Bridge of Possibilities

It has been a long time since I have last blogged. I have been thinking of ways to remove the smudge of politics upon making a piece. But until now politics has never left my thought. Maybe because I learned so much in this past election. And I know I have given all my efforts to support a wonderful cause. Anyways, to divert my senses from it, I tried to remember some wonderful stories that has given me the paint, brushes and means on how to make life colorful instead of the ordinary black and white. Maybe you know this story but I will tell anyways.

There are two young lovers who is so committed to each other. Since they are from different schools, they rely on their cellphones to bridge their communications. They graduated college and haven't change their sim cards since the time they met. They have different line of work but still they continuously text and call each other. Day and night. But one day, while the girl was on a trip and now going back to the Philippines, the guy has met his demise, died of a car accident. He was buried right away so that the people who visit him at his wake wouldn't have a gruesome image of the guy. Since the guy treasured the cellphone so much, they bury it with him. The girl wasn't aware of the unfortunate event since she is on a trip. After three days of rest, she went and tried to surprised the guy at his home. The mother greeted her in a very grieving mood. She told the girlfriend that the boyfriend died and was buried right away. The girl laughed and said that the boyfriend is trying to pull up a prank, even conniving with his mother. So what the mother did was to show her the photos of the wake and the accident scene. The girl didn't believe it and told the mother that they were just talking to each other last night. It is impossible the mother said. But suddenly the girlfriend's cellphone rang and to their horror, her boyfriend's number was flashing on the screen. At first, they were hesitant but still the girl answered the phone, uses the handsfree so that the mother could listen as well. They heard boyfriend's voice and told her about what his mother have said. The boyfriend confirmed that he indeed is dead and said "Mommy, Honey, don't worry. I am okay here with Saint Peter. Totoo pala, malakas talaga ang signal, Making Great Things Possible... Globe."

You can tell me that it is corny but still that joke made me smile. The truth is I told you that story to share you my insights on what has happened to me this past few days. I was at the hype of the election. For one year I have spend right amount of time researching about each presidentiables so that I may know who will I go for. A month later, I voluntarily campaign for someone who I believe is the right man for the highest national position. He never won the presidential race. He conceded and congratulated the winner early as what he has promised to do. Heartbreaking. But hey, I realized that yes, he didn't won the election, but with what he has done, he has won the respect, trust, and admiration of the majority. That is a landslide victory. Presidents cannot command trust, honor, and respect from his constituents. Only the people can give it to the rightful person. After loving the voluntary campaign, going through gruesome defeat, I know what I have learned bridge me over to a higher level of knowing. What I learned is that experiences should never be forgotten because ugly or not, it escalates you to a higher level. Great things will continue because my candidate will pursue his plans for the nation even in his lesser level of political responsibility. After the gruesome mud slinging in the election period, we achieve not the presidential office, but the nation's heart, trust and confidence. This blog is not meant to promote a brand or something. I just used this idea for all us to be reminded that after dedicated hardwork, great things are all possible.

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.

The Queen of Spades

Why does shit happens? It is not always an unforeseen event nor something caused by other person. It is usually an "experience caused by our very own carelessness. When I was working on a bank, I told my manager that even if I am an events person, I have the capacity to easily learn and adopt to new things. I think it is one of the reason why they hired me. It was a totally different world for me. I am not used to working with a routine systems with numbers, and I know I am a person who needs to let my creative juices into work. But I still stay and learn. What happened to my next six month is "same shit, different day" experience. I always feel heavy going to work. I exerted effort that seems to be never enough. My time-in is 6:30 am but I was already working at about 5 am. I should be going home by 4 pm but I always extend until 8 or 10 pm. Whatever preparation that I have done the day will never be enough for the demands of the next day. I really felt like a dolphin taken away from the sea and put into the dessert. Why do I have experience that? I think maybe I am too young that's why I took the risk (anyways, I have learn and it is a gain situation for me.) But I think I haven't prepared myself to it. I just jump into the bandwagon and come what may. Another lesson learned, it is good taking risks but be sure you know what will happen before going through it.

My girlfriend is a marketing and events officer in a real estate firm. She is doing great in her work, but like a typical employee, she experiences shit-load of happenings. She was forced to be more creative than the usual. She was always going through extended hours of work. But still the workload never decreases. It is a different situation but some little things that should be taken care of are usually the things that causes her delays. So the next day, this small snow is now a huge snow ball. We all have a share of those experience, especially, like her, she was overworked.

It is somewhat strict but what we do today defines our tomorrow. We should always do our best in the present so that we have a better future. The Lesson here is: THE BEST PREPARATION FOR A GOOD WORK TOMORROW IS TO DO GOOD WORK TODAY. Hey, it doesn't mean good work is just doing what you have to do, it means do better everyday, good was never enough. So if shit do happens, despite of all the works done, you know that it is manageable and you'll be able to convert that shit into gold.

The Sixth Spade

Whenever we are in a situation into which we are striving for a higher goal, say, professional promotion or business development, I often hear that we should work warder to achieve something. For me, it is actually an incomplete mix of dedication. Yes, we should work hard or increase our efforts but it is not always the case. Sometimes, there are better ways to gratification. We should always remember to WORK SMARTER, NOT JUST HARDER. It is like there is a tall and massive wall that blocks your path, we sometimes need not to break the whole wall or climb over it when we can just go around it. In an ordinary office environment, the only thing constant there is an increase or workload or having greater responsibility, if we try to finish everything up all at the same time, we just exhaust ourselves until we never meet any of the deadlines. Maybe we should do one thing at a time, or better yet, we should not let the work load pile up. Finish it as soon as it's given. Or exercise time management. I have this mentality in my collegiate days where I never go home as long as there's a single assignment left unfinished. After that, I can do whatever I want whenever I'm in our house. All of the resources are at the school. I am not the type of person that brings the responsibility in the school or at the office at my home, vice-versa. We all have responsibilities everywhere and it is our obligation to attend to them in their proper time and place. There is always a better way. Another is if we approach our jobs in a lighter way, even if we seem not to be satisfied in our professional life, it is our choice to continue taking it or leave it. If we cannot give it up, we should look at a brighter side, anyways, we can always try to learn new things and think that either ways, we are in the win-win situation, they gave us salary while we learn more from them. If the opportunity rises, we know that you are much more qualified to a better career. It is always up to us if we want to be better or miserable. Always our choice. WORK SMARTER, NOT JUST HARDER.

Nine of Diamonds

I was a huge fan of Ginebra San Miguel way back in the 90's, I am still now but not as hard core fan as before. One thing that makes me look up to them aside from my idol, Noli Locsin, is the way they play basketball. They all personified the words "NO GUTS, NO GLORY" that define their team. It gives a "never say die attitude towards the game. It won't be over until it's over, as long as the clock is ticking, and they can lift even just a single finger, they will fight their way through. That's why they are crowd favorite.

The same is true with men. Nobody can achieve anything if no one is willing to do the unthinkable and face the worst. No guts, no glory. It takes a lot of courage to be the man. Easier said than done. Imagine, nobody wants to lose but not everybody is winning. Simply because not everybody face challenges head-on. Most of them gave up their dream because of being scared to lose. They already lost before they even start. Just keep this in mind, it is hard to be trong, but it is harder to be weak. Glory comes to whom is courageous to do so.

Five of Diamonds

Honesty is the best policy. That's true. There are numerous accounts that tells how a crooked fellow got his huge payback. I would like to set an example courtesy of the following links. It would be best to use political examples. Since the May 2010 election is fast approaching, the number one presidential candidate feels that the number two is now cutting his lead and will most likely over take him. Here is what has propagated for the candidate one's benefit : (from http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+topic/id/30063/m/1158965/bookmark/441407/Is+This+Lavish+Mansion+Owned+By+Sen.+Manny+Villar%3F#m1158965) )

Totoo kaya ito? Ano sa palagay nyo mga Kasulit..........

Now there’s a circulating e-mail that contains intriguing pictures of an unknown mansion.

The e-mail starts with the question: “Who owns a house like this?” and then showed various pictures of the purported mansion, which had opulent Victorian-style interiors.

Then the email asks the following intriguing query: “Imagine who would have such taste and live in such opulence?”

• An American Billionaire?

• A Saudi Prince?

• Louis XIV of France ?

Savour the pictures then scroll to the bottom of the page to see who owns this Work of Art.

The e-mail-sender ends his/her message with the following: “While Filipinos starve, and die because of abject poverty and while Sen. Villar brags that he had poor beginnings and he had helped his poor countrymen over and over again… but look now.. he and his family live like this, his GREED kills his poverty stricken fellow Filipinos.”

The circulating chain e-mail claims that this great wealth is owned by none other than Filipino billionaire and presidential candidate Senator Manny Villar. The Mansion is said to be located in Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States. However, Villar allies claimed that the pictures of so-called Villar’s Mansion to be a “hoax.”

According to an ABS-CBN report, the intriguing e-mail has been circulating as early as 2008 and that the mansion was first linked to Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.

The reports states:

A copy of the e-mail about Mugabe’s mansion also had the same wording as the recent e-mail about Villar, with minor changes to make it appear that it was written for a Filipino audience.

The Snopes website said that the mansion is not in Salt Lake City but in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles. It also noted that the mansion has been extensively photographed because it is sometimes used as a site for TV shows and films.

Snopes also revealed that the mansion has been linked to various personalities such as former Nigerian military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, Indian film star Shahrukh Khan, and Edir Macedo, founder of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God.

In a phone interview, Nacionalista Party spokesman Gilbert Remulla downplayed the latest attempt to besmirch the reputation of Villar.

“Who would want to buy a mansion in Salt Lake City? Are there papers to support it?” he said, adding that there was absolutely no truth to the rumor.

He added: “The campaign being waged by Villar’s opponents reaches record lows everyday, starting with the false associations of ‘Villaroyo.’ It only shows that his opponents are insecure and desperate. We pray that they campaign on platforms and capabilities rather than mudslinging.”

At least one of those who forwarded the e-mail about Villar has apologized. Domingo Guevara Jr. of the Guevara Group of Companies apologized to the Villar camp for forwarding the bogus e-mail to his contacts. He said he issued his apology “not because I support Villar but I wish to be fair to all concerned.”

The Nacionalista Party claimed this e-mail hoax is the latest in a series of attempts to disseminate black propaganda against Villar, who is being linked to the C-5 Road extension scandal. The Senator allegedly used his political position and influence to cause the C-5 public road project to be constructed.

Villar allegedly made the insertion by virtue of his position as Finance chairman and as Senate president to ensure that his property would be paid right away. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Villar went to the Senate on February 2 to deny the charges against him. He delivered a privilege speech, refused to entertain questions from his colleagues and left the session hall after his hour-long rhetoric. (Read part of his speech here.)

Whether presidentiable Manny Villar is a filthy rich or not, he reminds me of the following line from my favorite book Atlas Shrugged:

When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion–when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing–when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors–when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you–when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice–you may know that your society is doomed. Money is so noble a medium that is does not compete with guns and it does not make terms with brutality. It will not permit a country to survive as half-property, half-loot.

The propaganda above was answered with this well researched site (from http://politicalamateur.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/and-the-black-propaganda-backfires-palpak-to-the-max/)

And the Black Propaganda Backfires………..Palpak to the Max!!!

The author sent emails to many Ateneo alumni organizations and furiously fanned out ——– that even Manny Villar supporters started asking if there is any truth to this claim.

But someone at the receiving end of this vicious attack on Villar made sure the assholes were put in place. God bless him for exposing this as a hoax. And he wrote:

Please log into this sitehttp://www.snopes.com/photos/architecture/mugabe.asp

for info on this email. The mansion does not belong to Manny Villarand it is not in Salt Lake City, Utah. “It is in the Tony Bel Air section of Los Angeles; it has been extensively photographed inside and out because it is sometimes used as the site of location shooting for TV and films.” This forwarded email started circulating in the internet in July 2008 and the mansion was said to be in Harare owned by Pres. Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

Please be careful in forwarding such FW emails especially if it is critical to anyone, especially the presidential candidates. Let us be fair, no matter what candidate or party we support.

I think we should all be shooting out emails esp to Ateneans so they may now realize the kind of black propaganda many Ateneans peddle just to discredit Manny Villar. If they think this is their way to win votes for their candidate Noynoy, they better think again.

In the email sent to several atenean groups, this fellow even cited it is “no wonder Villar’s endorser is Wowowee —same feathers”. I am no big fan of Willie Revillame but I certainly think he earned the money he now enjoys the honest way. It may seem “baduy” to these elitists, but hey, this Wowowee host is undeniably a successful artist who excelled in his craft. Don’t you just find it condescending the way these elitists put down people like Manny and Willie, who succeeded in struggling out of poverty as if it is a sin that these guys did not remain poor?

Our friends in Ateneo, many of whom I find decent , would earn more respect from people like me if they admonish the group or the individuals who peddled this lie. I do not think the priests there taught them a lesson in black propaganda. But they may certainly teach them a lesson now about decency.

The result? When a dishonest deed was answered by a truthful act, it backfires more than two times to the one who did such a disgraceful act. The above happenings resulted to a number of party members of the dishonorable presidential candidate jumped towards the wagon of the one being assaulted by the propagandas. Not only that, the candidate who was attacked gains so much supporters and strengthen his credibility. So much dirt in politics... the point is, everyone should "WORK HONESTLY."

The Sixteenth Card on the Deck

In this world, some says, there are losers and achievers. It is up to us in which category do we want to belong. Definitely losers are those who just let things happen. Winners, even if they fail, they learn and constantly move on forward. Many asks what is the secret of those successful people. Some says it is hardwork, while others say it's because of luck. In my own opinion, I think it's neither of them. For me, working hard is totally different from working smart. We do not have to work hard for something, if we really want it, we would enjoy doing it. There is always another way. If we continuously do a process redundantly, definitely there is something wrong. Every process should be easier at every passing moment. There is always a new way to do things better and a lot easier. Improvise. Innovate. We don't just do things the first time, always keep on improving. Processes should be always keep getting better and better. A very good example of it is the basic evolution. Animals to man. Creation keeps on improving. Another is technology. Would you like to use the Smart Bill-crusher type of analog cellular phone? I don't think so. Times change, so we do also.

I think luck is not what is not expected to happen. I think luck is an opportunity given to a long-prepared person. Say can you say that a person who won 300 million peso jackpot money from lotto lucky when after three years he came back broke and mishandled the opportunity? He is not definitely lucky. He is pitiful, a pitiful person who possessed something but didn't know what to do. So definitely, luck is the mid-portion of a process into which a person who is given an opportunity, and of course he should be ready, which he draws his best efforts toward success.

I think, in my opinion, the secret of successful people are "EXCELLENCE". "EXCELLENCE IS NOT AN ACT BUT A HABIT." Compete with yourself. Outdoing your previous accomplishments raises your standards. Quality that seems to be unbeatable by any other person. A daily effort of doing things better, improving in your daily work, and most specially morally and spiritually at ease everyday. Yourself is the first competition that you have. How can you convince others that you are better than them when you yourself know that you didn't do things in your best efforts. Excellence is by doing a daily improvement in yourself, in your responsibilities, and after that, even with others. Constant improvement, being excellent yourself will make you live each day in glory. The three of diamonds reminds you that "EXCELLENCE IS NOT AN ACT, BUT A HABIT."

Diamond's Number 2

May 2010 Elections is fast approaching. Many people by now have their own candidates to vote for, presidential bet to be exact. They most of these people look for some one who will be able to lift the economy. One of the possible way that they see it, someone who will make their lives better. I usually read this Presidentiable's social network page, with a lot of people writing any message of support, comments, "wishlists", and even curses. What I always see in that page is those people who asks money from him. Yep, you read it right, they ask for money. Some even say that if he will give him some cash, he will be voting for him. Now, that is the current generation Filipinos. It's very demoralizing. To be frank, it's really degrading. They are the kind of people who you wish are not our kababayan. Fact: Presidential Candidates are people who represent your ideology, speak as your voice, and an icon for the country. Fact: They are not genies whom you can wish anything in return for a vote. They are not even saviors. They are just a person with a special role. It is to oversee, govern, and represent. Our economy doesn't depends on a current administration, our current and future government administration depends on us. We should not depend on our government. The truth is they are powerless if the people would not gave them power. So therefore what we have or experiencing right now, when it comes to finance, economy, and even career does not depend on others. We should use what God have gave us. We have free will. So it is very clear that our actions dictates the way we live. We write our own destiny, at time we even destroy what we should have become. It is still us that have the capacity to change our lives, not other people. If we look at some other people as our saviour, God have pity, the mind is a terrible thing to waste. Do not wish for something to be in favor to us. We must do it and grab it ourselves. Like the Two of Diamonds states "DO NOT WAIT FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN, MAKE THINGS HAPPEN."

Seventh Card: Seven of Flowers

The lesson that I would like to impart with you is usually the typical scenario in an office. Let's just say there is a land developer company that focuses on housing projects. Since it is a full grown company, it definitely has different subdivisions. In this particular office, the marketing division usually prepares different events for their different subdivisions. The marketing officers plans, conceptualizes, and handles them almost in a weekly basis. Definitely, since almost every week they have an event, some of them usually recycles the program and concepts. Some copies from what they have seen or heard. You may think of other activities that they have done but definitely, only one will stand out. All of them are conceptualizing, planning, coordinating and implementing. But only a few takes their guts, pushes their limits, and even doing it ahead of time. Only the person who create an event that was so different and yet becomes so profitable, leave a mark on that specific division, in the company, and maybe in the whole industry. All men are normal. What makes them human is their ability to rise from any occasion. What makes it a divine inspired work is when they make it on a daily basis. The lesson that I learned from the seven of lowers is "people forget how fast you did a job, but they remember how well you did it." There is always time for everything. Give things their respective times and extended efforts so they can certainly flourish and be the best that it could ever be. What we do in our lifetime echoes in the pages of history.

Sixth Card: Six of Flowers

There was once a beggar who asked for a penny to everyone walking on the street. Although he has no education, not any material possession except for the thorn out, dirty clothes that he have, he still have his youth. Nobody wanted to give him any job because he lacks credibility. He asked anyone regardless how they look-like or how they live. He never stops praying, wishing that his prayers would be heard. One day, the beggar asked a poor fisherman for any money or food. Since the fisherman has enough meal for the family, he just gave his fishing rod and net. The beggar sold it and bought a decent meal for the day. The next morning, he went on his way to beg again, he prayed before for any alms be given again. All he just asked to the Lord is enough food to live each day. Once again, he met this poor farmer, but this farmer has have earn so much that he gave one of his cow to the beggar. The beggar sold the cow for money and have a week long budget for food. He asked God why does He keep on giving anything except food. Food is all he need to survive. He even asked "If you have given me education and money, I would have been wealthy by now." In a tropical country like the Philippines, people easily burned their energy, so there is a greater food necessity. For almost three months, the beggar doesn't receive any alms to buy even a small piece of bread. He went to the seaside, wishing to end his miserable life. Before he set his feet to the shore, he look upwards and shout "Lord, why have you forsaken me? I have always been faithful but you show me, if none, a little grace. Since You probably doesn't exist, I better take my own life and stop this foolish living." He drowned himself and eventually, died. His soul traveled and saw the gates of heaven. He said to himself, "He does exist, but He didn't bother listen to my pleas." He encountered St. Peter and asked, "I would like to enter. I have all the reasons to be here, since I live a poor life on earth. I always pray even though they were not answered." St. Peter replied, "I believe you are not on the list, please go the other way." The beggar got very hysterical, saying "I was forsaken on earth, I still am forsaken here in heaven?! I thought God is loving and merciful, generous and kind. But why is He doing this to me?!" St. Peter then asked the man "What if you are still a beggar and saw me, you definitely asked for any money or food, right?" the beggar answered "of course, I need them to live. I can say I have live a good life, I didn't steal even to the point of dying." " Well, that's good so nice to know that you didn't even think of that. But what if I don't have any thing to give you but my chicken, would you still accept it?" He answered "of course I'll accept it and cook it for me to have a decent meal." St. Peter sighed, "You see, for all of your life, God doesn't abandoned you. There are numerous times that He gave you opportunity to feed yourself regularly and never starved again. Like the time you have a fishing rod and net, and the cow. If you just not sold those things and used the rod and the net for fishing, while the cow to be milked or even breed, you would've been eating and earning. But instead, you sold them and find the easiest way to have something to eat, like what you will be doing if I were to give you a chicken. He gave you countless of chance and indeed answered each of your prayer. All you have to do with the opportunity is work on it." So the beggar cried, asked for forgiveness and woke up in a shore full of coconuts. He was again given another chance. The six of flowers states: PRAY AS IF EVERYTHING DEPENDED ON GOD, WORK AS IF EVERYTHING DEPENDED ON YOU.

The Third Card: Three of Flowers

The three of flowers states that: QUALITY IS THE SEARCH FOR EXCELLENCE. The sentence explains itself. I remember when I was working at Jollibee as a Service Crew. For the first time I have seen managers so angry with so little things. These same managers are the people whom I can say I enjoy the company with. They really are nice but when it comes to procedures and products, it is a must for them that you act, you work, you do, and even just for that moment, you live in excellence. And for the first time in the store's history, they passed the quality examination, silver at standard at that time. At that working-for-the-dream moment, we feel tense because of the pressure that these bosses gave us. Even the closest one suddenly became strict while working. We better ourselves, better the products, better the service every moment. That same period of time, I became a Crew Trainer. See, Excellence has a price. It is to take some parts of your attitudes away and replacing them with something better. It is making yourself better. Yes it is so hard to take away and reject the old habits but if excellence has a price, it also comes with greater rewards. Not just material gains but most of all, your personal reward. Since you give your best, you better yourself every time. So thus the product or service you give.Up until now, I have carried this habit of being a rational perfectionist. Excellence is learning. Continuous learning makes yourself adoptable to change, standards and quality also rise up as well. It is not just for the customer or any material rewards, it is most importantly for you.