Attitude, Children, Family Relationship, Kids, Parenting, Positive influence, Reflection, Value, Youtube's Video

Wordless Wednesday: Children See, Children Do

bk
October 14, 2009

“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”
– James Baldwin –
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Many years ago while attending a training, someone told me, “Children don’t do things you told them to do, they do what they saw you doing.” It certainly was one of those ‘aha’ moments. Simply put – children see, children do.

If you have kids of your own or have spent time with kids, then I’m sure you can recall how they have always tried to imitate you; whether it is the thing you are saying or things you are doing. Most of the time we would find their imitations funny and adorable to us.

What if they imitate our violent acts or our rude cursing and swearing at each other? That wouldn’t be very funny and adorable right?

If we ever hope to build a world where people love and care for each other, where people show loving kindness, compassion and respect toward each other, then we have to do it from young. We have to inculcate in the young to love and care for each other, to show loving kindness, compassion and respect toward each other. But how can we hope to influence them with such positive values if we act otherwise?

In other words, we must start first with ourselves.

Attitude, Children, Hunger, Industrial Glue, Life, Philiippines, Poverty, Reflection, Rugby sniffing, Sharing, Social Issues, Solvent inhalants, Substance Abuse

Sniffing Life Away with ‘Rugby’

bk
October 11, 2009

boy sniffing rugby
Photo by Akira Liwanag

I have been troubled by a thought in my mind for the past few days. Although here in Singapore, my mind wanders off to a faraway land where I see heart-breaking images that my friend has ‘painted’ to me; kids in the street sniffing ‘rugby‘ (a brand of glue) in bottles, plastics or paper. Through a TV report, my friend learned a haunting truth. A boy was asked the reason why he sniffed rugby and he replied that sniffing it helped him to stay full.

From another friend who is also from Manila, Philippines, she told me that at times you could even see a whole family sniffing away. Can rugby really make them full?

Somewhere in Cebu, Philippines, “A woman was walking on a flyover along Osmeña Boulevard when a small kid suddenly grabbed her blouse and stretched his hand to her as a sign of asking for something while his other hand holds a plastic containing a yellowish substance.

Aghast and caught off-guard, the woman took some coins from her bag and put them into the boy’s grimy palm. Then he runs to a pack of children huddled together in one part of the flyover, sniffing plastics of strong and addictive industrial glue…” Could this be a familiar scenario to you too?

What do you think we can do to help? In an article I read, from associated content, “…there is a law prohibiting the selling of solvents to minors without parental consent ….” And yet there are store owners who are still selling rugby illegally to minors and even teaching the children how to get away with buying rugby. The law must be there to prohibit the sales of solvents to minors without parental consent and the people who illegally sell solvents to children must be severely dealt with.

However, on top of the law, we will also need a long term solution. My friend and I thought that shelter, foods and even stable livelihoods will be the long term solutions. If the children in the street can be fed and protected with love and care, will they let go of the bottles, plastics or papers of rugby in their hands? I believe they will.

Providing shelters, foods, livelihoods seem to be the straightforward solutions. The question is, “who should be the one providing them?” Should it be the sole responsibility of the Philippines Government? Most will agree? I believe that besides the government, any organisation and individual with the resources could provide aids too.

How about the general public? When united, the general public will be the powerful driving force to see through projects by government, organisation and individual. What else do you think can be done?

I believe first and foremost, the opinion about the street children needs to be changed. According to an interview with Cameron Sugden (a volunteer with the organization Bahay Tuluyan in Manila), “…Street children are often called ‘yagit’ by the general public – which translates as ‘rubbish on the street’. This is something very sad. From young, I have been told that children are the future of the nation.

Yes, these children can be the future of the nation. But without your help, what future there is to talk about? You have the power to help; with your help, this post can find its way into the hands of people who may have the resources to help these children.

Affair, Canal+, Comedy, Funny Commercial, Humor, Lie, Youtube's Video

How I Got Into the Wardrobe?

bk
October 8, 2009

Saw this video posted by a friend in Facebook and thought it is good to share this funny video with you. Were you convinced how he got into the wardrobe? But I have to give it to him for his creativity. Total craps and yet highly creative. Don’t get me wrong, this is not to encourage affairs in anyway; purely for a laugh. Hope it had brought a smile to your face too.

“Never underestimate the power of a great story.“

Diane Eve Warren, Dream, Entrecard, Gloria Estefan, Inspiration, Letting go, Moving on, Reach, Reflection, Strength, Youtube's Video

Reach by Gloria Estefan

bk
October 7, 2009

If you came from Entrecard, you would have realised that the Entrecard’s widget was removed from this site. It is time to bid farewell and to move on. Let us reach higher!

Reach written by Diane Eve Warren, Gloria Estefan

Some dreams live on in time, forever
Those dreams, you want with all your heart
And I’ll do whatever it takes
Follow through with the promise I made
Put it all on the line
What I hoped for at last would be mine

If I could reach, higher
Just for one moment touch the sky
From that one moment in my life
I’m gonna be stronger
Know that I’ve tried my very best
Put my spirit to the test
If I could reach

Some days are meant to be remembered
Those days we rise above the stars
So I’ll go the distance this time
Seeing more the higher I climb
That the more I believe
All the more that this dream will be mine

If I could reach, higher
Just for one moment touch the sky
From that one moment in my life
I’m gonna be stronger
Know that I’ve tried my very best
I’d put my spirit to the test
If I could reach

If I could reach, higher
Just for one moment touch the sky
From that one moment in my life
I’m gonna be stronger
I’m gonna be so much stronger yes I am
I’ve tried my very best
I’d put my spirit to the test

If I could reach
If I could, If I could
If I could reach
Reach, I’d reach, I’d reach
I’d reach’, I’d reach so much higher
Be stronger, higher, higher

Donation, Environment, Filipino Association, Giving, i-Remit, Information, Ketsana, LBC, Love, Ondoy, Philippines National Red Cross, Saving Lives, Singapore, Tropical Storm

Tropical Storm Ketsana (Ondoy) Hit Philippines

bk
September 27, 2009

Tropical Storm Ketsana (Ondoy) hit PhilippinesIt has been an uneventful weekend for me and I hope that you have a good weekend there. However, I couldn’t say that for some of our Philippines friends who were badly hit by the tropical storm Ketsana (Ondoy) over the weekend.

According to a report from AFP, “At least 73 people were killed and more than 330,000 others displaced after the heaviest rain in more than four decades plunged the Philippine capital into turmoil…

The nine-hour deluge across Manila on Saturday submerged houses, washed away shanties and turned roads into raging rivers, forcing terrified residents to seek refuge on top of homes or cars where they waited for more than 24 hours.”

It is the worst extensive flooding that he has seen, according to Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro. The rainfall sets a record high of 41.6 centimetres (16 inches), over the previous single-day record of 33.4 centimetres in July 1967.

Philippine Red Cross chairwoman Gwendolyn Pang said rescuers were struggling to reach many areas, with highways rendered impassable.

“This has never happened before. Almost 80 percent of metropolitan Manila is underwater,” Pang told AFP.

For those of you who are reading this and want to make a donation whether in term of money or relief goods, you can do it through:

1. Philippines National Red Cross, PNRC or through their online form: PNRC and choose ‘Typhoon Ondoy.’

2. And if you are in the Philippines, you can also access this list for all the locations where you can drop off relief goods for people affected by Ketsana (Ondoy).

3. If you are in Cebu: Victory Cebu at 3/F Dacay Building, 72 Escario St., Cebu City. Operation: 10am – 6pm, Monday – Sunday.

4. If you are in Bacolod: Victory Bacolod at 3/L Robinsons Place – Bacolod. They are accepting donations in cash and relief goods (bread, “mamon” brownies, cookies/biscuits, juice, energy drink, bottled water, medication, clothing, slippers, blankets,etc.). Contact no. 441-0703.

Update:

The Filipino Association in Singapore (FAS) also announced that it is accepting donations in kind for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. Donations may be dropped off at:

A-Freight Cargo
304 Orchard Road
#03-19 Lucky Plaza
Singapore 238863
Contact Maureen Schepers: 6235-1011.

i-Remit Singapore announced that it will waive remittance charges for donations to the Philippine National Red Cross. Remittances to the Philippine National Red Cross may be sent through:

i-Remit Singapore
304 Orchard Road
#03-69 Lucky Plaza
Singapore 238863

LBC announced that it will waive remittance charges for donations made to the following organizations: ABS-CBN Foundation, GMA Foundation, Philippine National Red Cross, and the National Disaster Coordinating Center. Remittances to these organizations may be sent through:

LBC Singapore
304 Orchard Road
#04-77 Lucky Plaza
Singapore 238863

Wishing everyone a bless week ahead!

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Thank you Patricia from Subjective Soup for passing me some awards. It is truly my honour. Thank you and have a wonderful weekend.

Photo by AFP

Attitude, Challenges in Life, Dealing with Adversity, Inspiration, Reflection, Strength, Weakness

Weakness or Strength?

bk
September 24, 2009

judo

Photo by pnijhuis

Some time ago, I was giving a training on personal leadership to a class of secondary students when I came across a story of a 10 year old boy. Although this is not a true story, I think it is a worthy story to share with you.

Everyone has strength and weakness. Just when you are thinking that something may be your weakness, think twice. Sometimes your weakness may turn out to be your greatest strength, just as in this case.

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The story of one 10 year old boy who decided to study Judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.

The boy began his lessons with an old Japanese Judo Master. As the boy was doing well in his lessons, he could not understand why after three months of training and his master had taught him only one move.

“Sensei,” the boy finally asked. “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”

“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know.” the Sensei replied.

Not quite understanding what the Sensei meant, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept on training.

Several months later, the Sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.

This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be over-matched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the Sensei intervened.

“No.” the Sensei insisted. “Let him continue.”

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him down. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.

On the way home, the boy and Sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.

“Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” the Sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of Judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”

The boy’s biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.
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Had there been any situation where you thought something was your weakness but it turned out to be your strength? Do share with us your experience on how you had turned a weakness into your strength.