KCAT CAN: Change Comes Knocking at the Door

Change can only work in two ways – for the better, or for the worst. Yet, regardless of whatever manner in which change comes into our lives, what matters is how we view it and how we react to it. It may be uncomfortable and awkward at first and will have a ripping effect for anybody who refuses to go along with it.

Change Comes Knocking At The Door
by Maria Kathrina Lopez Yarza
November 8, 2010


What is change? Why is change taken and seen as the only permanent and constant thing in life? From conception to death, everything in our lives is ever-moving, ever-changing. Slow and quick, change is the metamorphosis of life. It is no respecter of humans, taking no exception of anyone – including me.


Above was the opening paragraph in my blog entitled “Pagbabago,” my entry to a blog contest sponsored by Goldilocks and Nuffnang Philippines.

The mechanics of the contest required that contestants write about the biggest change that happened in their lives, and how Goldilocks became a part of those significant changes.

Ehdison, a social media specialist and screenwriter, won the Most Eloquent Blog. Reading his entry makes one feel like reading a plot from a movie. His winning blog entry can be viewed at www.yoshke.com.

The Most Creative Blog was won by Vivian. Her winning entry, found at divineviva.blogspot.com, moved me and inspired me more. I love the story of her “date’’ with God. Come to think of it, how many of us have had our “dates’’ with God?

Marian Jane, a law student from Cebu, won the Biggest Change Blog. Her winning entry, at marianjanealumbro.blogspot.com, is about the terrible tragedy that happened to her family and how it had transformed her and had given her strength beyond her imagination.

My blog entry, which can be viewed at underkcat.blogspot.com won the Best Over-all Blog. I won an iPad! It was another divine blessing for me because the award became another opportunity for me to spread my story to a greater number of people, and to share with them what awesome power and might God has to work wonders and miracles in our lives. Our faith, our prayers and our stories – they move God.

NF2 CHANGED ME

I dreamed of meeting people who are inflicted with the same disease as mine – Neurofibromatosis (NF1/NF2). I had known that I was not the only Filipino with this disease, so I started searching for them. Thanks to the world wide web, I saw them in some NF forums and social networking sites. In one of the television programs where I was featured, I mentioned that I wanted to meet the other NF patients, and asked them to contact me so that we could start a support group.

God heard my plea. Gradually, one by one, we were gathered together, started our support group, exchanged information about our disease, and shared our experiences with each other.

A few weeks ago, the staff of TV5’s Alagang Kapatid, a medical show that tackles various health concerns, contacted me because they wanted to feature me on their show. They were thrilled to learn that my NF friends and I have put up an online support group on Facebook. They had the chance to meet Gina, a lady inflicted with NF1, who secluded herself from society because of the numerous bumps and lumps that covered her entire body. Together with Cheryl Cosim-Alvarez, the host of the show, I and my other NF friends enjoyed not only the shoots, but also the bonding time together. That day was pretty eventful and memorable for all of us. Through sharing and encouragement, we were able to inspire Gina to take another perspective and attitude toward her disease. It was heart-moving. It was change. Good change.

VICTOR, NOT VICTIM

Change can only work in two ways – for the better, or for the worst. Yet, regardless of whatever manner in which change comes into our lives, what matters is how we view it and how we react to it. It may be uncomfortable and awkward at first and will have a ripping effect for anybody who refuses to go along with it.

I see the changes in my life as blessings in disguises. I gained more friends. I became an inspiration to many. I give hope and strength to the many out there who are in a similar predicament as mine.

Yet, the most important thing of all, I have learned what the real meaning of strength and hope are. I am able to share strength because I had mastered strength. I am able to instill hope because I refused to let my own hopes die in vain. I am not comforted by the words “Just hang in there”, but rather with the words “I can make it.” I choose to be a victor, and not a victim of change.

Change is here to stay. Let us all welcome it with open arms.