In everything, give thanks = )
- For having the mercy to call me and to know Him. Thank you, Lord for everything specially for my continuous health and this unceasing push to continually seek learning.
- To Mapua's School of IE-EMG, for the opportunity to offer my gifts, talents and service.
- To Beb, for always choosing to love an imperfect and fault-ridden me. This coming 2010 is a special year for us.
- To my family: Tatay, Nanay, Tuto, Ate Rose, Elisbeth, Elisa Marie, Ria Elinor, Jan Elis and Ellis - I am not me without all of you.
- To my spiritual family: Campus Crusade for Christ, Influencers, Miler, JC, Ron, Mark, Chris, Marlyn, Orpah and those who pray anonymously for my well-being, thank you for all the prayers. I really needed them in this walk and journey with God.
- To Kaka, every time we are together, though the age piles up, we are each others fountain of youth.
- To Imaj, for the opportunity to share and hone my managerial and leadership skills in the business and the entertainment world.
- To Sir Joe, for opportunity to sharpen my awareness and skill on everything about improvement.
- To Sir Henry, for the gift of affirming to me a dream that I hold dear that I dare not speak...only in hush prayers and longings.
- To National Bookstore, PowerBooks and Fully Booked, for making "rosetta" stones available everywhere.
- To "espn.com/nba and cnnsi.com/nba", for the insights = )
- To Manny Pacquiao, for the glory and pride you bring to the Filipino people. Please stop making movies. You are a real hero. Not a silver screen superhero. And please listen to what F. Sionil Jose wrote for you.
- To Ondoy and Pepeng, for bringing us to a deeper understanding of what ails our country and what should we do about it.
- To bad politicians, for ingraining in us what is bad so that we never forget once it is our turn to lead = )
- To good politicians, for reminding us that not everyone is asleep.
- To my critics, for expanding my views and become more inclusive.
- To my patters, for letting me know the good steps I took.
- To the students, including those who listened and those who simply passed by, for the privilege of having your attention = )
- To business partners in the business of making sure businesses in the Philippines remain relevant and competitive, thank you for the opportunity to be of service and to learn from your experiences.
May we all have a meaningful and grace-filled 2010.
"To God be all the glory..."
Thursday
Wednesday
My Jose Rizal blog entry
Over a century ago, Jose Mercado Rizal, our national hero, was shot at Bagumbayan.
I knew him first through stories that has a gamu-gamo in it. Later, in high school, thanks to Ms Mylene Capati, my Filipino teacher during my sophomore and junior years, Rizal became an inspiration through his works of Noli Me Tangre and El Filibusterismo. Though both are required read during high school, it made a mark because Ms Capati challenged us to stage the best play about Noli Me Tangre. So, we did = )
I still remember how our room at Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 217, called "The Bag", was transformed to become the backdrop to fit the first 20 chapters of Noli Me Tangre. We had two nitso at the back of the room to the horror of our teachers. Specially, Ma'am Silvela, our Religion teacher = )
The beauty of the whole becoming-a-man situation is that, in order for one to stage a play about Rizal's work, one has to read the book which encourages one to reading and understanding the Philippines during Rizal's time.
Back then, me and my high school friends, the KAKA, got into theater big time. (By the way, Kaka is the term Crispin uses when he calls his older brother, Basilio, in Noli Me Tangere. Which will also tell you, that these moments were not simply a stage play but a galvanizing point that will forever link the lives of twelve men.) By that, I mean, we read the novels in order to understand the nuances and objectives of each of the character so that we can create what Rizal was trying to say. So that in return, the audience can experience his work in a new way.
It was only recently, after finishing reading the book called The First Filipino, a book first printed in the 60s, that my understanding of Rizal grew deeper. The book made Rizal real to me. Expounded the internal mechanism that drove him to be become who he is. This has shifted his heroism, for me, from the area of myths and genes towards the science of psychology, environment, nature and nurture.
It also explained to me why he wrote so strongly. So beautifully. His obras, his magnum opus, his works after all was written before he was 33. His work were untarnished with the beautiful burden of having a wife and raising kids. He wrote the books even before he was domesticated = )
But one can argue, how could a man love someone completely if his burden is the whole independence of the Philippines? I even doubt, if he could find a true partner at that time to share his burdens. For one, only few women would really understand him and get him for only a privilege few ever went to school. And it would not also help that it was customary, at that time, to have single educated ladies be married via arrangement as early as 15 years old. And the fact that his surname, Mercado, is linked to Burgos of the GomBurZa in a bad way as seen through Spanish eyes, didn't help either. Plus, Facebook has not been invented yet = )
I do not mean to trivialized his greatness. I firmly believe that he is the greatest Malay to have ever lived. His circumstances, his choices and decisions and the result of those is legendary. Heroic indeed. And the book made me understand him as a man, as a Filipino. The book made him accessible to me. Made him a friend, a brother. He came alive = )
After reading the book I was thrown back to a chapter in El Filibusterismo, when Simoun, the more seasoned Crisostomo Ibarra of Noli Me Tangre, was talking with and actually lambasting Basilio's semi-charmed life. I felt sad because Rizal's observation in the 19th century is still very true now at the 21st.
It is true, "... nothing is new under the sun."
Now, as a I do my morning run and as I reach the front of his monument at the Luneta, I will forever offer a salute as I pass by.
Rizal showed what was possible. And now, I believe him in ways unknown in my past.
"... why think like mere men?"
I knew him first through stories that has a gamu-gamo in it. Later, in high school, thanks to Ms Mylene Capati, my Filipino teacher during my sophomore and junior years, Rizal became an inspiration through his works of Noli Me Tangre and El Filibusterismo. Though both are required read during high school, it made a mark because Ms Capati challenged us to stage the best play about Noli Me Tangre. So, we did = )
I still remember how our room at Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 217, called "The Bag", was transformed to become the backdrop to fit the first 20 chapters of Noli Me Tangre. We had two nitso at the back of the room to the horror of our teachers. Specially, Ma'am Silvela, our Religion teacher = )
The beauty of the whole becoming-a-man situation is that, in order for one to stage a play about Rizal's work, one has to read the book which encourages one to reading and understanding the Philippines during Rizal's time.
Back then, me and my high school friends, the KAKA, got into theater big time. (By the way, Kaka is the term Crispin uses when he calls his older brother, Basilio, in Noli Me Tangere. Which will also tell you, that these moments were not simply a stage play but a galvanizing point that will forever link the lives of twelve men.) By that, I mean, we read the novels in order to understand the nuances and objectives of each of the character so that we can create what Rizal was trying to say. So that in return, the audience can experience his work in a new way.
It was only recently, after finishing reading the book called The First Filipino, a book first printed in the 60s, that my understanding of Rizal grew deeper. The book made Rizal real to me. Expounded the internal mechanism that drove him to be become who he is. This has shifted his heroism, for me, from the area of myths and genes towards the science of psychology, environment, nature and nurture.
It also explained to me why he wrote so strongly. So beautifully. His obras, his magnum opus, his works after all was written before he was 33. His work were untarnished with the beautiful burden of having a wife and raising kids. He wrote the books even before he was domesticated = )
But one can argue, how could a man love someone completely if his burden is the whole independence of the Philippines? I even doubt, if he could find a true partner at that time to share his burdens. For one, only few women would really understand him and get him for only a privilege few ever went to school. And it would not also help that it was customary, at that time, to have single educated ladies be married via arrangement as early as 15 years old. And the fact that his surname, Mercado, is linked to Burgos of the GomBurZa in a bad way as seen through Spanish eyes, didn't help either. Plus, Facebook has not been invented yet = )
I do not mean to trivialized his greatness. I firmly believe that he is the greatest Malay to have ever lived. His circumstances, his choices and decisions and the result of those is legendary. Heroic indeed. And the book made me understand him as a man, as a Filipino. The book made him accessible to me. Made him a friend, a brother. He came alive = )
After reading the book I was thrown back to a chapter in El Filibusterismo, when Simoun, the more seasoned Crisostomo Ibarra of Noli Me Tangre, was talking with and actually lambasting Basilio's semi-charmed life. I felt sad because Rizal's observation in the 19th century is still very true now at the 21st.
It is true, "... nothing is new under the sun."
Now, as a I do my morning run and as I reach the front of his monument at the Luneta, I will forever offer a salute as I pass by.
Rizal showed what was possible. And now, I believe him in ways unknown in my past.
"... why think like mere men?"
Saturday
the story that was Dec 2009-IE302
I just finished checking my IE302 class' last quiz and boy, there were surprises. I'll focus on one particular curiosity = )
You see, I got a student who has taken this class twice already. This is this student's third attempt and lo behold, he ranks third in the class performance. To boot, a notch higher than the usual scholars.
Let's spend sometime on this fact for awhile.
For the cynical and the hurt people out there, one will surmise that it is only appropriate that this student ranks that high. I mean, it is this student's third time after all.
But here's the thing, that logic of "three's a charm" only holds water if and only if all the exams are the same. But exams are not the same. In fact, it can argued by those who has taken this class a second time and the very student we are discussing, that this class was filled with more challenges than the previous ones.
If this is true, what would explain the student's performance? A performance even better than the usual scholars?
I am in an opinion, that this student has made ***self as smart as the scholars by sheer will and repetition. I mean, the scholars are scholars because of maybe genes and their early embrace and epiphany on the benefits of classroom prowess.
But this student, had to reach that epiphany through a different path. Maybe this path has not been shown to *** earlier in *** life. And epiphany only happens now.
To the student, I have this to say - you are as smart as the so called scholars now. Maybe not in the past. But you are now.
It is now up to you, if you want to be like this tomorrow and for the rest of your life.
But let us not get ahead of ourselves yet. Let's enjoy this and let me say that I am glad you are now!
Finish this.
"... why think like mere men?"
You see, I got a student who has taken this class twice already. This is this student's third attempt and lo behold, he ranks third in the class performance. To boot, a notch higher than the usual scholars.
Let's spend sometime on this fact for awhile.
For the cynical and the hurt people out there, one will surmise that it is only appropriate that this student ranks that high. I mean, it is this student's third time after all.
But here's the thing, that logic of "three's a charm" only holds water if and only if all the exams are the same. But exams are not the same. In fact, it can argued by those who has taken this class a second time and the very student we are discussing, that this class was filled with more challenges than the previous ones.
If this is true, what would explain the student's performance? A performance even better than the usual scholars?
I am in an opinion, that this student has made ***self as smart as the scholars by sheer will and repetition. I mean, the scholars are scholars because of maybe genes and their early embrace and epiphany on the benefits of classroom prowess.
But this student, had to reach that epiphany through a different path. Maybe this path has not been shown to *** earlier in *** life. And epiphany only happens now.
To the student, I have this to say - you are as smart as the so called scholars now. Maybe not in the past. But you are now.
It is now up to you, if you want to be like this tomorrow and for the rest of your life.
But let us not get ahead of ourselves yet. Let's enjoy this and let me say that I am glad you are now!
Finish this.
"... why think like mere men?"
The BRAT Diet
Let me be clear on this. I am not assigning blame. I am not assigning accountability. I am narrating what happened to me.
It happened last Saturday, December 19. I had lunch after my 9:00-10:30 class was done. Bought fish fillet and pechay at our school canteen.
It started around past 1:00PM with the frequent trips to the loo. I went five times within one hour. I was dehydrated for the first time in my life. I felt weak. This feeling of weakness is a first and unnerving. You see, I jog every other day for almost seven years now. I can continuously jog for 45 minutes without stopping and I will be fine. Of course, I have to drink water after that but the feeling of weakness that Saturday afternoon was new.
Went down to the school clinic and stayed there. I missed the end of my MGT164 class and my Graduate class and for that I am sorry for my class.
I was given the usual prescription. The kind doctor gave me hydrite and allowed me to sleep until past 4PM. During that downtime, I went to the loo for three more times. I was really weak. So weak that my sense of bearing relaxed.
When I ask the doctor if this was life threatening, he simply said, "No. It will go away. It is self-limiting."
Thirty minutes after that conversation, I decided to go the hospital. And this is where I found out the extent of definition of the Hippocratic oath embraced by our school. I can not and will not blame them. Though they are medical staff, they are also employees. I understand. Policy is policy. And nobody died after all = ) And they can argue, the policy worked.
But a sick man, in pain, weak and really dehydrated, would surely appreciate an extra mile. But beggars can not be choosers = )
My fault is that, I am used to giving an extra mile when it comes to the students and I assumed that in my weakened state, in this situation, I will be on the receiving end but I was wrong. It is an EXTRA mile after all. And it is still six days before Christmas = )
Or maybe I simply did not show enough pain = )
But please do not get me wrong. I am deeply thankful for the medical assistance of our school. Things could have been worse without their help and first aid. So let me be clear about this,from the heart of my heart, "Thank you, Mapua Clinic!"
They hailed me a cab and in ten minutes I was at the emergency room of Manila Doctors. I gave them the note that the school doctor gave. The attending physician was surprised to how neat was the penmanship of the doctor and I had enough humor in me to respond with a smile.
Curiously, they made me sign a waiver and I was put on dextrose. I was really dehydrated.
I thought I was on my road to recovery. But I was mistaken. I went to the Emergency Room's loo three more times and when the fecal analysis came back, the doctors made me stay at the hospital. Apparently, pus were everywhere. Pus is one of the manifestation when our body is fighting an infection. It appears that I was in the middle of a microbial fight inside my digestive system. I was in pain. I was weak. I was perspiring. I was cold. And Beb, fearfully, saw my colors leave. I was groaning. Shouting for nurses, for doctors.
I felt like vomiting when they injected me with pain killers. I did not like the effect it had on me. Plus, it did not make the pain in my stomach go away. (And on hindsight, I guess, the waiver I nonchalantly signed will come in handy for the hospital if things did not turn out well.) And then, they finally injected me with anti-biotics. And in a few minutes, like magic, the pain was gone. And I was wheeled into my room at the third floor.
The discharges continued well into the night and until the next morning. I was given an "Ok to go home" after staying another night.
And on Monday, close to 9AM, the dextrose was removed and by 11 AM, I was back in school hearing Feasibility presentations. As if nothing happened. Though I was PhP 12,500 poorer = )
I am sure the various financial safety nets are in place. The money I spent will be recovered with the help of the Retirement Fund, FAMIT, PhilHealth and Grepalife Insurance.
But will my trust be recovered? Well, I do not know. But the more important question is - will, whoever is responsible for my hospital visit, even do a tiny thing to recover the trust? Or do they see all of us, including themselves, as a statistic. Void of dreams, of hopes and of a future. Unworthy of time and effort?
I understand the financial side of argument. It is true. It is really far more financially viable to maintain status quo and let the insurance dynamic handle it. Though this is the best thinking, staying with the best thinking that has showed its limitations and not making the "best thinking" better is something we should let go and leave behind in 2009. We are all better than that.
Replacing a social contract with a financial payment, a fine, is very limited.
Lord, I know you are in control. I know you have a plan for all of us. And "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you (us) a future and a hope..."
Thy will be done, Lord.
"... why think like mere men?"
By the way, BRAT stands for Banana, Rice, Apple and Tea. The diet for recovering patients like me who had a bout with a stomach infection = )
It happened last Saturday, December 19. I had lunch after my 9:00-10:30 class was done. Bought fish fillet and pechay at our school canteen.
It started around past 1:00PM with the frequent trips to the loo. I went five times within one hour. I was dehydrated for the first time in my life. I felt weak. This feeling of weakness is a first and unnerving. You see, I jog every other day for almost seven years now. I can continuously jog for 45 minutes without stopping and I will be fine. Of course, I have to drink water after that but the feeling of weakness that Saturday afternoon was new.
Went down to the school clinic and stayed there. I missed the end of my MGT164 class and my Graduate class and for that I am sorry for my class.
I was given the usual prescription. The kind doctor gave me hydrite and allowed me to sleep until past 4PM. During that downtime, I went to the loo for three more times. I was really weak. So weak that my sense of bearing relaxed.
When I ask the doctor if this was life threatening, he simply said, "No. It will go away. It is self-limiting."
Thirty minutes after that conversation, I decided to go the hospital. And this is where I found out the extent of definition of the Hippocratic oath embraced by our school. I can not and will not blame them. Though they are medical staff, they are also employees. I understand. Policy is policy. And nobody died after all = ) And they can argue, the policy worked.
But a sick man, in pain, weak and really dehydrated, would surely appreciate an extra mile. But beggars can not be choosers = )
My fault is that, I am used to giving an extra mile when it comes to the students and I assumed that in my weakened state, in this situation, I will be on the receiving end but I was wrong. It is an EXTRA mile after all. And it is still six days before Christmas = )
Or maybe I simply did not show enough pain = )
But please do not get me wrong. I am deeply thankful for the medical assistance of our school. Things could have been worse without their help and first aid. So let me be clear about this,from the heart of my heart, "Thank you, Mapua Clinic!"
They hailed me a cab and in ten minutes I was at the emergency room of Manila Doctors. I gave them the note that the school doctor gave. The attending physician was surprised to how neat was the penmanship of the doctor and I had enough humor in me to respond with a smile.
Curiously, they made me sign a waiver and I was put on dextrose. I was really dehydrated.
I thought I was on my road to recovery. But I was mistaken. I went to the Emergency Room's loo three more times and when the fecal analysis came back, the doctors made me stay at the hospital. Apparently, pus were everywhere. Pus is one of the manifestation when our body is fighting an infection. It appears that I was in the middle of a microbial fight inside my digestive system. I was in pain. I was weak. I was perspiring. I was cold. And Beb, fearfully, saw my colors leave. I was groaning. Shouting for nurses, for doctors.
I felt like vomiting when they injected me with pain killers. I did not like the effect it had on me. Plus, it did not make the pain in my stomach go away. (And on hindsight, I guess, the waiver I nonchalantly signed will come in handy for the hospital if things did not turn out well.) And then, they finally injected me with anti-biotics. And in a few minutes, like magic, the pain was gone. And I was wheeled into my room at the third floor.
The discharges continued well into the night and until the next morning. I was given an "Ok to go home" after staying another night.
And on Monday, close to 9AM, the dextrose was removed and by 11 AM, I was back in school hearing Feasibility presentations. As if nothing happened. Though I was PhP 12,500 poorer = )
I am sure the various financial safety nets are in place. The money I spent will be recovered with the help of the Retirement Fund, FAMIT, PhilHealth and Grepalife Insurance.
But will my trust be recovered? Well, I do not know. But the more important question is - will, whoever is responsible for my hospital visit, even do a tiny thing to recover the trust? Or do they see all of us, including themselves, as a statistic. Void of dreams, of hopes and of a future. Unworthy of time and effort?
I understand the financial side of argument. It is true. It is really far more financially viable to maintain status quo and let the insurance dynamic handle it. Though this is the best thinking, staying with the best thinking that has showed its limitations and not making the "best thinking" better is something we should let go and leave behind in 2009. We are all better than that.
Replacing a social contract with a financial payment, a fine, is very limited.
Lord, I know you are in control. I know you have a plan for all of us. And "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you (us) a future and a hope..."
Thy will be done, Lord.
"... why think like mere men?"
By the way, BRAT stands for Banana, Rice, Apple and Tea. The diet for recovering patients like me who had a bout with a stomach infection = )
Thursday
2009 Christmas!
To all my fellow seeker and journeyman who drops by and make their presence felt, I wish you, from the heart of my heart, a grace-filled and joyful Christmas!
May 2010 be a time of great adventure with our Christ The Lord... finally = )
".. why think like mere men?"
May 2010 be a time of great adventure with our Christ The Lord... finally = )
".. why think like mere men?"
Monday
one hundred dollar question
"Can you give $100 dollars if you do not have it?", ask my former senior manager.
"...No, Sir?!?", was my unsure youthful quip.
"Then, if you allow me this latitude and please follow me on this logic - if one does not have it. One can not give it. It is also true for situation like these - if one does not have inspiration, how can he inspire others?"
= )
I guess this is also why we have to be save... to be loved first before we can love. Christmas is His way of sending His love in flesh and blood, so that we can love others in return.
Lord, our Father, I am able to do what I am able to do because I received first. Everything I have, was given by You. I am able to live this life because You gave it to me and someone in the past prayed for my existence.
Thank you, po.
"... why think like mere men?"
"...No, Sir?!?", was my unsure youthful quip.
"Then, if you allow me this latitude and please follow me on this logic - if one does not have it. One can not give it. It is also true for situation like these - if one does not have inspiration, how can he inspire others?"
= )
I guess this is also why we have to be save... to be loved first before we can love. Christmas is His way of sending His love in flesh and blood, so that we can love others in return.
Lord, our Father, I am able to do what I am able to do because I received first. Everything I have, was given by You. I am able to live this life because You gave it to me and someone in the past prayed for my existence.
Thank you, po.
"... why think like mere men?"
Sunday
the privilege
The economist version:
"Our forefathers has to study politics and war, so that their sons and daughters can study economics and engineering so that their sons and daughters in return can study arts and music."
The called version:
"I am glad to be given the privilege to be part of the generation that has to die to one's self for the sake of the next..."
Thank you, Lord.
"... why think like mere men?"
"Our forefathers has to study politics and war, so that their sons and daughters can study economics and engineering so that their sons and daughters in return can study arts and music."
The called version:
"I am glad to be given the privilege to be part of the generation that has to die to one's self for the sake of the next..."
Thank you, Lord.
"... why think like mere men?"
Tuesday
astounding truth about our brains
I facilitate learning.
And when my eyes went through these words, "... the brain is not designed to think" - my eyes lit up and my jaw dropped. I could not believe that. And what makes it even more interesting is that these words were written by a cognitive psychologist, the expert among the super "freaks" on the subject called - learning = )
And here's one of the earlier astounding suggestions - "when the students can not seem to grasp a concept, do not give an easier quiz or work load. Just simply make thinking easier."
= )
My December 2009 is made now = )
Thanks, Lord!
"... why think like mere men?"
And when my eyes went through these words, "... the brain is not designed to think" - my eyes lit up and my jaw dropped. I could not believe that. And what makes it even more interesting is that these words were written by a cognitive psychologist, the expert among the super "freaks" on the subject called - learning = )
And here's one of the earlier astounding suggestions - "when the students can not seem to grasp a concept, do not give an easier quiz or work load. Just simply make thinking easier."
= )
My December 2009 is made now = )
Thanks, Lord!
"... why think like mere men?"
Wednesday
my manny pacquiao entry
This one is special.
I really withheld writing about that "less than 45 minutes" of boxing excellence. I do not want my Pinoy Pride cluttering how historical it was. I had this same feeling when the Dictator left the building in 1986. And the feeling is a beautiful arc of hope... of "... it is possible!"
I was with Beb. We were one of those people outside National Sports Grill at Greenbelt 3. We were standing. Our eyes transfixed at the projector. Together with a mass of humanity at the mouth of the escalator, we were cheering our very own. I was shouting at the top of my voice. I lost my voice after wards actually. How irresponsible of me for I have class that Tuesday morning = )
I am happy for those who are entering their teens today. For they have been given gift like the one I had when was their age - a Filipino worth emulating.
For me, it was the principled and seemingly fearless Corazon Aquino. Her effect on me is simply this - do not be afraid! Right always wins. Just wait for it. Have faith in God who never sleeps and is always with you.
For them, and now - a true blue and an honest to goodness rags to riches story of Manny Pacquiao. A story of perseverance. Of putting the work. Of doing away with the padrino. Of standing on your own two feet. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
If there's one thing I can say about those people who are in their mid-30s, (like me, hehehe) is that we have this hope inside our hearts that things will be better. That the Philippines can be better. President Corazon Aquino gave us this hope. I think God used her to give us this kind of hope. Her life showed us the beauty and the nobility of self-sacrifice. She made self-sacrifice new again. Fresh again.
With this, it also puts into light why my previous bosses, 10 to 15 years my senior were like that = ) I mean, they were technically brilliant people but there's something dark and foreboding about them. I guess, that's the effect of growing up in martial law does to the spirit of a young man. One imbibes and spreads the teaching that spreading havoc and fear is the way to go in the world. I even have this hypothesis that the Dads of these, then, young men might also be an absentee Dad because their Dads must have belonged to our nation's first batch of our modern day hero, OFWs. Back then, OCWs. Maybe because of Dad's absence, there was no man to teach them what it means to be men that they emulated the man they see most in TV. And who will be this man be? Lakay = )
I am saddened that the Dictator still wields his influence though he has been dead for over 20 years now. But equally, I am hopeful for the generation that's yet to come will not talk about the evil and darkness of the Martial Law but of the courage and faith of Corazon Aquino and the perseverance, dedication and glory of Manny Pacquiao.
Lord, our Father, I have heard of Your miracles. I have heard of Your wonders. I have experienced Your all-mightiness. Renew them in our times.
"... why think like mere men?"
I really withheld writing about that "less than 45 minutes" of boxing excellence. I do not want my Pinoy Pride cluttering how historical it was. I had this same feeling when the Dictator left the building in 1986. And the feeling is a beautiful arc of hope... of "... it is possible!"
I was with Beb. We were one of those people outside National Sports Grill at Greenbelt 3. We were standing. Our eyes transfixed at the projector. Together with a mass of humanity at the mouth of the escalator, we were cheering our very own. I was shouting at the top of my voice. I lost my voice after wards actually. How irresponsible of me for I have class that Tuesday morning = )
I am happy for those who are entering their teens today. For they have been given gift like the one I had when was their age - a Filipino worth emulating.
For me, it was the principled and seemingly fearless Corazon Aquino. Her effect on me is simply this - do not be afraid! Right always wins. Just wait for it. Have faith in God who never sleeps and is always with you.
For them, and now - a true blue and an honest to goodness rags to riches story of Manny Pacquiao. A story of perseverance. Of putting the work. Of doing away with the padrino. Of standing on your own two feet. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
If there's one thing I can say about those people who are in their mid-30s, (like me, hehehe) is that we have this hope inside our hearts that things will be better. That the Philippines can be better. President Corazon Aquino gave us this hope. I think God used her to give us this kind of hope. Her life showed us the beauty and the nobility of self-sacrifice. She made self-sacrifice new again. Fresh again.
With this, it also puts into light why my previous bosses, 10 to 15 years my senior were like that = ) I mean, they were technically brilliant people but there's something dark and foreboding about them. I guess, that's the effect of growing up in martial law does to the spirit of a young man. One imbibes and spreads the teaching that spreading havoc and fear is the way to go in the world. I even have this hypothesis that the Dads of these, then, young men might also be an absentee Dad because their Dads must have belonged to our nation's first batch of our modern day hero, OFWs. Back then, OCWs. Maybe because of Dad's absence, there was no man to teach them what it means to be men that they emulated the man they see most in TV. And who will be this man be? Lakay = )
I am saddened that the Dictator still wields his influence though he has been dead for over 20 years now. But equally, I am hopeful for the generation that's yet to come will not talk about the evil and darkness of the Martial Law but of the courage and faith of Corazon Aquino and the perseverance, dedication and glory of Manny Pacquiao.
Lord, our Father, I have heard of Your miracles. I have heard of Your wonders. I have experienced Your all-mightiness. Renew them in our times.
"... why think like mere men?"
the definitive explanation between the difference of education and training
Read from an Instruction Design book differentiating education and training. I find this sheepishly funny = )
"... you will send your kids to attend a sex education class but not to a sex training class."
"... you will send your kids to attend a sex education class but not to a sex training class."
the paradox of nothingness
"When nothing seems to be happening;
something is definitely happening..."
"... why think like mere men?"
Thanks, Lord :- )
something is definitely happening..."
"... why think like mere men?"
Thanks, Lord :- )
Saturday
bleed
... let it come.
... embrace it.
... suck all the marrow it gives.
... this is good.
... this is painful.
... bleed.
... He won't allow it if it is not for your good.
... bleed.
... see things from the east.
... see things from the west.
... look up.
... stand still.
... bleed.
... help me go through it
... the way You want me to.
... bleed.
... embrace it.
... suck all the marrow it gives.
... this is good.
... this is painful.
... bleed.
... He won't allow it if it is not for your good.
... bleed.
... see things from the east.
... see things from the west.
... look up.
... stand still.
... bleed.
... help me go through it
... the way You want me to.
... bleed.
Friday
"googled" classroom
I caught myself saying this, again, "... in our class, students are allowed to make mistakes. In fact, everyone has a quota for mistakes. In fact, you get a lower grade if you do not make mistakes = ) Why is this necessary? We would like you to be confident and comfortable within your own skin. At peace with your thinking process. Your process of discovery. We want to invoke that making mistakes is simply part of the journey to success. Breakthroughs. Not the end. This is what school is for, a place to make mistakes. Know what a mistake is."
I do not know where that came from. Maybe from the heart of my heart.
Thank you Lord = )
"... why think like mere men?"
I do not know where that came from. Maybe from the heart of my heart.
Thank you Lord = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Saturday
My brother Ellis
To my family, I am Nunoy. (That's a Kinaray-a, Ilonggo, term of endearment for the second son of the family.) To my friends, I am Elis (single L).
Ellis (with a double LL) on the other hand is the name of my youngest brother. He was three years younger than me. He only lived to be 26. Dengue took him away from us more than six years ago.
When he was 14 years old, entering his senior year at Manila Science High School, he was diagnosed to have brain tumor, hydrocephalus. They had to open his head and take out the tumor. Thank God it was benign. He was out of school for one year. The Manila Science High School Administration, after surviving the brain tumor, initially did not want to admit him back. But better thinking prevailed and Ellis got his High School Diploma at Manila Science.
He wanted to be a doctor. He took up BS Microbiology at UST but things did not go according to plan. He ended up finishing BS Computer Science instead = )
In our family, Ellis is truly the gifted one, artistically. He can draw. He can sing. He can dance. (Among the three of us, only he was able to pass the Manila Science standard. I guess he is also the smartest among the three of us, too.)
He is really a beautiful boy.
But life had to happen and he had to become far more beautiful inside.
To start, he was really a charmer to begin with. He makes friends easily and when the brain tumor came and he survived - this side of him went to over drive. His personality now is even more attractive than his looks were. He even joked, that he started the trend of being semi-kalbo = ). You see, because of the radiation therapy, the hair never grew back.
I miss him.
But I know that he is in a much better place now. There, he is complete. There, he is perfect again. Cancer can not touch him there. The ravages of dengue is nowhere in sight.
He is beautiful again. Smiling. Laughing. Pain-free.
Thank you Lord for the pain and loss that I felt. For because of it I learned that my life is finite. Thank you Lord that I number my days. Thank you for the pain of death that I appreciate the gift of life.
"... why think like mere men?"
Ellis (with a double LL) on the other hand is the name of my youngest brother. He was three years younger than me. He only lived to be 26. Dengue took him away from us more than six years ago.
When he was 14 years old, entering his senior year at Manila Science High School, he was diagnosed to have brain tumor, hydrocephalus. They had to open his head and take out the tumor. Thank God it was benign. He was out of school for one year. The Manila Science High School Administration, after surviving the brain tumor, initially did not want to admit him back. But better thinking prevailed and Ellis got his High School Diploma at Manila Science.
He wanted to be a doctor. He took up BS Microbiology at UST but things did not go according to plan. He ended up finishing BS Computer Science instead = )
In our family, Ellis is truly the gifted one, artistically. He can draw. He can sing. He can dance. (Among the three of us, only he was able to pass the Manila Science standard. I guess he is also the smartest among the three of us, too.)
He is really a beautiful boy.
But life had to happen and he had to become far more beautiful inside.
To start, he was really a charmer to begin with. He makes friends easily and when the brain tumor came and he survived - this side of him went to over drive. His personality now is even more attractive than his looks were. He even joked, that he started the trend of being semi-kalbo = ). You see, because of the radiation therapy, the hair never grew back.
I miss him.
But I know that he is in a much better place now. There, he is complete. There, he is perfect again. Cancer can not touch him there. The ravages of dengue is nowhere in sight.
He is beautiful again. Smiling. Laughing. Pain-free.
Thank you Lord for the pain and loss that I felt. For because of it I learned that my life is finite. Thank you Lord that I number my days. Thank you for the pain of death that I appreciate the gift of life.
"... why think like mere men?"
Wednesday
learning facilitator's burden
"...to show the familiar in the new and to show the new in the familiar."
Monday
500 Days of Summer: a look back
I was with Beb.
She wanted to see this movie, 500 Days of Summer.
I have no problem with watching so called "chick-flicks". I am a movie fanatic. For me, watching movies has a lot of benefits. First, time with Beb. Second, I am entertained. Third, I have this chance to see great story tellers present their work. (Have you ever heard of this movie - City of god? For me, this is one of the greatest action movie ever filmed!)
Of course, there are Hollywood movies. The one with big stars (like Tom Cruise, Will Smith or Brad Pitt) and big budgets (like The Transformer). And there's something called 500 Days of Summer. A Little Miss Sunshine kinda movie.
It's been awhile since I got curious, technically curious, on how the director told the story. And when the story is about love, my attention is piqued even further because - how can one tell a story about love? To tell a story about infatuation is not that hard. Lust story? Even easier. But love? I mean, love in itself is mysterious. And for a director to tell a story about love, means that the director must understand love first.
Story telling after all is a logical skill but love is... well, something else = )
Growing up, Sleepless in Seattle was fascinating for it was grown up love. This love story was told without the two main character ever kissing each other. Not that kissing is a bad thing = ) But the director, Nora Ephron, smartly moved away from this usual device, kissing, to sell love. Fascinating = )
Then, we have Before Sunrise. A 1995 film. I actually watched this film at HBO years after 1995. I tuned in because of Ethan Hawke of Dead Poet's Society. What was fascinating about this movie was that for almost all of the 1 hour and 41 minutes, the camera was transfixed on Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy having a "once in lifetime conversation in romantic Paris". Fascinating, because the quality of conversation was the device used to peddle love. Fascinating = )
Then, we have 500 Days of Summer. A Pulp Fiction editing on a "love" story.
The one line that blew me away from this movie is a line told by the best friend of the main actor - "... she is better than my ideal girl. Why? Because she is real."
= )
"... God is love."
She wanted to see this movie, 500 Days of Summer.
I have no problem with watching so called "chick-flicks". I am a movie fanatic. For me, watching movies has a lot of benefits. First, time with Beb. Second, I am entertained. Third, I have this chance to see great story tellers present their work. (Have you ever heard of this movie - City of god? For me, this is one of the greatest action movie ever filmed!)
Of course, there are Hollywood movies. The one with big stars (like Tom Cruise, Will Smith or Brad Pitt) and big budgets (like The Transformer). And there's something called 500 Days of Summer. A Little Miss Sunshine kinda movie.
It's been awhile since I got curious, technically curious, on how the director told the story. And when the story is about love, my attention is piqued even further because - how can one tell a story about love? To tell a story about infatuation is not that hard. Lust story? Even easier. But love? I mean, love in itself is mysterious. And for a director to tell a story about love, means that the director must understand love first.
Story telling after all is a logical skill but love is... well, something else = )
Growing up, Sleepless in Seattle was fascinating for it was grown up love. This love story was told without the two main character ever kissing each other. Not that kissing is a bad thing = ) But the director, Nora Ephron, smartly moved away from this usual device, kissing, to sell love. Fascinating = )
Then, we have Before Sunrise. A 1995 film. I actually watched this film at HBO years after 1995. I tuned in because of Ethan Hawke of Dead Poet's Society. What was fascinating about this movie was that for almost all of the 1 hour and 41 minutes, the camera was transfixed on Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy having a "once in lifetime conversation in romantic Paris". Fascinating, because the quality of conversation was the device used to peddle love. Fascinating = )
Then, we have 500 Days of Summer. A Pulp Fiction editing on a "love" story.
The one line that blew me away from this movie is a line told by the best friend of the main actor - "... she is better than my ideal girl. Why? Because she is real."
= )
"... God is love."
Saturday
1 Cor 13: 7
"Love is patient and kind..."
With ALL the adjectives, why start with being PATIENT?
I guess, He knows we are all not perfect = )
Assures us that even if we are not perfect, He loves us.
I guess, Christmas arrived early for me this year. Sending Your only begotten Son to save the inconsistently fumbling fool like me. Cool = )
Thanks, Lord!
With ALL the adjectives, why start with being PATIENT?
I guess, He knows we are all not perfect = )
Assures us that even if we are not perfect, He loves us.
I guess, Christmas arrived early for me this year. Sending Your only begotten Son to save the inconsistently fumbling fool like me. Cool = )
Thanks, Lord!
Friday
choice and its burden
Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.
Choice and freedom.
As President Obama would have said, "Let me be clear..." - absolute no choice and absolute no freedom is definitely bad. Counter-productive. Destroys the welfare of the human soul.
But it does not necessarily mean that an infinite number of choices increases productivity and enriches our welfare. In fact, at a certain number of choices, (and the economists have to figure out this number) - the return of our best choice diminishes and we will already feel bad about our best choice = )
Meaning, once all the choices are really known, it goes on to say that we also know all the opportunity cost of all the choices that we did not choose. Right?
So, at a certain number - the value of our best choice will be overran by the summation of all the opportunity cost of all the choices that we did not choose. Right?
So, does it mean that the more choices we know, the worse off we will feel later when we already have chosen our best choice? Hmmm.... Interesting = )
So, does it also mean, that from this context, ignorance is bliss? Or maybe just a certain of level of ignorance = )
Maybe the Salesmen got it right. If the issue is to close a sale, try the time-tested approach: limit the choices. Because if we let the goal of choosing the best choice for the sake of choosing the best choice - we won't get anywhere.
I guess, decisions and choices will need happen, even if we feel bad about them afterward, because our life on earth is also finite. Choice have to be understood in the context of time for in the the end, our time will end.
And as a matter of fact, we were not given a choice about that either. But as to how we end, well, we have an infinite choice about that = )
And suddenly, for me, time has a new meaning.
"... why think like mere men?"
Choice and freedom.
As President Obama would have said, "Let me be clear..." - absolute no choice and absolute no freedom is definitely bad. Counter-productive. Destroys the welfare of the human soul.
But it does not necessarily mean that an infinite number of choices increases productivity and enriches our welfare. In fact, at a certain number of choices, (and the economists have to figure out this number) - the return of our best choice diminishes and we will already feel bad about our best choice = )
Meaning, once all the choices are really known, it goes on to say that we also know all the opportunity cost of all the choices that we did not choose. Right?
So, at a certain number - the value of our best choice will be overran by the summation of all the opportunity cost of all the choices that we did not choose. Right?
So, does it mean that the more choices we know, the worse off we will feel later when we already have chosen our best choice? Hmmm.... Interesting = )
So, does it also mean, that from this context, ignorance is bliss? Or maybe just a certain of level of ignorance = )
Maybe the Salesmen got it right. If the issue is to close a sale, try the time-tested approach: limit the choices. Because if we let the goal of choosing the best choice for the sake of choosing the best choice - we won't get anywhere.
I guess, decisions and choices will need happen, even if we feel bad about them afterward, because our life on earth is also finite. Choice have to be understood in the context of time for in the the end, our time will end.
And as a matter of fact, we were not given a choice about that either. But as to how we end, well, we have an infinite choice about that = )
And suddenly, for me, time has a new meaning.
"... why think like mere men?"
Wednesday
farmville, pepeng and ondoy
The twin typhoons and the water they brought were catasthropic. I guess my heart will carry this burden for a long time.
But I find Farmville user statistics and what it represent even more troubling = )
Serious.
But maybe I am mistaken and that the user statistics is a start of something good and encouraging, too = )
Serious.
Farmville was launched last 19 June 2009 and it now has 11 million daily users across the world. (According to my Google research, this Facebook application is the fastest growing game in its history.) As to how many Filipino users there is, I guess you have to open your Facebook account and do a little of creative math and a bit of aggregate forecasting = )
Now, off to Seriousville...
The thing about facts is that it is cold and it is unemotional. Things only start to jump out when we bring in our context, look and see what it means.
To the pessimist and the "angry" people, these Farmville statistics are troubling because it suggests that people enjoy farming as long as it is confined to their laptops or PCs. As long as farming is done in the comforts of their homes or even their beds. As long as farming is done according to their spoiled-bratty time, like farming at night, and not in nature's time. As long as it does not make them sweat and lose their gluthatione-induced fairness.
That's troubling because virtual farms and virtual money can not feed the people in the evacuation centers. Nor can the love, the understanding, the effort and the commitment to virtual farms help abate the real rushing waters from the mountains. Nor can it feed the ever growing malnourished and undernourished people of the world. Farmville statitics is troubling because it trivializes the importance and significance of farming!
But to the optimists and the young at heart, these statistics is great news because suddenly the 1st wave technology, agriculture and farming, is in vogue and cool again. (Note: Second wave technology is the Industrial Revolution and 3rd wave technology is the Information Technology Revolution.) Farmville apparently shows the Netizen of the world about the rules and law of nature. Farmville opens the eyes and mind of the spoiled-brats about the importance of time and the role it plays in farming. Farmville also shows the significance of weather and the importance of having good and agriculture-friendly weather.
The Farmville statistics are encouraging because there is this unique and fun way of communicating the importance of agriculture to the next generation that somehow can not be communicated fully by their financially-struggling sun-burnt parents. Farmville statistics are enouraging because, at last, there is this way to communicate this obvious fact, so obvious that it is almost a mysterious secret - when the farmers do not go to work anymore, as in not plant rice and raise animals, the whole world will not eat!
So, which one of the analyis and scenario will come to past?
Depends on how many pessimists and optimists act out there. If the pessimists outdo the optimists, then we are all doomed. If the optimists outdo the pessimists, then wisdom comes.
But the funny thing is this, the scenario and analysis that speaks to you most reveals the state of your heart = )
"... why think like mere men?"
But I find Farmville user statistics and what it represent even more troubling = )
Serious.
But maybe I am mistaken and that the user statistics is a start of something good and encouraging, too = )
Serious.
Farmville was launched last 19 June 2009 and it now has 11 million daily users across the world. (According to my Google research, this Facebook application is the fastest growing game in its history.) As to how many Filipino users there is, I guess you have to open your Facebook account and do a little of creative math and a bit of aggregate forecasting = )
Now, off to Seriousville...
The thing about facts is that it is cold and it is unemotional. Things only start to jump out when we bring in our context, look and see what it means.
To the pessimist and the "angry" people, these Farmville statistics are troubling because it suggests that people enjoy farming as long as it is confined to their laptops or PCs. As long as farming is done in the comforts of their homes or even their beds. As long as farming is done according to their spoiled-bratty time, like farming at night, and not in nature's time. As long as it does not make them sweat and lose their gluthatione-induced fairness.
That's troubling because virtual farms and virtual money can not feed the people in the evacuation centers. Nor can the love, the understanding, the effort and the commitment to virtual farms help abate the real rushing waters from the mountains. Nor can it feed the ever growing malnourished and undernourished people of the world. Farmville statitics is troubling because it trivializes the importance and significance of farming!
But to the optimists and the young at heart, these statistics is great news because suddenly the 1st wave technology, agriculture and farming, is in vogue and cool again. (Note: Second wave technology is the Industrial Revolution and 3rd wave technology is the Information Technology Revolution.) Farmville apparently shows the Netizen of the world about the rules and law of nature. Farmville opens the eyes and mind of the spoiled-brats about the importance of time and the role it plays in farming. Farmville also shows the significance of weather and the importance of having good and agriculture-friendly weather.
The Farmville statistics are encouraging because there is this unique and fun way of communicating the importance of agriculture to the next generation that somehow can not be communicated fully by their financially-struggling sun-burnt parents. Farmville statistics are enouraging because, at last, there is this way to communicate this obvious fact, so obvious that it is almost a mysterious secret - when the farmers do not go to work anymore, as in not plant rice and raise animals, the whole world will not eat!
So, which one of the analyis and scenario will come to past?
Depends on how many pessimists and optimists act out there. If the pessimists outdo the optimists, then we are all doomed. If the optimists outdo the pessimists, then wisdom comes.
But the funny thing is this, the scenario and analysis that speaks to you most reveals the state of your heart = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Tuesday
michael stipe's epiphany
My teenage years were flavored with the first three albums of U2, a dash of Michael Jackson, a bit of Spandau Ballet, a drop of Tears for Fears, a side trip with the Cure that eventually led to the appreciation of the Seattle sound of Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots. Of course, I also took the local counterparts like The Dawn, Rivermaya, Eraserheads and this is a bit of a stretch, True Faith.
But there was this one particular song that resonated with me during that "boy becoming a man" years. It was song by REM, Everybody Hurts.
I was channel surfing one night and I was suprised to see Michael Stipe, REM's frontman/ songwriter, with this famous pleasantly plum Italian chef on a TV show. I said, "Hmmm, that's a bit weird?"
When I looked at the credits, it was an episode of Iconoclast.
With interest properly stoked, I took it all in.
I always knew that Michael Stipe was really a songwriter first. I was suprise to know that he was also a fan of U2. In fact, he felt bad that he did not write A Beautiful Day and he even told Bono about it, too = )
For me, the pearl of the episode was when Michael Stipe opened up and blurted out something like this, "... one day, I was among closest friends. Having dinner. It was a time after a concert. I was sitting there but I was not there. My mind was off to something. I caught myself saying - this is (friends, dinner and conversation) boring. It took me sometime to figure out that that situation was not boring. That my friends are interesting people and that I love them. I soon realized that I was so inflated by the tour. Still in a high of performing in front of a thousand crowds. Receiving that much attention. I found out that I had to deflate. Had to come back to earth..."
I guess that will explain all the excesses we see when celebrities, stars, famous and powerful people unravel right before the eyes of the Internet-fused world. They hadn't deflated yet = )
How many actors and actresses have we seen and read behaving badly? How many politicians have we seen and read that went greedy and sold the Philippines? = )
"Vanity is my favorite sin..." as Al Pacino said in The Devil's Advocate. And the greatest lie the Devil can tell is to tell us that he does not exist = )
I'm glad. Yes, I am glad that even though we live dark times, we also live in a time when light can truly be seen. Why? Because it is dark = )
I'm glad that our current generation is given this opportunity to be remembered that we were not asleep and did not run away from the challenges.
I am glad that I live in world that has heard the stories of South Korea and of Singapore. On how they both overcome odds of limited natural resources and became a part of the 1st world countries in one generation. I am reminded of what Taiichi Ohno said when he was still inculcating the now famous Toyota Production System Technology within Toyota, "Do not use money. Use your head!"
May I dare add to come down to earth, too?
Exhale. Deflate...
"... why think like mere men?"
But there was this one particular song that resonated with me during that "boy becoming a man" years. It was song by REM, Everybody Hurts.
I was channel surfing one night and I was suprised to see Michael Stipe, REM's frontman/ songwriter, with this famous pleasantly plum Italian chef on a TV show. I said, "Hmmm, that's a bit weird?"
When I looked at the credits, it was an episode of Iconoclast.
With interest properly stoked, I took it all in.
I always knew that Michael Stipe was really a songwriter first. I was suprise to know that he was also a fan of U2. In fact, he felt bad that he did not write A Beautiful Day and he even told Bono about it, too = )
For me, the pearl of the episode was when Michael Stipe opened up and blurted out something like this, "... one day, I was among closest friends. Having dinner. It was a time after a concert. I was sitting there but I was not there. My mind was off to something. I caught myself saying - this is (friends, dinner and conversation) boring. It took me sometime to figure out that that situation was not boring. That my friends are interesting people and that I love them. I soon realized that I was so inflated by the tour. Still in a high of performing in front of a thousand crowds. Receiving that much attention. I found out that I had to deflate. Had to come back to earth..."
I guess that will explain all the excesses we see when celebrities, stars, famous and powerful people unravel right before the eyes of the Internet-fused world. They hadn't deflated yet = )
How many actors and actresses have we seen and read behaving badly? How many politicians have we seen and read that went greedy and sold the Philippines? = )
"Vanity is my favorite sin..." as Al Pacino said in The Devil's Advocate. And the greatest lie the Devil can tell is to tell us that he does not exist = )
I'm glad. Yes, I am glad that even though we live dark times, we also live in a time when light can truly be seen. Why? Because it is dark = )
I'm glad that our current generation is given this opportunity to be remembered that we were not asleep and did not run away from the challenges.
I am glad that I live in world that has heard the stories of South Korea and of Singapore. On how they both overcome odds of limited natural resources and became a part of the 1st world countries in one generation. I am reminded of what Taiichi Ohno said when he was still inculcating the now famous Toyota Production System Technology within Toyota, "Do not use money. Use your head!"
May I dare add to come down to earth, too?
Exhale. Deflate...
"... why think like mere men?"
Sunday
the gifts named ondoy and pepeng
Please do not get me wrong. My heart breaks for the victims of these two storms. My heart is broken.
But the gift that these two storms gave us is the deepening of our souls.
I hope you have seen pictures posted in Facebook about the famous Malacanang son. About his actions at the height of the flood. About what he was busy with considering the plight of his constituents. No wonder Mommy had to go there to personally deliver the relief goods.
But this is not solely about that. That is simply a backstory. Not the story. Not the point.
I hope and pray that with this experience, we have a set of new eyes in looking at what truly ails our country.
And on that light, I hope and pray that we see that no matter how visible is the politician in giving aid or saving people - our country will never be out of poverty by giving aid to its citizens.
What is necessary are actions to make aid obsolete.
Seriously, do we know anyone who got wealthy by living on aid?
Do not get me wrong. There are times where aid is necessary but to limit the quality and the type of leadership to aid-giving is very limited. Scary. Dangerous.
Lord, let the flood do its work on us.
"... why think like mere men?"
But the gift that these two storms gave us is the deepening of our souls.
I hope you have seen pictures posted in Facebook about the famous Malacanang son. About his actions at the height of the flood. About what he was busy with considering the plight of his constituents. No wonder Mommy had to go there to personally deliver the relief goods.
But this is not solely about that. That is simply a backstory. Not the story. Not the point.
I hope and pray that with this experience, we have a set of new eyes in looking at what truly ails our country.
And on that light, I hope and pray that we see that no matter how visible is the politician in giving aid or saving people - our country will never be out of poverty by giving aid to its citizens.
What is necessary are actions to make aid obsolete.
Seriously, do we know anyone who got wealthy by living on aid?
Do not get me wrong. There are times where aid is necessary but to limit the quality and the type of leadership to aid-giving is very limited. Scary. Dangerous.
Lord, let the flood do its work on us.
"... why think like mere men?"
Saturday
the current education's limitation
"In school, knowing the right answers lead to success - excellent grades!
But in life, to be successful, knowing the right questions (properly stating the problem) is as equally important as knowing the right answers!
So, how do we teach learners to ask the right questions?"
"... why think like mere men?"
But in life, to be successful, knowing the right questions (properly stating the problem) is as equally important as knowing the right answers!
So, how do we teach learners to ask the right questions?"
"... why think like mere men?"
define - success
"... it is waking up in the morning and being excited about what you are about to do for the day that you rush out through the door."
Friday
a fork on the road
There are actually two gentlemen names I was really hoping to write here. I guess, that will be for next time = )
To the two gentlemen, I know you will find your way. Do not give up on the struggle. I promise, you will be better for this. I know it is painful but better to know now your mistaken thinking in place designed to right them.
Your good hearts will lead you to a path much much better than what you have chosen so far. Listen to your hearts. Your soul, if you must. Talk to that little boy you once were and ask him if this is what you really dream of becoming. That little boy knows things ;- )
A dream will not be placed in your heart if you will not be given the means to make it a reality. Just do not give up on it. And do something. And if you do something, make it different from the last time. Remember, if you want what you do not have; you have to do what you have not = )
Secondly, pick your friends carefully. Remember that a man is known by the company he keeps.
And lastly, if you see your name below - you move on the next challenge. For now, let me offer my congratulations.
lyndon
juni
zach
francois val
billie
gladys
charmie
rose
beatrice
zharlene jane
may himala
transformer
marie chris
pamela
"... why think like mere men?"
To the two gentlemen, I know you will find your way. Do not give up on the struggle. I promise, you will be better for this. I know it is painful but better to know now your mistaken thinking in place designed to right them.
Your good hearts will lead you to a path much much better than what you have chosen so far. Listen to your hearts. Your soul, if you must. Talk to that little boy you once were and ask him if this is what you really dream of becoming. That little boy knows things ;- )
A dream will not be placed in your heart if you will not be given the means to make it a reality. Just do not give up on it. And do something. And if you do something, make it different from the last time. Remember, if you want what you do not have; you have to do what you have not = )
Secondly, pick your friends carefully. Remember that a man is known by the company he keeps.
And lastly, if you see your name below - you move on the next challenge. For now, let me offer my congratulations.
lyndon
juni
zach
francois val
billie
gladys
charmie
rose
beatrice
zharlene jane
may himala
transformer
marie chris
pamela
"... why think like mere men?"
Thursday
the gift of pain and of failure
There's nothing beautiful about pain.
But there's something beautiful about a life transformed once the pain finishes its work, a wiser person.
There's nothing beautiful about failure.
But there's something beautiful about knowing that you're still here and still breathing. Given a second chance.
Failure is never a person. It is an event.
"... why think like mere men?"
But there's something beautiful about a life transformed once the pain finishes its work, a wiser person.
There's nothing beautiful about failure.
But there's something beautiful about knowing that you're still here and still breathing. Given a second chance.
Failure is never a person. It is an event.
"... why think like mere men?"
Monday
information defined
What is the definition of information?
"... information is the answer to the question."
"... information is the answer to the question."
Butuan's place in Philippine history
We all know that Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines in March 1521. Our history books told us that fact. In fact, our History teachers even made us memorize that = )
But how could they land and celebrate mass in Cebu when this is supposed to be first time a foreigner stepped on our shores? And how would our ancestor understand the significance of a mass or even of the legendary Sto. Nino when it was given as a gift? I mean, could the Spaniards speak Cebuano? Or could our Cebuano ancestors speak Spanish?
Think about that for a minute = )
What gives?
As far as I know, the Philippines as we know it is a European idea. And the reason they can talked to our ancestors is because some of our Malayan ancestors riding their balangays has reached the shores of Mother Spain. In fact, it was this very Malayan ancestors of ours that told Magellan how to get to La Islas de Filipinas = )
There must be a Malayan ancestor that acted as a sort of interpreter but do we have that fact in our historical books? Serious.
And here's the other thing, if one would visit the Ayala Museum, they have an exhibit called "The Gold of Our Ancestors". There, and this is proven by archeological digs, our ancestors have been doing trade with our fellow Asians, the Chinese, somewhere in Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, Butuan to be exact.
The fact is this, our Chinese brothers have been engaged in barter with our Butuan brothers as early as the 11th century. A mere 400 years before Magellan. Spain may not even be Spain at that time. Our Chinese brothers brought with their pottery and silk and our Butuan brothers bartered with their gold. Yes, GOLD!
You see, even before the conquistadores told us that we are indios, our ancestors had the sophistication to appreciate the value of GOLD! Our so-called indio ancestors had the skill even to harness this metal and transform them in beautiful works of arts. (Please visit the Ayala Museum and you will see what I mean.)
And the reason this skill is native to us is because we have GOLD in abundance in the Philippines at that time.
Now, as to when, why and how we started to believe that we are indios and not this sophisticate is another matter = )
Our "indio" race has produced a Jose Rizal. Let's not forget that.
"... why think like mere men?"
But how could they land and celebrate mass in Cebu when this is supposed to be first time a foreigner stepped on our shores? And how would our ancestor understand the significance of a mass or even of the legendary Sto. Nino when it was given as a gift? I mean, could the Spaniards speak Cebuano? Or could our Cebuano ancestors speak Spanish?
Think about that for a minute = )
What gives?
As far as I know, the Philippines as we know it is a European idea. And the reason they can talked to our ancestors is because some of our Malayan ancestors riding their balangays has reached the shores of Mother Spain. In fact, it was this very Malayan ancestors of ours that told Magellan how to get to La Islas de Filipinas = )
There must be a Malayan ancestor that acted as a sort of interpreter but do we have that fact in our historical books? Serious.
And here's the other thing, if one would visit the Ayala Museum, they have an exhibit called "The Gold of Our Ancestors". There, and this is proven by archeological digs, our ancestors have been doing trade with our fellow Asians, the Chinese, somewhere in Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, Butuan to be exact.
The fact is this, our Chinese brothers have been engaged in barter with our Butuan brothers as early as the 11th century. A mere 400 years before Magellan. Spain may not even be Spain at that time. Our Chinese brothers brought with their pottery and silk and our Butuan brothers bartered with their gold. Yes, GOLD!
You see, even before the conquistadores told us that we are indios, our ancestors had the sophistication to appreciate the value of GOLD! Our so-called indio ancestors had the skill even to harness this metal and transform them in beautiful works of arts. (Please visit the Ayala Museum and you will see what I mean.)
And the reason this skill is native to us is because we have GOLD in abundance in the Philippines at that time.
Now, as to when, why and how we started to believe that we are indios and not this sophisticate is another matter = )
Our "indio" race has produced a Jose Rizal. Let's not forget that.
"... why think like mere men?"
poverty's blessing
We all know poverty's curse and woes but do we know its blessings? Its gifts?
Do not get me wrong. I am not advocating that we should all be poor and not create earth-friendly wealth. That's not the point = )
You think Manny Pacquiao would mesmerize the whole world if he came from a well-to-do family? The magic does not work. Or would Manny Pacquiao even take up boxing if he was from the middle class?= )
What I meant by poverty is this situation where we are placed and the choice is really made clear to us. So clear because there's no other choice but to go through it! = )
Poverty is a place where choice is crystallized. A situation that crystallizes what is it that we truly want! A position where we truly lived!
And once we get through it, we become a better person. A "wholer" person = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Do not get me wrong. I am not advocating that we should all be poor and not create earth-friendly wealth. That's not the point = )
You think Manny Pacquiao would mesmerize the whole world if he came from a well-to-do family? The magic does not work. Or would Manny Pacquiao even take up boxing if he was from the middle class?= )
What I meant by poverty is this situation where we are placed and the choice is really made clear to us. So clear because there's no other choice but to go through it! = )
Poverty is a place where choice is crystallized. A situation that crystallizes what is it that we truly want! A position where we truly lived!
And once we get through it, we become a better person. A "wholer" person = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Saturday
flood's wisdom
I hope and pray that in the end, we all realize that when we really reach out and help each other - it is not surprising our race can produce a Jose Rizal.
Now, if we only we can do something about the state of meritocracy in the Philippines = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Now, if we only we can do something about the state of meritocracy in the Philippines = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Thursday
the hole in bright one's wholeness
I have signed the paper already. Bright One will graduate. With honors.
But my heart really breaks.
This student is suppose to be the best of batch. Well, this student is. But that's not the point = )
I am now wondering, how will Bright One contend if place in situation to defend Bright One's position in solving a problem with the likes of the Singaporeans who will also graduate with a degree of Industrial Engineering this year? Will Bright One have enough heart to show the beauty of Bright One's smarts? Or will Bright One fold and wait for "help" to come?
Who made the mistake? Bright One? Or the Learning Facilitator because Learning Facilitator never gave Bright One the chance to learn the importance of being confident with one's thoughts when Bright One was given the opportunity?
"... why think like mere men?"
But my heart really breaks.
This student is suppose to be the best of batch. Well, this student is. But that's not the point = )
I am now wondering, how will Bright One contend if place in situation to defend Bright One's position in solving a problem with the likes of the Singaporeans who will also graduate with a degree of Industrial Engineering this year? Will Bright One have enough heart to show the beauty of Bright One's smarts? Or will Bright One fold and wait for "help" to come?
Who made the mistake? Bright One? Or the Learning Facilitator because Learning Facilitator never gave Bright One the chance to learn the importance of being confident with one's thoughts when Bright One was given the opportunity?
"... why think like mere men?"
the gift of the flood
In the end, we all realize that though the government can help if they act, it is really up to us and God.
It also destroys the myth that in order for our lives to improve, the government must change first. Not really. In order for our lives to turn for the better, we all need to go back to who we really are. A race known for bayanihan.
Yes, lives were lost but it could have been worst if our neighbors never reached out and lend a helping hand.
No matter how we want to be westerners (but who isn't in this time and age?), to forget what is good about the Filipino race, bayanihan, is perilous.
"... why think like mere men?"
It also destroys the myth that in order for our lives to improve, the government must change first. Not really. In order for our lives to turn for the better, we all need to go back to who we really are. A race known for bayanihan.
Yes, lives were lost but it could have been worst if our neighbors never reached out and lend a helping hand.
No matter how we want to be westerners (but who isn't in this time and age?), to forget what is good about the Filipino race, bayanihan, is perilous.
"... why think like mere men?"
Monday
amor@35 reloaded
A year older.
Then, the most amount of rainfall in four decades happened. Wow! That's something in a very bad way.
What happened? Why did Metro Manila go through that? The usual culprits are global warming, corrupt officials and litterbugs.
Serious?
I mean, what about the quality of planning? or greed? As in - corporate greed!
Government exists, it seems, nowadays, to motivate economic activity. And by that, we mean business. The whole business system in designed to produce profit. Currently, a short-term kind. A kind that the PSE-philes follow, promote and hail as models worthy of emulation.
Nothing wrong with profit as long as we can put an apt accounting number on trees lost, on waterways abused and rising cancer incidence in the Philippines.
Serious, how much did we lose as a nation to produce a 7.6% GDP growth? What about a 15% growth in corporate profits? or 25% in top line growth?
And here's another thing, if the government spent money, in terms of relief goods and services in situations like these, is that money spent included in the GDP number? Seriously. Is it?
How much did we take from the future generation to produce the profit that we enjoy now? Of which by the way, we use to import goods. So in a sense, wealth that was created here is actually shipped again to where we import the goods. So, bottomline - wealth is lost again = )
Let's think about this for a moment.
What drives the decisions of policy makers? Economic activity? Does increased economic activity equates to the welfare of the Filipino people?
I mean, GDP has been growing ever since Apo died but the floods are really getting scarier. The number of deaths are increasing.
What gives?
Can business systems be in harmony with ecological systems?
If so, is it even discussed with passion and a sense of urgency in the classrooms of our future leaders? Of our current politicians?
What about asking our present crop of presidentiables on what will they do in their first 100 days in the office to solve this kind of problems? Or why don't we ask them what do they think is the country's top 3 problems and what will they do, as in a concrete 100 day schedule, once elected? Are they ready for that? Will their surnames be ready for that? Will their past accomplishment be ready for that? Will their ivy league education be ready for that?
I'm just angry.
Now, that the anger is expressed - let me think so that I can act and do something about this in my own little way = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Then, the most amount of rainfall in four decades happened. Wow! That's something in a very bad way.
What happened? Why did Metro Manila go through that? The usual culprits are global warming, corrupt officials and litterbugs.
Serious?
I mean, what about the quality of planning? or greed? As in - corporate greed!
Government exists, it seems, nowadays, to motivate economic activity. And by that, we mean business. The whole business system in designed to produce profit. Currently, a short-term kind. A kind that the PSE-philes follow, promote and hail as models worthy of emulation.
Nothing wrong with profit as long as we can put an apt accounting number on trees lost, on waterways abused and rising cancer incidence in the Philippines.
Serious, how much did we lose as a nation to produce a 7.6% GDP growth? What about a 15% growth in corporate profits? or 25% in top line growth?
And here's another thing, if the government spent money, in terms of relief goods and services in situations like these, is that money spent included in the GDP number? Seriously. Is it?
How much did we take from the future generation to produce the profit that we enjoy now? Of which by the way, we use to import goods. So in a sense, wealth that was created here is actually shipped again to where we import the goods. So, bottomline - wealth is lost again = )
Let's think about this for a moment.
What drives the decisions of policy makers? Economic activity? Does increased economic activity equates to the welfare of the Filipino people?
I mean, GDP has been growing ever since Apo died but the floods are really getting scarier. The number of deaths are increasing.
What gives?
Can business systems be in harmony with ecological systems?
If so, is it even discussed with passion and a sense of urgency in the classrooms of our future leaders? Of our current politicians?
What about asking our present crop of presidentiables on what will they do in their first 100 days in the office to solve this kind of problems? Or why don't we ask them what do they think is the country's top 3 problems and what will they do, as in a concrete 100 day schedule, once elected? Are they ready for that? Will their surnames be ready for that? Will their past accomplishment be ready for that? Will their ivy league education be ready for that?
I'm just angry.
Now, that the anger is expressed - let me think so that I can act and do something about this in my own little way = )
"... why think like mere men?"
the drawn line
For IE302
Miggy, take the finals for the experience
Lyndon, 32
Stebe Nash, 48
Cute Ako, 39
Keyboard, 24
Andrea, 50
BeepBeep, 13
Susan Roces, 35
Bogart, 39
Zafron, 28
Miggy Monte Negro, 39
Virus, 30
Anti-Virus, take the finals for the experience
Ginger, 30
Stripes, 45
Shang, 33
ezm26, 35
juni, 26
Rogue, 33
Black, 41
Gwapo, take the finals for the experience
Operation Research, 32
Miggy, take the finals for the experience
Lyndon, 32
Stebe Nash, 48
Cute Ako, 39
Keyboard, 24
Andrea, 50
BeepBeep, 13
Susan Roces, 35
Bogart, 39
Zafron, 28
Miggy Monte Negro, 39
Virus, 30
Anti-Virus, take the finals for the experience
Ginger, 30
Stripes, 45
Shang, 33
ezm26, 35
juni, 26
Rogue, 33
Black, 41
Gwapo, take the finals for the experience
Operation Research, 32
Sunday
the bright one
No names here. Just an event called disappointment.
I once said that failure is an event. Never a person. I guess that will also have to go for disappointment, too.
It was promising. But I guess, the student never had the courage to put everything together to make the presentation a coherent whole. Maybe the whole process never gave the student the chance to be courageous.
There were bright spots but that's the thing. Those were just spots. I was not hoping for spots. I was hoping for a beautiful whole. The student is suppose to be way past beautiful spots. The student was suppose to be in scenic grandeur. Graduation after all is a mere few weeks away = )
But please do not get me wrong. This student has a bright future ahead. But I guess, the student is not yet ready for the responsibility of the accolades given. I hope, the student remains a student and not be mesmerize by the titles that will be showered.
I guess in the student's mind, the acts and the decisions taken during the presentation was logical. Maybe even right.
In my opinion, a student defense did not happen that afternoon. Well, physically there was one. I mean, the laptop was there. The LCD was there. The presentation was there. The panel was there. The adviser was there. The student was there. The very act of presentation was there. But there was no defense.
It was close to a rout.
I guess the student was simply being respectful but it could also be construed that the student does not know the presentation. Or maybe, the student did not have enough courage to speak for one's self. Or maybe, I am simply biased on how I see courage. Or maybe the plan was really to be meek that the panel will be merciful = )
That plan, has a very limited efficacy. And its efficacy ends during graduation = )
How do we learn courage? Do we learn it by not being one? By not trying to be one?
The student is a bright one. That needs no defense. But, in my opinion, he is still a student in the school of courage.
Hope springs eternal. As long as there's breath, there is hope.
"... do not fear. I (God) am with you!"
I once said that failure is an event. Never a person. I guess that will also have to go for disappointment, too.
It was promising. But I guess, the student never had the courage to put everything together to make the presentation a coherent whole. Maybe the whole process never gave the student the chance to be courageous.
There were bright spots but that's the thing. Those were just spots. I was not hoping for spots. I was hoping for a beautiful whole. The student is suppose to be way past beautiful spots. The student was suppose to be in scenic grandeur. Graduation after all is a mere few weeks away = )
But please do not get me wrong. This student has a bright future ahead. But I guess, the student is not yet ready for the responsibility of the accolades given. I hope, the student remains a student and not be mesmerize by the titles that will be showered.
I guess in the student's mind, the acts and the decisions taken during the presentation was logical. Maybe even right.
In my opinion, a student defense did not happen that afternoon. Well, physically there was one. I mean, the laptop was there. The LCD was there. The presentation was there. The panel was there. The adviser was there. The student was there. The very act of presentation was there. But there was no defense.
It was close to a rout.
I guess the student was simply being respectful but it could also be construed that the student does not know the presentation. Or maybe, the student did not have enough courage to speak for one's self. Or maybe, I am simply biased on how I see courage. Or maybe the plan was really to be meek that the panel will be merciful = )
That plan, has a very limited efficacy. And its efficacy ends during graduation = )
How do we learn courage? Do we learn it by not being one? By not trying to be one?
The student is a bright one. That needs no defense. But, in my opinion, he is still a student in the school of courage.
Hope springs eternal. As long as there's breath, there is hope.
"... do not fear. I (God) am with you!"
Monday
tag banua
When we were in Coron, our tour guide brought us to this islet at the middle of the sea. This is where Beb and I had our most delicious lunch ever! But what made this particular lunch even more special was the caretaker of this little piece of heaven. He is a tag-banua, a taong bato.
Our tour guide told us that the tag-banua are the original inhabitants of Coron.
As Coron's beauty slowly sipped into the tourist's consciousness as a place one should visit, the tag-banua slowly went deeper into the forests. Upon seeing this, the past Philippine governments had the sensitivity to reach out to them to socially integrate them to the ways of the world by training them to become tourist-friendly caretakers of this piece of paradise.
Manong knows how to speak Tagalog. With him in this islet are his two rumbustious sons, maybe a 4 year old and a 6 year old, who I would swear are seasoned scullers = ) For here we are at the middle of the sea and I witnessed them take out their little boat to sea. Apparently, to fetch their Mom from the other islet = )
As we left, our tour guide shared that the tag-banuas have it made. When I pressed for her reason in sharing this sentiment, she said that it is because the tag-banua spend there days seated in a beautiful place. When visitors, who arrives almost everyday, do visit, they shell out PhP 100/head to have this experience of being engulfed with so much beauty. And when there are lean seasons, the tag-banuas make a living by simply harvesting the "bird nests" high up on the ceilings of caves. Yes, the most important ingredient in a bird's nest soup. Our tour guide even shared the price per kilo of the bird nests, and it is a whopping one hundred thousand pesos per kilo. Now, if only I can learn how to go up and reach the ceilings of caves = )
As our boat danced to the waves and the islet became smaller and smaller, I have to agree to what our tour guide said. Manong had indeed have it made. Spending a day in a beautiful place. Enjoying the noise his sons are making and having money in the bank. Though this money may not be much in urban standards but who needs much if one lives in heaven's reminder of paradise = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Our tour guide told us that the tag-banua are the original inhabitants of Coron.
As Coron's beauty slowly sipped into the tourist's consciousness as a place one should visit, the tag-banua slowly went deeper into the forests. Upon seeing this, the past Philippine governments had the sensitivity to reach out to them to socially integrate them to the ways of the world by training them to become tourist-friendly caretakers of this piece of paradise.
Manong knows how to speak Tagalog. With him in this islet are his two rumbustious sons, maybe a 4 year old and a 6 year old, who I would swear are seasoned scullers = ) For here we are at the middle of the sea and I witnessed them take out their little boat to sea. Apparently, to fetch their Mom from the other islet = )
As we left, our tour guide shared that the tag-banuas have it made. When I pressed for her reason in sharing this sentiment, she said that it is because the tag-banua spend there days seated in a beautiful place. When visitors, who arrives almost everyday, do visit, they shell out PhP 100/head to have this experience of being engulfed with so much beauty. And when there are lean seasons, the tag-banuas make a living by simply harvesting the "bird nests" high up on the ceilings of caves. Yes, the most important ingredient in a bird's nest soup. Our tour guide even shared the price per kilo of the bird nests, and it is a whopping one hundred thousand pesos per kilo. Now, if only I can learn how to go up and reach the ceilings of caves = )
As our boat danced to the waves and the islet became smaller and smaller, I have to agree to what our tour guide said. Manong had indeed have it made. Spending a day in a beautiful place. Enjoying the noise his sons are making and having money in the bank. Though this money may not be much in urban standards but who needs much if one lives in heaven's reminder of paradise = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Sunday
fairly smart students 2.0
Last night, the School of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management of Mapua staged the annual Convergence entitled: In White, Unite or something like that = )
As the evening unfolds, I caught myself enjoying the revelry, the energy and the passion that was presented. But this positive vibe bridged into something sort of a kill-joy realization. A curiosity. A query. A wonder.
How come this same passion and energy of the youth can not be transported into the classroom? I did not mean in the same physical manifestation but in the results of their work. And I do not mean to imply that this is limited only to Mapua. I mean, the rivalry, the passion and energy of the Ateneo-La Salle (in alphabetical order) in UAAP Basketball is already legendary but how come this same passion and energy can not live and flourish away from the basketball courts?
I mean, the alumni of these schools are suppose to be our business leaders and yet can we name products that are truly world class? A product that is not a Filipino version of a western product. I mean a product that the whole world can trace to our shores.
I know basketball and everyday life is different but what is it about basketball that get all of us crazy?
How come the energy and passion can not infect how we go about our daily lives?
Which brings us to my two new advisees this term.
The research topic is promising yet it is daunting. It will truly differentiate them but it also means that they will be alone for there are only a few students who take this path. And these students are far in between, so effectively these two fairly smart students will be... alone.
I will give advise. I will guide. But in the end, they are the ones responsible.
I am hoping and praying they own up. That they take responsibility. That they blame no one, except themselves when everything falls apart. For it is also true, when everything falls into place. They only have themselves to congratulate.
"... why think like mere men?"
As the evening unfolds, I caught myself enjoying the revelry, the energy and the passion that was presented. But this positive vibe bridged into something sort of a kill-joy realization. A curiosity. A query. A wonder.
How come this same passion and energy of the youth can not be transported into the classroom? I did not mean in the same physical manifestation but in the results of their work. And I do not mean to imply that this is limited only to Mapua. I mean, the rivalry, the passion and energy of the Ateneo-La Salle (in alphabetical order) in UAAP Basketball is already legendary but how come this same passion and energy can not live and flourish away from the basketball courts?
I mean, the alumni of these schools are suppose to be our business leaders and yet can we name products that are truly world class? A product that is not a Filipino version of a western product. I mean a product that the whole world can trace to our shores.
I know basketball and everyday life is different but what is it about basketball that get all of us crazy?
How come the energy and passion can not infect how we go about our daily lives?
Which brings us to my two new advisees this term.
The research topic is promising yet it is daunting. It will truly differentiate them but it also means that they will be alone for there are only a few students who take this path. And these students are far in between, so effectively these two fairly smart students will be... alone.
I will give advise. I will guide. But in the end, they are the ones responsible.
I am hoping and praying they own up. That they take responsibility. That they blame no one, except themselves when everything falls apart. For it is also true, when everything falls into place. They only have themselves to congratulate.
"... why think like mere men?"
Friday
fairly smart students
School had a different vibe this past week. Maybe it was due to horde of Practicum 1 students trying to meet another deadliest deadline of their young life. This time it is about the research topic or the company study topic.
Met a number of them along the corridors. Two at the Research Center. All of them fairly smart students. All of them look aptly worried. All of them wearing their "I am generic!" caps, again.
It seems that when they are pushed, they fold. Hurriedly embracing the comforts of being just another student, a generic student.
That is sad. Very sad. Not only for them but also for the Philippines.
Ganun na lang ba talaga palagi when we are pushed to stretch our limits, we fold. We hide. Bakit ba hindi natin nakikita na pag when we have reached our limits, it also means that we are in a position to push our limits even further? To allow and give ourselves with more freedom?
Haaay, Lord kayo na po ang bahala. At sorry po hindi ko po sila nasuko agad. Lord, sinusuko ko na po sila sa Inyo. Ginawa Nyo naman po silang smart. Sana po maturuan po silang maging matibay. Matapang. May tamang paninindigan sa buhay...
"... why think like mere men?"
Met a number of them along the corridors. Two at the Research Center. All of them fairly smart students. All of them look aptly worried. All of them wearing their "I am generic!" caps, again.
It seems that when they are pushed, they fold. Hurriedly embracing the comforts of being just another student, a generic student.
That is sad. Very sad. Not only for them but also for the Philippines.
Ganun na lang ba talaga palagi when we are pushed to stretch our limits, we fold. We hide. Bakit ba hindi natin nakikita na pag when we have reached our limits, it also means that we are in a position to push our limits even further? To allow and give ourselves with more freedom?
Haaay, Lord kayo na po ang bahala. At sorry po hindi ko po sila nasuko agad. Lord, sinusuko ko na po sila sa Inyo. Ginawa Nyo naman po silang smart. Sana po maturuan po silang maging matibay. Matapang. May tamang paninindigan sa buhay...
"... why think like mere men?"
Tuesday
reminder = )
In what group do you belong?
GROUP 1: "I have to change before God could love me..."
GROUP 2: "God loves me that's why I have to change..."
A timely reminder = )
GROUP 1: "I have to change before God could love me..."
GROUP 2: "God loves me that's why I have to change..."
A timely reminder = )
Friday
moving on
She is buried now and the emotional highs (and plans) has simmered down. I guess it's apt to reflect on her life. The life of Corazon Aquino.
For me, she was the impossibility that happened. She is courageous and had this clear idea of what her role was in Philippine story - the transition president who spearheaded the return to democracy. And the best part is she did not try to be somebody else other than that by having an Act 2 at Malacanang when everybody was pushing and urging her to run for a second term.
She was clear about her role and when it was done, she left and became private citizen Tita Cory.
Cardinal Sin, Ramos, Enrile (with his RAM Boys) and the nameless millions of Filipino people were also there to usher in this celebrated part of Philippine history but I think for it to have this staying power of catching the imagination of the whole world up to now, EDSA and Tita Cory must be His'. God's expression of love to our beloved Philippines.
I admit, I sometimes catch myself falling to this 'malady' of slicing the history that happened to us in 1986 as if it happened in a vacuum. As if, it was all up to the Filipinos. And then, you see images of people praying.
I often wonder what would have happened if the Filipinos were not praying back then as the tanks rolled by and the helicopters were hovering?
Would I be truly admiring Tita Cory if I simply gloss over the fact that she is who she is, courageous and honest, because she prayed and have this wonderful relationship with Him?
The presidential election is less than a year away. I hope it is automated. I am praying it is. We have two pastors wanting to become a President. A priest is also in the list. Another Roxas. A Villar. A Bayani. Will the same Macapagal-Arroyo be there too?
Will this be just another election?
Or will this be about the Philippines that Ninoy fought and died for? Will this be about the Philippines that Tita Cory prayed for? Will this be about the Philippines that the past generation saw that was worth praying for? Dying for?
Someone said that it is easy to "slay the beast" for the country. What's hard is to wake up every morning and "fall in love" with the same country all over again. The beauty of duty = )
Lord, let me not forget the Philippines that this husband and wife saw, prayed for and served.
"... why think like mere men?"
For me, she was the impossibility that happened. She is courageous and had this clear idea of what her role was in Philippine story - the transition president who spearheaded the return to democracy. And the best part is she did not try to be somebody else other than that by having an Act 2 at Malacanang when everybody was pushing and urging her to run for a second term.
She was clear about her role and when it was done, she left and became private citizen Tita Cory.
Cardinal Sin, Ramos, Enrile (with his RAM Boys) and the nameless millions of Filipino people were also there to usher in this celebrated part of Philippine history but I think for it to have this staying power of catching the imagination of the whole world up to now, EDSA and Tita Cory must be His'. God's expression of love to our beloved Philippines.
I admit, I sometimes catch myself falling to this 'malady' of slicing the history that happened to us in 1986 as if it happened in a vacuum. As if, it was all up to the Filipinos. And then, you see images of people praying.
I often wonder what would have happened if the Filipinos were not praying back then as the tanks rolled by and the helicopters were hovering?
Would I be truly admiring Tita Cory if I simply gloss over the fact that she is who she is, courageous and honest, because she prayed and have this wonderful relationship with Him?
The presidential election is less than a year away. I hope it is automated. I am praying it is. We have two pastors wanting to become a President. A priest is also in the list. Another Roxas. A Villar. A Bayani. Will the same Macapagal-Arroyo be there too?
Will this be just another election?
Or will this be about the Philippines that Ninoy fought and died for? Will this be about the Philippines that Tita Cory prayed for? Will this be about the Philippines that the past generation saw that was worth praying for? Dying for?
Someone said that it is easy to "slay the beast" for the country. What's hard is to wake up every morning and "fall in love" with the same country all over again. The beauty of duty = )
Lord, let me not forget the Philippines that this husband and wife saw, prayed for and served.
"... why think like mere men?"
Wednesday
reaffirmation
Priest : (dying) "... just have faith. Believe in God."
Count of Monte Cristo : "But I do not believe in God."
Priest : "He believes in you..."
Count of Monte Cristo : "But I do not believe in God."
Priest : "He believes in you..."
Monday
Corazon Aquino
I'll be 35 on September.
My very first memory of Cory Aquino was that of being a widow of Senator Ninoy Aquino who was murdered August of 1983. A few years remove from the lifting of the martial law.
When she became our 11th president, it was this magical time when I was starting to understand how big the world is. It was a time when I was in acceleration class. It was a time when ideals are set for a man.
For men like me, our teenage minds were immersed and bombarded with this idea that the Filipino race is a special race. It is the race that produced Jose Rizal. The race that stage the first ever bloodless revolution to topple a 20-year dictatorship. The race that received the spirit that inspired songs like "Magkaisa" and "Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo."
It infused in me that things are indeed possible.
You see, one has to grow up during the Ferdinand Marcos years to get what it means to be under martial rule. Though I was really young then, and it is only when I was in college when I fully grasped the idea of fear during the later years of the Marcos Presidency.
I mean, I used to laugh at the joke that the most powerful man in the Philippines was President Ferdinand Marcos' barber. Why? Because only his barber can order him like "tumingin sa kaliwa... yumuko..."
That joke only works when it is already imbued in you that Apo was someone you should be afraid of = )
Corazon Aquino defeated President Marcos in a snap election. A homemaker defeating the bar topnotcher. A widow defeating a 20-year ruler. That's something.
And for that idea to be drilled into my young mind, that's something.
Corazon Aquino, for me, is the impossibility that happened.
Corazon Aquino, for me, is the expression of God's hand in the Philippines.
My very first memory of Cory Aquino was that of being a widow of Senator Ninoy Aquino who was murdered August of 1983. A few years remove from the lifting of the martial law.
When she became our 11th president, it was this magical time when I was starting to understand how big the world is. It was a time when I was in acceleration class. It was a time when ideals are set for a man.
For men like me, our teenage minds were immersed and bombarded with this idea that the Filipino race is a special race. It is the race that produced Jose Rizal. The race that stage the first ever bloodless revolution to topple a 20-year dictatorship. The race that received the spirit that inspired songs like "Magkaisa" and "Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo."
It infused in me that things are indeed possible.
You see, one has to grow up during the Ferdinand Marcos years to get what it means to be under martial rule. Though I was really young then, and it is only when I was in college when I fully grasped the idea of fear during the later years of the Marcos Presidency.
I mean, I used to laugh at the joke that the most powerful man in the Philippines was President Ferdinand Marcos' barber. Why? Because only his barber can order him like "tumingin sa kaliwa... yumuko..."
That joke only works when it is already imbued in you that Apo was someone you should be afraid of = )
Corazon Aquino defeated President Marcos in a snap election. A homemaker defeating the bar topnotcher. A widow defeating a 20-year ruler. That's something.
And for that idea to be drilled into my young mind, that's something.
Corazon Aquino, for me, is the impossibility that happened.
Corazon Aquino, for me, is the expression of God's hand in the Philippines.
Friday
the wise woman's stone
"A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.
'I've been thinking,' he said, 'I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone"
From an unknown author
'I've been thinking,' he said, 'I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone"
From an unknown author
Monday
misty eyes
I am a movie buff and the last time my eyes got misty because of a movie was when I watched Ang Lee's "Joy Luck Club" over ten years ago. And now that experience have been repeated courtesy of "My Sister's Keeper".
My eyes got misty during a poignant scene when the Dad was looking at her cancer-stricken daughter as she went down the stairs to meet her date, who is waiting and who is also cancer-stricken, in their living room. It's the look that he gave to Kate, her daughter, that did me in = )
It is a look that melted all the cancer away. It seems that for the first time in a long time, he saw his daughter as his baby that's already a young woman and not as his daughter who has cancer. You see, Kate have been struggling with the situation since she was five and this night was prom night. The whole family have lived with cancer for over a decade by now. And that magical look, for me, melted all the cancer away...
For me, "My Sister's Keeper" is simply a family story because all families struggles with life and become beautiful by these struggles.
Lord, you are God yesterday. You are God today. You are God tomorrow. You are God for all eternity.
My eyes got misty during a poignant scene when the Dad was looking at her cancer-stricken daughter as she went down the stairs to meet her date, who is waiting and who is also cancer-stricken, in their living room. It's the look that he gave to Kate, her daughter, that did me in = )
It is a look that melted all the cancer away. It seems that for the first time in a long time, he saw his daughter as his baby that's already a young woman and not as his daughter who has cancer. You see, Kate have been struggling with the situation since she was five and this night was prom night. The whole family have lived with cancer for over a decade by now. And that magical look, for me, melted all the cancer away...
For me, "My Sister's Keeper" is simply a family story because all families struggles with life and become beautiful by these struggles.
Lord, you are God yesterday. You are God today. You are God tomorrow. You are God for all eternity.
Friday
from eternity
"It is important that we are good at what we do.
But it is more important to be a good person."
But it is more important to be a good person."
Monday
Last Supper No. 3
Cinemalaya 2009.
This is my second time. And I enjoyed the second time experience much better. I was with Beb, Alvin, Tin and of course, our thespian actor-friend Jojit Lorenzo.
The film that we watched was Last Supper #3. Bottom line, it was one of the funnier Filipino situation comedy films I have ever watched. And on top of that, it seriously showed a slice of the state of the justice system in the Philippines in a very funny and intelligent Filipino way.
I was laughing my heart out. Beb, even was ashamed of me as I belted out my noisy and boisterous laughter = )
To those who read this blog, go to CCP and watch the films. The films are not your usual plate of Filipino films that talks about poverty, homosexuality and the ever present tale of young love.
There's a future for Philippine films after all.
Diversity is key.
This is my second time. And I enjoyed the second time experience much better. I was with Beb, Alvin, Tin and of course, our thespian actor-friend Jojit Lorenzo.
The film that we watched was Last Supper #3. Bottom line, it was one of the funnier Filipino situation comedy films I have ever watched. And on top of that, it seriously showed a slice of the state of the justice system in the Philippines in a very funny and intelligent Filipino way.
I was laughing my heart out. Beb, even was ashamed of me as I belted out my noisy and boisterous laughter = )
To those who read this blog, go to CCP and watch the films. The films are not your usual plate of Filipino films that talks about poverty, homosexuality and the ever present tale of young love.
There's a future for Philippine films after all.
Diversity is key.
Friday
the history of the word "greenbelt"
No. It was not the business acumen of the Ayalas that brought the word to world. They were also inspired by foreign minds. The British to be exact.
In real estate, the priciest place to do business in is either Tokyo or London. And what has these two places have in common? Industrial strength. True for Japanese and a memory for the British = ) But they do have a common denominator and this is absolute fact - a well documented and long lineage of kings, queens and emperors.
It is because of this culture and country characteristic that made real estate prices near the monarchs go to the roof. Greenbelt was first coined in London. The home of the most media-celebrated monarchs.
You see, in economics, when policy limits an access to a resource or puts a high barrier like "You have to be royalty to use the land near where the monarchs lives", the prices of those land shoots up. Exponentially. Why? Apparently, the whole world still puts a premium and value on the fact and on the prestige of living near the kings and queens even if their days all gone. Or it is simply good business to maintain the prices received at the height of the monarchy even up to now = )
This fact is explained in classic economic literature.
So, what has that got to do with the Philippines?
Well, I bumped into a news about a South Korean provincial government, South Jeolla Province, that leased 95,000 hectares of land on Occidental Mindoro for 25 years that started last April 2009. Why did they do this? Apparently, the South Koreans do not have enough land in their country to viably produce 10,000 tonnes of corn-feeds so they went to our ever hospitable shores and set up shop here. Please, do not get me wrong. I am all for helping our neighbors.
My point is that something has changed in our environment, both figuratively and literally.
You see, our lands, no, our soil is very rich. Yet, we, Filipinos, do not see it. Why do I say that? Well, we sell or leased our farmlands for cheap. The whole country has encouraged the young Filipinos to take on college programs like BS Agriculture by offering it for free. But do we see a rise of enrollment on these programs? No. Why? Because we do not see that our "oil" and "gold" is in our soil. Period.
I just hope, and pray, that our provincial agricultural experts hold their line when it comes to sustainable farming and enforce or create laws appropriate to the care of our nutrient-rich lands.
Our lands are truly fit for kings and queens. For the Maharlikas. Ever wonder what were the reasons why our Malay ancestors made home here when they first arrived in balangays long ago? Our Malay ancestors are sophisticated navigators. To navigate seas, one has to understand science. And when they saw what they saw, they knew our land is indeed the Pearl of the Orient.
My point, if the Japanese and English can bring their land prices up taking the "monarchy route", what needs to be done to properly price our lands, our soil when it is of strategic importance for food stability of our, and currently, more prosperous neighbor nation?
You see, here's the thing - land area is a finite resource. You do not grow them in trees = )
"... why think like mere men?"
In real estate, the priciest place to do business in is either Tokyo or London. And what has these two places have in common? Industrial strength. True for Japanese and a memory for the British = ) But they do have a common denominator and this is absolute fact - a well documented and long lineage of kings, queens and emperors.
It is because of this culture and country characteristic that made real estate prices near the monarchs go to the roof. Greenbelt was first coined in London. The home of the most media-celebrated monarchs.
You see, in economics, when policy limits an access to a resource or puts a high barrier like "You have to be royalty to use the land near where the monarchs lives", the prices of those land shoots up. Exponentially. Why? Apparently, the whole world still puts a premium and value on the fact and on the prestige of living near the kings and queens even if their days all gone. Or it is simply good business to maintain the prices received at the height of the monarchy even up to now = )
This fact is explained in classic economic literature.
So, what has that got to do with the Philippines?
Well, I bumped into a news about a South Korean provincial government, South Jeolla Province, that leased 95,000 hectares of land on Occidental Mindoro for 25 years that started last April 2009. Why did they do this? Apparently, the South Koreans do not have enough land in their country to viably produce 10,000 tonnes of corn-feeds so they went to our ever hospitable shores and set up shop here. Please, do not get me wrong. I am all for helping our neighbors.
My point is that something has changed in our environment, both figuratively and literally.
You see, our lands, no, our soil is very rich. Yet, we, Filipinos, do not see it. Why do I say that? Well, we sell or leased our farmlands for cheap. The whole country has encouraged the young Filipinos to take on college programs like BS Agriculture by offering it for free. But do we see a rise of enrollment on these programs? No. Why? Because we do not see that our "oil" and "gold" is in our soil. Period.
I just hope, and pray, that our provincial agricultural experts hold their line when it comes to sustainable farming and enforce or create laws appropriate to the care of our nutrient-rich lands.
Our lands are truly fit for kings and queens. For the Maharlikas. Ever wonder what were the reasons why our Malay ancestors made home here when they first arrived in balangays long ago? Our Malay ancestors are sophisticated navigators. To navigate seas, one has to understand science. And when they saw what they saw, they knew our land is indeed the Pearl of the Orient.
My point, if the Japanese and English can bring their land prices up taking the "monarchy route", what needs to be done to properly price our lands, our soil when it is of strategic importance for food stability of our, and currently, more prosperous neighbor nation?
You see, here's the thing - land area is a finite resource. You do not grow them in trees = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Thursday
twisted virtues
Is rape justifiable in any situation?
What if after raping someone, the criminal killed the raped victim.
Does that make the act of raping the victim right altogether?
When wrong has been done, doing another wrong does not make the prior wrong right.
If you really want to straighten things out, repent and do what is right.
Here's the thing...
Only few people will repent and change their ways.
That's why those who repent will not have the generic life most people have.
Choose!
It is really that simple.
But by simple, it does not mean it is easy = )
"... why think like mere men?"
What if after raping someone, the criminal killed the raped victim.
Does that make the act of raping the victim right altogether?
When wrong has been done, doing another wrong does not make the prior wrong right.
If you really want to straighten things out, repent and do what is right.
Here's the thing...
Only few people will repent and change their ways.
That's why those who repent will not have the generic life most people have.
Choose!
It is really that simple.
But by simple, it does not mean it is easy = )
"... why think like mere men?"
audience's take on the practice of management
For a person that lives and breathes "management" and believes and extols the nobility of the role, it is quite unnerving when someone expresses what I can surmise as someone on the receiving end of a bad management practice.
Essentially, the actor of that particular management practice only embraces the school of thought that management exist to "make work productive" and left the other half of "make workers achieving", out in the cold and in the rain = ).
I have this hypothesis that one of the reasons why we are where we are right now, in terms of economic growth, it is because someone like Peter Drucker was patient enough to observe, articulate and wrote the practice of management after the 2nd World War.
I firmly believe that for an organization to evolved further, it has to change how it manages the expression of its purpose and the mission to the world.
The Management of an organization, not the person who holds the position but the collective expression of talented individuals, must evolve with the changing environment as it express its purpose and mission out to the outside world.
"... why think like mere men?"
I firmly believe that for an organization to evolved further, it has to change how it manages the expression of its purpose and the mission to the world.
The Management of an organization, not the person who holds the position but the collective expression of talented individuals, must evolve with the changing environment as it express its purpose and mission out to the outside world.
"... why think like mere men?"
Monday
a day with the cancer fighters
I was privileged to facilitate a vision-mission workshop for the Philippine Society of Medical Oncologists, PSMO, last Saturday. This society of Filipino doctors is called upon to battle against the scourge called "cancer".
I felt joy when they re-worded their vision and included a component on the integration of a multi-disciplinary approach for the optimal care of the Filipino cancer-patient.
You see, statistically, cancer is projected to become the number one killer of Filipinos by 2013-2015. To me, that means something must be twitched on how we currently and collectively handle cancer. It will be higher than heart issues and infectious disease by then. The usual explanation for the rise is our lifestyle, our environment and genetics.
Our current poster boys are the dearly departed Rudy Fernandez and Francis Magalona. At the end of the day, I have to utter a prayer for there's so much to be done.
PSMO, as an organization, has to evolved just like any organization. I firmly believe they can because they want to. But this will mean being open and being a student again. I hope and pray they see the beauty of a science called management. I hope, some of them gets an MBA = )
Personally, cancer is really wielding its head in the Philippines.
The worst part of it, cancer grows in small amounts in all our bodies. Yes, we, yes you and me, all have cancer cells presently lurking in our bodies. The reason why we do not have cancer, as currently defined, is that the number of cancer cells are efficiently handled by our immune system. But once our immune system breaks, then, our life will suddenly have a different and heightened awareness of something bigger, eternal. God. Some cancers can not be detected by current instrumentation until it is too late for cure. Only care.
My Lord and my God, please heal the hearts of our oncologists. May they not be jaded by death. May death be human still and not a statistic, a number. May they not forget to see the human face of Filipino cancer-patients, their families and their part and role in it. Remind and reassure them that they are brilliant minds and that they are steadfast people. Don't let them give up and become nurses in foreign lands. Please Lord, open their hearts, their minds and stir them, or stir only one, to act and to lead in solving this situation in ways that's totally unimaginable that the world can only attribute it to You.
Lord, I have heard of your wonders and of your miracles. I have experience them in the past. My prayer is that You renew it again today. Tonight. Right at this very moment. Lord, you know my pain. You know me. You know us. You are God yesterday. You are God today. You are God tomorrow. And I invoke the name you gave me, God is his answer. Please answer my prayer.
You are God Almighty, my Healer. Our Healer.
I felt joy when they re-worded their vision and included a component on the integration of a multi-disciplinary approach for the optimal care of the Filipino cancer-patient.
You see, statistically, cancer is projected to become the number one killer of Filipinos by 2013-2015. To me, that means something must be twitched on how we currently and collectively handle cancer. It will be higher than heart issues and infectious disease by then. The usual explanation for the rise is our lifestyle, our environment and genetics.
Our current poster boys are the dearly departed Rudy Fernandez and Francis Magalona. At the end of the day, I have to utter a prayer for there's so much to be done.
PSMO, as an organization, has to evolved just like any organization. I firmly believe they can because they want to. But this will mean being open and being a student again. I hope and pray they see the beauty of a science called management. I hope, some of them gets an MBA = )
Personally, cancer is really wielding its head in the Philippines.
The worst part of it, cancer grows in small amounts in all our bodies. Yes, we, yes you and me, all have cancer cells presently lurking in our bodies. The reason why we do not have cancer, as currently defined, is that the number of cancer cells are efficiently handled by our immune system. But once our immune system breaks, then, our life will suddenly have a different and heightened awareness of something bigger, eternal. God. Some cancers can not be detected by current instrumentation until it is too late for cure. Only care.
My Lord and my God, please heal the hearts of our oncologists. May they not be jaded by death. May death be human still and not a statistic, a number. May they not forget to see the human face of Filipino cancer-patients, their families and their part and role in it. Remind and reassure them that they are brilliant minds and that they are steadfast people. Don't let them give up and become nurses in foreign lands. Please Lord, open their hearts, their minds and stir them, or stir only one, to act and to lead in solving this situation in ways that's totally unimaginable that the world can only attribute it to You.
Lord, I have heard of your wonders and of your miracles. I have experience them in the past. My prayer is that You renew it again today. Tonight. Right at this very moment. Lord, you know my pain. You know me. You know us. You are God yesterday. You are God today. You are God tomorrow. And I invoke the name you gave me, God is his answer. Please answer my prayer.
You are God Almighty, my Healer. Our Healer.
Thursday
Failure is an event. Never a person! 2.0
This term, I personally inserted, for the first time, an "introspection device" at our quizzes. If you honestly and truly saw who you are and what the environment gives, then it is a matter of knowing "what to do?" and "how to do it?".
These two are different things. Even if our "what to do" is the right call, but if we did not complement it with the appropriate "how to do it?", then, it is still a learning experience.
I know it is painful when that happens. I have my share of that too. And here's the thing, all is not lost. We may never be able to change the past but we can definitely create a different future. Wallow in the pain and get the most out of it then move on!
To those whose name will not be here - failure is an event; never a person!
To the following people, I hope what you got is not only a grade but an added knowledge of who you are when the whole system made an effort to be as transparent, honest, fair and the feedback is immediate.
OK
Anne
Nang
Dei
Xela
Superkid
Fufu
Pink
Pigie
Secret
Jeff
Kuki
Angelica
Christine
Uyan, Aaron James B.
CA
Mamoy
Lucky
It was a privilege to be part of your journey. I hope you learned from our class as much as I have learned from it.
God speed.
"... why think like mere men?"
These two are different things. Even if our "what to do" is the right call, but if we did not complement it with the appropriate "how to do it?", then, it is still a learning experience.
I know it is painful when that happens. I have my share of that too. And here's the thing, all is not lost. We may never be able to change the past but we can definitely create a different future. Wallow in the pain and get the most out of it then move on!
To those whose name will not be here - failure is an event; never a person!
To the following people, I hope what you got is not only a grade but an added knowledge of who you are when the whole system made an effort to be as transparent, honest, fair and the feedback is immediate.
OK
Anne
Nang
Dei
Xela
Superkid
Fufu
Pink
Pigie
Secret
Jeff
Kuki
Angelica
Christine
Uyan, Aaron James B.
CA
Mamoy
Lucky
It was a privilege to be part of your journey. I hope you learned from our class as much as I have learned from it.
God speed.
"... why think like mere men?"
Wednesday
failure is an event never a person
Five did not make the cut.
Three ladies and two gentlemen.
To Mamoy and Lucky, you may rejoice = )
Will give a full account tomorrow.
Three ladies and two gentlemen.
To Mamoy and Lucky, you may rejoice = )
Will give a full account tomorrow.
Saturday
My first Christmas carol for 2009
It was actually last Saturday night, 28 June. I did not recognize it at first. I only realized it was a Christmas carol because I caught myself singing it = )
"Do you hear what I hear?"
How time really flies? Half of the year is over. And I am nearing another birthday = )
This year, as someone who has first hand knowledge of what it is to perform in front of a paying audience, I was saddened when Francis M moved on. And now, Michael Jackson.
Here's the thing I am the type of a person who really appreciate Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and the Beatles. I have, at least, two albums of these artists in my laptop's playlist. I guess, I am one of those who can appreciate the artist and the genius no matter what era they belong in.
But Michael was different.
I have danced to his songs on our street and on school programs when I was a little boy. Billie Jean, Beat it and Thriller was common staple for 5-8 year olds.
I did not know Michael as a genius, first, like I did with Frank, Elvis and the Beatles. I danced to his music first. And who could forget the MTV of Billie Jean with that floor lighting up as he step on them. How about the precisely choreographed fight scene of Beat it and of course the red jacket and the zombies of Thriller.
I only arrived at the conclusion that he was a genius because he won so many Grammys. Then, I found out that he was this boy who sang Ben = )
So much has been said about Michael Jackson, Jacko to the British, but one thing is certain. He is a genius. An icon. The ultimate performer. After him, everybody is a copycat. A far second. It was the same for the acts that followed Frank, Elvis and The Beatles.
Michael Jackson has to surface and bring the music to a different place. Neyo, Justin Timberlake, Usher and Chris Brown, watch their MTVs and their live performances and then see the live performance of Michael on youtube and you will see that these contemporary artists ripped a page off from Michael Jackson's book.
The sad tale of Michael Jackson is that "Michael Jackson the artist" grew so fast that the "Michael Jackson the human being" had to play catch up and we termed this act of catching up as eccentricities and sold billion worth of stories. True or not, it does not matter now. He is gone.
I will be playing his songs tonight in my room and I will be transported back to my childhood, a time when Michael Jackson was this man who glides on the stage, moonwalking...
How time really flies?
"Do you hear what I hear?"
"Do you hear what I hear?"
How time really flies? Half of the year is over. And I am nearing another birthday = )
This year, as someone who has first hand knowledge of what it is to perform in front of a paying audience, I was saddened when Francis M moved on. And now, Michael Jackson.
Here's the thing I am the type of a person who really appreciate Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and the Beatles. I have, at least, two albums of these artists in my laptop's playlist. I guess, I am one of those who can appreciate the artist and the genius no matter what era they belong in.
But Michael was different.
I have danced to his songs on our street and on school programs when I was a little boy. Billie Jean, Beat it and Thriller was common staple for 5-8 year olds.
I did not know Michael as a genius, first, like I did with Frank, Elvis and the Beatles. I danced to his music first. And who could forget the MTV of Billie Jean with that floor lighting up as he step on them. How about the precisely choreographed fight scene of Beat it and of course the red jacket and the zombies of Thriller.
I only arrived at the conclusion that he was a genius because he won so many Grammys. Then, I found out that he was this boy who sang Ben = )
So much has been said about Michael Jackson, Jacko to the British, but one thing is certain. He is a genius. An icon. The ultimate performer. After him, everybody is a copycat. A far second. It was the same for the acts that followed Frank, Elvis and The Beatles.
Michael Jackson has to surface and bring the music to a different place. Neyo, Justin Timberlake, Usher and Chris Brown, watch their MTVs and their live performances and then see the live performance of Michael on youtube and you will see that these contemporary artists ripped a page off from Michael Jackson's book.
The sad tale of Michael Jackson is that "Michael Jackson the artist" grew so fast that the "Michael Jackson the human being" had to play catch up and we termed this act of catching up as eccentricities and sold billion worth of stories. True or not, it does not matter now. He is gone.
I will be playing his songs tonight in my room and I will be transported back to my childhood, a time when Michael Jackson was this man who glides on the stage, moonwalking...
How time really flies?
"Do you hear what I hear?"
Friday
10 years after
The last corporate job I had was in the Information Technology industry. And it was also during this time when I was finishing my graduate thesis. Thus, I read and wrote a lot about this industry. It was really an education for me. I caught this industry at the height of its glamorous and voracious appetite of venture capitalist money and its eventual fundamental shift.
It was also around this time when Japan, represented by NTT-DoCoMo, was reaping the rewards of being the first to push towards a truly 3G technology for mobile phones. Their technology was called W-CDMA. The Americans and the Europeans played around with WAP for awhile but eventually abandoned it.
This was news at the turn of the millennium. Its "10 years after" moment is today.
Now the technology that was enjoyed by the Japanese, for a decade now, has been slowly creeping in the Philippine shores. Not that we are late. The caution is understandable. If it is a new technology, telecommunication businesses like Globe and Smart, must really play the wait and see card. They have to wait and see the maturity of the technology. After all, investment on it is not cheap = )
Then of course, you have Intel's WiFi and WiMax.
These technologies is hidden in the guises of Smart-Bro and Globe-Tattoo. And then of course, my own personal favorite application, Globe-Duo.
Connectivity is really in overdrive.
Now, if only we can only reap the benefits that these technologies offers. But that's another story. Calling on the Industrial Engineers and Engineering Managers of world. Time to dig in and look for ways = )
"... why think like mere men?"
It was also around this time when Japan, represented by NTT-DoCoMo, was reaping the rewards of being the first to push towards a truly 3G technology for mobile phones. Their technology was called W-CDMA. The Americans and the Europeans played around with WAP for awhile but eventually abandoned it.
This was news at the turn of the millennium. Its "10 years after" moment is today.
Now the technology that was enjoyed by the Japanese, for a decade now, has been slowly creeping in the Philippine shores. Not that we are late. The caution is understandable. If it is a new technology, telecommunication businesses like Globe and Smart, must really play the wait and see card. They have to wait and see the maturity of the technology. After all, investment on it is not cheap = )
Then of course, you have Intel's WiFi and WiMax.
These technologies is hidden in the guises of Smart-Bro and Globe-Tattoo. And then of course, my own personal favorite application, Globe-Duo.
Connectivity is really in overdrive.
Now, if only we can only reap the benefits that these technologies offers. But that's another story. Calling on the Industrial Engineers and Engineering Managers of world. Time to dig in and look for ways = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Monday
a nest, a lance and the letter "S"
They wanted to market mango wine.
I had my doubts but they insisted. I saw passion. So, I let them be.
If there's something I learned about advising research studies, it is simply this - do not stand in the way of curiosity and fire. Just give it direction and help the researchers to focus and discipline their thinking. It is easier to fan the fire than to start one.
But it all came down to a halt. The current technology in making mango wine has not got around the short shelf life hump. So we move on to other things.
In the confusing days that ensued, in one of our consultation huddle, an idea found the three musketeers. Apparently, the families of Nesty and of Ess were into farming. Nesty, the son a mayor, was even asked by the father to look for better ways to use the arable lands of their town. With that, things got really interesting. Exciting. The exchange of ideas and reports came in very fast.
From the initial idea of finding the best use of a hectare of land in Nueva Ecija, it was further refined to optimal mix of secondary crops.
This whole experience was a privilege for me. I honestly saw Lance, Nesty and Ess finally exude the maturity of being men. They owned up. I am proud to have been a part of their journey.
From the academic point of view, it was fresh to see the effect of using Industrial Engineering tools to age old farming. Using Expert's Choice to aid farmers what crops to plant after the rice have been harvested. To see the decision variables the three gentlemen considered to arrive at their conclusion only showed me that they are geniuses of farming. I just hope they know and do not forget this.
To the three gentlemen, there's a reason why your research study was chosen to represent our school in research colloquium. Your work is that good.
I know you enjoyed college so much that you stayed a bit longer but that's in the past now. Today is different. And tomorrow is something you can build. Know that any moment is a moment where you can change everything. The question is - will you decide to change?
I am proud of you, guys.
"... why think like mere men?"
I had my doubts but they insisted. I saw passion. So, I let them be.
If there's something I learned about advising research studies, it is simply this - do not stand in the way of curiosity and fire. Just give it direction and help the researchers to focus and discipline their thinking. It is easier to fan the fire than to start one.
But it all came down to a halt. The current technology in making mango wine has not got around the short shelf life hump. So we move on to other things.
In the confusing days that ensued, in one of our consultation huddle, an idea found the three musketeers. Apparently, the families of Nesty and of Ess were into farming. Nesty, the son a mayor, was even asked by the father to look for better ways to use the arable lands of their town. With that, things got really interesting. Exciting. The exchange of ideas and reports came in very fast.
From the initial idea of finding the best use of a hectare of land in Nueva Ecija, it was further refined to optimal mix of secondary crops.
This whole experience was a privilege for me. I honestly saw Lance, Nesty and Ess finally exude the maturity of being men. They owned up. I am proud to have been a part of their journey.
From the academic point of view, it was fresh to see the effect of using Industrial Engineering tools to age old farming. Using Expert's Choice to aid farmers what crops to plant after the rice have been harvested. To see the decision variables the three gentlemen considered to arrive at their conclusion only showed me that they are geniuses of farming. I just hope they know and do not forget this.
To the three gentlemen, there's a reason why your research study was chosen to represent our school in research colloquium. Your work is that good.
I know you enjoyed college so much that you stayed a bit longer but that's in the past now. Today is different. And tomorrow is something you can build. Know that any moment is a moment where you can change everything. The question is - will you decide to change?
I am proud of you, guys.
"... why think like mere men?"
Sunday
research work as a differentiation strategy
I have been facilitating strategic planning and management class both for the undergraduate and the graduate studies for more than six years now. I enjoy facilitating this class very much. It never fails to transport me, at the very least, to a different plane of awareness.
These past few weeks, my undergraduate class were discussing the classic generic strategies. One of the students asked a highly practical question - how does the study of the generic strategies help in landing a job?
I could have given the usual answer but I sensed that this student was honestly asking. I felt the humility and the openness. So, I gave a little something for the class.
I asked, "Who wants to land their first dream job?"
Some raised their hands. Others simply groaned and gave a sheepish smile. Actually, that was an asinine question. My bad = )
I said, "If you want to land your dream job, you have to offer something that the other applicants do not have?" To that, I received quizzical looks. Everybody, including the IEs in other schools, go through a similar curriculum. Thanks to CHED's technical panel = )
So being different, aside from grades, by simply finishing the program will not cut it.
"I know. All of you go through the same curriculum. And supposedly, the grades you received was to differentiate you. Well, it does but not in a way that's helpful," I joked, they laughed and I continued, "But you can differentiate yourself from the herd through your design courses. And since you are in IE302 already, you still have a few left. But I want you to seriously throw yourself to this possibility - research!"
"You see, doing research work will definitely differentiate one from the herd from the simple fact that we are attracted and curious to highly specific things. Curious about what might appear mundane to others but to our inner selves, highly revolutionary. And on top of that, this is the first step in becoming a highly paid guru. Serious. To me doing research work is simply the process, the apprenticeship one pays in becoming a highly paid guru. If you want to be a guru, do research." = )
I know that the usual rebuttal to this is that doing research is hard and that I want to finish my studies now. That line of thinking, is acceptable. Well, generic. That's why the probability of one having a generic job receiving a generic pay is almost 100% but we should be glad that it is not so because that curve is asymptotic = )
Serious, if you want to land your first dream job, do research. Yes, it will be difficult but it is supposed to be difficult. But because it is difficult, only few will do it. And since only few will do it, the price for doing it will be higher. Simple economics: when supply decreases and demand remains constant, prices goes up.
Trust me. This is the dynamic we all experience why we pay doctors professional fees for each consult. (If only that was true for professors too, I will be a billionaire by now...) Most especially when we talk to specialist like cardiovascular surgeon or a neurosurgeon. Remember the doctor, does not promise we will get healthy for sure. If all doctors promise that, they simply told you a lie. Remember they only swore to do no harm. And since, they swore to do no harm, one gets well = )
But that's not the point why we pay them so much money. We pay them so much money because they burned at least an additional 12 years of studying after college. Only few people will do that. If you simply wanted a job, you will not want to be a doctor = )
Think, doctors start to earn money when they are into their 30s. A time, when a usual college graduate have been working for more than a decade and probably raising a family. But because only few will want to become a doctor, and the fact that medical school is not cheap either, is the reason why we pay them with so much money when they help us. And how could one really put a price on saving lives. How silly of me = )
But serious, this is the same for research work. Only few will do this. And the benefit one gets from doing a research work in job hunting is that your resume will definitely be different because only a few will do it. Why? Because it is difficult. And that is the best part of it = )
Now, if only we can figure out what to research on that may interest your dream employer. Hmmm, I have a answer - why don't we do a research on it = )
"... why think like mere men?"
These past few weeks, my undergraduate class were discussing the classic generic strategies. One of the students asked a highly practical question - how does the study of the generic strategies help in landing a job?
I could have given the usual answer but I sensed that this student was honestly asking. I felt the humility and the openness. So, I gave a little something for the class.
I asked, "Who wants to land their first dream job?"
Some raised their hands. Others simply groaned and gave a sheepish smile. Actually, that was an asinine question. My bad = )
I said, "If you want to land your dream job, you have to offer something that the other applicants do not have?" To that, I received quizzical looks. Everybody, including the IEs in other schools, go through a similar curriculum. Thanks to CHED's technical panel = )
So being different, aside from grades, by simply finishing the program will not cut it.
"I know. All of you go through the same curriculum. And supposedly, the grades you received was to differentiate you. Well, it does but not in a way that's helpful," I joked, they laughed and I continued, "But you can differentiate yourself from the herd through your design courses. And since you are in IE302 already, you still have a few left. But I want you to seriously throw yourself to this possibility - research!"
"You see, doing research work will definitely differentiate one from the herd from the simple fact that we are attracted and curious to highly specific things. Curious about what might appear mundane to others but to our inner selves, highly revolutionary. And on top of that, this is the first step in becoming a highly paid guru. Serious. To me doing research work is simply the process, the apprenticeship one pays in becoming a highly paid guru. If you want to be a guru, do research." = )
I know that the usual rebuttal to this is that doing research is hard and that I want to finish my studies now. That line of thinking, is acceptable. Well, generic. That's why the probability of one having a generic job receiving a generic pay is almost 100% but we should be glad that it is not so because that curve is asymptotic = )
Serious, if you want to land your first dream job, do research. Yes, it will be difficult but it is supposed to be difficult. But because it is difficult, only few will do it. And since only few will do it, the price for doing it will be higher. Simple economics: when supply decreases and demand remains constant, prices goes up.
Trust me. This is the dynamic we all experience why we pay doctors professional fees for each consult. (If only that was true for professors too, I will be a billionaire by now...) Most especially when we talk to specialist like cardiovascular surgeon or a neurosurgeon. Remember the doctor, does not promise we will get healthy for sure. If all doctors promise that, they simply told you a lie. Remember they only swore to do no harm. And since, they swore to do no harm, one gets well = )
But that's not the point why we pay them so much money. We pay them so much money because they burned at least an additional 12 years of studying after college. Only few people will do that. If you simply wanted a job, you will not want to be a doctor = )
Think, doctors start to earn money when they are into their 30s. A time, when a usual college graduate have been working for more than a decade and probably raising a family. But because only few will want to become a doctor, and the fact that medical school is not cheap either, is the reason why we pay them with so much money when they help us. And how could one really put a price on saving lives. How silly of me = )
But serious, this is the same for research work. Only few will do this. And the benefit one gets from doing a research work in job hunting is that your resume will definitely be different because only a few will do it. Why? Because it is difficult. And that is the best part of it = )
Now, if only we can figure out what to research on that may interest your dream employer. Hmmm, I have a answer - why don't we do a research on it = )
"... why think like mere men?"
Saturday
youth power
What will happen if we unleash the creative juices and the youthful exuberance of a class of Industrial Engineers and Engineering Management students and challenge them to put it to use to improve the farm to market dynamics of the local produce of the entire Philippine farms?
How will the whole supply chain look like? How will the whole system behave? What will be the prices of the produce? Will it alleviate the poverty of the rural folks? Will they recommend new transportation infrastructure? Irrigation infrastructure? Will they be able to recalibrate what seeds to plant? What produce to farm? Will it change how farming is done? Will they be able to say, with certainty, this is the most optimum use of this land? And to that land, this?
I wonder with excitement = )
"... why think like mere men?"
How will the whole supply chain look like? How will the whole system behave? What will be the prices of the produce? Will it alleviate the poverty of the rural folks? Will they recommend new transportation infrastructure? Irrigation infrastructure? Will they be able to recalibrate what seeds to plant? What produce to farm? Will it change how farming is done? Will they be able to say, with certainty, this is the most optimum use of this land? And to that land, this?
I wonder with excitement = )
"... why think like mere men?"
the ultimate nba finals
The Big Diesel got traded to Cleveland to join King James this upcoming season. Interesting = )
What if LA Lakers, assuming they resign Ariza and Odom, make it to the NBA Finals 2010 and the Cavaliers is the team that comes out of the East instead of Magic or Celtics.
2010 NBA Finals will be far more interesting that what marketers had hope for on Kobe vs James 2009.
2010 NBA Finals will be about Kobe vs James-Shaq = )
THE ULTIMATE NBA FINALS = )
What if LA Lakers, assuming they resign Ariza and Odom, make it to the NBA Finals 2010 and the Cavaliers is the team that comes out of the East instead of Magic or Celtics.
2010 NBA Finals will be far more interesting that what marketers had hope for on Kobe vs James 2009.
2010 NBA Finals will be about Kobe vs James-Shaq = )
THE ULTIMATE NBA FINALS = )
Friday
assurance of learning
If there's one thing that the recent Bush Administration got absolutely right is for the education system of the United States to go the direction of Assurance of Learning. And because this is The United States of America, the whole world tends to follow her lead whether we like it or not = )
But this direction is good!
The story, apparently, was that the Bush Administration got concerned with the huge amount of money they were plowing into education over the years and was wandering what they got in return. So they asked, "What assurance will you, the education sector, give us that the students actually learned anything?"
Thus, the term Assurance of Learning = )
I like this. I think this shift in approach is a monumental one. It opens up a lot of layers and variables not usually considered when we think about the process of learning.
For learning facilitators, it is time to rethink, invent and get curious again about the devices we use in performing our very role in society = )
And the corporate world will benefit so much from this new mind-frame. Assurance of learning narrows the gap between the classroom and the boardroom.
Lord, renew the youthfulness, vitality and vigor of the learning facilitators. There is so much to do.
But this direction is good!
The story, apparently, was that the Bush Administration got concerned with the huge amount of money they were plowing into education over the years and was wandering what they got in return. So they asked, "What assurance will you, the education sector, give us that the students actually learned anything?"
Thus, the term Assurance of Learning = )
I like this. I think this shift in approach is a monumental one. It opens up a lot of layers and variables not usually considered when we think about the process of learning.
For learning facilitators, it is time to rethink, invent and get curious again about the devices we use in performing our very role in society = )
And the corporate world will benefit so much from this new mind-frame. Assurance of learning narrows the gap between the classroom and the boardroom.
Lord, renew the youthfulness, vitality and vigor of the learning facilitators. There is so much to do.
Wednesday
H1N1 Quarantine introspection
Mapua is on a quarantine.
I actually can't put a finger on my true feelings about this situation. Maybe it has to do with age. Maybe it is simply because, though I am still young compared to my parents, actually everyone is young compared to their parents = ), I am no longer a young man. Or whatever that means.
But I'll be honest, the rest is most welcome. At least I spend my rest running in the mornings = ) I like it very much to run when it's actually drizzling a bit.
Why? It is more dramatic and a very rich experience = ) I do not know if doctors would agree, or at least, if I get sick, I've kept their careers alive = ) But this is just being me. I like that I get my cardio exercise and then I get myself washed thoroughly. Physically, mentally and "spiritually".
I do not know what it is about rain, or getting wet for that matter, that gets me to look inside and take account of my life. Maybe it's biblical. I mean, God's presence has been represented through clouds and when we talk about baptism, water is involved.
This morning, while I was jogging, my mind rushed to the concept of perpetual growth - what is necessary for one to perpetually grow? This concept is not metaphysical. It is actually very practical and down right into the realm and science of economics.
We abhor (GDP). We love GDP growth. We were taught to think that expansion is good. I agree. But do we know what it takes to grow?
I was looking at my leg muscles. Due to the increased activity it has received over the past 6 years, it's strength has grown. Physically, it has grown. Got sculpted and acquired definition. That's good.
But what did happen before it reached this stage?
Kinetics and ergonomics will tell, that I actually destroyed my muscles everyday. And as my body healed itself, it grew = )
Living systems has a "funny" way of growing itself. It embraces destruction to grow.
If we are to juxtapose this living system fact with economics, then why are we complaining with all this destruction and pain when we are so into growth?
If we are to apply this to business, why would CEOs be wary when they see destruction if it is part of growth? I mean, they want growth, right? They want to be number 1, right?
But do I want to be number 1? Is that the reason why I run? Why I live with the constant pain on my legs? = )
I run because I actually enjoy running. And it helps that due to running, I can hold on to and enjoy the youthfulness of my ever getting old body as long as my body allows it and, hopefully, be a blessing to others.
As they say, live strong!
"... why think like mere men?"
Thank you Lord...
I actually can't put a finger on my true feelings about this situation. Maybe it has to do with age. Maybe it is simply because, though I am still young compared to my parents, actually everyone is young compared to their parents = ), I am no longer a young man. Or whatever that means.
But I'll be honest, the rest is most welcome. At least I spend my rest running in the mornings = ) I like it very much to run when it's actually drizzling a bit.
Why? It is more dramatic and a very rich experience = ) I do not know if doctors would agree, or at least, if I get sick, I've kept their careers alive = ) But this is just being me. I like that I get my cardio exercise and then I get myself washed thoroughly. Physically, mentally and "spiritually".
I do not know what it is about rain, or getting wet for that matter, that gets me to look inside and take account of my life. Maybe it's biblical. I mean, God's presence has been represented through clouds and when we talk about baptism, water is involved.
This morning, while I was jogging, my mind rushed to the concept of perpetual growth - what is necessary for one to perpetually grow? This concept is not metaphysical. It is actually very practical and down right into the realm and science of economics.
We abhor (GDP). We love GDP growth. We were taught to think that expansion is good. I agree. But do we know what it takes to grow?
I was looking at my leg muscles. Due to the increased activity it has received over the past 6 years, it's strength has grown. Physically, it has grown. Got sculpted and acquired definition. That's good.
But what did happen before it reached this stage?
Kinetics and ergonomics will tell, that I actually destroyed my muscles everyday. And as my body healed itself, it grew = )
Living systems has a "funny" way of growing itself. It embraces destruction to grow.
If we are to juxtapose this living system fact with economics, then why are we complaining with all this destruction and pain when we are so into growth?
If we are to apply this to business, why would CEOs be wary when they see destruction if it is part of growth? I mean, they want growth, right? They want to be number 1, right?
But do I want to be number 1? Is that the reason why I run? Why I live with the constant pain on my legs? = )
I run because I actually enjoy running. And it helps that due to running, I can hold on to and enjoy the youthfulness of my ever getting old body as long as my body allows it and, hopefully, be a blessing to others.
As they say, live strong!
"... why think like mere men?"
Thank you Lord...
Monday
hearing and learning
I am a learning facilitator. Facilitating the transfer of a broad array of content and knowledge to students of varying ages.
You see, a classroom, whether this is the old school type of classroom or a boardroom, is a universe. We know so little about how our brain works. How it process information, how it turns stimuli to knowledge, to memory, and how it uses this memory as it moves forward with life in the form of decisions and actions.
This is still a curious question up to now. A universe indeed! = )
We are still in pre-Magellan or pre-Columbus times when it comes understanding the brain and learning.
I say that because all the "training" materials out there is simply limited to activities a facilitator must do in front. But as to why one does what one does, this is still limited in research papers of far-flung academics or neuroscientists.
My curiosity primarily goes out to my school, now in a 10-day quarantine shutdown due to H1N1. You see my school has 10-week academic calendar. This structure is very easy to fault if one only embraces the convention about education. But to limit the curiosity to simply fault-finding is not my cup of tea.
Seriously, I see this 10-week structure as a way to reinvent.
At least, this situation really exposes that hearing the lesson is different from learning the lesson = )
Though, lesson coverage is easy to measure, it is still a long way-to-go when it comes to measuring the actual learning.
How would Google run a school then? = )
You see, a classroom, whether this is the old school type of classroom or a boardroom, is a universe. We know so little about how our brain works. How it process information, how it turns stimuli to knowledge, to memory, and how it uses this memory as it moves forward with life in the form of decisions and actions.
This is still a curious question up to now. A universe indeed! = )
We are still in pre-Magellan or pre-Columbus times when it comes understanding the brain and learning.
I say that because all the "training" materials out there is simply limited to activities a facilitator must do in front. But as to why one does what one does, this is still limited in research papers of far-flung academics or neuroscientists.
My curiosity primarily goes out to my school, now in a 10-day quarantine shutdown due to H1N1. You see my school has 10-week academic calendar. This structure is very easy to fault if one only embraces the convention about education. But to limit the curiosity to simply fault-finding is not my cup of tea.
Seriously, I see this 10-week structure as a way to reinvent.
At least, this situation really exposes that hearing the lesson is different from learning the lesson = )
Though, lesson coverage is easy to measure, it is still a long way-to-go when it comes to measuring the actual learning.
How would Google run a school then? = )
the greatest "compliment" I ever received
I texted,
"Just in case I forgot to tell you - you looked very pretty today!"
She replied,
"Our love keeps me pretty..."
I smiled...
I am speechless...
"Just in case I forgot to tell you - you looked very pretty today!"
She replied,
"Our love keeps me pretty..."
I smiled...
I am speechless...
muscles and fat
"Fat is easy to get but hard to lose; Muscles are hard to get but easy to lose!" = )
Wednesday
my morning battle with self
One of the things I love about running is the fact that I compete with myself. To be exact, with the Elisier who rather stay in bed and enjoy the morning cool.
I love the idea that I defeated the Elisier who did not want to run this morning = )
I also love the idea that all you need to do this activity is a pair of running shoes and the road. But that's just me.
And I thank God, He showed me this joy...
I love the idea that I defeated the Elisier who did not want to run this morning = )
I also love the idea that all you need to do this activity is a pair of running shoes and the road. But that's just me.
And I thank God, He showed me this joy...
Monday
romanian
It happened again.
This afternoon, a couple, a Romanian lady married to a Fil-Canadian gentleman, dropped by Imaj to have their file taken.
The whole staff got really curious when we found out that the Romanian lady, been staying in our country for 5 years, really loves the Philippines. In fact, she prefers to stay in the Philippines for the good eleven months of a year. When pressed for details, she quipped - "... the Filipinos, themselves."
"I still have to see a really down trodden Filipino. Yes, I have met really poor Filipinos already but I find it wonderful that they can genuinely smile in spite and despite of their circumstances. People are really nice here. I mean, what's not to love about your country? I got friends who have traveled around the world and tell me that if they can stay in one country forever, they will always choose the Philippines!"
I manage to smile when I heard that.
I was blessed.
Sometimes we need to hear these things from strangers, foreigners. I mean, what have you heard about the Philippines lately? Con-Ass? H1N1? Erap running for President? 94 million Filipinos? Poverty level? Literacy level?
We are indeed a race of beautiful people! Bow! = )
Maybe that's it. Maybe we really do not know that we are indeed a race of beautiful people that's why we treat each other really ugly...
"... why think like mere men?"
This afternoon, a couple, a Romanian lady married to a Fil-Canadian gentleman, dropped by Imaj to have their file taken.
The whole staff got really curious when we found out that the Romanian lady, been staying in our country for 5 years, really loves the Philippines. In fact, she prefers to stay in the Philippines for the good eleven months of a year. When pressed for details, she quipped - "... the Filipinos, themselves."
"I still have to see a really down trodden Filipino. Yes, I have met really poor Filipinos already but I find it wonderful that they can genuinely smile in spite and despite of their circumstances. People are really nice here. I mean, what's not to love about your country? I got friends who have traveled around the world and tell me that if they can stay in one country forever, they will always choose the Philippines!"
I manage to smile when I heard that.
I was blessed.
Sometimes we need to hear these things from strangers, foreigners. I mean, what have you heard about the Philippines lately? Con-Ass? H1N1? Erap running for President? 94 million Filipinos? Poverty level? Literacy level?
We are indeed a race of beautiful people! Bow! = )
Maybe that's it. Maybe we really do not know that we are indeed a race of beautiful people that's why we treat each other really ugly...
"... why think like mere men?"
on running
I run for 45 minutes, at least, three times in a week that's why when I saw a novel about running, my interest was piqued = )
This one is so true. I get this "running one-liner" on a lot of levels - PAIN IS INEVITABLE BUT SUFFERING IS A CHOICE!
Just try it. Run. By the time you are in your 20th minute, your body will say something to you = ) But to suffer in that moment is actually a choice.
I get it.
This is also so true for life.
"... on this earth you will have pain..."
This one is so true. I get this "running one-liner" on a lot of levels - PAIN IS INEVITABLE BUT SUFFERING IS A CHOICE!
Just try it. Run. By the time you are in your 20th minute, your body will say something to you = ) But to suffer in that moment is actually a choice.
I get it.
This is also so true for life.
"... on this earth you will have pain..."
Wednesday
brazilian
Imaj.
That's the name of the talent agency I am given the privilege of managing. We provide talents, to be exact, commercial models, for TV and print ads.
A painfully funny thing happened this afternoon.
A world renowned talent agency with a regional office in Singapore, had a chat with us. This man is British.
He said that he can not understand how come most Philippine talent agencies presents him with Brazilian models when he is in fact looking for models here in the Philippines. He said, if he was looking for Brazilian models, he will call their office in Brazil. He continued and was curious to find out what were these Filipino talent agency owners thinking when they presented him with Brazilian models?
What do you think were they thinking?
As for us, we could only painfully smile.
Are we so confused and so unloving of ourselves that we can not see the beauty of the Filipino race?
Do we have to be fair and foreign looking to be beautiful? Why is it that in our society, one has to be mestiza or mestizo to be considered beautiful or handsome?
Why do we prefer the half-breeds than the full blooded Filipino?
I mean, if we were buying a dog - are we going to pay more for a half-breed than a full breed? Are you going to pay more for a half-blood German shepherd than a full-blood German shepherd?
Do not get me wrong. I do not hate mestizas and mestizos. I just hate that we look upon ourselves so low that we always assume the imports are always better.
"... you are wonderfully and fearfully made!"
That's the name of the talent agency I am given the privilege of managing. We provide talents, to be exact, commercial models, for TV and print ads.
A painfully funny thing happened this afternoon.
A world renowned talent agency with a regional office in Singapore, had a chat with us. This man is British.
He said that he can not understand how come most Philippine talent agencies presents him with Brazilian models when he is in fact looking for models here in the Philippines. He said, if he was looking for Brazilian models, he will call their office in Brazil. He continued and was curious to find out what were these Filipino talent agency owners thinking when they presented him with Brazilian models?
What do you think were they thinking?
As for us, we could only painfully smile.
Are we so confused and so unloving of ourselves that we can not see the beauty of the Filipino race?
Do we have to be fair and foreign looking to be beautiful? Why is it that in our society, one has to be mestiza or mestizo to be considered beautiful or handsome?
Why do we prefer the half-breeds than the full blooded Filipino?
I mean, if we were buying a dog - are we going to pay more for a half-breed than a full breed? Are you going to pay more for a half-blood German shepherd than a full-blood German shepherd?
Do not get me wrong. I do not hate mestizas and mestizos. I just hate that we look upon ourselves so low that we always assume the imports are always better.
"... you are wonderfully and fearfully made!"
Monday
notorious
Watched Notorious yesterday with Beb at Greenbelt 3.
Rap was an acquired taste for me. Aerosmith and Run DMC introduced it to me with their song "Walk this way" and Eminem reminded me of that musical leanings when he blasted everyone with "I am".
But what I can't understand about the Rap scene is the way violence is glorified that it spilled over to reality. By that I mean, why did artists like Tupac and Notorious got killed, gunned down to be more exact, in the 90s?
I just didn't get it until I saw the movie.
In one poignant scene, D-Rock, a childhood friend of BIG, who just got out of prison, said, "... the reason why we are what we are, as men, is because there was no one around to show us what it means to be a man. We have to figure it out by ourselves."
And I understood.
You see. Men, by design, will always fight. Our physical strength needs expression. And the usual expression is a fight. A battle. Ever wander, why men always loved action movies? Dreamt of having a light saber and be a jedi? Have these illusions of grandeur. Taken by such line like, "... what we do in life echoes in eternity!"
That, whatever that is, is in us. Because we are men.
But to fight for a purpose, like to protect what is beautiful and pure, though inscribed in our souls too, men had to learn that from other men. Older men had to teach young men how to do that. Older men had to teach younger men how to be a MAN. That is why having an involved father is very important to a son. A son learns manhood from his father.
It also goes to show that when we see struggling men in a 'father' role, it only goes to show how limited is the manhood lessons he received from his own father.
We, as men, are indeed our father's son.
But does that mean that men who grew up without a constant presence of a father is doomed for life?
No.
That's why there is what we call - salvation = )
Our earthly fathers, even if they are really great ones, have limitations and their limitations apparently, intelligently and wonderfully leads us to Him = )
In each one of us, there is this 'switch', this moment, that moment where you ask - is this all there is?
That is His imprint in us. That is His reminder to us that we really do not belong to this fallen world and that we belong to a place that's perfect.
Now, if you did not have a man to tell you that truth, then you will try to fill that void with a lot of things. Wrong things. Women. Power. Money. And in the end, all of these will always be found wanting.
Just as BIG did it.
Father, I am raising up the one reading this blog (that's you), may he finally realize that You have been waiting for him/her to talk to You right at this very moment = )
Rap was an acquired taste for me. Aerosmith and Run DMC introduced it to me with their song "Walk this way" and Eminem reminded me of that musical leanings when he blasted everyone with "I am".
But what I can't understand about the Rap scene is the way violence is glorified that it spilled over to reality. By that I mean, why did artists like Tupac and Notorious got killed, gunned down to be more exact, in the 90s?
I just didn't get it until I saw the movie.
In one poignant scene, D-Rock, a childhood friend of BIG, who just got out of prison, said, "... the reason why we are what we are, as men, is because there was no one around to show us what it means to be a man. We have to figure it out by ourselves."
And I understood.
You see. Men, by design, will always fight. Our physical strength needs expression. And the usual expression is a fight. A battle. Ever wander, why men always loved action movies? Dreamt of having a light saber and be a jedi? Have these illusions of grandeur. Taken by such line like, "... what we do in life echoes in eternity!"
That, whatever that is, is in us. Because we are men.
But to fight for a purpose, like to protect what is beautiful and pure, though inscribed in our souls too, men had to learn that from other men. Older men had to teach young men how to do that. Older men had to teach younger men how to be a MAN. That is why having an involved father is very important to a son. A son learns manhood from his father.
It also goes to show that when we see struggling men in a 'father' role, it only goes to show how limited is the manhood lessons he received from his own father.
We, as men, are indeed our father's son.
But does that mean that men who grew up without a constant presence of a father is doomed for life?
No.
That's why there is what we call - salvation = )
Our earthly fathers, even if they are really great ones, have limitations and their limitations apparently, intelligently and wonderfully leads us to Him = )
In each one of us, there is this 'switch', this moment, that moment where you ask - is this all there is?
That is His imprint in us. That is His reminder to us that we really do not belong to this fallen world and that we belong to a place that's perfect.
Now, if you did not have a man to tell you that truth, then you will try to fill that void with a lot of things. Wrong things. Women. Power. Money. And in the end, all of these will always be found wanting.
Just as BIG did it.
Father, I am raising up the one reading this blog (that's you), may he finally realize that You have been waiting for him/her to talk to You right at this very moment = )
caramoan
that's a place
a place?
where?
in the Philippines
in the Philippines?
yes, in the Philippines.
so?
well, heard of The Survivor Series?
yes. so?
well, that's where the French version of the series is shooting.
really? weh?
= )
serious?
serious.
= )
why don't you Google it and find out.
= )
that's the way forward...
My point - why does it take foreigners to help us see how beautiful Philippines is? Why do we prefer to buy a new mobile phone, that gets old after a few months, rather than explore the Philippines and see how beautiful our land is?
What's more important - having a new phone or having a new sense and pride that the Philippines is beautiful. That Filipinos live in a beautiful land. That Filipinos are blessed. That Filipinos are, indeed, beautiful.
"... and dayuhan ay nahalina."
a place?
where?
in the Philippines
in the Philippines?
yes, in the Philippines.
so?
well, heard of The Survivor Series?
yes. so?
well, that's where the French version of the series is shooting.
really? weh?
= )
serious?
serious.
= )
why don't you Google it and find out.
= )
that's the way forward...
My point - why does it take foreigners to help us see how beautiful Philippines is? Why do we prefer to buy a new mobile phone, that gets old after a few months, rather than explore the Philippines and see how beautiful our land is?
What's more important - having a new phone or having a new sense and pride that the Philippines is beautiful. That Filipinos live in a beautiful land. That Filipinos are blessed. That Filipinos are, indeed, beautiful.
"... and dayuhan ay nahalina."
light
most of the times
to see the Light
the whole world
must be dark first
and for those
who thinks that
the Light they carry
is feeble...
know
that feeblest of Light
shines the brightest
in the darkest of times.
to see the Light
the whole world
must be dark first
and for those
who thinks that
the Light they carry
is feeble...
know
that feeblest of Light
shines the brightest
in the darkest of times.
Saturday
hero
Nobody wants to be the hero yet everybody loves a hero.
But if you want to be the hero because you want to be loved, then you are not a hero. You simply missed the point = )
To be a hero is to be alone.
To be a hero is to suffer.
To be hero means to stand for what is right and good.
To be hero means to fight against what is wrong and evil.
To be a hero is to bleed.
To be a hero is to be criticized.
To be a hero is to be abused.
To be a hero is a "thankless job"
Being a hero is not about "self"
... it is about "others"
To be a hero is to kill oneself so that others may have a better chance to life...
There will be no accolades in your lifetime...
One becomes a hero when one is dead.
When you can not influence what they will say about you.
If you don't get that...
and struggles to understand it...
... congratulations.
Life has given you this opportunity and enrolled you to a class called HERO101 = )
And your "grade" will be known by what others say about you... and by 'others', we mean people you do not know right now...
What would 'others' say about you in secret?
In whispers and in murmurs?
What would 'others' find when 'others' are faced with the same dilemma that you are going through right now? Will they find strength and inspiration? Will they find light? Will they say that you were different? That you were a light amidst the darkness of comfort?
"... unless a kernel of wheat dies and falls..."
But if you want to be the hero because you want to be loved, then you are not a hero. You simply missed the point = )
To be a hero is to be alone.
To be a hero is to suffer.
To be hero means to stand for what is right and good.
To be hero means to fight against what is wrong and evil.
To be a hero is to bleed.
To be a hero is to be criticized.
To be a hero is to be abused.
To be a hero is a "thankless job"
Being a hero is not about "self"
... it is about "others"
To be a hero is to kill oneself so that others may have a better chance to life...
There will be no accolades in your lifetime...
One becomes a hero when one is dead.
When you can not influence what they will say about you.
If you don't get that...
and struggles to understand it...
... congratulations.
Life has given you this opportunity and enrolled you to a class called HERO101 = )
And your "grade" will be known by what others say about you... and by 'others', we mean people you do not know right now...
What would 'others' say about you in secret?
In whispers and in murmurs?
What would 'others' find when 'others' are faced with the same dilemma that you are going through right now? Will they find strength and inspiration? Will they find light? Will they say that you were different? That you were a light amidst the darkness of comfort?
"... unless a kernel of wheat dies and falls..."
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