Merry Christmas!

Hello dear readers,

I would like to greet you a merry Christmas. I hope all the best things will happen in your lives. Everything has a reason and for this season, Jesus Christ is the reason. No matter what religion you may have or beliefs you hold onto, I hope and pray that you will be blessed with happiness, peace and fulfillment. As you celebrate this day, I am hoping that your hearts will be filled with blessings of joy. May God bless you and keep safe. Have a true joy in life!

- Kathryn

Poor Management

Poor management often leads to destruction. Little by little, everything starts to fall. Hard-earned capitals get lost and past efforts get wasted. Living without proper management , plans and order is like running in a race for no reason.

In life, organization of one`s events is necessary to achieve a life filled with appropriateness. Each individual is bound to be in order. Without order, obstacles are harder to overcome, problems are more complicated to solve and successes are more difficult to achieve.

In unfortunate times, a person who`s well put together will have more chances to conquer situations because of well planned ideas. Ideas that can help a person in his personal, physical or financial survival. It can be a matter of falling off a cliff and hanging on the edge of the cliff.

Poor management is the element in slowly destroying one`s priceless possessions. It is the epitome of failure.

Labeling

Recently, another advertisement played first before actually seeing the video that I wanted to watch in Youtube. Gratefully, it`s not just another advertisement endorsing their products. It`s Pantene`s "Labels Against Women." In most advertisements that I see on television and internet, Pantene`s new commercial is one of the most inspiring commercials I have seen. It depicted a very significant social issue we are currently  facing.

Labeling is as terrible as stereotyping. It constricts people into a specific and limited idea that existed with atrocious and delusive judgments. It hinders people to alter a new character or personality because of the existing prejudices. It is the predicament that hunts people`s minds providing skeptical thoughts into showing what one is greatly capable of.

Pantene`s new commercial about labeling women is a great representation of the issues our society have. It`s not a battle between masculines and feminines but it`s how preconceived labeling affects the development of people`s potentials.

At the end, one`s determination and faith will make him shine through.

"Don`t let labels hold you back. Be strong and shine." - Pantene

- Kathryn

A Reflective School Day

Today has been quite beneficial. My eyes were able to witness another place.  I was enthralled to take photos in an ordinary community. It`s fascinating and gratifying that in such a place, I was still able to witness the pleasant sky, trees, and soil. In our advancing world today, the image of not being able to see such beauty is frightening. The way the world once saw naturally clear water as ordinary now saw them as an occasional find.

The exquisiteness of simple things like the blooming green and brown colors of the trees are refreshingly peaceful to sense.

 Even the uneven yet naturally embossed marks of the tree`s trunk is comforting.

 The bright and rich color of the plants are interesting to look at.

And the smooth surfaces of the rocks are nice to touch.

While the surface of the patches and combinations of rocks, soil, and others make the perfect bench.

Moreover, this simple and delicate attribute of nature calms the soul.

Beauty is defined not by the eyes but by the heart.

How about you? How do you appreciate the plain things in life? I would be gratified if you can share your experiences and insights.

Thank you for viewing. May this world change for the better.

- Kathryn

Getting Initiation

Life has been quite fair to me. I have been receiving many encouragements to express my inner self through learning. My weary soul has been showing signs of activeness and enthusiasm. The gratefulness inside me is building and pounding.

Recently, additional freedom has been helping me cope up with life`s stressors. Everything seems so nice and happy despite life`s challenges.

The eagerness to express, learn and bloom has been making my heart, soul and mind pop with excitement. The willingness of my being is preparing me for the future`s big battle against my own intuition and will. The commotion inside me is pounding with ideas and imaginations.

I am elated, loved and cared. I am grateful, devoted and enthusiastic to serve and work hard. Life is the mystery book one can`t seem to conclude.

Perceptions About What Love Is

Love is a mystifying perceptivity. It covers most aspects of life. It is a totality of the result of being concerned by the acquired longing for affection, yearning and fondness. It`s the inclination to nature`s call to acquire and provide a sense of peace and serenity through the social`s tendency to long for bond, attachment, affiliation, connection and relationship. The word love is not powerful at all, but the sentiments that come along with the emotions of the elation of love. It`s one of the most wonderful phenomenon that ever existed. It`s a sensation one inevitably aspire for. The true nature of it flows like the brilliancy of the streams of the pure and clear water. It glistens with transparency of beauty. It is like the sounds of chirping birds, or the blowing winds. It`s as peaceful as how a tree breezes. It is welcoming to the ear and pleasant to the eyes. It`s not lust nor self-satisfaction. It is about providing and giving with the purest intentions and care. It is also freedom. Love is not constricted and tight for one has the capabilities to cope and understand. Genuine love is never impatient but specifically steadfast. It`s not forced and pushed because it comes and feels by instances. It`s faithful, true, tolerant and omnipotent. It conquers everything.

Help For Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) Victims

The super typhoon Haiyan also known as Yolanda in the Philippines brought terrible destruction to many provinces and cities in the Philippines. The number of unattached, misplaced, and injured is said to be in millions. The confirmed deaths has also been reported to be about 4,000. In times like this, every small care to the people who have been affected negatively is very much appreciated. 

Many local and foreign governments, companies, institutions, and organizations have pledged their donations. Even though, many of them needs the help of the volunteers for the repacking and management of relief goods.

The other day (November 18, 2013), volunteers worked to help repack and arrange the relief goods for the victims of the super typhoon Haiyan at Ateneo De Manila University`s covered courts. The volunteers waited for their turns to help and work in the process of regulating the goods. Even though most of the volunteers waited hours for their turn to help, a lot of them seemed happy to wait, cooperate and work together with other volunteers. The management of repacking and arranging the goods was systematized and orderly. This is the reason why many volunteers even waited for their turns to work. There, they aimed for finishing 80,000 repacked relief goods. At the time, the finished goods were already at around 60,000. A lot of them worked all night until noon yesterday.

Moreover, there was also a "Bayanihan Express Repacking Center" at Camp Aguinaldo joined by elementary, high school and college students, instructors, military authorities and others. The process wasn`t as formal as the works at Ateneo De Manila University but the works for repacking the goods finished in the afternoon without the volunteers having to sacrifice a part of their time doing almost nothing. 

(Photos were taken at Camp Aguinaldo: These photos were taken when the repacking of goods were almost done.)

At Bayanihan Express Repacking Center

At Bayanihan Express Repacking Center.

At Bayanihan Express Repacking Center.

At Bayanihan Express Repacking Center.

At Bayanihan Express Repacking Center.

Volunteers and others cleaning up the place.

At Camp Aguinaldo.

At Camp Aguinaldo.

Some of the finished repacked goods were placed inside the sacks shown in this picture.

Volunteers repacked goods once again as they opened new sacks of raw rice.

The volunteers started to gather in one area to repack the goods once more.

At Camp Aguinaldo.

It was indeed gratifying to be able to help in small ways. Knowing that I contributed even a very small part in the whole process of helping, it was a delighting experience. I don`t assume that even one second of my time repacking and working was a waste. 

If you aspire to help, you can do so by donating. There are several credible public and private institutions, companies and organizations that accepts donations to be given to those who have been affected by the typhoon in several areas in the Philippines. Thank you to all the countries, organizations, and people who participated and cooperated in donating and helping for the victims of this disastrous tragedy.

- Kathryn