The Greatest Lesson I learned from my Father

What's the most valuable lesson you've gained from your Father?

When I've watched the controversial interview about former Senator Bongbong Marcos, it flashed back the memories I had with my Father whom I look up as a great leader and provider in our family. He's not only a good Father to us, but his love and purpose extends to the people in our community.

To be in public service is a great privilege to influence and make a lasting impact to the people. It's about exerting energy and great effort to look after the welfare of the people and the community above Self. 

I remember in 1998 when my Father decided to be in public service as a Municipal councilor. I just graduated in Elementary back then and was overwhelmed about the world of politics. We were informed by my Father regarding his plans and wanted to hear our opinions. I strongly opposed and perhaps it was unanimous among my siblings. His calling to serve our community didn't hinder him to run in a public office. Later on we're convinced and we gave our full support on him. He won a seat in the Municipal Council and that was the start of his political service.

He ran for the second term as Municipal Councilor and won in 2001 and his third term in 2004. For nine consecutive years, (1998 - 2007) my Father dedicated his life to improve the welfare of his constituents through public service.

During those years, my Father taught me to have a fighting spirit. To have the perseverance and the will to follow your calling and dreams. Those were the virtues which I may be lacking. I had fears and doubts although I believe that I have a little confidence. 

It was him who pushed me forward and leave my fears behind when he convinced me to follow his path when I ran as a Municipal Youth Council President in our hometown. At first it was against my will since I didn't have enough confidence to face the people and the responsibilities of the position. However, I trusted him to be there to guide me. I won and had a seat in the Municipal Council for five years from 2002 - 2007. During those years, I saw how my Father performed and served well in the Council. That moment, I thank him for believing in me and pushing me beyond my limits. He took away my doubts and fears and let me soar high. 

In 2016, my Father made a comeback in public service after nine years. He wasn't inactive since he hold a position as Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) President from 2014 - 2016. He ran again for Municipal Councilor and he won. I was not in favor of his comeback since I would want to see him live a more simple life away from the politics. He was unstoppable and full of energy. His passion and support of the people motivated him to serve. He listened and didn't turn them down. When it's the people who calls you to be a leader and a servant, there's an overflowing love and trust and you just follow their call.

In 2019 until the present, he's still serving as a Municipal Councilor and is overcoming several challenges. He fought hard on what he believed is right and for the greater good of the community. He stood up and speak his mind on controversial issues confronting our community. He showed will-power to get things done and to achieve more for the progress of the community.

I learned from my Father to never give up and never to surrender when you're right. Always speak up and believe in yourself. When it comes to public service, you can always choose to serve even if not holding an office. Always look back and give back. And when people are there to give support and express love, it means you're on the right track and you've done a good job.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

A Moment of Healing and Memories

When you need to unwind, relax and set free, where do you go?

In Baguio City, people would go for a reason. It's a place like no other in the country. It relaxes the body, mind and soul. It liberates from worries, and fears. And it helps get revitalized and be healed.

That's the highlands in the Northern Philippines. A City of Pines and strawberries. A historically rich and a vibrant city where people would go for a wonderful journey.

When we feel exhausted and a need to rejuvenate, a travel to a certain destination would help us recover. It changes our mood and uplifts our spirit. Then, we feel good again, and do great things again.

In Baguio City, you feel welcomed. The friendliness of the people makes you stay, although, you'll have to leave anyway. With a momentary healing and rejuvenation, you'll be ready to face another race in much challenging place.

Not just for friends and lovers, but Baguio City is also for the family. A getaway for fun, learning and appreciation of arts and culture. Baguio City's charm invites everyone to learn their stories, heritage and identity.

If I would choose, I'd rather live in a place where there's a balance between nature and a city life. Living in Baguio is like living in a mountain resort, surrounded by natural wonders for healing and relaxation.

Amidst uncertainty, when time permits to travel a long distance and go back to Baguio, I would love to recreate those memories and visit the finest places it has to offer. The memories creates lasting impact as the place where learning and training had started.

For now, we couldn't go to places as much as we wanted. All we can do is to reminisce the good times. And when we're set free, we can travel again endlessly.

©️  2021 Del Cusay

Birthday Special: Life's New Chapter

A birthday is a moment in life when we celebrate a new beginning. A fresh start that fuels our dreams and desires. A new goal to achieve, and a new mission to fulfill.

September 1st has been the most anticipated date for most of us. It's when we look forward to a happier and merrier Christmas celebration. The earliest Christmas for the Filipinos.

And for me, the 2nd of September is a celebration of life. It's when I feel grateful for reaching another year. A year that may be full of ups and downs. But, a year that's full of love and happiness. 

What makes this day extra special is the presence of my family. They're always there to celebrate with me on my birthday. They've witnessed how I live my life. And they're always a source of happiness and contentment.

I'm forever grateful for the years when I felt being loved. I never felt alone, but I always feel being guided and directed. 

This pandemic won't stop us from celebrating a new life. Because life must never stop despite threats and obstacles. We face it and we live it. We choose to be brave, to thrive, and to break through the barriers with toughness and fierceness.

As I continue to battle uncertainty, life has been good to me. The road may still be unclear at times, but I never lose hope. Just carry on and move on. Wishing all the best in life and Living my greatest life.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Related Posts:

👉 Birthday Special: Love and Gratitude

👉 Celebrating Birthday at the Farm

The Silent Heroes of the Pandemic

Do you believe in Superman? Does he exist? Does he have supernatural power? Today's Superman is the one who doesn't wear a cape. They don't fight a big enemy. And they don't possess physical and mental strength at all times.

Today's Superman can be defeated by an invisible enemy. They could suffer from low stamina and endurance. They could not easily heal themselves. And worst is, they could die.

When I worked at The Medical City Iloilo, I saw the different faces of Superman. The health care workers whose mission is to save lives. These are Nurses, Doctors, and other healthcare personnel who have shown dedication for service to those who need healing, survival, and recovery.

Today's pandemic has revealed the real value and worth of our healthcare workers. They are the silent Heroes who have saved thousands and even millions of lives from the Covid-19. They have made a big sacrifice to extend the lives of the sick and the dying. 

But the stories we watched and hear about our silent Heroes may not be good. In some countries, we see them almost giving up not because they are overfatigued or suffering from burnout and depression, but it's due to lack of support from the Government.

In the Philippines, we see the effect of the Government's negligence about the welfare of our Healthcare workers most especially the nurses who are already losing hope and morale. They are the modern-day Superman, yet they could not even protect themselves the way they protect and care for their patients. They extend people's lives, yet they are dying inside from the frustrations and disappointments. They are Superman, yet at times they couldn't rise up, but fall.

I'm a Nurse, and I will always support the call for the right treatment and support for my fellow nurses and others in the healthcare profession. We don't need recognition, but all we need from the Government is to be just and uplift the welfare to stand still and have a better fight on these difficult times of health crisis.

We are Superman, but we are also human. We get tired and burnout. We can be hopeless and depressed. And we are not limitless, but can also suffer from powerlessness. 

When this pandemic ends, our best salute goes to the silent Heroes who continue to serve for the health and well-being of the people. Give your best gratitude and appreciation to them. That's the greatest gift that can open their hearts.  Because it's when we have an open and big heart that we give more and we love more.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Life's Toughest Fight

When asked about your life's toughest fight, what would it be?

Is it about your fiercest opponent? Is it your unexpected defeat? Or your victorious winning?

When we're punched hard by struggles, it's easy to be defeated. It gets harder to rise up and give our best counter punch. Life's even harder to get up when we're knocked out. We lose and do not even shout out. That's the reality of life, we learn not just from our greatest winning, but also our worst defeat.

However, at times our toughest fight comes inherent; from within. It could be the most challenging to be defeated. It's the internal conflict. It's about our lower emotions that fight us inwardly.

Our tendencies for resentment, grudge and rage are our worst enemy, and oftentimes the hardest to fight. It could be our toughest battle. We win some or we lose some.

But, what if our worst enemy is just ourselves. That we couldn't get out from our worst tendencies, our conflicting personalities, and our lower emotions. After all, it may be just us. How could we escape? How could we cope? How could we win the battle; our internal fight and greatest struggle.

We may lose some fights, but the toughest fight gives us the courage to keep on fighting, to keep on moving, even when we're struggling and not even close to winning.

In the end, all our emotions are valid. It may not be all good, but we recognize the bad and the worst contributes to the realization of our true essence of living. And we continue to live and hope for a triumphant winning.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Journey from Alpha to Lambda

Would you rather be an Alpha, Beta, Delta, or Gamma?

We've come this far. From the unexpected painful beginning in early 2020 until the second half of 2021. This is not the joyous journey we've imagined. This is not the future we've envisioned.

Back on the year-end of 2019 and the welcome of 2020, that was all fun. Who would have thought we'll all suffer a sad fate of uncertain life and future. 

Yes, we've come this far, but this isn't the kind of journey we've wanted. It's been almost two years of struggles and miseries. Like a roller coaster ride, we experience the ups and downs. Like a dead-end road, we have no choice but a detour or U-turn. And like a crossroad, we're not always heading straight ahead. We may not be always turning right, and we could be turning in the wrong direction.

Yes, we may have aspired to be an Alpha or Delta personality type. But given the title associated with a deadly unseen enemy, we may just want to be a Nada. To have nothing to worry about. To have nothing to suffer. To have no fear and to have no painful ending, but only meaningful suffering that's turned into a blessing.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Making Golden Dreams come True

Dreams do come true. In times when we least expect it, life surprises us with a reward for the sacrifices, perseverance, hope, and faith.

When Hidilyn Diaz won a gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she brought a big surprise to the Filipino people. When what we usually hear is the not-so-good state of the nation, Hidilyn Diaz raised the bar to give us honor for bringing the first-ever Olympic gold medal for the Philippines.

We saw her dedication, fighting spirit, and willpower, and made us all proud that we Filipinos can achieve great things. We can make things happen if we believe in our self and have Faith. 

Hidilyn Diaz did not quit. She waited for more than a decade to achieve her dreams not only for herself but also for the country. She may have experienced her worst setbacks and down moments, but she took it as a challenge to keep on fighting until the end.

Now, Hidilyn Diaz ended the longest waiting time for the Philippines to get that gold medal. It's not just an ordinary gold, but it's a symbol of our greatness. It's a symbol of deepest love for the country and reverence to the Filipino people. 

Hidilyn Diaz is an inspiration to the Filipino people. We may not be fully supported from the start and may have been ridiculed for our deepest desires, but nothing could stop us from achieving our golden dreams. 

So in this time of the pandemic, we may stop momentarily, but we keep the fire burnin' and make that dreams happen. It may not be our moment for now, but with perseverance and willpower we can surely win until it's our time and until we can make that golden dreams happen.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Surviving the Pandemic: Resilience and Hope

How resilient can we be when faced with tough challenges such as the pandemic?

Several stories of resilience and hope inspire us day by day for those who continue to face their greatest battle. It's when people have the fighting spirit and the will to live that makes them a survivor. They survive and thrive.

To be a survivor of this pandemic isn't about social and economic status. It's not about the healthiest body and the highest intelligence. To be a survivor is about our resilience to different struggles and miseries. It's about faith and hope amidst difficulty and sorrow. 

When life presents a bitter taste of suffering, then no one is spared. We all share the same fears, doubts, and uncertainties. We share daily life struggles and negative emotions.

But until when shall we suffer? Until when shall we continue to fight? Until when shall we survive? 

This pandemic makes us find time to ponder on our life. If we have limited time to live and survive, how can we live our best life? If we are going to die tomorrow, what are the good things we can do today? 

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Pandemic

What's that one thing you ever regret not doing before the Pandemic hit?

Is it about all work and no play? No travels? Is it not having enough money? Is it about being cold and not being able to extend a hand and give a warm embrace? 

What about your fitness goals? That dream job abroad? Or perhaps your dream house, 

dream car and the dream wedding?

This pandemic brought chaos and bad energy into our lives. It has caused anxiety, fear, apathy, and grief. It killed our dreams and highest hopes. It made a lot of people hopeless and helpless. It made us believe that life is short and that life could suddenly be gone.

However, this pandemic isn't just about the negativity it brings. But it has also unleashed the best in us. It has tested our resilience and faith. It made us be more kind and understanding. It taught us the value of a good relationship. It has made us realize that money is not everything. And it helped us ponder on our existence and life purpose.

What's the ugly side and the bitter truth this pandemic brings? It's our inability to understand the nature of suffering. Our inability to prioritize what's essential versus what's unwanted. Our inability to see other's worth and even our worth.

The saddest truth is when the invisible enemy turns out to be our blind spots. Our inability to spot our weaknesses. Our inability to unleash our hidden powers and energy. That after all these years, we're still stuck with the false beliefs from our society and the influence of the majority. 

The good, the bad, and the ugly are the taste of what we are and what we give out to this world. We may never know when this pandemic will end, but it's not the end yet to make a restart, to make a new beginning, and so we'll have a happy ending. 

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Patan Durbar Square and the Royal City

I've never seen such a magnificent old city as Patan Durbar Square, located about eight kilometers south of Kathmandu.

Patan is the old name of the present-day Lalitpur, is considered the third-largest city of Nepal after Kathmandu and Pokhara.

While the old city of Patan offers a nostalgic tour of its royal past, there's one place to visit, learn and appreciate -- the Patan Durbar Square.

I'm lucky to have visited one of the three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu valley which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The other two Durbar Squares are located in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, but unluckily I wasn't able to visit.

But then, as I entered Patan Durbar Square, I could feel that it has a rich cultural past and the most magnificent royal palace worth visiting.

It has 155 courtyards and 55 major temples that are significant to Hindus and Buddhists. I was able to get inside one of the main temples and had a great appreciation of the architecture and the arts.

Patan is a city of fine arts. And the marvelous architectures are reminiscent of how arts are ingrained in their culture, preserved, and passed on to the next generations. Their craftsmanship is superb and brilliant as they create wood, stone, and metal carvings. 

Patan has preserved its rich tradition of artistic craftsmanship from the local woodcarvers and handicraft makers. From the time of Royal King Newar, artistic skills still live on. 

I was fortunate to have visited Patan Durbar Square in 2013 before it was hit by a strong earthquake in April 2015. Some of the temples and structures were heavily damaged. The good thing is that it was already reconstructed just like the original structure.

Patan Durbar Square is a truly unforgettable experience. Walking on the tiled red bricks while staring at the red wall bricks was like a teleport back to the old days of fine arts and great craftsmanship.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Tranquility at the Lotus Temple

Where can we find peace in a world full of noise, hatred, and wars?  People would fight for their beliefs and feel superior to their religion. Country versus country, religion versus religion, people tend to have endless fights about what they truly believe in.

In a country of more than one billion people, I've found a place where people regardless of social status and religion would come together to worship one God.

It's the Bahaí House of Worship, popularly known as the Bahá'í Temple or Lotus Temple. It's magnificent modern architecture that the people of the world have to visit and appreciate its beauty. 

This architectural wonder was designed to form like a lotus flower. One can see it from the top, from all sides, and even from a kilometer distance. It was built to house thousands of visitors from different places in India and different nationalities in the world.

It was a great moment when I challenged myself to visit Lotus Temple in Delhi, India sometime in December 2011. I remember the thousands of people inside the temple complex who endured the long lines to get inside the main temple. I had to follow the strict rules of patiently waiting in line and leaving the shoes to go barefooted inside the temple.

I had to find a good place to sit in, as I entered the temple. I'd chose to sit peacefully in the center and meditated for an hour. There was no noise but purely serenity. There were no religious objects, but just the walls and interior designs. It was a calming and meditative experience as I was surrounded by people from all walks of life and different religion.

I felt good and inspired that people of opposing beliefs could come and sit together in the same place of worship. It could not be possible for other religions as they impose exclusivity to protect their faith.

At the Bahá'í Temple, everyone is a son of one God. And that all people believe in one God. That's the significance of the Bahá'į faith. It's about the oneness of humanity. No hatred, no prejudice, and no exclusive God. But only one God for all.

If every country has its Bahá'í Temple, the people, and even atheists could have a place to visit to ponder about their existence and purpose. To find meaning and contemplate the joy of living.

Bahá'í faith taught me about the realization of one God for humanity. The same God that I adore and pray for wherever I am and wherever I may be.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay 

Fathers Day Special: A Hero in our Hearts

Who's your favorite hero? It may be Marvel superheroes or national heroes which you idolize for their bravery and supernatural powers. Since when we're a kid, we look up to someone who has the energy to make things happen.

A hero could be those we see on TV or read in a book. But, the hero we couldn't miss is just there with us from the moment we were born until our grown-up years and even when we live independently to follow our path and destiny.

Our Father is a hero and deserves honor and recognition from us, his children. His endearing sacrifice made us survive and become better. We become whole and complete because he fills in with what's missing in us. He continuously provides guidance when we're down and on our way up. He believes in us that we can make always make it in life. That we can fight even if we have doubts and fears.

When we go beyond personal goals and dreams, it's when we become selfless. And Fathers would go his way to serve beyond family but to the community.

My Father has achieved his higher purpose in public service as an elected official. He served as a Town Councilor from the year 1998-2007 and from 2016 until the present. I've witnessed his performance and dedication, and he has proven his toughness and resilience in dealing with battles. 

There are things I may not have understood in the past. But today, I carry within the lessons imparted. The wisdom will always be cherished and to be shared with loved ones. It's always in my heart because a hero is immortal. He stays forever in our hearts.

Fathers are real-life heroes. They are our superheroes. They are everywhere, and they serve with selfless love and compassion. Today, we celebrate Father's day, and we give special moments of reminiscing and remembering their contributions and an impact on our lives.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

The Desire for Freedom

We all have fears. Sometimes we fear the big things like traumas from the past. There are times we fear the unknown. We feel anxious and overwhelmed by circumstances. And that our fears will haunt us forever.

Just like the present Covid-19 vaccination, more people are getting anxious. Some would have wanted it, while others are still fearful. It's an answered prayer that finally we have a solution to the pandemic. 

We have protection in the form of a vaccine. We can't be living like this where people are getting infected and die every day. Since we now have a vaccine, we have to take action. We have to decide. We have to let go of our fears.

Some reasons for fears of the vaccine could be due to lack of factual information and the spread of disinformation on social media. The latter is common and harms the confidence of the people.

Some would also fear the side effects or adverse reactions they heard or watched on the news. They perceive it to be realistic and so they refuse to be a victim.

I'm now fully vaccinated against Covid-19. The day before the 123rd celebration of the Philippine Independence, I got vaccinated for the 2nd dose. That was an act of courage and altruism. That's because we protect not only ourselves but also our families, loved ones, and communities. 

We've been suffering a lot already for more than a year since the pandemic. It made us keep our distance from our loved ones and other people. It created a barrier on our physical bodies by wearing masks and face shields. It has made people lonely and depressed. It affected the way we live. And it killed our higher hopes and dreams.

The time will come for the Covid-19 vaccine will be rolled out to everyone. We can't afford to get sick, and we don't deserve to die. We have to achieve herd immunity so we can regain our lives. 

Life has to move on despite the challenges we all face at the moment. Life is good, no matter how worse circumstances are. And on our desire for freedom, we have to give our greatest sacrifice. We need to show our love. 

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Magical Night in Jaipur

To complete my journey to India's golden triangle, I was lucky to visit the lost Kingdom of Jaipur in the state of Rajasthan.

It's known as the Pink city since many palaces and structures are painted pink even back in the old days of its monarchy.

From Delhi, it took us five hours to reach Jaipur for a grand MDP talk about Harmonizing Power, love, and light among women at Marriott hotel.

That was a well-organized event and an inspirational talk of Master Del Pe, as he empowered women about their role in society and awakening their inherent power.

Among the cities in India, Jaipur is one of the most welcoming. The hospitality of the Rajasthani people is heartwarming. That's one thing I admire even on a short visit.

Some magical moments happen at a Rajasthani specialty restaurant. That was a cultural night showcasing their dance and music. It was fun watching cultural performances that are wonderful and graceful.

After the cultural presentation and the welcome drinks, it's time for dinner, and we entered their indoor dining area and waited for the food to be served fresh and hot. 

It was a unique ambiance with a Rajasthani backdrop and painting on dim lighting. We were seated on the floor like a typical Indian seating position. The servers carefully pour over the food on the plate for every meal course that includes dessert. 

That was good Rajasthani cuisine and a light mood until we finished our meal. Then we had our pictures taken on a backdrop that resembles the arches in the palace. 

That was a fiery hot night from the cultural presentation to the sumptuous meal. I had fun and was delighted.

Magic happens when we see something unimaginable, and Jaipur showed us their best offering.

From Delhi to Agra and Jaipur. Finally, I'd completed the golden triangle. Those were the best moments worth reminiscing. There's always a spark, and there's always magic. And it leaves a lasting impact in our hearts.

© 2021 Del Cusay

Getting a Vaccine Against Covid-19

If there's one thing I would regret not doing on this pandemic, it's about not being vaccinated against Covid-19.

When thousands of people are dying every day, and millions of people are infected, I couldn't care less by non-participation in mass vaccination.

We've all been waiting for this. That finally, the world will have its solution to protect humanity against deadly diseases. Now, the world has produced highly effective vaccines that would help us achieve herd immunity. The next move is on us. 

If I don't get vaccinated, I'll have a chance of getting infected. Also, I can infect many people, including my loved ones. I may have strong immunity, but there's also a chance that I'll die if it's severe. When the people I've infected would also infect others, the cycle goes on, and more people are at risk of their health.

So getting vaccinated isn't just a choice. But it's an obligation. I don't care only about myself. I also care about my family, friends, and humanity because we're all suffering from this pandemic.

We've suffered a lot already, and our way of living had changed tremendously. Several country's economies were affected, and many companies had closed. More people lost their jobs. Individual and family income had decreased, and more people are getting mental health issues.

We've learned a lesson from this pandemic. It's a test of our resilience, tolerance, and character in times of crisis.

This pandemic should teach us to be stronger. It shouldn't lead to misunderstandings, fights, and blame games. It shouldn't destroy relationships, and it shouldn't destroy humanity.

This pandemic is about our commitment to a new start. It's time to be more health-conscious because good health is valuable. We may have neglected our health, but this time we can't afford to get sick. Hence, we have to be in excellent health.

We may never know when we'll finally remove our masks and face shields. We may also never know when we can keep closer to hug and kiss our loved ones. But, with proper health protocols and vaccination, we're on the way to reaching our goal. That finally, the day will come that everything is back to normal and that we'll no longer suffer in our daily lives.

Be brave. Be bold. Keep on fighting, and keep on living. Once this pandemic is gone, it'll be a battle we've fought so hard. We've survived, and we'll thrive.

©️ Del Cusay

Pashupatinath Temple: Of Life and Death

All life comes to an end. That's a reality that most of us are scared of or in denial of the fate of human existence. In short, we'll all die. But happens when on our earthy departure? And so, one day, I was brought to a place to see the dead bodies for cremation rites on the holiest Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal. 

My tourist guide brought me to one of the holiest Hindu temples in Kathmandu. He thought my visit wouldn't be complete without it since it's declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a highly revered place among Hindus.

It was a unique place since the temples and ashrams are on the riverside. The Bagmati River is holy among Hindus, and it's where they bring the dead bodies of their love for cremation rites.

I can't believe to had witnessed cremation rites open to the public. It was like more than five dead bodies are cremated in the first hour since I arrived.

I was on the hill portion of the riverside, where other locals also came to witness. You can see the greyish-white smoke emitted from the dead bodies as it's burned. You can imagine smoky air on the cremation area from afar. I felt uncomfortable at first, but I have to respect and learn from their religious beliefs.

Hindus believe that our physical body is irrelevant as we die, so they cremate it instead of burying it. In Pashupatinath, families bring the dead body of their loved ones. It's to perform the last rites before they bid farewell to their dearly departed.

As the dead body arrives on the Bagmati riverside, they wash their feet with water from the river. They sprinkle some rice and shower some marigold on the face before it gets burned. Then the ashes are scattered in the river. The family members would also walk three times in a clockwise direction around a wooden funeral pyre before placing the dead body on top.

That was an unforgettable experience back in 2013. Suddenly, it flashed back when I watched on television the mass cremation rites in open grounds in New Delhi. This time, families cremate their loved ones who died due to Covid-19.

Pashupatinath temple is a holy site in honor of Lord Shiva, the destroyer in Hinduism.

When I stepped out of the Pashupatinath complex, I had mixed emotions. The place and the cremation rites may not be for the fain-hearted, but I survived.

I may not have enjoyed much my visit to Pashupatinath, but I'm glad for the learnings. It was like reliving a lesson from my world history class. 

One thing I've learned is that when we die, our families will be there until the end to care for us. Our physical bodies may have vanished, but great memories remain in their hearts. Like Hindus, we may believe in the concept of karma and reincarnation. That may be, we don't only live once, but we're just waiting on our rebirth when our time comes to an end.

©️2021 Del Cusay

Mother's Day Special: Endless Love

What happens when we're no longer on our Mother's side? What happens when we have separate lives away from her Motherly touch and care?

Now that we're grown up to live a challenging life, our Mothers will always be there to check on us and make us feel loved and cared for from a distance.

Mother's Loving instinct is always right. She will check on our well-being, our whereabouts our achievements. That makes us proud and feel uplifted whenever we fight our challenging battles. 

Mothers are known to be superwomen. They can sense struggles and can heal our emotions to keep us whole. They have the power to communicate with us when we're at a crossroads and don't know what to do. A telepathic Mother who'll guide us wherever we are and whatever we do. Just call her name, and she'll surely be there to rescue you.

Mothers know best, and that is true. There are times when we think we are on the right track, but she'll be there to redirect us, and so we'll find our direction. The path she knows is safer and for our good.

Mothers are great fighters. They will sacrifice everything to raise us well. And so we can stand on our own. They fight hidden struggles unknown to us, and they were victorious.

Today, as we celebrate Mother's day, we also think about all the Mothers in our lives. To our sisters who are great Mothers to their kids and families. To our relatives and friends who are Mothers who never give up and continue doing their Motherly roles.

Mother's Day special is about showing our gratitude and endless love to our Mother. She's the greatest love of our life, and her Endless presence will always be our guiding light.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Mental Health and Coping during Covid-19 Pandemic

Today's world is full of stress that makes us feel tired and sick. That's part of living, but we need to stay healthy and full of vitality. We need to let go of the stuck energies affecting our health. We have to release what's unwanted on our bodies. We need to be well.

How can we become healthy when our world becomes smaller, yet we only have few choices left? How can we show vigor when we feel not about our best selves?

The Covid-19 pandemic is an addition to our stressors. It's making us sick day by day. The news updates we read and hear regularly causes anxiety and sadness. 

We can't just ignore the news and stay calm at all times. To feel empathetic is fine. It's normal to feel the suffering of other people. It's normal to sympathize with those whose lives were lost and still fighting for their lives to survive.

We can't just be feeling that way again and again. We can choose to stay above our lower emotions, and we can start to build up ourselves to become strong and unbreakable.

Dealing with our mental health during this time of pandemic is essential to our wellbeing. We need to continue living with sanity and clear consciousness. A sound mind is what we need for clear and best judgment. 

Wherever we are, we can always release our stress, anxiety, and fatigue. We don't need to physically go to the beach at this time of the pandemic. We can sit still in the comfort of our home or while lying on the bed.

Meditation is our best weapon to release our stress and have peace of mind. Since we can't travel a great distance to our favorite beach destinations, we utilize the power of our minds through meditation.

We always choose an ocean or a beach whenever we meditate. It's the saltiness of the water that extracts the stuck energy on our bodies. 

When we think of an ocean or a beach, its saltiness becomes a powerful extractor of our negativities. Same as we physically visit an actual beach, but this time we imagine and recall vividly the beautiful memories that made us feel good about ourselves. 

Releasing the stuck energies on our physical, emotional, and mental bodies enables us to plan and energize our future. 

This pandemic shouldn't make us feel bad about ourselves and the world that we're living. We can always feel good and choose wisely our thoughts, emotions, and intentions.

We may not be able to do as much in our community or help save as many people as possible. However, in our little way, we can start the healing first on our self. The healing always starts within us. That's our gift to ourselves and our contribution to our community -- to stay healthy and happy.

Despite the pains and sufferings, we share our best selves by choosing wellness over illness. Being physically fit, emotionally stable, and mentally healthy in these times of uncertainty.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Boracay's Environmentally Conscious Tourism

Boracay Island in the Philippines is one of the top tourist destinations and remains one of the top beaches in the world. 

Boracay Island in the Philippines is one of the top tourist destinations and remains one of the top beaches in the world. This island is recognized annually by various international magazines and travel websites as one of the world's best. And since then, it has contributed to the influx of tourists from all over the world.

What I like about Boracay is its diversity; from different nationalities and locations where it suits the taste and preferences of the tourist. It's like a melting pot of cultures and personalities making it truly a world-class tourist destination.

Boracay Island may seem like a perfect paradise, but it has its hidden imperfections uncovered. I've seen it! I was there in April 2016, about two years before President Duterte made an order for the island's closure for rehabilitation in April 2018.

For years, big businesses like hotels have deceived tourists and their hotel guests by providing reading material that explains the occurrence of the algae that makes the shoreline dark green and unsightly. I can't believe how they disseminate disinformation by making it appear to be a natural occurrence.

I saw the big pipes from establishments that excrete wastewaters to the shore where untreated sewages are flowing, making the water in the area dark green and dirty.

The president called it a cesspool, and that observation is very evident. Then he ordered a 6-month closure of the island. That move was a big sacrifice for the thousands of businesses and island workers and the number of affected tourists. The projected billions of pesos lost for the island's tourism paved the way to pursue its rehabilitation for intended revitalization.

What can we do to help our tourism have a significant impact on its sustainability and environmental protection? I believe that the 6-month rehabilitation of Boracay made us realize that money from tourism alone won't make us truly rich and progressive. But our environmental consciousness as a tourist will help destinations like Boracay to be sustainable and highly livable.

Tourism is our number one industry, and it's booming before the Covid-19 pandemic came. When the lockdown happened, tourism was down and almost dying, but we've seen clean and crystal clear waters of Boracay. It means that business establishments and tourists are the main contributors to the pollution of the island.

Do we need a 6-month rehabilitation of our topmost islands every six years? Well, that would surely hurt tourism, but it's for the good of the environment. We need to balance our tourism and its environmental impact so we can truly call it a paradise.

There's progress in Boracay as compared to the first time I visited the island in 1998. It's becoming too commercial, and the island may have lost its serenity and ambiance due to its fast-growing present-day development.

We need to boost more and promote our tourism. We have the best islands and beaches, but we also need responsible Businessmen, and for us to be environmentally conscious tourists. We leave no trace but footprints and great memories. 

When we can travel again without restrictions, we'll now become better tourists. And together, we help revive our tourism and our God-given paradise.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

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Easter Sunday 2021: The Promised Land

Where will be our destination after this Covid-19 pandemic? Will there be a promised land waiting for us, just like God's command for the people's great exodus in ancient Egypt? Will our top leaders become like Moses, who will make a great sacrifice and lead its people safely away from threats and destructions?

The hostility and uncertainty during this pandemic brought misery and deep suffering in our lives in modern times. The powerful and influential even became strong, and the weak and poor became poorer.

That's our current reality. With billions of people suffering, we feel the oneness of humanity for a great plan of the massive exodus. This time is to end the pains and suffering of the pandemic that's killing us.

Moses protected its people under his leadership, and they succeeded and have reached the promised land. Today, it's the time our leaders must follow the footstep of Moses and hear the voice of God to protect and fight for its people against the unseen enemy.

Religions of the world play a role that influences the nation's government and its leaders to save us and overcome this great challenge of our time. 

Our leaders shouldn't give up on us even until the end. We may never know how long we're going to fight and remain steadfast. But, one thing is sure that God speaks to the leaders of our land amidst the noise and chaos.

We hope that our leaders listen to the voice of God that speaks to them; that they will accept the crosses entrusted. We all have our crosses we carry because God is testing our faith in the greatest challenge of our time. 

When we survive this pandemic, we'll all live in the promised land. That hopefully, our nation and leaders will be wiser. That we'll eventually become great believers, and all our lives become better than ever.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay