My favorite book

Two months after my mom passed away in 2001 while I was reeling from the pain of loss, we decided to spend our Christmas in Davao City. Our intention was to diminish a bit of the loneliness and emptiness that we all felt. It was Christmastime and the city was alive with mirth. Christmas was in the air.

My favorite book

Part of our itinerary was to visit the malls and bookstores. In one of our window shopping sessions, we proceeded to the National Bookstore. There I chanced upon the book, Maximize The Moment by T.D. Jakes. I started browsing and boy was it a wham! The book was totally a revelation. It was like the author directly spoke to me. The lessons were mind-boggling and I was excited to apply them in my life. I didn’t want to return the book to the shelf so I bought it pronto.

By the time we went home, I was reading the book with gusto. Since I was going through a lot of pain then owing to my mom’s death, the book spoke to me in ways I can only fathom. It opened my mind to a larger world. It changed my perspective on things. It elevated my way of thinking and doing things. It’s like the world has totally changed for me.

Over the years, I have always kept the book nearby. When I go through some confusing times, I revisit the book. When I hit a roadblock, I reread the book. The book has become a companion leading me on.

I have lent the book to several friends and one close friend told me something brilliant: “I now understand why you think they way you do. It’s the book. You have totally applied it in your life.” I was amazed at her discovery. It was a confirmation that the book totally impacted my life. I was never the same again.

Now, I smile at the thought that Mother guided me to pick that book that fateful day. She knew I needed it then.

Thanks Mother.

Come fly with me

By Hezekiah Kit Sales Canlas

(Deduction)

Traveling is one of the best things a person must experience. You get to see new places, new animals, new faces, new events, new ideas, and new things. Anything new to your sight becomes eye-candy. Most of the time you’ll think of getting a picture of you posing on a beautiful unfamiliar place, using your digital camera, then upload the picture the next time you open your Facebook or Twitter account so you can flaunt it to your friends online.

We all know that transport is the basic step towards reaching your sweet escapade. Before sojourning at your planned destination, you will need to journey many kilometers, either on land, sea or air. Most people who just want to travel near-home destinations would journey through the green land. In the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao and Luzon, land transportation is a common sight. When traveling on land, you can view green fields, tall trees, fruit stands on the roadside and land formations and bodies of water.

On the other hand, traveling by sea is a must for places separated by water. In the Visayas where cities and regions are divided by large masses of water, water transport is not unusual. Traveling by sea is more fun than land. Dolphins, flying fish and the blue horizon will keep you company while commuting the sea.

Air voyage is the best among the three. From the air, you can witness the beauty of the Philippines. You can see cars moving like ants, the multi-colored roofs of buildings and houses, land formations like mountains, hills and valleys, and most especially, the enormous sea with bluish hues.

Airplane transport is an awesome journeying method. Aside from the sights that you see from above, you will gain a new perspective on things. The feeling that you are on top of the world added with your view of the small things on the ground somehow changes your outlook in life. Some people realize that their daily problems are just puny when they see the ground from the air. This is why airplane flight is a great way to experience travel.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and fly.