"Do Your Best in the Moment”

(Last of three parts)

CEBU, Philippines — Alang kag Abunda, ang maong mga trabaho maoy nag-andam niya sa iyang kasamtangan.

“Sometimes, you do certain things without knowing that you are being led to a certain career. Sabi nga ni Steve Jobs, you can only connect the dots on retrospect…. Looking back, yun pala yung paghahanda ko sa lakas ng loob na humarap sa tao, sa camera.” Ug ang pagtulun-an alang niya mao nga, “Just do your best at the moment.

“Kasi why was I selling encyclopedia, fire extinguisher, hindi ko alam na pina-practice pala ako dun magsalita. Why was I saying, ‘Good evening Ma’am, welcome to the restaurant,’ di ko alam, I was going to be in the business of hosting and receiving guests.

“I also didn’t understand why I became a tourist guide. Yun pala, lahat may kinalaman dun sa propesyon na papasukin ko. Looking back, I’m able to connect, okay, these are the steps.”

Mensahe ni Boy, “You don’t question where you are now kahit gaano kahirap because that is preparing you for something that you do not understand. But believe in your heart that the thing you don’t understand is good because God wants you to be there. You are where you are supposed to be.” Gilab-as sab niya nga nakasinati siya og talagsaon nga kaayo sa usa sa mga labing malisud nga sitwasyon niya kaniadto diin nakapuyo siya sa Mabini sa Manila.

“I will not forget this story because nagkaroon ako ng chicken pox and wala akong pambili ng pagkain. Seven to eight days straight, wala akong gamot, kasi samin ‘pag chicken pox, pinababayaan lang daw hanggang gumaling pero hindi ka pwede magpahangin, you know.

“But doon ko naranasan yung kindness of friends and strangers. Yung may-ari ng canteen sa bahay na yon, sa baba, binibigyan ako araw-araw ng lugaw and this is not to rhapsodize my journey, this is not to dramatize my journey, but my neighbors were extraordinarily kind.

“Who were they? They were some prostitutes na mga kababayan ko na nagtatrabaho sa Red Light District who’d offer me food or anything they had. That part of my life I will not forget.” Mangambot si Abunda kun pangutan-on giunsa niya paglingkawas sa iyang malisud nga sitwasyon kaniadto. Ang iya lang gyud nga nakat-onan mao nga maningkamot matag adlaw.

“Take care of that day, take care of that moment. Take care of that now because if you do your best in the moment, that will take care of moving you to the next step, to the next day, to the next hour.”