1st Future Leaders of Asia Forum on Social Entrepreneurship om January 17-20, 2008

The Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government in cooperation with the Development Studies Program will be holding the 1st Future Leaders of Asia Forum with the theme, "Social Entrepreneurship: Developing a New Generation of Asian Leaders".

This forum aims to gather promising college/university- based student leaders from January 17-20,2008 at the Ateneo de Manila University and introduce them to the concept of Social Entrepreneurship as a means of helping solve the most pressing social problems in their communities.

Our country faces several problems in education, health and the environment but these problems cannot be solved anymore through the usual means. Through Social Entrepreneurship, these student leaders will be asked to develop innovative and responsive solutions to these most pressing social problems.

Moreover, the forum aims to help prepare a new generation of Filipino and Asian leaders that will become effective and ethical catalysts of change in our society.

For more information you can contact Angeli Silang at angelisilang@ yahoo.com or if you would like to know more about our other programs on Social Entrepreneurship, you can contact Reese Fernandez at reesefernandez@ yahoo.com.

Take NOT The Road Less Travelled

This piece is a sure salt to take.

Written and delivered by a 16-year old MIKAELA IRENE FUDOLIG who graduated BS Physics Summa Cum Laude from the University of the Philippines last April 22, 2007, this valedictory speech is now circulating the world wide web. Ms. Fudolig's GPA is 1.099.

One of the things that strike me as being very “UP Diliman” is the way UPD students can’t seem to stay on the pavement. From every street corner that bounds an unpaved piece of land, one will espy a narrow trail that cuts the corner, or leads from it. Every lawn around the buildings sports at least one of these paths, starting from a point nearest to the IKOT stop and ending at the nearest entry to the building. The trails are beaten on the grass by many pairs of feet wanting to save a fraction of a meter of traveling, no matter that doing so will exact some cost to the shoes, or, to the ubiquitous slippers, especially when the trails are new.What do these paths say about us, UP students?
One could say that the UP student is enamored with Mathematics and Pythagoras, hence these triangles formed by the pavement and the path. Many among you would disagree.

Others could say that the UP student is naturally countercultural. And the refusal to use the pavement is just one of the myriads of ways to show his defiance of the order of things. This time, many would agree.

Still, others will say that the UP student is the model of today’s youth: they want everything easier, faster, now. The walkable paths appeal to them because they get to their destination faster, and presumably, with less effort. Now that is only partly true, and totally unfair.

These trails weren’t always walkable. No doubt they started as patches of grass, perhaps overgrown. Those who first walked them must have soiled their shoes, stubbed their toes, or had insects biting their legs, all in the immovable belief that the nearest distance between two points is a straight line. They might even have seen snakes cross their paths. But the soiled footwear, sore toes, and itchy legs started to conquer the grass. Other people, seeing the yet faint trail, followed. And as more and more walked the path,
the grass gave in and stopped growing altogether, making the path more and more visible, more and more walkable.

The persistence of the paths pays tribute to those UP students who walked them first - the pioneers of the unbeaten tracks: the defiant and curious few who refuse the familiar and comfortable; the out-of-the-box thinkers who solve problems instead of fretting about them; the brave who dare do things differently, and open new opportunities to those who follow.

They say how one behaved in the past would determine how he behaves in the future. And as we leave the University, temporarily or for good, let us call on the pioneering, defiant, and brave spirit that built the paths to guide us in this next phase of our life.

We have been warned time and again. Our new world that they call “adulthood” is one that’s full of compromises, where success is determined more by the ability to belong than by the ability to think, where it is much easier to do as everyone else does.
Daily we are bombarded with so much news of despair about the state of our nation, and the apparent, perverse sense of satisfaction our politicians get from vilifying our state of affairs. It is fashionable to migrate to other countries to work in deceptively high-paying jobs like nursing and teaching, forgetting that even at their favored work destinations, nurses and teachers are some of the lowest paid professionals. The lure of high and immediate monetary benefits in some low-end outsourcing jobs has drawn even some of the brightest UP students away from both industry and university teaching to which they
would have been better suited.Like the sidewalks and pavement, these paths are the easiest to take. But, like the sidewalks and pavement, these paths take longer to traverse, just as individual successes do not always make for national progress. The unceasing critic could get elected, but not get the job done. The immigrant could get his visa, but disappear from our brainpower pool. The highly paid employee would be underutilized for his skills, and pine to get the job he truly wants, but is now out of his reach. And the country, and we, are poorer because of these.Today, the nation needs brave, defiant pioneers to reverse our nation’s slide to despair. Today, we must call upon the spirit that beat the tracks. Today, we must present an alternative way of doing things.Do NOT just take courage, for courage is not enough. Instead, be BRAVE! It will take bravery to go against popular wisdom, against the clichéd expectations of family and friends. It will take bravery to gamble your future by staying in the country and try to make a prosperous life here. It might help if for a start, we try to see why our Korean friends are flocking to our country. Why, as many of us line up for immigrant visas in various embassies, they get themselves naturalized and settle here. Do they know something we don’t?Do NOT just be strong in your convictions, for strength is not enough. Instead, DEFY the pressure to lead a comfortable, but middling life. Let us lead this country from the despair of mediocrity. Let us not seek to do well, but strive to EXCEL in everything that we do. This, so others will see us as a nation of brains of the highest quality, not just of brawn that could be had for cheap.Take NOT the road less traveled. Rather, MAKE new roads, BLAZE new trails, FIND new routes to your dreams. Unlike the track-beaters in campus who see where they’re going, we may not know how far we can go. But if we are brave, defiant searchers of excellence, we will go far. Explore possibilities, that others may get a similar chance. I have tried it myself. And I’m speaking to you now.

But talk is cheap, they say. And so I put my money where my mouth is. Today, I place myself in the service of the University, if it will have me. I would like to teach, to share knowledge, and perhaps to be an example to new UP students in thinking and striving beyond the limits of the possible. This may only be a small disturbance in the grass. But I hope you’ll come with me, and trample a new path.

Good evening, everyone.

For more information about Mikaela, you can check this article: www.upd.edu. ph/.../ articles/Mikaela. htm

Care to Procastinate?

Here are thoughts you ought to know before venturing again to procastination:

"You may delay, but time will not." -- Benjamin Franklin

"Most people spend their entire lives on a fantasy island called 'Someday I'll.'" -- Denis Waitley

"Some people procrastinate so much that all they can do is run around like firefighters all day -- putting out fires that should not have gotten started in the first place." -- Nido Qubein

"It seems to me that it's actually harder to invent excuses than it is to get the sale." -- Jeffrey Gitomer

"Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday." -- Don Marquis

"Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can." -- Mary Frances Berry

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." -- Anne Frank

"Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment." -- Robert Benchley

"Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task." -- William James

"Who dares nothing, need hope for nothing." -- Friedrich von Schiller

"A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault." -- Cardinal Newman

"The greatest thief this world ever produced is procrastination, and he is still at large." -- Henry Wheeler Shaw

What did Chief Justice Reynato Puno said at the Andres Bonifacio National Monument on 12th of June to commemorate the Independence of the country? I did not get the full speech of what may have been the best speech given that day but here are some snippets:


"As long as the Filipino suffers from the lack of proper education, we are not free. Those who cannot understand their rights and responsibilities to society can never be free.

"As long as there are those who seek for new lives abroad because they find disillusionment and lack of hope in the future of this country, we are not truly free. Where there remains a hand outstretched and begging for food in the streets, and there are those who are forced to commit a crime only to survive, we are not truly free.

"As long as there is disrespect to even just a single vote of a citizen, we are not free."

"Liberty goes hand in hand with dignity. A person that is truly free is possessed of dignity–he is full and complete. He is nobody's slave and is dictated upon only by his own conscience.

"It is true that we have achieved one form of liberty–that which is called `political independence' or the right to self-governance. We are no longer under the control of a foreign people.

"But let us ask ourselves, how is the Filipino today? Does he enjoy the benefits of dignity? Can we truly say that he can hold his head high before everyone? Because what our heroes fought for is not an abstract idea, but that we should concretize dignity in our lives.

"To have a sufficient means of livelihood, to have a source of food for the table, to have education for the youth, and a safety net for the elderly in the society.

"It is our duty to repay, in honor of those who worked hard for us in the past, that we also work hard not only for the present, but most importantly for the future of our country."

THE TALE OF THE KING WHO HAD FOUR WIVES

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidante and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult
times.

The King's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her!

One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, "I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone."

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me a nd keep me company?"


"No way!" replied the 4th wife, and she walked away without another word.

Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to remarry!"

His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me.

When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave."

Her answer struck him like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go."


The King looked up, and there was his first wife.

She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"

In truth, we all have the 4 wives in our lives: Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die. Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our 1st wife is our Soul: Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.

However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout Eternity.

Peacetech Embassy :"Bridging Youth. Building Peace" CALL FOR APPLICATION

We are looking for 45 of the Philippines most dynamic youth advocates in the fields of peace; human rights; multiculturalism; and sustainable development. The gathering offers you an opportunity to work alongside young people who are committed to change and who are dedicated to being that change!


THE COURSE
As a PeaceTech Ambassador, you will undergo a course in peace and conflict studies including trainings and interactive workshops on the following subjects:

1. Peace Education - Peace and Conflict Perspectives, Transformation Skills and Analysis Tools

2. Embracing Diversity : Islam and Christianity as Religions of Peace

Understanding Islam and Christianity in relation to conflict transformation.
Understanding Islamic and non-Islamic cultures and ways of life.
Understanding the conflict in Mindanao (history of Muslims in Mindanao)

3. Practical Skills - The course does not only provide theoretical knowledge but also gives you skills to improve your work for sustaining peace in your own communities. Workshops focus on: Leadership and Youth Empowerment Skills
Facilitating Skills
Organizational Development
Community Empowerment
Youth Mobilization
How to give Workshops
How to facilitate Dialogues

Our trainers have hands-on experience from different fields. Their personal experience and knowledge creates a captivating, atmosphere.

4. Alternative Activities/Immersion - An aspect of the course focuses on sharing – celebrating similarities and appreciating differences. This includes activities such as immersion to Christian and Muslim communities, visits to Mosques, Churches and religious schools.


NOTE FOR APPLICANTS:
PeaceTech aims to provide our Ambassadors with a well-rounded experience. The course is not a "12-day walk in the park". While it is an amazing experience, we expect you to commit to giving back to your communities with the knowledge you have acquired during the course

Anyone who is interested should apply! We will consider your application as long as you can convince us that the course will add something to your life and help you make a difference.

We will screen applicants through interviews in your community. The 40-hour course is subsidized.

Successful applicants will pay a Php 100.00 registration fee (your contribution for the course, kits and materials). Certificates of completion will be given to those who successfully complete the course.

Final schedules and classes will be announced soon.

If you are 16 to 30 years old, fill-up the Application form and send it back to us via email at peacetech.net@gmail.com. For inquiries, contact 02-636-6562 , or email at peacetech.net@gmail.com or visit www.peacetech.net.

The Cracked Pot

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the House, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of it's own imperfection. And miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw. So I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house?

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life.

This inspirational story was all over the net. I was fortunate to have a copy of this through one of Christian Brotherhood International's (CBI's) Academic Adviser Arlene Sotelo (arsotelo@yahoo.com).

10 Killer Ways To Defeat Your Competition

If you have are maintaining a website now, Online Marketing Professional Tim McLendon (timmclendon@yahoo.com) advises you to take the following steps to grab a larger chunk of the viewership against your competition's website.

1. Offer free original content. It's important to give your visitors information they can't find anywhere else. If you're the only source, they'll visit your site.

2. Give people free software. Most people like to find good deals on software for their computers. If the software is free, that is even better.

3. Hold free contests or sweepstakes. Most people like to win things. If you can fulfill that need, people will stop by to visit.

4. Provide a free web directory. Create a directory of web sites on a popular topic that will attract your target audience.

5. Offer a free e-zine. Most people love to get free information that's e-mailed to them regularly. This saves them time and money.

6. Make your web site look professional. You want to have your own domain name, easy navigation,attractive graphics, etc.

7. Let people read your ad before they get to your freebie. When you use free stuff to lure people to your web site list it below your ad copy.

8. Attract the target audience that would buy your product or service. A simple way to do this is to survey your existing customers.

9. Test and improve your ad copy. There are many people who write an ad and never change it. Make sure you get the highest possible response rate.

10. Give people an urgency so they buy now. Many people are interested in your product but they put off buying it until later and eventually forget about it.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Never let formal education get in the way of your learning." -- Mark Twain

Give Thanks Every Day

How often do we thank people? Can you recall the last person you have shown gratitude?

One of America's successful motivational authors Napoleon Hill share his insights on a simple act often neglected by most men and women -- saying "Thank You!" .Read and be inspired with the words that moved many individuals to become great men.

Many successful men and women claim they are “self-made.” But the fact is that no one reaches the pinnacle without help. Once you have set your definite major goal for success—and taken your first steps to achieve it—you find yourself receiving help from many unexpected quarters. You must be prepared to give thanks for both the human and Divine help you receive.

Gratitude is a beautiful word. It is beautiful because it describes a state of mind that is deeply spiritual in nature. It enhances one’s personality with magnetic charm, and it is the master key that opens the door to the magic powers and the beauty of Infinite Intelligence. Gratitude, like other traits of the pleasing personality, is simply a matter of habit. But it’s also a state of mind. Unless you sincerely feel the gratitude you express, your words will be hollow and empty—and sound as phony as the sentiment you offer.

Gratitude and graciousness are closely akin. By consciously developing a sense of gratitude, your personality will become more courtly, dignified and gracious. Never let a day pass without a few minutes spent in giving thanks for your blessings. Remember that gratitude is a matter of comparison. Compare circumstances and events against what they might have been. You’ll become aware that no matter how bad things are, they could be much worse—and you’ll be grateful they aren’t.

Three phrases should be among the most common in your daily usage. They are “Thank you.” “I’m grateful . . .,” and “I appreciate . . . .”

Be thoughtful. Try to find new and unique ways to express your gratitude. Not necessarily in material gifts, however. Time and effort are more precious, and the amount of these you dispense in showing gratefulness will be well worthwhile.

And don’t forget to be thankful to those who are closest to you—your wife or husband, other relatives, and those you associate with daily, whom you might tend to neglect. You are probably more indebted to them than you realize.

Gratitude takes on new meaning—new life and power—when spoken aloud. Your family probably knows you are grateful for their faith and hope in you. But tell them so! Frequently! You’ll find a new spirit pervading the household.

Make your gratitude creative. Make it work for you. For example, have you ever thought of writing the boss a simple note telling him how much you like your job and how grateful you are for the opportunities it offers? The shock power of such creative gratitude will bring you to his attention—and could even bring you a raise. Gratitude is infectious. He might catch the bug and find concrete ways of expressing his gratefulness for the good services you are rendering.

Remember there’s always something to be grateful for. Even the prospect who turned down a salesman should be thanked for the time he spent listening. He’ll be more likely to buy next time.

Gratitude costs nothing. But it’s a big investment in the future.

10 Mind Blowing Ways To Increase Your Sales

Is your sales still not worth the investment? Maybe, there are things you missed to do. Internet Marketing Guru Tim McLendon (timmclendon@yahoo.com) advices sales personnel 10 additional tips on how they can dramatically increase their sales:

"1. Show your prospects how much enthusiasm you have for your product and business. If you're convincing enough, they will be enthusiastic too.

2. End your sales letter or ad copy with a strong closing. It could be a free bonus, a discount price, a benefit reminder, an ordering deadline, etc.

3. Please your complaining customers. You can refund their money, give them a discount, give them a free gift, solve the problem quickly, etc.

4. Make your customers get excited about your business and they will tell their friends. Give them a free vacation certificate, a coupon, etc.

5. Give your prospects extra confidence so they will order. Use endorsements, testimonials, a strong guarantee or warranty, etc.

6. Build your opt-in list by allowing your visitors to sign up for a free e-zine, ebooks, software,contests, sweepstakes, etc.

7. Give your prospects or customers a breath of fresh air. Don't be afraid to design your web site and ad copies different from everyone else.

8. Allow your customers to get part of your total offer right after they order. If you have to ship the item, make one of your bonuses available online.

9. Write and submit articles to e-zine publishers or webmasters. If you want it to be published, it should be like an article and not like an ad.

10. Show your prospects that you are an expert, because authority can persuade people to buy. You could publish an article, write an ebook, etc."

Need more help in increasing your sales? You may contact Tim McLendon at timmclendon@yahoo.com or email me at rubenlicera@gmail.com.

LOVE, Oh LOVE!

"When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece. " -- Charles Reade

"Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young." -- A.W. Pinero

"You must feel love within, before you can share it." -- Denis Waitley

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." -- Mother Teresa

LISTENING?

"Most of us tend to suffer from 'agenda anxiety', the feeling that what we want to say to others is more important than what we think they might want to say to us." -- Nido Qubein

"Seek first to understand, then to be understood." -- Stephen Covey

"A professional knows when his or her most effective presentation is not to give one. Do you have clients who are having a bad day? Don't try to sell to them. Do try to listen to them and earn their trust." -- Tom Hopkins

"If you wish to appear agreeable in society, you must consent to be taught many things which you already know." -- Johann Caspar Lavater

What they say about LIFESTYLE

"Today I live in the quiet, joyous expectation of good." -- Ernest Holmen

"Most people are too busy living life to ever put life in their living..." – Doug Firebaugh

"Being rich isn't about money. Being rich is a state of mind. Some of us, no matter how much money we have, will never be free enough to take time to stop and eat the heart of the watermelon. And some of us will be rich without ever being more than a paycheck ahead of the game." -- Harvey B. Mackay

"Make your life a masterpiece; imagine no limitations on what you can be, have or do." -- Brian Tracy

10 Mind Altering Words That Make People Buy

Scientific research reveals that it takes only about an average of 5 seconds for any viewer to scan an ad or view an internet homepage and decide whether to proceed in scanning or totally ignore it. Hence, your hundred of dollars of investment in promotions may just become another money to the drain. No effect. Nada!

Hence, every word and graphics on the ad or a website's homepage should be attractive enough to catch the website viewers attention. In short, it should hit the bullseye of what your target audiences and clients needs.

To maximize the use of words in ads and ultimately influence people to buy your product, here is professional online marketing specialist Tim McLendon has to say in his latest email:

1. Use the word "fast" in your ad. People want fast results, fast delivery, fast ordering, etc. Nowadays, we usually value our time more than our money.

2. Use the word "guaranteed" in your ad. People want to be assured they are not risking their hard earned money buying your product.

3. Use the word "limited" in your ad. People want to own or receive things that are exclusive or rare because they are considered to be more valuable.

4. Use the word "easy/simple" in your ad. People want easy ordering, easy instructions, easy to use, easy payments, etc.

5. Use the word "testimonial" in your ad. People want to see believable proof before they buy your product. It should be reputable and specific proof.

6. Use the word "discount/sale " in your ad. People want to find bargains. They could be rebates, one time sales, percentage offers, get one free offers, etc.

7. Use the word "free" in your ad. People want free incentives before they do business with you. They could be free books, accessories, services, etc.

8. Use the word "you/your" in your ad. People want to know that you are talking them. This'll make them feel important and attract them to read the whole ad.

9. Use the word "important" in your ad. People do not want to miss important information that could effect their life. People will stop and take notice.

10. Use the word "new" in your ad. People want new products or services that will improve their life like new information, tastes, technology, results, etc.

The 90/10 Principle

The 90/10 Principle is one of the new philosophy popularized by international motivational speaker Stephen Covey. Known author of the book "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" and other related motivational books, Mr. Covey introduces a new way of facing things which are out of our control. Here's what he has to say about the new principle Mr. Covey introduced?

What is the 90/10 Principle?

10% of life is made up of what happens to you.
90% of life is decided by how you react.

What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off.

A driver may cut us off in traffic.
We have no control over this 10%.
The other 90% is different.
You determine the other 90%.

How? By your reaction.

You cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.

Let's use an example. You are eating breakfast with your family.

Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just what happened. What happens next will be determined by how you react. You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows.

You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school.

She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit.

After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye.
After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase.

Your day has started terribly. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse.

You look forward to coming home, When you arrive home, you find a small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning.

Why did you have a bad day?
A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?

The answer is D.

You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day. Here is what could have and should have happened.

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "It's ok honey, you just need, to be more careful next time."

Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.

Notice the difference? Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different.

Why? Because of how you REACTED. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens.

The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle.

If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge.

Let the attack roll off like water on glass.

You don't have to let the negative comment affect you!

React properly and it will not ruin your day.

A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic?

Do you lose your temper?

Pound on the steering wheel?

A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off!

Do you curse?

Does your blood pressure skyrocket?

Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work?

Why let the cars ruin your drive?

Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.

The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day.

Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant?

She has no control over what is going on.

Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger.

Why get stressed out?

It will just make things worse.

Now you know the 90-10 principle.


Apply it and you will be amazed at the results.


You will lose nothing if you try it.


The 90-10 principle is incredible.


Very few know and apply this principle.


The result?


Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials,


problems and heartache.


There never seem to be a success in life.


Bad days follow bad days.


Terrible things seem to be constantly happening.


There is constant stress, lack of joy, and broken relationships.


Worry consumes time.


Anger breaks friendships and life seems dreary and is not enjoyed to
the fullest.


Friends are lost.

Life is a bore and often seems cruel.

Does this describe you? If so, do not be discouraged.

You can be different!

Understand and apply the 90/10 principle.

It will change your life.

Have a Great Day & and an even Greater Tomorrow!

Eskwela.com : The Philippine's largest social network for Filipino students

I was invited to join this site months ago.

Eskwela.com is a "social directory for Filipino students and alumni. The webmaster claims that the website contains list of registered students from 1,510 universities, 6,639 high schools, 42,645 elementary schools, and 1,551 companies.

Definitely, Eskwela is one of the promising, and perhaps, the largest online social and networking website for the Filipino students.

This online site can be a good avenue for any Filipino to find long lost friends in elementary and high school days.

To check on the website, log-on to http://www.eskwela.com.

5th Ramon Magsaysay Student Essay Competition is now OPEN

The 5 th Ramon Magsaysay Student Essay Competition has been extended until October 12, 2007. The competition theme is “The Magsaysay Awardee Who Inspires Me Most: the Magsaysay Greatness of Spirit Lives”.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation is inviting high school and college students to take part in the birth centenary celebrations of the late Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay by participating in this contest.

Reference source for students is the Foundation website – www.rmaf.org.ph .

Entries must be original, written in English, with an estimated length of 2-4 pages or 500-1,000 words in length. Deadline for submission is extended until November 20, 2007.

All participants are required to register online via www.rmaf.org.ph . By visiting the Foundation website, secondary school principals and university or college registrars, college deans and department chairs of the participating students also endorse online the students' participation.

Essays should be submitted by email to rsmsec5phil@gmail.com .

For competition mechanics, other information and technical assistance, please contact the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation at 521-3166 or toll free 1-800-1-888-2390

Al Gore wins Nobel Peace Prize

I'm a big fan of people who make difference in their own way. Al Gore is definitely one of the people in my list.

Minutes ago, board of judges of the respected Nobel Peace Price awards Al Gore and the UN Intergovernmental agency on global warming. The said award was given toAl Gore -- "An Inconvenient Truth" star and New York Time's Bestseller author of the book of the same title -- for putting man-made global warming in the political agenda and creating waves for the immediate address of this concern.

For more information about the news, click HERE.

You look at that river gently flowing by. You notice the leaves rustling with the wind. You hear the birds; you hear the tree frogs. In the distance you hear a cow. You feel the grass. The mud gives a little bit on the river bank. It’s quiet; it’s peaceful. And all of a sudden, it’s a gear shift inside you. And it’s like taking a deep breath and going, 'Oh yeah, I forgot about this'.
- Al Gore's opening monologue in "The Inconvenient Truth."

The Nobel Peace Prize (Swedish and Norwegian: Nobels fredspris) is the name of one of five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel. According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize should be awarded "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses".

The Peace Prize is awarded annually in Oslo, the capital of Norway. The actual prize always is presented on the 10th of December, the anniversary of the death of Nobel.

Filipino Americans demand for apology from ABC and Desperate Housewives

This subject is all over the net for several days and the Online petition, as of this writing, is gaining more than 60,000 online signatures.

Started by Kevin Nadal, , knadal@gmail.com, the petition is filed online against ABC -- the creator of Desperate Housewives.

Here is Kevin's Petition for the Filipino people in http://www.petitiononline.com/FilABC/ :


To: ABC

To the producers of "Desperate Housewives" and ABC:

We are writing to express concern and hurt about a racially-discriminatory comment made in an episode of Desperate Housewives on 9/30/07. In a scene in which Susan was told by her gynecologist that she might be hitting menopause, she replied, "Can I just check those diplomas because I just want to make sure that they are not from some med school in the Philippines."

As members and allies of the Filipino American community, we are writing to inform you that this type of derogatory remark was discriminatory and hurtful, and such a comment was not necessary to maintain any humor in the show. Additionally, a statement that devalues Filipinos in healthcare is extremely unfounded, considering the overwhelming presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the medical field. Filipinos are the second largest immigrant population in the United States, with many entering the U.S. (and successfully passing their U.S. licensing boards!) as doctors, nurses, and medical technicians. In fact, the Philippines produces more U.S. nurses than any other country in the world. So, to belittle the education, experience, or value of Filipino Americans in health care is extremely disrespectful and plain and simply ignorant. Many of the hospitals in major metropolitan areas of the U.S. (and the world) would not be able to operate without its Filipino and Filipino American staff members.

As Filipino Americans and allies, we band together to ensure that this type of hateful message should not be allowed to continue on our television and radio airwaves. Given the recent amounts of media attention that has been given to Michael Richards (against African Americans), Isaiah Washington (against gays), and Rosie O'Donnell (against Asian/ Chinese Americans), it is ridiculous that this type of hateful speech made it through various screenwriters, the show's producers, the show's actors, and ABC itself.

We demand a public apology to the Filipino American community, and we demand the episode be edited to remove the ignorant and racist remark. We will not allow hateful messages against our community (or any other oppressed community) to continue.

To sign the PETITION, click this LINK or copy and past this link to your browser: http://www.petitiononline.com/FilABC/

THE BETTER SIDE OF THE PHILIPPINES

INTEL General Manager Robin Martin About the Philippines looks at the current Philippine situation as half full-half empty. Here is what's in his mind:

Filipinos (including the press, business people and myself) tend to dwell too much on the negative side, and this affects the perception of Foreigners, even the ones who have lived here for a while. The negative perception of the Philippines is way disproportionate to reality when compared to countries like Columbia , Egypt , Middle East, Africa , etc.

Let us all help our country by balancing the negative with the positive especially when we talk to foreigners, whether based here or abroad. Looking back and comparing the Philippines today and 1995 (the year I came back), I was struck by how much our country has progressed physically.

Consider the following:

1. The great telecom infrastructure that we have now did not exist in 1995. 1995 was the year the telecom industry was deregulated. Since then billions of dollars have been invested in both fixed line and cellular networks producing a system with over 5,000 kms of fiber optic backbone at a world competitive cost. From a fixed line capacity of about 900,000 in 1995 we now have over 7 million. Cellular phones practically did not exist in 1995; now we have over 11 million line capacity .

2. The MRT, many of the EDSA flyovers (including the Ayala Avenue flyover), the SKYWAY, Rockwell and Glorietta 4, the Fort, NAIA terminal 2 and most of the new skyscrapers were not yet built in 1995.

3. If you drive to the provinces, you will notice that national roads are now of good quality (international quality asphalt roads). I just went to Iba, Zambales last week and I was impressed that even a not so frequently travelled road was of very good quality.

4. Philippine exports have increased by 600% over the past eight years. There are many, many more examples of progress over the last eight years. Philippine mangoes are now exported to the US and Europe .

Additional tidbits to make our people prouder:

1. INTEL has been in the Philippines for 28 years. The Philippines plant is where Intel's most advanced products are launched, including the Pentium IV. By the end of 2002, Philippine operations became Intel's biggest assembly and testing operations worldwide.

2. TEXAS INSTRUMENTS has been operating in Baguio for over 20 years. The Baguio plant is the largest producer of DSP chips in the world. DSP chips are the brains behind cellphones. TI's Baguio plant produces the chip that powers 100% of all NOKIA cellphones and 80% of Erickson cellphones in the world.

3. TOSHIBA laptops are produced in Santa Rosa , Laguna.

4. If you drive a BENZ, BMW, or a VOLVO, there is a good chance that the ABS system in your car was made in the Philippines.

5. TREND-MICRO , makers of one of the top anti virus software PC-Cillin (I may have mispelled this) develops its "cures" for viruses right here in Eastwood Libis, Quezon City . When a virus breaks in any computer system in the world, they try to find a solution within 45 minutes of finding the virus.

6 . Today a majority of the top ten U.S. Call Center firms in the U.S. have set up operations in the Philippines . This is one area in which I believe we are the best in the world in terms of value for money.

7. America Online (AOL) has 1,000 people in Clark answering 90% of AOL's global e-mail inquiries.

8. PROCTOR & GAMBLE has over 400 people right here in Makati (average age 23 years) doing back-up office work to their Asian operations including finance, accounting, Human Resources and payments processing.

9. Among many other things it does for its regional operations network in the Asia-Pacific region here in Manila , CITIBANK also does its global ATM programming locally .

10. This is the first year ever that the Philippines will be exporting cars in quantity courtesy of FORD Philippines. (I have an idea this article was written between 2001 - 2002, so this operation should have been on-going for the last 3 years or so. CYN)

11. The government is shedding off graft and corruption slowly but surely. This is the first time in our history that a former president is in jail and facing charges of plunder. Despite all odds, we are still pursuing the ill-gotten wealth of Marcos now enjoyed by his unrepentant heirs.

Next time you travel abroad and meet business associates tell them the good news. A big part of our problem is perception and one of the biggest battles can be won simply by believing and by making others believe. This message is shared by good citizens of the Philippines who persevere to hope and work for our country.

56,000,000 Filipinos speak, read and write in English even if we have our own national language. Speaking a second language takes a certain kind of unique intelligence.

2 FILIPINOS CAN BECOME BEARERS OF THE 2008 BEIJING OLYMPIC

Being a part of the growing 80 million Filipino population can work to our advantage.

Through the College Editor's Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) Alumni E-groups, Ka Gerry share's his letter from a friend name Jimmy who is now based in China.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Magandang umaga mga kabayan.

Kalakip ay isang liham ni Jaime "Jimmy" FlorCruz, isa sa mga editors ng Ang Malaya (PCC) nuong FQS.

Sa mga hindi nakakaalala, isa si Jimmy sa limang aktibistang nang-hijack ang isang eroplano patungong Tsina nuong FQS. Magmula noon ay namalagi na siya sa Beijing at siya ngayon ang CNN Bureau Chief sa Beijing.

Sana ay matulungan natin siyang makamit ang kaniyang hangaring magdala ng Olympic torch sa Beijing Olympics.

Ka Gerry
kasapi, LEADS (FQS)
kasapi, CEGP (FQS)
San Bruno, California



My dear Gerry!

My 17-year-old daughter Michelle and I just joined a competition, sponsored by China Daily and Lenovo, to select 8 expatriates who will join as torch bearers in the upcoming torch-relay for the Beijing Olympics.

People anywhere can vote on the Net for a maximum of eight contenders until the end of October. You may just vote for us two.

We need a lot of votes to catch up with the early birds. We think we have a good chance to get into the magic eight. But we need friends like you to take a few minutes and click into their website and, if you think we deserve it, vote for BOTH of us. Type in uplifting comments if you wish.

To vote and post comments for us, please click:

Michelle :
http://pub1. chinadaily. com.cn/olympics/ torch/members. shtml?mid= 205

Jaime :
http://pub1. chinadaily. com.cn/olympics/ torch/members. shtml?mid= 204

We hope you and your network of friends in and outside the US could give us a boost and vote for BOTH of us, a unique father-daughter tandem.

Thanks and best regards,

Jaime FlorCruz

Get XCITED!

If you're an EXPAT in search of the "BEST OF THE PHILIPPINES" and "BEST OF ASIA"; or simply a FOREIGN BUYER looking for the world-class furniture and furnishings Philippines is known for, you MUST experience Cebu X.

Tagged as the 'Design Destination of Asia', Cebu X (Cebu International Furniture and Furnishings Exhibition) is acknowledged as one of the widely visited furniture show in Southeast Asia. Aside from the recognition it received from it's counterparts as 'one of the most organized shows' in the Asian Furniture show circuit, Cebu X -- with it's exhibitor's in it's boutique style presentation -- prides itself as the melting pot of classical, transitional and contemporary furniture and furnishings design from indigenous raw materials.

There's something to be XCITED! about this years exhibition at the majestic convention center of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino on March 6 - 9, 2007.

Cebu X will definitely present you another feast of the senses with the upcoming years finest presentation of the world-class Filipino's craftsmanship and creativity.


To know more about the show, please feel free to log-on Cebu X (www.cebuexhibition.com) or email ruben@cebuexhibition.com.