The Contributor

It's just like the old days.  Back then in High School, I was a Contributor of "The Harrow", our school organ which is published monthly by the Principal's Office.  Then comes college days.  I started as a Contributor of the "TIP Voice", an administration sponsored school paper.  Well, I was fortunate to have been given the chance to be the Managing Editor before I hang up my gloves.  It was just a short semester before I graduated.

Anyway, whether you're the editor or the lay-out artist, I think everybody in the press is a contributor.  The advent of internet media has exponentially multiplied the number of contributors in multi-media.  In my own little way, I made my own contribution through "The Graveyard Shift."  Today's just a little bit different.  I have decided to be an official Contributor of Google.  How official?  Check this out...I want to help this Contributor campaign of Google.  Anyway, this is what I love doing - being a Contributor. 

Another Bonsai in my Garden

Ficus B.... The newest bonsai
in my garden.

The regular trips going to the clubhouse for my morning table tennis game with Mr. Chat has yet produced another wonderful addition to my collection of home-made bonsai.  Then I came across Mr. Obet, himself a self-taught bonsai enthusiast. He shared with me his techniques which he learned over many years of propagating and nourishing various kinds of bonsai plants.

“Any tree can be made into a bonsai,” he said it with much confidence as he prunes some of the twigs that have started to grow wild due to the start of the rainy season.  He added there are short cuts and there are the long cuts – both require patience and creativity.  “Can you tell me what the short cut is?” I asked with such eagerness that he stopped what he was doing, looked me in the eye, clipped his pruning shears and led me to the inner part of his bonsai garden . . . and that was the start of a regular weekend lecture that culminated in choosing one beautiful double twig of a ficus benjamina as a marcot item.

Months have passed and baby roots started to grow out of the edges of the wrappings of the twig.  The rain surely has helped a great deal in producing those roots but the watering during the summer season was due to the kind assistance of Mang Boy who is stationed at the Village Clubhouse  manning the small beverage store of the Sports Club.  The short cut, it turned out is not that short and as I expected and have already learned at the onset when I got hold of my first ever bonsai plant, patience is key to the growing process.

Today, I am transplanting my bonsai in a temporary pot to help the twig accelerate growth of its new roots.  Another one precious life added to my garden.  Thanks to Mr. Obet. 

"You're Not Supposed to be Here!"

T'was a Friday and the Renaissance Tower lobby was uncharacteristically empty at lunch break.  It used to be teeming with guests and agents to culminate a productive and busy week.

I was with a friend from the Treasury Department of the FEGC and we decided to have a leisurely talk on one of the comfortable loungers of the generously-spaced lobby.  After a few exchanges, we fell silent and the lobby was pulling us to a short nap.  Just as I was leaving my consciousness, a voice thundered and brought the two of us to our feet.  "You're not supposed to be here!" yelled the Training Director.  What we didn't realize was that there was a scheduled Business Opportunity Seminar for real estate agents and the place was being readied for the big event.  This is also aside from the fact that employees are prohibited (unofficially) to use the lobby for short naps during work breaks.  While we did not resist (as subordinates should always do), we felt embarrassed to have been yelled at in front of... well, I don't really know if there were some people present.  We flee right away and went back to our work station at the 6/F.

That was 20 years ago.  A time when I was still trying to find my own place under the sun.

And now it's quite different.   A lot of things have changed and more wisdom have been added to my years.  I am standing right near the place where the lounger stood.  There is no more lounger, only walls of glass put up by a new tenant.  The once majestic lobby is now being leased out by the new owner to a reputable bank and an ubiquitous mini grocery store chain.  Looking back, I can see that the Training Director was right... I was not supposed to be there.  Her words have reverberated at the back of my consciousness ever since  we left the lobby that noon break and fueled me to look for my rightful place.

To the Training Director, all I can say is, "Thank you for giving me the direction."

Camp John Hay - the Better Story

     A friend shared with me a beautiful piece about Camp John Hay.  There were actually two articles and both are quite excellent pieces and in my limited understanding about feature writing, these articles are Grade A items that could have been easily published by the National Geographic, or at least the Philippine Daily Inquirer.  Sounds like I'm just kidding but I do mean it.  I've read the articles and I want to share it with you especially to those who appreciate history and the value of family.  Here's the undiluted article (part one of two):

FAMILY

TREES

Ultimate Family Getaway: Camp John Hay, Baguio

By:  Friedrich L. Santos 

‘Camp John Hay is the preferred family destination..’

-Digivoice

(The country’s fastest and most accurate electronic survey company)

   

Imagine.

Tall ancient pines; the smell of a forest that has seen the passage of time, measured in generations; feel the acute diversity and magnitude of life that can only be found in the bark of the ancient wood; the mist that permeates the trunks and low-lying branches of an enchanting forest…

 Road Trip

When planning for a family road trip, there are many preparations to make: clothes, snacks, drinks and other basic necessities that contribute to the convenience of travel.  Studying the route is also important.  While many may argue that the journey is the main thing, the choice of destination is the crucial aspect in any family road trip that creates the anticipation: the activities that the family will do when they arrive, the food they will eat, where they will sleep and of course is it a nice place all round?

With the advent of more well developed motorways such as the wider NLEX, the far reaching SCTEX and the newly opened TPLEX, the obvious destination for the perfect family getaway is the world famous Camp John Hay in Baguio City.  Envision a relaxing drive through picturesque rural landscapes free from congestion, noise and pollution.

No need for plane fares and delayed flights.

The camp has everything that a family wanting to get away will ever need.  But most importantly, no other place in this particular mountain province completely captures the essence of Baguio –in just one contiguous location.  It literally has everything that one would come to expect in a mountain getaway: cold weather, lavish log cabins, mountain themed hotels, history, good food, long trails and spaces for nature walks and other family activities and of course, the prerequisite pine trees that are as staple in any photo album from Baguio.  It is the 21^st century interpretation of the camp that embraces the advances of the future while retaining the legacy, beauty and character of the camp’s early years.

Story For The Road

The history of Camp John Hay can be revisited through books and old photos from the past era, easily downloaded from the web.  The romance of history is punctuated with episodes wherein charm and old world manners were the order of the day.  Reading about the camp’s history and searching for old sepia photos is a treasure hunt that transports everyone to an earlier, more gentle period in history; the early years of the camp are a golden age that carries over to the present day and knowledge of this charming and sometimes turbulent history make the visiting the camp a much deeper and meaningful experience.

One great way to spend the journey to John Hay is to revisit this history, making for an educational treat, especially for the younger members of the family.  This way, the bonding experience can already begin long before the family glimpses even a single pine tree.  It also reminds us of the rich history of the country and the struggle of our ancestors who fought for our country during the wars.

In the beginning, Camp John Hay was not the lavish mountain retreat that most are familiar with today.  It was founded in times of war.

Originally conceived as a hill station by one Captain Robert Rudd of the 48^th Infantry Unit, the area where Camp John Hay is situated today was once a part of pasture land owned by a local named Mateo Carino.  It was referred to as ‘Kafagway’, meaning ‘wide open place’ by the local people called the Ibalois. The hill station was established by Capt. Rudd in 1900.

Shortly after, through a presidential order signed by none other than President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, about 525 acres of the camp was designated as a reservation for American military personnel to relax and escape the higher temperatures and extreme heat of the lower altitudes –sort of a military summer retreat for American soldiers.  The name of the camp was taken from Teddy Roosevelt’s Secretary of State, John Hay.  Mr. Hay was, incidentally one of the signatories of the Treaty of Paris and has been a participant in many historical events yet few people know of him.  It’s actually a good thing the camp was named after him (Camp Teddy Roosevelt just doesn't have quite the same ring to it).

A few decades later, war had once again caught up with the camp and in 1941, the start of the second world war began when no less than seventy-two bombs were dropped onto the camp’s main gate.  The destruction was monumental.  The camp was then used as an interment area for forces fighting the Japanese that included not just Americans but also Filipinos who fought along side them against the Japanese. 

At some point, the camp itself was taken over by General Tomoyuki Yamashita.  Rather fittingly, by war’s end, Yamashita surrendered at Camp John Hay during a formal ceremony that was held at the Ambassador’s Residence –then called the High Commissioner’s residence. 

While people today do not usually associate Camp John Hay with military aircraft, the Americans further converted the camp into –remarkably– an airfield.  It was called John Hay Airbase. 

But in the end, the Americans finally turned over the camp in 1991 after which the Philippine Government decided that that camp should become a nature reserve which will serve as a tourist destination, a human resource development area and a watershed reserve.

The camp’s long drawn affair with war had finally ended.

Arrival

Nothing can compare with the moment when the family finally arrives at the main gate of the camp.  The surroundings suddenly change and everything just suddenly becomes bigger.  The trees are higher and denser, the atmosphere is instantly changed, as if stepping through portal to another dimension.  It is instantly serene and exciting at the same time.  And everything is just greener.

The sense of nostalgia for the older generation hits like a wave –memories of their childhood before the camp was turned over to the Philippines government and perhaps even further back, if they were around during the end of the last war.  Youngsters on the other hand are assailed with what could only be described as feelings of mild reverence (more so if they listened to the story during the car trip) and heightened expectation: the camp is now undeniably cool in more ways than one.

It is at this crucial time that a typical family can begin the delicate task of bonding.

The Bonds That Bind Us

Bonding is what makes families stronger; while John Hay’s facilities and features –by themselves– don’t particularly make families bond (such a convenience has not yet been invented), they do set the scene that creates the catalyst for this complex process.  Not surprisingly, bonding is strongest when near nature because it awakens the same primeval instincts our prehistoric ancestors had that strengthened ties with members of the family group –safety, affection, security (perhaps from predators).

But in today’s age, the undiluted, uninterrupted effect that nature induces, free from most –if not all– modern concerns of the outside world, is a powerful concoction that creates new bridges of communication, new discoveries about oneself and a revisiting of each family members’ personality.  In other words, rather than reawakening our animal natures and making us regress a rung or two down the evolutionary ladder, the process of family bonding in a natural setting reawakens our humanity, creating a stronger foundation for our character and sense of trust and loyalty –love if you will– to our respective families.The more natural the setting, the better.

The trigger for this emotional and psychological awakening is when a family member is presented with the sheer joy of nature.  The impact of this exposure causes an individual to –to a greater or lesser extent– return to his/her inner most innocent and basic self; the sense of vulnerability and wonder in the presence of such quantities of nature reminds people of their smallness and their part in the larger, natural world.  The powerful emotional and psychological force that nature –Mother Earth– produces, permeates through to the core of the family group during bonding.

Why Nature Works

Nature is a healthy panacea for stress and fatigue –ever hear about the benefits of putting a plant or a small fish in your home or office to help relieve stress?  Imagine those very same benefits multiplied a billion times.  You get a free dose of that every time you come to the camp.  Since your family deserves the best, the biggest mountain green house surely should be top of your list to reap the health benefits that only a natural setting can produce.

Everywhere in the camp, indoors and out, the man-made contrivances and structures strive to emulate the glory of nature through its subtle use of color, wood and landscapes; nature always takes center stage.

Camp John Hay has many features and facilities that encourage being in touch with nature.  One of the most popular is the golf club.  Many players from all over the country –the world in fact–come to play the John Hay course.  Unlike most courses in the country, the golf course at John Hay is what can be called a historic golf course –much like the one in Intramuros.  But better equipped.  With a full range of locker and lounge areas, players and friends will be spoiled with the level of appointments in the club.  The greens are beautifully manicured and always thick and lush –fairways are like a deep green carpet, but stay away from the rough (its even deeper); the putting greens are a master class in the art of shaping and grading –watch out for those breaks. 

Another nature attraction is the Butterfly Farm.  Here, visitors can literally interact with nature –a varied number of butterfly species is kept in stock; these delightful nectar feeding creatures flit through the enclosure like fairies and every once in a while, if you keep perfectly still, one or more will land on you.  The experience is utterly enchanting and magical.

There are numerous nature trails and areas designated for barbecues (you haven’t been to John Hay if you've not had an outdoor barbecue) –remembering not to burn the forest down, of course– and simply having picnics in one of the many designated picnic spots.  Take the whole family on one of the many tree top adventures such as the Canopy Ride, Zip Line and the Tree Drop.  The pictures will be priceless.  And possibly hilarious.

Or, visit the old Bell House for a taste of American colonial architecture.  The ‘house’ has been converted into a museum and is a lovely place to visit especially those who have an interest for Philippine-American history.  Just below it is the amphitheater and nearby, the Cemetery of Negativism.  This last place, also called the ‘Lost Cemetery’ is perfect for the bonding family because it is where people come to bury negative feelings, habits and emotions.  Perfect for the family that seeks healing.

To balance things off there are 21^st century stop overs like Army Navy, Yellow Cab and of course the unsinkable Starbucks! 

But don’t miss out on other favorites like Tender Joe Steakhouse and the Mile High Diner.  Finally, there’s the delightful hot chocolate made the traditional way from Batirol’s. 

And don’t forget one of the most ‘fun’ aspects of going to a cold climate: dressing up for it.

What could be more fun than trying on that new coat that you've been saving for that fabled trip to a cold country you've been planning for years?  Before the moths get to it, throw it on and get to wear it in one of the few places you can dress for the cold.  The kids will have a blast looking like Eskimos during the coldest of days at the camp.  The whole time chatting, laughing, eating and enjoying the natural world that so many have taken for granted or have forgotten.

Back To Reality, Or Is It?

At the end of the day, or lunch or dinner time, the inevitable return indoors –and to the modern world– is not a violent wave that suddenly shakes the recent exposure to nature has bolstered and reaffirmed the deep but fragile family bonds that have been reestablished; the Camp’s indoor retreats such as the Manor, Forest Lodge and the Golf Club, echo, through the use of natural materials and indigenous themes the great outdoors, creating a gentle transition into the familiarity of the modern world with all its technological and 21^st century comforts that threaten to violently strip away the recently reaffirmed family bonds that may have resulted from the family group’s most recent foray in one of the camp’s many nature romps.

For example, having a hearty meal at Le Chef, the Manor’s premier restaurant, is a warm and delicious experience not just for the culinary delights offered but the wholesome atmosphere as well.  Appetites will have been quickened after spending a day enjoying the sites of the camp.  After dinner, imagine having a nice glass of wine or a piping hot cup of hot chocolate while sitting and chatting by the hearth –the fireplace is a wonderfully magical feature in many John Hay hotels.  Perfect for long talks or just cozying up.  The grand forest lodge theme of the lavish interior spaces of the Manor as well as her sister buildings are a welcome sight after a day in the woods; cozy and never intimidating, the invitation to relax and just enjoy the company of your loved ones is irresistible. 

The romance of it all is the stuff that memories are made of.

The Starbucks Connection

"That one is more beautiful," said Elvie.  I was hugging the yellow 2014 Starbucks Planner close to my chest as I pose for a close up selfie.  The year 2013 is about to end and my staff and a bevy of MZMI employees stormed the nearest Starbucks outlet to make sure they'd get one planner as a birthday present for me.  They know I'm collecting the planners since 2007.  Elvie and Rod were able to haul them all for a coffee break immediately after lunch.

The feeling of satisfaction for having the planner was swiftly overtaken by a great sense of appreciation for their united act of filling up the Starbucks card.  In reality, all my Starbucks planner would have not been possible through my own efforts.  First, I'm not a coffee drinker.  Second, my lifestyle does not permit me to be sitting pretty much often in coffee stands.  I'd remember and appreciate Starbucks not for its coffee and its almost ubiquitous stores  but the relationships among friends and colleagues that it builds and cultivates daily... directly and indirectly.  My collection of Starbucks Planners is testament to that unseen positive force that energizes friendship.

The year has just started and I'm already looking forward to November 2014 where one can once again start filling up that Starbucks Planner card.  Another building block to strengthen the connection even more. 

Miag-ao What!?

Miag-ao Church - UNESCO World Heritage Site

The sound of the word is not even heard of in my elementary and high school days.  Miag-ao is not so common a word in Luzon and Mindanao area that pronouncing it is even a more difficult task.  But Miag-ao rings a bell to artists both here and abroad.  Why?, because it is home to a UNESCO World Heritage structure - a church constructed in 1797 in Baroque-Romanesque style courtesy of the Spanish conquistadores.  Its imposing and beautiful facade is testament to a merger of indigent and colonial influences.  It is said that the foundations of the church sink six meters to the ground and its walls are one and a half meters thick while the buttresses are twice as thick.  The church endured a number of strong earthquakes and the intermittent attacks from pirates and Moro marauders.  These features make Miag-ao Church an architectural gem of the country and a must-see tourist destination.

Facade of Miag-ao Church

Seven years ago, I would not have paid attention to this remarkable international accolade this Ilonggo town has received, had we not received a proposal to put up a beautiful memorial park in the area.  A great cloud of hesitation to embark onto this venture was initially felt by the management team as Miag-ao is definitely an "uncharted territory".  Sitting almost at the center of the archipelago, Miag-ao posed a great logistics challenge to the Head Office of Mt. Zion Memorial, Inc.  At that time, the proposal will push the company at least 400 miles farther away from Pasig City.  But the heavens had its own way of contriving circumstances that will bring about the proposal into fruition.  As the time proven chinese adage says, "a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step."  And so stepped on Mr. Johnny Fajarillo did, and took with him in his journey Ms. Delia Collado, a Senior Vice President for Sales of Mt. Zion Memorial, Inc.  Together, they talked to Mrs. Erlinda Britannico, former Town Mayor and the representative of the Familia Noble, landowner of the future site of Mt. Zion Memorial Park - Miag-ao. And the rest was history.  The beautiful park now stands proud as a monument to that pioneering spirit 

Now, Miag-ao is not just about UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It is as vibrant and as alluring as any of the fast developing municipalities in the Western Visayas Region.  It has Salakayan Festival which rivals the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City and the Sinulog Festival of Cebu City. Miag-aoanons from around the globe fly back to Miag-ao just to see this annual festivity. And if Malong is for Mindanao, Hablon is for Miag-ao.  This legendary hand-woven cloth is one of the most sought after materials by top fashion designers of the country and is slowly etching its mark in the international market.

Now, Miag-ao what!?

A Drop of Water Makes Ripples

The recent typhoon Gener-fueled Habagat that placed most of the National Capital Region and the neighboring provinces underwater has also ignited the start of the bayanihan spirit that runs in the veins of every Filipino both here and abroad.  The rushing floodwater that forced our kababayans to seek refuge in the rooftops of their homes is met with a tsunami of relief operations that gave much needed help for the survival of Habagat victims.

Tie the knot, serve a lot!

Bagfuls of hope and love!

Malay Resorts, Inc., a BOI sanctioned operator of Boracay Sands Hotel, is one of those companies that reached out to help the needy specially those living in Cainta, Rizal, one of the worst hit areas near Metro Manila.  Thru the initiative of Happy Famero, Malay Resorts and its officers and employees started collecting relief goods for Habagat victims.  Soon other employees from the building also shared what they have.  The repacking activity, as I write this blog is still on going.  I commend the group for sharing their time and energy for this truly worthwhile outreach activity.  Special thanks to Liza, Glenn, Thelma, Macon, Pau, Mon, Frederick and Abel for their selfless effort of repacking the basic goods of rice, noodles and canned fish.

A kilo of rice to fill a hungry stomach.

We commend the other officers, whose names although I chose to withhold, would surely be blessed by the heavens for their recommendations and approvals for shelling out a significant amount.  Rod redesigned the tarpaulin while Mon will make sure that it will be printed in due time for the scheduled relief distribution on Friday, August 17, 2012 on a selected evacuation center.

Yes, we CAN!

This may have come a little late when the floodwater has already subsided to manageable levels but surely poor souls and heavily affected brothers and sisters are still legions and are still waiting for help.  Our contributions may pale in comparison with that of the giant corporations and foundations, but a drop of water can pierce even the hardest stone.

A Rare Ginger Plant In My Garden

My curcuma sulee rainbow - a rare ginger variety.

He stood a full head taller than me but Richard O'Brien's humble demeanor makes me his equal in a field totally new to me - ginger propagation. His depth of knowledge about gingers is evident on how he explained to me the different varieties that thrive in different parts of the world.  It is quite amazing and interesting to be introduced in a world where not too many care about a plant that brings forth not just rhizomes but also maddeningly beautiful flowers that can rival even the most exotic of orchids in the wild.

Twice I read a simple ad posted inside the shuttle service of our village which read, "Rare Ginger for Sale".  Not very long and I saw myself ringing the bell at No. 26 Kasoy Street.  It was my first time to meet Richard, who  was all too happy to explain how he hauled his ginger plants from Florida, USA all the way to his Filipina wife's hometown in Pangasinan.  It was no surprise to hear from Richard that not too many Filipinos are into rare ginger propagation.  He searched the internet and visited commercial gardens in the country and found only a handful of ginger enthusiasts.  I told him that most Filipinos propagate ginger only for purposes we know best - in the kitchen.  Richard acknowledged the great medicinal value of ginger confirming it is both anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial.  Turmeric or "dilaw na luya" in the local language is widely used as coloring for curry dishes.

Our first meeting was the usual "getting-to-know-your-neighbor" stage.  The second meeting produced my first ever curcuma sulee rainbow.  I just asked him, "What can you give me for P200.00?"  He smiled, took one of the healthy banana-looking plant and said, "This sulee rainbow sells for twenty US dollars, but I will give you this on your budget."

My curcuma sulee rainbow is the newest plant in our garden.

According to davesgarden.com, curcuma sulee rainbow is a tropical and tender perennial plant belonging to the ginger family.  It is a hybrid between curcuma cordata and an unknown specie from Thailand.  This deciduous veined plant often blooms once only every year between mid-summer to early fall.  The color of its flower ranges from Magenta to Gold to Pale Yellow to Light Blue.  This variety is known to thrive in Florida and North and South Carolina.  Interestingly, Richard hails from Florida.  This gives a bit of an assurance that my ginger plant is genuinely rare.

Five days ago, I transplanted my sulee rainbow from the pot to the ground in our garden near the water fountain.  Today, it stands firm and healthy and brings hope of a beautiful bloom just like a rainbow which is said to be the Lord's promise of love and salvation to all mankind.  Our family waits in great anticipation.

Bring Back the Melody of Pasig River

"Where are you now? I'm already here at Ospital ng Maynila. Our group will start from here. You should be here by 5AM!" It was 3:30AM and the voice reverberated in my room in the quiet of the early dawn. The call came from Ms. Bebian Lo, our company's Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing.

Two days earlier, Ms. Bebian made a last ditch effort to have our group join the Run for Pasig River 2011 organized by the Gina Lopez-led ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. (AFI). She gave us eleven registration forms complete with race shirts and race numbers, free of charge. I think each set should have cost the participant at least P450.00. Thanks to Boardwalk, her younger sister's fashion and apparel company which co-sponsored this major environmental concern activity alongside Air 21, Midas Hotel, DOTC, Lopez Group of Companies, Metro Rail Transit Corporation, Prudential Guarantee, ExTribe and other cause oriented groups, we will be saving our weekend allowances.

Online registration was already closed but Ms. Bebian has managed to ask Boardwalk to include our group in the last batch of participants which will be encoded manually by the monitoring group.

The event was listed on a global scale, having broken the Guinness World Record in the most number of participants in a marathon registering a total of 116,086 runners last October 10, 2010 or intentionally 10.10.10. This year's run hopes to break last year's record breaker. But the greater task is to generate funds to help sustain the rehabilitation of Pasig River. This is what AFI has set out to do and arduously strives to achieve since 2009 when the campaign started to gain momentum after the establishment of the Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP).

Our group, composed of last minute recruits from Mt. Zion Memorial, Inc. (Rod, Jocelyn, Abel, Mon and myself), Fil-Estate Manangement, Inc. (Jackie), Global Estate Resorts, Inc. (Tet), Malay Resort Holdings, Inc. (my wife Hapi) and Universal Robina Corporation (Ina) all agreed to convene first at the Renaissance Tower at 4:00AM, Sunday on 11.20.11. Rod's group decided to go ahead via EDSA going straight to Roxas Boulevard as Hapi and I almost missed our cellphones alarm rings. The call from Ms. Bebian made it all the more urgent and exciting. As expected, traffic was incredibly heavy starting from the approach to EDSA MRT Station. I followed Mon's advice to go left immediately upon reaching Roxas Blvd. and make a right going to the DFA and breeze through the SMX parking area. We almost did it but not quite, as we got caught up in the middle when all vehicles grinded to a halt. The race has begun! And we're going to miss the big event.

A call from Rod, Abel and Mon added to our frustration hearing that they were already on the race and have already joined the group category of 10K run while we were stuck in the middle of the road. They were at the opposite direction coming from the Uniwide Coastal Road area. We were nearer going towards Petron Gas Station along Macapagal Avenue where the 3K and the 5K race categories were happening. Assessing the situation, we left the car in the middle of the traffic jam, suited up for the race and joined the fray halfway along the race - a classic shortcut to the finish line. There were very many runners, and walkers with different groups coming in throngs of varied colors - a festive atmosphere, indeed.

I've heard that the biggest contingent came from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines with at least 15,000 entries. ABS-CBN posted a remarkable 5,000 plus runners. It is quite notable to see happy faces doing the marathon or should I say, walkathon. The volume of participants occupying the road made it impossible for the runners to run as there is no more space ahead to cover for more energetic stride. All one needs to do was to keep up with the pace of the race and that was to walk . . . albeit leisurely. In my poor estimation, the participants that came that day far exceeded what was needed to break the previous year's record breaker. I think around 150,000 runners attended.

Reaching the finish line was our greatest achievement that day. And our prize was nothing less than exhilirating - a bottle of Smart C and a pack of Champion Powder soap. I would say that the real winners of this Run for Pasig River 2011 were those who came to shed a few extra pounds and sweat; those who came for bonding with family members and friends and those who came to give an insignificant portion of their fortune to bring back to life the once majestic and poetic Ilog Pasig.

Our hand salute to AFI and the organizers.

East Meets West, the Gibbs-Pontevedra Wedding

You will know that you're getting old once someone asks you to stand as a principal sponsor on her wedding. In the customary Philippine setting, acquaintances are candidates for a slot in a wedding entourage. But of course, friendship or blood relationship is of key consideration.

On June 18, 2011 at Crossroads at Quezon City, I was standing in front of the invited guests holding the microphone as I address the newly wed couple, Liza and Aaron Gibbs,

serving them sermons of married life talisman to help them face their new life as spouses. I was feeling as if I was a sage who has already matured beyond my years, Well, everyone agrees, experience is the best teacher.

Actually I didn't know what to say but logic has carried me to just share a funny anecdote to drive home my point for the new couple. I would've told Aaron this other anecdote. I'll tell him that in the early years of their marriage, when he gets home and if it happens that they have a dog, it surely will bark and his wife Liza will be rushing to get him his slippers. A few years later on, when he gets home, Liza will be barking while the dog gets the slippers. And then I expounded on the significance of the art of communication, where someone has to send the message while the other must receive the message. The end result must be understanding each other.

Liza to me is an acquaintance brought about by our job connections, where we met somewhere at a common point. One of her bosses is my business partner. Liza is a diligent employee who has shown hardwork and integrity in his workplace. And by the wonders of technology, he first met Aaron Gibbs in a computer screen - so near yet so far away halfway across the globe. Born in Texas, USA, Aaron first got a glimpse of Liza when he was still assigned in Iraq as a Power Generator Supervisor. The rest was history as Liza and Aaron hauled their families to Quezon City to tie the knot on the blessed day of June 18, 2011.

I thought Aaron would not notice but I think he was well apprised about the wedding ceremony in the Philippines. I was actually waiting for Aaron to just come by my table and ask me the question, "How come we have more number of people in the entourage than those at the tables?" Well, I guess everybody just wants to have a nice role in this very momentous occasion of Liza's life.

What more can I say? Go ye and multiply. But most of all, love one another for the rest of your lives. God Bless.

Visit Singapore

I won't hesitate recommending Singapore as a tourist destination to my friends. Why? Because I felt safe and comfortable. I think their place is a well-thought master-planned tourist destination. Singapore is not that big and I think it could be just as big as the old Quezon City. But in terms of land use, without the necessity of digging actual city engineering's office data, I can safely say that each square meter has its highest and best use. One can only marvel how all those amazing infrastructure were made to fit in this tiny island nation.

Here are some of the reasons why you should include Singapore in your must-visit list of countries:

1. Safe - Not just safe, I think it is very safe. Singapore's airport was once considered the safest, most beautiful, and most advanced airport in the world. It was recently dethroned by South Korea. Roaming the city by walking, my eight-year old daughter asked why there are no police officers on the sidewalks or on the streets. The laws in Singapore (from traffic to capital offenses) are well enforced. This makes everyone (not just Singaporeans but foreigners as well) law abiding. This has lead to the creation of a famous tag line for for the island, "Singapore is a FINE city." You get fined for every violation you make, or worse end up in jail.
2. Accessible - Singapore's land transit system is one of the finest. 90% of the trains are underground while buses have designated loading and unloading stations, all monitored through GPS. Locations and arrivals can be accessed instantly via handheld phones. One card is used for all public transport facilities which doubles as a debit card for shopping and dining purposes.
3. Tourist-friendly - While Singapore was designed to be Asia's foremost trading hub, the current administration has put equal emphasis on tourism. A big advantage is an almost perfect mix of peace-loving people. Singapore is mainly composed of three large groups: the Chinese who are mostly Buddhists, the Indians who are mostly Hindus and the Malays. Through a national directive, all Singaporeans are asked to welcome and extend a hospitable hand to every tourist that visits their country. Good hotels are aplenty and man-made tourist spots are being developed every year. The most recent addition was the completion of the Sentosa and Universal Studio by the Resorts World. Formula1 Racing facility is underway and an olympic stadium is under construction.
4. No calamity - Singapore is not the usual path of typhoon and storm. Harbor and airport facilities are definitely one of the world's best.
5. Efficient public service - Singapore charges one of the highest tax rates in the world but everything is given back to the people and visitors by way of efficient infrastructure, health services, pension payments (Singaporeans retire at age 40), etc. Taxes go where they should be.
6. Environment-friendly - the rivers are clean, the trees keep growing alongside new "green" buildings and the air is cleaner than you would expect in a highly-urbanized surroundings.

These are but few of the things that are high on my list. There are other items worth mentioning but I think that the above would suffice the needs of even the most discriminating tourist. One warning though, cost of living is higher so make sure that you have more cash (or credit card) for your travel, hotel and food expenses.

Overall, Singapore is a fine city.

Keisho-sodai

On occasional visits with friends, I sometimes see a natural beauty of nature miniaturized in a small flat tray. I actually appreciated the beauty but never gave much attention to how it came to being. I am talking about a bonsai. There is always something in this work of art that touches your inner self and imagination. This art coupled with a lot of science actually originated from Japan, hence the word "bonsai" which means literally "small". The fundamental concept of bonsai is called "Keisho-sodai" which means "small size, great similarity". And it was only very recently that I started to dig deeper into appreciating this newfound hobby.

In a hurried world, going into bonsai art is like going against the tide of fast-paced way of living. We live in a world where everything should be done fast and comfortable. So we have fast food, fast ferry, fast internet connection, fast ticket, expressways here and there, fast computer upgrades, accelerated college courses... and the list can go on and on... Bonsai making goes on the reverse. It is actually a balancing act of having a healthy plant which growth is stunted through root and branch pruning and a delimited source of soil nutrient. The art challenges one's capacity to wait, and in most cases to intentionally slow down the process and painstakingly wait for the desired result - Keisho-sodai.

They say that patience is a virtue. It is indeed a virtue specially when your involved in bonsai making. It is like wearing a clock without the hands so that it becomes timeless. It thrives in a world of its own, amid the chaos where time is suspended. As I gaze intently on the roots of my phycus benjamina that now hugs the little block of concrete, I wonder when they will ever grow bigger than my pinky. Maybe years from now. One leaf a day.

Outside, the bonsai brings calm and gentleness. Inside, one will never see the struggle of every small root to absorb the limited nutrients in its harshly made environment. It is that same struggle inside that brings out the best of the tree - a beauty to behold.

Just One More Time

Someone once said, "The day you get angry at your failures is the day you start winning." Translated, winners are simply ex-losers who got mad. We have always associated success to winning in whatever field - be it sports, corporate affairs, sales, politics, economics, religion ... literally in everything. And everybody will be measured. Question is, "by which yardstick?" It's quite difficult to do measurements as it is quite even more difficult to find a perfectly even playing field. It's a good thing Albert Einstein invented the greatest excuse for differing results - the theory of relativity.

Going back to the ex-losers, I mean, winners, I'd like to say that success is measured or achieved by getting up just one more time than you have fallen. Everybody makes mistakes but the problem is very few learns from those mistakes. Worse, they embrace it and forever live a life of obscurity and misery. The great challenge is to get up every time you fall and to keep up the good work and finish the race. Life is not about pristine and unblemished records. Sooner or later, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will be slapped with his first ever loss in his boxing career. And if that loss will not come from Manny Pacquiao, it will be from someone else. Nobody is young forever. Father time is just lurking at the corner.

In the physical world, everything can be measured. And so they say that which you cannot measure, you cannot manage. However, I find beauty and relevance in things that cannot be measured. It gives us the license to bask in the great feeling of amazement. That is why we marvel, we stand in awe. In mathematics, there is a symbol for infinity because mathematicians knew infinity exists. Even the great physicist Albert Einstein acknowledged that there is a vacuum inside the human heart that only a divine being can fill. So let's not be dependent on the physical attributes because they all fade. Let us use the energy that makes a person glow even without the batteries - our heart. When it's aflame, it can very well propel a man to achieving greater heights, or simply to get up just one more time than you have fallen.

Sink or Swim

More than a year ago, the House of Representatives and the Senate signed a new law that sent real estate developers, marketing companies and real estate practitioners into a frenzy. The new law was actually two decades old and was first filed by a gentleman from South Luzon. Rep. Nograles and Senator Enrile signed the law and eventually got into the hands of PGMA and became what we now call as the Republic Act 9646 or the Real Estate Service Act of the Philippines effective June 29, 2009.

What makes RESA very special or shall we call almost controversial? In terms of economics, the law will directly and indirectly affect a P150B industry composed of real estate agents, developers with in-house marketing and other allied real estate services. While the law is geared towards the professionalizing of the real estate service profession through the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the industry actually has thrived and flourished even without the intervention of the PRC. A good number of real estate practitioners have earned millions of pesos even though they were unlicensed as individuals, riding on to the license of the big developers and marketing companies which were secured from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board. Many developers have sat pretty and comfortable with their in-house agents who showed exemplary performance and loyalty in pushing the sale of their own projects.

Most real estate marketing companies, not brokerage companies, have developed and trained high grade and top caliber salesmen out of their recruits who came from all walks of life - from the plain housewives to drivers to teachers to doctors and other you-name-it-and-they-have-it professions. I personally know a lot of people who rose from the ranks and became senior executives and they have not even reached the tertiary education. Some are not even high school graduates and they have all become millionaires.

The passage of the law has actually placed many individuals and companies in a "sink or swim" attitude. The law has put a minimum educational attainment requirement for the practice of real estate service - at least second year college. This has compromised the performance of many salesmen whose educational attainment is below the minimum as set by the law. They feared losing their jobs or income source which they have so dutifully loved and nurtured. Many will be going underground for fear of being prosecuted. Real estate companies, both developers and marketers, have grown wary and cautious. As a result, their sales production also dropped significantly. But for those who are more defiant, they continued doing their ware as if RESA doesn't exist. They are waiting until such time that someone files a complaint with the PRC. But until then, they will try to save their dwindling sales production.

Our company has chosen to comply. The law may be harsh but it's the law. As a result, we will hold the honor to be the first company to finish a comprehensive review on real estate service course based on the new law as accredited by the PRC. The Philippine Association of Real Estate Brokers (PAREB) sponsored our review classes. It is quite remarkable to see a lot of agents, from young ones to young once, attending the review classes. Our group is of mixed profile from accountants to lawyers to engineers to teachers and doctors. The best thing that happened to this review class is the coming to life of an old saying by Aristotle - "Learning is a never-ending process."

In the end, RESA will be implemented in its full force and this exercise is an early vehicle for us to comply and not be bothered by issues and concerns in the future. The best part is that I became part of the first ever class that is compliant with the law. We will go down in history as the first batch to take the licensure board exams for brokers given byPRC. Now, to pass it is another matter. We will see soon...

The Oddball

In his signature murmur-like speech, Freddie Roach moves his head left to right and vice versa without taking off his eyes before the man holding a highly sensitive microphone positioned a few inches away from a host of other live cameras, microphones and cellphones. Roach declares, "Manny Pacquiao is an oddball. You won't simply see and experience a fighter of his caliber in a generation!" Roach, a former ring pugilist himself, was neither in a marketing program nor into a team aggrandizement propaganda when he made this declaration. He knows what he was saying and definitely knows where his prized ward is going. And that was almost two years ago. Now, the world knows who Manny Pacquiao is - the Fighter of the Decade, the pound-for-pound king and the only man to wear seven glittering loose belts around his waist and not draw a negative comment from fashion icon Tyra Banks.

In today's standards, given Pacquiao's current iconic status in boxing, Roach's declaration that Pacquiao is an oddball is actually an understatement. Wikipedia defines oddball as unusual or eccentric. Pacquiao is more than unusual. He has transcended the not so usual all-victory and no-loss record by many of the boxing greats. It is now about getting into the edge of what is humanly possible, without the magic and the drugs - only skills and determination. This is what people of all races are hungry about knowing. We crave for answers for questions like "Can he demolish De la Hoya?", "Can he absorb beatings from a true welterweight?", "Is he strong enough to put down a steel-chinned 155-pounder?"

Our demands and clamor are actually what defines the quality of fight Pacquiao delivers. He feeds our cravings to see what we haven't seen yet, so promoters and match makers invent something new out of this necessity. These are the things that make Pacquiao different from the rest - a pure eccentric, an oddball. That is why we cannot ask why the world is watching... because you won't simply see a man like Pacquiao in a generation.

Of Elections and Predictions

What does the future hold? Can anyone really foretell the future? Nostradamus... the prophets in the Bible... the Mayans...? Many of their predictions or prophecies have already come true except that the greatness of their divination is nothing compared to the mundane things that Filipinos tend to give more attention to - like the outcome of the automated elections. There are three things I would like to highlight about the recent election-related events in our country.

First is the automated election. It was quite remarkable for Comelec to have gathered almost 75% of election data on the first day and sent the biggest contenders to conceding to their rival candidates the folowing day. Prior to May 10, 2010 national polls, the Philippine Daily Inquirer made a very safe but practical prediction about the automated election - that on May 11, 2010, a day after the election, "the Comelec may come out in a blaze of glory or end up in a day of infamy!" The ever unbiased "walang kinikilingang" media giant cannot go wrong with this two-sided projection. I remember one World War II fortune teller who made a similar sureball prediction for Hitler. When asked by Hitler himself when would be day of his death, the fortune teller announced with all confidence, that the Fuhrer will die on a Jewish holiday. Hitler eagerly asked, "Which of the many Jewish holidays?" The fortune teller replied, "Anyday you die will become a Jewish holiday."

Well, my congratulations to the Comelec. It is not very often that we see a generally peaceful and fast election. It has proven all its critics wrong. They have all the right to bask in the glory of this hard earned success. Commissioner Larrazabal actually made an invitation to all the doomsayers earlier to join them in their thanksgiving dinner.

Second is the emergence of a "dark horse", a "native dark horse" who pulled a come-from-behind rally in the last week of the campaign for the vice presidential contest. If the trend hold up, this could be one of the greatest upsets in election history. Question is how did he do it? Was it because of the magical sway of Chiz Escudero's baton while murmuring the enchanted word NOYBI? Or was it because of the solid voting Masa of Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino of his running mate Erap Estrada? Here is my wild guess - Binay has been silently campaigning in almost all provinces of the country for so many years now - through his medical mission coordinated with Makati Med, reaching out with needy Filipinos in various municipalities. The white paper theory of the reds is very effective in poverty stricken areas. People tend to remember who brought the deepwell in their waterless community.

Third is the rise of the Marcoses. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos was already proclaimed senator-elect and so is congresswoman-elect Imelda Marcos and daughter Governor-elect Imee Marcos. Who could have thought that Villar will be instrumental to bringing back together the Aquinos and the Marcoses in the same political limelight that their fathers used to be at before the declaration of Martial Law? This is literally saying that "history repeats itself". Now, this is interesting because KBL and Imelda have promised to restore the honor of her family and to recover their hard earned (not ill-gotten) wealth. Who could have predicted this?

My prediction - we only get what we deserve!

Singularity of Purpose

I was listening to a mentor in one of the unforgettable seminars that I have ever been to and I cannot help but to appreciate what he was telling us. He was talking about success and leadership and he made indelible prints in my mind about his formula for success. There were many things he said but what struck me was "singularity of purpose". This is very much related to focus. An eagle hovering a kilometer above literally has a "bird's eye view" of the ground below. With its acute vision, it can see many delectable dinner on the ground like rats, rabbits, chicken, etc. Although, he sees two or more preys at the same time, it will always go for just one, knowing that trying to get both will leave him nothing for dinner.

John F. Kennedy, the second youngest President of the United States of America said before the Joint Session of Congress in 1961 that he will put man in the moon before the end of the decade. It was a preposterous idea but it stirred a nation to great action and cooperation. And in 1969, six years after his assasination and well within the decade that he set to be, Neil Armstrong made the first step in the moon's surface. When asked about what would become the giant leap for mankind, JFK said that, "We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard." JFK had a vision and he was able to reduce this goal into one singular purpose. At that time, the task was gargantuan, but every industry did their part in making the goal a reality.

Manny Pacquiao has a similar attitude. He reduces an enormous battle into one singular purpose - to train like it's fight night . There is a saying that goes, "The more you bleed in training, the less you bleed in battle." Every training day for Pacquiao is fight night - that is why when the real fight night comes, he is just up there in the ring doing what he had been trained to do, just plain and simple execution.

Pacquiao is undaunted in his determination to win because he knew he had already won the battle beforehand. He is one of the few fighters who can set up a stage for a victory party months before the fight night.

Today, Pacquiao has another purpose but I think politics isn't boxing or is it?

Do Cows Give Milk?

One thing I learned from senior executives of our company is asking the right question. It is not always about giving the right answer or decision that matters. It is all about throwing the right question at the right moment. Leaders and learned people in business and economics say there are no right or wrong decisions - only sound decisions.

My limited experience with top level management has taught me that questions are actually answers in disguise. In the Book of Genesis, Cain asked, "Am I my brother's keeper?" One's imagination and creativity are tickled and triggered into action by simple questions. Mahatma Gandhi once asked his fellow countrymen, "What is 50 years of independence if we cannot manufacture our own cars?" Now they have Tata. The skillful trial lawyer leads his witness to revealing the facts of the case by his questions.

Pinoy Henyo, the famous noontime game show invented by Eat Bulaga is a very good testing ground for asking the right questions. Ask the wrong questions and you lose the game. The whole country is spellbound once Kris Aquino asks her signature question, "Pilipinas, game ka na ba?!"

We save a lot of time if we ask the right questions. Communication is sure to become two-way when you start asking questions. And it threshes out vague matters.

I cannot forget when my seven-year old brother came back from school crying due to a mistake in an exam. He was insisting that his answer to the question, "Do cows give milk?" was correct. I asked him what his answer was. He said, without blinking an eye, "No, cows don't give milk!" I asked why cows don't give milk. He said, "They did not say if it's a male or a female cow."

Let's all start asking the right question. It saves nine.

The Looming 2nd Reign of Joseph Estrada

I was asked by a friend who do I think will be the next President of the Philippines. I said Erap's second coming is looming. My friend thought I was just joking but when I said that Erap is once again moving in to Malacanang Palace after May 11 national polls, he knew I was serious in my prediction.

Why do I say Erap is going to be President again? In Philippine setting, winnability is a matter of mathematics. Ever since the two-party system was abolished (or abandoned in practice) by the traditional politicians, the multi-party system has set the stage for strategic alliances, thereby giving birth to the numbers game during elections. There are more people now eating the pie. This means that the voting populace will be distributed. The candidate that wins the election will not win by majority votes but by dominant minority votes.

Erap has a strong solid base in the voting "Masa". They number close to 7M which is around 14% of the voting population. The candidate that will capture at least 20% of the voters will most likely win the presidential race. The way things are going, the other presidential hopefuls (aside from Noynoy and Villar) are making good in the surveys and the figures are improving as the election draws nearer. Those who are not voting for Noynoy or Villar will most likely vote for the tailing candidates. This event puts Erap at the advantage side because every drop in Noynoy/Villar tally pushes Erap's standing even if Erap's figure doesn't move. Remember that Erap's captured "Masa" voters are solid and will very likely to grow due to the negative publicity that each of the candidates has thrown against the other.

While the other candidates engage in cut-throat gymnastics not only in front of the Filipino people but in the whole world as well, Erap is sitting pretty, waiting for his time to pack his bags from San Juan and move in style to the Palace along Pasig River. Just like the old times, when we (the middle class and the elite) all said that Erap is not going to win, we are once again in for the greatest surprise of our lives. Brace yourselves for the return of President Joseph Estrada.

Whoever becomes the next president, the Filipino people deserves him. We get what we deserve!

The Best Things in Life are Free Gifts

"Count your blessings!"

Many times I've heard these words of encouragement from family members and friends but never did I literally count my blessings. Maybe because I am fond of estimates and averages and that I always thought that my blessings will always outweigh or outnumber my problems. Lately though, I said to myself to give it a try. I started counting my blessings. At first it was difficult, not because I have too many or too few blessings but because I did not know how to identify them. I didn't know where to start!

Start counting my blessings...

Then I decided to begin with the people nearest to me. And as I was already lying in bed at that time, I saw Happy, my wife, right beside me. I can tell she was in deep sleep by the sound of her breathing. Her hair hang loosely and her right hand still clasping the calculator. She is a certified workaholic and she has given me two children - a girl and a boy. My wife and my two children... I haven't even gone far and I think I can stop counting. My family, my most precious treasure.

Continue counting my blessings...

Then I thought of my parents. I can say they are not the greatest of parents but certainly the best ones that the heavens have sent to serve my limited needs and requirements. They loved me and worked hard to give me something no money can buy - good Christian values and education - things no thief can steal. My siblings - Ate Vajz, my two years senior, and the younger ones - Andrew, Nono, Sugar and Prince - all gave me unforgetable experiences that contributed greatly for what I am today. I quietly ran down the images of those happy moments when we were together and those when we were seas apart. It was just amazing how it made me happy and motivated.

More blessings...

My job, my co-employees, my colleagues, my boss, my fellow officers, the homeowners, the guards, the maintenance men, the park personnel, the park engineers, the customers, the contractors, the suppliers, my friends, the coop, the couples... the list is long (in my mind) and I haven't even listed them yet till this blog. And I'm afraid I may not be able to list everyone.

The intangibles...

Ms. Cathy, Engr. Adonis, Engr. JB and Ms. Del never forget to say "Thank you." in all their text messages. You hear them say these words and you feel blessed. When you think about blessings and your thoughts are trained to identify the blessing and you look at someone, you would surely measure up quantitatively the things that you have. One thing's sure though ... you can't count enough.

I am blessed more than I can imagine. I'll just keep on counting my blessings.