COFFEE CONVERSATIONS
By Joann Manabat
LOOKING OVER a vast plain of what seemed to be rice fields from above, the pilot let go of the gear shift so the wind was just enough to drift us a bit. We both stared in awe at the beauty that was all around us. Albeit the loud sound that roared from the ultralight plane engine, everything else was peaceful and serene. Seeing the endless horizon, we were above the clouds. We were higher than the birds and closer to the sun. I had that moment sitting up in the skies and it was truly beautiful.
I was invited to cover the outreach program of the Angeles City Flying Club at the Woodland Airpark in the town of Magalang on January 14. About 52 children from the Duyan ni Maria Children’s Home had a chance to fly via Ultralight and Cessna aircrafts. While some did change the way they see the world, for others it was a dream come true.
One of them was 13-year old Jericho. He was just as elated as soon as he landed from his first
flight and said he would do it again. So he did, several more times after that.
I met Jericho when some of the Singaporean delegates to the 30th Southeast Asian Games took
a break from the field and visited the Duyan ni Maria Children’s Home. He was then 10 years old. He saw me again on Saturday at the airpark and said, “Uy! Naalala kita! Ikaw yun!” (Hey, I remember you! That’s you!)
Surprised as I was, we gave each other high fives as I laughed at the thought of someone like Jericho can give recollections of moments that could bring us back down to memory lane.
Although he loved the feeling of flying, whether in an open cockpit or an enclosed glass screen, Jericho said he didn’t want to be a pilot. So I asked, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” He just smiled at me before he took another ride. At his age, I thought, at least he knew what he didn’t want to be.
And so I asked a few close friends what does it take for someone to become successful in life? What does it take to fly high? It took a while for them to answer until Lauren said, “It’s hard work, perseverance, and grit”.
Ian agreed and added contentment to the point. Angela echoed to concur and said, “It is not even about working hard anymore, rather working smart.”
Indeed, they may be right. Although working smart, sadly, is sometimes being interpreted as to
deceive to get to the short cut. So I thought, that isn’t right. Intention is such a big factor.
Mark added, “Success comes in different forms which could be the achievement of one’s
personal goal. In general, the majority measures success through financial mileage.” However, Bryan furthered and said, “Success is relative and ultimately interpreted differently depending on the circumstance, state of being, etc. The question was not a definition but what it takes. If someone’s gratification is achieved, that is considered a success. This is important because the person’s mental standard of what brings triumph to them is innately theirs.” And so everyone acquiesced.
My eldest daughter, Ningning, said “It only takes just me.” Such confidence and courage from a
young heart. I know my daughter understands the reason to be independent. “I know we can get help from others and support, but I mean, in the end, it is still up to me.” That conversation went on as we had our dinner on a Tuesday night. It was one of those I value highly.
I only have a few friends I consider my closest. Lauren was just in Singapore recently doing her thing. Ian now owns a property in Pangasinan. Anj and Mark run a few businesses and Bryan is leaving for Amsterdam. Looking back, everything was different. Everyone of us was struggling to be better at some point, some time in our lives. We did not come from a wealthy family nor tycoons of a business in the city. But we do try to live our lives fully, look out for each other like a family.
I once wrote in my diary that failure comes with success and success should come with a great attitude rooted in those failures. Your intentions will hold your conscience. Your faith will drive you to the next. Try to read books about life or even search quotes about success, it will give you endless results. But I think it all boils down to attitude. I am already 38 years old and until I find the answer on how to define my own success, I will never know how to reach the destination. And so that’s where I will take myself, to enjoy my own journey. Perhaps that is where my motivation lies, to live my own life and the two I have beside.
This story ends without a connection about why onions are so expensive or why a young actress smeared cake off of a waiter’s face. I thought I would end up writing something about it. But
what say you… maybe there is.
