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Learning to fly

The Bird Chronicles #1

The bird said to the tree:

“Because you lent me your branch, I was able to learn how to fly.”

The tree answered,

“No, my friend. It is in your nature to fly. You didn’t need my branch.”

And the bird said,

“I needed it to know there is something I could come back to,

No matter how many times I fall or how far away I soar.”

Some things I wish I had known in high school

( Excerpt from a speech delivered to high school students in Ilocos Norte, Philippines in 2017)

For the young ones.

I am by no means an expert on life, but I have the benefit of more than 40 years of experience and some beautiful life lessons that I wish someone would have told me when I was your age.  It would have benefited me a great deal if I had known these when I was younger. I summarize them in 3 points that I hope will help you as you navigate this increasingly chaotic world.

The first thing I want to say is this: always carry within your heart the conviction that you have the right to be here, to be who you are, and to be who you want to be. Never let anyone make you feel less of a human being just because you are different or you do not conform to the expectations of other people or of society. Whoever you are, whatever kind of family you come from, however you look like in the outside, whatever your gender preferences, each and every one of us has the right to be here and to be who we are and be proud of it.

Continue reading Some things I wish I had known in high school

The little tree

Once there was a little tree 

planted beside an old apple tree.

It was growing beautifully,

and they both knew she would

soon be cut down when the holidays arrive. 

One day the old tree said:

“Are you scared and angry that

they will soon cut you to serve as their Christmas tree?” 

The little tree answered:

“But that is what I am here for. We were both planted for a purpose.

You to give fruits and shade, and me to give joy on Christmas.

We are both here to make others happy. 

I may die afterwards, but I would have served my purpose.

Isn’t that what matters?”

You are awesome.

Friends, this is my wish for you. I wish for you to believe in your awesomeness, wherever you are, whatever you have become, whatever you want to be. I do not wish for all your days to be sunny, but for you to have the kind of inner sunshine that can see you through dark and gloomy days. I wish for you to have the kind of faith that keeps on pulling you up no matter how low your rock bottom is, and no matter how many times. Because you were made to rise, and to be the awesome beings that you were always meant to be.

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