5 Filipino Quotes That I Will Equip Myself With In 2014

1. “A Girl Has To Want It, Kasi…” –Arnold Mercado of Aces and Queens

2013 is the year, when most of the representatives from the Philippines emerged as winners, in prestigious international beauty pageants -bagging three titles: Miss World, Miss International and Miss Supranational.

(It did cross my mind, however, that maybe a breakthrough in science and in beauty products, might had happened -particularly in the Philippines, this year.)

” Anong meron?”

Arnold Mercado and Jonas Gaffud-mentor to the beauty queens of the renowned Aces and Queens beauty camp, in one interview, agreed on one thing:

“A girl has to want it ( the crown ) so much so that she will WORK hard for it and claim it like she already has it.”

These beautiful women did not just get it because they were beautiful – think about competing with a hundred equally gorgeous ladies. They worked hard for it.

Just by listening to them talk about the regimen, the discipline and the sacrifices they endured prior to the competition, would make one say they are winners already.

These girls wanted it so much.
They worked hard for it and claimed the crown in their minds.

Didn’t Mutya Datul said, she already envisioned the supranational crown on her head even on the first day, while her plane touched down in Belarus?

Miss World 2013 Megan Young and her Grace Kelly demeanor in Bali, Indonesia made her stand out from the rest. She was all regal and queenly –like she just showed up to claim the crown.

Miss Universe 4th runner-up, Ariella Arida was a winner already, in a latina dominated ” top five “, where she articulated herself, despite the odds of having no interpreter like the rest.

Now, this entire business of girls wanting it so much struck me as, in fact, a necessary fundamental in achieving ones dreams.

Yes, yes, we must have to really want our dreams and ambitions so bad, enough to ” work hard ” for it.

Let us all WANT our dreams and work hard for it.

Let us own it and CLAIM IT!

2. ” Laban, Pilipinas. Puso! “ – Team Gilas

During the FIBA World Basketball Cup, the Philippine team was playing ball like their lives depended on it.

They were shooting hoops and passing through ” giants” like it was the most natural thing to do. The country, the crowd and the flag represented everything the players were fighting for.

They were loving their fight.
They were fighting for their love.
They were pouring their hearts into the game.

Puso.

And shouldn’t this be a reflection of what we should be doing in our lives? Putting our hearts into what we do? Pouring our love into what we are fighting for?

This 2014 as we start anew, let us all go back to the basic. Let love inspire us to work hard. Let our love fuel our dream and passion.

3. “Wala Sa Pana Yan, Nasa Indian.” ( from Yeng Remulla’s book, “Start Something.” )

This year I had the privilege of joining a community of women who worked from home.

In one of the community’s event, an interesting Tagalog adage from one of the speaker’s book came to be.

” Wala Sa Pana Yan, Nasa Indian.”

( If literally translated to English means: ” It’s not in the crossbow, it’s the Indian. ” )

It hit me. Not the pana, mind you, but the Indian. It reminded me also of an english quote that said something about the worker not blaming his working tools.

Most of the time, many of us would blame our physical attributes and our circumstances in life for things we cannot do or achieve.

Sometimes, we think that we are too much or we can never be enough.

Too fat. Less brains. Too skinny. Less talent.Too eager.Less energy.
Too ugly. Less beauty. Too poor. Less oomph. Too tall. Less height.
Too romantic. Less romance. Too perfect. Less moves.Too sentimental.
Less hostile. Too attached. Less drab. Too fab.Too weak. Less scared.

Too busy looking for what is less…

This year -on the year of the horse, let us ride like the wind, bring out the strength of that inner Indian and stop blaming the bow.

4. ” Everybody Is A Genius After The Fact “. – Dr. Mahar Lagmay

I do not know if Dr. Mahar Lagmay “originally” said this or if this was just an idiomatic expression, I never encountered in my life, till he uttered it.

However, watching him on ANC say those words after Typhoon Haiyan, brought me to remembering lessons from the past -my past.

Had I learned from them?

People certainly derive lessons from yesterday.

However, as we go along our lives, we forget the lesson and keep on repeating the mistake.

In my case, I seem to be doing the same thing over and over, while getting the same results.

( why, of course.)

I pray that this year I would avoid those very same potholes and get a different result- a better one.

As for the Philippines, may we all be geniuses after the fact and learn from all that had happened to us.

5. “Para Kanino Ka Bumabangon?” – Coffee product tagline

I had to include this old tagline which does not necessarily belong to 2013 but something I fiercely believe will be useful in 2014. “Para Kanino ka bumabangon? “ was a commercial tagline, for a coffee product, I once saw on t.v.

( unless of course, you are one of the many Filipino fans of “The Walking Dead” series, then this all together holds a different meaning. )

Every time I think of my family, my husband, my child and God’s unconditional love – I know, I have to get up and be there -where I am needed.

“Para Kanino ka nga ba talaga bumabangon?”
( ” Who do you get up for? ” )

From the wars, calamities, catastrophes, losses and thievery that this country went through, 2014 will be all about getting up. We will get up and make it happen for 2014.

Meanwhile, I will be busy stepping on my soapbox…

I will not anymore be waiting, I will be wanting what I want, claiming it, owning it and working hard for it.

My goal for my self this year is to put my heart in what I do, enjoy working at home and continue to get paid for what I do.

And maybe earn a lot -enough to deliver the lines:

” I can buy you, your friends and this club. “ ( who knows? )

Or boldly ask Heimdall, the gate-keeper of the Asgard bridge: Bifrost

“Hindi Mo Ba Ako Kilala? “

( hoping that the setting is not dim, not forgetting Heimdall is blind and that it is not yet the election year called -2016. )

I commit to my blog and my brand.

This year 2013, many of you, made me believe in myself and in what I do.

Thank you to all of you:

for sending me beautiful messages,

for embracing my imperfection,

for inspiring me,
for becoming my friends,
for loving my family,
for appreciating my thoughts,
for secretly smiling at my cause,
for laughing at my mistakes,
for standing proud with me -on our being Filipino,
for affirming my belief in The Greatest Author there is
and for believing in me.

Let us all be poised for 2014:

-claim success for our selves,
-pursue our passion with all our hearts,
-be the greater indian more than having the greater bow or arrow,
-learn from the past and
-rise above our circumstances

Happy 2014 guys!