Unexpected Departure

To many Fil-Estate family members, the demise of Dr. Romeo Vergara was so fast they couldn't believe he's gone. A few days ago, he was up and bouncing in the corridors of the Renaissance Tower. He was quite busy coordinating with a lot of department heads including the ISD, Finance, BDD, Marketing, etc. He was preparing for that big presentation in HongKong with our business counterparts. And then he's gone. He is one of those rare soldiers who died in action. For patriots like the Japanese, this is the best way to go.

For me, Doc Vergara died a happy man. Three weeks ago, we boarded the same PAL Express plane going to Boracay. He was with Ma'am Connie and their children. As it was on a weekend, I would say that it was a vacation by the whole family. But knowing the kind of culture we have in Fil-Estate, his travel is still "pleasure with business". Why, the Boss is there also in Boracay. They paid a visit to Atty. Santos in his recently opened Boracay Sands Hotel where our group is staying. I won't forget our exchange of pleasantries. We were all enjoying our old jokes and we were all blurting out in boisterous laughter. I can't believe that it will be our last casual moment together.

We have lost one good man but his contributions to the growth of Fil-Estate will always be remembered.

The Essence of Competition

Just recently, Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt crossed the finish line in the 100 meter run at the Reebok Grand Prix at Randall Island in New York clocking at 9.74 seconds. He set a World Record. It was an absolutely rare moment of jubilation. When he was interviewed, his comment really struck me. He said, "I wasn't looking for a world record, it was there for the taking."

I was thinking what would be better than a world record? I thought the man was a ballon-headed, too proud and too egoistic temporal athlete. But what Bolt said next explained everything to me. "You can have the world record, but to me, if you don't have a gold medal in the Olympics or world championships, it means nothing." This man sure knows what really matters.

In our company, we encourage the same spirit of competition so we give out the President's Cup. A marketing team can only get it after three consecutive months of being the topnotch performer in sales production. Last June 2008, Mt. Zion - Baliwag team lost their bid for their first ever President's Cup to Mt. Zion - Dagupan who stole their 3rd month run with a margin of 18 lots. It was a heartbreaking loss!

But that is what competition is all about - putting up a good fight and winning. To fight and to win, follow this great piece of advise from antiquity. In the olden times, when Mongols were attacking China, the General of the Army immediately reported to the emperor the impending defeat in the border. The emperor ordered, "Send all able-bodied male from all families." The General replied, "Your Highness, should we at least leave one male for each family so that he may continue raising up more children for the empire?"

"No! Send them all!" the emperor roared. "One man could be the difference between victory and defeat. Remember, a grain of rice can tip the scale."

To our competing teams out there, send all your recruits and your men so you may seal your victory!

The Inner Circle

Every organization, every enterprise has its own inner circle. Sometimes formed deliberately, but most often it evolves and develops through passage of time - happy and difficult times. It becomes what it is due to bestowed and earned trust and confidence for and by each one within the circle. The circle is as important as the leader or head of the organization because from within it, decisions and directions are formulated. While it is a must that the leaders check the ranks, of more significance if not equally important is that they also police the inner circle.

Let me share to you the story of one great dog trainer that makes up this whole point. There once lived a monk in a far flung temple whose fame in training dogs stretches through out the archipelago of Japan. He is so good he can even make the dogs howl the temple chants.

One day he was visited by the Prince of the Empire. The trained dogs immediately went to work by entertaining the royal visitors who were all greatly impressed by the dogs' tricks. After the show while walking in the garden outside the entertainment hall, the Prince saw five flea-ridden, saliva-dripping dogs. "So, these are your failures?" the Prince asked the monk. "No, Your Highness. They are my greatest successes. As soon as the sun sets, one dog goes to the east, the other to the west, the other to the north and the other to the south, guarding the temple from all four corners by repelling bandits and intruders," was the monk's reply.

"Were there not five dogs? Where guards the fifth?" the Prince asked again.

"The fifth dog is the most ferocious of all. He stands guard in the temple hall."

"Why inside the hall? Shouldn't he be out there helping the other four dogs repelling bandits!" exclaimed the Prince.

"No, Your Highness, he must stay inside. Remember, most houses collapse from within its walls."

I couldn't add more. History abounds with stories of great empires, kingdoms, organizations and governments falling from within its walls... within its inner circle.

A Balanced Life?

Nothing strikes me more than the word Balance. It is a word you will find in every philosophical, spiritual, professional, natural or scientific topic that man loves to discuss. Philosophers say, "Live your life in moderation." Chinese teachers discuss the Yin and Yang. Science says, "For every action, there is a counter reaction." Others put it bluntly and so sacredly, "The balance of nature." This has even become a profession. Yup, I know you've heard of people who so confusingly use the words Debit and Credit. You're right. They are called Accountants. And I am one of them. Good thing I am now retired. (I opted for an early retirement plan. I am now something else.)

There's that story of a mother telling her daughter to marry an accountant because he sure knows how to live a balanced life. "What made you so sure, Mum?" asked the daughter. Mum replied without blinking an eye, "My dear, accountants can't leave their work until they have balanced all the figures!"

But don't be surprised to marry an accountant who doesn't even know how to balance a checkbook. There's legions out there.

There's just something I would like you to know about accountants. They are the most flexible people on earth. Here's the comparison: If you ask a mathematician or a physicist the question, "Four plus four?", both will give you an "Eight" as the answer. But ask an accountant the same question and he will ask, "What would you like it to be?" No wonder accountants are the best tax consultants in the planet.

The Palace in the Island

It has always been the rule of my Boss to hold a Blessing Ceremony for any new structure before it is being officially used. Sometime last March 2008, the day when Boracay Sands Hotel was to be blessed, the priest asked the boatmen at Caticlan Port if they could ferry him to the new hotel located at Station 3 of Boracay Island. The boatmen replied, "Yes, of course, Father. That's the newly constructed palace in the island."

From a distance, Boracay Sands Hotel is truly magnificent. Its imposing traditional arches give the strolling tourist a glimpse of that early but beautiful Mediterranean architecture. It stands like a mighty sentinel guarding the stretch of white talcum-like beach that made the island the top vacation destination by toursits from all over the world. Boracay Sands Hotel complements that great tourist adventure of going to a naturally incredible beach paradise by offering the best of the modern comforts complete with style and exclusivity.

Edrich Santos, its EVP for Operations simply says that Boracay Sands Hotel is going to be the visitor's sanctuary on the sands. But for the boatmen and the other residents of this world-famous tourist spot, it will always be the palace in the island.

(For more information about the hotel, visit www.boracaysandshotel.com.)

Pacman Day

At exactly six o’clock in the morning today, I was greeted with a text from Mhon, my admin assistant informing me that they have just reached the port of Calapan Oriental Mindoro. He and Harry, our surveyor, left Renaissance Center at 3:00AM and headed south to Panay Island to deliver the relief goods to our co-employees based in Region VI who were devastated by typhoon Frank. The relief goods, composed of canned goods, used clothes, noodles and other packed food, were the voluntary contributions of our co-employees at the head office.

Mhon took heart of my instruction to update me every now and then of their voyage. It is his first time to travel by RORO (Roll-on Roll-off) ship, aside from the fact that typhoons usually hit the country mostly during the months of June to July. But what would be most memorable about this trip is that this is the day when Manny Pacquiao carves out his piece of history to become the only Asian boxer to hold world titles in four different divisions.

As I was just relying on the delayed telecast, I was patiently waiting for the main event, the Pacquiao-Diaz Lethal Combination. While the under card fights were also exciting, nothing could contain my excitement and anticipation of Pacquiao’s bout. Then came the text from Mhon at around 11:00am – Diaz was knocked out in the 10th round! Although I was expecting a win, nothing was sweeter than hearing the fact. I ran outside and joined my neighbors in jubilant celebration. As I was sharing Pacquiao’s 10th round victory, they all corrected me that it was the 9th round. (Mhon later rectified his text saying the knock down happened in the 9th round.)

David Diaz made a gallant stand, but Pacquiao’s speed and power from both hands are too much for him. The match saw a different Pacquiao. He has transformed from a street brawler into a complete tactical fighter. With amazing flair and grace, he achieved what no Asian boxer has done – four championship belts in four different divisons! From around the globe, I’m sure Pacquiao’s legions of fans have increased tremendously. Count Happy, my wife, in. She is now a certified Pacman fan. As Romy Nathanielz puts it, Pacman makes you proud to be a Filipino.

Mabuhay and Pilipino, Mabuhay and Pilipinas!

My Life is Funny

I started writing feature stories when I was a second year high school student. I was always serious then in my themes. Maybe I thought writing should always be serious. I had no idea yet of writing formats and style. But having a father whose sense of humor flows to the brim, I have been exposed to jokes that he himself contorted or was it copied or heard from I-don’t-know-where. My Dad has a canny ability of converting any dry or tense situation into something relaxed, fun-filled and warm occasion. He is one of those persons who can do a mockery of the powerful, the respected and the not-so-respected-but-feared individuals in our place and get away with it. Unconsciously, I was immersed in a training that I would only discover I have been trained with later in my adult life. Since then, I have been less active in writing but I have been more comfortable telling stories, especially funny stories.

I have discovered that life is funny. Yes, because life is a story. You can write it the way you want it. I would very well agree with Thomas D. Willhite when he said that a person’s future is formed by the thoughts he holds most often in his mind. A person’s life is what he thinks it is at the moment. Life is defined by how you react on a given situation and how you perceive the situation to be. I cannot forget the story told by the father of Frank Avignale in the movie Catch Me If You Can. The story tells of two little mice that fell on a bucket of milk. The first mouse struggled by swimming a little bit but soon gave up and drowned – and died immediately. The second mouse struggled so hard, paddled in circles and turned the milk into cheese – and eventually pulled himself out of the bucket.

Funny is not being carefree and aimless. Funny is a state of mind, very much like being positive and happy. My Dad is a happy person – he chose to be one. And I thank him for the training that I got from him – telling funny stories. That is why I am funny – I chose to be one.