An alleged psychological report on presidential candidate Noy Noy Aquion dating back to 1979 has surfaced. According to this report former which NPC President Guido Delgado circulated, a then 19 year old Aquino was said to be “suffering from depression and melancholia” partly due to his father’s incarceration during the regime of Ferdinand Marcos.
This report was supposedly signed by Jaime Bulatao, a Jesuit Priest and was dated August 9, 1979. Father Bulatao through a letter has since denied the report.
However, granting this report is true, what’s wrong with being depressed? Isn’t depression a natural human emotion? I will openly admit that I’ve been depressed several times over the course of my life. Especially because of the trials that I’ve been faced. Is there something wrong with me? Does this mean I am a lesser person than the next because I’ve been depressed? My answer would be no. There’s nothing wrong with being depressed.
At the time that the report was supposedly made Noy Noy was a young man who has gone through a tremendous amount of trials such as the incarceration of his father and the other attacks thrown against his family by their enemies. That’s more than a lot of people could undergo and handle given their youth.
If he became depressed, that would certainly be understandable. What’s important is that he got over it and since then has made something out of his life.
Being depressed is not bad. It’s our way of coping through problems. What’s important is the ability to get over the depression and press forward. As the saying goes, “it’s not how many times you fall down, it’s how many times you get up”.
That’s the same with depression. We’ll get depressed as we face trials and that’s fine. We should just find a way to get out of it in a timely manner.
If the worse trait of Noy Noy is that he gets depressed from time to time then I’m willing to live with that. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad leader or a bad person, it only means he’s human.
As the elections draw near, my choice of who to vote for becomes clearer and clearer. I am seeing and sensing desperation from some candidates and this only puts them in a bad light.
A friendly advice to supporters of candidates don’t use tactics like this in order to sway others to your side, it only makes people think less of you and your candidate. If you want to convince me to vote for your candidate show me what they can do, their good qualities. Don’t show me the negative traits of the other candidates. That only makes you look petty.
On this day, some years ago (I won’t mention how long ago) a very special girl was born. She would grow up to be a great daughter, a good friend, a loving wife and a very kind and understanding mother. She simply became a wonderful person both inside and out.
I have had a lot of blessings in my life but most of them would fail in comparison to the blessing that is my mom. She’s was the one who brought my brother and I into this world and continues to give us life with the home that she has provided us. She has been selfless and put our needs above hers. At times sacrificing her own wants and needs just so she can give us a happy life.
Her life has been filled with sacrifices for her family. Not once complaining about it because for the people she loved, nothing mattered but their happiness.
We’ve had our share of ups and downs. Trials here and there but through it all she handled everything with grace.
A great testament to how good of a person my mom is, is the fact that I have not encountered a single person who does not like her. A lot of my friends become her friends as well. I can leave my friends with her and they probably would not notice that I was gone. She is loved by all.
On this, her birthday, my wish for mom is for her continued health and happiness. I also wish that all the sacrifices she made will bear fruit. She deserves to be happy and fulfilled. May the Good Lord shower her with all the blessings.
I love you mom!
Instead of debating suicide laws, why isn’t more done to find as cure for the awful diseases that so ruin people’s lives, they feel the need to kill themselves? – Michael, Manchester, UK
That quote came from one of the comments left on an article that I just read. The article was titled “British TV viewers to be shown shocking moment terminally ill man ends his life at suicide clinic” and it was published on Mail Online, a British publication.
The article talks about a man named Craig Ewert who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease (MND), a group of progressive neurological disorders that affect the control over muscles. Craig Ewert has decided that he did not want to prolong his suffering as well as subject his family to his ordeal that he flew to Switzerland to die. Dignitas, a Swiss organization assists terminally ill people in performing assisted suicide. You can read the entire article here.
This story caught my attention and in a way pulled something in my heart because I know what it’s like to go through something similar, albeit not as bad.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, there’s a sense of dignity that is lost when you can’t fend for yourself. When you rely on someone else to do normal daily activities, it does get quite taxing. Not only on yourself but on the people around you.
Being paralyzed, not having control over your body is a very difficult thing. Physically and emotionally. It’s something you don’t wish another person, even an enemy.
I’m quite lucky that at least I still have some function over other parts of my body. I can still do other things such as type on a computer, text message, eat, speak, etc… Those things still make life worth living.
I do understand what went through Mr. Ewert’s head. I would be lying if I said that I’ve never thought about just ending my life and getting this over with. However those moments are very brief and fleeting. I’ve managed to think of reasons to keep on going. But I can empathize and understand his decision. It’s not an easy life…
The question begs to be asked “why aren’t we doing much more in terms of making sure that people who are in similar situations don’t have to make that decision?”.
We as a society should do more. We should spend more on healthcare, research for medicine and treatments that will cure illnesses such as this. We should provide programs that assist families in caring for sick members, we should be more compassionate as a society that decisions such as taking your own life should not be made. Life is precious, each life is important.
Like I said, I still manage to find a reason to keep fighting. My family is my main driver in doing so. I honestly wouldn’t know what to do if I lose them, they are the biggest reason why I continue to fight. Without them I don’t think I would have gotten this far. I honestly hope I never run out of reasons to go on and keep fighting.
While I can understand one persons wish to enforce his right to die and end his suffering, it is my sincerest wish that society gives everyone enough reason and assistance to not have to exercise that right.
My mom celebrated her birthday yesterday. I won’t mention her age because she’ll probably disown me if I did.
We celebrated her birthday in a simple but great way. My dad was supposed to take her out for dinner at some restaurant but she didn’t want to go. Instead she wanted to spend it at home. My brother prepared dinner instead.
My mom’s birthday dinner consisted of deconstructed French Onion Soup. Deconstructed because the cheese and bread were served separately. I asked my brother if that was really a style of serving it and he said no. The reason he served it that way was because he didn’t have a broiler hot enough to melt the cheese properly and make sure that the cheese was on top. I don’t really fully understand what that means… Hey the only cooking I ever did was to heat up some corned beef when I was young.
We also had salmon for appetizers, a salad and for the main course Paella. I must say that my brother’s Paella is pretty good. It also didn’t contain any pork because my dad doesn’t eat pork.
For dessert we had Mango and Cream Cake which my cousin prepared. Peachy, my cousin is one of the best “cakers” in Manila. She’s also like a daughter to my mom and dad and so she had to be with us for dinner.
Apart from my dad, mom, brother, cousin and I, we were also joined by Imee, my brother’s longtime girlfriend.
The dinner was simple and yet extremely enjoyable and delicious. It probably was a better alternative than my dad’s original plan. I’m sure my mom enjoyed it as well.
Mom, you know I love you very much and each birthday you have I am truly thankful to God for having blessed our family by making your our mom. You’re the gel that holds our family together. I don’t know where we’d be with out you.
Happy, happy birthday mom! May God grant all your wishes. I love you.
P.S.
Oh, don’t mind the walls in the picture. We’re having the house repainted and now it’s still a mess. The girl in picture making a funny face, that’s my cousin Peach.
This is a little late for Christmas but just in time for New Year. I hope that your Christmas has been a good one. You got a chance to spend time with family, laughing, catching up, exchanging gifts and well wishes. I hope that you’ve had abundant blessings, while it may not be material things, simply by being with your loved ones, being healthy are more than adequate blessings.
As 2008 draws near, I want to with you health, wealth and happiness. May the coming year be great. I wish you a life as blessed as mine.
A Happy New Year you!
The Christian world welcomes one of its newest members, baby Adam!
Adam is the son of my cousin Melvin and his wife Farah. Born on Nov. 3, 2007, Adam is the second child of the couple. Ashley, the eldest child is a proud big sister.
I was really flattered when Melvin and Farah asked me to be the God Father of Adam. Melvin and I grew up together and were really close when we were kids. We’re almost the same age with just a little less than 6 months separating us.
Being a God Parent is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. I know I can’t give much in terms of monetary or financial support as of now but I’m quite confident that I can be a good example to Adam as he grows up.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever have kids so I’m at least happy I have several God children. Although I feel bad because some of them I have not seen for awhile. I hope to see them soon.
So, to Adam, welcome to the Christian world. I promise to do the best I can to be a good role model for you. I look forward to seeing you grow up to be a great man.
