A Father's Appeal...

MY DAUGHTER'S LETTER

Dearest Daddy,

before anything else, please read the whole e-mail first before you give me your reaction. It’s quite lengthy pero pretty pretty pretty please finish it. Thanks! :)

Yes, this is about my appeal to stay in a condo. I have always wanted naman to stay in a condo/apartment/dorm since first term eh pero i know that you will not allow me especially since my sched was very maluwag back then so i didn't dare ask na lang. 2nd term, i wanted to ask you na (my original plan pa nga was to look for an apartment with Inah (HS friend) eh) but since we're pre-enrolled pa rin, the schedule was still okay. So now, my plan was to ask you na lang before fourth term pero when I was enrolling, i noticed that i'm gonna have late classes na third term. I already talked to you about this and you said na you could pick me up na lang if my uwian is late na pero here's the thing, if you pick me up everyday, that basically means that i have to wait for you pa so that we could go home together `cause if i go home first, it's gonna be a total waste of gas. My main reason for wanting to be picked up naman kasi is that it's really scary na if i commute home late. My block mates have experienced lots of bad things na while commuting and there are scares pa in Taft and sa other means of my way home especially sa MRT and LRT. Dhei, i'm a girl. it's super creepy and really scary every time i go home late and alone.

When i first asked you about this condo thing, you told me na we can't afford it pero i did the math na. All expenses every month for the condo will be covered by my monthly allowance naman eh. by the way, we're just gonna rent and not buy a condo.

This afternoon, we checked out our options na and the most practical condo rental that we found is sa The Grand Towers (the big blue building in Vito Cruz)

it's a studio type unit, semi furnished. Unit number &%*&, tower 1 of TGT.

here's the breakdown of my monthly expenses if you will allow me to stay in a condo.

My current monthly allowance is P(*%$%& and mommy and i talked about it na and she might raise it next term because of my schedule.

so the thing is, we are not yet sure if there's gonna be 4 or 5 of us who's gonna share so here's the computation for both:

"she actually made a table"

So in the table, it can be seen that my allowance covers the monthly expenses needed for the rent. As for food naman, I would be very lucky na if you would give me food allowance of 100 a day total of P2,000.00 a month.

If you look at it, this is very okay na compared if I would get a dorm or something which costs 5,500 a month plus the food allowance pa so it costs more and I might never get a chance like this na again.

So as a start, we would need to give a reservation fee of 5,000 (which we, as much as possible, would want to do by Monday) and then before the year ends, we will give na the 2 months down and 1 month advance (4 persons: 11,250 – 1000 = 10,250 // 5 persons: 9000 – 1000 = 8,000) and we’ll be ready to move in by the start of term!

If you will allow me, I promise that I will call you and mommy every single night as soon as I get to the condo and that the thing you told me about partying or making gala and stuff like that ain’t gonna happen. You have my friends (hopefully, soon room mates) as witnesses for that.

Brief background

All 5 of us are girls (obviously)

All of us are dean’s listers (1 1stDL and 4 2ndDL)

Blah! Blah! Blah!------------- long description of friends

So there. They are my possible roomies if you will allow me.

Oh and I will give you the contact number of their parents as soon as you give me permission and ____’s dad wants to have a drink with you sometime daw. Haha!

It’s not that I do not want to be in the same house as you guys, it’s just that I can already feel the college pressure.

I will study and do my best but not just for you guys. I want to be somewhere in life din. I am studying for all of us and my promise to graduate with Latin Honors, I will try my very best and work my ass off just to get that pero if I fail, I am so sorry na in advance.

I love you daddy!

Please consider my appeal J

Super thank you in advance!

Love lots and lots and lots,

MICA ♥



MY REPLY

Dearest daughter,

I did not consider reading this email at the time simply because I always give in to your argumentative and psychological capacity to manipulate things your way. You will make an awesome lawyer someday, so save the arguments for the judge. I am your father and I love you, that is why I always want to see you and know the things that you're up to.

I appreciate the effort and it reflects upon our shared personality. You deserve the best but some things I've yet to afford and yet you always make me proud to be your dad. I am sorry that such is our state at the moment but the hardships will make you stronger, the trials will give you character and the condo is by no means a vehicle to achieve all those things.

I want you to commute so as not to isolate you from the real world... I want you to remain in touch with social realities so that you will be a better person in the future, so that when you earn what you've worked for, you may better cherish life as compared to some people I know.

You may not have all the materials things that you want, but you still have your soul and credibility as I have mine. I am just so proud that I did not need to pull strings to get you to where you are now. I am just so proud that I care much for your education simply because we are both working and sacrificing hard for it and believe me, I am looking forward to the future fact that your first pay check as a member of the labor force will not come from me.

So finally, after having read your letter, I am convinced that I have raised a good daughter. The condo may be convenient for you, but it will not be convenient for me as your father. Thank you for taking the time out to write me your arguments although I know that at the back of your mind, you know that it is an exercise in futility… I call it respect.

I love you and I know that you understand… now let’s make a music video!

Daddy

the CHALLENGE

There are competencies and there is incompetence. Over the past few years, I have openly stated that handling the marketing department would entail hiring a marketing specialist. What would a marketing department be without someone with enough marketing training and experience?

Of course, hiring the right person is quite a challenging task. We've stumbled upon people who thought and openly professed that they could turn everything around as if they were God's light upon the dark earth and failed miserably in the end.

The success during the 5th year of operations was the peak of what we could attain. That was what my former boss told me when I was attempting to convince everyone (in 2006) that a new marketing strategy should be developed in reference to the changing characteristics of the market. I was turned down and eventually my apprehensions came to pass.

In 2008, the Chairman gave me the assignment of making a marketing department but did not give me the mandate to start from scratch, meaning I had to heavily rely on existing personnel none of which had real marketing experience and so I wrote him talking points to which I pointed out two important variables...

#1 A marketing team without a marketing specialist;

It has been evident that none of the staff involved in the marketing team have previous or have a strong background in the field of marketing. Though, somehow, experience taught us what could be the possible ways on how we could market the show but it will still be best for the interest of the business to hire or to get a marketing specialist / consultant. Someone who already has the expertise to run a marketing department and the marketers.

#2 High expectation on the marketing team;

Marketing is long term; a successful marketing plan cannot be gauged in a short period of time. For us to achieve the effects of our marketing plan, extensive leg work, days of mind busting meetings, and the possibility of high expenditures are to be expected to earn the desired results...

The efforts did pay off. Statistics will prove that, except that it was not enough. There was a rise in market share and a rise in sales in 2010 -- A year after all the efforts were put in its implementation phase.

Then the very thinkable happens... the Chairman constructively attacks all the Filipino managers for a cause which I considered trivial, not to mention outright baseless. In hindsight, the Korean managers are the ones who should have suffered the brunt of the grunt but they did not. In the process, I lost my competent Filipino Marketing Director, lost my very dependable Korean Finance Manager while I lost my faith and respect to someone whom I believed I served and served well.

And now, after all that's been said and done, the time for amends are coming. I am back in the marketing department, I will have absolute control of the entire operations of the theater once again or so they say. Unfortunately, the ill-feeling I have has not yet recovered despite all the sweet talks and the lip services I have heard since time immemorial.

The challenge is this... I still don't have a marketing team that enjoys my full confidence. As I have told them in the workshop, I feel like a General out in battle with troops armed only with sticks and stones. But that is the challenge and I will take it on... I will work with what and who I have as I have always done. And on judgement day, I will hopefully stand side by side with Spartan wolves who were once rabbits! And we will reap the benefits of our labour.

the new Amazing Show Marketing Team -- young, grim and determined! (except me)

the let down...

As life would have it, events turn and churn out chunks of good and bad things alike. In all of the time that I was suffering from disappointments with my career, my shoulder to lean on was a long time friend and co-founding member of this company with whom I have entrusted my rants and gripes. All that time, I felt sheltered believing that whatever was said was in confidence and if ever my rants and gripes were leaked, I was confident that the facts were not going to be twisted… it seems that they were.

This is the second time somebody who claims me to be their best friend has f*&#%$& me over and it is more disappointing than the first. Perhaps I am quite gullible when it comes to friendship… perhaps I am just too “good” for my own sake. I feel that at my age, I cannot reasonably change my personality to become as bad as they are and I will not.

Like I’ve always said; bad thing happen to good people… worse things happen to those who are bad.

The Awesome Sunset…

the awesome sunset view from my office/studio window...
the label was meant to be
photography by Casie Villarosa

More than ten years ago, I started calling “my label”, SUNSET RECORDS LTD., an imaginary record label I conjured up in my mind just to put something on the record sleeves I was producing. The first (and last) time I released an album, it had Aquarius Records and Tapes as my distributor but it still carried the CASCON label since the album was independently produced by myself and my wife.

After co-producing two more albums with friend and band mate Tony Robles of the Jammer Studios, I started my independent road to self production when I purchased my first recording gear, a Fostex X-18. Since then, I have produced more than five more albums with more than 80 songs unreleased. I was in my 30’s at the time and I wanted to make the "sunset of my life" (knowing that I would probably have a very short but hopefully eventful life) as fulfilling as possible, thus the name SUNSET RECORDS LTD.

After failing miserably at an attempt to make a decent recording studio from my house aptly called the BASEMENT RECORDING STUDIO, because we carved that space from under my house, I had little recourse but to find a regular job where I can earn a steady income yet still have the time and the facility to make records and produce music. So over the last 17 years or so, I made music and kept jobs that I may or may not have been happy with… but that elusive dream of becoming a music producer has never left my mind nor did I ever stop accumulating gear and experience to make that dream come true one day.

The concept of SUNSET RECORDS from the very beginning was to give opportunities to bands and individuals whose break never materialized, an opportunity to record their music in a studio that would allow them to listen to their music in a semi-professional environment. The music recording is for free, there will be no entailed expenses for the musician and most important of all, you walk away with your own CD. Something that might earn you bragging rights in your next drinking session --- that is, if you’re actually good enough to do it.

During those times, I have managed to produce several artists who actually went home with their own CDs, although I never knew what actually happened to most of them. I was able to work with some talented guys from Lipa City, Batangas whose band name was PRAXIS through a friend of mine and the basement recording studio's first producer Marcel Magsino. I was able to digitally remaster Bert Bilas' two independently released albums. And I was also able to officially act as producer for a United Nations Volunteer souvenir album containing volunteer songs.

After I left a United Nations and International Maritime Organization Proramme, (the best decision of my life) I had the opportunity to produce more of myself and my music and I rededicated my studio to SUNSET RECORDS LTD., and the endeavor gave me my biggest break in music yet, to become Musical Director of the Amazing Show… four years later and until this moment (but perhaps not for long), I am Vice President of the Company.

At this point there is nowhere else to go but to expand horizons, thus SUNSET RECORDS is reborn. It will be one of several new businesses I envision to carry on the torch of the Amazing Show legacy. But I suppose much like its predecessor, it will be quite a long and bumpy ride.

With the way I am, I never registered the SUNSET trademark. So imagine my surprise when my admin director and myself finally went to the Department of Trade and Industry and attempted to register the name… no one owns it yet! And so legally, the name is officially mine.

Last year, I started working with two talented bands, ALAMAT and BLACK PIPE and now that the technical and production work is done and options are made as to what to do with the product and which road to take, I have finally concluded that an independently released album is the better choice to make. The task ahead is daunting and the odds are stacked against us, but who cares? Odds are always stacked against me… But so far, this ride has been exhilarating. And since I started calling my life as sunset in my 30’s, then the last several years has been an AWESOME SUNSET!

2nd picture; photography by Johnny Jun

which road to take?

After much consideration, I am currently considering one of two options on the direction to be taken with regards to sunset studios' endeavor of producing two albums from two bands...

What road might that be? I'll have to discuss it with my boss before I can blog about it.

On tech things and tech needs...

As a privilege, I am supposed to get a special gift every year from my better half when my birthday comes along... Two years ago, I got the Yamaha DD65 drum simulator and last year I got the Greg Bennett Royale semi hallow electric guitar.

As a general rule, I only ask for things that I want but not necessarily need but of importance in my ventures. That's because prodding my wife for something will take quite a hefty amount of negotiating prowess. This year, what I really wanted was a Squire (Fender Japan) Telecaster in wood laminated finish, much like what Joe Strummer, Prince and Bruce Springsteen used in their days. Unfortunately, one of my video cameras broke and I had no choice but to ask for a video camera instead to fill in the gap...

Nevertheless, it was good. So now I have to open this product and learn the added features a canon camera has to offer.





BTW, this new laptop I'm using courtesy of my best friend is awesome! The Light Scribe technology is simply Amazing! It sure came at an opportune time...

left for dead...

The other night, seven of us went out to see shows so that we may check out the “show” scene in the Metro. We didn’t finish the presentations, we caught just the beginnings of each show and left early only feeling in the vibe of what they were.

The night was supposed to end with a renewed desire to make the Amazing Show better… well at least that was the idea. I doubled back to the office to change cars and found one of my managers at the bar alone… drinking his heart out. I joined him and asked what the matter was. I had a long conversation with him about how things are and how they ought to be and the difference between the two.

I understand his feelings because he is going through what I went through and still going through. Fortunately, these days I’d much rather not be emotional about my career, otherwise, I’d just freak out even more. I am however happy that people are still emotional about shop and that means we can still move forward.

Much like what he feels, I have been left for dead many times… and I have survived… one way or the other. He will too, I am quite sure inside this company or out, and so will I. The challenges that lay ahead are but the same that we’ve passed through over the nine years in this company. The same as what I’ve been through my own life… and it goes on and on and on… otherwise, life would be boring.

on experts and specialists...

photo by kyo lee

Watching television the entire day, I feel happy and elated seeing a few of whom I considered as old friends on television. Most of these guys were really good to me when I was a nobody and I am happy that they have amounted to such "reputable" political analysts. Well, most of them anyway because I personally know their worth. (but then again, no one has the right to judge)

But one in particular, I really dislike because of the attitude he brings to his opinions. The all-knowing style of delivery as if he was St. Thomas Aquinas who knew God personally irks me, specially now having watched him in several programs and having missed all his "predictions". Okay, it doesn't irk me as much, it actually makes me smile a lot knowing how supposedly "educated" he is and how arrogant he has been and now knowing that he's probably sipping from the bottom of his shoe knowing how off he was in all those programs.

Mwahahahaaa... I'm just so happy I got out of that line of work a long time ago. I'm glad they thought that I wasn't good enough for them...

back on the saddle of pain...

The trip to Cebu allowed my body to take a break from the usual hour and a half work-outs I go through five days a week over the last three weeks and in all honesty, I missed the pain associated with it. So I took the opportunity yesterday being in the office to work out again but Gil Montano gave me a souped-up workout so as not to waste the three week schedule having missed out on six days of the program... and it was painful... but it was good pain.

gym crazy

It's one of them things that you wished you didn't start but since you have, then it's rather hard not to go crazy over it. Just like my amusement with so many other things like airsoft games, diving, golf, motorcycles, guitars, practical shooting, I'm quite sure this will fizzle out as well. I don't mean that I won't be doing all those other things, but it will be more tempered and would eventually graduate as "one of those things I do".

Although I do hope that I keep at it for the sake of my diabetic body. There is nothing better than sweating it out to keep your sugar levels in check.


here's the fun in all of those photos... who will be the next Ms. Amazing Philippine Beauty? Mwahahahahaaa

the week that was

pretty good and bad, the week that was... i scratched my car on a curb and lost my bracelet...

I finished two videos for alamat and finally got Bob to lay down additional keyboard tracks for Black Pipe's album. I'm halfway done with the new Amazing Show DVD and halfway done to finishing the preliminary design for the Cebu Project.

So the week that was was pretty cool, except for the car and the bracelet. At least, I am hoping that the bracelet probably was found by someone who needed it more than I did. That someone must have thought of it as heaven sent. No need crying or fuzzing over spilled milk... As for the car, that's why it's insured.

Cebu

1113H and I am still sleepy. I ordered chicken pork adobo for in-room dining but I’d much rather have a jjampong at the Korean restaurant downstairs but decided against it because I was already downstairs a while ago to have my ticket rebooked.

Last night, my boss asked me to take another flight back to Manila to spend one more night in Cebu and have a night out with the performers.

Anyway, I’ll have to check out some places today for the possible move out plan to another location but I’m already sort of fixated on one location that seems ideal for the move out. The space is good, roughly 2,000 square meters, it’s beside the road and has ample parking space. There’s another place though that I fancy but I already know that the cost is not feasible, neither is it reasonable but the Chairman wants me to try another negotiation anyway.

So last night I already got I touch with Aris of Alamat to cancel the shoot of the “Bisyo” video and learned that Mc’s wife is already due for child birth so that would mean that we’d really have to move the shoot schedule after the holy week.

I kind of miss the slow pace of life here in Cebu. Bumming around on the boat with the employees, discussing the Chairman's new loan facility program and enjoying a laugh or two with them while reminiscing the times we had making this branch.

I had a hearty early dinner with the branch manager and am now looking forward to seeing the performers rock a new stage for fun after this show...

session road - hand in hand

this is the first cut from the album I produced for the United Nations Volunteer Programme in 2001. Session Road did an amazing arrangement and rendition of this song...



BAYANIHAN VOLUNTEER SONGS
FROM volunteers BY volunteers
PHILIPPINES

BACKGROUND

The Bayanihan volunteer songs project, although conceptualized in the early part of IYV 2001, was given low priority due to limited budget. It made way to the video and photo documentary as the medium to consolidate the Bayanihan: Building locally, Bonding Globally theme in celebrating IYV 2001 in the Philippines.

It will be a collection of existing songs of local volunteer organizations. Hence, an invitation to at least twenty partners have been sent but a low turn out was observed. Singers and composers were also thought to render their expertise in composing or arranging the existing songs. Thus, it will be collection of volunteer songs for volunteers by volunteers.

With or without budget to talk about, the IYV coordinator seek the service of a former UNV who has the resources and the talent in making the dream happen. The deal was to collect as much songs as possible for evaluation. Said songs will be arranged to be distinctively Philippine music.

In one of the National Volunteer Month (NVM) meetings in July , the PNVSCA revealed that they have indeed a collection of volunteer songs. They sponsored a song contest on volunteerism in 1995 in celebration of their 15th anniversary. At least 15 songs were submitted. These songs are about volunteers: their life, dreams, angst and their unique and significant contribution to the people and communities where they teach and train, listen and learn, inspire and motivate.

These were not far from the actual concept: “ To consolidate the events is a recording of selected volunteer songs that describe the passion, the angst, the inspiration, the idealism of volunteers. In short, the compilation will be heard as a melody and sounds of volunteerism as a way of life in the Philippines”.

The Bayanihan song project then became a reality. From the 15 songs, seven were selected and arranged.

Volunteer singers and musical groups were identified and invited to interpret selected songs mid August. Actual recording and other related activities were made in September.

A band, Session Road, arranged three songs (01-03) The former UNV, Casie Villarosa, composed, arranged and interpreted five songs (04-8). Gene Basilio arranged and sung The Heart of a Volunteer (08). Mariel de Jesus works in the Environmental Studies Center whose only issue was the time and place of the recording.

And money came from Team IYV 2001. 420 copies were made for limited distribution. 300 will be distributed at the ISV in Geneva. The rest are for Philippine distribution.

source: http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/fileadmin/docs/old/pdf/2001/01_11_07PHL_BayanihanSongs.pdf

The year that was…

2008, and I was way too excited for the new year to come. The year that was 2008 marked a very bad year for my career and my personal life in this company. I did not know that 2009 would have been worse.

Over the years, I’ve resorted to making diversions to avert my loneliness. The loss of friends (don’t worry, they didn’t die, they just moved on), death in the family, financial crisis, bad business etc, etc, etc…

The biggest of course is being left in one place with a bunch of people without any institutional memory of any sorts who will never… NEVER understand what it was like to have started this business from dust. And as the Catholics would say, “dust unto dust”. That’s where we came from, and that’s where we would return.

Losing friends has always been a major issue for me. All those who has started with us are now gone. My really good friend who was a staff left for greener pasture overseas, I don’t blame him, and after all he offered all that he has already. The Korean co-founders who were with us are now doing their own things mainly with the main man Chris who was my first real friend in this company. I honestly miss the fights and the arguments… but most of all, I miss the friendship. Nowadays, nobody fights me, nobody dares… but I am friendless. So what’s better?

Working in a Korean-owned company is both easy and difficult. If I was only aspiring for this, then it would be easy. If I wanted things to be fair, then it’s not… Simple as that!

So this year, I plan to bury all the issues I have and start fresh, much like the Ampatuans if they have gotten away with it (kidding). That means I shall have to go on with life, at least for this year without consideration of the following words; FAIR, JUST, EVEN, EQUAL, and all other terms synonymous. Not for myself anyway…

Raising Miro

Miro, my youngest, is now 5 and turning six this year. He has grown to be a "too" healthy kid, overweight and loves to eat. There isn't a time where I don't debate with my wife about the risk that we are putting him through as if we've not learned from our parenting experience with Mica, my eldest.

I jokingly told her that our kids are not part of her farm (farm ville) that needs fattening up, as they are not livestock that will be slaughtered anytime soon. But that's not the only problem. My wife has this tendency to over-spoil her children to the point that they become too "comfortable", something that we were not as kids.

I guess that a father rarely wins in an argument with regards to raising kids. We will just have to do what needs to be be done when the need arises. And that is what I do these days... I don't argue. Besides, there isn't anyone who can't be fixed when we really want to.

Impressions

This morning, I had to wake up early for a golf tournament we were invited to -- The PMA-PNPA Class '98 Golf Tournament at the Philippine Navy Golf Club. Prior to this, I was already informed by a flight member that he had emergency meetings to attend to. But we went there anyway, so as not to waste the tickets.

I was with two of my staff, a Chinese and a Korean. Since there was a lot of traffic at the fairway, we had to contend with a lot of hanging out as one officer of the Philippine Navy whose flight was ahead of us got into some casual talking with my staff. He asked about their nationalities and firmly mentioned that they were lucky that in the Philippines, they could pay a Pinoy (pointing to my direction) to bring them around so that they could enjoy the Philippines.

I walked past him and said "unbelievable as it may seem, they are my staff and that they work for me".

It is a little frustrating to experience these things in ones own country, but nevertheless these are not unfounded impressions. So I was not really affected much by it. The system is such and it is true that much of Filipino-Foreigner relationships are indeed master and servant.

I hope that someday all this will change.

the Commitment

Another all time favorite movie of mine is the 1991 Allan Parker movie the Commitments. It's a damn fine movie about a band... or more aptly about bands.

In 1990, when the first Club Dredd at Scout Tobias in Timog opened, the SKALAWAGS, the band I belonged to played our last gig and broke up that same night. Six months later, upon my return to the scene with a new group, Chikoy Pura tells me that a band is not a marriage and I knew that he was right.

A little anecdote about being part of a band is, if one of the members misses out, you're all screwed. I've had a lot of experiences in that area -- A bassist who gets a hemorrhoid attack the day of the gig could cost you a career, a drummer who just went missing after fighting with the missus could cost you a recording session opportunity, a drunken guitarist who plays "alone" could f$*@ up your next gig opportunity and a vocalist and front man whose parent is dying could end your band life.

Such is what a band is. Much like any relationship, it may or may not last. But I like bands... watching them, hearing them, seeing the interaction between them... Hell, if I had the time, I'd like to be in one again.

But like all relationships, it will have to be based on a very important word ... COMMITMENT.

The Commitments movie is smart, witty and most specially true.

Flinched? .. Not at all

A friend of mine calls me up earlier and tells me to drop by the Cuneta Astrodome so that I may see his lighting and audio set-up inside. After the brief ocular inspection, I asked that we step out so that I could smoke. Immediately after stepping out, I saw a logo of someone’s name and I felt irritated knowing that that someone has committed himself to the Search for Amazing Philippine Beauties 2009 as a sponsor to the tune of Php100,000 and simply ran away from that commitment.

My friend said that the person was there and I could speak to him if I wished to. I called a staff of a prominent Congressman who organized the Mrs. Philippines Beauty Pageant as they have apparently also had a falling out with this group and they were bilked with about Php2M for the event. He said that they have already filed a complaint and that it will be featured on Monday at XXX in ABS-CBN.

I finished my cigarette, stepped in and found him sitting there with some people. We approached him and I shook his hand. He said hello and the usual pleasantries and told him about how we were never able to connect with his office for his commitment to sponsor our event.

Without flinching, he says “really?” when I knew that his office has valiantly and methodically avoided all communications with my office and his staff refuses to give the good doctor’ contact number. Okay, maybe he doesn’t know… the way I won’t know every transaction my office makes.

But then again, I vividly remembered that day when he signed the sponsorship contract. It was the day he brought his family and friends over for dinner at our restaurant and they all watched the Amazing Show… that was the day he signed the damn thing. That was immediately after he asked for a favor about utilizing some storage space at the MFC for his Yuchengco Art Exhibition.

Okay, he forgot…

So then I asked about the lady who introduced her to me. One of her staff and as it appears, one of his most trusted staff because she was the one who brought her over to my office. He candidly said that she was no longer connected with him.
I took it at that and simply walked away. Fascinated by the way people such as that could handle themselves despite knowing that they could’ve been part of something so wrong.

So I’m updating my blog from the bar and as I finished decided to surf for a friend’s name so that I can catch up to what he’s up to. Guess what? Since my friend is a prominent police officer, the first entry that appeared was about a case he handled last May involving one Flor Sacbibit charged with estafa. Binggo! --- She was his staff I was referring to earlier…

Okay, maybe he’s just as much as a con as she is… or did he just forget?

Events organizer tagged in P20-million investment scam
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=470045&publicationSubCategoryId=65

Isn’t this planet small?

So, I’ll just wait for Monday’s episode of XXX.

1st Nite Golf Classic @ Club Intramuros

With the new lights installed at Club Intramuros, the Philippine Tourism Authority held a tournament to open up the night games at the golf course. The occasion was well attended and we were actually glad to have been invited.



The funny thing was that I heard that day from our marketing director that I have actually won as class C champion of the Ambassador's Cup Tournament held last October.

It was shocking for me but I was quite happy specially since I did not bother attending the awarding ceremonies since I never in the slightest way figured I could win anything specially in this sport that never seems to love me back. But I did, and I just got the trophy and the write-ups from Graphic Magazine and the Business Mirror.

Two days after this tournament, I was informed that I have apparently won a place in this tournament... Wow! I've yet to verify the news but it nevertheless gives me solace to the fact that things do take time to get done... or get a result out of it.

I never really took the game seriously up until my friend Chris Park gave me his Callaway FT full iron set, a Cleveland 60 degree approach wedge and a Cleveland rescue/utility club after apparently retiring from golf. My staff pitched in for a new PING anser putter with John Jun throwing in a 3 wood. My boss, Max Lee gave me a terribly good-looking Titleist golf bag while my godson Kyo Lee personally went with me to the store to pick out and pay for my new Taylormade R5 driver and utility 3 club.

In less than a week, my new set was complete without a single centavo spent on my end. The pressure was then on to become better than I was since I wouldn't have any excuse that my set was not so good (my old set, a G-Ark set was given by my boss 2 and a half years ago and that forced me to take up this game).

Here's where MVP resident golf pro Matthew Kim comes in. He helped me settle in with the new set and even gave me a NIKE golf shirt as a present for my birthday. I was tutored a lot and I guess that it finally paid off or is paying off.

I guess that these things are but some of the things I should be thankful for.

Shawshank Redemption Revisited

Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

No, this will not be a movie review... As I have always said, it is one of my most favorite film ever. And these days when everything seems grimmer than the usual, I eventually find things that will make me feel better. Watching Shawshank Redemption for the nth time simply made my day. (I would like to thank Jun Domingo for introducing this film to me in 1996)

As grim as I am, I have always identified myself with the main character played by Tim Robbins... an underdog that eventually finds redemption in the end. Unfortunately, life is a circle of incarceration and redemption. Over and over and over and over... and that's the way it is supposed to be.

After revisiting the film, I am reminded that another cycle has simply begun again and that eventual redemption will soon (I hope) will be at hand. That the world was not meant to be fair... and therefore WTF am I complaining about?

There are more things that I should be more thankful for anyway.