A batchmate from college recently passed away. We weren’t friends, but people are sometimes united because of the oddest reasons.

She was weird and did things other people regarded as outrageous, and her fuck-you attitude became a a reason for many people (me included) to judge her. But she always did her thing anyway, and this I admired her for.

We were classmates for three years but the only times we talked was way back when I was going through a tough time in school, and recently because of something that both of us experienced. She did something for me, something I’ve always wanted to do for her too but always changed my mind about. I regret that now. I take comfort in the thought that perhaps, by talking with her about that thing that we were both going through, I made her feel a little less alone.

I know she’s in a better place now. Probably having tons of fun and basking in eternal sunshine.

It’s alarming at times (and sometimes really depressing) how little people in the Philippines know about pet care. Most of the time, families take dogs to their homes with the idea that all they have to do is to give it a place to sleep and give it food and that’s it. They have no idea of the responsibilities that they must prepare for before the little critter gets home.

I love my pets to little bitty bits. They’ve been with me since they were three months old, and they’re 5 years old now. It’s amazing how much affection pets are capable of giving–even when you neglect them, or scold them, or forget to feed them. They love you nonetheless. Even I am not a perfect owner. But what I see almost every day–dogs so thin that their bones show through their skins, dogs cramped in cages that are obviously too small for them, dogs run over and their bodies left to decay on the streets–is heartbreaking. You can’t help but lose faith in humanity a little every time you see a person abusing an innocent, helpless creature.

I hope one day I can manage to adopt even just one stray animal and be able to give it a happy, loving home. I believe that this little act of kindness is enough to make a difference and, as miss Leifer rightfully says, create a little miracle.

Nothing beats the feeling of surrendering yourself totally into something you really love. The whole world melts away: It’s just you and the beat of your own drums.