Tuesday, July 10, 2012
New Market
I cannot believe that it has been four years since I last took a leap of faith to leave the industry that taught me to love --- love the marketing profession, that is.
I left the Fast Moving Consumer Industry to help out a financial services company in need of building its brand and their image to its customers.
I must say that there is no regret with that decision to date.
Four years has passed, and now, a new beginning beckons.
Now, after more than 12 years of customer marketing in Philippines, an opportunity to help another country in building their brand and their customer focus knocks.
Not deciding yet.
Cest la vie. Lundagin mo baby. Carpe Diem.
Let's see...
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Calm
Even if I took the grateful and optimist stance in my life right now, I cannot deny that it has been a stormy and unstable year for me. I will not write down the reasons here. Pouring it to Paolo in my most recent e-mail is good enough.
I am glad though that with all the struggles that came my way this year, I remained steadfast. In a twisted way, I am also happy that I faced far bigger struggles in the past years that this year did not break me that much.
Call it wisdom or aging but I learned to choose to fight battles which are worth fighting and fought only a few which are not so worth it but did for the heck of it.
2010 is almost done and over with. I cannot wait to declare it EOF!
I am glad though that with all the struggles that came my way this year, I remained steadfast. In a twisted way, I am also happy that I faced far bigger struggles in the past years that this year did not break me that much.
Call it wisdom or aging but I learned to choose to fight battles which are worth fighting and fought only a few which are not so worth it but did for the heck of it.
2010 is almost done and over with. I cannot wait to declare it EOF!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
30x30
I must admit that I only have about 15 items in my wish list when I hit 30. But somehow, something crept in and made me want to accomplish a lot of milestones in my life before I hit 31. Around summer of this year, I revisited the list and doubled it. Talk about putting a lot of pressure upon oneself!
--------------------------------------------
My Wish List
1. Own a piece of land.
2. Help my brother finish his college education.
3. Treat nanay for an out-of-the-country vacation.
4. Show more appreciation to tatay.
5. Help my parents manage their finances and plan for retirement.
6. Earn my first 5 million.
7. Earn a six-digit salary per month.
8. Talk about memorial plan to my parents. Ugh.
9. Own a car of my choice.
10. Travel the country from end to end.
11. Conquer most, if not all, Asian countries.
12. Go on an Asian country trip --- lonely planet style.
13. Set foot in Europe.
14. Visit Albert in Japan.
15. Open Mutual Fund Accounts for my wife and myself.
16. Open an online stock trading account for my self.
17. Start an educational fund for my kids.
18. Get a post-graduate scholarship.
19. Try a sales role to enhance my marketing skills.
20. Try scuba diving.
21. Collect at least 20 fun run singlets.
22. Enroll in a cooking class.
23. Reach a head post in the company.
24. Start a blog to enhance my writing skills.
25. Afford three to six months of sabbatical to re-charge.
26. Go on a three to five days of silent retreat.
27. Write my Last Will and Testament.
28. Purchase a memorial lot for my family and myself.
29. Get a good mentor in every company I join.
30. Give back to friends who helped me thru the dark times.
-------------------------
I am still in the process of writing down my 35x35. I have only written seven. I hope that before summer next year, I will be able to complete it, send it to high heavens and see what happens.
--------------------------------------------
My Wish List
1. Own a piece of land.
2. Help my brother finish his college education.
3. Treat nanay for an out-of-the-country vacation.
4. Show more appreciation to tatay.
5. Help my parents manage their finances and plan for retirement.
6. Earn my first 5 million.
7. Earn a six-digit salary per month.
8. Talk about memorial plan to my parents. Ugh.
9. Own a car of my choice.
10. Travel the country from end to end.
11. Conquer most, if not all, Asian countries.
12. Go on an Asian country trip --- lonely planet style.
13. Set foot in Europe.
14. Visit Albert in Japan.
15. Open Mutual Fund Accounts for my wife and myself.
16. Open an online stock trading account for my self.
17. Start an educational fund for my kids.
18. Get a post-graduate scholarship.
19. Try a sales role to enhance my marketing skills.
20. Try scuba diving.
21. Collect at least 20 fun run singlets.
22. Enroll in a cooking class.
23. Reach a head post in the company.
24. Start a blog to enhance my writing skills.
25. Afford three to six months of sabbatical to re-charge.
26. Go on a three to five days of silent retreat.
27. Write my Last Will and Testament.
28. Purchase a memorial lot for my family and myself.
29. Get a good mentor in every company I join.
30. Give back to friends who helped me thru the dark times.
-------------------------
I am still in the process of writing down my 35x35. I have only written seven. I hope that before summer next year, I will be able to complete it, send it to high heavens and see what happens.
25x25
Goosebumps.
I did my spring cleaning last weekend in preparation for the long holiday. While I was looking for pictures to be framed, I came across this file. I cannot remember when I wrote it but I am sure I did not write it in one sitting. It is my wish list as a struggling yuppie!
I am guessing it is item number sixteen that prompted me to write something like this. Whatever the reason may be, I am quite amazed that somehow, the stars aligned for me to accomplish most of it.
-------------------------------
My Wish List:
1. Earn my first million.
2. Climb one of the highest mountains in the country.
3. Find a career that I will enjoy and will not feel like “work.”
4. Start a family early and keep up with my kids in their teen years.
5. Own a home.
6. Drive a car.
7. Support my brother’s high school education.
8. Visit at least ten beaches in the country.
9. Help send a scholar to Ateneo as my way of paying forward.
10. Reach a manager position.
11. Set foot in another Asian country.
12. Buy my first life insurance.
13. Earn at least P50,000 per month.
14. Do not get into debts more than P20,000 anymore.
15. Visit Palawan --- lonely planet style!
16. Adopt a 5-year marketing financial plan in my life.
17. Invest on a decent backpacking gear and set.
18. Spend two more years teaching students from public school to complete 10 years of apostolate.
19. Be sought after by companies and headhunters.
20. Have a decent wedding when I marry.
21. Extend support to my parents.
22. Run a half marathon.
23. Re-read the Bible, not for Theology class this time!
24. Read one book a month.
25. Further strengthen backbone.
------------------------------
Maybe it is the ripe time to post my other list...
I did my spring cleaning last weekend in preparation for the long holiday. While I was looking for pictures to be framed, I came across this file. I cannot remember when I wrote it but I am sure I did not write it in one sitting. It is my wish list as a struggling yuppie!
I am guessing it is item number sixteen that prompted me to write something like this. Whatever the reason may be, I am quite amazed that somehow, the stars aligned for me to accomplish most of it.
-------------------------------
My Wish List:
1. Earn my first million.
2. Climb one of the highest mountains in the country.
3. Find a career that I will enjoy and will not feel like “work.”
4. Start a family early and keep up with my kids in their teen years.
5. Own a home.
6. Drive a car.
7. Support my brother’s high school education.
8. Visit at least ten beaches in the country.
9. Help send a scholar to Ateneo as my way of paying forward.
10. Reach a manager position.
11. Set foot in another Asian country.
12. Buy my first life insurance.
13. Earn at least P50,000 per month.
14. Do not get into debts more than P20,000 anymore.
15. Visit Palawan --- lonely planet style!
16. Adopt a 5-year marketing financial plan in my life.
17. Invest on a decent backpacking gear and set.
18. Spend two more years teaching students from public school to complete 10 years of apostolate.
19. Be sought after by companies and headhunters.
20. Have a decent wedding when I marry.
21. Extend support to my parents.
22. Run a half marathon.
23. Re-read the Bible, not for Theology class this time!
24. Read one book a month.
25. Further strengthen backbone.
------------------------------
Maybe it is the ripe time to post my other list...
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Luck
I am not great. I cannot even say I am good. But with all the great things that came my way, I would say I must have done something right. Let me take that back. I would claim I must have done some things just right.
When I looked back at the past three decades of my life, I got excited with the idea of counting all the feathers on my cap. If I write the great things I accomplished, gained, and conquered, for sure I will beam with pride. But I stopped. It does not feel quite right.
I am not great. I cannot even say I am good. With the people that surround me, I will admit I was neither the best nor the exception. I am probably in the middle of those in the middle. But what the heck? With all the great things that happened to me, I tell myself I must have done some things just right that opened the door to a load of luck.
1. I was born in a middle class family studying in a community school. But luck must be on my side for getting a scholarship in a high school my parents never imagined they could send me to, not even set foot on.
2. While in that exclusive high school where expensive is normal, my family experienced the worst days in our financial life. I look back with awe for friends who helped me survive, but need not to.
3. When I was about to enter the university, I made a last minute whim to choose another. It must be another strike of luck because it is where I found most of my friends-for-life.
4. When I was searching for a job, I got seven offers from banks, pharmaceutical and FMCG firms. But I decided to wait for the eighth. Man, am I in luck because the eighth was worth the wait.
5. Just when every thing was going oh-so-smoothly with my first job, I had an event in my life that compelled me look out. Is it luck or what because there is this company who probably got a copy of my “wish list” and offered me everything in it.
6. While in transition from my first job and second job, I fell in love with someone. My first love. Now my wife. My "enough."
7. My lady luck need rest somehow. I joined my third company probably while she was taking a nap. The minute she woke up, I gained the guts to cut the losses and leave while I my sanity is still intact.
8. Rest, by far, is one of the biggest luck I got. When not all from the working class can afford it, I have enough to go on sabbatical for a couple of months --- to collect the pieces, heal and be well.
9. While in sabbatical, I patiently waited for the stars to align. I do not want another mishap, not soon at the very least. Out of nowhere, an unusual opportunity came my way. With nothing with me but faith, I surrendered what-may-be to luck. To date, I have not regretted it.
10. I must have hit One Up. My life got brighter and wider as I gained more friends-for-life while in my current company. I also learned to take it easy (vs. joining the rat race) without being lazy.
I am not great. I would not dare say I am good. But what I learned in the last three decades of my life is that I do not have to be the best or the exception. There is just this certain level of hard work, sensitivity and sensibility needed to allow luck to enter my life.
Now I beam with pride to see all these "lucky feathers" on my cap. And it feels just right.
As I enter into a new decade of my life, I pray lady luck will still be on my side for doing things just right.
When I looked back at the past three decades of my life, I got excited with the idea of counting all the feathers on my cap. If I write the great things I accomplished, gained, and conquered, for sure I will beam with pride. But I stopped. It does not feel quite right.
I am not great. I cannot even say I am good. With the people that surround me, I will admit I was neither the best nor the exception. I am probably in the middle of those in the middle. But what the heck? With all the great things that happened to me, I tell myself I must have done some things just right that opened the door to a load of luck.
1. I was born in a middle class family studying in a community school. But luck must be on my side for getting a scholarship in a high school my parents never imagined they could send me to, not even set foot on.
2. While in that exclusive high school where expensive is normal, my family experienced the worst days in our financial life. I look back with awe for friends who helped me survive, but need not to.
3. When I was about to enter the university, I made a last minute whim to choose another. It must be another strike of luck because it is where I found most of my friends-for-life.
4. When I was searching for a job, I got seven offers from banks, pharmaceutical and FMCG firms. But I decided to wait for the eighth. Man, am I in luck because the eighth was worth the wait.
5. Just when every thing was going oh-so-smoothly with my first job, I had an event in my life that compelled me look out. Is it luck or what because there is this company who probably got a copy of my “wish list” and offered me everything in it.
6. While in transition from my first job and second job, I fell in love with someone. My first love. Now my wife. My "enough."
7. My lady luck need rest somehow. I joined my third company probably while she was taking a nap. The minute she woke up, I gained the guts to cut the losses and leave while I my sanity is still intact.
8. Rest, by far, is one of the biggest luck I got. When not all from the working class can afford it, I have enough to go on sabbatical for a couple of months --- to collect the pieces, heal and be well.
9. While in sabbatical, I patiently waited for the stars to align. I do not want another mishap, not soon at the very least. Out of nowhere, an unusual opportunity came my way. With nothing with me but faith, I surrendered what-may-be to luck. To date, I have not regretted it.
10. I must have hit One Up. My life got brighter and wider as I gained more friends-for-life while in my current company. I also learned to take it easy (vs. joining the rat race) without being lazy.
I am not great. I would not dare say I am good. But what I learned in the last three decades of my life is that I do not have to be the best or the exception. There is just this certain level of hard work, sensitivity and sensibility needed to allow luck to enter my life.
Now I beam with pride to see all these "lucky feathers" on my cap. And it feels just right.
As I enter into a new decade of my life, I pray lady luck will still be on my side for doing things just right.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
My Satellite
02 July 2010
Dear Jeio,
The weather is becoming more unpredictable these days. Preparing only a set of clothes for next day's work is not wise anymore. Me and your mom would need to be ready if tomorrow brings us dry, humid or rainy day. For our weekends and holidays, we also plan weather-proof activities to ensure we have family bonding time. As you know, we both work full-time and it is only on these days that we can spend more quality time with you.
Me and your mom are preparing for your future to the best of our abilities. We toil and lose countless sleeps to build a stable life --- while we still can, while you are still young, while you need your toys and drawing materials more than you "need" us.
However, just like the weather these days, I guess we need to prepare more for whatever comes our way tomorrow.
You know, me and your mom had a serious talk last night. She is beginning to prepare for the possibility of resigning earlier than expected. Admittedly, we thought she can still work for two more years or so to help me build a stable life for our family. But with you growing up so fast and the silent demands for a more visible parent cotinuously mounting, we agreed that one of us has to do it. We are bothered now and will be further haunted if we heed the tell-tale signs of our shortcomings as parents.
We love you so much, son. We are truly trying our best to be the best parents we can be TO YOU. But we are also frail and uninformed at times.
As your father, I am praying that you will grow up to be a good son and citizen of the world. I am also hoping that when your mom decides to be a full-pledged homemaker, you will appreciate her sacrifices and her true worth as much as I do. She is leaving a great company and a good post. She is giving up a fulfilling career and a promising profession. It takes so much love and strength to do this.
I love you and I am proud to be your father. You have this unique gift of understanding people's feelings and possess a blend of creativity which awes us always. Lucky are those who go beyond your quirkiness and appreciate your gifts like I D0.
Just like this weather, I know you will change. It may be tomorrow or a bit longer than that. But you will change. We as your parents are preparing for all these to the best of our knowlegde and abilities.
God bless you Jeio. May you weather the changes life will bring you...
Dad
Dear Jeio,
The weather is becoming more unpredictable these days. Preparing only a set of clothes for next day's work is not wise anymore. Me and your mom would need to be ready if tomorrow brings us dry, humid or rainy day. For our weekends and holidays, we also plan weather-proof activities to ensure we have family bonding time. As you know, we both work full-time and it is only on these days that we can spend more quality time with you.
Me and your mom are preparing for your future to the best of our abilities. We toil and lose countless sleeps to build a stable life --- while we still can, while you are still young, while you need your toys and drawing materials more than you "need" us.
However, just like the weather these days, I guess we need to prepare more for whatever comes our way tomorrow.
You know, me and your mom had a serious talk last night. She is beginning to prepare for the possibility of resigning earlier than expected. Admittedly, we thought she can still work for two more years or so to help me build a stable life for our family. But with you growing up so fast and the silent demands for a more visible parent cotinuously mounting, we agreed that one of us has to do it. We are bothered now and will be further haunted if we heed the tell-tale signs of our shortcomings as parents.
We love you so much, son. We are truly trying our best to be the best parents we can be TO YOU. But we are also frail and uninformed at times.
As your father, I am praying that you will grow up to be a good son and citizen of the world. I am also hoping that when your mom decides to be a full-pledged homemaker, you will appreciate her sacrifices and her true worth as much as I do. She is leaving a great company and a good post. She is giving up a fulfilling career and a promising profession. It takes so much love and strength to do this.
I love you and I am proud to be your father. You have this unique gift of understanding people's feelings and possess a blend of creativity which awes us always. Lucky are those who go beyond your quirkiness and appreciate your gifts like I D0.
Just like this weather, I know you will change. It may be tomorrow or a bit longer than that. But you will change. We as your parents are preparing for all these to the best of our knowlegde and abilities.
God bless you Jeio. May you weather the changes life will bring you...
Dad
Muse
It's been more than six months that I struggle to get my groove back into blogging. I've ran out of angst (at least those I cannot manage) to compel me to write again. Even ideas that catch my fancy no longer make it to my blog but only with FB.
Alas, I have found a new muse - an inspiration that will inspire me to blog for the next year or so...
Alas, I have found a new muse - an inspiration that will inspire me to blog for the next year or so...
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