Changes In Life…

Nov 10th, 2007

I have read somewhere only three things are permanent in this world.

Taxes
Death
Changes.

Whether we like it or not, we would have to pay our taxes, face death and adjust to changes.

This I realize when I was a kid growing up in Ongpin. There was this barbershop named “Ben’s Barber Shop”. A barber named

“Mang Tony” is my favorite because he has a lot of stories to tell. He is in early 60’s. Despite his age he is robustly built and had sharp eye. He could discuss anything under the sun (“perhaps including under the moon”-Joke). Nobody win’s discussing any subject when he is around. If not, they would say “If only Mang Ben is here, you could not say that to him.”

I make it a point to just hang around if I don’t have anything to do just to hear him and learned something.

He is also good at playing “Dama”. Whenever he is on the lead or on a winning position, you could receive a lot of insult and tease. You would end up with a red face in embarrassment. He seems to be a very happy man and can speak with authority.

One time, one customer made the mistake of discussing with him about Religion and Belief in particular. The man believes in “Natural Resources” as their God. The Air we breathe, the sun, the moon and the Stars. We were all laughing in our heart content and Mang Ben seems to be wining when he deliver the killer blow, “What about the wind coming from Electric Fan, and those coming from your ass, Is that God Too!”

Daily discussion of different topic had me questioning his intelligence. Is he really brilliant or only great in giving philosophical answer?

Then as years past, I saw him less maybe due to old age. People started talking about him. Then I realize that he is not really great. These people who always “loose” from their discussion actually wanted to stop to put an end to the topic. Not because they actually loose.

Then I realize that Mang Ben is actually stubborn and hardheaded and never listens to other people. He doesn’t believe that something in him should be change. That his attitude should be change. That for him he is and should always be right.

The year before I graduated from my elementary school, Mang Ben died. He died with his belief that he is genius and intelligent.

Saw this posted in one Book Store “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”

Thanks Ivy, now I know!. The Serinity Parayer. “Googled” it and here I found.

http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/special/serenity.html

The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
–Reinhold Niebuhr

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11 Comments on “Changes In Life…”

#1 Ivy (Who am I?)
on Nov 10th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
it’s called the serenity prayer. my favorite
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#2 manilenya (Who am I?)
on Nov 11th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Nice prayer

I know also another BEN and we call him BEN KARUNUNGAN, and like Mang Ben you knew, he’s stubborn and hard-headed too. Once you say something against what he had just said, I tell you, he has another statement to contradict you for he is knowledgeable than you - for him of course.

And that BEN KARUNUNGAN is my aunt’s husband. Great right? And because I grew up in a community that give names to a person with the name they used to call to their relatives, I can also be called MANILENYA KARUNUNGAN. Hehehehe!! And that is really great. lol!
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#3 admin (Who am I?)
on Nov 11th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Hi! manilenya,
Nice, you know in our place where I group up, There are many names that start with “Totoy”. so when you need one just be sure to know his “alyas” (a.k.a.).Like “Totoy Sunog”-Maitim, “Totoy Kulot”- Curly hair.
Then there is “Totoy Bungal”-few front tooth left. There is “Landong Uhog” and “Landong Barko”. Funny Isn’t it?
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#4 manilenya (Who am I?)
on Nov 12th, 2007 at 2:05 am
Hahahaha! Same in our place, I am from Tondo one of my uncle was called Erning Kintab, so people there call my mother Susan Kintab too

Btw, Ongpin has a special place in my heart; I grew up in there too I used to go with my mother selling fish @ Ongpin cor. T. Alonzo St. I don’t know if you’re familiar with these people; remember the cold storage in that corner? Actually I was always there almost every day in 2003-2004 when my mother left to Singapore. My cousin and my aunt still selling fish in there.

Pardon me for my wrong english grammar, dito ko nag-aaral mag ingles sa blog mo e lol!
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#5 admin (Who am I?)
on Nov 12th, 2007 at 5:52 am
Oh yes, Andun pa rin yun. Nakatayo pa rin.May mga nagtitinda pa rin. Fresh kasi mga tinda dun and you could buy any parts of pig or beef My father used to buy there including the fish. Sariwa at malalaki ang mga tindang isda dun.
We used to live in Kipuja St.,Along T.Alonzo. Between Ongpin St. and Soler St. There is these narrow st.(Corner of Ling Nam Restaurant) that will lead you to Fernandez St. then exit to Ongpin St again.
I don’t know if you know the Hong Sing Karate Club also along Ongpin St.?They are one of three organization that perform Lion Dance in those (golden years,lol) years.
Sabi ko nga ba baka kapitbahay kita eh.
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#6 Sam Chan (Who am I?)
on Nov 12th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Hi Ramon,
You are right! Change is the only constant in life.

May we continue to change whatever deem necessary so that we could have a wonderful, happy and lovely life. Let’s learn to set our mind on things that really valuable and lasting.

Many Blessings
Let’s Acquire Wisdom and Live with Passion
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#7 manilenya (Who am I?)
on Nov 13th, 2007 at 10:41 am
ang alam ko noon close to bankruptcy na yung cold storage na yun baka ibang cold storage ang sinasabi mo lol!!

yang tungkol sa isda syempre totoo yan, paninda kaya namin yun lol! bale dalawa ang nagtitinda doon, sa isa yung kumare ng nanay ko, sa kabila naman e yung pinsan at tyahin ko na lang since nasa Singapore now ang nanay ko

ahh doon ka pala sa bandang Aranque ..
naalala ko nung minsang fiesta sa tundo may mga grupo from Ongpin ang nagpunta sa bahay para mag lion dance

hehehe oo nga kapitbahay pala tayo dati kang taga Ongpin ako naman taga Tundo..lapit lol!
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#8 admin (Who am I?)
on Nov 13th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Sam chan Thanks for your comment.
manilenya Hindi, bukas pa talaga. promise. hehehe. Tapat niya ay Chinese Store of pasalubong or delicasy. Punta ako Thursday to confirm. Hehehehe
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#9 Trew Life Advice (Who am I?)
on Nov 13th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
I have read somewhere only three things are permanent in this world.

Taxes
Death
Changes. © YOU

This was a wonderful lead (the introductory section of a story) to your post.

- Ask Trew Life
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#10 manilenya (Who am I?)
on Nov 14th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
oo bukas pa nga sya, pero di sya katulad nung dati (nung maliit pa ko lol!) marami silang partners doon sa cold storage dati saka marami ding mga trabahador. now si ano na lang Twana or Twanak dii ko sure ang spelling e :)…kung dadaan ka doon ng hapon pakibigay na lang yung regards ko sa mga tindera ng isda hehehehe (nag-utos ano lol!) from Nalen po kamo …thanks. Baka magulat pa sila kung paano mo ko nakilala e Nalen po na nasa Canada.
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#11 admin (Who am I?)
on Nov 15th, 2007 at 7:10 am
Sige. I’ll tell them. Maganda daw mapangasawa taga Canada sabi ng Kaibigan ko Kasi masisipag daw and mag ganito lang dialogue mo:
Maglaba Canadian,
Magluto Canadian
Maglinis Candian
Maghugas Canadian lol!
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