Last two weeks

Three months. That's how long this summer was. Now, I can go on and count how many days it's been. But I'm too lazy.

I could also give you a summary of what I have done with my life in that past three months. After all, it must be interesting because I haven't posted much.

Well, on that note, you are very much mistaken. If I were to make a summary of the past three months, it would probably lead you to unfollow this blog. Because all I did was sleep till 10am, stay up late looking at funny cat pictures online, and occasionally, stay up till 3AM, trying to meet the client's deadline.

Yeah. being a writer is awesome as fuck. But let's not talk about that. let's talk about the remaining two weeks of "freedom".

When I realized I only had two weeks left before going back to University, I kinda felt nervous. the same nervousness I felt on my first day as a High school Senior waaay back in 2009.

How is this any different than my senior year in high school? well, for one, after this year, I'll be diving into the confusing sea which they call "The Real World". It's kinda like a video game, only real. It kinda scares me to be honest.

of course, regarding my last year in college, I have expectations. Here are a few of those expectations:

• Less Sleeping Time. I plan on working double time for the Thesis. No, I'm not the leader, but just because I'm not the leader doesn't mean I should get 10hrs of sleep while he does all the work.
• More Stress. On the Job training. this is what all seniors dread. I'm not an exception. I'll be looking for a company crazy enough to take me. I hope I find one.
• homework. I expect we'll be having more homework this year. *sighs*

I'm not ready for any of this! Two weeks... I have two weeks to be mentally ready for this. i just hope, you know... everything turns out fine and that Senior College will be a good year to remember.

I have a Job

Inspired by the Beatles' song: "Paperback Writer", I went on and started work as a freelancer. I have to say, I've been doing pretty well and with each article I write, I get a little bit of cash in my pocket. 

This is my first time using the internet to gain money by doing something I like, namely writing. 199jobs.com has given me the oppurunity I didn't think was possible to get. 

What is 199jobs you ask? It's this beta site where you can offer your services for the small amount of 199php. You can also put add-ons as options for your buyers for you to earn more than just 199 with each order. 



I've been using it since March, and I have to say, things are run pretty smoothly. The site developer, Mr. Glenn Santos, is very accommodating. He even put up this exclusive seller group in Facebook where he and others can post different job opportunities for sellers like me, he also updates everyone through the group about site changes, meet ups (He arranges meet ups every Monday) and he asks for suggestions from sellers on what we think should be added to the site for us to be able to use it more efficiently. 

And I have to say, the site has seen so much improvement since I started using it last March. I can really see myself using it for a longer period of time. 

But how does the site work? 
You can learn more from reading the site FAQS. 

if you have talent, and are willing to do work from home, I suggest you try this out. Who knows? this could be the ticket you're looking for to get that money you need. 

Japan Suicide Forest

I've been doing a lot of online reading lately. I've read all sorts of things. What would happen is that I would read something from facebook trivia pages like What the F*ck facts and I'll be like: "There is no way that's true." Then I would google it and be proved wrong.

It's already happened more than once. I have turned my online time to reading time. I get all sorts of useless information. but these information can come in handy in conversations or when you're out on a date and you run out of topics. You could be like: "hey, did you hear about that guy who died and was devoured by his pet spiders?" 

Well, your date might be grossed out, but at least you have something to talk about. Anyway, I wanted to share something I found strange yet fascinating online. I read somewhere that there was this forest in the foot of Mt. Fuji in Japan where people go to take their lives. 

Naturally, I was skeptical so I googled it. I found that it was called Aokigahara Forest. A very popular place for people to come and take their lives. According to the internet, it was the second most popular place to commit suicide, right after the San Franciso Golden Gate Bridge. 

A noose used for suicide found inside Aokigahara Forest

Regular searches are conducted by the Japanese government to look for suicide victims in the forest. They even went on and posted signs on the entrance telling these people to get help and to think about what they are doing. 

A sign urging suicidal vistors to seek help.

As many as 100 people take their lives in this forest every year. Some bodies don't get discovered until they are nothing more than skeletal remains. Traces of people in the forest can be seen on the forest floor.
 as seen in these pictures taken by search parties, volunteers and journalists. 

I found the items to be depressing, but not as depressing as seeing the bodies. 








While I was looking at these pictures, I couldn't help but feel sad. Sad for these people who were feeling so down that they believed that death was the only exit. I read somewhere that when you commit suicide, you are not eliminating the pain, rather you are eliminating chances of getting better. 

What kind of lesson did I get by reading all about Aokigahara Forest? I learned that you should never let someone go through the darkness alone. And that you should be the friend who holds the light for them. Because in the darkness, they believe they are alone. Show them that they are not. Show them that someone cares. 

You could save a life just by listening. Just by being there. Be aware of your friend or family member's actions. Make sure that whatever hardships they go through, they don't have to go through it alone.




(Images from: Google)

Ang Kasalukuyang Mundo Ayon kay JC

Dahil sa teknolohiya ngayon, ang mga writer ay hindi na sanay gumamit ng papel at bolpen sa pagsulat ng kanilang mga saloobin o kaya naman ay mga balita na nais nila iparating sa masa.

Ito ay aking napagtanto, nang minsan kami pasulatin ng balita sa klase. Dahil walang computers, o laptops o internet ang karamihan, gamit ang tradisyunal na bolpen at papel, isinulat namin ang balita. sa aking paligid, andami ko naririnig. Mga kaklase ko na panay sabi ng "Hindi ak sanay ng hindi tinatype!"

Napaisip ako nun, unti unti na natin nakakalimutan ang mga gawi na tradisyunal. Baka dumating tayo sa panahon na Hindi na ito ituro ng mga guro, sa halip ay diretso na sa kompyuter. Wag naman sana.

Mga bata ngayon? Ganon pa din. Hindi man natin aminin, pero sadyang malandi na sila noon pa man. mas lumandi nga lang ngayon...

pero pagdating sa laro, mas pinipili na ngayon ng mga bata ang video games kesa maki halubilo sa iba. Sa opinyon ng manunulat na ito, hindi dapat. matatwag niyo kong ipokrito, pero hayaan niyo ako mag explain.


Sa kasalukuyan, ako ay isang tao na mas pinipili magkulong sa loob ng kanyang silid at maghapon mag internet. Pero may panahon na mas ginusto ko maglaro sa labas ng bahay kasama ang mga madudungis kong kalaro.

Sa palagay ko, importante na makihalubilo ang mga bata sa kapwa nila bata para sila ay matuto ng mga life skills tulad ng pagkakaibigan at pakikisama.Pag lumaki kasi sila na lagi asa bahay at walang ibang nakikitang muka maliban sa kanilang pamilya, ay lalaki silang mahiyain at mahihirapan sila makisama sa lipunan. Nanaisin niyo ba makita ang anak niyo na nahihirapan sa pakikipagkaibigan? Hindi. Kaya pilitin niyo sila lumabas at bawasan ang video games.

Enganyuhin siya magbasa ng libro at sumulat sa papel. Ituro mo sakanila ang mga maliliit na bagay na nagbibigay liwanag sa kanilang buhay. Liwanag na magtatagal, hindi tulad ng sa cellphone na pagkatapos ng ilang sandali ay mawawala.

Ipakita mo sakanya ang mundo. Patingalain mo siya mula sa kanyang kinakalikot na gadyet. Wag mo siyang pabayaan makonsumo ng teknolohiya. Maganda ang mundo. kailangan mo lang tignan.

Ako? Naranasan ko na makihalubilo sa mga tao. Naranasan ko na madapa sa kalsada at umiyak pauwi. At sa pakikipagsapalaran ko sa mundo ng mga tao, napagtanto ko na Ayoko sakanila at mas nais kong mapagisa.

Hayaan mo madiskubre yan ng anak mo. Hayaan mo siya mabuhay. Wag mo siya ikulong sa teknolohiya

Kwento ng Isang Nilalang

May mga tao na swerte sa buhay... swerte sa career, swerte sa pamilya, at swerte sa buhay pag ibig.

Kadalasan na makikita mo, ay isang tao na swerte sa career, pero buhay pamilya niya ay isang napakalungkot na kwento.

Meron din naman, mga swerte sa pag ibig, ngunit hindi naman makapag trabaho ng ayos.. at syempre, meron din tao na swerte sa pamilya, pero pagdating sa pag ibig, ay olats.

May kwento ako tungkol sa isang nilalang...

Isang nilalang na minsa'y nangarap. Nangarap lang na minsan, sa buhay niya, may magmahal naman sakanya. Yung matatakot mawala siya, yung yayakapin siya kapag handa na siyang sumuko at puntahan ang punong may kapal. Yung magmamakaawang wag siyang lumisan... gusto niya ng tao na magmamahal sakanya na parang kung paano siya mag mahal...

Ngunit tila ito ay isang panaginip na kailan ma'y hindi masasagot. ni hindi mabibigyan katuparan. Hindi niya ito pinansin. Sumulat na lang siya. dinaan sa trabaho ang kalungkutan na kanyang tinatamasa.

"Hindi yun importante." paulit ulit niyang sinasabi sa sarili. Tuloy sa pagsulat, tuloy sa pagbuhay....

Minsan, siya ay umibig. minsa'y sumaya sa piling ng isa... Ngunit tila parang bula, ang pag ibig nito'y biglang naglaho...

Ang kawawang nilalang ay naglugmok... Naglaslas... ginusto magpakamatay... Hindi niya kinaya ang sakit sa kanyang puso. Masyadong mabigat... masyadong masakit...

Ngunit sa tulong ng pamilya, ay bumalik ang dating sigla...

Ngayo'y siya ay nakahanap ng bago. "ito na kaya?" tanong sa sarili. Dala ng trauma mula sa nakaraang relasyon, dinahan dahan niya ang pag tapak dito.

ngunit bago pa man umusbong ang pag ibig, ito'y inapakan, sinunog at pinatay. Ang pag ibig na inaasahan, ay pawang kasinungalingan.

Nagpapasalamat siya at hindi naulit ang nakaraan... ngunit sa kabila ng lahat ng magandang nangyari, Hindi niya mapigilan ang sarili sa pag isip.... "Hindi na ba ako nakatakdang lumigaya?" "habang buhay ba ganito ako? habang buhay na mag isa...."

"Siguro nga.." napagtanto nito. May mga tao siguro na nakatakdang mabuhay mag isa. walang masama dito, ngunit masaya sana isipin na sa pag dating ng araw ng iyong pagtanda, ay may aakay sa iyong paglakad kapag ang tuhod mo'y nilamon na ng rayuma. Na may magsasabi sayo na mahal ka niya kahit na ano ang mangyari...

Ngunit sa kasamaang palad, ang buhay na ninanais ng nilalang na ito, ay hindi para sakanya...  Tuloy ang buhay. nagsusulat pa din siya... Hinayaan ang nararamdaman at nilunod muli sa trabaho ang lahat....

Hey Mister! Give me a job!

"hey Mister! Give me a job!"

This was yelled out by a young man on the fence of a  NASCAR race way back in the 60's. A famous race car driver, whose name escapes me, hears the young man and decided to give him a job. That young man, again, whose name escapes me, is now famous in NASCAR.

I saw this on an episode of "The Pickers" on the history channel. It might have been pure luck that got him to where he is, but still, how he got started in NASCAR is pretty cool.

I wish it were this easy to get a job in writing. But no. if you do manage to hook a writing job, here are some things I learned while working as a freelance writer:

Write intelligently. you were hired to write? Show them what they are paying for. When writing the article, show the buyer how smart you are and that their decision to buy your services was a good one.

Edit your work. you can write fast, but is it any good? remember, re-checking your work isn't bad. in fact, it will help you find typos and other things that need to be omitted or improved. Your buyer will certainly approve of this.

Be Professional. The buyer will typically give you instructions. When something is unclear to you, don't hesitate to ask. It will save you time in case you mess up. and if they decide to get another writer, show that it's their lost, not yours.

Be Reasonable. Site owners typically get freelance writers because they charge less than professionals. Be reasonable with your prices. I charge 200 per article. But this is because I'm only starting out. Some charge up to 300. But they are really efficient. and finally;

Finish on Time. Buyers love it when you finish the work on or before the deadline.

If you decide to venture into the world of Freelance writing, heed my words. They can help you.

And while I'm waiting for a new writing job, I think I'll go hang out by a fence. maybe someone will respond to my yells of "Mister! give me a job!"

(image from Google)

Chloie keeps popping into my blog for no apparent reason. I keep deleting it.

It's like she's trying to invade my world of words here!

No, it won't be acceptable!