BABY'S SHOES FOR SALE: NEVER WORN by ALDRIN O. JUANICO

            At first, I was just a thought.  I am a thought awaited by some but disregarded by the others.  Am a thought that is loved and is hoped for by some but thrown and hurt by the others. I am wondering what will I be: the disregarded or the loved? The most awaited or the most feared?

            At last! The day that I have been anticipating came to life. I was conceived by my mother. I am now alive. I now have life. It is so amazing how love transformed me from a thought into this, a fetus! Months had passed and I can feel my mother’s heartbeat. With its every beat, I can feel the love of my mother coming towards me. I just feel so excited to come out and become a child. I can also discern my mother’s pain that she eventually did repress just for me. With that, I can feel her passion and care for me. I just feel so blessed to have her as my mother.

            Days had passed and my hearing had developed. Finally, I can hear my mother’s voice. I found out that she is a shoemaker! That would be so amazing! The best part is, she made a pair of baby’s shoes for me when I’ll be out of her tummy. Oh, that would be truly nice. Imagine? Many people went to her shoe house and tried to offer her a huge amount of money for that pair of shoes yet she refused all of them! I am truly blessed to have her as my mother! When I’ll become a child and grow up, I’d have a pair of shoes for Monday, another for Tuesday and another one for each of the rest of the days of the week. That would be so classy and amazing. I’m, sure my friends would envy me for my dazzling shoes.

Many more months had passed and my mother knew my sex. I’m a boy! It would be so amazing. I could be named Angelo or James, maybe Zeus or Michael! Yes Michael! Call me Michael from now on folks!

            Many more months had passed and my mother knew my sex. I’m a boy! It would be so amazing. I could be named Angelo or James, maybe Zeus or Michael! Yes Michael! Call me Michael from now on folks! I could play basketball with my dad while mom is busy working in the yard. I and dad could play board games while mom will bring pizza to us. I could annoy my mother and report to my father as I accomplish my task and we’ll all laugh together hysterically. But wait.. Where is Dad? Ever since I was conceived, I had never felt his paternal presence and hug. Well maybe, he’s working outside of the country, far far away from Mom in order to ensure my bright future. He is truly saving for my education and thinking he’ll enrol me in a high-class university someday. Oh sigh, what a “maybe” I’ve got in here. I hope I am right.

            Days had passed and the day that I have been waiting came to life! I heard my mother is going to Dad’s! Finally, I can feel his love towards me. Hey Dad! I’m your son! I love you. Oh my, I can’t stop mumbling!

            Finally, we arrived at my Dad’s house. For the first time, I can feel the warmth of my father’s hug to me. With so much masculinity gushing forth towards me, I kicked my Mom so hard! I heard them laugh for a minute until they argued and I can’t hear what they are saying. Mom! Dad! Please stop! Mom! Dad! Nooooooooooo!

            More days were being crashed out on the calendar and I have found out that I am an unwanted child by my father. It just hurts me so bad to think my hopes of a father working so hard for my future crashed and flown in the air. Well, I just feel so blessed to have a Mom like her. She’ll always protect me in times of need.

            But, one day, I felt like hurting. I feel like I was burning. There’s pain in my heart that I can’t stop but it stops my heartbeat like I’m not about to last. Pain, so much pain! Ouch! I can’t help it. It feels like I was thrown in the lake of fire for such innocence that I have. Mom, Dad, why do you have to do this? Mom, Dad, WHYYYYY?

            I am dead. I was aborted by my mother. I am now back into being a thought. I have lots of questions in my mind. Mom, Dad, I could have belonged to some people who deserved me better than you do. Mom, Dad, I could have lived a life of happiness and joy if you had let me. Dad, I could have played basketball with you and we’ll laugh as I annoy Mom. Mom, you could have someone you’ll call your own when people are busy eating during March and April as they celebrate their recognitions and graduations. Mom, Dad, I could walk, talk, dance if you’d let me live. Mom, Dad, maybe I could be the reason of your great life if you’d let me live. Mom, Dad, who would have known that I could be a celebrity, a dancer, or a singer in TV? Mom, Dad, you have deprived me of a life that never ever came to me. Mom, Dad, you both have shattered my dreams. Mom Dad, will you do the same to my siblings or will you let them live? Mom, Dad, I could have worn that pair of shoes that Mom has prepared for me.

            After two weeks, Mom regained her strength and went back to her workplace. She made a dozen more shoes and rested. While sitting, she saw the baby’s shoes that she carefully prepared for me. She cried upon seeing those shoes. Saddened and crying, yet she stood up, got the pair of baby’s shoes and displayed it in the display window with a note that says, “BABY’S SHOES FOR SALE: NEVER WORN.”

            I used to be Michael. Are you just like my Mom and Dad? If you are thinking of doing the thing in congruence to what my Mom and Dad did, well think of the Michael or Michaela maybe that is in you, will you also break their dreams just as my Mom and Dad did to me? Please let them live. I was unwanted, I was feared and in the end, I am still a thought.

TWEET #BabysShoesForSaleNeverWorn 

@iDrinny on Twitter.

WAS I A GOOD PARENT?

As parents, were you considerate? Understanding?

Or were you the reason for your child’s shame of living his/her own life?

This morning, I woke up later than usual. I was searching for some songs until I found Kelly Clarkson’s Because Of You.

Upon seeing the music video, I almost went to tears and got emotional. I was really sad from watching it in the beginning until the very end. Later, I got some reflections and realizations.

As parents, someone should be considerate of their child’s feelings. They should not put their selves in the shoes of their kids and sulk, get angry and do such cruel things on them without thinking that WHAT ELDERS DO ARE PERFECT IN THE EYES OF CHILDREN. I just thought that parents or guardians should be patient and understanding in the developmental stage of their children.

Miscues and mistakes are rarely found in children. That’s why parents should be there in guiding them to the right path and not reprimanding them for doing such thing FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I have also realized that, parents should be the one responsible for giving happiness to their children, not providing them with discouragements, doubts and fears. I have seen in the video the trouble caused by the girl’s parents. It caused her to HARDLY TRUST ANYONE, BE AFRAID TO LOVE and worst, BE ASHAMED OF HIS/HER OWN LIFE.

“If you taught your child well and built a strong foundation of determining what’s good and bad then, don’t be afraid.”

It’s better to evaluate and ask yourselves, “WAS I A GOOD PARENT?” Rather than blaming yourself when the time that your child got pregnant in a very young age or he or she got into drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.

I have learned from my English 2 Professor, Mr Eric Gerard Nebran that, "The harder you try to hold on to someone, the more it wants to get away.” Ask yourself, “Was I too hard on my son or daughter? Did I deprive his or her own freedom?”

If you’d answer I was only doing it to protect him/her, well my Educ 100 Professor Miss Ersweetcel Servano also stated that, “If you taught your child well and built a strong foundation of determining what’s good and bad then, don’t be afraid.” Then ask yourself again, “Did I ever TRY to build that foundation?”

You’ll see how good you are at parenting in the latter part of your child’s life. Before it’s too late, maybe it’s time to change your attitude towards your child. It’s better to crack the eggs before they turn into mosquitoes. NOW is the time.

We should always seek for God’s perfect timing in parenting. GOD knows the perfect timing for everything. Defying it also means you defy the greater things in store for you. Jeremiah 29:11 states that, ""For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Always seek the divine intervention in engaging in such things. Let GOD put things in your life in His accordance of time. Remember, “The right thing in the wrong time is still a WRONG THING” Parenting is such a wonderful thing in the eyes of the Lord but doing it in the wrong time is not a good idea at all.

Hello, This is Agent Orange and I SPEAK IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF A CHILD..

NDDU PRE-UWEEK 2014 Story No. 1 "THE HIYAS NG NDDU "FUTURE CANDIDATES""

     Hey! It's been a looong time since I've posted a blog post.

     Notre Dame of Dadiangas University's 61st UNIVERSITY WEEK will embark tomorrow, February 10, 2014. I, a member of the Colleges of Education and Health Sciences' WHITE EAGLES, am very proud to proclaim that in the past UWeek, we were hailed as champions..

    I have brought my bro's DLSR during the PRE-UWeek or the preparation of the school for this grandiose activity. I have taken some shots I could be proud of but I am not boasting that I should be a photographer - blah blah chu chu..

THE TEASERS

      

           

HIYAS NG NDDU "FUTURE CANDIDATES"

     After having a free lunch at the HRM Laboratory of NDDU, we've seen a large globe covered in foil. Instantly, I grabbed my bro's cam and took these pics.

MR LIZTER JHON B. NAVASQUEZ

MISS CHRIS G. PATLINGRAO & MISS JOANNA CHRIS B. CABANOS

MISS CHRIS G. PATLINGRAO

MORE PHOTOS AND STORIES TO BE POSTED SOON :) #agentorange :3

NEXT STORY: NDDU PRE-UWEEK 2014 Story No. 2 "THE PICTURES IN THE KITCHEN"

Procrastination 101

pro·cras·ti·nate \prə-ˈkras-tə-ˌnāt, prō-\

transitive verb: to put off intentionally and habitually

intransitive verb: to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done

synonyms see delay

Other forms: pro·cras·ti·nat·ed; pro·cras·ti·nat·ing
pro·cras·ti·na·tion \-ˌkras-tə-ˈnā-shən\ noun
pro·cras·ti·na·tor \-ˈkras-tə-ˌnā-tər\ noun

Origin: Latin procrastinatus, past participle of procrastinare, from pro- forward + crastinus of tomorrow, from cras tomorrow.

Source: Merriam-Webster dictionary

     Do you procrastinate? If you'd ask me, of course, I do procrastinate. I delay things to be done today or this very hour because I do unnecessary things and stuff which are unnecessarily done.

     I easily get distracted. I am easily attracted to high-tech stuff that has no relation to my school activities.

The point is, if I'm doing something necessary for the betterment of my future, to whom or why do I procrastinate? Who will benefit? Who will have the last laugh?

     Here's a scenario: I started playing Facebook games regularly when I was in Second Year High school. Ever since my brother gave me a laptop, I was staying up late being online in Facebook and playing games. During the first quarter, I ranked 3rd out of 35 students in our class. During the second quarter, when my brother gave me a laptop, I ranked 5th, so do as the third quarter. But, during the fourth and final quarter, I flunked to the 9th ranking.

     Technology and the deeds and culture of the human are interrelated. As technology rises, the goal of the people to work hard diminishes. Technology's advancement makes work easy that sometimes people forget how to work hard. Maybe, it only implies to others. To the others who aren't affected by the statement italicized, I do salute you.

     Procrastination is really a devastating thing. Yes, we need breaks in between works but, getting too much addicted to entertainment that we forget how to prioritize important things, nah! You are procrastinating dude. Don't get too distracted, focus and prioritize things out! Do your necessary and important things first. Forget your Farmville crops or dragons in your city, it won't help you finish your important work.

Now what? To whom are you procrastinating? Why are you procrastinating? Will you still procrastinate? Think about it.

The Pretend - a Short story

“The real question is, why do we have to attend that party? Why do we have all to pretend? Kuya, do you have something to say?”

          There was a group of children who live in a dark, small bungalow. They don’t have their parents anymore. All that they’ve had were themselves.

In order to live, these ten children are working in restaurants, shops and houses as helpers or in streets selling sampaguita. They work and work as long as they can. Only one of them was studying and it was John. John is the eldest among them. He was the group’s leader. He was their big brother. He gave hopes to the group of having a good life when he’ll graduate in college and find a good job.

All of those traits changed when John reached college. Because of his high grades in High school, he was studying in a prestige university as a full scholar. During High school, he used to work after classes and manages to bring pansit or chocolates for the group, no matter how small his salary was. The group used to be John’s first priority.

          During his college time, he was always going home late. The group was used to it thinking he’s working somewhere. They were surprised to see him drunk when going home sometimes.  

          One day, while Mariz, Joanne and Camille were selling Sampaguita near John’s university, they’ve decided to go to the nearby store for refreshments when they saw John and his friends. Gleefully, they approached their big brother and hugged him. They were seeing John’s friends murmuring. His friends asked him, “Do you know them John?” Mariz, Joanna and Camille were shocked when John said, “Who are you people? Sorry but I won’t buy your sampaguita. Maybe next time!” John said it while shooing Mariz, Joanna and Camille.

          When he got home, he didn’t even explain what happened there. He just said, “Guys, we were invited in my classmate’s debut party!” Everyone was so excited but the youngest among them, Apple asked, “But Kuya, what are we gonna wear?” John replied, “Don’t worry Apple, my super rich friend presented he’ll let me borrow some of his family’s clothes and I’ll be getting those tomorrow. By the way, when somebody will ask about you, tell them you are all studying in a prestige private school.” Ian, replied, “But why Kuya?” John replied, “Just do it!” “Okay Kuya!”, Ian replied.

          The next day, John got the clothes from his friend. The group was so happy to see the clothes. Fitting them made them feel glamorous. The day of the party has come and the group was well-dressed.

          John introduced the group as his cousins to Jasmine, the debutant. The party was filled with rich people. The food was so good. When they got home, they were so thankful to John.

          “Oh, where are you schooling?” Jasmine asked Bryan, “Uhm, I’m currently studying in a private school. I’m in 4^th Year High school.” Bryan lied. John saw what happened and interrupted the two, “Excuse me Jasmine, I have to talk to my cousin.” He grabbed Bryan and said, “Thank God, you followed my orders.” Bryan replied, “But, why do we have to lie Kuya?”, “Just do it!” John said.

          The next day, John went to his classmate’s house to return the expensive clothes. After 10 minutes, he went home weeping. “Guys, the clothes were stolen and it costs P50,000 all in all.” John said. “Kuya, what are we gonna do?” Joy asked. “The real question is, why do we have to attend that party? Why do we have all to pretend? Kuya, do you have something to say?” Mariz interrupted. “Ate Mariz, what do you mean?” Joy asked. “Kuya John is pretending to be rich. He has rich friends. He doesn’t need us anymore. He’s forgotten us.” Mariz answered. “He pretended not to know us when we saw him with his friends. He was ashamed of us. He even shooed us.” Mariz added and Joanne and Camille agreed. “I’m very sorry Mariz, Camille, Joanne, to all of you. I hope you will all forgive. Yes, I’ve pretended to be rich to my friends. Yes. I was ashamed of you when I saw you. That was the greatest sin I’ve ever made. Please forgive me. I’ll never do it again.”

The group went to tears. John was pretending to be rich in his friends’ eyes. The group decided that they’ll all work to pay the cost of the clothes. John stopped schooling and worked in order to pay their debt. After 5 years, they’ve totally paid their debt. They were all happy about it. John didn’t make it to college again and he was so sad because he didn’t give a good life to the group which served as his family. John and the group wasn’t the same anymore. The tightness they’ve had before was vanishing - and that was all because of his pretend.

by: Aldrin O. Juanico

(Also featured in http://www.bubblews.com/news/739329-the-pretend-a-short-story)

College life.

"Totally different from High school."

Those were the things I've heard from my brothers and sisters about college. At first, I was really nervous about it. I am thinking, how can I adapt to my college environment? Is it the same as high school? Is it easy? Is it fun?

Many questions were triggering in my mind. I guess, my one month stay can't answer all of those but atleast, I already have perceptions what would I become when I fully adapt the college aura.

Lots of vacant time. Compared to high school, wherein a tight class schedule is being followed everyday with only 15 minutes break allowed, In college, I have an hour break for merienda (9:30AM to 10:30AM) and 2-hour lunch break (12:30PM to 2:30PM) for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. During Tuesdays, my classes start at 10:30AM and end in 1:30PM and during Thursdays, 10:30AM to 4:30PM. At first, it's inconvenient for me because I am used of continuous schedule. Later, I realized I can used the vacant time for assignments, review for quizzes, group discussions and etc.

I can go out of the campus at breaks. This is what I love. Haha! I studied High school at Alabel National Science High School. It's quite far from the city and we aren't allowed to go out of the campus for safety purposes (And we thank AlSci for that). Now in college, considering the proximity of malls to the university + the vacant time = Perfect timing for a stroll in the mall. :D

A day with my AlSci batchmates turned-out co-Eagles, Krissa Claire Ortega and Lyra Gracia Halasan.

Pizza time. Hahaha! At Calda Pizza Gaisano General Santos.

For the free pizza, all thanks to Kimberly Mae Lugo.

Lots of organizations. We also have various organizations in high school but I guess, college organizations and clubs are better. Hahahahaha! No offense but, organizations are dynamic. More on the extra curricular approach.

Acquaintance party. We don't have an acquaintance party in high school. This is what excites me as of now. The party of the White Eagles Division or the College of Health Sciences and the College of Education combined is themed REBEL ROCK. I am so excited about it.

Those were some stuff about my college experience. What I like, how is it different to high school and to what I am excited most.

#agentorange's first blog.

First time blogger. That's who am I. I don't even know what my blog's theme is. Music blog? Food? Travel? I just don't know. All I know is something brought me here and whatever that reason is, HAHAHA! I'll know that in due time.

By the way, I am Aldrin Ogatis Juanico. The sixth child of Mr. Domingo Ladiana Juanico and Mrs. Cecilia Ogatis Juanico. My siblings include Police Officer 2 Jose David O. Juanico, Police Officer 2 Dulce Juanico Landero, Sheila O. Juanico (a licensed bookkeeper), 2nd Mate John Roldan O. Juanico, Julius O. Juanico (HRM graduate) and finally, yours truly, full time student.

I am currently taking up Bachelor in Secondary Education major in English at Notre Dame of Dadiangas University. I finished my high school course at Alabel National Science High School, the premier Science High School in Region XII and the Regional Science High School for SocCSKSarGen.

On why did I choose #agentorange. Well, it's my favorite color. Obviously. Many people hates the color but me and other orange enthusiasts love it. Loving the unloved isn't my peg. It's just many people dislike what I like and I DON'T CARE. That what makes it unique.

Well, I just introduced myself. Know me better on my future blogs.

God speed Bloggers! Rock on. Keep the #orangepower alive!