Tag Archives: life

The Last Few Words and Cries

13 Apr

“I am telling you. Be kind to others. Help others who need your help. God bless you.”

(Teofila Mas Meron)

In times of sorrow, can you still remember the last few words of a dying person that you love most? I would like to share with you the last few words and cries of my loving mother that might break your heart and bring your eyes into tears.

10. While on her bed, my mother said with eyes closed, “Catawan, engangaro wan Mo cami. Pano na cami a pinalsa Mo?” (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Diyos ko, Kaawaan Mo kami.  Paano na kami na nilalang Mo?”

(English) “God, have mercy on us. How about us of your creation?”

At the age of 94, my mother still remember the Almighty God who created everything. In her entire life, she frequently prayed to God and attended the Holy Mass regularly.

9. On her bed, my mother said with her eyes closed, “Indo, Caca, taganan moyo co. Indo, Caca, taganan moyo co.” “Takpan! Takpan!”(Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Nanay, Ate, hintayin ninyo ako. Nanay, Ate, hintayin ninyo ako.” “Takipan! Takipan!”

(English) “Mother, Sister, wait for me. Mother, Sister, wait for me.” “Cover up!, Cover up!”

My mother was the youngest and favorite child in their family. She loved her mother and sister so much. My mother saw brilliant brightness.

8. My mother said with eyes closed, “Alalayan moyo co.” (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Tulungan ninyo ako.”

(English) “Help me.”

My mother had ready helping hands to anybody who needs help.

7. Suddenly, my mother was crying loudly while pointing her diaphragm, “Masakit eti! masakit eti!” (Zambal)

(Tagalog)”Masakit dito! masakit dito!”

(English) “Painful here! Painful here!”

My mother never complained even in rough times of her life.

6. My mother requested with eyes closed, “Dasalan moyo co.” (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Dasalan ninyo ako.”

(English) “Pray for me.”

My mother always pray for everyone’s wellness.

5. While inside the ambulance rushing into the hospital, my mother shouted, “Cacoyna labay! Cacoyna labay! Tama na! Tama na! (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Ayaw ko na!, Ayaw ko na! Tama na! Tama na!

(English) “I don’t like it! I don’t like it! Stop! Stop!

My mother never stops for being a good mother and grandmother to us.

4. While in the hospital bed, my mother said again with eyes closed, “Catawan, engangaro wan Mo cami.  Pano na cami a pinalsa mo” (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Diyos ko, Kaawaan Mo kami.  Paano na kami na nilalang Mo?”

(English) “God, have mercy on us. How about us of your creation?”

My mother was a strong believer of God. She had strong faith at all times.

3. Still on her bed, my mother said with eyes closed, “Tambayan moyo co. Tambalan moyo co.” (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Tulungan ninyo ako. Gamutin ninyo ako.”

(English) “Help me. Heal me.”

My mother was a good helper. She was very kind to children and elders.

2. Still on her bed, my mother said softly with eyes closed, “Abuloyon moyo co.” (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Tulungan ninyo ako.”

(English) “Help me.”

My mother helped her family. She really loved them so much.

1. Still on her severe body condition, my mother uttered softly, “Ya.” (Zambal)

(Tagalog) “Oo.”

(English) “Yes.”

My mother had strong influential words that anybody should decide and follow.  She disciplined, guided and mentored us appropriately.

My mother just nodded her head when I talked and asked her until her complete consciousness had gone.

Yes, my mother was gone but her legacy, advises, courage, greatness, kindness, faith, laughter, memories, dreams and so forth remain in our hearts as we live.

Thoughts to Destination

29 Aug

Diagram showing progression from thoughts to destiny through focus, words, repetition, behavior, commitment, perseverance, and character

A visual roadmap illustrating how thoughts evolve into destiny through words, behavior, and commitment.

Do you believe that what you think might lead to your destination? Maybe some of you will agree while others would disagree. Whether you believe it or not, sometimes it happens to you unconsciously. Yet, you do not know the reasons after all. Here are some points to explain it further.

Your thoughts

People have different thoughts. These thoughts are created and formulated in their minds based on how they perceive and interpret certain things by observation alone. Most of the people always suggest us to think positively in order to have a positive result. Some people are always thinking negatively in advance prior to what real or what it really happens.

Your frequent thoughts might be shown up in your emotions

People with positive thoughts all the time are mostly cheerful, happy, feel satisfied, excited, confident and hopeful. On the other hand, people with negative thoughts always are mostly angry, hate certain things, feel envy, stressed, frustrated, disappointed, sad, weak, depressed and sick.

Your strong emotions might be shown up in your actions

People that show strong emotions are obviously visible through their actions. Happy people excitedly share their experiences and thoughts. Hopeful people are usually go to their churches to pray and praise God for all the blessings they had received. While angry people have common enemies. They get easily irritated and do violent actions against their enemies. They usually used curse words against them. Stressed people wanted to be alone. They blame others for their own mistakes. They have no initiative to move or they act and move slowly. They easily get sick and fell unwell most of the time. They reason out illogically and do abrupt things disorderly.

Your visible actions might be shown up in your behaviors

People with repeatedly done actions repeatedly develop into habitual behaviors unconsciously and unintentionally. People who are doing right actions according to the norms of the society and laws of the land show appropriate behaviors in any place at any time.  On the other hand, people who are doing wrong actions most of the time show undesirable and unacceptable behaviors to the people living normally in the community with sets of standards norms, policies and laws.

 

Your shown behaviors might be developed into your characters

People with desirable or undesirable behaviors have distinct characters. People who follow laws and orders are distinctively obedient. People who are actively engaged in public service and ready to help others show kindness, friendliness, helpfulness, unselfishness, generosity, concern, love and care. On the other hand, people with undesirable behaviors are mostly disobedient, dishonest, disrespectful, stubborn, lazy, chaos, misbehaved, selfish, unfair, show jealous, envy, offensive, violent, illogical, fake, materialistic, dominant, fraud, abusive, aggressive and greed.

Your dominant characters might be shaped up into your personality

People with dominant, distinct characters develop into good or bad personality.  People with good personality are definitely liked by everybody. They are liked to be their friends, companions, business partners and even life-time partners at home. They like these people because there is no conflict in between them or issues arise among them. They live happily together with peace and harmony. On the other hand, people with bad personality are strongly disliked by anybody. They often hate these people. They do not want to see them. They do not want stay with them or even work with them. According to them, living with these bad people can make their lives miserable. Thus, they just want to escape from them as soon as possible.

Your type of personality might influence your decision

Good people or bad people have certain decision in life. The decision of the good people after thorough critical analysis on certain things relies absolutely on the welfare or benefits of everybody. They decide fairly, wisely and righteously. They consider Church teachings, state laws and rules of conduct, norms, environment, causes and effects, human rights and privileges in their decision-making process before giving the final decision. On the other hand, the decision of bad people depends on their own vested interest alone. They never mind other’s decision. Bad people discriminate and dominate them.

Your firm decision might lead into your purpose

People’s decision has its own purpose. For the welfare of the entire humanity is the purpose of the good people. The love of God, fellowmen and environment is the priority or primary concern of the good people. On the other hand, greed and power is the purpose of the bad people. They want to control everything including humans.

Your own purpose in life might lead towards your destination

People’s goals and objectives in life are counted and considered by either righteousness of God or deceiving-character of Evil. Indeed, good people once they died, their soul will surely go to heaven and sits beside the Lord. They will have eternal happiness and serenity. On the other hand, bad people once they died, their souls will surely proceed to the hell with the Devil. They will have everlasting sufferings and restlessness.

Thoughts to Destination

Therefore, what do you think now? Do you think positively or negatively? Whatever you are thinking every now and then, this might be your own destination later on. Just remember: “What you think is what your destination.”

What is life to you?

24 Apr

Infographic showing six key facets of human life: Physical Well-Being, Mental & Emotional Depth, Relationships & Community, Purpose & Aspiration, Continuous Learning & Growth, Creativity & Expression.

An infographic illustrating six essential aspects of human life and well-being.

 

Life has several meanings to everyone.  Its meanings vary from one person to another. The lives of the newly born baby and the old-age grandmother are quite different from the lives of active and functional people.  Life is too short for persons who loved by their fellowmen. Life is too long for persons who were hated by their countrymen.  Life is beautiful for people who are experiencing prosperity, good health, massive wealth, unlimited power and influence. But to people with sickness and who are experiencing poverty, discrimination, inequality and unfair practices, life is miserable.

Life does not exist without the essentials elements that can sustain it.  The existence of life is the primary subject of human study of all time. Life creates a purpose.  This purpose serves as the framework of any living organism. Life has a beginning and an end.  The quality of life depends on its purpose.  Success in life does not rely on its length but rather on the quality of time and means on how they spend it.

Life is significantly meaningful if the person knows how to value it. People should know how to understand what life is. They should also know its origin and whom they owe it. They can reflect its possible positive or negative consequences in the near future.  Thus, whatever it is, what is really life to you?

https://livegoodtour.com/Masmeron

“Thanks God, I am still alive.”

15 Jul

Thanks God, I am still alive,
Coz I have the mission to survive,
And have the human rights for life.
They need my presence and tender, loving care,
Thus, they always ready to support my basic needs.

Thanks God, I am still alive,
To breathe the fresh air and hear the sound of the wind,
To see the raindrops falling on the green leaves,
To smell the favorite foods on the table,
And ready to eat fruits and drink milk any time.

Thanks God, I am still alive.
To hear the Holy Mass every Sunday,
To strengthen my faith on Him and receive His blessings,
To glorify and praise Him because of the wonderful things,
That He had given to me including my own life.

Good Friday: A Day of Sorrow

14 Apr

When was the last time that you had visited your mother or your child? When was the last time that you had spent time to talk with your mother or your child? When was the last time that you had served foods and spoon fed your mother or your child? When was the last time that you lifted up your mother or your child? When was the last time that you had changed the diaper and dressed up your mother or your child? Maybe your answer varies from one another. Your answer might be a few minutes ago, a few hours ago, a few days ago, a few months ago, a few years ago, a number of years ago or it never happened.

Good Friday is a day of sorrow. This was the day when the Blessed Mother, Virgin Mary, cried over the death of her beloved Son, Jesus Christ. This was the same day when the Lord Jesus Christ tearfully seen His loving mother crying continuously until no more tears came out from His mother’s eyes.  The truth behind this was the moment of dying brings out pains physically, mentally and emotionally particularly between the mother and child. Sometimes, the bonding break up may lead and result into a severe depression if not properly managed by concerned individuals.

http://www.masmeron.com

Lifelong Valuing of Teachers

4 Oct

How do we value teachers? How do we appreciate and recognize them? I hope all of these are not limited in the school setting but in our very own simple little ways from the day-to-day basis starting from their superiors down to their learners. They really deserve such kind of valuing, appreciation and recognition beyond their expectations.

Teacher I

To my elementary teachers, you taught me the basics of education.  I learned how to read with comprehension, listen carefully, write legibly, speak clearly and count correctly.

To my high school teachers, you explained me the academics. I learned the basic subjects and electives. I learned the how’s and why’s of certain phenomena.

To my college professors, you taught me how to apply certain things. I learned how to grow professionally.  I learned how to teach the youth.

To my graduate professors, You taught me to understand beyond unexpected things.  I learned how to become a professional and well-experienced teacher with distinctions throughout the decades.

Teacher II

To my aunt, Indo Simay. You taught me the essence of helping others. You showed me the values of patience, love and care specially to our own family and relatives. You reminded me the power of prayers and strong faith to God. You had been my second parent when my real parents stayed with the families of my brothers and sisters farther away from our hometown.

Teacher III

To my parents, Guillermo and Teofila.  You were my very first teachers.  You taught me the true meaning of life. You guided me towards righteousness.  I learned good and right things from you. I treasured most the core values in life that you shared with me. In spite of everything, I learned how to succeed by myself without putting anybody down.  You were great mentors too. You mentored me how to understand life, to help others and love one another. I learned how to show concern with the elders, sick people and less fortunate citizens.

Master Teacher 

To God, You are my Master Teacher.  You are the greatest teacher I have ever known. I do worship and praise You most.  I give all the glory on You. I do appreciate all the things the You created and provided for me. I would like to thank You for giving me dedicated and committed classroom teachers as well as very loving. caring parents, relatives and friends.

Happy Teacher’s Day!

Cry Types

25 Sep

Do you cry? How often you cry? Do you know that we cry for several reasons? Here are some types of cry that I can share with you.

Cry of Grief

Sometimes, you cry because of grief when you lost someone. You lost a person that you love most. You really missed this person. Believing that you will never see this person anymore.

Cry of Pain

Sometimes, you cry because of pain. You feel the physical pain and cannot tolerate it due to severe illness. Believing that medication is just a temporary reliever for your pain. Heartbreak and sudden separation intensifies emotional pain too.

Cry of Anger

Sometimes, you cry because of anger. You are emotionally stressed.  Believing that the current situation is unjust and brings discomfort on you.

Cry of Pity

Sometimes, you cry because of pity.  You feel sorry to less fortunate citizens.  You feel sorry to your own family. You feel sorry to yourself too.  In spite of everything you did for the best, but still, nothing happens.

Cry of Joy

Sometimes, you cry because of joy.  You feel very happy for something that you received or achieved unexpectedly. It might be material or non-material things.

Cry of Faith

Sometimes, you cry because of faith. Your undeniable faith to God brings tears into your eyes. Believing that you owe everything from Him. God allows you understand it that you cry in various ways for various reasons.

The Battle for a Reason by Renato Mas Meron

28 Apr

The Battle to Win

Some people have the battle to win against their opponents or competitors.  Athletes in boxing, basketball, volleyball, baseball, soccer and other sports want to win in a battle.  Sport’s fans also want their idols to win.  Contestants in singing, dancing or talent competition show their best performance to win the battle.

The Battle to Change

Some people have the battle to change.  They want to change the society where they belong.  Some people want changes in the government system that offers public services.  Some people change as they grow and develop.  These changes in various ways can be obviously observed by anyone. They might change physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially, economically and spiritually.

The Battle to Heal

Some people have the battle to heal.  People with sickness or illness want to be completely healed.  They ask for medical help from the professional doctors.  They ask for spiritual help from the Almighty One.  People who got in despair or broken-hearted need emotional recovery or fast healing.

The Battle to Live

Some people have the battle to live.  Victims of crime like in drug-trafficking, human-trafficking, homecide and other crimes who were sentenced by the highest court with death penalty or capital punishment need the battle to live.  These people need your prayers to save them from execution. Pro-life supporters pursue and promote their advocacy for rights to live of every citizen of the world  and have a quality, peaceful and happy life.

https://link-me.io/@masmeron

Warm Up the Snow

23 Jun

Rehoboth Beach

Rehoboth Beach

Some things change gradually over time.  Your physical body changes as you grow and develop.  Your mental condition changes too as your physical body changes.  Your social-emotional condition changes as your mental state changes.  Do such changes influence you? Would it significantly contribute to your attitude in life? Does it attribute most in building a positive relationship to others? Let us consider the following discussions below.

Relationship to your family and friends

What are the things that maintain your good relationship to your family and friends? How would you bridge the existing gap or conflicts among your family members or friends? Do you have the ways and means to do it effectively? Do you have open communication with each other? Are you always busy in life or making so many excuses instead of facing up the reality? Would it be necessary of having a third party to intervene in solving family problems or getting back the genuine friendship? Well, whatever your valid and logical reasons, I think there is a need to talk about it and be encouraged to get involved on family matters and keeping the good relationship.

Relationship to your co-workers and organization

People all over the world get employed in a company, agency or organization which they need their good services. They get into the private sectors, government-managed agencies or charitable institutions.  If  you are one of them, are they treated you equally? Are you receiving the same equal opportunities like anyone else in that organization? Are they executing fair labor practices regardless of who you are? Do they respect you as a human being? Do they recognize your strengths instead of your weaknesses?  If you are in the business sector, you may understand that profits are better than wages in order  to attain a better quality of life especially if you do it appropriately and effectively.  However, possession of wealth is definitely temporary on  earth.  Even your current job position, you cannot hold it permanently. That is why always be humble to yourself. Everything may come and go. Remember, we are living temporarily on earth.

Relationship to the Almighty One

People around the world have different religions, churches or denominations.  Their faith, beliefs and philosophies in life depend on what they believe in or what their church teaches to them.  Do you really follow of what you preach? Do you really apply the good teachings that you had learned from your church? If your answer is Yes, go ahead and multiply. But if not, does it make any sense at all? Perhaps all the religions or churches I think would agree on what has been stated in the Golden Rule that goes “Do not do unto others what you do not want others do unto you.”

Warm up the Snow

It is not too late. Like the weather that keeps on changing every now and then.  Sometimes, there are things that seem cold like a snow that needs to warm up.  Our positive relationship to our family, friends, co-workers, organization and Almighty One does mostly matters.

Don’t Just Be A Dreamer

20 Jan

This was my article before going to the United States of America on March 10, 2010.

December 20, 2008

MEYCAUAYAN COLLEGE ALUMNEWS
ALUMNEWS Feature
DON’T JUST BE A DREAMER
“Don’t just be a dreamer……. but be a doer too.” How could you figure out a young boy who came from a broken family and very poor family who tried to overcome his own struggles in life?
My parents were already separated before I was born. I did not have a father figure in our house. We did not have any real properties. We rented the lot from our neighbor and our house is made up of light materials only and no electricity at all. I studied my lessons in a dim light of lamp. My mother, as a single parent worked so hard just to support her own family. She worked in the farm during daytime and weaved mats in the evening. She was still awake at 3 o’clock in the morning. There were times that she get unpaid from farm works and insulted publicly. It had been a number of times that our family degraded, deprived and discriminated. It was very difficult to be poor. During weekends, she sold mats and vegetables in the market. She got laundry clothes from our neighborhood when farm works were not available. We were always looking for our firewood, rice and food everyday. We did not have money even for our transport which made all of us to walk back and forth several kilometers away from poblacion to the barrio every time we went there for work. I did not have enough money when I was in the elementary and high school to support my studies. At the age of 10, I was an ice buko vendor already, carrying a box of frozen items and shouting  on the streets in our hometown. I did help our family in household chores and in selling vegetables in the market. My father with his own family had physical disabilities. He had artificially-made eye due to work-related incident when he was a policeman. He had also amputated leg due to diabetes. I started to recognize my father when I was in high school when he introduced himself while we were eating in a plaza’s restaurant and when he offered help for my tuition fees in high school. I realized the hardships of my parents in raising our family; putting up things together and solving various problems. However, I retained myself in the first section of the class since elementary up to high school. I participated in some extra-curricular activities in the school.
After graduation in high school, I cried when I could not continue my studies in college because my father got sick already and my mother could no longer support me. I remembered when she said one time, “Just cut my body into pieces and sell it” “So that you have something to support for your studies” She was crying too. I cried because I got 92% general average in National College Entrance Examination but I could not enroll in college. All my classmates in the first section would go to college for the coming year. First, I took up a free 6-month training of typing course which was sponsored by the Roman Catholic Church. In the afternoon, I did tutoring to graders in exchange of “sweet potatoes” as snacks and little amount of money from our neighborhood. Besides, I had to take good care of our vegetable garden so that we have something to eat. After graduation in the vocational course, that was the time that I should  look for a better job that can provide our daily needs. But there was another problem, how could I leave my 75 year-old aunt who stayed in our house for several years to help my mother in raising our family and she had never been married. I took good care my aunt since she got an illness. Do I take good care my physically-ill aunt through her entire life or to pursue my plans in life? It was a very difficult decision.
At last, I decided to look for a job. I just my visited my aunt once or twice a year. I had been a houseboy then a fresh meat, fish, and vegetable pushcart vendor in Meycauayan City then a cigarette, candies and plastic market vendor in Olongapo City then a gasoline boy in Zambales then a factory worker of school supplies in Novaliches and finally, a textile worker in Meycauayan City. When I obtained my regular appointment, that was the time that I have to start my plans again. While working in the textile, I did enroll in Meycauayan College. I never forgot to support our family in terms of financial assistance even I was studying while working. Meycauayan College was the nearest college wherein convenient for me in terms of financial matters, distance travel and time management. This was the institution I thought that can give me a college diploma and a quality education. My expectation was really true. Even I would like to take medicine course that time but I did not have huge amount of money for the said course. Thus, I selected Biology as my major in Education. I took Education course because I want to share my knowledge to everybody.

During my college days, I performed well academically with a general weighted average of 1.78. It so happened that I was a working student then and I believed that it could be better and higher if I am just a full-time student. Despite of these, I participated in certain college activities such as impromptu speech, singing contest, been a member of a dance troupe and a contributor in the college paper. In fact, our group was the champion in the Group Pantomime Competition.
It was February 1991 when the factory wherein I was employed had been closed due to labor strike. I went back into selling cooked food in one corner of a well-known subdivision in Meycauayan just to support my last semester of study before graduation. I just borrowed monies for my jeepney fare so that I can attend the graduation ceremony together with my mother. When I stepped on the stage, I could not even stretch my legs because I am so hungry that time. I felt physically weak. My beloved mother witnessed my graduation at last in 1991.
I tried to apply for a teaching position after graduation but most private schools offered me lower salaries which were half lower salary from a textile factory where I lastly employed. One day, a friend encouraged me to apply as waiter in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia because I had a part-time job experience as waiter in an exclusive hotel in Manila. Luckily, I was hired but for the first two months abroad, I was a merchandiser in a supermarket wherein I have to lift up heavy items in a dump truck then downloading these again. I did these tasks three times a day in a 12-hour basis of work time. Again, I was not used to it. I felt so weak. The store managers could not understand the English language. They shouted and said bad words to me every time I could not carry heavy loads but I ignored it. They allowed me to transfer in a restaurant when there was somebody newly arrived from the Philippines. After I served as janitor in a Filipino restaurant then I became waiter for more than three years then a cashier/waiter wherein one of my tasks was to supervise the operation of the restaurant.
When I arrived here in the Philippines in 1994, I prepared for the Professional Board Examination for Teachers; Career Service Professional Examination which both I took in 1995. Luckily, I passed the two professional exams. In the same year, I started to practice my profession as elementary and high school teacher in a private school. While teaching in a private school, I pursued my graduate study in Manila for two years until I passed the Comprehensive Examination. I lacked just one subject which is thesis writing to finish the degree. After four years of employment, I transferred to a public school here in Meycauayan City. I had been employed also as part-time college instructor here in Meycauayan College, my alma mater, and in a public college here in Meycauayan City. Within thirteen years of continuous service in both private and public institutions, I did share all my skills and expertise to elementary, high school and college students. I did participate with my colleagues and school heads in any assigned tasks to improve the quality of education in our school. For professional growth, I attended various seminars, trainings and workshops. I tried also to contribute articles for science magazines of a publishing company here in Meycauayan City.
Last year, I passed the Praxis II Exam with a higher score. This was a professional examination given to any professional teachers in the world conducted by a licensing agency of United States of America for teacher certification. To sum up, I passed already four major professional examinations which I did not expect to happen when I was still a kid. The history repeats itself, now that I am applying for a teaching position abroad. I passed already the interview and I completed already the required documents. My only problem at present is the processing and placement fees. That is why I ask the Lord to give me some signs. My 84-year old mother wants me to stay here in the Philippines. According to her, she is now very old. It hurts me every time she says that statement and every time I say goodbye to her. My mother also said that I have already job here so why I should go so far. I love my mother so much but I want also to improve my life and the lives of our family better. It is a very difficult decision again. Would I stay to take good care of my mother and the rest of my family or to follow the next plan? I am asking for several signs to God for my next decision in life.
However, I would like to widen my horizon and to continuously do public service here and abroad. Always remember: “Do what is right in order to be good rather than do what is good in order to be right.” “Not all good things are right but all right things are good.”