The Creator: Is There an Intelligence Beyond the Universe
( A Reaction Paper)

With regards to the paper that was assigned to be read, I found it very informative and mind stimulating as well. It enables me to open the horizons of knowledge so that I may be able to understand more about life specifically about the nature of God. Indeed both Freud and Lewis have their own points that worth a second look.
Primarily they are arguing about the existence of the creator: intelligence beyond the universe. Sigmund Freud an infidel Jew and a confessed atheist said that it is very unthinkable to say that there is intelligence beyond the universe. He said that the spiritual worldview is a delusion. It is based and founded on wish fulfillment. And if we keep on believing on it, it is tantamount of saying that we have not yet grown up from our childhood. On the other side, C.S. Lewis, a convert, i.e. an atheist turned into a believer said that thee is indeed a creator, an intelligence beyond the universe as explained by the one responsible by the incredible vastness, precision and order, enormous complexity of the universe. Hence, the universe is filled with signpost all pointing to the unmistakable clarity of the intelligence beyond the universe. Here we have two opposed views regarding the spiritual worldview. One who says Grow up and another says Wake up.
Sigmund Freud believe that knowledge cam come from only from research and never from any other means such as revelation.
When Freud said that the spiritual worldview of the believers is based on wish fulfillment, I would like to agree with C.S. Lewis that not all reality of life is something to be wished of such as the reality of pain and suffering in life.
Moreover, I can see many contradictions in the life of Freud. His daughter told us that if we really want to know him we must not read his biographies but his letters.
I can say that the childhood of a person has a very great influence on the child. Both Freud and Lewis have an unpleasant childhood that is why they resorted to become atheist.

Sacrifice merits Paradise

With the advent of modern technology, people tend to lose the virtue of sacrifice. Our generation can be described as an instant generation. Almost everything is in instant. Gone were the days where we have to gather firewood, and then burn them with match and dried coconut leaves. It was replaced by rice cooker and stoves. With just a click of the hand, everything will flow on smoothly. We also have instant coffee, instant noodles, etc. The list goes on. Moreover, we also cater to instant happiness which somehow explains the emergence of prostitution and pornography in this world. All these things happen because man in the first place yearns for pleasure and happiness. But man has failed to realize that happiness is not instant. It is a fruit of labor and sacrifice.
We might ask ourselves, “Why do we need to sacrifice when in fact we can get happiness in an instant?”
First, we have to consider the reality of pain and suffering in life. From the moment we are born, we already felt the pain as we see light for the first time. Evidence to which is the fact that we cry during birth. We felt very insecure to the new world that we are in. Thus pain, suffering, and sacrifice are part and parcel of living. We cannot do away with it. It is embedded in our nature as finite beings lacking the necessary perfections.
Second, we need to sacrifice something for a higher purpose. Had not our mother sacrifice her health and eventually her life, we would not be present in this world nowadays. It is a good thing that we give up something in order to have more in life. Let us not cater to things that could bring us happiness which are ephemeral and fleeting in nature.
The saints in our Catholic Church have a great deal of sacrifice done for the Church. They shed their blood for a higher purpose. The best epitome of sacrifice is the sacrifice of our Lord on the cross. Blameless as he is, he shed his blood for us so that we may have eternal life in the life to come. Somehow Ninoy Aquino has a point when he said: “There comes a time in a man’s life when he must prefer a meaningful death than a meaningless life.”
We should live a meaningful life by sacrificing our evil desires for the good of the many. We got a lot of things we owe from God and it is a symbol of gratitude to render some sacrifice of our life for others for all the good fortune God has given us. We live life not in years but in how many lives that we touched.

Parusang kamatayan

Parusang kamatayan; Kalutasan sa lumalalang Krimen sa Bansa O Hindi


“Ang buhay ay bigay ng Diyos at walang sinuman ang may karapatan na kumuha nito, kundi siya na nagbigay nito.”

Ang ating mundo ay lalong gumugulo habang papasok sa bagong siglo. Hindi maikakila ng bawat isa na ang ating mundo sa ngayon ay puno ng karahasan at ligalig. Mga karahasang nagdudulot ng gulo at ligalig sa ating mudong ginagalawan. Sari-saring krimen and maririnig o mapapanood sa radyo at telebisyon. Misan pa nga ay masasaksihan pa natin ito ng harap-harapan. Kay, nararapat lamang na parusahan ang mga taong gumagawa ng krimen upang mabawas-mabawas ang antas ng kriminalidad sa ating bansa.

Ngunit, dapat din nating isaalang-alang na sa bawat parusa ay may hangganan. At ang parusang kamatayan ay di dapat ipagpatupad sa ating bansa ng madalian, dahil ito ay kinakailangang pag-aralan ng maigi kung ito ba’y makatarungan o hindi. Dapat isaisip kung ito na nga ba ang huling soluson sa patuloy na lumalalang antas ng kriminalidad sa ating bansa, maging sa buong santinakpan. Ngunit, ayon sa pag-aaral na isinasagawa sa Estados Unidos, hindi ito napatunayan bilang huling sandata laban sa krimen. At bilang tao, meron tayong paniniwala na ang nasabing resulta ay maaaring maging katulad din kung ito ay ginawa sa ating bansa.

Sa katunayan, hindi ito ang solusyon sa patuloy na lumalalang antas ng krimen sa bansa dahil ang layunin ng pagpataw ng parusa ay upang matuwid ang taong nagkasala at makapagsimula ng bagong buhay. Na kung saan ang parusang kamatayan ay taliwas sa naturang layunin. Ang parusang kamatayan ay kumikitil ng buhay na bigay ng diyos sa atin. Nakasaad sa sampung utos ng Panginoon na “Hwag kang pumatay.” At paano kapag ang naparusahan ay wala palang kasaana, maibabalik pa ba ang kanyang buhay?

Masasabi din natin na ito ay isang trahedya sa karapatang pantao dahil ating inilalalgay ang maysala sa kanyang kaparusahan hindi sa pagmamahal ng sinuman kundi sa purong poot sa kanya.

Dapat din nating igalang ang buhay hindi lamang ng mga biktima ng krimen kundi pati na rin ng mga kriminal bilang tao na may karapatan na mabuhay.

Marami ang paraan ng pagpaparusa na maaring igawad sa mga kriminal maliban sa hatol na kamatayan. Ang panghabang buhay na pagkabilanggo ay isa sa mga sumasagot sa tawag. Mas mainam ito dahil ito’y nagsisilbing rehas ng mga krimnal tungo sa paggawa ng iba pang krimen at maari pa syang magbago at and ating mga mamamayan sa bagong kabihasanan ay di na tulad ng mga taong napag-iiwan ng bagong bihis ng kabihasbanan

Pambihirang nilalang

Pambihirang Nilalang


“Mabuti pa nga kayo may kinakain, ang iba ryan wala kahit kanin. Kaya dapat kayong magpasalamat sa Panginoon sa halip na magbagot sa kasaganaang inyong ninanais.” Ilan lamang ito sa mga salitang lumabas sa bibig ng isang lalaking humubog sa aking buhay at katauhan. Isang pambihirang taong kilala sa kanyang pagiging matalino at maparaan sa anggulo ng pagmamaneho at pagmemekaniko. Isang taong nag-iisa lamang sa mundong ito.
Isinilang siya noong Septiyembre 10, 1956 sa Payao, Duero, Bohol bilang panganay sa siyam na magkakapatid nina G. at Gng. Sancho Castino Sr. Sa gulang na pito ay pumasok na siya sa Mababang Paaralan ng Duero. Halos araw-araw ay nilalakad niya ang limang kilometrong layo mula sa paaralan upang makapagtapos lamang sa kaniyang pag-aaral sa elementarya. At sa awa ng Diyos ay nakapagtapos din siya sa taong 1968. Dahil sa hirap ng buhay ay hindi siya nakapag-aral ng haiskul. Kapwa magsasaka lang kasi ang kanyang mga magulang at marami silang magkakapatid. Kaya, di nito makayanan na tustusan ang kanilang pag-aaral. Maliban pa dito, bilang panganay ay siya ang naiiwan sa kanyang mga nakababatang kapatid na sunod-sunod habang patuloy na nagtatrabaho ang kanyang mga magulang.
Noong kanyang kabataan ay nakahiligan na niya ang mag negosyo. Kaya noong siya ay naging binata ay nagpatayo siya ng isang munting tindahan sa tulong ng kanyang mga magulang. At dahil na rin sa kanyang pagiging masinop ay lumago ang kanyang negosyo dahil sila pa lamang ang nagtitinda sa nasabing lugar. Sari- saring negosyo na rin ang kanyang napasukan mula sa pagtitinda, pagbababuyan, pamimili ng palay at kopra, pagtatayo ng bigasan, pagtatayo ng maliit na sinehan , at iba pa. Hanggang umabot sa puntong nakabili siya ng dyip mula sa kanyang kita sa kanyang mga negosyo. At naging bantog ang kanilang pamilya sa kanilang lugar bilang unang pamilya na nagmamay-ari ng dyip. Nag-aral siya ng Driving and Mechanics sa Lunsod ng Tagbilaran. Kaya, siya na mismo ang nagmamaneho at nag-aayos ng mga sira ng kanilang sasakyan.
Nang siya’y magdadalawamput apat na gulang na ay may nakilala siyang isang babae na nagpatibok ng kanyang puso. At dahil na rin sa kapusukan ng kabataan ay nangyari ang di dapat na mangyari at nabuntis niya ang isang babaeng nagngangalang Tessie. Nang malaman ng mga magulang ng babae ay nangyari ay pinatawag siya nito upang mapanagutan ang kanilang ginawa. Sa una’y naging tutol ang kanyang mga magulang sa kanyang desisyon na magpakasal dahil sa bata pa lamang siya. Ngunit dahil sa mahal din niya ang nasabing babae ay pinanindigan niya ang kanyang ginawa. Kaya noong Setyembre 31, 1980 ay kinasal sila sa simbahan.
Pagkatapos ng kanilang kasal ay bumukod agad sila. Dito niya naranasan kung gaano kahirap ang magtayo ng sariling pamilya. Maraming gabi na wala siyang tulog at halos walang pahinga sa pagnenegosyo upang lumago ang kanilang pamumuhay. Sa awa ng Diyos ay biniyayaan sila ng marami sa Panginoon. Naipa-ayos at napalaki niya ang kanilang tinitirhan at nakapagbili pa siya ng ilang materyales sa bahay. Kaya masaya silang naninirahan sa Payao kapiling ang apat nyang anak: dalawang babae at dalawang lalaki.
Ngayon ang lalaking ito ay hindi gaano nagbago maliban na lang sa ilang puting buhok na tumubo sa kanyang ulo nang ipagdiwang niya ang kanyang ika-51 na kaarawan noong nakaraang taon. Siya pa rin ang Jack sa buhay ng aking ina (Tawag kasi ni Ina sa kanya ay Jack, pinaikli sa Jacinto). Isang pambihirang nilalang dahil puno siya ng pag-ibig sa kanyang mga minamahal. At kahit na isa lang syang hamak na tsuper at negosyante ay napagtapos niya ng kolehiyo ang kanyang panganay na ngayon ay isa ng ganap na guro sa lunsod ng Tagbilaran.
Sinasabi kong isang pambihirang tao ang lalaking ito dahil sya ay isang mabuting tao na may buong pananalig sa Panginoon. Isang siyang Lay Liturgical Minister sa loob ng maraming taon. Isang taong mahinahon at handang makinig sa iyo kahit gaano pa kalalim ng iyong mga suliranin at pagkabigo. Isang taong handang magsakripisyo alang alang sa kanyang mga minamahal.
Oo, kilalang-kilala ko siya ng lubusan sa loob ng halos dalawampu’t anim na taon dahil siya ang aking ama, ang nag-iisa at pambihira kong ama. Ang taong bumuo sa aking pagkatao at nagbibigay sa akin ng mga pangaral na nagiging gabay ko sa aking pamumuhay dito sa mundong ibabaw.

Filipinas

Pagsusuring pampelikula:

FILIPINAS

Napakaganda ang pelikulang Filipinas na mula sa panulat ni Felipe Iglesias at ginawang isang obra sa direksiyon ng batikang director na si Joel C. Lamangan.
Ang naturang peikula ay tungkol sa isang pamilya sa makabagong panahon na kung saan ang kanilang ina ay isang guro na may anim na anak. Ang mga magkakapatid na ito ay may kanya-kanya ng buhay. Nagkataong ikakasal ang isa sa kanila kaya nagsiuwian ang lahat sa kanilang lumang tahanan upang magtipon. Ngunit sa kanilang pagbabalik ay dahan dahang nabuksang muli ang mga sugat ng kahapon na hindi pa rin tuluyang naghilom. Bunsod na rin ng iba’t ibang pananaw ay nagtatalo ang magkakapatid hanggang umabot sa sukdulan na kung saan ay nasuntok ang kanilang butihing ina at dinala sa ospital. Doon lang nila tinigilan ang kanilang mga pagtatalo. Hindi na nila pinairal ang kani-kanilang mga prinsipyo at nagkabuklod-buklod silang muli.
Maihahanay natin sa mga piling-pili at natatanging pelikula na gawang Pinoy ang obrang ito ni Joel C. Lamangan. Kung sa uri ng pelikula ang pagbabasihan, tiyak ito ay nabibilang sa drama o para maging tiyak ay family-drama. Maganda ito dahil ito ay nagtatalakay sa pamilya kaya marami ang nakaka relate. Maganda din ang ginawang uri ng paglalahad ni Lamangan sa pamamagitan ng flashback. Ito ay nakakatulong upang magbigay linaw sa mga pangyayaring naganap sa pelikula. Maliban pa dito mabisa din ito upang magbigay ng mas magandang epekto sa takbo ng mga pangyayari.
Meron ding mga parte ng pelikula na kung minsan ay gumagamit ng mga matatayutay na pananalita ang mga tauhan. Hayagan itong ginamit ni Florencia, ng kanyang kaibigang pari, at ni Yolanda. Ang kanilang mga sinasabi’y nagsasaad ng mga katotohanan tungkol sa buhay at iyo’y nagsasalamin sa kanilang mga damdamin at pananaw sa pamaraang makasining.
Tungkol naman sa takbo ng mga pangyayari, naging maganda naman ang naging resulta. Sa aking pag-aalala’y walang mga sandali na ako’y nabagot sa kapapanood dahil maganda at kapana-panabik ang takbo ng mga pangyayari. Ngunit napansin kong medyo minadali ang takbo ng mga pangyayari sa bandang hulihan ng pelikula. Mas mainam siguro kung ginawa ito sa normal na takbo at hindi medyo mabilisan.
Kung sa tauhan naman ang pag-uusapan ay masasabi kong maganda ang naging kinalabasan. Lalong laolo na sa katauhan ni Yolanda. Talagang nagampanang mabuti ni Ms. Maricel Soriano ang kanyang papel bilang Yolanda. Talagang isa syang batikang aktres at talagang makukumbinse ka sa kanyang pag-arte. Kaya hindi natin maitatanong kung bakit sya nanalong Best Actress sa pelikulang ito. Maganda ang kanyang papel bilang panganay na anak ng pamilya Filipinas. Maraming beses syang naging duwag na magsalita para sa katotohanan dahil mas pinairal nya ang kanyang pagmamahal sa kanyang pamilya na kahit sarili nyang kaligayahan o buhay pag-ibig ay kanyang isinakripisyo alang-alang sa kanyang pamilya. Kung sa bagay, maganda at kahanga-hanga ang ginawa ni Yolanda ngunit nakalimutan nyang di nya dapat pasanin mag-isa ang mga suliranin ng kanyang pamilya. Nakalimutan nyang sya’y tao rin na marunong masaktan at magmahal. Kaya, nainitindihan ko ang kanyang naging reaksyon sa mga panahong nagkagulo na ang lahat. Bagay lamang na ipahayag nya ang kanyang tunay na saloobin imbes na ibaon ito sa limot at kawalang bahala. Ang kanyang katauhan ay nagpaala-ala sa akin na dapat nating harapin ang mga problema sa buhay at lutasin ito sa lalong madaling panahon upang hindi lumala at bago pa maging huli ang lahat, lalong lao na kung ito ay may kinalaman sa ating mga pamilya.
Wala akong maitulak kabigin sa mga nagsipagganap. Nabigyan nila ng buhay ang bawat katauhan na kanilang ipinakita. Ang naturang pelikula ay tinampokan ng mabibigat na bituin tulad nina Richard Gomez, Dawn Zaulueta, Aiko Melendez, atbp. Maging ang kaliit-liitang ekstra ay magaling din sa kanilang pagsipagganap.
Dahil sa pelikulang ito ay napagtanto ko ang kahalagahan ng pamilya at mabisang komunikasyon sa loob ng isang pamilya. Dapat magkaroon ng diskusyon kung may mga suliranin sa loob ng pamilya ngunit dapat itong gawin sa pamaraang mahinahon at iwasan ang pagiging mainitin ang ulo para sa katahimikan ng lahat.
May mga punto ring ako’y lubusan natinag sa takbo ng mga pangyayari lalong-lalo yong pagkakataong ipinabulalas ni Yoly ang kanyang mga hinanaing na kanya lamang kinikimkim sa loob ng mahabang panahon. Kasi, minsan ay ginagawa ko rin yon. Isa din yo`ng naglalakad sya sa gitna ng ulan matapos malaman na may iba na pala ang kanyang mahal na hindi nya nagawang ipaglaban noon.
Higit sa lahat, marami tayong aral na mapupulot mula sa pelikula. Una dito ay huwag na nating hintayin pa na mawala ang ating mga mahal sa buhay o may mangyaring masama sa ating mga magulang upang tayong mga anak ay magbuklod-buklod sa pagmamahal at magbibigay ng kapatawaran. Sa banding huli, pamilya pa rin ang tinitibok ng pusong Pilipino.

interesting conversation

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy speaks to his Class on the Problem Science has with GOD, The ALMIGHTY.
He asks one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .
Professor : You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So you Believe in GOD ?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Professor : Is GOD Good ?
Student : Sure.
Professor : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him. Most of us would attempt to Help Others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD Good then ? Hmm ?
( Student is silent ) Professor : You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella. Is GOD Good ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good ?
Student : No.
Professor : Where does Satan come from ?
Student : From . . . GOD . . .
Professor : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make Everything. Correct ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : So who created evil ?
( Student does not answer )
Professor : Is there Sickness ? Immorality ? Hatred ? Ugliness ? All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, who Created them ? ( Student has no answer ) Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you. Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD ?
Student : No, sir.
Professor : Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD ?
Student : No , sir.
Professor : Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD ? Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter ?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor : Yet you still Believe in HIM ? Student : Yes.
Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son ?
Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith.
Professor : Yes. Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.
Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat ?
Professor : Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as Cold ?
Professor : Yes.
Student : No sir. There isn't.
( The Lecture Theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events )
Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat, a Little Heat or No Heat. But we don't have anything called Cold. We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as Cold. Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat. We cannot Measure Cold. Heat is Energy. Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.
( There is Pin - Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre ) Student : What about Darkness, Professor ? Is there such a thing as Darkness ?
Professor : Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness ?
Student : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the Absence of Something. You can have Low Light, Normal Light , Bright Light, Flashing Light . . . But if you have No Light Constantly, you have Nothing and it's called Darkness, isn't it ? In reality, Darkness isn't. If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you ?
Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is Flawed.
Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how ?
Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality. You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD. You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought. It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing. Death is Not the Opposite of Life : just the Absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you Teach your Students that they Evolved from a Monkey ?
Professor : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.
Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir ?
( The Professor shakes his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the Argument is going )
Student : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and cannot even prove that this Process is an On - Going Endeavor, are you not Teaching your Opinion, sir ? Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher ?
( The Class is in Uproar )
Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever Seen the Professor's Brain ?
( The Class breaks out into Laughter )
Student : Is there anyone here who has ever Heard the Professor's Brain, Felt it, Touched or Smelt it ? . . . No one appears to have done so. So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have No Brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir ?
( The Room is Silent. The Professor stares at the Student, his face unfathomable )
Professor : I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student : That is it sir . . . the Link between Man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that Keeps Things Moving & Alive.
NB:
I believe you have enjoyed the Conversation . . . and if so . . .you'll probably want your Friends / Colleagues to enjoy the same . . . won't you ? . . .Forward them to Increase their Knowledge . . . or FAITH It turned out later that the student is Albert Einsten

Realizing one's potential and becoming an achiever (a public speaking piece)

“I am only one but I am one. I cannot do everything but I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”
Ma’am Tess, brother seminarians, a pleasant afternoon to all of you.
The great philosopher Aristotle affirmed that all of us have the potency for something great. Who knows one of us here will become the next bishop of Basilan or maybe one of us here will be the future Executive Vice President of Sara Lee. Nobody knows. Nobody can tell but it is very much possible because Martin Heidegger said that as long as man exists his potentialities can never be exhausted.
However, the problem with most of us is that we are contented with what we are. We seem to settle for less. If our academic dean would tell us to study harder and push beyond our limits, you may ask – Why should I study harder? What for? For grades? Grades are just numbers and numbers does not measure and define me. Yes! You’re right. Numbers cannot define you but they tell something significant about you.
A person who does not realize his potentials is like a bird that dies without ever having the chance to sing its most beautiful song. If such thing happens to you, you will be full of regrets as you look back at your past because you have not done the things that you should have done. Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside of us while we live. It is said that for all the sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest ones are these: “It might have been.” It might have been successful if I did my best. It might have been better if I push beyond my limits. It might have been wonderful if I believe in myself.
Friends, are there times in your life that you fell that you are bound in chains? Chained from your past, from your shyness, or from your inordinate fears? Are you afraid to be labeled as a second rate trying hard copycat? Are you afraid to fail? Well, try asking yourself: “How is one to know what one can accomplish unless one tries?” There’s no harm in trying. Right?
Then, you need this key. This key will help you unlock those chains and will open the door leading you to greater heights, enabling you to blaze new trails, venture into new frontiers, and hopefully discover broader and wider horizons. This key consists of few tips so that you will b able to realize your potentials and become an achiever in the future
And that is the topic I wish to impart to you today – “Realizing One’s potential and Becoming an Achiever.”
As you can see, I have here three balloons of different colors. Somehow, in our life there are things that we need to get away with things that somehow qualify as those of our comfort zones. Things like laziness, mediocrity and hatred. These three balloons that I have represent these things. And what I’m gonna do with it. I’m gonna prick it with a pin and have it burst. Now, anybody of you would like to demonstrate how to prick a balloon using a pin? Yes, N____. Please do the honor. (The balloon is pricked) thank you N____ for your cooperation. But oh! Can you see this? There is a paper contained inside the balloon. Let me read it. Read to widen your horizons.
This is the first tip in order to realize your potential and become an achiever.
According to Richard Steele, “Reading is to mind, what exercise is to the body.” If you are very much conscious about your health and figure, that’s why you g to the gym and have some exercise, then you should also have to let your mind do the exercise simply through reading. Reading does a lot of marvels to a person. With reading, one can e well traveled and well- informed. One can have something to say about anything under the sun. And these will be one of your passports towards achieving you dreams in the future. Yu know very well that in this modern and competitive world, one needs a wining edge in order to be an achiever. And reading is a very great help.
Researchers show that a house full of books gives youngsters the richest start of all. A love of reading is more important for children’s academic success than their family’s wealth and class. Children from deprived backgrounds performed better in tests than those from more affluent homes if they enjoy reading books, newspapers, and comics in their spare time. The study which covered 31 countries found encouraging children to read for pleasure could compensate for social problems that would usually affect their academic performance.
Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once said, “Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a destiny”. Psychologists say that it takes 21 consecutive days to form a habit. So whether it be forming a bad habit or a good one, the same process applies. If I were you, choose to form a good habit ad I’m sure the fruits will be sweet. Cultivate the habit of reading and you will see marvelous results.
I myself can testify to it. The only reason I could draw why do I easily get the lessons I studied is because of my early training of reading during my childhood. My mother had taught me how to read at the age of four. Since then, I’m always reading anything that I could grasp. As a matter of fact, I have read a total of 87 novels to date excluding non-fiction books, textbooks, magazines , and other reading materials. The result my vision has become blurred but my mind sharpens. I don’t care even if I will become blind because I read much. Anyway we have now the technology that would great wonders in bringing us our sight. Isn’t it? If such thing happens then I am somewhat on the equal footing of Jean Paul Sartre, a great existential thinker who got blind because of reading too much. Then I don’t have to worry. Who know I would have a Simone de Bouvier who would do the reading for me. Thus I would heed what Fr. Dongdong had said, “Read, read and read until you can’t read anymore.”
Og Mandino said that love of books is our pass to the greatest, the purest, the most perfect pleasure prepared for us by God. It endures when all other pleasures fade. It will support us when all other recreations are gone. It will last us until our death. It will make our hours pleasant to us as long as we live.
That’s the beauty of reading. Indeed it widens our horizons.
Now prepare for an explosion of the second tip on realizing one’s potential and become an achiever. Here we go (Prick the balloon.) As usual there is a paper that said Don’t settle for less.
Those who reach the top are the ones who are not content with doing what is required of them. They do more, they go another mile. And another. The measurement of their recompense never enters their mind. They know that eventually they will receive their rewards.
There is but one certain method of achieving one’s goals and that is through hard labor, both mental and spiritual. If I am not willing to pay the price of distinction I should be prepared to resign myself to a future of tears and poverty while I beat my chest in self pity over the futility of a life void of smiles and rewards.
Always do your best. What you plant now you will harvest later.
Go another mile.
The only certain means of success is to render more sand better eservice than is expected to you. No matter what your task may be. This is a habit followed by all successful people since the beginning of time. The surest way to doom yourself to mediocrity is to perform only the work which for you are paid.
The very reason why do I choose no to have my scholastic records uncredited lies on this philosophy. For the information of everybody, I have already studied for a period of 3 and a half years outside the seminary, specifically at University of Bohol. But I choose to retake all the subjects because I want to know how far I can achieve if I do my best.
Had I have my units credited, I would be one of the millions who settled for less, aspiring nothing but a passing grade. But I dare to make a difference.
Think not you are being cheated if you deliver more silver than you receive. For there is pendulum to all life and the sweat you deliver if not rewarded today will swing back tomorrow, tenfold.
Hard work and rewards are like cause and effect, means and ends, seed sand fruits, these cannot be separated. The effect already blooms in the cause, the end pre-exists in the means, and the fruit is always on the seed.
What is the best thing for a river? It is to keep moving. If it stops, it stagnates. The best thing for me is that which keeps my currents flow. Our life must progress and we should not limit ourselves with what we are now. Man’s reach exceeds his grasps.
Never again will I fail to go the extra mile or render less than my pay deserve.
I will do my work, henceforth, with all the intensity I can put forth. Not just my work and no more, but a little more. That little more which in time will be worth all the rest. And if I suffer, as I often will and I’ll doubt the value of my efforts, as I must on occasions. I will still do my work. I will put my heart into it and the sky will clear and from out of the very doubt and suffering will born the supreme joy of life then I would sing either “I can live. I can love. I can reach the heavens above.” Or “I can go the distance. I will search the world, I will face its harms. I don’t care how far, I can go the distance. Till I found my hero’s welcome waiting in your arms.”
I will take every risk and embrace every opportunity that may provide a better life for me. I will despise myself if I look back on my life and realize that I had the talent and the ability to do great things but could not find the courage to try. I know that I can do, and I know how little have I done I have tittered away my opportunities. Take a look at these sand. I let its grains fall through my open fist. When in fact, I can hold it. But I do believe that it s not too late for me, for you, for us. We can still shape a future of success and happiness. We are capable of great wonders and now we know that our achievements will never rise higher than our faith in ourselves. We have new faith. We were made in the image of God. We are not created to fail. Defeat? Possible. Quit. Never again.
That holds the second tip of realizing ones potential and becoming an achiever. Just for a recap, I have already given two simple tips: Read to widen your horizons and Don’t settle for less.
Now, it’s time for the last tip that I could give regarding my topic. May I call another volunteer from the audience to prick this last balloon tat I have? Yes N______ Thank you. Now the third tip is to Love what you are doing.
Reading a lot of things and pushing beyond our limits would not be possible and would be a burden to us if we have not loved doing such things. Love can make wonders in our works. Have you tried working on a certain job with a heavy heart? How do you feel? Personally, I can attest to it because when I do things just out of obligation with a heavy heart, the work becomes a curse and a burden to me. But when I learned to love even those menial jobs, it makes wonders deep inside of me.
You see this? I got these medals and citations because I love what I am doing. Studying my lessons and living here in the seminary are just some of the thing I have learned to love. As a result, good outcomes flow on naturally.
As John Lennon and Paul McCarthy said in their song, ”All you need is love.” To make great things out of simple ones.
Thus whatever my job may be, let me perform it with love and I will not fail. . Henceforth when my days work has ended, I will surprise the world. I will remain at my task, just a little longer, and put love on my work. I’ll let that extra effort be an investment in my tomorrow. Wit such attitude flavored with love, so rare in this selfish worked we inhabit I know I cannot fail.
So there you have it. Three simple tips on realizing one’s potential and becoming an achiever in the future.
Let me close my speech with a short story that follows:”
A 7-year-old boy named Kenny, moved to a county and bought a donkey from an old farmer for $100. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day. The next day the farmer drove up and said “Sorry son, but I have some bad news, the donkey died last night.”
Kenny replied” Well then, just give me my money back.” The farmer said, “Can’t do that. I went and spent it already.”
Kenny said, “Okay then, just unload the donkey” the farmer asked, “What you gonna do with him?”. Kenny: “I’m going to raffle him off, sell it by lottery, draw a lot to a group of people each paying the same amount for a ticket.”
Farmer: “You cannot raffle off a dead donkey.
Kenny: “Sure I can, watch me. I just won’t tell anybody he’s dead.” A month later the farmer met up with Kenny and asked, “What happened with that dead donkey?”
Kenny: “I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at $2 apiece and made a profit of $898.”
Farmer: Didn’t anyone complain
Kenny: “Just the guy who won, So I give him back $2”. Kenny grew up and eventually become the chairman of Enron Power USA.
Friends, I hope you don’t get me wrong. I don’t suggest you to cheat but my point is to be an achiever, aside from the tips given, one must have an attitude. A positive outlook towards life amidst trails and adversities.
I know that many of you here can be great someday if only you realize your potentials and I’m confident that you will.
Thank you so much and have a nice day.