CULTURE FINDER

M - O - T - H - E - R

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 08 May 2011 04:40:00 +0000

M - O - T - H - E - R

"M" is for the million things she gave me,
"O" means only that she's growing old,
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,
"H" is for her heart of purest gold;
"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
"R" means right, and right she'll always be,

Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER,"

A word that means the world to me.

(Howard Johnson)

Happy Mother's Day!

======

Peter Allan C. Mariano

Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri

The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos

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Valentine’s Gift Ideas? Send Flowers with an Added Twist

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:33:00 +0000

The modern world has become more competitive and more hectic than ever. People who can’t keep up would just be left behind, wondering at the sidelines of what could have been. Still, despite this kind of lifestyle, well-meaning people would try not to miss out on special occasions and try to tell their loved ones how much they mean to them in whatever way that is available.

The online world has made it convenient for people to have this kind of arrangements. Flowers and other gifts can be sent online and to any other parts of the world. People can look for reputable companies who can handle this and be able to deliver these high-quality gifts promptly and conveniently.

However, the problem of sending gifts during relevant occasions such as Valentine’s Day is unscrupulous vendors trying to milk consumers with their hard-earned money by jacking-up their prices twice, thrice or even quadruple their regular rates. This is the topic discussed in an MSNBC report. The report, however, also pointed out reputable companies such as 1800Flowers, who were always transparent and honest with their pricing schemes.

Still, sending flowers online is a clever and convenient way of telling your loved ones from afar how much you care for them. And here’s a twist -- if the recipient is a “Twilight” series fan, 1800Flowers have a special Valentine’s gift package that includes long-stemmed roses with Twilight chocolates, poster and a DVD! That’s a bargain worth giving your loved ones!

Twilight Flowers Poster Bundle from 1800Flowers

======

Peter Allan C. Mariano

Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri

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The Essential Filipino: Discovering Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:08:00 +0000

THE ESSENTIAL FILIPINO
Discovering Dreams

A British journalist breezed into Manila with an assignment to write about ‘The Essential Filipino’. He smiled confidently over his easy assignment relishing the free tour as complementary reward.

For three days, he ran around searching. He rejected the business district of Makati, which reminded him of cold and calculating London. He went to historical places in Intramuros, but saw only a glimpse of the past and not the present.

Next he tried the native cuisine at Market! Market! Delicious yes, but nothing on the Essential Filipino. He was getting not only tired but also nervous that he has not found his ‘easy’ story yet. Time was running out, he had to go back in two days.

He wasted the next day on inconsequential probes into malls, churches, monuments. On his last day, he wrote his editor saying that no one can possibly write about the Essential Filipino in so short time - he asked for an extension.

He was expecting a week. The editor was kind but he was given only one lousy day extension. In desperation and panic, on his last day he took a wild stab at marketplaces in Singalong. He sat on a curb too tired to think.

Then he realized his mistake. He was looking for places not people.

The thought hit him like a terrorist’s bomb. The Essential Filipino was a person not a place. How stupid could he be, he thought. Sitting on the curb in exasperation, he began looking at faces that passed by.

He noticed a boy selling fishballs from a rolling cart. He had a torn shirt and was barefoot. What attracted him was not the fishballs. The boy gyrated like Michael Jackson, unmindful of the noisy crowd around him.

The journalist approached him. Noticing the earphones he wore, he instantly realized it was loud music... music that drowned the noise and transported the boy into his inner garden. The journalist had to scream in order to bring him back into the real world. The boy removed the earphones.

*****************
JOURNALIST: Hey, what are you doing?

BOY: Fishballs, sir, wanna buy?

JOURNALIST: Nice earphones, huh?

The boy gives the earphones to the journalist, who puts them on. He instantly removes it, almost falling from the deafening rock music. The boy smiles and puts them back on.

JOURNALIST: Hey, wait, we’re talking.

The boy removes the earphones and hands him the tiny mp3 player from his pocket. The journalist examines it.

JOURNALIST: Where did you get this? This is expensive, first-class mp3 player with first-class earphones. They don’t match your air-conditioned shirt.

He flicks the hole in his shirt.

BOY: I saved income from selling fishballs for one whole year just to buy that. Nice huh?

JOURNALIST: Why don’t you buy a new shirt and shoes?

BOY: No need. Not important. Waste of hard earned money. Clothes don’t make me happy, only music.

JOURNALIST: You kill yourself selling fishballs the whole day for a year just to buy those?

BOY: Why not? What would you buy? What is your dream? Me, this is my dream, but it is no longer a dream. It’s real now. I don’t need shirts and shoes, just a dream of dancing to music. What is your dream anyway?

At first, the journalist is at a loss for words because he really has no ‘dream’ in mind, or perhaps his dream is to file a story, that is all, but that is not really a ‘dream’. A dream must be spiritual and forever, as implied in the boy’s words.

JOURNALIST: I guess I have no dream. Or yes I have a dream but it is not a good dream.

BOY: Too bad. You must be very sad. Buy yourself an mp3.

JOURNALIST: But that is not my dream.

BOY: So what is your real dream? There must be something you really really like.

JOURNALIST: I have been working so hard to survive that I forget what I really really like. My life is work, work, work.

BOY: But I also work, work, work. You must find your true dream and go for it.

******************

And so the British journalist was beginning to discern the Essential Filipino. He was amazed how in his dire poverty the boy rejected the very materialism that was gradually destroying affluent society.

The Essential Filipino was a free spirit who was poor and happy all at once. Perhaps it came from his insular environment or from his distant past - his Austronesian roots of nomads in tiny boats roaming the vast seas.

The journalist took out a notebook and started writing frantically. The boy peered into his writing, trying to read and said aloud ‘Essential Filipino … free spirit… spiritual dreams … nomadic boat people … ‘

*****************

BOY (Grabbing the notebook): I know this is your dream. You just don’t know it. What you write here is your dream.

JOURNALIST (Stunned at the boy’s perception.): I … I … I guess so.

BOY: It is not a guess. You know it. Once you know your dream, you must go for it, or else you will be very sad and soon you will die because you know you have no more reason to live for. You must go for a dream or die. You cannot live just to live, can you?

JOURNALIST: Guess not. Thank you for telling me my dream.

Almost in tears, the journalist hugs the boy and gives him a hundred peso bill. The boy is stunned.

BOY: What for?

JOURNALIST: Because you help me find my dream that was right in front of my nose all this while.

BOY: Yes, you cannot see things that are too near. You have to move back to see.

JOURNALIST: Go, buy yourself more music.

**********************

It took thirty minutes for the journalist to write his story at his hotel. In ten electronic milliseconds the story was at the editor’s desk.

The editor replied - “This is the best story yet for a long time. Our staff writers write about absurd things. What you wrote is an important wisdom for the affluent world from the impoverished world. Stay there for a month and write me more.”

The journalist had a field day. His dream, like the boy, was now a reality.

He would hang around with street vendors. Later, he moved to the countryside and wrote about the wisdom of farmers and fishermen.

He immersed himself in the Essential Filipino -- poor, happy, equipped with a different kind of wisdom unknown in the affluent world.

He married a Kalinga native and wrote a book. A best seller entitled ‘discovering dreams’.

It was a poor-little-rich-boy selling sticks of fishballs for six US cents each which ignited his soul -- the Essential Filipino whose ancient wisdom was hard to find in civilized places he knew.

eastwind
_________________________________________

where goodness abounds
there also is evil lurking

to sow confusion and hatred

where evil abounds
there also is virtue lurking
to sow harmony and peace

the tension between good and evil is everywhere
we perpetrate one or the other
the destiny of the world is up to each of us
_________________________________________

Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of non-violence revolves around the concept that –

peace is a more powerful weapon than war

a smile is more powerful than a sneer
a whisper is louder than a scream
the calm is in the eye of the storm
and total darkness recedes
when a single candlelight glows

_________________________________________

we pedestal great men, creating semi-gods
like Michael Jackson and John Lennon
not knowing the fame and fortune we bestow
would devour their spirits and consume them totally

of what use is the tall pedestal
men tell us to scale
when we would grow into giants
and fall with a resounding crash

better to be a happy unknown ant
than a sad noted giant
there is virtue in anonymity
and folly in popularity

INSPIRATIONALS FROM THE
Mother Ignacia Healing Ministry
www.sisterraquel.com
eastwind@motherignaciahealingministry.com

For more amazing stories about Great Filipinos, check out
the resources available at the Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos

shared by:

======

Peter Allan C. Mariano

Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri

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Season's Greetings from KENJIYA!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 07:24:00 +0000

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Season's Greetings from Me and My Family!

Christmas Traditions: A Wreath of Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:48:00 +0000

(Photo courtesy of 1800flowers.com)

This is the start of a new series of topics delving into various Christmas traditions from around the world. Since we are in the midst of the Autumn months, it is but proper to discuss the age-old tradition of the hanging colorful harvest wreaths of Christmas flowers on walls and doors.

During ancient times, wreaths were given to victors during the early Olympics by the Greeks and were worn as festive crowns by the Romans. Other cultures embraced this practice, usually as a symbol of immortality, which persists up to these modern times. The circular shape indicates the eternal nature of God's love which show no beginning and no end.

The special Advent wreath of Catholic tradition includes five candles of different colors, which are lit during each Sunday of Advent together with a solemn prayer. The candles are basically a countdown to Christmas day but each has its own symbolism as shown below:

1st: The Candle of Prophecy or Hope

2nd: The Candle of the Way

3rd: The Candle of Joy

4th: The Candle of Peace

5th: The Christ Candle of the Christmas Candle

Today's wreaths are both decorative and at the same time full of religious symbolism. It is a wonderful sign of humanity's overcoming of life's cycles of challenges, failures and victory. It is a wonderful sign of hope.

======

Peter Allan C. Mariano

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SOME WEIRD FACTS FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:18:00 +0000

You might be interested in this.

Have a history teacher explain this ----- if they can.

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.

John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.

John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

Both were particularly concerned with civil rights. Both
wives lost their children while living in the White House.

Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
Both Presidents were shot in the head.

Now it gets really weird.

Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.

Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln.

Both were assassinated by Southerners. Both were succeeded by
Southerners named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.

Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.

Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.

Both assassins were known by their three names. Both names are composed
of fifteen letters.

Now hang on to your seat !!!!

Lincoln was shot at the theater named Ford.'
Kennedy was shot in a car called 'Lincoln' - made by 'Ford.'

Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

And here's the kicker .......

A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland.

A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe.

Creepy huh?

shared by:

======

Peter Allan C. Mariano

Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri

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A BLAST FROM THE PAST

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:47:00 +0000

A Philippine Independence Day Message from Peter Allan Mariano

(Photo courtesy of @LarryPConcepcion)

He stood along the shores of Kawit, looking across the calm waters of Manila Bay towards the capital, eagerly waiting for the torches of Luneta to go off. That would be his signal from Andres Bonifacio, the Supremo that the uprisings have started, and he in turn shall initiate the same action here in Cavite. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo waited overnight for the signal. It never came.

Something must have gone wrong.

He would later learn that the Supremo and 800 brave Katipuneros, spurned by their initial victory at the San Juan del Monte gunpowder reservoir, were routed by Governor Blanco’s men at El Deposito in Intramuros. 150 died that night, and another 200 captured and were later executed. However, this setback did not stop Aguinaldo from leading the revolutionaries in Cavite into several victories against Spain. He would later become one of the world’s greatest resistance leaders to fight colonialism. The rest of the Philippines followed suit.

But these victories were not bought lightly.

He fought even when he was stricken with malaria. He withstood the onslaught of typhoons. He slept restless nights with the specter of death looming all over their heads. Aguinaldo and the revolutionaries encountered several horrors and difficulties during their campaign. They have seen how the waters of the Zapote River turned red with the blood of their fallen comrades. Men, and even women, worked day and night, oblivious to the exhaustion they felt, building defensive trenches, until they fall unconsciously to sleep as they dug up the ground.

In the Battle of Binakayan, the Filipinos faced 5000 Spanish regular troops. The enemy was equipped with new rifles and cannons – while the Filipinos have bolos, paltiks and rusted rifles. Against insurmountable odds, the revolutionaries faced their aggressors with sheer terror in the face of this adversary. But with courage and determination, they achieved victory.

What was their formula for success?

Great leadership…. yes…. unparalleled valor…. of course…. but the main ingredient was… UNITY. Our forefathers won victory after victory because they were UNITED under one goal… freedom. Town after town, the Spaniards were driven out. After 300 years, we were finally beating the Spaniards.

Everything was going well…. until bad politics crept in.

A rivalry ensued between the two main councils, or should I say "political parties" of the Katipunan. The Magdalos wanted a new revolutionary government while Bonifacio and the Magdiwangs insisted on the Katipunan government as enough and sufficient for the cause. It was a major power play culminating into the Tejeros Convention, where the Supremo himself was booted out of the same governing body he himself established.

The clashes in the assembly continued on…. and then there was a failed coup attempt…. reinforcements intercepted by rival factions --- a war was raging within (isn't this reminiscent of what is happening today?). Magdalo soldiers refused to help towns defended by the Magdiwangs… and the same is true for the reverse…. even if these towns were attacked by their common enemy, the Spaniards.

All these culminated in the arrest and execution of the Supremo. The results - the revolutionaries suffered several reverses. Town after town previously held by the Katipuneros fell. Their previous victories were simple pounded into dust.

It was a dark period for the revolution.

Never before in our history did our ancestors showed nationalism and unity as one people – until the founding of the Katipunan. But this same history was beset with petty squabbling, power plays, and politicking. It was all the same even when faced with common enemies - first the Spaniards, then the Americans. It overshadowed, and eventually destroyed the unity that was once established.

The first Philippine Republic was plagued with acts like these. A grim example was the assassination of General Antonio Luna, who was making headway in his guerilla campaign against the Yankees. The reason?.... Politics and plain envy. Another example was the Battle of Tirad Pass, with the young Gen. Gregorio del Pilar and his 60-man Filipino rearguard succumbing to the large American regiment pursuing Aguinaldo. The battle was reminiscent of King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, both annihilated by foreign invaders due to the treachery of their own countrymen – Ephialtes for the Greeks, and Januario Galut for the Filipinos.

Nevertheless, our heritage was not that dim. There were flashes of brightness in our past when our people really got together and were united as one. The EDSA revolution was one great example, where the people toppled a dictator without any bloodshed. And then there is Gawad Kalinga, a noble work that bridges all facets of our nation in helping build communities for the poorest of the poor, restoring their dignity as citizens…and as Filipinos. All these were accomplished with our faith giving us strength and with God as our guide.

This is a call for all of us to face the coming decades as one people. Our ancestors have shown that they could do it. Let’s show that we can do it now. Yes, we’re faced with a lot of impediments – the global economic meltdown; the never-ending recession; unemployment; peso devaluations; changes in the climate; dengue and Influenza A (H1N1); and even terrorism. But just like the Katipuneros, let’s overcome them all with our unity.

We don’t have to shed blood to prove to the world that we can do it – our heroes have already done that for us.

======

Peter Allan C. Mariano

Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri

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Children Suffer Most When Justice is Denied

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:29:00 +0000

(photo courtesy of @LarryPConcepcion)

Beth was a docile and submissive child. She lived in fear of her dominating father and he was addicted to buying the dirt cheap child pornography CDs that are widely available in the Philippines. It was perhaps inevitable that he would rape her and he did several times over two years ago in the province of Bataan not far from Manila. When she was rescued and brought safe in the Preda Children's Home, she recovered and was soon strong and brave enough to tell her story to a lawyer.

But after 28 months there has not even been a preliminary hearing by a prosecutor. Although Preda is a small non-government organization protecting children and helping them recover and seek justice through the courts, there are many more all over the Philippines abandoned and alone. Preda has 19 such cases as little Beth in Bataan without a preliminary investigation even. Imagine how many more are awaiting action throughout the rest of the country.

There are good dedicated prosecutors pursuing justice for victims of child rape but not enough by far. In other cases in the care of the Preda Home for children, two 11 year-olds are waiting 26 months for a preliminary investigation of their complaint. Both were raped by their father and step-father respectively. In this children's home alone there are 8 more cases of child rape waiting between 14 months and 21 months for preliminary investigations. The law says that once the complaint has been filed there must be a preliminary investigation immediately and no delay is permitted longer than one or two months.

When a prosecutor does have a preliminary investigation and sets the case for his decision there are further delays long beyond the legally allowed period which is 90 days maximum for his decision to dismiss the case or send it to court. Bribery at this stage is not unknown and waiting for the money to be offered causes delay too.

In Metro Manila, there are four cases where the children are waiting 7 to 9 months for a decision. In another case 14 months delay. In the case of a 15 year-old trafficked to a brothel in Malaysia, it might take 2 or 3 years until the court trial is over. By then the traffickers will be long gone, the witnesses lost or suffering fatigue and bribery can be a factor at every state of the process. The lack of training, the low pay and under budgeted offices, huge work loads and the chronic lack of prosecutors are other causes for the failure of the prosecution system. The inability of police to provide forensic evidence and government offices to provide supporting documents are contributing factors to the long delays and final failure to get a conviction.

People in the Philippines and abroad ask why there is so much sexual abuse of children, one answer is that there is too many dismissals, few prosecutions or convictions and so no deterrent. The proliferation of child pornography is shocking and stimulates pedophiles. The rapists and sex tourists are emboldened and the incest and child rape goes on daily with impunity.

The children are the ones suffering the most because of this breakdown in the system of justice. Swift and fair justice would put many abusers behind bars. Until they are there, will go on abusing other children and the victims cannot go home out of fear. Their stay at children's home is extended and the pressure on the child's family to drop the case and persuade the child to desist becomes unbearable.

This failure of justice allows the illegal arbitration or mediation system of the village chief to grow. A deal to settle the case is reached and the abuser agrees to pay compensation to the family. The village leader keeps a percentage as his commission. The child gets no help and no justice, the abusers continue to rape with impunity. Much needs to be done to reform the system and truly implement the law. Until then we have to do our best to help the victims recover and find a new and better life even without justice. END

- Reflections by Fr. Shay Cullen # 435
(Fr. Shay's columns are published in The Manila Times,
in publications in Ireland, the UK, Hong Kong, and on-line.)
http://www.preda.org/archives/2009/r09052701.html

Visit http://www.preda.org/ for more related articles.

~^~^~^~^~^~^ ~^~^~^~^~ ^~~^~^~^~ ^~^~^~^~^ ~^~^~^~~^ ~^~^~^~^~ ^~^~^~^~
Contact Fr. Shay Cullen at the Preda Center, Upper Kalaklan, Olongapo City, Philippines.
e-mail: preda@info.com.ph
~^~^~^~^~^~^ ~^~^~^~^~ ^~
PREDA Information Office
PREDA Foundation, Inc.
~^~^~^~^~^~^ ~^~^~^~^~ ^~

======

Peter Allan C. Mariano

Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri

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Great Gift Ideas You Can Give Mom on Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 05 May 2009 07:59:00 +0000

(Mothers Day Flowers from 1800Flowers.com)

Here are a few great gift ideas for that special mother in your life on Mother’s Day.

Weekend Getaway
Mom is probably tired and weary from all the caring she gives you and the rest of her family. Still, she enjoys doing it and maintains that loving smile on here face. Give her a chance to unwind during the weekend by treating her a to a ski lodge retreat to rest and unwind.

Digital Camera
Children can grow up so fast that they seem to change everytime you look at them. For new mothers with growing up kids, the best gift you can give them this mothers day would be a digital camera so they can document every step of their children's rapid growth.

Charitable Donation
Moms are generally inherent givers, and some would not stop being generous and giving to thos in need. For such moms, honor her by giving a donation in her name to her favorite charity or foundation. That would surely thrill her generous heart!

Night Out
Moms spend most of their time with their kids that sometimes they don't have time for themselves as adults. This would be a great time for here to spend the evening as an adult with friends or daddy.

Spa Day
Who wouldn't want a day spent in a spa. Treat your mom to a special spa day, ranging from full packaged goodies like aromatherapy sessions, a full-body massage or a relaxing mud bath.

Jewelry
Moms who love trinkets and jewelry would surely appreciate a pendant with a picture of her family. If she is fond of gems or, a necklace or a bracelet with birthstones of her children or grandchildren would be a perfect gift.

Gift Baskets
Gift baskets can contain anything that would delight your moms. Give her a 1800Flowers coupon so she could claim her Mother's Day basket which can include beautiful flowers, gardening kits, and even gourmet chocolates.

Flowers and Plants
Flowers are the most common mothers day gifts you can give mom on her special day. Anything from cheap flowers to the most elaborate or elegant bouquet can definitely bring a smile to her face.

The Star Treatment
Being a good mother is the hardest job in the world. Offering that special mom the star treatment for a day is a great gift. Start with allowing her to sleep in. As if that weren't gift enough, breakfast in bed and cleaning the house is just what the mom ordered. Lunch and dinner preparation should be included along with bathing, feeding and dressing the children. Basically don't allow her to left a finger. Supply a good book or time for her to do what she wants. What mother wouldn't want a day to recuperate?

======

Peter Allan C. Mariano

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Happy Mother's Month at Han Wok Blue Wave

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:15:00 +0000

Mom should not cook on Mother's Day. Treat her to a fabulous Han Wok Chinese Cuisine dinner on her special day!

HAPPY MOTHER's DAY!!!

Every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for the Month of May, we will be giving away a bottle of wine for every P2500 food purchase at Han Wok Blue Wave. A glass of wine for the mothers will be given for every food purchase of P1500.

For more info you can contact:

HAN WOK BLUE WAVE
http://www.wonggroup.com.ph/hanwokbluewave/
http://hanwokchinesecuisine.synthasite.com/

Blue Wave Commercial Complex
D.Macapagal Ave cor EDSA, Pasay City (just in front of Mall of Asia)

Telephone Numbers:
(632)830-0205 to 07
(632)556-6858 / (632)7103900
http://www.wonggroup.com.ph/hanwokbluewave/
http://hanwokchinesecuisine.synthasite.com/

======

Peter Allan C. Mariano

Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri

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Two Minute Management Course

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:11:00 +0000

Lesson One

An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing.
A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, "Can I
also sit like you and do nothing?"

The eagle answered: "Sure, why not." So, the rabbit
sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a
sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Management Lesson

To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

Lesson Two

A turkey was chatting with a bull. "I would love to be
able to get to the top of that tree," sighed the
turkey, "but I haven't got the energy."

"Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?"
replied the bull. "They're packed with nutrients."

The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it
actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest
branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some
more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after
a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the
top of the tree.

He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out
of the tree.

Management Lesson

Bull shit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there.

Lesson Three

A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was
so cold, the bird froze and fell to the ground into a
large field. While he was lying there, a cow came by
and dropped some dung on him. As the frozen bird lay
there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how
warm he was. The dung was actually thawing him out!
He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A
passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate.
Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird
the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.

Management Lesson

1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.
2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
3) And when you're in deep shit, it's best to keep your mouth shut!

This ends your two minute management course.

======

Peter Allan C. Mariano

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Blonde and Blue Eyes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:55:00 +0000

(SAGIP kids at Gawad Kalinga Sison in Muntinlupa, Philippines)

This is the winning speech delivered by Patricia Evangelista, a Mass Communication sophomore at the University of the Philippines (UP) and a member of the UP debating team, at the 2004 International English Speaking Competition conducted by the English Speaking Union (ESU) in London last Friday, May 14. 2004. This is a bit outdated by I just want to share it with you, particularly in the wake of this global crisis sweeping across the world.

The competition had 60 contestants representing English speaking countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. Patricia received her award in November 2004 at Buckingham Palace from His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and president of the ESU. The board of judges' decision was unanimous, according to contest chairman Brian Hanharan of the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC).

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BLONDE AND BLUE EYES

When I was little, I wanted what many Filipino children all over the country wanted. I wanted to be blond, blue-eyed, and white. I thought -- if I just wished hard enough and was good enough, I'd wake up on Christmas morning with snow outside my window and freckles across my nose!

More than four centuries under western domination does that to you. I have sixteen cousins. In a couple of years, there will just be five of us left in the Philippines; the rest will have gone abroad in search of "greener pastures." It's not just an anomaly; it's a trend; the Filipino Diaspora. Today, about eight million Filipinos are scattered around the world.

There are those who disapprove of Filipinos who choose to leave. I used to. Maybe this is a natural reaction of someone who was left behind, smiling for family pictures that get emptier with each succeeding year. Desertion, I called it. My country is a land that has perpetually fought for the freedom to be itself. Our heroes offered their lives in the struggle against the Spanish, the Japanese, and the Americans. To pack up and deny that identity is tantamount to spitting on that sacrifice.

Or is it? I don't think so, not anymore. True, there is no denying this phenomenon, aided by the fact that what was once the other side of the world is now a twelve-hour plane ride away. But this is a borderless world, where no individual can claim to be purely from where he is now. My mother is of Chinese descent, my father is a quarter Spanish, and I call myself a pure Filipino - a hybrid of sorts resulting from a combination of cultures.

Each square mile anywhere in the world is made up of people of different ethnicities, with national identities and individual personalities. Because of this, each square mile is already a microcosm of the world. In as much as this blessed spot that is England is the world, so is my neighbourhood back home. Seen this way, the Filipino Diaspora, or any sort of dispersal of populations, is not as ominous as so many claim. It must be understood. I come from a Third World country, one that is still trying mightily to get back on its feet after many years of dictatorship. But we shall make it, given more time. Especially now, when we have thousands of eager young minds who graduate from college every year. They have skills. They need jobs. We cannot absorb them all.

A borderless world presents a bigger opportunity, yet one that is not so much abandonment but an extension of identity. Even as we take, we give back. We are the 40,000 skilled nurses who support the UK's National Health Service. We are the quarter-of-a-million seafarers manning most of the world's commercial ships. We are your software engineers in Ireland, your construction workers in the Middle East, your doctors and caregivers in North America, and your musical artists in London's West End.

Nationalism isn't bound by time or place. People from other nations migrate to create new nations, yet still remain essentially who they are. British society is itself an example of a multi-cultural nation, a melting pot of races, religions, arts and cultures. We are, indeed, in a borderless world!

Leaving sometimes isn't a matter of choice. It's coming back that is. The Hobbits of the shire travelled all over Middle-Earth, but they chose to come home, richer in every sense of the word. We call people like these balikbayans or the 'returnees' -- those who followed their dream, yet choose to return and share their mature talents and good fortune.

In a few years, I may take advantage of whatever opportunities come my way. But I will come home. A borderless world doesn’t preclude the idea of a home. I'm a Filipino, and I'll always be one. It isn't about just geography; it isn't about boundaries. It's about giving back to the country that shaped me.

And that's going to be more important to me than seeing snow outside my windows on a bright Christmas morning.

Mabuhay and Thank you.

======

Peter Allan C. Mariano

Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri

The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos

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Quality Fireworks at the Click of a Button

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:01:00 +0000

(original article appeared in eBiz is aAsy )

In Boryeong City in South Korea, people watched a beautiful fireworks display after the annual Mud Festival. When asked, locals would say they could only get to enjoy such displays during festivals or lunar New Year celebrations. Fireworks are too expensive for their own private celebrations.

In the United States, anyone can buy fireworks at such magnitudes of display, but would need the proper permits from the ATFE or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Avoiding such hassles, people resign themselves to wait for New Year, 4th of July displays, concerts or go to theme parks like Disneyland to witness amazing fireworks shows.

Fireworks in the Philippines

For 20 years, fireworks manufacturing stagnated after it was declared illegal by Martial Law in 1972. The industry went underground and focused on making noisy bangers than putting good shows. Quality deteriorated as safety risks started a yearly countdown of maimed hands and burned houses.

Fortune finally looked down on the industry in January 1992 as Republic Act 7183 finally legalized the manufacture and sale of approved pyrotechnic devices. This also curbed the influx of foreign and mostly substandard fireworks. Symbolizing prosperity and good luck, fireworks manufacturing continued to flourish and is now a $400-million industry in the Philippines with 300 licensed manufacturers and dealers.

The Birth of a Dragon

Dragons are iconic symbols of prosperity, blessings and good luck, just as fireworks do. Joven Ong’s fascination with dragons and fireworks drove him to venture into pyrotechnics in 1992. Dragon Fireworks Incorporated (DFI) became the first licensed fireworks manufacturing company in the Philippines to meet the growing demand for safe and quality fireworks. Seeing the trend of fireworks in international scenes, DFI focused from traditional firecrackers to aerial pyrotechnic displays, just like a fire-breathing dragon soaring through the skies.

(Star Wars Opening theme pyromusical at Mall of Asia)

Fireworks and Philippine Celebrations

The emerging global consciousness of the Filipino is not only reflected in fashion and technology but in the manner of celebrating events and other festivals. Fireworks were previously relegated to New Year celebrations, but the availability of safe, reliable and quality fireworks made it possible to have amazing pyrotechnic displays for occasions such as weddings, birthdays, baptismal, fiestas, and other events that always bring joy and happiness to everyone.

Balikbayans coming home always dreamt of making their homecomings as grand, memorable, full of fun and laughter. What better way to add glitter, awe and glamour to their celebrations than to make use of amazing fireworks display. However, the difficulty of coordinating orders as well as on-time deliveries to provinces where celebrations will be held made the idea of fireworks displays less appealing.

(Celebrating special moments with Dragon Fireworks

pyrotechnics and special effects)

The Online Solution

With Dragon Fireworks Inc.'s unyielding commitment to product excellence and quality, driven by its vision of providing the safest and finest fireworks for the Pinoy, Dragon Fireworks has expanded its dealership networks. Dragon Fireworks, Inc. became the first and only pyrotechnic company in the Philippines to have retail outlets in SM malls, while also supplying other fireworks companies all throughout the country.

Winning the People’s Choice award for SME’s during the 7th Philippine Web Awards showed Dragon Fireworks dominance as the Philippines No.1 pyrotechnics manufacturer. They have taken this a step further by launching their online shop, where Pinoys from around the world can order their favorite fireworks at the click of a button. This commitment by Dragon Fireworks to bring quality fireworks products to the global Pinoy allowed people from the provinces and from abroad to order from a wide array of pyrotechnic products and services in Dragon Fireworks' website through AsiaPay's secured payment gateway and have these products conveniently delivered right to their doorsteps. Pinoys can conveniently pay in peso or dollar, depending on their preference and location.

Continuously striving to improve their products and foster innovation in new ones, coupled with their commitment to quality and convenient services to the Pinoy, Dragon Fireworks has come a long way in being the country’s trusted name in World-Class pyrotechnics.

For additional articles about eCommerce in the Philippines please visit:

eBiz is eAsy

======

Peter Allan C. Mariano

Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri

The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos

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Getting the Best Deals in a Beijing Market

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:26:00 +0000

©2009 Peter Mariano
Links2Prosperity

The 2008 Beijing Olympics came and concluded with a loud bang. New records were made, not only in athletic feats, but also in the grandiose architectural wonders and technical innovations created in this great city. People flocked to Beijing not only for the Olympic event itself, but also to taste some of the city’s wonders and delights. Topping these visitors lists are the markets where everyone would love to explore and sample what Beijing had to offer. For travelers who would want to return to Beijing, or will be going there for the first time, the markets are one of the places everyone is looking forward to.

For travelers who want to get the best deals in any market around the world, haggling is still the best way to do it, particularly in markets around Beijing. In order to get leverage to haggling in Beijing, it pays to have good English to Chinese translation of words that the traveler will use in achieving that great buy. The following are ways on how you could actually do that.

To get good Chinese to English translation while being engrossed in shopping, having a reliable Chinese interpreter with you will give you an advantage over other buyers. Before embarking on a journey to Beijing, the traveler should do some research on how to get the services of a Chinese translator, without being scammed. A lot of certified companies are available that provide personal tourist guides who doubles as a Chinese interpreter.

Get feedback from people who have gone to Beijing and explored these services. Great information as well as insider tips and advice can also be obtained from travel forums, particularly for previous travelers to Beijing. It would be great if you could get hold of a guide that is not only an excellent Chinese to English translator, but is also a good source of information on where to get the best bargains and deals from the Beijing market.

If your travel to Beijing is a spur-of-the-moment thing, or was an unexpected gift from a boss or a friend, and you don’t have time to prepare and get the services of a Chinese interpreter – there’s no need to worry. Alternatives abound with this sort of thing. Instead of a live Chinese translator who would accompany you in person, you could employ the services of a Chinese telephone interpreter. These services offer Chinese to English translation and vice versa, through the phone or mobile. They can even do teleconferencing, should you need a translation from English to Chinese while talking with a Chinese counterpart on the phone. The great thing here is that you could get their services from anywhere, even while you’re already in Beijing!

Of course, self-study and research always pays off, particularly for Caucasians and African-Americans. They are most vulnerable and who almost always are the targets of marketers with ridiculous mark-ups on their products. Get prepared by writing English to Chinese translation of key “haggling” words in index cards. There are a lot of sources and websites that offer free translation from English to Chinese, including proper pronunciation and characters. You could also record phrases and snippets in MP3 players which you can pull out anytime in preparation for that great buy.

So, if you’re planning to go on that once-in-lifetime journey to this wonderful, ancient city that you’ve only seen in magazines, the news and Jet Li movie reruns, be prepared in the area of communication. Make the choice as to which English to Chinese translation services you’ll need that will suit your lifestyle, and budget. Doing so would help you on the road of getting those best deals from the Beijing market, and from your vacation as a whole.

Regards,

======

Peter Allan C. Mariano

Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri

The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos

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Colorful Nigerian Weddings

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:37:00 +0000

For months now, my sister has been endlessly talking about her friend’s wedding, complaining about the design of the dresses that they have to wear as bridesmaids. Well, after seeing the contraption, I could not agree more.

It got me thinking about those wonderful and colorful African weddings I see in the Discovery channel. Browsing through the internet, I landed on a page with an interview with Mohammed Babangida about his matrimonial with Rahama Indimi in Nigeria. Wow! These Nigerians surely have very colorful weddings, which I find very exciting and not so boring.

A photo of the newlyweds (courtesy of ibrahimbabangida.com)

The Bride and her sisters (courtesy of ibrahimbabangida.com)

The prelude to Nigerian weddings is called the Introduction, which is quite similar to the Filipino’s “Pamamanhikan” where both families meet with a visit to the bride’s family. They bring along with a formal letter asking for the daughter’s hand in marriage. The only difference is the dowry that the groom’s family would provide for the other family. This is followed by an engagement ceremony where family members are formally introduced to one another. These ceremonies are celebrated with traditional food and drinks.

Then comes the wedding day, which is quite similar to weddings around the world. The only difference is that the bride is taken back to her parent’s house so they could pray over her, before they finally return her to the husband. What a touching thought that would be. The day ends with, of course, a party in honor of the bride and groom. The night party can go on until morning with non-stop dancing with music coming from a live band.

Mohammed Babangida is a special advisor to the Santa Isabel Petroleum Company, where he serves as liaison to government agencies in behalf of the oil company. Incidentally, Mohammed is the son of Ibrahim Babangida, more popularly known as IBB, who was a former military ruler of Nigeria.

Cheers to Mohammed and Rahama!

======

Peter Allan C. Mariano

Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri

The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos

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The Tribe of the Marathon Runners

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:37:00 +0000

In my first installment of Culture Finder, I will discuss a unique tribe from Kenya, where some of the best marathon runners in the world came from. The Kalenjin tribe, also known as Kenya’s running tribe, is the fourth largest tribe in Kenya and is known worldwide for their enormous physical endurance as shown in their love for long distance running.

These runners first wowed the world during the 1968 Olympics when runner Kipchoge Keino continued running despite a gall bladder infection and emerged victorious in the 5,000-meter run, earning him a silver medal. He did not stop there and continued running to break the record in the 1,500-meter run and winning the gold, defeating the best the world had to offer.

Most people know that Kenyan’s dominate distance running, but only a few of us know that all of them came from a single tribe that numbers less than 3 million. Wow! What a great cultural achievement! Now, one would ask what made this tribe so dominating in this sport. Food maybe? Geographical structure and training grounds? Genes? These questions baffle people worldwide. I came across a blog by Linus Gitahi describing and trying to answer these questions about Kelenjian running.

(Photo courtesy of www.kenya-information-guide.com)

Digging more about Mr. Linus Gitahi, I found out that he is from Kenya and is in fact the CEO of Nation Media Group, which is the largest media firm in East and Central Africa. Aside from that, he was previously the General Manager of SmithKline Beecham Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean. He is involved in community-based activities and is active in sports playing golf and squash. What an achievement for a Kenyan! If you want to know more about Linus Gitahi, just click the links here.

Reading great achievements of people such as what these people achieve would push the rest of us to keep on reaching our goals and keep on running.

======

Peter Allan C. Mariano

Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWBL1242 4-5pm Mon-Fri

The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos

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