So How Would You Like Your 2014 To Be?

By: Lou Maningas Cabalona

 

 

 

Dr. Ariel Tolentino and Baron Cabalona, Project Managers for the Tacloban/Paluan Medical Missions presenting at the Pray Hope and Love for PHL Fundraiser at St. Eulalia Church, Maywood, IL.

 

 

 

Lou Cabalona singing a Christmas song at the VT/CPRTV Christmas party held at The Loft restaurant. (Photo by Rosie Reed)

Have you ever heard of the saying, “Whatever happens on New Year’s Day will be what will happen the rest of the year?” Ok. Fine. No one ever said the actual phrase but we Filipinos apply it a lot. You’d hear, “Put a lot of food on your plate before midnight on New Year’s Eve so that you will always have food throughout the year.” Or, “If you lose something on new year’s, you will be losing a lot of things the rest of the year.” I’d follow some that I have control of for the sake of tradition, but truth is, if I believe in it completely, my 2014 is now doomed to be a horrible, horrible year. See, I caught something from one of the four holiday parties we went to the weekend before and was suffering from severe-coldsand- cough-with-sore-throat-andheadache by Monday, the 30th. First day of the last work week of the year, I had to take the day off because my headache prevented me from doing anything else but trying to sleep – and failing. Baron and I planned on going to three NYE Parties that night, but cancelled. We ended up toasting to Kalamansi (Lime) juice, eating leftovers from the weekend parties, while my cousin warned over Skype, “Lagot (Poor you), you’re going to be eating leftovers the rest of the year.” See, what I mean? From the last days of 2013 to the first three days of 2014, my eyes were tearing up constantly and my nose was clogged half the time. After the Wednesday holiday, I wanted to take a sick leave but couldn’t because I already reserved all my paid time-offs for our threeweek vacation to the Philippines this February. And even when I was permitted to work from home, I couldn’t get out for a few minutes to breathe fresh air because it was snowing non-stop. It was super-cold outside and the daily news was cautioning viewers of record breaking 16-inch snow in the following days. But I wasn’t and I am not complaining. You see, being cooped up in the house allowed me to work on three very important things that will be happening in the next few weeks – first, our Church wedding in the Philippines witnessed by my parents and Baron’s grandmother; second, a Typhoon Haiyan fundraiser on Jan 25 organized by friends and fellow members of the Fil Am community; and third, two Medical Missions we fondly call our “honeymoon” in Tacloban and in Paluan, Mindoro Occidental, scheduled right after the wedding. And every time I would have to wipe off my tears from too much sneezing, I am reminded of the 11 million who lost a loved one or suffered injuries from the disaster and I am grateful my eyes are just fighting off irritants by tearing up. Every time I would have leftovers and ready to eat canned goods all week because I was too sick to cook or go out to eat, I am reminded of the 4 million Filipinos whose home got destroyed so unexpectedly in one day, and I cant help but be grateful that I have a good home with a stocked pantry. I hear about 16-inch snows coming and before I contemplate further how inconvenient that would be, I am reminded that it is nothing to a 20-feet surge of seawater swallowing your city. I breathe through my partially clogged nose, and I am reminded I am happy that I am alive, living a good life and blessed to be in a position where I can be of help and where I can contribute to making someone else’s life better. I am happy that we — individually and as a community — have the financial capacity, skills and talents, and access to resources that allow us to pursue meaningful lives dedicated to serving other people. I know many people just like me here in Illinois think the same. If we make wonderful things happen NOW, the beginning of the year, I believe it will be a wonderful, wonderful 2014 for us and even, more importantly, for the people of Central Philippines. Please consider attending the Illinois Philippines Recovery Operations – Haiyan Fundraiser Fair on January 25, 2012 (Saturday) 530 pm at the Copernicus Center – Annex (formerly Gateway Theater) 5216 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 100% of the proceeds will go towards funding two medical missions in Tacloban on Feb 25 and Paluan, Mindoro Occidental on March 2. We also hope to gather enough funds for the rebuilding of homes, community center, schools or a baranggay hall in the communities of Tacloban, Leyte, Marabut, Samar and Coron, Palawan. All donations are tax-deductible and should be made payable to PHILIPPINE AMERICAN CULTURAL FOUNDATION, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit Illinois organization.