The Other Side of the Table

If you have been following my posts, you, probably, already know by now that I am part of the training and development team of the company I work for.

Training classes can be very demanding especially when it happens back to back. Being able to impart knowledge and develop others can be very daunting and fulfilling at the same time. Trainers/teachers are known to be the go-to persons of any organization. However, we have to understand that your trainers/teachers also need development.

I grab every chance I get to be at the other side of the table for two reasons:

1. Development.

I take care of other people's development but who takes care of mine?

2. Humility

When everyone goes to you for answers, it could destroy you if you are not careful. Destroy you in a sense that you might think you know everything, that you hold the absolute truth of all matters, and that you can't be questioned. No matter how familiar you are with the topic at hand, being on the other side of the table positions you somewhere below yourself and your huge ego. Listening to your teacher (who may be younger, maybe with less experience than you do, maybe newer to the role and the team), and the people you are learning with in the class can humble you and make you realize that you don't know everything and that there is something new from everybody, always.

I always tell my class that I treat every single person I meet as my teacher. There is always something to learn. Learning is a pursuit. There is no destination to reach. This is one journey where the destination should not be sought after. It would break my heart to see myself in a place where there is nothing else to learn.

What have you learned today? Who was your teacher?

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Bubblews

An Apple I Did Not Bite

Last Friday, I posted the attached photo on my Facebook page. It immediately garnered 'likes'. Some of my friends thought that I bought myself a new Iphone. Well, I did get an Apple but I did not bite it. Here's the story:

On our way home from a mall, my friends and I decided to hail a cab instead of commuting. I was the first to get in. Immediately after I opened the door, I saw a phone lying on the car floor. I took it but kept my silence as I was trying to observe the driver if he knew of it. Then, I called the attention of my friends. I knew right away, without an iota of doubt, that I will be returning it. I was just too hesitant to hand it over to the driver. Not to sound judgmental but I did not want to place him into that 'middle road' - whether to return it or not.

We checked the phone. We had to so we can, at least, get a number or receive a text. Unfortunately, the phone was locked. Dannie, my friend, tried to remove the SIM from it so we can place it in my other phone and call someone, until it rang. Someone was looking for someone. I did not talk about finding the phone yet as I was not sure who I was talking to. I wanted to make sure it was the owner I get to talk to. I waited for him to tell me about the missing phone first before I give him instructions on how to get it from me. He figured out right away so he called again and put his girlfriend (the owner) into the three-way call.

To keep the story short, I arranged a meet-up with her. I initially wanted to meet up in a mall but she couldn't make it to the time I suggested. I went home first and gave her instructions on how to see me. I tried to put myself in where she was. I knew that she would not feel comfortable seeing a stranger so I gave her instructions to go inside the bank near my place. I thought it would make her feel safer to meet me when she is inside a secured place. We saw each other and I met her dad . (I would, also, drag someone else with me if I were in her shoes.) The gratefulness I saw in her, her boyfriend, and most especially, her dad, was enough to compensate for the long day.

I am writing this not because I want to glorify myself. I am writing this because of the two things I want to stress:

1. When you suffer with others, you will do more than just the good thing. I placed myself in the shoes of the lady. I made it my own situation. I knew and understood exactly what her fears were in meeting me. This way, I made her feel comfortable in meeting me.

What made me strongly motivated in doing what I did? I asked myself, "What if this happened to me?" I would want someone else to do the same for me. She was scared the first time I talked to her over the phone. I could feel her trembling voice.

2. Pay it forward. When I was Nicaragua, I lost my phone. I was outside my country and in a place who does not speak my language but I was served with kindness. The stranger who got my phone returned it to me. So you can praise me all you want for doing this but I, actually, just paid forward.

There's already too much pain and suffering around. Let's feed the good one!

PS: I made the right decision of not surrendering it to the driver. My friend said the driver did say that he hoped he got it for himself.

A Closer Look at Gloryfall and their Newest Album, Be Glorified

We are about to release the new album...this link we have not released. Listen to it. 

I jolted out of bed upon reading this. It was my brother's private message on Facebook about two weeks ago talking about the newest album of Gloryfall. He asked me if I can listen to it and write what I think. 

My limited human knowledge and prideful, rotten human mind immediately did what they are good at -worry about what and how to write, and whether I will be good enough to write about it. It was all this (points to self) doing all the thinking; until I played my first randomly chosen song from the list, Be Glorified.

I listened to it and I sat still. It then dawned on me that the album is meant to glorify God, not the song, not the album, not the band, and definitely not my writing. So, on this entry, we will glorify God and what He has done in each of the lives of these individuals to manifest His glory as we get to know the band and their music.

Here's a short interview with the band members: 

Q: Who makes up Gloryfall?

Gloryfall is made up of the following: 

Toby Huyssen (Vocalist/Acoustic Guitarist)

Ginny Huyssen (Vocalist)

Cylynn Huyssen (Vocalist)

Cylas Contreras (Keyboardist)

Dennis Llante (Electric Guitarist)

Jenry Pawhay (Acoustic Guitarist)

Ryan Pecardal (Bassist)

Harald Huyssen (Drummer)

Q: Why did you name yourselves Gloryfall?

Toby: One of our very first songs to record even before the band was formed was called “Glory Fall.”  It spoke of our heart to see God’s glory manifest.  When we write songs, lead worship, or train in worship, our one desire is for God to reveal himself in such an awesome way that our lives will be changed forever!  We adapted the name for our group from that song.

Toby Huyssen, worship leader and acoustic guitarist of the band, has been leading worship since he was 8 years old.  Currently, he leads World Missions for Jesus team in the Philippines as well as a team for a church plant in Antipolo.  He works with his brother in TrueSound Recording Studio to help produce quality Christian music in the Philippines.

Q: Who writes the songs? Any particular story behind any of the songs?

Toby: The song I Sing Blessing was written in 2008 during our first worship training.  While prayer time, I opened the Bible and read in the book of Revelation.  During that time the Lord gave me the song “I Sing Blessing” which we have used to lead others to worship Him.“Be Glorified” is a newer song that I wrote. My heart was stirring for some time with a discontent wanting something more from my songwriting. I prayed, telling the Lord, I want to write a song that really brings you glory.  At that moment I wrote the song “Be Glorified”

Harald: Primary writers are Toby and myself.  Cylynn also wrote one track on the album.  The songs I write are born out of quiet time with the Lord or during a time spent in prayer or the Bible.  I think the material is a response to God, who He is and how He is working in us and moving us.  My goal in writing is to give all glory to God.  

Harald is also the drummer of Shamrock and jazz group, Lowcal.  He has been a faculty member at UST Conservatory of music since 2006 teaching drumset, jazz studies, and music technology courses.  He also works as a sound engineer TrueSound Studio where he has been involved in numerous projects for both local and foreign artists.  

Q: What challenges did you encounter in making this album? How did God bring you through it? Any unforgettable moments while recording?

Toby: This  has been our biggest project yet, combining audio and video live recording all in one night took months of preparation.  It was challenging to stay at everything for that long, but something that consistently happened whenever we practiced.  There was always a moment, during the practice, when the atmosphere and heart of worship would push past the musical practice.  This helped me keep going through everything.

Ginny: There was a lot of hard work involved in making the album. We all rehearsed every week, perfecting each song - making arrangements and also coming up with harmonies. Another challenge for me was being about 9 months pregnant. That made it challenging but still fun!

 Ginny Huyssen, vocalist, has been a choir member since high school. She has always loved music as a child. She has been in the music ministry since 2005. Now in Gloryfall, she leads sometimes and does a lot of harmonizing for the band.

Cylynn: Learning all 13 songs (words, melody, harmony. Being committed to always be prepared every week for rehearsals. Making sure I know and do my every part right. The Lord showed me ways that I can learn the songs in fun and meaningful ways. As I studied the words, I am reminded of how amazing and wonderful our God is. I get to worship and praise Him as I study the songs for the album. The album is something we all worked and prepared really hard for, and something we had been waiting for for 6 months. Every experience that night during recording was memorable! Extra unforgettable for me personally since I had 39+ C degrees fever  during the recording night, but that didn't keep the experience from being fun and meaningful. To top it off, after finishing the recording at almost midnight, the whole group made a ‘starbucks run’ and celebrated everyone’s efforts, the Lord’s goodness and grace, and a successful project! 

Cylynn also works for World Mission for Jesus, Inc doing admin work. She is also the Bldg. Manager for Springs of Living Water Retreat and Seminar Center in Antipolo Rizal. She is a part time photographer and a mother to two amazing daughters and 1 son.

Cylas: Rearranging the songs to get the feel that we wanted. Grace brought us through. If it wasn't for Him, no idea what would've come up and I won't have the skill needed to do this. I also believe that God wouldn't have let us accomplish this if we didn't have the right heart. This being my last project with Gloryfall, the whole experience was unforgettable for me. We practiced for months and the excitement just grew as the recording date drew closer. 

Dennis: Being able to play it live in a studio. You can always go back and re-record parts, but for this one, we had to play everything correctly without losing the feel of each song. God has been good that I only had to do some minor edits just to take out live playing nuances.

Jenry:  I usually play the rhythm part and in this album, I have to come up with my parts. That is the most challenging thing I did in this album. During my daily devo's, God kept reminding me (different verses pointing out to one message) to keep doing my best. The bonding time during rehearsals - that's what makes it unforgettable. 

 Jenry is also a freelance Graphic Designer, part of the Worship Team at church and a hobbyist. He makes bracelets during his spare time and sell them.

Ryan: For me, learning 13 new songs at once is challenging plus giving my own style without compromising what the Band already made. The songs are very heartfelt and speaks to whoever is listening to it. It is not hard to put your heart into songs like these. Plus having bonding moments with the band made it easier for me to "get tight" with them musically as well.The "feeling of excitement" is unforgettable for me. Being able to record the Album and at the same time shoot a video of it (like an mtv) is a first for me.

Harald: This is the first time we have done a live recording and also a first time we have done a video as well. So many firsts. We really prayed about direction and everything we were doing.  We prayed about material, every rehearsal the group meets to not only play music but seek God and grow in God.  Though it seemed like a huge task and we worked hard, oddly in the end it felt easy and effortless and everything just came together awesome.  God brought us the perfect partners like Mr. Mike Pigar who helped with the set, video crew changed last minute due to scheduling issues,  so every point where we lacked God opened a door. 

Q: God breathes a new song to His words all the time. What's the new song in this album that makes it different from your other albums?

Toby: I feel that each song has a “new song” moment.  It really was our goal to have the songs come alive, as we arranged and recorded each song did come alive for me.

Ginny: This new album captures even more the heart of Gloryfall. When it comes to worship, our desire is for God to be truly glorified.

Cylas: The whole album actually sounds different from the previous ones. If you've heard the other albums, you would notice the difference right away. You would know it's Gloryfall but at the same time it would sound fresher.

Aside from playing with Gloryfall, Cylas also works as a Quality Monitor Specialist for a bank. 

Dennis: The bible encourages us to sing new songs, people who are on fire for God would just burst into singing worship songs. Songs like "Breathe on Me" "Your Love" "Sing to You" will sound very different from the previous albums, from those 3 you will my hear diverse musical influences.

Jenry:   BIGGER. Iba kasi ang impact sa akin ng song. (The song has a different impact on me,)

Ryan: For me, the songs in this album breathes. We changed the tempo around a bit to get the correct feel of the songs. Plus the message of the songs created a perfect match.

Harald: We have 5 albums to date.  The difference here is the live aspect which for worship I think makes it more real and more intimate.  This is something we have wanted to do for 6 years. Gloryfall started in 2008. 

Q: What is your favorite single? Why? 

Toby: Be Glorified is a favorite of mine.  The heart, message, and arrangement all combined create a beautiful worship song.

Ginny: I love all of them! :D I'd say Be Glorified. It's an easy song to sing, I like the melody a lot and also the message of the song. 

Cylynn: Because of Who You Are.  It’s a song that is very personal to me.  God gave me the words and melody to this song as I was driving home from bringing my daughter to school. Being a mom of 3 means my day is full and crazy busy!  A lot of my experiences alone with the Lord are being in the car driving alone. I was worshiping and singing to Him about who He is, and how amazing and awesome He is.  The “YOU ARE” in worshiping our God. To just focus on Him and Him alone, not including or putting “me” in the picture just focusing on God and who He is. Next thing I know the words and melody of “Because of Who You Are” just came to life. 

Cylas: I Sing Blessing. We've done this song countless times and in different places and it never gets old for me. It helps take you to that place wherein it's just you and God. 

Dennis: Breathe On Me, because it's the heaviest (genre) and I like heavy things.

Dennis is also the Ministry Coordinator of Sowing Seeds Ministries Inc., a worship team member at Union Church of Manila, and a guitar teacher at Faith Academy.

Jenry: Bigger. Before I joined Gloryfall, my favorite line is "LIFE SUCKS…  Life is like a tire, sometimes I'm up and sometimes I'm down; but mine is flat so I'm always on the DOWN side of the tire." When I first heard the song, ang sabi ko (I said)… SAKTO (exactly)! Everytime I sing, hear or play the song, I'm declaring to myself that God is bigger than everything. 

Ryan: Spirit of God. Listen to it and you will know why it's my favorite. Seriously, the song talks about inviting the presence of the Holy Spirit which changes you life and empowering you to do great things for God.

Harald: Ruler of All – I wrote this song in a quiet time before the Lord – 1 Chronicles 29:10-13.  Realizing who God is puts everything in perspective in this life.  It’s something that brings peace, comfort, joy.

Q: Album's title is Be Glorified. How did God reveal His glory in your lives while creating this album?

Toby: There were always moments where in each practice I could feel God’s presence strongly.  No matter how many times we sang the same song, the Lord continued to reveal Himself in a new way.  His mercies are new every morning.

Ginny: God would always show up and speak to us as we worked on the songs. Gloryfall also does devotions every week and every time there is a "refreshing" from God. It's amazing how God can make His presence known and felt even in the simplest of things and times, like when we are practicing the songs.

Cylas: By providing strength and wisdom throughout the whole process. 

Dennis: The writing and arranging processes took longer than normal. We spent months listening to demos and fine tuning the arrangements. Throughout the writing process, God has provided everything that we needed to complete the album. All members have their own jobs to support families. Everyone was busy but somehow we always found time to do it until completion. 

Jenry: There's this song that is very hard to play. My timing is off, I can't memorize the chords, and in every rehearsal I always mess up. And then a month before the recording, the band agreed to change some parts of the arrangement in the song… What a relief, it made my life easier. God taught me to persevere to reach my goal, not just for the album but in my life as well. In everything I do, it must be to glorify God. 

Ryan: I guess it's the way He gave me strength to do what I have to do that day. The day of the recording, I came from the office, no sleep then after we're done, I still have to go straight to the office again for work.

Ryan aka Rye is also an MD at Jesus Christ Sun of Righteousness Church Marikina. He works as a Level 2 Technician for Apple Computers and a full time Dad.

Harald: God reveals his glory daily.  If we will take the time to realize the world, opportunities, blessings we have.  It’s a matter of perspective and looking at things from the side of a free, blessed and redeemed child of God.  We can’t respond any way other than give glory to God. 

Q: Any message to the readers or people you want to thank.

Toby: There are so many people to thank for their support.  The ones who have already given their support to the ones who still will give their support.  Each person sows into our ministry making it possible for us to keep on going.

Ginny: I would like to thank everyone who has prayed and supported us in this project. Prayers are powerful! I'd like to say a special thanks to Jeanne Vicars for helping us out vocally, giving us amazing advise and tips in singing. My prayer is that everyone who gets to listen to this album would get to experience God's awesome presence like never before and go deeper in their worship and walk with God. To God be ALL the glory!

Cylynn: Thank you to everyone who has supported and prayed for us throughout this project.  I hope that the Lord will reveal Himself in a very personal way to everyone who will listen to the album. In the end, I pray that all glory, praise and honor will be given to God!  

Cylas: My prayer is for people to experience God as they listen to this album. Thank you to everyone who has been supporting our ministry and partnering with us. 

Dennis: I hope this album will become a tool to bring God's people to real worship.

Jenry:  In everything you do, persevere to reach your goal. Keep on praying and trusting God.  Life is short, use it to glorify God. Many thanks to my wife for the support and to Harald for pushing me to do my best.

Ryan: I want to thank my wife for her never ending support. My two beautiful princesses that never fails to inspire and make me feel blessed.

Harald:  Of course thank you to God our Father for making this group and album possible.  My family has been 100% supportive and a constant inspiration.  The band members, everyone is a joy to work with. Thank you to every one who has supported the group over the last 6 years.  Absolutely amazed and humbled.  

End of Interview

Knowing that the lives of these eight individuals were not the same as when they started working on this album tells you that God has, indeed, moved His hand. We can sing songs of worship all day long and read Bible passages every single day, but our lives and how we speak of it will be the real manifestation of God's glory. On this album, the band didn't just play songs or recorded tunes, you have read how they spoke of how God brought them through from start to finish. The songs didn't magically come out while on a luxurious vacation or a song writing class. The songs came to them during a quiet time on a simple day. This tells you that a song of worship and gratefulness can come any time of the day, at any place, and to anyone. 

Make these songs yours, too. Join Gloryfall as they sing new songs of worship for an audience of One. 

You may check the album from Indieheaven or from Reverbnation. 

You may also follow their Facebook page. 

Visit their website. 

All photos on this entry were used with the permission of Gloryfall. 

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We Park and Ride

A Simple Guide to Happiness

...for Pets and Humans

As I was browsing the net for some ideas on a project I am working on, I stumbled upon Purina's video. The title of the video is A Simple Guide to Happiness for Pets and Humans. I liked the video a lot not just for its explicit message but for its underlying message.

The video gives us the following.


1. Greet every day with enthusiasm.
2. Let your silly side show.
3. Learn new tricks.
4. Always take naps.
5. Live curiously.
6. Give love and be loved.
7. Find joy in little things.
8. Life becomes fuller when we savour every moment.
9. Life becomes sweeter when we love the finest way we can.
10. Life becomes happier when we make new discoveries.
11. Life becomes better when we learn the greatest lesson of all ... love simply.


The video also touches on the following:

1. Highlighting rescuing.
2. Defying conventions. The lady owns a dog and the man owns a cat.
3. Promoting love beyond breed. There were native cats and dogs shown.

I won't say more.

You may see the video by clicking this link.

Photo: Maxee, my rescued Cat.

TRAVEL TALK: Local Money

Traveling outside the country?

Know the exchange rate & carry local money.

Do your research before the flight. Know their local currency and the exchange rate. Nine times out of ten, you will want to do some shopping and dining and will have to pay for it. Not all countries use credit or debit cards for payments. Knowing this will give you an idea of how much money you can carry.

When you get to your destination’s airport, shop for the best exchange rate. Ensure you are doing business with a legitimate money exchange stall. You don’t want to get caught using fake money and you don't want to be shortchanged. Make sure you already have the local currency before leaving the airport.

Know the most accepted mode of payment and currency. For example, in Nicaragua, they accept both Cordoba (local) and US dollar.

Travel smart.



I first posted this entry here.

On Father's Day

Today, we celebrate Father’s Day. Although we should honor our fathers all the time, as the Bible says, this would be the best time to speak of it.
I would like to take this space on my account to greet my old man a Happy Father's Day. He is the man whose fatherhood is shown in three ways: fear and humility before God, unconditional love for our mother, and living by example. All we ever needed!

Every good thing others have learned to love about me and my family is a result of one man's relentless prayers.

Honoring my Tatay today!

Greetings to yours, too.




I first posted this entry here.

Esp vs Ned at Home

It is an awful thing when you already got everything planned out for the day and the next in your head and things change in the last minute because your tummy betrays you. Good news is when it happens at a time that a most awaited World Cup rematch also plays on TV.


5-1 in favor of the Dutch!

It was a great game from the match monsters, Persie & Robben! Although Persie's header move was already remarkable from the first half, the game was relatively at its expected pace before the second started.

It must have been the rain that made the game more interesting and dramatic. On the 53rd minute Robben strikes a lead that led the orange crowd screaming louder. The rest of the goals that caused Spain its 4-point deficit just happened very quick.

It was a bit painful to watch the last Cup's champion watch this before their eyes. The analyst even used the word 'humiliated'. Those close up frames of Casillas made things a lot harder to swallow for those wearing red. (Didn't you just want to hug him?) Nevertheless, the match was a sight to see. Makes me think, "Is this a sweet revenge?" Ha! Too early to make a statement. Never to forget, too, that Spain also lost their first match in 2010 to Switzerland, yet still brought the Cup home.

I admit that it was a a little bit of a shocker but it does tell us that it had been, indeed, four years since the last. Maybe, we will see a lot of changes and unexpected turn of events. Ultimately, football reigns and it should do what it should - bring all these countries together in one place and play just one game.

Can't wait for the next game!



I first posted this entry here.

Grateful to be Filipina

Today marks the 116th Independence Day of the Philippines. Let me take this chance to share with you my gratefulness.

I am grateful that I live in a country that allows me to express my opinion - to put it into writing and share for everyone to read and react to.

... that I live in a country that makes me sleep well at night and I don't have to worry about safety every single minute.

... that I live in a country that allows me to live on my own and still keep the family ties in tact. I am happy that our family values are strong and that we place importance to the elderly.

... that I live in a country that celebrates me as a woman - I get to work and be treated well. I get to lead but still get a seat offered to me occasionally or a door opened for me by men.

... that I get to choose what music to listen to, movies to watch, places to go.

... that even if I don't have everything I want, I have everything I need. I am grateful that I have the chance to help.

... that I live in a country where I can express my faith in God freely without having to go underground.

As I enjoy my freedom, I know that somewhere there are people who don't get the same priviledge and my thoughts and prayers are with them.

My country isn't perfect and we have a million things to work on. But I am grateful where we are heading and proud of who we are.

Happy Independence Day, Philippines! You will see some better days!




I first posted this entry here.

TAGLISH: Get Out of the Kusina!

Kelan ba a ko huling nagsulat ng Tag-lish sa blog? Hindi ko na matandaan 2011 yata. Iyong una ay alam ko, college pa ko. Mga kalokohang tula na tagalog na eventually ay nagamit ko nung nagtuturo ako ng English sa high school. Tagalog sa English class? Basta! Kalokohan sa classroom? Oo!

Sabihin na lang nating na-miss ko kaya sinusulat ko ‘to ngayon. Patawad sa mga foreigners kong kaibigan. Ita-translate ko na lang kapag nagkita tayo.

Tagal ko na sa Facebook. Ang dami ko nang nakita. In fact, one time nagsulat na din ako sa tag-lish ng ilang observations ko about it. I’ve grown, so malamang, some of it I no longer believe in. Things have changed and a lot of Facebook features have improved. Pati na din mga Facebook users masasabi kong nag-improve na din.

So para saan ‘tong sinusulat ko ngayon? Wala po. Opinyon lang din na gusto kong i-share.

Aaminin ko, hindi lahat nang nakikita ko sa Facebook ay gusto ko. There are times na binibilisan ko na lang ang pag-browse para hindi ko makita ang ayaw ko. Pero marami din akong ayaw sa mga may ayaw. What do I mean?

Ang Facebook ay isang malaking Parking Lot ng iba’t-ibang klase ng tao – iba-ibang kultura, paniniwala, lifestyle, pinanggalingan, mga interes etc. Natural lang na makakita ka ng maraming bagay na gusto mo at ayaw mo, mga salitang agree ka at hindi. 

Halimbawa: 

Madami s’yang selfie, ikaw maka-groupie.

Post mo photos ng pets mo pag tulog, kumakain, tumatawa, humihikab, sila naman post ng mga anak nila.

Ikaw maka-NBA, sila naman maka-World Cup, o maka- boxing, tapos ‘yung iba maka-Laban o Bawi (meron pa ba nun?), o America’s Next Top Model, o American Idol.

Ikaw maka-Homeland o Walking Dead o Game of Thrones, sila naman maka The Legal Wife or My Husband’s Lover.

Ikaw maka-telenovela, sila naman maka-Koreanovela. Yung iba mga kwento tungkol sa kapitbahay.

Ikaw madaming bagong make-up, sila naman maka-loombands.

Ikaw may bagong Nike o Adidas o G-Shock, sila naman may bagong motor, kotse, bike. Yung iba may bagong baso o damit.

Ikaw may relationship, sila naman single o kakahiwalay lang.

Ikaw mahiyain o may pasikretong relasyon, sila naman may public display of affection. 

Ikaw may bagong librong binabasa, sila naman may bagong game na nilalaro o bagong movie na pinapanood.

Ikaw kaka-post mo lang ng pagkain mo, sila naman kaka-post lang ng pinuntahan nila. Check-in!

Ikaw pino-post mo mga niluluto mo, habang ‘yung iba magpo-post din ng mga accomplishment nila gaya ng paglilinis ng bahay, mga naisampay na na damit, o kaya natapos na trekking, o kursong natapos.

Ikaw nag-post ng quote na na-copy mo lang din, sila naman nagse-share ng quote ng iba.

Nag-post ka ng original quote, sila naman nag-post ng reklamo tungkol sa traffic sa MRT.

Ikaw nag-post ng OOTD, sila nag-post ng verse of the day.

Ikaw nagpunta sa market para iluto mo ang paborito mong ulam at ipagmalaki ito, sila nagpunta sa concert ng favorite rock band at ipagmamalaki din ito.

Ikaw maglalagay ng listening to One Direction, habang ‘yung iba at maglalagay ng traveling to.

Ikaw magpo-post ng isang magandang link na nabasa mo o isang blog entry na sinulat mo, sila din magse-share nun pagdating ng time o kaya magse-share ng bagong page na gusto nila.

Madalas matutuwa ka.

Pero minsan maiinis ka, minsan mauumay ka, pero maling hindi ka rumespeto.
For all you know, may mga taong nauumay na din sa mga post mo pero rumirespeto lang. Baka nga ‘yung iba sa kanila, luma-like pa sa post mo. 

Ultimately, kanya-kanyang trip 'to! We all have our share of all these things that others dislike.

There is a reason why Facebook is at its peak. It brings people together. Napadali nya ang madaming bagay – magbenta at bumili ng gamit o serbisyo, kausapin ang mga kaibigan sa malayong lugar, i-promote ang maraming bagay, mag-raise ng awareness o ng funds, bumuhay sa mga artists o writer na walang puhunan kundi ang umandar ang gawa sa social media, makilala ang mga tao, malaman sino ang mga magre-resign sa trabaho, malaman saan may bagong opening na trabaho, sundan ang mga anak na malalaki na at ayaw nang mag-pahatid sa school, makilala ang iyong mga anak at ang mga kaibigan nito. May maa-ayawan ka at may magugustuhan. 

Sabi nga ng mga onaks, “If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen!” (Onaks ba original nun?) Kung ayaw mong makita lahat nang mga nabanggit sa taas, close your account. Huwag mag-browse, huwag tumanggap ng invites. Kung na-out of place ka lang, am sure may iba ding naa-out of place sa mga alam mo minsan. May alam ka, na hindi alam ng iba, so dapat alam mong may alam din sila na hindi mo alam.

Facebook is a perfect example of cultural diversity. Ang diversity ay hindi lamang nangyayari sa pagitan ng mga bansa, ito rin ay nagaganap sa pagitan ng mga bayan, ng mga syudad, ng mga ka-trabaho, ng mga kaibigan, at ng mga indibidwal sa pamilya. Minsan nga, you find diversity in you - ayaw ko neto dati ah, bakit gusto ko na ngayon?

Lahat tayo ay may kanya-kanyang kultura.Ngayon kung ang problema po ay ang laman ng kanilang mga sinasabi, ibang topic na po iyon - responsible social media management. Baka ibang entry na 'yun.

Opinyon lang po. Malaya po kayong sumagot. Ok lang din tumahimik.

Respeto sa pagkakaiba. Respeto sa individuality.

ON FRIENDSHIP: Am I?

Yesterday, the local news program announced that it was National Best Friend Day. I wasn’t aware of the occasion so, to all my best friends, forgive me that there will be no surprise gifts waiting on your tables today. Let me take this day, however, as an excuse to talk about a pending post on my notepad. I think this is the best time to share it.

One day, I had a great conversation with one of my closest friends. He shared with me another conversation he had with another friend – not a common one. A question popped up in the middle of their conversation. A question he asked himself, “Have I really found my friends? Can I tell myself that I have already found the friends who will stand by me and be real to me?”

It’s a good question, right? It’s a question I never really found myself asking. I have always considered myself blessed to be getting the good ones. If there is one thing I know my parents are proud of me, it is my choice of friends. When I was younger, I’d bring my friends to our house and I would hear my parents proudly telling them I make good choices so the question never really crossed my mind.

I don’t think there are real and fake friends, it’s either you are friends or you are not - friends or acquaintances, maybe. Friends do not plan to become friends. Friends become. It is both a decision and a responsibility. Just because we know our friends will not leave us doesn’t mean we don’t make an effort to keep them.
So what’s my answer to the question? I don’t have any. But I have a better question, for you and for myself.

Am I being a good friend to my friends?

I guess if we keep this in mind all the time, we already know the answer to the first question.





I first posted this entry here. Photo features three of my closest friends. I have more. We own the photo.

TRAVEL TALK: Check your passport.

When you plan to travel outside your country, ensure that your passport validity fits the requirement of the country you are visiting. Most countries require that your passport be valid six months from the date of entry or exit or, for some, from the date you applied for a visa.

For example:

If you scheduled to leave a country on October 4, 2014, your passport should be valid until April 5, 2015. It’s actually much better if the validity is farther than that. Some travelers, especially those who travel often, allow a 12-month space prior to expiration date.

Aside from the validity of the passport, it is important to bear in mind the processing time frame of passport application or renewal, whichever applies to you. Ensure that the passport will make it on time for your departure. Aside from the passport, check if the country requires a visa. That's a whole new different story.

It is easy to remember. A lot of travelers, probably, already know this rule. But it’s also easy to overlook. To be safe, it’s always best to renew your passports at least close to a year before it expires. Each country may have different passport validity requirements so it’s better to check it during your planning stages. Go to legitimate websites to ensure you have the right information.

LEADERSHIP & PARENTHOOD: Let them tie their shoelaces.

Training up a child is not for the weak. My parents must have spent a lot of time praying to be able to put up with someone like me.

Part of training a child is teaching them how to learn from their own mistakes. When they're young, you will have to do everything for them. But at some point during this 'young' age, you will have to let them do things on their own and learn from their mistakes.

First, you tie your son's shoelaces for him. Then you teach him to do it for himself. There are times when you might need to intervene once in a while so he gets it. Then you let him do it on his own, whatever the outcome is. It might not be perfect. Expect that it might not be as neat as you want it to be. But that's how he will learn. Experience, as cliche as the saying sounds, is the best teacher. Appreciate the effort and give constructive feedback. Celebrate little victories and correct silently. Better yet, tie your own shoelaces together. What's a better way to teach but to be a good example.

It's the same with leadership. When we give our people tasks, we teach them how to do it, better yet, we show them. Expect they will make mistakes. Just because they did for the first few times, we take the responsibility out of their hands and give it someone more capable. You do not tie your son's shoelace for him forever just because he can't do it the way you do. Moreover, you will not ask your other son to tie it for him forever. Guide your people, give constructive feedback, tell them what's wrong with an objective to make them better and not to make them feel that they are not capable of ever being like you or to just prove you're right.

At the end of the day, a good leader's goal is the same as that of a parent's goal - to develop a person that will hopefully be eventually a better version of us.





Photo Credit: Photo taken and owned by my friend, Clem. With me is Berna (and her friend) a favorite kid from one of our non-profit org's partner communities.


I first posted this entry here.

Travel Talk: Bring something home.

On a previous entry I wrote about how I used to collect shot glasses, flags, ref magnets, and paper money when I travel. In the long run, I reckoned that I collect too many things. I settled with the easier to acquire collectibles – paper money and ref magnets. On a separate entry, I told you about the paper bills I have collected so far. On this entry, let me tell you the ref magnets I have on collected so far. They are as follows (in no particular order):

A. Places from the Philippines

Philippines
Sagada
Windmill, Ilocos Norte
Hundred Islands
Bacolod
Naga
Vigan
World Partners, Every Nation
Bicol
Anawangin Cove
Bohol
Dumaguete
UP
Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center
Guimaras
Tuguegarao
Cebu
Callao Cave
Paoay Church
Pagudpud Beach
Palawan
CWC
Siquijor
Baguio
El Nido
Baler
Trappist Monastery, Guimaras
Camiguin
Marinduque
Cagayan de Oro
Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm
Bolinao

B. Other Countries

Canada
Aruba
Thailand
Washington DC
Vietnam
Nicaragua
Malaysia
Dominican Republic
Mount Kinabalu
Nagoya, Japan
Virginia
Los Angeles
Red Light District, Amsterdam
New York Police Department
Detroit
Costa Rica
Sri Lanka
Sentosa, SG
Qatar
SPCA, VA
South Africa, EN Collection

Some were given to me as gifts such as the ones from Canada, NY, LA, Sri Lanka, Los Angeles, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Qatar. I have never been to those places but seeing them on my fridge door tells me that, maybe, one day I will. I lost my HK magnet and couldn’t find any in Panama airport when I was there. If you can send me one, it would be great!

When you travel, bring something with you home. It does not have to be expensive. Its purpose is just to remind you of that one time of your life when you or your loved one has set your/their foot on a different place. Just that idea is almost magical to me.



I first posted this entry on this site.

TRAVEL SNIPPET: One Fine Summer in Camaya Coast, Bataan

NOTE TO SELF: Your country has 7, 107 islands. You better plan your summer well.

As soon as summer started here in my country, March 1st to be exact, I wrote the above NOTE TO SELF on my Facebook page. I have been limiting my travels this year because I am preparing and saving up for a big one towards the end of the year. My friends and I wanted the beach but would really like to go friendly on the pocket so we signed up for deals. There were 8 of us originally but the number went down to four, which meant the budget will have to go up. Well, it was worth it!

We purchased an affordable promo package for four. The promo includes lunch, kayaking, snorkeling, use of facilities including the infinity pool, biking, nature trails, visit to waterfalls. etc. Frankly, I was just after the beach, really.

Camaya Coast is a residential project located along the coast of Mariveles Bataan targeting well-off families. Camaya boasts of its eco-tourism theme and offers outdoor activities such as biking, snorkeling, fishing, trails, diving, etc. It's like being home away from home. There are two ways to reach Camaya Coast - land and via ferry. Here are instructions I got from their site:

LAND VIA PRIVATE CAR (2 hours and 30 mins)

• Take NLEX about 50 meters after the Dau exit take the SCTEX.
• From SCTEX, head towards Subic & exit Dinalupihan to the Roman Superhighway.
• Turn RIGHT upon exit of SCTEX and follow the Roman Superhighway to Mariveles Bataan Economic Zone Authority (BEZA).
• From BEZA, you can: CONTINUE on until you reach CAMAYA COAST via Bagac-Mariveles Road.

If you want to take the land option, they prefer that you bring a car. We were glad that we did. The distance from the main gate to the beach area is far. It took us 30 mins. But if you are up for a little more road trip with no heavy traffic in a literally long and winding road to see the houses being being built and a fantastic view of the landscape and the coast from afar, then it's a good one. 

If you can't bring a private car, it is more advisable to take the ferry.

VIA SUNCRUISE FERRY (SUPERCAT) 1 hour and 30 mins

• Suncruise Ferry Terminal beside Jumbo Palace, CCP Complex Roxas Blvd, Pasay

We left Manila at 5AM on a Sunday so we can be one of the firsts to take advantage of the free lockers that go with the package. It worked. It took us 3 hours to reach our destination with a 30-minute stopover for breakfast. 

First thing that draws you to the place are the facilities and amenities. Let's start with one of the most important when visiting a resort, the toilets.

There are about 25 (more or less) lockers available for day tour guests. The lockers are inside the rest rooms that are well-maintained. There is someone dedicated to cleaning it almost every 15 minutes. The upper right corner of this photo shows you the water supply that you can use to wash up before entering the rest room. It keeps the floor clean all the time - the big pot and the wooden ladle give it a local touch.

A few meters away from the coast, you will find the dining area. You are free to secure a table for your group to dine or to chat and relax as soon as you arrive.

There's music, free drinking water supply, and you can also place food orders, if you can no longer wait for the lunch that usually comes with the package.Maybe a serving of halo-halo upon arrival will be a good way to freshen up after a long trip.

At the time that we visited, there was only one thing that we didn't like. I'm thinking that it was just an isolated case. I think the resort wasn't prepared for the number of visitors that day, which should not be since a reservation is required. The lunch was delayed, the lines for it were long, and there was not enough personnel to attend to our needs. No manager showed up, either, to talk to the visitors waiting in line under the heat of the sun to apologize or take responsibility. Am sure and I hope, the resort learned from it as there were a lot who complained and some even called their customer service number.

Back to the tour - 

Near the parking area is a basketball court that guests can also take advantage of. Just don't forget to wear sunblock as the heat can be painful to the skin. I couldn't stay any longer than this 5-second photo. I bet an afternoon or night game would be an awesome experience. I supposed there is proper lighting at night.

A few meters away from here is a billiard hall for those who want an indoor sport.

Let's visit the infinity pool -

It's located near the dining area and a great place for kids. They, however, follow strict swimwear guidelines. There are beach beds available around the pool. 

Now, let's check out what we came here for in the first place - the beach.

The beach has fine, white sand. The shore is well-kept. There are benches and beach beds for sun bathing. They also offer banana boat rides and other water adventures I previously mentioned. Here's a photo I got from their Facebook page.

Photo was taken from their official Facebook page. See this link. 

Here are photos of the beach:

These are what you see from the beach beds. 

This is what you see from the dock area or the beach.

Overall, the experience is worth the trip. A day trip is enough if you don't really plan on getting a house here. Come early, not just for the lockers, so you can enjoy the place while it's not jam-packed. We left the place early, at 4pm, so as not to get caught in traffic. It was a wise a decision.

We were swamped with work prior to this trip and we thought of going to the beach to de-stress. We were not disappointed.

The sea is a manifestation of the magnitude of God's love.  It will always remind us of how tiny we are. It tells us that the world does not revolve around us and not everything is about us. God made it so magnificent that every time we come to it, we get the kind of peace so humbling that we forget the very things that made us come to it.

Camaya Coast

 Sitio Wain, Brgy. Biaan, Municipality of Mariveles,

Province of Bataan, Central Luzon Region,Philippines.

Consumer Tip: Use Your Perks

My apartment has a well-oiled water supply system (of course I meant that figuratively). However, I do not rely on it for my drinking water.

I do not have water purifying system to make it safe enough for drinking so I opted to ordering for it via a nearby water station and having it delivered to my house, in gallons, on a regular basis. This is a typical practice for a lot of residences here in my country, especially those who rent and are not willing to install a water purifying system and eventually leave it when moving out.

My water supplier has this promo for their loyal customers. For every 10 orders, you get 1 for free. All you need to do is keep the receipts and avail of it on your 11th purchase. I did. I pay P30 (less than a $1) for every 20 liters. This means that I got to save P30 today. The money I saved is going straight to the coin bank am trying to fill for a big travel.

Consumers, know the perks and use it. Save money.

I first posted this entry on this site.

A Tiny Random Act of Kindness

Today, on my way home while on a public transportation, I took this photo. I am usually very particular with my own space. My space is mine. Let it be mine. Yours is yours.

I didn't even notice it until I accidentally pressed the camera button while browsing my phone. I decided to press the shutter and capture this tiny foot comfortably leaning on my left thigh. I suddenly wondered, am sure I have done the same, at least once, when I was a baby - to lean on a complete strangers. I wonder what it made them feel.

Am sure this baby will never remember this moment when she found comfort from someone other than her mom. She probably thought my thigh is an extension of her mom's. But I? I will not forget how her tiny random act of kindness made my day.

She invaded my space and I didn't mind.

I posted this entry first on this site.

THINK GREEN: I Sort.

We complain a lot about how hot it is, or how polluted the air is, or how dirty some places are but we do not see how irresponsible we can be inside our very own households.

Waste management starts in us. Sort your waste. It's easier than it sounds.

Divide your waste into two - biodegradable and non-biodegradable.

I keep all my paper waste and recycle them as lining to my pets' litter box.

I place all leftoever food from the table or the kitchen sink in one bag.

I keep all plastic containers in one bag and give it to someone who can sell it for extra money. The containers are recycled for another use.

Before I dispose the waste, everything is sorted our accordingly. Sounds great, right?!

But I am just one person. There are six families living in the building where I stay and probably hundreds in the community I stay in. Imagine if all of us learn and actually sort our wastes, what a better world!

I sort. Do you?

I first posted this entry on this site.

Consumer Tip: It Pays to Check Your Bills

A few months back, I called my DSL provider to inquire about a charge appearing on my bill that doesn't sit well on me. The charge says Super Bundle. I do not remember ever subscribing to the said package. I remember that I included the caller ID feature on my application. I am very particular in the bills that I pay. I always make sure that I know what am paying for. I was told by the representative that the charge was a package of call features such as caller id, call forwarding, three-way, speed dial, etc. It costs P120/mo versus the feature I signed up for, which is P50/mo. I do not need the other features so there is no need for me to pay for them.

I complained and asked if there was a communication sent to inform customers of this package. The representative said that it was free for the first three months but will automatically be charged monthly if the customer do not cancel. Now, that's not a new story to me! It's funny how they just charge it to all landline users even those whose phones do not even have the capability of a caller ID etc. They should have at least upgraded the units of their subscribers before charging; or simply put, they should have asked the customer's buy in first.

If I had not called to remove it, I would have been charged P70 more every month.

I never had issues with this provider. I mean when I encounter problems, I usually get an immediate response and action, which I appreciate. But it will not stop me from checking my bill always.

It pays to check the bills you pay. Make sure you only pay for what you really use. Get rid of the hidden charges. Ask.






I first posted this entry here.

Travel Talk : Travel Green with a Handy Soap

I love going out of town on a weekend; the only spare time I have for it, really. It's a little bit hard to go on long leaves from work. It used to take me so much time preparing for a travel. But as I got used to it, things were easier. I have a travel kit that's always ready-to-go.

One of the items on my travel kit, is a bar of soap, which is usually placed inside a plastic wrap that can get messy after use. I used to bring new soap bars but realized that it is too big for a short travel. Most I know end up leaving it. The mess it causes inside the travel kit can be a challenge. Carrying a soap dish can take too much space for a 2-day travel. Relying on hotel soap may not be safe, especially if you have sensitive skin. Soap bags in stores can be expensive. I, at one point, went for shower gels. But it also means having to bring loofah or a scrub, which defeats the purpose of traveling light.

Two years ago, while preparing for a short trip to the beach, an idea came to mind while I was dumping something to the trash can.

See the photo above? What do you do with those almost-consumed soap bars inside your bathroom? Do you dispose them and replace with a new one right away? Don't. Use it as your handy soap for the next short travel.

Where to put it? Well, I use those Mentos canisters. They're small, in fun colors, transparent (just peel off the stickers), and has tight lock. I use it for my travel soap, cotton buds, jewelries (so they don't get mixed up), baby powder, etc.

You saved money and bag space. You recycled and traveled conveniently. 

I originally posted about this here.