This is post is really nothing much. Just to let you know that it was my 22nd birthday last September 20. Yup, I'm 22 and should probably start acting like one. :p Anyway, my sincerest thanks to all you you guys you spent the time to greet me. You're emails, text messages, Friendster messages, YM messages and the other forms of greeting you did are very much appreciated.
Thanks to my family most of all for the time they spent with me when I took my leave to go home. Though short, it was special.
Thanks to the guys at the office for the cake. It was the best... I could have eaten the entire thing!
To those who may probably be expecting some sort of free meal... Let me earn back the money I spent during my vacation. I am close to broke right now... :)
As for me, I guess its another full year to look forward to. Wish me luck!
Monday, September 25, 2006
Monday, September 18, 2006
Filipino Pride
I could not help but reposting this email I got from one of my groups. I just had a friend back over from Japan and he has sort of talked about how low other nations think about us as Filipinos! In fact, the Bangladeshi's are a prouder race than we are even we know as a fact that they are poorer. A sad truth but not one that we can't do anything about. For my part, reposting this is a start. I will be proud of being a Filipino everywhere I am in the world because, honestly, if I were the person below, you would have talked back to the guard...
-----------
I've been forwarned, the French are snobs.
When I alighted the plane from the Business Class section, we were told to line up to have our passports checked. I presented to the French Lady Guard my passport and my Business-Premiere Boarding pass for Mexico. She asked if I had papers for my Mexican trip (aside from the Mexican Visa on my passport). As I motioned to retrieve some papers from my bag, she told me to stand in one corner and wait for her. So I did.
I thought she would attend to me shortly after that, instead she finishedlooking at the passports of all passengers before she attended to those who were standing "at the corner"
My eyes scanned through the folks they set aside: Me, another Pinoy guy flying to the US from France,1 Chinese Girl, 1 Chinese guy on his way to Mexico and 1 Vietnamese lady. The Chinese girl had a French companion who talked to the guard, but the French companion was met with "You go, she stay". And so the French Companion left her Chinese friend, with the assurance that she'd wait for her by the Escalators.
Racial Discrimination is really the most stupid thing of all. Discrimination, in itself is bad, but when people discriminate against education attainment or status to choose a job, whereby a specific skill is required, you can probably be more understanding. But to sort people just by the way they look is really, really stupid.
Normally, I'd get pissed. But I was too tired. Besides I had a 4-hr lead time before my next flight. It was also interesting to see the widely regarded European Superiority Complex happening before my very eyes.
I thought. Hey the White Guy in tourist class had so many tattoos but he wasn't questioned. That other white dude in trashy clothes went through without hassle. They don't block black folks too cause there are black French and Americans-- they may be citizens of affluent countries. But oh... the yellows and browns...they are all poor.
Maybe they just want to sneak into Paris to be domestic helpers. Forget that she purchased an expensive ticket or that she's wearing a plush trench coat. Maybe they'll fly business class to Mexico so they can cross the border and get to the USA. She's brown and she deserves to stand in the corner.
So she bugs the browns and yellows for papers. The Viatnamese girl didn't speak English well. So the Guard was irritated. She increased the volume of her voice: "Paper! Paper!" Frustrated, the guard turns to me and asks
"You speak English?"
I was tempted to say, Way better than you do. But instead I replied with a simple "Yes."
She proceeds: "Why are you going to Mexico?"
Duh? What's in it to you anyway? I'm not going to France. I'll just use your airport. Besides the Mexican Consul already deemed me fit to enter their
country and granted me a visa so bug off! I didn't say that, of course. I just said: "I have a series of meetings in Latin America. Here's my email
correspondence with Coca-Cola Mexico. That's my itinerary for South America. And this is my company ID. I work for The Coca-Cola Company. You can call
Coca-Cola Mexico yourself if you like. The phone number is there"
Stunned, but still unwilling to humble herself, the lady guard asked: "What do you do for Coca-Cola?"
I swear I wanted to strangle her. Ano'ng pake mo? Di naman ako pupuntang France. But my better judgement told me to just pull-out my business card and hand it to her. The business card said: National Consumer Marketing Manager. And I told her: "I handle Marketing Activities for Coca-Cola in my country". With that, she let me go, but she didn't apologize for the inconvenience she's caused me. I don't know what happened to the Vietnamese Girl anymore.
Then I remembered what Tito Tony (Meloto) said about being Filipino. It doesn't matter where you migrate and make more money than you would here in Pinas. It doesn't matter if you amass richess in the Philippines and have you face plastered all over Lifestyle Asia and Philippine Tatler. Everyday when you wake up and look at the mirror, it's the same brown Filipino Face that stares back at you. The same brown Filipino Face the world looks down on. Sure you may get away with it sometimes. But chances are, you, any one of your family or close friends will be asked to "Stand at the Corner" by some White folk who doesn't know anybody.
So it's not enough to just make ourselves better. We should help make the Brown Filipino Face look better, by making the FACE of the Philippine Nation better. Individual Sucesses of Pacquiao and Lea Salonga are not enough.
* We need to improve the way people look at us and our country -- right in our own home.
* Reduce the slums by helping make suitable homes and livelihood for them. Sacrifice that Venti Double Esspresso Cafe Mocha once a week.
* Improve the quality of the Filipino Workforce by not stopping at learning.
* Eliminate corruption by resisting the temptation to bribe MMDA officials and take responsibility for your traffic violations
* Do not slack at work and always strive to deliver excellent results
Why do Pinoys have to migrate to show that we are excellent, hardworking people? Why do we have to leave the country to know that we have the capacity to be disciplined?
We don't have to go anywhere. We can do it at home--THE PHILPPINES -- our home.
-----------
I've been forwarned, the French are snobs.
When I alighted the plane from the Business Class section, we were told to line up to have our passports checked. I presented to the French Lady Guard my passport and my Business-Premiere Boarding pass for Mexico. She asked if I had papers for my Mexican trip (aside from the Mexican Visa on my passport). As I motioned to retrieve some papers from my bag, she told me to stand in one corner and wait for her. So I did.
I thought she would attend to me shortly after that, instead she finishedlooking at the passports of all passengers before she attended to those who were standing "at the corner"
My eyes scanned through the folks they set aside: Me, another Pinoy guy flying to the US from France,1 Chinese Girl, 1 Chinese guy on his way to Mexico and 1 Vietnamese lady. The Chinese girl had a French companion who talked to the guard, but the French companion was met with "You go, she stay". And so the French Companion left her Chinese friend, with the assurance that she'd wait for her by the Escalators.
Racial Discrimination is really the most stupid thing of all. Discrimination, in itself is bad, but when people discriminate against education attainment or status to choose a job, whereby a specific skill is required, you can probably be more understanding. But to sort people just by the way they look is really, really stupid.
Normally, I'd get pissed. But I was too tired. Besides I had a 4-hr lead time before my next flight. It was also interesting to see the widely regarded European Superiority Complex happening before my very eyes.
I thought. Hey the White Guy in tourist class had so many tattoos but he wasn't questioned. That other white dude in trashy clothes went through without hassle. They don't block black folks too cause there are black French and Americans-- they may be citizens of affluent countries. But oh... the yellows and browns...they are all poor.
Maybe they just want to sneak into Paris to be domestic helpers. Forget that she purchased an expensive ticket or that she's wearing a plush trench coat. Maybe they'll fly business class to Mexico so they can cross the border and get to the USA. She's brown and she deserves to stand in the corner.
So she bugs the browns and yellows for papers. The Viatnamese girl didn't speak English well. So the Guard was irritated. She increased the volume of her voice: "Paper! Paper!" Frustrated, the guard turns to me and asks
"You speak English?"
I was tempted to say, Way better than you do. But instead I replied with a simple "Yes."
She proceeds: "Why are you going to Mexico?"
Duh? What's in it to you anyway? I'm not going to France. I'll just use your airport. Besides the Mexican Consul already deemed me fit to enter their
country and granted me a visa so bug off! I didn't say that, of course. I just said: "I have a series of meetings in Latin America. Here's my email
correspondence with Coca-Cola Mexico. That's my itinerary for South America. And this is my company ID. I work for The Coca-Cola Company. You can call
Coca-Cola Mexico yourself if you like. The phone number is there"
Stunned, but still unwilling to humble herself, the lady guard asked: "What do you do for Coca-Cola?"
I swear I wanted to strangle her. Ano'ng pake mo? Di naman ako pupuntang France. But my better judgement told me to just pull-out my business card and hand it to her. The business card said: National Consumer Marketing Manager. And I told her: "I handle Marketing Activities for Coca-Cola in my country". With that, she let me go, but she didn't apologize for the inconvenience she's caused me. I don't know what happened to the Vietnamese Girl anymore.
Then I remembered what Tito Tony (Meloto) said about being Filipino. It doesn't matter where you migrate and make more money than you would here in Pinas. It doesn't matter if you amass richess in the Philippines and have you face plastered all over Lifestyle Asia and Philippine Tatler. Everyday when you wake up and look at the mirror, it's the same brown Filipino Face that stares back at you. The same brown Filipino Face the world looks down on. Sure you may get away with it sometimes. But chances are, you, any one of your family or close friends will be asked to "Stand at the Corner" by some White folk who doesn't know anybody.
So it's not enough to just make ourselves better. We should help make the Brown Filipino Face look better, by making the FACE of the Philippine Nation better. Individual Sucesses of Pacquiao and Lea Salonga are not enough.
* We need to improve the way people look at us and our country -- right in our own home.
* Reduce the slums by helping make suitable homes and livelihood for them. Sacrifice that Venti Double Esspresso Cafe Mocha once a week.
* Improve the quality of the Filipino Workforce by not stopping at learning.
* Eliminate corruption by resisting the temptation to bribe MMDA officials and take responsibility for your traffic violations
* Do not slack at work and always strive to deliver excellent results
Why do Pinoys have to migrate to show that we are excellent, hardworking people? Why do we have to leave the country to know that we have the capacity to be disciplined?
We don't have to go anywhere. We can do it at home--THE PHILPPINES -- our home.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Rest in Peace
To those who didn't know them, here is a simple tribute to my pair of rubber shoes.
You spent your first day with me going through the grassland by the Marikina river in a game of paintball.
You accompanied me through my first and only jog around the UP Acad Oval.
You were there during my first gym class in UP as well as my first work out in Gold's.
You danced with me from practice all the way to the competition during Indakan 2003.
You climbed 2 mountains with me and almost survived the last.
Thanks for giving me your strength.
.jpg)
You spent your first day with me going through the grassland by the Marikina river in a game of paintball.
You accompanied me through my first and only jog around the UP Acad Oval.
You were there during my first gym class in UP as well as my first work out in Gold's.
You danced with me from practice all the way to the competition during Indakan 2003.
You climbed 2 mountains with me and almost survived the last.
Thanks for giving me your strength.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Pico de Loro - Conquered
Note: Pictures to follow.
Gone up Pico de Loro today with Kian, Martin, Mo and Gregg. Kian was the only person I know when the day started and I'm glad got the chance to meet the 3. They are good natured people and very friendly. People with beliefs and stand for them. I rarely find people like that.
Anyway, here is a run through of the things I realized during this experience:
1. Never ever NOT sleep before a climb. Don't drink, smoke and work a few hours before the ETD either.
2. Read the itinerary clearly. Prepare everything and make sure you do bring 2 liters of water when your asked to!
3. Rotting shoes will definitely give up when you push it to the limit. My poor shoes almost did not make it. Thanks to a good deal of plastic rope we found at the peak, my shoes survived the trip down.
4. Meeting new people is great! You learn a lot from them...
5. Pico de Loro means Parrot's beak and the peak indeed looked like a parrot's beak!
6. There are people who really work for a cause. Gregg works for WWF and I admire him for the being really passionate about it. He even know what each animal looks like. I saw a Lawin! (He confirmed it)
7. Not all people who speak straight English are intimidating and snobbish. Martin and Mo were very warm and friendly and their jokes and conversations are a ton of fun. I should have met them earlier.
8. Kian did not even get tired! I swear!
9. If your tired, wet and covered in mud, you would not mind water getting into your shoes. :p
10. I need to exercise more often if I am to go with Eric and Jan up Mt. Apo next year!
To sum, it was definitely an experience I would like to go all over again, except of course the shoes and water and food and sleep problems. I enjoyed getting wet due to the strong rain and I enjoyed not caring whether I am wet or not. The peak felt like pure bliss!
Can't wait for the next but for now, got to get read of the cramps in my entire body!
Friday, September 01, 2006
Till next time...
Yesterday, Vlam and Glenn resigned from HP. One to take over their family business while the other to pursue their career interests. Both great people, and both have helped me at some point in my HP life.
Glenn was my manager and he has helped me with the problems I have had with the application I own. He may be tough sometimes but I guess it comes with the job description. He has recognized even the smallest of my efforts to make a difference and to continuously improve on my performance.
Cheers to Glenn!
Vlam was friend and a buddy. Even in non work related activities, Vlam never fails to care and put in that extra mile for anyone. It will be hard to imagine the office without Vlam but I guess business must go on.
Vlam, we wish you all the best of luck and hope you don't forget us when you have extra cash to spend! God speed!
Glenn was my manager and he has helped me with the problems I have had with the application I own. He may be tough sometimes but I guess it comes with the job description. He has recognized even the smallest of my efforts to make a difference and to continuously improve on my performance.
Cheers to Glenn!
Vlam was friend and a buddy. Even in non work related activities, Vlam never fails to care and put in that extra mile for anyone. It will be hard to imagine the office without Vlam but I guess business must go on.
Vlam, we wish you all the best of luck and hope you don't forget us when you have extra cash to spend! God speed!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
React: Gonzalez: UP breeds destabilizers, naked runners
Wow! It's been 11 days since my last post and to think the last post was a forwarded email message! Well, I think it is about time to dust away the rust and cobwebs of this blog and start over again. :)
I received an email about an article in the Inquirer about Gonzalez talking that UP breeds destabilizers and naked runners. First thing that came into my mind was that "WTF?!" What the hell does he know about UP?
Anyway, after calming downa and rethinking, I decided that the best way to deal this tackle the issues he raised with objectivity. :p (naks!)
Here are 5 points that I am raising and I won't even try to destroy his person (even if there is so much of his person that is so easy to destroy).
1. The state is not paying for UP students schooling, its the tax payers.
2. World class education? We have no budget and no proof (see Top 500 Universities in the world) to say that we are getting world class education. We are getting the best education in the Philippines but not world class education.
3. UP students are at the forefront and that is what makes us UP students. It is because we owe it to the people who are actually schooling us to be aware, care about what's happening, and actually do something about it (I personally have to reach this part... :p ).
4. People running naked... so? Does it mean anything? What was the point of this point? :p
5. And YES, I do believe that UP people are the only ones who actually know how to run the country. :D
Oh, and by the way, its people like Mr. Gonzalez who is making the Madam look bad... :p hahaha! :p Did he know that his boss is from UP? :p
Just my thoughts though....
I received an email about an article in the Inquirer about Gonzalez talking that UP breeds destabilizers and naked runners. First thing that came into my mind was that "WTF?!" What the hell does he know about UP?
Anyway, after calming downa and rethinking, I decided that the best way to deal this tackle the issues he raised with objectivity. :p (naks!)
Here are 5 points that I am raising and I won't even try to destroy his person (even if there is so much of his person that is so easy to destroy).
1. The state is not paying for UP students schooling, its the tax payers.
2. World class education? We have no budget and no proof (see Top 500 Universities in the world) to say that we are getting world class education. We are getting the best education in the Philippines but not world class education.
3. UP students are at the forefront and that is what makes us UP students. It is because we owe it to the people who are actually schooling us to be aware, care about what's happening, and actually do something about it (I personally have to reach this part... :p ).
4. People running naked... so? Does it mean anything? What was the point of this point? :p
5. And YES, I do believe that UP people are the only ones who actually know how to run the country. :D
Oh, and by the way, its people like Mr. Gonzalez who is making the Madam look bad... :p hahaha! :p Did he know that his boss is from UP? :p
Just my thoughts though....
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Stress Busters
An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."
1. Pray.
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the "Kid in You" everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most.
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
1. Pray.
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the "Kid in You" everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most.
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
