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?"
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..."
Friday
a tale of two cities
I am in one.
We are in one.
"It was the best of time, it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom,it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair..."
Before, we were assigned to read about this.
How does it feel, now, that we are in one such situation?
And the future that will walk the hallowed corridors of the journeys we took will read about what we have done...
What legacy will we leave behind?
What will they say about us?
Did we leave the world a much better place for everyone? Or only for someone?
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..."
We are in one.
"It was the best of time, it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom,it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair..."
Before, we were assigned to read about this.
How does it feel, now, that we are in one such situation?
And the future that will walk the hallowed corridors of the journeys we took will read about what we have done...
What legacy will we leave behind?
What will they say about us?
Did we leave the world a much better place for everyone? Or only for someone?
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..."
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