The Philippines is worth LOVING for.

Living a life filled with unpredictable challenges both from my own family and my chosen vocation isn't easy. From all the physical pains being a buttered child, emotional drama for I'm in a broken family, and a societal stigma, that despite all the stuff I'm doing I'm still discriminated because of my gender - how could I profess love? I guess, I could not be considered as a legit love prophet but I tell you - these challenges are my fuel why I continue to trust love and to trust life.

Falling in love.

Falling in love is the easiest while falling out of love is the hardest. Crazy? Yes. I think I am, especially when it comes to love. For me, when you say you're falling out of love it's as good as saying that "I don't care about my mother" or "Being a Filipino sucks!" I guess in these times, people are so preoccupied with a lot of stuff that they tend to easily lose hope, lose faith and lose love. 

 

Staying in love.

You may be wondering with my posts in facebook, tweets in twitter or articles in blogspot - most of them are positive, full of hope and (of course) love. But you know, behind it are my frustrations, sadness, emptiness and doubt. Yes, even if it seems that I'm so sure that I am offering my self for our country - my wholeness is still filled with questions of doubt. However, the heart which is filled with hope overpowers these dark moments. Behind the smiles are also my struggles. So many times that I wasn't able to attend my mother's birthday because I need to meet a mother who's in pain, so many times that I have to miss my sibling's recognition day because I need to go to a kid who is deprived of education. Staying in love is a struggle but you have to face it. That "hurting" moment is an assurance that you are truly loving.

 

 

Sino nga naman ang mangangahas ma-inlove sa isang bansa na puno ng kahirapan, puno ng pighati. I believe this is where the biggest challenge will come in. Are you ready to fall in love with the Philippines?

 

This is the Philippines according to your lenses.

 

 

I know I will still encounter problems, difficulties, and struggles. Being in Gawad Kalinga doesn't give me the assurance that I will be able to fulfill my dreams for the Philippines while I'm still alive. But one thing is clear, I'm not the only one who is madly and deeply in love with our country. Wherever this craziness leads me, what matters most is that I truly loved. And yes, forever I will shout:

THE PHILIPPINES IS WORTH LOVING for! 

Thanks MAY!

May had been an awesome month of surprises, friendship, travel, hope and love. 

Let me share with you my Top 6 MAYrific moments.

9th Parliament of Youth Leaders

National Youth Commission

Avenue Plaza Hotel

 

Fun

 

Work

 

 Love (#CHOS)

Siruma Gawad Kalinga Visit #1

Siruma, Camarines Sur

 

 

 

Spent two days of non-stop-work and walk in Siruma.

We are all eager for the Save Siruma Build.

Queen of Peace Birthday Outreach

Naga City

 

Nothing beats a day with friends and kids.

Thanks for this awesome day, Cheska!

Rotaract-Naga GK Summer Youth Camp

GK Balatas, Naga City

 

 

 

PAK! This word could sum up the passion and dedication

poured by the young ROTARCTS of the Rotary Club of Naga.

Orientation Seminar 2012

Kick-off to Magis

Ateneo de Naga University

 

 

 

My last ORSEM. Really starting to count my "LASTs" with Ateneo.

Saying goodbye to my CGC-family. Thanks for the 4 wonderful ORSEMS. Really happy to see our young volunteers step-up! :)

Save Siruma Build

Gawad Kalinga

Siruma, Camarines Sur

 

 

 

 

The most awesome event of May. Such an amazing event to see

real Filipino heroes working together to make the Philippines 

a country we all deserve. These people work together

to end poverty in the Philippines. 

My new blood type: GK+ (Gawad Kalinga positive)

Hope everyone had a blast this May.

We welcome June with arms wide open! 

Please Don't Forget

Few days before the Impeachment Trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona resumes, I was able to read the post below from Gio Tingson's facebook, the Commissioner-at-large of the National Youth Commission. 

The arroyo case is not about a stand-off between the judiciary and the executive - it is about the will of the people and our quest for what is just and what is right.

As Sen. Diokno said, “Tagalogs, Ilongos, Cebuanos, and Pampangos use a common word for justice, katarungan, derived from the Visayan root tarong, which means straight, upright, appropriate, correct. For us, therefore, justice is not rectitude, the morally right act; and because it also connotes what is appropriate, it embraces the concept of equity for which we have no native word, and for which on the rare occasions that we use the concept, we employ the Spanish derivative ekidad. 

For “right,” we use karapatan, whose root is dapat, signifying fitting, appropriate, correct. The similarity in meaning of the root words for “right” and “justice” indicates that, for us, justice and right are intimately related.

On the other hand, for “law” we use batas, a root word denoting command, order, decree, with a meaning disparate from that of the roots of our words for “justice” and “right.” Our language then distinguishes clearly between law and justice; it recognizes that law is not always just.”

Indeed, JUSTICE and LAW are understood, seen and appreciated by Filipinos differently. Most of the time, we give biased decisions and biased sides in favor of those who are dear to us. I believe that this conscious decision of STILL being with the side of the President especially in pursuing the cases against the Arroyos and Corona is a manifestation that I'm still hopeful with our f*cked up justice system.

Some notes:

1. NEVER FORGET! 

Who among you still remember and up to now feel the pain and anger to the Ampatuans immediately after the Maguindanao Massacre. Time flies with our memories and feelings. We are strong against something wrong only for a short moment, only when the issue is hot. 

2.   Bad people will always have something to cover up the issue, DON'T LOSE FOCUS!

We were all terrified about what happened to Ramgen Revilla, we were all focused in trying to solve the mystery behind his death. We all followed the story until Ramona (Revilla) Bautista exits the Philippines. 

Everything dissolved after this stupid sex scandal was exposed.

Where's Ramona now? No one knows. How about the scandal? - It's EVERYWHERE!

3. (Sabi nga ng aking mga kapatid), Dapat kina-KARIR (Career) ang mga bagay-bagay!

Still remember the time when the Sumilao farmers walked from Bukidon to Manila? (Tears)

Still remember the time when we were all moved to do something for our farmers? 

PASSION

HEART

PRAYERS!

and positive FORCE to really change the status quo!

May we not forget, that there are still a lot of issues to be settled, still a lot of policies to be polished,

hungry to feed, children to educate, elders to support, trees and animals to protect!

May we never forget that we still have a nation to help!

Ma ma ma MY SIruma

 

Finally! Got the chance to enjoy the summer vacation. Our destination: the beautiful paradise of Siruma, my hometown, my hiding place, my love.

 

It was Friday the 13^th when we decided to finally leave Naga. Original plan was to take the fuso (boat) to Siruma via Tinambac port but for some mystical and dark reasons of this superstitious day, we were convinced to ride the jeep to Siruma which took 8 lovely hours from our supposedly 2-hour trip.

 

 

The powerful jeep. 

 

It was a fun and exciting 8-hour trip. We got the chance to see the beautiful view of Tinambac and Siruma. More than this, the trip made me realize how inefficient and ineffective the government of the 3^rd district was in implementing road construction projects.

 

 Ralph's EPIC FAIL moment.

 

 The road may be exciting for us but I know this is a serious issue to the locals of Tinambac and Siruma.

 

 Nonetheless, Ralph, Marlon and I had fun riding the jeep on the "topload".

The 8-hr rough road trip was all worth it! We were welcomed by a beautiful view of 

San Miguel Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

San Miguel Bay (LEFT) - Pacific Ocean (RIGHT)

DAY 2

Devoted the whole day to have an intimate bonding with the SEA.

I've been always proud of our beach. As soon as we arrive at Amuris Resort

 (government-owned - open-to-all resort) I heard my friends saying - WOW! Beautiful! etc.

Ahhh. Ayos! Nagustuhan rin nila.

 

 

 

Say what? This isn't Boracay and will never be Boracay. This is only in SIRUMA! :)

Marlon and Ralph

Me and Edda

 

Marlon, our beautiful mermaid. 

LOVELY SEA! Good thing about this place: UNTOUCHED by irresponsible tourist.

Ended the night with some sort of a meeting with the Mayor. Happy to know that she's pro-environment.

Would be helping her implement some environmental programs for Siruma. I'm excited!

Gin and Chippy accompanied us all night.

 Kuya Joan (Mama's powerful right hand) was so strict. He didn't allow us to HOHOL outside the house.

DAY 3

Again, a special reunion with the sea. 

 

 So sad. We didn't got the chance to visit the other resort, Angelica, which is managed by my kinakapitid.

Siruma is giving us more reasons to really go back.

After this, we went home and had a feast! Edda and Kuya Joan (oooy <3) cooked ginataang bangkulis, prinitong bangkulis,

and pancit. We also got a special package from Coke. Haha. Thank you Coke! #Chos

We took the 1.5-hr fuso trip back to Naga, way way way shorter than jeep trip.

Some notes:

 1. You don't need a lot of money to enjoy the lovely Siruma. 

2. People are very nice especially Kuya Joan (nice Edda), Patrick (nice Marlon), Phillip (nice Ralph) and more.

3. Ginebra San Miguel is an awesome drink. It drives the locals crazy! HAHAHA

4. Bring toothbrush. You can't HOHOL if KWAYTIANGMAWTMELCH. (mabaho ang bibig mo) :))

5. Love the environment. Mother Earth has special ways of saying THANKS to those who love her.

Will miss you, Siruma! Until we meet again. I will always be proud of you! 

  

Nagmamahal,

RAMBOY :D

(Ramboy is my nickname in Siruma. It is the only place where I openly appreciate this "manly" nickname")

Photos: Marlon Martirez