Learning Life's Lessons from Naruto

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I have always rejected my friends when they tell me to read Naruto during college. I was so obsessed with my KPOP addiction back then that I couldn't find my way out in order to appreciate other things. I thought Naruto would be a story about ninjas who just keep on fighting and would not make sense.

But apparently, I got it all wrong.

Driven by the constant blabbers of my friends, I decided to give it a try. I refused to watch the anime since video loading and downloads aren't really the specialty of my internet provider. And I prefer it when I read so  yeah, I went over the manga from chapter to chapter and finished the 564 chapters in two weeks :) LOVELY.

But what makes the thing more special is that I was given a glimpse of who I really am. Indeed, what adults will never really understand is that there lies the greatest lessons in life in things they think are just for kids.. like this series. Honestly, I see a bit of myself in every character. Further, I was driven to understand life more.

Death, pain, hatred... These are the things which make living difficult. There's no way we could get away from it. But Naruto taught me that self-sacrifice is something that could change it, and much more, acceptance that love could revolutionize it all.

We all dream of a peaceful world yet we don't know how to start it. Our determination lacks. We are constantly overruled by the desire to avenge ourselves and our loved ones against people who have hurt us all. And if we triumphed over them, they will avenge us too together with their kin. That's the reason why hate wouldn't end.

The manga is yet to finish and so we're yet to be given ideas as to how we could achieve peace. But with this 564 chapters, I already am thankful that one of the greatest lessons in life have been carved in my heart and convinced me that I really should be an instrument of change...

And I won't go back on my word. Because that should be my ninja way. :)

Truth.

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Thank you, Gai-Sensei.

Why I Choose to Stay Single

After a lot of heartbreaks and misfortunes on romance, I have decided to call it quits. I have turned my back on the possibility that someone will come to me and tell me he loves me more than anything else in the world. For me, nobody can do that. Not even me, anymore. I believe that only God and my family (perhaps) can provide me unconditional love; everybody else would really just come and go and take advantage of what I can do and what I can be to them.

It has been years already since I shun away from the possibilities of love. There have been a lot of people who would constantly tell me that believing in romance and having a family are the two most important things for a woman. 

And the more they tell me about it, the more I realize that I really should stay single.

Who wants to grow old without anyone by his/her side? I fear that part too. Seriously. I hate being alone, but I have to constantly stay away from the possible heartaches of being toyed with and lied to. But you see, I don't want to believe on love just because I fear being alone...

I want to believe on love because it made itself believable.

My first reason why I decide to stay single is because the men I meet are too obsessed with the physical attributes of women. They set physical qualities as basis to the definition of beautiful. The inner self of the lady comes secondary to them. Yes, I know and I understand that first impression is important; but as many guys continuously treat ladies as trophies, there's no way I would mingle with Cupid.

Then a lot of people also tell me that I should believe in a relationship/marriage because it's difficult to walk in this life alone, considering the problems of everyday living; and from that I get my second reason why I would rather stay single.

You see, I don't want to get into a romantic relationship because I need someone to depend on. Sure thing, this is the main objective why people call each other 'partners', but sometimes, it just becomes so overrated - because from my experiences, no man I loved have ever let me lean on their shoulder to cry. That's how it has always been with me... and I would rather tell myself that I am alone than claim to have a partner but then feel so isolated, still.

Well, it's not just with partners, actually. It's the same with having children. Many would tell me that I should get married and have kids so that I would have someone to take care of me when I am old. And I don't like the idea.

To me, nothing sucks than investing on people. Yes, I don't want my future kids (if there is) to feel that I raised them up to assure myself that there'd be someone to take care of me when I grow old and sickly. I don't want to take care of kids and then later on oblige them to take care of me so they can give back to what I did for them. That's downright unfair for these young ones.

There are a lot of things why I wouldn't settle for a contract with Cupid. And the main issue would be trust, I guess. But somehow, I just don't want to be unfair with myself. Having been bet on, toyed with, used, lied to... it has become difficult for me to believe that some guys are different. 

Friends would tell me that maybe, I haven't just met the right guy yet. Well, yes, I think so too. And I think I haven't found myself yet. Truth is, a part of me still believes in love. It's just that I want to love without conditions, and I want to feel the same from other party. But that just seems impossible; because even if I could give that, no one would be capable of giving it back - especially to me. 

Majority of the problem lies with me, probably, too. If I would be ready to accept all flaws, then I think that's the time when I should start believing on love again..

But not yet now, I guess. 

Hardwork Surpasses Genius

Lately, I've been depressed about things that I couldn't do. My frustrations has overwhelmed me a bit and sent me off the track. But as I unwind through reading Naruto manga on mangareader.net, I came across this dialogue of Rock Lee from Chapter 38:

Sometimes, the most unexpected lessons in life can be picked up from readings which this world thinks are only for kids. :)

In the story, Rock Lee mastered Taijutsu to compensate for his inability to perfect other kinds of jutsu like the Genjutsu and Ninjutsu. So that's like mastering Martial Arts to fight against magic. And through his abilities, he managed to defeat Sasuke on their first match, which he actually insisted.

Now that's determination.

You see, we've been too tangled with the thoughts of failing. Just because we couldn't do something - which others can, we begin to think low of ourselves. But what we fail to realize is that no matter how complex things might seem to be, HARDWORK SURPASSES GENIUS. That alone, when deeply instilled on our minds, is a strong motivating factor for us to excel on our own and continue living.

Life is difficult, especially that the world is so judgmental. But like how Rock Lee puts it, the ability to stand out and gain respect from everyone does not depend on looks, bloodlines, or clans. Sometimes, it just takes a little hard work.

On the New Design of the NAIA Terminal 1

originally from Kenneth Cobonpue's Official Facebook Page

reup on Youtube by The Technograph

So we all know about the recent talks about the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 being the worst airport in the whole world. The news hurt the Filipino pride and because of that, top personalities on design and architecture have come up with a glamorous plan in restructuring and reinventing the transportation hub.

Disclaimer first. I haven't been into the terminal. I am yet to ride a plane. But I've been to NAIA to send relatives off and welcome them back. I have experienced the annoyance on the washroom, but it's probably because I was outside that it was so crowded then. And basing it on my grandmother's stories (who is also a citizen of Australia) - and my preference on the magnificent Incheon Airport, I am convinced that yes, NAIA Terminal 3 has to be renovated.

In this pro-bono (for the public) design of Kenneth Cobonpue, Budji Layug and Royal Pineda, the hope in me for this terminal sparked ablaze. Although it's only the facade that is shown here, I know that the interior will not be set aside. This is the first time I heard of the names but as a Filipino, I am putting my great trust on these three minds. I think I'd rather do that than trust the traditional ones. 

Lost in this Rude World, Blocking Everything Else

Admit it or not, this is a rude world we’re in. Most of the time, the worth of a person is measured by the amount of wealth stored on his/her bank account, the number of people who looks up to him/her, or by the measurement of one’s vital statistics. After all, it is always first impression that lasts; and it’s just sad to say that many people base their initial impressions on these worldly things.

Being a fat, poor and unpopular person that I am, I find it difficult to exist in a society which is presented to me. So the tendency is I stay away. I keep myself for myself alone because I no longer want to feel the pain of rejection. It always happen – never fails. I grew tired of being judged and wronged. I grew tired of having to change myself just to have a position in this two-faced society.

As I’ve said, I stay away from the crowd. I began to hate everybody. It is outright wrong, but you see, I’d rather choose to denounce everyone else than continue being a laughing stock.

For how many years that I’ve been this way, my ability to trust people easily left me. I am now more cautious; I am now doubtful. I thought it was a good thing because it’s like I’ve turned my safety on. But last night, when I somehow accepted the fact that this is not who I am either, I could no longer find the way back to the person that I should really be.

So instead of being happy, I must admit that now, I feel like a lost child again. Somehow, I feel that this is even worse because before, it was the world which I’m battling against. Now it’s me versus myself.

Truth is: I don’t know if I could win. I am still under construction and a work on progress. There’s even no assurance that I’ll get finished as I am still looking for some lost parts of me.

Until now, I blame the world for being so rude. But you know what? I blame myself more for being so weak. All the ill-fated things that happened to me are just products of karma. After all, I was never a good person in the past.

So maybe, I deserve this… or maybe not.

For You... From Tablo.

I am not a Tablo die-hard fanatic. I love him, and Epik High, though. I was one of the millions who got affected and sympathized with him when he was on his darkest moments of his life...

And now that he's back in the game, he starts anew and posted this image on his Facebook fan page. 

Just by the message, "May the sky rain down smiles," you would easily sense that behind the bad-boy looking rapper is a genius personality which thinks before doing anything... And the "Thank you for breathing" is just too wonderful not to be apprehended.

I do not know Tablo that much. But I can tell you that he's a wonderful person. His music speaks of who he is. And if you listen to it, you'll know that you have just known one of the most important people this world has ever produced. ^^