WHAT HAS BEEN BROKEN IS BROKEN

"Nothing is ever truly broken". That is the philosophy behind the ancient Japanese Arts of Kintsugi, which repairs smashed pottery by using beautiful seams of gold. This practice started way, way back in the 15th Century when Japanese Military Commander Ashikaga Yoshimasa accidentally broke one of his favorite Chinese tea pot.

(picture taken from BBC Arts Get Creative)

Because he loves so much the tea pot, Commander Yoshimasa went to repair shop to get it fixed.But he was dismay over the result. From then on, Japanese Craftsmen come up with more pleasing method of repair.

As you can see it from the illustration above and because of the treatment and application being applied no trace of evidence that it was formerly broken into pieces.

I wish that this method of fixing broken teapots either made of glass or ceramic can also be applied in our relationship once it was broken into pieces.

Carrie Jones, Entice said;"You know, life fractures us all into little pieces. It harms us, but it's how we glue those fractures back together that makes us stronger."

He sounds realistic. Fixing life fractures is not easy at all. Experience will tell us how difficult it is. There are times that we almost lost our sanity. But thank God, we survived!

Yes, it made us even more stronger. But the traces of scars is always there because what has been broken is broken.

FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY

I DEDICATE THIS VIDEO TO LIBYA ESPECIALLY TO THEIR LEADERS AND THEIR PEOPLE IN GENERAL THAT FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY AND FOR THE LOVE OF THEIR COUNTRY A HUG IS A BETTER ALTERNATIVE FOR WAR.

I wish for a peaceful solution for the political and social unrest in Libya.

SHEDDING TEARS

To weep is to make less the depth of grief, this is what Shakespeare once wrote. I believe he is right. In many instances, I cried. But what I am crying for?

This morning, I received a text and a sort of reminder that says "Happy Birth Day Papa" my location is unknown to my kids because I do not want them to know my present whereabouts.  Though they know that I live not very far from them. 

When I read the message, my tears begins to form in my eyes and suddenly teardrops flowing, rolling and dropping. Much more when part of the message says, "PAPA WE WISH FOR YOUR HAPPINESS."

As I write this article, I need to pause for a while and wipes out my tears not only once but repeatedly over and over again.

I wish you can relate with my story. I was a Frustrated Father and Disheartened Husband. My simple dream vanishes away.

I never expected that things like this will happen to me. How I wish I can bring back those times when my kids were still young and from there reverse the situation so that it will have a different outcome.

Until now, I do not have other family. My kids knew that my relationship with their mother is not so bad but not so good either. And I regret because they are the ones directly affected.

This is day three for me, alone and lonely in my new rented house. I always like this even when I was a kid. At age 6 or 7 my father died and I need to work in my tender age. This explain why I act and behave like this.

I thought my crying is over but I was wrong. I received another text this time coming from my eldest son. The message read like this, 

"PAPA I KNOW I DID A LOT OF THINGS THAT BROKE YOUR HEART PLEASE FORGIVE ME AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO SAY HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU."

It really broke my heart to tears. As a father I have a lot of expectation from my eldest son. I sent him to seminary to give him a good education only to find out later that he is not studying he keep this thing secret with connivance of his mother.

I give him another chance to study a course which he likes but then again he blew his chance. For so long I kept this grudge in my heart against my son. And he knew it. Even if you have a heart made of stone when you heard these words from your sons/daughter it will break it to pieces. This explains Why I Am Crying.

According to Dr. Frey people shed tears on the following reasons:

* Sadness accounts for 49 percent of tears;
* Happiness for 21 percent;
* Anger for 10 percent;
* Sympathy, 7 percent;
* Anxiety, 5 percent;
* Fear, 4 percent.

But science attest to the truth that a person feels better after crying. Yes I feel better after crying. Researchers says that crying is good for three reasons it reduces tensions, remove toxins, and increase the body's ability to heal itself.

"WHAT HITLER IS AFRAID OF"

It is interesting to know how Hitler rose into power. During his reign, this fearless and  invincible guy seemed to feared nothing and dared no one.

Controlling the hearts and minds of his followers put him to status- quo as one of the world's influential leaders. His influence still exist and live especially in communist countries.

But it has been said that Hitler feared three things in his life. He is afraid of Alcohol, Drugs and Religion. These are the three personal nemesis of Hitler.

ALCOHOL

Alcohol affects human mind. Alcohol drinkers experienced euphoria. Once alcohol controlled the mind of a person it converts him to a seeming new creatures, uncontrollable and behave wildly.

Hitler knew that a person under the influence of liquor cannot adhere to his teachings and cannot become his subject.

DRUGS

Drugs in any form unless used for medical treatment and purposes becomes illegal. It is also becomes a mind pollutants or viruses. A person totally dependent on drugs is not capable of doing what is right and conscientious. Hitler knew it.

RELIGION

Religious fanaticism is best known as believers is very dangerous and can be psychologically damaging. I'd been a pastor for more than 25 years but never resulted to brainstorm members of my congregation.

Hitler was very successful in subduing these three namely, alcohol, drugs and religion. In the process Communism dominates the waves and becomes the most influential system of belief.

But like the three predecessors, communism not lasted for long. To believe is one thing but to be subject to ones belief is another thing.

ADD INCOME, NOT COST

This article was inspired by a text conversation between a business guru and his business disciple which the former published in his article in the classified section of the Manila Bulletin dated January 23, 2011.

After graduation, the business disciple opened a food cart business. The sales was not good enough. So he contacted his guru to seek an advice. Like any gurus in other fields, this guru is ever willing to help his troubled disciple and extend his helping hands to him.

By the way, teaching is not only confined in the four corners of the classrooms. There are so much to learn outside the classrooms. And you will be exposed to many problems before you becomes an expert.

Figuring out the problem, the guru asked this basic question:

Does the location, the place where his food cart business is located have traffic? Meaning, if there are a lot of people coming in and out or passing by. This guiding principles is very important in any business endeavours. Profit is largely base on traffic. Less people can be equated to limited income opportunities. More people can be translated to a potential profit opportunities.

The student said yes, but the people passing by is not my food cart  target people. My target people is the upper middle class people. In this point I hope the student or disciple  come to his senses and learn another important business guiding principle. Business is at his best when traffic and market meets.

The guru's recommendation:

In my own opinion, the guru gave his student the best advise. Since the business caters to upper middle class type of people and the traffic are the masses, his advice is to adapt to his location by adding products that suit to the masses. This way, he/she can generate additional sales.

The students thoughts that adding new products means adding new equipments but this is not the way to do it according to his/her business mentor. Don't manufacture products, sell the ready made ones. Adding additional costs defeat the purpose of adding additional income.

I hope you learned and reminded from this simple truth of running your business. Think of additional income by adding additional products without adding additional costs.

By the way, the person I am talking  that I drew my inspiration to write this blog is "BIZMAKER" MARK SO. In closing he said, "THE PERSON WHO UNDERSTAND HOW TO SELL AND TAKE PROFIT WITHOUT ADDING COSTS WILL ALWAYS WIN IN THE LONG RUN."

 Add income not costs!

MARRYING A FILIPINA III

DECIDING TO MARRY SOMEONE IS NOT SO MUCH CRUCIAL TO FOREIGN NATIONAL COMPARED TO US FILIPINOS WHERE DIVORCED IS NOT ALLOWED.

SO WHEN THE MARRIAGE DOES NOT WORK COUPLE RESORTED TO LEGAL SEPARATION A WRITTEN AGREEMENT ADMINISTERED BY LAWYERS OR BARANGAY OFFICIALS.

IN THIS KIND OF SETTLEMENT, BOTH ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE A NEW PARTNER AND LIVE TOGETHER AS COMMON LAW HUSBAND AND WIFE BUT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RE-MARRY.

ANNULMENT OF MARRIAGE IS ANOTHER OPTION BUT ONLY FEW PEOPLE CAN AFFORD IT. ASIDE FROM BEING COSTLY (PHP 100,000.00– 200.000.00), IT TAKES 6 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR BEFORE THE PROPER COURT DECIDE THE CONTRACT OF MARRIAGE NULL AND VOID.

MARRIAGE PREREQUISITE FOR FOREIGN NATIONAL:

1. LEGAL CAPACITY

2. BIRTH CERTIFICATE

3. CONSENT TO MARRIAGE OF A PERSON UNDER AGE (18-20 years old)

4. ADVICE OF PARENTS (21-25 years old)

5. DIVORCED PAPER (for divorcee)

6. XEROX COPY OF PASSPORT (front and arrival page)

SECURING A MARRIAGE LICENSE:

1. DULLY ACCOMPLISHED APPLICATION FORM FOR MARRIAGE LICENSE

2. DULLY ACCOMPLISHED CONSENT OF PARENTS FORM (18-20 years old)

3. DULLY ACCOMPLISHED ADVICE OF PARENTS FORM (21-25 years old)

4. MUST ATTEND 2DAYS SEMINAR (marriage counselling and family planning)

5. ELEVEN WORKING DAYS WAITING PERIOD.

UPON THE RELEASE OF YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE, YOU CAN CONTRACT MARRIAGE ANYWHERE IN THE PHILIPPINES TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN EMAIL ME OR POST YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO SERVE YOU.

MARRYING FILIPINA II

ONCE YOU DECIDED TO VISIT THE WOMAN YOU WANT TO BE A BETTER HALF, THINK FOR A MOMENT AND DON’T RUSH UP THINGS. A CAREFUL AND SYSTEMATIC PLANNING WILL KEEP YOU AWAY FROM TROUBLES AND EMBARRASSMENT.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION

HOW MUCH MONEY YOU CAN AFFORD TO SPEND? THE REASON I ASK THIS IS FOR YOU TO USE AND SPEND YOUR MONEY WISELY. BEFORE VISITING YOUR GIRLFRIEND, ASK HER IF THERE IS AN ACCOMMODATION READY FOR YOU IN THEIR HOME.

BY DOING THIS YOU CAN SAVE A LOT OF MONEY. INSTEAD OF STAYING IN A HIGH RATE HOTELS, APARTELLES AND CONDOS, STAYING WITH YOUR GIRLFRIENDS GUEST ROOM WILL GIVE YOU AN EDGE TO KNOW YOUR GIRLFRIEND MORE.

AND YOU HAVE TIME TO MINGLE AND INTER-ACT WITH HER FAMILY.

YOU CAN USE YOUR SAVINGS BUYING FOODS, GROCERIES AND OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS NOT ONLY FOR YOU BUT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND THE PURPOSE OF YOUR VISIT AHEAD OF TIME. DON’T GIVE HER FALSE ASSURANCE. IF YOUR VISIT IS TO KNOW HER  AS WELL AS HER FAMILY,  TELL HER FRANKLY.  IF YOU ARE REALLY SERIOUS OF MARRYING, HER GIVE HER TIME TO PREPARE HERSELF AND THE DOCUMENTS NEEDED.

BE SURE THAT YOU ALSO BRING YOUR NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TOO (I WILL TACKLE IT IN MY NEXT ARTICLE THE MARRIAGE REQUISITES UNDER THE PHILIPPINE LAW). WATCH FOR IT. YOUR INTENTION MUST BE PROPERLY COMMUNICATED.

MAXIMIZING YOUR VACATION

TRUE HAPPINESS CAN’T BE BOUGHT. NO AMOUNT OF MONEY CAN SUBSTITUTE A PERSON’S HAPPINESS. VISITING ANOTHER COUNTRY WILL GIVE YOU THRILLS, EXCITEMENTS, MEMORIES AND UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES IN LIFE.

BONDING MOMENTS WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND SOMEWHERE IN THE BEACH OF BORACAY IS ONE OF THE ESCAPADES YOU CAN DO. YOU CAN ALSO TRY MOUNTAIN CLIMBING OR BIKING IN MOUNT SIERRA MADRE IN LAGUNA, OR GO BOATING WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND IN PAGSANJAN FALLS.

YOU AND YOUR GIRLFRIEND CAN ALSO GO TO BOHOL WHERE FAMOUS CHOCOLATE HILLS IS LOCATED AND TARSIERS THE SMALLEST MONKEYS ARE FOUND.

THE MOUNTAINOUS AREAS OF TAGAYTAY AND BAGUIO CITY IS A RECOMMENDED PLACE FOR LOVERS. YOU CAN DO THESE THINGS BEFORE OR AFTER THE WEDDING.