“Don’t Quit” By Edgar Albert Guest


“DON’T QUIT”

by Edgar Albert Guest

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
when the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
when the funds are low and the debts are high,
and you want to smile but you have to sigh,
when care is pressing you down a bit – rest if you must, but don’t you quit. 
Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow – you may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor’s cup;
and he learned too late when the night came down,
how close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out – the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
and when you never can tell how close you are,
it may be near when it seems afar;
so stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit – it’s when things seem worst, you must not quit.


I was looking for the Filipino-English dictionary in our book shelf and found this magazine instead from Kuya’s stuff when he was still studying at the Philippine Military Academy. Dito ko una nabasa ang poem na “Don’t Quit.”

My brother is one of my accountability partners na tiga-sabi sa akin ng “don’t quit.” Sya rin actually nag-introduce ng faith sa akin. Dahil napagod na sya kaka-advise kapag nagte-text ako sa kanya ng madaling araw back in 2012 dahil sa mga problema ko. 🤣 Nah, kami kasi magkasunod sa magkakapatid kahit pa 5 years ang agwat naming dalawa kaya mas close ako sa Kuya ko. But I also love my sisters just the same and I get to talk to them always, too. ❤️

My brother has been serving the country as a military officer since 2006. And I must say na napakalaki ng influence nya sa akin pagdating hindi lang sa faith kundi pati in life in general. And if ever matuloy ang plan ko to have an IUI (via sperm donor from a fertility clinic) and ma-diagnose ako with breast cancer later in life and ‘di ko sya ma-survive, I will ask my brother and my sis-in-law to adopt my child.

O di ba, ganun ako kalayo magplano. Tapos sasabihin ni God, nagsayang ka lang ng energy Tin dahil hindi ‘yan ang plano ko for you. lol Saklap. 😆 But seriously, if ever that happens, my bro and sister-in-law will be my first choice para sa magiging adoptive parents ng aking anak. My sis-in-law will make a very good Mom (she adopted not less than 5 street cats and still counting 😁). She is a flight attendant at Cebu Pacific, and I call her “the Gal Gadot of the Philippines” because she really looks like her – the Asian version. 😍

Taken during Kuya’s NAG graduation in 2010 kung tama pagkakaalala ko.
Friends, madali lang pala magpaandar ng eroplano. Parang nagda-drive ka lang ng kotse……sa panaginip.
With the Phil Navy Cessna Plane
Bawal po pala mag-drive ng eroplano nang naka-skirt. Bakit kaya? 🤔
Ang Pamaypay. Bow. Miss you, Mom. ❤️

Kasama din pala sa mga nagpe-perform during the flying exhibition sa Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival ang mga piloto ng Naval Air Wing (formerly Naval Air Group) of the Philippine Navy represented by the top officer of their class.

Circa 2013: 18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival w/ Victory GT Toyota (UP Diliman) churchmates @ Clark Air Base.

Speaking of hot air balloon festivals, Bicol will also be having its very own hot air balloon event on May 3-5, 2024, which will be held at the old Legazpi airport as part of the Bicol Loco Festival. I hope my 3rd sister will join me to watch this event and hopefully Dad, too, if he is fit enough to travel. And I’m praying for a clear and picturesque view of the ever beautiful and ever perfect Mt. Mayon as the backdrop. 😍

At dahil kailangan ko maghanap ng old photos for this post, I had to reactivate (and deactivate again lol) my personal Fb account, and I found myself reminiscing. Sakto sa #flashbackFriday feels kaya minabuti ko nang mag-screenshot ng ibang photos just in case may mangyari sa Meta, at least may kopya pa din sa WordPress.

Nakaka-miss balikan ang mga happy memories and fun times with friends, former coworkers and classmates, and relatives. Ah yes, it was a past lived well. But God is calling me now to make more meaningful memories with new faces in new places – I am very much looking forward to it. And yet not my will, but His will be done always. ❤️

But wait, introvert nga pala ako. Introvert nga ba talaga ako? 🤔🤣

P.S. Para akong Camaro ngayon na nagre-rev sa garahe, naka-standby lang. Pero kapag binuksan na ang pinto ng garahe, kakaripas na until I’m out of sight. 😂 So baka ang mga susunod kong blog posts ay mga 1 sentence na lang kasi sobrang busy na. lol

My next post actually is for the breast cancer community because I am currently consolidating data regarding the medical assistance provided by different government agencies lalo na para sa mga indigents. Ang hirap mag-copy and paste every time na my nagtatanong kaya naisipan ko dito ko na lang sa blog i-post then share na lang ang link sa mga nagtatanong. Dahil sa kaka-share ko sa breast cancer support groups e napagkamalan tuloy akong resource person kaya andaming nagtatanong. 😅

But I am very happy to help. ♥️ Dahil ito lang ang maitutulong ko sa kanila because time is what I have now – oras para mag-research at oras para sagutin ang kanilang mga katanungan. Kagaya kay Nanay. I am praying na sana nakatulong sa kanya ang info. 🙏 Gusto ko rin sana sya samahan personally para tulungan sya kaso busy na din ako tulungan husband ko now para sa pag-alis nya.

Panawagan ko lang sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno na sana may Filipino version din ang mga instructions sa mga websites nila dahil ang hirap lang kaya mag-translate from English-Filipino. Waaaaah 😭 Sunggo much na ako. Tissue, please.

Ang haba na pala ng postscript ko. lol K. Tnx. Bye.


“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” – Galatians 6:9-10


Those Cracks And Crevices Made You Beautiful, Just Like Mt. Mayon

There is something about Mt. Mayon that captivates me. I’m instantly drawn to her beauty just like a magnet. I guess it’s not just the perfect cone that got me hooked, but also the tragic story behind it – of love and death. More about the legend here: “Star-Crossed Lovers: The Story of Magayon and Pangaronon.”

I haven’t seen Mt. Mayon up close in person, and it’s actually one of the items on my bucket list. I don’t want to climb it though, I just want to be close enough to observe all its crevices and cracks and marvel at its beauty.


Ctto

These crevices and cracks are proof of centuries of outrage and yet they all made this volcano even more beautiful. It has always been a mystery to me how this perfect cone remained as it is even during the most destructive phases of Mt. Mayon.

And just like us, what was meant for destruction and to be torn apart, God can turn it into a beautiful masterpiece that will showcase His profound greatness. ❤️


P.S. On a practical note, methinks my going near Mayon is a bad idea given my severe allergic rhinitis and the amount of SO2 that the volcano releases every day. I also have eczema, and I’m actually taking Coaltria daily as prescribed by my ENT doctor to prevent any allergy flare-ups. When I stop taking my meds, hives appear on my face, and just recently, a couple of itchy rashes on my arms. When God created the immune system, I think He forgot the right anatomy in mine. lol Ah yes, always the sickly kid in the family – nothing’s new. 😀


P.P.S. But I really, really want to be near Mt. Mayon – as close as I can get. It’s dangerous for me, but I think it will all be worth it. 😍 I don’t know why but I just want to stare at her beauty and touch the grounds surrounding her. Every time we pass by Mayon, we always see the best of her – nothing’s hidden, everything’s bare and raw. And it is what makes her more captivating. ❤️

Circa 2010 – From Bulan en route to Manila.

It looks like God also answered my prayer because the LGU of Albay Province (all thanks to Rep. Zaldy Co) is planning on offering to the public a Hot Air Balloon Ride overlooking Mt. Mayon and the Pacific Ocean starting next year. Oh, my heart. I think it fell out. lol I’m just plain excited! 😍

I am praying it will be a yearly event so my husband and I can experience this together. But unfortunately, not in the next 2 years because he won’t be coming home. So, delayed gratification it is. Ah yes, when God teaches patience, you really have no choice but to learn it. 🙏

By the way, to the guys (Bicolano or not) who plan on proposing to their girlfriends, nothing can get more romantic than a hot air balloon marriage proposal. Now is your perfect chance – just make sure she’s not scared of heights. 😀👍



The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.” – Joel 2:25