Tong Tong Tong Pakitong Kitong

Crabs in pots are contemptible creatures. Every crab trying to get out of the pot from the side (to save his life), gets pulled down by all the others.

Oh, and do you know where this is headed...

We've been hearing about crab mentality since we were kids. It describes the attitude of trying to pull down people for one's own success. It's the mentality we've discussed in our social studies classes, along with the Mañana habit, and other bad attitudes.

Recent events have led me to ponder on crab mentality among us Filipinos. To start off, recently, the number of extra-judicial killings as increased, and we are fast becoming one of Asia's killing spots. Politicians and other active members of groups are murdered relentlessly. Why? Because they cross paths with other people. They don't share the same goals, and what do their "opponents"/challengers do? They kill them. They kill them so that they eliminate the one threat to their vested selfish interests, which they hide with supposed wise words and "good" projects (I've always wondered why there are always new basketball courts donated by politicians before elections.). On a smaller scale, pageants have this culture where, because different beautiful women compete for a crown, they have certain tactics that aim to put their rivals down. It is no surprise anymore to hear about this and that person in this pageant doing this and that thing, like putting deodorant in the wrong places for example, and other silly things. Derogatory rumors simply plague the pageants. Even in showbiz and sports, the famous fields of work, people simply have the nerve to put others down, using the power that they have. Why? Because they pose a threat to their careers. They haven't the spirit to improve themselves and their craft, and what do they do? They pull the best down. In effect, the standard goes down, and they can call themselves great. How many sportsmen, actors, actresses, writers, singers, dancers and the like, have either been victims or suspects of this crime of pulling down? It's just a sad, sad thing.

I'm not afraid to say that it is indeed tempting to pull down others, that even I at one point, have pondered upon doing it, because, seeing the great talent in others we can't seem to have, we think that the solution, or the great equalizer, is to do something that we think will show justice to this very unfair, unequal situation. It's hard not to be jealous, or to feel threatened, but we always have to keep in mind, that we are all unique, and we also have something others don't, and if we just take time to reflect, and to improve on our very own talents and passions, we will never have the time for being envious, for being bitter, for being crabs.

I think "focus" is the right word to use. We just have to focus on the right things, and everything will be alright.

Thanks a lot!

Hey guys! I'm really sorry for not updating my blog... I haven't done so since before entering the show. Since I got out I've been especially busy with school and a few guestings, so I haven't had the time to think and write. I'll try to update soon though.

Thanks a lot for the comments! It's really nice to know that people actually read this blog. I really hope I'm writing a lot of substantial stuff, because this blog is one way for me to try to contribute to society, even if only a few people can read it. Please do keep commenting!

I read the comments and I feel so blessed that there are a number of people who find my stay in the house to be fruitful. I really hope that a lot of people learned a lot from my stay, from both the good and the bad things. Thank you!

I'm busier than ever, and coincidentally, ABS Interactive gave me KTEXT, Ktext has been kind of my blog for the past few weeks, since I can text almost anywhere and anytime. You can subscribe if you want, just text MIKEE ON to 2366. You'll receive messages on a daily basis; that's a lot more frequent than how I update my blog. I hope you can try it!

Once again, thanks!

Just Ask for Jack

We all have talents and gifts. They make us unique people. These talents and gifts have the power to change the world in ways they can only do. People, including ourselves, recognize our talents.

Our talents have to be used.

Even with talent, people are inclined to do, or like to do certain things. A lot of happy and supposedly successful individuals like what they are doing. A few have the talent to do what they love doing. Some "successful" people just get lucky in terms of where they end up; but fate I think is a better term for it; and most of them love what they do.


Again, even with talent, people are inclined to do certain things. Quite a few people may have been given all the means to accomplish something with their talents, but still they forego the opportunity and choose to do something else. Some end up with nothing in the end, while some who work hard go far, even without talent.

This is what's bothering me. How can they not match at times? Why can't we end up liking what we are gifted with all the time? In this way we can get farther right? I don't know. Why do we feel so heavy when as members of a particular society that showcases our talents, we are asked to do something, when we do not even like it? It really hurts when people shove your talents up your face when you don't even like what you're doing..

Or are we not just searching enough? Who knows? Maybe there is one thing we love that we are talented in. We just have to find it, and not wait for it to come to us. I don't know. What's happening??

Banal na Aso

Earlier today, my brother's car was bumped by this old man. The man was driving with his wife.


The funny thing about this man, was that he was threatening my brother. At first he was nice, offering to pay for the damages done. But when my brother instead wanted to take the matter to the authorities, the old man said, "'Pag dinala mo sa pulis 'yan, babaligtarin ko statement ko, sasabihin ko ikaw bumangga sa akin." The man was now gonna lie to the police by saying that it was my brother who was responsible.

My dad came to settle matters. The guy kept insisting that he would pay for the damages, and he gave the same threat. So my dad talked him into this insurance thing, which the guy agreed to do, so things were settled.

Here's the nice part. The man said afterwards: "Ako I'm a man of my word, so babayaran ko talaga 'yan," or something like that. Wow.

You can't teach old dogs new tricks.

Prove pare! Prove!

You're not a snowman unless you're made of snow.
You're not a fruit unless you have seeds.
You're not a ball unless you're round.

You're not an athlete until you have a sport.
You're not a lawyer until you've done a case.
You're not a politician until you win for a position.

You're not God unless you've done what He's done, and is doing what He's doing.

You're not smart unless you have the grades.
You're not rich unless you have the money.
You're not poor unless you're suffering.
You're not tough unless you've been in a fistfight.
You're not good unless you've done something good, or avoided something bad.

You haven't helped unless you've given something.

The point here is this: you're never something unless you can prove it. Something has to point to what you are. Even a fact has to be proven true.

That's just the way it is. Yes, it would have been easier if we didn't have to prove anything, if we didn't have to show anyone something that will make them nod in approval, if we didn't have to try. But when that long-awaited moment comes, what will we all be? Empty, with nothing to work for. We won't even have to do our best, but we'll be empty.

Thank God that we have to prove, for we work harder for what we want to achieve, end up helping more people along the way, and achieve something greater than what we really deserve.