Dear Ruth Carmela Zamielle 6

Dear Ruth Carmela Zamielle,

How time flies.

I know you have heard this so many times before but I can't help but wonder how fast time really flies.  It seemed like it was only yesterday when you turned one year old and then suddenly you're now six. It was only yesterday when you learned to talk and walk but now you already know how to use the Facebook. Wasn't it just the other year when you began to read like a pro? Now, I can't fool you anymore because you can read every word I show you. I still remember how we used to hold your two hands to teach you how to walk but now you rarely need my assistance anymore.

Anak, I am glad you are growing up fast..faster than I have imagined. I am truly happy that your brain developed earlier than we have expected yet I am also sad, thinking that sooner or later, you will not be needing us anymore. You are quickly adapting to this world, learning a lot of things everyday. You never fail to surprise me with your witty retorts. You always amaze me with the maturity you are showing- something we didn't have when we were your age.

I must admit I was excited to give you your own room, your own bed, your own sanctuary. I was excited when you asked to have a space you can call your own. But on the night you finally slept on your own bed, I was not able to sleep. What if you fell? What if you get hurt? What if...? I wasn't able to sleep well fighting the urge to check on you, to see if you're okay. Thank God. You slept soundly and didn't seem to miss us at all. You woke up all smiles having found your own niche.

Your mom and I have been telling each other that it was a mistake to give you your own room this early. I'm sure she misses your hugs at night. I'm sure she misses how you twist and turn beside her and use her tummy as your pillow. I miss you too. I miss how you unintentionally kick my face or rest your legs on my tummy; and how I carefully move about so as not to wake you up. I miss how you whimper whenever your sleep is disturbed by the slightest sound. I miss tickling your feet and kissing your face just to wake you up in the morning. And I miss how you play with my ears or nose whenever you wake up ahead of me.

Did you know that I look forward to waking up and waiting for you to hug me?  I hope we will never forget that routine even though you're already grown up. I wish we will always walk hand in hand especially when I'm already too old to walk straight. I wish you would never leave our side but I know sooner or later you would want to pursue your own destiny. I know that nobody can stop you from walking your own path in the future but I hope you will always be ready to listen to us. Our hands will always be ready to pull you up when you fall down and even carry you with my wobbly legs when you're too tired to walk...just like how I used to carry you on my shoulders.

Sometimes your mom and I cant help but tell ourselves how we wish you will not grow up so soon. We know that is silly but you can't really blame us for feeling that way. We will probably dread the day when you will have to bid us goodbye to live in a boarding school (not abroad I hope). It would probably be the saddest day of our lives but we will have to embrace it. As your parents, we will do our best to support you in your future endeavors, to give you the best education there is, to ensure you will have a good life and a bright future. 

Anak, on your 6th Birthday, may you always be grateful and thankful for all the blessings you have received from the Lord. May you never forget to give back to others, especially those who are in dire conditions. Always be humble and learn to look back from where you came from. Be respectful all the time. Be grateful and generous to people around you especially to your nannies and kuyas. Be good to them and they will be good to you. Show great love and affection to your Mom more than anybody else. She sacrificed a lot for you. She deserves all the love you can give. Love your Grandparents because they love you more than you'll ever know. Love your family because they are the most precious thing in the universe. Remember, it was you who said that the most precious thing in our home is not the furniture but FAMILY.

Lastly, always remember that we love you very much. Happy 6th Birthday, Ruthie!

Love,

Daddy 

Dearest Ruth Carmela Zamielle

16 July 2013

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.

This is a Chinese adage that I have learned years back. Until now, it reminds me of the many steps- both big and small, that I have to take whenever I want to achieve something. Indeed, each journey begins with a single step. After you have made your first step, you can (now) decide whether to continue with small steps, take a stride or leap forward. Many times I have taken small steps when I should have made bigger ones. And there were instances too, when I took bold steps when I should have chosen small ones. Indeed experience is the best teacher. It will teach you when to hurry up or when to slow down a bit to catch your breath; when to break into a run or just calm down and proceed cautiously.

I am giving you a pair of slippers on your 2^nd Birthday because by now, you have learned to walk on your own feet. How beautiful it is for your Mom and I to watch you stand up and walk by yourself. It pains us to see you fall sometime but we must accept that it is part of growing up, of exploring the world. You will soon break free from our hands and choose to spread your arms like wings. You will soon discover that you can do greater things when you are free, when nobody is holding you, when no one is restraining your every move. But we do hope that as you discover both the little and big steps that you can do, you will always look back to where you came from- from the loving hands of Mommy and Daddy, and all those people who love you and care for you a lot.

Go my baby…our princess. Take those steps. Walk. Run. Fly. Have fun. Don’t be afraid. Always remember that we are always here for you. When you seem lost in your way, “when the road your trudging seems all uphill”, when darkness is everywhere, remember that you can always look back and run to us because we will be there always waiting for you. When you are happy, making the best out of life, enjoying every second of it, GO ON. We will be happy for you. We will always pray for your safety, for your happiness, for your success.

I hope that the pair slippers will always remind you of that Chinese adage. When you’re in a hurry with life, slow down and take a deep breath. Take time to enjoy the beauty of those around you, smell the flowers, enjoy the sun, and count your blessings. Strive to be happy.

You are our dearest child, and forever you’ll be. We love you very much.

Love,

Daddy

The Church–Military and Police Advisory Group—Negros (CMPAG-N): Building Bridges for Peace for Negrenses 1

            

            

On 04 March 2008, a landmark agreement between the Catholic Church and the Armed and the Forces of the Philippines was signed by both parties in Bacolod City. Top leaders and officials of the church and the AFP in the Visayas gathered at the Bishop’s Palace in Bacolod City to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which subsequently formed the Church–Military Advisory Group—Negros (CMAG-N). The church was represented by the four dioceses in Negros Island, namely, the Diocese of Bacolod, Diocese of Kabankalan, Diocese of San Carlos, and Diocese of Dumaguete. On the other hand, the AFP was represented by then Commander of the 303^rd Brigade, Col. Honorato S. Delos Reyes. The MOU was signed in the presence of Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, D.D., the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines; Most Rev. Leopoldo S. Tumulak, D.D., of the Bishop Military Ordinariate of the Philippines; Maj. Gen. Victor S. Ibrado of the Central Command; and Maj. Gen. Juvenal Narcise of the 3^rd Infantry Division. Four years later, on 18 October 2012, the Philippine National Police represented by the Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental Police Provincial Offices, was formally accepted as part of the group. CMAG-N would then become known as the Church, Military and Police Advisory Group- Negros or CMPAG-N.

Tracing the roots

CMAG-N was borne out of the collective desire of the leadership of the church and the military to help achieve peace, security, and development in Negros Island. During the height of the insurgency problem in Negros Island in the 1980s, an invisible “wedge” was said to have existed between the Catholic Church and the AFP (which then included the defunct Philippine Constabulary). The tumultuous years of the Martial Law was said to have been the main driving force behind the perceived mutual mistrust between these two sectors, which naturally resulted in lukewarm working relationships. Although only a few members of the Church and other religious sects were actively involved in the underground movement of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), it was generally branded as “left-leaning”, or worse, as communist fronts. On the other hand, the religious sector also labeled the military as fascists, human rights abusers, and even puppets of politicians and private individuals. Naturally, this kind of labeling or tagging from both sides strained the already volatile relationship between the two, which lasted for many years. Hence, even though they have the same goal of bringing peace and sustainable development to the people of Negros, the church and the military seemed to have gone separate ways, virtually ignoring the wedge lodged between them.

 The Church–Military Liaison Committee

It took a while before key military and church officials in the island started reaching out to each other. The series of talks or engagements between them resulted to the formation of the Church–Military Liaison Committee (CMLC) during the late 1980’s. Although no formal agreements were established, the CMLC then regularly held meetings and dialogues to iron out issues and concerns affecting or involving the military, the Church, and the general public. The committee has become an effective venue or forum for discussing and addressing contemporary social issues, and eventually paved the way toward the enhancement of the relationship between the two sectors. Soon enough, the committee attracted more participants from both sides, and dialogues and other similar activities were also conducted more frequently.

         The CMLC would soon find itself on the brink of extinction again during the early ‘90s when insurgency in the island subsided. Most of the Army units stationed in Negros left for Mindanao to help contain the threat posed by the secessionist groups thereat; hence, the meetings and engagements became less frequent.  

        

The CMLC would soon be revived with the assumption of then Colonel Ibrado (who later became AFP Chief of Staff) as Commanding Officer of the 303^rd Infantry Brigade. As the highest-ranking military commander in Negros that time, he actively sought the restoration of the CMLC by designating the late Maj. Nelson L. Gerona, who was then the Brigade’s Civil-Military Operations Officer, as the military’s liaison with the church. Major Gerona re-established and strengthened the partnership and coordination between the two sectors, particularly with the Social Action Center (SAC) of the Diocese of Bacolod. Dialogues and meetings were held frequently again as the two sectors jointly addressed the social issues prevalent in the island during that period. However, the untimely demise of Major Gerona once again slowed down the progress of the newly revived CMLC, as no officer was immediately designated to perform his role.

         In 2007, the CMLC would have another milestone in its history, with the assumption of then Maj Gen Jovenal C. Narcise as the Commander of the Army’s 3^rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division. Major General Narcise, and Brig Gen Gregorio Fajardo, then the 303^rd Brigade Commander, opened up the idea of formally reviving the CMLC to Bishop Vicente M. Navarra, D.D., at the Bishop’s House in Bacolod City last 02 April 2007. Brigadier General Fajardo lost no time renewing contacts with the church through the Civil–Military Operations Task Unit—Negros, which was under the supervision of the Brigade.

         The first of many exploratory meetings was held at the Bishop’s Palace on 27 April 2007, which coincided with the death anniversary of Rev. Fr. Niall O’Brien, the founder of Pax Christi—Pilipinas. Father O’Brien is said to be the pioneer of the advocacy for “active non-violence” as a means of attaining peace in Negros. This was followed by a series of formal meetings among representatives from the four dioceses in Negros — the dioceses of Bacolod, Kabankalan, San Carlos, and Dumaguete — and key Army commanders in the island. It was facilitated by Bro. Jack Pamine of Pax Christi—Negros, and Atty. Francisco Cruz, the legal adviser of the Diocese of Bacolod. From then on, regular monthly meetings were held every third Thursday of the month.

The birth of the CMAG-N

         Upon the recommendation of then Lt. Col. Franco Nemesio M. Gacal, then Commanding Officer of 11^th IB, CMLC would soon be christened the Church–Military Advisory Group—Negros (CMAG-N). This was after representatives from both sectors concluded that the lack of a written agreement containing the common vision and objectives of the committee was behind the failure of the CMLC to sustain its activities. As an advisory group, the representatives saw the need for an MOU that would serve as the basis for their joint undertakings. This was unanimously agreed upon by the church and the military leadership in Negros, and soon enough, the MOU was signed on 04 March 2008.

            According to the CMAG-N MOU, both the military and the church have a collective vision to promote and respect human dignity and achieve sustained peace and development in Negros. Both parties recognize the need to foster a harmonious relationship and cooperation, along with the necessity to maintain an open line of communication between them. The CMAG-N shall serve as a body in resolving issues or conflicts in achieving a harmonious and proactive relationship and cooperation between the parties. It was to be composed of the SAC Directors of the four dioceses and the Civil Military Operations Task Unit–Negros (CMOTU-N).[1]

         Upon its establishment in 2008, CMAG-N released a statement, as follows:

“…the CMAG-N…envisions a harmonious relationship among its members and spontaneous response to issues and concerns that call for mutual cooperation, deep understanding and objectivity. Anchored on the principle that respect for life and human dignity is the uncompromising foundation for peace and development, CMAG-N is laying down the cornerstone of brotherhood not just between the Church and Military but more so among the communities in Negros. The body believes that the conflicts can be resolved through pro-active, discerning, honest, and sincere initiatives. CMAG-N is taking on the task of bringing together the compassion of the Church for the people and the supportive presence of those in the Military to facilitate a greater understanding of everyone’s common goal – a progressive, peaceful, and economically independent Negros Island. It is the common vision of all those involved in the CMAG-N that all Negrenses will be given an equal share of opportunities and the chance to be listened to without prejudice.”[2]

            Since then, the CMAG-N convened regularly (every third Thursday of the month) to discuss prevailing issues related to the church and the military. Significant matters were resolved through the active participation of church leaders and military commanders. The military and police would regularly present updates regarding operational matters, while the church would tackle the social and spiritual development aspects. As the partnership became stronger, the group also began inviting representatives of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Aglipayan) and representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP).

PNP participation

Representatives of the PNP began joining the regular group meetings on 21 May 2009. In September 2010, both the Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental Provincial Police Offices (NOPPO and NORPPO) formally expressed their desire to be a part of the group, which was subsequently approved by the body. With the entrance of the PNP, CMAG-N became Church–Military and Police Advisory Group—Negros (CMPAG-N), effective 18 October 2012.  The new group committed to actively work on the concretization of the following principles enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, along with the Catholic Church’s mission:

(i)    “The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy.”

(Article II, Section 5)

(ii)  “The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the state.  Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national territory.”

(Article II, Section 3)

(iii) “The Church’s mission is to proclaim good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year in the Lord’s favor.”

With an expanded constituency, the group came up with the declaration below:

1)            THAT we with the people of Negros shall work for an honest, orderly and peaceful election and shall intelligently select leaders who can provide good governance that we need in these crucial times as the outcome of the elections will affect the future of the Negrenses and the entire country as well;

2)            THAT we shall vigorously support the effective implementation of agrarian reform as part of social justice; and,

3)            THAT to win the peace in Negros, the Military and Police shall continue to address security threats and challenges working collaboratively with the other stakeholders: the government, non-government and other sectors led by the Church, who shall work hand-in-hand to address the spiritual, social, economic and political dimensions to bring the long-overdue development in the countryside.

The declaration further said that the church, military, and police must dedicate themselves to the attainment of these objectives “for our people to enjoy a life without fear, a choice without force, an act that promotes freedom, justice and equality for all”.[3]

---

[1] Lifted from the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on 04 March 2008

[2] Lifted from the Joint Press Statement of the CMAG-N during the signing of the MOU on 04 March 2008

[3] Lifted from the CMPAG–N COMMUNIQUÉ, jointly signed in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, on 04 April 2014 by the different bishops of the dioceses in Negros Island, PNP, and AFP Commanders led by Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista (AFP)

Mighty Mike: Not Just Another Story of Heroism

I woke up early this morning and immediately took to the computer looking for news articles related to the recent clashes between soldiers and the dreaded Abu Sayaff  bandits. Yesterday, my CO told me about the fate of the 1^st Scout Ranger Company. Accordingly, 5 Rangers were killed in a fierce fighting in Talipao Sulu. As my instinct would have it, I tried reaching my contacts in the Basilan-Sulu area to know what unit was engaged and who led it. After some attempts, nobody among them replied. I figured they must have been busy pursuing the bandits so I tried other channels. Finally, another friend, also a Ranger said it was Mike Asistores’ unit that figured in a 5-hour gun battle against about 300 bandits. Five Hours??? 300???Yes. You heard it right. But he can’t give me more details as he wasn’t there himself, so this morning, I Googled “soldiers killed in basilan-sulu”. And this was what got my attention:

Junior officer holds line in Sulu clash despite wound, appalling odds

By: Priam F. Nepomuceno, Agence France-Presse
November 16, 2014 3:34 AM  

MANILA, Philippines - Despite being wounded the third time in his seven-year military career, 1st Lt. Michael "Mike" Asistores, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 2007, did not flinch even one bit and continued fighting during the desperate clash with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits in Talipao, Sulu Friday.
His third battle wound took place two hours in desperate fight with the bandits. Asistores was first wounded in an encounter with New People's Army rebels in Lingig, Surigao Del Sur in 2008. He got his second combat wound in a three-hour encounter with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Al-Barka, Basilan in 2011.
Asistores, 30, said that they started engaging the ASG brigands around 2 p.m. As of this posting, the soldier is a combat leader of the 1st Scout Ranger Company.
He said that at about noontime on Friday, his soldiers crawled stealthily and came as close as 20 meters from the enemy positions in their forest lair at the foot of Mount Tunggul and Bud Bunga, which is located at the boundary of Talipao and Patikul.
"It was my recon elements, led by Lt. Dante "Esprite" Espiritu, who spotted the bandits in a makeshift hut. He radioed to me that they will initiate contact as one of the bandits unknowingly approached their hiding positions in order to relieve himself," Asistores recounted.
He also said that Espiritu could not wait for him and his group to link up as the bandits would surely detect them infiltrating.
At this point, Espiritu and his men opened fire, not knowing that around 300 ASG brigands were all holding positions in the terrain above them.
The bandits were led by ASG leader Radulan Sahiron a.k.a "Commander Putol", Hairullah Asbang, Jurim Hussein, Hatib Sawadjaan and Juli Ekit.
Minutes later, Espiritu was forced to call for reinforcements as two of his men were downed by ASG fire.
"I could hear Esprite's voice over the radio amidst the heavy volumes of fire from various directions. They were almost surrounded by the enemy," Asistores said.
At this time, he added that he and his men were only about a hundred meters in their designated rally point.
Having experienced the "pintakasi" (attack from all directions) tactics used by the ASG in Basilan, Asistores promptly assembled a platoon to help his heavily engaged comrades.
While approaching the encounter site about 20 minutes later, Asistores and his men spotted the bandits who attempted to outflank the position of Espiritu. They were about 100 meters apart.
"The bandits wanted to annihilate the platoon of 'Esprite' by attempting to surround them, so I positioned my platoon about 50 meters behind of the bandits to join the fight," he said.
Asistores said that he was surprised upon seeing the bandits assaulting his position despite being raked with gun fire.
"The young-looking bandits were very daring and unmindful of our fires. They kept running towards our position despite being hit repeatedly. They were very ferocious and daring," he said.
Finding himself being slowly overwhelmed by the enemy, Asistores called for more support from his battalion commander, Lt Col Eugene Boquio.
He also dispatched soldiers to collect the casualties from Espiritu's.
Seeing the dead and wounded soldiers around him, Asistores pressed the fight by rallying the remaining soldiers to hold their line to provide support as the casualties are being evacuated.
After two hours of exchanging gunfire with the bandits, Asistores was hit by a shrapnel but he maintained his composure to inspire his men.
"One of my team leaders, Sgt. Kitong, came to my side and helped me control our remaining troops. He was very concerned when he saw that I was already bloodied," said Asistores.
He also said that he was lucky to have brave NCO (non commissioned officer) leaders in his company.
"I credit my NCOs for keeping the integrity of my unit. Aside from Sgt Kitong, my platoon sergeant, SSgt Tumala, was among those who exhibited conspicuous courage by running from one team's position to another to provide leadership amidst the volley of fires," he said.
Kitong was among the 28 soldiers who were wounded during the 5-hour long firefight.
He sustained a gunshot wound on his abdomen when he was trying to carry one of the critically-wounded team member.
Kitong was first wounded as a private of the 10th Scout Ranger Company when he figured in a six-hour firefight against the Abu Sayyaf in Balatanay, Basilan in October 2001.
He was awarded his first Gold Cross Medal, the third highest combat medal for grabbing an M60 machinegun from the Abu Sayyaf in that encounter.
Meanwhile, Asistores said that the ASG "borrowed" their courage from the marijuana leaves that they smoked before the firefight. His men recovered some of the left-over of smoked marijuana in the encounter site.
"That solved the puzzle about their bravery in combat. They are drug-crazed fighters," he said.
Asistores said that he considers all five men who paid the ultimate sacrifice as his personal heroes.
"They have shown us that the true spirit of the Scout Rangers. Walang iwanan. (No one is left behind)They died fighting for the country with their combat boots on their feet," Asistores said.
He also said that he and his men who are now recuperating in the military hospital in Zamboanga, are all willing to come back to Sulu and rejoin their beloved unit.
"I will gladly go back and be with my men in the frontlines. We must crush the Abu Sayyaf and end its kidnapping business," Aristores said.
Col. Allan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, is confident that the military can gradually decimate the Abu Sayyaf ranks.
He also said that the Abu Sayyaf has nowhere to hide if the civilians will cooperate with the military in identifying them and pinpointing their jungle hideouts.
Latest information released by the military placed the death toll at 15, with five from the government side and 10 for the ASG with 28 soldiers and at least 30 from the bandits wounded.(http://www.interaksyon.com/article/99293/junior-officer-holds-line-in-sulu-clash-despite-wound-appalling-odds

Last night, I broke the news to my wife who is a good friend of Mike. And her reaction was "What? Wounded na naman? Thank God he is alive!".

Well, as the article said, he's been wounded three times already. His pretty-boy-matinee-idol looks have been punctured by bullets and shrapnel through the years- all for the love of country. Chick-magnet-turned-bullet-magnet.

We have been pushing him to get married already prior his stint in Basilan-Sulu. Actually, we did not know he was there until this news. As a Ranger, he was here and there. That's how they are-heroes in black suits.

I am not a Ranger myself. I have very high regards for these men who, most of the time, spend their lives behind enemy lines. They have so many stories to tell. Let's start with Mighty Mike A.

Blogging 101: Why Do I Blog (Part 2)

There are different reasons why blogging has gained popularity especially among young people. http://weblogs.about.com  lists down the most common reasons people blog as follows:

1. To Express (One’s) Thoughts and Opinions

Blogs or blogging provide a venue for expressing one's self and communicating his or her thoughts to a wider range of audience.

2. To Market or Promote Something

Blogging has become a very popular platform for promoting products, companies, or organizations and even advocacies or ideologies. As a form of mass media, it transcends the boundaries of countries or races. It has become a popular venue to gain support to socio- political and economic causes or issues being waged by the blogger or group of bloggers.

3. To Help People

Today's blogs are not only concerned with promoting personal interests. Many blog sites actually help people with their day to day undertakings- household tips, gardening, agriculture, technology and gadgets, parenting, education, careers and so on. Some blogs even offer advice to those who are going through personal difficulties on their health, marriage, profession and others. 

4. To Establish Yourself as an Expert

Blogs have also become an opportunity for people especially the young ones to establish themselves as experts on a particular field. Many of the blogs that I have come across with that give tips and tidbits on blogging were authored by men and women very much younger than me. Blogs transcend age as much as it transcends race.

5. To Connect with People Like You

Opposite poles attract but in the case of blogging, people who share the same field or passion usually meet on the same blog sites. At least that is what I've learned so far. In my case for example, my first impulse whenever I get the chance to read the local news is to check recent events involving the military.

6. To Make a Difference

I personally think this is one of the more difficult and challenging reasons to start blogging. Unless your blog is really solid and worth the reader's time, making a difference especially on people's perception or much more on their position or conviction is a difficult task. But then, no task is so difficult for people fueled by raging passion.

7. To Stay Active or Knowledgeable in a Field or Topic

During the last ten days that I have been consistent with posting my blogs, I've noticed a renewed desire to always stay abreast of what's happening around me. Truth be told, there's a certain kind excitement  whenever I find out that the number of visitors increased compared to the last time I opened it. This kind of anticipation plus the positive comments I receive ignite my drive to write more and more.

8. To Stay Connected with Friends and Family

I am yet to experience the full potential of this but one thing is for sure: more and more of my relatives are getting to know about what I'm up to these days.

9. To Make Money

Need I say more?

10. To Have Fun and Be Creative

I think this is really another good reason to blog or start blogging. To have fun expressing yourself or sharing your thoughts, and in return, learning more, is a good motivation to hit the publish button. Creativity has no limits. Human genius knows no bounds.

 Now, on a more personal note:

I started blogging mainly because I want to have an account of my own experiences. I want to remember the important details of my life hoping that someday, my daughter would be able to read them and get to know me better as a person. I want to keep a record of my thoughts for who knows when memory loss will hit us. Before we know it, we can barely remember what happened to our lives. Remember the movie 'The Notebook"? Life is but a fleeting moment.

I blog because there are many things better written than spoken. I want to have something to keep my mind sharp and to keep my desire for new knowledge burning. Writing reminds me that I don't have a monopoly of knowledge; that I actually know so little, hence the need to explore, to study, to research, to inquire and to share. While writing keeps my mind sharp, it also keeps my foot on the ground. It is more than humbling to realize that so many people know so much, and there seems to be no end to knowledge available out there.

 

There are times that I am tempted to write something about what people usually talk about just to make my blog interesting. However, I'm afraid that my motivation to write will be just to please other people and not because I want to express myself. I want to write because I want to tell a story; because I want to translate my passion for writing into something that would help other people in whatever way.