March 26, 2014 by daddyandsoul

Divergent: Shattering the Stereotype

We were able to watch the movie Divergent earlier. While I’m not a complete fan of post-apocalyptic, dystopian stories, I am interested in how their plots go. These plots serve as a catalyst for inspiration to be applied to the stories that I write.

Divergent is about a futuristic era, where people are divided into five distinct factions: Abnegation (for the selfless), Amity (for the kind), Candor (for the honest), Erudite (for the intelligent), and Dauntless (for the brave), based on their personalities. However, the protagonist, named Beatrice Prior or Tris, discovers that she is a Divergent. Being divergent means she fits into more than a single faction. Later in the story, Tris realizes that the divergents carry a lethal potential to destroy the existing system.

Definitely not a feel-good movie, but it serves as an example that humans live in a stereotypical world. We are raised based on our morals, but we choose what morals to follow when we grow up. We follow a certain track, a defining responsibility imposed by society, that is, we generally follow what the world wants us to portray. However, we should embrace what was bestowed upon us and not be inhibited by what “they” think we are.

I haven’t read the book yet, but the screenplay was gripping, with good transitions. This is definitely a must-see movie for me.

March 21, 2014 by daddyandsoul

The Pursuit for the Perfect Corsage

I grew up in a family that adores orchids. Both my grandmothers used to have orchid gardens filled with Vandas and Cattleyas attached to driftwood. I still remember the rituals of singing and talking to the orchids for them to bloom often. It became an important part of my life, and I was able to carry on the tradition, which is why we also have orchids in our home.

I am a proud father to a child that will be graduating from Kindergarten as the class Valedictorian. Being on top of her graduating batch, I want her to enjoy this moment as part of her academic achievement. So, as a stage father, I went on a journey to find the perfect corsage. Normally, we see corsages with Roses, Gerberas, and other in-season flowers like Vanda and Dendrobium orchids. But I was struck by the elegance of the Cattleya. It exudes an exclusive prestige. Cattleyas are not labeled the Queen of Orchids for nothing.

While summer is said to be the blooming season of most of its subspecies, I never expected that it will be such of an ordeal to find the most suitable piece. I’ve seen lots of beautiful orchids from tens of orchid shops I’ve visited, but none of these are Cattleyas. Then finally, after an entire week of searching, I was able to find a beautiful specimen that boasts pristine white blooms.

What I’ve learned from this pursuit is that, bigger goals require more sacrifices and effort. I could’ve just settled for another readily available flower, but I’m really not fond of having the second best. We should stop settling for less, because at the end of the day, two questions will circle around your head – “what if?” and “what could have been?”

March 19, 2014 by daddyandsoul

To Travel is to Live

My name is James. I am a gamer, a writer, an editor, a nurse, a husband, and a father. I was not a big fan of exploring new places. I preferred to stay at home, comfortably reading a book or watching a movie. I dreaded dust and sweat… and don’t get me started on travel horror stories. My greatest adrenaline rush came from hospital emergencies when I worked as a nurse. My most heart-pumping moment was when my wife was in labor.

That was before.

My perspective changed only when I married a lady who believes that she was either a backpacker or a savvy tourist during her past life, and until now, I really do think that she is. She’s been to Puerto Princesa, Davao, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Boracay, among many other places here and abroad. The farthest place I’ve been from my hometown, Bulacan, is my father’s hometown, Bataan. I was living in a tiny piece of reality. My wife convinced me to go on a journey, because for her, traveling is a way of life… a part of her that I used to dread.

My first ever travel destination outside my comfort zone was Negros Occidental. You should have seen how nervous I was. The only words I uttered during the entire flight were, “Lord, please, please, please, don’t let this plane crash.”

We reached the destination safely, and it gave me the chills. I felt like I was coming out of my shell, a tiny shell in a massive world waiting to be experienced, explored, and adored. It was like being transported to another world that I thought I’d never see in my entire life. All the while I thought that Bulacan was giving me what Belle from Beauty and the Beast refers to as a “provincial life,” but I was caught off guard when we reached the humble and hospitable place that is Bacolod, where time moves slowly, thus giving me an opportunity to think about things. It got me to thinking, “what if I didn’t travel?” I can’t imagine the things that I have been missing. I wasn’t able to understand the local dialect, but I realized that a smile is universal and works wonders. I was able to see how simple life can be, how amazing it is to see new places, and how we can actually enjoy living. Life is indeed a journey, not a destination.

I was able to taste the food, especially the authentic inasal, piaya, and biscocho. The sceneries were rich, from the sugarcane-lined roads to the idyllic and magnificent Ruins. I was able to travel back in time when we visited ancestral houses, such as Balai Negrense. When we went to the city of Cadiz to buy dried seafood, I was able to appreciate the fact that you can live a modest life and enjoy every single day of it. I guess simplicity is indeed beauty, and simple living has a charm of its own.

This experience taught me a lot of things. Like a small spark that burst into flames, the experience made me thirst for more travel destinations. Traveling broadened my horizons and helped me appreciate how amazing it is to go places. Traveling can teach you things that you can never learn from school. Traveling makes you realize how large the world is, how diverse people are, how wondrous nature is, and how fleeting life can be. Traveling made me realize that there is a larger reality than my own and that I should embrace experiences that teach me how to be open to other people and to other places.

Traveling also tightens bonds and strengthens relationships. Traveling with the people you love will bring you closer together. Shared experiences and shared memories nurture the ties that bind forever. Moments are made more special when shared with people that you care about. Sunsets become more vivid, rainbows become more colorful, sceneries become richer while ties grow deeper.

I guess what’s life changing about traveling is not the destination, but the passion for traveling itself. My first journey planted a seed of realization in that it is indeed a worthy endeavor to make memories and travel often. As a couple, my wife and I agreed to pass on this passion to our children, so that they can see how big and wonderful this world is, to open their eyes and hearts to the wonder of enjoying the journey that comes with every destination. Indeed, memories from traveling cannot be stolen and can only be carried for a lifetime.

I quote Hans Christian Andersen when I say that, “to travel is to live.” I could not agree more. When I was confined to the boundaries of my limited reality, I was merely existing, content with the knowledge that I knew everything I had to know, seen everything that I had to see. I could not have been more wrong. Traveling made me realize that even a lifetime may never be enough to see all there is to see and to learn all there is to know. This is why I will always strive to broaden my horizons, so that at the end of the day, I can say that I have truly lived.

My name is James. I am a gamer, a writer, an editor, a nurse, a husband, and a father, but more than all these, I am a learner of the university of life and an explorer of the world. My greatest adrenaline rush came from my first time diving in Boracay. My most heart-pumping moment was during my first zipline experience in Bukidnon. But I know that all these are bound to change with the many journeys that I still plan to make.

January 29, 2014 by daddyandsoul

2013: The Joyride in Photos

As in our previous post, we would like to share the places we’ve been to in the photos below. We plan to blog on the places we’ve visited and our itineraries soon, so stay tunes for that!

Tagaytay in January and July

Baguio in April

Hong Kong in June

Bacolod and Cadiz in July

Pico de Loro in August

Masfino staycation in August

Singapore in September

Boracay in September

D&S

January 28, 2014 by daddyandsoul

2013: The Joyride Year

2013 was probably the most fast-paced year that I have experienced. A well-travelled year, with a total of six local and international destinations reached. Before we knew it, 2013 has already been eclipsed by 2014. Yet, the lessons we learned are priceless.

On family. This is the first year ever that we were able to spend more time with the family over work. We were able to collect more memories than money, but we’re not complaining. We were able to attend family days, entrance exams, and school activities, among others. We travelled together, with pockets full of hope, and lips laced with a smile.

We further appreciated the fact that quality time can be as simple as a conversation in a quiet evening with the stars, that a blanket can be warmer and fuzzier when shared, that blessings come in all shapes and sizes, and that love should be multiplied not divided.

On work and opportunities. I’ve never been as strong an advocate of the home-based setup as this year, being in this setup since February when I quit my “day” job. It was actually a liberating experience, like living with training wheels removed. This is probably the deadliest season to date, although short-lived compared with last year. Good thing we survived along with our colleagues.

As I told Raine, when there is an opportunity, as long as it will not require us to pose nude or eat a live chicken, let’s give it a shot. It has worked so far, from small things like a Starbucks Card to something significant like a Trip for Two to Malaysia. You miss 100% of the shots you didn’t take, so why not give it a try anyway?

On friends. This year, we learned a lot about friends. We invest time, effort, faith, and trust in people that have the liberty to stay true to us or nonchalantly stab our backs. Friendship, much like any other relationship, poses a risk. As the saying goes, we are mature enough to forgive, but not dumb enough to trust again.

On life. During an interview in my previous company, I was asked about my greatest goal in life. I stated that I would like to retire by the time I reach forty. That way, I can focus on my family more, without the weariness and stress from the professional responsibilities of work. I still have twelve years to go, and I can say we’re right on track.

We are all survivors of our own tragedies and hardships. We are fighting abattle to reach our dreams. I’d say enjoy the show, live life as how it should be lived, and believe more in what you can do.

Thanks for the joyride, 2013. 🙂

image source: luvimages.com