I Have Cast My Vote Of Hope

It was 11:00 a.m. as I stand outside the polling precinct, the specter of voters, political parties' and PPRCV representatives is nowhere in sight. There were no underpaid teachers and COMELEC representative too. Instead, an Embassy staff  welcomes me with a warm smile as I present my Voter's ID - I AM AN OAV VOTER.

With the old-fashioned technology, I was handed with the ballot sheet neatly folded and I was directed to the vacant chairs that awaits me in the comfortable air conditioned room of the Embassy designated as Voting Cell.

As I took my seat,  I carefully opened and spread the ballot sheet, where I need to manually write the names of my selected candidates on the lines provided, this is far from the GMA-7's Sexbomb Girls' music video entitled Bilog na "Hugis Itlog" which shows a ballot sheets with pre-printed names of official 2010 candidates. This time I need the aid of my "kodiko", a piece of paper that contains my preferred candidates that I have personally chosen over the past two weeks guided by my conscience, faith and political belief.

I started filling the ballot sheet with my Senatorial bet as I glance on my "kodiko", women senatorial hopefuls top my list, Susan 'Toots' Ople, Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, Yasmin Lao and Sonia Rocco. Next was Frank Drillon, the only seasoned legislator in my list followed by new and young senatorial hopefuls who were less popular to the masses, among them is Ruffy Biazon, Alex Lacson and Neric Acosta.

For my Presidential bet, it was a difficult choice, I was looking for a candidate that is God fearing, incorruptible,  well educated and a no-trapo image in the political arena which leads me to choose between Noynoy and Gordon. But the center stage was set between Villar, Erap and Noynoy - this dictates me to give my vote of confidence to NOYNOY AQUINO,  despite being underrated for his performance in the Senate, I believe that Noynoy can lead our nation to be a less corrupt nation and with MAR ROXAS for my chosen VP.

As I cast my vote through the provided OAV brown ballot box,  I pray that may the new proclaimed leaders of our land be our new Moses and Aaron of our time, may they lead us to the end of the dark tunnel of poverty, hunger and corruption.

As leave the Embassy compound, my heart is filled with pride and enthusiasm; and with a grinning smile I look at my finger nails - clean and free from indelible ink, being an OAV  really makes a difference.

When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” be sure to appoint over you the king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite. The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:14-20)

The Fabric of My Life

After 21 days of hiatus, returning to Palipasan is not an easy start. I find it difficult to gather my thoughts to begin my story in a nutshell as I was s previously confined within the four walls of my job that seems more like a jail as I spend long hours examining voluminous technical publications and records of the newly delivered Italian helicopters in Doha.

And returning to my blogging world is a little bit frustrating, it seems that after my mind has taken a deep dive into the ocean of numerical and numbers, sitting in my desktop - my mind seems to be rusty as I stare on the blank compose window of my blog. It's like returning to an abandoned home with the intention of cleaning it up and I don't know which room to start.

But after a couple of minutes, I once again discovered my touch as my fingers find its way through my keyboard as it put into words the thoughts that continuously flows from my mind.

And I would like to take this opportunity to thank my blogging friends who have anonymously visited my site during my hiatus period especially to MarcoPaolo of AJosMSL, Ms. FaYe of My Life in Holland and Fiel-kin of Fiel-kun's Thoughts for leaving heart-warming note in my shout box. To those who have requested ex-links, I'll try to visit your sites soonest, thank you so much.

After hiatus break, I realized that we are indeed connected, you - me, and everyone who have left their mark in this site, our connection grows and the unique YOU continues to come to life. As I look into Palipasan as a piece of fabric, each one of YOU - either an anonymous visitor or regular blogging friend - you are a unique pattern that continues to evolve everyday.

You are the threads that continuous to grow in my site, you are the life fabric of my blog because your presence continue to help me weave new colors and patterns to my own fabric of life.

I bounce back to life writing new blog, I hope that I could add new colors and textures to your own fabrics of lives too.

Image snipped from flicker.com - uploaded by cazratz

A New Beginning This Easter, The Kablogs Journal

As we join the rest of the Christian world in the celebration of Easter, on Jesus Christ's triumph over sin, and we take joy in spending this special time with family and friends and reflecting on the many blessings that fill our lives. During this season of renewal, let us come together and give thanks to the Almighty who made us in His image and redeemed us in His love

In our journey towards Easter, we have gathered some of our Kablogs' best blogging authors, men and women of talents and skills - Nebz Bandiez (Isla de Nebz), Janelle Vales (The Pink Tarha),  Azel Venerable (Panunumbalik ng Ulirat),  Doc RJ Pagoto (The Chook-Minder's Quill) and Nalen Aguilar (Manilenya) who have collectively agreed to voluntarily share their time, talents and skills in one collaborative blog in bringing hopes and inspirations to our Kablogs members and the general Global Filipinos worldwide.

Today, as we discover Easter's wonderful and humbling invitation for new hope and new life, we at Kablogs is proud to announce the launching of our maiden issue of our first online magazine - THE KABLOGS JOURNAL, a celebration of a new beginning and a new hope dedicated to the OFW bloggers.

As we strive to bring you a better and worth reading articles which resonates our Global Filipinos values and aspirations, we invite you to join us at The Kablogs Journal's maiden journey, follow us and be part of our "Fellowship of Bloggers" - share your talents, your ideas and comments & suggestions  to further improve the contents and the quality of our new site, this is your site - The Kablogs Journal.

This Easter Season, let's enjoy the Easter spring at: 
thekablogsjournal [dot] blogspot [dot] com

Please bear with me as I temporarily closed my comment box and encouraged you  to  visit, explore the pages, read and    direct  your comments on various articles of  your favorite blog authors on The Kablogs Journal. You might please take a glance and spend some minute of your  time to read my column article entitled "A Journey in Faith" as I share with you my Easter reflection - "The Tomb Is Empty".

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Ano Ba ang Kahulugan ng Easter Sa Iyo?

Hinubog ako ng aking namayapang Ina sa lumang tradisyon sa paggunita ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay ni Kristo. Sa tuwing Byernes Santo, sa pagsapit ng alas tres ng hapon, pinagbabawalan na kaming maglaro sa lansangan ng aming mga magulang, higit pa dyan di ka na puedeng maligo hangga;t hindi sumasapit ang Domingo de Gloria. Isang matandang kaugaliaan na kapag ikaw ay nasugatan sa panahon ng Mahal na Araw ay baka ito ay hindi gumaling lalo pa't patay si Kristo. At kung magiging matigas ang ulo'y tatawagin kang 'hudyo' ng mga nakatatanda. Ang panahon ng pagninilay ay iginugugol sa pagbisita Iglesya, panunuod ng senakulo at penitensya, panunuod ng Ten Commandments na hatid sa black and white TV.

Ang kapistahan ng pagkabuhay ay may hatid na kasiyahan sa aking pagkabata dahil ito ang panunumbalik ng aming muling pagligo sa banyo, malayang paglalaro sa lansangan, at panunumbalik ng mga normal na palabas sa telebisyon. Maari na muling maghabulan sa larong patintero at taguan, muling magtawanan at maghalakhakan na walang sumusuway o tumatawag sa amin na Hudyo.

Subalit ang ala-ala ng Muling Pagkabuhay sa aking kamusmusan ay higit pa sa paglalaro, dahil ito ang sama-sama naming pagsisimba at mula rito ay nagtutungo kami sa Roxas Blvd. upang maligo sa malinis na tubig dagat sa harap ng Redemtorist Church ng Baclaran o dili kaya'y mamamasyal sa Luneta para sa isang salu-salo sa luntiang damong bermuda nito, o kaya'y pamamasyal sa Avenida o sa Downtown ng Maynila.

Ngayon, nabahiran na ng komersyolismo ang tinatawag nating Easter. Wala na ang pagtitipon tipon ng pamilya sa pagdiriwang, iilan na lang din ang nagsisimba ng madaling araw upang masaksihan ang prusisyon ng Salubong. 

Mas nabibigyan kasi ng kahulugan ang pagsalubong sa Easter sa pamamagitan ng Easter Egg Hunt, ng Bunnies, ng Easter gifts at Easter clothes. Kadalasan hindi na nakikita si Kristo sa kanyang matagumpay na pagkabuhay mula sa kamatayan. Paano nga ba mapupuna kung naging abala tayo sa nagdaan na Mahal Na Araw, sa mahabang bakasyon kung saan iginugol natin ang ating panahon mula sa paguwi sa probinsya at paghanga sa maganda nitong mga tanawin. 

O dili kaya'y sa mahabang oras na ating iginugol sa paggamit ng internet, "connecting to people across the world, adding friends, and accumulating virtual cash points and accepting virtual Easter Eggs mula sa nakaka-addict na larong hatid ng mga sikat na Facebook. Sa nagdaang isang Linggo habang tayo'y abala sa internet, naka-connect ba tayo kay Kristo kahit ilang minuto lamang? Naka-kuha kaya tayo ng 'spiritual points' sa pag-ala-ala sa kanya sa huling linggo ng kwaresma.

Di pa huli ang lahat, salubungin natin Siya ngayong Linggo ng Pagkabuhay, walang kailangang points na ipunin, walang Easter Egg at Bunnies na dapat hanapin, buksan lamang natin ang ating puso para sa Kanyang muling pagkabuhay. Hinihintay Ka nya kaibigan.

Alalahanin rin natin ang ating mga kababayan na nasa ibang bansa, na dala ng kanilang responsibilidad sa hanapbuhay bilang medical staff at mga domestic helpers, lalo pa sa gitnang Silangan kung saan ang Easter ay hindi malayang naipagdiriwang, isama natin sila sa ating panalangin, upang sa gayon malaya nating masabi sa ating sarili at sa kapwa na - HAPPY EASTER.