My Coffee Table

Children of War

2009-05-02T08:14:00.000-07:00

CHILD’S LAMENT. A child protester joins the rally of militant groups in Quirino Ave on Labor day.ANNA VALMERO/INQUIRER.net

What does this image say? It says one thing: we’re all stupid user. It’s pathetic and more lamenting. Why use children? What do they know about Imperialism when they don’t even know why they are there for? What do they know about Imperialism when they don’t even know how to multiply or divide numbers? What do they know about Imperialism when most of the Filipinos don’t know what Imperialism mean. What do they know about Imperialism when they should be at school doing more valuable life changing lessons than being on the streets wasting their lives? So that when they grow older, they can think better and be more useful to the nation.

It’s pathetic that, with all due respect to the photographer, Ms. Valmero captioned the photo and identified the child as child protester. How does she know that the child was indeed there to protest? How in the world would the child know what imperialism mean? I bet you ask the photographer what Imperialism mean, she wouldn’t be able to answer quickly without thinking a bit or going back to her history or googling it.

It’s not a child’s lament. It’s the photographer’s lament, her view of the situation and not the child’s. I think photographers should be responsible enough to also support campaign against child abuse. With the above image, it’s an indirect way of using children for the sake of profession or for the sake of getting something in exchange.

All children know at the end of the day, they’ll get something in return: a food on the table or “baon” for school tomorrow.

I think, to change the world, change should begin within ourselves as adults.

Reply to BEE Chairman's Letter

2009-04-08T12:33:00.000-07:00

April 8, 2009

ENGR. RODOLFO R. PENALOSA
Chairman, Board of Electrical Engineering
Professional Regulation Commission, Republic of the Philippines

Dear Engr. Penalosa,

Greetings!

I am in receipt of your reply to my letter dated December 8, 2008 relating to Board Resolution 36 Series of 2002 and would like to extend my gratitude for affording me your time to attend to this case. However, I would like to respond as follows:

1. Your letter does not address the main issue why I wrote the letter on December 8, 2008 nor does it address point by point the issues contained in my letter. Specifically, by allowing the resolution to be implemented, the PRC became, in effect, a sub-agency of IIEE.

2. Section 25 Article III of RA7920 does not specifically hold the engineers by law to be a member of an organization before they can practice and obtain their licenses. The law is very clear: "Every professional electrical engineer, registered electrical engineer and registered master electrician upon registration with the Board as such, shall ipso facto, become a member of the integrated national organization". In a layman's terms, we are as such, "by the fact itself", become a member of the integrated national organization when we register to the board. Which is what I want to do, register and renew my license with the Board but not to IIEE.

3. The board resolution runs in contrast to our inherent rights imposed under Article 3 of the Constitution, to wit: “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the law." By imposing the IIEE membership to be a prerequisite to gaining license renewal, the resolution does deprive the person liberty to choose which organization he wants to be a member of and not to mention his ability to perform as an electrical engineer which in turn deprives a person of his life.

4. Sighting the Supreme Court’s decision relating to the practice of profession in the Philippines versus IBP is, I believe, wrongly selected as this is not significant to what my case is all about. This decision will fall under your other program relating to “Continuing Process of Education”. This is again one contentious aspect of our profession which I will deal with separately.

5. Sighting Section 4(g), I believe you don’t understand the full context of this. This does not give you the power to make the PRC a sub-agency of IIEE or BEE by making the IIEE mandatory membership prerequisite to license renewal. The Board has actually abused its quasi-judicial power and at the same time usurped the Congress’ legislative power.

6. Sighting Section 25, I believe you don’t understand this correctly. See related answer in item 2.

7. In your 4th paragraph, I’m honestly surprised that you have this “rule” because the way I was told by the chief officer at window 18, and I quote: “kung ayaw mo maging member ng IIEE, e di wag kang magrenew ng lisensya mo” (if you don’t like to become member of IIEE, then do not renew your license) unquote. Obviously, this rule is known to only you. However, this again does not address the main issue. I came all the way to Manila to renew my license even though I am not a practicing engineer in the Philippines only to be turned down by this resolution. This paragraph again runs in contrast to what I discussed in items 3 and 5.

8. In your 5th paragraph, it is indeed unfortunate that I did not see the conferences. However just looking at the IIEE’s website, it doesn’t say anything significant at all, quite frankly. Hence, I don’t think I would be that much interested to attend any of the conferences, unless extremely necessary.

9. In your 6th paragraph, I would say I’m deeply saddened with the quality of electrical engineers in the Philippines. I had the chance of interviewing people that we could employ in our company and quite frankly, we never saw qualified people except those who had experience working abroad. This means that whatever you accomplished to improve and assist fellow professional s to date did not really help the professionals that much at all unfortunately. I would suggest that you deeply look into what accomplishment you are saying and whatever assistance the IIEE has done so far.

10. In your penultimate paragraph. I believe no one has every right to force a person to join certain organization as this is 100% unconstitutional. Your mandate is not the mandate of the law but by your resolution which I would like to be scrapped and revisited.

11. I’m enclosing herewith copy of the letter I sent to PRC Chairman Nicolas P. Lapena Jr. for your perusal and further enlightenment of the issue.

12. To be a member of IIEE does even play significant role in getting hired. It’s the experience. So why bother? And so why enforce it? And why abuse your quasi-judicial power?

In closing, I recommend the following:

1. Scrap the Resolution in its entirety.

2. Make the IIEE membership as voluntary.

3. Seek government assistance by enforcing in all government project that all participating company with electrical engineers become an IIEE member as part of pre-tender qualifications.

4. Make IIEE 100% public. Ask how many electrical engineers in the land know what IIEE does? Where are all the membership money go? Make them publicly accountable and prosecutable in case of fraud and diversion of funds.

I trust that you find the above in order and hope that I have enlightened you in one way or the other. I still demand I be allowed to renew my license without conditions. Thank you.

Jona and Mike - Our Story

2009-03-21T10:12:00.001-07:00

We were schoolmates though she was 3years younger than I was. But we never bumped into each other, not a single once. But in 2005, on one busy day, a phone call from a friend of mine introduced my soon to be life time manager. Then from a chemicals cleaning agent to yahoo email address to a Friendster account then to our first meeting at a bookstore then to a birthday party then to spending over an hour of talking at the bay led to what I can call a once in a lifetime one in a million best ever thing to happen whirlwind romance. From there on, we’ve been together and enjoyed each other’s company eating pizzas, going to families and friends and laughing at ridiculous things. I rarely have the right instinct about things, but this time I was dead on. Now we are getting married in 2010 and looking forward to having our first baby!

http://www.mywedding.com/jonamyk

A commentary on PRC Chairman’s Reply to My Letter

2009-03-16T11:39:00.001-07:00

This is in response to the Commission’s reply to my letter request.

My comment are as follows:

1. “xxx The professional electrical engineer, registered electrical engineer, and registered master electrician shall receive the benefits and privileges appurtenant to this listed membership in the duty integrated and accredited electrical engineering association only upon payment of the required membership fees and dues” — the commission and the IIEE are two separate bodies. how can the commission allow the renewal of license card be a part of the “benefits and privileges” which to me is an act of usurpation of Congress’ legislative power and a blatant abuse of quasi-legislative power of BEE?

2. Section 25 Article III of RA7920 does not specifically hold the engineers by law to be a member of an organization before they can practice and obtain their licenses. The law is very clear: “Every professional electrical engineer, registered electrical engineer and registered master electrician upon registration with the Board as such, shall ipso facto, become a member of the integrated national organization”. In a layman’s terms, we are as such, “by the fact itself”, become a member of the integrated national organization when we register to the board. Which is what I want to do, register and renew my license with the Board but not to IIEE.

3. The Board resolution completely reverses the whole process mentioned in item 2 above.

I’ve been tempted to respond to his letter however reading his penultimate paragraph “Until and unless the Courts shall have declared Board Res. No. 36 as unconstitutional or not valid, we will have no recourse other than to continue enforcing this policy”, it will be a futile act to do it unless I see a court’s action. Which I am unable to do because of my location.

Please take note that the Chairman used the word “policy” which by law is not mandatory and is merely guide actions toward those that are most likely to achieve a desired outcome.

I just hope that concerned government officials will take heed of this unholy practices implemented at the Commission.

ACER vs HP

2009-02-20T08:14:00.000-08:00

Thinking of buying an ACER laptop? Think again. While their product may be one of the best if not super but their after CUSTOMER AFTER SALES SERVICE is for me is unsatisfactorily crap.

My company bought a laptop in Manila and brought it in Botswana for our use. Unfortunately, it suddenly stopped working in less than a month. With so much confidence, because we were told in Manila that the unit carries an international warranty and that in case of breakdown, it will be serviced anywhere in the world. So in Botswana we called on all possible distributors and we first got into Computer Office Supplies who were kind enough to direct us to Kalahari Associates. So we called and told them the story and off we were told to come with the unit so that they could attend to it. So we brought it in and was told that they have to consult the ITW in South Africa. Then we received a call saying that they could not honor the ITW because it was not bought in Africa and the unit should be sent to South Africa at our cost. And to return, Acer's ITW in SA to shoulder the cost of returning it back to us.

So then we were told that in order for it to be processed, we were told to log in to the website and do a log-call. The website does not work! So then we were told to go to Incredible Connection. So we went there on Saturday and took the unit. Alas, they know nothing of the arrangement and was asked to come back on Monday. We didn't come back on Monday but called the girl and we were told that they don't do any services or attendance unless the unit is bought from their stores. Great service, eh!?

Whilst doing the African route, we tried contacting ADI-Asianic at Park Square in Makati and found their website. Sent an email but no ANSWER! Tried calling the phone, couldn't go through! Great service, eh!?

So, then we decided enough of this crappy procedure. Let's wait for someone to go back to Manila to bring the unit personally. So, came our representative and gave the unit only to be given a lousy service again. Arrogant sales lady who couldn't even give a good assurance to alleviate our pains of buying a crappy unit. Great service, eh!?

Now, here comes the good one!

My fiancee bought an HP laptop more than a year ago. When it broke down, she called on HP service center. The first incident was when the battery broke down and HP immediately sent UPS to collect the unit and repaired it and returned the unit in superb condition. No questions asked. Second incident, just recently. Her computer won't start unless you turned it off for long hours and take it to cool down. Same way, she called HP Service center and much to her surprise she's told that her motherboard was still under warranty. And HP immediately sent UPS to collect it and in less than a week replaced the board and returned it to the user. No questions asked and no cost to the customer. That's CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! SUPERB!!!

How To Start Online Business

2009-01-06T08:58:00.001-08:00

First, you must know:

1. It's Hard. The hardest part is the start-up stage. And sometimes it's a pain specially when you commit mistake. However, just like any other mistakes, you learn from it. And make sure you take note of your mistakes and learn from it.
2. It's not cheap. A lot of sites in the web will offer you the moon and the stars and huge amount of money in return. It's not always true, unless you will be willing to take the risk and gamble. But when you gamble, most often than not you lose, so better not take it unless you're very much sure of what you are doing. These sites will normally entice you to sign in or buy some stuff from them. They are great internet marketers, and beware. When the sites wants a piece of that thing in your wallet, think and stop. You might want to think it over and look for alternative sites that can offer free.
3. Practice. If you are a newbie in the internet web thing, you better learn carefully and study hard. And you will learn from browsing different sites especially those sites that offer income.
4. Patience. Internet eats time and not just 30min/day that most sites say, it's more than that. It's normally 3hrs more if you're really hooked into it. The trouble is, when you're hooked up with enjoyment, you would hardly notice the time and the next thing you realize, you've been on it for more than 6hours!

How to start?

First, practice, practice and practice.

1. You can create your website and get the feel of what you really wanted and how you would like your website to look like. I would suggest www.bloggers.com. CreatE your blog. Start with it. The beauty of www.bloggers.com, it gives you free hand to customize your site. And the best of all it's totally FREE.
2. You can populate your blog with endless stories and pictures of yours.
3. The best way to customize your blog is by adding gadgets. To do that you must go to your dashboard and click "layout" tab. And the most gadgets that I've used are: HTML/Java Script, Picture and AdSense.
4. To make your blog earn money on its own, use AdSense by google. It's one of the gadgets that you can install. You earn by way of Pay-Per-Click. Take note: Don't Click your own AdSense, you will be banned by AdSense. The Clickers should be legitimate probable customers and/or buyers. And that means the click should not come from your own IP Address.
5. You can also create and place HTML/Java Script and Pictures that will link up to sites that pay commissions on every leads or sales that they get from potential clients/customer/buyer.
6. You can go to http://members.affiliatebot.com/620022/ or click on the banner for Affiliatebot on the right side to find out more.
7. You can also click on Zeelog http://zeelog.com/myk0507?idAff=14 to find more exciting stuff that will make your website earn additionaly income even when you're sleeping.
8. You can further add to your webcode by going to http://www.linkbucks.com/referral/63113 to generate a link code for a pop-up. This will require a extra knowledge on HTML. But don't worry, if you go to the link there's a help that will guide you thru.
9. There's also an external way of earning online income. This I find the easiest way. Just sign in to site that pays you per Ads that you click on their web. To find out more, you can click this link: http://www.clixsense.com/?2651702.
10. Sign up and Sign Up. Don't be afraid. For as long as the site doesn't ask for money, go on and sign up.
11. Maintain a site for at least one or two. Maintaining more than two sites will probably stuff up your brain and chances you will forget about it and forget the passwords.
12. And finally, where do you put your money? There are sites that offer receiving payment online. One is Paypal. Go to this link to sign in https://www.paypal.com/bw/mrb/pal=Y2R8KBXXF9F5Y. This site will require a credit card and will initially ask you to pay $1.95 but will be refunded to you as soon as your account is verified. The good thing about this is this site is accepted by most online businesses.
13. And finally, increase your traffic by announcing your site.
14. Once you're done with this and gotten tired of free webhosted site, you may now want to try your real website. There are cheap sites that offer low monthly payment. You can click on the Ultra Web Hosting found on the right side of this blog. There is also a webhosting site that offer the cheapest at $3.95/month. Go to this link to find out more http://www.hostazar.com/billing/aff.php?aff=462.

15. You can also hit this cool link to earn extra money: http://www.cashcrate.com/1152255
16. Finally, a word of advise: Good Luck! To your wealth! Our Wealth.

PS: One favor, if you've read this last line, you've gone this far and my only favor, pass this message by asking your friends to click www.mbda-mycoffeetable.blogspot.com and click and click on the AdSense and those banners on my blog. You don't don't have to sign in or buy. Just CLICK and CLICK!

An Everlasting Love

2009-01-02T11:35:00.000-08:00

Name the Author and the Title of this classic Poem:

I can not love you with a love
that out compares the boundless sea,
For that were false, as no such love
And no such ocean can ever be.

But I can love you with a love.
As finite as the wave that dies.
And dying holds from crest to crest,
the blue of everlasting skies.

My First $2.0 Online Earnings!!!

2008-12-31T07:07:00.000-08:00

This is my first earnings eversince I created this blog, $1.99!!!. Sounds so good to be true but it does. It is, in one way or the other, a virtual income, not yet a cold cash. But somehow, it gives you the feeling that your website does really work!

My fiancee in Canada did tried clicking on those Adsense by Googles and the above was the result in 24hours. I tried it myself clicking on those, but it didn't recorded the clicks as earnings. It's probably because I was using the same IP address. It make sense, because it has to be a real and sensible clicks from real probable customers.

I've been thinking a lot of taking a much bolder step by purchasing my own website in the future. But then again, this will come sooner depending on the results of the above.

It's always nice to have something working for you while you are sleeping. It may not be that one hell of money making machine, but at least you know monies are coming in small bits and pieces so that at the end of the day, you earn it as your savings in the piggy bank. You may not need it now, but in future you might. And it helps.

I would strongly urge viewers to continue clicking and make this a success! Thank you guys!

2008-12-28T14:23:00.000-08:00

The Road That Leads Us To

When my elder brother told me that he’s getting married sometime long ago, I thought he must have found his soul mate. And I’m sure he did. The road he took was the right way and it took him where he wanted to be and I would think made him happy, somehow. He’s got three lovely children to speak for his happiness.

My sister who is next to me didn’t have that what they called perfect marriage but enough to make her happy in one way or the other. She’s married to a small business entrepreneur. We never knew how she got married and when it happened but it doesn’t matter now this time. She’s got two lovely sons. She’s a picture of a contented and loving wife to her husband and family. It may have been a bumpy road she took at the start of her journey, but I guess it’s getting wider and nicer now enough to make her happy in her own way.

My other sister who is now working in Singapore hasn’t taken which right road to take to. But I’m sure she’s busy searching for the right road. And my younger sister has just finished schooling and her examination recently. I would say our younger sister is just beginning to study what road to take to.

And our last sister took the best road to heaven. She’s there now at peace with her creator.

And me? I’ve started and begun my journey. I’ve taken the road that would take me to where I want to be. It’s a long road and journey and I’m sure it would be pretty exciting.

On December 7, 2008, our families, sans my father who was in his hometown in Bicol and my sister living in Singapore, were introduced to my soon to be lifetime partner’s family. Me alone taking care of the event and she was at the other side of the world beamed live on the web. It was an awkward event but otherwise the event went well. It wasn’t a perfect family introduction but enough to be able to convey what our plans are for the upcoming union of two families. And we plan to make a formal engagement party when both of us are together in Manila. Hopefully, the event will gather the whole families together and no more proxies.

The family introduction highlighted my first 2-week visit to manila since being away in November 2006. And now I’m a week here in Africa to continue my work.

Looking very much forward to December 18, 2010!

2008-12-28T14:19:00.000-08:00

PRC Licensure Renewal Corrupt Practice

The reason I’m writing this soliloquy is to primarily seek an audience and perhaps open a forum to all interested wisdoms that could provide me enlightenment as to how and why the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) became a “sub-agency” of our supposedly “National Organization”, Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers, and otherwise known as IIEE.

Why I branded the PRC as sub-agency of IIEE is because of the Board Resolution No. 36 Series of 2002, signed by its Chairman Rodolfo R. Penalosa, and members Antonio Coronel and Edward Mendoza, attested by Carlos Almelor and approved by Antonieta Fortuna-Ibe, Alfonso Abad and Avelina De la Rea Tan.

According to RA No. 7920, Section 25, Article III, it provides that all engineers and electricians registered with the Board as such, ipso facto, become a member of the integrated national organization.

However, the Board Resolution No. 36 instructs the PRC otherwise, very much contradictory to what the Act say. In the resolution, for the renewal of our licenses, we should present an official receipt of payment of membership to IIEE. This means that we can not renew our license until we pay the hefty membership fee of PHP1,500.00. I personally experienced to be told, “if you don’t like to be a member of IIEE, then do not renew your license” by the lady whom they called chief officer at window 18.

We are paying for PRC License Card renewal, what’s the purpose of IIEE membership fee of PHP1,500.00? Where will it go? I don’t like to think that this is going to the pockets of one of those scum bugs.

I am an overseas worker and i went home to Manila from November 27, 2008 to December 13, 2008. On December 8, i personally went to PRC to renew my license as REE only to be told that i can not renew it unless i become a member of the IIEE. My license card expired on April 26, 2008.

So i went to 3rd Floor and raised my case. Atty. Almelor was not around and so i went to the board of electrical engineers just next door. I met the secretary, certain Myrna Taruc. I explained my case but couldn’t give a logical reason why I am being prohibited from renewing my license on the basis that I refuse to be a member of an organization. My question was, since when did my rights to renew my license card became obliterated by the mere refusal to become a member of an organization? is it not an elective option to be a member of whatever organization you like to be a member of? So i was finally told to submit a letter addressed to the board so that they can answer my queries in writing. I did submitted the letter on the same day and was received in behalf of Myrna Taruc by the lady sitting on the left side when you first enter the door.

With all due respect to the officers of IIEE, to pay PHP1,500.00 without gaining anything is like giving money to a scum bug. To make it worst, the board of electrical made it a pre-requisite to renewal of our license cards. This makes it even worst, in my lay man’s understanding, and i would call this a usurpation of law and as such in my opinion, a corrupt practice to use the engineers as their milking cows. This is noted in the Supreme Court’s opinion signed by Raul Gonzales received by the PRC on August 7, 2008, paragraph 3 of page 1. To wit: “… the respective boards might have usurped the law making power of congress…” In my entire career as electrical engineer, i have never seen a single benefit of being a member of IIEE.

RA 7920 was very clear to my understanding. However the way the board of electrical engineers interpreted the law in their board resolution in effect “would modify or are inconsistent with the provision of the law they seek to enforce”.

I would take an example. Ms. Gloria Arroyo promised the retrenched OFW in Taiwan that they will be entitled to a loan. Before i left manila to go back to Botswana, the promised loan has never been released pending the procedure or mechanism as to how the loan release will be made. You see, it is very difficult to get money from the Government. But the Board resolution no. 36 series of 2002 depicted how easy it is to get money from an ordinary citizen by making it as pre-requisite to our license card.

Why would the board of electrical engineers force us to become of a member of an organization we don’t know if it’s beneficial to us? I believe it is our natural rights to choose whatever group we like to belong without putting prejudice to our legal right to have our license card renewed and practice our profession in the philippines without legal barrier.

We are not milking cows. Every penny that we earn is made out of our sweat and blood and with sole purpose of helping our families and the families back home for those working overseas.

The board resolution no. 36 should be scrapped and revisited to comply with the provision of the Act.

34-years…

2008-10-18T23:53:00.000-07:00

Just recently, I noticed gray hairs sprouting over my head like mushrooms out of nowhere. Not long enough I realized, gee, time has gone so quickly and I barely noticed it. And soon enough, I quickly ran down my calendar and lo, I’m turning 34 this 26th of April 2008. And I’m still single and bachelor, so to speak.

Looking back at my friends, there are barely few of us who have somehow in one way or the other managed to stay alive as single and bachelor for a long as we could. But not for long for me, before year-end of 2008, I hope to be tied down and get settled in, for good.

In my 34 years of existence, what have I accomplished so far? Hmm, that’s hard to list down but I managed to come down with a few whom I considered the best thing I’ve ever done.

First, in college, my objective was to graduate in 5years and at the same time obtain a licensed which I did. I finished my BS degree in Electrical Engineering with 2 citations. And then before 5th year ended, I got my REE license. When I did it, it was awesome feeling that my plan worked out the way I wanted it.

Then, while I was still in college, I had this great fascination of high-rise construction going on around the metropolis and then I dreamt of working in the construction industry of which I again did land a job as a project engineer for a 24storey condominium. That was in 1996, my first official professional stint as an engineer. Not much of a fancy job but I did learned a lot from it and did enjoy quite a bit. I was too young though at the time and somehow I envied my seniors because they seemed to have that special kind of groups and escapades that they call “for the boys”.

Then at one point of my career as a project engineer in my 1st high-rise building, I was on top of the roof looking up in the sky and I saw an airplane and said to myself, I would someday fly and work abroad.

In 1997, by mere curiosity, I made it to be hired as CAD engineer in KSA. I was so ecstatic because not only I absolutely had no experience with AutoCAD but also I cheated my trade test! They didn’t know. I guess I was just lucky that before I did my hands-on test, another guy was doing it and I saw how he did it particularly the printing side. I guess my little know-how of using Microsoft Windows helped me in a way. And then that’s when I learned the way around AutoCAD and somehow mastered a little of it. It may not the best thing for someone else’s but enjoyed it, especially the cheating part.

There’s one thing I did learned after my first few professional stints. This is the way of most wise and useful people do: they more they know, the more they long to know. One can never get to where he can be unless a man undertakes more than he possibly can do; he will never do all that he can.

My Arabian stint made me realized that it’s going to be a stagnant unless I do something else. Of course there were other things that contributed to my eventual decision to quit and do it back home in Manila.

And I resigned and went back home in 2000. It was a hard decision and I had to swallow the bitter part of it. I had to endure the big difference between my previous salary then and now.

My life’s ups and down provided me windows of opportunity that further enhanced my values and goals. And I used those obstacles to build the new life that I wanted. I used it as my stepping-stone to move closer to the life I desire. And it echoed to me, to be like you want to be, be like a bee. If the bee wasted its time comparing its big body with its small light wings, it would not be flying today.

I went back to my old company this time, as a better engineer. I became their senior engineer in another high-rise building. I stayed there for nearly 3years with a bitter meager salary until politics tore me down and had to quit. I was in a way a casualty of what I called dirty politics and professional alliance.
In 2003, I moved out of the company but with me great lessons and experienced that I eventually used to the next company where I moved in. Where soon I realized, I was up to more. And I can do more.

I soon eyed managerial positions. I first got the assistant position, and then I soon rose from the rank.

If there’d be any man that I would be ever be grateful, it would be my previous boss, JGR who gave me an all an out support and gave me a free hand to be who I am then and now. My dream of managing a plant soon came to a realization. It was short of real “plant” that I envisioned, but it was a “plant” nonetheless. I wanted to hold a power plant or something, but then I realized I’m still too young for that position. And so, I became a full pledged manager in 2004. It was a dream come true and many things happened and honed me for something better of me.

It was a happy life because towards the end of 2005, I found my soon to be greatest life manager in a whirlwind romance.

However, my plant managerial stint was short-lived yet meaningful and happy life that I have ever had. In 2006, the company folded and I was forced to move somewhere else and seek greener pasture.

That’s when I thought my life in the Philippines is over. The ten-year that I envisioned working abroad has to re-commence.

And so, by the last quarter of 2006, I found myself in Africa. As a Site Manager.

Now, I’m gearing towards a new kind of life when I drew my road to Canada in 2006 and looking forward to joining my life manager.

Gray hairs? I don’t mind having them now. I guess, I’ve had a great life in more than a decade of my years and I’m still looking forward for more and greater years and joyfully sharing it with my life manager.