A Dream I Could Not Forget… Perhaps You Can Help Me Understand It.
*Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope, PhD, EdD, DM
For the past six weeks weeks, I have been struggling to complete a full night’s sleep. Most nights, I would only sleep for two or three hours. Surprisingly, it wasn’t because of stress, anxiety, or any personal problem. It was because I had fallen in love with writing.
Every night, I found myself finishing another article, revising another chapter of my book, or writing down thoughts about leadership, governance, integrity, and life itself. What began as a discipline quietly became a passion. Before I knew it, writing was no longer work—it had become my hobby. Minsan, kapag nagsimula na akong magsulat, hindi ko na namamalayan na alas-dos o alas-tres na pala ng madaling-araw.
But perhaps even passion has its limits.
Three days ago, my body finally gave in.
I became really sick. I felt physically exhausted. I had difficulty breathing comfortably. Kahit gusto kong matulog, hindi ko magawa nang tuluy-tuloy. It was one of those moments when your mind was still willing to continue, but your body was already asking you to slow down.
Last night was no different.
I slept at around three o’clock in the morning because there were still things I wanted to finish. Honestly, I thought it would be another short and restless night.
But something unexpected happened.
I slept.
Not just slept…
I slept peacefully.
Around eight o’clock in the morning, I briefly opened my eyes. I realized I was in the middle of a beautiful dream. Instead of getting up, I closed my eyes again because I wanted the dream to continue.
And somehow…
It did.
When I finally woke up again, it was already eleven o’clock.
For the first time in almost three weeks, I had slept for nearly eight hours.
More importantly, I woke up feeling completely different.
I felt light.
I felt refreshed.
I felt optimistic.
Parang nawala ang bigat ng katawan ko. Parang may bagong lakas. Hindi ko maipaliwanag, pero napakasarap ng gising ko.
Then I reached for my phone.
The very first thing I saw was a positive message from a woman, let us call her by the code 251. I had only recently met. It naturally made me smile. Hindi ko alam kung coincidence lamang iyon, pero parang naging continuation siya ng magandang pakiramdam na iniwan ng aking panaginip.
And perhaps that is why I cannot forget it.
It was one of the clearest dreams I have had in a very long time.
In that dream, I met a former senator who had already been a successful business tycoon before entering politics and who is now considered the richest person in our country.
We walked together.
We exchanged ideas.
We talked as if we had known each other for years.
Then I handed him a copy of my book, Integritocracy.
What happened next was the part that remained deeply etched in my memory.
He did not simply carry the book.
He carefully tucked it inside the front of his waistband.
Then he covered it with his polo shirt.
In my dream, I clearly understood why.
He did not want it to get lost.
Then he smiled and said that he would have others read it.
Later, we found ourselves seated inside the Senate while a woman senator, widely regarded as a possible presidential contender, was presiding over the session. Hindi kami nagsasalita. We simply observed.
Soon after, many people surrounded him. Some wanted photographs. Others were asking for help. Dahil sa dami ng tao, nagkahiwalay kami.
When I looked for him again, I realized he was already somewhere else, inside his van.
So I called him.
He answered.
He apologized that he left me in the crowd and simply told me that we would meet again.
As I continued walking, I unexpectedly met an old friend; an octogenarian former Mayor and former Congressman whom I had admired for many years.
He warmly greeted me.
Kinamusta niya ako.
We exchanged ideas.
We laughed.
We simply enjoyed talking to one another.
Then…
I woke up.
Since then, I have found myself thinking about that dream.
Not because I believe dreams predict the future.
Not because I think every dream carries a divine message.
And certainly not because I am trying to convince anyone that what I dreamed will actually happen.
Rather, I became fascinated by the feeling it left behind.
It was peaceful.
It was hopeful.
It was encouraging.
What struck me most was that throughout the entire dream, I never asked anyone for money.
I never asked for influence.
I never asked for a position.
The only thing I remember giving was a book.
And strangely enough, the only object that someone carefully protected was that same book.
Perhaps that means something.
Perhaps it means nothing.
I honestly do not know.
That is why I decided not to interpret the dream myself.
Instead, I would rather ask you.
If this had been your dream…
How would you understand it?
Why was the book the center of the story?
Why did someone carefully protect it from being lost?
Why were there two respected elder statesmen in the dream?
Why did the dream end peacefully instead of dramatically?
Why did I wake up with a renewed sense of hope after weeks of physical exhaustion?
I truly don’t know the answers.
Maybe dreams are simply our minds arranging memories, emotions, hopes, and experiences into stories while we sleep.
Maybe they are mirrors that quietly reveal what we value most.
Or maybe they are simply beautiful reminders that even after difficult days, life still has a way of giving us reasons to smile.
So today, I leave my dream in your hands.
You become the interpreter.
I remain the dreamer.
And perhaps, somewhere among your reflective interpretation, I may discover a meaning that I could never have found on my own.
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Dear friends,
*About the author:
