Count your blessings

Life has so much to offer. Yet, admittedly we take many things for granted. Often, we indulged in our favorite pastime called self-pity which kills our zest for life. The next time you’re in a depressing situation, get a pad and pen, and list all the things you’re blessed with. Then compare them with what you consider as misfortunes. You’ll be surprised that your blessings still outnumber your misfortunes. When you do make a list, don’t limit yourself to material things and possessions. Think of the small things that you seldom notice. Think of your favorite book, friends since grade school, pillow fights, the right to vote, steaming white rice, iodized salt, Bermuda grass, 20-20 vision. Think of dental floss, digital clock, one-peso text message, LRT/MRT fare, 10 peso jeepney fare, candle light during brownouts, pimple ointment. Think of last days of class, giggles, Christmas carols, answered prayers, old photographs, silence.

The inspiration of being able to count your blessings really comes from having thankful heart. When you have that, you are truly blessed.

The Art of Being Likeable

Why do some people, who are neither highly intelligent nor competent, become top corporate executives? Maybe they have one quality other seemingly more qualified people do not have---being likeable. Being likeable is important for climbing the corporate ladder or in simply getting along with life. The following qualities that likeable people have: Optimism. Optimists respond to disappointments, like being turned-down for a job, by formulating a plan of action. Instead of pitying themselves, they lend a hand, mind their own business and laugh easily, especially at themselves. Ability to make others comfortable. Leaders who keep their emotions under control put others at ease. They accept others for who they are, thereby making people more productive. Not too serious about themselves or their job. Likeable people maintain a jolly spirit in their work and relationships.

Dealing with an angry person

With the kind of business I’m with there are lots of person I’m dealing with and it can’t be avoided that some got irritated or got angry. Base on my experience I agreed to what I’ve read a while ago. Experts give the following tips on how to deal with an angry person: 1. Determine not to get angry yourself. 2. Physically mirror the position and posture of the other person to help build rapport. 3. Shut up. Don’t defend yourself. Not yet. The person needs to calm down first by saying his piece. 4. Listen to understand. 5. Speak calmly. 6. Use your eyes and face to say, “I hear you and I want to help.” 7. Make an emphatic statement. Like “I can see why you feel that way” or “I’d probably feel the same way you do.” 8. Ask clarifying questions. 9. Wait for the ripe time to offer a rational solution. 10. Don’t exceed the bounds of your authority. If you are not able or authorized to resolve the situation, make a referral to someone who can help. 11. When all else fails, fall back on a statement such as “What do you want me to do?” or “What will make you happy?” Either of these two statements will often disarm a troublemaker and get to the bottom of a genuine person’s concerns.

15 ways to Happiness

During my vacation I spend my time cleaning all the stuffs in the house, played with my children, and read some books and magazines. This time I want to share you some articles I have read and hope it can help us to cope at our day to day life. Psychologists admit that there are no rules of thumb on how to be happy. But they believe that for a person to be truly happy, he must go through the following phases: Accept the pains. If you’re angry with what happened to you, allow yourself to go through the pains. Choose not to stay in pain. Do something and feel powerful enough to handle the pains, like being with people who nurture you. Forgive yourself, other people. After forgiving, you would see yourself for who you actually are and not how other people want you to be. Take responsibility to your life. Stop other people allowing other people, circumstances, or pains in the past to rule your life. Learn to let go and trust yourself. Free yourself of expectations from yourself or other people. Learn to receive blessings. You need to have little eyes and hearts to realize that all the things that make you happy have been there all along. Other ways. There are other ways you can do as you go through the process: Have somebody to turn to. Seek the people who will nurture you or a partner who will serve as a well-spring of inspiration. Be hopeful. The more hopeful you are, the more you can recognize how bad your situation is, and let yourself beat it. Keep the faith alive. Having faith in God will give you hope. He himself gives you reasons to be happy. Share yourself. When you help others, they will affirm you by saying “You’re good”. This strengthens your positive attitude toward difficulties in life. Be grateful. When you become thankful for what you have, you’ll also realize there are things you can do to improve your life. It’s all in the mind. One is unhappy because he thinks he is. When you think negatively, you attract negative thoughts and then, unconsciously, you make them happen. Take the risks involved. It is easier to let go when you face the risks involved. Money isn’t everything. As people accumulate more money, the amount of happiness they can “buy” gets smaller. Discover the best friend in you. It’s about time you don’t look for happiness outside you.

Having Fun at Ocean Park

Yesterday my two daughters went to Ocean Park. As you have read in my previous blog Vetvet celebrated her birthday last July 15 and Jech promised to her li’l sister that she will bring her to Ocean Park as her treat. Upon arriving, as what Jech told to us, Vetvet was frightened by the first fish she saw, it was arowana. But later on Vetvet managed to get back her composure and enjoyed all the fishes that were there.

Vetvet making faces

silhouette at its best

My two lovely daughters

Ocean Park here I ammmmmmmmm

Ocean beauty

Vetvet look at the Shark

It's so beautiful here! life-at-its-best

Vacation Day - 5th Day

We went to SM Sta. Rosa this afternoon to treat my little kids Vetvet and Botbot. They have a lot of fun when they ride the train and the airplane. We also decided to buy food warmer because when we rented it last time it was so expensive already. We also bought some toys for the kids.

Vetvet enjoying her airplane ride.

My wife and Botbot while watching Vetvet

My family riding the train

Vetvet & Botbot looking back at me

On our way to SM Sta. Rosa

Botbot trying his new sandals

Pholly and Botbot

Shakey's...it have a great Pizza, Spaghetti and Chicken

Vacation Day - 4th Day

This morning I started cleaning-up my book shelves…actually it is a cabinet made of glass where some of the toys of my children is located, then the 1st layer consists all our plaque of appreciation, the 2nd and 3rd layers consist all my books, the 4th and 5th is where all the wedding giveaways, remembrance, figurines, etc. were placed and the 6th layer is another set of books, the bigger size. But unfortunately, I just finished the top layer when my phone rang and I was advised that I should be the one to attend our District Meeting at 1:30P.M. It was already 12:30 and I hurriedly took a bath, ate my lunch…then away I go. I arrived at around 2:00P.M. (I was late, but excused) then it ended at 6:30P.M. then I went directly to Rafters to attend the practice of our Bowling Team. Well, our Bowling tournament will start maybe on the 1st week of September and we were hoping that our team will play to a championship level.

Vacation Day - 3rd day

Nothing really happened this day…I woke-up very late together with my wife because of playing on-line last night. We woke-up around 11:00a.m….we have brunch (breakfast and lunch, all together). Then we watched television…then at 2:00 p.m. she went to her office. What I did was to clean-up all the toys of my children. Toys of Vetvet and Botbot were all mix-up so I have to separate it, then re-arrange all toys to be displayed and the one they are playing. After that, Vetvet wanted to play the playstation2 so we have fun playing Crash and Rumble Roses.

My Playstation 2

This is the 2nd day of my vacation and what I did this morning was to fix and arrange all the DVD games of my playstation 2. Having 2 kids, Vetvet and Botbot they usually messing-up the arrangement of all my DVDs. The cleaning was done almost the whole day.

This my Playstation 2 where me and all my children play and used it as our bonding time.

Vetvet and Botbot's favorite

Another favorite of Jech, Vetvet and Botbot

Games played by OJ and Gray

Gray's favorite

Our Favorite games

Gray's favorite

My favorite games

All time favorite

Another all time favorite Pholly's favorite

OJ and Gray's games

OJ and Gray's games

Puwede na.....

Vetvet and Botbot's favorite

Its Vacation Time

Today is the first day of my 15 days Vacation Leave…and my only plan is to stay at home. Well, some of you may think it’s so boring ‘coz it’s a vacation…it’s the time to go somewhere else…maybe go to other country like Hongkong, Singapore, or maybe Taiwan, or other places like Boracay, Cebu, Davao…ahhh…I like beaches! But I choose not to, I rather stay here at home since my wife had already availed her vacation last January. What I’m gonna do is to help cleaning the house, rearranging all the furniture, toys, etc. And…this is also the chance to have some quality time with my two little kids, Vetvet and Botbot.

Botbot is already more than 2 years old and this is the first time that I took him a bath. Botbot was so happy when we’re together at the bathroom. He really enjoyed it.

The Birthday Girl

Vetvet with Jacky, Fe, Becky and her Ninang Susan My two princesses, Jech and Vetvet With my pretty Vetvet Auntie Lydia, Cyngin, My Mom-In-Law, Crissa-My Sis-In-Law and Joel The BIRTHDAY GIRL.....my VETVET

Her birthday is on July 15 but we celebrated it on July 13, Sunday so that all our relatives can come and celebrate it with us. Vetvet as we fondly called her will be 5 years old. It was the 5th time that we have a party and most of my wife’s relative joined us. The affair started around 12 noon, lunch time…and it ends around 11:30 in the evening. I would like to thanked:

my Mother-In-Law,

My Bayaws Jong-jong, and Ambin,

My Hipag Crissa,

Auntie Susie, Auntie Diday,

My wife cousin Noel and his wife Margie, Roland,

My brother Pholly and Gordon and his children Eloy and Ineng.

To all the Godparents of Vetvet…Susan, Waden and Menard.

To my co-employee Fe, Becky and Jacky

and to all our visitors who graced this special occasion.

Story of a long haired applicant

I have an experienced yesterday during our mass hiring…actually I was assigned at the In-Depth interview but since we are just starting to have preliminary interview I am getting the weight and height of some applicants. Upon calling the name of one of the applicant he stood up and I saw a long haired male…I whispered to him are you looking for a job or a member of a band? Anyway, I didn’t pay so much attention to him. I know that on his preliminary interview he can not go to the next level which is the In-depth interview. As I was doing my in-depth interview I called the next applicant and alas here comes the boy with a long hair. Well, I gave him the chance to be interviewed because I knew that he’s looking for a job. I was impressed by the boy’s answer to all my questions. And before I gave him the 4 pages questionnaire I told him that he have another interview with our HR and I am not sure if he can pass it because of his hair. I told him if it is okay for him to have a hair cut immediately and came right back after doing so because I knew that his long hair will be the reason for his failure to be a part of our company. My co-interviewer just gave a glimpse on me and smile…I told him if the boy didn’t come back he don’t need a job but if he come back with his new hair cut, well, he needs it. I post this because I can’t help it…I saw myself on this boy when I was also applying in this company. My job during that time was a timekeeper/bookkeeper on a construction company, that’s why I also don a long hair. And when I am applying, the interviewer notice my hair and she said to me, “tomorrow come here to my office with a new haircut”. Now I am just waiting for my retirement 3 years from now.

Me & My Wife at Barrio Fiesta

Choosing our orders...

Waiting...uhm, I'm really hungry...

A very very cold "Iced Tea"

My Favorite "Crispy Pata"

My wife's favorite "Kare-Kare"