"An Hour with Mr. Gonzales"

I've been attending Leadership Seminars for almost five years already because I'm always elected as a class officer. It's like an old chestnut for me. Playing games, group activities, sharing of insights and giving of tokens. Same style, same way.

Mrs. Simpas said that we will be having a speaker who is an Assumption friend. It's quite different but still I think it's going to be boring and a waste of my time. I thought it's the Centennial year of Assumption? Isn't there going to be some amazing transitions?

I'm longing for something different. Something that will not lose my appetite of attending the seminar this year. I want it to be memorable. But anyway the more I expect, the more it won't happen. Too much expectations and wants lead to heavy frustrations.

Yet out of a clear sky, my expectations really happened. I enjoyed the Caterpillar and the Bridge-Building game. And at the same time, I also learned a lot of things from the speaker, Mr. Jason Gonzales, who is one of the councilors of Iloilo.

He shared to us his experiences of being a leader way back when he was a high school student. He defended a friend from a bully and he stood for the truth even when he was called "Baduy". It was kind of a dialogue between him and us, the audience. He asked us questions and we also responded through answering. He said that a leader must have courage and authenticity.
"What is the greatest temptation?", he asked. One from the audience said that it's chocolate. But, Mr. Gonzales emphasized that the greatest temptation is to be ordinary.

I believe on what he said. When you want to be ordinary, you want to have freedom-freedom to do the things you want regardless of its cause and effects to others. And, that's not what a leader should be. A leader must know his/her priorities and responsibilities. A leader must stand for the truth even people put you down or backbite you. I also learned my weaknesses as leader and from it I strive to be better.

It was really a great opportunity for me. I gained a clearer perception of the essence of leadership and a strong motivation to be an effective leader to my classmates. I will always cherish the lessons I learned from Mr. Gonzales. Related to what he said is Spiderman's line,"With great power,comes great responsibility.

"My Father's Secret Recipe"

What does a father do? He usually drives the car, fixes broken stuff and carries heavy things. But, there are some instances that our fathers act in a peculiar way. Would you believe me if I tell you that my dad cooks Sinigang? It may not seem surprising for some. But, for me, it is very amusing.

I was sick of severe fever and coughing for three days. Mom was not around these days I longed for her tender care and relieving embrace. She went back to her hometown because her father died. In this case, she really has to leave.

My dad took care of me. He sent me to a doctor to be sure of my condition. He also had my lungs checked for X-ray. Good that he knows what to do when mom is mot around. But, the surprising and the unexpected thing is that he attempted to cook a soup for me for the first time. What would the soup taste like? Why did he really have to do it when he could just buy me a well-cooked soup from a restaurant?

At first I thought he did it as a matter of his pride to show me that he also knows how to cook. Yet, I was wrong for judging my dad. He did it for me because he cares for me and he wants to make me something special. He cooked me a Sinigang soup and it tasted good like the way mother did it.

I got well fast. I felt my body was recharged like a battery. My body was back to condition. And, I was very alive once more. All of these are due to my father's overflowing love and care for me. I really cherished the soup he cooked for me. It was a significant manifestation of a love of a father that whatever happens, he will do everything for the benefit of his daughter. And, indeed his love was the secret ingredient to his special recipe.

There's really nothing compared in this material world to a father's love!