Is your present job your vocation?

My life begins next month and leaving the world of 30s.  If I am to live my life what should I be doing?  I remember in one of my class during my elementary years when my teacher posted a question: “When you grow up, what vocation do you want to have?”  Being so young as I was, I thought of becoming famous someday and make a name for myself.  I dreamed of becoming a hero.  That was dumb…  I know majority of us said the same thing.  I may love that job but I don’t think it will put food on our table. 

There are people who consider their present job “just a job” and feel that staff meetings are waste of time, and it seems like it’s always all about the money.  Their employers have a “what have you done for me lately” attitude towards them and their work.  Agreeing with me?  Feeling the same way?  I can see your head nodding…  Does it seem like you don’t have control of your work, and what you do?  Don’t you feel trapped?  The only way out of job prison is to find the key yourself.

Every man’s dream is earning while doing what he loves to do.

It is important to choose a vocation and to choose wisely. The vocation we choose can affect our lives in many ways. It may determine where we live, who our friends are, how long we are in school, how much money we will spend on training, how much we will earn, and how much we are able to help our family members. Whatever vocation we choose, we should be prepared to give quality service.

Many times, your mind can’t tell the difference between what you imagine and what is real, when thinking about the future.  This is good news when you start to envision your perfect vocational day.

Feed your mind with new and more fulfilling ideas.

Here are a few tips in choosing a vocation:

First: Learn about yourself.

In choosing a vocation, it is helpful to learn as much as possible about your values, goals, interests, and talents.  Figure out what you are passionate about.  What activities get you most excited about life?  This is a great place to start.

You need to make sure that any vocation you choose will allow you to maintain your values and reach your goals. Job requirements should not cause you to violate God’s and government laws or your personal values. It is also important to consider the environment of the vocation and the influence it could have on your goals in life. You should avoid vocations that would require you to compromise your values or turn you from being happy for the rest of your life.

Second: Check your resources.

You need to know your abilities.  Determine which trainings you had.  If you think you need additional training, determine the costs time wise and financial wise.  I know a lot of you who currently have jobs will need careful study.  The trainings you should take should coincide with your abilities, spending capability and availability.  There are trainings sponsored by governments that are free or would require you to pay a small amount from your pocket.  Whatever training you choose just remember that you should be enjoying it and having fun.

I remember a young woman who enjoyed being around animals. She offered to work without pay at a veterinarian’s office near her home. Later she was offered a paying job there and chose veterinary work as her vocation.  Cool huh?

Some people have natural talents in various areas. Others acquire talents by study and practice. A person’s abilities can influence whether or not he/she is successful in his/her vocation.

Third: Learn about vocations.

In addition to learning about yourself, you need to learn about various job possibilities.  If you are still attending school you can ask school counselors and teachers, local business organizations, trade or technical schools, and local community members who have experience in vocations.  Talk to successful people who followed their dream job.  I know a lot of them would not mind being asked with questions.

Fourth: Decide.

Don’t wait for your spouse or your boss or your kids or society to give you approval. The permission to start to create and live your perfect vocational day must come from within yourself.

Your approval muscle just takes use and practice.

The employment you choose should be honorable and challenging.  Ideally, you need to seek that work to which you are suited by interest, by aptitude, and by training. Your work should do more than provide adequate income; it should provide you with a sense of self-worth and be a pleasure—something you look forward to each day.

May I suggest a definition of ‘honorable employment.’ Honorable employment is honest employment. Fair value is given and there is no defrauding, cheating, or deceit. Its product or service is of high quality, and the employer, customer, client, or patient receives more than he or she expected. Honorable employment is moral. It involves nothing that would undermine public good or morality. For example, it does not involve traffic in liquor, illicit narcotics, or gambling. Honorable employment is useful. It provides goods or services which make the world a better place in which to live.

Lastly, never forget to pray before making the decision.  Ask God if the vocation you chose is the right one for you.  After all the word “vocation” came from the Latin vocare (verb to call) a word used by early Christians when calling someone in serving God or a position in a church.

Making your job your vocation is somehow being a hero and at the same time earning.  Being a hero is not so dumb after all…. Have fun recreating your life.

How To Give Positive Feedback

Working for 10 years with different companies in a corporate setup gave me enough experience good and bad talking with different bosses.  I had bosses that inspires me and bosses that discourages me.  (good thing I don't bring my light saber at work) Being a supervisor in a company was a good learning experience for me.  I took notes of all the things that I have observed good and bad.  This time I will be sharing some points that I have learned from work and church on how to give feedback.

Giving feedback to your colleagues and employees provides them with an observer's insight into how their performance is progressing, as well as advice to solve any problems. But, for a number of people, hearing the six words,"Can I give you some feedback?" generates fear and anxiety. The words go through a translator in our brain and are heard as, "Can I completely tear you down?" It can be perceived that the person giving the feedback is somehow superior to the person receiving it, putting the receiver on the defense.

While giving and receiving feedback can be a delicate process, (make sure that they don't have knives and guns in the room, lol) there's no doubting its value in helping to identify issues and solve them. Business owners should manage feedback in a positive way so that it can do what it's intended to do: Help improve and grow your business.

Here are five tips that can get you on track to giving productive feedback:

1. Create safety. Believe it or not, people who receive feedback apply it only about 30% of the time, according to Columbia University neuroscientist Kevin Ochsner, who cited that research at the NeuroLeadership Summit in Boston. If the person receiving the feedback doesn't feel comfortable, this can cause the feedback to ultimately be unproductive.

If you don't have the kind of buddy relationship with a colleague or employee that allows you to say virtually anything to each other, then I suggest you add civility and safety into your feedback approach. Don't be mean-spirited. Your feedback usually won't be productive if it's focused on making the other person feel bad or make them look foolish in front of peers.

Instead, create opportunities to build confidence and skills. This is especially effective when people are expecting to be graded. Confined situations in which people know they are being evaluated are good for giving feedback while learning skills.

2. Be positive. Give at least as much positive feedback as you do negative. Positive feedback stimulates the reward centers in the brain, leaving the recipient open to taking new direction. Meanwhile, negative feedback indicates that an adjustment needs to be made and the threat response turns on and defensiveness sets in. You don't need to avoid negative, or corrective, feedback altogether. Just make sure you follow it up with a suggested solution or outcome.

3. Be specific. People generally respond better to specific, positive direction. Avoid saying things like, "You need to be more talkative in meetings." It's too ambiguous and can be interpreted in a lot of personal ways. Say something specific and positive pointed at the task you want accomplished, such as, "You're smart. I want to hear at least one opinion from you in every meeting we're in together going forward."

4. Be immediate. The adult brain learns best by being caught in action. If you wait three months to tell someone that his or her performance is average, he or she usually can't grasp the changes needed in order to change direction. It's far too ambiguous and relies on memory, which can be faulty. Productive feedback requires giving it frequently. That way, performance reviews are just another collegial discussion.

5. Be tough, not mean. When someone drops the ball at work and you have to give him or her feedback, start by asking his or her perspective on the situation. Resist saying how stupid his or her actions were, even if they were.

Next, give the objective, specific, forward-moving type of feedback I outlined earlier. Ask if he or she understands everything you expect. Inform the person that he or she is being graded and that you're there to help him or her succeed. As the saying goes: "People have a habit of becoming what you encourage them to be, not what you nag them to be."

It takes practice and you will fall in some pits of mistake by being cynical at times but that's ok.  It takes time as long as you are improving then you are doing fine. Evaluate what you did to identify your mistakes after.

Have fun my Jedi friends.  Till then...

"Panahon pa ni Mahoma". "Panahon pa ng kopong-kopong"

Ever heard the saying: "Panahon pa ni Mahoma"?  This sentence is used when comparing how old the issue or a thing is.

Mahoma pertains to a person.  Who is Mahoma?  Searching for the answer I asked my old pal C3PO and surprisingly knows the answer. (droids are very handy for a Jedi like me who don't know everything)

Mahoma is actually Masaharu Homma.  A Japanese Imperial Army general.  He was well remembered for his role in the invasion and occupation of the Philippines during World War II.

With the start of the Pacific War, Homma was named commander of the 43,110-man IJA 14th Army and tasked with the invasion of the Philippines. He ordered his troops to treat the Filipinos not as enemies but as friends, and respect their customs and religion. In one instance, on his approach to Manila, Homma stopped his columns and ordered the men to clean up and tighten formations, knowing that unkempt soldiers are more likely to loot and rape.

This liberal approach towards Filipino civilians earned him the enmity of his superior, General Count Hisaichi Terauchi, commander of the Southern Army, who sent adverse reports about Homma to Tokyo from his headquarters in Saigon. There was also a growing subversion within Homma's command by a small group of insubordinates, under the influence of Colonel Tsuji Masanobo. In Homma's name, they sent out secret orders against his policies, including ordering the execution of Filipino Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos and attempted execution of former Speaker of the House of Representatives Manuel Roxas, which Homma found out about in time to stop.

Homma failed to give credence to the possibility that a retreat into Bataan Peninsula by Filipino-American forces might succeed in upsetting the Japanese timetable. By the time he recognized his mistake, his best infantry division had been replaced by a poorly trained reserve brigade, greatly weakening his assault force. Rather than waste his men in furious frontal assaults, he tried to outmaneuver the American forces. This brought criticism from superiors who believed he had been “contaminated” by Western ideas about conserving the lives of his men.

Worried about the stalled offensive in Luzon, Emperor Showa pressed Army Chief of Staff Hajime Sugiyama twice on January 1942 to increase troop strength and launch a quick knockout on Bataan.  Following these orders, Sugiyama put pressure on Homma to renew his attacks. The resulting Battle of Bataan commencing in January 1942 was one of the most intense in the campaign. However, the deteriorating relationship between Homma and Sugiyama led to the removal of Homma from command shortly after the fall of Corregidor, and he was thereafter commander of the 14th Army in name only.

The Imperial General Headquarters regarded Homma as not aggressive enough in war (resulting in the high cost and long delay in securing the American and Filipino forces' surrender), and too lenient with the Filipino people in peace, and he was subsequently forced into retirement, in August 1943. Homma retired from the military and lived in semi-seclusion in Japan until the end of the war.

Later after the war, Homma was extradited to face trial.  The rest is history folks.

What about the saying: "Panahon pa ng kopong-kopong" which also is used when comparing to old age and time.
"kopong-kopong" is coined from the year 1900 which has two "00" for old tagalog word "kopong" or double.

Now that we know who Mahoma is and what is kopong-kopong we will not be as dumb when we hear those sentences from someone.

Till then my Jedi friend.... I will talk about Limahong and Kulafu next time. May the force be with you....

The Truth: Moses Parting The Red Sea

I was reviewing my back up files after restoring my laptop's operating system to check if I lost some files that I have been keeping for years.  I came across on this particular article that I wrote a few years back about the "Parting of the Red Sea".  I will share now so brace your selves with this mind blowing information (time warp time).....



Here is a demonstration of how a very strong wind can clear water just like what may have happened during the great crossing in the Red Sea.  Let us keep in mind that God do miracle without contradicting the law of nature.

Very interesting isn't it?

Here is another video clip of Ron Wyatt's search for the possible place where the actual crossing of the Israelites took place.

This next video is the possible Mt. Sinai mentioned in the Bible.  It also shows where Aaron possibly created the golden calf

In this next video shows the possible location of the tabernacle Moses built after the golden calf incident.  Also in this video is the possible rock which Moses struck with his rod to get water. (jaw dropping info)

The last video shows the conclusion of this 4 part video about Ron Wyatt's archeological findings.

Thus we see that Moses and the Israelites truly did cross the Red Sea..... There really is a God that watches over us, helps us and provides miracle when we need it.

Wow! Another information overload here.  I better get some rest before by brain starts to melt due to overheat. (need R2D2 here for assistance)  Till then folks!......

Save Money for Investments

Many people don’t save or invest because of lack: lack of discipline, lack of know-how, and lack of resources.
I was climbing up the stairs of my house when accidentally my head bumped the lower part of a beam supporting the 2nd floor.  My head hurt so much that I almost cursed.  The good part, some parts of my brain started running and here it is.  Now that I'm back on my laptop here are a few things I want to share about money matters....

Lack of Discipline
Discipline is never easy. Changing long-held spending habits takes willpower and time. But habits – bad or good – can be acquired. I know someone over 50 who still studied Computer Technician course.  Now, who says you can't teach old dog new tricks? (even Master Yoda still learn new things)

Similarly, the savings habit doesn’t happen overnight. But putting away a small sum of your income every time you receive pay will soon make saving second nature for you. It’s a simple change of mindset. There is an old notion that INCOME minus EXPENSES equals SAVINGS. This is not exactly gospel truth.

Many find that as their income increases, so do their lifestyle and spending habits, (many fall in this pit of no return) thus depleting the extra income. To accumulate savings, you must compensate yourself first. The formula for doing that is INCOME minus SAVINGS equals EXPENSES. This implies that you must first put away savings for yourself. This becomes what finance people call “personal equity.” You should then live within what remains after savings have been put away.

Some companies promote personal investing by providing employees with a savings program by way of salary deduction.  By authorizing your employer to put part of your salary in a savings fund, you discipline yourself to make do with what remains.


Lack of Know-How
Reading articles on the internet about savings and investments can help increase knowhow.  Remember that there are no free lunches. Have the diligence to research on savings and investments. Ascertain the reliability of the info sources and savings vehicles you consider. Reading this article is a good start.  (way to go! keep on going!)

Lack of Resources
Following the formula shown earlier, you should be able to set aside at least a bit of savings regularly. Now to find investment possibilities for your small savings. Most investment instruments require a minimum amount that might be out of your reach. This is where mutual funds can help.

Mutual funds probably have the lowest minimum requirements among investment opportunities.  It takes only P5,000 to start an account in the Philippines and P1,000 for additional investments to the same fund.

If P5,000 is too high for you, you can still surmount that problem. Some company-sponsored savings programs pool resources of employees in a mother account under the company’s name, eliminating the initial investment requirement. Or open a joint account with close relatives or people you trust explicitly. Find four other people who want to save, and put up P1,000 each to meet the minimum requirement. Do this every month until each individual has enough for the minimum investment.  You can then break it up into individual accounts.

There is no substitute for starting early. Mutual funds are great for students who already want to start saving. Parents who encourage the discipline of saving do their children a great service. Once young people get into the habit of saving, they learn the discipline of living within their means for life. This brings fulfillment because they don’t desire material things beyond their means. (no unnecessary expensive gadgets buying) Furthermore, they’re able to identify financial goals and plan for them.

People easily find excuses not to save (remember "Maniana habit"?). Certainly, spending on whims provides short-term satisfaction but long-term frustration.  But if you set your mind to it and slowly develop the savings habit, there is no reason why you cannot secure your financial future today – even if you think you have nothing to save.

Remember, INCOME then SAVINGS then EXPENSES. Follow that priority and enjoy a better life. You will soon develop investing skills, the ability to put your savings to work. (might even develop a skill to do a back flip)

Keep track of this site because I might give another tip.  You'll never know when I will bump my head again.

Solar Storms To Hit The Earth

It certainly seems like the world has been under attack lately. Now that "Debtaggedon" is over, Reuters is reporting that there have been three large explosions from the Sun over the past few days, and that "sun storms" are set to hit the Earth. The U.S. government, which is pretty pressed for time as it is right now, is warning "users of satellite, telecommunications and electric equipment to prepare for possible disruptions over the next few days." Or, as National Geographic informs us: "Storms are brewing about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) away, and if one of them reaches Earth, it could knock out communications, scramble GPS, and leave thousands without power for weeks to months."

Joseph Kunches, a space weather scientist from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said that the magnetic storm that is soon to develop probably will be in the "moderate to strong level." So how afraid should we be? According to Reuters, major disruptions from solar activity, rare though they may be, have had serious impacts in the past.

In 1989, a solar storm took down the power grid in Quebec, Canada, leaving about six million people without power for several hours...

The 1859 solar storm hit telegraph offices around the world and caused a giant aurora visible as far south as the Caribbean Islands. Some telegraph operators reported electric shocks. Papers caught fire. And many telegraph systems continued to send and receive signals even after operators disconnected batteries, NOAA said on its website.

Reuters adds that according to a 2008 report by the National Research Council, a similar storm could cause up to $2 trillion in damage, globally. But before hysteria sets in, Kunches said that, "I don't think this week's solar storms will be anywhere near that." However, lest we relax too much, the International Business Times reports that solar activity is increasingly becoming a source of concern:

The NOAA predicted four extreme solar emissions which could threaten the planet this decade. Similarly, Nasa warned that a peak in the sun's magnetic energy cycle and the number of sun spots or flares around 2013 could enable extremely high radiation levels.

Apparently, the sun is approaching what's known as solar maximum—the high point in its roughly 11-year cycle of activity, according to National Geographic. Scientists anticipate stronger storms around solar max, in 2013. So while Rich Lordan from the Electric Power Research Institute said that "based on the data and the scenarios we can reasonably expect, I believe the power-delivery system can operate through a solar storm," overall the danger is becoming more critical.

Bagac Bataan adventure

It is raining outside again and only enjoyed the sun rays yesterday. After a good exercise to keep my Jedi Knight like figure I am on my computer again and will tell you another adventure I had before.
Have you ever been to Bagac (pronounced as - bug-ak) Bataan?  Those who have been will be able to relate to what I'm talking about.  For those who haven't been there yet, well read on...

First off... Bagac is located on the western side of Bataan which is 151 kms. from Manila and 27.82 kms. away from Balanga, the provincial capital.The town has a land area of 23,120 hectares representing 16.84% of the total Bataan area and covers 14 barangays. Bagac is accessible through both land and water transportation. Ferry boats going to and from Manila are available at the Orion Port. The town has a population of 24,202 people in 4,553 households.
How I got there? I rode the ever dependable bus from Manila to Balanga, Bataan. The travel was about 3 hours (wished I rode my hover craft. must have been faster) to Balanga.  You can buy food from the market or eat at a restaurant or the ever loved famous fast food chains you can think of.  After about a 20 minutes rest in Balanga I rode a mini bus to Bagac.  I had wished the mini bus was full when I had gotten to the station because they will let me ride on the roof which is more fun ( not to mention that i will be alone there to practice my control of "The Force" in me).  I saw a huge cross on top of a hill called Mt. Samat.  From what I heard is that it was constructed in memory of all the heroes that died during war times from the famous history called "The Fall of Bataan".  The ride to Bagac is zig-zaging and any radical drivers would love that road where they won't have to step on their brakes to slow down.  You will hear screeching sounds seriously and will smell rubber.  You will see along the way lots of plants, trees and a few houses.  If you love nature then you will enjoy the way to Bagac.  After about an hour of avoiding head butts from my sleeping seat mate whose head was wildly bobbing along the way ( good thing Jedis are trained in avoiding head butts) I finally got off the mini bus and had a good Jedi stretch with my back pack on.  Trudging my way to one of my friends house the Noriegas ( don't know if they are related with Noriega of Cuba but what I know is they're not Cuban).  Left my back pack there and went straight to the sea side.  By the way, on my way to my friends house I saw the 0 ("zero") marker of the historical march of Filipinos and Americans during WWII called "Death March".  That was the starting point of the march going to Tarlac.  Walking towards the beach....  Nice looking resorts unfolded to my view.  The view is awesome!  Ocean view, mountain view and nice looking beach.

Legend says...
Upon the arrival of the Spaniards in the Philippines some of them travelled along the seacoasts looking for a better place to live in. Travelling without any fixed direction, they happen to pass by this place that is partly hidden between two sharp points extending to the sea. The Spaniards asked the Aeta, who was travelling with them as their guide, for the name of that place. The Aeta answered that that is called "lumbak" meaning lying between two hills. As their ship was crossing this place they sighted a flock of herons flying above them. When the Spaniards inquired about them to their guide, the Aeta replied, "Iyon po ay mga ibong tagak." And so from "lumbak" and "tagak" came "bak" and "gak", and soon it became Bagac.

Got a bit side tracked there... (lol).  The resorts that I saw there are:  Montemar, Morning Breeze, Fajardo's, Sun Moon, and Bagac beach resorts.  I also saw a very nice place there called Las Casa de Acuzar.  You will go back in time of the Spaniards colonization if you will see that place.  Never went in the water, just enjoyed the view and the fresh ocean breeze till sunset and headed back to the Noriegas home to get some Jedi shuteye.

I guess you ever wondered why I never did went in the water.  Well, the water is very enticing but wearing a beach short or Speedo trunks won't help with my Jedi looks (lol).  Went home the next day and rode the mini bus back to Balanga ( good thing my seat mate is not sleeping this time or I will have to use my light saber to cut his head off).  In Balanga rode a bus going to Manila to face again the reality of city life.  Another adventure by the Jedi....