The Present

"Everyday is a gift; which is why it is called The Present."

Birthday or not, everyday is something to be thankful to God for.  So I made it a practice to thank Him for every waking hour of my life---and not only during my birthday.

As soon as I open my eyes every morning is a brand new day!  Everyday is a PRESENT!  And then I look around and I immediately see all the special add ons to this I call MY LIFE:  my wife, my children, my family.  Of course there's also the fact that I wake up in the comfort of my bed with a roof over my head.  And then the rest of all that makes my life special come rolling in:  my friends, my work, the opportunities, even the challenges that come my way---especially those that makes me become a better person. 

Man, it has been 44 years since the day I first got myself a whiff of the goodness of being!

Life is always good!  It's just a matter of perspective.

Thank you Lord for LIFE!

KAYA-bangan

I was in a "life enrichment" session this morning to fulfill an HR requirement and our topic for the day was about Excellence.  We were talking about the IS and IS NOT of the value of EXCELLENCE when the word KAYA-bangan came out as an example of the former.  

When you say "kaya" it connotes a positive attitude towards challenges that come our way.  It has been our corporate value to always stand up in the face of adversity and continually challenge ourselves to go beyond what is expected of us.  Of course we were also taught to make sure that we deliver on our promise.  Unfortunately, there are some people who commit without thinking if such is achievable.  This is false promise or KAYA-bangan!  This is the problem when you commit to something without consulting those who are tasked to deliver it in terms of it's feasibility considering logistics and manpower. In certain instances, since "nagkasubuan na", it comes to the point where those who are to deliver the commitment are required to work odd and unreasonable hours that may not even guarantee success.  When this happens, the exercise becomes a waste of company resources and a potential issue for people unrest and attrition.  

Life Lessons from the Philippine Dragon Boat Team

I had the fortunate pleasure of hearing the Philippine Dragon Boat Team share their story of success during our corporate convention yesterday.  It was truly an inspiring account of perseverance and determination amidst seemingly insurmountable odds.  

Prior to winning the 2011 gold medal and setting world records for the small boat events that they won (total of 5 golds and 2 silvers), the team won the standard boat category in 2007 and 2009 of the biennial competition.  However, the chance for the team to defend this title was blown when the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission withdrew its support.  With no budget and no equipment, it was sheer miracle that the team  got a 12-man contingent to participate.  They did not even have their travel documents ready barely a week before the event.  According to the Dragon Warriors Coach Annabelle Tario, “With obstacle, you’re fired up to do better, to excel, to prove others wrong, and to tell people to trust Filipino athletes."  This epitomizes the resolve that the Dragon Warriors have in achieving their goals.  


Many of us quit the moment problems arises.  We're so encapsulated in our own comfort zones that it compromises our potential to succeed.  But as what we have learned with the Dragon Warriors' success story it is not enough that you have the dream.  It is important that that the dreamer has the HEART to succeed.  To do what needs to be done to achieve the goal, always at a ready to face adversity as a necessary obstacle to overcome and make you better.  But then, success does not stop there.  Success is remaining on top.  Winning after all is not a one time deal.  It is getting ahead of the competition and beating them every time.


The Dragon Warriors were at a big disadvantage when they competed in Florida.  They had no equipment. The paddles they used were junior size courtesy of the US team, they ate whatever their Filipino supporters provided and they were faced by a much bigger and stronger players.  But whatever they lacked in terms of equipment, size, and heft they made up for their overwhelming determination to WIN!  And they did win---in RECORD BREAKING STYLE!


Anything is possible if you put your mind into it.          

Everyday Lessons from Gloc9 and Daiana Meneses

I bumped into Aris "Gloc9" Pollisco and his lovely wife Teegi this morning at SM Hypermart and got to chit-chat while waiting our turn at the counter.  

Gloc9, together with Parokya ni Edgar, were in a successful North American tour a month ago.  For many of us from the outside looking in, it was a WOW thing.  It's like, "Wow!  Sarap nyo naman!  North American tour!" But what we do not know is how hard the life of an entertainer really is---show, travel, show, travel, show---barely able to rest and do anything else in order to fulfill the commitment to entertain.  Performing sick is part of the job hazard and as the entertainment saying goes, "The show must go on." 

Like Gloc9, Daiana Meneses is also living the seemingly glamorous life of an entertainer.  I saw her yesterday at the Bumper to Bumper Car Show and she seemed vibrant and accommodating amidst the suffocating mob of fans who either wanted her autograph or her picture.  I took a video of her http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBMTF2EC6qo&feature=youtu.be and posted it on her Facebook wall to which she graciously replied to with a short "kwento" as to the sleepless days of touring the different parts of the country prior to the event.  

These are people who we envy and look up to.  However, their life is not all that glamorous as we thought it is.  They are dedicated people making a living.  Many of us are like this except that we're only famous in our own little circle.  If we are envious of their fame, many of them crave for the simple life away from the kleig lights and public scrutiny.  Well, we are dealt with different hands in this game of life.  How we react to what we have is a matter of ATTITUDE.

Gloc9 and Daiana are good examples of people who love their work and are willing to go beyond the call of duty to make good in their craft.  Not only are they entertainers but also role models worth emulating.

My Baby is Now a Lady

I don't like surprises. I was under the impression that my role during Chesca's bday was only that of the photographer and all the speaking chores given to my wife, I was caught flat footed when called on to speak. I found it difficult to arrange my thoughts that time. For me, the event was a mixture of happiness and sadness. Happy because it was Chesca's birthday; sad, because she's baby no more. Naturally, what came out of my mouth was so incomprehensible I didn't understand me myself! Anyway, here's really what I wanted to say:

1. Keep your priorities straight. Life is all about achieving your goals. Know what you want and focus on accomplishing it.

2. Don't rush things. Everything will come in God's own time. Rushing into situations usually end up a disaster.

3. Always keep a POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Look at your life as HALF FULL and not HALF EMPTY. An old Persian proverb would say, "I cried a lot when I had no shoes and then I saw a man WITH NO FEET." The kind of attitude that you have will determine your future. There is littel difference in men; but that little difference can be a BIG difference. That little difference is ATTITUDE. The big difference is whether it's POSITIVE or NEGATIVE.

4. There is no SMALL TASK. Whether you are cleaning the sala, washing the dishes, or nagtutupi ka ng damit---everything should be done with INITIATIVE and accomplished with QUALITY. Making this a habit will give you the proper foundation for the corporate life.

5. Remember Newton's 1st Law of Motion: Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. In the quest of your goals failures will be there to derail your journey every once in a while. Learn from them. Each failure will tell you what NOT to do in the future.

6. Remember Newton's 3rd Law of Motion: For each action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In other words, all our actions have CONSEQUENCES. Choose your actions well. When in doubt---PRAY and God will show you the way. Make sure that when you decide on something you are ready to face the consequences. WALANG NAG SISISI SA UNA---LAGING SA HULI. In relation to this, ALWAYS DO GOOD TO OTHERS AND GOOD THINGS WILL COME BACK TO YOU. Sa mga wawalang hiya sa iyo and sasabihin mo lang e, "KARMA-KARMA lang yan!"

7. Always remember God. Thank Him for all the blessings He has given you---BIG and SMALL. God is everywhere so take each opportunity to pray.

You may be a lady now but YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MY BABY GIRL! HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHESCA! WE LOVE YOU! .

Graduation Message

Last March 28 marked a milestone in Chesca's life---her high school graduation! However, as I sat there listening to the valedictory speech, I was disappointed. The valedictory speech should inspire the other graduates to look forward to college life and dream big! Unfortunately, the speech focused more on reminiscing high school life and the thought of missing it after they've gone their separate ways. So let me impart my own graduation message to my daughter Chesca.

1. Have a VISION. Going to college without a vision is like sailing on a boat without a rudder! Know what you want and make it happen!

2. Be Persistent. College life will definitely not be an easy task. Challenges will surely present itself in every turn. As such, one must have a strong heart to hurdle the problems that may come your way.

3. Do not be afraid to fail. Failure is part of life. A person who does not have problems is already six feet under the ground. Treat failures as opportunities that you can learn from. Two important things you get to learn in failing: (1) you will know WHAT DOESN'T WORK; and, (2) failure gives you an opportunity to try A NEW APPROACH.

4. Do not waste time. Finish your course on time. As an old Chinese saying goes, "one ounce of of time is equivalent to one ounce of gold, but an ounce of gold will not be able to buy the ounce of time already passed." Among other things, we don't have the luxury of unlimitted resources for you to gallivant through college. Additional tip: LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF "OTHERS".

5. Hard work is more important than talent. Graduating with honors is not an INSTANT SUCCESS free card! I can name a number of honor students who failed to even graduate college. Talent alone will not guarantee success but hard work will.

6. Always think POSITIVELY. Positive thinking is the fuel for persistence. Always look at the brighter side. Accept circumstances that you don't have control over and make the best out of it.

7. Choose your friends well. "Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are." Friends have always been a big influence in all of our lives. Make sure that you pick them well.

8. Pray. Many people pray only during times of crisis. Don't be like that. Always keep God in your heart. Thank Him for all the blessings---great and small! Ask Him for guidance in all that needs deciding.

9. Walang nagsisisi sa huli! Regret always come in the end. Before making any major decision think first of the consequences. Make sure you will be able to live with whatever consequences your actions. Wala nang LIBRE ngayon!

Good luck and may the FORCE be with you!

PS
Yung isang picture na pinadala mo e di ko na linagay dito---seloso ako e!

Be Happy!

The most important component in finding true happiness is ACCEPTANCE.

This may seem to be a simple process but it is actually easier said than done. If you experience a nagging difficulty in any aspect of your life---it's likely that the cause of this problem is the failure to accept reality as it is.

There are certain things in life that we can change like job, address, haircut, girlfriend, boyfriend. However, there will be times when we cannot just change them on a whim. If you don't like your boss you don't just quit and say good riddance! Finding a job is hard nowadays. Your current house may not be as plush as you want it to be but do you have enough financial excess to move out and buy a new one? Or, you wanted to have a mohawk style hairdo but if you have a receding hairline like Bruce Willis there wouldn't be much hair to style. What I'm saying is---in order to be happy in life you should find contentment with what you have.

Resentment is a disease that eats up the soul! If you have an abundance of resentment in your heart there can never be room for happiness!

I cannot tell you what to do. All I can say is---IT'S NOT A GOOD FEELING TO BE RESENTFUL! So, I chose to be happy! Try it! You may find it worthwhile doing!