Ora et Labora

“Ora et Labora,” or prayer and hard work – this is what made me decide that Karylle should be enrolled in San Beda College – Rizal. I thought that these virtues engrained in the character of my daughter would be enough to guide her through life’s intricate journey. This educational institution run by the Benedictine Order has not changed their core values since its founder established its monasteries in the 15th century in the serrated mountain range of Spain.

Karylle, who just turned six last March 2009, passed the exam and interview for Grade 1 students although she’s supposed to take first the preparatory stage as a transferee from Valley View Academy. I thank her previous school, Creative Learning Center of Mandaluyong City for setting a great foundation of nursery education. Aside from the fact we have saved a year’s tuition fee and a year of doing what she already knew doing.

Today, June 15, 2009 is a very special day. It’s Karylle’s first day in San Beda College. We rose from bed very early in the morning as the school bus will fetch Karylle at 6:05 am. Earlier, Mommy Happy has been more than excited to prepare everything Karylle needs – from uniform, bag, books, supplies, ID, etc. I can’t imagine myself doing everything as she did. As this is the first day, we wanted to meet personally the persons to whom we will be entrusting Karylle.

First is Mang Nanding, the driver of the school bus. A kind-hearted man in his 50’s, I think of him on first glance as a very trusted man. He is being helped out by Jon-jon, his assistant whose primary duty is to secure the children and their belongings inside and outside the service vehicle. Secondly and most important of all, is Ms. Arlene S. J. Manuel, Karylle’s teacher and class adviser. Teacher Arlene exudes that aura of concern and love for children. We felt comfortable seeing her brightly lit face as she welcomes both parents and students in her class labeled as Grade 1 – 12. She has thirty little children in her care, seven of whom are girls.

Everywhere I looked, I saw parents and children in the customary and usual last minute instruction stage. I call this the “assurance phase,” all trying to get past this stage which school administrators purposely limited for just the first three days, after which, parents are regarded as guests and visitors who will not be allowed to enter the classrooms and study halls except on particular cases. On my observation, I see one common denominator in all the faces of the parents. I see happiness. We feel the same way, for we know that our child, having been accepted to this institution, will soon receive and reap what no one can take away from them – education.

Karylle will get it – through prayer and hard work – “ora et labora.”

How High Will the Sycamore Grow?

There's an old saying that goes, "Strike while the iron is hot." I was already a freshman in high school when this idiom got my attention. Curiously, I asked my Mom about it and why one should strike a hot iron. She explained that iron can only be forged or moulded into the desired form when beaten while it is red-hot. My Dad, who was also listening across the sala, interjected and said, "That's what we call opportunity. Grab it at once when it shows up!" These are words of wisdom which are oftentimes ignored and misunderstood by youngsters like me.

Time passes by and one doesn't even know if opportunity has already come. The truth is opportunity abounds. It is almost everywhere. It's just that it goes unnoticed and ignored by those who are not ready to accept it. Acceptance means the willingness and the readiness to go for it. The unique thing about opportunity is its timing. It pops up and doesn't stay long. The red-hot iron must be beaten several times and quench it by water while it is still red-hot, otherwise it is like shooting with blank bullets . In my own understanding, I call this a window. A very short significant time by which one is allowed to do what has got to be done to get the desired or consequential result.

In the Bible, the story of Zaccahaeus, the tax collector presents opportunity in action. On his way to Jericho, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by a narrow road where a throng of followers and bystanders made traffic so heavy it is nearly impossible for a small man like Zaccaheus to go near Jesus or even just to be heard by Jesus. Seeing a sycamore fig tree nearby, he climbed and made himself visible to Jesus and called on Him. Jesus immediately acknowldged and commanded Zaccaheus to come down at once for he will stay at his house that day. Zacchaeus, the publicano, a deputized tax collector of the Roman Empire, the unworthy sinner, will host Jesus, a thoroughly good man, in his very own home. Deeply moved by this action of Jesus, Zacchaeus repented and reformed his ways. The best part of the story is when Jesus said, "Today, salvation has come to this house."

Salvation of Zaccaheus and his household did not come easy. He had to face the humiliation of having to climb up the sycamore fig tree, considered in the culture of their time as "unclean" because it bore fruit that is fed to the pigs. The sycamore tree in the story of Zacchaeus is the opportunity that led him to the greater things on earth, above all the riches of this world.

The song Colors of the Wind in the movie Pocahontas had this to say, "How high will the sycamore grow? When you cut it down, then you'll never know." Don't cut down your opportunities. Grab them.

The Pacquiao Phenomenon

A few years ago, when Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao was making waves in the boxing world, he was uniquely labeled by one of the most respected boxing analysts in the Ring Magazine as "the most exciting fighter in the planet". Although non-traditional as it may seem, the label was very much appropriate and fits perfectly if you have the idea that boxing is iunder the category of the entertainment industry. This sport has evolved into such eversince gladiators started fighting up for their precious but wasted lives inside the Coliseum.

The definition was once again confirmed by the debates made by the analysts and boxing afficionados from around the globe about who's the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Currently, Pacquiao holds this lofty title. I concur with Kevin of Yahoo! Sports why Floyd Mayweather Jr. is not. Floyd may have everything Manny has except for one thing - the "thrill" factor. Pacquiao draws attention and when he fights, he keeps one on his toes.

Against the bigwigs, against the high elite of the sports, against the great handicap of race and skin color, against all odds, Pacquiao managed to be at the driver's seat of boxing sports. Immediately after unleashing that lightning-fast cracking left straight that sent London Bridge Hatton falling face down for goodnight sleep, Bob Arum said, "There has never been a fighter of the same combination of power and speed like Pacquiao's."

Paquiao's size, power and looks are unassuming and unbelievable. Literally unbelievable for the other champion boxers they all wanted to test the veracity of his giftedness. And they all fell into the trap, painfully and shamefully. They were all decimated - Morales, Barrera, Marquez, Dela Hoya, Diaz, Hatton and many more non-believers to come. I remember the words of the first United Nations Secretary General Carlos P. Romulo, a Filipino, when he was belittled by a European Head of State whose demeaning words were, "Your'e just a little man from a little country!" Romulo replied, "It is the duty of the little Davids of this world to fling the stone into the eyes of blistering Goliaths!" Pacquiao is today's little David.

A Decade of Memorialization

It is almost as if it was just yesterday when we first gathered the salesforce members of Mt. Zion Memorial, Inc. at the Penthouse of the Star Plaza in Dagupan City. Supporters from the Fil-Estate Group of Marketing Companies came to witness how this newbie company will fare in its birthing stage. That was October 27, 1999. May 19, 2009 marks the 10th year anniversary of Mt. Zion Memorial, Inc. whose presence today was made possible by a few men and women who thought that real estate business should not be left alone with the living but must be maximized also for the dead.

Atty. Ferdinand T. Santos, our Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, had a vision which he shared with our first landowner partners in Dagupan City, Mrs. Gloria Ocampo and daughter Mrs. Tessie Tan. Together, they staged an uphill battle of trying to blend the formula for real estate (for the living) and memorialization (for the dead). We inched our way to this unfamiliar territory and slowly but surely moved from province to province, city to city, town to town and soon made our presence felt by even the most formidable players in the industry.

We knew it will be hard but the strategy was very clear. We will not meet the competition head on but to establish our projects in places where we can be more dominant. As one small-time airline company puts it, "We fly to places where others can't."

We have accummulated not only revenues but also people whose reluctance at first can only be understood by want of knowledge in this industry. Coming together, we formulated strategies that kept us alive amidst the dead, kept us celebrating amidst the mournings of the bereaved. And in the process, we learned one very significant realization in the course of our fledgling operations - that the memorialization industry is catering to both local and global markets. Local, because Filipinos, by tradition, choose their hometown as their final resting place. Global, because Filipinos are everywhere, ubiquitous as the grass.

Having survived ten years of global economic recessions, we thank the Lord through the celebration of the Holy Mass. As Father Romy Castro puts it, "Anniversaries are celebrated to remember and thank Him for all His graces and blessings."

This year Mt. Zion is "10 X Bolder, 10 X Stronger" and we acknowledge it by saying, "Yes, we can!"

Karylle's Belated Birthday Bash

How do you convince your only daughter that her birthday is to be celebrated by just the three of us when she thought that birthdays are celebrated either in Jollibee or McDonald's? It has always been like that since her memory worked. Wish we could go out together but March 28, 2009 marked the launching of our expansion project in Garden of Peace - Taytay. A birthday cake from Red Ribbon isn't enough, that's why we planned of having this swimming party at Parkridge Estates, Antipolo.

The available dates aren't at all available. We can't get a date. We have deadlines to beat, reports to finish and activities to attend to and we never had a date close enough for the birthday celebration. Believing that nothing really happens until you say and resolve that it is going to happen, we just decided that it will be on May o2, 2009, just a few days before the actual date. And magically, so it became May 02, 2009. As excpected, not everyone came due to the very short notice but we had enough number to get going.

We made sure Karylle's close friends were present namely Daisy, Aubrey and Joe Vince. Actually they are all her first cousins and they all grew up a few houses apart in Mandaluyong City. Calay also came, a neighbor and Karylle is all but too happy to see her friends again! I fetched them from Mandaluyong and on the way back passed through Nanay Amelia to get that Famous Kalderetang Pork Spare Ribs.

The accounting and treasury groups made their own arrangements in going to the venue. Coming via Sumulong Highway through the north gate of Valley Golf, Ase and Donna went straight to Parkridge. Mostly originated from Taytay office where Paul, the driver is waiting to ferry them out to Parkridge via the south gate of Valley Golf. Allan and Limuel just caught up with the service vehicle at Ortigas Extension corner Valley Golf.

They say there is no perfect wedding ceremony. Upon arriving at the swimming pool area, it's too frustrating to know that there was no reservation made for the group. I called up Mang Boy, the caretaker and asked what happened. He said that their head office personnel were not able to relay the confirmation of our reservation. But he offered us the next best place available – the clubhouse – overlooking the pool area. Everything could have been perfect except that Happy, my wife who is 3 months preggy won’t be able to sit by the poolside to tend for Karylle.

And so we swam, played .... had fun ...

In this picture, it's not Lando who's the tallest, but Arlene having the strongest legs and back.
Limuel said, "I can stay like this forever, not seeing anything but smelling forever ang hindi nahugasang kamay ni Arlene."

Hold it, Joseph! You're killing Lando.

Paul, hindi manibela yang balikat ni Lando!

Is it a bird? Is it a dolphin? No, it's Limuel!

Did the girls knew someone just flew overhead? I didn't know Limuel got a knack on diving.

Eto ang poolside para sa mga Cute at Pa-cute. Only Donna is wearing a dress. The rest... I don't know.

Here's the birthday celebrant. Belated Happy Birthday, Karylle! Yeah, I agree, you're No. One.

No, it's not the rain. It's the mini-falls that the children are enjoying. Pools plus falls - double whammy!

All up and ready to eat!

Tenting during swimming party, anyone? Mom Happy is all eyes. Karylle might get lost in the jungle.

Nabitin sa swimming pool, tinapos sa bahay. Daming pagkain, pero sa totoo lang, mga sobra lang yan sa Parkridge. I'm worried with Ase. Her diet might get affected.

After the swimming, Paul ferried his passengers back to the East. We had this chance to see the new home of Tolits and Joan. It is quite far but accessible. St. Monique is beautiful, good place to inhale fresh air and jog around. The group went back to our home, had dinner and whined the night away. What a day... and night. Tomorrow is landmark day - London Bridge will fall under the left fist of Manny Pacquiao. Hatton will have the worst good night sleep of his life. But this will be another topic. See you, guys!

Nepo's Homecoming

"Anytime you come back, our company will wholeheartedly accept you back - no questions asked," This was the parting words of Atty. Ferdinand T. Santos to Ms. Annabelle P. Nepomuceno, VP for Human Resources of the Fil-Estate Group of Companies on her last day of work where all the employees and officers gathered to give tribute to an officer, who, for almost two decades, unselfishly steered and led the company by taking care of its most important asset, the Human Resources.

Nepo, as she is fondly called by the employees (although her real name is Shirley, which she managed to keep secret through the entire length of her tenure) recently visited Fil-Estate after two years of work in the United States. She was here in the Philippines for a corrective eye surgery at the Medical City. After the surgery which took less than an hour to complete, she made a courtesy call to Atty. Santos who was very happy to see her again. Upon learning that Nepo is in the building, the employees rushed to the Executive Office and queued to see Nepo personally, me included. For the employees, especially those who were close to Nepo, it was indeed a rare moment of jubilation. Hugs and kisses were everywhere - everywhere Nepo went. She was sorely missed. It was some sort of a homecoming, except that only one came and everybody else was waiting for the lone homecoming guest, Nepo being the guest.

Under the gracious hands of Ms. Ime Reyes, pasalubong holder Mang Carling and photographer Bar Famero, Nepo tried to visit every department, every company under the Fil-Estate umbrella, including her baby, Mt. Zion Memorial, Inc. On seeing Mt. Zion personnel, she sexclaimed, "I wish to be surprised when I make a visit to Fil-Estate and true enough, I am surprised to see the employees of Mt. Zion formerly based at the branches now working at the Head Office!" Nepo also spent time with her very own department, the Human Resources, which is now, as she has noted, filled with new faces - sexier, slimmer and younger but nobody came close to the huskiness of her voice.

Nepo's visit was quite short but very productive and meaningful. She once again showed that enthusiam virus which almost certainly got transmitted once again to the employees. I know it's her talent - no, it's her gift, a God-given gift.

Ariba, Nepo! 'Til we meet again!

Valentine with the Big Boss

“Can you join us tomorrow? This came more of an instruction than a request from the President of our company who at 9:00PM Friday was hitting the roads of Lucban, Quezon on his way back to Manila. He, too, received an instruction from the Chairman of the Board to make rounds on some of the subdivision projects of the Fil-Estate Group – on Valentine’s Day!

Our meeting place was at the Renaissance Center. Completed in 1994, this condovision (coined by Fil-Estate from the words condominium and subdivision) became the headquarters of the Fil-Estate Group and housed its corporate services divisions and most of its marketing companies. Commonly called the “Renaissance” by commuters, it looked fresh and magnificent as I make my approach via Julia Vargas Avenue of the Ortigas Center. Thanks to the recent wash-over and re-painting program of the Condominium Corporation and the Building Admin Group headed by Mr. Chito Elnas.

SOUTHWOODS PEAK

Driving his panther black Ford Everest, Mr. Lito Fernandez darted through the South Luzon Expressway with Atty. Santos on the passenger front seat. I sat comfortably in the back seat with my camera and a bunch of documents for discussion and signature of the bosses. Two minutes past the hour of eleven, we reached our project destination – The Manila Southwoods Phase 5 or simply the “Southwoods Peak”.

Southwoods Peak is the latest addition to the Manila Southwoods elite membership. With around 30 hectares, this will bring the total residential area to two hundred (200) hectares while the championship golf course totaling to around two hundred fifty (250) hectares. This golfing haven and home to various international and national championships is also a certified Audubon site. The project is home to a number of birds that are at the verge of extinction. The lush flora and fauna serve as the birds sanctuary.

The lots here sell relatively high but people keep on coming and investing in Southwoods due to its strategic location. Being just beside the Carmona exit along the South Super Highway, it is very accessible both from Laguna or from the Metropolis. Its greens and the rolling terrains make up the feeling of not being so near to city dwelling.

Today, the last of the pavements and corners are being constructed. The entire subdivision will be all set for residential purposes in no time. For the investors, it is surely a good buy as this prime piece of property is experiencing accelerated growth like never been before.

PARCO BELLO

Ms. Baby Enriquez, together with her daughter Ashley welcomed our group and immediately showed Atty. Santos the almost finished house construction project of Parco Bello. This is going to be the third house completed inside the two hectare development personally supervised by Atty. Santos. The construction has a touch of mixed Mediterranean look. At the moment, three more houses are being built. Just beside the upscale development of the Villar Group, Parco Bello is the favorite choice of the picky buyer who wants a more secluded yet secured residential area. House and lot and lot only packages here start at P4M to P8M.

The entrance gate of Parco Bello greets its residents and visitors with refreshing and colorful greens and flowers, providing relief to a whole day’s work in the city. Its clubhouse sits in the middle and can accommodate small gatherings for the select few homeowners. There are only 40 lots available for sale as of the moment. If I were to transfer my residential location, it will be here in Parco Bello. You can’t help but fall in love with this miniscule yet complete sub-urban site.

CIUDAD VERDE

With Sta. Lucia at the helm of development, Ciudad Verde will soon become a landmark in the Fairview area. Sitting alongside the busy Regalado Avenue just after the FEU Medical School, this commercial-residential project boasts of high class amenities that would be the envy of nearby subdivisions. The commercial area is selling fast and only a few blocks were left as of this writing. Buyers are being offered options between lot only or house and lot package. While price is relatively high starting at P15,000 per square meter, the market is responsive due to the fact that it is within range of the fair market value in the area.

Why is it selling fast? Give a nice product to a hyper-aggressive marketing network and you’ll end up with fantastic sales. All four marketing companies of the FEGC are present during the open house which coincides with the Valentine’s Day Celebration. I wonder if the buyers made Ciudad Verde their dating place – even just for today.

On the picture above, Mr. Nestor Yap and Engr. Boots Aquino, Presidents of FERSA and FERC, respectively, gladly welcomed Atty. Santos and Mr. Lito Fernandez. I sat comfortably at the background, chatting with friends including Tonichi, the Sales Coordinator; Romy, Nini and the other members of the corporate services group.

Well, what can I say? This is how you spend the valentine with the Boss. You start early in the morning and retire early in the evening. But the learning is invaluable. I hope to get more of these.

Valentine's Celebration at Fil-Estate

Welcome Back, Bar!

It's been months since my last blog. I've been too busy with so many things that I almost forgot I have a blog account. Anyway, today is a new day, a new beginning and I promise myself to do my blogs more regularly.

As I was making my way through the lobby of the Renaissance Center, I was greeted with that familiar phrase - "Happy Valentine's!" There's not much surprise with the greetings as it all seemed traditional with all those heart-shaped figures dangling and sitting in various corners of the office. But these really help a lot in setting up the ambiance within the workplace. With all the work pressure, I can smell that love is in the air!

What surpised me are the Valentine lady bunnies clad in striking blue green outfit courtesy of our Human Resources Division. They moved away from the usual red-colored motiff of Valentine's. But they really looked good, I must admit. I happened to get a snap shot with the bunnies all around me and Mhon. See the picture and Eat Your Heart Out!

I can still remember when the Human Resources Division is evenly composed of the big ones and the slim ones. Today, it's totally different. They are all slim (just like me) and they are all qualified to do catwalks in the ramp! Believe you me, sometimes.