I GOT HUMOR: "a not-so-funny-story of Ron-Ron"

"When my favorite nephew started writing, he showed me the first two chapters. After reading, I told him immediately, 'Ron-Ron, I've discovered an exciting story unfolding. Go on andput your inner self into it.'

He put himself to task, relentlessly and with a sure goal at heart. In no time he came out with a ten-chapter autobiography, a personal narrative that, I would say, makes repeated attempts to share his personal experiences in life while facing the formidable enemy called tragedy.

In his book, he tells his feelings, his deep-seated angst and depression, which were borne out of a personal tragedy, and how he tries so hard to hide it from public view by putting up a comic front for over thirty long years.

Humor with wit, humor in sadness, and a smile when the heart is sad and gloomy. Because depression perturbs both his body and his soul, the remedy of firing up neurons into synapses or balancing all chemicals in his brain is not enough.

Nothing is enough to fill in what is lacking, so his heart craves for something more, say, of a spiritual kind. In between the pages, one can perceive how God came in and how Ron-Ron accepted Him, Him who is the only One who can turn his brokenness into surrender of self to God's will.

The challenge for Ron-Ron is to trust the 'un-huggable' or seemingly distant God and to persevere in holding on to this faith.

When he trusts God, it is when he discovers that his "humor" is a gift and a blessing to many."

“HUMOR ” has been my partner and alter-ego of sorts ever since. I have that uncanny knack for cracking witty one-liners on cue, which would more often than not, elicit giggles from everyone. Humor, though, would also serve me in deflecting unwanted stories about my closely guarded “secrets”. Until one day, inevitably, I had to receive them.

"I have known Ron’s story for almost two decades. I have seen how he managed this journey that would challenge even the strongest among us. This is his true story of making sense of his own humanity, to find himself and to find God in his search for answers and his purpose. There is much to learn from his continuing journey of (re)gaining strength and (re)building resilience."

“On the day I interviewed Ron for an article in The Philippine Graphics Magazine that would feature his Frame it! business, I saw the fire in him that showed his desire to succeed as an entrepreneur.

"When he was starting his writing journey and was providing me a glimpse of his deeper story, I realized so much was untold that was buried deep in his subconscious. He dug long until they surfaced. I had to tell him to take it easy as he was so good at hiding his wounds, and now that he found the courage to confront the pain, he was about to uproot his own very deep trauma.

But, he did it! Congratulations! He's succeeding again”

“When Ron shared me synopsis of his story for the first time I was moved and touched. I could not fathom the agonizing pain he’d been through, waking up one day and discovered his parents, brother and sister gone! I encouraged him to write his own story to inspire others who are experiencing a “rock bottom” life and wanting to bounce back.

Ron’s unrelenting faith, courage and bravery brought him to the now. Ron is super grateful and counting his blessings. He lived through such pain physically and mentally to share us his story. Ron kept on getting up not once but many times that all of us could learn from.

Read his story and find yourself in his courage and strength.”

“Dear Ron,

Thank you for sharing your topsy-turvy story with me. I feel like I'm being taken for an Alice in Wonderland story on steroids with references to stuff that are familiar enough to make it feel like it's founded on reality.

And yet, .... how can all these befall one human?

As I read through the stories, I feel like I'm being abruptly taken from one story to another, unceremoniously being forced to find the reference between one part to another. And then I realize that this wasn't a story for ME to make sense of the details.

It's for me to recognize how God REVEALED HIMSELF to Ron. It wasn't as much a discovery of the details of what happened or why ... Moreso, it was a discovery of who Ron is, and the Good LORD who has walked alongside Ron (even in the form of humans being humans).

This story is not an ending. It is a continuation of how God's love continues to be revealed in every trial and triumph.

God's love meant to be shared. Thank you for sharing, Ron.

From sharing your Humor to showing so much HIM More.”

“Whether you lived through the 1980s or not, Ron’s gift of story telling allows the reader to be immersed in this era, as if you were with him as he unravels his unique life story. While “I Got Humor” is the author’s way of recovering from his remarkable past, the book helps also the reader to find comfort in the truth that our life struggles have meaning and purpose. Let Ron show you that through this book.”

“No one would ever notice at a glance what Ron had gone through in life because of how exuberant he is. I believe God gave him the courage to write and also kindle courage to those who would read this book.

Ron’s got a story to tell, he’s Got Humor too!”

“When I first met Ron, he immediately impressed me as a young, industrious, and happy entrepreneur. He was always smiling and joking —just what we needed at that stressful time. We (a project team from the Management Association of the Philippines, TOWNS Foundation, & EARTH Institute Asia ) were rushing to frame and auction off photographs taken by 10 of us photography enthusiasts for an exhibition to raise funds for building houses for an Aeta village with Gawad Kalinga. We invited business leaders and other potential donors to our exhibition-auction in the Dusit Hotel so we badly needed good but inexpensive frames.

Ron’s youthful exuberance to help us mount an exhibition-auction for the first time had such a calming effect on our nerves. It was a successful event that raised the seed fund for about 70 houses, as well as encourage Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran of the Tsinoy community through TOWNS awardee Tessy Ang See to donate most of the houses that we needed.

Ron and his nice frames contributed much to the success of our event and our project. I knew then that, with his reliable work ethic during such a demanding time, he would succeed well as an entrepreneur. I was surprised to learn later the tough challenges in life that he has been going through. His continuing efforts to go over the painful hurdles in his life’s journey and still be joyful in helping others despite them are surely extraordinary.

Ron, may I thank you for your kindness by my sharing part of a quote in my 'ammunition kit' in going through life: '… what really matters is …not what we got, but what we shared.”

You surely got many painful experiences and some happy ones, too. What matters now is your courageous sharing of your story, which can help strengthen others in facing their own challenges. It is a reminder to us that, with God’s help, we can overcome tough and even painful barriers along our way. It also opens a new path to success for you as a story teller-writer, whose work has not only calming but also joyful effect with your humor. More power, dear Ron!”

If you picked up this book, expecting to read about jokes and funny stuff, then you are bound to be disappointed. This is a serious book about one man’s journey from mental and emotional distress, using humor as his vehicle.

I have known Ron since grade school, which is to say we’ve known each other for most of our lives. But for all those years in school, we never belonged to the same class.

I was also well aware about his personal tragedy shortly after high school graduation in 1986. As the years passed, I sometimes wondered how he was coping. But I never saw him again for many years.

Fast forward to this millennium, I would see Ron during numerous batch reunions, big or small. We were regulars in these get- togethers. I felt he was doing okay, based on stories he would narrate.

Lately though, he told a few of us how he was undergoing some “issues” and would call every now and then just looking for someone, anyone, he could talk to.

I never really knew Ron and what he went through until I read his book. This actually came from his journal, the manuscript of which, he converted into book form. He asked me to look at it, and edit.

What you will read in the following pages is the not-so-funny story of Ron’s struggles with being bipolar and with PTSD, and how humor, his humor, played a big role in getting him through those conditions.

So if you are going through it yourself, or know someone who is, this book provides a deeper understanding of what people experience, and offers a possible solution, or an outlet if you will, to ease the struggles that one with depression goes through.

This is Ron Magsakay’s story. It will have some funny moments, but most of the anecdotes will be about struggles, and then triumphs.

You will be able to relate with Ron, and you will laugh at his antics. Who knows, you might also be inspired.

Whatever emotion “I Got Humor” brings out in you, though, one thing I am sure of: this book will be memorable.