Denice

Today was a special day for my family because we attended the Gymboree Olympics held at the Grand Atrium of Shangri-La Plaza. This marks Gymboree’s 6^th year in the Philippines.

On the way there, Kyle seemed puzzled that we told him we’re going to attend Gymboree Olympics but our car did not pass through the normal route but rather through Ortigas. We arrived in green which represented Serendra team.

Kyle finally believed he’s in Gymboree indeed when he saw his teachers and classmates.

If Kyle was excited, I was doubly ecstatic and a bit nervous because Kyle was a contestant for the beach ball throwing (game appropriate for Level 7 students). He was one of the five Serendra students tapped for this game. I felt that I was the one competing — his victory and otherwise are also mine. So this was how it felt, I finally said to myself.

In the end, it was his best friend Yvan who won while Kyle still won a medal and consolation prize. We were still very happy because for us, what’s important is that Kyle did his best and that he enjoyed this day.

From:

The Lure of Drinking Fraternities

Stepping inside

What else do they love to talk about over the rounds of liquor? Adam’s rib can’t help but get (disturbingly) curious. “It depends on the level of drunkness, so to speak,” says Rock, a confessed groupie drinker. “We usually start with what happened during the day, airing our frustrations with our stupid boss and lousy jobs then proceed with graphic details of our sexual conquests and sometimes saying them loud enough.” The women they would brag about, he notices, are usually those whom they fantasize about, or one who runs after them, but almost never their wives or girlfriends. Call it the ego-trip phase.

Rock went on to say that “sometimes the men start to become philosophical the more they drink, then they start to talk about more serious stuff.” The more drinks are being absorbed into the body system, the deeper the level of conversation among group drinkers. At this stage, the “Marsians” open up and breathe out their heartaches mostly involving their personal relationships. Rock also observes that drunk people are not afraid to cry — an act that’s taboo among the men. They seem to take advantage of the fact that they can always rationalize when the drinking palaver is through. “Who me… cried? Blame it on the booze, man!”

“It’s like they are in a therapy session or some kind of a confessional booth without walls where the talker feels absolved from something after venting out his thoughts and feelings,” says Christabel Garcia-Chao, MA, psychologist and professor of psychology at the Assumption Graduate School.

Unlike the real therapy sessions, however, “too much drinking produces significant damage to one’s health, career and relationships with self and one’s family,” Chao warns.

That’s when we also hear of so many brawling and fighting where too much alcohol is involved either, since drunk guys are no longer sensible, and if someone dares to disagree with someone else then the trouble begins. Some conversations lead to arguments and fights, especially when alcohol reaches the head as the belly is full. They would then seem to center around doing what they wanted to do, saying what they want to say without regard for the rights, wishes or privileges of anyone else — which they can later on regret as they snap back after the morning nausea.

Still, it’s a reality that men who drink in groups may see alcohol as the panecea of all ills. A chorus from the Mighty Mighty Bosstone’s Another Drinking Song can further show where they are coming from:

“Counting on a remedy I’ve counted on before

Going with the cure that’s never failed me

What you call a disease

I call the remedy

What you’re calling the cause

I call the cure…”

So why ruin a good thing by suggesting that two drinks per day is enough or else, that assertiveness training seminar is readily available, or that Alcoholic Anonymous is standing by should they go overboard? “Upgrade guys, we now have reached the era of cyber bonding and cafe society,” I even find myself pointing to another bordello.

to be continued….

I remember getting invited for two occasions already by my high school Alma Matter to give an inspirational speech to the graduating high school students. It’s really sad that I had to decline twice due to unmatched availabilities.

Looking back, I wondered what I would have said. I wondered how the school would have reacted if I did away with the usual litany of how I climbed up the ladder (if the thing really did exist) in my career and instead, leave that to the one making the introductions?

I wondered how my speech is going to sound like? I’d probably zero in on sharing to them, from the bottom of my heart, just exactly what I have come to learn between then and now.

They are too many to mention, as I expected. The words I’d be saying would probably be said earlier by someone else for all I know. And yet, if I really have to tell them what I have come to realize about success in education and career between then and now, it would certainly include the following:

• Education isn’t everything. A job or career isn’t everything. Money isn’t everything. Even family isn’t everything. Almighty Heavenly Father Yahweh is everything. Put Him first in your life and everything will follow.

• Always give more than what is expected of you. That extra mile you take spells all the difference.

• In most cases, you do not need a contest to know if you have won or lost.

• Do not compare yourself with others and resist the urge to go with the trend just because people around you say so. Only you know what fits. Go for your dreams no matter how impossible nor unpopular they seem. If you really have to, compete only with yourself and no one else. If you really have to know how you are faring as a person, check out the Bible.

• When the time comes and you have to choose between a career and family, choose family without blinking. On the other hand, note that “work-life” balance do exist.

Share your blessings whenever you can and no matter how small they seem. I believe this is one of the most important measures of success —- how many lives you have touched and how many times you have become a blessing to others. Do your share to make this place called Earth a better place to live in because of you.

More Speech: