Periscope

What should be the basis of voting for the next President? Should it be one's educational attainment and intellectual prowess? Should it be his surname or the lack of it? Should it be the ability to campaign in hard to reach areas in the country? Or something much simpler than those?

Should one be well versed in law and politics and all that comes along and between them? Should he be part of the government prior to seeking presidential office? Or something really much simpler than those?

Who shall we vote and why? Over the years, almost every election season, we've always been told to "Vote Wisely!" but seriously people, who is "wisely"? Is wisely even a person? How do we know if we're voting wisely? Exactly how do we determine who is fit for office and who is not? Do we have any empirical and scientific basis of choosing or is it all because of our innate gut feelings? Majority of people tend to vote for those who has the clamor of the mob. This is because they don't want their votes to be wasted on a candidate that they believe will lose, so they root for the more winnable choice. But is that not wasting your vote and/or not actually voting for yourself? The only difference of that to actually selling your vote is that here you're selling yours for no monetary value, you're selling it to the noise. You want to be part of something you despise. 

Going back to the original question posted, what are the things to be considered when choosing the right person for the job. A better answer would come from someone who actually picks a person from a pool of applicants for a job position. For a brief moment, be an HR officer. What are the things that you would be looking for in choosing an applicant?

One's curriculum vitae matters a lot. His educational background will be the first things you'd look at and see if he is from a respectable and reputable institution.  Next would be his career timeline and all related activities, seminars, workshops, and achievements which are directly relevant to the job. But would that be all that you'd be looking for? There is a reason why character references are being asked as well. And ultimately, would you hire someone whose goals and objectives are far different from your company? Of course you care about loyalty, of course you care about allegiance. 

That's one way to look at it, but in reality, these presidential candidates are not job applicants. They are “aspirants” with their own political agenda and own personal interests. Somehow, in a way, they may care about you and your struggles in life, but not as much as you do, because all throughout the country are concerns which the winning aspirant must deal with and express sincere concern upon. 

So how do we know who to vote? 

Of course we should consider one’s intellectual acumen but that should not end there, of course what we need to determine is a candidate’s track record, and unnecessarily must he be part of the government. Check your candidates previous jobs, his career timeline, all the companies he’s affiliated to, and all the tiny details that took him to where he is now. 

Next, know your candidates loyalty, if it isn’t with the people and the country, dump him from the list. But how do we know exactly is he is with us or against us? Examine closely his answers to certain current issues that the country is facing. This country needs solutions nut more running away from age old problems. His stand on issues are crucial, so know where he stands.

Lastly, it does not matter whether you’ve heard of that candidate’s name or not. It does not matter if he’s been part of the government before. It does not matter if he has wealth or not. What matters importantly, and above all the requirements stated by law and the people’s standards, is their ability to serve the people above themselves and their humility to accept that they are public servants and not our masters. 

No matter who that candidate is, regardless of his name and influence, if you believe that he is who the country needs, GIVE HIM YOUR VOTE. Don’t root for who society tells you to vote. Don’t waste your vote, that might be the one vote to change the course of this country. 

The NEXT Philippine President should have the heart for the masses and the will to educate every citizen to lead them out of poverty. He shall lead the way towards transparency and leniency in the government and should be accountable to the public at all times. He should have a platform not for the poor but to abolish the “poor” and make our country once again, the great that it was and should have always been. Intelligence are secondary but needed, he should have the brains to decide for the betterment of his countrymen and the mouth to calmly and openly discuss his decisions and ideals as he is ONE with the people. 

And so long as elections are going on and our freedom to choose our political leaders is exercised, then there’s hope in the future and in whatever it holds. 

Here’s to hoping for a progressive and better nation!

Umuulan at madilim. Malamig dapat pero mainit ang aking nararamdaman. Sumisingaw ang init ng lupa dahil sa pagbuhos ng ulan. Maalimaong. Makapal rin ang hangin na aking hinihinga. Kung tutuusin maari naman na akong makasakay pauwi pero pinili kong hindi dahil kuripot ako at nais kong mas makatipid ng pera para magamit sa mas makabuluhang bagay.

Puti at malinis ang aking paa at tsinelas noong ako’y umalis sa bahay pero sa bawat hakbang na ginawa ko sa mahabang kalye Juan Luna magmula sa Simbahan ng Binondo pabaybay sa Divisoria ay tila baga nadadagdagan ng putik ang aking malinis na paa at binti.

Sa paglalakad sa Divisoria, makikita mo lahat ng klase ng tao mula sa lahat ng klase at antas ng pamumuhay. Merong nagtutulak ng kariton na may lamang prutas at gulay na ibebenta sa mga taong dumadaan dahil nga kilala ang Divisoria bilang isa sa pinakaabalang pamilihan sa buong ka-Maynilaan. Habang tinutulak ni kuya ang kanyang kariton ay tumatagatak din ang pawis niya at humihinto siya panandalian para punasan ito ng twalyang nakasabit sa leeg niya. Puti yung twalya niya pero nangungutim na dahil na rin siguro sa dumi ng polusyon na kumakapit sa kanyang katawang pinupunasan.

Kung may nagtitinda, meron ding namimili. Maraming klase ang mamimili sa Divisoria. Nandiyan yung nanggaling pa sa malalayong lugar at pumupunta pa rito para mamakyaw kasi mas mura nga ang presyuhan dito kung ikukumpara sa ibang pamilihan dahil nandirito halos ang lahat ng bagsakan. Merong ditong mga namimili dahil dito lang nila maaafford ang mga bilihin. Meron namang mayayamang dito pa rin pinipili mamili dahil mas nakakatipid sila at yung konting natitipid nila ay nadadagdag sa kanila at ikinayayaman pa nila. Paramihan ng dala dalahan ang mga tao sa Divisoria lalo na kung kabi kabila ang mga sale at bagsak presyo.

Sa dami ng tao, hindi rin mawawala ang mga walking tambutso o yung mga buga nang buga ng usok. At alam ng lahat nag alit na galit ako sa mga naninigarilyo sa daan di lang dahil hinihika ako kundi dahil nakakasira sila sa kapaligiran. Ilang buga rin ang kinailangan kong lampasan para makalagpas sa kanila at makausad sa paglakad ko sa kalsada.

Matapos akong makalusot sa dagat ng mga mamimili, mayroon namang dalawang bata akong nakita. Hindi tataas ng sampu ang edad ng dalawa. Umaga ako dumaan at hindi mali na iassume ko na dapat nasa eskwelahan sila. Hindi sila naglalaro nung dumaan ako. Meron silang dala dalahan. Mga batang kargador. Mga batang sana ay nagaaral para sa ihanda sila sa kinabukasan nila. Lumakas muli ang buhos ng ulan at matapos nilang madala ang kanilang bitbitin sa tindahang kanilang dadalhan ay naglaro sila sa ulanan. Tumampisaw, nagbasaan ng tubig. Alam ko sa kaibuturan ng kalooban nila ay nais nilang makapagaral, sino bang may ayaw? Ngunit sa mga sandaling yun ay tunay at inosente ang kanilang mga ngiti. At nakita kong masaya sila.

Bawat ngiti at tampisaw nila ay tumatawa sila. Humihiyaw sa saya. Hindi ko alam kung pano ko ibabahagi yung saya nila sa mga oras na yun. Na kahit wala sila sa eskwelahan, na kahit alam kong may kulang sa mga buhay nila ay nakukuha nilang mag enjoy, tumawa at ngumiti. Yan ang sayang dala ng ulan sa mga batang tulad nila.

Nagpatuloy ang paglakad ko at hindi ako tumitigil pero kinailangan ko dahil siksikan ang mga sasakyan na naguunahan makalabas sa putikan sa Divisoria. Napatigil ako sa may istasyon ng bumbero na malapit sa lagusan na patungo sa dating nasunog na Divisoria Mall at kung sa kabila naman ay papunta sa 168. Sa lugar na kinatatayuan ko ay nandun yung mga nagtitinda ng aso. Saktong umuulan ay nakita kong pinaliliguan nila ang mga tuta. May kulungan dun na hindi lalaki sa 12” by 18”. Pano ko nalaman? Pasimple kong sinukat at tinapatan ng ruler. Sa isang kulungan ay hindi bababa sa anim na aso ang nakalagay. Basa pa ang balahibo ng isang tutang ipinasok sa kulungan at nanginginig pa ito sa lamig. Habang ang isa naman ay sinasabon ng sabong panlaba ng babaeng nagtitinda. Inisip ko kung pano niya babanlawan ang tutang hawak niya sa isang kamay. At sa oras ding yun ay nasagot ang tanong ko. Isang balde ng tubig na dating lalagyan pa ng pintura, dun niya nilublob yung tuta. Hindi maipaliwanag yung nararamdaman kong pagkadurog ng puso sa mga sandaling yun. Hindi ko alam kung meron akong dapat gawin o kung meron akong pwedeng gawin dahil sa isang salita lang ng isang taong taga roon ay maaari na kong pagtulungan. Bagaman nasaktan ako sa nakita ko, tumuloy ako sa paglalakad.

Ngunit sinagip ng isang gumagalang aso ang nadudurog kong puso. Bumili ako ng tinapay sa naglalako at mula nun ay sinundan na ko nung sinasabi kong asong gala. Malusog yung aso kung titignan, kulay puti at kayumanggi ang balahibo niya. At nakangiti siya saken na para bang kung nakakapagsalita lang siya ay hiningi na niya yung tinapay na kakainin ko habang naglalakad ako. Tumigil ako panandalian. Naupo sa sidewalk at tuloy pa rin niya kong sinundan. Hinati ko yung tinapay sa gitna at inilapag ko sa daan yung kalahati at pinulot niya ito. Nakangiti pa rin siya saken at tumahol ng dalawang beses. Thank you daw. Umupo rin siya habang kinakain niya yung tinapay. Nakakatuwa kasi kahit aso naiintindihan ka at nakakausap mo. Ibang klase.

Sa patuloy kong pagbaybay sa mahabang kalye Juan Luna ay iba’t ibang tinda ang aking nakita. Kahit araw araw na halos akong nadadaan dun, wala pa ring bago ang karisma ng mga tinitinda sa aking mga mata. Nahuhumaling pa rin ako. Idagdag mo pa ang mga tindero at tinderang sisigaw na “Sampung piso, sampung piso, sampung piso lang lahat yan hanggang sa dulo!” Paulit ulit. Inilagay na nga sa tape ng iba para ipeplay na lang nila eh. Lahat ng tinda nasa Divisoria. Lahat ng pwede mong hanapin ay nandoon. Minsan nga, hindi mo pa naiisip, nandun na. Dito nagsimula ang pagkaloko ng mga tao sa loom bands, iskrambol, buko shake at kung ano ano pa. Bago pa man mauso ay tinitinda na dito. Nandito rin yung mga hindi nawawala sa uso tulad ng mga piniratang DVD at mga tigkikinseng pangkulay na buhok na bubulok sa buhok mo.

Hindi pa rin nawawala ang mga taong ibebenta ang mga sarili nila sayo at hihingi ng awa kapalit ng ilang piraso ng barya mula sayo. Gaya ng mga batang Badjao na sumasampa sa jeep para kantahan ang mga tao o punasan ang kanilang mga sapatos kapalit ng kaunting baryang makukuha nila. Madalang akong magbigay ng limos sa mga bata dahil may sapat pa silang lakas upang mag aral at magtrabaho. Gusto ko silang mapwersa at mapilit mag aral dahil eto lang ang makakapagahon sa kanila sa kahirapang kinasasadlakan nila. Kung maaalala natin ay meron akong nakilalang bata sa Intramuros na makailang ulit kong nakita, nakausap at nakasamang kumain, si Menggay. Kitang kita ko sa mga mata niya yung kagustuhan niyang magaral, hindi lang dahil sinasabi niya para kumuha ng simpatya mula sa akin. Kung lahat ng bata ay katulad ni Menggay na nais talaga ang makapag aral para makaahon sa kahirapan, naniniwala ako na may pag asa pa para sa Pilipinas.

Meron din namang mga namamalimos na kaya nila ginagawa yun ay dahil wala na talaga silang ibang magagawa kung hindi mamalimos na lamang. Mga matatandang babae na walang ibang pwedeng pagkakitaan dahil mahina na ang kanilang katawan. Sa ganitong mga pagkakataon ay muli at paulit ulit na nadudurog ang puso ko dahil ang tulong na maibibigay ko ay panandalian lamang at alam kong hindi tatagal. Habang naglalakad ako sa tapat ng isang restawran kanina ay may sumalubong saking matandang babae. Maluluwag ang mga damit niya at madungis ang mukha niya. Nakabalumbon sa ulo niya ang isang tela na para bagang proteksyon niya sa rumaragasang ulan. May hawak siyang paper cup na pinaglalagyan niya ng mga pinaglimusan niya pero wala itong laman. Walang isip isip ay kinuha ko lahat ng barya na natitira sa bulsa ko at inilagay yun sa kanya. Yun yung ipinamasahe ko sana pero naglakad ako. Kapag ganun ang sitwasyon walang pagaatubili akong magbibigay, kahit araw araw pa. Lalo na kung alam kong maaaring eto na yung huling pagkakataon na makita ko siya.

Hindi ako tumigil sa paglalakad ngunit sinundan ko siya sandali. Patuloy siyang namamalimos. Una siyang lumapit sa isang madre ngunit nginitian lamang siya nito. Aaminin ko nagulat ako sa hindi ko inaasahan. Buong pagaakala ko ay babahagian siya nito ng kahit kaunti pero hindi. Sumunod siyang lumapit sa isang mamang mukhang sanggano. Tumigil ang mama para magisip, at matapos ang ilang sandal ay humugot ng kaunting barya si kuya at iniabot sa matandang babae. Sinundan ko siya hanggang sa makita ko siyang bumili ng makakain niya. Nalulungkot ako kasi wala na kong perang dala dahil kabibili ko lang ng mga board na gagamitin ko. Wala man lang akong nagawa.

Masarap sa pakiramdam tumulong sa kapwa. Kahit wala kang mapapala sa kanila. Ayun yung measure ng kabutihan para saken, yung kung ano ang magagawa mo sa isang taong walang magagawa para sayo. Para kang lumulutang sa saya matapos mong makakita ng ngiti na genuine at totoo galling sa isang taong hindi mo kakilala.

Tuluy tuloy ang paglalakad ko, mga kargador ang nakakasalubong ko. Oras ng bagsakan. Amoy na amoy ko ang tinitinapang mga isda ngunit hindi ko nakikita. Ang nakikita ko ay ang mga nakalatag na cellphone na binebenta ng mas mura dahil galling sa nakaw. Mga sapatos na ibinibenta ng sapatero at mga alahas na binebenta ng mga alahera dahil mga hindi na natubos sa kanila. Tuluy tuloy ang paglakad ko hanggang makalabas ako sa Divisoria patungo sa kalsada ng ligaya. Tirik pa ang araw pero nakaligid na ang mga bugaw na nagaabang sa labas ng mga motel na nakabukana sa Moriones. Nakakahiya dahil wala pang dalawampung metro ang layo ng mga ito sa Simbahan ng Tundo at sa kapilya ng Iglesia ni Cristo.

Siksikan. Punuan. Parang sardinas na siksik. Ganyan ilalarawan ang mga jeep sa Maynila tuwing rush hour. Lalo na pag umuulan. Kaya bilang mapamaraan na mga Pilipino, hahanap at hahanap tayo ng solusyon at ng paraan makauwi lang tayo agad. At isa na yata sa pinakapopular na gawain ay ang pagsabit sa jeep, na sinundan ng pagtayo sa bus at pagsiksik sa MRT at LRT.

May iba’t ibang klase ng pag sabit sa jeep at ang sinasabi ng type ng pagsabit mo sa kung sino ka pag dating sa pagibig.

SABIT SIDEVIEW – Eto yung sabit pogi. Sabit pa-cute. Eto yung sabit na nakasandal ka sa isang side ng barandilya ng jeep at kung titignan ka mula sa susunod na jeep ay naka-anggulong side view ka. Kitang kita ang kapogian… Kung pogi. Ang sinasabi nito sa iyong pagkatao ay hindi ka pa handa umibig at mag take ng risk at hindi mo kayang ibigay ang lahat lahat mo.

TWO HANDER – Eto yung mga dakila. Yung usual na sabit ng lalaki sa jeep. Nakaharap sa loob ng jeep at nakahawak pataas ang dalawang kamay sa grab bar. Yung tipong kung nasa dulo ka nakaupo, maaamoy mo na sila. Gaya ng tradisyunal na pamamaraan ng pagsabit, ang mga taong gumagawa neto ay tradisyunal at makaluma rin sap ag ibig. Yung tipong maaari ka pa niyang ipagigib ng tubig.

ONE HAND – Sila yung mga pa-cool sa pagsabit na kala mo mga action star. Mga pa-bebe din eh. Minsan naman di maiwasan kasi may mga hawak silang bag or kung ano pa man. May isang beses na yung nakasabit, one hand lang tapos magkaholding hands sila ng girlfriend niyang nakaupo. Aba ibang klase! Eto naman yung pagdating sa pag ibig, kumbaga badboy type. Kunwari walang paki pero sobra magmahal.

SABIT UPO – Hindi sila nakasabit. Nakaupo sila sa may babaan ng jeep. Ayaw mapagod. Ayaw mag effort para makasakay. Basta na lang isisiksik ang sarili nila sa jeep na puno na at maghihintay ng bababa para makapasok at makausad. Parang sa pag ibig, hindi yan mageeffort, mag aantay lang yan na may mangyari. The modern Juan tamad.

SABIT JEDI – No hands! Aba matinde! Parang sa pagibig. Hindi sila nageexist HAHA. Forever alone.

Makapal ang mukha mo kung lahat na ng tao nagamit mo at nakopyahan para pumasa ka sa mga exam na hindi mo talaga ni review kasi umaasa ka sa kopya aka “teamwork” pero ni isa sa mga yun wala ka pang natutulungan kahit anong klaseng tulong.

Makapal ang mukha mo kung mapaghanap ka ng effort na parang may pinatago ka sa kanila at kukunin mo na lang kung kelan convenient sayo. Like ginawa na nila yung lahat pero sayo kulang pa rin pero wala ka namang ginawa kahit ano dun or para sa ikabubuti ng kung ano man.

Makapal ang mukha mo kung lahat ng tao nagiging kaibigan mo sa oras ng exam at pasahan. Yung lahat na ng tao napag border mo ng plate mo at nautusan mong igawa ka ng dimension pero sa totoo lang hindi mo naman talaga sila friends at hindi ka nga nila talaga tutulungan kung di lang nagkataon na kailangan ka nilang irespeto.

Makapal ang mukha mo kung demanding ka. Yung lahat na ng bagay hiningi mo sa lahat ng tao na ibigay sayo isama pa ang wagas nilang pangunawa at pagintindi. Tandaan mo hindi lahat ng tao mag-a-adjust para sayo kahit sino ka pang hayup ka o kahit ano pa ang posisyon mo sa mundo. Matuto kang makisama.

Makapal ang mukha mo kung ikaw ang nakakaubos ng pagkaing hindi naman ikaw ang bumili. Buraot dito buraot doon, sa ganyan ka nagsusurvive. May magulang ka naman, pinababaunan ka rin naman. Nasa sirang pagkatao mo na lang talaga ang pambuburaot sa mga tao kasi sa tingin mo mas marami yung meron sila at responsibilidad nilang pakainin ka.

Makapal ang mukha mo kung napakarami mong unipin pero kahit kelan hindi mo matandaang bumii ka. Medyo nakakahiya sa mga bumibili talaga tapos hindi na nila nakikita yung binibili nila. Kahit na sabihin nating kapabayaan nila sa gamit yun, sana naman bago mo inangkin tinignan mo muna kung may pangalan o kung may may ari na. Medyo klepto.

Makapal ang mukha mo kung lahat ng utos ng nanay mo hindi mo masunod sunod pero isang sabi lang ng crush o ng jowa mo, bumubukaka ka na. Hala siya oh, bakit ganyan ka?

Makapal ang mukha mo kung lahat na lang ng tao nirereklamo mo pero ikaw wala kang pagkakamali. Mahirap maging perpekto ateng. Yung umaga pa lang nakita mo na si ganito, si ganyan na ganito ginagawa na ganyan pa. Nagsimula ka ng alas syete, natapos ka ng alas nueve… ng gabi! At hindi ka pa rin pala tapos kakareklamo. Aba matinde!

Makapal ang mukha mo kung pumapasa ka na lang dahil sa mga kaibigan mo. Kakakopya. Kakahinging papel. Kakahiram ng ballpen. Kakahingi ng hopia paper. Nag aral ka pa diba?

Student level politics may already be the lowest level of political hierarchy. Present in almost all universities and colleges, even in high school. Question, what good does it bring to students? Does it really teach us to be responsible and to handle people better or does it teach us corruption in its purest sense? Does it really help students be better? Does it aid In someone’s studies? Or does it take too much time away from studies and studying stuff?

I mean, for example, me, it never brought me any good. It’s not my responsibility to know their projects, you see, it’s their responsibility to disseminate information to all their constituents to offer every single students the service they all promised during the campaign period. It’s their responsibility to make sure that every students know about their on going projects, to make sure that all students know where all the funds –that we gave them, are going. Transparency, just like in bigger political organization, is also missing in the smallest lowest level of politics, which leads to the age old problem of corruption.

Corruption, I am not saying in general, corruption in the sense that not everything is accounted for. Every transaction that the student body encounters or does, it must be well accounted for and audited and presented to all their constituents and make sure that everyone knows about it. It’s not a one person or one organization business.

Second off, does the council really do their job to represent the students who voted from them? You see, my bestfriend in highschool was the student government president in our time, and she has a lot of good plans for the students, but nothing good happened. Why? Student governments are overseen by a higher faculty whose dictum is the law. And of course what he has to say is something inclined to the side of the faculty not the students. So technically, they were a puppet made to make an illusion of a student body concerned to the welfare of the students. No, that is not what’s happening.

  We come into this world alone, but we leave with the memories of several others embedded deep within the deepest corners of our hearts.

The process is actually uniform, you play, you go to preschool, eventually elementary level, then high school and lastly a bachelor degree in college. Some go beyond that to explore more learning matter. After which, you find a job, you go to work, you drink with friends, you get married, have kids of your own and the process repeats itself in their generation.

Along the way, there are several people that you are bound to meet. Oh you’ll meet them, it’s inevitable. Some you meet in your studying phase, others, you meet outside school, the rest, you’ll meet when you’re in the afternoon of your life.

Here are those people that you may have met, are meeting or will meet along the way sooner or later.

1)      THE GOOD TIME FRIENDS. These are the people who will stand by you when you’re happy, when you want to have a drink, when you want to go out and party. These are those that you can count on to stay with you as long as you’re happy. Though, you never really get to see these people whenever you’re down, in fact, those moments that you are sad, you can never really find them and you won’t even know where the hell they are. 

2)      THE OVERNIGHTERS AND THE ONE DAY FRIEND. The people who are the ultimate good time friends, they only last a while.

3)      THE HIGHSCHOOL GANG. The people you were sure you’d never forget but the moment you had college friends, you did, right away.

4)      THE COLLEGE STUDY BUDDIES. These are the people who will help you pass and survive college life. They are the same people you first met and randomly took as a friend. You eat lunch everyday with these people and you eventually entrust your life completely to them. But they won’t be there if you want to go to the bar and drink, that’s what your good time friends are for.

5)      THE “SAME MENTAL DISORDER”. Need I say more?

6)      THE “WE HAVE ALL THE SAME PREFERENCE”. Yes, there is that one person that you’re gonna share almost, if not, all the same interests. Be it in the genre of songs, type of chick flick movies, sport teams, in almost anything. You can agree in a lot of things, but you would eventually part ways because you’re too alike. But they will give you the best stories that you can tell to your kids in the future.

7)      THE EX PARTNERS AND THEIR FRIENDS. Love is a major factor of course in everyone’s life. And to win the attention and trust of your love interest, you must first win the heart of their friends who eventually become your close friends and they are gonna be the one who’s gonna be stuck in a bad sitch between the two of you after a break up.

8)      THE CHURCH PEOPLE. Self-explanatory though, these are the people you will meet in your quest for truth. At one point in your life, you are or you may have explored another religion and they are the people that you’d meet there. But beware because some of these people are actually hypocrites and overly religious.

9)      THE SECOND FAMILY. At one point in your college life, or even in your high school days, you are gonna need to stay the night at some friend’s house, which would lead to you meeting the family, having dinner with them and all, sharing life conversations and stuff. The next thing you know, they are gonna be constantly inviting you over or ask you to join them to watch a movie or eat somewhere near your place because they would consciously choose to do those stuffs there because they know you’re near and you can’t say no. Keep them close, they will be an integral part of shaping who you’d be in the future and how you’d treat your family in the future.

10)   THE LGBT FRIENDS CIRCLE. The fun and the loud people that would make you realize there’s nothing wrong with being gay.

Now here are the three people that you might want to avoid because they won’t do you any good.

1)      THE GCs or the GRADE CROCODILES. These are the people that you definitely do not want to be in your circle. They will drag you down, they will make your life miserable with their over desire of being on top. They will step on you and it will not matter. They just don’t care. The way you feel is irrelevant, they will do as they please and they won’t give a damn if they’re hurting you already. They are the most selfish human being that could ever touch the face of the planet. As much as possible and as long as you can, try to steer clear from these people.

2)      THE SOCIAL MOUNTAINEER. Mountaineer, not a social climber. You see the extremity? These are the people who will do all in their will to be at the top and to be able to rub elbows with the rich and the famous, waiting for their blessing and approval.

3)      THE “I WILL ASK YOU HOW YOU’RE DOING TO MAKE FUN OF YOU.” Never tell your problems to everybody. Half of them don’t care and half of them are happy you have them. Much of an understatement but some people just want to watch other people fail, they enjoy it as much as they enjoy a good movie. Do not stay with these people, they are your poison.

Of course we can never really avoid those people, but it is an edge if you’d know who is who from the beginning so you’ll know what to do and how to deal with them. No right way or manner though, you just stay out of the line where you might get hurt.

At last we come down to the one. The one that will stay. The friend that will never leave.

                THE FRIEND IN NEED, THE FRIEND TIL THE END. These are the “for keeps” type of people. They never go away, even if you’ve hurt them so much, even if you only call them when you’re in need. They won’t go away, they won’t leave. They won’t allow you do stupid things alone. They will support you all the way, but once you’re wrong, they won’t allow it either. They will be there as you suffer life and its bitterness, not to laugh at you but to share your pain. Life may throw bunches of lemons to you but as long as you have these friends, all you will be needing is tequila and salt and you’re good to go.

Lastly we have, THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE. That one true love, heathcliffe-on-the-moors, soulmate kind of person. The last on your list. The one who’ll give you romantic chills and the one who’s more than willing to go the extra mile to be with you, to make you smile and to make you feel how much you are loved.