Life is a Struggle

         By Vic Odarve

Life is a struggle whether one is poor, rich, and powerful. Poor people, which constitute the largest segment of the world’s population, have to struggle in order to meet both ends …foods, shelter, and education. Wealthy and the bigwigs of society have to fight drugs, alcohol, relationship, sickness, and many more. World leaders, too, powerful as they look to be, have to struggle for the survival of their leadership due to political adversaries, deteriorating economy, and failed foreign policy. Whatever the colors and society, people must have to struggle in order to survive and prosper!

         Life in rural areas

According to a UN expert, nearly one-fifth of the world population or 1.4 billion people cannot fulfill the most basic needs every day. A few decades back poverty is concentrated in rural areas in most developing countries, but a recent study showed that urban poverty is also increasing as fast as cities are growing. These areas are refugees of drug addicts, criminals, and many epidemics that ravage a nation wholesome environments. Inadequate access to safe water, poor sanitation, overcrowding, and insecure residential status make poor people’s life miserable!

Life struggle does not spare the rich and famous. Although not on basic needs, they suffer in life lingering sickness, drugs, alcohol, relationships, and scandals. Singer Celine Dion is struggling in pain trying to make the best of last Christmas with cancer-stricken husband Rene, who is now battling throat cancer for the last two years. Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, had reached the pinnacle of success in the business world but ended his life struggling with pancreatic cancer in 2011.  A few years back, the singer-actor Chan, son of Jackie Chan pleaded guilty in a Beijing court for providing a venue for drug users and was sentenced to six months in jail. Life is a struggle, poor and rich alike!

President Rody Duterte

History always reminds us that in order to survive and sustain their autocratic governance leaders have to struggle to stay in power. In countries like Russia, North Korea, and China, the leaders have to consolidate their power with super-wealthy backers, torture political opponents in jail at a moment’s notice, and maintain secret agents. At home, for example, Duterte also struggles over his foreign policy in China and the United States, a problem on metro manila’s traffic, and EJK’s over the war on drugs. These problems are causing the political oppositions to go against the president, promote jeepney’s strike, and various human rights demonstrations. As always in the history of world leaders, their lives are also in deep trouble and struggling in pain.

In the academic world, both professors and students struggle to learn and adopt the new technology the world has to offer. In order to shorten the academic years for a college degree, most colleges and universities adopted the 3 terms period per year schooling.

My Engineering Students-African University

Thus, professors, as well as the students, have to cope up with the completion of the syllabi for the given time frame…like feeling a huge rhinoceros are running after them at their backs. It is the modern world coupled with modern gadgets and inventions that imparting knowledge to our students become faster and easier. But we have to struggle so as not to be left behind.

Whether we like it or not, there is no way to avoid the struggles in life. And in every struggle, there is heartbreak, emotional trauma, and setback. But all these things can make people stronger and better.

Believe it or not, the human struggle ends when life ends.

 Video link

https://youtu.be/pY9C18Nx85Q 

https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC5kFbYndPWG5-PrjCZF4SRA

or click the left upper icon of my picture for more poems.

 

Drink Moderately, Please!

     By Vic Odarve

While doctors confirmed that alcoholic drinks have benefits to human health, they often have a precautionary warning to the users… drink moderately. Research shows that moderate drinking does have health benefits physically and mentally; drinking in groups promotes enjoyment and friendship, but if taken excessively, alcohol destroys lives. Drink moderately, please!

            Wines for all occasions

In order to have some substantial health benefits from alcoholic beverages, one must have a moderate alcohol consumption. The study shows that a moderate intake can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, protect against erectile dysfunction, helps prevent against the common cold, and in the process may lengthen your life.  Moderate amounts of alcohol raise levels of ‘good’ cholesterol, which are associated with greater protection against heart disease; reduced the chances of erectile dysfunction by 25 to 30 percent. Further research indicates that moderate drinkers were 23 percent less likely to develop cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia. A stunning health benefits!

               Old folks at home during fiesta

Since time immemorial, humans have been enthralled by alcohol.  Alcoholic drinks go hand in hand with many important celebrations such as birthdays, vacations, and anniversaries. The wine has been used as all sorts of stabilizing social purposes; promote social interaction, and become a part of the modern lifestyle. Few pleasures in life are more satisfying and memorable than sharing a splendid bottle of wine or cocktail around a dinner table filled with friends. It is a hallmark of almost all of the get-together party and other sorts of gathering; hence drinking wine facilitates social bonding. A word of caution, ”drink moderately”, in order to enjoy with your friends and loved ones.

Drinking beer during the birthday party

An alcoholic excess has also meant appalling human wretchedness… alcohol has long shown us to be destructive. Excessive alcohol intake may destroy your life. There is an increased risk of developing diseases such as liver damage (cirrhosis), damage to the pancreas, certain cancers, heart problems, sexual problems and other conditions. Sometimes heavy drinkers strain a longtime friendship when friends decide to socialize with you less often because you misbehave when got drunk; or behave in an antisocial way. A dark side of people who often gets drunk!

In general, the more you drink, the greater the risk. Even the Scripture condemned heavy drinkers of alcoholic beverages. Noah became drunk; the result was immorality and family trouble. Lot was so drunk that he did not know what he was doing; this also led to immorality. Genesis 9:20-38.

Drink moderately, please!

you tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPOe6bTj35Q&t=272s

or click my circular picture icon upper left at you tube for more poems.

https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC5kFbYndPWG5-PrjCZF4SRA

High School Reunions; a Centrifugal Force of Modern Life

           By   Vic  Odarve

High school reunions are actually a centrifugal force of our modern life. It is a get-together affair that takes a whole new meaning as we get older, a gathering to reminisce and to relive the fun and feel that we had experienced in high school, and a rare chance to spend some moments with our classmates who were a part of the story of our life. With all indications, high school reunions are like a centrifugal force pulling our classmates to meet together.

Central Visayan College, Jagna, Bohol Batch ’73

Yes, time passes differently as we get older and class reunion takes a whole new meaning. As the person’s age is over 60 years, we are merely aging, physically and mentally. In our long struggle with time, the get-together affair seems to be a clock to stop the aging process. The excitement and renewed camaraderie that could result from attending the reunion may bring us to back in time. Singing at videoke, story-telling of the bygone days, and going to the beach together may put the time to a standstill. Of course, some of our classmates are older than you would like them to be, and you, too, realize that you are also in your advancing age and appearance.

The gathering allows us to reminisce and relive those thrilling days of our high school days. It is joyful to reunite with the girls and boys with whom you shared the first love and first lusts. Some also retold stories about our teachers who were good, and a handful of teachers we never forget. We never forget the teachers known for having a scary stage persona during classroom lessons. But to the more serious classmates during our high school, they never forget those teachers that pulled them from the depths of abysmal academic achievement into one of the top-performing students.

Picnic time, Batch ’73

The reunions also offer us a rare chance to spend a moment with our classmates after many years of not seeing with each other. It is just a way of revisiting your friends that you have lost track after graduating in high school. Meeting them is more significant in our life simply because they were part of our life story and we were a part of theirs. This is the time to know that some were already gone while others are still living. The usual practice of giving a souvenir such as T-shirt simply a memento that once upon a time we have to share some moments with our high school classmates.

Although in our modern times we have several social media such as Facebook to find our high school classmates’ whereabouts at our fingertips, reunions are more powerful to reconnect, relive our memories, and see our classmates face to face. Nowadays, high school reunions are enjoying a resurgence in popularity.

Reunion is indeed a centrifugal force uniting our classmates. As our life is a journey, spending time in a reunion is a moment to cherish before we will finally reunite with the Holy One sitting on the throne.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eboY-Pe7G0M        or 

https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC5kFbYndPWG5-PrjCZF4SRA

Loosen Your Toxic Friends

                      By Vic Odarve

If they amplify problems in your life instead of giving solutions, it is now time to loose these toxic friends; they are opportunistic, disrespect, and insecure.

Toxic friends are opportunistic; looks so pitiful and sorrowful when asking help. But once your help is over, they abandon your friendship and never look back. They are on your side when you have something to give, and do opposite when you have nothing to share. They never feel obliged to render help when you need them most;instead, they do manipulative moves to achieve their ends. Loosen now your toxic friends before it is too late to discover!

This beautiful scenery allows you to forget your toxic friends.

They treat your friends with disrespect. They exploit the mistakes of others, even pointless; often make unsolicited remarks about others shortcomings during group meetings, acquaintances, and associations. They want your friends to become a target of ridicule for a sole purpose of propagating jokes; make them as a source of their enjoyment. It is their pleasure to see their friends committing mistakes or misfortunes. But if somebody will do the same to them, say, a joke on their error or mistake, they will confront the person like a wounded tiger. If your friend does this to others chances are he will not respect you, too. A good friend will treat everyone with respect.

Toxic friends are jealous and insecure. He cannot sleep comfortably if he cannot fit your new iPhone, iPads, i-pods, etc. He feels being left behind. In a society, where bigwigs and famous personalities are adorned, they also want to be the chosen, the beloved, and the esteemed. If they failed, the natural instinct is to tear the friends down. Though act as a good friends in the daily meeting, deep down in their heart they feel devastated that you’ve overtaken them in some areas of life. These friends take the pride in relating how he did successfully in some illegal activities, putting their friends down, and idolize the corrupt and famous personalities.

Friendship is like a sunset. It has an end.

If these telltale signs are clear to you it may be the time to loosen your partnership with them gradually. If you could not ward off getting rid of the group association for some reasons, the best way is to minimize your acquaintances.

These demonstrate the dark sides of human nature. Toxic friends may just bring you heartaches, sickness, and endless misery. It may bring you unwanted drama in your life and may end yourself in a disaster. Spend with your friends, which you think are your model whose solid character as true friends brings you a positive outlook in your life. These toxic friends, wicked and living in the darkness as they are, must be loosened. The Bible tells us so, 2 Corinthians 6:14-15

14 Do not make unsuitable covenants with those who do not believe: can justice walk with wickedness? Or can light coexist with darkness,

15 and can there be harmony between Christ and Satan? What union can there be between one who believes and one who does not believe?

 Get rid of toxic friends. Cut them loose! They are not meant to be a member of your tribe. Toxic friends drag you down.

    or click my circular picture above for more videos

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When the Baby Smiles

                         By Vic Odarve

When a baby smiles, it brings more than a smile. It is a smile that develops a feeling of attachment and bonding. Unlike all other smiles, a smile from a child is more powerful and appealing. It is contagious, that is, it has an ability to make others also smiling. Children are gifts from God and their smile captures the tenor of your day.

The baby’s smile can change your mood of the day

When a baby smiles we can’t help but smile back at them. There is something strange developed within your heart; a feeling of connection and bonding. This sensation plays an important role in their development. They felt secure and safe. Smiles are their way of communications and relay some important information. Your payback smile, too, helps the babies learn and understand about the world around them. Thus, slowly and surely, connection and bonding develop… a bond more powerful than two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons forming a molecule.

What makes their smiles more powerful and enchanting are their innocent and fascinating faces to look at. Their simple, sincere, and straightforward smile can attract more than admiring looks. Their cheeks rise and the skin around their eyes

A plain, straightforward, and innocent smile

bunches up… a true feature of a true smile. Their smiles are also bliss for all those seeking happiness of other people. Unlike adults whose smiles are often fakes and superficial, children offer perfect smiles. Going back to our old pictures while we were still young and carefree, and eager to explore the world is itself a source of entertainment. Our smiles, then, were once powerful and fascinating… showing to the world our innocence!

Children have an ability to make others also smiling. Their gestures and smiles are very interesting, especially to observe if they are doing funny things in a crowd. It can make your day smiling and forget the daily toxic stresses. It alters your depressive mood to happier one and sets the tenor of your day. “To see the kids’ smile on their face, it brings a smile to my face too,” said Hagler, who has been involved with the foundation for children for over a decade. Over the long term, smiling can have a positive effect on our well-being; improve our health, perception at work, social life, and feel happier and less stressed. A good smile can help release emotions, especially those emotions that might bottle up inside our heart.

Therefore, children’s smiles are something that connects us together to their world; so unique and interesting that it makes also others smiling. Their smiles are more than a smile!

 or see you tube"Balak Bol-anon" for more poems.

First Love Finds its Way in Their Senior Years

                         By Vic Odarve

In the far-flung village of the province, Carlito felt in love deeply with his love at first sight and classmate Maura. As both were young and carefree, their love blossomed. Later, their parents tried to constraint some of their activities due to their studies and their young age. After high school they went on separate schools for further education. Both concentrated on their college courses and completed. The handsome and dashing Carlito obtained a job in Manila while Maura, an independent young woman, overflowing with potential, found a job in Middle East. Since then, they had no communication with each other.

San MIguel Academy-Mayana

Years passed, and they both married other people, yet neither forgotten their first love. Whether it is by fate or rare chance, at their senior’s stage at 61 years old, both their spouses had died.

Lately, Carlito received an invitation letter from a longtime friend to be one of the sponsors of their sole daughter’s wedding to be held at their village during fiesta celebration. As eager to visit his homeland for long years and without hesitation, he accepted and appreciated the invitation. Unexpectedly, as the wedding ceremony proceeded, he instantly saw Maura as one of the honored guests invited by the family. Without hesitation after the affair, he ran up to Maura with a heart beating, and said, Oh, my dear, how are you? “I am fine, how about you?”, replied Maura with a smile.

Village Dancing- Bayle Tibook Kalibutan

While dining, the two enjoyed an ample time talking with each other. Reminiscing the past when they were merely teenagers, their schooling years, and their marital lives. Maura candidly confessed that when she accepted his love, it was like feeling her stomach of fluttering butterflies when he looked at him. Carlito also confided that with her striking model looks and the way she danced with someone, he felt jealous. Both seemed laughing delightedly but inside their conscious minds played the pleasant memories of their yesteryears. They never forgot their first love. First love never dies.

The Village of Mayana

With that coincidental meeting, he knew precisely that he would marry her and decided to pursue her properly. Before they departed, Carlito whispered to her, “My darling, I’ve been waiting for you for so long. You are my wife and my life.” To her astonishment, her heart fluttered. Maura felt the unusual feeling considered to engulf her and then she fondly remembered her first love. They, however, decided to get back together in the same year.

They remarried not long after and live in the village of Mayana to the delight of the old folks and their previous classmates. It captures the beauty of whimsical first love perfectly.

You are never too old to find love. As if by fate, their first love finds its way in their senior years.

https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC5kFbYndPWG5-PrjCZF4SRA