It's amazing how quickly we get off-track. If we are event the slightest bit off from our heading, a degree event, after a significant time of going in that direction, we will be miles away from where we meant to arrive. What do we do? We have to adjust our sailes. We need to adjust ourselves. We need to adapt. If we do not, then we will be lost.

At any given point, circumstances will get better, worse, or stay the same. What we do is a stimulus to our environment to react. How many people do we know that react to circumstances. I would rather act. In my opinion, it's better to have that control, or to at least believe that you have control of your destiny. With that type of self-confidence, how can we fail?

I was reminded again today how amazing people are that I know. It's truly a blessing to even be acquainted with a lot of these individuals. Some people I know more than others, but they are all amazing. Everyone is amazing in their own special, unique way and in a very unrepeatable combination. Everyone brings to the table a different set of values, ideals, skills, and talents, and we should feel so fortunate to learn about them.

Hopefully I will never take anyone for granted. I want to show people just how great they are, and how much greater than even that they can be. You don't get in life what you want. You get in life what you are. Fortunately, we can always become more. Hence, we can always get more. We shouldn't wait for tomorrow to start. There is no better day than today.

I've been on a roll. Momentum is great, when it's positive momentum. Negative momentum is not as good. I've been very productive, both at home and at work, and have just been feeling pretty stellar about myself. I call it "The Big Mo." Hopefully, I can keep it going. It's demonstrative of Newton's first law of motion: An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. The most important force is our own will.

If you know the reason why, you can endure any how. I have a few whys. One is for social justice. I'd like to change my family destiny. Of course, for my own self esteem. I think most of all, I want to make my mom proud of me.

So I don't know how I will lead many. I'm not sure exactly how I will serve thousands. There isn't a plan in my mind on how to leave a lasting legacy. Becoming an elected official is beyond my imagination.

What I do know though is why. Because of that, I'll make it happen. As long as I remember why, I will keep on working, keep on struggling, keep on striving. As long as I know why I'm doing what I'm doing, I won't lose my way.

The hearing yesterday went tremendously better than I expected. The judge ruled that I get full interest in the home, veering from the preliminary decision that my stepfather would be entitled to half of the value of the estate at the time of death of my mother, on October 18, 2000. I guess what I had to say had an impact. The whole process has been so invigorating for me. Sure it was a challenge, but to know that I represented myself in this matter is just another indicator that if you can think it, you can do it.

I have this thought in my mind now that I could become a lawyer. Researching the law is tedious, but not impossible. Interpreting is similarly challenging. I feel like I can take on anything. There have been many challenges in my life, and they continue, ever present. Challenges face everyone though, and what really matters is how we approach them.

Fortunately, I've come across a great maxim - There are winners, there are losers, and there are people who have not discovered how to win. I feel like I'm in the discovering how to win category. As long as I don't give up on my dreams, then I will not be a loser. In time, I will be a winner. It's a wonderful way of thinking. It provides hope. Oftentimes, that's all that any of us really need.

A little perk if I were to earn a jurisdoctorate degree and start practicing is that I can say that I'm a lawyer whose back-up career is engineering! Or vice-versa. I could even say that I'm a regular guy whose back-up careers are engineering and law! How many individuals would be able to say something like that? Well, it's the little things that keep me happy. Just thinking it pleases me. After all, it's the little things that matter.

I had a meeting yesterday with some students, parents, teachers, and administrators last evening. They found my talk inspirational and motivating. The irony is that although they were impressed with me, I was thoroughly impressed with them. The students had conducted an interview with Dolores Huerta, affiliated with the United Farm Workers of America Union. I watched a short 10 minute documentary that they had put together. In the interview, Ms. Huerta started to mention how her union group teamed up with the Filipino farm workers in their grape strike. Then the interview was cut off. I want to really see the raw interview because, from what I've learned, eventually, borne out of that cooperative, would be the United Farm Workers of America Union as we know it today. It's even on their website if you don't believe me. Go to http://www.ufw.org/_page.php?menu=research&inc=history/04.html.

Part of the amazing feat is that Ms. Huerta is difficult to get an interview with. Her words have too often been spun to suit the needs of the media, so she often declines the interviews.

Decisions, decisions. I have a decision to make that I'm complicating much more than it really is. Today, I was offered a position to be an Executive Secretary for Marta Reyes, Division Director for the Charter Schools Division. Being able to talk to Yee and just shoot my ideas off of her was very helpful. Really, I should probably take the position, especially as far as achieving more immediate benefits, like higher pay, better hours, and lower workload. It sounds like a trifecta.

However, I wonder how much leaving the Executive Office would impede my longer term goals like seeking political office. I like where I work because I work with great people that I get along with. At the same time, I am comfortable with what I do. That also happens to be the very same reason I want to leave. What if I am settling for what is comfortable when another position may be something better for me? In other words, what if I'm just content and missing out on something better?

Part of the difficulty is that the new position isn't necessarily what I see myself doing long term. It's not my passion, my dream. In fact, it may be more of a detour from that direction. It's a move forward, but not straight ahead. If it were separated into vector components, there would be a vector going in a perpendicular direction. Not necessarily backwards, but perpendicular from my desired direction. Nor do I really see it supplementing that dream in any manner. At least in my current position, I can utilize it to go in that direction.

We're faced with choices every day. Simple or complicated, they affect a lot of people. We may not always see how it affects others, and at other times we may not even care how it affects others. However, it is important to know that each decision does have an impact on more than yourself. I strongly believe that we should take others into consideration. So that weighs in on my decision as well. I've heard a couple people say that I need to be selfish in this area.

I just need to think it through some more. Ultimately, I'll make the right decision.

Something's not right again. I can't put my finger on it, but I just feel like it. My hypothesis is that it's because there are so many changes going on both at home, work, and even my social life. Hopefully some of it will settle down soon. Trial on Friday, July 21 and it looks as though the judge has recommended the decision for approval. At work, we've been operating minus three employees and we're getting one back on Monday, July 17. That'll be a huge relief, although it will take some getting used to again. I guess there is some reorganizing going on in our office. Change should be exciting. We'll see how it goes. As usual, I'll hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Like many Filipinos, I'm pretty superstitious, and the thought crosses my mind at least once a day that I am feeling premonitions. Unfortunately, I associate premonitions to negative events.

I can't say it's all bad though. Keeping in touch with some of the people I met in Hawaii has helped me quell my longing to be in Hawaii. I've also been reading up on the Filipino independence struggle, and the eventual annexation of the Philippines by the United States, so that's been feeding my hunger for history and knowledge. As usual, I'm making the best of my situation, and am constantly looking for more.

Each evening, I sit with my lola and brush her hair. We don't say a whole lot to each other. It's more a one-sided conversation where she is talking the whole time and I just listen, and respond when she asks me something. I keep on telling myself that she is lucid, but I've noticed that she is having more and more trouble discerning what day of the week it is and even whether I am leaving for work or coming back from work. She often repeats herself, talking about what it was like in the Philippines when she used to live there, and how the environment and life has changed each time she has gone back. Experience tells me that she probably won't ever go back again. I get the impression that she misses being there, but that she knows that her only family is here. If I am reading her right, I think that she's afraid of dying alone. I believe that a lot of people are afraid of that very same thing. My own premise is divergent from that - I believe in a one to a box theory. At the same time, I assure her that I'm still here. As long as I can provide for lola's comfort I will do exactly that. At times I wonder how I will do that if lola declines further and further. Then I remind myself that I shouldn't wonder how. I will operate in a state of absolute certainty that I am a person that will attract the resources, the energy, the power to accomplish whatever it is I have in mind.

I came to a realization before that you don't get in life what you want. You get in life what you are. The good news is that we can always become more by working to develop ourselves. I've taken a look at my life and where I am right now, including my strengths and weaknesses.

Beyond my lola, I have goals. I have a purpose in life. When you aren't pursuing your goal,  you are literally committing spiritual suicide. Goals that you stretch and reach for take you out of your comfort zone and help you realize some talents and abilities that you have, that you didn't even know you have.

This is a turnaround for me. I've been pretty negative and projecting a lot of negative energy. I am making a conscious, deliberate, determined effort to be positive. As long as I'm positive, it's okay. Things are going to work out. Someway, somehow, I'm going to make it.

I will allow my intuition and spirit to be my guide, my compass - to trust in their ability to make me better. I will attune my ear to their voice and follow their message.

I will look for the barest truth in every situation, and strive to respond in the most effective manner - so that everyone benefits, both long-term and short.

I will remember my position as student and teacher in every relationship.

I will be a column of strength, encouragement, and inspiration to all those in my life.

I will make my home a happy nurturing place where family and friends can come for peace, comfort, and refreshment.

I will strive to be aware of everything around me, and to contribute my gifts and resources for the betterment of humanity.

I will live life simply, to thrive from nurturing my own and my family's and friends' needs, while discarding the material and man-made extravagances; to lead my family and friends toward a life of genuine happiness and fulfillment, where energies go into passion and growth, where we live to be whole.

I will keep things in perspective - in order of my influence: self, family, local community, and global community.

I will transform my mistakes and tragedies into wisdom, and encourage others to do the same.

On the Fourth of July, we celebrate American independence. July 4th is, however, also a day to celebrate the beginning of the modern Philippines. July 4th has become known as “Filipino-American Friendship Day,” the day the Philippines celebrate independence from Japanese occupation and American colonization. 

Ferdinand Magellan landed on an island called Homonhon in 1521 and found a land filled with white beaches, unexplored isles, untouched forests, rich lands, and a spectacular climate. Magellan claimed it and named it “Felipinas,” after King Philip of Spain.

When the Spanish conquistadors arrived, they began converting and colonizing the people of the islands. They found the islands were a cultural melting pot, with well-developed business settlements with Chinese, Arabs, Japanese, and other Islamic seafaring merchants. In 1571, the Spaniards established a colonial government in Manila and ruled the country for over 300 years.

In 1896, Filipinos rose up in rebellion and successfully led Asia's first nationalistic revolution. After several attempts, they freed themselves from the yoke of Spanish rule. On June 12, 1898 the people of the Philippines enjoyed their first Independence Day. For many, that date remains the actual Independence Day for the Philippines.

While they were freed from Spanish rule, after the Spanish-American War, the Philippines fell under the colonial rule of the United States, though the American treatment of Filipinos on their native land was at times no better than the treatment by Spanish conquerors.

World War II saw the Japanese Army capture the Philippines, and they remained under Japanese rule until 1945, when American and Filipino American forces liberated the country. On July 4, 1946, they were declared an independent nation for the first time since 1571.

Reformist president, Diosdado Macapagal, returned Philippine Independence Day to the June 12th date. He felt that the Fourth of July activities in the United States overshadowed the Philippine independence celebration, so he declared July 4th as “Filipino-American Friendship Day” in the islands.

For many years, most Asian American studies programs in California focused on the Chinese and the Japanese. Today, however, thousands of Filipino American students in all three systems of higher education are learning about their unique heritage. Because of their common Catholic backgrounds and similar immigrant job offerings, Philippine immigrants have often identified with California's large Latino immigration community. As a result, Filipinos have had to straddle three cultures rather than just two.

Among others, notable individuals of Filipino descent include the following:

It is important that we remember throughout the year, but especially on Filipino-American Friendship Day, the important role Filipino Americans have played in the history of the United States and California.

Today, Filipino Americans are the second largest Asian population in the United States. According to the 2000 Census, California is now home to more than two million people of Filipino descent.

The Filipino community throughout the United States has blended into and enhanced American culture. Filipino Americans contribute immensely to business, industry, education, and agriculture in our nation.

While we celebrate our American independence, let us also remember the strong alliance with the Philippines and the friendship that has contributed so greatly to our success as a nation.