Merry Christmas!!!
Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you all have an enjoyable holiday break.

Leadership Series from Work

Meet Ken Kutaragi

Ken Kutaragi, a.k.a. the Father of the Sony PlayStation, has the tenacity of an engineer in pursuit of a goal in which he believes, the commitment to use every possible means to overcome complications, and, the business acumen to foresee the use of technology in starting up new businesses that would be a new major income source of the company. Kutaragi was born the son of a tradesman.  He knows working hard to earn money is a given. His background provided him a natural propensity of linking ideas to business.

As a young man during the mid-70s, Ken Kutaragi wanted to start his own business, but he realized that a man just out of college was unlikely to enjoy quick success as an entrepreneur. Therefore, he decided to be employed and thought of what he really likes to do and where he wanted to excel. He finally concluded to himself that he wanted excel in the fields of electronics and computers, saying, “If that were my work, everyday would be a delight. First, I will improve on the skills I enjoy working with and acquire as much knowledge as possible.” Kutaragi set his eyes on Sony. He was convinced that Sony was company that excelled in technology. For him, , it was the best place to pursue his intellectual interest and hone his engineering skills.

Kutaragi entered Sony in 1975. His first success story was changing all cassette-deck meters to digital bar graph meters. His endeavor was noticed and supported by Mr. Ibuka, co-founder of Sony. He thought of replacing the needle volume unit meter of audio cassettes with LED (light emitting diodes). The LED bar graph display was also used in video-player sound meters and others devices. Sony shipped 10 million units in total using the technology. Kutaragi’s early experience at Sony stimulated his interest in inventing. He was enthralled by the process of creating new technology, giving it shape, applying it to a product, and generating big business.

When Ken Kutaragi is asked to identify the secret behind the creation and development of the PlayStation, he declares:
“I wanted to prove that even regular company employees – no, especially regular company employees – could build a venture of this scale with superb technology, superb concept and super colleagues.”

Linking Ideas to Business - His Secret …. On Becoming a TRUE Leader

Ken Kutaragi’s vision of a 3D game machine was conceived when he came across System G in 1984. He had never before seen computer-generated images that moved freely and responding immediately to every command. (System G is a geometric engine for 3-D processing developed for broadcasting networks.) Being a digital engineer, Kutaragi was convinced that he could inject digital culture in Sony. He wanted Sony’s management and employees to understand the power of digital technology.  Unfortunately, Sony was neither receptive to digital ideas nor venturing into the gaming business. Kutaragi never stopped convincing Sony but he also learned how to maneuver behind the scenes and master a distinctive set of survival skills which drove him to achieve victory against all odds in his quest to develop a powerful game machine.

Kutaragi envisioned the success of a 3-D game machine. He tested the business marketability of game machines with his son. He bought Famicom (family computer, a popular game machine in the 80s) and a Sony MSX. He saw his son choose Famicom over the Sony MSX. The MSX produces an 8-dot image while a Famicom could produce a single dot image. Kutaragi thought it would be more enjoyable to play computer games in 3D graphics.

Kutaragi’s goal line was set 10 years ahead. He predicated that by the mid-1990s, highly-advanced technology like System G could be incorporated into products commonly used by consumers and that children would be enthralled by the latest 3-D computer graphics games. In December 3, 1994, the PlayStation went on sale. Since its release, the PlayStation sold 70 million units worldwide.

Ken Kutaragi’s strength lay in the rare combination of research skill and business acumen. The PlayStation project he launched was a combination of both 3D computer graphics technology and a highly innovative business plan which reflected Kutaragi’s dual personality as a businessman and a researcher in digital technology.

USE FORESIGHT LITTLE by LITTLE...something to practice for everyday leadership

When asked how he goes about convincing high level managers, Kutaragi’s answer is this: “Under no circumstances do you mention the whole scenario. You take one step and create a situation where the second step can be seen. In so doing, you give evidence that you can see two steps ahead and instill confidence in management. But if you explain all ten steps from the beginning, they will wonder what in the world you are thinking and won’t believe that first thing you say.”  He continues, “In order words, you reveal your foresight little by little in accordance with the other party’s ability to understand. The more revolutionary the topic, the greater is the potential for being misunderstood if you reveal too much in the beginning.”

Tamotsu Iba, Sony’s CFO, was one of the captured supporters of Kutaragi. According to Iba, “Kutaragi was always walking around promoting his seemingly preposterous vision. But Kutaragi’s words were persuasive enough to convince others to assume the risks involved and that it might just be achievable. He was very cocky and self-assertive. His strength lies in his ability to set ambitious goals. His goals were underpinned by extensive study based on accurate predictions of the state of development of semiconductor processes and the rules of architecture. That’s why he was persuasive."

How did Ken Kutaragi’s foresee the future? His words were simple, .”“I don’t like it when there is a gap in my knowledge. I don’t believe in anything I don’t understand. That’s why I always study.”

My True Color

Green You are a very calm and contemplative person. Others are drawn to your peaceful, nurturing nature. Find out your color at Quiz Me!

Health Check

Just got my blood pressure, pulse rate, and cholesterol level checked. Here are the results:

BP = 128/78
Pulse rate = 108
Cholesterol = low/ below 150
blood sugar level = 91

Seems like I have a high pulse rate and my bp seems to be a little high. Oh well, they said it's just normal.

Hell's inferno....

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Third Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Low
Level 2 (Lustful)	Moderate
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Moderate
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	High
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Low
Level 7 (Violent)	High
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Moderate

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

Being a leader (Stories of Nelson Mandela)

On Becoming a Leader....LEARN from the Great Ones.

Meet Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandella is the best known and loved hero of South Africa. He was born July 18, 1918 in Qunu. His family belonged to the royal lineage of King Ngubengcuka, the greatest king of the Tembu people. His royal ancestry influenced his regal style which commanded respect.

Nelson Mandela was adopted by the Regent of Tembu after his father’s death and was raised for chieftainship. However, he opted to live in the Big City of Johannesburg. The urban life t aught him to overcome all frustrations and humiliations of a black man in a white man’s city. This also gave him a push towards his political fray so in 1944, he formed the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League that organized passive resistance programs against the apartheid. The violence of revolutionary movements prompted the government to crush main political oppositions and Mandela was one of these political opponents

In November 1966, Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment and was sent to Robben Island. During his imprisonment, Mandela denied being a victim and instead, he educated himself to the laws, histories, economics, philosophies, etc. This experience developed in him a greater depth of self awareness. He learned to control his temper, developed a strong will to empathize, persuade and he extended his influence and authority, not just over the other prisoners but over the wardens. He saw the prison as a microcosm of a future South Africa where future peace depends on forgiveness and reconciliation. In February 1990, Mandela was released from prison after negotiating with President F.W. de Klerk. It was then that Mandela started his work in unifying his divided South Africa. He won the Noble Peace 1993 for his non-violence strategy towards peace and was elected President of South Africa in May 1994. He led his nation with vigor, resilience, influence and intact integrity.

His Secret …. On Becoming a TRUE Leader
“I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.”
W.E. Henley
(Mandela’s favorite line from the poem Invictus)

Nelson Mandela spent almost 3 decades of his life in prison. The prison’s condition was deliberately harsh but this did not thwarted Mandela’s vigor and optimism. He once mentioned, while in prison, “In my lifetime I will step out into the sunshine, walk with firm feet.”

Mandela looked at his prison life as a unique opportunity to get to know the prisoners from different political parties better... asserting his political view and listening to their beliefs as well. He was determined to established dialogue to provide basis of unity later outside.

Mandela took the political opportunity to build relationships with the wardens hopefully converting them to the ideals of ANC. Also, he started explaining ANC’s policies to visiting prison officials which helped develop his own skills in argument. Through these initiated discussions, Mandela successfully influenced government to start negotiations with him for his release and his comrades and the transition for South Africa from the apartheid to his democratic government.


LEARN the HUMAN SENSITIVITIES
...something to practice for everyday leadership

Nelson Mandela’s life personified struggle. He had sacrificed his private life and youth for the love of his people and never displayed bitterness. He was a man who learned to forgive the people who put him in jail.

Mandela had learned his conciliation in his years in prison through his brains not with his blood. His prison ordeal transformed him from an aggressive militant to a reflective and balanced person. He changed his attitude towards his oppressors. He learned how to manage the insecurities and needs of his wardens and realized that they lived in their own kind of prison on the bleak island. When his lawyer, George Bizos, paid him a visit, Mandela introduced his guards saying, “George, let me introduce to you my guards of honor,” and named them. He respected his guards as human beings and he was never subservient. Mandela realized that he could impress the wardens and guards with a combination of assertiveness, respect, legal knowledge and that he can retain his dignity in the most humiliating surroundings.

Mandela 's colleagues were perplexed in his dealing with his wardens but soon realized that “You must understand the minds of your opposing commander…know their literature and their language and you will win over them.”

“I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended. ”

Nationalistic Feeling
I'm feeling a nationalistic today so here's an article that I see is somewhat true.

The ethnic Chinese factor in economic growth

DEMAND AND SUPPLY By Boo Chanco
The Philippine Star 10/27/2003

Two weeks ago, I was invited by a group of young Filipino-Chinese business hot shots to speak before their group. They gave me the freedom to speak on any subject and I thought I would share with them something I picked up in a recent conference I attended. The speech is too long for this column but I have received requests to share its message with a wider audience. Here is a shorter version.

The other month, I was in a conference where I heard the eminent Washington SyCip make a very interesting observation. Mr. SyCip said that compared to other countries in the region, the percentage of overseas Chinese who settled in the Philippines is markedly smaller. He then proceeded to the conclusion that this is perhaps one reason why our country has trailed the others.

Mr. SyCip also observed that unlike our regional neighbors, the Chinoys have assimilated into the native culture very well – in other words, Chinoys are more Pinoys than Chinese. Mr. SyCip suggested that this is not such a good thing because Chinoys no longer have the best traits of Confucian China and have adopted the worse traits of Confused Pinoys – who know not if they are still in a Spanish convent or America’s Hollywood.

One wonders how different our country would have been if the Spaniards never came. We might have become as Muslim as Indonesia. Probably a country called the Philippines wouldn’t exist at all. Or the Chinese influence would have been more pronounced in our culture as in Thailand. Given our geographic location and natural resources, we could have been an economic powerhouse.

As it happened, thanks to three centuries of Spanish colonization, our attitudes and culture bore more similarities with Spanish Latin America and the economic penalties that go with it. Exasperated by our poor showing in the midst of healthy economic growth by our neighbors, one economist commented that the Philippines is the only Latin American country in Asia.

It certainly didn’t help that the small Chinese community here assimilated too well, taking on the deleterious aspects of colonial native culture. And like the native Pinoys, the Chinoys didn’t develop a strong sense of nationhood – not in terms of a Filipino nation, anyway. In fact, up until recent generations, Chinoys more than subliminally considered China the motherland.

Based on what we have seen among our neighbors, a strong sense of nationhood is vital to economic growth. I cannot forget a very dramatic television footage on CNN of Thais offering their gold and other jewelry to the Thai Central Bank to help the country weather the 1997 economic crisis. Such selfless sacrifice can only be possible because the Thais possessed not only a sense of nation but of the common good.

In contrast, what do we do here when all hell breaks loose in the economy and the exchange rate tumbles? We aggravate the problem by exhausting every legal loophole and banking industry connection to convert our pesos to dollars – even going to the black market, also known as the Binondo Central Bank, to dump our pesos for foreign exchange to be smuggled out of the country. Government authorities always found it necessary to read us the riot act to stop the speculators from sinking our peso in the currency market.

Young Chinoys have become too Pinoy for our own good. Chinese newspapers are dying because Chinoys no longer read or speak the language as well, if at all. Young Chinoys, like many educated upper class Pinoys who have lost hope in this country also dream of settling down in America, Canada or Australia. In other words, Chinoys have lost more than the facility to speak the tongue of a billion human beings. Chinoys have lost the important social attributes that have spelled the difference between development and poverty among the nations in our region over the last 50 years.

Mr. SyCip lamented that the young Chinoys are no longer as hungry as their forebears and therefore, no longer as ready to suspend present gratification for future rewards – an attitude necessary for economic growth. Instead, today’s Chinoys, like Pinoys of their social class, are engaged in a dog-eat-dog race to the top at all cost, a race that has little regard to social good, just personal gain. Young Chinoys have assimilated too well the ways of upper crust Pinoys and I guess in this context, that’s not something really good for them and for the country they now call home.

If it is the Chinese in Thailand, the Chinese in Malaysia, the Chinese in Singapore and Indonesia who were responsible for catapulting their adopted countries into tiger economy status, would it be right to blame the Chinoys for the failure of the Philippines to keep up with its neighbors?

I think that would be too harsh a conclusion to make but that’s a thought. Besides, Chinoys were subjected to discrimination and abuse since the Spanish era until recent times. But that didn’t stop the best of them from making good, creating economic value for the country.

In a sense, we need more Henry Sys, more Lucio Tans, more John Gokongweis to lead this country’s economic growth. Small as the Chinoy community might be compared to the Chinese ethnic communities in countries around us, the Chinoys still, by and large, power the country’s economic engine.

Chinoy entrepreneurs are needed to create jobs, as much jobs as our army of unemployed can fill. This is why your new generation of taipans should be as hungry and as adept in creating economic value as your parents and grandparents. The young Generations shouldn’t act like spoiled brats typical of the cono crowd or the illustrados or nouveau riche among the native Pinoys.

Indeed, the Chinoys are in the best position to link our economy with the fast moving tigers in the region. In an era where regional markets are important, these connections through family ties are a definite plus. It should be used by all good Chinoys to promote the economy of our country.

Then of course, we all know that the age of China as a world superpower is now upon us. Once again, Chinoys are in the best position to get the Philippines connected. For all the bravado we now hear from America, its days as the sole superpower are numbered. China, with its massive market of over a billion people, four times as large as America’s, is destined to be a major influence, not just in our region but in the world.

Just think about it. Once the buying power of the Chinese masses is unleashed, China can thrive on the sheer magnitude of its domestic market. Think of the economies of scale it would have. Export would only be the icing in its economic cake. China can give America a dose of its current policy of subsidizing exports. China will be an economic power to behold.

Let me end with a joke sent by a reader.

A husband and wife are getting ready for bed. The wife is standing in front of a full length mirror taking a hard look at herself. "You know love," she says, "I look in the mirror and I see an old woman. My face is all wrinkled, my boobs are barely above my waist, my butt is hanging out a mile. I’ve got fat legs and my arms are all flabby." She turns to her husband and says, "Tell me something positive to make me feel better about myself."

He thinks about it for a bit and then says, "Well... there’s nothing wrong with your eyesight."

I told that group of young Chinoy taipans that there is nothing wrong with our eyesight either. We are not having a nightmare. That ugly situation we see day in and day out is the reality – the depth to which our country has sunk. Let us go out there and give our motherland what she needs – the economic equivalent of liposuction, tummy tuck or a boob job. It does her no good to just tell her what she already knows only too well.

Chinoys. Pinoys. It makes no difference now. We are all one and share the same destiny – the same future.

I am full of hot AIR!

Your element is Air. You are and artistic person
with a unique sense of style. You are
intelligent, constantly active and most likely
like to sing. Constantly moving the air is a
force of nature. One moment you can be a breeze
the next a tornado.


What's your element
brought to you by Quizilla

Tips from Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Here are some of the tips that I got from the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad. It will really help in becoming rich.

1. Let your money work for you. Find something that you do not need to work for and invest.
2. An asset is something that gives you money and a liability is something that you pay with money. Always increase your assets.
3. Work to learn and not learn to work for money.
4. Do not be afraid to invest. If it works then you shall reap the rewards and when it fails learn from the failure.
5. Great bargains are everywhere. You just need to learn how to see the big picture.
6. Reading books and attending seminars about how to manage your money can really be helpful.
7. You can never be rich while being an employee. The way to go is to start your own business.
8. Schools teach you how to work for money but never how to let money work for you.
9. Always pay yourself before paying others. That way your mind can think of ways to earn more to pay others.
10. Go against the flow. Do not panic on something that others think is bad rather think of ways on how to take this opportunity to make some cash.
11. Don't be lazy specially in thinking of ways to earn more money the smart way.
12. Hire others to do the dirty work. If you do not know how to write very well hire a writter or if you do know how to automate a process hire an engineer.
13. Only use excess money that your asset has produce for you. If you use the asset then you may end up in debt.
14. Build and enhance your network of people. You will never know who might help you in achieving success.
15. Never say I do not have enough money. Always say how can I afford it.

There are still so many things to learn from the book but these are the pointers that I remember and have great impact in my way of thinking. If you want read the book to learn more of what I am talking about. The book cost around 700 pesos and is available at National Bookstore.

Hohum.......
................................................................................................................................................

Unicorn......


You are Form 3, Unicorn: The Innocent.

"And The Unicorn knew she wasn't meant to
go into the Dark Wood. Disregarding the advice
given to her by the spirits, Unicorn went
inside and bled silver blood.. For her
misdeed, the world knew evil."

Some examples of the Unicorn Form are Eve
(Christian) and Pandora (Greek).
The Unicorn is associated with the concept of
innocence, the number 3, and the element of
water.
Her sign is the twilight sun.

As a member of Form 3, you are a curious
individual. You are drawn to new things and
become fascinated with ideas you've never come
in contact with before. Some people may say
you are too nosey, but it's only because you
like getting to the bottom of things and
solving them. Unicorns are the best friends to
have because they are inquisitive.


Which Mythological Form Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Interesting Emails.....
Here are some interesting emails I got from friends.....

The Room

17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for a class. The subject as what Heaven was like. "I wowed 'em," he later told his father, Bruce. "It's a killer. It's the bomb. It's the best thing I ever wrote." It also was the last.

Brian's parents had forgotten about the essay when a cousin found it while cleaning out the teenager's locker at Teays Valley High School in Pickaway County. Brian had been dead only hours, but his parents desperately wanted every piece of his life near them, notes from classmates and teachers, his homework. Only two months before, he had handwritten the essay about encountering Jesus in a file room full of cards detailing every moment of the teen's life. But it was only after Brian's death that Beth and Bruce Moore realized that their son had described his view of heaven. It makes such an impact that people want to share it. You feel like you are there." Mr. Moore said.

Brian Moore died May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend's house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted.

The Moores framed a copy of Brian's essay and hung it among the family portraits in the living room. "I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make something out of it, "Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son's vision of life after death. "I'm happy for Brian. I know he's in heaven. I know I'll see him.

Brian's Essay:

The Room...

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order.

But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I have liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told,I knew exactly where I was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I have betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed at."

Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've yelled at my brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by t he contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived.

Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I have watched ," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I fe lt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it.. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle wa s brighter than those around it, newer,
almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.

No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."


I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."- Phil. 4:13 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Never judge a book by its cover!

A lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston, and walked timidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President's outer office.

The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge.

We want to see the president," the man said softly.

"He'll be busy all day," the secretary snapped.

"We'll wait," the lady replied.

For hours the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They didn't and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president,even though it was a chore she always regretted. "Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they'll leave," she said to him.

He sighed in exasperation and nodded. Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to spend with them, but he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits cluttering up his outer office.

The president, stern faced and with dignity, strutted toward the couple. The lady told him, "We had a son who attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed. My husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus."

The president wasn't touched.... He was shocked. "Madam," he said, gruffly, "We can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery."

"Oh, no," the lady explained quickly. "We don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard." The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit, then exclaimed, "A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings here at Harvard."

For a moment the lady was silent. The president was pleased. Maybe he could get rid of them now. The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a university? Why don't we just start our own?" Her husband nodded. The president's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment.

Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford got up and walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California, where they established the university that bears their name, Stanford University, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about. You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing.

--- A TRUE STORY
--- by Malcolm Forbes

Registration for New Voters
Yesterday, my mother and her 3 legal aged sons (I'm included in the 3 of course) registered for the upcoming 2004 Philippine general elections. The comelec is changing their system into a high tech one so everybody of legal age should validate their registration and a chance for people who haven't registered to register and practice their right to vote as they say. When we arrived at the comelec office I can not believe that there are still so many people not able to register for this event has already been running for about 2 months already. We fall in over 3 three lines before we actually have our pictures taken and finger printed. It's a good thing that they got a new computer that is of high quality or I would have really cursed the government for not using the taxes wisely. The funny thing that happend here is that one of the comelec person incharge of the finger printing activity is gay. He somehow saw that my brother is about to have his birthday and kept on telling him happy birthday and somehow I think that my brother is his type. =)

Once upon a Time in Mexico
After the registration, we proceeded to watch a movie and Once upon a Time in Mexico was what my mother wanted so we bought some popcorn and watched. I do not want to have spoilers here so let's just say the movie is good. It is good in a sense that there are a lot of action and gross acts. I do not recommend this movie to people who are squimish about blood but I recommend this movie to people who wanted to watch a good action movie.

LA BOCCA DELLA VERITA
There's this vendo machine fortune teller that I tried out while shopping with my mom after the movie. This is the machine where you put a 5 peso coin in it and place your hand inside a mouth like structure on the machine. If you don't know this machine then you better start visiting your local mall for every mall that I have been to has this machine. This was the only time that I have tried this and just did what the instruction told me to do. Here are the things that are printed on the paper after I have put my hand inside the mouth.

mv - ms 950 mv - ls 300
mt - ld 040 mm - td 131
x - y 217

THE MOUTH OF TRUTH tells you that:

A trifle consoles us because a trifle distresses us . . . . be patient!!
You are sometimes tiresome. over insistend and demanding.
You find it difficult to lead a healthy well ordered existence.
There is no rule to which there is no exception, nor any truth so general that it does not present some defective aspect. . . trust yourself!
Happiness is found inside yourself . . . look to your heart for the answer.
One of those rare brillant marriages which often happens to the really fortunate seems to lie in store.

Life - 7 stars
Love - 9 stars
Luck - 4 stars
Health - 7 stars
Sex - 3 stars

Reminiscing....
Another forwarded email.......

"Ito ang mga huling taon ng dekada '80 at ang mga unang taon ng
dekada '90. Ito ang panahong uso pa ang makiuso. Kung ginagaya mo ang
style ng mga artista, hindi ka tatawaging jologs. Ito ang panahong
tapos na ang martial law, pero malayo pa ang new millennium. Hindi pa
high-tech pero di naman old fashioned. Saktong-sakto lang!

Ito ang panahon natin. Pero pano mo malalaman kung kabilang ka sa
henerasyong ito? Narito ang listahan na makapagpapatunay if you're
one of us. R U?

1. Paborito mong panoorin ang Shaider, Bio-man, Maskman,
Mask Rider Black, Machine Man at kung ano-anong TV sitcom ng
Japan na isinalin sa Tagalog. Break muna sa mga laro kapag alas
Singko na ng hapon tuwing Sabado dahil panahon na para sa
superhero marathon.

2. Alam mo ang jingle ng Nano-Nano. (isang kending lasang
champoy)

3. Nanood ka ng Takeshi's Castle at naniwala kang si Anjo Yllana
talaga si Takeshi at si Smokey Manaloto ang kanyang
alalay. (Pinagiisipan mo - pano sila lumalaban sa final challenge na
parang nakasakay sila sa isang bumpcar at nagbabarilan
sila gamit ang water gun gayong sa Japan ginagawa yun eh taga
Pilipinas sila?)

4. Alam mo ang pa-contest ng Kool 106 na uulit-ulitin mong
Bigkasin ang "Kool 106, Kool 106" hanggang maubusan ka ng
hininga.

5. Naglaro ka ng Shake-Shake Shampoo, Monkey-Monkey-Annabelle,
prikidam 123, Langit-Lupa-Impyerno, Syato, Luksong-Tinik,
Luksong-Baka, 10-20 at kung ano-ano pang larong nakakapagod.

6. Pumunta ang mga taga-MILO sa skul niyo at namigay sila ng
samples na nakalagay sa plastic cup na kasing laki nung sa
maliit na ice cream. (at nagtaka ka, bakit hindi ganito ang lasa ng
MILO kapag tinitimpla ko sa bahay namin?)

7. May malaking away ang mga METAL (mga punks na naka itim) at mga
HIPHOP (mga taong naka maluwang na puruntong na kahit
Makita na ang dalawang bundok.) Nag-aabangan sa mall na may dalang
baseball bat at kung anu-ano pang mga sandata. Sikat ang
kasabihang "PUNKS NOT DEAD!" pero kung gusto mong mag play safe,
Pwede mong tawagin ang sarili mong HIPTAL.

8. Alam mo ang universal uwian song na "Uwian na!" na kinakanta sa
tono na parang doon sa kinakasal.

9. Nagpauto ka sa Batibot pero hindi sa ATBP.

10. Nakipag-away ka para makapaglaro ng brick game. (hi-tech na yun
noon)

11. Ang "text" noon ay mga 1"x1.5" na karton na may mga drawing ng
pelikulang pinoy. (at may dialog pa!)

12. Dalawa lang ang todong sumikat na wresler, si Hulk Hogan at si
Ultimate Warrior. Naniwala ka rin na namatay si Ultimate Warrior nang
buhatin niya si Andre d' Giant dahil pumutok ang mga
Ugat niya sa muscle.

13. Nagsayaw ka ng running man at kung anu-anong dance steps na
nakapagpamukha sa'yong tanga sa saliw na kantang Ice Ice
Baby, Wiggle It, Pray at Can't Touch This.

14. Hindi ka gaanong mahilig sa That's Entertainment at pinapanood
mo lang ito tuwing Sabado kung saan nagpapagandahan ng
production numbers ang Monday hanggang Friday group. (at badtrip ka
Sa Wednesday group dahil pinakabaduy lagi ang performance
nila!)

15. Napaligaya ka ng maraming pinoy bands tulad ng Yano, Rivermaya,
Grin Department, Tropical Depression, The Teeth, The
Youth, After Image, Orient Pearl, The Dawn, Alamid, Wolfgang, at ang
sikat na sikat na Eraserheads. (at aminin mong nakinig
ka ng Siakol!)

16. Kilala mo ang Smokey Mountain, (first and second generation)

17. Hindi pa uso noon ang sapatos na may gulong. Noon, astig ka
kapag umiilaw ang swelas ng sapatos mo tuwing ia-apak mo
ito. Tinawag rin itong "Mighty Kid"

18. Kung lalaki ka, sikat na sikat sa'yo ang mga larong text,
jolens, dampa (mga unang anyo ng pustahan), saranggola at ang
dakilang manika niyo ay si GI-JOE with alipores.

19. Kung babae ka naman, ang mga laro mo with you're girlfriends ay
luto-lutuan, bahay-bahayan, doktor-doktoran, at kung
anu-ano pang pagkukunwari . ang dakilang manika mo ay si Barbie.
(Sikat ka kung meron kang bahay, kotse at kabaong ni
Barbie.)

20. Naniwala kang original ang isang cap kapag may walong tahi sa
visor nito.

21. Swerte ka kapag panghapon ka dahil masusubaybayan mo ang mga
kapanapanabik na kaganapan sa mga paborito mong cartoon
shows tuwing umaga tulad ng Cedie, Sarah, at Dog of Flanders a.k.a.
Nelo. (Hindi ka ba nagtataka na sa lahat ng mga bida sa
cartoons na ito, si Nelo lang ang di yumaman at namatay pa ng maaga)

22. Alam mo ang ibig sabihin ng "TIME FIRST!"

Bakit kaya ganon? Kahit sang lupalop ka ng Pilipinas naroon, eh
nakaka-relate ka sa mga pinagsasasabi ko. Siguro'y dahil wala pang
cable at kakaunti lang ang pagpipiliang channels kaya parepareho tayo
ng pinapanood. Maaaring wala pang playstation kaya kung anu-ano na
lang ang naiimbentong laro na pwedeng gawin sa kalsada o sa isang
bakanteng lote. Pero kung ano man ang dahilan sa pagkaparepareho
natin ng karanasan, masaya na rin akong naging bata ako sa panahong
ito. Masarap alalahanin at balik-balikan. Di ba?"

Another Leadership Advice
Each of us needs to be good leaders so I'm posting again some leadership advices from work....

The Power of Leadership Storytelling
By: Melissa Delin

Historical Leadership Stories: Shackleton's Way

The story of Ernest Shackleton and his doomed 1914 expedition to Antarctica aboard the vessel Endurance is fraught with drama, hazard, and valuable lessons in team leadership. The tale, which has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent months, strikes a chord with training and development professionals who see meaningful parallels between Shackleton's leadership style and the kind of leadership necessary to navigate the rough waters of today's business environment.

The mission of the Endurance expedition was to cross a 1,800-mile expanse of Antarctica on foot. Just one day's journey from its intended landing site, the ship became stuck in the polar ice of the Weddell Sea. The ice dragged the vessel for ten months and eventually crushed her, forcing the crew to abandon ship. The men salvaged Endurance's lifeboats before she inevitably sank but they were stranded with no means of communicating with the outside world and no hope of timely rescue.

The group camped out on the ice, sleeping in crude tents and subsisting on a diet of penguins, seals, and dogs. Knowing that they would die if despair and hopelessness took hold, Shackleton, or "the Boss," as the crew dubbed him, made sure that the men felt useful and productive. They had to believe that they were actively trying to get out of their predicament, and that if they worked together, that they would succeed. Shackleton had to balance negative and positive energy to make sure that the naysayers among them wouldn't destroy the group's fragile confidence. To get the men working together, he dropped all pretenses of hierarchy and treated everyone, including himself, as equals. He set up work assignments on a rotating schedule so that everyone did the same tasks. On occasion, he even stepped aside and let another member of the group assume leadership. To encourage the men to remain in good spirits, he insisted that they play music, keep journals, create and perform skits, and otherwise engage their minds creatively.

After nearly six months of living on the ice, the Endurancecrew braved the turbulent waters of the Weddell Sea and set sail in their lifeboats to Elephant Island. Shackleton left to seek rescue, leaving the majority of the men on Elephant Island. Eventually, Shackleton and a small crew returned to rescue the men of the Endurance. Amazingly, there were zero casualties.

Shackleton is lauded for his bravery and tenacity in times of grave peril. The members of the Endurancecrew credit their survival to the might of their leader, a claim that is thoroughly documented in the book Shackleton's Way by Margot Morrell and Stephanie Capparell. Morrell and Capparell also explore how companies today are using Shackleton's story to inspire teamwork and commitment within their own organizations. The Shackleton story is highly effective, as he employed leadership cornerstones that are universally applicable and steeped in collaboration and positive thinking.

He led by example, never assigning work to any man that he would not do himself. He insisted on open communication among the team, built on a foundation of trust. He built morale among his team; he maintained an image of capability and resilience, never expressed doubt that they would see safe rescue, and created and sustained a feeling of optimism. His leadership style appeals to many of today's leadership values: direct, unguarded communication, democratic voice, flat structure, valuing people, and high morale. Overall, Shackleton's story demonstrates the power of leadership in its purest, and possibly most powerful, form.

The Power of Leadership Stories

Leadership storytelling is fast becoming one of the most popular methods of developing leaders, for many basic reasons. It's not difficult - anyone can do it, everyone has a story to tell, and every story is relevant and significant. Additionally, storytelling is contagious - one person sharing their story to a group leads to others in the group sharing their stories with each other.

The human element of a corporate environment is endlessly complex - tiers of responsibility, clear and covert sources of power, entities with conflicting objectives, unspoken sentiments, suspicious motives, multifarious personalities and temperaments - progress is often stymied by poor communication. Organizations are learning that sharing leadership stories helps to inspire partnership and truthfulness, which allows employees to let go of the rhetoric and politicking that may be overshadowing real breakthrough work.

Whether they are personal, heroic, or historical, sharing leadership stories creates shared learning and understanding within a group by bringing personal goals and beliefs into business discussions. Organizations that use storytelling as a leadership tool find that, on a personal level, engaging in candid discussion raises the comfort and confidence level of individuals. On a team level, heightened confidence leads to an increase in the flow of opinions, ideas, and breakthroughs in group situations. And on an organizational level, teams and business units operating at top performance boost the number and quality of interactions, improve the quality of outputs, and lead to increased business results throughout the organization.

An Essay about the Philippines
Here's something from a Korean about the Philippines that I got from my email. The Rich Dad Poor Dad review will have to wait. I have been busy these past few days....

My Short Essay about the Philippines (You can forward my essay to your
friends.)
By: Jaeyoun Kim

Filipinos always complain about the corruption in the Philippines. Do
you really think the corruption is the problem of the Philippines? I do
not think so. I strongly believe that the problem is the lack of love
for the Philippines.

Let me talk about my country, Korea. It might help you understand my
point. After the Korean War, South Korea was one of the poorest
countries in the world. Koreans had to start from scratch because the
entire country was destroyed completely after the Korean War, and we had
no natural resources.

Koreans used to talk about the Philippines for Filipinos were very rich
in Asia. We envied Filipinos. Koreans really wanted to be well off like
Filipinos. Many Koreans died of famine. My father's brother also died
because of famine.

The Korean government was awfully corrupt and is still very corrupt
beyond your imagination, but Korea was able to develop dramatically
because Koreans really did their best for the common good with their
heart burning with patriotism. Koreans did not work just for themselves
but also for their neighborhood and country. Education inspired young
men with the spirit of patriotism.

40 years ago, President Park took over the government to reform Korea.
He tried to borrow money from other countries, but it was not possible
to get a loan and attract foreign investment because the economy
situation of South Korea was so bad. Korea had only three factories. So,
President Park sent many mine workers and nurses to Germany so that they
could send money to Korea to build a factory. They had to go through a
horrible experience. In 1964, President Park visited Germany to borrow
money. Hundred of Koreans in Germany came to the airport to welcome him
and cried there as they saw President Park. They asked him, President,
when can we be well off? That was the only question everyone asked to
him. President Park cried with them and promised them that Korea would
be well off if everyone worked hard for Korea, and the President of
Germany got a strong impression about them and loaned money to Korea.
So, President Park was able to build many factories in Korea.

He always asked Koreans to love their country from their heart. Many
Korean scientists and engineers in the USA came back to Korea to help
the developing country because they wanted their country to be well off.
Though they received very small salary, they did their best for Korea.
They always hoped that their children would live in well off in the
country.

My parents always brought me to the places where poor and physically
handicapped people live. They wanted me to understand their life and
help them. I also worked for the Catholic Church when I was in the army.
The only thing I learned from the Catholic Church was that we have to
love our neighborhood. And I have loved my neighborhood.

Have you cried for the Philippines? I have cried for my country several
times. I also cried for the Philippines because of so many poor people.
I have been to the New Bilibid prison. What made me sad in the prison
were the prisoners who do not have any love for their country. They go
to Mass and work for the Church. They pray everyday. However, they do
not love the Philippines. I talked to two prisoners at the maximum
security compound, and both of them said that they would leave the
Philippines right after they are released from the prison. They said
that they would start a new life in other countries and never come back
to the Philippines.

Many Koreans have a great love for Korea so that we were able to share
our wealth with our neighborhood. The owners of factory and company were
distributed their profit to their employees fairly so that employees
could buy what they needed and saved money for the future and their
children.

When I was in Korea, I had very strong faith and wanted to be a priest.
However, when I came to the Philippines, I completely lost my faith. I
was very confused when I saw many unbelievable situations in the
Philippines. Street kids always make me sad, and I see them everyday.
The Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia, but there are too
many poor people here. People go to church every Sunday to pray, but
nothing changes.

My parents came to the Philippines last week and saw this situation.
They told me that Korea was much poorer than the present Philippines
when they were young. They are so sorry that there so many beggars and
street kids. When we went to Pangsangjan, I took my parents on a boat
because it would fun. However, they were not happy after taking the
boat. They said that they would not take the boat again because they
sympathized with the boat men who were very poor and had a small frame.
Most of people just took the boat ride and enjoyed it. But my parents
did not enjoy it because of love for them.

My mother who has been working for the Catholic Church since I was very
young told me that if we just go to Mass without changing ourselves, we
are not Catholic indeed. Faith should come with action. She added that I
have to love Filipinos and do good things for them because all of us are
the same and have received great love from God.

I want Filipinos to love their neighborhood and country as much as they
love God so that the Philippines will be well off. I am sure that love
is the keyword which Filipinos should remember. We cannot change the
sinful structure at once. It should start from each person. Love must
start in everybody in a small scale and have to grow. A lot of things
happen if we open up to love.

Let's put away our prejudices and look at our worries with new eyes. I
discovered that every person is worthy to be loved. Trust in love,
because it makes changes possible. Love changes you and me. It changes
people, contexts and relationships. It changes the world.

Please love your neighborhood and country. Jesus Christ said that
whatever we do to others we do to Him. In the Philippines, there is God
who is abused and abandoned. There is God who is crying for love. If you
have children, teach them how to love the Philippines. Teach them why
they have to love their neighborhood and country. You already know that
God also will be very happy if you love others. That's all I really want
to ask you Filipinos.

Jaeyoun Kim
September, 2003

DLSU vs. ADMU basketball Final Four Matchup
Yes! They won the first game! I really thought that the Eagles would again beat up the Archers but they took up the challenge and defeated them. hehehehe!!!! =) Here's the story from GreenArchers.net.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad
This is about the website that I have posted earlier about how to become rich. I got the book. Borrowed it from one of the engineers here at Intel. I haven't finish it yet but I would post something about it as soon as I am finished.

What's with Forever Living?
I have already been invited for the second time about this network marketing business. Network marketing is a type of business where the manufacturer sells their products through word of mouth or through people selling it to their personal network. I'm done with network marketing for I have gone through it already with the company Nu Skin which I wasn't successful. Hated myself for shelling out 13k for products that did not even improve my person. Well, it was a good learning though and it made me more wiser in handling my money. Forever Living likewise is also the same but somehow people where more successful with this company. People who tried out this company and were successful were featured about thrice in tv in a span of 5 years. There was this one guy, a former jeepney driver, drives a ferrari!. Yes, a ferrari! He earns about a million pesos evermonth for just inviting people to join and selling these products. Some how I'm not upto it because this kind of business needs some skills and I still haven't learned those skills yet.
Maybe in the future when I think I have honed the skills I might consider it but then again it might be too late for me.

Another email forwarded to me. hehehe. This syndrome is starting to seep into me. =)

Attack of Peter Pan Syndrome
By Pam Pastor
Inquirer News Service

SATURDAY night found me in a condo unit in the middle of the city,
getting sloshed at a friend's bridal shower. In the middle of the
drinking, stripping, dancing and laughing, it hit me.

We really are growing up.

The signs have been here for a while now, and even more so these
past few weeks.

Factoid #1: You know you're growing up when your weekend itinerary
includes baptisms, weddings and bridal showers of people not related
to you.

Someone on my high school batch's mailing list sent wedding pictures
of an old classmate. It's hard to believe that people my age have
successfully planned weddings when not too long ago, we were still
planning our debuts.

Just days later, I received a text message from an old seatmate who
told me she's seven months pregnant. That baby is about to become my
fourth godchild. It's hard to think of her as a mom when I still
remember her as the girl who almost got kicked out of Geometry class
with me for trying to memorize the lyrics of Donna Lewis' "I Love
You Always Forever" instead of focusing on our polygons.

Factoid #2: You know you're growing up when you start thinking of
your school days as the good old days.

When I was still in school and I would complain about it, adults
would turn wistful and inevitably drop one of these lines, "I miss
school." "I'd quit my job and trade places with you in a
minute." "When you get out, you'd do anything to get back in." I had
to resist the strong urge to give them a nice little kick and settle
for rolling my eyes. Now, just months after getting my degree, I'm
doing the same thing. And my brother and cousins are the ones
rolling their eyes at me.

Truth be told, there's strange comfort in those times when our
potentially biggest problems were really comparatively small. When
the biggest consequences of our actions would just be a failing
grade and the worst would be being expelled from school.

Factoid #3: You know you're growing up when you and your friends
start sentences with, "Do you remember when... ?"

Do you remember when you cut yourself with a kitchen knife and your
mom thought someone was murdered in the bathroom? Do you remember
when you walked into that glass door and left an imprint of your
face on it? You actually have a history with people - and revisiting
that has become a major kick, a welcome break from your life's
realities.

Factoid #4: You know you're growing up when you and your friends
start to get jaded.

Excitement over first relationships has been replaced with cynicism.
Everyone gets wary of everyone else's partners. Everyone's gone
through something - and the rest start acting like the relationship
police.

Factoid #5: You know you're growing up when you start acting like a
condescending adult.

One night, I was out with friends when a group of adolescent girls
walked past us. They were heavily made up and scantily clad.

"Jailbait," one of us said.

"What are they wearing?" another one said.

"They're just children!" a third one said.

Or there would be times we'd be out and there would be a group of
boisterous teenagers at another table. They would always be met with
raised eyebrows and snide remarks, as if we were never like them
before, as if we don't still act like them sometimes.

Factoid #6: You know you're growing up when adult stuff has become
your stuff.

Talking to friends used to revolve mostly around favorite bands,
television shows, crushes and how strict our parents are. We still
do that now -- minus the part about the strict parents -- but a lot
of saliva is also wasted on discussions about work hours, security,
benefits, settling down, life partners, getting ready for the
future. Your friend who used to spend all his time playing video
games is now starting his own business. The classmate who was a whiz
in Math class is now handling real accounts. The cousin who once let
her younger sister pull out her tooth is now a dentist.

Factoid #7: You know you're growing up when money becomes an issue.

Goodbye, allowance, hello, anxiety. Realizing that your parents
aren't there anymore to answer your every whim, you start being more
responsible about your expenses. Lapses in judgment lead to
consequences that would impart a lesson or two.

Factoid #8: You know you're growing up when you realize you're
harder to please.

Heaven used to be having my grandparents take me shopping for Sanrio
goodies or tons of books. Then came the time when seeing a crush
smile was enough to make my heart soar. Now, happiness lies
elsewhere-and a lot of us haven't discovered where.

Factoid #9: You know you're growing up when you start being a source
of embarrassment for younger relatives.

Face it, older relatives have been the reason behind a lot of our
most hideous moments as teenagers. What about the aunt who insisted
on interviewing your girlfriend? Or the great-uncle who liked
snapping his dentures in public?

My younger cousin was buying something and I kept trying to bargain
with the man. The man refused to budge but that didn't stop me. My
cousin had to nudge me to shut me up. Hilarious, I thought, when I
realized he thought what I had been doing was embarrassing.

Factoid #10: You know you're growing up when people around you start
recognizing it too.

Just last Sunday, while my masseuse was kneading my back, she
said, "Pwede ka nang mag-asawa." I would have protested loudly but
my face was muffled by the pillow.

A few lunches ago, my father turned to me and asked when I was
getting married. It was hard to believe that the question came from
my father who, just some years back, freaked out when he realized
that the huge bar of chocolate in the fridge came from a guy who was
about to become my boyfriend.

Before I could even respond, he declared that he wanted a grandchild
by the time he was 50. I almost choked. He's turning 50 in less than
a year.

Funny. Get married and have kids when I am barely out of my
haphazard romances phase?

People respond to growing up in two ways -- there are those who
embrace it and those who fight it. I still haven't decided which one
I am.

But then, my subconscious may have already decided for me.

While my friends are getting married, moving in together, having
babies, starting their own companies, getting completely serious
about their worlds and their future, I've been acting even more like
a kid.

I've watched "Finding Nemo" three times. I've ordered Happy Meals
because I wanted the Betty Spaghetty toys. My best friend J and I
have been going to toy stores more often. I still read children's
books -- my Judy Blumes and Roald Dahls and Beverly Clearys. I enjoy
pestering my younger brother even more now. I went to a sari-sari
store and looked for the candies of my childhood. My cousins and I
left the house at two in the morning and went to a 24-hour diner in
our pajamas. Now that's not very adult-like, is that?

Those are the effects of my Peter Pan syndrome.

I used to think that I would relish every step toward being an
adult. After all, I have long been clamoring for freedom and
independence. But now that it's staring me in the face, I find
myself reluctant to jump in. There is so much to love and cherish
about being young. I refuse to let that go yet.

But then, I think about my grandma who, at 75, is still the epitome
of coolness, who exercises every morning, wears rubber shoes, texts,
is an excellent mall buddy and remains a word wizard. I look at my
other set of grandparents who still date up to now. I think about my
grandma who has a crush on Bill Pullman, listens to Josh Groban,
adores Sandra Bullock, has excellent taste in clothes and likes
shopping for me, my brother and cousins. I think about my grandpa
who has done so much with his life, who discovers the best places to
go to even before I hear about them and is so smart he'd be my
lifeline if I joined the now dead "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?"
And I realize there is a way to become an adult and still embrace
your youth.

So maybe growing up isn't so bad after all. As long as it doesn't
mean having to give up my Happy Meals.

Birthdays
September sure is a month full of birthdays. There were so many of my coworkers here having their birthdays that they all joined forces to treat our whole section and some other people to lunch. We ate our lunch at a place called Magdaragat were there is a Sea food market at the center of the place where one can buy anything that you want, raw, and have them cooked at the restaurants surrounding the place. The place where we ate is just a small place with beautiful waitresses serving us. =) I was so full after the meal that I wanted to sleep for I needed so much energy to digest all the food that I have eaten. I really enjoyed the calamares and the shell fish. It's a good thing I did not tell them and my friend is also not a snitch (thanks!) that I am also a September celebrant or I would have shouldered the expense too. =)

Team Bonding
After that wonderful lunch, the people that I usually work with had our team bonding. Team bonding is more appropriate for that activity because there are specific things that should be done for it to be called a formal team building activity. We went to one of the Robinson's Malls near our workplace and played some billiards. The original plan was to have bowling matches but due to budget constraints we opted to play billiards for it costs less. I was outclassed by my opponents and ended up with more losing streaks than winning a match. =) After the billiards we ate our dinner at Burger King and took some pictures.

Strip Club
The men in our group dragged me and my friend to this strip club in Pasay. It was our fault why we were in that situation. We did not planned on what to do after the team bonding event at the mall so the others just decided to go there and bring us along. My original plan is to go home after the thing with the mall but somehow I could not tell them that I have to go home. It was my first time to go to such a place so I don't know what to expect once we got there. We found a place beside the stage and ordered some drinks. Then as we sat there waiting for something to happen, then the naked and half-naked women started to come out. I don't know what happened inside me but I did not feel aroused. Really do not know why I felt that way. It seems like it's just normal to me to see naked women dancing there. Most of the women just stand there with a pout on their face. I asked one companion why and he said that the women wanted to show to us that they do not enjoy what they are doing. "Do not enjoy what they are doing" my face! They should at least put an invisible mask on and smile. It wouldn't hurt them you know. It would also reduce the shame that they have put on themselves. The climax of our little adventure is when this star dancer hit on my friend! I don't want to talk about the gory details because its ......... To give you a clue, my friend needs to immediately wash the bonnet that he's wearing when he gets home. =)

I am a DRAGON!
Got this from one of the blogs of my friend and I tested a Dragon.


You're a dragon. You're smart and cunning, and
enjoy taking risks. Your need for independence
is an advantage, but sometimes it alienates you
from others. As far as *good* and *evil*,
you're pretty neutral--but you may have
something of a wicked streak.


What mythical beast are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Ragnarok Online

Damn! I think I am officially an addict of this game. This game is originally from Korea and they marketed the game here and it clicked. The type of gameplay is more of a role playing type. They called it a massive multiplayer online game because it is an online game where many people are interacting and it is role played. The killer stuff so that the company that promoted it ,which is level-up games, is that they gave out free cds to potential addicts of the game during the beta test period which they let people play for free. People got addicted to the game so easily that when they already charged for the game many still played the game and they earn by the million. One needed to buy prepaid cards to play the game and it does not include the internet access.

At first, I really don't care much about the game. Most of the time my brothers are the one who became the addicts of the game and I just watch them play. It was too late for me to test the game for I tested the game the time when they are already charging to let us play for a fee. Somehow I got addicted to the game and right now I am craving for more of the game. During weekends, which is usually the days of the week where I am free, I would usually wake up at around 4 am in the morning upto around 8 am just to play. =) I couldn't play during the night upto the wee hours of the morning because my addicted brother is still playing. Talk about common interests. ;)

(by the way for those interested in the game here's a link and for those who are searching for a person who sells internet cards and the game cards just look for me.)

Sexbomb and Spaghetti

Someone forwarded me this in my email and I pitty the author of this piece, tsk tsk.......

Friday, 25 July 2003

I can die now. My life is complete. I have heard the latest sexbomb girls album in its entirety and now I have heard everything. My deepest thanks to my mom for choosing to live in a neighbourhood where the people are so 'giving' they will allow you to hear their cd collections for free,at 6 in the morning! every single fucking day! Oh you dont understand it do you? To wake up every single day to the sound of girls who are better off cheerleading than singing; to hear songs about pasta going up and down and sideways and what the hell does it all mean?!!; to hear the words laban and bawi in varying intensities e.g. la la la la la la labaan!! ba ba ba ba ba ba baweeee!!! LAAAABAAAAN! BAAAWIIII! AWWWW! AWWWWW! AWWWWW! YES! YES! AWWWWWWW! It is an experience you should not miss. It can serve both as an alarm clock and my ongoing experiment on the limits of human patience. I recommend it highly.

In the spirit of sharing, I will try-emphasis on try- to review the first single off the album. why only the first single? well, because I dont feel qualified to review the whole thing, that job is reserved for a music critic with a triple masters degree in philosophy, nuclear physics and forensic psychology;The album is that , dare i say it, PROFOUND.Actually, its beyond profound, its....its.... words fail me.

Here goes nothing. The title of the single i assume is 'spaghetti.'The title alone is pure genius. Spaghetti as we all know is a favorite among pinoys of all ages. The message the title is trying to send out is:the sexbomb girls are not only for kids but for all ages.

The song starts with a sound straight from a kiddie carousel or those old owner-type jeeps which plays muzak while parking or backing up. To the ninitiated ,this may mean a lack of imagination on the composers side but alas, the truth is, that intro is meant to appeal to our neotenic(?) urges. In a world filled with stress and anxiety , the intro lulls us into a trance and brings us back to feelings of childhood without worries. It hypnotises us into shedding our inhibitions; to be innocent and childlike once more. Subliminally preparing us for the wrath of the killer chorus.

Suddenly, a guy who suspiciously sounds like Joey de Leon starts counting from 5 to 8. Why the numbers 1 to 4 were left out is anybodys guess. It is one of the mysteries of this song that may never be unravelled, rivalling that of JFK's real killer.It could be part of the bible code.

This is then followed by the girls themselves screaming " Makinig kayo!" Obviously a paean to that very famous Marc Antony speech that goes like;
"Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears." this is the girls way of
introducing a bit of Shakespeare to their unsuspecting public.

There is no stopping the girls now.

Apir tayo ( give me five?) ( let us appear?) Sumakit ang ulo ko (my head aches) sumakit ang dibdib ko( my chest aches) sexbomb(3x) Apir tayo sumakit and bewang ko( My waist aches) sumakit ang tuhod ko(my knee aches) sexbomb(3x) The girls are obviously suffering from an existential kind of pain. It is a pain so deep it transcends both the physical and the metaphysical worlds. To give high fives while experiencing a severe form of arthritis and ulceritis is a metaphor for the superficiality of everyday living where outward appearances are more valued; where everything is based on 'pakikisama' even if inside you feel like being eaten alive by amoeba. As long as youre presentable and maintain a good, albeit hypocritical ,realtionship with everybody its okay even if you are suffering inside. oh the humanity!

Here goes the chorus: Spaghetting( still in their shakespearean mode of inventing words, the girls decide to make the italian word spaghetti a tagalog one by adding ING.) pababa pababa ng pababa( going down going down going down) spaghetting pataas pataas ng pataas( going up going up going up) this may sound like a tour guide of an elevator but it isnt. REALLY. Another metaphor for lifes little vissicitude, the girls are obviously referring to the circle of life you dense person you!whatever goes up must come down is what theyre trying to say. Life is but a cycle with high highs and low lows.The spaghetti theyre talking about is US! yes! you and me! Its about being boiled and cooked and overcooked.Its about being paired with cheese and hotdogs and other ingredients that are not supposed to be there. Its about being eaten! Its about being part of a society where everything is the same yet different. Its about being accepted even if youre too sweet or too sour or too spicy. Its about survival .its about adapting Its about LIFE.

Man, these girls and their songs are like the most complex things to ever come out of the pinoy music scene. Ive always thought Radiohead is the most cryptic band there is but now I know im wrong. I have been enlightened.

Listen and you will be, too.

Thank you,

Elaine Santillan

Leadership

"The Power of Leadership Storytelling"
By: Melissa Delin

Heroic Leadership Stories: A Hero For Daisy
Congress passed Title IX on May 22, as part of the Education Amendments of 1972, stating:

"no person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, or denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal aid."

While Title IX was designed to provide equitable treatment of men and women in all aspects of education, it has gained particular notoriety in athletics.

Chris Ernst, a two-time Olympian rower, was captain of the Yale University women's crew team in 1976. She led a team of women who were hardy, fit, and wholly committed to their sport. Although women's crew had only been in existence at Yale since 1972, the team had already captured second place at the national championships in 1974 and third place in 1975.
The Yale University boathouse was not equipped with women's locker room facilities so the university made temporary provisions; during the 1974 and 1975 seasons, the women took post-practice showers in a trailer which lacked hot water and electricity. In 1976, the school provided the team with a new trailer, but dawdled in securing the proper zoning variances. When the men and women began outdoor practices at the Housatonic River in late February, the women's trailer's plumbing and electricity remained unconnected. After grueling early-morning practice sessions, the men took hot showers in their locker room, while the women were forced to wait on the bus with frozen hair, soaked clothes, and chilled bodies.

Ernst, along with her teammates, rightfully resented having to endure such conditions. The women rowers were beginning to catch colds and illness would negatively impact their performance. Ernst and two cohorts decided to stage a protest. They planned a daring action, wrote a 300-word statement, and contacted a reporter from The New York Times. On March 3, 1976, just before practice was scheduled to begin, nineteen members of the Yale University women's crew team marched into the office of the Director of Physical Education, Joni Barnett. Lined up in two military-style rows, the women stripped off their clothing to reveal the words "Title IX" inked onto their bare chests and backs. Ernst read her statement, including: "These are the bodies Yale is exploiting. On a day like today the ice freezes on this skin. Then we sit for half an hour as the ice melts and soaks through to meet the sweat that is soaking us from the inside. We sit for half an hour with the chills… half a dozen of us are sick now."

The New York Times ran the story ("Yale Women Protest a Lack of Crew's Showers") and the matter gained immediate attention. The university was shamed into urgent action; eight days after the protest, the women's trailer was made usable and Yale announced that it planned to build "a permanent locker room for the women similar to the one that the men crew members have" ("Yale's Women Crew Get Locker Room," The New York Times).

Really Cool Phone!!!!

etaiwannews

Sony Ericsson to introduce three new handsets in Taiwan
New phones heavily focused on mobile gaming, the industry's 'next big thing,'
2003-09-04 / Taiwan News, Staff Reporter / By Marie Feliciano

An employee displays the new Sony Ericsson Z600 with a game controller attached. (Peter Mah, Taiwan News)
Handset vendor Sony Ericsson yesterday said it was banking on feature-rich mobile gaming, cool designs, and diverse applications to shore up its handset sales in Taiwan's fiercely contested mobile phone market.

The Japanese-Swedish venture said it expected its three newly launched consumer-oriented handsets - the Z600, Z200, and the T230 - to be its top revenue-generators in the last quarter of 2003.

In fact, the mobile phone provider said its fortunes had already been buoyed by T610 sales.

"The T610 is the top-selling model in Taiwan today," said Sony Ericsson (Taiwan) Senior Manager Silver Huang, showing off his stylish black-and-orange phone.

Over 10,000 units of the T610 model are being sold in Taiwan every month, Huang said.

Equipped with a built-in camera, the handset has a 65K color display, extensive picture-sharing options, mobile Internet, and multimedia text messaging applications. It also has a polyphonic ring tone - the latest ring tone technology that gives users more authentic tunes - and serves as an ideal mobile gaming platform, added the executive.

"It supports Java downloads, so you can grab the most compelling gaming packages into your handset," he continued.

The phone also supports Bluetooth wireless connectivity, allowing the gadget to communicate with other Bluetooth-equipped devices such as headsets, digital cameras, and notebooks, said Huang.

"Even its body is made from aluminum, not plastic," he said.

The Z600, which will be shipped into Taiwan in October, is the first clamshell mobile phone with complete imaging and messaging capabilities, said the official.

The hardware comes with QuickShare technology for imaging, messaging, and gaming. At a product demonstration yesterday, company officials showed that by pressing a couple of keys, an image could be taken. Press six more buttons and you could send the photo to a friend or family member, Huang added.

The handset, which has exchangeable front and back covers, also boasts of a second display that shows the following information: Caller ID, time, and network and battery status. Users could even create their own ring tones with Music DJ and a four-track music creation tool.

Since operators look at mobile gaming as the "next big thing," the Z600 comes with several embedded games including V-Rally2, a racing game for game consoles. Users who want a real game console experience could also get one of Sony's latest game console accessory, Gameboard EGB-10, said Huang.

The phone also supports the Mophun game engine, a gaming platform that allows end-users to download rich, real-time interactive games from the Internet. The engine is also integrated in the Sony Ericsson T300 and T310.

Another games-oriented phone from Sony Ericsson is the Z200. The handset supports 40 voices, delivering a sound quality that is ideal for gaming, said Huang.

Games such as Mini-golf, Alien Scum, and Honey Cave are pre-loaded into the handset. What makes the gaming experience remarkable is the force-feedback effect: Hit a virtual tree, and your phone will shake and vibrate.

Sony Ericsson's entry-level color phone, the T230, is also heavily focused on mobile gaming. Equipped with sound feedback and vibration for a realistic gaming experience, the T230 also uses the Mophun gaming engine and has a five-way navigation key to enhance play.

"You will only convince end users to buy your phones if you are offering them value for money," Huang said.

"The device should be packed with better technology, it should be easy to use, and it should come with value-added services such as game downloads."

The executive added that handsets with built-in cameras and color screens are the hottest items these days.

"The migration to color screens is inevitable," said Huang. "Those handsets have also become even more affordable."

He also boasted that Sony Ericsson recently released in Japan a 1.3 million-pixel camera phone, the S505i.

"The GSM camera phones that we have today only have 100,000 pixels. That's okay for multimedia services," he said.

"Our S505i, on the one hand, produces images that are so sharp and vivid that you could print them.

Becoming Rich

Everyone wanted to be rich and here's a site on how to really become rich.

richdad

Wish I could follow the steps of his rich dad even with just having a bs degree.

MOODS...


What's your usual [mood]?

RELATIONSHIPS....


Do you need a boy/girl friend now?

PERSONALITY TEST

Here's another one of those personality tests that i got from my email.....

These are my answers.....
closed, square, half, porcelain, speed of water - 10, no. of keys - 5, new castle, pick up jewelry, pickup money, medium box, wooden bridge, white horse, nibbling grass, run to the horse, ride on and gallop away

Take a piece of paper and write down the answers. The analysis is in the end....

Situation:
You are in a deep deep forest... as you walk on you saw an old hut standing there
(1) What is the status of the door? (Opened/closed)

You enter the hut and see a table...
(2) What is the shape of the table? (Round/Oval/Square/Rectangle/Triangle)

On top of the table there is a vase... in the vase there is water.
(3) How much water is it filled up with? (Full/Half/Empty)
(4) and what is the vase made of? [(Glass/porcelain/clay), (metal/plastic/wood)]

You walk out of the hut... as you carry on your walk in the forest... you see a waterfall from far... there is water running down...

(5) What is the speed of the water? (Choose a number ranging from 0 to 10)

Some time after the waterfall... you step on something hard on the ground... as you look down...you see glistening gold in colour. You bend down and pick it up... it is a keychain chained with keys...

(6) How many key /keys you see hanging on the keychain? (Choose a number ranging from 1 to 10)

You walk on and on... trying to find your way out... suddenly you see a castle.
(7) What is the condition of the castle? (Old/new)

You enter the castle and saw a pool of murky water with shining jewels floating on it...
(8) Will you pick up the jewel? (YES/NO)

Next to the murky pool... there's another pool... with clear water and money floating on it...
(9) Will you pick the money? (YES/NO)

Walking to the end of the castle there is an exit... you proceed to walk out of the castle. Outside the exit, there is big garden, you see a box on the ground.

(10) What is the size of the box? (small/medium/big)
(11) What is the material of the box? (cardboard/paper/wooden/metal)

There is a bridge in the garden some distance away from the box,
(12) What is the bridge made of? (metal/wooden/rattan)

Across the bridge, there is a horse.
(13) What is the colour of the horse? (white/grey/brown/black)
(14) What is the horse doing? (still and quiet/nibbling grass/running about)

OH NO!!! There is a tornado coming... some distance from the horse. You have 3 options:
(i) run and hide in the box?
(ii) run and hide under the bridge?
(iii) run to the horse, ride on and gallop away?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are the interpretations:
(1) The door:

opened door - you are a person who is willing to share
closed door- you are a person who is keeping things to yourself

(2) The table:

Round/oval - any friends that came along, you will accept and trust them completely
Square/rectangle - you are a bit more choosy on friends and only hangout with those whom you think are on the same frequency
Triangle - you are really very very picky about friends and there are not many friends in your life

3) Water in vase:

Empty - your life is not fulfilled
Half filled - what you want in your life is half fulfilled
Full - your life is completely fulfilled and good for you! :

4) Material of vase:

glass/clay/porcelain - you are weak in your life and tends to be fragile
metal/plastic/wood - you are strong in your life

(5) Flow of waterfall:

0 - no sex drive at all
1 to 4 - low sex drive
5 - average sex drive
6 to 9 - high sex drive
10 - gone case!!! super high sex drive!!! Can't live without sex...

(6) Keys:

1 - you have one good friend in your life
2 to 5 - you have a few good friends in your life
6 to 10 - you have a lot good friends

(7) Castle:

Old - shows that your last relationship is not a good one and is not memorable to you.
New - your last relationship is good and it's still fresh in your heart.

(8) The jewel from the murky pool water:

YES - when your partner is around you, you will flirt around with others.
NO - when your partner is around, you will stick around with him/her most of the time.

(9) The money from the clear water pool:

YES - even when your partner is not around you,you will still flirt around with others.
NO - even when your partner is not around, you will still think of her and and will be loyal to her, not flirting around with others.

(10) The size of the box:

small - low ego
medium - average ego
big - high ego

(11) Material of the box (outlook of the box):

cardboard/paper/wooden(non-shining) - humble personality
metal - proud and stuck up personality

(12) The material of the bridge:

metal bridge - have very strong bond with your friends
wooden bridge - average bond with your friends
rattan bridge - you are not in good terms with your friends

(13) Colour of the horse:

white - your partner is pure and good in your heart.
grey/brown - your partner is only average in your heart.
black - your partner doesn't seem to be good in your heart and appears to be bad sign.

(14) Horse action:

still and quiet/nibbling grass - your partner is a very homely and humble person.
running about - your partner is a wild type person.

This the last but most important part of the test. From how I ended the story... a tornado approaches... What are you going do? There are only 3 options:

(i) run and hide in the box?
(ii) run and hide under the bridge?
(iii) run to the horse, ride on and gallop away?

What will you choose? Now, the above is signified by these things:

tornado - problems in your life
box - you
bridge - your friends
horse - your partner

(i) So if you choose the box, you keep your problems to yourself whenever you are met with problems.
(ii) or if you choose the bridge, you will go to your friends whenever you are met problems.
(iii) or lastly if you choose the horse, you seek your partner whenever your partner whenever you are met with problems.