My 12 Senatorial Candidates for the 2016 Elections

Because of Trillanes' threat of impeaching Duterte, if elected president, I have decided to take out all the LP candidates from the list below and all those I think would be loyal to the PNoy administration.

So here's my updated senatorial list which I will also share with my family, since all of us are voting Duterte.

#1 Raffy Alunan

#2 Walden Bello

#3 Sandra Cam

#4 Neri Colmenares

#5 Sherwin Gatchalian

#4 Richard Gordon

#5 Lorna Kapunan

#8 Princess Jacel Kiram

#9 Alma Moreno

#10 Isko Moreno

#11 Susan Ople

#12 Jovito Palparan

Changing My Senatorial Slate Due to Trillanes' Threat of Duterte Impeachment

Thanks to Trillanes and his dirty tactics, I have taken out all the LP candidates I was planning to vote. I-impeach niyo pala si Digong ha, pwes tanggal lahat ng LP candidates sa listahan ko and those who were appointed by PNoy.

Impeach pala ha!

Sorry Leni, sorry de Lima, sorry Hontiveros. Your loyalties kasi is with the administration e. I love your work and believe that you all can do a lot for the country, but your boss is an a**hole so protest vote muna ako.

Sino pa bang most likely will side with PNoy para tanggalin ko sa list?

I hope other Dutertards change their senatorial lists as well.

Everyone in the family feels the same way so I'll have a new list again tomorrow para we can make sure these LP people and those loyal to PNoy cannot resort to dirty tricks, like what they did to the poor Corona.

Don't you think the timing of Corona's death is too eerie? Parang sampal kay PNoy and those senators who got 50 million pesos bribe from him, just for a yes vote to impeach the poor guy.

Celebrating the Unsung Heroes During the Dark Martial Law Years

I was lucky that I studied in UP because I was able to learn about the heroics of Evelio Javier, Edgar Jopson, Lean Alejandro and countless other young men and women who laid down their lives against the Marcos dictatorship.  Unfortunately, with the continued ascendancy of the Marcoses and some of their cronies, it's like nothing has happened and those who suffered under their hands have been given little or no financial remuneration, and worse, no apologies at all.

If you read this Inquirer article, you'll find out that there were many ordinary people who fought during those dark years.  It would be interesting to buy the book that these siblings wrote.  That way, we may never forget the price they had to pay so that we would enjoy the freedom we are experiencing right now.

A heroic generation still cries: ‘Never again’

Duterte and the Philippine Stock Market

I am one of those people who are waiting with bated breath as to how the stock market will react in a Duterte presidency. Kaya if he wins (as the surveys show), the first 6 months are so important because it will either lead to an inflow or outflow of foreign money.

I experienced kasi how strong the impact is when foreign money comes in. Parang fiesta lang ang peg! You are lucky if you bought before the prices became so high. Yun lang, when they pull out naman, tidal wave din ang mangyayari, pabaligtad.

I hope Duterte chooses well-respected finance people and economists in his Cabinet para di magpanic ang mga fund managers, especially those who are handing Philippine accounts (and there are many in HK).

Someone whose credibility is so big in the Asian finance community that no matter what Duterte says, he or she can deflect or spin the words easily.

Not Surprised Why Bongbong Marcos is Faring Well in the VP Race

I am also not surprised why BongBong Marcos is still very popular.

Yes, I am appalled with many of his statements but again, unlike many supposedly "good" Pinoy politicians, he's very low-key in person - and like his mother, he really talks to you, appearing interested with your life and gives you no condescension.

Charina Pinez Errea and I met him first in the HK airport. He, along with his family were in the waiting area, quiet, unassuming, not drawing attention to themselves and no bodyguards.

At that time, I think he was just governor of Ilocos Norte, so his national profile was pretty low. It was Charina Pinez Errea who noticed him and said to me, let's ask for a photo.

Wala pang Iphones, androids and tablets nun and the camera phones were still in the Stone Age! We talked to him and he was very gracious, very easy to talk to and when we asked for a picture, we said, we had no camera and he suggested our camera phone (the Stone Age one).

Ayun, I don't know where the photo is anymore because I've had many phones na after that.

A few weeks later, I met him again, this time at the Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge of the Heathrow Airport. I went up to him and introduced myself, saying that we met a few weeks earlier in HK. Yun pala, he was bringing his sons to London (to study, I think.)

Ayun, again, he was very easy to talk to, no yabang, parang close kami LOL. What endeared him to me was when he asked me why I was in London. I said, "I meet up with my boyfriend every June to watch tennis, etc."

He did not bat an eyeflash when he heard "boyfriend". I looked at his face for a raised eyebrow. I found no judgment in his expression.

This was about ten years ago when gay marriage and men having boyfriends were not talked so openly in Pinoy society.

So he might, he just might support gay marriage. Unfortunately, I never asked about his stand on the issue.

We talked about other general things. I asked about his province and what he had done there. He volunteered the information openly. Walang yabang, walang pag-aalsa ng bangko. He was very cordial.

I actually like him, di ba Charina Pinez Errea. He was so nice to us! Komedyante pa!

Yun lang, in conscience, I just can't vote for him. But I won't tell him that when we do meet again in person, LOL

The Top 10 Tourist Destinations in the Philippines

According to the Department of Tourism, the following are the top 10 destinations in the Philippines in 2010

1.  Camarines Sur - I've never been here and I'm not really into water sports so maybe I'll pass on this one.

2.  Metro Manila - I live here so a no-brainer.

3. Cebu - I grew up here and it's still my favorite place to go to in the Philippines for vacation.

4.  Boracay - I've been here once. Memorable experience, but I'm not really into beaches, so I'll just go here if the kids are coming with me.

5.  Baguio City - My last trip to Baguio was in 1996!  I'm overdue for a return trip!

6.  Davao City - My last trip to Davao was in 1998! Another city I should visit soon!

7.  Puerto Princesa City - Another place I'm interested to visit.

8.  Cagayan de Oro - I lived here between 1995-1996.  Lovely city.  I heard it has grown even more.  Would love to visit it again!

9.  Zambales - my brother and his kids went here last summer and they had a great time!  Still, they went to the beach and not really my cup of tea

10.  Bohol - I visited Bohol a few years back with Benoit, my French friend.  We had a great time!

The Top 10 Destinations I'd Love to Visit in the Philippines

I've been lucky that I was able to travel to many different places in the Philippines since we always traveled even as kids so the following list are still, the places I'd love to visit since I haven't been there yet -

1.  Baler, Aurora - I've always been fascinated by that battle between the Spanish and the Filipinos in Baler, and a trip there will give me the chance to finally see the place where it all happened!

2.  Vigan, Ilocos Sur - old gentrified houses, would love to see them

3.  Mayon Volcano, Albay - It's a pity I've never seen the Mayon Volcano.  Maybe it's time I should!

4.  Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte - I'd love to see the windmills and the 'desert'

5.  Dumaguete City - I love university towns so it would be interesting to see this university town by the sea

6.  Dapitan City, Zamboanga Del Norte - my sisters went here a few years ago but I wasn't able to join them, pity really, but I would love to drive by the city again on the way to Dakak

7.  Lucena, Quezon - It's just a few hours away from Manila, another city I'd love to see

8.  Marawi City - I wish I had a close Muslim friend who knows his way around this predominantly Muslim city.  I would love to visit it too.

9.  Batanes - so isolated and so far away but still I'd love to visit the place

10.  Dakak, Zamboanga Del Norte - probably the only beach in this list that I'm interested to visit

I've never been to Palawan or the Banaue Rice Terraces but I guess I'm not too interested in them since they didn't make my Top 10.  Not really into beaches and since that's what Palawan can offer, it's not really on top of my list.  I also don't like hiking, so going up to the terraces may not be an enjoyable idea for me.  I'd love to visit Tacloban City and Samar but what are we supposed to do there?

Why Are We Not Extensively Using Solar Energy?

I read an interesting article yesterday wherein a big college in Manila has opted to use solar energy to power their school's electricity consumption.  Now that is a very good idea! And that a nun had the initiative to really implement it shows that the religious need not be traditional thinkers! 

Well, the school uses two technologies - the use of solar thermal collectors and of absorption chillers.  According to DCI, the one who installed it, the solar double wall vacuum tubes, which look like fluorescent lamps, are installed on the rooftop of the building - absorbing the sunlight and traps the heat. 

The energy is then transferred through pipes and stored in thermal storage tanks which are like a big version of a thermos.  The hot water then goes to the absorption chillers and to the cooling tower which dispense the cold air to the fan units installed on each of the 16 rooms of the building.  Apparently the tubular solar panels are more effective in absorbing and trapping in the sun's heat.

Now this type of set-up is perfect here since we have a lot of sunny days!  And worse, our electricity bills are continuously rising.  If only, we can implement this, we can slash our electricity bills a lot.  The school used to pay more than a million pesos on electricity.  Not anymore.  Wise ladies!

The Case Against Mining

     It’s no secret that the Philippines is extremely rich when it comes to natural resources. Our land is littered with minerals such as nickel, coal, gypsum, sulfur, silver. Sound good? Well, our country also has the fifth largest stock of gold and copper in the whole world. In fact, according to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Philippines have a total of 840 billion US dollars worth of untouched minerals.

            I know what you’re thinking. If we’re so rich, why, then, is our country correctly  perceived as one of the poorest third world countries in the globe?

            Well, technically, as stated before, we are rich in natural resources. But some people have a problem with mining. It is extremely dangerous, and while most of our wealth could be uncovered by mining, many people have declared that mining won’t do anything to help our economy –– in fact, the Philippines may be better off without it.

            Considering we have one of the world’s biggest gold and copper reserves, the Philippines doesn’t have much trouble attracting foreign investors and mining corporations. Uno problemo is, mining exposes risk not only to the environment but also to the community –– proof would be the countless accidents that have happened because of perilous mining operations.

            Take, for example, the Philex Mining in Libay. Rice fields and houses, among other things, were destroyed by the mud slides between 1999 and 2002. The mud spread 200 meters out to sea, causing the demise of fish, shellfish, mangroves, and corals. Mercury levels were about 400 times higher than usual. Needless to say, people were afraid to buy fish, affecting the fishery commerce. 70 percent of Filipinos’ count on fishing and agriculture for survival.

            Miners as subjected to numerous health vulnerabilities, as they are exposed to: dust; vibration, which can cause permanent damage to bones. Gangrene in the hands and fingers can be caused by the vibration syndrome, also known as ‘dead finger’ syndrome. Vibration may also trigger problems with the digestive system because of the continuous shaking of the internal organs; extreme heat, and considering sources of hydration may be limited when in the process of mining, this can lead to severe dehydration; inhalation of fumes produced by machineries used; absorption of manganese, lead, cadmium, and other noxious materials. They also have limited exposure to air and are susceptible to repetitive stress injury (RSI), back pains due to manual lifting, and hearing impairment caused by noise and/or other hazardous sounds.

            Sodium cyanide is used to leech gold from ores. Cyanide is an extremely poisonous salt of hydrocyanic acid and it blocks the movement from the blood to the body tissues. This is also fatal. Mercury, another toxic element, is also used frequently to generate gold-amalgam.

            People also lose their homes and their lands because of mining. Said Aquino Q. Pimentel Jr. regarding the indigenous peoples being removed from their homes due to mining:

“Also since the Marcos years, I have denounced and will continue to denounce the use of force - how mainly through the civilian paramilitary units - to compel tribal groups that oppose the entry into their ancestral domains of mining and logging interests without engaging them in honest to goodness consultations. No country claiming to be democratic should allow that to happen within its territory.”

            All these predicaments related to mining can make a person wonder if it can truly be helpful to our economy. In his World Bank Extractive Industries Review (2004), Dr. Emil Salim of the UK Financial Times said:

“Not only have the oil, gas and mining industries not helped the poorest people in developing countries, they have often made them worse off. Scores of recent academic studies and many of the bank's own studies confirmed our findings that countries which rely primarily on extractive industries tend to have higher levels of poverty, child morbidity and mortality, civil war, corruption and totalitarianism than those with more diversified economies.”

            So . . . how can mining help our flailing economy if it 1) expose workers to fatalities 2) pollute rivers near their sites 3) damage mangroves 4) obliterate coral reefs and, to top it all of, 5) forcibly throw out locals from mining sites (which, by the way, is a total violation of human rights)?

            It doesn’t. We can attribute this to the fact that whatever cash we get out of foreign investors and mining companies drilling holes in our ground goes straight into our “leaders’” pockets, leaving none for the starving, suffering Filipino.

References:

·         MINING IN THE PHILIPPINES: BANE OR BOON. 2011. MINING IN THE PHILIPPINES: BANE OR BOON. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.nenepimentel.org/speeches/20071126_Mining.asp. [Accessed 27 May 2011]

·         Philippines . 2011. Philippines . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2794.htm. [Accessed 27 May 2011]

·         Mining in the Philippines and the effects on Occupational Health and Safety of Mine Workers* | IOHSAD. 2011. Mining in the Philippines and the effects on Occupational Health and Safety of Mine Workers* | IOHSAD. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.iohsad.org/11/06/mining/mining-philippines-and-effects-occupational-health-and-safety-mine-workers*. [Accessed 27 May 2011]

·         Mining in the Philippines - Concerns and Conflicts. 2011. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.envirosecurity.org/sustainability/presentations/Wicks.pdf. [Accessed 27 May 2011]



The Adverse Impact of Mining Operations in the Philippines

The Philippine government has approved the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 which grants the opening of mining operations in both public and private lands; that also includes the timber or forestlands.  This law also has provision that  any interested miner or investor may apply for the Exploration Permit (EP), the mineral contact and the Technical  and financial assistance agreement with the Philippine government if there is a mineral deposit found in the area that has a high commercial value.  This mineral agreement with the government permits any contractor to conduct mining activities within a period of twenty five years.  And, still can be renewed by the mining contractors.  Moreover, there are three kinds of mineral agreement with the government. First is the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) that permits the contractor to have the right to any mineral resources as long as he will provide for the financing of the implementation of the agreement in terms of technological mechanism, management and supervision of the mining workers in the site. Second is the co-production accord that states that the government has to contribute to the financial resources for the implementation of the contract.  Third is the joint venture agreement that requires the government to organize a business partnership in which both the government and the contractor have equal sharing.  Aside from that, it is provided that the mining contractor must be either a Filipino citizen or a corporation that has 60 percent Filipino ownership.

(http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=2230)

However, home-grown communities along with the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are being concerned with the legality of these mining operations in the country.  Many Filipino people have been questioning the implementing rules and regulations that allow foreign companies to have total control in the mining operations as well as the natural resources in the country.  I am among those people who are wondering why our government allows this thing to happen in our environment.  Although, I know that the government and the foreign investments give many advantages to the government in terms of different tax revenues every year.  But the problem is the mining activities are destroying our country’s natural resources which are the main resources of basic food and daily needs of millions of ordinary Filipino people in the provinces.  Aside from that, the mining operations reportedly caused many deaths and serious working incidents in the site.  There is a great number of Filipino miners who met tragic incidents while working for different mining contractors in various provinces. This is  due to  lack of sources of income that led many men in the provinces to  join in these kind of  mineral hunting that takes longer years in looking for any valuable mineral that can be sold in the international market. 

(http://mindoropost.com/2011/03/04/mining-act-caused-corruption-conflicts-killings%E2%80%94groups/)

The significant effect of mining operations is very large among the indigenous people.  Most lands in the provincial area are owned by ancestral families.  And many stories have been reported that the Philippine Mining Act led to the mining operations even closer to   the ancestral lands without any permission from the land owners.  That is why many questions and doubts from many indigenous communities if there is any legality of these mining operations.  Because they believe that they have the right on their own lands; to reject any actions and conditions that may greatly affect their everyday living as Filipino citizens.    They still have the right to approve or not approve any mining application in their communities.  And, if the condition causes them any inconvenience and deprivation from their normal way of life as well as if the mining application can affect adversely to their sources of income. 

(http://mindoropost.com/2011/03/04/mining-act-caused-corruption-conflicts-killings%E2%80%94groups/)

Many foreign investors are convincing the people to sell to them their lands for mining purposes.  And since, the people are so attracted with the offer.  Some of them grab it without thinking that they will later suffer the consequences of selling their lands and properties.  More than that, there are many environmental groups which deeply concern on the entire effects of massive mining operations to the environment as a whole.  In this connection, there are many calamities and disasters that happened recently; and many environmentalists strongly stressed that these disastrous happenings caused by various mining activities.  Aside from the enumerated facts and findings about the awful effects of mining operation; it even gives way to graft and corruption to many government officials.  There is billion of dollars financial agreement that involves in this kind of mining business with foreign contractors; and  various officials in the government have all the options to take in order to give way this kind of operations in our land.  Besides, there are tragic incidents that have been reported; conflicts in mining communities, with their mining workers, with the ancestral land owners and the worst thing is the extrajudicial killings.    

(http://mindoropost.com/2011/03/04/mining-act-caused-corruption-conflicts-killings%E2%80%94groups/)

I therefore suggest the thorough review of the Philippine Mining Act; because it seems that it does not provide any protection for our environment as well as to the human rights of the people. 

References:

(http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=2230)

(http://mindoropost.com/2011/03/04/mining-act-caused-corruption-conflicts-killings%E2%80%94groups/)

Gaining Independence From Poverty

 

There is some truth to the saying that in the Philippines, the rich becomes richer, the poor becomes poorer.  But not most of the time.

While there may be a big portion of the Filipino today that are living below poverty line, an average poor Filipino can rely on his or her innate talent of ingenuity to come up with means to pull him or her from her present state.  The Filipinos’ hardworking trait will work positively for him as he strives hard to gain independence from poverty, from not having enough to getting along just fine.

 I have seen poverty at its worst and I could just wonder idly how a person or a family for that matter could combat the same with some amount of ingenuity and hard work.  I have this gut feel that it will work.  It will.

First, I will try to update myself with some agencies or institution within my community that can help me in my present status.  I am sure there are establishments out there who can provide me with some opportunities.  I’ll probably start by   improving my network and become visible to many possibilities. 

Like for instance, there are a lot of agencies who are into micro finance and target those marginalized poor in the community.  They are of great help.  These agencies can actually provide poor members of the society like me some opportunities    to enable me to become self reliant by providing loans with minimal interest with achievable requirements to start a small scale business.  Before a loan is granted, a borrower also has to undergo some form of training or seminar on how to sustain the small scale business whereupon he is likewise educated to become self reliant as to pay the loan obligation.

I would have to choose a particular business that would generate a modest income.  Perhaps the kind that never runs out of style regardless of anything be it rain or shine.  Of course it has to be something that I am particularly interested in.  A modest food business like an eatery would be my top priority as eating is an activity that will never go out of style among all people born with stomach plus the fact that aside from hard work, it does not necessarily entail too much start-up investment.  One can even start this up with a few hundred and rotate the proceeds of the day for next days’ operation.  It can even save the entire family’s food budget while earning at the same time. 

They say there is also a lot of money in junk business, so, I might probably consider that one too. 

Whatever business one is into, he had to put his heart into it 100 percent.  Most of all, before embarking into a particular business, it has to be granted that one has already made and done a feasibility or case study whereupon it showed a big chance of it to succeed .

On the other hand, there are a lot of available free livelihood trainings in a community or parish by which one can readily avail and could become a good business opportunity too.  The choices are actually plenty, one really just have to be updated or build up a network and become visible.

Know your strengths or skills as well.  It actually becomes your passport for particular job opportunities around.  For instance if you are a carpenter, electrician or a plumber or a nurse or teacher and jobless at the moment, you can actually put a signage in front of your house for any job that you can offer for a fee  in your community on call. Visibility is the key.  A teacher can offer tutorial services, a nurse some nursing skills that only her or his profession alone can administer like taking vital signs with assessment and health teaching, wound dressing or administering injections.

The power to change our life’s condition is in our hands.  The poor becomes poorer only if we do not do something about it.  Success does not come to those who only waited for it.  It comes only to those who will it and work hard for it.  There are always rooms for people who are industrious enough to achieve their goal in life. 

 Life is actually sweeter if success is earned through hard work.  The bottom line is always hard work as it always comes with a good price.

Filipino Traits I Am Most Proud Of

        

One Filipino trait that is most remarked upon even by visiting international celebrities are the Filipino people’s smiling faces. One tourist remarked that when she was out shopping in a mall that caters to the ultra rich, the people she met inside the shopping area,  outside of the store attendants, smiled at her albeit with tiny shy smiles. (Personally, it would seem rather odd  if people will give a stranger a big smile). When she went out of the mall and encountered other Filipinos not financially endowed, they also gave her tiny smiles. She said in the  interview that this gave her a happy feeling even if she was, at first, not inclined to be happy that day.

            Indeed, the Philippines was found out to be one of the happiest people on earth. Despite poverty, calamities, political imbroglio, terrorists, crimes, and the lot, the Filipinos still have something to be happy and cheerful about.  Filipinos are just happy to be alive and given the opportunity and the blessedness to still enjoy life however bleak and blurry it may seem.

            Filipinos love to party, they love attending town feasts; they love social gatherings and being with other people.  Filipinos also love to eat and talk. Filipinos also love to know what is happening around them, and what is happening to the people around them. Filipinos just love to be alive. Being alive gives them the reason to be happy because Filipinos believe that as long as one is alive, there is hope.

            Yes, Filipinos are happy. They are happy about everything. Remember the original EDSA People Power of 1986, when they filled the air with songs and with flowers. Living near Camp Aguinaldo before but not permitted to go outside the house,  I can hear the people laughing outside. If you did not know there was a revolution, you would think that there was a street party just by the happy sound of it. 

            Yes, Filipinos do embody happiness and cheerfulness.

            Another Filipino trait to be proud about is resilience. An article I read in the newspaper sometime ago compared Filipino resilience with that of a bamboo. It is thin but stands tall.  When strong wind comes, it only bends but never breaks. It is just flexible enough to permit the wind to pass through because it knows that sooner or later, the wind will stop and it can stand straight again. It knows how to adjust and to adapt to its environment. This really and truly personifies the Filipinos.

            When there is abundance, Filipinos enjoy the fruits of their labor. When scarcity comes, they tighten their belts.  When calamity strikes, they go down for a little while but rises up quickly, takes stock of the situation, checks on their families, and goes marching out to extend their helping hand.

            Remember Ondoy and Pepeng?  How about the Mount Pinatubo eruption? What about the early 1990s earthquake?

            Bicol is a province that a typhoon loves to visit. It seems as if almost every typhoon that enters the Philippine area of responsibility in Luzon strives to reach the Bicolanos every time. Bicol  is not only “attractive” to typhoon, it also has a very active volcano with the perfect cone. At times, there are even guerillas around.

Yet, when one visits Bicol, you will not see frowning and sad Bicolanos. After every calamity, they pick themselves up and go on with their lives.

.The third trait I admire about Filipinos is their sense of religiosity, which might also have an influence on the two previous traits mentioned above. No matter what formal religion one is a member of, one never fails to acknowledge God or a Supreme Being wherever one is.   

Have you noticed the pound-for-pound boxing king Manny Pacquiao before he starts the game and also after the game?  It is written that before going to the arena, a mass is said in his hotel room. In the ring, he kneels down at his corner and prays. When the bell sounds, he makes the sign of the cross. After the game and he won, he raises up his eyes to heaven and  acknowledges his God  to thank Him amid the uproar in the boxing arena.

Certainly, one can be happy and cheerful, resilient, and many more amid crisis and calamities if one truly believes that he is being loved unconditionally and someone is looking after his wellbeing always.  

St. Ezekiel Moreno: Patron Saint for Cancer

I didn't know that there was a patron saint for cancer!  Anyhow, I just read an article in a newspaper detailing how St. Ezekiel Moreno, the patron saint of cancer, left an imprint here in the Philippines!  It's a very touching story and we are really privileged to have him spend a whopping fifteen years here for his ministry, which included work in Palawan! Right now, his gloves are left on display, along with other relics, at the St. Nicolas Tolentino Parish Church in Barangay Bahay Toro, Tandang Sora in Quezon City.

It's Great to See that Entrepreneurship is Cool Again!

When I was in college, only students from De La Salle were associated as 'negosyante' types.  If you were from UP or Ateneo, most likely, you'd follow the multinational company route after graduation. Unfortunately for me, I never really wanted to work for any company.  As early as high school, I knew deep in my heart that I can do it on my own.  I knew it won't be as glamorous as a job in say, Procter & Gamble or Unilever, but I didn't care.  I could own a sari-sari store and I would be very happy already.

One bad thing about studying in UP or Ateneo is that you never see any "negosyante" role models, at least, not during my time (late 80s - early 90s).  I only remember Johnny Kua of French Baker from UP who was the most high profile.  There were no others. 

So I'm really glad that a generation later, Joey Concepcion is championing entrepreneurship as a way of life for today's youth through his negosyo caravans and entrepreneurship summits.  I hope that a lot of today's youth will find it in their hearts to set up their own businesses and make entrepreneurship their way of life.

My Own Japan Experience: What Impressed Me When I Was There

When stories were coming out last week that Tokyo was becoming a ghost city, I was a bit alarmed because I am personally a big fan of the city!  I was able to go to Tokyo to attend a Harvard Conference a few years ago and I fell in love with the city almost immediately. 

What struck me most was how well-developed the city was considering it was in ruins just 60 years ago.  Yes, I am comparing it to my Manila!  We are so primitive compared to this city with a million lights and with so much hustle and bustle! 

And the people are so nice and helpful!  They don't speak English, but they try, in the best way they can - in the little English they know, to help you find your way, to assist you as you buy stuff in the vendo machines - to make your experience of their beautiful city - a memorable one!

Finally, they have a very strong sense of culture!  There are just so many Japanese icons and I bought myself a trunkful of souvenirs - and what made me happy was that these souvenirs were of very good quality!  From sumo wrestlers to ninjas to kimonos to paintings - I made sure my loot was complete. I even had Meiji chocolates - a personal favorite of mine!

I believe Tokyo, and Japan, as a whole will stand back on its feet again.  They have the value system for it.

My Life as a Young Entrepreneur

These kids are pretty lucky they have parents who supported them business-wise like I did. In the summer of 1985, Mama gave me seed money to sell cigarettes and candies in front of her dress shop in the busy P. del Rosario St in front of what is now the ABS-CBN station in Cebu City. I was technically a cigarette vendor with my pwesto in front of Mama's dress shop. I was earning an average of 120 pesos a day and I was so happy because in 1985, that was good money for a 14-year old boy, and Mama never took my earnings. She allowed me to plow it back to 'my business' so I opened an account in PSBank in Colon Street. I also did my own buying of stocks!!

Ang tapang ko pala nuon! I would go to this wholesaler in Colon street and I would buy my stocks of cigarettes and candies from her, every few days. I loved my business because most of my customers were male and some of them were really cute!! I remember this young guy would buy a pack of Champion Lights from me, everyday around 7AM, parang 20 pesos pa ata yun per pack, and my heart would always swoon when he bought from me! I had this huge crush on him and when he would speak to me, ayun, nganga ang baklita!! I was so happy because busog na ang mga mata ko sa boys, kumikita pa ako!

I remember I would open my 'store' at 7AM to catch the early morning crowd and pack up around 7PM just in time for dinner. Everyday yun, including Sundays!! Ansipag ko raw, sabi ni Mother!! Di lang niya alam na my incentives were I get to see hunky men tapos, I don't do household chores pa kasi nga, I have to man my store!! O dibah!! What an enjoyable vacation!! May datung pa ako!!

One impact of that experience though was that I learned then that I would never work for anyone except for myself. I really hope that I can impart a similar experience to Dylan and Laura when they grow up.

Starting ’em young

Should Transgenders be allowed to Join Beauty Pageants?

This question was posed in a national newspaper last Sunday and a bevy of beauty queens and aficionados made their two cents worth.  I decided to have my say too in my own blog here.

There are separate competitions for transgenders and I don't think they should be allowed to join the Miss Universe pageant, even though the organizers have already said so.  The truth is, many of these transgender women are more beautiful than real women, and I'm not kidding!  There are many of them in Thailand and here in the Philippines and they are more womanly than most ordinary women!  However, it will taint the idea of a Miss Universe.  "Oh, this year's Miss Universe was formerly, a man!".  That would really sound strange. I guess it's just putting things in their right places. Women with women, gays with gays, men with men.  I don't know technically where transgenders stand but they were once men, so basically, they should compete with other gay men.  Oh well, I don't know how that ruling will affect the local Binibining Pilipinas though.  But it surely is a dream for any gay man here to become a certified Binibining Pilipinas!  Now, they have a chance!

How My Mother Still Wants Me to Marry a Woman

I admit Mama and I sometimes get into conversations which are straight out of the Twilight Zone. We had another one today - while munching on Jollichicken and Burger Steak. She asked about the possible women in my life who I could possibly have a kid with! Really Twilight Zone material!

Still, like a dutiful son, I indulged her, not with tall tales, but with actual women I’ve met who may have fit the bill, if only I did not have THAT fatal flaw! I don’t want to get into the identities of these ladies, for privacy purposes, but what intrigues me, is that we’re having that conversation at all. Really, sometimes, I just want to tell her straight – which part of gay don’t you understand?

Yeah, a lot of gay men get married – but that’s their decision – and they have to live THAT kind of life! Staying married is hard enough – just ask any heterosexual – just imagine how much harder it’s going to be when you don’t have one of the most basic instincts for it – lust for your wife! How am I going to survive each and every night? Taking Viagra can help but taking it everyday and every time she wants me to do it to her will drive me to my grave early, due to kidney failure – it won’t have enough capacity to cleanse all the drugs I would’ve pumped into my system – just to get an erection!

And of course, the deceit! I simply cannot, in conscience, live with that. Because I know if I do play that card, it will be with a nice woman – and you don’t do bad things to nice women! This wise storyteller once said - ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.’

It’s a cliché when we say our parents always want the best for us but can we live our lives the way we want it and still make them happy - or do we have to pander sometimes to what they desire for us – just to make peace?