Writing a Simple Young Filipino Poem

Being a Filipino takes pride for every individual who practice Filipino cultures and proud of being who we are. Poem below created by my daughter and I in an effort to accomplish a project in Araling Panlipunan Grade 3 level.

The project is to create a poem describing the adorable physical traits she have and why she adores it.

ANG KAIBIG-IBIG KONG AKO

Tula ni Jahaziah Castillo

Buhok ko ay itim at mahaba

Mga mata ko ay tsinita

Ilong ko ay matangos, labi'y manipis

Balat ko ay kayumangging makinis

23 Brilliant Life Lessons from Anthony Bourdain

If you do not know Anthony Bourdain, he is an American chef, author, and television personality. He is widely known for his 2000 book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, and in 2005 he began hosting the Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure programs Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and The Layover. 

I usually watch him on cable with all his travels and food trips experiencing different culinary culture or food explorations all over the globe. It gives me new hindsights what the other countries are offering and provides awareness to those who are confined in their own country.

Sharing these 23 life lessons from the man himself, truly very inspiring.

1.) “Skills can be taught. Character you either have or you don't have.”

Our "More Than Century Old" Piano

The old piano we have in the home province is a record of many memories for 5 generations. Serving me as the 5th generation who played as amateur, not even a piece of the skilled great-great relatives who mastered the art of music. The piano has been with the family since late 1800s as told by my grandaunt who currently lives in the old house. It has been passed by next generation to the other who has the love and mastery of playing it. I think the last person who still has the mastery of it is still our grandaunt, currently residing.

Some of us luckily had the chance to play it with enthusiasm but never acquired the high level of mastery of it. Maybe of the advent of technology that we joined and moved into web games and social media? Am not sure... but evidence shows that none of us in the current generation advanced in playing the piano instrument.

Have Some Cotton Candy

Sugary sweet is what I can savor from this good old puffy candy. It has been with us for many years, even when I was a toddler. Flavors may differ, transforms into many forms, and yet when you have it, happy memories comes with it. 

Either events like town fiesta, kid's party, school activities, family gathering, or just roaming around, this cotton candy never get out of the trend. '

Even sadness or desperation kicks in our lives, the sugar from this candy gives a little lift to our raving hearts. 

Afternoon sweetness with Jaha, playing in the park and sightseeing. Cotton candy is everywhere!

Jealous

Jealous is an immature emotion and refers to negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values, such as a relationship, friendship, or love.

I was a kid when I felt this primary emotion. Thriving and competing with our grandmother’s attention. Grandmother’s love is intoxicating with all the concentrated attention of care.  She buys everything that we wanted, spoiling us that even the impossible things that we thrive to acquire, she gave it all. Actually, the competition began when my brother was born. I am envious competing with my brother because of his feebleness that makes him more vulnerable to almost everything.

He was born with poor eyesight, his eyeballs are irregularly shaped like an egg, thus reading and seeing clearly makes it very difficult for him. Every time he eats, our grandmother debones the meat. Every time we go to church or any event, my brother was always on her side, clutching him like a baby. The attention already focused on him and mine to minimal.

How Do You Want To Deal With Your Problems?

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words.

He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.

That afternoon, the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, " Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write? "

My MIRROR Story

Last September 8, I was down with high fever and obviously I didn't make it to the office to work.

When I returned, September 9, my table was a mess but a desk mirror caught my eye. I thought, it was perfect since I am actually aiming to bring one. The mirror was framed with light purple and the front glass is sparkly clean. That moment, I was thinking who might be interested in giving me a girl's item? Well, I remembered I spoke a few words regarding a mirror with Dennis, Therese, and Goldie since they already have it on their counter. Actually, I was encouraged to buy one because of them :-)

The Four Types of Person

There are Four Types of Person regarding Time and Money Freedom:

1) People with no time and money. They have no time because they must devote themselves to work. And they have no money because they have to pay their bills and expenses everytime they receive their salary, leaving them broke every end of the month. The funny thing about this is that I belong to this group before. I used to be an employee and as a youngster in the corporate world you know the money I earn is not enough so I have to overwork just for my ends meet. Since I'm also assisting my mom's medical expenses.

2) People with time but no money. Because they don't have work, they have lots of free time. And because they don't have work, they don't have money. There's no better example here than the people better known as "tambay". Well, this is very easy to find here in the Philippines. Because you can find them anywhere.

A Message of Love

As I was browsing my facebook account today, I came across one of my colleague's quote. I was struck by this message and brought some memories back, and happening 'till now.

So savor this heartfelt significant note especially for those who are applicable for this wonderful quote.

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"You may not be her first, her last, or her only. She loved before and she may love again. But if she loves you now, what else matters? 

Farms, Fruits, and Bees

This is my Toastmaster's Ice Breaker. I originally gave a title "Some Memories of Childhood" but after my audience heard my speech, one suggested that my title should be "Farms, Fruits, and Bees". And I liked it so I changed the previous heading.

Toastmasters’: The Ice Breaker

I started remembering bits of pieces of my childhood activities when I was 4 to 5 years of age. Every morning, I always woke up hearing the soft thud of falling fruits on the ground. I immediately stand up and hurriedly go out of the house to see the new fruit that fell off from the tree. I was always in berserk because it is the moments where I use my senses – I pick up the fruit and smooths it on my palms, smells the sweet fragrant, and describes the colors. I use also my math skills where I count how many produce fell off from the trees. As a kid, I thought this is a simple gift that the sky gave to me every day.

Being a Mother...

re-post, received via email, must read!


After 17 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, "I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you."

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who has been alone for 20 years, but the demands of my work and my two boys had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.

That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.

"What's wrong, aren't you well," she asked?

My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.

Living Below Your Means

There are times that people criticize a person of how he carries himself. The way he dress, the noticeable physical appearance, they check your shoes, your clip, your hair, the pants, your feet, and especially if wearing average clothes unlike those prestigious branded get up that the critic is used to. If they get a chance to peek under your clothes, they might as well check the brand of your underwear and brassiere.

I was once a critic as I used to be because I practically inherited it from my half-blood Spanish grandmother who was really has something to boast for. She came from a well-off family but went to live to middle class because of folks constraints.

The criticism she conveyed was not to degrade the person but act of helping the other improve itself overtime. A gratification that I watched on my toddler years and inevitably carried it to my teens.

The Hugging Therapy

“We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth”


Hugging is healthy. It helps the body’s immune system, it keeps you healthier, it cures depression, it reduces stress, it induces sleep, it’s invigoration, it’s rejuvenating, it has no unpleasant side effects, and hugging is nothing less that a miracle drug.

Cervical Cancer Awareness

Every woman deserves a chance against cervical cancer.

Free seminar awareness on cervical cancer was given by our company for ladies exclusively.

Few minutes away before the seminar to start, we, girls hurriedly went down to take our seats. There are giveaways distributed like brochures, meeting notebook, and pink wristband that indicate Bravehearts: Stronger together for cervical cancer prevention.

The Healing Touch

Have you ever felt down, weary, and stressful? Our body goes in the deeper state of exhaustion when we feel depressed.

But have you ever wonder what could be an instant remedy for this weariness? It’s the human touch.

A warm hug can lighten your spirit whether it is given by friendly manner, passionate, or casual. An instant sensation that you beams up, changes in physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual energy that boost rapid therapy.

Gratitude: To be happy & strong

An inspirational message for you today:

Many people today don't realize that the reason they're not happy, the reason they're not enjoying life is simply because they've trained their minds in the wrong direction. They've trained their mind to worry. They've trained their mind to complain. They've trained their mind to see the negative. But just as we can form these negative mindsets, we can retrain our minds and form positive mindsets. One of the main keys to developing a positive attitude is to learn how to stay grateful. When you stay grateful, you are focusing on what's right rather than what's wrong. This doesn't happen automatically, you have to discipline yourself to focus on the positive. You have to make a conscious effort every single day until a good habit is formed.

I Have Come Too Far!

I have my personal goals to accomplish and I am about to give up due to a very difficult circumstances I am encountering for attaining the reality of what I want. There are so many disturbances and time-wasters that I thought I can never focus on my self. I am sorry I can’t share what it is because, it just like that.

This day, after reading business mails, I decided to look over my personal mails to check if my overseas friends sent an email of any sort of gestures. My eyes dropped and locked on the ministry word of encouragement from Joel & Victoria, one of my many subscriptions of soul food and enlightenment. I have these for so many years because our body not only needs physical nurturing but also our soul to strengthen our spirit and relationship to the Almighty. After digesting of what I read, it’s a sure sign that I must go on with the plan.

The 'Middle Wife'

by Anonymous 2nd-grade teacher

I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.  

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame.. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome.  

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.  

My Natural Cure for Sleepless Nights

Feeling Insomniac? Tired of sleeplessness? Try my proven methods.

For several weeks, I am unable to get a sound sleep. It’s just like every time I lay on my bed, my eyelids don’t drop easily. I don’t feel tired anymore and even I stressed myself just to have the sleep, I still found myself awake. At 3:00 AM, my eyes automatically drop and lulled to sleep. But hey, this is not healthy anymore!

After trying and researching alternatives, I have discovered my own solution for my wakefulness.

To Be 6 Again...

I was reading my mail on this day and I come up across an interesting "just for laughs".

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A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching his wife, who was looking at herself in the mirror. Since her birthday was not far off he asked what she'd like to have for her birthday.

'I'd like to be six again', she replied, still looking in the mirror.

On the morning of her Birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms, and then took her to Six Flags theme park. What a day! He put her on every ride in the park; the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Roller Coaster, everything there was.
Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down. He then took her to a McDonald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake.