Life is too short to give way to regrets.
A young Filipino actor passed away in a vehicular accident while on his way back home from a provincial show last weekend. AJ Perez was only 18 years old, gone too soon. I admit I was a little affected by his death, not just because he was cut down at such a young age, and he was so well-loved by many people in the industry and his fans. His passing reminded me of my cousin who passed away when she was only 14 years old.
Then I got to hear about Fatima Soriano, a blind girl in the Philippines who could 'see' Mother Mary and has 'healing powers'. The parents of AJ decided to donate his corneas to Fatima after watching her interview with Boy Abunda, but it was then reported that a cornea transplant was not suitable for Fatima because her blindness is a retinal problem.
Out of curiosity, I watched the same interview of Fatima. I watched it with skepticism. I know there are certain things that can't be explained, but I would rather believe in facts than in beliefs and religions.
Fatima is a very pleasant girl, and speaks with amiability yet with affirmation. She is just a 18-year old teenager.
When asked about her 'healing powers', she was very humble and said, she was just happy to be the instrument of God. She was very certain that if you trust in Him, He will work it out for you.
I still remain skeptical about it. I have questions, and they are debatable. And I've said this before, I would not believe in any religion without having any true understanding of it.
The main objective of the interview is not to leave us in debates. I'm amazed by her humility, and the wise words that came from her during the interview.
"Let's not postpone love."
"Why waste time getting angry?"
"I 'see' Mother Mary, not with my eyes, but with my heart. What is essential, is invisible to the eyes."
Indeed, life is too short, life can be unpredictable. Probably we should be embarrassed about how we take time for granted, for an 18-year old to remind us of that.
Perhaps we can start first, with not postponing the sharing of love with the ones you care.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
A learning excursion on the Pu family history
Ahh.. procrasination has once again took control.
Anyway, I went to Malaysia and Betong (Thailand) with my family not too long ago, for the Qing Ming Festival. It has been an annual affair for my parents, because that would be the only occasion (unless somebody gets married) the Pou family gets together and pay their respects to my grandparents. And this year, all of us managed to get away from our usual responsibilities somehow, and went back as a family.
Sunrise at my grandparents' final resting place
The Pou family has a history of its own. My grandparents were born in Guangxi, China, and came down to Betong, Thailand, to eke out a living. Before that, they had separate families of their own. Probably during wartimes, families got separated and my grandparents got together and formed another family of their own. My father has 10 siblings, and 4 step-siblings.
My father was born in Betong. He was the last of the siblings born there, before the entire family moved to Penang, then to Padang Serai. Some of his siblings came down to Singapore to work, but only my father stayed here, and thus my existence. :)
His step-siblings from my grandfather still live in Guangxi, while the step-siblings from my grandmother live in Betong.
Betong town
This gathering was a huge one, because my step-aunt from Guangxi came too, and all of us went to visit my step-aunts in Betong. This was my first time meeting all of my step-aunts.
But the most amazing thing was, I got to learn that one of my step-aunts joined the communists when she was only 20 years old, fighting against the then-Malaya government. She shared with us many stories, and I'm so privileged to hear these rare experiences of living in the jungles, from the woman herself. And she still lives near the jungles. :)
Probably the most valuable moment in this trip was that the Pou family got to spend time together, even if it was only a fraction of us who went to Betong for that 2 days. It was also then my father told us of his family stories.
The largest mailbox in the world
I remembered I've been to Betong once, when I was a young kid. I remembered seeing the red mailbox, visiting the temple and playing with chicks with my other cousins. Time to dig out all the old photos again.
Wat Phutthathiwat
But I guess this time round, it was much more fulfilling to know about the legacy that my grandparents had left us.
Langkawi morning
We did side-trips to Langkawi and Penang too. We rented a car and drove around the little island of Langkawi. There was not much to explore, only the Sky Bridge and the Telaga Tujuh falls were worth going.
Langkawi Sky Bridge
Telaga Tujuh falls
My father spent some of his childhood years in Penang, so this trip was also for him to reminisce his past. He loves to walk, even with so many different kinds of the local delicacies we have eaten, I don't think we have gained any weight. My father would simply explore the entire Georgetown on our reliable feet.
Cheong Tze Fatt Mansion
Inside a Chinese temple
This trip wasn't as bad as I imagined. I am so used to travelling independently, and I don't have the tolerance for my parents' constant naggings. Surprisingly, it was still endurable, not that they have been yakking non-stop. Ha. And it was all expenses paid for. :)
A little part of me wishes for another family vacation like this, to learn more about my own family. Perhaps we could start working on 'The Chronicles of the Pou Family - Part 1'. Haha.
Anyway, I went to Malaysia and Betong (Thailand) with my family not too long ago, for the Qing Ming Festival. It has been an annual affair for my parents, because that would be the only occasion (unless somebody gets married) the Pou family gets together and pay their respects to my grandparents. And this year, all of us managed to get away from our usual responsibilities somehow, and went back as a family.
Sunrise at my grandparents' final resting place
The Pou family has a history of its own. My grandparents were born in Guangxi, China, and came down to Betong, Thailand, to eke out a living. Before that, they had separate families of their own. Probably during wartimes, families got separated and my grandparents got together and formed another family of their own. My father has 10 siblings, and 4 step-siblings.
My father was born in Betong. He was the last of the siblings born there, before the entire family moved to Penang, then to Padang Serai. Some of his siblings came down to Singapore to work, but only my father stayed here, and thus my existence. :)
His step-siblings from my grandfather still live in Guangxi, while the step-siblings from my grandmother live in Betong.
Betong town
This gathering was a huge one, because my step-aunt from Guangxi came too, and all of us went to visit my step-aunts in Betong. This was my first time meeting all of my step-aunts.
But the most amazing thing was, I got to learn that one of my step-aunts joined the communists when she was only 20 years old, fighting against the then-Malaya government. She shared with us many stories, and I'm so privileged to hear these rare experiences of living in the jungles, from the woman herself. And she still lives near the jungles. :)
Probably the most valuable moment in this trip was that the Pou family got to spend time together, even if it was only a fraction of us who went to Betong for that 2 days. It was also then my father told us of his family stories.
The largest mailbox in the world
I remembered I've been to Betong once, when I was a young kid. I remembered seeing the red mailbox, visiting the temple and playing with chicks with my other cousins. Time to dig out all the old photos again.
Wat Phutthathiwat
But I guess this time round, it was much more fulfilling to know about the legacy that my grandparents had left us.
Langkawi morning
We did side-trips to Langkawi and Penang too. We rented a car and drove around the little island of Langkawi. There was not much to explore, only the Sky Bridge and the Telaga Tujuh falls were worth going.
Langkawi Sky Bridge
Telaga Tujuh falls
My father spent some of his childhood years in Penang, so this trip was also for him to reminisce his past. He loves to walk, even with so many different kinds of the local delicacies we have eaten, I don't think we have gained any weight. My father would simply explore the entire Georgetown on our reliable feet.
Cheong Tze Fatt Mansion
Inside a Chinese temple
This trip wasn't as bad as I imagined. I am so used to travelling independently, and I don't have the tolerance for my parents' constant naggings. Surprisingly, it was still endurable, not that they have been yakking non-stop. Ha. And it was all expenses paid for. :)
A little part of me wishes for another family vacation like this, to learn more about my own family. Perhaps we could start working on 'The Chronicles of the Pou Family - Part 1'. Haha.
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Another short respite
Ah.. Another short respite, that came just in time. A call for duty as a family member of the Pu/Pou.
Afterwhich, it will be back to piling of workload again. Woot.
Afterwhich, it will be back to piling of workload again. Woot.
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