Lend a Hand

believe that the opportunity to help is always there.
we just have to be keen and sensitive to the needs of others.
we do not need much to help.
most often, we might feel hesistant to help because we have thoughts that we cannot still address all their problems anyway.
true, we extend a hand and there are still a number of pressing problems that need to be addressed.
but, should that fact be a defining point whether to help or not?
should we delimit ourselves to share whatever little we have?

sharing, loving and blessing other people with who we are and what we have know no place nor time;
it however knows the sincerity of the heart and purity of one's intention.
as i immerse myself in the community where i am assigned to do fieldwork, i have realized how blessed i am to be able to eat three times a day or even more.

i reckoned how damn lucky i am to sleep in a house with a comfortable, soft bed, with electricity, with sofa, with a table, with aplliances and much more.
yes, i am blessed to have much as i compare myself with the people i encounter in the area.
but, the challenge is not how quick i am to reflect on these, rather it is more on what i do with the realization that i am blessed.

there were days when my heart is crushed over and over again by the stories people share to me, especially the mothers. mothers crying for they cannot send their children to school because they do not have enough money to buy for uniforms and school supplies. i do not wonder anymore for they are also in short of money to afford three meals a day.

what do i do then? cry? no good.
when they talk, i just sit there at their side, look at their eyes and try hard to convey a message of hope;
assuring them that as long as we live, we have all the reasons to hope and to look forward to brighter days ahead.
i hope it is all that easy. whew!

i am writing this because you may just want to consider buying a notebook for some children who do not have at the moment.
i am writing this because you might have longed to help but you are still waiting for that chance or that best time to extend help. well, this could be now :)

one time, as i walk back to the main road, a little girl asked me, "do you have an extra watch?".
i thought for a moment then said, "i am not sure if it still works", then i asked her,"why are you asking?".
she then answered, "ah, it is my dream to have a watch. my father saw a watch at the road last time and brought it home. he promised to fix it, until now he has not fixed it."

Awww.. just when everyone is so preoccupied in realizing their big dreams, there is this little girl who considers having a watch as her greatest dream to date.

people in the community have a lot of great stories to share.
their everyday triumphs are unimaginable!
much can be said about them and about my encounters in there, but it is different if you experience it yourself.

for now, my plea is - if you are willing to help in anyway to the people, especially to the children in the community, let me know :)
malou

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Hope for Change

there is a bunch of reasons to hope.

last friday, i joined the yellow liberals, the die-hard supporters of noy-mar team and the rest of its LP candidates.
we gave out stickers, leaflets, ballers, fans and sample ballots, which by the way donations from generous supporters of the team.
it felt good that many affirmed my decision to vote for these candidates.
people from all walks of life expressed their desire to vote for NOY-MAR and the rest of LP candidates as they believe in the integrity of these people.
during the one-hour we were there on the streets, i was full of elation.
it did not cross my senses that i will become this involved in this aspect of politics.
never did i think that we will reach the point where we will shell out our own resources to help the candidates we are supporting for. di ba, it's always the candidates who run that covers the expenses?

at the end of that one-hour campaign we initiated, some supporters managed to give out simple snacks for us and then we gathered for a while and had some chat as most of the people i was with are not familiar to me. we asked ourselves why we support NOY-MAR, why we are there. the answers were convincing enough that we agreed to meet the next week to continue what we have started.

i want to share why am i voting for NOYNOY AQUINO:
(anyone is free to react on this but this is my opinion, these rationalizations are founded with my values)

i am for him because he denounces corruption.
he leads a simple lifestyle, simpler than what is supposed to be expected of him.
he's raised with well-founded values.
yes, a big point why am i voting for him goes to the fact that he is the son of NINOY and CORY. you see, Noy was honed by great parents. he has learned his values through the witnessing of his parents. for me, this counts much. it's never the fault of NOY to be born to famous and worth-emulating people. values take time or even a lifetime to be learned while skills, it will just take sometime.

i am more than a thinking filipino. say, i am JUST a thinking filipino, i could have chosen somebody else among the Presidential candidates.

among the 9 who are running, only erap has the experience how is it like to be the president of this country; the other 8 has only the idea. so say any of those 8 will be the president, it is sure their first time and that they are no masters to it. in this case, no amount of experiences can ensure one to be prolific and adept in performing the responsibilities of the chief executive. BUT not all of the 9 presidential candidates have a good upbringing, not all of them witness good values, not all of them are sincere and honest with the change they push. this is where i base my vote, not much of the skills as it can be learned in time but i give due importance to the values.

but let me highlight this,
NO PRESIDENT, NOT EVEN NOY can change this country to become its BEST
UNLESS EVERYONE WILL TAKE HIS PART AND DO HIS SHARE as a RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY. the fate of this country lies in everyone's hands.

MORE THAN A CHANGE OF LEADERS, WE NEED A CHANGE OF HEARTS AS PEOPLE.

i am one hopeful soul.
i am savoring my being idealistic.
i will share my idealism with all gusto.
i am confident that we can effect the change we want to see, the change that begins in all of us.

God Bless Philippines,
God Bless Filipinos.

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lil sths :)

lil sths :)by Malou Rosquillo Eudela on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 9:53pm

I am crazy.
These days, I always ask myself, what if tomorrow will not come?
If that is the case, I guess I am one of the happiest persons who will die.

With what happened in the yesterdays - the news on wars and demonstrations, quakes, tsunamis; the destructions and losses it brought, it made me ponder... what really matters in life?

The yesterdays compelled me to give premium on what is only at the present. I do not want to work my ass out for a future I am even uncertain of experiencing.

What matters in life is the life we give to it!

laugh our hearts out.
 extend our hands to help people in need.
 go to the beach or walk in the fields or trek the mountains.
 chat with friends, spend time to catch up with them.
 smell the coffee or tea or milk before drinking it.
 eat every meal with gusto.
 listen and groove to the music.
 play an instrument.
 read a great book.
 face our fears.
 make someone happy.
 forgive and live.
 dance and sing without inhibitions.
 argue with sense.
 love deeply.
 acknowledge mistakes and insist only what's upright.
 give premium to relationships.
 enjoy the fruits of sound choices.
 risk without counting the cost.
 spend quality time with family.
 put faith into action.
 reflect and pray.
 a lot of simple acts or encounters that bring true bliss.

Can you remember doing those lately? 

In times when everyone else goes with the hustling-and-bustling-paced of life, to pause or to stop for a moment to take some sweet time, seems to be a mortal sin.

It is too ironic that in our pursuit of life, we sometimes forget how is it to truly live.

The advent of technology enables us to have our high-powered gadgets, but none of its kind is powerful enough to capture what one truly feels, what one truly thinks and desires.
No gadget has the capacity to ever capture the sincerity of one's intentions in doing good acts.

Have you ever noticed that most of the time we fail to savor the beauty of what's around because we are in a hurry with everything? We hastily take pictures without even stopping to thank God for the wonderful things He has created.

Have you ever stopped and look to the skies? When was the last time you appreciated the jewels it bears?

We have been so preoccupied by deadlines to beat, by appointments and meetings to attend to;
We have been so hooked on the various social networking sites; or
We have been just so mindful of our own concerns or only that of our small circles;
or I might be the one thinking of it, I hope I am wrong in thinking that way.
~~

If tomorrow never comes, I am contented of the life I have led.
I may not have the fanciest of things, I may be nothing compared to the world's richest,
but
I know, I did live a great life!
If today is our last day, I am sure ready!
Again, I know I am one of those who will die the happiest :)

For now, I want to believe that God permits me to live because there are a lot of things that I ought to do for Him.
Yes, it's time to really live.
May we always have the heart and the right disposition to see the beauty of everything that we encounter, good or bad may it be.

God Bless everyone! :)

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Love Spills

In my previous status messages, i have shared that i feel so in love these days. i do not exactly know why and i do not know to whom.. i am so inspired with love songs and love stories. i revel about love and how it has been so powerful to shape this world and humanity. pay that love forward. we do not need february 14 to remind us of this precious gift called - Love. this world is enveloped with love, let us exert conscious effort to let that shine through and triumph over war, anger, angst, fury, etc.

Yes, love..love..love..

to the guy i failed to say "I LOVE YOU"

they say it is better to regret over the things you have done than to regret on the things that you failed to do. yes, it is true. i know how much you mean to me, how much bliss you have brought into my life but crazy "me", i did not know or i did not have enough courage to put together those three words. i failed to convey what i really feel. and if only i would be given another chance to say it to you - with much elation, i will mutter my "I LOVE YOU".

to the guy whom i have loved deeply

it took me a long while to get over you. loving you is one of the best decisions i have ever made in this lifetime. you made me believe in love when i doubted. you taught me to love without question and condition. i have to say this all over again, i have fallen for you because of who you are and not for what you have. though our relationship has come to its end, you sure are still one memory i will gladly keep as long as i live :)

to the guy i wanted to get wed with

i have been praying to God for the gift of you in my life. He answers prayers and that is why he gave you to me. God has been so mindful of the desires of my heart when He created you. :) we will be the best couple, the best mom and dad to our children, the best persons we can be for others. we will bring out the strengths of each one and we will embrace our differences, turning it to be our point of growth. i will love you the best way i can :)

malou

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My Christmas All Year Round

during Christmas season, i always find time to look back for the year that has been and enumerate the many blessings that God has bestowed on me.
it always amazes me to realize how blessed i am.
and if those blessings be equated to some monetary value, i bet no banker could come up with the amount
or if one comes up with the amount, i will surely be the richest person alive! :)

this year has been my best so far; i have been given a lot of opportunities to grow.
i have journeyed far and near.
i went to places and i was also able to go within.
everything has been generously given by the Almighty.
what i find the most interesting was, God made partners with a lot of people to make me feel His love for me,they are in the form of human angels: family, friends and new found families and friends during my travels through SSEAYP.

i could recall that during bus rides to institutional visits, i find time to reflect
those reflections always make me cry
those tears are out of elation for the bliss that i have experienced in my life, especially for this year
i cannot help but to wonder, do i deserve all these?
but thinking that the God is so gracious, He makes things worthy for us to have; i then stop asking and just enjoy and savor whatever i have.

truly, i am blessed. i will not elaborate on that, those who know me will no doubt attest to such. :)
my Christmas prayer is, for God to bless those have shown to me the spirit of the Season all year round.
may He bless my family and friends who have been there; their love for me made all things possible.
their joy is to see me realize my dreams. they share my ups and downs as well.
indeed they are jewels worth keeping for a lifetime, and for eternity, if time permits:)

i am blessed with the 37th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program where i was able to meet more than 300 young people across Japan and ASEAN, youths who share the same aspiration with me and that is no less - create the best world we all deserve.

through the program, i was able to have new sets of wonderful families who inspired me to have one of my own.
these families considered me like their own. i never felt i was a stranger to them even on our first meeting.
i am truly blessed to have families in the countries we have visited, a family that is not defined by the time we have spent together but by the special bond we have developed.

i had also meaningful encounters with new friends, they were the ones who have shown warm hospitality to us when we were in their communities. their interactions and assistance meant a lot!

could you blame me if i would assert that it has been a Christmas to me all year round? ^^
surely, Christmas spirit has been manifested into my life way before the Christmas day.
i hope we all realize that we do not need Christmas season to show how we value and love each other.
if you only choose to be a blessing to others everyday, you can!
i can then imagine how beautiful this world will be.
may we never forget the essence of celebrating Christmas, upholding the value of Love through selfless giving just what the Father did:)
Merry Christmas to us all!
malou

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