When is the right time to surrender?

It is the right time to surrender when more than half of the world's population is telling you to do so.

It is the right time to surrender when all you have is your hands, while your enemy still has bombs.

Surrendering is not an act of cowardice, rather, it is a courageous way of saving lives.

Surrendering is not an admission of weakness, rather, strength. Because surrendering takes a lot of courage.

Whatever is happening now in Libya and the rest of the Middle East, is a test. A test of courage, humility and acceptance.

Libya's flag only has one color--green. It means life and yet many lives were taken away because of violent demonstrations.

Pray. Whether you believe in God, in Allah or Buddha and even if you do not believe in gods at all, pray... it is more powerful than we all can imagine.

Miss Philippines as 4th Runner-Up in Miss Universe 2010

Another proud moment for the Filipinos worldwide.  Miss Philippines Venus Raj bagged the 4th place in the recently concluded Miss Universe 2010 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Hotel in Las Vegas.

Aside from waiting for the finalists in their swim wear and evening gown, the most anticipated event of the night was the question and answer.  Miss Philippines was (un)lucky to have chosen William Baldwin to ask her this question:  

"What is your biggest mistake in life and what did you do to make it right?"

I was literally biting my nail while waiting for what Miss Philippines has to say.  I was so nervous because I think Miss Australia and Miss Mexico gave the best and smartest answers.  I am still proud that she confidently represented the Philippines although I wasn't fully satisfied with her answer: 

"Thank you so much Sir for that wonderful question.  You know what Sir, in my 22 years of existence, I can say that there is nothing major major, I mean, problem that I have done in my life because I am very confident with my family, with the love that they are giving me.  So, thank you so much that I am here, thank you thank you so much."

I have never heard a more grateful person in my life.

The Gay World

I have many gay friends and time with them is one of the happiest moments of my life.  I really admire them for being strong and their positivity is just amazing.  I heard many triumphant stories of them being accepted by their families and friends, I am happy that they are accepted because I really don't see them as different.  There are still many gays out there who are afraid of coming out but let us not judge them and pray that they may find the right time to show who they really are and hope that people around them will not treat them differently.

I am glad that there are sites and gay blogs that somehow help them release their emotions, discover who they really are and what they want, the happy and sad truth about their chosen path and just about everything they need to know about being gay.  These sites are a great way to make people understand the 'mysteries' behind what they call third sex.  

Philippines' 112th Independence Day

 Image from rheasan on Flickr.

Happy Independence Day to the Philippines!

It has been 112 years since Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the Philippine independence in Kawit, Cavite and the start of the First Philippine Republic.  I remember the lecture of my professor in college that it wasn't actually Aguinaldo who waved the Philippine flag.  Whoever waved it, he sure made history.

Aquino Proclaimed as President of the Philippines

It is official, Benigno 'Noynoy' C. Aquino III is the new President of the Philippines.  More than a month after the first ever automated elections in the Philippines and after many controversies surrounding it, we now have a new president.

Noynoy is the son of the murdered Senator Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino and the late former President Corazon Aquino.  Whatever brought him to what is right is a mix of his parents' legacy, a little bit of his sister's popularity (Kris is his younger sister) and a whole lot of luck or fate.  He's my bet so I am happy that he got the post.  My hopes for his term is for the Philippines to become a better place for Filipinos or foreign migrants to live in.

He will officially take office on June 30--earlier than the usual start of term.  His running-mate, Sen. Mar Roxas on the other hand was not able to bag the VP post but nevertheless, I think the Filipinos also made a wise decision to vote for Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay as the Vice-President.  Binay positively noted that whatever it is that the President wants him to do for the benefit of the country, he will do it.

Let us wait and see and hope that the next six years of our lives during their term would be better.

Hoping for A Better World

I have high regards for philanthropists and all other people who take time to do volunteer works for the community.  I could not imagine the world without these people.  It simply shows that in each one of us there is this little place called kindness that is yet to be discovered by many.  

I just got home from a seminar and I was privileged to talk about the 7 essential values that employees should have (at least in our company)--respect, honesty, trustworthiness, commitment, loyalty, discipline and solidarity.  I intended my discussion to be light because I know that these values are already there, they just need to be polished a bit.  I put emphasis on discipline because it is the bridge towards goals and accomplishments.  To emphasize the value, I shared a story that really happened about a year ago when a mayor stopped a private vehicle and asked the driver to pick up the bushel that a child threw from the inside of their car.  The mayor strictly implements cleanliness in their town and seeing people actually offending the law isn't something that should be ignored.  The town is now considered one of the cleanest in Luzon.

About two years ago, after receiving a bunch of letters from Smile Train, we finally became their partner in providing free cleft lip and palate operations for poor children.  I am honored to be one of the coordinators of the program and the feeling of seeing those poor children smile after their successful operation is just overwhelming.  It is just a smile but for them it meant changing their life forever.

Rafe Totengco, designer of Rafe handbags paid homage to the Philippines' indigenous materials and craftsmanship by showcasing bags made of tinalak--a kind of fabric carefully weaved by the T'boli tribe of South Cotabato.

Do you ever ask yourself when was the last time you did something good for someone you didn't know? 

Enough of the crazy non-sense wars and revolutions... what we need is kindness revolution and socially responsible citizens of the world.  My friends say that I am too idealist, my ideals will not happen they say, but  there's nothing wrong with hoping that someday, somehow, it will happen.