Birthday Serves as a Reminder That You're Growing Older

                 by Vic Odarve.

Unlike many other festivities in our modern society, a birthday party is personal and unique. It marks the end of one chapter of one’s life and the beginning of another. It reminds the first time you saw light and wailed in your mother's arms, announcing your entrance to the world. It also serves as a reminder that another year has passed, and another chapter of your life has come to an end. Then a new horizon will appear, and you will confront whatever the future has; it's a new day. It just serves as a reminder that you are growing older!

A Birthday celebration

It is held in commemoration of someone’s day of birth; it comes once a year. Often, a gift of assorted designs decorated with the celebrant’s age highlighted the occasion. The cake is studded with lit candles, where the celebrant usually makes a silent wish and attempts to blow out the candles in one breath. In addition to family members, the celebrant invites friends and relatives to grace the occasion. Sumptuous food preparation at these celebrations includes noodles, which represent long life.

The life of an individual is likened to a book. The birthday, which comes once a year, is compared to a life chapter. The celebration closes a chapter in the celebrant’s life. All that one has done, an accomplishment for that year, is written and recorded. It is your book of life; God will open it on the judgment day. Birthdays remind you to reflect on your life's footprints; no matter how difficult or comfortable they were, they are a part of you. Examine your performance as it mirrors your journey as another chapter in your life comes to an end.

Wines for the Occasion

As one chapter of your life closes, another one opens, full of hope and promises. It is seen as the start of a new part of your life and brings new optimism and insights into your future. This is another milestone; the fact that you have survived another year is one. Maybe it is time to reflect on your life and see what needs to change; attitude, lifestyle, or focus on the good things you have not fulfilled in the previous years. Life is too short; it is the time to think again.

A birthday celebration differs from one culture to another; it depends on religion and race. Simply, this is a reminder that people are born in this world to fulfill something; why we are here and where we are going. Everyone loves birthdays, especially their own. We live today and gone tomorrow. Whether we like it or not, our birthday reminds us that we are getting older.

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Choose the Best Candidates: We Have the Final Say

         by Vic Odarve.

Elections have been the traditional process by which a people choose representatives because several candidates with varied goals desire to hold public office in a democratic society. Elections allow citizens to express themselves, invoke symbols of nationalism or patriotism, and more. Elections break up the monotony of daily life, with government officials leading our economy in a downward spiral, with the country suffering as a result. The decision to elect public officials to hold public positions is, as it always has been, yours to make and is irreversible.

Presidentiables

 Participating in the election process really invokes the symbols of nationalism or patriotism. It gives us satisfaction in our need to feel a sense of belonging to our country, the place of our birth. Hence, the events during election time that include rallies, banners, posters, and television coverage suggest the importance of our participation. Sharing a post on social media like the Facebook edifies fellow voters. The Philippines is an electoral democracy, but sometimes corruption and a lack of transparency continue to undermine democratic development. Elections have historically been marred by fraud, intimidation, and political violence. Vote-buying and vote-selling obstruct the democratic process, yet they remain pervasive in some parts of our country. Taking part in monitoring a clean and honest election is one of our nationalistic roles.

Oligarchs loan written off in 2006

 Election is the time to give people an opportunity to have their say. President Duterte approval and trust ratings remained high just weeks before he will leave the office after the May 2022 election. The first-quarter survey of PUBLiCUS Asia showed 67.2 percent of the respondents approved of the President's performance in the past 12 months. Duterte's trustworthiness rating was at 61.8 percent. This indicates that his anti-corruption and drug campaign works.

Whatever other reasons voters may have in their minds, participation in the upcoming election serves to reinforce our self-esteem and self-respect. For the neophytes in politics, voters have a chance to dig deeper if the candidates are the best applicants for the government position. He could not be the perfect candidate—but maybe the best among them. At least the voters can choose better candidates for public servants.

By arousing emotions and working toward a collective objective of improving our country by electing good-performing government officials, it gives us a chance to replace below-par performers in our governance platform. By helping our voters through education, we can select candidates that cannot be bought and fooled by big businesses, crooked government officials, and oligarchs. Graft and corruption, tax evaders, and drug lords have been the perennial problems in this country. These are the main culprits behind why our economy is on a downward trend. One thing is certain: let others also know that they must vote according to their conscience, even if they do accept money.

Graft and Corruptions Investigation

Choosing the best candidate can be a challenging job, and when none of them seems to be a perfect fit for the public position, always vote for people who will best represent and uphold biblical values. Candidates, who are usually groomed and supported by media giants and rich and powerful oligarchs, must be investigated if they have records of graft and corruption. They may be the recipients of the ill-gotten wealth, groomed by the oligarchs, supporters of the communist party, or simply good in promises but not in deeds. If they are one of them, crush them from your list. Do not vote for them, even if they are endorsed by the President. Do not sell your votes to save our country. Believe in God's supernatural touch. The Bible says,

"When we humble ourselves and pray, God will heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14)!"

Philippine politics can be toxic, frustrating, and even boring for many. But the choice to select candidates is ours and is irrevocable when the dust of all our cities incarnadines the sunsets of the world.

 

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Join the Bohol Fiesta Celebration, Please!

            By Vic Odarve

The Bohol fiesta celebration, widely ridiculed that the island will sink due to the surge of visitors during the month of May, attracts relatives from all over the world, allowing them to engage in the festivities with the locals and share their blessings for the entire year. It is, without a doubt, a unique practice that the indigenous people have followed since time immemorial.

One of the highlights during celebration

Most native Boholanos who live outside the province feel obligated to visit their ancestral places, which provides an opportunity for a family reunion and the introduction of relatives and friends. The celebration piques people's interest in returning to the island, tying their roots to where they came from while also providing time for bonding and reuniting with old friends.

Another thing they can do is go sightseeing in the places where their grandparents used to hike. It is an expanded universe. When you met up with your old friends, you never lacked for conversation, and your talk on this occasion was non-stop and wide-ranging. At that moment, it is like you are traveling to the past where you want to look back on your childhood years that were filled with events and memories.

During the month of May, villages often have colorful displays hanging along their streets, welcome signboards for visitors, and different neon lights during the celebration. There are also carnivals where people can play, enjoy different rides on Ferris wheels, or just enjoy the native foods being sold at different stalls. With open arms, the populace invites friends, relatives, and even strangers to participate in the large food preparation at homes. Highlights during celebrations are basketball and volleyball games, discos, dances, and beauty pageants and clan reunions. The festivities also include processions with floats adorned with images of each village or town’s patron saint and sometimes local beauties. Lots of fun to join!

Old folks at home

The folks have considered the fiesta celebration as part of their tradition. Fiestas serve as a thanksgiving of the community people to their patron saints for the whole year's blessings they receive; they share what they have, not just the material things, but also the joy and happiness; and they thank the Lord above all for everything He has given. They save money for a year and spend it during the fiesta just to have something to serve and celebrate. Through good and bad times, the fiesta must go on.

Visiting the places where you roamed before

Bohol Fiesta seems to shape the homing instinct of the Boholanos, and the Bohol fiesta celebration is indeed a unique one. Boholanos, residing within and outside the country, come home during the month of May to join the annual fiesta celebration. It is a never-ending journey of their lives, extending to the next generation. Seeing the happy faces could already alleviate the burden after the celebration. For foreigners, hospitality and warm receptions are worth emulating. For the senior Boholanos, the celebration meant the excitement of meeting their old friends. Because life is so short, we should live to the fullest expression of ourselves before we cross to the other side of the universe.

Join the Bohol fiesta celebration, please!

 

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