Ten lessons learned in 2008

1. That the dream of an Eraserheads concert was not only possible but realizable.

August 30, 2008 will go down as a major milestone in Pinoy rock music history. What many thought would never happen again…happened. For the first time in six years, members of the band Eraserheads reunited to perform before an ecstatic crowd at the open grounds of the Bonifacio Global City.

My two older kids and I who all grew up on their music in the 90’s weren’t so lucky to have been there at that historic moment. I had to settle for the CD of the concert which eventually was released to the public. The way they played, sang and performed that night, made me feel they never really left at all.

Too bad, the physical and emotional condition of Ely Buendia took its toll on the band’s former vocalist who was rushed to the hospital that night, abruptly ending the reunion concert. Raymund Marasigan promised fans another E-heads show “as soon as possible”.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed on this one.



2. As always in traditional politics, no one has permanent friends, only permanent interests (the coup on the Senate presidency of Manny Villar and the ouster of Jose De Venecia from the House speakership).

I learned this one even when I was still a “revolutionary” college student activist from De La Salle University fighting the Marcos regime often at the streets of Manila and at the foot of the bridge at Mendiola.



3. Polar caps are melting and global warming and climate change are REAL!

I felt a strong sense of urgency regarding the protection of the environment after watching a VCD of Al Gore’s documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” last year. It’s not too late but this generation will likely determine the irreversibility of what we have done to Mother Nature.

I’ve tried to do my part, small things really like segregating our household waste and selling off recyclable materials or pulling the plug of unused electrical appliances. We’ve tried to grow vegetable plants in our small plot of land using organic fertilizer like the used coffee grounds I get for free from the local Starbucks Coffee outlet.

We have to preserve, conserve and protect what God has given us as His stewards. Unless He graciously gives us another habitable planet to go to and start anew (the nearest star system to us I believe is the Alpha Centauri – approx. 4.5 light years away), it’s the only one we got!



4. UBUNTU - Zulu maxim umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu (“a person is a person through (other) persons”)

A traditional African concept is a humanist philosophy that defines an individual in terms of his or her several relationships with other people.

I first heard about ubuntu as promoted by Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers to his players. The Celtics, champions of the 2008 NBA Finals, have been trying to live out its philosophy, even chanting the term whenever they break huddles since the start of the 2007-2008 season.



5. If you’re diabetic, take your medicines.

I was actually prescribed Metformin as early as in 2007 for my diabetes but it was last year that I really took my medicine quite seriously, taking another prescribed drug Glimepiride more regularly. At first, it was just a question of economics, not buying the medicines because of its high cost. Later, over and above the medical reimbursements provided by our office, I realized that there was really no going around it. I had to take my medicines if only to delay if not prevent the complications it unfortunately carries with it. Hopefully, there may still come a time that I can simply rely on a good diet and exercise to manage such ailment. Until that time or the doctor changes my prescription, it’s a 2 milligram tablet per day for me.



6. God works in mysterious ways.

Mid-year, I was asked to serve as acting Chapter Head of North B-1 C (Sta. Lucia chapter). For how long does He want me there? At present, I really don’t know…but some leaders have a coined term for it – “pansamantagal” (temporary for an indefinite long period of time)

In the end I try to follow God’s will, not mine.



7. The global financial crisis is basically due to greed.

From my point of view a number of people tried to get more and more money from “nothing” (not from essential products but from unwise and “too good to be true investments) – then the bubble burst.



8. While we’re at the subject matter of greed, don’t just moderate it (ZTE-NBN 16 billion peso scam) but avoid occasions of sin by proactively building foundations for good governance (improvement of quarrying operations in Pampanga under Gov. Ed Panlilio’s administration).




9. Not everything cheaper is better. (From melamine tainted products and substandard items from China)

Darn! I used to eat those Snicker caramel nougat bars I bought from a Shell Select mini-grocery in Mindanao Ave. And it wasn’t even cheap to start with! The Bureau of Food and Drug I think eventually cleared the product as melamine-free though it doesn’t really provide enough comfort.



10.……and yes, breast milk is still best for babies.