WHAT A WASTE OF PRECIOUS LIFE!

I heard over the radio this morning that a woman suicide bomber in Iraq blew herself up killing 6 other people and wounding many others.

I asked myself,what would really drive people to take their own precious lives and take others' lives with them?

Here I realized once again how one's mindset and beliefs affects one's behaviors. These suicide bombers may have reached a point where their ideology or programming may have led them to believe that the act of killing themselves and others,whether guilty or innocent,is justified.

There must have been a compelling reason why that woman may have done what she believed to be right, at the cost of her own life, but no matter how I look at it...it's a waste of precious life, and morally wrong.

If this act had been inspired by so-called religious teaching or by a tenet of faith,then that religion or doctrine must be misguided.

CREATIVITY TRIPPING

I've taken a renewed interest in drawing comics because of the project I'm working on for the 34th anniversary of my San Beda batchmates. The souvenir program which I'm supposed to do should look like a comic book, so I've been browsing through websites featuring Marvel Comic book covers which I still consider the best,(especially those done by my idol Jack Kirby,) hoping to get some inspiration from these masterpieces of cover art.

It seems this effort has had a pleasant side -effect! I found myself thinking up and doodling cover options and content for the program. I've also been daydreaming a lot of fantasy stories (the adult comedy and horror-fantasy type) which I've sketched on paper.

Yesterday, while walking along SM Megamall I found myself looking at people and concocting in my mind, stories of what could possible be going through their heads based on the expressions on their faces. For instance, I imagined that one guy who had a worried look on his face may have been late for an appointment...with a client?with a lover? One housewife-looking type must be thinking about where she was going to get money for expenses of her kids.

This went on as I passed by people. Made me realize there really is a wealth of stories around if you can just imagine them.

As a result of that creative trip I came up with story ideas. One which hit me while I was passing the video game center was about two teens who get sucked up in the video game they're playing and find themselves actually shooting live bullets at the enemy. Another (adult fantasy story) idea was about two sweethearts who snuck up in the moviehouse and have sex there not realizing they are being videotaped.They find their fotos at the marquee the following week as the double-feature.

When I returned to the office I hit on another idea: a designer of Magic cards falls asleep and his faerie creations walk out of his laptop. He has some wild hanky-panky with the faerie until she turns him into a creature that appears in the next Magic card edition.

Maybe I can make some money out of this...but just the exhiliration from the brief creative journey was a reward by itself.

REFLECTIONS ON A PICKLE JAR

I got one of those inspirational emails yesterday entitled: The Pickle Jar, which tells the story of how the writer's father took care of his future by saving small change which he placed inside a pickle jar. When he was put through college,the pickle jar which served its purpose disappeared from its usual place. The writer eventually got married and had a daughter,and one day at his parent's home he found the pickle jar back where it was,filled with coins.

It was his turn now to start filling it up.

Although we never had a pickle jar, I knew that Dad took it upon himself to provide for the future of all of us,his seven kids, the best way that he could. With his meager Army man's salary it is a wonder he achieved what he did.Well, of course, with a lot of help from Mom who budgetted the money.

We were never poor,nor were we deprived of the occasional luxuries in life either. But I know now that both Dad and Mom must have sacrificed a lot themselves, denied themselves of some luxury they would have wished so they would have the money to ensure our education, and with it, our future.

I don't really envy those who have the money so much so that they can travel to other countries frequently. Actually, I have the money! But I guess compared to ensuring my kids future, the luxury of travelling and vacationing takes the back seat.

Am I a less fulfilled man because of having denied myself these experiences? I don't think so.

As a wise woman told me once upon a time:"If it is God's will...it will happen."

There will be a time and a place for indulging in dreams and fantasies...but for now,it's time to fill up the pickle jar.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

* I read an article by former NEDA head Cielito Habito that most of our country's trillion peso budget (about 70% of it ) will go to so-called debt servicing. What's frustrating to know is that we will be paying for past government investments (e.g. the Bataan Nuclear Plant) that we never benefitted from!

* In my desire to get going with the cover design of the San Beda Reunion Souvenir Program,I've been reading stuff on how to draw comics,1 point and 2 point perspective and have started doodling and sketching again. Nothing like an ambitious goal to keep the adrenaline going and keep my day interesting. I've always realized the power of a vision, and it's the visualization of the completed project that's getting me pumped up! Fresh ideas for sitcomics just keep popping up!

* Last Saturday I finally met with Jack Dumaup, an ex-Juvenist, who is now active in the Youth Ministry of a born-again church. I admired his conviction and his zeal in sharing his experience of being born again. Now if only our priests could be that converted and zealous the Catholic church here would be a bit more alive!

REALIZING MY POTENTIAL

This morning I had a talk with a group belonging to SC Innova Holdings, a family-owned corporation with various businesses. They were looking for a consultant who would help them out with their growth and expansion concerns particularly in the area of training and development. While they were sharing (particularly Vic,who turned out to be one of the owners) I gave in my two cents worth of observations which must have impressed on Vic that I knew what I was talking about.

Towards the end of the meeting he said that if only I was available they'd like to hire me even on a trial basis.

It was a feel good moment for me and just affirmed that my experience in Jollibee does amount to something.

Anyway, if it was meant for me I know we will cross paths again in the future.

IS THIS THE LITTLE GIRL I CARRIED?

Today is Tasha's thirteenth birthday.

I gave her the traditional birthday spanking (13 whacks on the butt and 1 more for good measure) while she was just stirring after I woke her up and greeted her a Happy Birthday.

During my quiet time in the morning, I said a prayer for her and spent a bit of time reminiscing and realizing that time really has passed by quickly. I couldn't imagine that thirteen years have passed since that September morining when Ate Per entered the room in Cardinal Santos hospital and told me that Tash had been born and was doing OK.

Tash was inside the incubator when I first saw her. She was like a little princess sleeping under the drop light.

As if in a movie flashback I recalled how cute she was when she was a baby, and now how she has grown to be a pretty yet feisty teenage girl.

With the song:"Butterfly Kisses" playing at the back of my mind,I can't help but thank God,He gifted me with my little girl Tash.

SOME MORE LESSONS FROM LATE LIFER

I read another posting from Late Lifer and it got me thinking about setting up more family rituals.

He shared that he and his wife had activities like: date night,cocktails, sharing of stories from each other's day and reading of articles from newspapers.

I remember that before we moved to Paranaque, Jaja and I had started a Thursday night with the kids. We would go out to Brother's Burgers or order a pizza and have a late night snack with the kids. It was fun and memorable.

Now that they're growing up fast and aren't with us that often perhaps we ought to create more opportunities that we can be together.