Thoughts after watching Soul Surfer

After watching the movie, Soul Surfer, I am inspired to reach for my dreams more than ever. If Bethany Hamilton can set the world on fire, I can too. But I don’t want to set the world on fire, literally and figuratively. I don’t want to be famous. I just want to make a living by doing what I love to do, which is writing, and have a comfortable life. I want to author a book. I want to be the next Gilda Olvidado – one of the best Filipino novelists. Well, I am not saying that I am as talented as Ms. Olvidado, my gulay! she’s the bestest of the best! She is the writer behind novels that became blockbuster movies in Philippine cinema:

  1. Sinasamba kita
  2. Babangon ako at dudurugin kita
  3. Kung mahahawi man ang ulap
  4. Magkano ang iyong dangal?
  5. Pinulot ka lang sa lupa
  6. Ina, kasusuklaman ba kita?
  7. Saan nagtatago ang pag-ibig

All I’m saying is that I want to be like her.  So, yeah. I’m bragging again. That is why I always tell in my blog entries that whatever you read in my blogs, don’t believe it. Haha! It’s just me, nagging and writing my thoughts. In truth, I’m not confident. I read somewhere that bloggers should not call themselves writers because that would be an insult to those who studied years to become a writer. But Gilda Olvidado did not finish college and yet she is the best Filipino writer ever. Her works are classic. So, I’m thinking that people who set rules and standards suck :D You don’t need a diploma in creative writing from UP Diliman to become a writer. Writing is innate, a passion. You don’t learn it. You must be born with it. JOKE!. Maybe Gilda Olvidado is exceptionally talented. But because I’m not at all talented, I will definitely need some training from a prestigious university to master the art of writing.

 

A very intelligent comment

I have a blogging dilemma and it all started with a very intelligent comment from an accidental visitor.

Hey….I just read your blog while surfing the net, it is good to know that there are talented Filipinos working their ass on the online world. I am a writer too, I understand that we all have our own ways of expressing what we feel and sharing our experiences. However, no offense, I just find you kind of “bragging” than sharing your stories. I hope on your next blogs, you rather “share” your experiences to motivate other people who are interested in writing. Just a piece of advice, it would be better to share your talent in the right way by being a catalyst of inspiration to those who have talent same as yours but were not blessed to have the same opportunities. See you in odesk….who knows, we might be on the same team.

The problem? I realized that I am an irresponsible blogger. When I blog, I only think about myself. Although I try not to offend other people, I also don’t intend to serve as an inspiration. I can’t possibly inspire others. I’m not successful and if anything, I’m just a struggling freelancer. I can’t even call myself a writer cuz that would be an insult to those who studied years to become a professional writer. Anyway, when I first read the comment, I wanted to laugh. After writing about my insecurities and failures and bad experiences, people think I’m bragging.  So, I’m bragging. But I read again that post and realized that I really sounded like “bragging.” Suddenly, I am embarrassed. Suddenly, I felt the urge to just terminate my blogs and just stop blogging. Don’t get me wrong, I am not in any way offended by that comment. On the contrary, I think that it’s what they call “constructive criticism.” It’s just that suddenly, I feel that having 4 blogs is not worth my time.  It’s not beneficial to me or to anyone.

Re-post: My Blog Reviews

Originally posted in my old blog on November 5, 2008

I must admit that blogging is a pretty darn good thing. It gives me the opportunity to express myself and I get to meet a lot of people from different sites of the world. Geez! I feel genuinely flattered everytime somebody tells me that he/she enjoyed my post! My blog has become one of the many things that make me happy :) But of course, I have my fair share of negative comments saying my posts are “boring” and “nonsense” and there was even a time when someone told me “your post ruined my night!” Huh?! I mean…really? That’s amazing! :) How did I do that? LOL! Maybe I should call the papers haha! Sorry, I might sound sarcastic, but I refuse to dwell on negative things so I’d rather shrug it off :)

Anyway, here are some of my favorite reviews to my blog:

Love the web site. Your article on online dating is captivating. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. Everything you said is “Oh, so true.” When my lovely wife of almost 40 years died with ovarian cancer I found myself very lonely with no idea where to look for companionship. It didn’t take long to find out that online dating was a waste of time. Problem out there is that everyone is looking for a “Pin-up” when the reflection they see in the mirror is anything but. Your web site loaded very quickly and was easily navigated. Keep up the good work and may God bless –  http://angelsleeping.excitemerchant.com/ (link no longer working :( )

This is a blog where contents come out from the blogger automatically – her expressions, feelings, joys and sorrows add undeniable charms to this very special blog; so far as color and design is concerned – it is mind blowing. At present, if you visit this blog – you will get to learn a lot of inputs of Christmas shopping. The post entitled ‘Christmastime’ has a very intimate personal touch! Keep it up – http://fancyshoppe.blogspot.com

I never really loved yellow but oh well, I like your yellow site! :) I had fun reading your thoughts as well, you can express them huh! The “Analysis of An Imbecile Mind” is a riot, makes me think of my own life, hahaha! Anyway, I love the simple look of your blog site, not cluttered with unimportant stuff, very neat and organized. It reflects the single woman in you. Keep posting! I’ll keep reading! Have a great day :) -http://littlenicholas.com (link is no longer working :( )

Love your blog, you sense of humor, your writing style. Yes. I love your blog, in short. Loads fast, which is one of the reasons why it it not so hard to come back again and again and again. Added you to my favorites, by the way :)http://randomwahmthoughts.blogspot.com

Thanks to your comment, I had found your site earlier today. I enjoyed that visit and was pleasantly surprised to find a new post from you since then. You have a great conversational writing style and sense of humor. Best of luck with the continued success of your blog, and I will look forward to future postings. -http://thefurrytripod.wordpress.com (the blog is now set to private)

Your websites header and graphics were awesome. The posts were very entertaining. I liked your online dating article. I found it very interesting because I keep telling my sister to try online dating – http://www.thebreathingpost.blogspot.com (link is no longer working :( )

Your site was easy to read and fun! I used to live in the Philippines when I was a child and your posts and pictures brought back many memories- The simple layout works great! Thanks! – http://prairieranch.blogspot.com

Nice reviews inspire me to continue blogging. While the not so good ones remind me that I’m not perfect and that it is impossible to please everybody :)

Cheers!

Note: Some links are no longer working so I didn’t link back but the reviews are much appreciated so I keep a copy.

Pay or Die

Don’t even think about it. You will have to pay my $110 on June 1st or else I’m going to pester you FOREVER until you concede and pay the money which I’ve worked hard for. Or better yet, I’m going to delete all the links in the sponsored posts which I wrote for you. And every time I will find the time to blog, I will always blog about how you scammed me and why other bloggers shouldn’t trust your company. I know it’s not due date yet but what the f*! My instinct is telling me that you are planning to scam me. Plus the things I read about you from the net is kinda confirming my suspicions. I hope I am wrong. I hope that what they say about you is not true. I hope that this is just me getting paranoid. I still hope that you’re going to send the full payment on the first week of June. But until June 1, I have no right to reveal your name. Or maybe until the second week of June. You actually remind me of Sally (that’s her real name). She always tells me that she’s going to pay her debt on this day or on that day but after more than a year of false promises, she still hasn’t paid the money which she owes me. That’s the reason why I revealed her true name. She’s a shameless b*tch who doesn’t know how to pay back. I will understand if she still can’t afford to pay her debts. But she’s really a heartless byotch. One time she told me her nephew is in the hospital so the money which she was supposed to pay me went to the medicines, bills, and I don’t know … she’s a liar. Anyway, I told her that I understand and that I am willing to wait until next payday. Thing is, a few days after our conversation, I just saw her wearing a new pair of sandals which she bought from one of our officemates. The total price of the sandals is P700 for two pairs. GRRR 2 pairs and I cannot even afford one. P350 each. To think that I even suggested installment basis, P100 every 5th and 20th. Now, if she has some plans of paying me back, she could have just gotten a pair then given me P100. Her debt is not that much. Just P1400. Yes, it’s not much but it’s something. I’m not rich! But wait, there’s more! That’s not the only incident. On other occasions, she told me she’s going to pay TOMORROW and I was so stupid to be all excited and happy only to realize that tomorrow is SATURDAY! No work =( Truth is, I’ve already forgotten the other incidents when she intentionally lied to me. So, yeah. Sally’s face is so thick she deserves a big exposure in my blog. Going back to my $110, YOU, yes you! Send me the full amount on June 1 or I’m going to give you plenty of exposures in all of my 4 blogs. All you people who don’t know how to pay, why can’t you just die, huh? Sally thinks she outsmart me. People also say that I’m stupid. But here is what I know: I’m working hard as in really hard to sustain myself. I don’t need to scam other people to earn money. They say I’m stupid because I cannot force Sally to pay her debt. But I will never be ashamed to face any of them because it is SALLY who should be ashamed.

LSS and scrubs

Have you ever heard about the last song syndrome? I have this habit of singing the last song I heard over and over and over again. It’s quite embarrassing. For instance, when I heard my officemate sang No scrubs by TLC, it bugged my mind and for the rest of the day until midnight, I kept on singing it just like a broken record.

In another incident, somebody was singing an adult song that goes like “a few stolen moments is all that we share, you have a family and they need you there.” I didn’t notice that I was also singing and humming the same song. Then another person teased me saying I seem to be relating to that song very well. Bad, bad joke! I think that song is about being a mistress. Eew.

So anyway, I was in the hospital looking after my newly born nephew when that incident happened. I think I unintentionally sang the song out of boredom. I didn’t even know I was singing it. All I know was that my eyes were focused on those nursing students wearing cute medical scrubs. They look very tidy in that uniform. Although, I am not in favor of students practicing on real patients, that’s the way it is in government hospitals, somehow seeing them around is an eye candy. They are simply adorable-looking.

I didn’t know that scrubs for men are equally nice. In fact, I used to think that being a nurse is a woman’s job. So, it’s a bit awkward to see male nurses. It made me think if that was really their ambition in life. Aren’t men supposed to dream about becoming a pilot or a police or a ship captain? Or was it just a practical decision? It’s easier for nurses to find a decent job abroad.

Before I went home that afternoon, I volunteered to buy my nephew’s medicine. There are a lot of pharmacies and drug stores in front of the hospital but I also noticed that scrub stores are also everywhere. Maybe they just bought their uniform in those stores. But if were them I’d order my scrubs from Blueskyscrubs.com where simple, colorful and fashionable medical uniforms are available.