expansion blues

The mall manager which previously bumped off our application for cart space must be pissed off. We negotiated for a slot at the parking area and got a lease contract from the parking lessor. On first day of our operation we got kicked off by the mall technically, saying the parking lessor does not have permit from them to allow food cart tenant at their parking lot. So we packed up. But not without meeting the mall manager and passing the problem to him with our cart. Cornered, he allowed us to place our cart inside the mall subject to space availability and installation of a smoke filter. Few days later we came back, cart inside the mall with smoke filter installed and on stand by. Plan A, which was placing the cart outside with more foot traffic was disapproved, but plan B which is having the cart inside the mall was achieved. Now the pressure is on the mall manager looking for new space for us. They say if there's a will, there's a way, no matter how.

Lalakay Laguna

Allow me to advertise shortly.
We stayed here overnight, nice place, very private. For further pictures, click on title link above.

BJB Private Pool Resort, Makiling Heights Subdivision, Lalakay, Laguna
Overnight Rate: P12,000.00
Capacity: 15 pax
Amenities: Overlooking Laguna Bay. One big pool, one jacuzzi. Matresses on window-side benches. Dining and cooking area, inclusive of cooking utensils, gas stove and refrigerator. CR for men and women. Videoke and tent. Enough parking space.
For booking, Call: Ernesto Teraza at CP 09278765616 or 09179034466.

Of Elections and Contributions

National elections on May 10, 2010 is fast approaching. Candidates are growing frantic, more so with Presidentiables Noynoy Aquino and Manny Villar being neck and neck in surveys. Most likely they will have less sleep if not sleepless, thinking, and doing the best they can to turn opinions in their favor. All PR, advertising, political and financial machinery are being utilized to win voters for the one stake each candidate has filed for- position of power and influence- or public service as they humbly claim.

But I do not care. I am not voting this election. I never did. We had a dozen elections already and we have not moved forward. Simply, we have not learned our lessons and we keep repeating the same process that does not guarantee us radical change. Officials and bureaucrats are willing victims of the system so as to protect if not enrich their business and influence, in the guise of serving the people. As one article put it, P35,000 monthly salary will not suffice for a Senator alone, so where else do they get the rest for their official operations? It was Einstein who said doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result is insanity. Filipinos in that sense are insane, hoping that with the change of leadership their lives will also somehow change. But it's sheer baloney repeated every three years!

I derive my hope not from public officials, though, but from economic opportunities that abound for those who strive to improve their lot. In tiger economies like Singapore, Japan and Taiwan, its the politicians/officials that ensure economic growth is protected with nationalist incentives. The economic benefits cascade to the people resulting to less hunger and crime.

My personal contribution for this country to take off is not my vote. It is my sales work, providing sustainability of jobs to the company I work for. It is my small business, creating job for the crews that work under me. After all, it's not the government that feeds my family. It's still me, regardless of whoever wins this election. William Ernest Henley aptly captured it when he said:
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

thinking

There's emptiness in every corner,
A wish leaping out but cannot be told.
I wonder when this can be over,
I wonder how may I ever her hold.

pent-up

Sometimes silence speaks better than words.
Its better that way, for the greater good.

After All The Years

It's been a while. Time swept me by and here I am-- bigger, bolder, balder-- and about to be married. My girlfriend for 14 years and 11 months has finally agreed that we settle down. Not because her fine taste for what is creative and beautiful has deteriorated. They say man as he grows older gets more valuable, and she grew wiser, too. That's what I believe, at least.

Force majeure and some touch of Divine intervention prompted us to terminate our single blessedness. Recurring myoma, which can ease up during pregnancy, but will eventually come back, was a major factor. I had been blamed for not doing it earlier and I guess they were justified. The period of contemplation as to when and how wasn't long. We were about to hear the next Sunday mass when a priest approached us and as if possessing divine clairvoyance, announced "you shall get married soon!". Not exactly his words, but the instance we talked to this priest we immediately had this gut feel he will officiate our exchange of solemn vows before the Lord.

To cut the long story short, this scholar priest of the Salesians of Don Bosco postponed his trip to Vatican and visit to his parents just to be our Ninong and at thesame time our wedding mass celebrator. Twenty seven days to go and this giddyness will finally be over.

Lately...

Here are some things I'd been up to, or has encountered lately:
1. I recently learned that UniOil Gasoline Station doesn't accept any credit card specifically from BPI. I had a full tank fill at their Evangelista station in Bangkal, Makati when the attendant returned my BPI Express Card saying their machine doesn't accept BPI (Bank of Philippine Islands) credit cards. Unbelieving, I got out of my car and verified with their cashier to which she insistently replied that their boss instructed them not to accept it because BPI is not a good payer- "matagal magbayad sila". It was hell of an inconvenience that I was not informed before hand. They should have posted a placard at their pumping stations "BPI Credit Cards Not Accepted Here!"
2. My girlfriend was diagnosed yesterday with Adenomyosis. It's horribly painful for us both as we still want to have babies. Her last operation for myoma removal was last February and a small pain still lingers on her lower left abdomen. Despite the odds, I still hope we can make it. Yes, why not, the good Lord hears me every time.
3. We are up with something that keeps us moving, working and busy. Our little franchise with a dimsun company will start operating end of November this year. My girlfriend will be on top of this, being her pet project after her resignation as Art Director. We are also trying to put up a similar business which will be our own, this time in Iloilo, my home town. I'm trying to put things together and God-willing, we will be up first quarter by next year.
4. I'm selling my LPG-fueled car. It's a very good sedan, smooth and super frugal. I bought a second hand Honda City, not for its economy but for its power steering and suspension. The old makes me more muscular, sans the pumping irons...

I just want to update this.
There you go!

Yeah, still alive.
Just too busy to write.
Too busy to think.
But I'll always be here.

Checking.

Waiting.

So feel free to tag!

Typhoon Frank Ravages Iloilo Province

Before noon time of June 21 radio stations were already broadcasting of floods and stranded passengers in my home province Iloilo. I called up home to check how are things but my sister was already rushing things up our attic, just built a month ago. Waters started to flow inside our house and just like many years back, it takes only a few minutes and it would be knee high, waist deep and in an hour 5 feet high anywhere the house and much deeper outside of it.

At 3:00pm all my sisters, mother, nephews and a few neighbors are already at our attic while most of our neighbors have evacuated already at the first gush of waters that came from Suage River just a few meters back of our house. I had our attic built this year for that purpose and it came out like Noah's Ark, standing deserted but resistant.

Meanwhile, waters continue to rise, alarming my sisters that it would swell higher than expected. The radio news of people climbing on their rooftops, trees and towers from every town of the province added to the dread. My cousins and aunts from other parts of Iloilo are also texting me, some already up at their ceiling and asking me for help, just in case. I thought of choppers, rubber boats and rafts, but even the national government from Manila has canceled deployment of rescue teams due to the treacherous weather. Frank is signal No.3, and I could just text them to brace up for a longer battle because dams were destroyed and it would take a little longer for water to subside. I'd ask my sisters to gather water from the rain as their potable water is running out. I told them not to let go of our chickens as it can be butchered when the foods runs out, suggesting out of this world menu of salt on white meat which they never replied back, maybe thinking I was too daunted than them. I asked my other siblings from Manila not to call or text them to preserve their cellphone battery as it was total black out in the province since early morning, but they must update me every 30 minutes if the water continues to rise, if the rain continues to pour and if their foods are still enough. Their second phone must be turned off, to be opened only when the worst call becomes necessary.

Every 30 minutes the text messages came, water going half inch lower, two inch lower, then some staircase steps appearing, forwarding same messages to all my siblings, including one who is in the U.S. so she doesn't worry anymore when news breaks out the next day. The last message says all kids are asleep with their lola. I thought my family's safe now, up at the attic I rushed to build to keep them safe from recurring natural calamities such as Frank.

Home at Holy Week

Holy Week, among Philippine holidays, is one of my best weeks. I get to go home to my hometown in Iloilo for a long deserved recharging of body, mind and spirit.
At 4pm today I will be boarding Cebu Pacific with my girlfriend, and she is ecstatic about the Ilonggo foods and beaches more than my longing to re-experience the local Sinakulo and Easter Sunday at the old Church I grew up with.
I look forward to touring her around our town and city, the churches and beach before the rest of the year preoccupy us again with work loads of presentations and negotiations.

Manila Peninsula Drama

"Naglunch lang si Senador sa Manila Pen", replied one member from my Samasa Yahoogroups when somebody from abroad asked for a news update from back home.

It was anecdotal of the short lived attempt of Senator Antonio Trillanes and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim to mount revolt against what they call a bogus President who won in an election marred by massive cheating. When he called for people's support to come to Makati after he walked out of the Makati City regional trial court, personalities identified with the opposition arrived in Manila Peninsula Hotel, like former Vice Pres. Teofisto Guingona, Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias, Infanta, Quezon Bishop Emeritus Julio Labayen, former University of the Philippines president Francisco Nemenzo, "running" priest Robert Reyes, columnist Herman Tiu Laurel and Atty. Argee Guevarra among others. Of course media people have been with them from the start of their court hearing and marching all the way to Manila Peninsula for a blow by blow coverage that ended having themselves handcuffed and dragged to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City along with the Magdalo soldiers.

Listening from one radio station to another as I drove back to Makati at the height of the incident, I heared the Phil. National Police Chief appeal to different media management to recall their personnel from the scene as they are about to engage with the holed up soldiers whose numbers almost equal with the media men covering them. Then I thought of the media person's moral obligation to be truth tellers, their constitutionally guaranteed vocation to freely inform the public of matters that concern them, just as the police has also the obligation to protect them while doing their duties. In a typical war, journalists, like members of the Red Cross, are not a potential enemy but allies of both warring parties in their pursuit for truth and human well-being.

As a student of journalism, I personally deplore the act of removing cameras from the TV crews and all forms of communication gadgets that were instruments of a continuous truth-telling work. Even more, the move to handcuff journalists suspecting them as Magdalo soldiers in disguise, those distinguishable faces you watch daily on TV, is the height of police ignorance, if not blind obedience at the expense of violating the basic rights of journalists to perform their duties protected by the Bill of Rights specifically Section 4 and Sec. 7.

I sympathize with the cause of Sen. Trillanes for a corruption free, morally upright governance-- who else doesn't want that? Church leaders even call for it, senators and congressmen, too. But counter such media grandstanding in a high-end hotel with Simba armoured personnel carrier (APC), handcuff teargassed journalists and declare curfew at 12 midnight until 5:00am? If this is not what we locally call "kapraningan" or "sobra naman" then this might just be the beginning of the end of a story that should never be told.

Nakakahiya na kasi!

November 8

“Walang sino man ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang… Walang sino man ang namamatay para sa sarili lamang.” Thus says the priest in a mass I attended an hour ago. What brings me to Church?

Well, I have decided to serve as an altar boy. I wore a long, white garment with a little bell on the side. I genuflect as I cross the altar, palms clasped at each other on my chest, sometimes panning an electric fan wherever the priest would go. That was me in sixth grade at my home town in Iloilo. But that was long time ago.

What really brought me to church today is THIS DAY. Yes, today is my birthday, and it has been my family’s tradition that a birthday celebrator should go to Church and hear mass. Way back then, when church bells were still louder and carried an awe at every “basal”, my mother would wake me up at 4:30am so I could hear the 5:00am mass. But that is not the case today. Away from home for so long, work up to my neck, my only window would be the 6:00pm mass. So I went to a church not far away, actually a church that’s just across my window for I live beside a church.

St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Palanan, Makati, is also where I would always see Atty. Rene Saguisag, who met a tragic accident early this morning with his wife, Dulci, dead. Always, because he seem to be attending the 6:00pm mass every day, and that’s the only hour of the day I see him each time I arrive home early evenings. Today, he is never in his usual place. Often, he would just stand at the door side, holding a rosary. I never saw him get inside but I presume he had. With his busy schedule I guess, he will only drop off, pray, get along with the mass and get back to his waiting car parked near the main entrance of the Church facing Dian Street. Parishioners today certainly can feel the queer emptiness at his favorite spot of the church, missing the familiar smile and “hello sir” greet that I also do when our paths cross. The priest has only good words to say about him. Most people in the parish say he is kind, humble and religious. I agree, and add that he is so ordinary-- though I base my judgment on what I merely see. I have heard of his accomplishments as a human rights lawyer, but I come to know him more as Rene Saguisag who would always stand by the church's door holding a Rosary at 6:00pm mass daily just across my parking space.

This day, I went to church not so much to thank God for the life He gave me 38 years ago. I prayed for the life of Atty. Rene Saguisag, a remarkable human rights activist and churchmate, and for the soul of his beloved wife, Dulce.

Manny Pacquiao vs Mexico

The first round of Manny Pacquaio-Antonio Barrera rematch dubbed "The Will to Win" by Solar Sports once again highlighted the deep difference between Filipinos and the Mexican people.

While we are both a developing country once colonized by Spain and share an almost similar past in terms of politics, culture and trade, the Filipinos have not outgrown the propensity for idolising personalities-- reason why showbiz and patronage politics thrive as a business in this part of the world.

At Mandalay Bay Events Center, Filipinos and friends chant "Manny! Manny!" while the fans and countrymen of Barrera shout "Mehico! Mehico!" at the first round of the rematch. This contrast became apparent as the show went on. We complain of racial slur at the "Desperate Housewives" show of ABC Network insulting Filipino doctors, but we fail to prove to the world that we are indeed a nationalist lot to the core.

Manny Paquiao may have won the rematch bout but for me, the Mexicans won as a country, united and proud of their native son, win or loss.

"Philippines! Philippines!" What a sweet sound it would have been when chanted throughout the 12 round fight. We missed the chance to impress the world that we are a nation of great individuals, Pacquiao among them. Mexicans did it. Again.

Driving on LPG

About three months ago, I had my car converted from gasoline to LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). My primary reason was economy—LPG costs P22 per liter at that time while gasoline was galloping to P40 per liter. Of course I consulted several LPG users before taking the plunge, from taxi drivers to FX owners. The common feedback was they saved to a maximum of 40% from their usual gas expenses. And so, for a not so cheaper price of P24,000 for the installation and the kit, "Dumi" (my car's name) was confined for over an hour at NAIADSS Boni Avenue for the conversion.

There were secondary considerations then, though now, I believe, is more important and more noble. By using LPG, I have ceased to be among those culprits responsible for global warming. Carbon dioxide is among those chemicals that hasten the demise of our collective life on earth. This, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) also used as car coolant long used by third world countries such as ours has contributed to destroying the ultraviolet layers of the earth’s atmosphere, making the human skin vulnerable to cancer. Other benefits of using LPG is that I no longer have troubles with my gas filters and carburetor due to a more efficient burning of the LPG.

Just recently, a Philippine Senator has filed a bill seeking to prohibit the importation of substances that harm the ozone layer.

Known as among the most ardent advocates of environmental protection in the Philippines, the senator proposed a penalty of imprisonment ranging from six months to six years or a fine of from P10,000 to P50,000 or both, for violation of the law.

Specifically, the bill would prohibit importation of substances enumerated in the Montreal Protocol, an international agreement signed by representatives of 44 countries, including the Philippines.

Most of the substances mentioned in the agreement are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) formerly used to clean electronic circuit boards, and are now being used in aerosols and coolants, such as refrigerators and air conditioners. When released in the atmosphere, the substances’ molecules turn into chlorine monoxide that destroy the ozone layer. They have a life span of 10 to 100 years.

Ultraviolet radiation that reach the earth through holes in the ozone layer partly caused by the CFCs can enter the cells of living beings and destroy the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) of many life forms on planet earth. The destruction of the ozone layer also causes climate change that results in floods, droughts and other climactic catastrophes.

Scientists have already located a hole in the ozone layer somewhere above the Antartic, the size of continental America. If the ozone layer is wiped out, it might signal the end of life on earth, scientists say.

Coffee Creeps

Every time I go to my favorite Starbucks' counter, any crew would always say ahead of me: "Earl Grey? Hot? Tall sir?" and I would just nod and hand over the bill.

As the crew prepares for my tea, I would pluck that brown tissue and sift for the stirrer at the other side of the counter. By the time I arrive back at the claiming area my tea is done with 2 packs of honey sitting on its cover. And it becomes routinary.

This morning a lady crew asked me why I would always order for hot tea, every time. I told her in jest, now that you’ve asked, I can order for something else. “Can you please serve me a coffee with a tea bag in it?” In seconds, lo and behold, I got my tea-coffee, for a change! Just kidding— I just imagine how would Starbucks be if I can make my own concoction out of what they have.

Why hot tea and not coffee? Simple. Though I love its aroma and would really prefer drinking it than tea, I am allergic with coffee. Yes, maybe because of my allergy rhinitis. Every time I drink a cup of it, I would always sneeze and the uneasy feeling lasts until evening. Decaf coffee can’t help either. Sometimes when I indulge to at least 2 consecutive cups, I get this throbbing feeling and nervous palpitations. Tea-coffee? No, thanks!

Nakakainggit ang mga nagkakape!

I Won Starbucks Complimentary Beverage

After more than a hundred cups of Starbucks-- combine hot and cold beverages since I started visiting this branch-- my loyal patronage with this coffee company named after a Mody-Dick character has paid off. No, I wasn't paid off deliberately, it was luck that was kinder to me when the random cash register squirted a promo receipt with a costumer code for www.mystarbucksvisit-ph.com.

Then after encoding and answering some questions (page after page, the kind that management wanted to hear out from customers-- they were easy, yeah!), my complimentary beverage ID came out. Not really an ID that has my picture and name tag on it, but a numerical ID my answer choices must have generated.


I copied it to the space provided at the promo receipt and presented it to Thines-- though I would have loved to present it to Lhyne (yes, I practically know all the crew in this branch and they know me by name, too!)-- for my choice for any tall beverage. I chose Mango Passion Fruit, their current product offering. Well, that was after I had a hot Tazo Tea, a Kettle Chips of Spicy Thai (ginger chips-- anghaaang!) and a sampler of Raspberry Black Currant cold drink. All, in the guise of doing my client proposals in this free wi-fied nook of Makati!

Missing my Father

It's not that I have forgotten about him. In fact the first thing I did when I woke up last Tuesday was pray for him. And at the same time he passed away three years ago.

Not a day would pass by without me remembering my dearest Tatay, and everytime, I would say a short prayer for him. It's not Catholic mandate, it's my spiritual instinct. Somehow, to use the worldly term, I idolized my father in many ways. He was an excellent provider-- not in a manner that he loaded us with all the life's material blessings-- we were amply satisfied with whatever he brings home, everytime. Three years passed and I can still feel his lips kissing the back of my palm as he struggled bending up on his bed in a gesture of gratitude and goodbye. How I miss him.

Two weeks ago I got a frantic call from my sister in Escolta. She narrated how, from nowhere, a reservation she made last year with Cebu Pacific popped up her monitor. She said she was doing her usual encoding, went out to get something and in a few minutes an officemate asked permission from her if she could close the window that just popped up from her monitor because she wanted to type something. Weird but just as my sister has decided not to come home on July 10, our father's death anniversary, that thing came out. She was crying narrating to me the incident. With the high fare and the salary she's not receiving when on leave, she resolved to just talk to our father, a bargaining of sort, hehe!

By the way, as I write this entry, I can read my site bar of Today's Verse saying: "Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old."(Proverbs 23:22). Coincidence? I dunno. But what a nice way to communicate with us his children! We love you Tatay! Yeah, we will always take care of Nanay!

Finally, and when I started to forget it, I now have a grade for my last subject. Now since this is my last subject and semester in UP, I'd like to post it for posterity. I thought, hindi naman sya uno so there's no reason to brag about it. Tehee! Thanks Mark & Tom for the tip!

Summer 2006 - 2007
Subject	Instructor	Units	Grade
J 198	LAMBINO, MARICHU C.	3.0	1.25

Flashback

Didn't know I was that opinionated 2 years ago. This same month on that year I was a gym rat, I watched Star War movie (“Train yourself to let go of things you fear to lose”-- my most unforgettable quote from Master Yoda), I ranted about Greenbelt, I complained about an old man beside me while hearing mass (I was, and is still struggling to be spiritual), I was a Tito to my nephew (those were indeed rare moments!).

Here's a link to that 2005 flashback!

a study on declining newspaper readership

I said I believe in miracles. A miracle is any amazing or wonderful occurrence. Others define it as a “marvelous event manifesting a supernatural act of God.” Yes, it was amazing and it was also a marvelous act of God. I submitted my second draft on the last day of submission of grades (officially was April 9). Minutes after poring over my second draft, my thesis adviser gave me a grade I least expect. It was even higher than the one I wished for, and without further corrections! I was kind of worried because on Holy Thursday and Good Friday she was texting me to adjust, revise and add items on some chapters. I researched more, added tables and interpretations over here and there and refined my recommendations. Easter Sunday, I was done. The next day I went to school to submit my copy. All that I wished was I can have a grade on time, after the 3^rd semester, my maximum residency. What I got is a miracle, at least on my own terms!

Looking back, though lacking in in-depth sources and related references, I was encouraged by Dr. Georgina Encanto’s remarks when she said she can’t accept what I submitted as a thesis. She told me my topic was good but too short and shallow, and I ought to pursue it if only to contribute to the scarce references on the subject matter. She wants my work to be part of that rare resources of students and researchers seeking to expand knowledge on related research fields. Well, the way I see it, my thesis turned out to be more of a beacon, than a study tool, to journalists, editors and publishers especially, of the future of the print media. Why is newspaper readership declining? What can editors and publishers do to arrest the readership slide? How can the print medium cope up with the power of TV, radio and the Internet, especially the online publications and its interactive & dynamic nature? What lessons must the broadsheets learn from the compact tabloids? On theoretical perspective, how is the active news reader affected by the new media and how are editors and publishers dealing with it?

I just wish by the time I retire, there are still newspapers I can write with. I envy the likes of opinion makers Messrs. Teodoro Benigno and Luis Beltran—they died still holding on their pens, like the bridesmaids holding on their lighted lamps when Christ arrived.