How Brats are Created

Who says only valuable jewelries can become heirlooms?

My daughter showed me a copy of a letter written by her friend's Dad > on her 13th birthday. A few months after he wrote it, he died of a heart attack. Today, this letter is regarded as a family heirloom, shared not just with the immediate members of the family, but shown  proudly to relatives and friends alike.

 I felt the message in this beautiful letter should be shared with as many people as possible. So I asked my daughter if her friend -- the letter's addressee -- would allow me to reprint it in BusinessWorld.  She said there shouldn't be a problem, except that a note should probably precede the letter asking the readers to share this with  their young married children. Hah!, a not-so-subtle inference that  BusinessWorld readers are not exactly "young parents" anymore.

So, dear readers, do share this letter with your young married children. They will certainly find this letter -- as I did -- a very insightful treatise on how brats are created.

 

"Daughter Dearest

"Happy 13th Birthday!

"When you came to this world 13 years ago, you brought your Mom and I a lot of joy! We've always wanted a daughter and God in His wisdom gifted us with you.

 

"This is not to cast any aspersions at your four older brothers; they are also a great blessing and we love them very much, but boys are boys, and I look forward to the day when I am old and gray to have you by my side. I can't see this happening with your brothers; you know what I mean, as we have talked about this at the dining-room table many a time.

 

"You have also heard me say that we are gifted with a lot of material wealth. That's something we should be very grateful to the Lord about, but we should be aware that this has been loaned to us, as you too are loaned to us by God and that we will be asked to give a full accounting when our day of reckoning comes.

 

"The reason for this letter is to warn you about one big, big danger you and your brothers may face in the next few years. I have seen it happen in other families. I don't want to see it happen here.

 

"I am referring to having you guys grow up as brats!" 'Brat-manship' is the process one has to go through to become a brat! "Unfortunately, it is an ailment imposed by parents! They are the  creators of the brats! "In their desire to try to save their children from the difficulties they have been through, they do whatever possible to shield them from this. Little do they realize, that it is precisely these difficulties that have made them successful. Their love for their children may make  them overprotective. They may even prevent them from taking public transportation. They come up with all sorts of rationalizations, going by public transportation is not safe, the buses are too crowded, the fumes on the road are bad for ones health, and so on!

 

"They mean well, but in the process, they deprive their children of what it really means to live in a city like Manila which is comprised of two strata of society -- the 'haves' and the 'have-nots!' And sad to say some of 'the haves' live in their little world. Unaware of that sampaguita vendor, drenched in the rain, so that her siblings may get a least one meal that day.

 

"The other day, I was with an elderly wise gentleman, we are at the Polo Club waiting for his car. There was a girl, about your age. She, too, was waiting for her car. When her vehicle got there, she jumped into the front seat, and as she did, tossed her beautiful pair of riding boots into the back seat. She then asked the driver if her Mom was home. 'Wala po! Nagma-mah jong (She's not home. She's playing mah-jong),' came the reply! The car drove off.

 

"My friend turned to me and said, 'There is an example of the underprivileged rich.' Then he followed with, 'They have everything and they have nothing.'

 

"This incident, short as it was, left me with a deep impression. I guess this is why I am writing this letter.

 

"Your Mom and I have tried to raise you kids to realize that our country is made up of the very rich and those who may not even have enough to have one decent meal a day.

 

I hope you never lose sight of this. This is why we have taken it upon ourselves to adopt a squatter family during Christmas and share with them some of some things to make their Christmas more meaningful. In the process, we hope that you and your brothers will appreciate the  conditions we live in. In the process, I hope that you always have compassion for these lesser fortunate. So that next time you see that sampaguita vendor knocking at our car window drenched in rain you do not get annoyed, but instead pull out your wallet and share with her in a small way your allowance.

 

"You will notice your brothers take public transportation to go to UP. It's not that we can't afford another car; we can't afford for them to grow up thinking that its part of their 'birth right' to be in the ruling class.

 

"This is why we insisted that you do your bed in the morning, and to pick up your own toys and cloths, rather than have a yaya trailing you.

 

"And I could go on and on. As you are apt to say, 'You catch my drift!'

 

"When you feel you are not getting enough money in your allowance, or get new shoes like your friends always had or the latest fad of Guess jeans, take this letter out and reread what I have written.

 

"We love you far too much to create a brat!

 

"Your Loving Father"

The Paessenger

The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, walked down the aisle and found the seat he'd told her was empty. Then she settled in, placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg.

 It had been a year since Susan, thirty-four, became blind. Due to a medical misdiagnosis, she had been rendered sightless, and she was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity. Once a fiercely independent woman, Susan now felt condemned by this terrible twist of fate to become a powerless, helpless burden on everyone around her. "How could this have happened to me?" she would plead, her heart knotted with anger. But no matter how much she cried or ranted or prayed, she knew the painful truth-her sight was never going to return. A cloud of depression hung over Susan's once optimistic spirit. Just getting through each day was an exercise in frustration and exhaustion. And all she had to cling to was her husband Mark.

Mark was an Air Force officer, and he loved Susan with all of his heart. When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and was determined to help his wife gain the strength and confidence she needed to become independent again. Mark's military background had trained him well to deal with sensitive situations, and yet he knew this was the most difficult battle he would ever face.

Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city. At first, this comforted Susan and fulfilled Mark's need to protect his sightless wife who was so insecure about performing the slightest task. Soon, however, Mark realized that this arrangement wasn't working - it was hectic, and costly. Susan is going to have to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. But just the thought of mentioning it to her made him cringe. She was still so fragile, so angry. How would she react?

Just as Mark predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of taking the bus again. "I'm blind!" she responded bitterly. "How am I supposed to know where I'm going? I feel like you're abandoning me." Mark's heart broke to hear these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as it took, until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened.

For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat. He made her laugh, even on those not-so-good days when she would trip exiting the bus, or drop her briefcase. Each morning, they made the journey together, and Mark would take a cab back to his office. Although this routine was even more costly and exhausting than the previous one, Mark knew it was only a matter of time before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own. He believed in her, in the Susan he used to know before she'd lost her sight, who wasn't afraid of any challenge and who would never, ever quit. Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary bus riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, his love. She said good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday...Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself!

On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying for her fare to exit the bus, the driver said, "Boy, I sure envy you." Susan wasn't sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to live for the past year? Curious, she asked the driver, "Why do you say that you envy me?" The driver responded, "It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected like you are." Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, and asked again, "What do you mean?" The driver answered, "You know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely, and he watches you until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one lucky lady."

Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks, for although she couldn't physically see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. She was blessed, so blessed, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn't need to see to believe - the gift of love that can bring light where there had been darkness.

God watches over us in just the same way. We may not know He is present. We may not be able to see His face, but He is there nonetheless!

A Mysterious Thing Called Love

If you find yourself in love with someone who does not love you, be gentle with yourself. There is nothing wrong with you. Love just didn't choose to rest in the other person's heart.

If you find someone else in love with you and you don't love him/her, feel honored that love came and called at your door, but gently refuse the gift you cannot return. Do not take advantage, do not
cause pain.

How you deal with love is how you deal with you, and all our hearts feel the same pains and joys, even if our lives and ways are different.

If you fall in love with another, and he/she falls in love with you, and then love chooses to leave, do not try to reclaim it or to assess blame, let it go. There is a reason and there is a meaning.
You will know in time.

Remember that you don't choose love. Love chooses you. All you can really do is accept it for all its mystery when it comes into your life. Feel the way it fills you to overflowing, then reach out and give it away. Give it back to the person who brought it alive in you. Give it to others who deem it
poor in spirit. Give it to the world around you in anyway you can. There is where many lovers go wrong. Having been so long without love, they understand love only as a need. They see their
hearts as empty places that will be filled by love, and they begin to look at love
as something that flows to them rather than from them.

The first blush of new love is filled to overflowing, but as their love cools, they revert to seeing their love as need. They cease to be someone who generates love and instead become someone
who seeks love. They forget that the secret of love is that it is a gift, and that it can be made to
grow only by giving it away.

Remember this, and keep it to your heart. Love has its own time, its own seasons, and its own reason for coming and going. You cannot bribe it or coerce it, or reason it into staying. You can only
embrace it when it arrives and give it away when it comes to you. But if it chooses to leave
from your heart or from the heart of your lover, there is nothing you can do and there is nothing you should do.

Love always has been and always will be a mystery. Be glad that it came to live for a moment in your life.

Watch your thought

Watch your thought, they become word

Watch your word, they become actions

Watch your actions, they become habits

Watch your habits, they become character

Watch your character, they become destiny

A High School Story

This was one of those emails that I was about to shrug off from my inbox. Luckily I didn't. Here I am, sharing this to you.

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.

His name was Kyle.

It looked like he was carrying all of his
books.

I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?

He must really be a nerd.."

I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.

They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.

His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him.

He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.

My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.

As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. "

They really should get lives.

" He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!"

There was a big smile on his face.

It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.

As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.

He said he had gone to private school before now.

I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.

We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.

He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.

I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends

He said yes.

We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.

Monday morning came! , and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.

I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!

" He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.

When we were seniors, we began to think
about college.

Kyle decided on Georgetown , and I
was going to Duke.

I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem.

He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class.

I teased him all the time about being a nerd.

He had to prepare a speech for graduation.

I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak Graduation day, I saw Kyle.

He looked great.

He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.

He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.

He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.

Boy, sometimes I was jealous!
Today was one of those days.

I could see that he was nervous about his speech.

So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!"

He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.

" Thanks," he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years.

Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends...

I am here to tell all of you that being a
friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.

I am going to tell you a story."

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met..

He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.

He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.

He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.

"Thankfully, I was saved.

My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.

I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.

Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions.

With one small gesture you can change a person's life.

For better or for worse.

God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way.

Look for God in others.

Ang paborito kong episode ng I-Witness

Pinipilit kong isipin kung ano ang paborito kong episode ng I-witness. PInipilit kong pumili… ah alam ko na… si “Udong”, na nagta-trabaho para me pambayad sa utang. O ang “Little Baguio” kaya kung saan kinakailangan pa nilang magsunog ng tsinelas para me ilaw sila na nagagamit para lang makapag-aral sa gabi….si Udong na nga lang, na sa murang kaisipan ay namulat sa kahirapan, iniiwan ang pamilya, ang kabataan, ang mga pangarap, para kumita, at makabayad sa utang, makatulong ng konti sa mga magulang. Ahhhhh! Mahirap mag-isip… lalo na kung sa bawat episode kakaibang karanasan ang makikita mo… mga totoong karanasan. Karanasan na naglalarawan ng kahirapan ng buhay…ah yun pala ang mga gusto ko sa mga episodes ng I-Witness.
Sa gaya nating nakatira at lumaki sa lungsod, mahirap isipin kung paano ang buhay sa mga taong tulad ni Udong. Minsan naisip ko, “me natitira pa kayang pag-asa sa puso nila?” siguro meron, kaya nga sila nagsisikap eh.
Halimbawa lang sila ng mga milyon-milyong Pilipino na naghihirap at nagsisikap para kumita ng konti. Kung dati “isang-kahig-isang-tuka” ang tawag sa kanila, ngayon “limang-kahig-isang-tuka” na.
Nang mapanuod ko si Udong, lalo kong nakilala ang sarili ko. Lalo akong nagging mapag-pasalamat para sa mga bagay na meron ako at sa pagkakataon na makilala ko ang mga tulad nila. Natanong ko tuloy ang sarili ko, “Ano ba at magkano ang kailangan nila para magkaroon ng kaunting kaginhawaan?” Maliit lang. Kung tatanungin mo sila, di sila hihingi ng pera. Oportunidad ang kailangan nila. Pagkakataon na kumita ng tama at sapat, pagkakaroon ng oportunidad na magkaroon ng edukasyon para magkaroon sila ng pagkakataon na kumita ng sapat pag dating ng araw. Gaya din ng mga pulubi sa daan, na mas matutuwa kung bibigyan mo ng trabaho kesa pera. Mga bagay na di napapagtuunan ng pansin ng mga dapat ay gumagawa noon – ang mga tao sa gobyerno. Kung tutuusin, napakaliit lang nun kumpara sa gastusin ng isang opisina sa ilalim ng Office of the President, o sa gastusin nya sa byahe, o kahit sa representation allowance man lang ng mga Congressmen at Senators.
Sa bawat episodes na naglalarawan na tulad ng buhay ni Udong, nahihirapan ako, sinisisi ko ang gobyerno, sa kakulangan nila ng mga programa para sa mga kababayan nating naghihirap. Gusto ko silang tulungan pero ano ang gagawin ko? Kung ang pamilya ko mismo ay di ko mabigyan ng katamtamang buhay? Ah alam ko na…gusto kong magpahayag na tulad nina Kara, Jay, Sandra, at Howie. Baka sa gagawin ko, mapukaw ko ang atensyon ng mga taong me kakayahang tumulong sa kanila. – sdp

The Power of Holding Hands

I was sitting on a beach one summer day, watching two children, a boy and a girl, playing in the sand.They were hard at work building an elaborate sandcastle by the water's edge with gates and towers and moats and internal passages. Just when they had nearly finished their project, A big wave came along and knocked it down, reducing it to a heap of wet sand.I expected the children to burst into tears, devastated by what had happened to all their hard work. But they surprised me. Instead, they ran up the shore away from the water, laughing and holding hands, and sat down to build another castle. I realized that they had taught me an important lesson. All the things in our lives, all the complicated structures we spend so much time and energy creating, are built on sand.Only our relationships to other people endure. Sooner or later , the wave will come along and knock down what we have worked so hard to build up. When that happens, only the person who has somebody's hand to hold will be able to laugh.

A key to a successful business

The key to a successful business is closeness to the market. As you interact with the customer, you should be able to ask about their latest needs and wants, only then you can start designing your next line of products and services.

Rolando B. Hortaleza

President and CEO

Splash Corporation

Competitiveness

There will always be someone better than you, and there will always be a better product or service than what you are offering, you always have to reinvent. You're just as good as your last product or service.

Anna Marie Periquet

President & Owner

Anna Marie Collections Philippines

Innovation

Innovation is the specific instrument of entrepreneurship. The act that endows resources with a new capacity to create wealth.

Rolando B. Hortaleza

President and CEO

Splash Corporation