David Paul Bears It All!

“God breaks a man deeply so that He may use him Mightily,” a quote that comes from David Paul, a cancer patient survivor who proves that everything is worth living for.

by Dante Rossetti Santos Alejo

David Paul admits that reaching his dreams to succeed is more difficult without a father guiding him on the path he is taking. Yet, he remains strong amidst the tests that came into his life.

He is currently studying Mass Communication at the Far Eastern University. He took his elementary and high school in Take the Nations for Jesus Christian Academy (TNJCA) formerly Corpus Christi Christian School. Let us all understand him better through the questions I asked him.

Q: Who are your parents?
A: My mother is Veneranda Ilayat Ariles and my father is Deogracias D. Diego.

Q: Why are you using your mother’s surname?
A: I’m using it because my mother and my father are separated. My mother wants me to use her surname instead of my father’s.

Q: What is your set-up? I mean, do you live with your mother or father in a certain time and day?
A: No. I just live with my mother. The last time I saw my father was nine (9) years ago, that was in 2001.

Q: Is he still alive?
A: Yes, of course. He is.

Q: Do you know where he is now?
A: As far as I know, he is still in U.S. because he works there.

Q: Is your father supporting you?
A: Yes. Financial support particularly.

Q: Do you have siblings?
A: None in my mother’s side but I have half-sister and half-brother in my father’s side. (He told me the names of the two but I decided not to identify them in the article for security reasons)

Q: Do you have girlfriend?
A: None. I am not courting anyone because I am afraid to be rejected.

Q: What do you do in your life?
A: I just do everything I want to as long as I am not restricted to do it and I live life to the fullest. I do not care what people say. I am immune to that.

Q: What do you mean “I am immune to that”? From what?
A: People laugh at me because of my actions and they always say something behind my back. Well, I can’t blame them. They do not know what I suffered from that made me who I am now.

Q: Ok. Next question is what is your unforgettable experience?
A: My unforgettable experience is when I suffered from cancer.

Q: What kind of cancer did you suffer from?
A: It is leukemia. I was diagnosed in 2004.

Q: How did you overcome that cancer?
A: I had undergone in chemotherapy for about three to four years. I went in and out of the hospital.

Q: How did you manage your studies while suffering from leukemia?
A: I had to study at home because my doctor advised me not to go out while I was having chemotherapy. When I recovered, I went back to school and it was my fourth year in high school then.

Q: So, are you saying that you are now a cancer-survivor?
A: Yes, I am. I thank God for letting me to live and helping me to recover as fast as it could.

Q: How do you perceive life now?
A: I perceive life now better because God gave it to us though temporarily but we still have to take care of it and do what we have to do. Face our problems with God and it surely will be solved. God breaks a man deeply so that He may use him Mightily. Let us just live life to the fullest.

David is perceived by the others as always serious, low-tempered or easily gets mad, God-fearing, and intelligent but weird. During the interview with him, I have observed through his eyes and actions that he is serious and determined in life. I also noticed that he cannot establish an eye contact with me most of the time and I do not know why.

On the other hand, David has just celebrated his debut last December 7 and he is looking forward to having better health and longer life. He lives now happily, stays stronger and still ready to face whatever obstacles may come in his life.

Source:
Pictures - http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1494002196

“Shoe” What You Got!

Customize your own shoe design
By Dante Rossetti Santos Alejo


Shoes serve as protector of our feet, but do you believe that your shoes also represent who and what you are? Well, I would say that it is a big YES! Of course, it does tell who and what you are because you are the one who picks and chooses that.
Choosing the right shoes for you would certainly boost your fashion sense.



If you would notice, we have been wearing shoes since our grade school days. We used to wear black shoes as our teachers require us. However, during our Physical Education (P. E.) class, we use rubber shoes for us to be comfortable when performing the sport or recreational activities.


Nowadays, every teen does not just wear rubber shoes for their P.E. class because kinds of shoes have varied. Instead, we wear shoes that would definitely make us more comfortable such that Chuck Taylor (also know as chuckte, here in the Philippines) have boomed in the markets and invaded teen’s inner desire to have one.
On the other hand, shoes like chuckte contain different design that would positively catch the buyer’s eyes. At any rate, some of these shoes do not satisfy our wants because we somehow do not love the design though we have bought it already because of its good-looking and presentable feature. As a result of the fact, there are some who have thought that they could make, personalize, or customize their own shoe design by simply starting from simple and plain shoes. This idea or concept does materialize.

This article will help and guide you customize the design of your own shoes for your better satisfaction. Here is the simple procedure of having your shoes personalized:


1. Choose a shoe. Before anything else, you have to choose the shoes you are going to customize the design. You should also consider who will be using the shoes, is it you personally or are you giving it as a gift to someone?

2. Pick a color. Any color will do so that your work will be easier but I recommend that you use white if you are beginner. Using white color will make your design simple. However, you can pick a solid color, a combination of colors or make the shoes multicolored. You can also choose patterns like stripes, polka dots, checkers, etc.

3. Know the size. Size of the shoe also matters. Like what I have said in the first number, you must also consider if you will be the one to wear the shoes or you will be giving it to someone else as a gift.

4. Prepare the materials. After considering the kind of shoes, the size, and the color, you may prepare all the materials for your design such as pencil(s) with eraser for marker or guide; glue; poster paint; needle and thread; and other significant or useful material that you will need.

5. Imagine, plan, and draw. Once the preparation of materials is done, you should plan first of what design you would like to put on your shoes. After planning, you may draw it in a paper so you would have guide and visual copy. This step is important for this saves your time – it lessens the time you will spend from doing the whole activity.

6. Apply. When the visual guide of your design is done, you may start your work now. Focus on the guide you made and decide if there is still what you want to put or add in your final design. Every detail should at least be put on the shoes.


7. Double-up. As soon as the application of the design is finished, do the finishing touches such as you may make the lines bolder which are included in your design and the likes. Decide if you'd like any embellishments or add-ons on the shoe. You can decorate them with beads, embroidery, tassels, studs, spikes, appliqués, etc. Also, you should decide if your shoe design will need laces or Velcro closures.

8. Leave it. Later on, you may put it to a place where nobody can reach or touch it that may result to its damage especially if there are children in your place. You may also put it in front of an electric fan and let it make itself dry, if needed.



Sources:

 http://www.ehow.com/how_4843379_design-shoes.html
 http://www.zazzle.com/custom/shoes/mens_lotop
 http://www.zazzle.com/custom/shoes/kids_laceup
 http://www.zazzle.com/custom/shoes/kids_slipon
 http://www.zazzle.com/custom/shoes/womens_slipon
 http://www.zazzle.com/custom/shoes

OFWs Return Home Sweet Home

“There’s no other place like home.” This famous line may be applied to what happened to 30 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who went back here in the Philippines.

Last week, my attention was caught because of the news provided by GMA7’s 24ORAS informing people about these OFWs who left Dubai and returned to the Philippines through the help of the Philippine Embassy there.

While I was listening to the news, I was not able to believe right away what one of them was saying. He said that they were not getting any salary from the company they were working at and sometimes, they work over time. He also said that they successfully lived in Dubai through selling craps. But I realized that what he was saying might be true and I should believe it especially that he was not the only one who said it – there were many of them who supported his statement.

However, they should still be thankful because they did not experience what others did/do experience like what the other news says which states that migrants group cautions OFWs because of the wrongfully implicated in drug-related crimes.

What happened to their lives may be considered inspiring and pitiful but what important is they learned from their experience and I must say that I admire them because they survived.

Reference:
: GMAnews.tv - accessed November 14, 2010 http://www.gmanews.tv/video/69041/24oras-30-abused-ofws-from-dubai-arrive-home

: Manila Bulletin
Migrants Group Cautions OFWs
By ROY C. MABASA
November 8, 2010