What I loved and learned on the Anniversary of my Birth version 2009

I wrote this for my last birthday, I'm posting in here in this blog to remember what I've learned and evaluate if I've really learned them. Be ready for the next update.

What/Who I've loved and learned on the anniversary of my birth

THANK YOU. I just want to send love to all the people who have and continued to join me in my celebration of life. I thoroughly enjoy birthdays. Sometimes I get confused or rather feel contradictory - living in an effort to be humble and also as a responsible hedonist.

There are so many moments of enlightenment and joy, moments where I've been humbled by simple truths and challenged to change..just in this week. I felt like sharing a few things I've noticed over the span of my life. I don't know if they are necessarily correct but it does feel good living knowing these things.

1. Love yourself

I know, I know I always say this and sometimes i say this to remind just to myself. When you love yourself, you won't let someone else play you, hurt you, you won't take things personally, you'll be able to say no and express yourself and what you really want because you'll know. YOU WILL LOVE and RESPECT YOURSELF. You can let it hang out and feel SO GOOD. When you love yourself, you'll be able to love who or what your want and radiate love into the world. YOU ARE ENOUGH by the virtue of simply being created. Don't buy into any crock of shit telling you or convincing you otherwise. You are human, imperfect and glorious!

2. You can live without a cell phone, facebook, myspace..i promise.

I think it's healthy to do a cyber/cellular/media fast when possible. Fasting seems to be an underlying theme of many cultures...Ramadan, lent, juice "feasting" etc. Move away from addictions. There are so many little things I've noticed on fasts... namely, how powerful addictions are but even more importantly how it is possible to overcome them. I know it may seem like it goes against the "responsible hedonism" but the deep pleasure of knowing you are - not your goodness or badness, your addictions, your vices, your joys, your loves - but just you in your being, in your presence and just living - that is to me the ultimate Pleasure.

I actually know people without aforementioned technological devices and social networking, they are amazing.

3. Allow yourself to learn from others

I'm not trying to preach, okay I guess I am a little. I just want to share this 'cause I feel a little wiser and kinda obligated to spread it out. I would be an awesome virus. But as of today I know for sure that although some lessons mean more when you learn them yourself...you can definitely learn from others. The caveat is, watch who you are learning from and I don't mean necessarily their morality but rather agenda. Everyone can teach you some thing but just watch yo'self.

I'm not trying to promote robotic living in the least. You can do me no greater justice then THINKING FOR YOURSELF. Seriously. So many great people and minds have come before us, that it seems like a tremendous disservice to yourself not to "stand on the shoulders" of their giant hearts and minds and excellent examples.

4. Is there good and bad?

I don't know and won't try to answer.

I guess this is what ultimately got me out of jury duty this year, try being philosophical next time you are at jury duty. How can you judge another and condemn them to a system that is flawed. Free thinkers are brazen, considered dangerous by some. I like danger.

I would fully enjoy being a responsible citizen but when i'm not really sure that the "justice" system promotes justice and tolerance but rather intolerance and fear, how can I take part? I guess it's your tolerance level - how much of inconsistency do you tolerate between what you do and what you believe?

5. In moments when you feel challenged or overwhelmed, you can choose between destruction or construction. Personally, I'm more about the break through then the break down.

6. Don't take things personally.

Hate, anger, vengenance - these are corrosive. My amazing mother has taught me the importance of letting things go. DETACH DETACH DETACH D E T A C H

Harboring anything only affects you, not the other person. Are they up in the bed crying, cloistering themselves up, afraid to live? NO. NO. NO.

There will be a time when the discomfort, hopelessness and despair is enough.

7. Live slower.

Eat slower. You appreciate your food and your company more. I think it is important to eat with people you love, whenever you can. Chew your food. You get full faster.

Talk slower. You are more likely to say what you mean. 7a. MEAN WHAT YOU SAY!!!!!! To the best of your ability. I know that I've been tongue tied many a time but you don't have to have an superhuman lexicon to express yourself. I'm hurt. I'm hungry. I'm uncomfortable. I feel happy around you. I'm jofyul. I like you.

Live a little slower. There is no such thing as managing your time because no matter what YOU do, TIME GOES ON. Just do whatever you decide to do the best way you can. Why not give one thing your all instead of half assing ten things at once.

8. Let bad things happen.

Accept small defeats and losses. These are okay. With these little bad things, you can find meaningful lessons. Adversity, challenge, risk, defeat- I've probably written this already but these things can help you see how you are, who you want to be and break through to a fuller, better you. Let bad things happen and appreciate the good things and the great victories when they occur. Remember all that you have accomplished, all you have overcome and believe in yourself!

I believe in the amazing potential of human beings and embrace all we can do. We can solve world hunger and live in world peace but we have to choose to and do something about it. I have so many things to learn and love and share. Thanks for being in my life and Thanks for reading!!!!!!!

I love LA

I'm out of exile baby.

It's about time for an update. I had hope this blog would be a way to chronicle 9 months of living in a different country. A history of transitioning from the developed to developing nation, liberal to conservative environments and it turned out to be some venting for some really shit times for the past nine months.

It's early Thursday morning and I've time travelled. I've coasted off an easy 14 hour flight. I'm blogging now from a very cold but full of warm feelings H O M E after our ritual family dinner in Chinatown aka "Little Manila" (because of the volume of Filipinos present at Mayflower, our favourite Vietnamese owned Chinese Restaurant) post an international flight.

I felt like an immigrant being welcomed into LAX, "my port of entry into the United States." I was in this almost weird state of awe and appreciation. Freeways. Variety of People, Colors and Pronunciations. Immigrants. Tourists. Travellers. Proper lighting and AC. It was cold in the best way after 9 months in humidity, heat and pools of sweat. From the little important things like efficient queues, seamless times at customs and immigrations, proper toilet paper and traffic rules...I appreciated every little thing so much. These little things contribute to a system that works, friendly and familiar.

I flew in with a bunch of passengers off an Air Canada flight, many wearing shorts and carrying there surfboards. Welcome to the Cali Holidays. Compared to Philippines though, I am really feeling the cold. The last time I was this cold was during a night sleeping on the beach in Hong Kong. It's time to unearth my flannel pjs again

There was this relieving sense of peace finally coming back home after 9 months of being away. I've been excited to be back in LA from vacations and some travels but never ever like this. I wanted to kiss the ground and my customs officers. I caught two fellow angelenos getting into a verbal smackdown. This my darlings is my LA that I love.

Obviously LA isn't perfect, nowhere is and these are all just little things to appreciate in most developed cities. Tbe best part about being back here is to be welcomed back into a loving home surrounded by two of the best and most amazing people in my life. We may fight and bitch but I am so lucky to have you to call my family. Our final crew member comes in a few days!

There were a lot of bad vibes in Pavia: internalized conflict, dishonesty, bitterness, envy, greed and this was just on the compound! Unfortunate how a place that could be beautiful has the fakeness has negativity and conflict brewing. Maybe, a lot of places with extended family has this.

There was also a lot of beauty there despite all of that: Jeff the Dog, enriching lessons to be learned and wonderful relationships with cool people like Cha, Tita Ana and new solid friends like Th3rd. I've even meet my favourite Penguin that I'm so happy to have in my life.

I've left there stronger than ever and will return one day with the renewed strength I feel. Maybe there might be some properly asphalted roads next time around.

Let critics criticize, Let builders build, Let haters hate, and Let Humans Evolve.

We all are dying and life is too short and too precious to pay attention to unnecessary people bringing you down. It's our responsibility to choose who we are despite whatever environments we find ourselves in!