Rainbow

World Health Organization defines depression as "a common illness worldwide, with more than 300 million people affected. Depression is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life. Especially when long-lasting and with moderate or severe intensity, depression may become a serious health condition. It can cause the affected person to suffer greatly and function poorly at work, at school and in the family. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide. Close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds."

I can only talk about depression from my own experience so I would appreciate your understanding.

When Dad was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in September 2017, the whole family went from denial stage to depression. I myself couldn't believe that it could hit a person that's known with a strong immune system until I, myself witnessed his health deteriorating.

It was excrutiating, really. My friend who had a similar situation became my manual and she told be what to expect and whatnot.

I was confused. Everything went extra stressful including work not to mention my attitude towards friends and colleagues. I wasn't sure if things normally became more difficult or I was just vulnerable. I guess until today, I still don't have the answer.

I am a strong person. I had a lot of struggles in life that no one could've experienced. I am strong because I survived (and still surviving). I know that some people are having worst but let's not compare more and just leave it right here.

But when Dad died, I forgot how strong I was. I can still remember his last moments when he even had the energy to ask me "ito na ba ang feeling ng naghihingalo?"

I answered him "yes daddy, yan na siguro yun.." without dropping a tear.

Crying is not a thing for our family. I wasn't raised like that. We were not vocal and showy with our emotions either. We curse, we give tough love, but we don't show our weaknesses.

But during that specific moment, my heart was crushing, my whole body was in pain. But I had to contain my emotions because there's another person struggling with me in that same room. She never asked helped from me but I felt it and that was the least I could do. I always thought I got my strong heart from Dad but I guess Mom is stronger.

After Dad's funeral, I went back to work immediately because I was afraid. I was afraid to face the reality. I was afraid to feel weak. I was afraid to grieve.

Then I realized, I was depressed. The day when the 1st tear dropped after Dad's passing, that was the day I started to feel everything.

I felt alone. I guess I got tired of being strong. I didn't want anybody's support. I wasn't open for anything. I went back to black. I thought that nobody will ever understand the pain until it's there time to feel it too.

Because when Dad died, I felt like I died with him too.

I started questioning things. I wanted to hate everyone. I wanted to talk to God in person and ask Him why. I wanted to hate Him too. I got mad.

I also didn't understand why some people get to be happy around me while I'm at my lowest point of my life.

I fell flat on the ground hitting the rock bottom. I was done.

But God was NOT.

While I admitted to myself the depression part, He must've felt it too. More confusing days came and so I went back praying. I realized that if nobody could really help me, then it's just me to help myself. Because while I couldn't keep my sheets dry, the world will still revolve and life must still go on.

"But please promise to forgive yourself for all the choices you thought were good for you, for following your heart even if it was against the will of people around you, for all the times you felt weak and at rock-bottom." - Thought Catalog

I learned to forgive myself and opened my heart to forgive others as well. I also learned that not everyone can really understand what I'm going through but I need to give them a chance to absorb things and be a help during my bad days.

I'm not afriad to die. The scary part is knowing that every love one will die too.

But there's heaven. And I know its real.

Months later, I guess I'm feeling better. I may cry again later, tomorrow, or the next day.. but I know I'm stronger.

I will never be as normal as I was before but who cares about being normal anyway? I will always miss Dad but I know everytime I think of him, he will just be in my heart to comfort me.

Happier days will come. I claim it!

Like Rainbows :-)

Dad

Dad would always insist for mom to travel even though it was always debatable whether his presence was really necessary. He said he has traveled the world already and he’s just glad to be home to relax.

I remember they were a bit pushy to get their visa application done because finally, they both agreed to travel together. One take, and they got it.
Unfortunately, dad’s work schedule was a bit tricky. He was sent back to work for a 6-12 month contract. Come September 2016, without dad, mom and I traveled together and we were both excited.
Dad arrived in Philippines a day after our departure. I remember he was ecstatic about mom’s first time in the Land of the Free. He would call me just to ask how our day was reminding me to look after mom. He was very proud of me. He said I’m used to travelling so I should know the drill.
Then he spilled the news to us.
His loss of appetite.
I was never that worried of him but when I was travelling back to the Philippines, I couldn’t stop myself from tearing up. I arrived home and he was the first person to welcome me. He looked pale. He’s definitely sick. After several tries of convincing him, he finally agreed to see the doctor. It was a normal busy day at work. I was facilitating a meeting when my phone rang.

BOOM. He’s diagnosed with colon cancer, stage 4.
I went back to the meeting room and forced to finish the discussion so I could absorb the worst news I just received in my life. What would a normal person feel? Do I need to hysterically cry over it? But where? I knew I needed to burst out. But how? Days after, my mom finally arrived in the country. We had our family photo taken and a little dine-out-together. We were glad to be complete again but we all knew that something was wrong.

Fast forward to May 2017: Though, I will never know what was on his mind during that time, I felt that he was happy and contented on his birthday. It was a usual celebration with family and cousins. As I was observing him laugh his heart out, I wondered if that would be his last birthday with us. Reality bites, I know.

02 July 2017: We brought dad to the hospital due to unrelieved pain in his stomach. Had I known that it was his last day at home, I would have taken a lot of pictures with him all over the place.

07 July 2017: His body started to release blood which we couldn’t trace where it was coming from. I thought that was the end. I wanted to wail my heart out but I had to hold it because mom was having her moment too. But dad was a fighter. He survived.
09 July 2017: Dad died in the afternoon. We talked about this when he was still alive. We had our long discussions on how he wanted to die. Mom was not happy about it but dad was clear on

everything. He wanted to be in his sleep.

Dad did not die while sleeping. He was fully awake. While he was catching his breath,

I was praying to God to stop his pain. It was my birthday gift. I asked for it. And HE answered. God doesn’t make mistakes. He has decided. And that was it.
I could have asked God to prolong his agony but I didn’t. I could have asked God to let him live longer so I could celebrate my birthday with him alive but I didn’t. Maybe that was a bad call, but I knew that time that my dad needed to go. Dad taught me well. He would always let me have difficult decisions on major things without any regrets. And so I did.
Now, a month later, I still can’t believe that he’s gone. Dad wanted me to get married and have a happy life. He told me not to be too bossy and picky otherwise I’d be all alone for the rest of my life. He even joked about getting me a “taong grasa” to marry. He was a bully like that.

I miss dad everyday. I will miss him when I get married (someday). I miss his random messages when I’m not around. I miss his hard advices. I never got the chance to ask him to teach me how to operate the complicated videoke he bought for me at home. But I will try anyway.

Despite everything, I hope he’s proud of what I have become. I hope I made him feel loved. He was my idol. He lived a tough life and he was successful. I know that dad is now in heaven. I know that he is just sailing around. I know that he is watching over us.
Til our next reunion, dad.

I’ll see you at the crossroads.

Extra Mile

Some will boast about how extravagant their work is. Some will tell you their fat pay checks. Some will show their freebies. While some will share their experiences how they've saved someone today. How they've served a stranger. Or how they've crossed the line just to help a family.

And that's not easy but someone had to do it today. You may choose to follow your dreams but your mission in this world is your detiny.

Ganon.

Sana ganon lang kadali ang buhay.

Sana pwede mo makuha ang trabahong gusto mo at ito rin ang trabahong magpapayaman sayo. Sana totoo ang “walang personalan, trabaho lang.” Sana lahat ng trabaho na binibigay ng trabaho ay nagagawan ng paraan. Sana ganon lang kadali.

Sana hindi mahirap magpapayat. Sana kapag nag skip ka ng meal, mababawasan ka ng taba ng ganon-ganon lang. Sana pag naisipan mo magpapayat at nag exercise ka ng isang araw, mabawasan ka na agad ng timbang. Sana tuloy-tuloy.

Sana crush ka din ng crush mo. Sana kahit yung one time sulyap e maging crush kadin niya. Sana walang effort, tapos MU na kayo. Tapos ma in love nadin siya.. Ganon.

Sana hindi mashado nakaka pressure ang society. Sana kahit lahat sila may boyfriend na or engaged na or may asawa’t anak na e sana wag nila isipin na END OF THE WORLD NA PARA SAYO AT KAILANGAN MO NA DIN MAKITABO. Na sana wag isipin ng mga tao na gusto mo tumanda mag-isa at mamatay ng walang kwenta. Dahil hindi naman totoo yun.

Sana lahat ng tao marunong makiramdam. Para di sila nakakasakit.

Sana pwede mabigay lahat ng bagay na magpapasaya sa magulang. Para quits!

Sana hindi ganon kamahal pumunta at lumibot sa ibang bansa. Sana pwede mo ito pagplanuhan ng isang araw lang tapos lipad kinabukasan.

Sana ganon kadali ang buhay. Pero hindi. 

Hindi natin ito kontrolado. Kailangan natin maging matibay para mabuhay. Pwede ka manalangin. Pwede ka mangarap. Pwede ka din mag-imagine na nangyayari yung mga gusto mo mangyari tapos magigising kadin sa katotohanan na hindi lahat ng bagay pwede mo makuha. Hindi lahat ng gusto mo pwede mapasayo. Dahil ang totoo, kailangan mo makipag-laban. Sa araw-araw ng buhay mo, hindi ganon kadali. Kailangan mo paghirapan para makuha ang kung ano man ang gusto mo. Pero hindi ganon kadali. 

Hindi ka rin pwede mag reklamo.

Minsan nakakagalit, nakakaasar din. Minsan nakaka walang gana. Pwede mo gawin yun. Pwede mo maramdaman. Pero wag mashado. Wag matagal.

Wag forever.

Life As We Know It: Favorite Quotations Part I

I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing more comforting to me than when someone tells the truth about their life. Even when it’s f_cking difficult.  When they just go there, you know? Without the bullsh_t and without hiding behind a carefully crafted people-pleasing persona. When they stand up and say, “Listen, here’s what I’m going through. It’s not pretty, but it’s what’s happening.” And then they rip themselves open and share their truth. (http://www.lifelessbullshit.com/speak-your-truth/)

• I think I should tell this one to myself. It’s really hard to lay your cards to the world and just expect people to understand it perfectly. I mean, who cares, right? I am always anxious to tell what I really feel about things because I was too afraid to show my weaknesses and I know that nobody really cares if I’m miserable. Well yeah.. whatever.

“Dear God, I’ve tried my best but if today I lose hope, please tell me that your plans are bigger than mine”

• Faith.

I always pray to God that if ever I get too attached to something that's not meant for me, that God may detach me without making me suffer from separation anxiety.

• My favorite prayer in the world. I would never surpass all the challenges without this. I believe that it’s a human nature to get attached to something too much but I also believe that always following thy heart will kill me eventually. Just saying.

"When you are kind to someone, you set in motion a chain of events that makes each life it touches a little bit better. One by one, that act of kindness is paid forward ... till one day it comes back to you multiplied."

• When doing good to others brings you harm, do it anyway. Doing good does not always end up to charity, too much kindness is not applicable in real life.

Don’t get stuck.

• Life doesn’t owe us anything. We need to accept the fact that sh_t happens sometimes. Acceptance/Healing, though, is a process – and we know it. We just need to deal with it, keep calm, and move on. Better said than done. C’est la vie.

Sometimes you grow out of people. And if you are overwhelmed with the same feeling of “Ugh, why are these people still talking about this tedious shit?” every time you sit down at the same bar with your same group of friends, it may be time to freshen up. It’s not a bad thing to have to trim down contact with certain people — or broaden your social horizons — but we are often convinced that if we feel the need to change things, there is something ultimately wrong with us. Obviously, if you are changing hangouts every two weeks out of a need to avoid people you once called friends, there is an issue. But if you just need to see some new faces (that aren’t 50 percent people you’ve already slept with) once in a while, that’s probably a pretty healthy move. – Thought Catalog

• I’m glad that I wasn’t the only one who’s gone solo from the groupies and explored more. This is normal, right?

“When you have worked as hard and done as much and strived and tried and given and plead and bargained and hoped - Surrender. When you have done all that you can do, and there is nothing left for you to do. Give it up. Give it up to that thing that is greater than yourself and let it then become a part of the flow.” – Oprah

• This must be, by far, theee most emotional quotation I’ve ever read in my entire life. I just thought that when I was going through tough times in 2011, this quote lifted me up from the ground. 

 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

• Doing something you hate is like forcing a dead person to breathe. It will never work.

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he/she comes home and rests his/her head on his/her old, familiar pillow...

• Travel is wealth.

There comes a point in life when you get tired of chasing everyone and trying to fix everything, but it’s not giving up.  It’s realizing you don’t need certain people and things and the drama they bring. (http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/09/25/30-truths-ive-learned-in-30-years/)

• We don’t control the world. We don’t control minds either. If some people we value chose to value something else, then f_ck it and let go.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not by words, but to live by them.

• Happy people are the thankful ones. Happiness comes with contentment too. So yeah.. let’s try harder.

  

To be continued………

2012 - Greatest Realizations

Last year, I wrote a blog about my self realizations for 2011: http://kesico.blogspot.com/2011/12/2011-greatest-realizations.html

Just to be consistent, I'm writing my realizations for this year as well:

1. Learned by heart the serenity prayer:

• God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference.

     2.  Panglao, Bohol is my one true love.

     3.  Love can do impossible things. 

     4.  It can also ruin friendship/s.

     5.  Family first.

     6.  What others think about you is none of your business.

     7.   When you're on your late 20s, stop attending family reunions to avoid "why-are-you-still-single-and- 

           not-yet-married" conversations.

     8.   Quarter-life crisis is real.

     9.   You don't have to burn bridges to avoid people. 

     10.  Happy people are the grateful ones.

     

     11.  Stop the "be yourself" attitude. If you feel that there's something wrong going on, you need to adjust 

            and change for the better to live a happier life.

     12.  Start dreaming again.

     13.  You can't please everybody. Get over it.

     14.  I love airplanes ✈✈✈

     15.  Being nice to someone you dislike doesn't mean you're FAKE. It means you are mature enough

            to tolerate your dislike towards them. 

     16. "Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody." - Stephen Chbosky

     17.  I'm in love with my niece, baby girl :)

     18.  Date someone who loves to read.

     19.  DAMNED if you. DAMNED if you don't.

     20.  Some people are really plain stupid. Insensitive. And no respect.

     21.  Delicadeza

     22.  OPM is still alive.

     23.  It's More Fun in the Philippines.

     24.  This year was my loneliest birthday ever. 

     25.  My mom still cooks the best spicy spaghetti in the world. Yeahmehn.

     26.  It's not yet end of the world, you foooool!!

     27.  Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die first.

     28.  My "The One" is still missing.

     29.  Tattoo hurts like hell.

     30.  It's OK to pretend and act stupid even if you're sober. 

The Vulture and the Sudanese Child

The priest shared this story to us today. He told us to search for three words: Africa, Poverty, and Vulture. Google brought me here >> http://www.squidoo.com/kevin-carters-iconic-photo

The South African photojournalist Kevin Carter won a Pulitzer Prize in 1994 for this controversial photo taken on March 11, 1993. The photographer was in a place near the village of Ayod in Sudan when he saw an emaciated Sudanese child making her way towards a feeding program nearby. When she stopped to rest, a vulture landed behind with his eyes on the little girl, seemingly waiting for the child to die so he could finally devour her remains. 

Click the link for the story ( http://www.squidoo.com/kevin-carters-iconic-photo). Kevin Carter got depressed - committed suicide. Excerpts from Cater's suicide note read: "I'm really, really sorry. The pain of life overrides the joy to the point that joy does not exist...depressed ... without phone ... money for rent ... money for child support ... money for debts ... money! ... I am haunted by the vivid memories of killings & corpses & anger & pain ... of starving or wounded children, of trigger-happy madmen, often police, of killer executioners... I have gone to join Ken if I am that lucky."

Kaibigan

Matagal ko din pinagisipan paano ko mabubuo ang blog kong ito. Matagal akong nagmuni-muni kung ano ang tamang salita para dito.

Ang blog na ito ay para sa mga kaibigan.

Nung bata-bata pa ako, palagi sakin sinasabi ng nanay ko na mamili ako ng kaibigan. Sabi ko sakanya, hindi ako ganon. Kahit sino pwede ko kaibiganin. Hanggang ngayon, ngayon ko lang naintindihan ang totoong ibig sabihin ni mommy.

Sabi nila, habang tumatagal, sa pagtanda mo, kokonti ang bilang ng mga kaibigan mo. Hindi dahil namatay sila lahat kundi, iilan lang ang mga taong pinili mong maging parte padin ng buhay mo. Titibay ang mga sarili mong paniniwala..mga opinyon. At hindi lahat ng nasa friend's list mo, kaya sikmurain ang ugali mo.

At ang mga tumagal? Sila ang mga taong marunong makiramdam, magpahalaga ng pagkakaibigan. Sila yung mga tao na hindi mo man madalas makita, pero ramdam mo ang pagmamahal nila sayo. Sila ang mga taong hindi ka bibitawan kahit ano pa ang mangyari. Sila ang mga taong, nakaaway mo na't lahat..pero dadating ang panahon na magkakaintindihan din kayo.

"You start realizing that maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones."

At para sa akin, maaaring hindi din ako naging totoo sa iba. Siguro pinili ko din i-detach ang sarili ko dahil alam kong mas gagaan ang loob ko.

Sa libo-libong kasama ko dati sa araw-araw na kasiyahan..hanggang sa iilan na natira..swerte pa din ako kasi may mga kaibigan padin akong totoo at maganda ang intensyon sa akin.

May mga tao na lalapit sayo dahil sa kalakasan mo. Pero may mga tao na lalapitan ka at aakayin mula sa kahinaan mo.

Dumating man ang panahon na magkaalaman. Dumating man ang araw na magkabilangan. Alam ko sa sarili ko na hindi ako magiisa.

Para sa mga taong hindi marunong magpahalaga, di ako makikipag-away. Hindi din ako makikipagpilitan. Mahirap makipaglaban sa wala. Magmumukha lang tayong TANGA.

BILOG ANG MUNDO. ANG GINAWA MO SAKIN AY GAGAWIN DIN SAYO.

Muro Ami (Reef Hunter)

2011 – Greatest Realizations

My self realizations this year:

1) “If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are.” – Mother Teresa

2) Do not trust anybody but yourself.

3) Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

4) Friends come and go.

5) REAL men fight for love.

6) People will judge you. Period.

7) Have a little faith.

8) Things happen for a reason.

9) “When you have worked as hard and done as much and strived and tried and given and plead and bargained and hoped - Surrender. When you have done all that you can do, and there is nothing left for you to do. Give it up. Give it up to that thing that is greater than yourself and let it then become a part of the flow.” – Oprah

10) Some people will betray you for money and fame.

11) Fight for what is right. Value yourself. Doormats will forever be doormats.

12) If screaming at the top of your lungs will make you happy, DO IT.

13) DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH. IT WILL BREAK YOUR HEART.

14) Life is good. Life is fair. You’d get what you deserve. True story.

15) Money, fame, and fancy things will surely make you happy but not contented.

16) BEST things in life are free.

17) Forget about the old school news TV/radio stations. Facebook/Twitter updates the world faster than anything else.

18) “It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” – Mother Teresa

19) Do not overdose.

20) When you’re doing well, people will abuse you. You will gain false friends and true enemies. That’s the sign that you’re successful.

21) Learning is a lifelong process.

22) Loving someone is uncontrollable. But being with that someone is by choice.

23) You can fool everyone but not yourself.

24) Whether you think you can or you can't, either way, you are right.

25) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." – Matthew 11:28

26) Lazy people are sore losers.

27) Travel. Explore new things. Cool things happen outside the box.

28) You need a break.

29) Change is inevitable. Learn new things. Challenge yourself everyday.

30) LIFE IS SHORT.

We Deliver

We Deliver, a set on Flickr.

Anyone can do something to change the world. Even the simplest act of kindness can touch a person’s life.

In my opinion, there is nothing braver than the heart of a humanitarian aid worker. Working as a logistician for WFP can be as difficult as any soldier risking his life to save someone. You never know when someone will ask you to help save lives.

Bata-Bata, Paano Mo Nagawa?

street children, a set on Flickr.

photos i got from 2009 - present

feel free to comment.

HappYness :)

Lampas lampas pa sa daliri niyo lahat ang bilang ng mga kaibigan ko. Ako na yata ang isa sa mga taong napaka friendly na tao. Aminin mo J

Namana ko sa tatay ko ang pagiging friendly. Sabi niya sakin, kailangan maging “pala-kaibigan” ka kasi malungkot ang walang friends. Totoo naman diba?

Naimagine mo ba ang buhay ng isang tao na dadalawa o tatatlo lang ang kaibigan sa mundo? Yung hindi mo tuloy malaman kung may mali ba sayo..sa kanila.. o talagang nung nagpasabog ang diyos ng friends e nasa dulo ka ng crowd kaya mga “latak” nalang ang nasalo mo. Hihihi

Masaya ako kasi madami akong kaibigan. Hindi man ako swerte sa love life, madami naman akong friends.

Pero alam mo kung ano ang “lowest point” ko sa buhay? Yun yung time na pakiramdam ko iniwan nila ako lahat. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, buong buhay ko lagi akong nanjan para sa friends ko. Wala akong ginawa kundi ang pasiyahin sila pero bakit nung panahon na kailangan na kailangan ko sila.. bakit parang wala naman sila?

Mabigat ang pinagdaanan ko ngayong taon, pero kaya ko. Wag lang sana nila ako iiwanan.

Hanggang sa dumating yung turning point ng kwento na toh.

Nang matutunan kong i-distansya ang sarili ko sakanila. Nabasa ko kasi sa isang quote sa internet na “hindi mo kailangan dumipende sa iba para maging masaya.. dahil at the end of the day, wala namang tutulong sayo i-handle ang lahat kundi IKAW LANG.” (something like that).

Pinilit kong intindihin yun. Ilang beses ko na naman naririnig yung ganon e. Na kesyo ang “happiness” ng tao ay nanggagaling sa sarili..pag natuto kang makuntento..happy ka. E hello, paano ka makukuntento kung di mo naman makuha-kuha ang gusto mo sa buhay? Paano ka magiging masaya kung may kulang pa?

(naiiyak ako habang tinatype ko toh..)

Narealize ko na magiging masaya ang isang tao pag natuto na syang tumanggap - makuntento sa buhay.

Napanood ko yung video ni Oprah. Sabi niya dun:

“When you have worked as hard and done as much and strived and tried and given and plead and bargained and hoped - Surrender. When you have done all that you can do, and there is nothing left for you to do. Give it up. Give it up to that thing that is greater than yourself and let it then become a part of the flow.”

Tska ko lang na pag connect ang lahat. Na pag nagawa mo na lahat ng kayang mong gawin, tumigil ka na. Makuntento ka na. Na kahit hindi mo man nakukuha ang gusto mo, at least nabigay mo ang lahat. Kailangan mo din matutong magtiwala. Magtiwala sa sarili mo at sa Diyos. Na kailangan mong i-let go ang bagay na hindi mo makuha. Emotionally, physically o kung anumang bagay na gusto mo. Na balang araw..sa tamang panahon, matatanggap mo din ang para sayo. Na may tamang panahon sa tamang bagay. Na kahit ano pang hinaing mo sa buhay, hindi nagkukulang ang Diyos sa blessings na binibigay sayo. Na pag natuto kang i-appreciate ang mga simpleng bagay, magiging masaya ka.

Peace of mind? Inner Peace? Totoo pala yun!

Hindi pala ako iniwan ng mga kaibigan ko. Mashado lang pala ako nag e expect na hindi naman tama. Naging dependent ang happiness ko sa ibang tao. Nag focus ako sa negative side na, na nakalimutan kong magpasalamat sa kung ano ang meron ako.

Life is beautiful. Life is short. Learn to face everything, appreciate everything life has to offer. THIS IS YOUR LIFE. TAKE IT, ITS YOURS.

So pano..alam na?

Responding to the Philippines floods

Responding to the Philippines floods

Two years ago, “KC” arrived at the WFP Philippines office, based in Manila, as a Logistics Assistant. During her time with WFP, she has been involved in her fair share of typhoon and flood response operations, each of which has helped prepare her for her latest task. As part of a four-person logistics team coordinating the WFP relief effort for the recent floods, KC and her colleagues have had their work cut out for them. In this interview, she explains why.

Can you tell us a little about yourself, and how you came to build your life as a logistician with WFP?

My complete name is Kathreen Claire Co, but everybody calls me KC (not to be confused with another “KC”, Ms. KC Concepcion, the WFP Philippines National Ambassador Against Hunger). In WFP terms, I am a “Ketsana baby” because I was hired by WFP when the response to Typhoon Ketsana was launched in October 2009, so I'm 2 yrs old now. Ever since college, I wanted to work with the United Nations. The moment that the WFP Philippines office announced a job vacancy for a Logistics Assistant, I applied and luckily enough, I was accepted. I have always had a passion for volunteering. Helping others is what I do.

Can you explain your role in the WFP flood response operation?

In total there are four logisticians in our Manila team (we have another logistics team in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao where WFP assists people affected by conflict), and each person is responsible for a different logistics aspect. My main role in Logistics is transport, so everything about delivering commodities is my job: from sourcing of private transporters for shortlist to making the transport plan to coordinating with the receiving party of the deliveries. My other logistics team members are in charge of warehousing, receipt and dispatch of commodities and food assistance, and keeping track of the logistics/transport costs WFP occurs while food is in transit within the country.

What kinds of challenges have you experienced with this operation?

Everything in this operation is urgent. In addition to what we already do, we have had to assess the roads leading to the Final Drop-Off points and to assure that these roads are passable by trucks – which is something normally done not by us, but by third party contractors we hire on our behalf. Because we have to plan around weather conditions, I have to make sure that all of our transporters are on stand-by for possible deliveries on the same day. The challenging part of this is that these transporters also have commitments to other clients and so I really need to be persistent to get our trucks! To get our job done, we not only coordinate with our transporters and warehouse contacts, but even more importantly with the Philippines government as well, who is leading the relief response to the floods and our support is augmenting and complementing theirs.

Is there anything in particular about this operation that makes it different from others you’ve been involved with in the past?

Yes. Due to the unpredictable weather conditions and the urgency of the deliveries, everything needs to be decided within 24 hours. We have also had to initiate making the food distribution plan, in close coordination with Programme team. The distribution plan has to be done before we can create a transport plan to deliver the food and it requires a team effort. Everyone in our WFP team worked really hard to make sure we overcame our challenges, and I really want to thank them.

Have you had the chance to meet any of the flood victims WFP is delivering food and relief items to?

Since our Country Director asked us to assess the roads first and also serve as an advanced party, we got the chance to be a part of the final food deliveries and meet flood victims. Accordingly, I got the opportunity to speak with some beneficiaries. There was this one family I spoke to – Maricel Tiempsi, who I met along with her kids, including her 8-day old baby. I met them in the evacuation center in Quezon, Nueva Ecija (Region 3). Even though she had just given birth, they had to leave their house immediately due to flooding and look for a safer place for her family.

For those of us who can’t imagine what it must be like to be a humanitarian aid worker in the field, can you tell us what it's like working as a logistician for WFP?

Anyone can do something to change the world. Even the simplest act of kindness can touch a person’s life. In my opinion, there is nothing braver than the heart of a humanitarian aid worker. Working as a logistician for WFP can be as difficult as any soldier risking his life to save someone. You never know when someone will ask you to help save lives.

I know that I’m only one aid worker, and that I can't change everything, but at least I can do something. I am honored and grateful to be part of this team at WFP and I want to thank my fellow logisticians who helped me to deliver.

https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/responding-philippines-floods

click this link to read more:

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Ang blog ko na ito ay walang iba kundi para sayo. Sayong-sayo lamang. 

Warning: Bawal ang tanga. Bato bato sa langit, ang tamaan..guilty.

1) Siguro nga nagkamali ako dahil mashado akong “on-the-go” kaya siguro pakiramdam mo game ako sa lahat. Mali. Nasanay ako sa ganitong klaseng lifestyle kaya di moko masisisi kung bakit ako ganito. Kung sa tingin mo madami ka nang na-uto sa mga katarantaduhan mo, ibahin mo ko. Hindi man ako matalino pero hindi ako tanga. Alam ko kung kailan ako magpapasensya o kung kailan ako aalma. Hindi man kita napatay (kasi alam kong masama yun), gusto kong malaman mo na kailangan mong paghandaan ang panahon na mamatay ka na sa karma. Matanda ka na. Rinerespeto kita DATI. Pero mas madumi pa sa septic tank ang budhi mo. Kung bibigyan ako ng pagkakataon na saktan ka, gagawin ko yun. Hindi ako magdadalawang isip.

2) Comedy ako pero pagdating sa lovelife, kahit kailan di ako nagsinungaling. Maaaring hindi pangmatagalan ang paghanga/pagmamahal ko, pero hindi ako manloloko. Totoo yun.

3) Alam toh ng mga taong close sakin na fickle minded ako minsan kasi yung ibang gusto ko..ayaw ko na pala bigla. Mabilis ako magpalit ng isip sa ganon. Pero pag ayaw ko na, ayaw ko na talaga. Pag gusto ko nang umuwi, uuwi ako talaga. Pag sinabi kong lasing ako, lasing ako talaga. Pag sinabi kong hindi kita kayang maging kaibigan ulit, ayaw ko na talaga. Pag nawala na tiwala ko sayo, wala na talaga. Period.

4) Isa ka sa “the ones that got away” ko kasi pakiramdam ko special ka talaga kaso di ko alam kung kupal ka ba o bakla ka. Iniwanan moko sa ere tanginaka.

5) Para sakin, di ka deserving.

6) MATUTO KANG LUMUGAR. 

7) Ganyan ka ba ka loser kaya lagi ka nalang nakikisaw-saw?

8) Para kang Nokia phones. User-friendly.

9) Di naman ako namimili ng kaibigan. Pero di lahat mahal ko.

10) Ang totoong mayaman, hindi mata pobre. Ang totoong successful, hindi nang aabuso ng kahinaan ng iba. Ang magaling at mahusay, hindi nandadaya. Ang totoong cool, hindi pinagpipilitan ang sarili sa iba. Ang totoong habulin ng lalake / babae, hindi cheap.

11) Kailan man hindi naging COOL ang pagiging “hindi mabait o mabuti” sa iba. Hindi porket nambabara ka na ng ibang tao e astig ka na. Minsan nasa face value din yan.

12) Mabait ka naman..may itsura..di naman siguro mababa ang IQ mo. Wala ka lang talagang values / ethics. Babae ka pa man din.

13) Naiintindihan ko ang pinagdadaanan mo. Sa totoo nga, naaawa ako sayo. Sana maramdaman mo ang sincerity ko. Minsan lang talaga akala mo kalokohan lang alam ko. Marunong din naman ako makiramdam. Seryoso.

14) Close tayo. Pero wala kang karapatan sabihan ng negative ang kahit na sinong kapamilya o kamag-anak ko. WALA. WAG KANG BASTOS.

15) Kung ano man ang na achieve ko ngayon, pinaghirapan ko yun. Kaya wag kang makipag kumpitensya sa akin dahil di naman kita kakalabanin. Mas matanda ka sakin, mahiya ka naman.

16) Kung di mo na kaya, lumaban ka. Wag kang puro dada..bading ka ba??

17) Ang pagpapasalamat sa ibang tao ay parang kanin sa Mang Inasal. UNLIMITED.

18) Single pa din ako pero hindi ibig sabihin hindi ako na in-love ulit. Hindi lang ako nagkaka relasyon ulit kasi lagi nalang “kaibigan” ang tingin nila sakin. Malungkot lang minsan kasi sa dinami-daming lalaki na naging ka-close ko, wala man lang naglakas loob na ipaglaban ako. O siguro nga wala talaga.

19) Tigilan mo na yan. May asawa’t anak yan. Kung lumandi siya sa iba, hayaan mong siya nalang ang makarma. Wag ka nang makisabit pa. DIBA PINAGUSAPAN NA NATIN YAN? BAKIT KAILANGAN PAULIT-ULIT?! Kaibigan mo ako / kami. Totoong kaibigan. Maloloko tayo pero wag ganito. Wag mo nang i-deny. TUMIGIL KA NA. SERYOSO.

20) Magbayad ka ng utang mo.

ps. ang mga ito ay mananatiling BLIND ITEMS forever.

What Can One Person Do To Change The World?

19 August is World Humanitarian Day - a celebration of people helping people. Every day humanitarian workers help millions of people.

CLICK PLAY.

Bahala Na si Batman

Pag sobrang wala ka nang masabi.
Pag wala ka nang magawa.
Pag tipong hindi mo na alam ano ang nangyayari.
Pag wala ka nang lakas.
Pag pakiramdam mo kahit ano gawin mo di ka na mananalo.
Pag wala na talagang pag-asa.
Pag pakiramdam mo ikaw na dehado.
Pag wala ka nang tinama.
Pag hindi mo na kayang gawan ng paraan.
Pag puro nalang kamalasan.


"bahala na si batman"

Lokohan

Ayaw ko mag judge ng tao kasi alam kong mali. At hindi naman lahat ng sinasabi ko ay dapat sang-ayunan ng lahat. Ika nga nila, “kanya-kanyang trip to.. walang pakelamanan!” Magbibigay ako ng opinion ko kung kailan ko gusto at hindi naman lahat ng opinion ko kailangan maka-apekto. Bato-bato sa langit.. ang tamaan pangit. Este magalit.

At dahil jan, ito ang opinion ko sa mga manloloko:

Hindi ako nagmamalinis dahil guilty din naman ako sa ganyan dati. Alam ko naman na mali kaya hindi ako nagkulang sa paghingi ng tawad kay Lord. Naniniwala ako sa karma kaya kung karma man ang tawag sa ibang kamalasan sa buhay ko ay tatanggapin ko. So be it. Hindi porket nagawa ko dati ay hahayaan ko nalang gawin ito ng iba. Lalo na ng mga taong malalapit sa akin. May iba na piniling manahimik pag guilty sila (noon man o ngayon), pwes sila yun hindi ako. Hindi ako magkukulang sa pag paalala pero hindi ako mamimilit. Hindi rin naman pwedeng pilitin mo magbago ang isang tao.. ikaw din mahihirapan e. MEHGANON?!

Para sa mga taong hindi kaya maging tapat sa karelasyon nila, pwede namang kumalas muna bago lumandi. Kung ayaw mong umayos ang buhay mo, bigyan mo ng pagkakataon na tumino ang buhay ng karelasyon mo. Wag kang sakim. Masama yun. Kung hindi mo kayang pigilan ang pagiging “over friendly” mo, wag kang makipag commit para hindi ka masumbatan. Pero teka, mag-ingat ka… dahil hindi lahat ng tao kayang maglabas ng sama ng loob. Diba?

Kung sa tingin mo hindi kaselos-selos ang ginagawa mo, wag ka nalang din magselos sakanya para quits. Lokohan na e.. edi fine.

Kung nanloko ka na, pwede ka pa magbago. Seryoso. Huhusgahan ka ng buong mundo sa nakaraan mo pero ang importante yung ngayon hindi kahapon. MEHGANON ULIT?!

Alam mo ang tama at mali, wag kang mag-maang-maangan. At para maintindihan mo ang pakiramdam ng linoloko, subukan mong makipag-palit ng kalagayan (mag imagine ka lang) para ma-gets mo. Sabi nga ni Bob Ong, kung problemado ka sa pamilya o sa love life.. wag kang manisi ng iba. Mag rebelde ka, mag-adik ka kung gusto mo.. after all, buhay mo naman yan. Magloloko ka dahil manloloko ka lang talaga hindi dahil nasaktan ka period.

UNFAIR. Kung gaano kadami ang single, matandang dalaga o binata ngayon sa mundo, ganon din naman ang paglipana ng mga commited/taken na manloloko. Kumbaga sa pagkain, tapon ka ng tapon ng pagkain habang yung ibang tao nagnanakaw na para lang may pantawid gutom.

Bakit ba yung mga manloloko sila pa yung hindi nauubusan ng karelasyon? Sabagay, dami din kasi nagpapaloko.

Ika nga nila.. walang benta kung walang bibili.

Kthanksbye.