My Spiritual Heroes

When I was a kid, these are my spiritual heroes who opened the doors for me and led me to Jesus, my Lord and Savior:

1. Dale Carnegie

2. Og Mandino

3. Norman Vincent Peale

4. John Maxwell

5. Billy Graham

6. Rick Warren


Dale Carnegie, Og Mandino and Norman Vincent Peale taught me to stop worrying and start living; to be a successful in sales; and to think positive in life.


Armed with a positve mindset, John Maxwell, Billy Graham and Rick Warren, instilled in me true leadership skills borne out of love which made me strive to love like Jesus.


Loving is not fun and never easy at all. Human love wears out. Forgiving is a tough act to do.


But all these can be done if we will let Jesus to live in us so that we can do what seems impossible to us.


For with God, nothing is impossible.

Keeping Score

How do you know if you win or lose in a game? By keeping score right?

The same way with Life.

Whether you like it or not, God keeps score.

You see, at the end of your life, God will judge you for how you lived your life.

I'm not even talking about salvation. Let's just confine ourselves with keeping score.

Even in dieting, you keep score. For example, I'm on a diet. But this week, I'm already 0-2 because for the past 2 days, I ate rice. Yup, my diet should be a no rice diet. And so by tomorrow, I will try again. And at the end of the month, I will keep score of my weight. I am already 213 lbs as of yesterday. The past couple of months, I was 220 lbs. So by keeping score, I have lost 7 lbs. Now I did not lose this game. To me, it was a won game. However, the game doesn't stop. Once you have reached your desired weight, you have to keep score to maintain it.

So, keeping score is important.

It determines your proximity to your failures or successes.

It also motivates you to reach for your goal or neglect it altogether.

So, what's your score lately?

Helpful Tips

A little help will go a long way. Spread the word!


Ants Problem: Ants hate cucumbers. Keep the skin of cucumbers near the place or ant hole.

To get pure and clean ice: Boil water first before freezing.

To make the mirror shine: Clean with sprite.

To remove chewing gum from clothes: Keep the cloth in the freezer for an hour.

To whiten white clothes: Soak white clothes in hot water with a slice of lemon for 10 minutes.

To give a shine to hair: Add one teaspoon of vinegar to hair then wash hair. 

To get maximum juice out of lemons: Soak lemons in hot water for one hour and then juice them.


To avoid smell of cabbage while cooking: Keep a piece of bread on the cabbage in the vessel while cooking.
 
 To avoid tears while cutting onions: Chew gum.
 

To boil potatoes quickly: Skin one potato from one side only before boiling.


To remove ink from clothes: Put toothpaste on the ink spots generously and let it dry completely then wash.

To skin sweet potatoes quickly: Soak in cold water immediately after boiling.

To get rid of mice or rats: Sprinkle black pepper in places where you find mice or rats. They will run away.


Hope this helps. Cheers!

They're Back!

The Marcoses are back.

There's one in the Senate. One in Congress. One in Ilocos Norte as Governor.

And now the latest news, the majority of the congressmen have approved (?) of the Marcos petition that the body of the late Ferdinand E. Marcos, be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

For sure, this has sparked another outrage from the pro-Aquino camps.

What an irony indeed.

Last 1986, when the Filipinos introduced People Power when they ousted Marcos from the seat of government, it was like euphoria - a testament to the Filipinos' battlecry against dictatorship.

More than 20 years later, the Marcoses are back in power and are inching toward the burial of the late strongman in the Libingan ng Bayani or Heroes' Cemetery at the Fort.

Again, who's to blame?

Will our country look dumber and dumber by ousting a dictator only to bury him in a place reserved for heroes?

The former Senator Saguisag suggested that the place be renamed Libingan ng mga Bayani at mga Pangulo or Cemeteries for the Heroes and Presidents.

What will become of our country? Will we become a laughingstock for being such a paradox?

In the first place, does it really matter if the Marcoses are buried in the land reserved for heroes?

What's in a name anyway?

Am I one of the many who couldn't care less?

If Ninoy and Cory, both considered heroes, are not buried there but just in Manila Memorial Park, a privately owned heritage park, what's the difference if Marcos will be buried in the Heroes' Park?

Shouldn't the people focus on more important matters, more so, our politicians?

Sometimes, I'm sick and tired of these issues between the Aquinos and the Marcoses.

Do they own our country?

Can't we have other or better options to lead our country?

They've had their share and there's not much difference to date.

I wouldn't be surprised if one day, Bongbong Marcos will become president. He has the makings of a president, being a son of the former president, he has the money, the political connections, the bearing and everything that will hypnotize our masses.

And maybe Kris Aquino will be ready to prevent Bongbong from becoming president.

They have made the Philippines their virtual playground. tsk!

Who's to Blame?

Now critics, celebrities, Human Rights Groups and even the Catholic Church are ganging up on Willie Revillame.


But what was really the fault of Willie? That he made the poor kid dance or gyrate in front of the tv camera at his expense and let the boy continue while the boy is crying already (which made critics fume more against Willie). What exacerbated the issue was Willie's statement that the little boy will do anything for the money (which is only P10,000) to help his family. This really drew a slew of criticisms and violent reactions esp from anti-Willie fanatics.


In a sense, what Willie did was uncalled for and whether you like it or not, even if the boy's family is ok with it, what was committed went against Willie's claim that all he did was to make the people happy (yeah, at the expense of the poor kid). Talk about twisted logic. 


And here lies the bigger issue.


Was it really Willie Revillame's fault?


In the Inquirer's headline today, Monique Wilson, was telling it like it is to the TV networks: Do not dumb down on the people. In tagalog, wag niyo gawing tanga ang mga pinoy.


So, was it the TV networks fault? For coming up with shows like these that dumb down on people?


But this is what clicks with the masa or the Filipino masses. So naturally, any TV networks would come up with a sound business proposition that will deliver programs that entice the Filipino masses to tune in to their programs.


So, was it the advertisers or the sponsors' fault? 


No audience. No sponsors. No game shows like these. No hosts like Willie Revillame who certainly has a solid fan base among the Filipino masses.


Now, you connect the dots.


So, who's to blame? 


Will you blame the masa for continuing to flock and feed on game shows like these?


Can you really blame the masa? They're in it for the money and this is the easiest way to earn money... sometimes, even at their expense. Never mind that the game makes them dumber or makes them look dumb as long as they're given easy money so they can buy food to eat.


Is this cultural? economical? or political?


If you will dig deeper beneath the underlying issues...


Is this the government's fault?


What?! 

Bb. Pilipinas 2011

Congratulations to this year's winners of the Bb. Pilipinas Universe, International and Tourism. Hmmm, Tourism sounds like a new award to me? Is this the World title?

Anyway, as expected, No. 26 or Shamcey Supsup, to be a placer indeed because of her earlier awards. She's already a favorite by that virtue alone. But her beauty is not a Filipina beauty in the exotic sense. But I like her. She's not only beauty personified. She's got the brains too having graduated magna cum laude from UP with an Architectural degree at that! Wow!

I also like No. 33. Dianne Necio. She's tall and smart. I thought she'll bag the World title. Again, is that the Tourism plum?

Last but not the least, I never expected No. 25 to win (Isabelle Manjon). She's not even a favorite. But she possess the Filipina beauty the most among the three winners.

Anyway, congrats to all the winners and the contestants - just by being a part of it makes each one of you a winner already. I hope you will all bring a major, major honor to our country! Cheers!

At this time of the year

Sometimes, you just feel flat. No motivation at all. No energy. You just want to lie down and enjoy solitude.


That's what happens to me sometimes.


It is at this time of the year that you just want to detach yourself from your routine.


Some call this rest. Surely, this couldn't be rest. It's actually more than rest. Because rest should be routine or at least once a week. You take a day off. Even God rested after the Creation. You call this Sabbath.


But okay, for lack of a better term. This feeling is closer to rest.


Everybody needs a time off - a break from the usual. 


And the benefits are substantial. You get to refresh, recharge, renew.


Then you're off to another day.


Life goes on.