I Take Off the Mask

This is one of the chapters in my series “The Good For Nothing Boy” THE FLIGHT “Good-for-nothing!” How many among us felt as though we were good-for-nothing and unwanted? How many among us ever felt without a purpose in life? Today, I will tell you one of the chapters of the story of a little boy who felt the same way. Together with his firely friend, let us join him in his search for his purpose as he journeys over strange and distant lands and as he miraculously uncovers his worth, his mission, and his heart. It was raining hard that day and the little boy found himself running desperately for shelter. With the firefly cupped in his hands, he tried to make his way farther up the mountains. There used to be lots of trees there, but now, the land is almost barren. The path was slippery, and the boy often tripped as he ran. “Are you all right in there?” he asked the firefly cupped in his hands. “Still alive, boy; still alive,” replied the firefly. “Just a little while m...

Tell me what is the most difficult part of dreaming. Finding your dream? Persisting in reaching for them? At times my friend, these are not the most difficult part. At times my friend, it is that part when you let go of the dream you’ve worked so hard for, so you can dare to dream another dream. It isn’t easy to dream again, and to leave behind everything you’ve accomplished. But life goes on, and it cannot go on by holding on to the things you know will not lead you farther in your journey. Each of us was borne to accomplish the task which only we can perform. The world awaits us to perform it. The world awaits us to find out what it is and dream again. To Dream Again (an original song composition by Jocelyn Soriano) I. You’ve come so far from where you wanna go and you reached the dreams you’ve made some time ago as you walk along the shore seems you couldn’t ask for more yet the restless sea is calling you to go and dream once more Chorus: What lie...

One thing I’ve learned in being an auditor is the ability to quickly assess the risks that exists and the possible means by which to eradicate or mitigate them. Give me a situation and in less than five seconds, I can start enumerating the risks involved. Give me 30 seconds and I may even be able to classify those risks according to likelihood of happening or the materiality of the consequences possible. Very handy skill, isn’t it? Could save you millions right? Right. Could make you lose millions, right? Right as well!You ask how that could happen? Here’s a simple illustration. If you are to go into a business with only a one percent chance of clicking and you plan on investing your hard earned money all in that basket, you can definitely thank me when I tell you that slim, almost nil percentage of success, and save you from losing all of your money. On the other hand, if you could’ve actually made it among that one percent who succeed, then you can also blame m...

Have you ever felt lonely amongst a joyous crowd? Have you ever attended a lively party feeling down within, almost sinking in that sad little corner where nobody even notices you? I’ve attended one such party during my college days. There were games, food, music and everything else a party has to have, except my heart it seems, which doesn’t really belong there. I remember one game where a team had to guess the name of the person by looking at the drawings of their teammate. When they had to draw something to describe me, they drew a book, and there was an immediate correct answer – me! It was supposed to be a compliment, but somehow, I felt rather frustrated. How I wished I were known by other things: by a song perhaps, or by a fancy hairdo, or by a big heart and a nice sweet smile. I guess I didn’t want to die someday and be remembered only as the one who topped her class in academics. I wanted to be remembered as a real person, someone that mattered, someone ...

Loneliness it seems is the disease afflicting the modern society. Today, more than ever, people feel alone. Amidst the crowded street one walks on to everyday, amidst the busy offices one works into, amidst the cellphones, the chatrooms and the laptops, the barrier between oneself and others seems to be getting ever bigger and stronger each day.Why do we feel lonely? Why do we feel as though we have nobody to count on to but ourselves? Is it because of our broken families? Is it because of the homes that just aren’t there anymore? Homes that should have sheltered us from the harsh weather outside? Homes that should have made us feel secure? That we have some place to go to where we belong? Where we are awaited to be received in warmth? Where we can take off our masks and cry our tears without them being judged or condemned, but accepted and honored, loved and understood? Is it because of the dissolution of our rural communities? Communities where neighbors personally know each other? W...

Give me freedom, give me liberty no matter how much it may cost me, and I will pay for it! Set me free like a bird who is learning to fly. Let me go so that I may spread my wings!I may fall once, I may fall twice, I may fall so many times but I will not fall always. I will learn to fly! If you will not let me go, how can I be strong? How can I live? How can I learn to rise from my fall, from my mistakes? You may think seclusion shall protect me, but what you do not know is that boredom can kill me a hundred times more. It is more than stupor, it is worse than death. Let me feel the hurt and the pain so that I may enjoy comfort. Let me experience sorrow so that I may have glorious happiness! It is better than being idle: like a stone that never knew what’s on the other side of the mountain, like a shell that never knew what’s on the other side of the sea. Let me live, set me free. Let me be responsible for my own soul. Let me think, for I do have a mind. Let me feel, for I too, have a h...