Growing up as a Catholic kid, surrounded by a Muslim setting really helped me understand the difference and the similarities of both faiths. As I've come to live in the motherland, I've learnt about the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) in Mindanao. Sad as it maybe, they apparently have guerilla wars with our own armed forces. From a different point of view, it's sad to see that Filipinos are fighting fellow Filipinos simply because of a difference of belief and cultural traditions. At some points I seem to blame the media, and all it seems to show of the Muslim faith. Without knowing the history and actual cultures, it may seem even barbaric at times, but who's to say cultural practices of the Catholics aren't barbaric to them? A mutual understanding and respect for both is very much needed in our culture.

As I was out studying in Krispy Kreme as I always do, I noticed a lot of Muslim Filipinos in the mall to celebrate Aidilfitri or the end of Ramadhan. In Brunei, I was exposed to a nation where the Muslims were much richer and they have the chance to celebrate accordingly, but in a nation where we supposedly promote equality, it just seems that we don't give our Muslim brothers and sisters enough freedom to express their culture and special celebrations. It's very rare here that I see a commercial or public message wishing our Muslim friends a happy Ramadhan or end of the season. Faith is a choice, but it doesn't make one better than the other. We should all try to meet on the same page and somehow I'm sure it would probably help bring our nation closer and avoid more conflicts. At the end of the day, we are all FILIPINOs, do not forget. Happy Aidilfitri and God bless us all...

Why do we think? When we know we're suppose to act more than think more. Yes, thinking before acting is uber important, but over thinking tends to drown us, agree? When was the last time you sat in a corner and thought about everything that has come into social contact with you; from the people to the situations of your surroundings both international and national. For numerous years of our lives, haven't we all just been searching for a cause? Here there, basically we try everything we can until we get that "This is it" feeling from it. Haha I'm sure we all go through this stage of identity, but where we end up is really His choice, it is written in stone. He has His reasons for the leaves being green, for the sky being blue and for you being alive, you just need to climb the Mountain of Life to actually see the horizon of what you're supposed to achieve. We'll get there, give it time, give it patience. God bless, and continue to dream...

Since the last time I blogged, there just has been too many things/stuff going on, so I haven't really gotten the time to update the blog that much. Although, in a reality that seems to be filled with endless hypes and fads of sorts, you can really get caught up in the flow of that wild rapid. I wish to blog about my nation. In the political setting of my country-a democratic, yet seems to be an oligarchy in some areas-you don't really know what to believe. From the most heartfelt advertisements during elections, to the very strong speeches they deliver; you gotta ask yourself, is their an agenda? Lately, I really don't find the point in caring anymore, because in our nation, you are nothing without power.

For now I concentrate in making the lives of others better, anyway I can, and along the way learn more about why I'm living. Conditions don't seem to be changing for any of us. I don't blame anyone, because putting blame on someone just shows you have no faith in the goodness of people around you. Unfortunately, in a country that used 'UNITY' to beat a leader drunk with power, it isn't that unified at all; not one bit. The whole 'crab mentality' hype is always thrown around a lot, and somehow it seems to be spreading. Upon reading articles, comments and opinions about the Azkals and the PH Dragonboat team being compared, I just couldn't accept it. Why can't we support both of them? I mean, at the end of the day, they're doing this for our country and nothing else. Both teams were never cared for, and no one ever gave a damn whether they won or lost, they were just there. But thanks to some die hard fans of both sports taking notice, they both started to get the recognition they deserve. Yes, the Azkals are hitting the front page of the media a lot lately, but that doesn't mean we should compare a team that is still developing in their field. 5 Gold medals, is not easy to do; especially for a team that has nothing but their dedication and passion as sponsors when they face other countries.

They all just want the best for our nation; being that we aren't really in the spotlight of the global setting both economically and socially. The next time you see a Filipino do greatness, smile and be proud. The next time a Filipino does something stupid or wrong, it doesn't mean all are the same. One rotten apple doesn't destroy them all; no one's perfect. So tomorrow, I wish to walk out to face my everyday and hope that people will start to think more about others, than to think about themselves. Remember "Love your neighbors as you love yourselves", NEIGHBORS come 1st; think about it.