Weema: Healthy lifestyle advocate

Opt for a healthy lifestyle.

“A healthy employee is an efficient employee.” Nurse Weema advocates a healthy lifestyle for all, regardless of rank, status, age, and gender. This is the reason why she initiates programs that encourage a healthy lifestyle. In fact in the workplace, she has initiated the Annual Medical Check-up; sustained information campaign on health trends and tips through lectures by medical specialists and experts on topics like Breast Cancer, Anti-Rabies, Heart Attack, Hypertension, Diabetes, among others; Biggest Loser campaign; Anti-smoking campaign; Vaccination program; and related activities. These are only some of the activities that she has implemented for BOHECO I management and personnel through the years that she has served the electric cooperative.

In tandem with the Human Resource Section, she will implement a comprehensive Wellness Program to encourage a healthy lifestyle among the human resource component of BOHECO I.  

It’s time to get to know Roweema Magna Amila Amodia, the Coop Nurse who started serving BOHECO I on February 9, 2004. The job was an answered prayer to her having resigned from her job in Cebu City two years earlier. Like this writer, she believes that when a job comes along without stress and hassle, it is an answered prayer.

Weema, as she is fondly called by family and friends alike, believes in doing everything from the heart. She maintains an attitude of gratitude. She is grateful for the little things and feels fulfilled when she is able to extend help.

She is married to Arnulfo Estrella Amodia, an OFW. She has three kids: two teenagers and one four-year old. Eldest is Joses Moses “Mojo”,  16 years old; Renzo Miguel “Renz”, 14 years old; and Alessandra Maria “Light”, 4 years old, the baby in the family. As a mom, she dotes to her kids. She pampers them with love, care, and attention, and yet she is a believer in discipline. Her parenting style is “Spare the rod and spoil the child.” Discipline to her is very important because her husband is working away from home.

She is the second daughter of retired Judge Venancio Amila and public servant Romelia Rojas. Her mother passed away on August 1, 2012. She has three other siblings but one just recently passed on. Their youngest brother Marlon is the local chief executive of Tubigon, Bohol.

Born on February 24, several summers ago, in the coastal town of Tubigon, Weema has lived out her profession personally. She is a nurse by profession true, but her profession has become her life vocation. She is truly a total health care provider who appreciates and sincerely renders work from the heart. 

The lady with humble beginnings

She is set to conquer the horizons.

What inspires us motivates us. Meet Maris, a brainy lady who finds inspiration from this quote: “Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time. Then your time on earth will be filled with glory.”

Maris is Marissa Go Rebayla Leorna, a Certified Public Accountant serving BOHECO I since April 2008. She married young at 23 to Pedro T. Leorna, Jr. The young couple was blessed with a son named Piolo. Sadly, Piolo passed on in June, 2012 due to complications arising from his multiple congenital defects when he undertook intensive surgical procedures.

She joined the power industry because she found a suitable employment opportunity that enables her to prove, enhance, and challenge her ability and competence, as well as her commitment to work. Indeed, she is in the right industry. For most young and competitive professionals, the evolving and expanding power industry is an alluring challenge.

Maris believes that the most wonderful and valuable virtue she possesses is LOVE. She is convinced that all things are possible when you value love of God, love for family, co-workers, friends, and yourself. She believes that “No other success can compensate for failure in the home.” Indeed, career women must always balance the home and work fronts. It’s a delicate balancing act and task and Maris is determined to meet the challenge.

Maris is a consistent honor student from her elementary years up to her college days. She is an achiever, thanks to her parents Ceferino T. Rebayla and Thelma Go Rebayla who were very supportive of their youngest daughter’s dreams and aspirations. She is the youngest among four children.

Her parents are very simple people who had to work hard to realize their family goals. Her father was a Boholano “viajedor”, a vendor-peddler who commuted to and from several places in Mindanao where he met his wife Thelma Go, Maris’ mother. Her mother is the eldest daughter of Ohhya Go, a Chinese businessman from Mindanao.

Maris comes from humble beginnings. Her father is a high school graduate who presently drives his own jeepney while her mother Thelma is a homemaker.

The family originally hails from Talisayan Misamis Oriental. Back then, they owned a store but a fire razed it when the entire market of Talisayan was burned. To start anew, the family relocated to Bohol.

Like this author, she likes reading books. Her choice cuts include Beauty of the Ashes by Joyce Meyer, Secrets of Success by Sandra Anne Taylor, among others. She likes watching TV shows that entertain, and having great conversations with friends. Her one and only sports is badminton which is also her form of exercise.

Very young at 32, Maris has still a long way to go in the power industry. Personally, she is excited to enlarge her horizons.

Grounded on the Boholano’s old-fashioned values of honesty, trustworthiness, hard work, flexibility, grace under pressure, and deep faith in God, Maris is yet to conquer the wide horizons.

Life at seventeen

Why is it that the young ones (read: teenagers) want to grow up fast while the grown men and women, especially in their forties, would like their lives to begin at forty? Funny but true. 

For the young people, it's like life is a race and they want to be on the front seat of things. However, for the forties, life is no longer a race. Life is a pace. There is rhythm and cadence. Such is the beauty of growth and maturity.

At seventeen, my daughter enjoyed her biggest break so far. She is happy, grateful, and blessed. I am, too. She has desired and prayed for an opportunity to come her way, and God granted it.

Ruthie, your life has just begun. 

All out of love?

Hezekiah Kit Sales Canlas 

(Cause and Effect) 

 “A broken family is one where the parents of the child or children have split up and no longer share a single family unit.” – Answers.com 

For a family to effectively operate, faithful cooperation added with respect, patience, hope, understanding and love to each member should be performed by all members of a family, whether the family is a nucleus type (consisting of parents and children) or an extended (nucleus family with other close relatives in a single family unit) one. 

Unfortunately, today, we can see the visible emergence of broken families in television, radio, newspaper, and in other forms of media. In addition, we can also see some causes or the reasons of family breakups. 

Infidelity has always been a major issue between partners. One of the parents becomes unfaithful and creates sexual relations with a person other than his or her spouse. This disease has always plagued relationships since before, infecting men and women of different standing, ethnicity or race. In the Philippines, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are the most prone to be gripped with infidelity. Distance from loved ones force an OFW to find love and comfort in countries where they work, thus leading most likely to third parties. 

Misunderstanding has contributed its part in breaking the family apart. Ideas, concepts and thoughts do not match between partners, even in the siblings, thus creating rifts in the family’s foundations. Differences are put in the spotlight in every verbal clash. Hateful arguments lead to violent fights, affecting other members of the family, particularly the children, causing mental and emotional stress. 

These common family problems are large contributors to the infamous “family breakup.” The usual scenario: the mother and father separate, properties are equally divided, payments are made, and siblings split up. Negative feelings build up amongst the members of the broken family, like rejection, depression, anger and guilt.

The light turned red

       Interesting discussion I had with my teenagers. We attended a funeral mass this morning in honor of their grandmother. Following the mass, we tagged along the hearse.

      

      While stopping on a red light, my teenagers who were talking about the number of people who paid their last respects to their grandmother suddenly said, what if you died Mi (short for Mommy)? You will have throng of people paying their last respects for you. My other teenager said, yes, the Army and Police will be there including those you have served. Then, my other teenager said, maybe they will honor you with a 21-gun salute.

      

      I said maybe. However, I will be buried in Bohol. If I’m here at the time of death, I will have some days for funeral here but I have to be buried in Bohol. However, if I’m in Bohol at the time of death, I won’t be brought here anymore.

      

Then, the green light went on, and the drive continued.

      

I think that the way I openly talked about death with my teenagers have allowed them to look at death differently. It’s not something that we should be afraid of. It’s a natural occurrence of life.

 Food for thought: I've told my children that when I die, to release balloons in the sky to celebrate that I graduated. For me, death is a graduation. - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Funerals and flowers

I was in a wake last night and the night before. While seated on a wooden bench, a fresh set of beautifully arranged flowers arrived. They pleased my eyes. Suddenly the thought of flowers made me ponder on flowers and funerals. Do they really come in pair? But flowers also come during Valentine’s right? I decided to hit www.google.com to do some research.

            

According to Wikipedia, a funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor. These customs vary widely between cultures, and between religious affiliations within cultures. The word funeral comes from the Latin funus, which had a variety of meanings, including the corpse and the funerary rites themselves. Funerary art is art produced in connection with burials, including many kinds of tombs, and objects specially made for burial with a corpse.

            

Moreover, funeral rites are as old as the human culture itself, predating modern Homo sapiens, to at least 300,000 years ago. For example, in the Shanidar cave in Iraq, in Pontnewydd Cave in Wales and other sites across Europe and the Near East, Neanderthal skeletons have been discovered with a characteristic layer of flower pollen. This has been interpreted as suggesting that Neanderthals believed in an afterlife although the evidence is not unequivocal – while the dead were apparently indeed buried deliberately, the flowers might have been introduced by burrowing rodents.

            

Thus we know that funeral ceremonies are universal. It cuts across cultures, genders, races, and societies. We Filipinos have our own set of customs and traditions where funerals are concerned.

            

According to my research, a 1951 excavation in Northern Iraq determined that at least eight species of flowers, based on soil samples, were used at burial sites dating back to 62000 B.C., according to mcadamsfuneralflorist.com.

Furthermore, flowers at funerals symbolize the life cycle, its beauty, and to bring warmth to the ceremony. Before the advent of embalming, flowers were also used to mask body decomposition. I was wondering how flowers come to symbolize the life cycle and its beauty so I started thinking. The analogy is perfect. A flower plant starts from a single seed. The seed germinates, grows, blooms, withers, and then dies. Such is the human life. From our mother’s womb, we develop until our mothers deliver us, we grow, we bloom into maturity, we grow old for some, and then we die. It’s as simple and complex as that.

          

Let’s face it. Flowers do have their effect on people. In a wake, flowers soften the atmosphere. It brings calm and peace. It’s really the beauty of flowers that bring on the calming, soothing effect. No matter when or where it started, flowers will remain universal in their symbolism and application during wakes.

             

So, what are we waiting for? Bring on the flowers.

This blog is dedicated to my mother-in-law Mimi Villalongja Canlas who passed away on January 3, 2012. (In my Father's house are many mansions, it if were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2)

Christmas visit

It's not everyday that our sibling visits us from afar.

For starters, travels entail cost. Of course, you have to synchronize schedules. On top of that, you must be in top shape. Travel is always accompanied by stress so it is important to be physically and emotionally healthy.

I'm glad that my sister Delora and husband Daryl spent the Christmas holidays with us. Early this morning though, I drove them to the van station. They preferred the van over the bus. They have to return to Butuan City for a school activity tomorrow (read: Rizal Day).

We had bonding time and took many photos. Thanks to the inventor of the digital camera, we just point and shoot, so to speak.

Delora is impressed with the development of Gen. Santos City. She is often here but the last time she was here was in December 2007. Since then, it has grown, as she pointed out. We also drove to nearby Alabel, Sarangani.

That the city has grown as observed by a non-resident is wonderful to hear. Now, each Gen. Santos resident or General is duty bound to keep the moral fiber strong as the city is poised to grow even more in the upcoming months.

Like I said, "the best is yet to come".

http://www.gensantos.gov.ph/

http://www.sarangani.gov.ph/

Psalm 127:1
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

Poignant, class, elegant

July 3rd, Saturday, I attended Julie Pearl’s (a.k.a. July) debut at a newly renovated hotel in Gen. Santos City. I must say the new look of the hotel is appealing to the eyes. There are still nooks and corners for improvement but the appeal is already there. Nice touch.

Poignant, class, elegant. That’s how I simply describe the affair. Intimate with only family, relatives, and closest friends present; simple because they stuck to the most important rituals; class because it simply is! and one can see that the family most especially the mother Pearl exerted everything within her human powers to achieve her desired perfection to honor her first daughter (Ah whatever shall we do without mothers!); elegant because most everyone came dressed up. Question: why is it so class to see people come dressed up for a special event?

I tagged along my high school classmate Ma. Theresa “Maritess” Cabido who has resided in Pagadian City for many years now and who paid me a welcome visit last week. We had wonderful bonding time. I drove her around the city. We went to my favorite place Isla Parilla for an afternoon refreshment peppered with lots of pictorial at the picturesque Isla Parilla. By Friday night, we also toured the newest bar here to sample band music.

Maritess said the intimacy was an offshoot of the close relationships that each guest had for each other. Everyone was like family. I saw that working that night. There was no barrier; no aloofness. It was simply magic: everyone sharing light and fun moments with each other; creating perfect memories. Hmmm perfect memories.

So what’s a Philippine debut anyway? According to Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, “the Philippine Debut is a cultural tradition of the Filipino people.[1] It is a coming-of-age celebration for Philippine women that are somewhat reminiscent of the Spanish tradition of the "Quinceanera" celebration. The difference between the Spanish Quinceanera and the Philippine Debut is the age at which the celebration takes place. The Philippine debut celebrates a woman entering into her 18th year, while the Spanish Quinceanera takes place on a young lady's 15th birthday.

On their 18th birthday, Philippine women throw a large party, complete with her own hand-picked debut court of 18 people. These 18 are 9 males and 9 females whom the celebrant pairs off into partners. The celebrant's court usually wears a uniform formal outfit chosen by the celebrant similar to that of a wedding party, while the celebrant typically wears an extravagant ball gown.

The birthday celebrant along with her partner and court perform traditional debut dances for their guests. The most important dance that the celebrant and her court perform is known as the "Grand Cotillion Dance" which is usually a classic waltz. There is also an "18 Roses Dance" where 18 males picked by the celebrant dance with her after presenting her with a single red rose. This dance is almost always preceded by the memorable "Father and Daughter Dance".

During the celebration, the debutante also has 18 chosen "candles". These "candles" are females who know the celebrant and must give a short speech on either their relationship with the celebrant and/or any special birthday wishes they have for their celebrant. After all the food, entertainment, and Philippine Debut traditions for this wonderful occasion have gone under way, the celebrant brings the celebration to a close with a Debutante's speech in which she shares her life experience and gratitude with her beloved guests.”

But naturally, the imagination and creativity of the organizer or team of organizers would play a major role in the conceptualization and execution of the entire event. Like in July’s case, she did away with the Cotillion dance. She kept the “18 Roses Dance” and “18 Candles Birthday Wish” complete with a goblet of red wine each. She also had the “Treasures”. Obviously, I liked this part the most, because I was one of those giving out the “Treasures”.

While watching the entire proceeding, Maritess and I were exchanging knowing looks. Her eldest daughter, second child in the family, is already into first year college. That means she will turn eighteen next year. My daughter is fourteen. Hmmm still four years to go though. But seeing the marked joy during the occasion, one can’t help but think of one’s daughter. So poignant indeed.

I was thinking maybe we should do away with all the teen birthdays starting thirteen up to seventeen so we can have a big one when our daughters turn eighteen. Nah. Dream on.

Kids love to share their birthdays with friends at any given age, hence, we still celebrate little or big ones for them before they turn eighteen. Nonetheless, if it makes them happy and we can afford it, let us grant them the little joys. But if times are not so cooperative, we can always explain. After all, didn’t we all go through the same age and live through it with or without the big or little celebrations? And didn’t we turn out just fine? Aha!

But going back to debut, I really think that each Filipino family should preserve this beautiful culture. Like Pearl’s parents, we can start saving six months earlier or a year ahead by setting aside a target fund every month. By the birth month, our target amount would have been reached and we could now execute our dream debut.

But like I said, let’s make it elegant and simple. The two can blend together perfectly. Put all the essentials; do away with extravagant and lavish rituals. Most importantly, allow the debutante and her friends to enjoy the dance floor after all the rituals have been carried out. If your program drags on, everybody becomes weary and by the time dancing begins, everyone has gone home. So just let the teenagers have their moment of fun and dancing for the night. Let them be carefree and uninhibited. After all, the whole squad, I mean family, is around to monitor them haha. No escape for the night.

Maritess asked if I had my debut, too. I said, yes I had mine but it was just a party with friends my age, you know childhood, high school and college friends combined. There was food and lots of dancing. There were no rituals. Hmmm I missed that. But I had fun that night. I guess my tastes had stuck through the years: simple needs; simple joys.

And so my dearest July, as you create your perfect memories to last you a lifetime, you hit the mark right by thanking your parents first. When we are young, our parents by wisdom of age (hey! I didn’t say old), know what is best for us. When we grow older (in wisdom), God will ascertain that point in time when we shall be able to tell our parents what is best for them. Trust me, it will come.

Carry on, Girl!