GOD SAVE THE BABIES! ( A Ride Away From Death)

Jeepneys used to be called the King of the Road but not these days anymore. With traffic getting more infamous in the Metropolis despite of the many programs to decongest it such as flyovers and underpasses, MRT’s and LRT’s, skyways and color coding, motorists and commuters still unable to cope up with this seemingly unsolvable problem.. Easy as a pie to drive, the motorcycle has taken the title that jeepney has long kept to its name. As one of the few options that seem to address the traffic menace, motorcycle population is growing incredibly and with this fad everyone seems to climb on the bandwagon. It is a common view when traffic builds up bikes slithering through vehicles larger that its size. Sometime they may even get jammed in front of you while you are sitting in your car before a slit opens up and with a blink of an eye they are gone. What is disappointing with the other drivers is that while they are trapped in the congestion and amidst the earsplitting noise and hooting of horns around the place, bikers just slip through and drive away.

Most of motorcycle riders enjoy their transports by being able to avoid stagnant traffic, aside from being practical and swift in long distance travel, they can also handle pot holes and bad road shells of Metro Manila. This is why most developed countries actively endorsing motorcycles in reducing traffic cramming and air pollution while freeing up parking spaces. But just recently, news advisories were flashed on different networks because of the rise in the incidence of road mishaps involving this two-wheeled vehicle. Some drivers would curb the sidewalk, and just turn sharply anywhere they want to and crisscross their way through traffic then burn up the road. Others use it for bet racing while some just for kicks. Some bikers have even back rider cuddling baby or young kid(s) between them. For God’s sake! Infant aboard motorcycle?! Are these motocyclists bird brained to put kids on the verge of peril?? This is the most terrifying motorcycle scenario I often see in the streets! Everytime I see people aboard motorcycle with kid as young as an infant I can’t hold on my gaze on them for too long. “Pag naiisip ko pa lang kung ano ang mangyayari kinikilabutan na ako eh!” It’s just like a ride away from death. Nobody can tell that he has the bit between his teeth when driving, anything can happen. “Sabi nga mismo ng mga drivers pag nagmamaneho ka ang isang paa mo ay nasa hukay na”. This is why some bikers are branded as lesser beings because of their undisciplined and irresponsible attitudes in using this sort of transport in the streets. Authorities should set a stern rules against riding babies and kids on motorcycles to look after their safety and health. Kung maari talagang ipagbawal. Parents should NEVER ride their kids on this transport and travel them on main thoroughfares .If they care enough for them and want them to enjoy life and live long, four wheeled vehicles are safer and more convenient rides for them. “Huwag na nating panghinayangan yung kaunting baryang pamasahe natin”. There are so many misconceptions about bikers; some are mistaken as drug addicts, thugs, and even bank hold uppers. ... these fallacies will vanish if discipline and sense of responsibility is shown by people who use this transport. It is true that motorcycle is the most practical and convenient motorized wheel today as far as traffic in the Metropolis is concerned. They say more bikes would mean less traffic for everyone including those who will still steer their cars. It is also a fact that the motorcycle offers the least protection for its riders and once involve in a mishap the rider escapes death by a hair’s breadth. Motorcycles have a far higher percentage of crippling and fatal accidents per unit distance than automobiles. Motorcyclists can do much to foresee and stay away from these crashes by getting proper training, wearing protective helmet, increasing their exposure to other traffic, and separating alcohol and riding. So dear motorcyclists, don’t bury your heads in the sand, the next times you use your bikes - - - PLEASE don’t ride the babies. They are angels and God’s blessing, so let them live to grow to enjoy their infantile lives.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

By: Jessie Landingin (Batch '79)

THAT SMALL SWITCH INSIDE OF US

Sorry for being late with this one, it's a simple effort but requires discipline to keep up. It's a work-in-progress and it's exciting for me to imagine looking back at this after a hundred posts.

When I was in college, we'd only have 3-4 school days and I'd spend my non-school-days at the Jefferson Library. And it's only because I enjoyed the smell, the quiet and the cool a/c. I'd spend the whole day watching videos and reading the yellow-pages of the different states in the US. Eventually, I got into reading the books in the libraray (which proves that simply being exposed to the library for so long will make you want to read books).

Anyway, the first book that caught my curiosity was this book "The Binary Brain". This was the book that got me into computers. I got so passionate about computers, I dropped all my other subjects and focused on computers (reason why I only graduated 20 years later).

The Binary Brain, was a book about Artificial Intelligence so it talks a lot about the similarities between how our minds think and how computers work.

Like a computer, our minds are filled with "switches" that goes on or off. Sub-microscopic tissues that trigger one another to process information and eventually causing a muscle to move.

What I'd like to share is how a simple difference between 1 and 0 can decide the fate of one man if not mankind.

There is a little-switch in all of us that makes us who we are. Some take this for granted until faced with a situation that calls for judgment. Some will use it so often to know that he's in control of himself. Others fear even touching the switch to avoid accountability.

The switch is there whether you are aware of it or not . Becoming aware of it will be the first step to taking control of yourself and your world.

If you really think about it. Our biggest blunders in life could all have been avoided had we taken control of our self. Had we not let pride, pain or satisfaction lock our switch into making a bad move. The idea of an "automatic" life can be no less than tempting and that's how many of us chose to live. Programmed by the world to do this or that when faced with this or that. It's almost understandable. I mean, if you grew up in the world with everybody around telling you what's right or wrong, or what to do when this or that happens, you'd be pretty much programmed to behave as you do today. We learn. But what fails us is when we loose our "self" and put our lives in "auto" mode. When our "will" takes a back-seat, we loose control. We become robots, zombies moving about, reacting automatically to what the sensors detect.

We often forget that above that switch is our will, our conviction, our future and not the situation nor the world that should turn our switch for us. And for those who chose to follow God, they gained the honor of having God turn their switch for them.

When you find yourself in a situation that you know you're not supposed to be in. When you know something not right is making a mess of you. Consider looking back. There just might be something keeping your will from making the right move. Check your heart, loose your pride, loose your bitterness, forget about the pain and remember that a simple flick of a switch can turn your life around.

I tried to keep this one short and I hope it still made sense. Thanks again for reading and hope to see you come back for more...

By: Rio Bautista (Batch '79)

HOW DOES IT FEELS TO BE A SINGLE MOM AWAY FROM YOUR LOVE ONES?

I grew up in a happy family with my papa,mama and three handsome brothers...being the only daughter and the youngest im used to be with someone all the time...I remember nuong una akong magpabunot sa dentist...my mama and my eldest brother Pat was with me...my mama holding my right hand and my brother on my left...I was so nervous but holding their hands makes me strong...when I was 11 yrs.old...my mama was diagnosed with breast cancer...again natakot ako...I was asking myself paano na ako??? But thank God...because until now that I'm 41...my mama is still with me...Sabi ng doctors niya noon di na sya magtatagal...pero marami papala syang mission in life. When I get married it was on my mom's b-day...pero unluckily napabilang ako sa what so called BROKEN FAMILY...I have a son na since his birth is always on my side until I came here in Saipan...I left him when he was 9 yrs old with mama...I miss him a lot...I dont want to...but I have to go to work...marami akong trials na naranasan sa abroad...pag may problema ako my mama and my son ang tinatawagan ko. I am so blessed kasi kahit malayo ako napalaki ng mama kong strong ang anak ko , in a sense na makulit man sya pag may problema ako siya pa ang nag aadvice sa akin how to cope up...dumating din ako sa point na gustong- gusto ko nang umuwi dahil miss na miss ko na ang anak ko. Pag ang anak ko ang may problema di sya nagsasabi sa akin...ayaw nya akong nag aalala...nalalaman ko na lang sa mama kong malungkot pala ang anak ko...sa gabi I always pray to God na sana everything will be okay...syempre di ko maiwasang umiyak na lang hangang makatulog...now 7 years na ako sa abroad. I learned a lot...iyakin pa rin ako...but thinking of my loved ones makes me stand up when I'm down...and sabi nga sa kanta "There's a sunshine after the rain...I thank God kasi malayo man ako sa kanila...he still send me someone to be on my side...si ELY...di ako pinapabayaan ni God...and what ever problem comes...GOD is always with me...kung spoiled ako noon sa family ko...ngayong malayo ako sa kanila spoiled pa rin ako kay GOD...I THANK GOD FOR EVERYTHING

By: Emily Magalong ( Batch '79)