KCAT CAN: Live your dreams

Live your dreams

‛We are the creator of our dreams – write it, draw it, color it and make it come to life!’


“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” – Harriet Tubman

We started to have our own dreams when we were children — from wishing for a new toy, to wanting to be someone or something, or anything that we would want to happen. As we grow older, our dreams become bigger and bigger because we are more capable of deciding for ourselves and making it come true.

I, too, have a couple of dreams that I wish would come true. It may possible or not, but as long as I dream, that is enough for me to keep moving forward.

Everyone has a dream, a vision, a goal and a desire. Just because we have bigger dreams than others doesn’t mean they don’t have one. Sometimes we are just too lazy to make it come true or are scared of failing. But trying is better than not doing anything at all. We just need to believe in ourselves 100 percent and do everything we can. As an Aerosmith song goes, “Dream until your dream comes true.” Once we dream, we start to create a goal that would help us move forward with patience and determination until we finally reach it. Dream, live it and make it happen! As impossible as it may look and sound, this kind of thinking and attitude are what will keep us going.                                                                 ***

A few days before September ended, Tita Dolly Palisada invited me to her book launch slated this month. I knew that she’s been working on a book but I was surprised when I learned that my story is also included in it.

Tita Dolly featured my story early this year on The News Today, an English language tabloid in Iloilo City. Little did I know that the interview was not only for the said article but also for the book she was writing.

Because of her passion in writing, Tita Dolly got to meet a couple of Filipino individuals who faced life’s challenges with sheer positivity. They were people who never lost hope despite every stumbling block thrown their way. They won every battle through their inner strength and strong faith in God. Tita Dolly was able to tell their stories in “Real Life: Stories of Ordinary Filipinos with Extraordinary Lives.”

Here are the stories in her book:

Pagpag for Breakfast & Box of Dreams takes a peek into everyday life in Metro Manila’s poorest communities through the story of Ramil Sustento and Nene.

Leaving This Home is Water Under the Bridge tells the story of Aling Lilia Dalmacio and her children who call the bridge their home.

Journey On A Wheelchair is the story of Gaspar Salem of Zamboanga City who was born without hands and feet but dreams of going to college and having his own business. But with war in the city and his limitations, will he be able to fulfill that dream?

A Heart for Animals is about Renee Tupas Leones, an animal rights advocate working in Thailand. She believes that it is her calling to love and care for animals.

Story of Hope In Singapore & Let’s Meet Jamie share how two women used their personal circumstances and life’s lessons to pursue happiness for others. Dahlia Rivera Supnad shaved her head for children with cancer while Jamie del Rosario, despite being abused as a child, is now feeding countless children in her community.

The Heart of What We Do lets readers get to know the women behind Workshops@IbaPa and their summer “pamasko” for the inmates of Iwahig in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Also part of this stories are the people behind KaEskwela who are wasting no time trekking muddy mountains and swimming flooded rivers to bring books and school supplies to poor public schools in the hinterlands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Life Must Go On is my own journey through life; my battles, faith, love of life and how I am giving back.

I’m inviting everyone to the launch of this book on Oct. 19, Saturday at 3 to 6 p.m. at the UP Bahay Kalinaw in Diliman, Quezon City. The book costs R400 and the proceeds will go to Workshops@IbaPa Charities, Inc. and for the renovation of Project 8 Christian Alliance Fellowship Center. For orders and queries, you may email dm.palisada@gmail.com or rdapitan@yahoo.com

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LIVE YOUR DREAMS – Photo by Jim C. Lopez

My dreams are the reason I am living a happy and fruitful life despite all the odds. My life becomes more meaningful when I am able to give hope and inspiration to others. I am more grateful of every little thing that I’ve achieved and received. I believe that I can make a difference just by dreaming. Everything is possible when you put your mind and heart in it.

Let us keep on dreaming and instead of saying “I wish” and waiting for it to happen, have the courage to say “I will” and make it come true. Dreaming has no limit. We are the creator of our dreams – write it, draw it, color it and make it come to life!