Welcome To My World!

Meanings

Standing for what you believe in,
Regardless of the odds against you,
and the pressure that tears at your resistance,
... means courage.

Keeping a smile on your face,
When inside you feel like dying,
For the sake of supporting others,
... means strength.

Stopping at nothing,
And doing what's in your heart,
You know is right,
... means determination.

Doing more than is expected,
To make another's life a little more bearable,
Without uttering a single complaint,
... means compassion.

Helping a friend in need,
No matter the time or effort,
To the best of your ability,
... means loyalty.

Giving more than you have,
And expecting nothing,
But nothing in return,
... means selflessness.

Holding your head high,
And being the best you know you can be
When life seems to fall apart at your feet,
Facing each difficulty with the confidence

That time will bring you better tomorrows,
And never giving up,
... means confidence.

BEGIN AGAIN

One of the best things we can do in our lives is this:
Begin again.

Begin to see yourself as you were
When you were the happiest and strongest you've ever been.

Begin to remember what worked for you
(and what worked against you),
And try to capture the magic again.

Begin to remember how natural it was when you were a child --
To live a lifetime each day.

Begin to forget the baggage you have carried with you
For years:
The problems that don't matter anymore,
The tears that cried themselves away,
And the worries that are going to wash away
On the shore of tomorrow's new beginnings.

Tomorrow tells us it will be here every new day of our lives;
And if we will be wise,
We will turn away from the problems of the past
And give the future -- and ourselves -- a chance
To become the best of friends.
Sometimes all it takes is a wish in the heart to let yourself ..
Begin again.

Honesty

Morality may consist solely in the courage of making a choice. Wickedness is always easier than virtue, for it takes a short cut to everything. But over time you learn, you can't make wrong work.

There are always two choices, two paths to take. One is easy. And your only reward is that it's easy. You cannot do wrong without suffering wrong.

Work joyfully and peacefully, knowing that right thoughts and right efforts will inevitably bring about right results.

You can never lose anything that really belongs to you, and you can't keep that which belongs to someone else.

You always experience the consequences of your own acts. If your acts are right, you'll get good consequences; if not, you'll suffer for it.

Sooner or later everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences.

Thoughts To Live By

You shall not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.

You shall not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.

You shall not carry grudges, for they are the heaviest of all life's burdens.

You shall face each problem as it comes. You can only handle one at a time anyway.

You shall not take problems to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows.

You shall not borrow other people's problems. They can better care for them than you.

You shall not try to relive yesterday for good or ill, it is forever gone. Concentrate on what is happening in your life and be happy now!

You shall be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own.

You shall not become "bogged down" by frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action.

You shall count your blessings, never overlooking the small ones, for a lot of small blessings add up to a big one.

Whose Job It Is?

This's a story about four people: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn't do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody have done.

Lessons of Failure

Lord, are you trying to tell me something?
For...

Failure does not mean I'm a failure;
It does mean I have not yet succeeded.

Failure does not mean I have accomplished nothing;
It does mean I have learned something.

Failure does not mean I have been a fool;
It does mean I had enough faith to experiment.

Failure does not mean I have disgraced;
It does mean I have dared to try.

Failure does not mean I don't have it;
It does mean I have something to do in a different way.

Failure does not mean I am inferior;
It does mean I am not perfect.

Failure does not mean I have wasted my life;
It does mean that I have an excuse to start over.

Failure does not mean that I should give up;
It does mean that I should try harder.

Failure does not mean that I will never make it;
It does mean that I need more practice.

Failure does not mean that you have abandoned me;
It does mean that you must have a better idea

Lessons from an Oyster

There once was an oyster
Whose story I tell,
Who found that some sand
Had got into his shell.

It was only a grain,
but it gave him great pain.
For oysters have feelings
Although they're so plain.

Now, did he berate
the harsh workings of fate
That had brought him
To such a deplorable state?

Did he curse at the government,
Cry for election,
And claim that the sea should
Have given him protection?

'No,' he said to himself
As he lay on a shell,
Since I cannot remove it,
I shall try to improve it.

Now the years have rolled around,
As the years always do,
And he came to his ultimate
Destiny stew.

And the small grain of sand
That had bothered him so
Was a beautiful pearl
All richly aglow.

Now the tale has a moral,
for isn't it grand
What an oyster can do
With a morsel of sand?

What couldn't we do
If we'd only begin
With some of the things
That get under our skin.

  

Keep Swimming

Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl.
One was an optimistic soul.
But the other took the gloomy view.
"We'll drown," he lamented without much ado,
and with a last despairing cry,
he flung up his legs and said "Goodbye."

Quote the other frog with a steadfast grin,
"I can't get out but I won't give in,
I'll just swim around till my strength is spent,
then I'll die the more content."
Bravely he swam to work his scheme,
and his struggles began to churn the cream.

The more he swam, his legs a flutter,
the more the cream turned into butter.
On top of the butter at last he stopped,
and out of the bowl he gaily hopped.

What is the moral? It's easily found...
If you can't hop out, keep swimming around!

Sarangani - Archeologist's Paradise

BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Sarangani, Mindanao's front door to BIMP-EAGA, is the southernmost province in mainland Mindanao. It is cut midway by General Santos City, giving its two sections hammock-like shapes that hug the mountains and Sarangani Bay.

Sarangani is surrounded by the Celebes Sea, Sarangani Bay, and the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Davao del Sur.

The province is also the coastal zone of SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos City), one of the country's fast growing development clusters.

It has seven municipalities (Alabel, Malapatan, Glan, Malungon, Maasim, Kiamba, and Maitum) with 140 barangays. Its vast beachfronts, rolling hills, and fertile plains offer plenty of opportunities.

Geography
The province is bounded by Sultan Kudarat in the west, South Cotabato in the north, Davao del Sur in the east, and Celebes Sea in the south. Between the eastern and western parts of the province is General Santos City.

Political Subdivision
The province has one Congressional Representative, and seven municipalities.

Population
The population of the province as of 2000 census is 410,622.

Language/Dialect
Sarangani's mixed population of Cebuano-speaking Blaans and Muslims in the east coast, Ilocano-speaking T'bolis, Manobos, and Muslim in the west coast, and Ilonggo-speaking B'laans and Kaolos in the north uplands, is unique and in harmony.

Climate
Weather is mild and pleasant and free from typhoons.

Industries
The province's agri and fishery based enterprises maintain banana plantations; cattle ranches; bangus, hito, tilapia, tiger prawn fishponds; mariculture; and salt farms. Livestock is just as viable.

With more than 7,000 hectares of mango plantation, Sarangani is an emerging source in SOCSKSARGEN aside from being a large producer of copra and sugarcane.

Giant companies like DOLE Philippines have ventured into banana, pineapple, and asparagus growing. Fishing and aquaculture also sustain the local economy.

South Cotabato - Conference Capital Of Mindanao

BRIEF DESCRIPTION
South Cotabato is endowed with numerous natural sceneries that have a great potential as tourist attractions, and is blessed with creative people who maintain and develop the beauty of these places.

As the province progresses and moves towards agri-industrialization, people in and out of the country are getting more interested in South Cotabato. At present, more potential tourist spots are being developed in the province.

In only three decades since its provincehood, South Cotabato has already surpassed dozens of provinces established half a century ahead in almost every aspect of development. In a short span, it became one of the leading provinces in Mindanao. What it has got to show today are vivid results of human synergy and the richness of its resources.

South Cotabato has recently become a favorite venue for conventions and big events of national significance. In 1994 the province hosted the National Secondary School Press Conference. 1996 was another remarkable year for South Cotabato, having been selected as host of the Palarong Pambansa '96. Just recently it played host to the 9th Mindanao Business Conference, which was successfully participated by all sectors of society, both local and international, and the 23rd FEDBOP National Bowling Tournament.

Geography
South Cotabato is located in the southern of the island of Mindanao. It is bounded by the province of Sultan Kudarat in the north and west, in the east and south by the city of General Santos and province of Sarangani. It lies at a latitude of about 6 degrees and 15' north and about 125 degrees longitude. Its main access to the sea is through the Sarangani Bay where the modern port of General Santos City is located.

Political Subdivision
South Cotabato has 10 municipalities and one city, 198 barangays and two congressional districts.

Population
South Cotabato’s population was registered at 690,728 as of the 2000 census.

Languages/Dialects
For the year 2000, the majority of the population spoke Hiligaynon, Cebuano, T'boli, Ilocano, Bilaan, Maguindanao, and Tagalog.

Climate
South Cotabato is a typhoon-free province where rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year while air humidity generally follows the rainfall pattern. The months from March to June are considered the hottest while December and January are the coolest.

Major Industries
South Cotabato is an agribusiness destination. It had been so since 37 years ago when the first truck carrying pineapple planting materials rumbled through the dirt road of Polomolok. Long after the dust has settled, South Cotabato has emerged to be the leading producer of peineapple, asparagus, corn, rice, and cattle fattening. Today it claims to be the bread basket of the South.

North Cotabato - Land Of The Mightiest Mountain

Description
The original Cotabato Province known as the Empire Province of Cotabato used to be the largest in the country in terms of land area. On November 22, 1973, Presidential Decree 341 created the new provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao. South Cotabato was segregated and what used to be north Cotabato was renamed Cotabato under Batas Pambansa 660 on December 19, 1983. The word ""Cotabato"" is derived from the Maguindanaon ""Kutawato"" or ""Stone Fort.""

Cotabato province lies on the eastern part of Region XII and is strategically located in the central part of Mindanao. It is bounded on the north by the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon, on the east by Davao City, on the southeast by Davao del Sur, on the west by Maguindanao province, and on the southwest by Sultan Kudarat.

Tourism in Cotabato is definitely one of the most promising avenues for such needed foreign exchange. Major tourist attractions abound in this exotic province. Of international interest is Mt. Apo with its rare freshwater lake at Venado, its monkey-eating eagle, and the ""Waling-Waling,"" and then there is Lake Agko with its rare blue boiling water. They are found in Kidapawan while other tourist attractions abound in such areas as Kabacan, Carmen, Makilala, and Magpet. Domestic and foreign tourist have come once and again to the Mt. Apo National Park, among them, geologists and other scientists hoping to discover new species of flora and fauna.

To boost the tourism industry, agencies have been created and transportation and accommodation facilities have been encouraged. The people have become accustomed to entertaining tourist, sharing with them the history of their unique life and culture.

Geography
The province is bounded on the north by Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur on the east, Davao and Maguindanao on the west and Sultan Kudarat on the southwest.

Political Subdivision
It has two Congressional Districts with 17 Municipalities, one component city, and 544 Barangays.

Population
The total population of the province is 958,643 as of 2000 Census.

Language/Dialect
Dialects mostly spoken are Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Maguindanao, Ilocano, Tagalog, and the ethnic tribe dialects of the province.

Climate
Cotabato climate has a slightly pronounced cycle of dry and rainy seasons. Rains may fall anytime during the year but normally from May to October. The rest of the year is a relatively dry season.

Industries
With the Investment Incentives Act or RA 5186, the growth of Cotabato Industry was greatly boosted. A number of processing plants sprouted: feeds manufacturing and rubber processing in Kidapawan City and the municipalities of Makilala and M'lang; the Aleosan and the Natural Essence Processing in Kamarahan President Roxas.

At present Cotabato is a prime focus of the rubber industry, with its 27 processing plants producing pale creep, brown, crumb, air dried sheets.

Fruit production leading to fruit processing complements these advancements. The province leads in the production of exotic fruits such as Durian, Lanzones, Rambutan, Marang, and Jackfruit. Ramie plantations in President Roxas and Kidapawan can cause a future boom of the local textile industry that has yet to be established in the province.

JULY 7
BLESSED ROGER DICKENSON, BLESSED RALPH MILNER
AND BLESSED LAWRENCE HUMPHREY

These three martyrs lived in England during the time of Church persecution by Queen Elizabeth I. "Mr." Roger Dickenson was an undercover diocesan priest. Ralph Milner was a husband and father. He worked as a farm laborer and was brought into the Church through the good example of his neighbors. The day he made his First Communion he was put into prison for being a Catholic. The jailer liked Mr. Milner so his prison confinement was not strict at first. For several years, he went on "parole" to find supplies of food and whatever the other prisoners needed. While on parole, he was of great help to "Mr." Dickenson and Father Stanney, a Jesuit. The day came when Father Dickenson, too, was caught. He and Mr. Milner were brought to trial together. Father Dickenson was tried for the crime of being a Catholic priest. Mr. Milner was tried for helping Father Dickenson perform his ministry. The judge looked at the crowd in the courtroom. He thought of Mrs. Milner and the couple's eight children. He wanted to free Milner at all costs. "All you have to do," he said, "is visit a Protestant church, just for a few minutes, to say you have been there. I'll let you go free to be with your family." Mr. Milner quietly and firmly refused. He and Father Dickenson went bravely to their deaths. It was July 7, 1591.

The third martyr, Lawrence Humphrey, had been brought into the Church by Father Stanney, S.J. He would not give up the faith he had so recently acquired. Lawrence was just twenty-one years old when he was martyred.

Daily Reading & Meditation

Friday (7/7): "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice"

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. 10 And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, `I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

Meditation: Do you know God’s mercy and do you treat your neighbor with mercy? People in Palestine were divided into roughly two groups: the orthodox Jews who rigidly kept the law and all its petty regulations, and the rest who didn’t keep all the minute regulations. The orthodox treated the latter like second class citizens. They scrupulously avoided their company, refused to do business with them, refused to give or receive anything from them, refused to intermarry, and avoided any form of entertainment with them, including table fellowship. Jesus’ association with the latter, especially with tax collectors and sinners, shocked the sensibilities of these orthodox Jews. In calling Matthew to be one of his disciples, Jesus picked one of the unlikeliest of men -- a tax collector who by profession was despised by the Jewish people.

When the Pharisees challenged his unorthodox behavior in eating with public sinners, Jesus’ defense was quite simple. A doctor doesn’t need to visit healthy people; instead he goes to those who are sick. Jesus likewise sought out those in the greatest need. A true physician seeks healing of the whole person -- body, mind, and spirit. Jesus came as the divine physician and good shepherd to care for his people and to restore them to wholeness of life. The orthodox were so preoccupied with their own practice of religion that they neglected to help the very people who needed spiritual care. Their religion was selfish because they didn’t want to have anything to do with people not like themselves. Jesus stated his mission in unequivocal terms: I came not to call the righteous, but to call sinners. Ironically the orthodox were as needy as those they despised. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Ro. 3:23). Do you thank the Lord for the great mercy he has shown to you? And do you seek the good of all your neighbors and show them mercy and kindness?

"Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come to you: Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with your selfless love. Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood. Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with your joyous Spirit. Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence. Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself.” (Prayer of Augustine, 354-430)