Project Profile

I have a plan.

I’ve been following Humans of New York (please check it out, its really a nice!) and I was quite inspired. That’s how I got inspired to write about mama. I don’t even think she knows that I wrote a piece about her, and yes, we are facebook friends, but everyone who knows my mom would know that she doesn’t know anything about computers. Hence, she hasn’t read my blog. Haha

Anyboom boom pow!

I’ve decided to do something like Humans of New York.

I want to write about people. I want to write about the people I’ve learned to love and have met along the way. I want to write about them the way I see them because I believe that in a way, they deserve to know how incredible they are (even though they don’t know that I am doing this to them) and I want to share that with you. I want people to see how ordinary people become extraordinary. I want people to know that there is such a person living in this world. I want you to know how I think about people.

I don’t know if this is going to be a good thing. Or a bad thing. I just want a lot of things right now and this, I’m really excited about because this will be my 2014 project. I want to share the stories and the moments I’ve shared with these people to everyone.

So I’m sorry if you will be one of the lucky ones or (maybe) the malas ones, but I do hope that if I do choose you, please don’t get mad at me for sharing our story. I promise to not make you look bad.

Delia the Warrior Princess

10 days ago she almost lost her husband. 4 days ago her first granddaughter was born. Yesterday was her birthday. She is now 54 years old. (Sorry for sharing your age hehe)

Who is this person? She’s my mama!

Not a lot of people ask how the spouse is when the other one is in the hospital bed. Of course we can’t blame anybody when the center of attention is the one in the actual bed. But I want to share you how I saw mama those past few days (if you’re not familiar, stop reading this and read my earlier post and get in the loop dumb dumb!)

As I was saying…

We’re really not a family of criers. If we do cry, we don’t have those family moments where we hug together and cry. We simply choose to stay in a corner by ourselves and weep. Wipe our tears and look strong. I don’t know why we are like this, but I choose to think that we want to show our loved ones that we really aren’t as “affected” to the situation even though we all know we actually are.

When papa was doing his angiogram, I saw lola, mama, Tita Chelle holding their rosaries quietly praying while Tito Pat reads his newspaper. I swear, at the moment I thought papa was already dying. They all looked soooo pale and nobody was talking. I couldn’t help but notice how stressed my mom looked. I wonder what she was thinking.

When the angiogram was over and we found out that papa and mama both decided to have his angioplasty, it was the first time I saw mama smile. Lola and mama watched the whole operation, I opted to cry in the bathroom and waited outside. Again, I wondered what she was thinking. How can she watch that? What if something went wrong? I mean seriously, when I saw the blood I couldn’t even hold my tears.

Mama never left papa’s side the whole time he was in the hospital. She didn’t even want to go home and rest a little when papa was still in the CCU. The only time she left papa’s room was when she had to go get food heated and…

And… when ate was rushed to the hospital to give birth. It was so funny because she was just so excited. We were hanging out inside papa’s room and we heard that PNoy was coming to visit, but we also knew that ate was gonna give birth soon. When we found out that ate was gonna push that cutie pie out of her belly, she just left the room and said, “bahala na kayo dyan ha!” she didn’t even care that PNoy was gonna go inside papa’s room. Haha it was hee-larious!

Anyway, I just wanted to share to all of you that my mom’s pretty great. She’s a warrior. I guess all moms are. They become these giant soldiers with mighty swords or something and protect us from harm. I just want to write about her because I always share my daddy-daughter stories but I always down play her importance. So today, I want to let everybody know that mama’s awesome. She doesn’t ask much, but she gives a lot.

PS. In fairness to her, when PNoy came to visit, she still had the time to call me and remind me to make ham sandwiches.

A Heart Attack and a Baby

Good bye 2013, hello 2014!

This is a brief report of my first 10 days of 2014.

Im really happy 2013 is over. I hated that year so much I wanted it to end the moment it started. Im pretty sure a lot of you can attest to that. I mean really, it felt like I was at-the-bottom-of-the-pit-kinda-feeling. So I was very excited that 2014 was knocking at my door. I mean where else could I go right? I was already in a state where nothing can go wrong, like there was nowhere else but to go up! Right?

That’s what I thought.

The past 10 days of this year has been… how do I say this? CRAZY.

I will try to briefly tell you what happened.

on 1 January 2014, papa and mama decided to check themselves in at St. Luke's Medical Hospital for an Executive Checkup. I thought it was really smart of them to do this as they were both feeling something. Both of them passed with "normal" test results and went home the next day at around 2:00 PM.

By 5:00 PM, papa couldn't breathe. 

My father had a heart attack on 2 January 2014. I was on my way home when mama called me to go straight to St. Luke’s. I didn't know what was happening then but all I could do was pray to the Lord and ask Him why now? Don’t let him die, please! And all sorts of plea to God because I wouldn’t know what to do if he left us. I am a self proclaimed daddy’s girl and I honestly don’t know what I would do if I lost him. By the 3^rd, he went through a series of tests and more tests just to confirm that he did in fact suffer from a heart attack and that we needed to act on it quickly. By 11:00 am, his angioplasty was over and we thought he was saved. Few days have past and by Sunday, the 5^th, he went home to us with a smile on his face and we had our Sunday Best lunch. 

Everything was good. 

By the 6^th, I thought everything was A-okay, but mama texted at around 4:30 PM that I had to go straight to the hospital as papa was admitted AGAIN. I was at work when I got the message and decided to not wait anymore. All I can do was finish my work for the day while I silently cry and prayed to God to not take him. He was my pillar of strength and my inspiration. He was my dad after all.

Oh, did I mention that my sister, Ginny, was already at the verge of giving birth to the first apo of papa and mama? Well, yeah. So all this time, we were also waiting for the baby to come out. I didn’t even want to think as to how my sister handled all of it. All I know was that I could barely hold my tears every time I saw papa on that bed, what more my sister.

Anyway, back to my story.

He was admitted again because they saw that he had deep vein thrombosis on his left leg. We learned that it had reached his lungs and so they had to fix that problem. The only good thing about this was that he did not have to go under any kind of surgery. It was blood thinners and more blood thinners to fix the leg problem. I learned later on that if we did not see that problem the blood would’ve rushed to the lungs and he wouldn’t be able to breathe. 

I don’t know if God loves papa so much or if He listened to all of our prayers, but saving him twice in 7 days is just a miracle. Even the doctors said that they couldn’t believe how he survived a stage 2 heart attack and the deep vein thrombosis that reached 40% of his lungs. I don’t know. But all I can think of was that if I was at the bottom of the pit last 2013, I was at the bottom of the bottom of the pit this year. A place I thought never existed. I thought 2014 was going to be a better year. 

By the 9^th, Archie, my sister’s husband, knocked at my door and shouted, “manganganak na si ate! MANGANGANAK NA SI ATE!” (your sister is going to give birth! YOUR SISTER IS GOING TO GIVE BIRTH!)

By 10:00am, they went back home because she was only 1cm open. I don’t know what that meant, but her screams by 12:00 noon said that that baby wanted to come out already. And by 5:02 pm, baby Calia Denise Puno de Leon was born.

Whoever said that LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL knows what he was talking about, because that baby made us all realize that life is soooo freakin AWESOME. She’s just so cute and fat that you’d want to squeeze her all day. And you know what the good part is? Papa was able to see her.

So today, the 10^th day of 2014, two GREAT things happened today: (1) Papa was discharged from the hospital and (2) I got to hold Baby Calia for the first time.

Even though my first ten days of 2014 had a bottom-of-the-bottom-of-the-pit-kinda-feeling, it made me realize how lucky we are as a family. and how miracles do happen. and prayers do work. and that when there's life, there comes more life. 

Papa will now be eating tasteless foods for the next coming years, but im pretty sure he’d choose that over seeing his first grandchild grow up and be at more family events. We now have our new fat bundle of joy to love and to annoy as she grows up, and lastly, I am now out of the bottom-of-the-bottom-of-the-pit-kinda-feeling. 

I guess 2014 will be a better year after all.

Be inspired.

I had the honor of re-typing my papa's speech today. Im not exactly sure where he's using this, but I know that this is for one masonic lodge in Iloilo. 

Anyway, I was inspired by what he wanted to tell his brothers, and I feel like this should be shared. 

here it is:

When brothers Jose P. Rizal and Marcelo H del Pilar conceptualized the establishment of masonic lodges in the Philippines exclusively for Filipinos way back in 1890, they saw masonry as the universal protest against the ambition of tyrants as the “supreme manifestations of democracy” as the organization that could redeem our country from a downtrodden Spanish colony, poor and sickly, without rights and liberties into a dignified, free and prosperous nation. Hence, masonry became a tool to fight the colonial invaders, the tyrants, the oppressors and give our motherland her freedom.

The teachings of masonry were considered a rich source of discipline, dedication and loyalty. The spread of masonic “triangulos” and lodges throughout the entire nation was like a wildfire that could not be stopped even by the most influential friars at that time.

My brothers, the dream of brothers Jose Rizal and Marcelo H del Pilar for Philippine masonry have been achieved. The revolution that led to the freedom of our motherland has been attained.

For the past 100 years, masonry continued to serve her purpose, we made “good men better.” A great number of our brothers are leaders and trendsetters in their respective fields of endeavor like most Worshipfull Reynato Puno Sr. former Supreme Court Chief Justice. MW Jun Ebdane former CPNP now Governor of Zambales, MW Boy Gabionza a very respectable law practitioner, RW Jun Espino of the commission on Audit, our incoming Grand Master, RW Allan Purisima the incumbent CPNP and a lot more.

Today our national leadership, headed by our Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III, has started a new revolution-- a revolution of good governance that would uplift the lives of the Filipino people and be the envy of all Asian brothers.

For us masons, it would be a revolution of relevance! Who or what is a mason to society? Does our saying “making good men better” still serve its purpose? Does the phrase “brotherhood of men under the fatherhood of God” mean anything anymore?

How do we do it? How do we become relevant? Allow me to quote MW Reynato Puno Sr. in one of his several masonic masterpieces speeches and writings, about service to others and what kind of leader our country needs.

MW Puno said, “Servant leaders who would spear head a moral revolution and not just stay in the safety of the sidelines.” Further he said, “we need servant leaders who will save souls, not their skins, leaders who will bring people to his kingdom and free them from dominion of false gods, leaders who are not only right but also righteous. This is the kind of leadership that will bring about the correct transformation of society.”

MW Puno concluded by saying “produce more leaders of the spiritual world who would lead by descending from the ladder of power, they descend to ally themselves not with the powerful but with the powerless.”

They do not follow the fad and the fashion of the time but what is right and righteous for all time. They do not push themselves up but down, so that others may be elevated.”

Confucius asked a question, “How does one learn to govern a nation? Govern a state? How to rule?” then he answers, “To govern a nation one has to learn to govern a household. To handle a nation, know how to handle your family and your friends.”

To handle your family learn to govern yourself.

In short one has to start small because when you think of a nation the scale is too big. And when we do think small we should not remain in our comfort zone.

Do things small but we have to learn to dream big.

Which brings me to a story of a wise man, who was walking and saw three stone cutters. He asked the first stone cutter: what are you doing?

I am cutting stone, he replies.

Then he asked the second stone cutter, what are you doing?

I am building a wall, was his reply.

Then he asked the third one, what are you doing?

I am building a cathedral.

The first one was just a simple man who had no ambition, who does not see the value of what he is doing. He did not see the total picture.

The second one, saw something more than what he was doing, but probably had lack of ambition.

The third one, was the one that dreams, and when he dreams, he dreams big!

I am building a cathedral!

Start small, but also very importantly, dream big.

Which brings me to my second story. Once there were two boulders which a stone cutter selected to work on.

The first boulder complained immediately when the stone cutter pounded the chisel to the stone. The boulder complained, “Oh it hurts, I cannot endure the pain.” So the stone cutter just put him one the side and later on made him into a tile.

The second one, the stone cutter selected a big and hard boulder. The boulder endured the pounding of the hammer and pain of the chisel, which landed on all sides of the boulder. The result was a magnificent work of art, which was the result of human genius.

The tile was placed on the cobbled stone streets and everyday people would step on it as they walked by.

The magnificent work of art was placed on a pedestal and was admired by people from all walks of life through the ages.

Brethren, we should put our small daily activity in the context of a grand vision, in the context of a bigger picture, in the context of a bigger picture possible!

Acting small, dreaming big, take time building a family, because building a nation takes time.

All of these events take time.

Sometimes it can be difficult-- it is always difficult. Be ready to endure the pain.

This will take time.

This will take a long time.

This will take a life time.

If every mason will practice faithfully, their masonic teachings, applying the basic and most simple rules in our masonic fraternity, we can be instruments of change that the entire society and eventually our beloved country, we will be relevant.

At this point, let us congratulate the immediate past master for a job well done and wish the incoming WM the best for the coming masonic year.

Brethren, it is now time for any of us, regardless of our age, to say it is high twelve and there is no work for us. He has put in a great deal of work on that trestle board. Let us get our labors and finish building the temple with incredible opportunity.

Maraming salamat mga kapatid at mabuhay ang masonerya!

TROUBLESHOOTER

When we were driving home from a family event tonight, I was discussing with my cousin about what happened at work today and he explained to me that I was the troubleshooter. According to him, a troubleshooter is a person who looks for solutions rather than finding another person/division to pass on the problem or to handle the situation.

So the question is, is this good or bad?

Technically speaking, it’s supposed to be a good thing to the point that each section of the Bureau should have a troubleshooter. And if that system exists, it would be a far better bureau than what it is today.

Let me explain what I do as a troubleshooter.

1.     I identify if the applicant transacting will cause any future problem within the day. If so, take note of that person.

2.     When I notice applicants (I usually focus on subjects rather than representatives) who start getting frustrated and cannot be solved by the frontliners, I interfere and try to control the situation.

3.     Once the problem has been identified, I try to calm the applicant, explain the bureau’s procedures and give them options.

4.     I try to assist them to the point that they feel that they are being taken care of and has been given extra attention.

In a day, it would be a bonus if there’s one applicant who acts like the Bureau should focus on them compared to everybody else. The worst would be having three or more of them in one day because I usually don’t get to do my actual work. And believe me when I say that I try to be the kindest and most understanding person in the world just to be professional.

The problem? NOBODY WANTS TO ANSWER THERE QUESTIONS PROPERLY. I strongly believe that people don’t complain when they are informed well enough. Foreigners, who are our clients, believe in properly informing them about the process. Because guess what? They’d comply whatever it is we’re asking them to do ONLY IF THEY KNEW that they had to do it in the first place.

Today, I had one American who went back and forth to our office and to the 3^rd floor (section/division will not be named) for the past four hours because nobody told him what he should do, one Canadian who got frustrated for not being able to see his name in the website only to find out that he was approved months ago, because according to him, his hearing officer did not tell him how to find his name on the website, and one lost ACR I-card application form that was eventually found on the same division/section that said that it wasn’t there.

My day would usually involve constant re-tracing of transmittal numbers, calling applicants, and asking different divisions/sections regarding the matter concerned. And take note, I do not stop until I actually get an answer or a solution (good or bad). Today was even extra special because the new generator was being tested, so walking those stairs was my only option.

And at the end of the day, if the applicant is not happy, I either get the blame, the insults, the complaints for not getting what they want or their gratitude. 

so you tell me if being a troubleshooter is a good or a bad thing?

Welcome Back

For months I’ve been pressuring myself when to write again.

Well, today is the day I do.

Its been a month since we welcomed 2013. So its given me a longer time to reflect on 2012.

Oh 2012. So much has happened and yet somehow, I feel like I haven’t recovered from it. Looking back, I knew I did the right thing writing that blog entry.  Although I was quite overwhelmed with my new found fame (only for a week) that I had and the anxiety attacks every now and then, I’m pretty sure it made not only my dad proud, but our whole PUNO, DELGADO, ESCALONA clan. It made us all sleep that night and the nights after that.

Today, I couldn’t help myself, so I ended up writing my name in Google search and revisited the past. That past. I told myself that I was now ready to read all the positive and negative comments of the Filipino people about what I wrote and what they thought about my dad. But I stopped myself.

Because it is now 2013, there’s no reason to look back… unless they were good memories. And mind you, I had. Not a lot, but I had something good to remember about 2012.

So yeah, I’m writing again because I want to. I want to share more stories about the Bureau. I want to write about funny and sad and challenging stories about our work and the people who visit us everyday. I want to defend the people who work at my place. I want to speak up because not a lot of people are brave enough to share their stories. I want to because writing makes me feel alive and it helps me realize that it’s all going to be okay. I want to do this because I’ve seen how powerful the internet can be and how it can change a lot of people’s perspective.

So hello 2013. Hello to writing again. Hello to venting and laughing. Hello to a great year ahead.