The Story Teller

Archive for September, 2011

The Terra Cotta Warriors and Heroes is a collection of (terra cotta) baked clay sculptures featuring the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the firs Emperor of China.

It was a funerary art in 210-209BC created to protect the emperor in his after life.

Cindy is the only daughter of a wealthy couple. She goes to a nice school and her things are all very expensive.

One day, her parents gave her a beautiful lunchbox from abroad. It was so beautiful it looks like a jewelry box. Cindy was so proud of her new lunchbox. She knew that everyone envies it so she took it anywhere for fear that someone might steal it.

One afternoon after school, she played in the nearby playground. With her was her beautiful lunchbox. Suddenly, it rained hard. She ran to the van and forgot her lunchbox.

When the rain had stopped, little Marie spotted a fancy box in the playground. She picked it up and opened it hoping to find some food but it was empty. Marie turned the box over and saw the name and the address of the owner of the box. She knew the address, it was the biggest house in town.

Marie put the box in a plastic bag and walked towards the direction of the house. She rang the doorbell and told the maid she has something for Cindy. The maid was apprehensive, Marie looks harmless, but ‘these people’ can’t be trusted. She called another maid to watch over the girl and murmured ‘make sure she doesn’t steal anything’ and off she went to her employer.

Cindy’s father came down and asked Marie what she has for Cindy. Marie told the man about the box she found in the playground, then took the box out of the plastic bag. Cindy’s father was so happy. His daughter has been crying since she got home. He thanked Marie and took the box. Marie answered ‘You’re welcome’ and was about to leave when the rich man stopped her.

“Did you find the box pretty?” he asked Marie

“Oh, yes, Sir, it was very pretty”

“Would you want it for yourself?”

“I would be happy if I have one like that..”

“Then why did you give it back to us?”

Marie’s brows knitted in confusion..

“Because it is yours….”

The rich man couldn’t believe such honesty..

“Is there anything you want? Can I give you something for your kindness?”

The girl thought for a moment. She smiled shyly then spoke…

“A can of sardines would be nice, Sir..”

“Would you like some noodles and coffee to go with it?”

Marie’s eyes shone brightly..

“But Sir.. that would be even nicer..”

“Okay then, you may go home now. I will send someone to your house..”

After several minutes, a van stopped in front of Marie’s house and out came men carrying a sack of rice and baskets filled with packs of instant noodles, coffee, cream, milk, chocolate drink and various canned goods..

When the men left, Marie spoke..

“Mother, do you understand why the rich man gave us a month’s supply of food for an empty box?”

Mother smiled and said..

“I think I do, Marie.. It wasn’t so much for the empty box, they can easily replace that. It was more for what you did. Maybe he wasn’t sure he would do the same thing if he were you..“

(Original story by the blog author. Any similarity with other stories, fiction or otherwise, is purely incidental)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, born Arthur Ignatius Doyle, was a Scottish physician and writer born on May 22, 1859 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was more popularly known, however, as the creator of Detective SHERLOCK HOLMES who was modeled after his university professor Joseph Bell.

During the BOER WAR, Conan Doyle served as a doctor in the medical unit treating British troops. He wrote “The Great Boer War” published as “The War in South Africa: Its Causes and Conduct” which countered the charges against the British that came out after the war, which included rape, torture and establishment of concentration camps. Consequently, he was offered to be made a knight bachelor by King Edward VII. So, on Oct. 24, 1902 he became SIR Arthur Conan Doyle.

He was married first to Louisa Hawkins who died of tuberculosis and second to Jean Elizabeth Lechie. He died of heart attack on July 7, 1930 at the age of 71. His last words, directed to his wife, were “You are wonderful.” His epitaph read:

Steel True

Blade Straight

Arthur Conan Doyle

Knight

Patriot, Physician and Man of Letters

I have always been a studious person. I simply like studying and I love learning new things and one thing I kind of fear about getting old is being stagnant.

Sometime in 2001, however, when my second child was more than a year old, her nanny got married and I was left with very short time to look for a reliable one. I had to quit my job so that I could take care of my children. The stagnancy that I was so careful to avoid started to make me feel uneasy. Giving birth to my third baby made the feeling even more intense.

So, when my children were a little older, I started to look for a job. Being stagnant for a long period of time, however, made me less of  a possible candidate for the jobs I was applying for. It was then that I considered taking up full time MBA. It was kind of a long shot for me, but I knew it would make a difference.

The moment I came back to school, I felt weird, but at the same time, I felt comfortable. It was like coming back to a second home, and as I expected, it worked wonders. I was, not just considered for a job, but I actually landed a job.

It has been several years ago but I still congratulate myself for making such a wise decision of going back to school.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

The mighty king of Dalisay was ready to pass the throne to whoever is the most capable among his three sons. So, he gave them a mission, that is to search for the most powerful amulet that will help the bearer rule the kingdom.

The brothers were gone for a long time. The first one to make it back was the oldest son. He had with him an amulet that gives extraordinary strength and speed. He tricked an hermit to get it. Whoever wears it can capture an entire village in no time. The king was pleased. He tapped his son’s back and gave a feast in his honor.

After several months, the second son came. With him was an amulet that makes the wearer invisible. He stole it from an old thief. With the amulet, anyone can steal the finest treasures of an entire village without being seen.The king was pleased. He gave his son a hard squeeze on the shoulder and gave a feast in his honor.

It took several more months before the youngest son finally made it home. He was riding an ox-driven cart followed by a long line of people carrying various objects.

The king was overjoyed to see his youngest son that he gave him a warm and tight embrace. The king, however, noticed the troubled expression on his son’s face. He asked what was wrong and the young man answered..

“I failed you, Father. I didn’t find any amulet..’

‘It’s alright, son.. You’re here and you’re safe. That’s all that matters to me..’

The young man was so happy that he embraced his father once more. Then the king asked…

‘What’s all this?’ pointing at the ox-driven cart and the long line of people.

“They are farewell gifts from my friends..”

“Gifts? Friends?”

“Yes, father. You see, when I was looking for amulet, I met a lot of people. Sometimes they need me, and sometimes it was I who need them. So, during my trip, I discovered a very important thing in order to survive.. FRIENDSHIP. Without friends, you might die of hunger and sadness. But the more friends you have, the easier life is going to be. As I moved from place to place, I left friends who were sad to see me go, but since they understand the reason for my journey, they gave me their blessing and gave me something to remember them by. Some gave me food to eat, some gave me treasures to sell, some gave me slaves to work for me..”

“So, these are your slaves?”

“They are my laborers. They work for me and I pay them. They are allowed to go if they want. But no one did.”

“Well, it only means they like being with you..”

“I guess so, father..”

“My son, you may not have found an amulet that will help you rule a kingdom, but you brought an entire community that shows how good a ruler you can be..”

The king was so pleased. That night, he gave a feast in honor of his youngest son, the new king of Dalisay..

(Original story by the blog author. Any similarity with other stories, fiction or otherwise, is purely incidental)

I am not a treasure hunter nor did I ever dream to be one, but I’m a voracious reader and I am very much fascinated with myths. Among the most alluring story for me is the legendary Yamashita Treasure, or is it only a myth?

It was said that in 1961, a Filipino treasure hunter, Rogelio Roxas, met the son of a former member of the Japanese forces who mapped him the location of the Yamashita Treasure near Baguio City. In 1971, they found, in an enclosed chamber, bayonets, samurai, etc, but the most fascinating of all was “.. a 3-foot-high (0.91 m) golden-colored Buddha and numerous stacked crates which filled an area approximately 6 feet x 6 feet x 35 feet- (Wikipedia)”.

When Pres. Marcos learned about the treasure, however, he had Roxas arrested and seized the gold. When Marcos lost the presidency in 1986, Roxas was released and the treasurer hunter filed suit in 1988 against the Marcos in the Hawaiian state court  for the theft of the treasure in addition to human rights abuse. Roxas died the on the eve of the trial but left enough evidence of his claims. So, in 1996, Roxas estate and the Golden Buddha Corporation received the largest judgment awarded in history amounting to $22 billion that with interest would amount to $40.5 billion. It was, however, decreased back to $22 billion as there was no evidence of the exact quantity of the treasure.

In the end, the Golden Buddha Corporation was awarded $13,275,848.37 and Roxas’ estate obtained a $6 million judgment on the claim for human right abuse.

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