Today, June the 19th, is Father’s Day, and there are so many things that I wish to say, and share, about my dad — but each time I start to describe how awesome he is, I realize that words do not give him justice.

Anyway, the other day, I was thinking about what to give him, because I know that he often gets excited about receiving gifts — don’t get me wrong, my dad is not materialistic, but he just appreciates the gesture behind the act of gift-giving.

And after contemplating on what the best gift for him would be, I settled with a motorcycle navigator, because if you must know, my dad is not one to admit that he is unfamiliar with where he is when he is driving. Perhaps you can charge it to arrogance (just kidding dad, I love you, hehe), but he never owns up to his driving blunders.

Anyway, I know that this will be an awesome gift for Father’s Day, but just the same, and even when it is cliche, I feel very lucky to have him as my dad. Because even when my present state (read: a beggar) is very financially-taxing, he has constantly assured me that he will help me sustain.

Happy Father’s day Dad, and I will never tire of telling you LAVO!

Just as I was about to sleep last night, my phone was ringing incessantly.

With my eyes half-closed, I looked at who was calling me at 11 in the evening. The illuminated screen told me that it was my high school friend, Dawn, and thinking it was an important phone call, I immediately willed myself to be fully awake and greeted her with a screechy hello.

The first thing I heard was a sob, and then finally she opened herself up: Friend, I don’t think I will ever find someone who will love me for who I am.

After hearing this, I heaved a sigh of relief. Dawn, apparently and from experience, is sad again — because after so many unsuccessful attempts at being in a relationship with several men, she is once again single. And mending, it seemed, a broken heart again for the umpteenth time.

I quickly comforted her, and told her that perhaps, Mr. Right has not appeared on her radar yet. That she should stop looking for love, and she should let love find her instead, because apparently, she can be quite gullible when it comes to the men that she chooses to trust. I even told her to meet singles online, because at this day and age when everything can practically be had with just a click of a button, it would not be a very far-fetched idea that Mr. Right is just somewhere around the cyber corner, patiently waiting for her to finally meet him.

And mind you, singles chat can even expand one’s choices, since more often than not, you can choose to filter the people that you choose to interact with based on certain traits and attributes that you prefer. Dawn is a conservative Christian — so she can easily look for religious men who share the same beliefs as her, so her much-elusive happily-ever-after can happen sooner than later.

In the midst of my musings, I marveled at how the internet has become the main interactive place where practically everything can be had — including love apparently. For at this day and age where mismatches seem to be more common than perfect fits, the internet can be the emancipating medium that can let people meet their soulmates and be happy ever after.

After a bit of pep talk and comforting words, Dawn’s sorrow finally subsided, as I finally had the night all to myself.

It felt good to help someone in distress before calling it a day.

My brother, who was recently assigned by my dad to man the family business in Bacolod City, told me that he plans to jumpstart (or perhaps reinvigorate is the right term) the business there.

It has been only two weeks since he arrived there, but already, he has been busily thinking of ways to create a buzz in the local scene. For one, he plans to hold a party inviting the prominent political personalities in Bacolod. For another, he also intends to hire attractive promo girls who can lure prospective customers into our store.

The last time we talked, he even told me that he plans to come up with custom-made stuff, such as a personalized pen, custom-made bags and what-not.

I personally thought this was a good idea since this was an unconventional way of advertising, and unlike the traditional modes of advertising schemes, personalizing items often go a long way in terms of product promotion and endorsement.

People right now, if you been observant lately, have become wary of tarpaulin-based advertisements, because the generic advertising modes often repel people who tend to look for that personal touch when it comes to the products that they are looking for.

Moreover, these items can reach different places, thereby increasing the visibility of what you have to offer, and significantly expanding the customer base that your business establishment has.

I am personally excited to attend the shindig that he has prepared for our family business — but just the same, I just hope that the family business will be greatly benefited by the initiatives that he intends to spearhead there.

All the best, brother!

My brother, who recently worked in Dubai as an accountant, has been assigned by my dad to man the family business in Bacolod.

And even when he is already 30, sometimes, we still miss him in the household. I guess you can’t reason with sentimentality.

You see, all 6 of us have been close growing up, and even when the world requires you to grow up, have a job, raise children, and leave the ‘home’, I still find it hard to do let go at times.

Anyway, enough with the emo stuff.

Last weekend, with his bag in tow (and his cute little shih tzu that we have all grown to love, booo), he went to Bacolod, and he will be resettling there, managing the business for my dad’s behalf.

I could just imagine that the first thing that he needs to do there, except tidying up his room and settling his living arrangements of course, is to purchase office supplies since he will be immersed in a new work environment.

But given how resolute he can be when his heart is in its right place, I know that he can slug it out there, and run the family business smoothly.

We will just miss him — but in the absence, we just need to be consoled by our knowledge that this is what’s best not just for us, but more importantly, for him as well.

After a couple of days of endless travelling, queuing, pleading, and trading my soul to the devil, I have finally reached the proverbial finish line.

I have been stamped enrolled — but compared to what I expected to feel back when everything was a big hot mess and not a semblance of order can be deduced from my intention of pursuing a law degree, I think I don’t feel as ecstatic as I should be.

But before you accuse me of being flippant and fickle-minded with what I want, listen to what I have to say first:

I think the anxiety is warranted, given the gargantuan task that awaits. Being in law requires commitment, and sustaining this commitment necessitates hard work, determination and an unflinching resolve to slug it out for the next four years or so.

Just last Sunday, just to share with you, I was on the brink of a breakdown because I felt, as I lit a candle at the Cathedral here in Dumaguete, that disappointment is not an option this time around. I scoured for support from friends, and I even asked what their thoughts were about my decision to finally pursue my greatest childhood dream.

Most of them gave me positive feedback, but I was still a little bit adamant, because perhaps, they were constrained by the shared friendship, or probably, they felt the intensity of my self-doubts that they needed to rescue me, instead of let me helplessly sink further down.

Amid the incoherence of my thoughts, I remember telling them about my worries since for the past few years or so, I have been perennially weighed down by my failures. And that if the pattern continues, I will once again end up disappointing people.

Until one of my friends shook me back to my senses when she told me that:

“Yes, anxiety is expected since this is requires commitment. But don’t let this eat you alive before you even start.”

True that.

Maybe all this is spurred on by my propensity to overthink simple situations.

I can do this.

I will definitely do this.