Friday, December 23, 2011

Typhoon "Sendong" and the Untimely Death of DPRK Leader and Dictator Kim Jong II

Currently listening to Christian music -- "You Hold Me Now" by Hillsong.

17-December, 8 days before Christmas.  while our whole Nation is grieving from deep sorrow brought by the enormous catastrophe of typhoon "sendong," which to date unleashed a death toll of over a thousand casualties, the whole world may also extend sympathy not only the Filipino victims of disasters but also to the world's most secretive state -- North Korean People who are also mourning for the distressing death of their leader, Kim Jong II.  However, North Korean Government only announced it on 19-December. The delay in the announcement  of Kim's death has been raising speculations on the strategic intention of the Democratic People's Republic of korea (DPRK).  Undoubtedly the ability of DPRK to keep secret on Kim's actual death pose serious doubt on the intelligence skills of foreign governments and spies that have been putting North Korea under extreme security watch.

The Philippines, our Nation has been through a lot over the years, and that progress and development have always been dampened by enormous political upheavals, if not by corruption, and ever uncontrollable disaster.  There's still hope, even if sometimes I may think that this country is hopeless seeing undeniable contrasts in the metropolis -- slums and villages of the affluent.  I do love and take pride of my country, I may be eventually will run out of reasons why but at least, at this kind of thoughts -- this is exactly what this country needs. Our country needs great deal of Nationalism to support its ever dampening recovery.

Hope is necessary.  If we lose that, then as a human -- we're wasting our life and purpose.  So to the victims of the recent typhoon "sendong", please hold on to your hopes and faith -- these two shall keep us able to survive.

My deepest sympathy to those that have been affected by typhoon "sendong", may God be with you.

May the spirit of Christmas be with us all.  

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Three Months Then Now

Time flies and it's not funny anymore...  I regret those many times when I had the urge to blog but hesitated as I'm unable to explain why it took me this long to write again.

I didn't realize that my last article was way back three months ago when I was just having a thought-provoking mood thinking that life is unfair because I thought my vacation trip to Bora wont push through -- that I wasn't born rich while others are and why can't it be me while others are... things and shit like that... Anyways, that was way back September and its December now. Yey!

Life is full of surprises.  Three months ago I was so hopeless and disappointed as I was about to cancel my trip to Bora that I planned couple of moths prior.  So disappointed and yet was very moody.  So there...  When all hopes and plans were gone -- there came a surprise... Been to Bora 1st week of October.  Spent more than my monthly fortune and became broke the following fortnight but I didn't care at all.  Had so much of life and memories.

That was October, is it? There came November, such a lazy month after I had my 2 weeks annual leave... Felt like never wanting to be a slave again in this corporate world that's full of diplomacy and professionalism (which is good somehow) but no sign of myself at all...  Good thing, there was this hope to do better the following month...  And wait there's more, a week before the month ended, I had my braces installed... Unable to eat solid food for weeks -- excruciating.  Still good, was able to loose fats somewhere in my abdomen -- been able to wear my old stuff.  Cool.

Reality check -- it's December now.  Making-up for what has been lost prior.  I'm a corrupt official now.  I had 20php of excess funds in my pocket -- somewhat like my PF for running a project that I manipulated the result in my favor each day.  Then again, what is corruption if I can deliver a much better result -- better result means favorable somewhat to many, or at large.  So much like PGMA.  Corrupt and yet, able to exceed expectation that Filipinos are able to benefit and most of us had no time to realize that.  Whatever...  I'm a pro PGMA just so you know...

Anyways...

Before this year ends, so much to celebrate and thank for... A lot to change and hope for... But a well deserved pat in the back to end this year.  To celebrate, a couple of close friends and my partner we will be in Baguio this weekend to sign-off this years' shit and moving forward...

I hope I'm right -- as of my "calculation," year 2012 will be a lucky and ever humbling year for me... I trust.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Heavenly Touch

STAR TV 5: Heavenly Touch:
'via Blog this'

"Kapag nagmahal ka ng totoo, makakagawa ka ng mga bagay na pagsisisihan mo pero handa ka harapin angkahit basta magkahawak-kamay kayo. Dahil kapag nakita mo na ang taong para sa'yo, ayaw mo nang bumitaw."


So true, many times I thought that I can always be better off just the way I was years back when I have nothing but just to look after myself -- that I was far better chasing my dreams until I got married almost five years ago. I was to find out that I've missed lessons in life such as chasing my dreams but these aren't good excuses, I realized. I thought sometimes that I can be better by myself and why shouldn't I?

So there, I realized how much I miss myself but I wont ever afford to loose this one and only person that I love so far. We've seen each other grow over the years is overwhelming. I may have some dreams to chase but it can't be all about me this time -- that when I love someone which I am, therefore things will come along that I may regret in time but I must ready myself so long as we stay together, because I know that I have the right one beside me, then I shouldn't let go...

Friday, September 16, 2011

Somewhere Out There

Somewhere along the way, just as you thought and expected that all is so close to being mighty well, we may sometimes wake up one day saddened by being too realistic.

I started dreaming again just recently. It made my heart overwhelmingly happy for such a time. It gave me hope -- enough evidence to sustain my belief. I tired myself. I hurried each day to turn it into weeks, months thereafter and finally seven years had passed. Empty-handed so far so bad. Somewhat excruciating -- this pinch in my heart as I'm trying to accept that life is unfair. My apologies for my negativity. This is just once-off --I'll try my best.

I've been working hard and you know it. Even my simplest dream is yet too far from being real. I started questioning my fate, I may sound like a looser and it's so sad. Why am I not born rich? I feel so deprived, belittled by our affluent society, a slave to earn a little and pay my bills. I may still be lucky, in at least I have a decent living. But I still asked myself, why me? Why can't I be rich, or even have a good amount of money to buy my own car. There has been so much going on in my mind -- got a bunch of questions asked and still trying to cope up with a better understanding. The vacation trip I was planning months back is about to be cancelled simply because I can not afford it. I've got so much time to indulge in self-pitying, bring it on. When it rain, it really pours -- and mine is the other way around, not rain but storm.

Sigh... There's still more... How unfortunate that I loose focus again. Ideas about my ever increasing dilemma that lingers my mind for days is now unorganized and messy. So I will end this for now -- might continue depends on my mood swing. It's time to have some cold bottle of beers, I've got friends waiting for me just right outside my pad. It's Friday night and I need to try to have some fun for a while. 

Thursday, August 25, 2011

World’s sexiest accents | CNNGo.com

World’s sexiest accents | CNNGo.com:

OK, there was this one gloomy day just recently - while we were on our way to the office and while my friend drove her car like a pro -- we were tuned-in to our favorite early morning radio program of Mo Twister together with two or three other crazy-funny-smart dj's. They were talking about CNN's World’s sexiest accents. So they got the list then what? It was hilarious as Mo Twister called someone from each country had a little strange chat. I can only imagine the humongous question those who were on the other line had on their faces. It's a total weirdo.

Here's the list of the World's Top 12 Sexiest Accents by CNN:

12. ARGENTINE
argentine

11. THAI
Muay thai

10. TRINIDADIAN
Trinidad

9. BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE
Brazilian

8. U.S. SOUTHERN
cowgirl

7. OXFORD BRITISH
posh english

6. IRISH
Irish

5. NIGERIAN
Nigerian

4. CZECH
Czech

3. SPANISH
spanish

2. FRENCH
French

1. ITALIAN
Italian

Saturday, August 13, 2011

My Thoughts for the Past Two Weeks

I don't know, I can hardly think clearly these days. For the past two weeks I was busy with itineraries that drained me so well -- physically. To add some more, my mind was lingering over some thoughts and due dates that as I expected made my past two weeks a little bit boring, challenging, tiring -- you name it -- all negativeness -- but yet still happy.

Poor me, I was thinking each day what to write on my blog but I really don't felt like doing so. There, I let two weeks passed -- it bore me so well. But of course, don't get me wrong -- i was only talking about my self -- my life as an individual. If I talked about my love life -- well that's going to be a whole lot different -- it will be fun, exciting, and happy. That's totally different.


Maybe I was just facing a phase of frustrations and disappointments for the past two weeks -- now  I'm talking about my work, my career. I am disappointed and tired, hurting time and again -- that opportunity doesn't seem to knock on my door, not even visible within my proximity. I envy those people who happened to be successful in just a punch. Believe me, being successful is not all about professional skills -- you've got to be at the right time and place that no one ever knows when and where. I am waiting -- I cannot complain that I am so tired and burned out -- that's the best choice that I have -- I have to wait or else it will be worse. So there, I will wait under extreme pressure and excruciating pain. Maybe it's not important nowadays to understand why opportunity may often slip along the way and become unfair along its way. I don't get it, even if I came to understand it in time, not as if I can do something to change its course -- that's why steadily -- I will wait.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Million Peso Question

A question from my dear friend recently could probably worth more than a million pesos as soon as I realize the right answer. I felt the question had pinch my heart, excruciating at some point -- I couldn't dig any deeper for the right answer as I am until now -- overwhelmed with pile of plans and my tendencies of being dreamy in most cases.

We do car pooling everyday going to the office and going back home. There was this one stressful day , we felt all exhausted, as we were driving back home, one of my friend asked me this disturbing question: "Do you really like this job? If you are not in this industry, where will you most likely be?" All of them abruptly answered -- designer, event organizer, actress -- very dreamy. It was my turn to answer -- I was vague, I said I want a job wherein my decision is very crucial and in-demand -- more like of a CEO or topnotch executive post. My friends didn't buy it. They said that it's very general in nature, they were expecting for something specific. So I said, I want to be a businessman. They asked me what business venture am I going to take, I can't think of any -- maybe it wasn't really my plan after all so I said, I want to be a broadcaster, journalist, someone behind the camera writing stuff about whatever. It was then my friend all agreed as it was more like me they said.

Then I was home at last and still thinking where else do I really want to be. I remember the saying: "Choose the job that you really like and you will never find yourself working again." Very true, many days that I was just dragging myself to work -- that Monday sickness I can't get rid off. So there I knew, I'm not happy with my job, I am left with  no choice -- I have to as my job pays for my ever increasing bills.

I knew exactly what I really want to become all along -- I want to be a politician, definitely on the executive branch. I want to become the next President. So there I go, becoming dreamy again. It is too far and too impossible, I don't have a prominent and well-known family name -- it was never in our family's blood. I was thinking when and how to start. It is deadly and far from getting even to the first stage.

I am not getting any younger. All that is left for me are pressures and anxiety as I know that I can't even see myself successful, lives on a paycheck to paycheck cycle, I can't even sustain a month without a job. That's an awful bad sign for my age.

So I have to think of ways but I find it difficult. Maybe I just have to try harder and smarter, opportunity comes in the right time and on the right place. There's virtue and wisdom for those who wait. There's always a bright light at the end of the tunnel. There I go, comforting myself with those words that will sustain hope for me to dream again.

"What do I really want to become -- job?" That's for me, worth a million peso question that when the right time comes that I finally realized the right answer can earn me my the first million pesos.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

The 48 Laws of Power

Days ago at the office when everyone was so busy making profit for the company, my friend and I were busy thinking of strategies on how to outwit them all -- our department is such a power house that no matter how much I give my best shot, there's always this bunch of others who can make the job a whole lot better. Many times, at the end of the month, frustrations was all I got. But hell no! Never again soon. I always believe that I don't have to work hard, I just have to work smarter. That's my professional mantra. I may be absolute wrong but i don't care -- look at me now -- a potential looser some day. That has to change. So there it was, this one stressful day that my friend -- as we were both systematically thinking of ways for us to shine again -- suggested this brilliant book: The 48 laws of Power by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers. A moral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive -- this piercing book distills three thousand years of the history of power into 48 explicated laws. Some laws require prudence -- which I hope that in good luck, I perfectly comprehended.


The 48 Laws of Power
by Robert Greene & Joost Elffers

Law 1: Never Outshine the Master
Always make those above you feel comfortably superior.  In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite – inspire fear and insecurity.  Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.

Law 2: Never put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies
Be wary of friends-they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy.  They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove.  In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies.  If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.

Law 3: Conceal your Intentions
Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions.  If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense.  Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.

Law 4: Always Say Less than Necessary
When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control.  Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike.  Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less.  The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.

Law 5: So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard it with your Life
Reputation is the cornerstone of power.  Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides.  Make your reputation unassailable.  Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen.  Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations.  Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.

Law 6: Court Attention at all Cost
Everything is judged by its appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing.  Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion.  Stand out.  Be conspicuous, at all cost.  Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious, than the bland and timid masses.

Law 7: Get others to do the Work for you, but Always Take the Credit
Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause.  Not only will such assistance save you valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed.  In the end your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered.  Never do yourself what others can do for you.

Law 8: Make other People come to you – use Bait if Necessary
When you force the other person to act, you are the one in control.  It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process.  Lure him with fabulous gains – then attack.  You hold the cards.

Law 9: Win through your Actions, Never through Argument
Any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory:  The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion.  It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word.  Demonstrate, do not explicate.

 Law 10: Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky
You can die from someone else’s misery – emotional states are as infectious as disease.  You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster.  The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you.  Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.

Law 11: Learn to Keep People Dependent on You
To maintain your independence you must always be needed and wanted.  The more you are relied on, the more freedom you have.  Make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have nothing to fear. Never teach them enough so that they can do without you.

 Law 12: Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm your Victim
One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones.  Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people.  Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive and manipulate them at will.  A timely gift – a Trojan horse – will serve the same purpose.



Law 13: When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest, Never to their Mercy or Gratitude
If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother to remind him of your past assistance and good deeds.  He will find a way to ignore you.  Instead, uncover something in your request, or in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and emphasize it out of all proportion.  He will respond enthusiastically when he sees something to be gained for himself.

 Law 14: Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy
Knowing about your rival is critical.  Use spies to gather valuable information that will keep you a step ahead. Better still: Play the spy yourself.  In polite social encounters, learn to probe.  Ask indirect questions to get people to reveal their weaknesses and intentions.  There is no occasion that is not an opportunity for artful spying.

 Law 15: Crush your Enemy Totally
All great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely.  (Sometimes they have learned this the hard way.)  If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out.  More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation:  The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge.  Crush him, not only in body but in spirit.

Law 17: Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability
Humans are creatures of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other people’s actions.  Your predictability gives them a sense of control.  Turn the tables: Be deliberately unpredictable.  Behavior that seems to have no consistency or purpose will keep them off-balance, and they will wear themselves out trying to explain your moves.  Taken to an extreme, this strategy can intimidate and terrorize.

 Law 18: Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation is Dangerous
The world is dangerous and enemies are everywhere – everyone has to protect themselves.  A fortress seems the safest. But isolation exposes you to more dangers than it protects you from – it cuts you off from valuable information, it makes you conspicuous and an easy target.  Better to circulate among people find allies, mingle. You are shielded from your enemies by the crowd.

 Law 19: Know Who You’re Dealing with – Do Not Offend the Wrong Person
There are many different kinds of people in the world, and you can never assume that everyone will react to your strategies in the same way.  Deceive or outmaneuver some people and they will spend the rest of their lives seeking revenge.  They are wolves in lambs’ clothing.  Choose your victims and opponents carefully, then – never offend or deceive the wrong person.

Law 20: Do Not Commit to Anyone
It is the fool who always rushes to take sides.  Do not commit to any side or cause but yourself.  By maintaining your independence, you become the master of others – playing people against one another, making them pursue you.

 Law 21: Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker – Seem Dumber than your Mark
No one likes feeling stupider than the next persons.  The trick, is to make your victims feel smart – and not just smart, but smarter than you are.  Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives.

 Law 22: Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power
When you are weaker, never fight for honor’s sake; choose surrender instead.  Surrender gives you time to recover, time to torment and irritate your conqueror, time to wait for his power to wane.  Do not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you – surrender first.  By turning the other check you infuriate and unsettle him.  Make surrender a tool of power.

 Law 23: Concentrate Your Forces
Conserve your forces and energies by keeping them concentrated at their strongest point.  You gain more by finding a rich mine and mining it deeper, than by flitting from one shallow mine to another – intensity defeats extensity every time.  When looking for sources of power to elevate you, find the one key patron, the fat cow who will give you milk for a long time to come.

 Law 24: Play the Perfect Courtier
The perfect courtier thrives in a world where everything revolves around power and political dexterity.  He has mastered the art of indirection; he flatters, yields to superiors, and asserts power over others in the mot oblique and graceful manner.  Learn and apply the laws of courtiership and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court.

 Law 25: Re-Create Yourself
Do not accept the roles that society foists on you.  Re-create yourself by forging a new identity, one that commands attention and never bores the audience.  Be the master of your own image rather than letting others define if for you.  Incorporate dramatic devices into your public gestures and actions – your power will be enhanced and your character will seem larger than life.

 Law 26: Keep Your Hands Clean
You must seem a paragon of civility and efficiency: Your hands are never soiled by mistakes and nasty deeds. Maintain such a spotless appearance by using others as scapegoats and cat’s-paws to disguise your involvement.

Law 27: Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following
People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something.  Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow.  Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking.  Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf.  In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power.

 Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness
If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it.  Your doubts and hesitations will infect your execution. Timidity is dangerous:  Better to enter with boldness.  Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity.  Everyone admires the bold; no one honors the timid.

 Law 29: Plan All the Way to the End
The ending is everything.  Plan all the way to it, taking into account all the possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse your hard work and give the glory to others.  By planning to the end you will not be overwhelmed by circumstances and you will know when to stop.  Gently guide fortune and help determine the future by thinking far ahead.

 Law 30: Make your Accomplishments Seem Effortless
Your actions must seem natural and executed with ease.  All the toil and practice that go into them, and also all the clever tricks, must be concealed.  When you act, act effortlessly, as if you could do much more.  Avoid the temptation of revealing how hard you work – it only raises questions.  Teach no one your tricks or they will be used against you.

Law 31: Control the Options: Get Others to Play with the Cards you Deal
The best deceptions are the ones that seem to give the other person a choice:  Your victims feel they are in control, but are actually your puppets.  Give people options that come out in your favor whichever one they choose.  Force them to make choices between the lesser of two evils, both of which serve your purpose.  Put them on the horns of a dilemma:  They are gored wherever they turn.

 Law 32: Play to People’s Fantasies
The truth is often avoided because it is ugly and unpleasant.  Never appeal to truth and reality unless you are prepared for the anger that comes for disenchantment.  Life is so harsh and distressing that people who can manufacture romance or conjure up fantasy are like oases in the desert:  Everyone flocks to them. There is great power in tapping into the fantasies of the masses.

 Law 33: Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew
Everyone has a weakness, a gap in the castle wall.  That weakness is usual y an insecurity, an uncontrollable emotion or need; it can also be a small secret pleasure.  Either way, once found, it is a thumbscrew you can turn to your advantage.

  Law 34: Be Royal in your Own Fashion:  Act like a King to be treated like one
The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated; In the long run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you.  For a king respects himself and inspires the same sentiment in others. By acting regally and confident of your powers, you make yourself seem destined to wear a crown.

 Law 35: Master the Art of Timing
Never seem to be in a hurry – hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself, and over time.  Always seem patient, as if you know that everything will come to you eventually.  Become a detective of the right moment; sniff out the spirit of the times, the trends that will carry you to power.  Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ripe, and to strike fiercely when it has reached fruition.

Law 36: Disdain Things you cannot have:  Ignoring them is the best Revenge
By acknowledging a petty problem you give it existence and credibility.  The more attention you pay an enemy, the stronger you make him; and a small mistake is often made worse and more visible when you try to fix it.  It is sometimes best to leave things alone.  If there is something you want but cannot have, show contempt for it.  The less interest you reveal, the more superior you seem. 

Law 37: Create Compelling Spectacles
Striking imagery and grand symbolic gestures create the aura of power – everyone responds to them.  Stage spectacles for those around you, then full of arresting visuals and radiant symbols that heighten your presence. Dazzled by appearances, no one will notice what you are really doing.

Law 38: Think as you like but Behave like others
If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them.  They will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior.  It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share your originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness.

Law 39: Stir up Waters to Catch Fish
Anger and emotion are strategically counterproductive.  You must always stay calm and objective.  But if you can make your enemies angry while staying calm yourself, you gain a decided advantage.  Put your enemies off-balance: Find the chink in their vanity through which you can rattle them and you hold the strings.

Law 40: Despise the Free Lunch
What is offered for free is dangerous – it usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation.  What has worth is worth paying for.  By paying your own way you stay clear of gratitude, guilt, and deceit.  It is also often wise to pay the full price – there is no cutting corners with excellence.  Be lavish with your money and keep it circulating, for generosity is a sign and a magnet for power.

Law 41: Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes
What happens first always appears better and more original than what comes after.  If you succeed a great man or have a famous parent, you will have to accomplish double their achievements to outshine them.  Do not get lost in their shadow, or stuck in a past not of your own making:  Establish your own name and identity by changing course.  Slay the overbearing father, disparage his legacy, and gain power by shining in your own way.

Law 42: Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep will Scatter
Trouble can often be traced to a single strong individual – the stirrer, the arrogant underling, the poisoned of goodwill.  If you allow such people room to operate, others will succumb to their influence.  Do not wait for the troubles they cause to multiply, do not try to negotiate with them – they are irredeemable.  Neutralize their influence by isolating or banishing them.  Strike at the source of the trouble and the sheep will scatter.

Law 43: Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others
Coercion creates a reaction that will eventually work against you.  You must seduce others into wanting to move in your direction.  A person you have seduced becomes your loyal pawn.  And the way to seduce others is to operate on their individual psychologies and weaknesses.  Soften up the resistant by working on their emotions, playing on what they hold dear and what they fear.  Ignore the hearts and minds of others and they will grow to hate you.

Law 44: Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect
The mirror reflects reality, but it is also the perfect tool for deception: When you mirror your enemies, doing exactly as they do, they cannot figure out your strategy.  The Mirror Effect mocks and humiliates them, making them overreact.  By holding up a mirror to their psyches, you seduce them with the illusion that you share their values; by holding up a mirror to their actions, you teach them a lesson.  Few can resist the power of Mirror Effect.

Law 45: Preach the Need for Change, but Never Reform too much at Once
Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit.  Too much innovation is traumatic, and will lead to revolt.  If you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things.  If change is necessary, make it feel like a gentle improvement on the past.

Law 46: Never appear too Perfect
Appearing better than others is always dangerous, but most dangerous of all is to appear to have no faults or weaknesses.  Envy creates silent enemies.  It is smart to occasionally display defects, and admit to harmless vices, in order to deflect envy and appear more human and approachable.  Only gods and the dead can seem perfect with impunity.

Law 47: Do not go Past the Mark you Aimed for; In Victory, Learn when to Stop
The moment of victory is often the moment of greatest peril.  In the heat of victory, arrogance and overconfidence can push you past the goal you had aimed for, and by going too far, you make more enemies than you defeat.  Do not allow success to go to your head.  There is no substitute for strategy and careful planning.  Set a goal, and when you reach it, stop.

Law 48: Assume Formlessness
By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack.  Instead of taking a form for your enemy to grasp, keep yourself adaptable and on the move.  Accept the fact that nothing is certain and no law is fixed. The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water; never bet on stability or lasting order. Everything changes.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as President... Again.

 
In politics, one must know how to play the game so well and knows well the art of diplomacy. To emerge as a prominent leader, family name is important. But to stay in power, staying brainy every second and being witty does the difference.


In my attempt to compare the fate of former President Estrada and former President Gloria Arroyo, they both haunted by allegations left and right. Corruption, anomalies, you name it -- they are guilty of it. I think the difference is, Gloria Arroyo is so much witty to be ousted in power -- much to the disappointment of her enemies. Unlike Estrada whom for all we know may have tendencies to laps on his judgement, maybe he got good intentions but lack the brain to overpower the minds of his enemies. That caused him his biggest downfall. To stay as a President, being a good boy isn't enough. A lot compare Gloria Arroyo to former President Marcos. Ferdinand Marcos tremendously stayed in power for more than 20 years. And even the international community had been mislead and eventually gave their support to Marcos Administration for such some times. Very true, they both got brilliant minds. One of the things I like about Arroyo is that she held so much power in her hands that she got to control such a humongous part in the Philippines' political arena during her time as president. I agree that a great leader must have the strength and power to control her subjects. I always believe in democracy with a little pinch of autocratic rule. Let's take into account those impeachment complaints and trials she got -- more than four? I'm not actually sure how many, but i can't help but be amazed on her power that each allegations during her administration was dropped one by one, one after the other. Just like that. Even until now, let's see how far those allegations against her can go. Brilliant, isn't? It is -- I agree.

I agree that politicians -- mostly in the executive branch of the government are corrupt, and whose not anyway? For me it's okay as I know that it will never be eradicated no matter how much we dream of it. What matters now for me is how effective these corrupt politicians can be. Let's accept it, Gloria Arroyo has accomplished more works as compared to her three predecessors combined. World leaders even recognized her contribution to the Philippine Economy that she got our country's economic power back in the world market. Most importantly, how could I forget -- Arroyo has made tough decisions to uplift our economy that gained her negative ratings.

The administration under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pushed toward faster economic growth. Arroyo's stance towards economic improvement since 2004 has seen the Philippines re-emerge as one of the growing economies in Southeast Asia. In 2004, the Philippine economy grew by 6.1%, beating most analysts and even the government's estimates. In 2005, the Philippine peso posted an appreciation rate of 6%—the fastest in the Asian region for that year. Based on official (National Economic and Development Authority) figures, economic growth in terms of gross domestic product has averaged 5.0% during the Arroyo presidency from 2001 up to the first quarter of 2008. This is higher than in the administration of the previous recent presidents: 3.8% average of Aquino, 3.7% average of Ramos, and 3.7% average of the Joseph Estrada administration. The Philippine economy grew at its fastest pace in three decades in 2007, with real GDP growth exceeding 7%. Arroyo's handling of the economy has earned praise from former "friend" and classmate in Georgetown, ex-US President Bill Clinton, who cited her "tough decisions" that put the Philippine economy back in shape.

(Newly Industrialized Countries as of 2010)

In general, it's been great. Arroyo was able to turn the country around and made it out of the "developing nation" class -- much like the "third world" in some terminologies. The Philippines is now a Newly Industrialized Country -- these are countries whose economies have not yet reached First World status but have, in a macroeconomic sense, outpaced their developing counterparts. The Philippines is along side of these other newly industrialized countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, India, China, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Up on a Mountain's Peak

I run over my old blog site again from tabulas.com and I can't help but wonder where the hell I got those ideas from my old blogs. I am truly fascinated as I came across some thought-provoking attempts, and how could I ever forget that once in my life I created those thoughts that even myself-to-date might not be able to dig up thoughts like that again. I've changed a lot I know.

Here are some of those that I collected from my old blog site:

"When I realized how busy and forgetful I've become, I started to ponder thoughts. The questions of yes or no -- whether to continue the trail or to re-assess everything and start looking from a mountain's peak for a better view of the world around me." (yay, how I will definitely drool over that view.)

The next one was my very first entry from my old blog site dated 10-March 2010:

"I started my old blog in Tabulas since 2006 when I was still living the life and the time of my own. I wanted to continue using my old account but I guess I was just so unfortunate that my log-in details has been revoked. That was three years ago anyway. I seemed to become too overwhelmed with my married life that's why unintentionally I forgot a lot of things and even forgot who I was and how to dream big." 
____________________________________________________________________________

Now, back to reality. I'm more than four years married in my own rights -- and I'm still loving thee. I then also realized that part of my life each day was being spent on rush hours to and from office each humid day. Not a few times, I felt I am unable to appreciate those that move around me, I'm starting to lose my creative eyes when back in my younger years -- that was the only ace I have -- that was years back when I still don't know how to balance disposable income against whatsoever. Back in my so much younger years -- writing and simple drawing was the only expertise I know -- now, how disappointed I should be as I feel that I'm starting to forget how to use pen and charcoal -- that in time I might as well forget how it feels to appreciate each thought-provoking allegory we came across this life -- time and again.

So annoying. I live like 6-5kms away from my office. I spend an hour and a half to two hours on the road, enjoying the delightful traffic I guess. But it's okay, at least I'm not giving up.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Right Here

Last night, it was all but a make or break for my fragile relationship for four years. How I thought that all is well, ends well, even if I carelessly end each day in a punch, and how those rush hours each day turned into heart breaking coldness. I was so wrong.

We're not 'ok' after all... Words that I heard has finally moved my heart. It was at one space broke my heart. But like everyone else I guess, when I am down and guilt started to pinch my heart -- you can hardly know exactly what's on my mind and my face was all nothing but blank and dark.

Now as I realized that I am not always right. I was more than wrong after all... Words that I heard from this someone whom I've shared my whole life for more than four years were the most humbling words that I ever heard as of yet. It was indirect. Awakening and thought provoking. The mood were all that soft and calm. It was about those words that was said and not how those words were said. Kind and forgiving.

Not only I realized my fault, how memories traveled through time four years back -- I assume we will start over again. I felt this relationship was at once been taken for granted and now has been so refreshingly new yet still fragile. I will make it up. The love that I felt has been revived. And at once, the beat that has started to slow down has now started to beat faster once again.

I felt so good. I'm still in-love. I realized that I will hold on to this fragile and strong relationship for the rest of my life.

So assuring, our willingness to compromise hold us back from falling-out. This new beginning is good, crisp, and fresh. delicious and yummy.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Some Thoughts About Pinoy Indie Films and Beyond

No doubt, our independent films in general are quite amusing and never failed to reach out among us.  In some ways touches our lives. There might be some that bore us in time. All in all, let's make it simple. Just simple and cannot be simpler. These Indie Films provoke different opinions, styles, and critics in their own rights. But what is it that I'm trying to point out?

This is just my opinion, ok?


I noticed that most of these Indie Films, although almost perfect in their stories, and even to the point that it reaches the audience its intended message -- may be still quite alarming. I think all of them, I may be wrong so I think if not all of them at least most of these Pinoy Indie Films narrate a different side of its story aside from the story itself. And what exactly are these "different side of stories?"  Try to notice them all -- focus on the settings -- you'll see our country's slum, poverty-stricken land, how huge of a run-down area our country is made of. Striking, isn't? Don' get me wrong, I appreciate the art that these film makers are trying to emphasize.

Maybe it's true that most of us are so much stagnant and are not even moving forward. These slums and poverty-stricken thingy genre is so 80's. I can feel a pinch in my Nationalism when most of these films are being shown abroad. I can only guess what these foreign audiences have to say:  "the film was extremely good and the country really smell awful. Yes, the film may get applauded, Filipinos will be applauded in the name of diplomacy, but yet deep within their thoughts I can only think of how devastated they think of about our country.


Particularly, try Thai Indie Films, they are way better, most of it. Story is good, nevertheless. And yet, it simply put an art in showcasing the beauty of their country, how fascinating it can be for tourists. Yes there might be some that's like our own Pinoy Indie Films, but I haven't seen any as of yet.


It feels good that Nationalism in me is starting to grow as I matured.  I know for a fact that Philippines is no longer a "third world country." Yes there are always poverty.  It's more of a part in our culture. Even these slums have high demand for mobile phones nowadays. We are now a Newly Industrialized Country and a Newly Industrialized Emerging Economy. We are progressing many years ago but most of us are so living backward and only get to notice these slums so much. Want to see how I see our country? start from here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_philippines, add some more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines

I see now. I think a social reform has to take place. Let's all be proud of our country, take pride. Showcase the beauty of our land and not the art in these run-down areas.  I think it has to start in our own Pinoy Indie Film. I'm fascinated by the idea of watching another film as if it was like in a first world country.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Discreetly

I'd just finished watching: http://starmaxtv.blogspot.com/search/label/Discreetly

Discreetly:

Definitely NOT just a story of acceptance. It's deeper than that... On the latter, it's a story of how love should be held.

In a relationship, it will never work out the way we used to hold on tight to our partner. Not merely the idea of paranoia nor insecurities. The story may silently untold the idea of loosing grip and giving freedom to finally find oneself. It was not selfish at all. Maturity is the key. Let them leave. Give them a chance. A chance to see life on their own -- without you. Love is not for you to control. It has a life of its own -- and we should celebrate for that. Because it's never fake. We always come back to the one we love -- and that is a "will" issue. :)

Train of Thoughts

It's not bad to be weak, only if we are wise enough...

I am not an open book. To be simply the me whom nobody knows that much.

I am unconventional. But there is nothing symbolic or stunning about it. I just have it as a matter of identity and nobody really cares. There are forms of self expression, of a desire to conform -- a measure of my indifference to remarks.

I just want to be as simple as I can. Perhaps I desire to be anonymous in certain scenes, to be simply the me whom nobody knows that much. I love watching people when I've got nothing to do. I see how most of them cram. I always notice their shoes. Yes. For me, seeing their shoes is like seeing them in close quarter and it means a lot. I understand that more often than not -- words are the source of misunderstanding. I'm just a quiet type of person -- more of a listener that a talker. Stubborn but reasonable.

I value the way how a person answers questions. Maybe it's because I refuse mere speculations -- I would rather demand for certainty. I hypothesize but I only consider facts. "We dont't see things as they are, but we see things as we are" -- that is how i see descriptions, statements, explanations, stories, and all-abouts -- I see them without a period. It always branches out -- then I would never stop -- eventually.

There has been an outlined insights for everything -- may it be knowing ourself -- may it be about life -- or even the smallest thing such as our favorite colours. I have reasons in everything I do and the same way I know that there's a reason for everything. We do things with purpose. There's always an intricate framework -- and those reasons are stipulated in my life's autograph.

"Everything happens for the good of God's purpose..."

Fate VS Conflict

I was browsing my old blog (redRyan.tabulas.com) yesterday and I found one old article dated September 15, 2006. I was only 21 year-old way back then and now, I feel I'm gaining too much "age." I know how fast time goes by and I rarely noticed it, maybe the next thing I'll know I'm already in my 30's. What adds to my worries is the fact of life that it continious to tick so much faster than before. I know I still have my missions that I might be running a bit too late against the fast tick of time.

Anyway, going back to my old article I mentioned earlier. It says "FATE vs CONFLICT"

I still remember that I got the idea from the book I've read years ago so I profoundly express my gratitude to the book we might all heard before -- "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren.

Why "Fate vs Conflict?"

It says:

There are two ways on how we can look at life -- either by fate or conflict. Hogs are only fated just to feed on through for the rest of their lives before they face the butcher's knife -- they can't do anything to change that... But for us human, we always have choices, we can always do something to change the future and to change our life... thus making it a CONFLICT for us...

Very true.


It has been proven many times -- words are the source of misunderstandings. As part of my "conflict" in life and that is how I want to start all over again -- I prefer not to utter any words when I know that the receiver of my "words" is not clear sighted to me.