Conozco Pablo

The year of 2017 was so far the most unpredictable I had so far. It was as if I was riding a roller coaster with many humps,  sharp turns and swings. I would want it to be more predictable such that changes happened at a reasonable pace. I can not complain though that much because the year was good for me in terms of my career, but okay it was far from perfect. Why? This is the focus of this blogpost. Relationships The year seemingly started very well. I celebrated it with two of the most important persons in my life. What can I ask for during the time I welcomed the year 2017. It was unique celebrating with two of the most cherished individuals in my life. Days after that, my sister (one of the two) opted to transfer up north. It was heartbreaking and mentally-draining. But we do not have choice. That event shattered the way I coped. I made mistakes due to my incapacity to cope well. Unfortunately, those mistakes resulted me to lose the second of the two just several mo...

I am entering my fifth year of residing in Norway. Many things have happened during this short period of time, both good and bad. However, one of that is worthy to highlight is how I realized the big contrast between prevailing values between Norwegian and Filipino cultures. I can only talk about these two in particular, although there are somehow similiraties between the Norwegian culture with those of coming from Europe, as well that with Filipino and other Asian societies. This blogpost will present three comparative points to exhibit the diversity of culture. COMPARISON 1 Norwegian: Able decide independently for oneself Filipino: To fight for what is most important Freedom and passion may not be on the same side always. Freedom is the ultimate virtue in the Norwegian culture. One may or may not be passionate of what Norwegians are doing, but most important is that they decided on them by themselves, such that no one has dictated on them what they are supposed to do....

I had never imagined people could be so cold with one another. Instead of wishing things for their benefit, it seems easy to find faults with others and blow the situation into a magnified proportions. Yes, people are emotional and because of this, sometimes they act differently. However, human beings are not just torn between being rational and emotional, but still all of us has animalistic instincts for protecting what we are and have. To the worst extent, people take revenge to what bad and insanely injustice others have done against them. With these I am writing about the perfect form of revenge- served best cold. Here are the 3 elements: Long after-the-fact The adjective cold pertains with analogy between revenge and meal. Revenge should be done when the heat of the conflict has long dissipated. When people tend to have forgotten everything. Time seems not to be a factor of reconciliation or forgiveness. It is like wine that becomes stronger as time flies. Revenge is li...

What really matters more? Being or feeling accepted? Perplexing question, unanswered, continuously contested Being accepted is something what others think of you Crucial to avoid becoming relevant only for the selected few Everyone needs social approval at all times no matter what We're indeed social beings affected by emotions, rather what? If we do not care of what others say we then become isolated In that state nothing is debatable, no one's elated just frustrated While feeling accepted is what matters more to oneself This isn't universal answer easily taken from the bookshelf This is what others prefer but it is not necessarily true in reality One can just ignore the hard truths, contrasts in life in totality Yes, one can not just say I am happy in one own's special way But there are other values and virtues in society one must weigh Here is where most of us have challenging difficulties within us Thus, existential and philosophical quest...

Recently, I have made another Instagram account named The Filipino Seeker (@thefilipinoseeker). It has the purpose of sharing my personal travel pictures daily. Well, I was not really planning to maintain another account aside from my personal one (@pablo_ako) but I told myself why not. The major difference is that personal one is updated day-to-day, meaning the posts are made real-time or recently, not posted retrospectively. Well, this post is not about why I made another account, instead why I chose the name, The Filipino Seeker. Been seeking always for something I am always curious. That keeps me awake at night. Sadly, sometimes it makes me feel stressed. But I always think of answers to something. In my head, there is a web of alternatives paced at certain speed and rhythm. If things go faster as expected, my options change accordingly. However, those options do not just come spontaneously. It was well-thought beforehand. It is like I am coding algorhythms for my life. ...

I should have been genuinely happy today For the long wait is over for the ultimate d-day I have fought for others throughout my life As if I was fighting for them in their strife After having been stored long in the bookshelf Now is when something happened for myself I can not stop my tears from eyes falling At last I could now sit and relax, lolling The things I have planned for future worked They came out of attention as dogears perked After several setbacks things got back on track Like lost brothers at last have come in contact It should have been a good sign for the better At present stable and learned more than ever But personally now actually things got dimmer The light at end of tunnel fades less shimmer Those nightmares in the past came back Out of the blue those monsters paint all black As if they know I am about to be happy at last They would not allow good to prevail as asked Things turned upside down, but light on some An irony or paradox of li...

Relationships can be compared to docking and undocking a boat into the wharf. There is a tie that secures the boat to the wharf. There is the body of water where the boat floats, and the wharf where the boat is supposed to stay for a period of time. Most importantly, the boat which is actually the point of interest in this symbolic analogy. The body of water The stream or current in the body of water is a decisive factor how one should tie the boat to the wharf. If there is a need to use several ties, one would do so. Interestingly, if the current of body of water could be destructive to the boat, it might be better to bring the boat out of the water to the shore. Similarly, in relationships, there is a balance everyone should seek. Time and situation are ever-changing, and so it is important to adjust with it. Pulling the boat untimely to shore would defeat the purpose of having the boat freely floating in water. This would mean that man should always be allowed a leeway ...

This came a little bit early. But I expected it somehow. But this will be first and perhaps the last time I am going to write about you here. Thank you for over 1000 days of being together. I do not know what to say but these are the things I am feeling in the last few weeks. These are the things I can no longer do. 1. See you with enthusiasm Yes. You were right in the last few months, I see you more as a very good friend. A confidant. However, I saw that as part of the process. A downturn before a possible upswing. I did not see that as a closed chapter not worthy of going back again. There was a time just few days ago, I somehow regained that enthusiasm, but as I have said I do not have to show everything I feel before things are certain. However, now I just have to develop that enthusiasm in me without you. 2. Hold you with passion It was because of the things that happened to me. I wanted to have some space. Because of that, I looked like a person losing passion....

Today is my niece's 12th birthday. She is now entering the teenage years. Indeed, time flies so fast. She is becoming a lady and starting to understand the complexities of life. The process of learning through life is unique from one person to another. That would be unique also for my niece. However, I could somehow give some guidance to her in the form of my experiences at the time I was also 12. This is the focus of this blogpost. At your age now, before I was... Realizing that friendships are not superficial Certainly, you have now identified some individuals who you consider as friends. Quite natural. They will be there for you to do the things that you and they like. In my age, I had also good friends which some of them I still maintain communication with. Friends will be there not just to do the things you like. But they are also willing to there during the times you are feeling almost quiting. Friends will spice up your life, but friends who are there to sta...

This was a speech delivered at the First Recognition Day of my university, Father Saturnino Urios University last August 31,2006. I ranked first among all dean’s listers from all levels in all courses after the first year in nursing. For more than 100 hundred years of nurturing students in various fields, developing a standard of topnotchers and high passing rates in the board examinations, Urios College was converted into a university last July 12, 2006. The long wait has come to an end as the day of celebration for all Urians has come. That late afternoon, each student was indefatigable as they jubilate the momentous event. Many were excited to experience the privileges of being a university student. However, after the deafening sounds of cheers, what was left was the realization though still many questions and uncertainties are left unanswered that Urios truly has attained the university status.  Uncertainties? Why? Does this mean that for me Urios is incompetent to b...