think thats its just the same old “jonny bravo” changing of the guards.corruption will still remain plus the economic consequence they will earn in removing her…if the opposition will win in replacing her are they going to remove the pork barrel?
It’s okay if you like a cheat, a liar and a thief for a president. That’s what you prefer and I respect you.
Don’t give me that line about no alternative to Arroyo. It’s an insult to 86 million Filipinos.
Ellen,
Palagay ko tatanggapin naman ng taong bayan ang sinuman na ipapalit kay Arroyo ng grupong magpapabagsak sa kanya mawala lang siya sa nakaw na pwesto. Dahil hirap na hirap na ang taong bayan. At ang hinihintay ng taong bayan ay ang suporta ng ating magigiting at matitino na sandatahan na tunay na nagmamalasakit sa bayan.
Sa sandaling matanggal and kinamuhian natin, dapat lang may halalan at pipiliin natin yung may tunay na puso para sa bayan.
Ellen, your essay reminds of a book by James Redfield, The Celestine Prophecy. Indeed there is a reason behind the people we meet and the happenings we experience. Serendipity seems trivial but often plays a big role in what matters in life. The feeling of joy and peace can be overwhelming at times when you least expect it.
On the other hand, one can be more assertive and plan out strategies to be successful in life by seeking out relationships with influential people. (Never Eat Alone, by Keith Ferrazzi) I prefer the quieter mode but am open to challenges.
nobody wants a cheat, a liar and a thief for president. nobody wants another a cheat, a liar and a thief to replace a cheat, a liar and a thief.
If it is an insult to ask or demand for an alternative, how come we are not in the streets? or isn’t an an insult for those calling for Arroyo’s resignation that we are not out in the streets?
KUNG NABASA NINYO YUNG SINULAT
KO TUNGKOL DOON SA PINOY NA
PINAPIPILI NG DOCTOR:
Ano ba ang pipiliin niya putulin
ang dalawang paa niyang nagnanaknak,
at namamaho na, O magtabletas at
kapsula na lang siyang libre,
at naka crutches naman siya habang
buhay.
I think it is stupid to ask the
opposition to present a replacement
for Gloria because the people
knows that the opposition belongs
to the species of Gloria: humanos
diablos. Ang daming Pinoy na
puedeng pumalit at magpakulong kay
Gloria. Ang sama nito, ang laki
rin ng pakinabang at utang na loob
ng mga opposition kay Gloria.
Kaya ang opposition tumutulong
din ng palihim na panatilihin si
Gloria. Tiyak mayayari ang ang
marami sa kanila, pag ang Pinoy
na pasyente nagpasyang ipaputol
ang dalawa niyang paa.
ellen
from the essay:
Everything happens for a reason.
Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness on sheer stupidity all occur to the limits of your soul.
Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. Safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.
sabi ko nga ellen: pag nagbabasa ako dito sa iyong blog, ito ang naiisip ko sa mga sinasabi ng mga tumutuligsa kay gloria. do they want”a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. Safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.”
yung mga pumupuri kay gloria, wala na akong
maisip kung anung klaseng buhay ang gusto
nila sa kanilang pamilya. katawan na lang
nila ang natitira. ang kanilang espiritu nasa limbo na. Ang limbo po ayon kay sa San Pedro
ay pinagsasadlakan ng mga hayop na walang
kalulwa.
pinoy Says:
April 13th, 2006 at 7:12 pm
nobody wants a cheat, a liar and a thief for president. nobody wants another a cheat, a liar and a thief to replace a cheat, a liar and a thief.
KUNG AKO AY PAKAWALA NI GLORIA, ITO
ANG ITATANONG KO? MATANONG KO ANG MGA
LABAN KAY GLORIA. SEGURADO BA KAYONG
ANG MGA TAONG ITO AY HINDI CHEAT,
LIAR AT THIEF? Si Erap Estrada, Si Nene Pimentel, Ed Angara, Sen Villar, Manny Roxas,
Chiz Escudero, sen Biazon, Jinggoy Estrada,
Sen Magsaysay, Sen Loi Ejercito,
Sharon Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Joker Arroyo,
Francisco Tatad? at marami pang ibang local
politicians?
Ang iba diyan, sa pangalang ginamit sa election
nagsinungaling na, para manalo lang. Allowed
naman ng batas at COMELEC ang gumamit ng alias
para manalo lang.
I’m not worried about alternatives warrior, because guys like Serge Osmena, Drilon, Fred Lim, Bayani Fernando, Mar Roxas, Lacson, Jun Magsaysay, Biazon and richard Gordon are much better leaders than arroyo.
as for who should replace arroyo, that’s for the people to decide. that’s why we need special elections, kapag natanggal na si arroyo.
i believe every candidate has their own platforms. i’m sure drilon, lacson, osmena, roxas, fernando etc. atbp. has their own. so i’m not worried about platforms. it would not even surprise me if there are some similitarities between the platforms of the other potential candidates and arroyo’s.
But what is more important, IMO is whether the person has the legitimacy, integrity, and the credibility to lead this country, implement reforms, and heal the deep divisions within this country?
While I think most of the alternatives I listed above have the potential to be that person, I can’t say the same thing to Arroyo anymore.
UPDATE: I also think everybody who is opposed to Arroyo agrees on the following:
1) Arroyo should step down and we should hold special elections.
2) Clean up the COMELEC and punish those COMELEC officials (high and low) who were responsible for GLORIAGATE. I’m talking about REAL reforms, not the so-called reforms of davide where
hindi ba si lacson yung gustong tanggalin ang pork barrel? isa yan sa plataporma niya, hindi ba? i recall na hindi na siya tumatanggap ng pork barrel as senator.
From Pinoy:
Heh. Check the names I’ve listed above. Even a regular guy like you or me are BETTER ALTERNATIVES than arroyo at this point.
first step in solving this crisis is to get the arroyo supporters to finally admit that their idol is illegitimate and corrupt.
next step is to make her step down so we can hold special elections. i believe all the names that i have listed above are much better leaders and people than arroyo.
it should have read…
2) Clean up the COMELEC and punish those COMELEC officials (high and low) who were responsible for GLORIAGATE. I’m talking about REAL reforms, not the so-called reforms of davide, where those responsible for GLORIAGATE like ARroyo and Garci are not brought to justice.
As reported by ABS-CBN:
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales urged Filipinos not to lose hope despite those who are “enslaving” the people in these trying times, the prelate delivered in his homily to Catholics on Maundy Thursday.
“Don’t be afraid, my brothers, there is still hope,” he said in Filipino.
“Christ is the way and surely we will be freed from anything that enslaves us today. Obstacles are sometimes caused by ourselves, our peers and our leaders,” he added.
Ellen,
I think dapat umpisahan na rin nila Manila Archbishop Cardinal Rosales na humingi na tawad sa taong bayan dahil kasama sila sa nag-cause ng paghihirap natin ngayon nang nakiayon sila sa sabwatan at inilagay nila sa pwesto si Arroyo. Let the guilty parties humble themselves and start admitting their sins to Erap and to the Filipino people. Para makalaya na tayo! Maybe this is what our Lord what us to do!
To johnmarzan
But Arroyo will not step down. We all say she cheated but she says she did not. We want a snap or special election but that is not in the constitution. You say there are alternatives but are they credible? They are all trapos and nothing will change.
first step in solving this crisis is to get the arroyo supporters to finally admit that their idol is illegitimate and corrupt.
so how do we do it? you are asking for a miracle.
to ellen:
first is that i dont think it would be an insult to the 86M filipinos because im a filipino also..:) we knew for a fact that she cheated her way to presidency, soldiers knew that! they believe their superiors more than the politicians,the likes of LTC BALUTAN and BGEN GUDANI and many others especially sa SR (scout ranger) but the problem is with curent situation, they cant afford the risk they are going to take if they dont see that the opposition and the people itself are backing a single individual to challenge arroyo, an indinvidual who has an unblemished reputation and with integrity and moral accendancy to run the country… not those same politicians we have today…drilon etc.. those are trapos who won their way to power because they played the game set by the corrupt regime way way back before…lacson? there are so many accusatins thrown to him, he is even an outcast in the pma community…his alleged links to kuratong and etc..etc..my point is people who are chellenging her are viewed by the people as “ka baro lang din ni arroyo” if they really wanted this country to be good they should come up with somebody who has the neccessary qualities perhaps in my opinion former central bank governor, a journalist or a professor also…if they do that then the silent majority will have the guts to rise up to..as long as they have no standard bearer the business community will just side step, u.s government will just side step, middle class will side step, and all left demanding for her ouster will be viewed as a mere nuissance in the streets and the country.
it doesn’t take a miracle pinoy. in fact, most arroyo supporters are now finally conceding that Arroyo may have stolen the elections.
yan lang nga, there are “no credible alternatives” raw to replace arroyo, so we might as well keep her there na lang.
the problem i have with this attitude is that this is same attitude displayed by the arrogant arroyo admin and it’s supporters that made GLORIAGATE possible. They needed to cheat raw because their opponents are “not credible alternatives.” They cheated “for the good of the country.”
And it is the same attitude that Marcos had, kaya he unilaterally decided to stay in power for 20 years because he thinks the anti-Marcos opposition are not “credible alternatives”.
Marcos cheated Cory in the 1986 elections precisely because he thought Cory, like the rest, are “not credible” enough. It is that kind of mentality that convinced marcos that he is “indispensable”. It is that kind of mentality that made him want to stay in power for 20 years (and more if edsa 1986 failed).
hold on there, cowboy… all balutan and gudani want are clean elections. it is for the voters– not you, not me, not the opposition or the admin– to decide who should be their next leader.
for somebody or a group to impose or limit the voters choice to a single individual or candidate is absurd and undemocratic, because there are many qualified people out there, and that’s what the special elections are for, to let the people decide who should be their leader, and not unilaterally by Arroyo, GArci and the COMELEC.
I myself is undecided kung si serge Osmena, Bayani Fernando, Mar Roxas o Lacson ang iboboto ko, because all are highly qualified at mas magaling kaysa kay arroyo. so the best way is to hold special elections, and let the people decide. that’s what democracy is all about.
“in fact, most arroyo supporters are now finally conceding that Arroyo may have stolen the elections.”
since the hyatt 10, i haven’t heard of any yet at this time. who are these supporters you’re referring to? Are these those who are not part of the 65% who don’t believe GMA anymore?
my issue is your first step, second step to oust arroyo. i am simply looking at the feasibility of the solution you are presenting.
things are easier said than done. this is not about attitude. this is about realities around us. people don’t like arroyo but they are not marching out in the streets. they or we ask for credible alternatives but they or we are not buying those alternatives. some call for snap elections ala thailand while others say it is not in our constitution.
As de Quiros said in his recent column, (clean) election is the alternative. Fine. How we go about it?
First, will Arroyo call for a snap election? If not, what do we do? We march in the streets? That won’t happen.
To hold a snap election, the Congress has to pass a law for it. That won’ happen.
Revamp the COMELEC? Who will do this? Only Arroyo can appoint commissioners. Commisioners can be removed only through impeachment. So how are we suppose to achieve that “clean” election if ever one is held?
It is so easy to say let us do this and that and our problems will be solved. But it is not that simple. People have so much distrust on the opposition. GMA’s problem is that she was caught cheating. Any investigation on Enrile’s accusation that Madrigal cheated?
Bayani? Fernando? Roxas? Osmena? Drilon? Lacson? These are not really charismatic individuals who can mobilize people. A mobilization that could pressure to administration to call for an election. Even before you could mount such mobilizations, malacanang already has 1017 and 464. mobilizatons can’t even sustain itself. the opposition has a HUGE credibility problem. in the end, you cannot create a snow ball effect. without it, let’s stay within the bounds of the constitution.
i agree with you…
the future of this country does not lie on the hands of the opposition or militant activists but in the hands of the people itself…but havent you wonder why a towering four feet and eleven inch president can control the situation so easily and run the military and police like puppets at her command? a recent survey aired by ms. pia hontiveros of anc, showed that two years after she took power from erap she posted more than 50 retired generals to various positions in the government compared to erap’s 30+ during his entire term. or maybe she is the one being run by !@/;#P and !@#3%^. if that is right sana for good naman….kawawa naman ang mga mamamayang pilipino na magdudusa.
Ang nararanasan ng ating Bansa ngayon ay sa aking palagay kagagawan lang ng isa o dalawang tao. Walang iba kundi si RAMOS at DeVENECIA. Si PUNGGOK ay singaw at sinamantala lang niya ang mga pangyayari.
Bakit ka niyo? Alam natin na noon pa, ayaw na nong dalawa si ERAP ang papalit kay RAMOS. Kaya bago matapos ang termino ng anak ng p…usang gala na yan, gusto palitan ang forma ng Gobyerno at ipuwesto yong g..g .. DeVENECIA. Wala silang nagawa dahil si ERAP ay mas sikat na malayo sa kanila. Hindi pa tapos ang eleksiyon noon ay plinano na nila kung papano paalisin si ERAP dahil nga alam nila na walang alam ito. Ang palagay nila ay sila lang ang dapat mamuno dahil sila ay matatalino at graduweyt pa sa kilalang mga kolehiyo. Kaya isinama nila si GLORYA sa plano dahil siya ang Bise noon. In short nakuha nila ang gusto nila.
2004 election comes, kung tignan niyo ang mga Presidentiables may mga say ba? Lalo na si FPJ pero siya ang nangunguna. So in short, binago ni GLORYA ang desisyon lumaban siya ulit at siyempre dahil na rin sa udyok nong dalawa. Si RAMOS kahit papano hawak pa rin niya ang maraming General kagaya ni Esperon. Diyan nagamit ang mga GARCI GENERALS. Kasi si FPJ noon ang lamang sa bilangan. Alam lahat ni RAMOS ang mga pandaraya na ginawa ni GLORYA para lang manalo at matalo si FPJ. Pero hindi nila alam na ma-utak din si GLORYA.
Hindi kaya ganon na lang ang kapit ni GLORYA sa trono, baka may power struggle na nangyayari sa dalawang kampo na hindi natin alam.
Kaya may rason lahat ang mga pangyayari. Pinagla-laruan lang ng ilan ang Bansa natin. Kaya yong ilan na yan ay dapat tamaan na sila ng kidlat sabay sabay para naman ma-ayos na ang ating buhay. Habang nandiyan ang mga Buwa… In… yan ay hindi talaga tayo aasenso.
uyon ako sa imo bay!
tama ka! i am not a fan of joseph estrada nor of any other politicos but as i observe with the current trend now, based on recent surveys people want erap to lead the country once again…why? maybe bacause they saw the sincerity in his heart that he really wants to help and alleviate the country…especially the masses…no court in the land proved that he is guilty of all the accusations on him..where is chavit singson now? the government made him a hero…even though he is a villain! the only fault erap did is to trust his friends who later turned their backs on him…i believe that if he’ll be given another chance to lead this country, this country will be in good hands…why again? because the people trust him..he won every single election fair and square and with a highest turnover of votes this country has ever seen.
GMA’S government cried foul at New York Times’ recent editorial. What’s wrong with that? Doesn’t she know that American media also attack and ridicule their own President and government? Had our media ever not criticized Pres. Bush or the US? What if NY Times wrote favorably of GMA? Worse, to say that the opposition was behind that negative article just makes me sick. I never imagine that the opposition is that powerful to influence a large US newspaper read by millions of Americans.
Then recently again, Heritage Foundation came up with another negative report on GMA. The rate all the negative reports are coming up both domestically and abroad, Gloria’s time is indeed up. But then as usual, she will blame it on the opposition accusing them of destablization.
There’s areason for everything. Even Gloria Arroyo’s power grab.