My Guitars

When I was in 3rd year high school, summer of '83, i had this fancy to play the guitar. Influenced by peers that it was a rather cool skill to possess. Well, it's been more than 26 years since that time and I'm still a terrible guitar player, but then again, I still like guitars, so much so that I can't seem to get enough of them.

On my birthday, my wife, with much prodding on my end wanted to get me a guitar. Inside the music store I got to fancy a greg bennet semi hallow electric guitar which had a reasonable price tag on it. My wife of course, "cringed" at the price tag and asked if I really needed that particular guitar. I simply said that I don't need it since I have eight other guitars but that i want it.... BIG DIFFERENCE!

This afternoon, my executive director scheduled a photo shoot for the pageant program address and I took the opportunity to have myself taken with my guitars.













photos by eugene barona

Golf at the Riviera

Golf with a pro

My friend and golf pro, Matthew Kim has been prodding me for an on-course lesson session so that I can be properly observed and guided. Sure enough, I had a decent score that day with only an 11-stroke difference from my pro. I was quite happy about it specially on the PAR 4, 8th hole when I landed a 220+ yards on the green for an eagle chance. Of course, I did not even get the birdie out of it but a par.

Nevertheless, it was one of the best "feel" games I've had and a good chance to get properly acquainted with my new set.

Golf with the Chairman

It was a good day for a round of golf witht the Chairman as well as talk a little shop while we were at it. The game ended with Mr. Baek winning by 7 strokes.

nights at the MFC

This afternoon, I made a general company call to allow myself in expressing gratitude to all the employees for their valiant efforts and patience in bearing with the hard times, as well as a reminder that times like these, we should all work together until this storm is weathered.

The fate of this company is unknown... it is something too difficult to predict or should I say, too stubborn to wither away. As of this writing, I heard the music stop from the theatre, and it tells me that we wil not have a second show.... AGAIN.

Last night, we broke an eight year record. We had to cancel the first show because there were no guests. The second show was slated for a familiarization tour organized by the Department of Tourism for the Russian market and that meant that we did not earn a single centavo last night.

This afternoon, an employee asked about the Senate's plan to take the MFC away from us and I said that it would not be practical to fight our own government on the matter and therefore we could not do anything for now but wait.

I simply reminded the employees today that we should as much as we can enjoy what we have and that this family is here to stay, for better or worse...

So here are some pictures taken the night before my driver's birthday at the MFC Bar where we all usually hang out. Moments like these are to be cherished because when the worse comes, we might not be this happy soon enough.

Forgiveness...

One weekend, I was with my family in a small mall in Cavite buying lunch for our gathering with my wife's family when someone gave me a tight embrace from behind. Before I could even react, I heard a familiar voice saying, "Sir, It's me, Loy"... I turned to see him as he continued speaking saying how sorry he was for all the wrong things he's done to me and that he is a reformed man.

A couple of years ago, this guy trashed my brand new car by taking it for a test drive the day after it was delivered to my office and I was out of town for business. I fired him and his brother the same day and disallowed myself any association with them and their family.

Since then, he has called a couple of times on occasion to ask for forgiveness and I have always turned off my phone without saying a word. I loathed the fact that I have offered so much opportunity to their family and in return they have caused me problems, pain and anguish. His brother broke my number one rule; no fishing in my fish tank, the sea is wide; his other brother trashed a brand new motorcycle I gave my wife as a Christmas present breaking a leg in the process but I nevertheless forgave him and took him back to work for me; a year later, my car...

As i turned around that day and saw his face, the way he was genuinely happy for the chance meeting and how he spoke of destiny giving him the opportunity to talk with me, I felt no anger in my heart, only relief that he was still okay... and his life went on and that my curse had no effect...

That day I learned that the act of forgiveness is more gratifying than most other acts...

P.S. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a saint... I'd still love to see a lot of jack asses out there take a fall.

Amazing Anniversary Outing MTV

video by santos soriano