Sunday, June 20, 2010

Father's Day Special: Our Fathers – Gifts From Heaven

My Father



It’s Father’s Day! I wish my father the best not only today but all throughout his life. My father, just like any other fathers in the world, is not a perfect parent…but he is a gift from God. His upbringing style is abstract and complicated. Many times he is abhorred and misunderstood, because he is not an expert of expressing himself exactly how he thinks and feels.

He oftentimes feels this thing and expresses another thing. That makes him very confusing. Many times in my younger years, I took him for granted. Many times I acted like he did not exist.

An Imperfect Father

When I grew up to be a Christian, through the efforts of my mother, I found out that it is natural to have fathers who are not perfect, because they are gifts from God. However, we have a Father in heaven - the Father of all, Who is. Then I started not to worry because my real Father anyway is a perfect One…and for that I cannot ask for more.
Our heavenly Father tells us to respect and honor our earthly fathers. So I did try my best. Loving someone who is lovable is an easy thing. But loving an unlovable being is not at all easy. Later on, I realize that my earthly father’s imperfection is not a big issue. He has good points in him too that I and my siblings should not have taken for granted.

Compared to other fathers, I found out that he is better, especially attitude-wise and his ways of administering things so they would be fine for the family. One of the greatest gifts from God is my father’s presence in our household. It provides psychological protection and strength in the family. Studies revealed that for a child to grow normally, his emotional needs should be met and it can only be satisfied with the presence of both his father and mother. The absence of one parent can create several deficiencies in a child’s both emotional and psychological growth.

A Father’s Influence

A father, as the masculine figure influences his child’s emotional foundation. Children who are observed to be closer to their fathers are more versatile, independent and can easily adapt to wherever environment they are exposed to. They are braver and take risk more often than those who do not directly experience the love and comfort of their fathers. This explains why the loss of a father thru death, separation or divorce can have an adverse effect on their kids.

Being not so expressive, my father reminds me that though parents like him and my mother are imperfect, at least they are here. His mother, who was known to be highly intelligent and talented, left them for heaven so soon. He would have bartered her special gifts for something less, just to have her with him for a longer time. My father is now 71 years old…and thanks God, is still with us.

A Perfect Heavenly Father

As we grow up into adults ourselves, we understand that there are no perfect parents, nor perfect children. Everyone is not perfect. There is only a perfect Parent Who is watching how we behave on Earth…and directs everything that are happening here. A Father in heaven Who Himself tells us to honor our parents, and He will reward us with a life longer than the others if we would. (Exodus 20:12).

They may appear imperfect, but they are living gifts that the Living God gave us as our doting parents.

Happy Father’s Day Papot!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Raki Vega-Siu: Simple but Exceptional

I see her almost every meeting, slipping through our training center in International Marketing Group (IMG), Cebu. Oftentimes devoured in a crowd where business and financial literacy are the main obsessions, Raki Vega’s trance of serene simplicity stands out. For those who know her, recognize her gentle presence with a proud smile for having so-deserving of her valuable company. While those who do not, are obliged to gaze upon the beauty of this lass and wonder where this exceptional charm comes from.




Knowing Rochelle (her other name) always brings a smile to me. Deprived of the chance to watch TV, I never knew she was ABS-CBN’s “Born Diva” until we were formally introduced to each other by our colleagues and her teammates Rey and Ginalyn. Raki came in to our company thru our colleague, also my good friend, her husband Jon Fredrich Siu. Jon, the Chinese lad is one of our dynamic trainers and speakers, a highly intellectual engineer himself who have achievements of his own. His trademarks are his tiny eyes which are often buried in his smiles.

I saw Raki performed in Ng Khai’s anniversary in CICC in 2008 with my cousin Ma. Paz Maceren and former boss Carlos Agravante. She really is a professional performer, very entertaining, innately superb, you will never regret spending your precious time watching her. Raki Vega – singer, stage actress, model…has a lot of feathers in the cap she garnered here and abroad: One of Cebu’s Women Achievers, Most Outstanding Mandauehanon Awardee, Perlas Awards Most Outstanding Filipino, Grand Prize Winner of Cebu Pop Music Festival to mention a few.

Seeing her amongst us, she never had arrogance in any way. Despite her internationally acclaimed singing voice and feats, she does not allow her head to swell. Soft-spoken and docile as she is, she never intend to steal people’s attention. She acts like anyone in the crowd, can even sit quietly among the heterogeneous IMG students…sometimes squeezed and uncomfortable, yet you cannot hear any complain from her until the session ends. This young lady is truly a pride.

Just after voting in the recent national elections, I saw her latest video in Ma. Paz’ Facebook “We Will Rise Again”. The song is lovely. Its lyrics, harmony, Raki’s interpretation and the entire production blended perfectly well that it brought burst nationalistic sentiments and tears in me. From the start of the song, it already sounds especially interesting. Its message brings forth hope for a country as beautiful as the Philippines, to a people who have been distracted with several trials.

As I talked to Raki after that, she gives credit to those who contributed to the song especially to Jude Gitamondoc, the song composer. Her We Will Rise Again Music Video TV are credited to Ruel Antipuesto and Tess Villegas.
This masterpiece is something all Filipinos can be very proud of. It can be used as a national theme song. Very soul-touching, inspiring, uplifting...Kudos to Raki and her company!!!

Monday, May 31, 2010

University of Redlands – The Greenest of Green

A California business school

Just moved in to California? If you are eyeing to earn a university degree – either you want to get a bachelors degree, get a business degree or simply planning for a continued education, choose the top university in California – the Redlands University.


Redlands alone is known as a green bright oasis in the east of Los Angeles dry lands. Rich in culture and heritage, it is a community south of California. The University of Redlands, with its palm-filled streets, big green lawns, beautiful green scenery and red-tiled buildings in serene ambiance are most conducive to learning, making it the best California university that tops in the Forbes list.

History

An independent, private university of sciences and liberal arts which is founded in 1907, University of Redlands is committed to provide a personalized education to its students to enable them to have enlightened choices. The school focuses on curricular diversity, academic rigor and innovative teaching. Education in Redlands goes beyond academic and training. It gives the students more understanding of the world. Redland’s type of education transcends from knowledge to meaning and from information to insight, developing students to become responsible citizens and commit themselves to a lifetime of learning.

This beautiful 140-acres university in Los Angeles offers academic programs with extensive interdisciplinary programs. With a commitment to teaching, its faculty and student ratio is 1-14, which composes small classes that give personal attention to each student. This Southern California university was among the first to offer programs for the working adults. Currently, Redlands University offers an MBA online program to help even the busiest people get a masters degree.

Religious influence

Karl C. Wells, a member of the American Baptist Church, with which this Inland Empire College was associated when it was founded, donated the lot. Redlands University required church attendance of all its students when it maintained its religious orientation. After 1972 however, this Los Angeles university was already independent but still has a relationship with the American Baptist Churches USA.

Resource Box:

For more information about University of Redlands and Inland Empire College, check on http://www.redlands.edu/ and http://www.chooseredlands.com.