Keep Calm and Embrace Grace

No matter how the raging tides envelop your corporate excursion, you will still need to…

Stress is not a problem. You are your own problem. Because you make you call the shots, after all.

Grace is constant. When you catch yourself in a tight spot or in a terribly hectic schedule, you must find that grace because it will steer the wheel of productivity under pressure. If you’ll be able to find it, embrace it while you can.

Find inspiration. It will keep you going.

Mulat Pinoy: Social NetWorth Regional Youth Forums

If there’s something wrong, we change it. If there’s nothing wrong with it, we change our attitude towards it. If there’s nothing wrong with both, we embrace it and move on. Apathy is not an option.

Mulat Pinoy is a social media initiative for the youth that focuses on population and development issues in the Philippines. Young Filipinos should be made aware that the choices they make now on marriage, births, use of resources, food, etc., have an impact on the development of society.

29 Aug 2012–As part of Mulat Pinoy’s thrive for youth empowerment, Davao City was chosen to be the catalyst of change in Mindanao with regards to the prevalent issues on population development (popdev), reproductive health, and social development. Hosted by University of Mindanao, various organizations flocked in to actively participate in an afternoon talk entitled, Mulat Pinoy: Social NetWorth Regional Youth Forums.

Among the key speakers who graced the event were James Lumanog (WWF-Philippines), Rolando G. Borja (Family Planning Organization of the Philippines or FPOP), Maduh Damsani (PopCom), Ana Santos (Sex and Sensibilities), and Stella Estremera (Sun.Star Davao). Topics ranged from population development, sexual and reproductive health and rights and social media responsibility.

Before the “talk” officially commenced, Mulat Pinoy presented a short video production by Kabataan News Network (KNN).

KNN was a project of the Probe Media Foundation, funded by UNICEF. Young journalists from all over the Philippines were trained to write, produce, direct and edit their own video reports, which were aired in a TV show called Kabataan X-Press. “PopDev for YOUth” is a documentary by KNN reporters, and it talks about different popdev issues that the youth are concerned about.

After which, the “Talk Show: The PopDev Scandal” began. This segment featured representatives from organizations and projects that deal with different popdev advocacies. In addition to talking about the causes they promote, the speakers talked about how they use social media to promote ideas and actions.

Kabataan tayo. Dapat tayo makialam sa mga nangyayari sa kumunidad. (We are the youth. We should participate on what’s happening in the community) Rolando G. Borja

“‘Puro na lang sex!’: Talking about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)” followed the talk show. Ana Santos, with much energy and excitement, engaged the audience about the SRHR. Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are about more than just condoms and teens pregnancy. SRHR also involves knowing how your body works and how to take care of it, as well as knowing your rights as a human being.

Sexuality is part of your self-identity, self-esteem, and dignity.
Having a dream is the best form of contraception. Ana Santos

Stella Estremera of Sun.Star Davao continued with the topic, “Social NetWorth: Responsibilities social media use”. One of PMFI’s prime objectives is promoting the use of media for positive social change. A major part of Mulat Pinoy’s activities has been promoting the use of social media for advocacy. This segment taught how to put their social networks for a good cause. This was a condensed version of the Social NetWorth workshop held in Metro Manila in February 2012.

Mulat Pinoy concluded the event with the challenge for the audience to take part and participate in the good cause to change mindsets and empower the young generation. Youth all over the Philippines are encouraged to be part of the Mulat Pinoy project through its contests, workshops, forums and other activities. Regina Layug Rosero, project coordinator, announced the current Mulat Pinoy activities that participants can join.

Press Release: Mulat Pinoy asks Davao youth: What is your social NetWorth?

Movie: Who will be The Flash?

I always wanted to become a superhero. I want to save the damsels in distress. I want to hide as a shadow of my own alter ego. I want to be the one who gets the girl (*smirk*). I want to bring justice to those who are in peril. I want to be the fastest man alive.

Growing up, I always thought that superheroes exist. I thought that when I reach a certain age point, I would grow adamantine claws or genetically mutate as an Iceman. Or if I got bitten by an eight-legged arachnid, internal bionic web will spring out from my system. Or when the lightning strikes while I’m in a lab, I’d become a crimson speedster.

Regardless of the fact that I soaked myself up with these iconic superheroes, growing up left me with no regrets. ‘Nuff said.

This is common denominator between the first two paragraphs stated above: (see poll below to vote for your Flash actor)

There has been a massive load of speculations on who might be portraying the protagonist of this upcoming film. It was slated to shake the big screens on 2013 or 2014.

Dan Mazeau, Wrath of the Titans screenwriter who also wrote the draft of The Flash, told blastr in an interview:

I think Warner Bros. is finalizing their strategy of how they want to roll out their DC superheroes and obviously they’ve got Batman in an incredibly great place and Green Lantern, I think, performed okay. I think they probably would have liked it to have done better, but yeah, there is still a whole lot of excitement for the DC universe and I know The Flash is very high on the list.

It’s like anything though. It has to come together with the right cast. It has to come together with the right director and sort of the right moment and so they’re trying to push the rock up the hill…hopefully there will be some news soon, but right now I can’t really say anything else.

I really hope that Geoff Johns would contribute to the film’s story progression. I wouldn’t want the Green Lantern fiasco to happen again with The Flash. No way.

Anyway, who do you think is the most suitable actor worthy for this character? Take note, the most suitable. And worthy.

Being Mature or Being Serious

Maturity is not defined by being serious. You may appear as the most serious person that the world could pinpoint at, but truth is, it is never the measure. It’s just so sad when people equate it as such. Just sad.

Well, it can be one factor but it is never the determining factor. Try to ask yourself this question.

Are you mature enough?

Being mature is being able to decide. Rightly, that is. Seasons mature you. If you weren’t able to move on from a season, it maybe because you weren’t able to decide. Or yes, you decided, yet the decision you made was plain foolish.

After all, it will always be about decision-making. Listening intently, analyzing deeply, then acting responsibly.

McDo. Not McDonalds.

It definitely lived by its social label.

Took this shot when I was with my friends in Ortigas, Manila. Amusing.

 

DQ: The Queen of Dairies

I got a considerable set of sweet teeth and inasmuch as I delight myself in glucose-based edibles, I don’t have diabetes or related disorders. Fortunately. Well, I often get tonsillitis but it never held back my appetite in gobbling down these scrumptious drops of goodness––all made from heaven.

One of the few things I never miss out to experience whenever I go to Manila is just to grab a lip-smacking 16oz cup of a DQ Blizzard.

A couple of weeks back, I was in Manila with my officemate for a publication and yearbook seminar for client in Antipolo, Rizal. After knocking ourselves out with our long day’s elbow grease, we had the opportunity to take a pitstop at SM Mall of Asia in the evening.

After dinner, we immediately headed our way to a DQ stall located at the ground floor right in the middle of a corner intersection. I ordered a Butterfinger blizzard and if I was timed as soon as I received the cup, it would be about five to eight minutes that I was able to munch it up into this..

We can never blame the queen of dairies.

Skechers: GoRun, Running Essentials

Walk. Stand. Run. We walk because we want to take it easy. We stand because we just need to focus on the matter on hand. We run because we want to pursue something. And when we pursue something, there’s no stopping us.

Running involves pure effort and muscular contraction. Running itself is strenuous. What more if you’re not running the right way?

24 August 2012––Skechers Manila organized the Running Essentials in Abreeza with Michelle Estuar to simply teach Davao City how to run the right way. They saw that the city has a strong running community; thus, grabbing the opportunity to extend their advocacy for fitness from Manila and Cebu to Davao. Few of the participating teams who kept the event going were the Team Davao Runners and Team Titans.

Michelle shared the secret to run. As a running coach and pundit, she imparted to the people her techniques on how to go faster, go stronger and go longer. Basically, the goal is to improve the basic foot technique and be safer. She also mentioned some common mistakes that runners make which eventually translate into injuries and inevitable muscular pains.

Michelle concluded that the best and proper way to run is with the mid-foot strike. The event, which ran from 6-8pm ended with practical drills to develop mid-foot strike and proper running technique: marching (with high knee), toe taps, hacky sack, feet clapping. Other drills were for the hips, calves, buttocks, and quads.

Skechers introduced their new line of product: the GO series. One of which is the GOrun running pair of shoes.

skechers GOrun is designed to give you a more natural running experience and to allow you to interact with and respond to practically any surface, while at the same time offering the additional benefit of Resalyte™ cushioning. skechers GOrun features M-Strike™ technology which fosters a
mid-foot strike and GOimpulse sensors for enhanced sensory feedback.

• Promotes a mid-foot strike.
• Impulse sensors isolate points of contact to deliver sensory feedback.
• Radically lightweight with just enough Resalyte™ cushioning to protect on practically any surface.
• Brings you closer to a barefoot experience AND provides impact protection.
• High-abrasion rubber at strike points for extra stability and traction control.

EMCOR and Samsung: 3rd Davao Pro-Am Golf Tournament

We all want to help the under-privileged. If we have more than sufficient resources on hand, it doesn’t pain to just extend a helping hand to the community.

If an average Joe calls it “help”, the business sector calls it “CSR” .

More than gaining brand awareness and promotional marketing, CSR is just one way for an enterprise to contribute to the society’s development––be it in the field of education, poverty, or the environment.

EMCOR, in partnership with Samsung, will be hosting the 3rd Davao Pro-Am Golf Tournament on 28-30 August 2012, at Apo Golf Club, Bago, Davao City. Over 90 teams (approximately, 99) will be participating the tourney, 18 of which are top professionals. Registration deadline is on Aug. 24. Fee is P6,000/team.The top prize will be P172,000 for the professionals and trophy with merchandise for the amateurs.

The benefactors will be coming from the Benedictine Sisters of Mati. The basic objective is to finance the under-privileged community especially in education.

24 August 2012––EMCOR and Samsung organized a press conference for the 3-day tourney at Pinnacle Hotel and Suites. Media representatives gathered to give ear to the tourney’s mechanics and purpose.

Among the panelists were Antonio Carlos Ocampo (Tournament Director), Boy Arriba (EMCOR VP-Marketing), Celso Villegas (EMCOR President), Odette Velarde (Samsung PR Manager), and Elmer Salvador (Pro Golfer).

Villegas said that the event coincides with their company anniversary (54 years now). Furthermore, it is guided with its philosophy of generosity. EMCOR started with JVR Foundation (principal owner). Few of their CSR cover school building construction, feeding programs and infrastructural development.

The goal is to go national. Celso Villegas

Having the only Pro-Am golf tournament in the country poses a significant challenge for sustainability. The reason why they labeled the tourney as “Davao” Pro-Am (and not “EMCOR” or “Samsung”) is simply because they want this to be a milestone that people will not just remember, but carry on.

JCI Manila: Sea of Life

Life has its own way of protecting itself. One of the most evident proofs of this hypothetical postulation is defense mechanism. If it cannot protect itself, others will.

Last week (20 August 2012), I had the opportunity to take part in a press conference spearheaded by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Manila together with JCI Davao, Davaoeña, Daba-daba Inc., and Igacos. These cluster of JCIs come together in their thrust for marine life equilibrium and sustainability.

The Sea of Life project is a concept advocated by Christopher Dearne. Its concept is to install artificial coral reefs in order to sustain the marine habitation and its ecosystem. More than its sustainability, it will also give assistance to the marine industry. Fishermen and small-scale fishing companies will be discouraged to pursue illegal practices on how they treat the seawater.

This pursuit is guided accordingly with the organization’s main focus: individual, community, business and international.

The local media, bloggers (Davao Bloggers), and respective delegates from various sectors of the community actively participated the said event.

Among the sponsors that made this press con possible are the following: Pilipinas Eco Warriors (partner, with Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri), Phoenix Petroleum, Megabuild 101, Zeetex Tires, St. Peter’s Chapels, AGP Trading Incorporated, Toby’s Sports, Honda, , Wrangler, Metrobank (Quirino-Leon Guinto), Go Boyz, Hotel Vicente (venue), JBLE Enterprises, Exclure, The Executive Facial Care, One Tagaytay, Rote’s Place, FFPC, and SUS.

——-

Junior Chamber International (JCI) is one of the biggest worldwide non-political and non-sectarian youth service organizations. It is an international community of citizens between the ages of 18 to 40[1]with the aim and purpose of creating positive changes in the world. The organization believes that these changes must result from one taking “collective action to improve themselves and the world around them.”

Work’s Productivity = Internet’s Connectivity

Living in the iY generation poses an interminable challenge to humanity’s sanity. Kids nowadays are seemingly prone to having no firm belief in themselves. Instead of sticking their nose on something from start to finish; when that something gets tough, opting to change the path is not as tough as it gets.

The internet is a key player in this era. It can be the yin-yang of the society. If a business is not affiliated with the social media, it might be tagged as laid-back or just archaic. We don’t want that to happen.

Fast internet connection determines work’s productivity, whether we like it or not. Imagine a workplace without the internet. I couldn’t even visualize a slight image to begin with.

What do you think?