And who is Joseph Fiennes?

This year, I was hooked on FOX TV series and one of my faves was Flash Forward. It was a daily series starting at 8PM so I made sure I was home before that time. One of the main characters was Mark Bedford, an FBI Special Agent. The forty year old English film and stage actor Joseph Fiennes plays Mark Bedford.

In our group's Kris Kringle, the category was 'people born in the 70s' and my codename is Joseph Fiennes. After randomly picking his name as my code name, my first reaction was - "Who the H@@L is Joseph Fiennes! After doing my research, I found out that Joseph Fiennes is THE Mark Bedford of Flash Forward. That is what you call COINCIDENCE.

CAR CHOICES…INSPIRED BY FLASH FORWARD

Assuming the date today is July 1, 201X, one month before our due date to replace the company car plan, my car options would be the ff:
(1) Hyundai Sonata Theta II GLS 2.4 6AT
(2) Mitsubishi ASX Active Sports Crossover 2.0L GLS 4X2 AT
(3) Subaru Impreza 2.0L R-S AT

Without factor rating, coming up with a decision would be extremely difficult since the 3 choices all have our requirements. After subjecting it to factor rating, it becomes a bit clearer as the choices are down to 2. This can be decided by using a decision making tool called "toss coin." Here’s the result of the factor rating:



CONCLUSION: Either Sonata or ASX would be a good choice. Since I can’t bring home both, I’d probably go for the ASX. No, I’d go for the Sonata. The ASX, the Sonata. The ASX, the Sonata. The ASX, the Sonata. Sheesh, a 0.37 difference presents a complex decision making.

If I go for the Sonata, the cons include:
(1) Ground clearance will be a limitation hence a disadvantage during the rainy season.
(2) The H badge. Am I really ready to invest in a Korean car?
(3) After 5 years (or 10), resale value will be below a same class Toyota (Camry) or Honda (Accord).
(4) If the company will allow me to get a mid sized sedan.

If I go for the ASX, the cons include:
(1) After 5 years (or 10), resale value will be below a same class Honda (CRV) or Toyota (Fortuner).
(2) No back up sensor.
(3) The sub compact SUV has a small cargo capacity.

Since I’m just dreaming, I’ll probably get a red Mitsubishi ASX if today were July 1, 20X.

BAI'S BRIDE FROM BACOLOD

Last July 17, 2010, I received an sms from a college friend Dean. The sms says “Everybody’s invited on my wedding with Ris on Nov. 13, 2010 in Bacolod City. Hope to see you there. Fyi, Cebu Pacific is offering promo until July 19. Pls. reply so I know you got this.” My thoughts after reading that sms is that I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Finally after almost 4 months, I'm writing this blog entry about the trip to Bacolod, the wedding and the LSC reunion.



TRIP TO BACOLOD
It was my family and I's first time in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. We flew in last November 13 via Cebu Pacific with some friends and checked in at L’Fisher Hotel. Lunch was in Manukan Country courtesy of one of Dean’s wedding principal sponsor. Just before we left Bacolod last November 14, we had a city tour which covered the following places: Colegio San Agustin, University of St. La Salle, Provincial Capitol and the Capitol Lagoon. The last stop before going back to the hotel was 888 Chinese Mall for some pasalubong.



THE WEDDING
I hope my friend declared to his beautiful wife that he had many girlfriends in the past and made sure to highlight that he only married one . The wedding was held at Queen of Peace Parish Church along Hilado St. The uniquely shaped church was a photographer's dream and it was further accentuated by the floral arrangements. The reception was held at L'Fisher Hotel along Lacson St., the City’s main street. It was an "en grande" both in Bacolod and Manila standards. I lack the proper skill in estimating wedding expenses but I reckon they could have bought a brand new car with the wedding expense.



LSC REUNION
It's always fun attending reunions. We just don't get tired of reminiscing and reliving the name calling. Present were 1- Banong, 2- Tyanong a.k.a. Butch Dacanay, 3- Carlo Tiuks, 4- Carlo Bab, 5- Brian Black, 6- Papa Dom, 7- Tony Pana, 8- Gene Chonggo, 9- John Yo!, 10- Jumping Jay and 11- DyLac a.k.a. Benny Ang. The reunion this time was more special because it was out of town and out of the island of Luzon. Dean's friends came from all over the Philippines: Metro Manila, Dipolog City, Davao City and Angeles City, Pampanga.

The Map – Made in Japan

Little Boy refuses to be called Little Boy anymore. He's turning 13 in 2 months time and in the adolescent period - a cross between a child and an adult. He will later realize that it's fun to be a child forever.

During our travel to Japan mid this year, he learned his first adult lesson from his old man - how to read a map. To make our Universal Studios Japan more exciting, I got a map, taught him the basics (news, landmarks, resto & restroom symbols) and let him plan our itinerary for the day. I just told him to ask me when he's in doubt.

The following days, he progress to a bigger scale by being the "co-navigator" in exploring the cities of Osaka, Nara, Kyoto and Kobe. The situation presented more challenge for the father and son because some of the signs were in Japanese.

A popular adage says "experience is the best teacher" and this is one practical lesson he will not forget.

Top Ten Car Tips from BL

It's Papa BL's birth month in November. He would have turned 64 y.o. this coming 27th. How I drive is a reflection of how my father taught me. I never enrolled in a formal driving school and credit him for teaching me the basics plus some add ons. Here are the top ten car & driving tips that I learned from him and still apply in my 23 yrs of experience:

1- Blowgas. I bet my father read this from somewhere or learned it from somebody but back then, I thought the acronym blowgas was practical so I quickly adapted it. The basic item that you should check before driving your vehicle includes the ff: Brakes, Lights, Oil, Water and Gas.
2- Plan your route. What's the best way to go from point a to b? Think. Research. Prepare. Don't just start the car and drive. This way, you save gas, hassle and stress.
3- Jackrabbit. Your passengers are not ingredients inside a blender. They want to get to their destination in one piece and not confused as a result of the jumpy ride. Drive as smooth as a plane.
4- DL the Explorer. When time is on your side, I was taught to discover new routes. Often, there are alternatives to go from one destination to another. Do not, I repeat, do not be afraid to explore.
5- Follow the leader. Imagine this, it’s raining cats and dogs in NLE and visibility is less than 10 feet. What do you do? You follow the leader. It would be wise to look for a “pace car” that seem to know what he’s doing but doesn’t know you’re trailing him. Just ensure you keep a distance. Not following the last instruction might be fatal.
6- Truck ban. Whether on rainy or sunny day, never follow a truck! It's next to being blind on the road.
7- Blind curve. Drivers know that it's dangerous to overtake in a blind curve, but they do. It's a major no-no and a lose-lose situation in case the unexpected happens.
8- Go fast...alone. Boys will be boys. The curiosity (that killed the cat while you were driving 100 kph) in us will always be there. If you want to explore the limits of your car, do it alone. Spare your family from your mischievous deed and let them enjoy your life insurance.
9- Parking check. Before the back up sensors or a parking guide videocam were born, there was this thing called common sense. When parking in a tight squeeze or to ensure if you’re within the limits of the parking space, nothing beats going down to check if your parked properly.
10- Getaway mode. When parking, ensure that you’re always parked on the getaway mode. This means sacrificing time and effort to park before alighting the vehicle so that you gain the rewards when you leave the park space.

Parents really play a huge role in molding their children and learning to drive is part of the top box. We need responsible drivers on the road.

The Galleon Andalucia

Last October 9, the DL family trooped to Manila South Harbor Pier 13 to check out the Spanish Galleon Andalucia. B5's history subject touches on galleons during the 17th century reason why it was important for us to check it out. Unfortunately, we were not lucky enough because the line was too long and the organizers decided to visitor count limit on the last day.

Who?
It was constructed by the Fundacion Nao Victoria of Andalucia.
The skipper was Captain Gonzalo de la Cruz.

What?
It is a replica of the ships that sailed between Spain and the Philippines in the 17th century.

Where?
It was docked in Manila South Harbor Pier 13 for three days.

When?
It stayed in Manila from October 6 to 9.

How?
It is a 51 meter wooden ship.
It sailed from Spain to the Philippines for 6 months.

-end-

HRM

I'm not talking about the undergrad course called Human Resources Management but a device used by humans called the Heart Rate Monitor. I got mine in 2002 through L-Time studio. Of course, I got it on sale for P5,000 when the regular price was p7,000. Mine is a Nike Triax C6. It's a useful device as it not only tracks time but as the title of the entry suggest, your heart rate. And speaking abt heart rates, here are some personal facts:
(a) Ideal heart rate for a 38 yr old male:
beginner 110 - 128
intermediate 128 - 146
advanced 148 - 165
(b) Heart Rate Results:
Control standing = 86
After 12 mins run with incline = 173
Cool down after 5 mins = 101.
(c) Max Heart Rate for a 38 yr old male is 182.

The formula for Maximun Heart Rate is 220 less age.

This device is one of my "best buys."

60+ Reasons why U’ll miss Central Luzon

June 21, 2004. With a heavy heart, I left a team that I lead for 5 years to handle another team. I handled the CL family when I was 27 until 32 yrs old hence truly memorable times in my life. I received over 60 messages from my teammates that I handled directly or indirectly and I’d like to share some of the messages;

Sir DL,
Goodluck po and a great loss indeed for CMO kasi mababawasan po sales namin because of your endorsements sa mga friends nyo na gusto mag-apply. Hehehe  You’ll always be our CL Smart family. God Bless.
K. / Pampanga

DL,
Thank you for the times you’ve helped me. And thank you for just being there.
M. / Pampanga

Sir,
Salamat…sa mga bagay na tinuro ninyo…sa opportunidad na binigay mo…sa supporta at pang-unawa. Good luck & more power.
B. / Bulacan

DL,
Thought you’ll be my superior for the rest of my SMART life. Thanks and good luck in your new team!
L. / Tarlac

Dearest Sir DL,
I believe that you are one of the best managers in Smart and I will not be surprised if you’ll be entrusted more with greater responsibilities in the future. May the good Lord continue to bless you in your endeavors Thanks so much for the trust. I hope that you’ll be proud of me someday. We’ll surely miss u! Ingat po!
B. / Bataan

Sir DL,
Just want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with you. Thank you for guiding me and molding me into becoming the kind of person that I am right now. I had a lot of rough times at Smart and I know you were behind me all the while. Thanks for trusting and believing in me. I must say that I’m blessed to have a boss like you. Hope that I would have the chance to work with you again.
G. / Pampanga

Sir DL,
I have learned a lot from you in the short time we have known each other. Thank you for encouraging me to make decisions on my own and for allowing me to commit mistakes in order to learn. Most especially thank you for the trust & support you have given me. I’m sure going to miss working with you. God Bless!
H. / Bulacan

Sir DL,
Sayang etana mekapag basketball ulit, pero ebali dakal pa naman aliwang aldo. Sir, Kasanting mu palang akakit keng TV. Pwde kang maging host bala ku sana ita ing maging bayu mung career. Good luck!
P. / Pampanga

Dear Sir DL,
Thank you for the lessons learned from you. There maybe ups and downs along the way but it brings better relationships to both of us. Good luck to your next assignment and am sure this will add another feather in your cap. God bless you always.
B. / Zambales

Sir DL,
Thank you for everything. You’re one of the people who made me or rather showed me to love my work. Don’t work too much OK? Kaw na rin nagsabi na pagnagka sakit ka, yung family mo lang ang karamay mo. Goodluck po. I believe this is just the beginning of a lifetime of success.
P. / Pampanga

Sir DL,
Thanks for being there always. So sorry if sometimes na hurt ko yung feelings mo but I do know that you want the best for me and I really thank you for that. As I’ve said, naiintindihan ko ang lahat ng ginagawa mo. I wish you luck on your new challenges in your life. Take care always and we love you.
A../ Pampanga

Sir DL,
All good things must come to an end. It wasn’t all that bad, believe me. I know this is one opportunity you will not let pass and I’m certain that you’ll make it. Let me kthank you for letting me be part of one of the best teams in SMT. Had I not been under you, I would have been a different (maybe less of who I am right now) AE in the corporate world. I hope that somehow, I added COLOR to your “always put in B & W” approach to work. I’m happy that in our last task together, you finally got the BALIUAG’s spelling right  See you around!
A.E. / Pampanga

Sir DL!
Thank you po ken eganagana asaup nyu po kaku lalong lamo nap o itang “BIKE.” Good luck na mu po ken bayu nyo po lugar o pwestu. Sir, Amiss ku po itang “RL dating gawi!” at ing piyalung ta po basketball. Sir unit po, good luck.
R.L./ Pampanga

Sir DL,

Thank you for the support you have extended to me/us! Kamustahan with you po ay malaki ang nagagawa even not just to voice out problems if there is anybut plan sharing experiences. Good luck and more power on your next endeavor.
H. / Nueva Ecija

To Sir DL,
Thank you for believing in me and making me a part of the Smt family. I could still remember during my interview when you told me that being a contractual doesn’t make me less of a person and you were right. I was inspired and I was able to strive more and render something more than I thought I could do. Anyway, I just wish you all the best and all the luck! Gob bless you and surely you will be missed.
A.B. / Bulacan

-end-

Clean Up Drive

My blogsite is 4 years and 3 months old. It has over 400 posts. I reckon this site will outlive me barring any technical or personal concerns and I have no recourse but to shut it down. Since it is expected to be here long after I’ve gone to the next life, I should have at least clean it up. This is what I plan to do:

(1) Check spelling & grammar.
(2) Review if pictures are appropriate to the text content.
(3) Rationalize the categories.
(4) Mask the names of my family members.

My target is to clean 100 entries every month. This is a 4 month personal project which will commence on November 1, 2010 and end on March 31, 2011.

I Love Nature photo contest entry

http://www.philstar.com/microsite/ilovephilippinesyear3/ilovenature_entries.html

And the winners are...
http://www.philstar.com/microsite/ilovephilippinesyear3/ilovenature.html

Better luck next time, DL.

Dreamt of My Pare

Brown Mitsubishi Mirage. Orange Toyota Supra. Green John Deere tractor. Yellow Willy's jeep. These were the vehicles found in our garage during my dream.

Last Sept 14, I dreamt of my father BL. It was my first dream that I heard his voice again since April 2008 days before he passed away. The location was in my parents house. We were in the garage and he put his arms on my shoulder and we walked to the adjacent garden. Miss you BL.

Boss Badge

It is believed to be an urban legend but the fact that TV documentaries featured this not-so-ethical practice shows proof that this is actually happening. Here's the scenario: an off duty police riding a public transportation (like a bus) will show his police badge and he gets a free ride. Speaking about "the badge" last Aug 1, we took time out and visited the Hyundai Quezon Boulevard showroom. Visiting car showrooms is becoming one of our family's bonding time. The plan was to see the all new sixth generation Hyundai Sonata. And yes, it was pretty. As Top Gear Phils described it "it looks like an entry level Mercedes Benz" probably drives and handles like one at half the cost. But there's clearly something wrong with it. My senses tell me it's the "H" emblem. If it were the popular "H" from Japan, at P1.380M that mid sized sedan would sell like hotcakes.

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/sonata/

TGP article

I hope TGP doesn't sue me for posting this in my blogsite. Peace.

http://www.topgear.com.ph/blogs/head-over-wheels/?p=411

7 cool cars for cool dads
Written by Dinzo Tabamo of Top Gear Philippines
June 17, 2010

When I was growing up, I recall that my cousin Dylan was one of the coolest kuyas I had. He was funny, had good taste in clothes (he was a bit brand-conscious, but it was the 1980s), and he always looked younger than his actual age. And while I wouldn’t call him a certified car nut, he knew a lot more than the average Juan when it came to machines on four wheels.

After he got married, he purchased a Toyota Revo. It was a very capable vehicle, but I chided him for getting a daddy car. He just grinned and acknowledged that he has other priorities now. When he upgraded to a Honda CR-V, I thought he finally decided to get a more hip ride, until I found out he got the automatic transmission variant.

I like fatherhood. I grew up with a kind and forgiving dad. I also understand there are new responsibilities and commitments that come with it. The sporty two-seater might have to go and be replaced by something with a more practical purpose. But it doesn’t have to be vanilla compact SUVs or minivans.

Here are some cars for dad that can be used by a family of at least four but can still make him feel like a teenager with a new driver’s license. I’m sure when my cousin Dylan’s cute children Kobe and Chloe graduate from college, he’ll make a beeline for one of these fine cars.

1. Subaru Legacy Wagon – Symmetrical all-wheel drive and a torquey turbo will redefine your definition of a midsize sedan. The wagon variant is a good excuse to tell your wife it’s just a plain station wagon, just tell her the hood scoop is an eco feature of some sort.

2. Porsche Panamera – Profit is the reason Porsche created the Panamera. But the result is a superbly engineered four-door with the soul of a 911. It can only seat four, so yaya will have to be left behind.

3. Hyundai Sonata – The most likely candidate to topple the Camry from its throne. Based on looks alone, the Toyota midsize sedan should start worrying.

4. Lancer Ralliart – It’s not the most hard-core Lancer in Mitsubishi’s lineup; that distinction belongs to the Lancer Evolution X. But this 237hp compact sedan with dual clutch transmission is more than enough to make one feel like a driver in the WRC.

5. Land Rover Discovery 4 – The Disco is the right balance between the hip-hop luxury of the flagship Range Rover and the mountain goat utility of the classic Defender. Even though the most off-road action it will get is probably Manila’s post-election potholes, the feeling that the ability to crawl rocks is there makes all the difference.

6. Lexus GS460 – To some it resembles the Toyota Camry but when you drive it, all the Camry comparisons fly out the window. There’s a reason this car is being aimed at the BMW 5-Series. Here’s a hint: a 322hp V8.

7. Nissan Grand Livina – At first glance it looks like a failed attempt to steal market share from the best-selling Toyota Innova. However the Grand Livina is one of the most underrated cars in the market. Select the variant with the six-speed transmission and it will do wonders with the 1.8-liter engine. And since it’s smaller than the Innova, what the Grand Livina loses in space it makes up for in handling and sportiness.

City Lights

Overheard in an elevator are two officemates who recently got 3rd gen Honda City. They were talking about other officemates who also got a similar car model:
J- Naka City din siya.
L- Ha? Naka City lang siya? Bakit City lang kinuha niya?
J- E siguro yung lang ang budget niya.
L- Pero kahit CRV afford niya.

In our culture, the top 3 determinants of success are 1- house, 2- car and 3- clothing. The car and the clothing is the most visual. Actually, it may be a general rule but not always the case. There's this retired couple living in a Makati CBD condo and has two 7-Eleven franchised stores but drives a mid 90s Honda Civic. On the other hand, there's this young couple living in an apartment and "trying to make ends meet" but drives an early 2000 Ford F150. I wonder where they get the budget for gasoline. I reckon from his rich parents.

The reality is priorities of people vary hence what you see is not what you get.

Impressive Impreza! Impressive Impreza?

Last June 26, the DSL family trooped to Motorimage in Edsa, Ortigas to test drive a potential next family car - the third generation Subaru Impreza 2.0 R-S. It was a two-months-in-the-making scheduled test drive courtesy of Jesette of Motorimage who arranged it. The unit was color black and if we decide to get one in the future, we're eyeing the lightning red color.

ROUTE
The test drive route was from Motorimage's Ortigas Edsa office to Christ the King and back. DSL drove from the showroom to Corinthian Gardens then JML from there to Christ the King Church. From the midpoint and back to the showroom, the wheel was back to DSL.

PRO & CON
The Pros:
* For P1,2M, you get a fully made up sedan that has a personality disorder...is it a sport car or a family car? It will definitely turn heads esp. the non car nuts. Car nuts would probably say it's a rice car.
* When asked "So what do you drive?" The proud answer is "I drive a Subaru Impreza." If asked if it's a WRX or STI, just say "Next question pls."
* Contrary to popular belief, preventive maintenance cost is within range. A 10,000 kilometer check out would cost the owner between P4K to P5K.
* It's a cult car with serious followers. While the resale value is a scale or two below Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, there is second hand market for this car. You just have to exercise patience. It's a virtue anyway.

The Cons:
* The 3rd gen was released in the US in 2008 while it was released in the Phils in 2009.
* It's underpowered, walang sipa. Cruising at 40kph, I floored the gas pedal and thought that I was driving a diesel powered full sized SUV w/o turbo intercooler.
* Imagine a 2010 model poging poging ride but sports a 4 speed auto tranny. What that?!?! BMW uses 8 speed A/T for crying out loud. My former ride, a 1993 Mitsubishi Galant MPI A/T had a 4spd tranny!
* If the car breaks down, you better have tons of tissue paper para umiyak ka na lang because there's only ONE SERVICE CENTER in the 7,107 island Philippine archipelago.

It's 23 months to go before we change our primary ride however Mr. Excitement is excited again. In case we do opt for the Subaru, it will be our closest thing to a European luxury car having owned 5 Japanese cars so far since I made my own money. It's still not the Euro dream car pero pwede na.

Sakurabashi Superman

At around 7 o’clock in the evening in the busy JR Osaka train station, an “undressed” Superman wearing a black suit approach me and asked “Do you want to go?” I wasn’t really sure what he meant: (a) Did he have the hots for me? Or (b) Was he asking me to leave? I reckon that since I was holding a map, he meant that he wants to help me get to my destination.

Sakurabashi Exit
We just came from Universal Studios Japan on day 2 of our Japan trip and on our way back, I was trying to figure out our exit point since this will be “our point b” for the next 3 days of our lives. Point B a.k.a Sakurabashi exit is a few steps away from the Righa Royal Bus Stop. In economic terms, this means savings of Y1500 per trip of taxi from JR Osaka Station to the hotel.

Helpful Tribe
During the trip, we came to realize that being helpful is a trait common to Japanese. That was not the only time we were approached and offered help. The biggest challenge is the language barrier as a tourist need to communicate their objective to mostly non-English speaking Japanese.

In parting ways, I could only say Thank you as Arigatou gozaimasu slipped my mind during that brief encounter with the Sakurabashi Superman.

A quick lesson in Majority and Minority

The 15th President of the Philippines Benigno C. Aquino III was inaugurated in simple albeit historic rites today in Quirino grandstand. His political resume shows 9 years as Tarlac Representative (District 2) and 3 years as Senator. He is still considered a political neophyte. On the other hand, newly minted VP Jejomar Binay has 18 years of being Makati city Mayor under his belt plus 3 years as MMDA Chairman. In the national election last May 10, Aquino garnered 15,208,678 votes or 30.4 % of the population while Binay got 14,645,574 votes for 29.3% of the voting populace.

B5 is this school year’s class Vice President. He got 45 votes out of the 50 class population and that makes him the majority VP with 90% of the votes. This is his 7th year in DB and he has been Prexy 3X and Veep 2X already.

MC is the class President. She got 17 out of 41 votes which makes her a minority Prexy with 41% of the votes. Her classmates who ran against her got 10 votes an the 3rd placer got 7 votes. Her friend and namesake nominated her for class prexy. This is her 3rd year in CS.

Majority is considered 50% plus 1%.

Photo Me again

I am joining my Nth photo contest in the last 3 years. I’ve actually lost count how many times I’ve joined but recall submitting entries in CNN, Air Asia, Sea Air, Havaianas, Smt Photo Club and now Philippine Star. Prizes range from airline tickets, electronic gadgets and gift certificates.

Last month, I joined the two Philippine Star photo contest with themes: (1) I Love the Philippines http://www.philstar.com/microsite/ilovephilippinesyear3/home.html and (2) I Love Nature http://www.philstar.com/microsite/ilovephilippinesyear3/ilovenature.html. The Phil Star contest runs until end July 2010.

My win ratio is a bit low since I’ve only won one first place in a photo contest that I joined last year. But that doesn't discourage me from joining more contest as long as there's no joining fee and I become richer in experience.

Black Folding Umbrella

Osaka, Japan. When I was a teenager, mother used to remind me often to always bring a jacket and an umbrella. During my younger days, an umbrella wasn't thought to be cool. It probably still isn't to a teener. But to a thirty-ish practical like man like me, a "payong" is a necessity. I actually don't give a hoot what people think as long as I don't get sick.

Enough said. Now let me tell you about my over 5 year old well travelled black folding umbrella. I know I bought it in the Philippines but the name of the store escapes my mind right now. It has accompanied me almost every rainy day and a staple in my trips to the US (2X), SG (2X), MY, ID and JP.

One of its support is already broken. I think it has outlived its useful life and now time to retire. Then again, an adhesive only cost 50 pesos so I might as well repair it and extend its life. That's the practical side of me talking.

What's with Denzel Washington?

Osaka, Japan. What? No love scenes? No fast cars? No picturesque location? And yet the movie grossed US$ 152.4 million! En route to Japan, I indulged myself in CX's in house movie and watched a D. Washington film called the Book of Eli. The film released in Y2010 was a worthy replacement for a 2 hour sleep. And speaking about being blessed, I was fortunate to see the award winning actor in Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills driving his black Porsche Carrera 4S.

Bless Kids

Osaka, Japan at 6AM. These children sleeping beside me right now at Righa Royal Hotel are truly blessed. Only 12 and 6 y.o., they've been to 5 countries already. My first international travel was at age 10 when I went to Hongkong with a cousin and stayed with an auntie who worked for the Philippine Embassy. After that, my next international travel was when I was already 33 y.o. Young as they are, they are privileged to have already visited HK, ID, MY, SG and now JP.

CX Galore

Osaka, Japan. Our first option for air travel from Manila to Osaka was every Juan's favorite Cebu Pacific (CP). Unfortunately, flight back to Manila was booked and a CP and CX combo would be more expensive. The tour package includes Philippine Airlines (PR) however we opted out because there is only one flight in and out of Osaka. It arrives in the evening and leaves in the morning which already shaves two days off.

This year's family trip was serviced by Cathy Pacific (CX). It was the most expensive amongst the 3 choices (by $50) but the most practical, travel wise. For the organizer (that's me), it was overall value for money. We arrived Osaka just after lunch and leave in the afternoon. This schedule gives us more time to enjoy the city.

Some of the highlights of the plane that we rode include:
1- Live video feed of the plane's frontend. The camera is probably placed in the fuselage. So in the event of a crash, you have just 1 to 2 seconds to pray the Hail Mary and Our Father. J/K!

2- In house movie at your fingertips. Think Avatar, Book of Eli, Shutter Island, et al. They have the new releases as well as a good selection in their library hence a great time to catch up on the latest. Not only that, you have full control of the movie. The common video buttons are available- pause, stop, play, forward and rewind.

JAPAN TRIP DAY 5 – June 6. Kobe

After being ultra confident as a result of day 4 experience, we decided to do Kobe on our last day. Hotel check out time was 2PM, travel time to the target destination was almost 1 hour one way hence our day had to start early. By 9AM, we were onboard a train to Kobe. We stopped at Kobe JR station took pictures and decided to try our luck and see Akashi Kaiko bridge (the longest central span of any suspension bridge at nearly 2 kilometers). Unfortunately, time was not on our side and the view was blocked by buildings. While in Kobe, we stopped at Kobe and Sumakaihinkōen Stations. We explored the Suma-ku ward and checked out their neighborhood. After that it was back to hotel then back to reality. The Japan 5 day dream concludes today.

JAPAN TRIP DAY 4 – June 5. Kyoto and Nara

The Chinese blood in me was in hyper mode last Saturday. After we’ve finally decided to do Kyoto & Nara sightseeing tour, we discovered that: 1- there was at least a one day pre-booking requirement by the agency and 2- that the tour is booked to the hilt until June 7. By then, we would be in the Philippines. The tour package cost 15,400 yen per person and it was like a blessing in disguise as our adventure to Kyoto & Nara that started at 7AM and ended 13 hours later only cost us 2,510 yen per pax.

We rode almost all types of land transpo on that day – inter-city train, intra-city train, bus and taxi. In Kyoto, we saw the Ni-jo castle. We would have wanted to see the Kyoto Imperial Palace that day however it was closed. Para siyang government office na closed on weekends. In Nara, we went to the Nara Park (where deers freely roam around. MC calls them Bambi), Todaiji Temple (considered the world's largest wooden building) and took pictures in front of the National Museum. Both Ni-jo Castle and Todaiji Temple are World Heritage sites. We also saw the Shinkansen or the bullet train. Dinner was at McDo again for the second straight day.

JAPAN TRIP DAY 3 – June 4. Osaka

The plan was to check out the Osaka Castle, tour the Osaka River through the Aqua-Liner and explore the Namba area (south). This day is relatively relaxed compared to the other days. We were only able to do the Osaka Castle and Aqualiner. What’s interesting is that I discovered the answer to the question “Who is Hideyoshi Toyotomi?” Google it and you’ll find out who he is but we’ve seen where he lives! Or at least a reproduction of his former empire. It is good to note that they have a free English audio tour guide just like Tony the fictional audio guide character in the Empire State Building.



Next on the list is a tour around Osaka City’s river system via the Aqua-Liner. At first, I was adamant on taking the river tour because of the cost (1,880 yen for adults and 940 yen for children). No regrets, both are a must see in a visit to Osaka.

In the evening, JML’s brother and cousins based in Kyoto and Nagoya in Japan visited and treated us for coffee in Starbucks in the Namba area. The Caffe Latte taste is consistent but the price is X3.

Our trip is more than 50% complete and day 4 promises to be equally exciting.

JAPAN TRIP DAY 2 – June 3. Osaka

The phrase "I enjoyed" is relative to every individual. For a parent, seeing your children enjoy to the superlative degree is tantamount to shouting at the top of your lungs that "I enjoyed!" The family trooped to Universal Studios in Japan today. We covered 4 out of 10 show attractions, 2 out of 5 play zones, 4 of 8 performances and 2 of 9 ride attractions. B5 liked the Jurassic Park and Terminator 2: 3-D, MC liked Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic and Aphrodite, JML Hello Kitty and Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic, DSL Jaws and Terminator 2: 3-D.


The statistics show we nearly reached 50% of what the park’s menu and that pretty much justifies the 2 days visit recommended by USJ however for this trip, we can only spare a day. The 5800 yen entrance fee for adults and 3900 yen for children was well worth it.

And now comes the exciting park, on our way home, we had to take the public transportation – the subway train. It should be easy if the signs were in readable English but it was pretty challenging. After missing the right train stop, we went back to point a then on the right path in no time.

JAPAN TRIP DAY 1 – June 2, Osaka

The day started as early as 2AM since our CX flight was at 6AM. First stop was HK because of the 2 hour transit break. We arrived in Japan just a little past 2PM. We had to take the bus from KIX (Kansai International Airport) to the bus station where a free hotel shuttle awaited us. The trip from kix to hotel cost only P750 compared to an airport to hotel arranged transpo which will be bank breaking P50,000! Dinner was at a ramen resto whose name I can't understand and whose menu is similarly sense challenging.

ALMOST BAHRAIN

The date was August 27, 2007 and we were scheduled to go to Bahrain for official business trip. We includes myself and my superior. We were booked on a flight via Emirates Airline and had a reservation at Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa‎ in Manama but the trip was not meant to be. Three hours before our 12:20AM flight, I got a call from my superior saying that there’s been a change of plan and we will not proceed with the trip. I suddenly remembered this almost Bahrain trip while searching for a file and the Bahrain stay permit popped up. If that trip pushed through, that would have been my 7th country to have visited. I have 188 countries to go!

Did You Know that by most accounts, there are 195 countries in the world?

MAGICAL MOUNTAIN

T'was my fifth time to go to Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor). It's a World War II monument which opened in 1966 during the term of the late president Ferdinand E. Marcos. It sits on top of mount Samat in Pilar, Bataan covering an area of 73.66 hectares. The things to see include the memorial cross and the colonnade. The memorial cross is 306 feet high with an elevator and a viewing gallery (arm of the cross). The colonnade is a marble-capped structure with an altar, esplanade museum.

In my 5 visits to this Bataan landmark, it is only now that I discovered that there is an interesting basement museum. Unfortunately, the elevator was not working and nobody dared climb the 30 storey stairway so we missed that part.

Back to Central Luzon

From 1999 to 2004, my job area of responsibility was Central Luzon region where the provinces of Bataan and Zambales are a part of. When I handled the region, I went to these two provinces numerous times. Despite being a frequent visitor, the recent personal trip brought revelations and new learning. Last May 22 and 23, my immediate family, my mother and two godmothers went on an escapade to our neighboring provinces.

BATAAN MARCH
The original itinerary includes: 1- Abucay Church, 2- Mount Samat, 3- Las Casas Filipinas and 4- Friendship Bell Tower. Despite being 1 hour delayed in ETD, we covered everything set in our day's sked. We had to scrap Las Casas because of the cost and lack of time. Lunch was at Villa Amanda Resort and Resto, my second time in the area. By 5pm, we were all dead tired from the travel and the heat and dreamt of a cold shower and the confines of an airconditioned hotel room. By 6pm, the dream was realized courtesy of Buena Casa Hotel in Subic.

TWO BASES
So I've lost count how many times I've been to this former US Naval Base. Plotted for today are Camayan Beach, JEST, bat kingdom and monkey watching and duty free shopping. Only one was realized, the Camayan Beach. There was a major change in plan after lunch, we decided to check out Clark field, Pampanga. Two former US facilities in a day - not bad! These two zones were recently linked by the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX). In clark, we checked out Clark Expo Center, Mimosa and Holiday Inn area and Fort Stotsenburg monument. Our two day trip was capped with a Holy Mass in the Divine Mercy chapel in Air Force City. We had dinner at Perfect Loaf in Angeles City just before going home to Tarlac City.

Breeze Through

It’s June 1, 2010 today. It’s been 5 full months since I last posted an entry. With a brand new responsibility, my 5th in the last 4 years and my 2nd this year alone, I’m back to the “learning phase.” Unfortunately for me, “learning phase” is an unacceptable phrase in this part of town and it’s expected that as if you’ve been doing the role for the past decade. I have some serious catching up to do reason why my blogging had to take a back seat.

1. Cuts like a Knife
I went through a life changing process in January. No, I did not undergo a sex transplant as I'm happy with my sexuality. While it was not my choice to go under the knife it was necessary to further extend my expiry date.

2. Jumping Jobs
January 1, 2010 marks my 6th responsibility in the company. While this is good because it minimizes stagnation, I'm always in the learning stage. Just when I was feeling my way in my new role, I was called again in February week 3 to handle my 7th role. Hence, my 6 week stint was the shortest tenure in a group.

3. Birthday Boy
Two more years before I hit the big FORTY. In March, I turned 38 years old. I am relatively still considered young by majority of the population and will be a kid forever in the eyes of my parents, uncles and aunties. Will I have the budget to celebrate my 40th in a big way? We will see.

4. Quindecennial
Just 3 days after my birthday, I celebrated yet another landmark - my 15th year in the company. Fresh out of college, I joined ths company because I wanted to have experience and the company seemed interesting enough. Fast forward in 2010, the gamble paid of. This is what you call being in the right place at the right time.

Thanks to technology for providing my bread and butter, for extending my life and for allowing me to update my blog using my phone and uploading it online, wirelessly. Life is great !

JEJEMON IN THE HOUSE

During my quest to get a new compact cam for the family, I came across this saleslady from one of Makati's hundred of appliance stores. Lo and behold, she was a Jejemon!

What is a Jejemon?
Jejemon (IPA: ['dʒɛdʒɛmon]) is a pop culture phenomenon in the Philippines. Jejemons are defined by Urban Dictionary as those "who has managed to subvert the English language to the point of incomprehensibility and online lynch squads."[1] A Jejemon is described as one of a "new breed of hipsters who have developed not only their own language and written text but also their own sub-culture and fashion."[2] Jejemons also imitate "gangster" like attitudes which make them similar to the English chav, Scottish ned, Irish skanger, Russian gopnik and Australian & New Zealand bogan. (source: wikipedia)

Jejemon translator:
http://kalokohan.guissmo.frih.net/jologs.php

Now to translate my blog entry to Jejemon:
DuRiNg My qUeST 2 GET A NEw coMPct CaM FoR d Family, i CAMe Acr0SZ tHIz SleslAdy~ fROm ONE of mkTZ~ hUNdred~ of~ APpLiANCe S2rES P0wH. lo nD bEhOld, She wz~ A jEjEMOn~ lolz!

A New Toy !

Last March 13, 2010, we bought a Sony Handycam DCR-SX40 at Western Appliance. The list price was P22,999 and we got it for a rock bottom price of P16,999. The highlights of the new toy include:
HYBRID convenience: 4GB internal memory & Memory Stick
60x optical zoom
Touch Panel LCD with user-friendly menu system
Easy Handycam® Button
Scene Selection
2.7" Wide LCD
Compact at 53mm x 59mm x 113mm (W x H x D)
Lightweight at 200g (approx)
(Source: http://www.sony.com.ph/product/dcr-sx40/sku/dcr-sx40_lc+e23 )

This video camera is a fitting replacement for our 7 year old Sony Handycam DCR-TRV19 (mini DV). While our first handycam served its purpose and still useful, technology already caught up hence the need to replace it. Now the challenge is to convert the movie files from miniDV to DVD format which actually cost P650 per hour at www.copytown.net.

Actually, the financial impact of this expense to our resources is merely P4,000 since the company shouldered P13,000 as a service award gift for being with the company for the last 15 years.

A good deal indeed.

Wealthy You Month!

The company declared that March is Wealthy You Month! They invited financial guru J-Randell Tiongson, RFP to share his thoughts and improve our financial literacy. While I’ve read ALL his articles published in Money Sense magazine over a period of 3 years and found them interesting and helpful, I was a bit disappointed when I attended the seminar because that night, he was apparently energized and was in a jovial mood. He was extremely funny but I did not attend the seminar to be regaled by stand up comedienne instead was looking to improve on my financial knowledge.

At any rate, here are some of the items that I picked up during the seminar:

Stages in Life
(1) Getting Started 22 to 35
(2) Growing Family 30 to 45
(3) Children in College 40 to 55
(4) Trapped in the Job 50 to 65
(5) No Income 65 up.

6 Steps to Smart Start
(1) Establish Financial goals and plan for getting there.
(2) Separate needs from wants.
(3) Create a monthly spending plan.
(4) Start saving and bank wisely.
(5) Stay on top of your loan obligation.
(6) Use credit wisely.

Despite my experience, I will still continue to read his articles but probably avoid attending his seminars. We will see.

New Year 2010

It's the year of the tiger! For me, the new year comes with a new responsibility, my 3rd in less than 4 years. With a number of things in my head waiting to be marked as DONE, I can only afford to post this entry. Happy New Year!

New Year's Resolution
by Rafael Castillo, M.D.
PDI Science/Health Section page B4.

N- Nutrition
E- Exercise
W- Water

Y- Youthful Spirit
E- Eco friendliness
A- Attitude
R- Rest, relaxation and Relationships

Now back to work...

Must Have Basic Qualities

I got this material from the Careers Section of a popular local daily and had to cut it out and post it on my office and my blogsite. Nothing beats going back to basics regardless of the level you're in:

1- Exceptional Leadership Qualities
2- Highly Motivated
3- Excellent Communication Skills
4- Ready Network of Clientele
5- Team Player

-end-