Standing on SOLID Grounds

When I graduated from high school, I had no idea what was in store for me in college. I was just certain that I will be taking up engineering as I wanted to be an engineer like my Kuya.

Needless to say, I was in for the biggest culture shock of my life. College was very different from high school, far more different than what I expected. In high school, demons are wearing disguises, but in college, all hell break loose.

I was really having a hard time during my first two years in the institute. I was exposed to numerous influences in which I seldom fall prey. My grades are dropping faster than my will to learn and worst I lost all my scholarships. In the learning war that I am involved, my only battle cry was ‘HELP!’.

During my 3rd year, my friend Willie introduced me to this student organization called SOLID. It stands for Study Organization that Leads to Integrated EE-ECE-CoE Development. It was just a normal student organization, but little did I know that it was the turning point of my academic life.

I gradually gained various friends in SOLID, from the graduating batch down to the freshmen. As well as everything in between the geeks and the meeks. I also learned a few tricks of the trade and a little ‘diskarte’ on the side. SOLID armed me with few weapons I need to have to power me on my learning war.

Indeed, my friends in SOLID helped me sway with the waves and kept me afloat during high tides. I will be forever grateful to them.

I may not be the greatest, I may not be the best

I may not get 100 percent in all kinds of test

For the whole year long, I may be nuts

But as a SOLID member, I always have the guts.

Thank you guys for being my SOLID ground.

For the Love of the Game

Ever since I started watching my Kuya play basketball, I have fallen in love with the game. It was such a beauty for me to see players do their stuffs; on how do they handle the ball well or perhaps shoot it with ease and a little bit of luck.

When I was small, I really wanted to learn how to play the game, it was fortunate that all of my friends from childhood have the same dream. It was easy for us to organize. In a basketball-craze country, basketball courts can almost be seen anywhere, sprouting like mushrooms. We were exposed in an environment with half-courts placed on the streets, these were our training grounds.

Even though I was not blessed with height just like my Kuya, it did not stop me from learning the game. I was in 2^nd year high school when I first joined a basketball league. From then on, I continue to play the game and learn some new tricks every so often.

When me and Thess were just starting, she seriously asked me if I drink, smoke, gamble or perhaps busy with night life? I answered that I can give up all of that, just please don’t let me give up my love for basketball. She agreed wholeheartedly and I obeyed our new found agreement.

Last weekend, on a very short notice and limited advertisement, NBA Superstars Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and a few others graced the famous basketball court of Smart-Araneta Coliseum. I was lucky enough to get a lower box ticket since the Patron seats were all sold-out during the first two hours of ticket selling. It was such an awesome experience for me to see NBA Stars play right before my eyes.

As early as 3PM, crowds were lining up for the General Admission area to get a good view. The event was also star-studded, Former President Erap Estrada was there, Senator Dick Gordon and Bong Revilla with his family. Sitting in front of me, were the newlyweds John Estrada and Priscilla together with Randy Santiago. When I took a pee at halftime, guess who’s next with me at the urinal, Mr. Sauve himself, Vhong Navarro and Bayani Agbayani.

I was really amazed on the wide range of basketball tricks they have offered the crowd. Every time they do tremendous dunks and You-tube-material alley-oops, the crowd goes wild. PBA Superstars were caught watching and not defending, probably because of the moment. It was such a rewarding experience for me to be able to see them live.

I am not good at basketball, I never was but basketball thought me so many things in life that I am living now. Discipline, Teamwork, Friendship to name a few, but the greatest thing I learned from it is that Life is like a Basketball game, it always brings new opportunities and challenges, it is just up to you on how you will handle it.

Limahan na!

Bagahe

 

Matagal nagtrabaho si Tatay sa Saudi, paminsan lang sa isa o dalawang taon siya bago makapagbakasyon muli sa Pilipinas. Sa pagsusumikap ni Tatay, nakaipon kami paunti-unti ng mga gamit sa aming munting bahay. Sa isang pag-uwi ni Tatay, isang malaking kahon ang kasama ng kanyang mga bagahe.

Pagdating sa bahay, ito ang unang binuksan ni Tatay. Regalo niya daw ito sa aming magkakapatid sa patuloy pagsusumikap sa aming pag-aaral. Sa pagbukas ng malaking kahon, isang itim na bagay ang tumambad sa aming lahat. Abot ang ngiti ko noon nung makita ko ang laman ng kahon. Isang mini-component siya.

Bihira kami magkaroon ng magandang gamit sa bahay. Yung TV namin na black and white ay kailangang pukpukin sa taas para gumana yung vertical-hold, kasi kung hindi, sasakit ang ulo mo bago mo matapos ang isang palabas. Yung ref naman namin ay pang-isahan lang, na dalawang pitsel lang ng tubig ang kayang ilaman, personal-ref lang kasi siya. Bigay ito sa nanay ko ng isang kustomer niya sa paglalaba. Yung luma naming radyo ay AM lang ang kayang masagap, kaya bihira yon mapatugtog kasi madrama masyado. Maliban sa mga ito at sa aming plantsa, wala na kaming ibang de-kuryenteng gamit sa bahay.

Kung kayat malaking bagay para sa aming magkakapatid ang magkaroon ng bagong radyo. At hindi lang basta radyo, mini-component pa. San ka pa?

Malupit ang radyo ni Tatay. Kulay itim ito na mahaba at madaming pihitan at pindutan sa harap. Dalawang malalaking speaker ang nakakabit sa kanya sa magkabilang dulo. Maaari mo itong tanggalin at ilagay kung saan mo gusto. Minsan nilipat ko ito sa malapit sa pintuan naming sabay nagpatugtog, muntik nang mapaaway ang nanay ko sa kapitbahay namin. Ang pinaka natutuwa ako dito ay ang dalawang cassette player niya. Maaari mo kasing i-record sa kanang bahagi ang pinapatugtog mo sa kabilang bahagi. Hi-tech, ika nga ng kaibigan kong si August.

Madalas kapag naglilinis ng bahay o kaya nagbubunot ng sahig, sumasabay sa tugtog ng aming component ang galaw ng aking mga paa at kamay. Nagiging automatic ang kilos ko base sa bilis o bagal ng tugtog. Maya-maya mararamdaman ko na lang na umiindayog na sa musika ang aking mga kalamnan. Minsan pagkatapos maglinis, hindi ko alam kung saan ba galing ang mga pawis ko – sa paglilinis ba o sa pagsabay sa makiliting tugtog ng aming radyo.

Ang radyo ni Tatay mismo ang nagpakilala sa akin sa mga sikat na mang-aawit sa Pilipinas at sa ibang bansa. Malaki ang naidulot niya sa akin kung bakit gusto ko ang mga awitin ng ABBA, Carpenters, America, Sinatra at siyempre ang Asin at si Florante. Nung matuto ako mag back-masking ng mga cassette tapes ng mga sikat na singers, duon ko lalo minahal ang aming radyo.

Totoong malawak ang kapasidad ng radyo ni Tatay. Mabilis pumawi ng lungkot ito kapag nakinig sa mga nakakatawang programa. Kasing-bilis din naman ikaw palungkutin kapag nakinig ka sa mga drama sa hapon. Maingay siya kapag umaga pero kapag patulog ka na ay nakikipaghele din siya sa iyo. Kapag mag-isa sa bahay, si radyo ang aking kaibigang tunay.

Sa tuwing makikita ko ang radyo namin, lagi kong naaalala si Tatay. Doon ko kasi pinapakinggan ang mga recorded messages ng Tatay ko sa amin. Ang mga iba’t-ibang kulay niya sa harapan ay tila mga mata ni Tatay na nakatitig sa akin. Ang dalawang mahahabang antenna ay nagmimistulang mga kamay ni Tatay na handa akong yakapin. Para sa isang batang gaya ko na sabik sa piling ng Tatay ko, yung radyo ang napaglilibangan ko.

Hanggang sa isang araw pag-uwi ni Tatay, isang malaking kahon ang kasama sa kanyang bagahe. Biglang kabog ulit ng aking dibdib.

Pagdating sa bahay, ito ang unang binuksan ni Tatay. Regalo niya daw ito sa aming magkakapatid sa patuloy pagsusumikap sa aming pag-aaral. Sa pagbukas ng malaking kahon, isang itim na bagay ang tumambad sa aming lahat. Abot ang ngiti ko noon nung makita ko ang laman ng kahon.

What's With July 16?

July 16 had been etched in the memories of the thirty-something and above due to the very infamous Luzon earthquake that happened that very day year 1990. However, this coming Saturday, July 16, a strong, terrible earthquake is about to happen inside of me. An intensity strong enough to ripped me apart into pieces.

Mensa will be holding its Mensa Challenge (Qualifying Exam) in UP. It has been ages since our last public qualifying test and I wanted to be a part of this historic one under the leadership of our new president, Art Ilano. Well, the testing event is one experience that I can be proud of. Inquirer link

Jkul will host a lunch and awarding ceremony for the winners of the KM2 Essay Writing contest. After the historic announcement of winners, Jkul wanted more, he wanted to gather all those writers, bloggers that became part of this event. The Top 10 winners as well as the Special Award winners are all invited. This is one gathering I wanted to attend right from the start. Aside from meeting seasoned bloggers, I wanted to experience of being able to connect with my online world.

Gerry Roxas Leadership Awards Foundation will be holding its GRLA Leadership Forum and Get-together. This is a good chance to meet other GRL awardees from different schools and colleges not to mention a good quality time to spend listening on credible speakers. I haven't attended one yet but I am planning to drop by at this event to give back to the foundation which supported me in my schooling. Facebook link.

My youngest niece, Mikay will be having her 2^nd birthday party. At her young age, Mikay had undergone several major operations already and we are very much happy that she is now a healthy beautiful baby. Her birthday celebration will also be a celebration of triumph and thanksgiving. Sure couldn’t miss this one.

Willie, a college friend of mine came back to the Philippines for a vacation. He is currently working in Bahrain for a telecom company. He wanted to see his friends here before going back to Bahrain. It has been a long time since we last saw Willie and his family so we cannot afford to miss this one and besides this could be the get-together of WETJAM and our families. 

 

So what do you think is the probability that all these events will happen in one single day? That is on Saturday, July 16. Huh?! Isn't it a busy world?

Me? I am not busy, I'll just get ready for the earthquake. :)

Performance Evaluation

When I was still working as an Engineer from my last company, I would always look forward for every Performance Evaluation. Whether I would get promoted or not, I think that single meeting between me and my superior alone was just my thing. I get so thrilled easily by this because of the thought that I will be able to hear what my superior would say about me. Moreover, excited because this is a good avenue for me to say what I think about my superior. In this way, I would know what areas I need to improve on myself and my craft.

On that very day of July 2007, I woke up at the wrong side of the bed. I had this strangest feeling before my 'appraisal', that if there is somebody that would walk out of that door as a loser, it would have to be me. The thought was more scary, though I did not further encourage it. I would rather think that we should walk out from that door as winners both, no losers (two-way communication). Anyway, the meeting went on and on and on and after a few weeks from that meeting, I resigned from my job.

Actually, I felt disturbed from that evaluation meeting. I was robbed with my rights as an employee. I believed that the performance rating I had was unfair for me and for my line leaders. I insisted that my line leaders deserved more that they were given and I had all the data to prove that. However, my supervisor's points were unclear and his judgments were biased and not factual. And even more terrifying blow was that is was final and nothing can be changed.  As it turned out, my vibe was actually right from the very start. 

Last week, we concluded the Performance Appraisal of my subordinates from my current company. I had more or less 20 personnel under me. My approach was simple; establish, explain, encourage, empower and extend congratulatory remarks. I always see to it that the atmosphere I established was very different from my last company. Here, there was talking and there was listening (although I was the one who does the talking now). But I always encourage them to talk also, so that I may hear what they wanted to say about me or about their job.

Now, I was on the other end of the spectrum, not like before. And to tell you, I like it like that. The perspective was almost the same but my point of view was totally different, at least the way I see it.

At this point, I can judge if I had lead my pack well or not; if I was able to plant them on fertile soil or on the rocks; if I had inspired them to do better or become a better person or not. At this point, I was not only evaluating them, I was also checking my performance as a leader through them.

To see them smile upon reading their performance ratings was like a gift being presented to me. If I had to gather them all, I'm pretty sure, I can fill-up a basketball court.

My previous experience from a Performance Appraisal thought me a lot of things and most importantly it thought me to appreciate small little things.

Three years have passed since I planted my seeds, I am now busy collecting the fruits of my labor.