The moment you see life as a game, everything changes. Will you choose to play a game that you don't want to play? Will you choose to play strategy games if you love the idea of action games? Definitely not. So why do you keep doing the things you do not want? Life is too short to do the things that you don't fancy. After all, life is about the pursuit of things that make you happy. 

While these games in essence can be similar, both games deliver an entirely different discipline and approach. 

I remember I used to play Dragon Nest. It uses a non-targeting combat system ensuring that players have complete control over every single one of their character's movements. Dragon Nest requires users to advance their characters by teaming up and traveling into instanced dungeons. (Source: Wikipedia)

I love how I was able to choose the "class" I wanted to be in. I chose to become a saint. No it wasn't because I'm quite a saint-like person. I just felt happy defending and healing my party. It made me feel important; like how it would jeopardize and put the party in a critical position if I wasn't there. You can see how it was inextricably linked to my real persona.

Suddenly, I felt like I wanted change. I got bored being at the back. I felt like being in the front-line and doing all the action! And so I made another character. An ice wizard. In a game, it was definitely easy and "okay" to change your mind! But even though it was "just a game," I had still had to work hard for it. I had to level it up from level 1 to 50. Which takes up months or years depending on how you want to approach your progress. Being an ice wizard gave me so much thrill and action! I undeniably made the right decision! I was dashing like a wind and throwing off ice shards which obliterated the opponent in seconds! If I just used what I had before I would've probably quitted earlier.

Fortunately, this was "just a game." But isn't it quite familiar? How I decided for the "small things" gave me so much power to decide on the "bigger things." Which required more self-control, wit, perseverance, hard work and a little bit of luck.

List down three things that makes you genuinely happy. Discovering new things, learning new languages, preserving an endangered animal, or even your freakishly odd nail collection. No matter how odd or bizarre, if it makes you smile for no reason, it must be empowered. This doesn't apply to drugs or your collection of human organs. But kidding aside, life is all about the little things that makes you wake up in the morning. The things that make you excited (or obsessed) no matter how far  it is from your career or professional life. 

Given that we do not know when you last and only chance might appear to follow something that you've wanting all your human existence, will you be strong enough to grasp it and never let go? 

Manila, Philippines -- I wonder if I have a purpose other than what I originally planned to. A visit at the National Museum of the Philippines was brisk yet distinct. A friend of mine named Jonna dragged us to BenCab's Gallery.

Benedicto Reyes Cabrera — or BenCab, as he is more popularly known is widely hailed as a master of contemporary Philippine art. Remember the saying that goes "this art moved me; creating a perplexing train of thought." (Okay, I made that up)

His art literally gave me a calling to send a message through art. A message that is untranslatable and can only be expressed through strokes, graphite or acrylic paint. "Sabel" clearly spoked to me.

Manila, Philippines -- "What else am I bound to do?"

 It is evident that research unlocks doors and can ultimately dictate and influence where a country should head in terms of education, economy, political and socio-cultural conditions and most importantly (in my career), policy-making instruments. The Philippines needs to uplift its administrative workings in the areas of scientific research and must invest heavily on development studies and the restructuring of domestic and foreign policy to influence trade and economic growth. 

The government-funded R&D remains to be an underinvestment. In a paper entitled Improving the Philippine Research and Development Statistical System by Bernie S. Justimbaste, the Philippines used up a total of P 4.5 billion on R&D in 2002, and this figure represents a measly 0.11 % of the country’s 2002 gross domestic product (GDP), a decrease from 0.19 % in 1996 and 0.22 % in 1992. (Justimbaste, Improving the Philippine Research and Development Statistical System, 2004) 

Proof of this underinvestment is the five percent of the total public expenditure for agriculture has been allocated for agriculture research; whereas the ratio of budgetary outlay for price stabilization programs alone was in the range of 10 percent over the past decade (Cororotan, 2003).

As an aspiring Foreign Service officer, I dare to take a big step towards gaining a global insight and uplifting the high standards of the foreign relations of the Philippines to the world. To be able to utilize what I'll grasp and gradually apply these internationally-recognized pedagogy in the creation of a sound relations. 

"I know I could start even though I'm young."

Knowing personally the Ambassadors of the Republic of the Philippines as my professors in the College of International Relations - LPU made me internalize how critical it is to acquire an education tied to its Philippine roots especially in the creation and implementation of an effective foreign policy. Securing the economic and political stability of the region requires precision in decision-making and a high level of background in international affairs.

For a country that trains its people to leave, I stand to make our country "worth the investment" by being an astounding front-liner; culminated through my education in the international stage.