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.