51 YEARS YOUNG AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT 50!

Yesterday I turned 51! When I was younger I never imagined how I'd look like at 50 years plus...I was so engrossed at being young and solving the problems of the world I didn't think it important to visualize how I'd look when I'm old.

Good thing I didn't because when I look at myself in the mirror, I don't look like your typical 50 year old. Thanks to a regimen of exercise and diet and clean living, I think I managed to turn back ageing some notch back.

I read Late Lifer's recent blog on how at 83 + he's still engaged in active work. I guess that's the secret..never to retire and not to think I can't learn new skills and new tricks. Furthermore, I have the advantage of experience.

I still have a lot to look forward to in the next 50 years after all!

NOW ISN'T THE FUTURE THAT WE PICTURED IT TO BE...BUT ITS PRETTY CLOSE

Just read an interesting blog from Mike Wieringo. He was born in 1963 (just 8 years younger than me) and when he was growing up, his images of Year 2000 was of flying cars and stuff we probably saw in Star Wars.

He makes an interesting point: what made terrific advancements in technology was not about the way we travel but the way we communicate!There aren't too many flying cars around but boy are there so many ways to bring someone who's in another part of the world right to your living room!

When I was a kid, Dick Tracy was a popular showing on TV. I was quite fascinated by his wristwatch communicator. Some toy manufacturer once offered it on the market but I never got to have one. Many years later, Samsung came up with something like Dick Tracy's watch...which just goes to show that if you can imagine it...it can come true.

Then,the sci-fi series on TV (Star Trek,Lost In Space) always showed futuristic families dressed in tight fitting costumes. They also ate food that came in the form of pills. The dress hasn't caught up but if you look at all the food supplements available in the market today, you wonder if the writers of these TV shows had a gift of predicting the future.

I still have yet to come face to face with aliens who are out to conquer the earth. (This was how the future state of earth was often depicted by these futuristic shows. ) When you come to think of it though...their vision of what today would be like comes pretty close!

HERE'S TO A BRAND NEW YEAR!

New Year 2006 didn't come in with as much BANG! as previous New Years. It's understandable considering that prices of fireworks have really gone up.

For instance, for P 2,750, I bought myself imported pyrotechnics that just fit into one plastic bag! And it was only good for about 5 minutes worth of fireworks display.

The noise around our place also didn't last long. By 1:00 AM there weren't too many explosions from fireworks anymore, unlike in the past when this would go on up to almost 2 AM.

As I have been doing every New year, I updated my diary and browsed thru my entries of the past year. Reflecting on 2005, I was thankful that I survived a difficult year. The country was in a political & economic mess. Our company suffered some setbacks but in the end, we pulled through with a sales performance that was better than expected. In spite of plans that would put my job in jeopardy, I got my contract renewed.

2005 to me will be remembered as the year I turned 50. Although I didn't really feel a year older, my body started experiencing aches and pains that just told me I am not as young as I used to be.

I will also remember 2005 as the year for reconnecting with my past. This is mainly because I got in touch with former colleagues in the seminary at least thru the internet. Now, we're looking forward to February when we will actually see each other in a Grand Reunion. Then just recently, I had a reunion with my former Jollibee staff.

My work has not been as hectic as before, since much of my workload has been taken by somebody else (e.g. the FSC Update.) I also started getting more involved in matters not related to the Training function (e.g. sitting in during discussions about concepts for advertisements.)

I look forward to 2006 with a more optimistic mindset. The furor over an inept President will soon die down and we will get down to the business of building the economy.

I plan to keep making myself better as a person and making a contribution to making the world around me better. I plan to achieve the following goals I have on my list:

1. Organize a successful Grand reunion of former Juvenists and our formators this February.
2. Complete the payments for our house by the end of January.
3. Achieve significant growth in my second income stream (Amway) and start getting checks from this.
4. Attain my dream physique from my bodybuilding efforts.( Wide shoulders, full chest, blasting guns, size 31" waist,proportionate legs and calves) Bench: 160 lbs.
5. Travel to USA with the kids (See Disneyland, be in touch with our relatives there)
6. Reach 2M mark in savings & investments by June 2006 and be within range of 3 M by end of the year. (I should be in the other room at the Citibank office)
7. Illustrate pages for the Juvenate Souvenir Program & the San Beda Reunion Program. I should have developed skill in the use of Corel Draw or Adobe Photoshop.
8. I will have seen Tasha and james Graduate from Elementary & High School respectively.
9. I should have installed more traditions for building the family: Date Night every Friday, and Kids One-One every week.
10. Achieved something spectacular!

A LESSON ON LEARNING & A REFLECTION ON AN "OPRAH" FEATURE

I've been meeting lately with a former colleague from the seminary, Tito Alcala. He's got a very successful design and ad services company and listening to him and his stories of how he grew his com pany, I picked up a lesson on what it means to be continually learning.

Tito goes around different countries picking up the latest technologies and trends in advertising. Then he goes ahead and tries to bring the technology in or adapt it to the local needs. He does not seem to be afraid of failing because even if a concept does not click he has learned and is ahead of everyone else in the learning curve!

That's an insight I'm going to apply...never fear failure because you learn something from it.

I watched Oprah yesterday and she featured women who were once successful and confident but "let go",i.e., gave up on life somehow and started looking and feeling miserable! All of them went from gorgeous to fat and looking at them now, I just couldn't help but feel pity for them.

Their reasons for "giving up" were varied (some even gave up because they had to raise their kids and family first)...but common to all was they somehow lost their self-esteem and with it their drive for life.

Another example of how mindset and attitude can change and turn one from being a winner to a loser.

THE ORIGIN 0F THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS & COUNTING MY BLESSINGS

I read from Early To Rise an account of Benjamin Franklin on how the whole idea of Thanksgiving got started. In a nutshell,the Pilgrims once made it a habit of fasting during Thanksgiving,but this usually got them in a depressing mood. So one of their members who had a lot of common sense suggested they celebrate instead of fast! That got everyone in a better frame of mind so the practice of celebrating stuck. I guess they took it a lot of their depression on the turkeys!

The article recommended that we count our blessings so I thought I'd list mine:

1. I'm alive & so far God has blessed me with good health
2. I'm loved by my wife & kids
3. I've got the proverbial roof over my head,clothes on my back & food to eat
4. I've got a job.
5. I've got friends.
6. I've got dreams I want to fulfill.
7. There are things that get me excited like the prospect of new business & earning more.
8. I have been blessed with talents.
9. I've got money in the bank,
10. The kids are in school & they are doing relatively well.
11. I have accomplished some things in my list of things to do in my lifetime.
12. I've managed to reconnect with people in my past.
13. I know I've influenced certain things/events & have mde a difference & contribution to society.
14. I have become a better person than what I was before.
15, I am at peace with myself.
16. I am hopeful and am looking forward to more exciting opportunities in life (dreams of travel. making more money, being happy)
17. I am able to laugh at myself.
18. My brain's working fine.
19. I still look & feel good for a man of fifty!
20. I still have good sex!
21. I don't worry much about much nowadays!
22. I am able to appreciate the little gifts I receive in life & thank God for them.

LEARNING THE MAGIC QUESTION

I read a piece from "Early To Rise" about a guy who admitted that 14 years ago he was at his lowest point but made a breakthrough by learning what he calls the magic question:"What's the Worst Thing That Could Happen If I did this?"

By asking the question he got rid of his own psychological barriers that prevented him from realizing his dreams (one of which was to be a ballroom instructor.) Once the barriers were out of the way the living of the dreams was easier.

I realized this (being afraid of failing) was what has been holding me back about some of the unfulfilled dreams I've had like: my hit song...my million peso business...vacation trips.

Maybe I ought to un-block myself more so I can get more out of life!

MY ORIGAMI LEGACY

Last night, my daughter Tasha chanced upon an old book of mine on Origami while she was looking for some colored paper. She started working on one of the models (the jumping frog) but was stumped when she was folding the frog base. I helped her out a bit then after some time she showed me the finished product.

She didn't realize that it could be inflated until I showed her so. Since she had used paper that wasn't really for folding, the frog didn't jump as expected. So she made another one,this time using better quality paper and voila, she had a jumping frog.

Seeing her taking interest in something I used to do made me really feel wonderful inside.

This is one of the small rewards I get from being a parent!

IS LIFE ALL ABOUT BURSTING WITH ENERGY OR BEING AT PEACE?

Just had one of those profound thoughts while "meditating" in the john during my morning ritual. I visited my parents' graves yesterday and thought to myself that is this what beign brought into the world is all about? To finally just rest in peace?

As far as I can recall, my life (& everyone's life for that matter) has been about bursting with energy...movement...action...in getting the thrills & adrenaline rush...that is why we say one is alive!!! He moves...he breathes...he lives!!!

And yet I know there were moments in my life when I was just still...and felt most alive!!! These were during moments of prayer...of deep calm...of just sitting watching the sun set or taking in the majestic view of Nature...or just observing my kids or my wife while they were asleep.

I guess that's why they say there are always two sides to everything...for life is both about living as well as dying.

TIME TO STOP DREAMING & START DOING

My former College buddy,Jimmy Enriquez, sent a congratulatory message to all his downlines in the Amway business who had made it to the 3% to the Top Gun Category. Most were from Chowking and most had entered this business later than I did. Yet they've gone ahead to where I never even reached. So what made the difference?

They worked more than they dreamed...and instead of figuring out the obstacles they just went ahead and showed the plan or sold the products.

I, on the other hand, found excuses why I couldn't do it! The irony is that most of these people are from Operations...have 9-5 jobs while I'm supposed to have a freer schedule to grow my business.

So the moral lesson is: Stop figuring out & wishing...and start getting my nose to the grindstone!

But inwardly I really feel happy for Jimmy...he deserves to be rewarded for his hard work...now he's living his dream!

CREATING YOUR OWN FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

I just read an article by Miniong Ordonez, one of the pillars of Philippine Advertising and Chairman of Publicis, an advertising group. He's 69 years old but when you see him in person he really does not look it.

He attributes this to attitude. He remarked that as one ages one must take pride in aging, but also do something to maintain one's zest for life. For him one of his latest sources of youthful attitude is a Suzuki Motorbike. It makes him feel like the rebellious Marlon Brando when he's on it!

His message is clear... if we just settle for being sedentary when we grow old then we really age.

There is a fountain of youth but it is within us!

DREAMING AND DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE

Our CEO has been exhorting us to aim for "no unhappy customers." I can understand the skeptical looks on the faces of our managers whenever he says we should do this...after all, this seems to be an impossible goal to achieve.

But what I like about it is that it's something worth going for. I'm sure that if we just get close to achieveing it we will not only have set a benchmark for our sister companies..we will have improved ourselves along the way.

Who would think that Jollibee would beat McDonald's at it's own game? It seemed impossible then...but if one convinces many to believe it can be done...it happens.

MINDSET: THE BIG DIFFERENCE

I watched the second part of National Geographic's INSIDE 9/11 last night, and although I couldn't help think it was US propaganda versus Al Qaida (after all the story was being told from an American's point of view,) still I believed it was wrong to take away lives indiscriminately, whether for revenge or whether in the name of Allah. ( So I would also not approve of the Crusades or the Spanish Inquisition for that matter.)

The episode ended with a striking parallel between the US mindset and the mujaheddin's, and it somehow explained why they weren't afraid of blowing themselves up (and others with them.) There was a shot of Osama Bin Laden making his way up a hill with another Al Qaida member. Tha narrator said that against the background of US artillery bombings, Osama Bin Laden was supposed to have quoted that:"We (the Al Qaida) love death. The US love life. There lies the big difference."

Some of the so-called "expert" commentators interviewed remarked that the success of 9/11 galvanized the Muslim extremists to carry on their jihad not only against the US but against the world. The movement would continue even if Osama were captured or killed because as they showed from footages of bombings in Spain and London, the movement has already spread worldwide.

THE TREMENDOUS POWER OF FAITH

I watched a documentary the other night on the inside story of 9/11. It revealed that as early as 8 years before the attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, there were already indicators that radical Muslims were already plotting something against the USA in the belief that they were launching a jihad against the devil.

What really struck me was what the power of commitment to a cause or even one's faith could do. The men who carried out their suicidal mission believed they were doing something right and were willing to give up their lives for it. Except for one, the three others who flew the planes to their destruction went to the extent of learning how to fly planes. They found ways to get things done in spite of difficulties it involved and the danger of getting caught.

Because of commitment they got it done!

Another documentary I saw this time featured how the early Christians, by their faith in Jesus and his teaching on loving even those who persecute you,eventually shut down the Colosseum, the center of gladiatorial fights and Christian executions.

The story goes that because of the admirable faith the Christians had in rising again with Christ, the Emperor converted and did away with the games.

GIVING HAS ITS OWN REWARDS

Read from Late Lifer's blog about how he's been mentoring a 29 year old guy named Marcos set up his business and how it's taken off. Prescott revealed how he felt fulfilled about this experience and suggested to late lifers like him to engage themselves in mentoring.

I was rather inspired by this and resurrected the thought of teaching in College when the opportunity presents itself...or maybe I ought to start pursuing it. But I know what Prescott meant when he said he felt a sense of gratification. Seeing his mentee succeed most likely gave him a strong sense of usefulness at his age!

WHAT A WASTE OF PRECIOUS LIFE!

I heard over the radio this morning that a woman suicide bomber in Iraq blew herself up killing 6 other people and wounding many others.

I asked myself,what would really drive people to take their own precious lives and take others' lives with them?

Here I realized once again how one's mindset and beliefs affects one's behaviors. These suicide bombers may have reached a point where their ideology or programming may have led them to believe that the act of killing themselves and others,whether guilty or innocent,is justified.

There must have been a compelling reason why that woman may have done what she believed to be right, at the cost of her own life, but no matter how I look at it...it's a waste of precious life, and morally wrong.

If this act had been inspired by so-called religious teaching or by a tenet of faith,then that religion or doctrine must be misguided.

CREATIVITY TRIPPING

I've taken a renewed interest in drawing comics because of the project I'm working on for the 34th anniversary of my San Beda batchmates. The souvenir program which I'm supposed to do should look like a comic book, so I've been browsing through websites featuring Marvel Comic book covers which I still consider the best,(especially those done by my idol Jack Kirby,) hoping to get some inspiration from these masterpieces of cover art.

It seems this effort has had a pleasant side -effect! I found myself thinking up and doodling cover options and content for the program. I've also been daydreaming a lot of fantasy stories (the adult comedy and horror-fantasy type) which I've sketched on paper.

Yesterday, while walking along SM Megamall I found myself looking at people and concocting in my mind, stories of what could possible be going through their heads based on the expressions on their faces. For instance, I imagined that one guy who had a worried look on his face may have been late for an appointment...with a client?with a lover? One housewife-looking type must be thinking about where she was going to get money for expenses of her kids.

This went on as I passed by people. Made me realize there really is a wealth of stories around if you can just imagine them.

As a result of that creative trip I came up with story ideas. One which hit me while I was passing the video game center was about two teens who get sucked up in the video game they're playing and find themselves actually shooting live bullets at the enemy. Another (adult fantasy story) idea was about two sweethearts who snuck up in the moviehouse and have sex there not realizing they are being videotaped.They find their fotos at the marquee the following week as the double-feature.

When I returned to the office I hit on another idea: a designer of Magic cards falls asleep and his faerie creations walk out of his laptop. He has some wild hanky-panky with the faerie until she turns him into a creature that appears in the next Magic card edition.

Maybe I can make some money out of this...but just the exhiliration from the brief creative journey was a reward by itself.

REFLECTIONS ON A PICKLE JAR

I got one of those inspirational emails yesterday entitled: The Pickle Jar, which tells the story of how the writer's father took care of his future by saving small change which he placed inside a pickle jar. When he was put through college,the pickle jar which served its purpose disappeared from its usual place. The writer eventually got married and had a daughter,and one day at his parent's home he found the pickle jar back where it was,filled with coins.

It was his turn now to start filling it up.

Although we never had a pickle jar, I knew that Dad took it upon himself to provide for the future of all of us,his seven kids, the best way that he could. With his meager Army man's salary it is a wonder he achieved what he did.Well, of course, with a lot of help from Mom who budgetted the money.

We were never poor,nor were we deprived of the occasional luxuries in life either. But I know now that both Dad and Mom must have sacrificed a lot themselves, denied themselves of some luxury they would have wished so they would have the money to ensure our education, and with it, our future.

I don't really envy those who have the money so much so that they can travel to other countries frequently. Actually, I have the money! But I guess compared to ensuring my kids future, the luxury of travelling and vacationing takes the back seat.

Am I a less fulfilled man because of having denied myself these experiences? I don't think so.

As a wise woman told me once upon a time:"If it is God's will...it will happen."

There will be a time and a place for indulging in dreams and fantasies...but for now,it's time to fill up the pickle jar.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

* I read an article by former NEDA head Cielito Habito that most of our country's trillion peso budget (about 70% of it ) will go to so-called debt servicing. What's frustrating to know is that we will be paying for past government investments (e.g. the Bataan Nuclear Plant) that we never benefitted from!

* In my desire to get going with the cover design of the San Beda Reunion Souvenir Program,I've been reading stuff on how to draw comics,1 point and 2 point perspective and have started doodling and sketching again. Nothing like an ambitious goal to keep the adrenaline going and keep my day interesting. I've always realized the power of a vision, and it's the visualization of the completed project that's getting me pumped up! Fresh ideas for sitcomics just keep popping up!

* Last Saturday I finally met with Jack Dumaup, an ex-Juvenist, who is now active in the Youth Ministry of a born-again church. I admired his conviction and his zeal in sharing his experience of being born again. Now if only our priests could be that converted and zealous the Catholic church here would be a bit more alive!

REALIZING MY POTENTIAL

This morning I had a talk with a group belonging to SC Innova Holdings, a family-owned corporation with various businesses. They were looking for a consultant who would help them out with their growth and expansion concerns particularly in the area of training and development. While they were sharing (particularly Vic,who turned out to be one of the owners) I gave in my two cents worth of observations which must have impressed on Vic that I knew what I was talking about.

Towards the end of the meeting he said that if only I was available they'd like to hire me even on a trial basis.

It was a feel good moment for me and just affirmed that my experience in Jollibee does amount to something.

Anyway, if it was meant for me I know we will cross paths again in the future.

IS THIS THE LITTLE GIRL I CARRIED?

Today is Tasha's thirteenth birthday.

I gave her the traditional birthday spanking (13 whacks on the butt and 1 more for good measure) while she was just stirring after I woke her up and greeted her a Happy Birthday.

During my quiet time in the morning, I said a prayer for her and spent a bit of time reminiscing and realizing that time really has passed by quickly. I couldn't imagine that thirteen years have passed since that September morining when Ate Per entered the room in Cardinal Santos hospital and told me that Tash had been born and was doing OK.

Tash was inside the incubator when I first saw her. She was like a little princess sleeping under the drop light.

As if in a movie flashback I recalled how cute she was when she was a baby, and now how she has grown to be a pretty yet feisty teenage girl.

With the song:"Butterfly Kisses" playing at the back of my mind,I can't help but thank God,He gifted me with my little girl Tash.