Sapagkat Lahat ng Sustansiya ay Nasa Latak.

Courage, 2012 Museum of Courage and Resistance, Task Force...

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:43:01 -0400

Courage, 2012

Museum of Courage and Resistance, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, Cubao, Quezon City.

May 16, 2012 with Renrose and Toni.

Sarap pagpepektosan yung mga buraot sa pagkain sa loob ng PBB House. I have nothing against Roy,...

Fri, 18 May 2012 01:18:56 -0400

Sarap pagpepektosan yung mga buraot sa pagkain sa loob ng PBB House. I have nothing against Roy, kung lumaki man siya sa hirap o iba ang kulturang mayroon siya, pero yung ibang sangkot sa pambuburaot na yan ay mga may kaya at pinag-aralan and so it is all in the values they have. They are bunch of uncultured people. Others are bunch of cowards. If I were them, hindi ko na hihintayin na makialam si Kuya o magkaroon ng mediation with Paco, get to the point and talk to this people. Puro bulungan lang. Dapat noon pa nagharapan.

Anyways, hindi dapat inubos lutuin ang hotdog at hindi dapat sinunog ang manok. Daming nagugutom sa mundo. Sarap ibuhos sa kanila yung niluto nilang munggo.

- - - -

The hell with that diplomatic immunity. Tama naman si Legarda, every diplomat could rape Filipinas and all our government can do is punish them with persona non grata. Dapat crimes related to official functions ang sinasakop ng diplomatic immunity, official function ba ang rape?

Ang galing galing harangin ang mga Arroyo sa airport, pero yung Panamanian pinabayaang makaalis. Tang-ina gegerahin ba tayo ng Panama pag hinold natin yan? Ang dami-daming lumalabag sa Vienna Convention na yan, what is so big deal about it when it is for the best interest of a Filipina. Inutil na gobyerno. Puro pa-sweet.

Never Forget What's Important

Fri, 11 May 2012 01:09:41 -0400

Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah’s Ark.

Don’t miss the boat.
Remember that we are all in the same boat.
Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark.
Stay fit. When you’re 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
Build your future on high ground.
For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.
Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
When you’re stressed, float awhile.
Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.

—- Author Unknown

Milagro sa Madaling Araw

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:25:00 -0400

Unang pagkakataon na ihatid kita sa bahay ninyo sa may Tagaytay. Madalas kasi sa tinutuluyan mong bahay sa Makati kita hinahatid. Sa lugar kung saan nadadaanan ng jeep ang pabrika ng kape at nasasamyo natin ang amoy ng kape sa bawat gabing hinahatid kita.

Nagkikwentuhan tayo sa may bus. Ordinaryong kwentuhan lang. Bawal ang public display of affection sa mga tulad natin. Hindi nila maiintidihan kung ano tayo. Hindi nila matatanggap kung anong meron tayo.

Pinara mo ang bus sa isang madilim na bahagi ng daan. Sa pagbaba natin ay naramdaman ko ang lamig ng kapaligiran. Wala akong dalang jacket. At nakikita ko ang hamog sa kalye. Unti-unting kumakapal habang papalalim ang gabi.

Hindi na kita maihahatid pa sa inyong bahay. Bawal sabi mo. Baka kung anong isipin ng nanay mo. At ng kapatid mong sa kasawiang-palad ay nag-aaral din sa parehong paaralang pinapasukan natin. Pareho ng ating kolehiyo. Pareho ng ating kurso.

Matagal din tayong nagkwentuhan sa daan. At batid kong nais mo nang makauwi sapagkat tinitext ka na ng iyong nanay. Ang sabi mo ay mag-abang na lang ako ng bus. Tiyak na may daraan. Malalim na rin ang gabi. Ramdam ko namang ayaw mo akong iwan sa bahaging iyon ng kalyeng walang katao-tao. Pero kailangan mo na talagang umuwi. Iniwan mo sa akin ang iyong laboratory gown panlaban sa matinding lamig ng gabi.

Ang tagal kong nag-abang ng bus. Walang dumaraan. Mag-aalas diyes na ng gabi. Ipinayo mong pumunta ako mismo sa terminal nito upang makasigurado akong may masasakyan ako pauwi. Sinunod ko ang iyong payo. Malayo ang terminal. Hindi ko na alam kung saan ako napadpad.

Pagdating ko sa terminal ng bus, sarado na ito. Wala nang bumibyahe nang ganung oras. Siguro naging kumpiyansa ako masyado dahil sa Maynila ay 24 hours ang biyahe ng mga bus. Napakalaki kong tanga. Probinsya nga pala ito. Tinext kitang sunduin mo ako sa may terminal dahil may sasakyan naman kayo. Doon mo na lang ako patuluyin sa inyong bahay. Mag-isip ka na lang ng dahilan sa inyong nanay. Kaysa naman matulog ako sa kalye.

Ayaw mo. Mabubuko ang relasyon natin. Ang dami mong dahilan. Na kesyo ipagdarasal mo na lang ang kalagayan ko. Ilang oras akong nakatayo sa tapat ng terminal ng bus. Sa isang tila bahay-inuman sa mismong tapat nito. Hanggang sa ito ay magsara at magsimulang pumatak ang ulan na lalong nagpalamig sa temperatura ng paligid. Sa tingin ko, hindi ako mamamatay sa mga holdaper sa lugar na iyon kundi sa pulmonyang maaari kong makuha. Nakakatakot ang paligid. Walang katao-tao sa kalsada. Subalit mas nakakatakot na iniwan ka ng taong mahal mo sa panahong kailangang-kailangan mo siya.

Hindi pwedeng matulog sa may terminal sabi ng ilang drayber dun. Pumunta na lang raw ako sa bayan. May binanggit na lugar na hindi ko alam. Hindi ko naman problema ang pera noong mga panahon na iyon. Ang problema ko ay wala nang masakyan. Paano ako makapupunta sa sinasabing lugar kung kahit jeep o traysikel ay wala nang bumibyahe.

I felt so helpless. Naawa ako sa sarili ko. You are texting me of comforting words. Subalit wala akong maramdaman ng mga panahong iyon. Galit ako. Nanginginig ang buo kong katawan sa lamig. Nanginginig ang puso ko sa sama ng loob.

Bumukas ang gate ng terminal. Lumabas ang isang bus. Binusinahan ako ng drayber. Bumukas ang pinto at kinawayan ako ng kundoktor. Pinapasakay ako. Maswerte daw ako ay may sira ang kanilang bus at kailangang dalhin sa Dasma para ipaayos. Sa SM Dasma na lang daw ako bumaba at mula doon ay sumakay na lang ako ng mga biyaheng pa-Baclaran. Ni ayaw tanggapin ng dalawa ang ibinibigay kong pera, kahit pang kape man lang nila.

Sa gitna ng aking takot at pangamba, isang madaling araw, isang milagro ang dumating upang ako ay tulungan.

- - - - - - -

It all happened in 2009. Kelan lang nagtapos ka sa kursong Medisina. Malamang pag nabasa mo ito ay maaalala mo ang lahat. At ang bawat pait na binigay sa akin ng relasyon natin. It was the best of time, it was the worst of time. But I am grateful that it all happened. I have learned my lessons. Sana ngayon ay may lakas ka na ng loob na ipaglaban ang mga taong mahal ka at mahal mo. I had a great time having you in my life.

An open letter to Miriam Quiambao

Fri, 04 May 2012 21:46:07 -0400

Let me start off by saying that I’m not going to rip into you, Miriam Quiambao. It’s happened all over the interwebs already, what with your comments about homosexuality being a lie from the devil. Passions flared, words were exchanged, and you’ve inevitably issued some sort of apology. (Whether amends were really made, especially as far as your career is now concerned, remains to be seen.)

See, the truth is, news like this always makes me sad. I can’t elaborate further without going someplace more personal, so I hope it isn’t too much to ask that you indulge me for a second.

Years ago, when I was in my late teens, I was part of a charismatic group that believed in following the Bible as closely as possible. It was controversial among other groups because it took liberties outside the Catholic faith in an attempt to be more “extreme.” They raised their hands, jumped in worship, lay down in prostrate, read books about Christianity, listened to music about Jesus, and cast aside everything else. They abhorred passive Christianity and believed that people needed to be passionate.

It was very well-intentioned, but all too easily overridden by human error. I was close to a guy from that group; he was sweet, talented, good-humored, and gay to the core. He sought spiritual counsel regarding his feelings, and was told (as you, Miriam Quiambao, have preached) that this was the work of Satan. How he felt and how he loved was wrong, but if he prayed enough, God would “heal” his “affliction.”

We are at an age where it should be clear that not all things are choice. How one feels about someone is not a choice; what one does about it is. So how is it at all fair, or even Christian, to define anyone solely by who it is they are attracted to? To say that they have earned a place in the fiery furnaces of hell simply because their love is not commonplace? We each have shame in the closet of our romantic histories, and if I were to live my life being defined by mine, I would prefer to be shot in the face instead. (Really.)

I am not about to go into the divide between Christianity and homosexuality, because that is a discussion for an intellect far superior to mine. But I believe, even as a God-fearing woman, that nothing boils down to a simple question of sexual orientation. I believe that if we are to be judged for anything, it is whether we have lived with integrity, whether the existence of others was bettered by our own, and whether we stood up for plain and simple human decency.

A glaring number of advancements have been made by man in nearly every field imaginable, but somehow it’s still such a challenge to pinpoint the line where the best of intentions and the purest of principles turn impossibly cruel. So if it is our goal in life to inspire, in any shape or form, then perhaps the best place to start is with respect, regardless of who it is we love or what choices we make.

Start with kindness. Start with using words with responsibility and respect for the gravity of their impact. Start with taking into account the whole of a human being, woven in with his dignity, and not just his parts.

We are all in search of something more, something better, something that makes our existence worthwhile. And we will never be where we want to be, love the way we deserve to love, or be looked upon as equals if we don’t stop spewing venom. Because with the little amount of time we’re given to roam this earth, there is honestly none left to waste on ignorance or hate.

- - - -

Gabby Tatad

The Philippine Star 5/5/12

The Law Of The Garbage Truck

Fri, 04 May 2012 19:11:53 -0400

I hopped in a taxi and we took off for Indianapolis Airport. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car’s back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And, I mean, he was friendly.

So, I said, ‘Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!’ And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, ‘The Law of the Garbage Truck.’

“Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You’ll be happy you did.”

So this was it: The ‘Law of the Garbage Truck.’ I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets?

It was that day I said, ‘I’m not going to do it anymore.’

I began to see garbage trucks. Like in the movie ‘The Sixth Sense,’ the little boy said, ‘I see Dead People.’ Well, now ‘I see Garbage Trucks.’ I see the load they’re carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my taxi driver, I don’t make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best, for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day.

—- Author Unknown

Principles of Life

Tue, 01 May 2012 22:36:52 -0400

Winning isn’t everything but wanting to win is.
You would achieve more, if you don’t mind who gets the credit.
When everything else is lost, the future still remains.
Don’t fight too much or the enemy will know your art of war.
The only job you start at the top is when you dig a grave.
If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for everything.
If you do little things well, you’ll do big ones better.
Only thing that comes to you without effort is old age.
You won’t get a second chance to make a first impression.
Only those who do nothing do not make mistakes.
Never take a problem to your boss unless you have a solution.
If you are not failing, you’re not taking enough risks.
Don’t try to get rid of your bad temper by losing it.
If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.
Those who don’t make mistakes usually don’t make anything.
There are two kinds of failures: Those who think and never do, and those who do and never think.
Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win.
All progress has resulted from unpopular decisions.
Change your thoughts and you change your world.
Understanding proves intelligence, not the speed of the learning.
There are two kinds of fools in this world.: Those who give advice and those who don’t take it.
The best way to kill an idea is to take it to a meeting.
Management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things.
Friendship founded on business is always better than business founded on friendship.

—- Compiled by Tony Peeris —- India

Nobody's Friend

Tue, 01 May 2012 22:32:00 -0400

My name is Gossip.

I have no respect for justice.

I break hearts and ruin lives.

I am cunning, malicious and gather strength with age.
The more I am quoted, the more I am believed.
I flourish at every level of society.

My victims are helpless.

They cannot protect themselves against me because
I have no name and no face.
To track me down is impossible.
The harder you try, the more elusive I become.

I am nobody’s friend.

Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.

I topple governments and wreck marriages.
I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartaches and indigestion.

I spawn suspicion and generate grief.
I make innocent people cry in their pillows.

Even my name hisses.

I am called GOSSIP.

Office gossip
Shop gossip
Party gossip
Telephone gossip

I make headlines and headaches.

REMEMBER, when you repeat a story, ask yourself:

is it true?
Is it fair?
Is it necessary??
If not, do not repeat it.

- author unknown

When A Winner Loses, He Always Comes Back To Be A Better Winner

Tue, 01 May 2012 21:31:18 -0400

Refuse to remain fallen.

Refuse to quit.

Refuse to give up.

Refuse to accept a ‘No’ from life.

To fail without putting in the efforts is wrong, but failure in itself can never be wrong. Dare to fail, for only those who fail enough can succeed enough. More than any one single factor, it is your fear of failure that is going to leave you as a failure.

No new venture guarantees success and no new diversification promises profits. Champions understand that it is better to face outstanding failures than mediocre successes. Only those who are willing to persist in spite of temporary set backs, only those who are willing to persevere in spite of midway failures, only those who would not succumb to defeats, can finally sign their own success stories.

Failure is a parenthesis inside which success hides and history makers dig them out through relentless striving against all those failures. Life cannot be punctuated with success alone; failure too will find its imprints.

There is no sunrise without sunset.

There is no life without death.

There is no success without failures.

Learn from your failures and move on. Keep on keeping on. When a winner loses, always come back to be better winner.

—- Sri T. T. Rangarajan, Editor, Frozen Thoughts

A short course in human relations

Tue, 01 May 2012 10:11:17 -0400

The six most important words:

‘I admit that I was wrong’

The five most important words:

‘You did a great job’

The four most important words:

‘What do you think?’

The three most important words:

‘Could you please…’

The two most important words:

‘Thank you’

The most important word:

‘We’

The least important word:

‘I’

Sa Mata ng Bata

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 07:36:00 -0400

Kapag trineat mo ang isang bata sa Jollibee, isa yun sa pinakamaligayang moment sa buhay niya. Kahit isipin mong barya lang ang halaga ng isang yum burger, french fries, chicken joy, spaghetti at coke, for a child, malaking bagay yun. Para sa kanila, it could be everything. At hinding hindi nila yun makakalimutan. Ganun ka-appreciative ang isang bata sa mga simpleng bagay na ginagawa mo for him/her.

Marami akong mga pamangkin - 4 sa panganay, 1 sa pangalawa, 2 sa pangatlo, 2 sa pang-apat at 1 sa sinundan ko. Yes, bunso ako at ako na lang ang walang anak. Napapansin ko tuwing pasko nag-eexpect sa akin ang mga pamangkin ko. At tuwing umuuwi ako sa Sta. Ana, nagyayaya yung 2 kong pamangkin sa Luneta. For them Luneta is the most beautiful palaruan in the world. Wala pa silang idea sa kung ano ang star city, ang enchanted kingdom, etc. Napakasimple ng kanilang pangarap, ang maglaro nang maglaro nang maglaro. At dun sila nasisiyahan.

Sa bawat pag-uwi ko sa bahay o pagbisita sa ibang mga pamangkin at may dala akong laruan o pagkain, masayang masaya sila. Napapansin ko wala pang nagtatanong sa kin tungkol sa presyo ng mga yon, kasi nga, para sa isang bata it is the thought that counts. Unlike sa adults na tatanungin pa kung original, magkano, saan nabili etc.

Habitat, 2012 - - - - A day in Habitat for Humanity with...

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:20:00 -0400

Habitat, 2012

- - - -

A day in Habitat for Humanity with Florante, Renrose,Anna, Jorrel, Reynen, Hannah, Jeremaine, Tonie Mae, Ross, Mj, Kim and Ely.

BistekVille, Molave St. corner Payatas Road, Quezon City.

Potatoes, Eggs and Coffee Beans

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:22:00 -0400

Once upon a time, a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot, and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter.

The daughter moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes, he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.

Turning to her, he asked, “Daughter, what do you see?”

“Potatoes, eggs, and coffee,” she hastily replied.

“Look closer,” he said, “and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft.

He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.

“Father, what does this mean?” she asked.

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs, and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity, the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently.

The potato went in strong, hard and unrelenting, but in boiling water it became soft and weak. The egg was fragile with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard.

However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

“Which are you?” he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

In life, things happen around us and things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is what happens within us.

Our big brother has a big fat belly, a smiling siopao-sized...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:21:00 -0400

Our big brother has a big fat belly, a smiling siopao-sized face, with a sensual mouth. He giggles like a kid with an infectious laughter.

He is the icon of metrosexuality and is suffering from perfectionism syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder - to the highest level. His words are very persuasive – indeed a very good conversationalist. His actions are unpredictable yet calculated. He is quite dominant, influential and authoritative. His good command of language makes him an effective communicator and a good leader. He is a prima facie evidence that youth knows no age. And most importantly, he is family-oriented and God-centered.

I met him one pleasant afternoon in 2010 in a shed near the Gymnasium. He introduced himself as one of our alumni. He said he’s just fetching his best friend from Nursing. Dressed in a barong, he sounded like a politician or perhaps a businessman that time. Later I had known that he has an MBA in Ateneo and he’s an English professor in Mapua. Moreover, he was an academic and non-academic achiever during his stay in PLM as a mass com student.

Afterwards we’ve had series of encounter in PLM, in Bukluran trainings and other occasions. When I organized and established Ang KAMPI he was one of those people whom I sought support. He did not hesitate in giving me not just moral but financial support. He became the pillar of my strength, our strength. He is more than a friend. He is more than an adviser. He is a big brother – a big brother who is kind, caring, understanding and protective.

We always quarrel. We always argue. We have opposing views, beliefs and strategies. Oftentimes we unintentionally hurt each other – that’s the only consistent thing between us. Then he won’t text me for days. Then I will beg for his forgiveness. Then we will be okay. And in the succeeding days we will again argue and bicker. Then it becomes a cycle. We are like cats and dogs - perhaps because we agree to disagree.

Do not talk to him when he is tired or is sick or when he is angry with his staffs - susungitan ka lang niya. His resourcefulness and ingenuity is immeasurable – nag time in ka na ba Kuya? He is a good cook too – look at his belly dun napupunta. Moreover, he is keen observer, a.k.a. tsismoso. And don’t mess up with him – hello COMELEC Chair? Allow me to destroy his image even just in this note.

He makes my life miserable – SERIOUSLY – with all those flooding in texts. Actually, I am really tired of understanding this human being especially during his periods – so sungit. He always misinterprets my thoughts, words and actions. He has mastered the doctrine of paawa effect and he always appeal to a person’s conscience. And worst, he is so sensitive – sarap batukan. And yes, he is physically abusive – mahilig manghampas.On a serious note, he has a very interesting personality. Something that is hard to see. Something buried deep within the innermost part of his being.

I have given him my full trust. I am confident that my siblings and children are in good hands had I die because he will be the one to take care of them. Honestly, there were moments in my life that I have questioned his decisions and actions. But as I look back in those times that among our alumni he was the only one who stood up for me, those times that I am in the lowest of my low, and in those times when I felt so alone in my battles – he was there. And so I just stop over thinking and just rely to what my heart feels over what my mind thinks.

He said that he will be settling down at the age of 35. I know that he will be a good family man because he had already proven it by merely being a good brother to us, people who are not even related by affinity or consanguinity to him. When that time comes, I hope and pray that our big brother, who has a big fat belly, a smiling siopao-sized face, with a sensual mouth, giggles like a kid and has an infectious laughter, will still be the same - in and out.

Despite the fact that he detests my existence, I would like to share some interesting perceptions by our org-mates regarding him. And since this is my blog allow me to comment on the veracity of their perceptions:

A Loving Brother. – Lejoy (Sa inyo lang, sa akin hindi)

The brains and brawns in the field of work who made Ang KAMPI university-wide and achieve the SSC positions. His support, most especially the financial resources, is a major factor that paved way to what KAMPI has achieved so far. – Jerom (Ang sipsip naman nito)

Undefined. – Aaron (Sabi ko describe, hindi define Sant)

Selfless. Kind. Helpful. Thoughtful. Intelligent. – Czar (Kaya nga Sant, kasi very Saintly)

Generous. – Hanna (Nakalista daw lahat)

Amazing. – Iska (race?)

Loving. – Mafine (Ilabas ang girlfriend!)

Very smart. Easy going. Fun to be with. – Kaye (Smart indeed, mahilig mag time in eh)

Caring. – Glom (Pati daw sa Bukluran)

Touchy. – Jobelle (Isang malaking OMG)

He’s gay (happy) and always shares this happiness to everyone. – Jorrel (Kuya gay daw oh)

He wants things to be neat and in order. – Toni (O.C. nga kasi)

Makulit. Magaling. Matalino. - Florante (So true)

Hindi ka titigilan kapag alam niyang may problema ka. – RJ (Bakit sa ‘kin puro bahala ka ang sinasabi. Char)

Responsible. Kind. Supportive. Mabarkada. Perfectionist. Palaban. Choosy sa friends. – Mhin (Ano ba gusto mo pati Tugon i-friend niya?)

A brother. A leader. Handang isakripisyo ang trabaho at oras para sa kasamahan. Masarap kasama at palakaibigan na mentor. – Zaira (Oo nga masarap)

Pillar. – Shay (Pilapil? Chos)

As versatile as an avenger. - Innah (Kanina artista, ngayon naman Superhero)

Intimidating. – Jasmine (Panindigan mo yan Jasmine. Haha)

Affectionate. Ambitious and motivated. Devoted. Flexible. Practical. Self-giving and sympathetic. – Renrose. (Oh eh siya na)

Sa physics si Kuya Sant yung unstoppable force kasi hindi siya tumigil hanggat hindi kami pumayag. Siya rin yung isa sa mga force na laging sumusuporta sa KAMPI. – Kam (Oh eh ikaw na ang ECE!)

Dynamic. – Wano (Wala bang magsasabi nang hindi maganda? Haha)

Maaasahan kahit sa mga pagkakataong wala nang matitira sa kanya pag nagbigay siya. – Berna. (Ang lakas naman maka-MMK nito)

Kind and understanding. Perfectionist and orderly. Mahinahon kahit galit na. – Anna (Pakitanong nga si COMELEC Chair kung mahinahon talaga)

The light that never goes out. – Mimi (Ilang watts ba?)

Happy 29th Birthday Kuya Sant Dema-ala.

From your number one hater (50%) and lover (50%),

Noliver F. Barrido (I am not in my lucid interval when I made this blog)

P.S. Forgive me if this post will offend you more than it will make you happy. J And I wanna also say sorry for all my shortcomings and for those times when I brought out the worst in you – it was all unintentional. Always remember this, in our lives; you are never insignificant because you are Kuya Sant.

The Cracked Pot

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:50:33 -0400

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck.

One pot had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream… “I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.”

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side?” That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path. Every day while we walk back, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.

“Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”

Moral: Although each of us may have our own unique flaws, it is in our uniqueness that we find our special talents and have an opportunity to brighten up the world for ourselves and others!

(storiesfortrainers.com)

A Man and His Dog

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:46:00 -0400

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that his faithful dog had been dead for many years. He wondered where the road was leading them. After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. As he reached the wall, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch, and the street that led to the gate made from pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, “Excuse me, where are we?”

“This is heaven, sir,” the man answered.

“Wow! Would you happen to have some water? We have traveled far,” the man said.

“Of course, sir. Come right in, and I’ll have some ice water brought right up.”

The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

“Can my friend,” gesturing toward his dog, “come in, too?” the traveler asked.

“I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t accept pets.”

The man thought a moment, remembering all the years this dog remained loyal to him and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going. After another long walk he came to a plain dirt road, which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

“Excuse me!” he called to the reader. “Do you have any water? We have traveled far.”

“Yes, sure, there’s a faucet over there.” The man pointed to a place that couldn’t be seen from outside the gate. “Come on in and help yourself.”

“How about my friend here?” the traveler gestured to his dog.

“There should be a bowl by the faucet; he is welcome to share.”

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned faucet with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree waiting for them.

“What do you call this place?” the traveler asked.

“This is heaven,” was the answer.

“Well, that’s confusing,” the traveler said. “The man down the road said that was heaven, too.”

“Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That’s hell.”

“Doesn’t it make you mad for them to use your name like that?”

“No. We’re just happy that they screen out the folks who’d leave their best friends behind in exchange for material things.”

(storiesfortrainers.com)

Lessons from Geese

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:32:00 -0400

FACT 1:

As each goose flaps its wings it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.

Lesson:

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

FACT 2:

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.

Lesson:

If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

FACT 3:

When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies to the point position.

Lesson:

It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other’s skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.

FACT 4:

The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Lesson:

We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

FACT 5:

When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.

Lesson:

If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

(storiesfortrainers.com)

~Based on work by Milton Olson

Skin Hunger, 2012

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:48:00 -0400

Skin Hunger, 2012

The 7 Failures That Will Make You a Better Leader

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:29:36 -0400

“Success Covers a Multitude of Blunders”.

That was a famous quote from George Bernard Shaw, and it has always stuck with me throughout my career as a leader and executive.

What it ultimately told me was yes, I was going to fail – multiple times. But if I was truly determined to overcome, or “cover” them, I absolutely needed to learn from every failure, and leverage that accumulated learning into success.

In so many ways, I’ve grown to appreciate my failures – as counterintuitive as that may seem. Because I now know if I just let them go, without reflection, then they were doomed to be repeated.

There are 7 failures that I believe bring the best improvement opportunities:

Failure to Prioritize – Many a bad decision has come from our lack of perspective on the importance of one thing over another. The key learning here is to fully grasp the concept of “opportunity cost” – the cost of NOT doing something in favor of something else.
Failure to Decide – If the buck is going to stop with us, then we need the courage to make timely decisions, regardless of consensus or the lack of 100% of the information needed to make them. We learn that more often than not, it’s better to “do something” then let fear and inertia overtake us.
Failure to Progress – When a target is reached, the bar must be raised. And when that target is hit, it must be raised again. And again. Complacency is a state that HAS to be avoided, at all costs, and the ultimate learning here is that continuous improvement is an essential focus of any enterprise.
Failure to Praise – Great talent needs to be nurtured and retained, in a manner that goes well beyond the paychecks and bonuses. These lessons come hard, after the loss of individuals who felt unappreciated and undervalued. We learn that humans need to hear those simple words – “You did a great job”.
Failure to Trust – When first taking on a leadership role, there’s always a strong “pull” to be involved in every decision, or to want to “sign off” on literally every dollar spent or contract signed. Until we learn that trust is an essential part of great leadership, we are doomed to overwork and a huge misapplication of time and talent.
Failure to Mediate – Every organization will have conflicts, whether it is person to person, or department to department. Successful leaders learn that stepping into the breach to resolve them, rather than standing back or ignoring them, can avoid even bigger problems down the road, and build influence throughout an organization.
Failure to Fire – Nobody likes to fire anybody. It’s one of the toughest things a leader will ever do. But when you know in your gut it’s time to cut the cord, cut it. Don’t wait. Your gut will usually be right. The failures here are a lesson to the heart – it can’t get in the way of these decisions (but it certainly can come into play in the manner in which it is handled).

Remember this lesson from the baseball diamond: You don’t have to bat 1,000% to be successful, but when you swing and miss, get out of the box, think, and then learn before you step back in and hit that home run.

- - - -

(http://www.terrystarbucker.com/2012/04/08/the-7-failures-that-will-make-you-a-better-leader/)

I have nothing against fancy coffee shops, and definitely nothing against the people who cannot seem...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 23:56:00 -0400

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