If there is one thing you can give to the Philippines what is that gift?

The moment I read this question, my mind was just blank, I just stared, thinking I can respond as fast as the falling star, but seconds, minutes and hours had passed but still I couldn’t think of an answer. What gift will it be? Is it because I was preoccupied with many what ifs? Or there are a lot of options and I’m thinking of the major concerns the Philippines needed?

                                In giving gifts, if you really love someone, you will not just give something, but you will give something that can be treasured. Then questions crossed my mind, does the Philippines need it? Is it possible? Can I afford it? Finally after fifteen days of contemplating, I have my answer. Aside from service, I have great idea, to give proper waste disposal. To solve this problem, I’m thinking of a digital trash bin designed like a basketball. Since Filipinos love games especially basketball it will serve not just a simple trash bin, but it will educate and teach our countrymen, how to have proper waste disposal. There is a biodegradable and non biodegradable section. If you shoot it to the right bin you get three points but if you shoot it to the wrong bin you get a sad face. There is penalty, since it has emergency signal.  People can hear the siren, so the guard on duty on that area where it’s placed can hear it.  It can be placed on any establishment, a barangay for example.   You will not be able to run since there will be   CCTV footage attached on that digital trash bin. The penalty is, you will segregate waste from biodegradable to non biodegradable the whole day on that area. If not  you will pay charges, since anti-littering is already a law.  In that case even children will learn how to throw the garbage correctly, because no one is above the law. Since it is a big project it can give jobs to our fellowmen by employing them as production staff in creating the digital basketball trash bin. I think this is the best gift I can give to the Philippines.

                         Last year, as I joined the world of outbound educators and I was able to travel, I saw the real beauty and weaknesses of the Philippine islands. I observed tourist, even local tourist was awestruck with that beauty and even climbed the tallest mountain and swam the deepest sea only to explore and appreciate that beauty but sad to say, they leave trash, just like that.  They throw candy wrappers.  You can say that it is just a small plastic but if all of you dump it to mountains, to the sea, rivers and on your way to your destination what will happen? Instead of beautiful mountain five years from now it will become mountain of garbage and a sea of garbage. If you love our country and our environment we will take care of it and preserve it.  In those places there are no janitors who will clean the waste that you made, because it is an isolated place. Even if there is someone who will clean it, wouldn't you feel guilty? You don’t know how to clean, but you are dumping waste everywhere?

                      Once, I had the chance to join the clean up drive, for the river at Bataan. We gather sacks of garbage, even though it is just a very little portion of garbage around the area. According to locals, that trash came from as far as Manila Bay and every flood came in, it brought them tidal waves of garbage.

                   Like the principle of ecology “Everything is connected to everything else. Everything must go somewhere. Nature knows best. Ours is a finite planet. All forms of life are important.” Let it not remained as ecology’s principle but make it our own principle. Let us aspire to have a clean environment and it will start within us. Like a basketball team let us work as a team. Together we can make it.

                    Now it's your turn if there is one thing you can give to the Philippines what is that gift?

Dream Unfold

     I have many dreams in life. But my greatest dreams wasn't reveal yet to everybody. But since you are my friend I will give you a hint.
     It started when I was 7 years old, because it is one of our project. It became a training ground to enhance  my passion and I get in love with it. Since then if  I have time I cultivate my skills and lay it out on the ground. I take care of it, then it bloom and fruits started to come out.
     I remember when I was twenty years old, I saw a post on the bulletin board that there is a free writing workshop for amateur writers. But when I asked the guard he said that post was already done. I felt sad during those time because it seems that my little dream won't come to reality. The guard was a keen observer and he knew that I feel devastated that time. As a consolation he told me if I want to enter at the studio then he added if  I was lucky enough I will win any games inside. So I joined the crowd falling in line to enter inside the studio. Wowowie is just on its pioneer that time, people from different areas went there hoping to win the jackpot. As a dreamer its not my cup of tea but since I was already there I joined them and experienced the literal "Wheel in a Fortune" which is part of the game. Out of thousands of people I was one of the few audience who entered the hottest noontime show during those time, for free.
     It was my first time so I was amazed with the energy inside the studio. Then the show started and the most anticipated part is when the Host of the party entered which everybody is waiting to come out but wait there's more. Before the said anticipation there is a drama. The music was so loud that you couldn't help but dance, but after that booming sound the music stop and the voice over announce  the name Mr. Wowowie no other than Mr. Willie Revillame and everybody shout out loud and the music turn to its most awesome tune. To make the story short I was chosen in the middle of the crowd. I remember it so vividly "that girl who wore black shirt" pointing to me and the rest is history. I didn't win the game but I received consolation prize  After that said events one of the talent coordinator saw me and asked if I can  join them as talent in "Game Ka na Ba" with the Queen Of Media no other than Ms Kris Aquino. I said yes, it is one of the most unexpected and unforgettable experience that I have. I became an instant talent on local television. Though I was not the main cast  I was so happy to see in person the actors that others only saw on TV. It didn't stop there after that three-taping the talent coordinator asked me again  to join the "MMK" taping; wow taping galore I couldn't imagine the only thing that I wanted during those time is to join a writing workshop. It was an honor and a great experience. I was able to saw in person "The King of Comedy" no other than Mr. Dolphy Quizon in their tv show "Quizon Ave." I also joined an audition to the pioneer talent search "Pinoy Big Brother" at ABS CBN during our audition I was beside Franzen Fajardo who wore his uniform at SM  which is plane white polo and black pants. He is very simple compare to other auditionee's. And since I was beside him we talked to each other and we discovered that we are third degree relatives only on that day. What a small world and a coincidence. We fall in line by ten's I was the only lady on that group. And the director asked  each one of us " tell me" about questions. I caught the  director's attention when I retaliate  my hobbies and one of them is gardening, and he asked me more about it.
     After a decade I forgot my greatest dream, but as I reminisce what happened on that ten years I make a garden not on a literal rocky soil. But it is planted on the heart and soul of every friends, that I met on the crossroad. :)