13/04/2026
I can still remember back in college, in our speech class, we were tasked to look for a speech that we would deliver in front of the class as part of our final performance, and this is the one I chose.
It was originally a poem titled "The Optimist," written by McLandburgh Wilson around 1915. While it started as a witty newspaper rhyme, it took on a life of its own during the Great Depression. Adolph Levitt, the man who invented the automatic donut machine, found the poem and posted it in his Mayflower Donut shops. It became a national symbol of resilience, eventually expanding from a simple four-line jingle into a full motivational speech as leaders and speakers added verses about "silver linings" and "opportunities" to help bolster the public’s spirit.
Here it is:
THE OPTIMIST’S MOTTO
(The Extended Version)
'Twixt the optimist and pessimist
The difference is droll:
The optimist sees the doughnut,
But the pessimist sees the hole.
The optimist sees the opportunity
In every difficulty he may face;
The pessimist sees the difficulty
In every opportunity’s place.
The optimist sees the silver lining
In every cloud that’s in the sky;
The pessimist sees the coming rain
And heaves a heavy, hopeless sigh.
One sees the sun through the window pane,
The other sees the dust on the glass;
One sees the gold in the ripening grain,
The other the weeds in the grass.
Then as you ramble on through life, my friend,
Whatever be your goal,
Keep your eye upon the doughnut,
And not upon the hole.
28/03/2026
Time flies, but the memories remain. Eight (8) years ago, I had the honor of returning to my Alma Mater (San Fernando National High School in Sicogon Island, Carles, Iloilo) as the guest speaker for the Class of 2018, the first-ever batch of senior high school graduates.
Re-reading that speech today stirred up so many emotions. It’s a powerful reminder to stay strong, especially as I navigate new and different seasons of life. I’ve shared a summary of that message below.
To the Graduates of Batch 2026: As you celebrate, remember that your journey is only just beginning. The best is truly yet to come. Trust the process, keep the faith and enjoy every moment of this milestone. God bless you all! 💙🙏
07/03/2026
Are you feeling constantly distracted, unmotivated, or just "out of whack"?
In this eye-opening breakdown of The Mel Robbins Podcast, world-leading addiction expert Dr. Anna Lembke (Stanford University) reveals why modern life has hijacked our brains.
The startling truth? Our brains evolved for a world of scarcity, but we now live in a world of "overwhelming overabundance."
Swipe through this 6-part survival guide to learn:
✅ Why dopamine is about "seeking," not "satisfaction."
✅ How to balance the "Brain’s Seesaw" of pleasure and pain.
✅ The secret power of "Right-Sized Pain" and Boredom.
✅ How to reset your brain in just 30 days.
Your brain is a masterpiece of balance, but the modern world is trying to tip the scales. You have the power to take back the controls.
Stop scrolling, start living, and let your brain reset to the joy you were born to feel! ✨💛🧡
Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4rTyhYfZhE
20/10/2025
From Jail Bars to Board Exams: How God Turned a “Tragedy” into Triumph
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
— Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
At 21, Daniel Villamor Quisa-ot was a hardworking student, a church musician since Grade 3 and a proud scholar of the Department of Science and Technology. He dreamed of becoming an engineer, not for fame but to invent gadgets for worship music in his church.
But life took a cruel turn.
After choosing ministry over a relationship, Daniel was accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Arrested right in school, he entered the provincial jail in Bukidnon (his mother’s tears still fresh in his memory). Inside, he slept standing up in an overcrowded cell, saw violence and endured beatings meant to strip away dignity and identity.
Yet, while others saw only darkness, Daniel saw a spark.
Inside his bag were two things: a Bible and his engineering reviewer. That moment became his turning point.
Months later, God made a way.
With the help of his warden, his university president and a reverend, Daniel was allowed to finish his last semester while still in jail. His classmates sent lecture notes through his mother. He studied amid chaos, noise and fear. His thesis? A jail alarm and communication system designed for the safety of inmates: born from pain, hope and faith, and written entirely by hand inside the cell.
When graduation day came, it wasn’t a grand stage or a university hall. It was a cellphone connected to a loudspeaker by the warden. As Daniel’s name was called, cheers erupted from the inmates: proof that success doesn’t depend on where you are but on who holds your heart.
He went on to pass four PRC board exams:
⚙️ Registered Electrical Engineer (2021)
⚙️ Registered Master Electrician (2021)
🚰 Registered Master Plumber (2023)
🔩 Certified Plant Mechanic (2024)
And later, he completed his Master’s in Management major in Environmental Planning, all after walking out of jail a free man.
Daniel calls his two years in prison a “beautiful scar”.
Because what was meant to destroy him, God used to define him.
He now shares his story to remind others that the question isn’t “Why me?” but “Lord, what are You teaching me and preparing me for?”.
Daniel’s journey teaches us that no prison is too dark for God’s purpose to shine through. Whether you’re battling rejection, failure or pain, remember, your struggles are not wasted. They are training grounds for your testimony.
Watch the whole video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTNwKT2ro6c
And read here: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/959217/daniel-quisa-ot-the-detainee-who-became-an-engineer-and-earned-4-prc-licenses/story/
16/07/2024
‘LOVE, PAPA’ 💙
LOOK: A deaf father touched the hearts of netizens with his special request to a local bakery in Legazpi City, Albay, to bake him a cake worth P100 for his son who was graduating from college.
“Madam, meron po tag P100 na cake? Bili po ako kahit maliit lang sana. Pang-graduation po. T.Y.,” the father wrote on paper.
Lazy Baker Cupcakerie said it accepted the father's P100 payment as he was its first customer that day.
"Today, his eldest son is graduating, and he couldn't contain his pride and joy," the store wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday.
“Touched by his story and his unwavering love for his son, we gladly offered him a cake to celebrate this significant milestone,” it said.
To return the bakery's kindness, Tatay offered them his services.
“Madam pag may gusto ka po ipa-work or ipalinis dito, ako na lang po, makabawi man lang po ako sa lahat na binibigay mo po sa akin hehehe. God bless your family madam,” he said in a letter.
Known as “Tatay” to the bakery staff, he often visits and asks for cake scraps from the bakery.
“It's moments like these that remind us of the incredible strength of a parent's love and the true meaning of community. Congratulations to the proud father and his graduating son! Your story has inspired us all,” the store wrote.
“If you guys want to help, you can drop by the goods at our bakery. Just let us know when so he'll be there. Thank you all for your generosity and compassion,” Lazy Baker Cupcakerie said in another post. 📷 Lazy Baker Cupcakerie/Facebook
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