Miah Learns to Write

Have you ever encountered certain people who, despite their own problems and struggles in life, stay positive and joyful all the time? Every time you pass them by, they exude an aura of cheerfulness that pulls people's attention toward them. You can easily relate with them in conversation and you would immediately feel comfortable around them. I have met and made friends with people like this and I can tell you, it's going to be life-changing. Being surrounded with really joyful people and being able to experience insurmountable and irrepressible joy myself, I have observed that there are things we can do that would make us feel happy at any point of our lives and I would like to share them with you. 1.   Always Keep Yourself Healthy Whenever my friend Andrea skips breakfast, she becomes cranky and irritable. There were also times when I skipped lunch for a few hours just to get my appointments done but then I would come down with a headache and I would have to take...

This Christmas, we decided to pay another visit to the Ayala Triangle to see the spectacle of the lights and to watch their lights show which will be presented every day until the last day of December and is scheduled to go on from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. every 30 minutes. Though we didn't have a big celebration this year, I think that the greatest of joys can be found in the simplest of things. To me, I find joy in my family.

Only a few hours left before Christmas which gives me just enough time to send an email to Santa. Just kidding. But seriously, I do think that I have been a relatively nice boy this year so I'm quite hopeful. Quite frankly, I'm not really expecting any gifts for Christmas because even though this is the season of giving, we have to be practical especially in these times when the power rates are skyrocketing. All the same, just for fun, here are a few things I would like to get for Christmas: #1: Siblings Either a baby brother or a baby sister, preferably both at the same time. Yes, I would like to have fraternal twin siblings. It's not too late yet although the chances aren't on my favor but I would do anything to have two adorable siblings. I have no idea where this sudden longing to have siblings came from but I just feel that it's still possible and I really want to have someone to give me a reason to grow up. I want there to be laughter, smiles, an...

Every year, our family tries something different to spice up our Christmas so last year we went to Luneta, and to Tagaytay the other year, and to the Ayala Triangle three years ago. Now, I just had a crazy yet exquisite and perhaps, a little extravagant, idea. If ever I were given an all-expenses paid trip to spend the holiday season at any place in the Philippines, here are the top five destinations that I dream of experiencing Christmas in and why. Hopefully, in the next few years, I would be able to convince my parents that we spend some time in these places post-Christmas. #1: Davao From Davao City by Battad The reason why Davao tops my list is because of its cultural diversity and richness of heritage. But more than that, my mother has been to Davao and she has told me a lot about it. Some of which are economic prosperity, the traditional Filipino hospitality, disciplined citizens who abide by the law, and magnificent views and sights in nature that would take my bre...

One day left to cross out on your calendar and Christmas will come knocking at your door once more to bring good tidings and spread the love and joy in your life. Christmas has always been a special time of the year for me and my family because these are a few of the moments when everything will become relatively peaceful in the house. It's like every time Christmas comes, we try to hit the pause button just for a while and forget about all the problems that we have in our pockets. Now, every Christmas, our family tries to experience something new and to have some kind of adventure. Reminiscing about the past Christmases I have had, there were some that I really cherish and I want to share them here. #1: Christmas 2007 - Enchanted Kingdom The Christmas of 2007 is the most memorable to me because this was the first time in many years that my uncle and aunt came home from abroad to spend Christmas with us. I felt so excited and grateful that they came because their mer...

In my opinion, Filipinos definitely have the most unique and most joyful Christmas celebrations. Whenever Christmas comes, the spirit of joy and giving fills the air and people would tend to forget all their problems and worries and just enjoy the season with their families and friends. I would like to list a few things that would characterize a Filipino Christmas though they are not all usually present but the important thing is that we celebrate the joy that Christmas brings to our lives and that is Jesus Christ. 1. Putting up Christmas decors.  Usually put up two months prior, Christmas decorations lighten the atmosphere to make one feel the holiday vibes. 2. Christmas shopping.  Everywhere there are discounts and promos which are sure to get people spending their Christmas bonuses on. 3. Exchange gifts and parties.  A good way to end the year is through a year-end party and even despite the terrible tragedies that have befallen us, noth...

I just watched the 2006 American comedy drama film, Click, starring Adam Sandler and Christopher Walken among others. I laud the way they mixed the lightness of the comedy and the somberness of the drama. Furthermore, I liked how the message was powerfully brought across through the characters and by a single remote control. The film narrates the adventures of Michael Newman as he travels through time, skipping almost every important event in his life with the help of the 'universal' remote control given to him by Morty, a clerk from the "Beyond" section of the Big Bath & Beyond store. Due to his excessive time jumping, Michael misses almost every big moment of his life - his kids growing up, his wife divorcing him, his father's death - because his body shifts into autopilot mode in the process. While in autopilot mode, it is revealed that Michael makes decisions based on his daily attitude regarding work and family, in which case, his work comes be...

After watching a movie, it's a good practice to reflect upon it and ask yourself certain questions like: "What does the movie say about me as an individual or about human behavior in general?" or "How is society reflected in the movie?" or "What is the cultural significance of the movie?". The reason for a film's greatness may be because they can relate a certain message powerfully to its audiences and paint a picture of humanity for us. The Hunger Games series does all of the above. Quite recently, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was released in theaters and I was shocked to find myself totally blown away by it. Aside from the wonderful acting by Jennifer Lawrence and the other actors and the crazy cinematic effects, there is a certain element of the story that appeals to my thoughts, to my heart, and to every fiber in my body. Of course, the essence of the revolution and the hunger for deep change truly captivated me emotionally becaus...

Last Monday, my friends and I went to the movies to watch Disney's newest film and the latest addition to the Disney animated features canon, Frozen, and without a doubt, it was a phenomenal movie that truly captured the essence of Disney classics. Frozen definitely deserves the right to be called a Disney film and to be part of the Disney Renaissance as it upholds and continues to further the long-lived legacy of fantasy, imagination, and the spectacle that which is Disney. Disney has yet again raised the bar in creating movie magic and surpassed my expectations. To be honest, at first, I had doubts about the films that came after Tangled but after watching Wreck-It Ralph and now, Frozen (and hopefully, Winnie the Pooh), I cannot deny that the spark of movie genius is back. Disney has made top-notch films that catered to all audiences and they never cease to amaze me with what they can do on the big screen. Disney always seems to impress a sense of joy whenever I watch the...

After much consideration, I finally resolved within myself to come back from hiatus. It's been about seven months since my last post and I intended it to be the last. At that point, I decided to bury this blog and never speak of it again. But here I am, writing once more. You may ask, " Why? What triggered you to return? " or maybe not. Simply put, things have immensely changed for the past few months and quite recently I have created new blogs besides this one so that I can at least do something with my spare time since I am currently having a month-long semestral break. Now, on with the topic at hand. As I have said, over the past few months, many things have changed and I believe for the better. However, these changes were anything but ordinary and the only word that would describe them is miraculous . Often, we would associate the word miracle with the supernatural and divine power of God interceding in the lives of His people, making even the most humanly imp...

Photo by Corey Blaz on Unsplash I was just looking at the photos from my graduation and I smiled as my mind became flooded with wonderful memories of the people that I have been with all those years but a slight pang of regret surged through me when I realized that I had not made the most of the opportunities that I was given. For half of my high school life, I had been a reserved person, not wanting to put myself on the spotlight and risk being intrigued. I kept my distance from people and only stayed with those whom I can really connect but now I know that the best bonds are built on honesty and openness. The strongest connections start with just a tiny spark of familiarity. I came a long way from my hostility and I owe it all to my best friends from high school. They surely dragged me out of my comfort zone which was quite difficult but they pulled it off. I am blessed to have known such genuine friends and I know our bonds will last forever. Graduating from high school...