The Last Card: King of Spades

A have a typical high school life. I am one (it means we are many) class clowns in our batch. I don't know if it was sheer liveliness or just a juice of our youth but we always crack jokes to make the class burst in laughter. But whenever there's a contest, like these class jesters are usually the one who gave the wild idea and creates marvelous concept. The person In applaud most is Leo Aquino and Lourdes Severo. They are people with jokes but definitely one of the most sensible people in our batch. I, on the other hand, belongs to the people who rarely attend classes just to play basketball. It is when my classroom adviser talk to me about what will happen if I continue this attitude, specially we are nearing our graduation. She told me: "I have handled you since your third year, and I have seen you in your lower years. It is evident you fail in the first three quarters but always get a score in the fourth good enough to save your whole annual term. You too have ideas that are so outrageous and seemingly radical that always brought out your kind of ingenuity. You are only hardworking in areas you love and seemingly ignore those that bores you. You have a great gift but you either hide it or misuse it. Think about it. You were never there whenever that gift of yours was needed. Don't make them useless. It will just fade and so your future. Think about it."

I did graduate high school and make sure that in my college days, I will use those gifts. And I do learn more to have other skills and enhance what are presently acquired. I have learned that TALENT IS USELESS IF YOU'RE ALWAYS ABSENT. Time is always at the essence. Talent, or skills, always go hand in hand with time. Using them is like sharpening a sword. And like swords, they can be full of rust when they are just hidden. Always be there. You can never know when your opportunity will rise. While waiting, why not sharpen your sword. You will never know what kind of object that your sword must strike.

King of Diamonds

I know for sure that almost all of us have attended a family celebration. May it be reunion, birthdays, or just simple gatherings. There is always a person who will prepare, coordinate, or handle every event. Have you ever took an initiative in handling such happenings? Not only in your family or friends' bonding moments but this also happens in a office where departments or company wide outings were being organized. When I was working in a typical office, you can see those who volunteer to plan and organize the event and those who just smirk and wait for things to be handled. Events are a simple thing that will not raise your pay grade but will definitely raise your level of knowledge, socializing ability, and most of all increase your credentials.

Most of the employees hate extra work but this are actually opportunities given for them to learn and improve. Like most people, they didn't notice that an opportunity just passed them. They let a part of luck slip away. We know when we are over worked or when we can still accommodate extra work and exert extra effort. This lesson is for those who have enough time to spare for but let uses it to in a less productive way.

BY ALL MEANS DON'T SAY IF I CAN, SAY I WILL. This lesson teaches us to face the challenge and top the others. There is no triumph when there is no obstacle. So there is no succeeding when we are doing nothing. Success is a series of daily effort. We may not earn financially but it will give us the capacity to be better than the others. It will give us the capacity to earn more than what we should have. And it will give us a boost nearer to success.

CAYGO: The Tenth Spade

As I have said in my previous blog, I have a working experience being a service crew, I will indicate which food chain but definitely I know most of them follow this simple rule. CLEAN AS YOU WORK, CLEAN AS YOU GO. In short, CAYGO. I am a business management major and I for one definitely would recommend that some time in a management student's life should he get an experience working as a service crew. I have learned a lot being one of them. I have learned the production operation process, the manning and scheduling, socializing, and most of all, the Clean As You Go policy. Everytime you do something, for instance, make a vanilla mix to be used in making a sundae, a certified crew should always learn to sanitize everything, specially the materials and hands so that it will not cause any infection or contamination. It is also a requirement to meet a high quality product. Operating or making a vanilla mix is not an excuse for the workstation to be untidy. It is a must to keep it clean and orderly. And after the procedure, clean again the workplace. It is definitely easier to work in a clean workstation than experiencing the hassle and stress caused by being disorganize or dirty place. It is also a disciplinary and fellowship training. It doesn't only complement your coworker but also develop a good impression towards everybody in your office or production area. Cleanliness is next to godliness. An orderly, clean place makes every process go smoothly. When you incorporate it in the way you work, you will definitely manifest in your personal lifestyle. Anyways, most of the people that is easily irritated or easily distracted are those person which has no orderliness. We can start by throwing our trash to the proper place (I mean trash bins). If only all parents could train their children about organizing and cleaning, I see a peaceful and bright future ahead.

The Nine of Spades

Have you ever been in a situation that you really think that you do not have any choice but to do something wrong just to be able to survive? Honestly, in my years of living, I always experience that it is seem necessary to do such bad acts just to survive. But as I grew up, I realize that there is always a choice given to us. There is no such thing as a "no choice" situation. We always have to decide but some of us always choose the easy way out of a predicament. Let's set a typical example: I have this interview with ten "in-need" girls, college lasses that goes into prostitution, as a project in psychology. One of the question asked is why did they turn into prostitution. Eight of them answered they need money for their tuition fee since they were self supporting, two answered that they have spent their tuition budget and they have a growing financial (luxury) needs. Those eight answer further that they have nothing else to offer that's why they need to do such services. I asked them if they have tried applying for part time work like service crew or sales representative to compensate to their needs instead of going into prostitution. Seven of those eight answered that it is a very demanding work and money from sex service is higher and faster to gain. So definitely, they do have a choice. They want the easiest way out. Spirituality aside, we are human beings, the thing that separates us from other animals is reason and morality. I have been a service crew and yes, it is money hard earned for those who does not know how to enjoy and enjoy thew learning. I have learned a lot and meet new friends. I can be a hacker at that time but I chose the right thing. DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME (ALL THE TIME) is one of the lesson that I never forget. History is a witness to those people who gain or achieve through evil actions. It's either they ended up killed, disgraced, or left nothing even dignity. It is not a question of what is necessary but is it always the right, appropriate, and just thing to do. Going into the right direction, however rough the road is, will always end up in a glorious destination. We always have a choice. Do it right all the time.

Four of Spades

Have anyone seen the Jollibee commercial of Chicken Barbecue? Everybody could say that the new product is so juicy and oh so yummy. I am one of them. I am a huge Jollibee fan. When my friends and I went to their store, I saw the so called juicylicious chicken barbecue in their warmer as a small, dry textured product. I didn't even bother to order it due to it's appearance but my friend does. Like what I have suspected, it is not like what the commercial says. We really are disappointed. It is actually the opposite of what was being advertised. So everytime someone asked me what can I say about the Jollibee Chicken Barbecue, knowing that I am well-verse with their products, I will honestly not recommend it. Anyways, it seems that some people liked it but I can fearlessly say that majority aren't.

There's this one humble carinderia that specializes with lugaw (congee). The store is not really a flashy one but their food is way more delicious than of those classy competitions. They charge cheap or reasonable (tubong lugaw) but the taste is something you could remember and even savor even days after consuming their product. Their store never runs out of customers. And people from distant places didn't mind long drives just to experience and taste their cuisine. They didn't have any TV or radio advertisement. But customers keep on coming and their volume gets bigger and bigger.

yes, there is always a need to market and promote one's product. It is a way of expressing your product to the market. But what is more important than those costly advertising and promotional gimmicks is the quality of the product. It tells a lot not only about the product but most specially about the company also. Poor product grade means improper company function and system. The product is most likely the face of the company. People will like the advertisement for some time, but the product is something from the company that becomes a part of the customer's lives. Quality assurance is an attitude that boost a normal person or company into a winning force. GIVE THEM QUALITY, THAT'S THE BEST ADVERTISING.

The Queen of Diamonds

Everyone has a mind, but not everyone has a mind of it's own. It's either they let others think or decide for them or they simply rendered themselves powerless. People like these has no road to walk on, drifted away from their path to success or even freedom.

Everyone has a mind, but not everyone is capable of using it. They are too scared to be at risk, or even too scared to meet failure. At the very point of them being scared to fail, from the beginning that they did not believe in themselves, it is automatically a failure.

Everyone has a mind, but not everyone is capable of understanding. They are too scared to be oppressed so oppressing others is one of their method. They are too greedy to think of others, to self centered to let others grow with them. They are doomed for extinction, they are alone, isolated, and are voiceless even to cry for help. Not knowing, they pity themselves.

THE MIND IS LIKE A PARACHUTE, IT ONLY FUNCTIONS WHEN ITS OPEN. God blesses us each day for everything pours, learning is endless from personal and other's experiences, wisdom and knowledge is always around for us to discover. It is only up to us to let our cup be filled or let these gifts slip away from us. We will only know what we want to know unless we keep an open mind.