SONA 2008

I can say that the President's SONA is well-written. If I haven't lived here in the Philippines, I would have been convinced that indeed, we're better today that few years back. But I lived here all my life and I know that the SONA is a lot of blah, if not a lot of bull. Yup, I have voted for GMA. I think that's one of the saddest decisions I have to contend with as a citizen of this country. I hope that I, together with the the majority of Filipinos, wouldn't commit the same mistake in 2010.

I know that somehow a speech writer has something to do with the lines she uttered near the end of her speech. Honestly, I wanted it to be true. True to its meaning, by a President who really cares for her countrymen and where this country is heading. But the thing is, if she really meant every word in those lines, I don't think we will be where we are right now... in a whole lot of mess.

"As your president, I care too much about this nation to let anyone stand in the way of our people's well-being. I will let no one and no one's political plans - threaten our nation's survival. Our country and our people have never failed to be there for us. We must be there for them now."

- Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
President, Republic of the Philippines
State of the Nation Address (July 28, 2008)
2nd Regular Session of the 14th Congress

ON LOVE AND DEVOTION

I'm reading this book about how a husband tries to woo his wife (by doing those little things often taken for granted), to bring back the spark in their 30-year long marriage. This line struck me most and made me think about my relationship with my husband. I hope and pray that we wouldn't plunge into a sea of complacency, where everything is just routine. I hope that 30 years from now, we would still look in each other's eyes and feel like we're in love the first time.

"Love, I've come to understand, is more than three words mumbled before bedtime. Love is sustained by action, a pattern of devotion in the things we do for each other every day."

- Wilson Lewis

The Wedding, Nicholas Sparks