FEELING RICH

I read an interesting article this morning about what it takes to make one feel rich. In the author's case it was getting an old frying pan and cleaning it up. She went on to cite other things that can make one feel rich---like being able to study in a university and enrich her knowledge,for others it might be just a nature trip.

Her point: what can make one feel rich need not be expensive or cost a lot of money.

It made me think of my own cheap"treasures." What have made me or make me "feel rich?"

Having known what it's like to commit one to a vow of poverty has given me a different perspective of what feeling rich means.

For example, I vividly recall an afternoon in a slum area in Lucena City, where we were doing mission work. I was a novice of the Redemptorist Congregation at the time, and that daymy co-novice and I decided to have a chat with the landlady of the house we were staying at. She owned a sari-sari store at the ground floor of the house, and this was where the neighbors would hang out and catch up on the latest gossip.

I recall us spending that afternoon just telling stories, sharing information about ourselves, cracking jokes now and then...and just having a fun afternoon,such that before we knew it evening had set and it was time for us to prepare for the mission Mass.

I could see that in spite of their surroundings...these people were genuinely happy and content!They were "rich" inspite of being "poor."

So for me feeling rich is not about possessing something...but being able to do something with what I possess.

It's not about owning the state of the art Canon EOS..but being able to create stunning photographs with only an A620 Powershot.

It's not about owning a Picasso or an expensive painting..but being able to paint something myself.

It's not just about "having" a wife and kids...but spending fun,happy,meaningful,loving moments with my family & really enjoying those moments (like the cookfest I had the other evening with James, my second son.)

It's not about just having travelled to a place...but travelling with my wife and having shared the experience together.

I guess,in the end, what makes us "feel rich" depends a lot on how we define "what feeling rich" means!

SOMEONE'S DOING THINGS RIGHT @LTO PASIG

I renewed my driver's license last Thursday (Jan. 17) and I was impressed with what I experienced.

I arrived at LTO, Pasig branch at around 7:10 AM and there were employees at the windows already although officially they didn't open till 8 AM.

I approached Window 1 and the lady there,who was just getting settled, got my old license, gave me a form and directed me to the drug testing center. She warned me not to deal with the "fixers" who supposedly lingered nearby.

At the Halili Drug Testing Center I had to wait a bit as the aides there were just opening shop. The guy at the counter though gave me a form to fill out and got my payment (P 250.00) When the lab was ready I was first in line to give a urine sample.

My problem was,the bottle had to be filled to the brim but I could just manage half (since I had already peed some minutes ago.) The aide there suggested I drink some water then just come back when I was ready.

I did as he suggested and after downing a small bottle of water, psyched myself to performance level. However, on my next attempt I still couldn't fill it up. So the aide said: "OK na 'yan, sir. Maabala ka pa." Although I wished he had told me earlier,still I was impressed he was willing to make an exception.

Out of curiosity,I asked him if they really detected drug users and he asked me;"Ilan taon na po kayo,sir"

I told him "53" but was puzzled.

"Sir, nung makalawa may 45 anyos..tumitira pa!" There was my answer.

The health check up was next,but this was merely an eye check up. The med student who was apparently assisting the Health Officer busily signing papers, asked me to read Line#8 of the eye chart. I did so quickly and I was out of there in 3 minutes.

After I handed my papers to the lady back at Window 1, I waited about 5 minutes and my name was called at Window B for a digital photo. A pose...a click of the digicam...signature on the electronic pad and it was over. I was told to wait at window 9.

While waiting to be called I witnessed something that spoke a lot about the way things were being run at this LTO branch.

One fellow sat on one of the chairs beside me and it gave in so he almost fell backwards. The aides who saw this quickly asked the people seated on the bench to stand up as they replaced the defective unit! You would expect they would just leave things be....but no, they corrected the problem.

I also noticed there was a system being followed here. The cashier at Window 9 took care of all pending motor vehicle transactions first, then at around 9 AM, all of us who applied for licenses or license renewal lined up at the License window and she went over and took care of our payments.

Within 2 hours, I got my license renewed!

Maybe what is impressive is that 3 years ago, when I renewed my license at this same branch, they did just a good a job as now. So they have been consistent...and in the Philippines being consistent is hard to find.

So kudos to you LTO Pasig hief,whoever you are!

A LOOK BACK AT 2007 AND LOOKING FORWARD TO 2008

2007 was a year for linking with relatives and staying connected with old friends. It was also a time for losing some friends and making new milestones. Here's a quick rundown of 2007 as I experienced it...

1. New Year 2007- we had our Auntie Cors "Akulaw"---the last of the 4 Antiques---pay us a visit during the Christmas holidays and stay up to February.
2. We had a visit from Kuya Glenn and Ate Marilag and had a get together at the KKK restaurant. We also had a visit from Ket and her son Nicolas.
3. February saw me at the Managers Convention at Taal Vista Hotel,Tagaytay. Our first convention held outside Metro Manila. The franchisees' convention was held at the Marco Polo in Davao.
4. Tasha finally gets a dog! A yellow Labrador whom we name Angel.
5. Amy Directo had a short vacation here and stayed with us at Millbrae.
6. Tasha participates in the Palarong Pambansa at GenSan. She wins overall Silver.
7. Jaja's team wins a $2.4 M bid and gets recognition throughout the Coffey International network.
8. Jaja and I travel to Hong Kong.
9. Jaja and I have a weekend vacation in Bohol with Jaja's friends.
10. The ex-Juvenate egroup holds many mini-reunions. Most memorable is the Coco Grill get together where I manage to play golf again at Luisita. The others are the get together for Ruben Porciuncula and Tony Luistro's 50th birthday.
11. Tasha wins gold medals at the Philippine Olympic festival.
12. Boy Vetus succumbs to cancer. We are shocked by the news of Dulce's death from a car accident. Early this year we had a reunion of the old MTD group which she attended.
13. JP de Guzman marries PY Nakar at the Highlands.
14. TJ finally passes his requirements and becomes eligible for graduation.
15. We buy a new van---an Innova G variant---after months of visioning by Jaja.
16. I travel to Bangkok for an ocular survey in preparation for our Franchisees Convention in 2008.
17. Jaja finally gets our leaking roof fixed and with the help of Kuya Zen we also get our leaking pipe fixed.
18. Before the year ends, I get reconnected with Melvin Claros, a former colleague at Jollibee.

For 2008, we expect a lot of celebrations and more milestones...hopefully more Good Luck and Blessings to come...

1. Jaja and I will get a chance to travel together to Bangkok during our Franchisees' Convention.
2. TJ will finally march during his graduation sometime in February.
3. We are looking forward to him getting employed. :-)
4. Somehow I feel so lucky...Jaja's going to win a Fortuner in the Toyota raffle.
5. James is going to start his culinary arts training at St. Benilde.
6. It will be our 25th wedding anniversary in October. There's a possibility we will travel to the USA in time for the proposed ex-Juvenists reunion in Las Vegas.

We will be richer, happier and more prosperous in 2008!!!