Thank You, Michael Scofield

When it came out, I wasn't at all interested. A friend suggested I watch a few episodes to see if I would like it. I watched the pilot, and from then on, I got hooked. From then on, I followed the Fox River 8 to Panama to Los Angeles to wherever their adventure took them.

And now, unlike other shows which go on forever, Prison Break finally ended. The story of the brilliant structural engineer who robbed a bank so he can go to prison to save his brother from death row finally closed its curtains. And like me, I'm sure a lot of the followers of PB had their hearts broken, not just because PB ended, but more importantly, how it ended and why it ended that way. Michael Scofield was a genius and was someone who had the biggest heart. As fictional as he is, he will be someone I will never forget.

“We spend so much of our lives… not saying the things we wanna say,

the things we should say...” - Michael J. Scofield

What Workshop?

I really think we're wasting our time and money enrolling our daughter in this so-called TV Acting Workshop! It's quite expensive and I'm really not impressed at all with the so-called Director and her assistants (people that look like her sister, husband and sons). They are not time-conscious and extend beyond lunch time not thinking of the hunger the children and the waiting parents are feeling. Then instead of a workshop, all they did since the start was rehearse the kids for their culmination activity. They're supposed to teach/train the kids through the workshops before they will supposedly rehearse for the culmination, no wonder the kids are having a difficult time with their 2 lines of dialogue and their this-is-your-blocking-today-but-not-tomorrow style which is so inconvenient. A lot of times the directors seem lost in the middle of practices.

It was my wife who was so excited to enroll our daughter in this workshop after she successfully attended a dance workshop. This is a lesson learned. I will not enroll my daughter again in any extra curricular class until I will know the people behind it. By the way I'm looking at it, the members of our theatre company are way better directors and facilitators than these people. Their culminating activity is 10 hours from now. Let's see what happens.

Hacked!

From work this morning, I took my daughter to her summer workshops, then afterwards, went with her to watch High-5 live. We went home at almost 4pm, and I've been awake for more than 24 hours straight already. No wonder I slept right away when we got home.

I woke up an hour ago and was still sleepy and groggy when I went to my PC to check my email. I was shocked to receive this email from my mom...

Subject : Please i need your kind help urgently.

Hello,

This might be disturbing to hear as i never informed anyone of my traveling, but I can explain better after I sort myself out. I am in a hurry writing you this mail because the receptionist can only help me type this mail to you, since i have no access to the internet computer based on the bills i owe the hotel. It’s been a very sad moment for me, the present condition am in right now is so hard for me to explain, that’s why I want to seek your financial help and please come to my aid because something extremely dreadful is happening to me now and will expect you to keep confidential between you for now.

I quickly traveled down here to London , United Kingdom for a research program. Regrettably for me I forgot my little bag in the taxi on my way to the hotel where I lodged along side with my money, passport, traveling documents, diary, and other valuable documents. I have no money and no where else to go, that’s why I have been here staying in this hotel. I owe the hotel bills for my stay and the management is on my neck for their money.

Please I need you to help me with $4,350 today so I can make preparations and go back home immediately. The embassy here has already promised to give me a covering letter that I will need to tender to the immigration at the airport for my departure back home, all I need right now is the money to settle up the hotel bills, get a new air ticket to travel back and sort charges to authenticate the covering letter at the airport, since I have no police report and can't wait any longer. I have to pay up the hotel bills and be allowed to leave the premises to the embassy to get the covering letter which shall accompany me to the airport for the authentication of my travel documents. I am also starving and need to get food to eat. I am just thankful i have the help of the receptionist on duty who volunteered to assist me type this mail through their reception's computer in typing to you. I have been restricted access to the internet access in my room and phone calls. I don’t have money to make international calls right now. I will appreciate what so ever you can afford to send me for now and I promise to pay back your money as soon as I return home. I will be waiting to hear from you so I can tell you on how to send the money down here so I can be home immediately.

What's more shocking was that while I was reading the email, my mom was soundly asleep downstairs in their room. I immediately went to Yahoo! Mail to check mom's email and true enough, her password didn't work anymore. Her email, her very first email addy was hacked!

Almost 20 minutes after learning that my mom's email was hacked, I was able to counter-hack (is there such a term?) it and get it back. I made sure that it will be a lot more secure this time than before and tomorrow, first thing in the morning, everyone in this household will be taught Protecting your Email 101. So guys, make sure to check and double-check the security of your emails regularly. And yeah, I was able to get the alternate email used by the hacker, accountant_glandscapeinc@yahoo.com .

Call Center Agent

I first saw this almost 3 years ago when I was just starting in the call center industry. The descriptions fit me except two things: the jacket thingie only because people in our office keep turning the aircons off that's why I don't bring a jacket anymore; and the "coffee reigns as king" thingie since I don't drink coffee that much anymore (I used to when I was younger), just iced tea or plain water while in the office.

Credits to whoever made this.

Extent versus Content

Life is not a matter of extent but content,

not so much of action but intention,

not so much of quantity but quality,

not so much of results but efforts.

Life is not a matter of power but character,

not a matter of popularity but personality,

not a matter of superiority but dignity,

not a matter of social celebrity

but moral integrity.

Life is not a matter of enjoying money

but enjoying harmony,

not just a question of ability

but responsibility,

not just a question of aptitude but attitude,

not just a question of magnitude

but gratitude.

In the final analysis, life is not matter

of "How much you have done"

but "How much you have loved."

Such is life!

Why?

Today is Memorial Day in the United States, and that meant less calls for the people in call centers. I was looking forward to the long avail time and hoping for a VTO so I went to the office an hour earlier. I was actually planning to visit my grandmother at the hospital (she was admitted the other night because of HB), but since I didn't want to be late for work, I just went straight to the office.

The IBS agents were the priorities in the VTO while us, the CCU, were told that maybe we will have our turn to go on VTO anytime during our shift. Since I was looking forward to it, I made sure I was the first one to log-in. The avail time was heaven. I didn't get my first call until after my first break, that was almost 3 hours of avail time before my first call.

A little later in the shift, VTO was finally offered to CCU. No, I was not the first one to be offered. I was actually not included in the picture when our Coach and the people from Ops talked about it. That was fine, I was hoping but if they didn't want to offer the VTO to me, it's okay. I just kept myself busy so I wouldn't have to think about it. But after letting 3 people from CCU go on VTO already, I was starting to feel kinda bad, especially when Ops said that it was our Coach who gave them the priority list. Two hours before my shift ended, Ops were looking for 2 more of my teammates who were on break. Since those 2 weren't around, they had no choice but to offer it to me and another teammate. I didn't want to accept the offer anymore because it was just a couple of hours before my shift ended but I just decided to accept so I can go home earlier. I still have to go visit my grandma at the hospital later.

I'm now in my room, writing this blog. Do I feel bad? Am I complaining? Nah, I don't have the right to, a little disappointed maybe. Yah, a little disappointed.

The MVP for THREEEEE!

All night long, he kept trusting his teammates. They kept failing him, but he kept trusting them.

Until, with just one second left and his team down by two, LeBron James had no choice but to do it himself.

One second is not enough to pass the ball to someone else so when King James received the inbound pass from Mo Williams, he had no choice but to take the shot himself. A fadeaway three pointer at the buzzer. A one-point win. More importantly, The MVP saved his team from the jaws of defeat, and saved his team from being down 0-2 going to Orlando. It's now 1-1, the Cavs just needing to win at least one game of the three games in Orlando to regain the homecourt advantage. Game Three will be Monday (Manila Time), there will be a lot of work to do by the Cavs, but hey they're not the Best Team in the NBA for no reason, and as Mo Williams said at the end of the game, "We have the Best Player in the world!"

We are all witnesses.

Fr. Felix Glowicki, SDB

On the morning of April 24, 2009, a staff member found Fr. Felix Glowicki, SDB unconscious in his office just after his regular routine of meeting the workers. He was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed as having suffered a slight stroke. Unable to speak, he wrote that he simply lost his footing and fell. At that stage he waived the offer to be anointed, though yielded later. Despite early signs of recovery, his health quickly deteriorated. He breathed his last on May 11, 2009 - Feast of St. Ignatius of Laconi.

Those who knew him will remember a smiling friend, cheerful priest, an indefatigable worker, a firm educator, a gardener, a musician, a youth club leader, a warm-hearted confrere and a model religious. I personally remember him as the person who made the new building of DBTC, and made it beautiful until this day. I remember how he used to go around the campus in his polo barong. Up to this day, he's the only non-Filipino I've seen always wearing a polo barong.

Fr. Felix was just two days shy of his 78th birthday on the day of his burial (May 16, 2009). His confreres in southern Philippines put things this way: "We all know what a blast he will have celebrating his birthday in the Salesian garden in heaven. Look down on us kindly, Fr Felix, great man, good friend! We will miss you"

* Thank you to Fr. Nioret for the pic, text and additional information.

Dr. Eliseo Canton

On March 19, 2009 - the Feast of St. Joseph, Dr. Eliseo H. Canton, succumbed to cardiac arrest at 10 PM. He was a teacher and adviser before becoming the Registrar of Don Bosco Technical High School / Don Bosco Technology Center, and later on became the first dean of the college before leaving to open his own school.

He was a good man and a superb educator. He will be missed by everyone whose lives he touched once upon a time.

I got the picture and the news about Dr. Canton's death from Fr. Nioret, who shared something I'm sure he'll never forget...

I do not know if this is worth sharing. Anyway take this in whatever way you wish.

Last Sunday morning I went to see the remains of Dr. Canton. I never been to his St. Anthony Learning Center in Talisay, so before leaving, I called up the school and got instructions on how to get there. "On the left side of the road before Talisay Central School... there is a sign" was what the man on the phone told me.

So I took the jeepney for Talisay from McDonald's-Mambaling. After maybe 30 minutes, as the jeepney finally turned left for the last stretch of road going to the Poblacion of Talisay, I turned to look out at the left side of the jeep to see if I can recognize the learning center. I looked and I looked and I looked without any luck, until the jeep just stopped. When the jeep stopped l turned to look back inside the jeep to see if anyone is going down. I definitely did not call for the stop. Neither did I hear anyone call for the stop. There was a brief moment of waiting for whoever's going down. But no one was going down from the jeep. I looked at the left side again and there I saw the sign "St. Anthony Learning Center". I immediately alighted and when I did the jeepney moved on.

Question: was Dr. Canton making sure I don't miss his school?

Bro. Berns Villasanta, SDB

On April 2, 2008, the Feast of Blessed Pedro Calungsod - Cebu's martyr, and the birthday of Saint Dominic Savio, Bro. Bernard "Berns" Villasanta, SDB also breathed his last in the presence of his brother, Fr. Patrick Villasanta, SDB, his whole family and his rector Fr. Jhun Paradiang, SDB, after 24 years of suffering since his fatal accident when he was a Practical Trainee in DBTC that left him paralyzed. He had a heart attack at 5:20 am this morning and died at 6:15 am. Bro. Berns almost reached his 48th birthday which was supposed to be at the end of that month.

Bro. Berns was my favorite writer, and one of my most favorite persons. He was extremely good and was very humble. I remember that he once wrote inspiring articles for a magazine anonymously by just signing his articles with A Salesian Brother. It didn't take long though for people to convince him to put in his real name.

I miss his inspiring talks and writings, his wheelchair rides and his smile that never failed to welcome anyone who went to visit him. He is missed dearly but he is certainly now in heaven interceding for us. He had always been an example of zeal in the apostolate even in his condition, an example of joyous fidelity in tribulation.

Pray for us, Brods!


* Thank you to Fr. Nioret for the picture, some of the text and information.

Bad Day

It's my day-off and my new DSL was finally installed this morning. I'm supposed to feel happy but I'm not. Well, I was happy this morning when they installed my internet connection, that meant I don't have to rely on my Globe Visibility anymore. My happiness was cut short though when the Orlando Magic defeated my Cleveland Cavaliers in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals. Adding to that, I received a text message from my Coach that I am in danger of getting an FA for failing to meet the quality standards for two consecutive pay periods. Getting an FA means no Bonus and in danger of being terminated if it progresses. Full of mixed emotions, I forced myself to sleep after lunch.

I woke up almost 10 PM and went web surfing, hoping to find something that can brighten my evening. What I found just made me cry some more.

I just found out that three of my beloved mentors in elementary and high school already passed away. What's more painful is that I wasn't even there to attend their respective wakes and interments. I was not able to say goodbye to three of the people I looked up to and respected so much. What I am now is partly because of them. I spent six of the best years of my life in Don Bosco, under their guidance.

Rainbow

On the way home this cold and wet early morning, I saw a beautiful rainbow that made me realize that despite everything, despite all the sadness and challenges in my life, life is still beautiful and there is still a brighter tomorrow waiting for me.

I don't bring my camera to work so I just used my phone to capture the beautiful moment.

Yes, la vita è bella.

Missing Les Mis

I miss Les Mis. I miss everything about it. I was a part of the cast of Les Miserables from 1995 to 2002, and was fortunate enough to do different roles in that span. In those 7 years, we had a lot of changes with the cast, directors and crew. I stayed because I loved Les Mis, I loved the story, the characters, the songs, and most of all, I loved performing it. I was also very fortunate to have shared the stage with a lot of talented individuals who eventually moved on and became successful in showbiz.

Michael Luke Mejares once played Jean Valjean before he became the lead vocalist of South Border, Sheryn Mae Regis was once part of our ensemble before she joined Star in a Million, Rochelle 'Raki' Vega once played Eponine before she joined Born Diva, Christian Rey Marbella once played Marius before he joined Miss Saigon in Manila and London,and Randolph Libres once played Enjolras before he appeared in commercials and local programs like For Life, Philippine Idol and Milyonaryong Mini. Jimmy Marquez, who was a finalist in Search for a Star in a Million, was supposed to join us also before but had scheduling conflicts with their school's dramatics guild. Many others joined different productions after Les Mis and were able to go on tour around the world. Still some others went on to be successful with their careers in other fields.

Seven years after I sang my last note in Les Mis, I am still listening to the songs and yes, I have still memorized all the lines of all 44 songs. I would really like to do Les Mis again. If it were up to me, I would like to have a sort-of reunion show with my former co-thespians before, as well as new friends who either have the talent or the potential. I would like to do a show that will benefit the Cebu Cancer Fight, Inc., where my mother is one of the members being a cancer survivor herself. There's only one thing that I lack in order to make this a reality: funds to start with. I know a lot of companies and individuals are willing to sponsor the show when the rehearsals will start, I just don't have the budget so we can start the ball rolling. I am praying and hoping something will happen so I can make this a reality. I want to share Les Mis to a new generation of theatre audience who have not seen the beauty of the story, its characters and its music. It's simply timeless.

Pray for me that we would be able to push through with doing Les Mis again before this year ends, or early next year. It is too beautiful for the new generation not to be able to experience it.

Game 7s

As I'm writing this, two Game 7s are scheduled for May 18 (Manila Time). The Los Angeles Lakers versus the Houston Rockets, the winner of which will face the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, while the Boston Celtics will face the Orlando Magic, the winner of which will face my Cleveland Cavaliers for the Eastern Conference Finals.

Whoever the Cavs will face in the East, I'm sure it will be an interesting series since they have a score to settle with both Boston and Orlando, but if I were to choose, I would like the Celtics to face the Cavs. Boston defeated them last year in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals despite 45 points from King James. This year, the Cavs are a much better team while the Celtics are without KG who's out for the rest of the playoffs. But as King James said, "One all-star is out, they still have two all-stars".

The following weeks will be exciting for the NBA and the fans all over the world. For me, it will be a relief from the stress at work.

Go Cavs! 8 wins down, 8 more to go!

R & R

I already have my ticket.

God-willing, I'm going to Manila next month for my cousin's wedding. I will just be there for a few days, but I hope to make the most of it. I hope to meet up with the Shinatics, friends I have known for a long time but haven't met personally yet. I can't call it a vacation, but at least it will be a few days or R&R. Now, all I have to do is file my VL and hope and pray that it will be approved.

Pray for me, guys!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mothers' Day to all the mothers in the world! ♥

Happy Mothers' Day and Thank you to my mom Beb, my wife Loudette, my mother-in-law Mamie, my sister-in-law Mae, my Grandmother Editha, my Tita's, Cousins and all my friends who are mothers. This day is for all of you.

The world is a better place because of mothers.

King James

Finally!

King James was officially crowned as the NBA MVP for this season. As the most dominant force offensively and defensively - virtually unstoppable, my 24 year old idol is surpassing the hype that surrounded him from the start. He received a total of 109 out of a possible 121 votes, easily outvoting Kobe and D-Wade. As D-Wade would put it, "Lebron is the MVP of the league. He will be in that conversation every single year."

And as Bron's Cavaliers have been doing all season long, they've been unstoppable and simply dominating so far in the playoffs. After sweeping the Pistons in four games in the first round, they just blew the Atlanta Hawks away in Game 2 a couple of hours ago, tying a league record by winning their sixth-consecutive playoff game by double digits. Bron Bron and the other starters didn't have to play in the fourth quarter, that's how dominant the team is right now.

So far, so good. Next two games will be in Atlanta, hopefully the Cavs will finish the series there and then again wait for either Orlando or Boston for the Eastern Conference Finals.

Annoying People

The air conditioners in our offices are for all the computers and servers that are working 24 hours a day. That is the reason why we, the personnel, have to adjust to the environment and the temperature by wearing sweaters and jackets to protect ourselves from the bitter cold.

Now what is annoying is that some people still come to the office showing off their summer-wear and proactively turning off the air conditioners because they "feel cold."

Totally annoying!

Martin and the Lupang Hinirang

As I'm writing this, the Concert King, my greatest musical influence, Martin Ramon Razon-Nievera is under fire for his performance in Manny's last fight. They said that Martin sang the Lupang Hinirang wrongly. According to The National Historical Institute (NHI), "...the Philippine National Anthem should be sang like a marching song. And based on Republic Act 8491, Sec. 37: The rendition of the national anthem, whether played or sung, shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe."

For his part, Martin said he will not apologize: "I have never had to explain a song so much, but obviously this needs to be explained for those who didn’t like it. And even after all of this explaining, they still won’t. It's gonna be hard for me to apologize for something that I am not sorry for. I did not ask to do the anthem. Manny Pacquiao himself asked me to sing the national anthem. It was my honor to be blessed with this awesome responsibility and I have no one to apologize to becaue Manny asked me to sing this song. Obviously, he wants me to sing it the way I would sing it. I didn't change any of the notes. I did not make R&B. I interpreted the song the way understood it. From the deepest part of my hear, I sang for my country."

Martin continued, "I was told many times by many ... most especially by Manny Pacquiao ... not to sing it slow. They wanted me to sing it like a march, the way it was written. Even the politicians I consulted the day before the fight said I should not sing it like an R&B ballad. So at the last minute I had an arranger do a simple, ethnic-inspired minus one that begins slow, because I believe one needs to walk before he marches ... The crowd ... cheered when the tempo picked up.”

“I have watched many of Manny’s fights, and whenever the national anthem is sung, I could never hear the most important line, ‘Ang mamatay nang dahil sa ’yo (To die for you)!’ So I elected to end the song big, the better to be heard over the usual screams and boos, and ... get the final message of the song across... It's not a crime to try to inspire a nation—which was all I tried to do. I sang it like it was the last song I would ever sing. I wanted to make my country proud and believed that if I could contribute to the inspiration factor by delivering the song properly, then my job was done.”

I totally agree with Martin, and not just because he's my idol. He did not destroy nor change the song. In fact, a lot were inspired by his version. And if you really listen to it, he did sing the song in a marching beat, in my opinion, in accordance with how Mr. Felipe arranged it in 1898. Yes, he started the song slow, and ended it with a sustained final note, but to me, that just added to the impact of the song. His version is one of the most beautiful versions I've ever heard.

If the NHI is so concerned with the correct version of the song, they should have released the perfect version and distributed it worldwide for everyone to know. They should educate everyone about it, and other things that their agency is concerned about. They should be proactive in educating the people, not just reacting every time something happens. I only hear about the NHI every time the Lupang Hinirang is sang publicly. Whenever there is an event (most of the time, Pacquiao's fights), they always come out after to criticize the singers of the Lupang Hinirang for singing the song "wrongly."

I stand by Martin and his rendition. If the NHI wants to punish him for "breaking the law," they should also punish everyone else for incorrectly singing the song. In my pre-school, elementary and high school years, we always sang the national anthem everyday, except rainy days, and never do I remember the song sung in a marching (the "correct") beat. It has been 12 years
since I graduated from high school, but I don't think the singing of the song in schools has changed.

People are just so inconsistent.

Chase What Matters

Made this while being bored at work, something I'd like to dedicate to my team, using the tagline for Chase's Fraud Protector...

worry not of the calls we receive,
focus on the service you can give.

late fees we cannot reverse,
makes their apr worse.

think not of the pressure we feel,
it's just a call, no big deal.

think of what's important to you,
not those too good to be true.

we're a team even if we have different feathers
let's soar high together,
and chase what matters.

Proud to be Pinoy

Case Closed.

Manny Pacquiao just cemented his place in history as the Best Pound-for-Pound boxer in the world, even better than Floyd Mayweather, Jr., the undefeated champion who previously owned the pound-for-pound title. And looking at Mayweather and Pacquiao's last fights, it's not even close. He may be smaller, but he's way too talented than Floyd. Pacquiao's speed and power are just incomparable.

As expected by most, Pacman demolished the Hitman, Ricky Hatton of Britain. What was not expected though was how fast it took for Manny to do it. Hatton hit the canvass thrice, the third one was the most fatal. All in all, Pacman destroyed the Hitman in less than two rounds (359 seconds) of their mega-fight in Las Vegas, Nevada. Before the fight, Hatton was very cocky and arrogant in saying that he'll be Pacman's biggest opponent in the ring. He failed to mention that he'll also be the worst, the fastest to fall among Pacman's opponents.

Just another reason to say how proud I am to be a Filipino. And not only because of Pacman's impressive win, but also because my idol, my greatest musical influence, Martin Nievera, was the one who sang the Philippine National Anthem and he sang it the way it's supposed to be sung. It was an excellent decision by Pacman in choosing Martin, as it was Tom Jones himself who sang Britain's National Anthem, God Save the Queen. Martin's version was both amazing and inspiring. I've listened and sang Martin's songs all my life, but his version of the Lupang Hinirang gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it, and take note, it was approved by the National Historic Institute. In singing the song, he wore a Three Stars and a Sun shirt under his sports jacket. The shirt was designed by the late-great Francis M.

After Manny chose him, Martin said, "My role is very, very small, although in my career it's very, very big because I feel that the national anthem is actually the round one. And I have to get the first punch with a great performance sana, great delivery, great interpretation, of the 'Lupang Hinirang.'"

And before I forget, WWE Champion Batista was beside Manny when he walked from the locker room to the ring. Another Filipino doing good in the world stage. Another reason to make us proud.

Mabuhay Manny! Mabuhay Martin! Mabuhay Dave (Batista)!

This is Me

A made-for-TV movie my daughter and my wife love is Disney's Camp Rock, and one of the songs in the movie, This is Me, is one of my new fave songs as well. Here are a few lines of the song...

I've always been the kind of girl
That hid my face
So afraid to tell the world
What I've got to say
But I have this dream
Right inside of meI'm gonna let it show, it's time
To let you know
To let you know

This is real, this is me
I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be, now
Gonna let the light, shine on me
Now I've found, who I am
There's no way to hold it in
No more hiding who I want to be
This is me

Do you know what it's like
To feel so in the dark
To dream about a life
Where you're the shining star
Even though it seems
Like it's too far away
I have to believe in myself
It's the only way...