By Paco Arespacochaga
Over the years, I’ve worked hard to create songs that people have come to love and grow up with. I’ve read great (and some not so great) comments on different blogs and youtube channels about how my songs have touched lives and began romances among the youth of the time. That to me is very inspiring!
A couple of months ago, a friend of mine brought to my attention the fact that INTRoVOYS’ songs are on Limewire and other Internet file sharing sites. He thought I was going to be disappointed about the news. Instead, I quickly asked him how many songs where uploaded? He was kind of surprise that I was excited about it. And why wouldn’t I be?
I would love to get my music on everyone’s iPod or mp3 player! Giving people access to my body of work regardless of whether it’s free or not really isn’t the point here. It’s all about getting my body of work to as many people as possible.
At the end of the day, if my body of work is worth a damn thing, people are going to have to compensate me one way or another. How?
They’ll probably want my band to do a concert in their neighborhood and it ain’t gonna be FREE. They’ll probably want to book the band on their program… and that ain’t gonna be free either. They’ll probably want to use my body of work in a movie, TV or indie film their producing and that’s not going to be FREE either. Copyright laws do govern.
But if I don’t give them access to the song in the first place, and if I don’t let them share the song with their friends and if I don’t allow their friends to share the song with more of their friends, how the heck am I going to get my body of work to more and more people especially now that I’ve gone INDIE?
Oh I know! Pay someone on radio thousands of dollars to get airplay… did someone say “payola”? Oh, grease some marketing dude on a major network with thousands of dollars to push the song. Maybe, pay a “song placement” company a couple of hundreds to BLINDLY solicit my songs. ABSURD!
I’ll just throw it out to the general public and let everyone be the judge! I believe that if people believe that my body of work is any good, they will support it. And I believe that most people are smart enough to compensate me monetarily for something THEY LIKE and SEE VALUE IN.
For now, if they want a copy of any of my songs, I’ll give the one they like the most FOR FREE if they email me at introvoysmusic@gmail.com and if they want to buy the songs, they can go to www.introvoys.net and purchase the whole album.
But hey… I can only speak for myself.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Patrick Swayze Died Today
By Paco Arespacochaga
When I read the news about Patrick Swayze being diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer back in March of 2008, my heart sank. Although I didn’t know Swayze personally, I personally knew the disease that took his life today on Sept 14, 2009. As a matter of fact, 18 years ago the same disease claimed the life of the woman my heart loved first… my mother.
Swayze was someone I was cheering on. I wanted him to live! I wanted him to find and experience the cure. I was telling myself that if pancreatic cancer was Mount Everest, I wanted Patrick to reach the summit. Although he didn’t, I am lead to believe that he did his best live through the disease and I admire his courage and will continue to do so.
Before his death, Patrick Swayze cried out to Congress for help. And he wasn’t just crying out for them to help him, he was also crying out on behalf of the people that have been diagnosed with cancer and for the people that will be left behind.
As I bring it home, I am reminded of my mortality and of the time that I have left to spend with my family. After all, I’m not going to get out of this life alive. I will experience death. But that’s not a concern of mine. I’m more concerned about the people I love…my wife and my sons. Will they be left in good hands? Will they have fond memories of our time together?
I’m not fond of reading obituaries. I’m not a big fan of the grim reaper. I know that living forever is boring but so is living a short life. However I look at it, I am compelled to say that the beginning and the end of my life doesn’t really mean anything if I don’t live my life to my fullest capacity.
Today, I am thankful that I have “today”. As far as I know, it’s all I have. And I will take good care of it.
Because someday, a time will come when someone will write a blog entitled:
Paco Arespacochaga Died Today
When I read the news about Patrick Swayze being diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer back in March of 2008, my heart sank. Although I didn’t know Swayze personally, I personally knew the disease that took his life today on Sept 14, 2009. As a matter of fact, 18 years ago the same disease claimed the life of the woman my heart loved first… my mother.
Swayze was someone I was cheering on. I wanted him to live! I wanted him to find and experience the cure. I was telling myself that if pancreatic cancer was Mount Everest, I wanted Patrick to reach the summit. Although he didn’t, I am lead to believe that he did his best live through the disease and I admire his courage and will continue to do so.
Before his death, Patrick Swayze cried out to Congress for help. And he wasn’t just crying out for them to help him, he was also crying out on behalf of the people that have been diagnosed with cancer and for the people that will be left behind.
As I bring it home, I am reminded of my mortality and of the time that I have left to spend with my family. After all, I’m not going to get out of this life alive. I will experience death. But that’s not a concern of mine. I’m more concerned about the people I love…my wife and my sons. Will they be left in good hands? Will they have fond memories of our time together?
I’m not fond of reading obituaries. I’m not a big fan of the grim reaper. I know that living forever is boring but so is living a short life. However I look at it, I am compelled to say that the beginning and the end of my life doesn’t really mean anything if I don’t live my life to my fullest capacity.
Today, I am thankful that I have “today”. As far as I know, it’s all I have. And I will take good care of it.
Because someday, a time will come when someone will write a blog entitled:
Paco Arespacochaga Died Today
Sunday, September 13, 2009
In a Marketing Campaign, the Budget Must Reflect the Business
By Paco Arespacochaga
In today’s business environment, a business owner must be well equipped with ways and means to maximize his advertising and marketing investment. Yet, one question still brings back different answers.
“How much should I invest in advertising?” usually generates responses such as:
5% of your desired gross profit
10% of your desired gross profit
5% of the gross profit you made the last fiscal year
10% of the gross profit you made the last fiscal year
Don’t spend anything more than necessary
Don’t spend anything at all
And there are many more. All these answers are true to some extent because there really is no “one absolute” answer. In marketing 101, we were taught that a business should spend 10% - 15% of what they wanted to gross in revenue. So if a business wanted to make $150,000, it should set aside a budget of $15,000 to $22,500 just for advertising and marketing expenses alone.
The sad truth is that many start up business owners perceive advertising as a necessary “evil” as opposed to a business necessity. Feel free to call it business suicide if you must because that is what it is.
In a marketplace where everything is all about perception and perceived market value, taking no action in effectively positioning your products and/or services doesn’t mean you’re not you’re protecting your business equity. It is quite the contrary. This is because your inaction is giving leverage to your competition, which is doing the opposite of what you are doing.
Your advertising budget reflects the type of business you have. Invest in your advertising. You don’t wait to make money before you begin advertising. Begin advertising to MAKE MONEY!
Next blog… Different Types of Advertising and Which of Them Benefits Your Business.
In today’s business environment, a business owner must be well equipped with ways and means to maximize his advertising and marketing investment. Yet, one question still brings back different answers.
“How much should I invest in advertising?” usually generates responses such as:
5% of your desired gross profit
10% of your desired gross profit
5% of the gross profit you made the last fiscal year
10% of the gross profit you made the last fiscal year
Don’t spend anything more than necessary
Don’t spend anything at all
And there are many more. All these answers are true to some extent because there really is no “one absolute” answer. In marketing 101, we were taught that a business should spend 10% - 15% of what they wanted to gross in revenue. So if a business wanted to make $150,000, it should set aside a budget of $15,000 to $22,500 just for advertising and marketing expenses alone.
The sad truth is that many start up business owners perceive advertising as a necessary “evil” as opposed to a business necessity. Feel free to call it business suicide if you must because that is what it is.
In a marketplace where everything is all about perception and perceived market value, taking no action in effectively positioning your products and/or services doesn’t mean you’re not you’re protecting your business equity. It is quite the contrary. This is because your inaction is giving leverage to your competition, which is doing the opposite of what you are doing.
Your advertising budget reflects the type of business you have. Invest in your advertising. You don’t wait to make money before you begin advertising. Begin advertising to MAKE MONEY!
Next blog… Different Types of Advertising and Which of Them Benefits Your Business.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
A Nice "Thank You" From a Good Friend
I am humbled and privileged to have had some influence on this man's life. Thank you for your acknowledgement Donnee!
I read Marc Tupaz' note on Facebook and he talked about two people that have somewhat influenced him and his musical career path. Reading it made me smile. I hope it makes you smile too!
Fellas... read on below!
Twist of Fate and Contrasting Mentors
by Marc Tupaz
Those who have known me for a long time know that i started my singing career as a soloist. Little did i know at the time that two contrasting personalities would shape my career in a weird twist of fate. As a soloist, there were many words one could use to describe what i was as a singer. Sucks, Lost, Raw,Talentless,Stubborn,Lazy were all among the equation.
Rockstar number 1: I met rockstar number 1 one night at Bedrock in Malate. My 1st impression, What a jerk! hahaha but if there's any truth to the saying 1st impressions last then it is very untrue in this case. You could see right away that he was very good with his craft and enjoyed the limelight very much. He never ran out of ideas and wether some good and some are bad, he had enough talent to make it work.
Rock star 1 is better known as INTROVOYS drummer/ Actor, Paco Arespacochago or Enrico as we call him. Most people would say that he is a love him or hate him kinda guy and i love this guy like a brother. I was starting out my band at the time that i met him i think way back in 2001 and when he heard i was planning to put up my own band it almost seemed he was more excited than i was. Always vivacious and full of life, Paco always offered advice whether or not i wanted to hear it. The hardest thing for a young singer at the time was to be told what your flaws were but without saying it straight out, i knew what he was saying. Instead of telling me that our set was bad, he would tell me that there was something wrong with our lineup. Instead of saying that i sucked, he said music is hard and there's alot to be learned. But i knew what he was talking about. With Paco i learned to have a controlled amount of angst.. just enough for my personality. He enjoyed music so much that he wanted me to feel that joy for myself by pushing me with encouraging words. If he ever had anything bad to say about my singing or performance at the time i would never hear it. Instead he would break down what i can improve on future performances. With Paco i learned to be confident, and with a guy like him he had alot of confidence to spare hahaha no pun intended. Paco didnt mentor my singing but he mentored my feelings and outlook. Under his tutelage i can say i was half ready to take on the showbiz world. Best Paco Arespacochaga quotes: " Kahit nagkakamali ka na sa stage kailangan pogi ka parin!" 2. " Ang galing natin kanina Donnee. and of course my favorite quote.. 3. Harald and Paco having a conversation: Paco-" Harry, drumming is like having sex. You have to look sexy doing it. Kinda like having sex with a woman." Harald- "........." Paco- "You have had sex right?" Harald- "uh.. no" Paco-"......." " How about masturbation? Do you masturbate?"
Exodus: It was Paco's bday and there was a party at the famous compound. (Paco's apartment compund). Everyone was drinking including yours truly. I met Ira Cruz for the first time and everyone was either loud, rowdy or drunk. Then i was introduced to Rock star number 2.
Rockstar 2: Was quiet, cool and calmly drinking his beer when i was introduced to him. This is Wency Cornejo as Paco introduced me to the quiet intimidating man drinking his beer. I said, I know him. He's the singer of After Image i told Paco. Paco bit confused asked me.." How do you know After Image when you grew up in the states and not know Introvoys songs till you met me?" " I don't know" was my answer but i did know because i heard After Image songs in the U.S. Wency mentioned to Paco that he needed a backup band for his solo gigs because Color It Red was abroad so Paco offered my band. Wency in many ways is different from Paco and he would probably add that they are very different. We backed up Wency for a couple of his shows and during the drinking sessions after the shows i saw it as my opportunity to ask away my heart's desire better ways to improve myself. Unlike Paco, Wency rarely offers advise unless asked and ask away i did. During countless drinking sessions, I learned more about the quiet man who was oozing with talent and his songs, how he writes them,the meanings,the heart and experiences that make this quiet man as loud as he can be onstage and or when writing songs. It's funny how most of wency's advice contradicts whatever i learned from Paco. Confused as i was i slowly realized that music in all aspects is a contradiction that's why it's so wonderful. I learned how two different people as Wency and Paco are in the extreme, can make things work their own way. This is the point in my life when you could throw out the word "lost" from the list of words to describe me as a singer.Wency in a weird twist of fate completed what Paco started especially now with Paco living in the U.S. My favorite wency quote will always be " I'm proud of you." For a man of few words when it comes to those kind of things, It was worth a million words of encouragement.
My two brothers, two mentors, opposite sides of the world now. Without either of you, There will be no Marc Tupaz of Shamrock. Your legacies in the music industry will always be remembered. But your impact on me will never be forgotten. Sucks, Lost, Raw,Talentless,Stubborn,Lazy may or may have not been totally removed from the equation, but thanks to these guys and my bandmates atleast i know i improved and still am improving. Cheers to you guys! Shamrock's latest unreleased album is now part of your legacy also.
I read Marc Tupaz' note on Facebook and he talked about two people that have somewhat influenced him and his musical career path. Reading it made me smile. I hope it makes you smile too!
Fellas... read on below!
Twist of Fate and Contrasting Mentors
by Marc Tupaz
Those who have known me for a long time know that i started my singing career as a soloist. Little did i know at the time that two contrasting personalities would shape my career in a weird twist of fate. As a soloist, there were many words one could use to describe what i was as a singer. Sucks, Lost, Raw,Talentless,Stubborn,Lazy were all among the equation.
Rockstar number 1: I met rockstar number 1 one night at Bedrock in Malate. My 1st impression, What a jerk! hahaha but if there's any truth to the saying 1st impressions last then it is very untrue in this case. You could see right away that he was very good with his craft and enjoyed the limelight very much. He never ran out of ideas and wether some good and some are bad, he had enough talent to make it work.
Rock star 1 is better known as INTROVOYS drummer/ Actor, Paco Arespacochago or Enrico as we call him. Most people would say that he is a love him or hate him kinda guy and i love this guy like a brother. I was starting out my band at the time that i met him i think way back in 2001 and when he heard i was planning to put up my own band it almost seemed he was more excited than i was. Always vivacious and full of life, Paco always offered advice whether or not i wanted to hear it. The hardest thing for a young singer at the time was to be told what your flaws were but without saying it straight out, i knew what he was saying. Instead of telling me that our set was bad, he would tell me that there was something wrong with our lineup. Instead of saying that i sucked, he said music is hard and there's alot to be learned. But i knew what he was talking about. With Paco i learned to have a controlled amount of angst.. just enough for my personality. He enjoyed music so much that he wanted me to feel that joy for myself by pushing me with encouraging words. If he ever had anything bad to say about my singing or performance at the time i would never hear it. Instead he would break down what i can improve on future performances. With Paco i learned to be confident, and with a guy like him he had alot of confidence to spare hahaha no pun intended. Paco didnt mentor my singing but he mentored my feelings and outlook. Under his tutelage i can say i was half ready to take on the showbiz world. Best Paco Arespacochaga quotes: " Kahit nagkakamali ka na sa stage kailangan pogi ka parin!" 2. " Ang galing natin kanina Donnee. and of course my favorite quote.. 3. Harald and Paco having a conversation: Paco-" Harry, drumming is like having sex. You have to look sexy doing it. Kinda like having sex with a woman." Harald- "........." Paco- "You have had sex right?" Harald- "uh.. no" Paco-"......." " How about masturbation? Do you masturbate?"
Exodus: It was Paco's bday and there was a party at the famous compound. (Paco's apartment compund). Everyone was drinking including yours truly. I met Ira Cruz for the first time and everyone was either loud, rowdy or drunk. Then i was introduced to Rock star number 2.
Rockstar 2: Was quiet, cool and calmly drinking his beer when i was introduced to him. This is Wency Cornejo as Paco introduced me to the quiet intimidating man drinking his beer. I said, I know him. He's the singer of After Image i told Paco. Paco bit confused asked me.." How do you know After Image when you grew up in the states and not know Introvoys songs till you met me?" " I don't know" was my answer but i did know because i heard After Image songs in the U.S. Wency mentioned to Paco that he needed a backup band for his solo gigs because Color It Red was abroad so Paco offered my band. Wency in many ways is different from Paco and he would probably add that they are very different. We backed up Wency for a couple of his shows and during the drinking sessions after the shows i saw it as my opportunity to ask away my heart's desire better ways to improve myself. Unlike Paco, Wency rarely offers advise unless asked and ask away i did. During countless drinking sessions, I learned more about the quiet man who was oozing with talent and his songs, how he writes them,the meanings,the heart and experiences that make this quiet man as loud as he can be onstage and or when writing songs. It's funny how most of wency's advice contradicts whatever i learned from Paco. Confused as i was i slowly realized that music in all aspects is a contradiction that's why it's so wonderful. I learned how two different people as Wency and Paco are in the extreme, can make things work their own way. This is the point in my life when you could throw out the word "lost" from the list of words to describe me as a singer.Wency in a weird twist of fate completed what Paco started especially now with Paco living in the U.S. My favorite wency quote will always be " I'm proud of you." For a man of few words when it comes to those kind of things, It was worth a million words of encouragement.
My two brothers, two mentors, opposite sides of the world now. Without either of you, There will be no Marc Tupaz of Shamrock. Your legacies in the music industry will always be remembered. But your impact on me will never be forgotten. Sucks, Lost, Raw,Talentless,Stubborn,Lazy may or may have not been totally removed from the equation, but thanks to these guys and my bandmates atleast i know i improved and still am improving. Cheers to you guys! Shamrock's latest unreleased album is now part of your legacy also.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Philippine Government Officials and Employees Should Be Paid MORE!
Did you ever wonder why the middle class in the United States can't afford live-in housemaids? It's because they CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A HOUSEMAID FULL TIME! The average salary of part time house maid is 18,000 US dollars a year! And the only major services you're going to get are laundry and house cleaning.
A "yaya" or a nanny's average annual salary in the US is roughly around $34,000 a year. And that's only for 8 hours a day taking care of the baby you brought into this world, while your at work making a little bit over the same amount of money! In the Philippines.
These people are in the business of making your life more convenient. As such, they should be compensated for making it so. People who cannot afford these kind of convenience LEARN how to complete tasks such as cleaning their own room, their own house, cooking their own food, washing their own clothes, ironing and folding their own laundry. These traits translate to developing a better YOU. Why do you think Juan Tamad couldn't live outside the Philippines? I've never heard of "Joe Lazy".
And if you haven't heard or read it, there is a popular quote that states "a lazy mind is devil's workshop".
I digress.
I do believe, however, that giving our government officials and employees a "middle class" kind of income will somehow veer them away from the temptations of corruption. Everything begins with respect. People want to be respected or at least that's how they want to "feel". A more than decent salary becomes the beginning of this. There shouldn't be any shame for a police officer to be able to afford to live in a nice house, in a nice neighborhood all because his salary has permitted him to. Remember, his life is on the line a third of his day. Always. The same pay increase should be given to Postal Office, Fire, Utilities, Secretaries of... and their department employees and to everyone in government! This will keep corruption low!
In regard to corruption: I've always wondered why we haven't given enough to our public officials?
Don't get me wrong, corruption will always be around. It will always reside in the mindset of people who have lived it.
But when we give enough to a government employee (president included), it would really make it embarrassing to catch them cheating on taxpayers' money.
Take for instance the starting salary of being a police officer in the Philippines, which is about P14,265 per month inclusive of allowances or roughly around P171,180 a year. That's $3,804 a year! Why would I put my life on the line for $3,804 a year!?! In the rural parts of the US, where there are more trees than houses, a new police officer earns P142,500 a month! Or roughly over a million pesos a year! And that's the starting pay. Not convinced? Google it!
No wonder our cops find other creative ways to make more money. For the love of God, a call center employee in metro manila makes around the same amount, IF NOT MORE, when they start their job!
I don't want to know how much our government admin employees make. And our president's salary, which is only P60,000 a month, is a joke as well!
But then again, the question is "where are we going to get the funding to pay our leader, goverment officials and government workers REAL salary if the money is being funneled elsewhere by means of corruption?"
The answer is in all of us. Change in mindset then becomes the ultimate solution to this problem. Now, every new politician, rich or poor... can invest his time, money, intellect and efforts on making his country and its people better and still be able to go home and feed his family.
At this level, if you pay someone enough for PUBLIC SERVICE and he steals more money, then we, the Filipino People, can truly call that Government official a SELFISH BASTARD!
A "yaya" or a nanny's average annual salary in the US is roughly around $34,000 a year. And that's only for 8 hours a day taking care of the baby you brought into this world, while your at work making a little bit over the same amount of money! In the Philippines.
These people are in the business of making your life more convenient. As such, they should be compensated for making it so. People who cannot afford these kind of convenience LEARN how to complete tasks such as cleaning their own room, their own house, cooking their own food, washing their own clothes, ironing and folding their own laundry. These traits translate to developing a better YOU. Why do you think Juan Tamad couldn't live outside the Philippines? I've never heard of "Joe Lazy".
And if you haven't heard or read it, there is a popular quote that states "a lazy mind is devil's workshop".
I digress.
I do believe, however, that giving our government officials and employees a "middle class" kind of income will somehow veer them away from the temptations of corruption. Everything begins with respect. People want to be respected or at least that's how they want to "feel". A more than decent salary becomes the beginning of this. There shouldn't be any shame for a police officer to be able to afford to live in a nice house, in a nice neighborhood all because his salary has permitted him to. Remember, his life is on the line a third of his day. Always. The same pay increase should be given to Postal Office, Fire, Utilities, Secretaries of... and their department employees and to everyone in government! This will keep corruption low!
In regard to corruption: I've always wondered why we haven't given enough to our public officials?
Don't get me wrong, corruption will always be around. It will always reside in the mindset of people who have lived it.
But when we give enough to a government employee (president included), it would really make it embarrassing to catch them cheating on taxpayers' money.
Take for instance the starting salary of being a police officer in the Philippines, which is about P14,265 per month inclusive of allowances or roughly around P171,180 a year. That's $3,804 a year! Why would I put my life on the line for $3,804 a year!?! In the rural parts of the US, where there are more trees than houses, a new police officer earns P142,500 a month! Or roughly over a million pesos a year! And that's the starting pay. Not convinced? Google it!
No wonder our cops find other creative ways to make more money. For the love of God, a call center employee in metro manila makes around the same amount, IF NOT MORE, when they start their job!
I don't want to know how much our government admin employees make. And our president's salary, which is only P60,000 a month, is a joke as well!
But then again, the question is "where are we going to get the funding to pay our leader, goverment officials and government workers REAL salary if the money is being funneled elsewhere by means of corruption?"
The answer is in all of us. Change in mindset then becomes the ultimate solution to this problem. Now, every new politician, rich or poor... can invest his time, money, intellect and efforts on making his country and its people better and still be able to go home and feed his family.
At this level, if you pay someone enough for PUBLIC SERVICE and he steals more money, then we, the Filipino People, can truly call that Government official a SELFISH BASTARD!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
INTRoVOYS Video
My bandmates really made it easy for me to pick up the guitar. Then, there's Tim de Ramos, who is also a good musician.
I just want to thank my bandmates for being patient with me. And I'd also like to thank Steve Guadiz and Jonathan Manuel for giving me some pointers on how to play guitars.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
a Baby to a Boy… a Boy to a Man… a Man to His Legacy
by Paco Arespacochaga
I am blessed. As I look back to celebrate another year of my birth, I am reminded of what brought me here and am humbled by those who brought me here. And as I look forward to many more fruitful years, I am delighted to be surrounded by my wife and 2 boys.
I had the privilege of spending a month long vacation with my 13 year old son, Heaven. We talked, we laughed, we argued, we fought, we reasoned, we joked, we teased, we learned and we bonded. More than ever before, I am glad to have had the opportunity to spend quality time with him and share with him some insights. I am also grateful for the knowledge he had shared with me. Our music appreciation is intensely the same. Our type of music is different.
In between our time together, an 11 month old baby forces his way into our “bonding” time. He didn’t want to be left out. And neither I nor Heaven wanted to leave the little boy out of our bonding time either.
Caelen is Heaven’s younger brother, the last Arespacochaga from my Grandfather’s bloodline. He, like his brother before him, is also utterly inquisitive. Together, the three of us make one another laugh and smile in our own little way.
Looking at my two boys, I couldn’t help but feel proud that I was given an opportunity to be part of their lives.
As I watched Heaven play with Caelen and vice-versa, I was smitten and saddened by the thought that this year is their “turning point” year. As Caelen (11 months old) wrestled and interacted with Heaven (13 years old), there was sincere interest among both of them. And yet, their life agenda is very different.
For the next few years, Caelen will be on the road to discovering what it is like to be a boy. He’ll be learning how to interact with other children. He’ll be taking his first baby step pretty soon without anybody’s help. He’ll be putting words together to form his first sentence. He’ll cry less and talk more or maybe do both. He’ll master the art of walking and then learn to run. He’ll bruise his knees and challenge my authority. Soon, he’ll discover and learn what it’s like to be a boy.
Simultaneously, Heaven is walking the road to adolescence. Not yet a man, yet no longer a boy. He’s asking third level questions! He wants straight answers. He even knows the answers to his questions and only asks you to see if you know the answers too! He’s smart enough to play “dumb” yet still catches himself learning new things everyday. He likes girls now. He is aware of peer pressure. He now has more defined goals. College is something he wants to pursue. Playing video games, though still appealing, has now become a controllable urge. He can stay on the phone for hours talking to friends about “stuff”. Physically, he’s now taller, faster and more “manly”. He is also getting more conscious about his appearance, smell and overall look. Soon, he’ll discover and learn what it’s like to be a man.
Someday, all of these will come to pass. Still, I continuously pray that I be given the opportunity to be around my boys and their children. I, too, have a lot to learn. And in spite of what I’ve learned over the years, the fact remains that I do not know much.
One thing I do know now is that my legacy need not be based on the personal awards and accomplishments that I have achieved or will achieve. Nor has it been based on my financial net worth. I look at my two children and in them lies my legacy. How I raise them inside with principles and how those principles manifest in them will determine how long I shall live even after I am gone. And nothing is more important than equipping my children a lasting positive impression that will carry them wherever they go and whoever they’re with. I have come to realize that above my dreams of becoming this and that, I already AM… a husband and a father!
I am blessed. As I look back to celebrate another year of my birth, I am reminded of what brought me here and am humbled by those who brought me here. And as I look forward to many more fruitful years, I am delighted to be surrounded by my wife and 2 boys.
I had the privilege of spending a month long vacation with my 13 year old son, Heaven. We talked, we laughed, we argued, we fought, we reasoned, we joked, we teased, we learned and we bonded. More than ever before, I am glad to have had the opportunity to spend quality time with him and share with him some insights. I am also grateful for the knowledge he had shared with me. Our music appreciation is intensely the same. Our type of music is different.
In between our time together, an 11 month old baby forces his way into our “bonding” time. He didn’t want to be left out. And neither I nor Heaven wanted to leave the little boy out of our bonding time either.
Caelen is Heaven’s younger brother, the last Arespacochaga from my Grandfather’s bloodline. He, like his brother before him, is also utterly inquisitive. Together, the three of us make one another laugh and smile in our own little way.
Looking at my two boys, I couldn’t help but feel proud that I was given an opportunity to be part of their lives.
As I watched Heaven play with Caelen and vice-versa, I was smitten and saddened by the thought that this year is their “turning point” year. As Caelen (11 months old) wrestled and interacted with Heaven (13 years old), there was sincere interest among both of them. And yet, their life agenda is very different.
For the next few years, Caelen will be on the road to discovering what it is like to be a boy. He’ll be learning how to interact with other children. He’ll be taking his first baby step pretty soon without anybody’s help. He’ll be putting words together to form his first sentence. He’ll cry less and talk more or maybe do both. He’ll master the art of walking and then learn to run. He’ll bruise his knees and challenge my authority. Soon, he’ll discover and learn what it’s like to be a boy.
Simultaneously, Heaven is walking the road to adolescence. Not yet a man, yet no longer a boy. He’s asking third level questions! He wants straight answers. He even knows the answers to his questions and only asks you to see if you know the answers too! He’s smart enough to play “dumb” yet still catches himself learning new things everyday. He likes girls now. He is aware of peer pressure. He now has more defined goals. College is something he wants to pursue. Playing video games, though still appealing, has now become a controllable urge. He can stay on the phone for hours talking to friends about “stuff”. Physically, he’s now taller, faster and more “manly”. He is also getting more conscious about his appearance, smell and overall look. Soon, he’ll discover and learn what it’s like to be a man.
Someday, all of these will come to pass. Still, I continuously pray that I be given the opportunity to be around my boys and their children. I, too, have a lot to learn. And in spite of what I’ve learned over the years, the fact remains that I do not know much.
One thing I do know now is that my legacy need not be based on the personal awards and accomplishments that I have achieved or will achieve. Nor has it been based on my financial net worth. I look at my two children and in them lies my legacy. How I raise them inside with principles and how those principles manifest in them will determine how long I shall live even after I am gone. And nothing is more important than equipping my children a lasting positive impression that will carry them wherever they go and whoever they’re with. I have come to realize that above my dreams of becoming this and that, I already AM… a husband and a father!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)