Wake Me Up When September Ends

Yesterday September 30...It was payday and I want a new pair of shoes. On my way going to mall I was stock into traffic. Staring at the window of the bus, a young guy caught my attention. He was looking at the tall buildings of the city from the sidewalk. I knew that I saw him before. Then I remembered. He was a cashier in a nearby convenience store where we use to buy food when I was assigned on a jobsite before. He reminds me of my younger brother. A poor boy with small built similar to a high school student who’s bullied by anyone in the class. My brother works as a kitchen crew on a hotel. His job wasn’t that easy for what I see, he’s waking very early to go to work because his workplace is far away from home and comes home very late that we can’t even talk because when I come home, he’s either asleep, leaving or on at work. The worst is that his earnings merely suffice his transportation expense. He often had empty pockets. I wish I can find a better job for him.
In the mall, I checked my salary on the ATM. On the screen, I was reluctant of the amount deposited on my account. I think I wasn’t paid enough but then I still withdrawn cash, the mall will be closing soon. I’ve seen all the shoes from different boutiques for me to have a good comparison, and then I picked the best for me. On a shoe stall, a group of saleslady was talking about their earnings for the week. One Saleslady was so glad she had earned that much. Then I remembered the money I withdrawn. It was bigger than her salary. I was humiliated by her happiness. I keep on asking for something else while others treasure with a little.
I was ashamed of my attitude. I forgot simple things that I need to understand. I kept on looking for something new just to fulfill my happiness not realizing that the only thing I need is just a simple appreciation of the things that I already have. I’m lucky enough. My salary wasn’t that big but I can afford the things that I want. I have a job. I have a home. We’re not affected by the calamity caused by the storm. There are so many reasons to be thankful for. I don’t really need a new pair of shoes. I still have more than enough on my rack. Funny how buying a new pair of shoes awakened me somehow.

How to Save a Life?

If someone is falling down the unsteady road, would you try to save a life? Perhaps it will depend if he’s willing to be helped. But if you try to reach out in a way or another, his response shall answer if he needs your help. It’s a matter of choice—to help, be helped, get help. Somebody told me we should help each other for we are one. My delight is also yours, so as my failure. If I see you lose your way and do nothing, the fault will also be mine. For most of the time, I will be your shepherd. For as long as you are willing to be my sheep. I only give instructions to save a life but still it is a choice to get the chance to be saved. This is brotherhood. Life’s a game.

"Booksmarts or Streetsmarts?"

“Someone’s Capability is Immeasurable. It could not be Gauged by the Numbers”

In the industry where I’m involved—Construction and Management, skills are a priority. Especially in handling tasks and creating a sequence of work. There’s so much to learn and see. All you have to do is open your mind to all the opportunities and options.

There are two kinds of People. Those who are in theory—“the Booksmarts” and those who are specialized in experience and the actual--- “ the Streetsmarts”. It has always been an argument who is more capable. A contestant from the TV show “The Apprentice” once said that Books separate Man from Boys. But would that statement define the truth?

Many People could prove something in this scenario.

Michael Dell hasn’t finished his studies because of the small business he had in a small apartment. Eventually he became a Multimillionaire today and one of the top computer selling company.

Frank Lloyd Wright
A pioneer is a pioneer in architecture. He attended high school, but never graduated.

Bill Gates
Was a regular employee before. Today he is the architect of the software giant Microsoft.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
He created an influential 20th century architectural style, stated with extreme clarity and simplicity.He worked in his father's stone-carving shop.


These people serves as an inspiration to us that lack in education hinder success.

“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.”
--Mark Twain

The Old School

What’s good about old school? Let me find the ways. For me, it means doing ways in the conventional way (not talking about the trends.). I have been working with the old school. Which means their age are really twice (even thrice) my age. And I really find hard time coping with them. We have different interest (well of course, because of generation gap) I’m on the era of ipods and psp’s while they are still stuck in the middle of the Paleolithic era. I’m trying to teach some of them, but it’s really hard knowing that they still believe in the notion that the conventional way of say computations. It’s hard to teach something when you don’t believe into something that you use. Probably, they are still at the stage of denial. Denying to themselves that they are left behind of time. If only I could shout to them loudly, I will say “grow up old man!”. But I can’t, it’s not possible.