The Boy Who Stutters

THE TIME OF THE YEAR.  What did 2017 teach you? Has it taught you anything at all? Because for me, it surely has. 2017 taught me greatly and here are the lessons I learned from this year: ~You cannot control everything.  No matter how badly you want to have control over everything, you just can't. You will never control everything in your life, BUT you can control how you react to it - and that will surely make a big difference.  ~You can only wish good for your friends; it's only they who can wish what's best for them.  It's their life - their choices, their decision. You cannot dictate how they'll live their life; you can only influence them.  ~You cannot blame others for who you are. Every action you make and every word you speak reflect on you and you should take responsibility for them. Your shortcomings are your deeds and yours only; it's not right to shift blame. Man up and own your mistakes.  ~You can either KISS o...

I once read something, "You can never go wrong with kindness."  You can be doubtful, especially if you have been treated badly by others despite being good to them.  "Do I deserve this?" I know you already asked yourself this for once.  I know you have also reached the point where you just want to be like them - cruel... selfish... and unkind. But you won't, even you can. Uhh, wrong! You won't because you can't.  You cannot be like them. You cannot be as cruel as them, because if you will be - then you are going to be someone you are not. You cannot be as selfish as them, because if you will be - then you are just someone pretending to be someone else. You cannot be as unkind as them, because if you will be - then you are not YOU anymore.  Yes, you wish to be like them just because you got tired and want to alter your situation. You got tired being taken for granted. You got tired fixing things other people have broken.You got tired giving when...

            “It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything,” said by Tyler Durden, the antagonist in the film Fight Club . That is one of the remarkable quotes in the film. Although it is a 1999 film, I still happened to watch it and when I did, it became one of my favorites and later became my all-time favorite. The first time I watched it, I was mind blown.  It may sound exaggerated, but I actually am.  I had an overwhelming feeling and was confused, enlightened, and shocked by the movie itself as I watch it. So why do you need to watch this film? Let me share my personal outlook about the film and offer you these three things: It is not any cliché movies that you watch, it has created controversies when it was released and this would make you wonder why, and it depicts a strong message which cannot be easily understood by the usual audience, but you are not supposed to be ‘usual’, you are supp...

"Years from now, after I graduate I'll go back to my school and direct its plays," I told my Mom as we have our dinner. The very next day I was called by our school principal, Tr. Glo, and told me this, "I want you to be the assistant director of Sir Mike."  Sir Michael Medina is our resident director since the school started producing Disney's Musical Plays, and for this year's school play - he's going to direct Beauty and the Beast Jr. once more (as the school already did the same play ten years ago).  Having heard my principal, my mind was like "That escalated quickly." I was flattered by the offer. All I had to do is say YES and take it, and so I did. I even managed to make an anecdote out of my last night's conversation with my Mom and shared it with Tr. Glo.  This is really the start, I told myself. This should be the beginning.  I've known Sir Mike since then and he has known me too. He had already ask...

“Napakahirap makuha pero napakadaling mawala.”  Isang bagay na kailangan mo munang paghirapan bago mo makuha nang buo. Tunay na mahirap, tunay na komplikado, at tunay na mahalaga; ito ang tiwala! Masasabing lahat ng tao pinapahalagan ito. Alam natin ang kahalagahan nito sa anumang relasyon: relasyon sa kapwa, sa kaibigan, sa pamilya, pati na rin sa sarili. Ngunit alam ba talaga natin ang totoong kahalagan nito? Ang tiwala ang nagsisilbing sandigan ng anumang relasyon. Ito ang nagpapanatili ng samahan upang magpatuloy at lalong tumatag. Ito an gating pinanghahawakan kahit gaano pa karami ang ating hinala. Ang tiwala rin ang nagpapalakas ng loob ng isang indibidwal upang gumawa sa buong makakaya. Ito rin ang nagpapanatag ng ating kalooban at kaisipan. Ubod na halaga ang tiwala kaya marapat lamang na pahalagahan ito.  Ang problema sa tao, alam natin ang kahalagan nito subalit hindi natin lubos na alam kung paano ito mapapahalagahan nang tama kapag ibinigay sa atin it...

This is the continuation of my blog  You Reap What You Sow  and yes, I'm gonna talk about ME again. Stature (noun) = the quality or status gained by growth, development, and achievement. Or simply, REPUTATION. I have become fond of gradually asking those whom I just met, - what's your (first) impression of me? And here are the most common answers I always get: snob. serious. scary.  I had learned to accept it since almost everyone thought of me like that...before. Yes, I might be a snob - I seemed snob. Yes, I am definitely serious. No, I am not that scary. The latter impression would be hopefully removed once people get to know me. I had that reputation in school. It didn't come from me, so just we're clear; it came from the people I asked, or at least that's what they thought. Honestly, I built that kind of image and I don't regret having such a reputation. I wished to be dignified, to be worthy of respect, and to have genuine integrity. And I ...

Hi, Stutterers! This blog is about the PERKS OF BEING ME. Recent events have made me write this one and I thought - it deserves to be written. "What is it like to be you?" I know my friends or even people who just simply know me have asked this question in their mind but never actually asked me. Let me ask back the same question to you, what is it like to be you? Pause for a moment and contemplate... (contemplate = think about profoundly.... profoundly = deeply) /naks! You learned a new word! 😂😁/ Pause for a moment and think about it deeply,  what is it like to be you? What does it feel to be like me? One afternoon, as I walk down the hill from school, I saw my classmate - or it's more likely... my classmate saw me. He was riding a motorcycle (I know it wasn't his) and offered me a ride home. That struck me. Before I actually made my mind, I had found myself riding behind him. It seems that I took his offer instantly even I don't usually ...

"Are you serious with this? What if we get caught?" she stated nervously while we're trying to climb up the walls using an old monoblock chair.  "Don't worry. Just trust me," I affirmed.  I assisted and lifted her up until we're both standing above the thick wall. I led the steps while our hands were tightly tied together. I was very careful because a wrong step could cause us to fall.  "I would definitely kill you when something bad happens to us,” she still sound hesitant. “You know that I would never let that to happen,” I assured.   I grabbed her hand tighter and pulled her closer.  “Take a step here…be careful,” I instructed her while guiding her up to the roof.  She took her first step and it created a loud rustle sound from the irons. We were worried whether we alarmed the neighbors inside. She gazed at me and gave me a silly grin; I gestured her to be cautious and to continue moving. I followed her step which...

“Learn from the past,” they always say. There is always something from the past that reminds our present what may happen in the future. Indeed, Time is a playful thing, so is literature. Imagine what its beauty does to a human soul; it has become an integral part of our culture and history, has served our lessons, and has created more creative minds. Isn’t literature that powerful? An epic story, a lyrical poem, a simple narrative, or even just a word has the power to make a difference.  Aside from lesson, styles, and conventions, what can we learn from literature? Aside from history, predictions, and glory, what can we obtain from the past? I think there’s only one thing, one word rather, that may best describe how it can shape our future.  CHANGE .  The literature of the past helps us change; it changes people. From the Bible to the dictionary, from historical accounts to new discoveries, a written word is evident. These works make a difference. It is agre...

When we talk about relationships, we all have different perspectives. You might have a friend who shares the way you view relationships, and of course - a friend who does not share yours. We set standards, ideal ones, to what kind of relationship we want. We have this set of things we wish to experience with a particular person at a particular time (a person that we wish to exist). But if you're one kind of unconventional, one who does not have desires but still has standards, good for you. I hope you're looking for substance . A friend once asked me for an advice about the girl he's pursuing. He wanted to hear my say and I simply answered, "Look for Substance."  He didn't get it. "If that girl has substance, pursue her," I said. I gave him time to contemplate what it means; he then told me the things he sees on the girl he likes. "She's beautiful, she's talented, she can sing and dance, and I think we have the same waveleng...

Have you ever been in a situation wherein you thought you'd die? Have you experienced any incident that you could have been into a serious tragedy? Have you encountered any life-threatening scenarios? No matter how minor or catastrophic it is, you absolutely asked yourself, "what if it actually killed me?"  Were you ready to die at that very moment? Are you?  I experienced an incident just today, while I am traveling somewhere to have my hair cut. Something happened; something that left me asking what would have happened?  Am I ready to die? I have just discovered that I am not ready to - not just yet. I haven't thought of that actually. I have never asked myself that seriously... if am I ready to?  I could not explain the feeling. I cannot find the words to properly articulate my sentiments. My mind's bombarded by thoughts and what-ifs. What could have happened? What would have happened? Could I make it? Would I survive it?  This has become a great...

“Does money make the world go round?” I suppose one has already thought of the same question. But what is money? How does the world go round? How can money make the world go round? If you were asked the same question, would you agree with me when I answer that money does make the world go round? And if it does, would you disagree with me when I say that money is life?     Money is life itself. You cannot live without it. That’s it; it’s just it. Do you agree? Would you disagree? I suppose you cannot unless you can go live without money in your pockets, in your wallet… unless you can go live without buying food, without purchasing anything for survival… unless you can go live without eating, drinking, studying, wanting, and needing anything. You can disagree with me that money is NOT life; you can only disagree with me if you can live without money AT ALL. But why is that? Have you ever wondered why we cannot live without money? Have you ever asked yourself how does ...

Our life is like seasons. It changes over time. Different disasters will come. Different challenges will surprise us. There comes a time when we’re in downfall like a dead leaf on the road. But remember, seasons change, so are we. Our life is in constant. If we fall, we can rise and if we’re broken, we must fix ourselves. Expect the season that we’re above the trials and obstacles in life and expect the season that our only enemy is the wild wind that will test us if we can survive. We need to get hurt for us to feel. We need to suffer for us to learn. We need to fail for us to succeed. We need to know for us to understand. We need to be broken for us to learn how to fix ourselves. We need to change for us to be accepted. That’s life. It’s full of challenges, pain, sufferings, lessons, failures, and catastrophes. There’s nothing we can do but just to deal with it.  Change. It is the only constant thing in this world. Everything has changed. Everything changes. Everything ...

Do you ever wonder what happens after you did something to someone, or someone did something onto you? What happens? What do you think will happen then? What if it didn't happen at all? --- What happens if you hurt the one you love? What happens if you betray the one who trusts you? What happens if you leave someone who stayed for you? What happens if you speak to someone you never spoke to? What happens if you ask someone a question? What happens if you do something that someone never expected you to? What happens if you break something you didn't mean to? What happens if you disrespected someone who highly respects you? What happens? --- What will happen then if the one you love hurts you? What will happen then if the one you trust betrays you? What will happen then if someone left you when you stayed for them? What will happen then if someone you never spoke to suddenly speaks to you? What will happen then if someone eventually questions you...

Sa Kaharian ng Dagatanra ay may dalawang magkaibigan. Umusbong ang pagkakaibigan nila noong maliliit pa sila. Magkaibigan din ang mga magulang nila. Palagi rin silang nagkakasundo sa mga kalokohan ng bawat isa. Isang araw, pumasok sa isip ni Bugoy na pumunta sa kweba ng isang higanteng ahas habang nakikinig sa kwento ng isang matandang daga. Ang higanteng ahas ay ang nakaalitan noon ng kanilang pinuno. Ipinagtanggol ni Haring Mapatangra pati ng mga mandirigmang daga ang kanilang mamamayan dahil nanggugulo ang mga higanteng ahas sa palasyo subalit maraming nasawi sa sagupaan na iyon. Alam ng magkaibigan ang nangyari noon sa palasyo pero hindi nagdalawang isip si Bugoy. “Buboy, pumunta tayo sa kweba ng higanteng ahas?” hiling niya sa kaibigan. “Bakit? anong gagawin natin doon?” patanong na sabi ni Buboy. “Gusto ko kasing makita ang itsura ng ahas.” “Ha? Ano ka ba? Alam natin na mapanganib sa kweba?” “Eh ano naman! Basta, sumama ka nalang kasi! ” malinaw na sinabi niya sa kaibigan. “Si...

A ng buhay raw ay mahalaga, kaya ito raw ay nararapat lang na maingatan. Mahalaga nga ba ito o sa atin lang nagmumula ang kaisipan na ganito? Tunay na mahalaga ang buhay. “Malamang,” sagot ng karamihan. Sino nga ba ang makakapagsabi ng tunay na kahalagan nito kung hindi tayo lamang na may taglay nito; ang may-BUHAY. Likas  sa atin na sabihin na mahalaga ito. Subalit pinapahalagahan ba talaga natin ito? Kung iisipin, hindi. Hindi natin ito pinapahalagan tulad ng pagpapahalaga na naaayon sa inaakala. Ikaw? Paano mo pinapahalagahan ang buhay? Ako? Hindi ko rin alam kung paano ko maisasatitik kung paano. Mahirap at komplikado; hindi madali at hindi sigurado. Gaano kahalaga ang buhay para sa’yo? Mahalaga ito tulad ng pagpapahalaga mo sa cellphone na dinaramayan ka sa tuwing wala kang kasama at magawa. Mahalaga ito tulad ng paborito mong damit na ayaw na ayaw mong masuot ng iba nang walang permiso mula sa’yo. Mahalaga ito tulad ng mga luho mong may mataas ng h...

Torpe! Torpe! Torpe! Isang salita na tumutukoy sa taong hindi mailabas ang kanyang damdamin. Maraming ganyan lalo na sa panliligaw. May taong gustong gusto mo subalit hindi mo masabi kasi TORPE ka. Gusto mo siyang makausap at makasama kaso hindi mo kaya kasi nga TORPE ka. Nais mong lumapit at sabihin ang nararamdaman mo pero hindi mo magawa kasi TORPE ka. Ano nga ba ang Torpe? Paano mo masasabing Torpe ang isang lalaki? Mismo ako, masasabi ko na ako ay isang torpeng lalaki. Nahihiya, nangangamba, nanghihina ang loob at higit sa lahat natatakot mareject, ganyan na ganyan ang saktong nararamdaman ng isang torpeng lalaki. Kahit gusto mo ang isang tao, mahihiya ka kasi baka hindi ka pansinin o kausapin kapag lumapit ka. Nangangamba ka kung anong mangyayari, kung ayos lang ba sa kanya kapag sinabi mo ang nararamdaman mo. Manghihina ang loob mo sa takot na baka ireject ka kapag nagtapat ka sa kanya. Ang pagiging torpe ng isang lalaki ay nakadepende rin sa babaeng nagugustuhan niy...