Frank Q.

Before you drink your coffee. Kindly read this.

A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective careers, got together for a visit with their old university professor. The conversation soon turned to complaints about the endless stress of work and life in general…

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen and  soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal - some plain, some expensive, some quite exquisite. Quietly he told them to help themselves to some fresh coffee…

When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the old professor quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently address the small gathering…

”You may have noticed that all of the nicer looking cups were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper ones. While it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is actually the source of much of your stress-related problems…”

”Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we drink. What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you instinctively went for the best cups… Then you began eyeing each other’s cups….”

”Now consider this: Life is coffee. Jobs, money, and position in society are merely cups. They are just tools to shape and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not truly define nor change the quality of the Life we live…Often, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us… God brews the coffee, but he does not supply the cups.”

I’m just wondering what’s in your fancy cup. Hopefully it is not empty.

Enjoy your coffee!

The happiest people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything…So please remember: Live simply. Love generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly.

Working in a law firm is very demanding. In order to thrive in a law firm, I have to work even on weekends and holidays. In law "Time is gold. Time is money."  This is what we called "billable hours".

But my life is not just about law. I also find time for my other interest - MUSIC. During weekends, I’m taking my voice lesson, song writing, recording, band practice and gigs . This is my  way of giving some sense of balance into my life.

I would like to share some of my original  composition.

CHASING TIME (copyrighted 2006) - I wrote this song at the time when I was pretty stressed out from work and questioned the way my life was going.

Song Title:  Chasing Time (Lyrics excerpts)

• You see life as a constant battle. Every day you fight and struggle. To live a better life. To have a brighter future. Can’t afford to look behind. Rushing in to be the first in line.

• Life is not a race. Take it slow you’ll be amazed. Don’t worry. Don’t hurry. Don’t throw your life away.

Chorus:

• Stop and think about your life. Listen to the voice inside. Have you ever seen all the colors of the rainbow? Have ever felt and touched the winter snow?

• You’ve been chasing time. But you’re still behind. You’re working hard like crazy. Still your life is fading away. Are you happy with the way your life is going? You’ve been chasing time…

There’s no celebration like ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL in Aklan. It’s been 10 years since the last time I stomped my feet and joined the Ati-atihan merry making in Aklan Philippines. I truly missed the beating of the drums, street dancing, fantastic costumes and of course the nightly public partying and drinking.  It was a crazy but safe fun. I’ll be going back in the Philippines next year solely for the 2008 Ati-atihan celebration. For the time being, we celebrated last Saturday our own version of Ati-atihan festival here in Vancouver Canada inside the gymnasium with drums and costumes of course (see pix).  For all the locals and tourists who will be celebrating the Ati-atihan festival next weekend in Aklan Philippines - Hala Bira! Puera Pasma!. Viva kay Sr. Sto. Nino!!!!