Educate. Empathize. Coexist. - Tazjana Lebrilla

(This blog is 19th of a long series of profiles on friends and acquaintances I have met in my life journey, and 3rd on my former Montessori students. I invited them to share my spot because I believe in synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We are parts of the whole, and together we are indeed great!)

(Photo by Guisseppe Gumban)

Tazjana and her sisters were my students when I taught at Iloilo Montessori International School. I remember her as serene, soft-spoken, and almost shy. Her parents were peaceful, quiet, and gracious in every manner. Now, many years later, it is no wonder that Tazj has retained her serenity in the midst of what she sees as a divided world.

***

Dot: What can you remember about your Montessori childhood?

Tazjana: I have a lot of memories from my Montessori childhood and every single one of them is dear to my heart. It would take a while to mention all of them but in general, I remember preparing every morning, feeling like I was going out to play - not go to school. Montessori taught me in a way that made learning feel more like playing. They made learning fun! I would go to school excited for the day ahead as it was filled with building blocks, sandboxes, painting, library time, show and tell, running around in the playground, and even answering exciting worksheets. I remember going to a restaurant to learn about fine dining. I cried because I ate so slow; everybody else finished before me, ha, ha, ha! But even then, I still enjoyed that experience. I learned so much while having the time of my life.


Dot: Did your parents make any reference to your Montessori education while you were growing up?

Tazjana: My parents have always taken pride in the fact that I started learning and still continue to learn in a nonconventional way. They believe I have Montessori to thank for this. While they do place value on grades and such, they always want to make sure that I approach everything I do with a curious mind and a passionate heart. They didn’t pressure or police my sisters and me. Thus, we never placed too much pressure on ourselves to be whatever society expects us to be and allowed ourselves to drift towards what moves us. We developed a love for other aspects of learning such as music and the arts. I must say, all those acting and dancing performances in Montessori were really great experiences that inculcated culture in us.


Dot: What are your interests or passions?

Tazjana: I love writing. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I write short stories, poems, etc. I admit that for quite some time, as I grew up, I pushed it aside and turned to writing research papers and journals instead, ha, ha, ha! However, the passion for writing is always there. I also enjoy a lot of sports. I am a big basketball and football fan. I used to play, but health concerns have since prevented me from playing. I remain an avid sports fan. I just love discovering new things - may it be about food, places, or people. I love hearing people’s stories and finding out ways to make a difference in their lives.


Dot: In terms of career, advocacy, mission, or education, are you now doing what you really love? Can you tell me about it?

Tazjana: Yes, absolutely. I recently graduated from Ateneo de Manila University with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. I envision myself being an agent for change in the mental health aspect of our country. I’m currently working as a psychologist in training in a Psychology center in Manila and would like to specialize in training and doing therapy on kids and adolescents. I guess it could be seen as both my career and advocacy. I know the space for growth is still big and I have a long way to go but I have a sanguine view to all of it. I love children and I believe their critical years should be given the utmost attention. I want to guide them as they grow up and their mental health is my main concern. I am passionate about this and I believe this is where I’m meant to be.


Dot: What wonderful things are you seeing in the world now?

Tazjana: To be quite honest, one would have to exert a bit of mental effort to see wonderful things in the world right now especially since bad news seem to be coming from all fronts. I’m chagrined every time I see hateful acts especially when the media magnifies them. However, there are little joys and victories that are worth noting. I believe, despite the seemingly bigger divide in the world now, there are people who continue to fight for other people’s rights, may it be for men, women, LGBT, people of a different race and/or religion. The voice of judgment, discrimination, and violence has been loud, but more recently, the voice of love and acceptance is becoming increasingly louder. Only a number of people are blind sheep running toward a cliff. The rest of us are fighting until the end until love and acceptance is the norm. This strengthens my faith in humanity.


Dot: Given a chance to be a world leader, what would be your greatest work? Why?

Tazjana: My interest in mental health sprung from my concern for children. For me, it has and will always be for the children. Therefore, I will consider it my greatest work if I am able to give each child a home, proper nourishment, a caring family, and the assurance of education. If not all, as many as I will be able to. Children’s mental health is greatly influenced and shaped by the things around them. If I will be able to make these factors as stable as possible for them, then I will be happy.


Dot: If the universe gave you $500,000 next week, how will you use it?

Tazjana: First and foremost, I would give a good part of all that money to my parents. Who I am and whatever I have achieved in my life is greatly because of them. They deserve all the comforts of the world so if I can give them that, I would do so in a heartbeat. I would also help my siblings with whatever they may need. Basically, family comes first for me. Secondly, I would invest in a good home, a car, the necessities of life. It has been a dream of mine to build my own home. I would invest the rest in a Psychological clinic for therapy and assessment and devote the rest of my life to seeing this clinic grow. This is my goal in life and I would love to see it come to fruition.


Dot: What message can you give to parents? Educators? Leaders? Young people?

Tazjana: There is so much power in your hands. I implore you to use it wisely. Please cultivate the culture of education in whatever way, shape or form that may take. Educate the future generation because there is no greater gift one can receive than education. This is every individual’s greatest tool in creating a good future for themselves. It will forever be in their arsenal. This is also what will create a more united and peaceful world. When people are educated, when they are given the ability to discern and take responsibility for their words and actions, they are able to see things outside of their own line of sight. Thus, they are able to practice open-mindedness and empathy. We need more empathy. It’s humanity’s last line of defense from the horrors of this world. It will make the world a better and safer place to live in. Educate. Empathize. Coexist.

***

Tazjana, or Tanya to her friends, can be contacted via

Email: tzjnlebrilla@yahoo.com

Twitter: toitanya

Instagram: tzjnlbrll

"MONERGY = Money + Energy" - Danielle Alexandria

(This blog is 18th of a long series of profiles on friends and acquaintances I have met in my life journey. I invited them to share my spot because I believe in synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We are parts of the whole, and together we are indeed great!)

(Photo by Steve Blackburn of YYZ Events)

As a life coach gearing up for professional and purposive coaching, I had an unresolved, uncomfortable idea about charging money for my service. But because coaches need to be coached, too, I opened myself to coaching by Danielle last year. Afterwards, I wrote a testimonial of her. Here’s a portion of what I wrote:

“I resonated with her immediately; she’s deeply intuitive, very intelligent, and masterful yet relaxed. She was firm without being pushy, provocative in her inquiry, and highly organized in how she conducted our sessions. She “walked” me through a list of statements about money, wealth, freedom, security, and self-worth. She gave me a homework that allowed me to dive deeper into my mindset about money vis-à-vis self-worth, to as far back as I can remember. It was a homework that manifested as specific situations from October 2016 to January 2017 to drive in the lessons that my soul was supposed to learn regarding attachments and non-attachments. It was a homework that, because of my willingness to be “wrong,” led me to the past to undo several “wrongs.” Now I feel “right” about the present and the future. As Danielle offered more stimulating questions, I became even clearer in my realizations and more aligned in body, mind, and spirit.

My dynamics with money and energy exchange are now freer, more expansive, and more inclusive. I now feel empowered to give and receive in joyful balance in my life coaching business. The impact and relevance of Danielle’s financial coaching can best be summed up by my favorite takeaway:

MONERGY = Money + Energy

A powerful word from a powerful coach!”

Are you interested to know more about Danielle? Read on.

***

Interests and Motivation
I am naturally driven to actualize human potential, and that means I love seeking truth. To me, truth is freedom. Truth is abundance. Truth is faith. Truth is power. Truth is bliss. Truth is wholeness. And yes, the truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off!

It starts with listening to your inner voice and intuition, and extends to questioning what we have been taught as a society. It means having the courage to face your shadow side and heal yourself, with beautiful compassion and loving sensitivity. Truth is knowing yourself, what your sacred purpose is, and honouring that above what others ask of you. It is especially doing so in the presence of your own big fear!

The rewards are so worth it. When we accept that the world is based on the balanced polarity of light and dark, we no longer fight against the natural order of things. That frees up a whole lot of energy for other things. We can live as grounded, healthy, integrated beings, and when we do that while also connected to the glory of the divine, bliss is the result. Ultimately, this sets us free to feel our own love and in turn, love others unconditionally.

What motivates me to pursue this path? My honest answer is childhood trauma, and I just feel and know it is my soul’s purpose. I also don’t want to run from myself anymore. So part of it is finally facing what I’ve been doing most of my life. At the same time, I recognize that if life was just dandy, I would not have developed this unstoppable drive to heal, understand, help others do the same, and become my full potential in this lifetime. I feel gratitude for my experiences, and where they have led me. I know I couldn’t get there without them.


Life Lessons
I lived most of my life in my rational head/ego – all left-brain. This allowed me to avoid facing my repressed emotional pain, and I convinced myself I was successful in life because I could “achieve” things. Boy did I have it down! Then after a devastating break-up in 2014, I decided I needed to address my inability to be with my difficult emotions. While I was able to process some of the pain, I wasn’t truly ready and entered a two-year new age junkie period where I really lived in the clouds. I thought I was spiritual! Ha! I became addicted to the dopamine high of continually seeking joy and only reaching for love and light, and as you might have guessed, I was the complete opposite of grounded!

After swinging back and forth so extremely, I’ve learned that one must be careful not to live in either plane exclusively – life is not all or nothing. Feeling great is wonderful. But painful challenges are what create and shape our character, integrity, wisdom, compassion, and depth. Trying to avoid them by seeking positivity 100% of the time is naïve and will not lead to true spiritual growth. Eventually, your pain will surface to be healed. I know this from experience. I now believe that to face and transcend our pain is the most spiritual thing of all, because we remove all that is in the way to love.

Having studied and followed many different teachers, I now honour the voice of my heart above anyone else. Not even my own ego runs the show anymore – it’s not the truth. The mind will always try to find something to fix, but the heart is the source of true wisdom and love for each of us.


Outer and Inner Changes
Many people are awakening from the old paradigms and conditioning on this planet. We are questioning what we have been taught, and are seeking more freedom and truth. We are outgrowing the black and white roles that have defined men and women for centuries. We are making more responsible choices, both individually and collectively. I love that this is the age of information because now millions of people have access to knowledge and resources that were once reserved for only the elite few. As a result, our development as a species has accelerated dramatically over the past few decades. We each have much more power and choice than previous generations. I see more and more people living life on their terms, and coming together in loving, supportive, inclusive ways. I think our future is bright.

We have all heard that the only constant in life is change. I have a daily heart practice where I connect with the wisdom of my heart – to heal, to surrender, and to feel love. This helps me to let go of old pain so I may be present in the now. I try to anticipate where we are going. While I do not watch the news or TV, I am plugged in with more conscious sources of information, and I travel globally which exposes me personally to what’s happening in the world. Aside from this, I believe it comes back to having a solid foundation within yourself – a healed root chakra if you will, so you know you can handle whatever comes. I’d be fooling myself if I said mine was perfect though. It’s a continual progression, and I trust that life only ever gives you what you are ready for. This has created real inner security and a commitment to loving myself no matter what happens.


Instant $500,000
I am a Financial Abundance Coach, so I have a specific plan with regards to growing my wealth. My answer is specific to my goals, risk tolerance, knowledge, and investing experience, so it may not be appropriate for everyone.

I would do the following:
-invest $50K buying cryptocurrencies (long term hold of actual currency – bitcoin and ethereum)
-trade $50K in a variety of cryptocurrencies (short term profiting of swings – there are over 800 digital currencies)
-trade $65K in non-dividend stocks (short term profiting of swings)
-save $50K in cash
-spend $10K
-set aside $200K to profit in a coming real estate crash (yep, it’s going to happen!)
-give $50K to family as gifts
-philanthropy – donate $15K to different causes near and dear to my heart
-microfinance – lend $10K in small loans to people who need them in 3rd world countries (for example through the KIVA organization)


Money and Freedom
Since I work with abundance, I would like people to know that money is not bad. Money is a neutral energy that comes from the spiritual Universe. It is a tool that facilitates the full knowing and expression of your true self, and that is the most important thing in life. If you have negative beliefs towards money, this reflects society’s conditioning and limitations, and it is time for these to be lifted. That’s why seeking the truth is so important. It’s safe and healthy to desire wealth. Money brings freedom and living life on your terms. Everyone deserves to live their dreams, whatever those are for you.

My goal is to help 100,000 people become financially empowered. I do this by helping my clients to release all that is in the way of their natural abundance, both psychologically and emotionally. While the right mindset is critical, it is not enough. You must also learn how money works. Having worked in the financial industry for 12 years, unfortunately there’s a lot of fear, intimidation, and misunderstanding at play. I am passionate about teaching unbiased, honest financial education, because this is what is needed to transform our lives economically. This knowledge, combined with learning the beliefs and habits of conscious self-made millionaires, will enable you to create wealth and freedom for the rest of your life.


If you are interested in changing your relationship with money, I would love to help you on your journey. You can book a complimentary 30 minute consultation to learn more at www.DanielleAlexandria.com. You can also reach me via email at: Danielle@DanielleAlexandria.com or here on Facebook, @Danielle Alexandria.

To your wealth and freedom!

***

I highly recommend Danielle to topnotch leaders and coaches who are in the process of finding congruence in their spiritual and material beliefs; to powerful and open thinkers who seek to fine-tune their relationship with wealth and abundance, and to influential people who are in the business of shaping hearts and minds towards a cooperative, global society.

Invest in Things that Will Help You Grow. - Kia Tami Doromal

(This blog is 17th of a long series of profiles on friends and acquaintances I have met in my life journey, and 2nd on my former Montessori students. I invited them to share my spot because I believe in synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We are parts of the whole, and together we are indeed great!)

(Photo by Twinkle Benitez)

I remember Kia as a happy, energetic, strong-willed 6-year old little girl in Junior Class at the Iloilo Montessori International School. She often exercised leadership among her peers, elbowed her way to sit next to me, and determined who would sit where and with whom during which activity. I remember Kia fighting with Belle, my daughter who was also her classmate; they were both strong-willed and wanted to be by my side at Circle Time. I remember wondering how Kia would be like when she’s an adult, as I did wonder about Belle and all my other students.

And so here I am asking Kia, the second among those I was able to interview, and here is this blog managed by Belle from where she is right now in Europe. Please share my double delight!

***

Dot: What can you remember about your Montessori childhood?
Kia: My Montessori childhood was a typical child’s dream. I remember all those play time sessions when even weird drawings can become art. I remember singing in one of our school plays for Christmas where I was an angel. I remember the playground where we took most of our year-end class photos. Those were days when I had nothing to think about except make art and play, just like what normal kids do.

Dot: Did your parents make any reference to your Montessori education while you were growing up?
Kia: My parents, just like every other parent in the world, love to give the best education to their children. They often told me that Montessori was a dream to them. Blessed. That’s the word they used whenever Montessori came up. It was an expensive school, with my classmates coming from mid-income earning families. They often told me that they were willing to be all-out when it comes to good education because my primary years should have good, solid foundation in preparation for my future.

Dot: What are your interests or passions?
Kia: Traveling and writing. I maintain my own blog although I am not that active because I work on weekends. My blog is all about my personal reflections, essays, stories, and travels. I feel the need to share with the world that traveling can be done early or even twice a year as long as you save and you don’t neglect what’s necessary in life.

Dot: In terms of career, advocacy, mission, or education, are you now doing what you really love?
Kia: In terms of career, my mind was in chaos just a few months ago. I suddenly got bored with what I was doing. It felt like a routine and it basically became a desk job. I told myself I was not born to do a desk job. I am a marketing graduate so I should go out. Explore and learn things. After a lot of thinking and praying, I decided to stay.
As for my advocacy and mission, I am not there yet but charity has always been my favorite in the company. I have a heart to help and a lot of time to go with it. Unfortunately, I don’t have that much cash now; but I do a lot of volunteer work whenever time permits.
I plan on taking up a Masters course in Marketing in UP Diliman. This has been my dream for myself. I am also looking into scholarships abroad since this will fulfill my love for both education and travel.

Dot: What wonderful things are you seeing in the world now?
Kia: I’ve always believed that there is still kindness in the world. I personally have my fair share of experiences of people who just go out of their way to help. One time, when my friends and I were in Ilocos and I really needed to pee, I just knocked on a door and asked the owners if I can use their restroom. They opened their house for my friends and me despite the fact that we were complete strangers. So there is still hope for the world. Even if we have an ongoing war in Mindanao and people kill each other, I believe that the world is still good, that there is faith in humanity and people can still be genuinely helpful and nice.

Dot: Given a chance to be a world leader, what would be your greatest work?
Kia: Education. I can’t think of anything else except education. I want to be a leader in the field of education and in making sure every kid in the world will never be deprived of good education. I’ve seen children walk mountains, cross seas and lakes, and even walk barefoot just to go to school. I have seen hope in their eyes and their determination to succeed so I am going to help all these kids have better education even if it means creating more schools and bringing education closer to them. Education should never be a luxury; it is the right of every child to have good education.

Dot: If the universe gave you $500,000 next week, how will you use it?
Kia: Five hundred thousand dollars is quite a huge amount. I’ll divide it into three different expenses: $100,000 shall go to a business franchise. I’ll need financial stability so I can support myself and my family; $50,000 will be for my travel and education funding; the rest will be allotted for me to build my own educational foundation with the purpose of funding children’s education in the Philippines.

Dot: What message can you give to parents? Educators? Leaders? Young people?
Kia: This is a crazy world. Everyone is different and we do clash from time to time. But always remember to be nice. Be kind to everyone. Invest in good things. Invest in learning and education.

Parents, no matter how hard life is, never give up on your children. Give them everything that you can give. Help mold them to become better people.
To young people, strive hard. Do not give up. Ever. Even if life is hard. Even if you think nothing goes your way. Just do better every day. Live life to the fullest and end your day with learnings and not regrets. Invest in things that will help you grow, excite you, and make you happy. Take your time. Learn that you can only compete within yourself and be the best version of YOU every day. Never forget to look back and appreciate people who helped you along the way. Lastly, always be yourself.

Website: ikeyandothis.wordpress.com
Contact Number: 09088107132
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kiatami.doromal
Twitter: twitter.com/keyatami

It's Easy When Your Business is Aligned with Your Advocacy. - Paul Pollentes

(This blog is 16th of a long series of profiles on friends and acquaintances I have met in my life journey, and 1st on my former Montessori students. I invited them to share my spot because I believe in synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We are parts of the whole, and together we are indeed great!)

Paul Pollentes and Spikey
(Photo by Jon Rave)

When I was a class directress at the Iloilo Montessori International School in the 90’s, I came across an article that asked if Montessori graduates pursued careers and interests that help humanity and the environment. I will not reveal the answer written in that article. Instead, in a few of my succeeding blogs, I will let you decide for yourself. To start my quest in tracing the paths of my own Montessori students, here is Paul Pollentes (Iloilo-based) answering my own questions:

***

Dot: What can you remember about your Montessori childhood?
Paul: I remember a lot of things that happened during my Montessori days. I still clearly recall the unique teaching methods employed by teachers including identifying continents with a wooden map puzzle, and co-curricular activities such as annual stage programs based on children's stories and fairy tales.

Dot: Did your parents make any reference to your Montessori education while you were growing up?
Paul: Yes, they did. I was told a few times I was a quick learner and learned to read and write at an early age. To be part of the school rich in quality education is something they are proud of.

Dot: What are your interests or passions?
Paul: My interests and passions alike are my pets, books, and my businesses. I sell nationwide selected imported pet brands that have been proven throughout my experience as very effective to my dogs. Many of my clients share the same passion and interest in showing dogs and learning to groom them efficiently. These are the aspects that have helped me evolve and grow.
Reading books still remains one of my favorites. I balance my time reading them while marketing my own business online. It's a better way of spending your spare time than fool around and gossip on social media.

Dot: In terms of career, advocacy, mission, or education, are you now doing what you really love? Can you tell me about it?
Paul: I took a college course that allowed me to gain knowledge how to handle businesses. I am still learning. It gets easier when one of your businesses allows you to align your advocacy with it.
My advocacy is to let people know how to be more responsible with their dogs. It is much easier sharing your thoughts about the matter when your clients find you comfortable to talk with. Clients find the information they gained from me helpful and they refer me to others. It helps me and my business grow. I have no time doing it through social media freely where almost everybody misinterprets my good intentions.

Dot: What wonderful things are you seeing in the world now?
Paul: That I have several dogs with me and a few friends and family who truly care for me. These are the wonderful things I am content to see and have.

Dot: Given a chance to be a world leader, what would be your greatest work?
Paul: I do not think I ever want that chance to be a world leader. No matter what you do, there will be those who disagree and refuse to believe and acknowledge your contributions to the world. Each one of us can contribute in our own little ways. Perhaps, if given a chance, I will influence the legislators to amend harsher penalties for criminals of severe crimes including animal abuse.

Dot: If the universe gave you $500,000 next week, how will you use it?
Paul: In the name of public service, what better way to fund professional no-kill animal shelters than to give them that amount? Professional no-kill shelters deserve the fund so they can provide for stray animals adequately, hire employees who will be responsible for the wellbeing of animals, and hold them accountable if something happens. (Many volunteers are no better with the tendency to complain because they are not salaried.) They can form alliance with vets who can provide reasonably priced spay and neuter programs to help minimize the dog and cat populations.

Dot: What message can you give to parents, educators, leaders, or young people?
Paul: My advice: Let your kids grow in a culture where openness, utmost respect and maximum tolerance exist in harmony. Guide kids where their passions lie. Love what you love to do. That's how you enjoy life growing up.

***

And there goes my first respondent! Well done, Paul! Learn more about Paul’s business by visiting his page https://www.facebook.com/ilonggopawrents/

I Embrace My Gift of Making People Smile - Bam Petilos

(This blog is 15th of a long series of profiles on friends and acquaintances I have met in my life journey. I invited them to share my spot because I believe in synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We are parts of the whole, and together we are indeed great!)

(Photo by Anoy Catague)

A few years ago, after a long day of facilitating a workshop, I was given a massage by my new friend Lady Bam. In that short session, I felt Bam and myself forging a connection between us that would later become spiritually intimate. I went back home to Las Vegas, Bam remained in Davao, and we maintained our connection through FB groups. A few months ago, I learned that she had launched a fragrance business and was exploring other business possibilities related to wellness. In fact, she was one of the collaborators and writers in the book Remember Who You Really Are by Joan Mae Soco-Bantayan. Prior to the launching of the book, I asked Bam a few questions and she gave me a few short, happy answers. Bam’s brevity does show her essential nature as well as her authenticity in following her dreams.

***

Dot: Please tell me a little bit about yourself.

Bam: My baptismal record says I am Benjamin T. Petilos Jr. but I prefer to be called Lady Bam. I finished AB Language and Literature and I love to play volleyball. I sooo love to sing and, at times, dance. I love to recite affirmations and I know it (reciting, that is,) works. I touch a tree when I am happy, sad, or worried, and I want my beloveds to realize that nature is our ally.

Dot: And your passion and life lessons? What beautiful changes are you seeing in the world now?

Bam: I am TV host of a tele-magazine travel show and radio anchor in a station in Davao where I talk about life and happiness. I feel I am one with everyone. I embrace my gifts of healing and intuition and the gift of making people smile and laugh. That is who I am, for I am the beautiful HappyNest!!! The nest of joy and bliss. I am thankful that despite the hi-tech world, people are more aware about the mystic that is actually not mystical but just part of the unchangeable truth - that we are ONE in GOD’S LOVE.

Dot: How would you use PhP500, 000 if the universe gave it to you next week? 

Bam: Well, I will eat alone at the most expensive eat-all-you-can restaurant, and then plan about who to feed after. The most expensive here is PhP 800. I want to feed as many as I could. Part of the money will be used to pay my debts. I want to be debt-free. But really, despite my financial challenges at times, I will never ever stop helping, sharing, and extending help in any way to the needy. I want part of the 500k to be used in the project De-Clutter and Decorate. I want to beautify rooms and give people a nice place to sleep in so that their mindset will be of abundance. I won’t fix the whole house; just the room, just to awaken them and let them move.

Dot: Is there anything else that you would like to tell me? 

Bam: Well, I want to tell you that I “blame” you for me being more focused in my journey about HAPPYNEST. You are one of my favorite influences. And while it’s true that I need and want money, well, like you, it’s not my great priority. Money is just part, but not a very big part, of my amazing journey. And thank you for your wisdom. I ask for your support in the book about HAPPYNEST that I shall write soonest. We are all nests of joy. Let’s spread love and happiness.

The happy Lady Bam can be found in Facebook as Bam T. Petilos. I look forward to buying her book on HappyNest very soon! Interestingly, she partners with Evelyn Princess Villaflor-Buendia in most of her activities in Davao. See Princess in my May 25, 2017 blog. Bam and Princess welcome your purchase of the book Remember Who You Really Are.

Love Everything, Because Nothing Can Go Wrong. – Dr. Gina Cembrano

(This blog is 14th of a long series of profiles on friends and acquaintances I have met in my life journey. I invited them to share my spot because I believe in synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We are parts of the whole, and together we are indeed great!)

(Photo by Rosanna Sasuman)

Gina Cembrano was one of the participants in the Angel Workshop I did in Davao some years back. That was our first meeting when she appealed to me as a well-grounded, confident, and dynamic professional in the field of Tomatis Listening Program. Our subsequent meet-ups showed me that Gina was more than her personality and profession. Read on to know what I mean.

***

Dot: So far, what great spiritual or esoteric lessons have you learned in life?

Gina: The great esoteric lessons I've learned are mind-blowing! All my experiences in life brought me to where I am right now. I know that I am powerful and can do great things beyond human understanding. I AM boundless and limitless. I know that what I know at this very moment are just minute things compared to who I am and what I can do and become in this form. Openness, trust, and perseverance work. I did a lot of research and readings and found out that "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”

I feel like my life is perfect but I do know I am also a work in progress. I am evolving to experience my highest potential. So my passion right now is to talk to people. I like to share whatever wisdom or knowledge I have that another person might need to hear, that is necessary for his/her growth as a human being. I believe we are right now in an exciting moment where we human beings are responding to the call of awakening to accomplish what we came here for.

I have opportunities to mentor preschool teachers and do administrative jobs, work with preschool children and their respective families, and be a regular guest in a Sunday radio show here in Davao City. This show, It’s a Beautiful Life, talks about anything in life. I feel happy when I know I am able to help or contribute something.


Dot: What do you think are the best positive lessons you learned from your parents that you want to pass on to your children?

Gina: From my father, the lesson I learned is to give respect and importance to human beings. My family is important. From my mother, to provide for the needs of my family, especially education, and to find ways if need be. In connection with being limitless, the belief systems that I gathered since childhood will determine my limitations and success in life.


Dot: Can you tell me about your top three wins/successes in life? Have they something to do with your lessons?

Gina: Definitely my success stories are related to the lessons I learned from my parents – to prioritize my family, and that provision is always available. First, I had a desire to build a family and be a hands-on mom. I made myself available to my family and especially to my children and husband when they needed my support. Now, seeing my children as loving, self-reliant, independent, confident, and conscientious human beings makes me confident to face the next phase. Second, living a purposeful life - doing what I love to do, helping others find their paths, too, and mentoring others especially my biological family. Third is living my dream: life-coaching teens, young adults, and adults, and running a child-centered (not curriculum-centered) preschool where children are free to Be who they are while experiencing Music, Play, and Touch Therapies.


Dot: Who are your role models? What makes them your role models?

Gina: My father may not be a perfect father and husband but he showed by example how to value his family and how to respect a person regardless of his or her status in life. My mother has a generous heart. She is persistent; she will not settle for "no" as an answer and doesn't easily give up; she showed me how to stand and fight for what I believe in.
My maternal grandfather was always cool and grounded amidst challenging situations. I didn't see or hear him raise his voice. He always used his talking voice.


Dot: What beautiful changes are you seeing in the world now?

Gina: Human beings are awakening, raising vibration to higher consciousness, and are seeing the connectedness and humanity as one. People are valuing freedom.


Dot: In connection with these changes, how do you take care of yourself physically? Emotionally? Spiritually? Mentally?

Gina: I practice mindfulness and self-mastery. I am mindful of my thoughts. What I think becomes my reality and therefore affects my body, mind, emotion, and soul. I know that it's the meaning that I put onto things and the experiences that I have; therefore, I think of and focus on what I want to create or to happen, and not on what I do not want to happen. I eat only what my body needs. I am re-engaging in something physical like arnis and yoga. I master my emotion by "knowing myself," especially my belief system. I keep learning or remembering who I truly am through reading, research, meditation, and being with like-minded people. I do release works through Ho'oponopono and EFT or Emotional Freedom Technique. I also connect with nature through gardening and my pets.


Dot: What legacy would you like to leave the world, and how can you be reached by people who wish to connect with you?

Gina: My legacy would be Courage, Freedom, Love, Respect, and Gratitude. To my family and friends, I say, know thyself. Belief systems and programs that are not working should be released and re-programmed. Trust the process. Believe in yourself. Be in the now. Love everything, because nothing can go wrong. All is well.


I can be reached through my FB page: Beginnings Child Care Center, I Listen Enhancement Center and email: g.cembrano@yahoo.com.

Boundaries

We usually set up boundaries to keep other people out. Or animals, ex-boyfriends, or zombies.

Our boundaries sometimes look like country lines, steel gates, and screen doors. They look like ID cards, passwords, uniforms, organizational labels, religious jargon. They also take on the forms of silence, distance, and indifference.

We keep other people out because they're not like us and they might attack us with their guns or pamphlets, with contrasting ideas that they peddle, with behaviors that they display. In their 'attack,' we believe in our vulnerability.

In setting up boundaries, we like to believe we safely keep Darkness out.

But in setting up fear-based boundaries, we also box ourselves in and keep our Light to ourselves. Within our boundaries, we keep Light from entering.

Would we not rather tune in and listen to God, the Voice Within, the Holy Spirit, our Inner Guidance for perfect direction? Like celestial beings, we are guided to stay within Divine gravitational boundary so that as we spin round and round in this thing called Life, we remain in orbit.

We remain in orbit not because we fear or disdain other stars but because it is our place in the universe. Our orbit is our direction, our boundary. Such a boundary is not set up in fear or in separation, but in celestial order.

When the 'time' comes for us to 'leave,' then we receive the Go signal to implode, or explode into heavenly smithereens, or collide with other stars to transform into... bright StarLights!

So when we tune in to God, we will not need to build human boundaries out of fear. God will set up Divine boundaries to keep us in His orbit while Life Lessons are ongoing - a soft 'no,' a sudden 'stop!'... a hushed 'not yet.'

Boundaries will disappear when the Lessons shall have been learned.

And then Light is upon us, and we Light up the world.

(Reflections on ACIM Workbook Lesson 69, Matthew 5:14-16, John 8:12)

Loving My Country: A Mindset of Conscious Living - Marirose Cacho

(This blog is 13th of a long series of profiles on friends and acquaintances I have met in my life journey. I invited them to share my spot because I believe in synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We are parts of the whole, and together we are indeed great!)

(Photo by Boy de la Peña)

Here is a confession: Before I came face-to-face with Marirose Cacho in a transformational workshop in 2007 in Iloilo, I had heard unfavorable things about her. Being a person of stature in the city, she was undoubtedly subject to public scrutiny. However, I was so deep in my own messy marital quagmire at that time to pay any serious heed to the hearsays. I am glad I bypassed the gossip: Marirose and I turned out to have similarities in our situations, and I personally experienced her to be one of the sweetest, most vulnerable and yet most courageous and authentic women I have ever met. Our relationship since that meeting, although irregular, has been of intimate spiritual sisterhood through our support group, Fastrack.

Here is my attempt to know more about her, and to share her strengths with my readers.

***

Dot: Please tell me a little bit about yourself and your passion or advocacy. What motivates you to pursue your advocacy?

Rose: What motivates me is my love for country. I believe I was gifted with love for country from the time I was born. I learned in Gawad Kalinga* that to love one’s country, one also has to care for the poor and it’s not about funding alone. It’s not about charity. It’s about being involved. It’s about a lifestyle change. It’s about being present. I’m a seven (7) in the Enneagram** so there’s a struggle for continuity of the programs for the poor since I enjoy my party time. I kinda balance it out with spurts of short trips out of Iloilo into places I haven’t been to. I love promoting the different parts of the country. I believe that loving one’s country is a mindset of conscious living like buying Filipino products, promoting the country, not littering, caring for the poor, greening, etc. Great countries like Japan depend greatly on the actions of their citizenry, how responsible they are, how aware they are that their country depends on them and not the government alone.

(*Gawad Kalinga means “to give care” in Filipino. It is a Philippine poverty-alleviation and nation-building movement whose mission is to end poverty for five million families by 2014.)

(**The Enneagram is a model of the human psyche which is taught as nine interconnected personality types. A type 7 is extroverted, optimistic, versatile, playful, and spontaneous, and can have problems with impatience and impulsiveness.)
Dot: So far, what great spiritual or esoteric lessons have you learned?

Rose: Staying still or meditating is extremely important. I’m action-orientated so I struggle to keep "still." Zen meditation is one of the best practices I’ve gotten into, although I’m pretty delinquent at it. It has shown me and made me feel the greatness of God’s love by actually just sitting. Everything is just here. I still practice my Catholic faith because it keeps my equilibrium. It’s the religion I grew up with. It’s the religion that taught me first to love God, country, family, etc., but spirituality is far more than religion. I miss Fastrack a lot. That’s the inner circle I belong to. Zen and Fastrack have taught me so much outside the box. My purpose became clearer with this. I still have much to learn being a 7 (in the Enneagram), although I’m far from being shallow. I need a group to remind me of staying still.

Dot: What do you think are the best positive lessons you learned from your parents that you want to pass on to your children?

Rose: From my father: integrity, compassion, honesty, frugality, hard work, love for God, fairness, and consistency. From my mother: keeping the family close, a beautiful home, good taste.

Dot: Can you tell me about your top three wins in life? Have they something to do with your lessons?

Rose: My first win is Gawad Kalinga (GK). It’s about consistency, love for God and country, compassion, and responsibility (also a lesson I got from my father). Second, it’s handling money and small businesses. This win is about frugality, simplicity, integrity, and hard work. My third win is having a beautiful home and good children. These are about good housekeeping methods, fairness, compassion, and keeping the family close together.

Dot: And your role models? What makes them your role models?

Rose: My father. I guess the lessons say it all. My siblings and I are quite steadfast, simple, "homing pigeons," and hardworking because of him. I learned social responsibility from him. GK founder Tony Meloto is my next role model. He is tireless and relentless in finding solutions and innovations to give back dignity to the poor and to country. There’s also GK Executive Director and my boss Luis Oquiñena. I admire his simplicity, dedication, and loyalty to the work without showing a trace of frustration, although there is much to be frustrated about in this type of work. Lastly, there’s my mother-in-law. Her total dedication to her husband and family was admirable.

Dot: What beautiful changes are you seeing in the world now?

Rose: Life has always been beautiful. Although this country is in a rot right now, I believe there are always enough good people to light up the darkness. I like it that people are more aware of natural products more than chemically-based products, and more aware of the environment. It’s easier to connect with people. The world has become smaller. People are thinking beyond religion for their spirituality. In a world of uncertainty, there are endless possibilities.

Dot: In connection with these changes, how do you take care of yourself physically? Emotionally? Spiritually? Mentally?

Rose: Physically, I play golf, run, walk, go to the gym, use the juicer, and take in fruits, supplements, and kefir water. Emotionally, I try to create balance between work and play through travel, (taking a break) being with close friends and cousins, and tending my vegetable plot. Spirituality, I meditate (delinquent though), go to mass, visit GK villages, do my work in GK, read books (delinquent also), sit in silence or stillness. Mentally, I watch telenovela, specifically Korean. Nakaka in love . I also exercise, de-clutter, put some kind of order in life, drink wine, travel, walk in the garden, visit nature. I wish I have more Fastrack time also for spirituality.

Dot: What legacy would you like to leave the world?

Rose: A better Philippines. A Philippines that is sanctuary for all Filipinos, like my home is to me. I wish for my children to somehow continue that legacy.

Dot: Do you have any encouragement for your family and friends?

Rose: Live, love, and be happy, ha ha, ha, ha. There is so much joy in giving. That doesn’t mean you are not thinking of yourself because to be able to give, you have to love yourself. Give to yourself. All those leadership programs like those of the Organizational Change Consultants International and Discovery Weekend are a great way to start in the right track. Love yourself, then your purpose. Meditation is soooo important. Because of it, life falls in place. Have an inner circle that reminds you that "what is essential is invisible to the eye."

Dot: How can you be reached by people who wish to connect with you?

Rose: People can find me in FB as Rosa Mistica Ca. Also through my cell phone, email (upon request), or telepathy he, he, he (it works sometimes).

Shiela R. Castillo: The Passionate Earth-Lover

(This blog is 12th of a long series of profiles on friends and acquaintances I have met in my life journey. I invited them to share my spot because I believe in synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We are parts of the whole, and together we are indeed great!)

I met Shiela R. Castillo during a campaign for Nicanor Perlas when he ran for the Philippine presidential election many years ago. Since then, I’ve witnessed her initiatives concerning environmental issues in the Philippines and beyond. In this interview, we get to know Shiela behind her role as Climate Reality Leader of (Al Gore’s) Climate Reality Project.

(Dot, thank you for giving me an opportunity to look inside myself and ask these difficult questions that I have never asked myself before. I love you. – Shiela)

***

Life’s Victories
There are three things to know about me: I am a mother of two wonderful beings, Kim and Toni; I’m an environmentalist; I’m a lover of life. I am many other things but these seem to me most important. My passion is in trying to live a life aligned with what I believe in. This might sound simple but it’s not always easy, so for me this is a life-long journey. I consider it a little victory when I feel that there is no disconnect between what I believe and what I actually do. This is not always the case, that’s why I have to be mindful.


Concrete Expressions of Loving Mother Earth
My advocacy is showing people how to love Mother Earth in many ways. Some concrete expressions of this are me being vegan, climate communicator, blogger, initiator of the Disposable Bottle Busters, and doing some green bits and pieces in my home, community and country. Here are some links you might want to look up.
https://shielarcastillo.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/disposablebottlebusters
https://www.bataris.org.ph/petitions/ban-disposable-bottles-from-school-canteens


We All Go Home

I think the most important spiritual lesson that I’ve learned is, in the end, we will all be together; we will all go home and be one. For me, this is a very comforting thought. I have struggled with self-esteem issues, feeling that I’m not good enough. I have suffered from bouts of loneliness and alienation, feeling that I am different and/or misunderstood. I couldn’t count the times I was alone and feeling lost and away from the people I love, even when sometimes they are not very far from me. I have lost people I love in failed relationships, romantic and otherwise. I get so affected by what is happening in the world like wars and conflict, disasters, traditional politics, and environmental degradation, that sometimes I feel helpless. And yet I feel there is so much love in me, sometimes so overwhelming. So, the thought that ultimately we will all be one is the most comforting thing. I have to remind myself this whenever I feel down and alone. I’d like to share this link also: https://shielarcastillo.wordpress.com/2015/10/31/the-persecution-of-love/


Live for Others
My father will be 80 in June 28, still handsome, active, and intelligent. From him, I have learned to live for others. I have seen how involved he is in the community, how he read about politics and wrote letters to newspapers and local leaders. I’ve never known a person as heroic as him, knowing what he has done for his children. Despite not being rich, he always tried to provide us a good life. But more than anything, he provided us with good education and life lessons which were not always expressed in words. I think I take from him my social awareness and civic engagement. I hope my kids would also learn this.


Persevere
From my mother I learned that one should persevere no matter what. What an amazing woman she is to be able to weather so many storms with so much strength, all the while being kind, gentle, generous, and pious. So much grace and heart! She raised me as if I’m her own and I could only repay that not just by being her daughter, but a daughter she could be proud of.


Parenting without Expectations
My top three wins in life, I think, have something to do with the lessons I’ve learned from my parents. As a young mother and single parent, I had a lot of shortcomings to my children. Later, when I had an opportunity to make up for them, I tried too much. What I consider my first win was when I was able to overcome my being a mother and start being a friend to my daughter Kim. As a mother with so many fears and failures, I projected all of them to my firstborn. I thought I was doing the right thing. So the more that I imposed my expectations on her, the more she wanted away from them. But when I started to love her without conditions and expectations, we started having a beautiful relationship. Now I think we are more open to each other and have a deeper bond. Now I know she knows that I love her no matter what. This is also instrumental for me on being a cooler and better mom for Toni. I think I am now a more accepting, allowing parent who does not impose expectations but share aspirations for their future.


Honoring My Feelings
My second win is still an ongoing battle. There was a time when I was depressive and suicidal, and although I no longer consider myself any of the two, at times I still undergo inner turmoil. But what I do now is to honor the feeling, to just let it flow. I recognize it and come face to face with it, knowing that although I hurt so bad deep inside, I will be able to manage and overcome it in time. It’s a cycle for me, but it’s not something that I get used to. When it comes, it’s a real struggle and a real hurt. I know many people would not understand because they don’t go through what I go through. It’s an inner life that only I could manage and understand.


My Biggest Victory
Third is choosing to love. It’s easy enough to give up on the world, but despite all the mess, all the hate, and all the bad in the world, I choose to continue to love. It's easier to give in to hatred and negativity, to be cynical and no longer believe in the good things in the world. Despite my failures and flaws and the inner turmoil I go through, as well as the day-to-day challenges of living, I choose to go on. It's easier to give up, walk away, and forget, but I still choose to care, I choose to love, even if people dont and I consider this my biggest victory.

Focusing on Traits Instead of Persons
I think the problem with having role models is that sooner or later, you will be disappointed that the person you admire does not turn out like the image you make her/him to be. It has happened to me many times, and the reality just bites and hurts. Nobody is perfect; even the best people have flaws, so I tend to shy away from seeing people as my role models. It is also unfair for people we admire to put them in a certain mold and just abandon our admiration if we see some little flaw. So instead of having role models, I just focus on a specific positive trait I admire in a person, knowing that with it comes that person’s unique personality, eccentricities, flaws, and perfect imperfections. Anyone and anything could be a spiritual teacher to somebody willing to see the lesson and learn. This is very hard lesson for me because I’m also very stubborn, and I’m not a fast learner in the spiritual/philosophical lessons of life. I have to learn and relearn the same lessons many times over.

So for spiritual and philosophical teachers, I love Jesus, the Buddha, Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, and Rudolf Steiner. Each of them lived a life worthy to be emulated. Their universal teachings reverberate for generations. For environmental activists, I admire Al Gore, Bill McKibben, Naomi Klein, and Richard Louv. They are also very good writers. I admire them because I’d like to be like them, an environmental activist who writes well. I admire Rachel Carson, John Muir, and Henry David Thoreau. They are the giants on whose shoulders Al, Bill, Naomi, Richard and hundreds of other contemporary environmental activist writers stand on.

I will never forget my college paper adviser Prof. Guillermo Roman Jr. For four years at the Philippine Normal University, he was our father figure. He’s the coolest, best mentor, teacher, and friend one could have in college. A few weeks ago I received a message from him on LinkedIn, inviting me and other former college writers to visit his farm in Bataan. That’s how he is. I will always remember him for his passion for teaching, and for being genuinely interested in his students.

I also admire Atty. Allen Salas Quimpo. Despite being an accomplished politician, businessman, educator, and environmentalist, he lived a simple life. He’s down to earth, low-profile, humble, and caring. I knew him for only a few years and met him only six or seven times, yet he made a mark in my life. I consider myself blessed for knowing him and having walked with him in caring for Mother Earth. If I could only accomplish one fourth of what he has done in his lifetime, then I could consider myself a huge success.

I admire so many others but you only asked for three or four and I've given you more than a dozen.


A Blooming Humanity
I see that humanity is starting to bloom, shifting from being a humble bud into a glorious beautiful flower. People are starting to love one another and feel brotherhood/sisterhood despite differences in color, creed, gender, etc. Never in the history of humanity have people been so connected, even to others on the other side of the globe. Technology plays an important role for this to happen, but I think ultimately people just see what’s common in each other, the divine in each other, the need to love and be loved.

I see bigotry and misogyny only in the fringes, and even if sometimes I focus too much on them and other negative things, I don't think they are the real story. I see people’s growing respect for the environment and growing awareness of their impact not just on the earth but on other living beings as well. I think the real story is that we are relearning our oneness with all of creation. It’s a slow but steady process, and what a beautiful thing it is!


Self-Care: Vegan Diet, Reading, and Writing
I don’t do much physically. I love cycling but I don’t have a bike now. I have to do yoga again but I’m too lazy for it. I exercise once in a while but only in bed, such as leg cycles, crunches, and planks but I’m lucky if I do this one week in a row. I rely heavily on my vegan diet for my physical well-being.

I take care of myself mentally by reading and writing. I read a lot every day - news items, feature articles, e-books. I can’t go a single day without reading. I know I’m not writing as much as I should. I feel there are so many things to write about, but I get distracted by a lot of things. Reading does not demand as much from me as writing does. I am lazy that way. Aside from these, I also read and write a lot in my work.


Self-Care: Music, Time-Out, and Social Work
Emotionally, I surround myself with things I love since I can’t always surround myself with the people I love (because they are people and I can’t simply keep them with me just for my emotional well-being!) I love Indian movies, music, culture, food, as long as it’s vegan. I can’t live without music. I basically work, read, and study with music on. I think half my waking hour is with all sorts of music that I love, so Spotify is my best friend. If I need time to take care of myself emotionally, I have to be by myself and wallow and exhaust my feelings and hopefully figure things out. I go out to nature or just go for a walk while crying my eyes out. I love people but I also love being alone.

I also take care of myself emotionally by doing what I love, which is social development work. I've been working for almost two decades but I only worked in a corporate setting for less than four months. I always knew that I wouldn’t last there, that it was just a half-way-house kind of thing for me. My work has got to be something I love doing, and something I believe in.


Self-Care: Silence and Prayer
I’m an introspective person and I think this is what I do to take care of myself spiritually. I should do meditation regularly but I just don’t get to do it often. I do a lot of silent moments and introspection though, which is not the same as meditation but they’re close cousins. I also talk to God a lot of times, many times a day; a one-way conversation because I don’t actually hear answers. Sometimes I get a feeling that something is being revealed to me through things that happen in my life or the life of people around me. Sometimes I also pray the way people normally pray, asking for what I want, but not always necessarily for myself. There was a time I totally stopped praying, thinking that it is lack of trust to ask God for what I want. But recently I started praying again. I had to stop myself from feeling guilty for asking, but I very seldom pray for material things, and seldom also ask for myself, so I think it’s okay.


I Walk Lightly and Love Immensely

For my kids I would like to be able to write a book that they could proudly show their children. Maybe my family and friends have many encouragements for me because a lot of times I’m the one who needs them. But if I need to encourage someone, I would say, 'Just listen and follow your heart; it knows the way.' The legacy I really want to leave is to be remembered as somebody who walked lightly on the earth, but loved immensely.


On social media but not always there
https://www.facebook.com/shielarcastillo.ph
https://twitter.com/shiela_rc
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shielarcastillo/

You can read, comment on, and share my blogs. Please see the links I shared above. You could also email me at shielarcastillo@gmail.com

Invincible Mother

Mother Earth is not some weakling that we need to save and protect.
 If she has to die (which I doubt), she will die because it's her time, just like all those species that have lived before and are gone now, those stars that imploded and exploded long before we humans were created. 

This is part of the cycle called Life. I will not be so arrogant as to believe that my misbehavior will destroy Earth. If anything, my own misconduct will only affect myself. If my destructive actions will affect others, it's because they have attracted my actions unto themselves. 

But Earth? She is Mother. She is feminine. She is invincible. She is energy. She regenerates. She evolves. She is infinite. It is God who has control over her existence, and I am just one of those microscopic beings who co-exist with her.

I Really Love What I Do: Social Transformation Through Self-Mastery - Hermz Gacho

(This blog is 11th of a long series of profiles on friends and acquaintances I have met in my life journey. I invited them to share my spot because I believe in synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We are parts of the whole, and together we are indeed great!)

Hermz Gacho is a cheerful young poet-scientist who is actively passionate about his culture and environment.

And that’s as far as I knew about Hermz. After meeting him a few times in workshops in Iloilo, I wondered about his life path. I read a couple of his poems and I loved them, so I sent him my questionnaire last month. Read on.

(Photo by Alex Manlapao)

***

Dot: Please tell me a little bit about yourself and your passion or advocacy. What motivates you to pursue your advocacy?

Hermz: I love the outdoors, I love to experiment, I love to read, I love to watch movies, I love to act, I like to write poems in Hiligaynon. I am pretty interested in indigenous culture and knowledge and conservation of our heritage. My motivation for doing these is that I really love what I do and I am geared towards social transformation by self mastery and continuous learning and mentoring others.

Dot: (Wow!) So far, what great spiritual or esoteric lessons have you learned?

Hermz: 1) Trusting the universe on things beyond my control and doing something that the universe prepared me to do. 2) Manifesting change by doing simple acts of kindness and love.


Dot: What are the best positive lessons you learned from your parents that you want to pass on to your children?

Hermz: From my father, I learned to love unconditionally and be always forgiving. From my mother - taking care of myself and making myself a priority once in a while in order to be of service to others. I want to pass on to my children these things: love and compassion to all beings; passion in whatever they do; and their self-love to sustain them in whatever endeavor and service they want to bring out to the world.


Dot: Can you tell me about your top three wins or successes in life?

Hermz: 1) Building a community of young, passionate environmental advocates. 2) Connecting people with the same advocacies. 3) Inspiring others to look for their passion in life. Those are my three successes in life.


Dot: Have they something to do with your lessons?

Hermz: Yes, they are pretty much connected to my life lessons.


Dot: Who are your three or four role models and what makes them your role models?

Hermz: First, my Biology professor, Joselito Mendoza, encouraged and inspired me as a teacher and advocate. He was the one who introduced me to "outdoor learning," "research," and quotes like: "The world has enough for man's need but not for man's greed" by Gandhi. He always repeated to us: "You cannot give what you do not have," which is very applicable to everything I do.

Second, Roger Galvan, my Philippine History professor and Debate coach. He opened my eyes and heart to history. He gave amazing perspectives like no other History professors have done. He used a lot of learning approaches in class, from role-playing to investigative research, film making, analysis of Ambeth Ocampo's articles, and a lot more. He probably gave me that strong background on the art of teaching and how to engage the youth in social issues.

Third is Nicanor Perlas. He was the one who gave me a holistic perspective on life and beyond. He strengthened and verified all of the things that I got from my previous professors and added a spiritual dimension to them.


Dot: And so what beautiful changes are you seeing in the world now?

Hermz: I see that people are already becoming more connected and are striving to create a community and a movement that will challenge the problems of our society today. I see people are planning more and getting more ideas, researches, initiatives, and innovations that are making a significant difference in our world.


Dot: In connection with these changes, how do you take care of yourself physically? Emotionally? Spiritually? Mentally?

Hermz: Physically, I still do outdoor activities such as biking, mountaineering, or snorkeling. Emotionally, I practice writing about people. I try to express my feelings through writing. Spiritually and mentally, I practice Zazen to communicate with my body, my emotions, and the higher beings and to clear my mind with day to day tasks.


Dot: What legacy would you like to leave the world?

Hermz: I just want to leave a legacy of authentic love to all beings regardless of whatever or whoever they may be. I want to leave the legacy that people have the freedom and courage to choose their life path; they have the freedom to redeem themselves.

Dot: Do you have any encouragement for your family and friends?

Hermz: I encourage my family and friends to love one another and to be true to their self and their calling.


Dot: How can you be contacted?

Hermz: People can connect with me through email or message me on Facebook. My email is hermzmerkury12@gmail.com. Until the end of the year, I’ll be in Quezon City, Dakila Office in Kalayaan Avenue. Next year I will be back in Negros Occidental for my thesis on the Monitoring of the Critically Endangered Negros Bleeding Heart Pigeon (Gallicolumba keayi) and its reintroduction back in the wild in Danjugan island. Thank you for this interview, Ms. Dot. This is a wonderful reminder for all Seekers and Change-Makers.

***

So now, I know a bit more about this Seeker and Change-Maker, and I am duly impressed. To close this blog, let me post one of his poems (sorry, no English translation):


Lumlum Sa idalom,
Sa madulom,
Sa pinakamainit nga kurông.

Ang manok ni Lola Lucing,
Naga lumlum sa iya mga chikiting,
Sa idalom sang balay,
Naga kamang ako nga daw subay.

Para lang makita ang mga pisô,
Ako ya daw si intó,
Naga ligid sa mga itî,
Ang lawas ko daw puno sang asaytî.

Sa pagbuka sang itlog,
May kabuhi nga gaka tulog,
Pamatyagan ko ang bilog nga kalibutan nag buylog,
Sa simple nga okasyon,
Nga ako isa lang ka miron,
Daw damo damo nga ga samo samo nga mga emosyon,
Ang akon nabaton.

Sa pagbuka sang itlog,
Ang simple nga bilog,
Nangin may kabuhi, may kusog,
Sa pagbuka sang itlog,
Ang pag lumlum sa madulom,
Nangin matahum!

Actively Participate in Your Own Transformation - Candace Lynch

(This blog is 10th of a long series of profiles on friends and acquaintances I have met in my life journey. I invited them to share my spot because I believe in synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We are parts of the whole, and together we are indeed great!)

(Photo Credit: Lindsay Thuy Dao)

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Candace Lynch and I completed our year-long life coaching certification under Christy Whitman’s Quantum Success Coaching Academy (QSCA) last year. She and I, together with two other classmates, belonged to one pod group where we coached and supported each other, studied together online on a weekly basis for over ten months, and reported our progress to our mentors, instructors, and deans.

Candace is a perfect example of someone who received coaching from masterful coaches at the QSCA as well as insights from the world’s greatest teachers. She has applied her lessons to every aspect of her life – professionally and personally. In this blog, Candace’s answers (to my usual questions) illustrate some universal spiritual principles.

· By reconciling what our parents gave us with what they left for us to resolve, we can get a clear picture of who we are and what we are meant to do. (James Redfield, The Celestine Prophecy, An Experiential Guide)

· When our line of work is aligned with our interests, our life work will make a contribution to the greater good of mankind. (Orin and Daben, Creating Money)

Candace: The best positive lessons that I learned from my parents are: “Always treat everybody with kindness,” (Mom) and “A calm mind makes wise decisions.” (Dad) My passion is wellness. I believe that when you are centered in your source of well-being, and you are feeling your best in mind, body and soul, then you can do, achieve and be your best for others and the world. To make this a reality, I teach people how to create and live a healthy lifestyle for a better quality of life. My calling is to inspire meaningful lives through purposeful intervention and empower individuals to actively participate in their own self-transformation. I do this through my roles as a Certified Recreation Therapist and as a Certified Law of Attraction Life Coach.

· Whatever we broadcast out into the universe is joined by energies that have an equal frequency, resonance, or vibration and come back to us like a boomerang.

· Through deliberate creation, we offer a vibration knowingly so that we don’t create by default. (Christy Whitman, 7 Essential Universal Laws)


Candace: My top three wins in life are: 1) Overcoming a spinal cord injury and learning how to walk again, 2) Consciously creating and attracting the love of my life, Forest (my boyfriend), and 3) Being chosen to mother Forest’s children as my own and help raise them to be the best versions of themselves. These wins continue to challenge and teach me about the true transformative power of unconditional love.

· We are teachers and students to each other. “He who was the learner becomes the teacher himself…he has seen in another person the same interests as his own.” (A Course In Miracles, Manual for Teachers)


Candace: My role models are Oprah, Deepak Chopra, Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, and my mother. I admire these people because they are all Bigger-Picture thinkers, promote world compassion, love, courage, and elevating consciousness and are strong leaders who are always looking for the greatest good for everyone. They are all calm, wise, centered and have a strong sense of who they are and what their life purpose is.

· As within, so without. As above, so below. Where one stands, so one sees.


Candace: I take care of myself physically by making sure I maintain a balanced and disciplined lifestyle. I regularly work out, eat whole, healthy foods, spend quality time with family and friends, seek new experiences for personal growth, read and learn new evidence-based research that I can apply to my Recreation Therapy and Life Coaching practice. I make sure to be kind to myself, treat myself with days at the spa or getting my nails done. I make time for meditation, future visualizing, and introspection to stay emotionally, spiritually, and mentally well. My family and friends are all very supportive, loving and encouraging of my aspirations and life choices. My relationships with them are all healthy, happy and make my life richer.


Candace: I am seeing more people with a desire for spiritual connection, greater consciousness, living healthy, and being more kind and compassionate individuals to one another.

· We come from One Source. We are all interconnected. We are Love.

Candace: The spiritual lessons that I have learned so far are: 1) The universe is always looking out for you even in your darkest hour. 2) Just notice your ego, learn from its contrast and always choose to follow the Voice of Love and Grace. 3) Laugh, smile, and say ‘I love you’ to yourself every day. 4) When you are helping others, you are helping yourself.


The legacy that I would like to leave the world is one of being Love, creating beauty and remembrance that we are all always connected to Source and that we are Source.

Also, be silly and find a way to make things fun and ridiculous. Humor and laughter bring such powerful energy to the world and open up new possibilities and perspectives in difficult situations.

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Candace can be reached by people who want to connect with her by phone (916) 337-7748, or email at Candacelynch@sbcglobal.net.

The Princess Who Works With Angels - Evelyn Princess Villaflor-Buendia

(This blog is 9th of a long series of profiles on friends and acquaintances I have met in my life journey. I invited them to share my spot because I believe in synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We are parts of the whole, and together we are indeed great!)

(Photo courtesy of Tots Acebuche)

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One very interesting thing about Evelyn Princess Villaflor-Buendia – or Princess - is her propensity to attract people – in hospitals, airports, shopping malls, and restaurants. These strangers open up to her about their lives and end up receiving angelic messages through her. The messages are always accurate, specific, and bring about healing and clarity to their hearers. This makes sense because Princess constantly receives divine fine-tuning of her gift of intuition and sensing of angels through years of study, training (with the guidance of Doreen and Charles Virtue), and meditation.

I met Princess a couple of years ago when I conducted an Angel workshop in Davao City, Philippines, through the introduction of fellow Lightworker Atho de la Cruz (April 26 blog). Since then, Princess and I have become soul sisters in shining our Light through different healing modalities. Princess and her husband Danny became my “godchildren” when they celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary just recently.

Princess reveals some of her valuable insights:

Life Work. I learned that God gave me all my experiences, talents, and learnings to prepare me for my higher mission in life. In the past, I always asked myself, “What’s my purpose for existing? What am I destined or commissioned to do by God?” Then, Danny got cancer. In desperation, I prayed to God to save him by using me, my talents, resources and abilities for the greater good. That's when I encountered the unfortunate state of children with cancer. Now, I am impassioned to use my Angel mission to uplift the lives of these children and their impoverished families. Lessons about Angeology, Angel Reiki, Access Bars Consciousness, A Course In Miracles, Aromatherapy and Indigo proved to be very valuable to me as an empathic, effective, and well-rounded life coach.

I would like to be remembered as a person who happily shared her time, talents, finances, and learnings to guide other people to have a more meaningful and Divinely-guided life.

Lessons and Wins. My parents’ love for each other and their being helpful to others have always made quite an impact in my life. I have always admired my Daddy Demetrio's multiple talents. He was a pianist, ukulele player, athlete, great cook, linguist, artist, and dancer. I admire most especially his being an extrovert and loyal friend. I am also proud of my Mommy Lulu's passion for voluntary services in church and her faithfulness and strength. These qualities are part of the values I lovingly impart to my children.

I survived a lot of major failures and challenges in life and the lessons which I learned from these challenging experiences became the basis of my empathy for people who come to me for advices and support. I love to help them understand their life through my angel guidance. I have great faith in God and I trust in His power and amazing Grace.

Role Models. I admire Mother Theresa of Calcutta for leaving her comfortable, rich life to serve the indigent children of her society and giving a powerful voice and representation for the underprivileged. I admire Oprah Winfrey for surviving her major ordeals. Rejections never hampered her to dream big and become one of the world's most influential persons. I would like to emulate her passion to share her bliss and help people find greater meaning in life. Another role model is Louise Hay - for standing strong amidst a life-threatening cancer and proving to everyone that positivity and love for oneself can effectively heal one’s life.

World Changes. I am so happy seeing that our generation right now is more into spirituality - needing to know the real essence of life, loving Mother Earth, choosing organic healthy alternatives, knowing our Divine purpose, and using the power of our thoughts in creating and attracting the life that we dream of. In becoming prepared and balanced throughout these changes, I am now into Naturopathy and Aromatherapy as alternative and complementary health regimens. I cultivate a positive outlook in life despite difficult challenges. I believe in God's saving grace and the wonders of having angels as allies. I am also understanding the effectiveness of Emotional Freedom Technique or Tapping, Aromatherapy, and Angel Reiki.

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Princess encourages her family, friends, and followers to, “Dream Big, have Bigger Faith, and Believe in the Biggest Possibilities!”

Find Evelyn Princess Villaflor Buendia in Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram. (Her website is still to be launched.)