"Mang Pedro's Boracay Experience"

This picture won third place in the UP Aggregates' Photofest held last June 2007. :)

I took this picture at the Boracay Shangri-la construction site last May 2007. Boracay is one of the most popular vacation spots in the country because of its beautiful beaches. Even the construction site I visited was breath taking. My vacation there brought me memories to last a lifetime.

But what about construction workers like Pedro? What about his Boracay experience? Im sure it's different from mine.

My friend recently shared this list to me. Sometimes, when we feel out-of-focus and we need to get back on track, it would be nice to remember the items posted here. :)

10 Principles of Discipline

10.. Discipline is the art of balance, consistency and perseverance.

9. Discipline acquires good habits, while it abandons bad habits.

8. Discipline makes no excuses.

7. Motivation fades, discipline prevails.

6. If you want to achieve excellence, begin with discipline.

5. Discipline involves using your time productively.

4. The first step to discipline is making up your mind.

3. Discipline is the secret behind most successes.

2. Discipline begins with small things done daily.

1. To learn you must love discipline.

Today, while I was riding on a jeepney on my way to school, a couple of youngsters went on board.

One was a teenage boy, maybe 14 years old, and he was with a younger girl who was probably 10 years old. From the way he held the young girl's arm, I could tell that he was her big brother.

The people inside the jeepney looked at the little girl, as I did. She was, well, a little different. I'm not sure if the term I'm using is correct, but she's what most people call a "mongoloid".

As she slowly sat down, her eyes caught mine. I nodded a little. Suddenly, she gave this huge smile and waved at me! It's weird but my heart just felt light. I gave her my biggest smile and I waved back.

I cannot explain why but right at that very moment, I wanted to cry. I was both happy and sad. I was happy because she reminded me of how lucky I am to be who I am. Her smile also reminded me that no matter how heavy one's problems may be, we can always choose to be happy. At the same time, I felt sad that such a lovely girl like her had to suffer like that.

A year ago, I attended the "Camp Pag-ibig" (Camp of love) which was a day full of games and fun activities for "special" children. Whenever they would do something, may it be singing or dancing, they always did it with their whole hearts.

It's a shame that some people regard retardation as a shameful thing. To be honest, I think we should all be inspired by them. In this world which gives much importance on one's looks and things rather than one's heart, sincerity has become a thing of the past.

If you're reading this (of course you are!), do me a favor. Could you please smile? A bigger one, please. That's it. Then close your eyes and think of the many things that you should be thankful for.

Life is too short for you to be complaining, right?

Brian McClure
A Call To Consciousness Inspirational Guest Series

http://profiles.takingitglobal.org/UniversalFlag

Subject: A Conversation About Africa - A Call To Consciousness

Trip chronology:  http://abc4all.net/tripchronology.htm

CLICK! for the Audio/Transcript of KTLK Talk Radio Show,
"A Call to Consciousness," from 09/20/08 as Brian describes his experiences in Africa!

 

Read this online:  http://abc4all.net/ctcguest.htm

 

NOTE: Invitation to call in with questions or ideas.

 

Local government officials say cholera outbreaks across Katsina, Zamfara, Bauchi and Kano states in northern Nigeria have killed 97 people in the past two weeks, making it the worst outbreak in the north for several years, according to an official from National Primary Healthcare Agency (NPHA) in Abuja.

More than 60 people have died in Zamfara state in the past two weeks, according to Tukur Sani Jangebe, Zamfara’s state commissioner for religious affairs.

“It is quite alarming and it is quite unusual for northern Nigeria. If up to 100 people have died from cholera in just two weeks, you can only imagine how many more are affected by the disease,” an official from the government-run NPHA who requested anonymity.

National government officials have not yet publicly stated if the outbreaks across the separate states are related, or provided figures on the number of affected people.

Jangebe said the death toll may be higher as reports of new infections are still coming in.

In Katsina state in the villages of Makadawa and Kagadama, 20 people, mostly women and children, have died while 30 others have been hospitalised according to local government chairman Masur Usman Murnai. Another nine people have died in Nabardo village in Bauchi state since 13 September, with 40 more affected, according to Garba Sale, a primary health care coordinator. Kano State’s health commissioner Aisha Isyaku Kiru said five people have died of cholera in the state within the past week.

Dirty water

Across northern Nigeria, heavy rains have washed dirt, rubbish, sewage and other contaminants into ponds and open wells in affected villages where the majority of people get their water, according to Sani Ibrahim, an epidemiologist at Kano state’s Bayero University.

“Torrential rains have been recorded this season and have washed lots of dirt into ponds and open wells. This is in contrast with last year where we had scanty rainfall and no recorded cholera outbreaks,” he said.

Response

In Katsina state, Murnai said local officials have been running an awareness campaign to urge people to pay close attention to household hygiene and to boil all drinking water.

Health coordinator Sale said in Bauchi state a health surveillance team has been sent to Nabardo village to analyse and disinfect drinking water sources.

In Zamfara state, the local ministry of water resources is trying to find ways to provide clean drinking water to affected communities to halt the spread of the deadly disease, according to local commissioner Jangebe.

But Halliru Salisu, coordinator of a network of Muslim groups in the state, says local government officials were slow to admit the cholera crisis and slow to respond.

Cholera is a bacterial intestinal tract infection that leads to vomiting and diarrhoea, and if untreated, can be deadly.

In March 2008, at least 35 people died of cholera in the towns of Markurdi and Oturkpo in southern Nigeria.

We in Me


It is we
Not he
Who make things great

Our minds our hearts
Have opened gates

To new and old
To rise and fall
To sink and float
To shout and call

Oh next big thing
Come out and play

Not green or pink
Not black or grey

I wonder why
I stop and think
Back to the time
When someone winked

You had a hunch
a big desire
To make it right
To take a leap
To stay and fight

With one they come
Some fast some slow
They help us grow

The we in me
The me in we.