MEA CULPA

Yes, Vice, It's Truly a Good Night

2011-07-12T05:47:00.000-07:00

Grabe, tuwing gabi na akong humahalakhak sa bawat pagsubaybay ko sa bagong late night talk show ng dos, ang "Gandang Gabi Vice." Hindi katulad ng predecessor nitong Sharon na puro OA at wala sa hulmang pagtawa lang ni Mega ang pambenta, aba, ibang putahe ang handog ng pambansang kabayong si Vice Ganda: Perfect combination of singing, talk, jokes and lively audience participation. Para kang nasa comedy slash music bar! Talagang nakaka-destress.

The show starts with Vice singing. In all fairness, may talent yung komedyante. He can shift from full voice to falsetto with ease. Then, true to his character as a "host", he greets the audience, and the latter will greet back by cheering "Gandang Gabi Vice" as they stand on their feet. Pagkatapos, makikipaghuntahan ng kaunti si Vice sa audience sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanong ng kung anik anik, pero ang topic ay hindi naman masyadong lumalayo sa theme ng programa o sa mga guests nito sa gabing iyon. Dito lumalabas ang natural na talento ni Vice sa komedya. Last week, for example, he asked an 82 year old lady how old she was doing. The lady of course said she's 82 and expectedly and unexpectedly, Vice cracked an effective punchline by saying "so ilan na lang po ang natitira?" I was laughing all the way.

There's one thing I've noticed with Vice's hosting: He was asking intelligent questions on the show. His comments and jokes were no non-sense. Hindi mababaw. I can't cite specific examples right now, but the way Vice asks the question, or expresses his views during the "advice" portion towards the latter portion of the show, surprisingly showed some depth. It was well thought-of. Hindi yung basta na lang binitawan para lang may masabi at bunuin ung airtime. Perhaps, the (gay) man is simply living up to his creed which he previously expressed in one of the episodes of "Showtime", another ABS CBN show where he stars: "Hindi sapat na bakla ka lang. Dapat may pinag-aralan ka rin." True to his words, on this show, he's showing he's well schooled by the way he pulls the show off every Sunday night.

Over-all, the station's new formula to entertain people at night is effective. It's not just comedy, it's sensible comedy. I wouldn't really be surprised if the others would replicate the same in the near future. Andt thanks to Vice's talent and the staff's brilliant production format. The show's not just ma-Ganda, but as the name "Vice" itself literally means, nakaka-adik pa.

Lipad ng Pangarap (Flight of a Dream)

2010-11-24T02:06:00.000-08:00

I know. I tend to become more serious whenever I write in English. I couldn't help it. It's really me, my way of writing, especially when I become a little emphatic about the subject matter. Just like what I saw on TV two days ago.

Singapore-based Channel News Asia ran a feature story about the Philippines and what it considers as its national hobby - singing. It highlighted that despite the country's rampant poverty, Filipinos manage to pursue their addiction to music, particularly singing, having put up karaoke in almost every home, in every street. A very inexpensive appliance, the karaoke (sing-along machine) itself was invented by a Filipino. And many of the most sought after singers and entertainers around the world are Filipinos. We even top the world's singing contests.

But what really caught my attention were the two kids featured in the program. These kids were from poor families. Like millions of aspiring singers in the Philippines, they considered singing as their way out of poverty. They endured stringent screenings, discriminating talent contests and long exhausting travels hoping to hit upon that most crucial break towards stardom and be 'discovered'. Like their ancestors, they were resilient and determined - refusing to give up despite a thousand and one heartachbreaks as they pursue their golden dream. Yes, they had - have - a dream to live for, hope for and fight for - and that dream is the fire that kept and continues to keep their spirit burning.

I envy them. Buti pa sila. They have a reason to wake up every morning. Thanks to that dream. Life, with all its strikes and surprises, is undoubtedly sweet!

Felix catus, the House Cat Family

2010-10-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

"Ako'y may alaga, pusang mataba..." sabi nga ng isang nursery rhyme. But in my case, ako'y di lang may alagang pusang mataba, kundi apat na pusang mataba. Sa totoo lang hindi naman talaga ako mahilig sa pusa. I would say I'm more a dog lover. Ang aso kasi matapat. Kahit paluin mo, they will just wag their tail in submission. Ikaw pa ang aamuin. Sa pusa, well, lalapitan ka lang pag may kailangan. Lalayasan ka isang araw at pag balik, buntis na.

Kaso isang araw, may isang pusang nagawi sa bahay namin. Buntis ang lola niyo. At dahil kami'y likas na may soft spot sa mga hayop, we let her in. Sa isang sabsaban, este, kahon sa may tindahan namin siya nanganak. At yung mga anak niya, ayun ang naging mga pusa namin. Dahil sa likas na lambing at kakatwang mga katangian ng mga pusakal na ito, ayun, I eventually fell in love na rin to cats. Nakadagdag pa ang kakapanuod ko ng Animal Planet kung saan laging bida ang, siyempre walang iba kundi ang mga big cats.

Tsaka kasi itong mga pusa namin, siguro dahil na rin sa amin sila lumaki at nagkaisip, ay, sa kakatwang dahilan, may mga katangian ng aso - at least sa departamento ng katapatan. Halimbawa, tuwing bibili ng pandesal ang tatay ko tuwing umaga, ayun, sunod ang mga kuting sa kanya. At dahil takot na lapain ng mga labrador at mga askal malapit sa mismong bakery, hihintayin na lang nila si tatay sa ilalim ng isang nakaparadang sasakyan. Minsan, pag maloko si tatay, sa kabialng kanto siya dadaan. Siyempre, todo hintay pa rin ang mga muning. Makalipas ang isang oras, makokonsiyensiya si Papang at babalkan ang mga muning. Ayun, ilang kalmot sa paa niya ang kanyang matatamo.

Hay...ang pusa nga naman. OK na rin na may apat kaming pusa...and growing ha. At least, di na kailangan ni Nanay ng plastic na pusa sa tindahan na palaging nagwa wave para raw swerte. Siguro naman, mas swerte ang buhay na pusa di ba?

Planting Manila Fire Tree: Protecting Manila from Another Ondoy

2010-10-02T17:14:00.000-07:00

A week ago, Metro Manila and surrounding areas commemorated the 1st anniversary of a tragic event that will be forever printed in Philippine history - Ondoy. Who would forget that day (September 26th 2009) when for a few hours, a month's worth of rain unusually poured in to drench the Philippine capital, almost erasing it on the map with the country's worst flooding in four decades. It was indeed worth commemorating, not only to celebrate and honor the brave unsung heroes who rose to the challenges of that crucible times but also to remind us of our duty towards Mother Earth, to remain faithful to the biblical commandment given to us which is stewardship of all creation.

As I watched on television the activities commence, my eyes caught one interesting placard calling to "Save Sierra Madre". This was from one of the activities held in Marikina City, one of the localities greatly hit by Typhoon Ondoy. As highlighted by government and non-government organizations, deforestration of the Sierra Madre mountains brought about by illegal logging, mining and conversion of forest lands to commercial subdivisions was among the major factors that have aggravated the flooding experienced by Metro Manila during Ondoy. Because there were no trees to hold off the flood waters from the mountains, they rushed freely to the metropolis and eventually gave rise to those traumatic neck-deep flooding. It is just right to correct this through reforestration.

Replanting our depleted rainforests not only ensures that we don't experience another Ondoy again (or at least it mitigates the havoc to be wreaked by another Ondoy-like typhoon especially in terms of flooding) but it also makes our surroundings beautiful. Good thing is, we don't necessarily have to go to the mountains literally to participate in this undertaking. Even within Metro Manila, we can start replanting our boulevards, parks, center islands, sidewalks and other applicable areas with sturdy perennial fruit-bearing or ornamental trees which is again a positive response against global warming.

Two years ago if my memory serves me right, MMDA had a massive campaign to plant cadena de amor plants along EDSA. Not only did this made EDSA beautiful, but the plants were said to have helped control air pollution in this busy road stretch.

This time around, why not try covering Metro Manila with beautiful Manila Fire trees (Delix regina), also known as arbol de fuego, or royal poinciana? I had first seen one of these trees along the vacant parking spaces of the old Araneta center some 10 or 15 years ago. I was curious then as to what this tree was called. It reminded me of Japan's cherry blossoms because of its orange to red-orange sprouts falling to the ground when the wind blew. I noticed what fell were actually not leaves but some kind of small clustered flowers. The tree has intrigued me since then. In UP Diliman where I spent college, some of these trees are standing tall and proud along the University oval. Its umbrella-like canopy can spread widely, sometimes wider than its height. For me, the Manila Fire Tree is our version of the mythical oak trees of North America. Why not? This tree is mythical in itself because of the blazing effect it gives our avenues, parks, streets and gardens. Thanks to its red to orange red blossoms, it's as if it's telling a story to anyone who really pays attention to it. The tree is inspiring and I hope the government, particularly MMDA and the local governments give the Manila Fire tree the promotion and recognition it so deserves.

I don't know where this "plant a tree now" blog entry came from. But I agree with Czarina Gatbonton's controversial answer in the Bb. Pilipinas 2010 final Q&A, that the tree is the source of the air we breathe and thus the source of life on earth.

A splash of experience in Acuatico

2010-09-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

It's supposed to be a team building in Laiya, Batangas. But it turned out to be a complete relaxation. No planning. No discussion about work, etc. We just took a carefree day, an important break from the worries of corporate life and the hustles and bustles of city jungle.

We started the day right by appreciating the good weather and the scenic views while on the way to Acuatico.

The facade of the resort was indeed welcoming.

Finally, I was able to experience how it feels to submerge my body in an infinity pool. Sana maulit muli.

The food was great!

Facilities were okay. It was a bit wavy at the time we were in.

Time to bond with the team. It was a blast.

Why I'm proud to work in Accenture

2010-09-09T17:22:00.000-07:00

In Accenture, an essay writing contest has been recently launched to enable regular employees to express how they are proud working in the company. In a two-page essay, they must be able to answer the question "Are you a proud Pinoy Accenture employee? Why?" Today, in fact, is the deadline.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't make it. For some reason, I couldn't write when there's pressure involved, when there's a deadline to beat. Sakit ko na yata ito. That is why I don't see myself pursuing any career in writing. And it makes me sad.

Although I wouldn't be able to submit any entry, the question lingers in my head. It's like last song syndrome. It keeps repeating in my mind. It makes me reflect deeply on something: Am I really proud as a Pinoy Accenture employee?

I have been with the company for only barely two months. It might be too early to say I am proud. But so far, really, I've never been prouder. The company is progressive in every aspect - from compensation and benefits, to security, to international certifications, to global interconnectedness, to processes and tools, to programs related to innovation, etc. But I guess the primary thing that makes me proud working in Accenture is the people I actually work with. I've never seen any group of people who is as devoted to their work as these people. For us working in Accenture Procurement, we won't get compensated for OT rendered unless we're able to accumulate at least 16 hours of OT - the company will pay us on our 17th hour and every hour after that- still subject to tax of course. Thinking about this policy from an outsider's point of view, we virtually don't get compensated at all.

But I was amazed one weekend when I went to the office to pick something up. My whole team was there - working passionately. I asked them if they were aware of the policy regarding OT, that we would only be compensated for our 17th hour of OT, etc. They said yes - and they didn't care. All they wanted to do was to finish their work on time - to ensure that the requests are fulfilled on schedule and that our customers (Accenture employees) also meet their respective project deadlines and budgets. I was made to realize how our role was critical to achieving these. I was humbled. I learned something from them. While I was concerned about how OTs benefit (or not benefit) me in Accenture, my colleagues (and many of them are actually reporting to me) in contrast think of the people we serve within Accenture. While I was in a way being self-centered, they on the other hand were altruistic.

I believe time is the greatest gift any employee can offer to a company. I have seen how my team mates freely give their time and devotion to the company without even thinking of monetary compensation. I guess most Pinoys do. And such work ethic is what makes me proud working in Accenture.

Venus Raj: Her Major, Major Success in Miss Universe 2010

2010-08-27T16:57:00.000-07:00

Everyone's talking about Ms. Venus Raj and her controversial "major, major" answer in the Miss Universe 2010 Q&A. In fact, Yahoo has even run a "major, major" feature video for Ms. Raj and how she almost made it to the crown, had she not "blew" it on the Q&A portion. Truly, this year's Miss Universe 4th runner up has stirred a lot of buzz in the entertainment and social world that it seems people have talked about her more than the actual winner, Jimena Navarette of Mexico. In a beauty-pageant savvy country like the Philippines, this is nothing new. We are a country thirsty for an icon or source of pride and inspiration, and beauty queens like Venus, with her runner up finish, are considered heroes of our time, just like athletes like Manny Paquiao are in our hearts. As P-Noy has put it, her achievement in the recent Miss Universe pageant served as a ray of sunlight in a rather cloudy Philippine image in the international community especially after the tragic bus hostage drama in Luneta.

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I felt a sense of loss personally that Venus didn't get the crown when she was "almost there". She was obviously a crowd favorite, not just by Filipinos but by spectators from around the world. If she's not, then the Miss U venue wouldn't have been shaken by overwhelming cheers and applauses when her name was called as the last Top 15 semi-finalist. Also, I heard Donald Trump made a post-pageant personal annotation that he was actually rooting either for Ms. Mexico or Venus. I see a business and political undertone on this statement. Ms Mexico because, obviously, Trump and the MU Organization have an unexplainable bias in favor of Latinas. And Ms. Philippines, most likely because of Venus inspiring "cinderella-like" story; had she won, it's easy for Trump and his company to market the new Miss Universe, capitalizing on Ms. Raj's rise from poverty to fame and her unique struggles in the province where she practiced catwalk in rice paddies. Trump could have marketed Venus and her Ms. U success along the theme "dreams do true" or something like this. This would have been truly memorable.

Then again, this is just "could-have-been" scenario. Venus went home not as new Miss Universe 2010 but as 4th-runner up. Still, she brought pride and honor to her country who really needed it.

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I guess the Q&A portion was played unfairly this time. Why were there different questions when these questions have obviously varying degrees of difficulty? The MU Organization should have stuck to the last year's format of one question for all contestants. In that way, the competition was made apple-to-apple, the stage was levelled and the decision on who deserves the crown will be based solely on how well each contestant answered the (same) question. Sadly, the question asked to Ms. Philippines turned out to be the most difficult, because, as one expert commented, it was a 'psychological' question. They said even US Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama couldn't give a "winning" answer themselves.

Ms. Raj answer was actually "safe" and she answered the question with obvious glow and relative confidence. I just thought what she actually meant wasn't well articulated in her answer. If I were asked of the question, I could have said:

"To be honest, I cannot think of any mistake, let alone any major mistake, in my 22 years right now, because the overwhelming love and support of my family and countrymen have simply made them fade away. There's nothing to correct even if I were given the chance to go back in time because these mistakes, whatever they are, have taught me important lessons in life that have made me a better and stronger person that I am right now, who is ready to take on the world and the universe not just for myself but for my country and people as well. To everyone who supported me, thank you for bringing me here."

Something to this effect. But there's bias in here already since I had more time to think about the answer. I couldn't imagine how Venus felt at that time. She could have been caught off guard by Mr. Baldwin's question.

In the meantime, I look forward to another Venus Raj on the rise. I just hope it wouldn't take us another decade to produce another Miss Universe winner.

2010-08-14T18:16:00.001-07:00

What has been P-Noy's accomplishments in the first two months of his presidency?
That seems to be a big question to ask. I rather leave the answer to people who professionally take politics as their cup of tea. But I guess I have freedom as an ordinary citizen, having cast his vote in the recent national elections, to comment on at least some aspects of his leadership.

At Infosys, we were required to undergo rigid language training with Berlitz, to ensure we can really converse well in English and hence be effective on the job. In one of the assessments, I was asked by the Berlitz consultant something like: If you were to vote somebody for President (it was the height of the May 10 elections), what do you think are the qualities that person should have to merit your vote and why? Being measured for spontaneity, diction, grammar and linguistic range, I answered as honestly and wittingly as I could that the person should possess an unbendable character and exceptional leadership skills, such that he or she could make the most prudent decisions on urgent and challenging issues of national significance on his or her own, amidst pressure and hostile conditions, while sharing the governance with the people. That is the only way I see the candidate could truly lead the country forward. Of course, my actual answer was five sentences longer but these were pretty much the gist of what I said.

Looking back, I couldn't help but smile at such response. Truly, it was a conditional answer to a conditional question. And as I know conditionals, you could
pull out any answer out of thin air, they could be as ideal as you wish, and yet are still valid. As expected, the real condition we have now is far from ideal. Noynoy Aquino is now president of the republic. Asking myself the same question again, does P-Noy have unbendable character (which I basically just meant integrity)? Yes, considering his low profile and transparent lifestyle. No wonder he got 85% public trust rating which is by far, as per Pulse Asia, the highest in local history given to any president. I even admired him for showing his first pay check worth something like P65K, a far cry from the salaries of the executives in the multinational company I work in. But does he have exceptional leadership qualities? That's a different story. As Boy Abunda puts it, it's debatable.

Lately, I just couldn't ignore his perceived "weakness" coming alive - his inability to mete out judgment on significant national issues on his own. Critics have been recently calling P-Noy's sisters as the "four witches". It's a known fact that the president consults his sisters prior to making any judgements or appointments. It is said that the sisters were “too fussy” in selecting the applicants, such that only those “whom they knew personally” would get appointed. Is that the reason why many of those belonging to what is called "Hyatt 10" have made a political come back under the Aquino administration? Because these folks are "personal acquaintances"? Conversely, is that also the reason director Nilo got axed from PAG-ASA? Because the sisters didn't know the man "personally"?

To be fair, I'm sure the sisters weren't the only people the President primarily consults on political affairs. May be for Nilo's case, he consulted other men or experts on the issue serving him, perhaps the DOE secretary or some congressmen. Whether it's Nilo's case or any other case, these groups obviously have interests to protect and so the President should have wisdom on his own to make the necessary and ultimate decision on the matter. I however was particularly dismayed about his eventual decision to terminate Nilo. According to DOE's press release, Nilo was axed because he lacked 2 days of CESO. But according to Nilo, he was terminated because somebody painted a bad picture of him to the president, whispering that he be removed from his post for political reasons - he's a political "threat" or something.

The latter can be considered a mere speculation. Besides, any executive is said to serve at the president's pleasure. In other words, if the President no longer wants Nilo in his administration, he could by all means lay him off anytime. But P-Noy should have moved away from making arbitrary decisions and followed an acceptable process to verify at the very least the veracity of such accusation against Nilo. Yes, I agree to the Palace's thrust to fill in the bureaucracy with only qualified individuals - meaning CESO passers. But, doesn't the President know the "exemption to the rule" concept? As released in the news, we only have three remaining experts in PAG-ASA. Now that one has been terminated from office, who else could we count on to provide weather forecast to the public considering that we are located along the typhoon belt? He could have given Nilo chance to complete his CESO or provided him a "grace period" or put him on a "probationary" period. Okay, it is not the first time that PAG-ASA provided an inaccurate weather forecast in the past decade but is axing its head a solution? Besides, that poor performance couldn't be blamed solely to one man - in fact, it's the government's lapse. We couldn't procure the most cutting edge weather forecasting technology due to perennial budget constraints and so these scientists have no choice but to make do on whatever equipment and personal technical expertise they have. What's annoying is that the President seems to have listened to the "whispers" of the powers that be, capitalizing on his outrage over the latest blunder committed by PAG-ASA under Nilo's leadership.

Yes, being President is a daunting task. You couldn't help but listen to differing views, contradicting advices and clashing interests. But I guess I see my brother's point now when he expressed his fear that Noynoy Aquino lacks the ability to critically decide matters on his own, to do the "balancing act" so to speak amidst differing political pressures, so he could stay true to his mandate to uphold the interest of the majority and his commitment to defend the poor.

Last Thursday, the Palace announced with finality that August 23rd will not be a holiday. Many working citizens were hoping it would be declared a holiday so they could have at least a day off from work, since it is the President's father's death anniversary that the nation will supposedly commemorate anyway. But they were disappointed. Is this because the President listened to the dictates of Makati Business Club? Because declaring special holidays would harm businesses? After all, his Department of Tourism secretary is once the President of such powerful organization of the elite.

Again, whether P-Noy has really that ability to "stand on his own feet", to make sound, fair, and inspiring decisions in his six years in office is a test of time. In the meantime, I don't want to raise my expectations.

Transcript of My 26th Birthday

2010-07-25T02:26:00.000-07:00

Date: July 18, 2010

Venue: Home (bahay lang - maulan eh).

Program: Nothing much. Videoke lang as usual. Songs were mostly OPM and ballads. May 90s songs din. Kung sabagay si ate at nanay lang naman ang kumakanta. At around 5 PM, mom's amigas came over. Finally, the genre of songs changed - mas lumuma. Either OPMs in the 70s or Visayan songs.

Invited guests: Cousin (1 person); Neighbors (15); mom's amigas (7)

Food: Main course - rellenong bangus, lumpia, adobo, igado, spaghetti, pansit, lechon (worth P6,000.00). Dessert: Goldilocks cake ube and cheese flavor, fruit salad
Note: Take outs for everyone were encouraged para maubos ang pagkain.

Additional notes: No photos taken. Nakalimutan. It rained prior to the "party". They said it's sign for good luck. May blessing ni Lord.

Lessons in Life

2010-07-16T17:16:00.000-07:00

I was made to remember another lesson in life after a casual spur of the moment conversation with my siblings a few days back. Whenever you feel down and unhappy for whatever reason, remember to look upward and see the wondrous things you can still accomplish and the multitude of great things the universe has yet to offer. At the same time, look below you and see how many people are actually trying hard just to get to your place. In short, while it's human nature to feel discontent occasionally, it's healthy to always be grateful, to continue working on your dreams and to look at the glass half full. I need this kind of reminder from time to time. Ang saya ng buhay!

For Your Entertainment - Twilight Saga: Eclipse

2010-07-08T06:04:00.001-07:00

I watched The Eclipse last night after getting mixed reviews from co-workers and friends. I am not a fan, but for my own peace of mind, I wanted to find out, or shall I say, see for myself what's the fuss surrounding this third installment is really all about. Okay, I may be gunned down for posting comments about the movie when I haven't even read the book. Some may say I'm expressing half-baked opinions here. Still, I just want to share my "outsider's" point of view. Wala naman sigurong masama if I forget about the book, and just take this movie as it is.

Honestly, Eclipse wasn't that bad at all. It was not as boring, contrary to my expectations, as the second installment. In fact, I found it surprisingly action-packed. There was less talk, and more fight scenes. Come on! Sino ba naman ang di mapapatalon sa upuan when you have two formidable vampire groups fighting against each other, but with a twist. Werewolves were on the side of the Cullens. Winner, di ba? Plus, the humour injected in some of the dialogue were also helpful in sustaining my interest. Like when Jacob told Edward "You cannot deny that I am hotter than you are" (or something like that). That really brought out good chuckles in me. And of course, the fact that you have visually "palatable" characters in front of you comfortably puts you on your seat. I think my co-spectators inside the cinema screamed it well: "Yummy!"

Enough of Eclipse. Can't wait for Breaking Dawn. Indeed, this flick has just proven once more my fascination with vampire movies. Like witches and wizards, they connote fear, magic and mystery. At this point, I cannot help but simply be entertained.

The World Cup All Over the World, Except the Philippines

2010-06-28T17:05:00.000-07:00

While the rest of the world gets delirious over the feverish World Cup, it's a different scenario altogether in the Philippines. While the FIFA World Cup is considered by many as the most popular sporting event in the planet, majority of Filipinos in contrast seem impervious to its charm. For example, a couple of days ago, England and the US provided audiences a glimpse of how feverish every match gets even in the qualifying rounds as they battled it out for supremacy (last time I checked, the two teams are tied in first place). Expats in the country flocked every bar to watch the event. Turn to cable channels and almost all international media provided unprecedented coverage as well. But check the Philippines. No turmoil. No craze. The mania is not even felt. It's business as usual in this country.

I feel sad that when less economically stable countries like Ghana and Cameroon have teams on the field that fans can cheer of, Filipinos simply gaze unwittingly and naively from afar. What happened? Is this a bad premonition of the Philippines being left out of the rest of the world?

They say this is a basket ball country. Ok, fine. But can we not be a foot ball country in the very near future as well? They say our size and built make us more suitable to compete for the latter game. But why don't we have any team in the World Cup?

I believe sports is an arena where a country's status - economically, politically, or otherwise - can be reflected. When a country dominates any major sporting event, it can be a reflection of its people's sturdy character, perseverance and socio-economic-political power. No wonder China invests so much in sports and in its athletes. Sports is a field where one's nationalism, and yes, power can be proudly displayed. So when we cannot shoot our way to the top, perhaps, we can start kicking our way to that elusive gold of international dominion, particularly in a highly competitive sports like football in which something this country has badly fared in the last three to five decades.

Pride of the Philippines: Charice, Finally on Glee!

2010-06-22T17:15:00.000-07:00

After denying earlier that she has been cast as Glee's newest member, suddenly (or shall I say, finally), the rumor has come true. Charice has confirmed that she is now officially a Gleek! According to the news, she will guest in the award-winning television series' next season as a foreign exchange student who will rival the singing prowess of the show's lead character, Rachel (portrayed by Lea Michele).

Personally, I'm not surprised. Apart from Charice's amazing vocal talent (which is a given), she got some extra backing from one the most influential personalities in the entertainment world, Ophrah Winfrey herself. That makes almost everything possible. Yes, there are a lot of extraordinary talents in Hollywood which makes it hard for any new comer to stand out, specially if you belong to a minority group like Charice, but with the right connections, doors will be opened and someone's star will shine the brightest. Charice had the needed talent and the right connections, and so it won't be long before she reaches the pinnacle of international stardom; perhaps a Grammy in a year or two. Who knows?

I'm not a fan, okay, but I'm simply happy that at least, there's a Filipino out there who can proudly wave the Philippine flag onto the world stage, and would lift up the status of this talent-rich country as a nation worthy of other nation's envy.

I support Charice. I salute the Filipino talent.

Dreaming about Paradise

2010-06-17T16:32:00.000-07:00

When I applied for an accounts managerial post in one of the Philippines' leading Ortigas-based retail companies, I was asked by the managing director what was my plan in the next five to ten years. I answered without even pausing that I intend to buy a property in the province and develop it into a personal paradise - a ranch. With eyes sparkling (I know my eyes did sparkle even though there was no mirror around), I told the interviewer that it should be at least 10,000 hectares of land located by the mountain, near the sea. Since I am a nature-lover, I will convert the property into a mango plantation-cum-beach resort. An eco-tourism site, my paradise will not just be a perfect place for relaxation but for retirement as well! Looking back, I guess it was easy to describe that dream space because of one amazing travel I had with friends in Zambales. The places we visited, specially Talisayin and Nagsasa Cove, were somewhat closer to my ideal ranch. I just hope I would be able to realize such a big dream in schedule (10 years max). Hehe.

Noynoy Aquino and the Sponsors of Change

2010-06-16T17:12:00.001-07:00

Less than two weeks before president-elect Noynoy Aquino takes oath as the Philippines 15th President, I cannot help but to look forward to a new type of governance and platform that he promised to deliver. Of course, it is expected that the first family, primarily Noy's sisters and nephews and nieces, would play an active and direct role in actualizing those platform and yes, promises. In fact, in an exclusive interview with TV Patrol World, immediately following the president-elect's proclamation in Congress, Noynoy's sisters Ballsy-Aquino Cruz and Kris Aquino already provided the public a hint of their priority causes. Kris will tackle education which she already started by giving books in some public elementary schools in their native Tarlac; Ballsy, the rights of indigenous peoples, and Pinky, another sister, will deal with water problem in the country. Meanwhile, in an interview with news executive Jessica Soho in GMA 7, the president-elect's nephews and nieces are also planning to sponsor a set of social issues, perhaps youth-related, on their own. Why not? They have instant, unlimited access to the next President. What a privilege indeed!

And now, in the solitude of my envious heart and in the company of fantasy and make believe, I wonder: What if I were one of Noy's brothers, or nephews? What if I were his son? What if I were Mar Roxas who the president-elect who was promised with the same unlimited access to the president as the president's immediate family? What cause would I champion? What would I do with the privileged access I have with the Most Powerful Man in the Philippines? Whose voice would I represent?

I'm thrilled by those what ifs. The power and prestige it connotes are simply overwhelming. But then again, those are just far-fetched illusions and I have to live to the reality that I, along with 90 plus million Filipinos unknown to Noynoy, would need to depend on my individual strength and on God's grace and guidance to improve my lot and to affect positive change in the harsh but beautiful world we inhabit.

Job Interview

2010-06-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

Exactly thirty days from now, I will be embarking on a journey back to a land so familiar and which I once trod in fact - procurement. Yes, I nailed a very important post in Accenture, currently considered the world's largest consulting firm. It has completely dawned on me just now how complex and delicate my function would be in that organization; I will be handling all low to medium-value procurement requirements for the entire Accenture Philippines and all other centers across the Asia Pacific region! I am reeling on the realization that whatever decisions I make on the job will affect around 15,000 to 20,000 employees! Indeed, what a way to spell pressure.

But I'm happy. I'm actually excited. It is so fulfilling to be given such a wonderful privilege of being in a strategic position to directly influence an established organization and its 15,000 strong employees in a positive way. No wonder the interview process was that stringent, four to five situational interviews in a span of a week or more. It's understandable, the role is so sensitive the organization needs to carefully choose the person who it thinks perfectly suits the job. And again, I'm flattered to be that person.

Talking about the interview process, I think one of the toughest questions I answered was about the course I took in college vis-a-vis my professional experience. I was asked several times how on earth I became a procurement professional when I was a broadcast communication graduate. I could understand where my interviewer was coming from. They would like to know my motivation. They needed to evaluate whether my interests were really aligned with the demands of the job. Perhaps they would like to answer the question: Can I stay in the job? Of course, I was prepared for this question. I kept on emphasizing that having a diverse background is an advantage because I get to exercise and utilize both my left and right brain, my creative and analytical skills, which is what the job requires in the first place. In short, I can be a well-rounded person.

However, there's a comment from one of my interviewers that lingers till now in my head. Admittedly, I landed on a procurement job due to circumstances. Somebody from BayanTrade called me up and provided me an opportunity to explore the complex world of procurement and supply chain management. It was not a career choice, if it were then I could have enrolled in the University of Makati and specialized in Supply Chain Management (UMAK is the only institution I know in the Philippines that offers courses in SCM). But fate intervened and the rest as they say is history. Still, the interviewer's unsolicited advice was full of wisdom. She told me to pursue what really interests me, like broadcasting, or film, or advertising and marketing, and not to let circumstances dictate my career path. Really, it's something to ponder on! After all, I was first in love with the Arts.

But for now, I'm very much pleased to renew my relationship with my other lover - Supply Chain. Wish me luck!

Paging Sun Cellular

2010-06-05T20:38:00.000-07:00

I switched to Sun Cellular last year after having been pressured by friends and co-workers who were already enjoying unlimited calls and texts for their contacts within the network. Teased, I seemed to hear them say : "Are you one of us?" - which is funny coz this is actually a competitor's slogan. So when I had lost my old phone (with Globe SIM) at a Christmas party in December, I bought a new LG phone and an inexpensive Sun Cellular SIM card. Finally now, I am "one of them."

Using the phone and Sun's services has been an okay experience over-all. Except for the fact that I still don't know what's the difference between what they call "regular load" and "call and text unlimited" (why, can't I not call and text using regular load?), I am getting my money's worth every time I load up since I am able to use P30 worth of load for example for an average of 5 days (or should I thank Manong Johnny for this?). Everything should be going perfectly for me as a "convert" to Sun Cellular, until I have noticed just lately that whenever it's cloudy outside, I am getting "limited service" on my phone. It's not rocket science for someone like me to know that this is caused by weak mobile service signal. What's irritating is that I am in the middle of the metropolis (hello, this is The Fort!).

I have been suffering from weak Sun Cellular signal for three days now and heaven knows how many important messages I might be missing. This is frustrating because while my LG phone shows full signal and is fully charged, my mobile SIM performs otherwise.

We have just recently discussed customer service in training, where we discussed the definition of an unsatisfied/irate customer. I just hope I wouldn't be an irate customer myself when I call Sun Cellular later to find out why I am getting "limited service" on my phone. I just hope the company invests on improving its signal soon, considering it has already lured a significant number of customers away from telecom giants Globe and Smart with its promos and all from which to get the budget.

Stop complaining, start thanking

2010-05-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

After accepting a senior process executive post at an Indian-run BPO company, it seems I have been doing nothing but to complain. First, when asked by trainers what I was feeling now that I am being part of one of the world's biggest bpo companies, I told them tactlessly that I was honestly unhappy. The company after all tricked me with my salary! Yes, my gross pay may seem high at face value, but upon further scrutiny, and after learning how Finance computes our daily rate versus our basic pay, my net pay was actually below the amount I was expecting. Plus, the allowances which gave my package a "bulky" facade wasn't also explained, that is, that variable pay and other bonuses would only be given upon regularization, or on your seventh month of stay with the company, subject of course to your individual performance, etc.

I also complained about how their training plan sucked, whenever given the "airtime" to say my piece. Well, this was my opinion and I based this on personal experience. My peers and I knew for a fact that the account I was assigned to was still on its launching stage, and the training manager was still figuring out how to give structure to their training plan. And yes, I was also not told at the onset of my application that I would actually be working as a TSR for a US-based telecom company, not as CSR or sourcing and procurement specialist, as what I indicated in my application. Now, after only four calls and no floor support (from my TL and SME), the end result was that I am now being transferred to a Cisco account. Yes, I also complained about how they came up with such a decision. I thought it was unfair and made haphazardly, considering that they couldn't show me any rating vis-a-vis the established metrics or even my documented AFI (area for improvement), which you would expect in other centers catering to the same account.

After talking to a more tenured agent to release these frustrations and pent up emotions, however, I realized I was acting so wrongly. I got the wrong attitude and I let all those negative perspectives dictate how I perceive things. That agent I was pouring out my emotions with turned out to be experiencing worse. She was getting far lower pay and she was not even assigned to the very account that made her apply to our company - Cisco - which is the very account I will be transferring to. I heard that the account has better processes, more structured training plans, and more handsome rewards to encourage excellent performance from its agents than the account I was originally from. She told me: "If you would just complain about this and that, please be sensitive enough to know that there are other people here, me included, who experience worse and who would even exchange everything to be in your position now." That made me shut my mouth. She made me realize that there's a reason why things happen. Perhaps, I was pulled out from the account even though I knew and felt that I was way better than some of those already taking calls on the floor because God has better plans for me. I was too narrow-minded, such that I missed to see the good in my own circumanstance. That instead of complaining, I might as well start appreciating things, thanking God for the experience and the lessons it brings. Yes, I thought this BPO company was a barren land, that it's a place where people just stay for the money, where one's talent is just being wasted doing tasks that are mechanical and routine. But I was proven wrong. At least now, I'm picking up something sublimal and ethereal from this surprisingly fecund territory - this lesson of keeping a positive outlook and maintaining a heart of gratitude. It will help me a lot in life.

Ranting

2009-08-14T23:06:00.001-07:00

Forget about Cory. Forget about current events. Forget about my colleagues and officemates and college classmates. I want to focus on myself NOW. Di bale nang masabihang self-centered.

Yes, I'm finally back in this little corner of "me". And as if to welcome myself back with a full band, let me write "I HATE THEEEEM!" Yes i wanna scream! I want to kick people's asses if I could. I want to be bad for once in my life. And this is the reason I'm instantly blogging once again.

Aba, kokontakin ka lang pag may problema?! Ganito ang mga kamag-anak namin. If everything goes well to them, ni ho ni ha wala kang maririnig. Tapos kahapon lang tatawag para sabihing magpadala ng pera si Tatay sa probinsiya dahil na stroke ang asawa ng kapatid niya. My uncle really has a gift - to involve other people in his misery. Siya itong hiningan ng tulong ipapasa sa amin ang burden.

Ok. Christianity has taught me to be generous in order to be blessed even more. But I just couldn't help but rant (or more than rant actually) because when Nanay and Papa were in the hospital, they didn't even extend any form of help upon us. They didn't even visit them in the hospital. We have been on our own since me and my siblings were kids. My parents never asked for our relatives help as much as possible - since we received little or no help at all from them anyway.

Tapos ngayon....Grrrrr!

I'll get over this. In the meantime, I need breathing space. Thank heavens there's blog.

Farewell to a Friend

2009-05-24T17:07:00.000-07:00

Today, I have to live to the reality that one of my closest friends in BayanTrade would be leaving soon. I expect resignations to happen from time to time. Pero iba pala talaga when that person personally tells you that he or she is leaving.

Yes, I have attachments to personal things and places and people that are close to my heart. Makikipag-away ako para sa kapatid o kaibigan, kahit hindi naman ako ang inaaway. I am willing to do something to that effect, crazy things I must say. But I am willing to do that perhaps because I care for loved ones and friends and I am protective of them.

That's why farewells are hard for me. I dread the day when I would no longer see that person as frequent as I could, as in before. That I would have to do things and live each day differently, because that person with whom I used to do these things and that make up part of my every day would no longer be around. It's as if an important element of my constellation would be absorbed by another galaxy. And the only communication to bridge the gap would be mediated, something like Plurk, or YM, or Facebook. I'm sad. I want to cry.

Is it a crime to ask myself: Ilan kaya sa kanila ang susunod in the coming months? I should hold my tears more!

My only consolation is: That's the way it is. And if my time comes when I too would be saying "goodbye", someone's gonna feel the same way for me.

Goodbye Taga-bukid. See you in Davao.

And please, keep us updated through your blog.

Ang Tunay Na Lalaki

2009-05-22T06:08:00.000-07:00

There's a funny and yes, interesting blog that's been getting some following lately among Filipino youth and yuppies. It's called "Hay Men! Ang Tunay Na Lalaki". What's appealing or, to be more accurate, entertaining about the blog is that, like a freedom wall, it serves like a running commentary on people, icons, places, objects, activities etc that in a way have been familiar to ordinary Filipino folks, that have been part of popular culture, classifying them as "tunay na lalaki" (real manly), "di tunay na lalaki" (not manly), or "under consideration". Is robocop "tunay na lalaki"? How about Voltron? Or UP's oblation? Or George Estregan perhaps? It keeps the audience laughing by telling the latter how it classifies these. In a way, it also guides the audience as to the criteria it used for classification with its well composed "Ang Manifesto ng Tunay Na Lalaki", posted prominently on the lower right of the page.

Indeed, this blog has become a hit that its slowly growing followers have reached even my own workplace. Some of my colleagues have in fact adapted the expression "tunay na lalaki" in their everyday joke time language.

The site has personally brought out some chuckles in me. But while it is entertaining, it also makes me question its measure of true masculinity. The site explicitly tells audiences whether someone or something is of manly character or not. And with this, I couldn't help but think whether real manhood should be dictated by society, by outside pressure, or whether it should be "decided" from within. I say "decided" because I believe one's gender is a matter of decision. Is it not? Even if you were born a male or a female, isn't it that how you live your being a male or a female spells the difference? You have control as to how to live out your sexuality.

Furthermore, "Ang Tunay Na Lalaki" has time and again reminded me of how difficult it is to be a man. Society has expectations of you. You gotta be this, you gotta be that. And if you don't have a solid foundation of yourself, of who you really are or at least the person you want to be, you will be drowned by the waves of a gamut of pressures that dicate what is a man and how to be a man. Sadly, these pressures eventually find their way to become "norms". And norms are not necessarily moral, legal or ethical. For example, why is it alright for a man to be "not virgin" before marriage? Why is it "ok" for a man to entertain and welcome a woman's amorous advances? When the blog "Ang Tunay Na Lalaki" says real men smoke and drink and don't go to church, why do many seem to give it a nod?

My head and heart ache meditating mulling about these thoughts.

It is hard to be a man nowadays, I know. But to be a REAL man is harder because it is not defined by public opinion. It is not based on public norms. It lives within you and only TIME and TOUGH times can make it come out.

Fortunately, there is real man-ness in everyone.

Of Goals and Introspection

2009-05-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

People who have clear well defined goals in life are, for me, like skyscrapers at the heart of the metro: Imposing and superior. Makes me feel little. I see these people as driven, determined folks, who are destined to achieve success in whatever form that they desire - faster than anyone else in the world. And I envy them.

I had logged in to my Multiply and blogspot accounts today and I realized just how insecure I am in terms of goal setting. My college classmate and friend Ariane who's now in New Zealand celebrated her 23rd birthday last March (I was able to greet her just now because I didn't have the luxury of time to visit these accounts due to tight work schedule, you know, deadlines, meetings with the bosses etc).

Ariane loves birthdays because it's the time of the year when she gets to celebrate life more! She created this to-do-list when she was younger, and now, she makes sure she gets to tick one item off the list in her every birthday. It's pretty much like acting like fairy godmother to herself by granting one wish - goal - for herself on her birthday. And on her 23rd birthday, that item was sky diving!

I was not envious of the actual sky diving experience per se because in the first place I am acrophobic and therefore I have no plans of doing it myself even given the opportunity. The fact that she has this set of goals and a beautiful strategy to achieve each of them at a particular time of the year is what makes me envious.

In the same token that I envy Reymund Chris Sarraga's friend. As what Rey wrote in his Wordpress account, that friend of his is now one step closer to becoming a doctor. He has just finished med school and we know what's next after that. The thing is: that man is just simply staying true to the dream (ie. goal) that he wrote in their high school yearbook, that of becoming a doctor. Wow!

These anecdotes sadly put me in introspection: What am I doing in my life today? What happened to the dreams, or goals, that I had set for myself when I was younger? How many of them have I actually been able to realize? Or did I ever had anything to call "goals" to begin with?

Windang. Perplexed. A wandering spirit. That's what I think of myself as of the moment. I toil, I act, I feel, but that's all that I do. I don't have direction. I don't have that driving something that gives focus and meaning to every sacrifice, every decision that I make - goals.

Benjamin Mays, a prominent American minister and educator, said: "It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy of life lies in having no goal to reach."

I know I had goals before. But the tragedy on my end was that I have thwarted from these goals and couldn't find my way back now.

LORD help me.

He's gone

2009-03-01T02:30:00.000-08:00

I got home and he's no longer there. I miss his usual greeting which, because it was so sincere, it used to take away my stress (at least a portion thereof). I miss his gentle face, so cute I always wanted to pat and baby him.

Yes, our doggie is gone. He died last Wednesday, February 25th, EDSA day. I was not able to blog about him right away because I was still hoping it was just a dream. But he's really gone. And I miss him.

Although a mongrel, Tiger did not fail to leave a lasting memory with us. So many in fact that I would probably create separate blog entries just to recount them. For now, we will just be contented recalling those memories, those moments, one by one. And that is enough to make us smile despite the mourning.

Tiger was 13 years old (91 in human years) when he passed away. He was poisoned by the shampoo my dad had used to bathe him. It was unusual as he was bathed with stronger shampoos before without causing any harm at all. It was just probably because he was really too old already his immune system got really weak.

A few hours before his body gave up, he unusually kept on walking staggeringly around our garage, as if fighting the disease that had struck him. By around 11 P.M. he collapsed. My sister said he was barking and barking and was trying to rise up. He was fighting for his breath, his life. My whole family (except me who was already asleep by that time) was around him when this was happening. And Tiger probably was fighting for us - to continue to be with us because he knew we love him. But it's really his time to rest. And all my family could do is to pat him and say "Tiger tama na...magpahinga ka na."

13 years...It's amazing Tiger has lived that long, in fact long enough to even outlive his contemporaries: his foes, his friends, even his lovers. I surely miss him and his memories will linger on.

He is not dead. His memories are secured in our hearts. I couldn't help but recall tuloy one line in ABS-CBN's "May Bukas Pa" : A person (a pet in this case) is not dead as long as s/he remains in our hearts.

Self-Talk

2009-02-13T02:40:00.000-08:00

Hi Ron,

I know you're pressured and stressed right now. Rey's leaving and you only have a week to learn from him. But you know Rey. Like what he said, he won't spoon feed you. Unfortunately, that's the very thing you need at this time. What do you know about sales anyway? But he won't. He doesn't have the patience to do it. Aminado siya rito. And you don't expect him to do that, do you? What for? You're not even his closest of friends. He doesn't have enough motivation to put some more effort into training you. The turn over is still not done. The data and knowledge he shared so far are not to the level you've expected since the day you were told you'd be his replacement.

So you're lost. And worried. And exhausted. Plus, the mathematics involved. Oh my! It's not your field of interst, you know that. The mere sight of numbers make your eyes bleed. But you got to befriend them (numbers). Learn from them. Analyze them. You have no choice as these are part of the demands of your new responsibility. Sir Jojo and Boss Tony trust you. Your colleagues count on you to ensure they will get salary for the month.

So you're lost, stressed, pressured, harassed, exhausted. But you know what to do to compensate for your weakness right? You have to rise above your situation - to overcome the challenge being a salesman, an effective salesman, poses to you. Let me see your to-do list. Ahh.. at least, you've got some of the most important right:

(1) prioritize tasks (2) manage time and (3) be more organized

So help me God!

Money

2009-02-08T04:03:00.000-08:00

The Bible says : "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21). Now it makes more sense why I was so concentrated with my studies way back in college. I couldn't afford to fail any course or even get a grade of less than 2.0, lest I would lose my scholarship, which is all I got to finish college. That's why I gave it my all. Now it makes more sense why I am trying to hit the gym at least three times a day right now, even that means waking up as early as 4:30 in the morning. I am paying for it after all, I have to make the most out of it. As they say, kailangang sulitin ang ibinabayad. That in itself is enough motivation for me. The pastor at Victory capped it up right: The above verse gives the whole experience meaning. We are where our money goes. He's right. We can either invest in temporal things like clothing or partying; or in eternal things the benefits of which last us all. I hope and pray you and I do the latter. Happy Sunday!

Crisis

2009-02-05T19:27:00.001-08:00

I woke up early this morning to prepare for a 9 o'clock client call Rey and I set with his business accounts. He would be introducing me as his 'replacement' as this mighty friend of mine has just resigned and he'll be touring the world in the coming months as a better earning Marketing guy of a US-based broadcast/marketing firm (kainggit!)

Like a typical morning person, I wanted to take my breakfast right away - coffee, rice, and all that. I was craving for milk so I hurriedly proceeded to the kitchen and checked the milk container. To my horror, it was empty! My eyes automatically panned right to the coffee and sugar containers placed next to it, and they were empty too! The sugar container had at least a teaspoon left, but it wouldn't be enough to sweeten even at least 1 oz of plain water. Frustrated and tense at the same time, I hurriedly turned to our magic 'kaldero' to see if there was still rice left for me from last night's supper. It had and I was relieved! Problem is, there was no viand to help me consume at least 5 spoonfulls of bahaw.

Depressed, I wanted to take a bath na lang. It was strangely cold that night (err dawn) so I wanted to heat at least a liter of water. The kettle was already filled with H2o but when I was about to turn on the stove, my mother had suddenly arose from her bed and told me "wala na tayong gas". She informed me our dealer ran out of stock of which kinda resounded the hiss on LPG tank shortage many news programs have been highlighting in the past two weeks. My mother instructed me to instead use the electric water heater which I won from our last Christmas party's raffle (at least napakinabangan din!). She also told me she hasn't gone to the supermarket or the wet market yet to purchase grocery items and pang-ulam because she ran out of cash. We still have to wait for my sister's pay day on Thursday, and mine next week. In the meantime, we had to make both ends meet. Wag lang sanang kumain ng lupa!

Grabe, the global financial meltdown has finally become so palpable in my household. Apektado kami ng krisis.

Homecoming

2009-02-03T16:00:00.000-08:00

Kala-log out ko lang sa Friendster account ko. It's official. I'll be delivering an inspirational talk in my alma mater's March recognition day. If I correctly read my former teacher's personal message, I'll be addressing the honor students of first to third year.

Now I'm a bit queasy. Not because I'm afraid to deliver a speech before them, or because Benigno "Ninoy" S. Aquino High School is now Makati's second biggest and most modern campus the place might suddenly make me feel estranged, but because I couldn't wait to meet again my fellow Benignians in person, and break before them some trite statements that they themselves have probably heard several times in many speeches, valedictory or otherwise, their message has sadly become sour - uninspirational.

One of which is that poverty is not a hindrance to success. Is it not?

Time and again, we have seen many gifted children from underprivileged families, though born with extraordinary intellectual and artistic abilities, not growing up to be scientists, academicians, entrepreneurs and world-class professionals. Nature has given them the headstart, but they simply don't grow up to their potentials or to what they were expected to be simply because they were financially "challenged", sometimes even "handicapped", they didn't have the means and the resources to optimize their innate gifts. Many of them do not even finish gradeschool. Surely, they were not impervious to poverty's whips and slashes!

The word "success" is very subjective, ok. And to explain why a person will/will not become successful really entails a thorough examination of a gamut of factors, poverty being just one of them. But should we deny the fact that poverty IS a problem by saying that it's not a hurdle to achieving one's ultimate dreams at least?

It kinda irritates my ears everytime I hear that line "poverty is not a hindrance". It's supposed to exhort the listener, alright. But it fails to encourage as it is a lie. I conjures a familiar image of a traditional politician whose message contains nothing but false hope, empty promises. In it's vain attempt to sound profound, the statement lacked the luster of sincerity.

Poverty is a hindrance - a problem. Why deny it? The more we acknowledge and face the truth, the more we could react to it more intelligently, more creatively, more practically.

It's gonna be my turn to deliver a speech before the students this March. I vow this platitude will not be heard on that day. I just hope my audience's sensibilities are prepared to hear me say an opposite thought.

Exhortations

2009-02-03T11:02:00.000-08:00

While doing stationary cycling at a gym the other day, my eyes were caught by a football match on AXN (I was surfing the TV while working out, as the gym provided several TV screens for members' satisfaction).

I didn't know the teams' exact names but my eyes were particularly pegged at the two words succinctly printed all across the yellow team's shirts: "Fly Emirates." Instantly, the catchphrase caught me in awe. I thought it was a sweet shrewd slogan of whatever company sponsoring that team. I learned later that the latter was actually Arsenal Football Club sponsored, unsurprisingly, by a leading airline company in United Arab Emirates.

Still, the catchphrase did not leave my mind for sometime. For me, it was more than an ad campaign, a corporate slogan. Conceptualized through some sort of social marketing approach, "Fly Emirates" seemed to have gone beyond bringing attention to the product or the firm, but it also aimed at bringing in followerse to the country itself that it represents, an aid to their tourism industry.

What a form of nationalism, it soars! How I wish I could also do the same, in one form or another, for the Philippines. When private enterprises mix corporate goals with nationalistic visions, what more could you ask for?

***

Also, seeing "Fly Emirates" in a sporting event, I couldn't help but think of a similar "shout out" in the local sports scene: UP Fight! This shout out has been the cry of UP athletes throughtout the ages as they compete against the best "warriors", the cream of the crop, of other schools. But sadly, and this is just my personal opinion, "UP Fight" is a far cry from "Fly Emirates" - the latter being more powerful, more ambitious, more at work. Philosophically speaking, why not change "UP Fight" to "UP WIN"? I wonder: Does this speak about the collective psyche that UP students (at least) have towards setting standards?

Let's face it. If we could set a standard for ourselves, why not set the highest standards? If you could ask God to help us pass a certification exam, why not ask that we pass with flying colors (that is, with excellence)? If we join a sports event, why settle for simple "for goodwill's sake" type of participation? Why not let go of the cliche "for camaraderie and friendship", and instead "go for the gold" (not silver) with all our might every time?

Ophrah said in a speech she delivered in a prestigious US university that we should set the highest vision (or if I may say, standards) for ourselves, for we become those visions.

If I may add to that, I dare say that we set the mark, and hit it!

Like what Alex Santos says in TV Patrol Weekend: Pilipinas, umasenso ka!

Not A Writer

2009-02-02T17:54:00.000-08:00

Writing got me to places.
This is one statement I remember from my high school journalism teacher and school paper adviser Mrs. Alma Rufila.
She always bragged that her writing skills and good command of the English language had given her the priviledge to travel across the country and to enjoy promotions at work.

May pera naman talaga sa pagsusulat.
Browsing through Jobstreet, I was amazed to find out that there was significant demand for writers today. You can earn at least 10K a month working at home by simply providing contents to websites. Also, Copy and Technical Writers' basic pay is now ranging from 15 K to 20 K a month. A very lucrative profession indeed!

Perhaps this is the same reason why my brother, on several occasions, submitted my resumes -and without my knowledge and consent - to government and non-government companies. He was really hoping I could nail the writer, or content provider, or corporate communication officer post in those companies. He was even pushing me to be aggressive with my application. He really believed there is future in writing. And moreso, he believes I have the skill and talent called writing. "Rat ka di ba?" he teases me often. He was referring to Chinese zodiac where people born in the year of the rat are often characterized as "creative" and born writers.

Unfortunately, writing does not form a part of my self-image. In fact, I dislike it. My head is often pregnant with thoughts, creative or otherwise, but I simply could not give birth to them as written works. They get aborted everytime I attempt simply because I don't have a knack for words. I have the idea, but halfway through translating them into something readable, I suddenly lose the interest (or sometimes, the original concept itself!).

In high school, Mrs. Rufila often reprimanded me for my terrible word usage and poor vocabulary. That even increased my reluctance to write. Ok, I eventually got the 'writer of the year' award during the commencement exercise after learning, albeit painfully, the principles of writing in order to "express and not to impress", and of reading and reading in order to expand one's vocabulary. But that didn't fade away the bad memories of having written gibberish, foolish unartistic composition whose failing form and substance seem to put to shame the "editor-in-chief post" I once held in school .

I hate to call that phobia, but is it not?

Music and Verse

2009-02-02T16:30:00.000-08:00

Hay... those ngarag days. I was rummaging through my old folders at home when I chanced upon this piece of paper. My very first production script! Wow, I still couldn't believe I survived student life at UP-CMC with those nerve-wracking productions! That's where I learned that every second counts (kasi naman de segundo ang productions namin). It only takes 3 seconds to spell the difference between passing and failing marks, or between flat one (uno) and 1.25.

Anyway, enough of restrospect. Here's the script:

Ronald Jalmasco
My Music and Verse Production
9:00 AM -9:10 AM

1 MSC: FADE IN “SANDCASTLES” SIDE 1 CUT 6 FROM REIGNE
2 BY REGINE VELASQUEZ, SUSTAIN THEN FADE UNDER FOR
3 ANNCR: We were young then, my April love
4 We thought our togetherness
5 Would never become a loneliness,
6 A broken shill under the sun
7 Memory has taken a picture
8 Of the castle I made for you
9 On that solitary beach.
10 The surge of dark and surf of light,
11 The flotsam of twigs and leaves
12 Surround my arms around the spines
13 Of sand dropped from my fingers
14 That had touched your own salty swell.
15 The least and most of what is possible
16 Of sand and sea is all we can have.
17 (Yet) the sea reclaimed our castle long ago,
18 Leaving as heritage—this islet, this poem,
19 You and I, this country yours and mine.

END OF PRODUCTION.

Water and Me

2009-02-01T19:18:00.000-08:00

I remember when I was in college studying Broadcast Communication, the first thing our professor asked us to do in front of the cam was to introduce ourselves using a thing that would best describe us (or the personality we wanted to assume). We had to expound on the reason within a minute or two.

I remember clearly as if it was just yesterday, that I chose without second thoughts water. For one, I was drinking at least 12 glasses of water at that time (now I’m only averaging 8). Perhaps because I was exaggeratedly soaked with the idea that water is good to our health (now I know this is not always true) especially for people like me who have had history for kidney disease. It’s common knowledge that water flushes out bodily wastes and helps prevent the formation of “stones” in our excretory system. “Kaya nga huwag na kayong magtaka kung halos kakambal ko na ang isang bote ng tubig tulad nito (raising a piece of bottled water),” I remember reciting from a pre-written script.

But I guess I chose water during that interesting class exercise because I was amazed by its salient traits and wondrous properties. When asked of a similar question in another class (Radio Production and Direction), I remember uttering an answer as profound as a beauty queen’s: “Like the sea, I am deep…that’s my selling point. I could also be hot or cold- I need not to elaborate (then winks). I could be as soft and caressing like a hotspring to a woman’s skin and I could also be as hard and tough as ice if I needed to. Because water can take the form of its container, it is very flexible. And such flexibility and versatility are traits I’ve always wanted to develop. When something happens not according to plan, I could respond quickly gracefully. I think that distinguishes the wise from the foolish.”

That was almost four years ago. I wonder, if I were asked of the same question again today, would I still choose water? May be yes. But I would deliver a different piece. That is: To go against the flow – to not always bow down to what others think or expect of you. While the rivers flow downwards to form falls, the water of the world's greatest oceans still flows freely. Your mind then should also flow freely. It should not be contained. Dams control water but they still let them flow, lest dams would become gigantic depots of spoiled water (parang kanal).

Oh well. Of all things, bakit tubig pa ang napili kong topic for my first ever blog? Hay naku…may be my mind right now is just running like a stream.