Tonight, Ting and I ate at Ling Nam Greenbelt 1 in Makati to get some chicken noodle soup. We wanted something hot to feel a little better after a long day.
After we were practically finished, Ting saw one black curly piece of hair at the bottom of her soup.
We asked for the bill and called the manager (she looked like the manager)to show her the stray hair.
After paying the bill, we didn't get an apology from the manager.
I was ready to leave a P5 tip.
"It's not the fault of the waiters naman."
Ting has a soft spot for waiters because her father (the late Eduardo Linsangan) was always generous with his tips and kind.
So we left a copy of Buhay Na Hindi Bitin and a P25 tip (would have been P50 but we didn't have any small bills left.)
Showing newest posts with label Philippines. Show older posts
Showing newest posts with label Philippines. Show older posts
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Chapter 1: Why am I not Content?
How are you?
"Fine!" Many of us say as a standard response.
But for many of us, the daily routine we go through—wake up, eat, work for eight to ten hours (whether its office work, field work, school work, or house work), time with friends and family, and then sleep—is actually very full. Some people even receive rewards—higher salaries, bonuses, vacations, awards—for their achievements and hard work. Pero alam mo, at one point in our lives, we all ask ourselves this question: “Bakit parang bitin pa rin and pakiramdam ko? Why am I not content?”
I have a friend who is very successful. In fact, he even won a prestigious award. He was chosen as one of the Ten Outstanding Young People of the World (TOYP). After winning this award, he told me, “It’s nice. But I feel so tired. Getting the award is great but after a few days, parang wala lang. Bitin.”
Kahit barbero ko pakiramdam niya bitin ang buhay. He and his wife both work six days a week. Because their children are finished with school already, they make enough to cover their expenses. Pero sabi niya sa akin: “Parang wala lang. Kulang kung puro trabaho lang ang ginagawa ko. Nakakapagod.”
Nakaka-depress di ba? But you know, there is a way to make your life the best and most blessed ever. Iyan ang tinatawag na “Ang Buhay na Hindi Bitin.”
Iyan ang buhay na kahit may mga problema, hindi ka nag-aalala. Wala kang worries. Hindi ka balisa. Your life is full of joy and contentment.
Paano nga ba? Parang mahirap di ba?
What Are Your Problems and Worries About?
Everyone has problems. Some have bigger problems than others but we all have them. There are problems with relationships (sa pamilya, sa kaibigan, o sa asawa), health problems, money problems, work problems. Pati problema ng iba pinoproblema! Ang mga taong walang problema so mundong ito ay iyung six-feet underground! Nakatira na sa park—Manila Memorial Park!
As if your personal problems are not enough, ang daming problema all around us na hindi naman natin ma-kontrol. Sa Pilipinas pa naman, sagana tayo sa problema. Marami tayong natural disasters—typhoons, mudslides, baha—at mga man-made disasters like oil spills at ang pag-elect sa mga corrupt at walang alam na mga politicians. Masayahin ang ugali ng Pinoy pero marami ang worried sa future. Kaya mga teachers at doctors natin nag-a-abroad na lang para maging caregiver o nurse.
Pero kahit saan ka magpunta, there are problems. In recent years, the world has experienced many kinds of crises: terrorist attacks in the US, Spain, and London; wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; earthquakes in Iran and Pakistan; tsunami in Indonesia and Thailand; SARS; bird flu; global warming.
Kakatapos lang ng isang krisis meron na naman isa pang susulpot. It is a never-ending cycle of world crises di ba?
Every year, sabi ng Newsweek, 30,000 Japanese commit suicide dahil sa depression! Sa Pilipinas, iba. Sa mga Pinoy kaunti lang ang nagpapakamatay. Tinitiis na lang ang buhay na bitin.
Pero, don’t be discouraged. Hindi iyan ang plano ng Panginoon para sa ’yo. Here’s what the Bible says:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”[1]
[1] Jeremiah 29:11, NIV
"Fine!" Many of us say as a standard response.
But for many of us, the daily routine we go through—wake up, eat, work for eight to ten hours (whether its office work, field work, school work, or house work), time with friends and family, and then sleep—is actually very full. Some people even receive rewards—higher salaries, bonuses, vacations, awards—for their achievements and hard work. Pero alam mo, at one point in our lives, we all ask ourselves this question: “Bakit parang bitin pa rin and pakiramdam ko? Why am I not content?”
I have a friend who is very successful. In fact, he even won a prestigious award. He was chosen as one of the Ten Outstanding Young People of the World (TOYP). After winning this award, he told me, “It’s nice. But I feel so tired. Getting the award is great but after a few days, parang wala lang. Bitin.”
Kahit barbero ko pakiramdam niya bitin ang buhay. He and his wife both work six days a week. Because their children are finished with school already, they make enough to cover their expenses. Pero sabi niya sa akin: “Parang wala lang. Kulang kung puro trabaho lang ang ginagawa ko. Nakakapagod.”
Nakaka-depress di ba? But you know, there is a way to make your life the best and most blessed ever. Iyan ang tinatawag na “Ang Buhay na Hindi Bitin.”
Iyan ang buhay na kahit may mga problema, hindi ka nag-aalala. Wala kang worries. Hindi ka balisa. Your life is full of joy and contentment.
Paano nga ba? Parang mahirap di ba?
What Are Your Problems and Worries About?
Everyone has problems. Some have bigger problems than others but we all have them. There are problems with relationships (sa pamilya, sa kaibigan, o sa asawa), health problems, money problems, work problems. Pati problema ng iba pinoproblema! Ang mga taong walang problema so mundong ito ay iyung six-feet underground! Nakatira na sa park—Manila Memorial Park!
As if your personal problems are not enough, ang daming problema all around us na hindi naman natin ma-kontrol. Sa Pilipinas pa naman, sagana tayo sa problema. Marami tayong natural disasters—typhoons, mudslides, baha—at mga man-made disasters like oil spills at ang pag-elect sa mga corrupt at walang alam na mga politicians. Masayahin ang ugali ng Pinoy pero marami ang worried sa future. Kaya mga teachers at doctors natin nag-a-abroad na lang para maging caregiver o nurse.
Pero kahit saan ka magpunta, there are problems. In recent years, the world has experienced many kinds of crises: terrorist attacks in the US, Spain, and London; wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; earthquakes in Iran and Pakistan; tsunami in Indonesia and Thailand; SARS; bird flu; global warming.
Kakatapos lang ng isang krisis meron na naman isa pang susulpot. It is a never-ending cycle of world crises di ba?
Every year, sabi ng Newsweek, 30,000 Japanese commit suicide dahil sa depression! Sa Pilipinas, iba. Sa mga Pinoy kaunti lang ang nagpapakamatay. Tinitiis na lang ang buhay na bitin.
Pero, don’t be discouraged. Hindi iyan ang plano ng Panginoon para sa ’yo. Here’s what the Bible says:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”[1]
[1] Jeremiah 29:11, NIV
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